Welcome to The Sportsman's daily transfer round-up bringing you the latest gossip from the papers and online.
That Monday feeling has just that extra tinge of melancholy today. Not only has one of the best World Cups in recent memory come to it’s conclusion- and in exhilarating fashion- but it’s hard to be reminded that we will have to wait even longer for the next tournament to come around, with Qatar 2022 not kicking off until the end of November that year.
Have no fear however, as the Transfer Rumours are here to keep us entertained and to temporarily banish the heart-felt absence of some of the best tournament football we’ve ever been privileged to witness.
The Real Madrid Raid of Chelsea dominates talk today. Thibaut Courtois is the man they want to take the Number 1 shirt off Keylor Navas. The Champions League winners don ’t want the Chelsea goalkeeper to come alone though. Ideally making the trip to Spain with him is one Eden Hazard, in a deal that could be hitting the lofty Neymar to PSG heights in terms of fee. €200 million is the reported amount.
Courtois hasn’t not only been afraid to bat his lashes in Los Blancos’ direction, but has actively encouraged his Belgian teammate to join him at the Santiago Bernabeu stating, according to the London Evening Standard, that ‘wherever I go, Hazard must come along. We will not let each other go’.
It is s a time of change at Chelsea, yet again, with Maurizio Sarri coming in to replace Antonio Conte as manager. Seeing two of their star assets leave will end up being more of a vicissitude for Blues’ fans.
Chelsea will apparently take out their wrath on perennial rivals Manchester United should this double-deal come into fruition, by using the funds to poach Serb star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Lazio playmaker has been anticipated to be making his way to Old Trafford this summer.
It seems with everything passing day a couple of mill gets thrown onto his expected price, but seeing as Chelsea have had unexpected success sniping Jorginho of fellow Serie A club Napoli from under Premier League champions City’s noses, could complete a double upset in Manchester by taking another highly-prized European midfielder to West London.
Speaking of West London, newly-promoted side Fulham have spared no time leaving their fellow Championship climbers Wolves and Cardiff in their wake by delving headfirst into the transfer window.
Manager Slaviša Jokanović wants Bordeaux’s winger Malcom, who is interestingly also desired by the resurgent Inter Milan. Malcom, as recently as March attracting attention from Arsenal, will be subject to an initial loan move with an option to buy for £26.5million.
And of course, Liverpool still want Nabil Fekir.
