Transfer News Daily
A Mouth-watering deal for Messi
Lionel Messi’s future remains uncertain, even after playing his final game for PSG on Saturday. There are reports suggesting that he has already agreed to move to Saudi Arabia.
According to one outlet, Lionel Messi’s camp has reportedly accepted a £1 billion offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
As Messi concludes his two-season spell at Paris Saint-Germain with the final game, his appearance at the Parc des Princes came after a brief suspension by PSG due to an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia. This incident has fueled speculation about Messi potentially moving to the Middle East once his contract expires at the end of the season. However, Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, has categorically denied these rumors.
Foot Mercato has now released a new report stating that Al-Hilal has overcome a major hurdle by reaching an agreement with Messi’s entourage. The French outlet claims that Messi’s camp has accepted a deal that would see him earn an astonishing sum of nearly £1 billion (€1.2 billion) over two years, equivalent to approximately £500 million per year. This amount surpasses the earnings of Messi’s former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Hilal’s rivals Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Despite previous reservations expressed by Jorge Messi, Foot Mercato claims that the agent has already agreed to the offer, which would grant him the highest commission from a transfer in football history. Interestingly, this development comes despite Messi’s preference to return to his boyhood club Barcelona, where he achieved tremendous success, winning four Champions League titles and spending the majority of his career. However, Barcelona’s dire financial situation forced him to leave the club.
It is worth noting that two of Messi’s former Barcelona teammates and close friends, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, will also depart the Catalan club at the end of the season. While there have been rumors of the three reuniting at Al-Hilal, Busquets firmly denies that any agreement has been reached. In response to a question about Messi accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia, Busquets stated, “No, no, surely not. I give you my word.”
Tielemans move to Aston Villa confirmed
Aston Villa fans have expressed their praise for the club’s “impressive deal” after securing the signing of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer.
The fans of the Midlands club are currently elated following their qualification for next season’s Europa Conference League. Unai Emery has revived the will among Villa fans, turning the team’s fortunes around in less than nine months since taking over from the dismissed Steven Gerrard.
The former Arsenal manager has further solidified his position in the hearts of Villa fans by acquiring the services of the former Leicester City midfielder. Although Tielemans couldn’t help the Foxes avoid relegation from the Premier League, he holds an exceptional reputation in the division and has previously been linked with lucrative moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, and other clubs.
Tielemans will be Villa’s first signing of the new season, and the passionate Villans’ reactions indicate that the club has started the transfer window with a bang.
“Fantastic piece of business,” expressed one jubilant Villa supporter. “What an amazing signing,” quickly followed another. A neutral fan tweeted, acknowledging the shrewdness of Villa’s business, stating, “Good signing for Villa. Wasn’t long ago he was strongly linked to CL sides.”
“Wow, that’s a very exciting signing for Villa,” wrote a second neutral observer. Among the reactions, one dedicated Villa supporter defiantly taunted fans of the so-called ‘big six’ clubs, stating, “Wow, Villa just robbed the top six.” Despite being only 26 years old, Tielemans brings significant experience to the team.
The Reds loses interest in Sancho
Tottenham are contemplating a £50 million move for Jadon Sancho, the winger currently playing for Manchester United.
The 23-year-old star has faced challenges with fitness and form in the past year, prompting Reds manager Erik ten Hag to send him to the Netherlands for recovery midway through last season, both physically and mentally. While there was initially some improvement following his break, his performances have mostly been inconsistent at best.
As Sancho no longer enjoys an automatic spot in the England squad, with his exclusion from the Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, other clubs are closely monitoring his situation. Tottenham is one of those clubs, as they aim to regroup and rebuild under newly-appointed manager Ange Postecoglou in his first campaign. Negotiations for James Maddison, the playmaker from relegated Leicester City, began last week.
In addition to their £40 million offer for Maddison, Spurs are now ready to enter the race for Sancho, who has earned 23 caps for the Three Lions. Manchester United, who spent £72.9 million to acquire Sancho from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, are likely to demand close to £60 million for any potential deal. Dortmund has also expressed interest in bringing back the former Manchester City youth product, but only on a season-long loan.
Such a loan arrangement is not favorable for the Premier League giants. Without an imminent takeover on the horizon, Ten Hag understands that he must generate funds to invest in other areas crucial for his team’s progress.
This is why Tottenham believes it is worth testing United’s determination to retain a player who has yet to reach the heights he achieved as a teenager in Germany. Sancho’s most recent opportunity to shine came in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, where United’s Brazilian winger Antony was sidelined due to injury. However, Sancho failed to leave a significant impact and was substituted in the second half of the 2-1 defeat, further raising doubts about his ability to secure a regular spot in Ten Hag’s starting lineup.
Meanwhile, United is actively pursuing a £100 million deal for Tottenham’s captain, Harry Kane, while the North London club has been linked with a move for Harry Maguire, a defender from Old Trafford.
Overhauling the Blues
Reports suggest that more than six Chelsea players have expressed their desire to leave the club during the upcoming summer transfer window.
After a tumultuous season filled with chaos both on and off the pitch, the Blues are bracing themselves for another period of significant changes. The season concluded on a lackluster note with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, May 28.
Former interim manager Frank Lampard, who only managed to secure one victory out of the 11 games he oversaw, has now been officially replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, marking a much-needed fresh start for the club.
However, Pochettino and the board face a challenging task in the months ahead as they seek to unite a squad that has been severely lacking in motivation and confidence. The report suggests that Lampard faced significant difficulties in rallying the team following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid.
Under Pochettino’s management, a change in the team’s mentality is expected. The Argentine coach is known for his demanding training methods and has employed various tactics throughout his managerial career to enhance player mindset, such as engaging them in activities like walking over hot coals.
Regarding transfers, it appears that players like Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are unlikely to remain at the club. Additionally, club captain Cesar Azpilicueta may also be on his way out.
Chelsea is reportedly targeting a goalkeeper, midfielder, and striker in the market as they continue their active pursuit of signings. One of their targets is Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte, and there have been rumors of a potential reunion between Pochettino and Harry Kane. The club’s owner, Todd Boehly, has shown no signs of slowing down in terms of investment.
Chelsea are likely to see Mason Mount join Manchester United and Mateo Kovacic join Manchester City.
Both midfielders are approaching the final year of their contracts with the Blues, indicating their probable departure from Stamford Bridge this summer. Mount’s potential availability has attracted interest from clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal in recent months. As a result, Chelsea has granted City permission to initiate talks with Kovacic, who has expressed a desire to join the Premier League champions despite interest from Bayern Munich and other clubs.
The potential departures of Mount and Kovacic could mark the beginning of a significant midfield overhaul under Pochettino. N’Golo Kante’s contract is expiring next month, and negotiations for an extension are not progressing positively. AC Milan is nearing the signing of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Conor Gallagher’s future at the club remains uncertain. Additionally, Denis Zakaria’s loan move from Juventus will not be made permanent.
One player certain to stay is Enzo Fernandez. Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte has already been identified as a transfer target, and Pochettino is also interested in recruiting a new goalkeeper and striker.
There are also speculations surrounding the potential departures of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Trevoh Chalobah, Hakim Ziyech, and Cesar Azpilicueta from the club.
