Pep Guardiola seems desperate to reinforce his centre-back options before the transfer deadline early next month, and it appears his primary targets are Ruben Dias of Benfica and Sevilla s Jules Kounde.
Media reports on Friday suggested that City have offered approximately €55million, plus Nicolas Otamendi, for Dias having apparently had a similar offer turned down for Kounde last week.
Sevilla sporting director Monchi confirmed the club had received an offer for the talented Frenchman, though he did not reveal the club that bid – which was rejected – came from.
City had previously seemed focused on Napoli s Kalidou Koulibaly, while Kounde s partner at Sevilla, Diego Carlos, was also said to have been considered.
But with no progress on those deals…
Tottenham have reached an agreement to sign forward Carlos Vinicius on loan from Benfica until the end of the season, the Portuguese giants announced on Thursday.
The initial £2.7million (€3m) loan deal for Carlos Vinicius also includes a purchase option of £41m (€45m), though the amount paid for the loan will be deducted if exercised.
Tottenham have been desperate to sign a back-up for star Harry Kane, following previous links to Napoli s Arkadiusz Milik and Torino captain Andrea Belotti.
Jose Mourinho s Spurs have now turned to Brazilian Carlos Vinicius, who only joined Benfica from Serie A side Napoli last year.
Carlos Vinicius scored 18 goals in 32 Primeira Liga appearances last season, while he netted 22 in all competitions.
The 25-year…
What the papers say
Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol is on the brink of a record move to Manchester City, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 21-year-old defender will cost the Champions League winners £86 million from RB Leipzig.
Nottingham Forest face competition from Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli for former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Greek international, 25, will cost Forest between £13 million and £17 million from Stuttgart.
Jesse Lingard and Sergio Ramos are the latest players linked with a move to Inter Miami, according to the Daily Mirror. Former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest midfielder Lingard, 30, has been training with the MLS side while Ramos, 37, is a reported target after leaving Paris St Germain.
Premier League ne…
Napoli defender Juan Jesus says it is “difficult to comprehend” the decision not to punish Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi over allegations of racism.
Brazilian Jesus accused Italy international Acerbi of an abusive comment relating to skin colour during a 1-1 draw between their clubs earlier this month.
But the case was dismissed by a Serie A sports judge on Tuesday due to a lack of evidence.
I sincerely hope that this (for me) sad matter can help the world of football to reflect on an issue that is both serious and urgent.
Click here to read the full statement:
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli)
Jesus feels “very bitter” about the verdict and believes his complaint may have been treated differently if he had not respon…
Veteran defender Bruno Alves could leave Fenerbahce due to their expulsion from the UEFA Champions League, according to his father.
Fenerbahce were crowned champions of Turkey for the 19th time after finishing nine points clear of arch-rivals Galatasaray last season but they will not compete in Europe s premier club competition due to a two-year UEFA ban for match-fixing.
The club s absence from the Champions League has opened the door for Bruno Alves potential departure, with boyhood team and Portuguese giants Porto a possible destination.
Washington Alves the 32-year-old Portugal international s father and representative said a move away from Turkey could be on the cards, though a return to Porto would prove difficult due to his wage demands.
Fenerbahc…
The report on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is expected to be handed to FIFA s Adjudicatory Chamber in September.
Football s governing body previously announced that an investigation, led by former United States attorney Michael Garcia, who heads the investigatory chamber of FIFA s Ethics Committee, would be complete by June 9.
The FIFA ethics committee has now revealed that the findings from the inquiry will be handed over in the first week of September.
A statement on FIFA s official website read: In response to enquiries regarding the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee has released the following statement: We expect to deliver our report to …
Manchester City have confirmed the signing of centre-back John Stones from Everton on a six-year deal.
The England international moves for a fee Everton have described as a club-record deal with reports suggesting it is in the region of £50million.
Stones move was expected after UEFA confirmed earlier on Tuesday that City had listed the Barnsley-born 22-year-old in their squad for the Champions League play-off tie with Steaua Bucharest.
We are delighted to announce the signing of John Stones
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
I m absolutely delighted to sign for City and now the deal s done I m looking forward to the next stage in my career, Stones told City s official website.
I ve obviously seen what s going on here at the Etih…
Everton have joined neighbours Liverpool in the race to sign Samuel Eto’o, .
The former Cameroon international is currently without a club after leaving Chelsea, where he scored twelve goals in thirty-five appearances in all competitions last season – his one and only campaign with the club.
Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is keen to bring in competition for £28m signing Romelu Lukaku while Brendan Rodgers has been on the lookout for a new forward since a deal to bring in Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers collapsed last month.
London pair Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with Eto’o, who has won a whole host of honours during his career so far.
He has lifted league titles with Barcelona and Inter Milan, as well as…
Manchester United have rejected an approach from Arsenal for forward Anthony Martial, according to the Express.
The France international has enjoyed a fine start to the campaign scoring five goals in all competitions, though he has started just one Premier League game so far with Marcus Rashford ahead of him in the pecking order.
Arsenal are on the lookout for possible replacements or Alexis Sanchez, who is once again likely to be heavily linked with a move away once the transfer window reopens.
Martial’s appearance in the 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace the game prior to the international break was his one hundredth in all competitions since signing from Monaco in the summer of 2015.
He has scored thirty goals for the Red Devils in that time and h…
Eden Hazard scored his first goals of the season to rescue Chelsea as Antonio Conte s men were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by Roma in the Champions League.
Edin Dzeko had looked set to enjoy one of the most memorable nights of his career after he scored twice – including one of the all-time great Champions League goals – to help Roma rally from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
However, Hazard spoiled the party for the Italians with an equaliser five minutes later in the Group C clash in London on Wednesday.
Going into the game on the back of two Premier League consecutive defeats, Chelsea quickly allayed any nerves around Stamford Bridge when David Luiz guided a sweetly struck shot into the net after 11 minutes and Hazard doubled their lead, t…