August 25 – Liverpool star Mohammed Salah has been caught in transfer speculation as Saudi side Al-Ittihad reportedly prepare to launch a bid of well over €100 million to tempt the Egyptian star away from the Merseyside club.
The contract offered to the 31-year-old reportedly dwarfs his current deal, which is worth over £350,000 per week, and would see him become the SPL’s highest-paid player. The move would see him link up with former teammate Fabinho and Ballon D’or holder Karim Benzema at the SPL champions.
On August 7, Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa tweeted: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohammed remains committed to LFC.” The club are strongly opposed to the idea of selling Salah.
West Ham target Mohammed Kudus revealed that last night’s hattrick performance against Ludogorets would be his “last game at Ajax” as the Ghanaian midfielder continues to be linked with a move to East London. The player was originally scouted as a replacement for Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta who appeared destined for Manchester City until the FA revealed they were investigating the player for spot fixing last week.
Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Belgian winger Eden Hazard, who is currently without club after departing Real Madrid in June.
The 32-year-old’s time in Madrid was plagued by reoccurring injury which is the main concern for the Eagles ahead of the shock transfer. A clear attacking vacancy has opened due to the absence of Wilfried Zaha, who transferred to Galatasaray last month, and Palace will be hoping to replicate that attacking output by acquiring the Belgian international.
Folarin Balogun looks finally set to transfer away from Arsenal, after the North London club agreed a fee of €45 million with AS Monaco for the immediate transfer of the US international. The player has been in the shop window for most of the summer after playing limited roles in Arsenal’s pre-season tour in his native USA, alongside a notable absence in the club’s Premier League openers versus Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old comes off the back of a prolific loan spell in Ligue1 last year, which saw him score 21 league goals. Balogun has a market value of €30 million according to TransferMarkt and after his debut performances for the US in the Nations League in June issued Arsenal with a ‘play-me or sell-me’ ultimatum. They opted to sell.
Brentford have put an £80 million price tag on English goalscorer Ivan Toney, who netted on 20 occasions last term in the Premier League. Spurs and Arsenal have both expressed their interest in signing the player in January once the player has served his 8-month ban from all football activity for betting.
Nottingham Forest are on the cusp of signing Chelsea midfielder Audrey Santos on loan. The West London club were clear that there will be no option to buy the Brazilian once his loan is concluded next summer: he remains a key part of Chelsea’s plans for the future.
Manchester City are preparing another bid for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal international Matheus Nunes after Wolves rejected their opening offer of £47 million this week. The 24-year-old comes in as the Citizens look to bolster their midfield options after Kevin De Bruyne was ruled out until 2024 with injury and the club backed out of a move for highly-rated West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta this week.
Joao Cancelo’s move to from Manchester City to FC Barcelona is inches away from being finalised as Super agent Jorge Mendes flew to the Catalan Capital yesterday afternoon. The Portuguese international spent the back-end of last season on loan with FC Bayern, who opted against paying the €60 million option in the deal to make the move permanent. The player’s relationship with Manchester City bizarrely crumbled during the 2022/23 season, after a successful stint at the club earned him a place in the World Team of the Year 2021 for the left back position.
The player has a market value of €50 million, but a move would likely cost less due to the player seeking a move and Manchester City’s willingness to let him leave.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1715013219labto1715013219ofdlr1715013219owedi1715013219sni@o1715013219fni1715013219