The new series from the team at 99.7FM, tracking the latest moves in the window. We call it the #JoySports Transfer Daily. Here, we summarize all the moves and rumours in a quick, easy to read format.
The series started in July 1 and ends on August 31.
When does the transfer window open?
The Premier League season wrapped up on May 24 and there has been a slew of confirmed transfers since - including James Milner and Danny Ings to Liverpool and Memphis Depay's move to Manchester United. But the window did not officially open until 12am on Wednesday 1 July 2015.
Is that the same across Europe?
No it is not. The transfer window dates for the major European leagues have yet to be finalised, but France, Germany, Spain and Italy's tends to open at the beginning of June rather than July. This means players from those leagues can agree moves into England, but transfers will not be ratified until July 1. The Dutch summer transfer window tends to open in the second week of June.
In today’s edition...
DI Maria's PSG move looms
Angel Di Maria has arrived in Doha to undergo his medical ahead of a proposed £44m move from Manchester United to Paris Saint Germain.
United paid a British record £59.7m fee to Real Madrid last August for the 27-year-old and were understood to want more than the £44m figure quoted in several national newspapers on Friday.
But a deal has reportedly been struck and Di Maria, who was given an extended holiday after competing for Argentina at the Copa America but failed to meet up with the rest of the United squad on their pre-season tour of the United States, looks poised for a move to France.
He flew in to Qatar on Sunday night, posing for photographs with fans. He is expected to undergo his medical tests at the Aspire Academy on Monday.
... Thiago Silva believes Di Maria is joining bigger club’
Thiago Silva believes Angel Di Maria will be making a step up when he leaves Manchester United for Paris Saint Germain. Di Maria will undergo a medical in Qatar today after PSG agreed a fee of £44.5million to sign the Argentina winger from Manchester United. And Silva believes the Ligue 1 champions now only trail Real Madrid and Barcelona among Europe’s elite clubs, highlighting the capture of Di Maria as evidence of PSG's growing stature. "People now need to respect PSG as one of the big clubs in Europe," Silva said. "Real Madrid and Barcelona are probably on another level, but after that if you join PSG you are you probably taking a step up." PSG knocked out Chelsea on their way to the Champions League semi-finals last season, a fact not lost on Silva."We went further than any English clubs in Europe last year," he added...
LVG: United need players like Pedro
Louis van Gaal has indicated Manchester United must sign a player in the mould of Pedro. The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with United tipped to make a £22m bid. "Barcelona have the speed of Neymar and [Lionel] Messi -- and they have Pedro behind them. We have to compete with that. "We can win the title if we can buy players with speed and creativity. We have to improve our selection in that way. Bayern Munich have [Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben. After that they can change with [Thomas] Muller and they also had [Xherdan] Shaqiri at times. They are our competitors. Chelsea have [Eden] Hazard, Willian, Oscar -- that is speed and creativity."...
Rafael set for Lyon switch
Manchester United defender Rafael Da Silva has arrived in France ahead of his move to Lyon, according to the club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas.The Brazilian has one year left on his contract and has been told he is not in manager Louis van Gaal’s first-team plans this season following the arrival of Matteo Darmian. Aulas confirmed the 25-year-old’s arrival in Lyon, although the two clubs are yet to agree a transfer fee.He tweeted: “Raphael [sic] has arrived from Manchester U. We’re waiting for an agreement with MU on the transfer. He’s in a very Brazilian good mood.”
David De Goer?
Louis van Gaal has instructed Manchester United to sell David De Gea .The United boss wants to draw a line under De Gea’s contract stand-off before the new Premier League season kicks off in six days’ time. Van Gaal believes it makes sense for vice-chairman Ed Woodward to broker a deal with Real Madrid rather than keep an unhappy player at the club.And De Gea’s departure would pave the way for United to make a £25million swoop for Ajax No 1 Jasper Cillessen. Van Gaal has illustrated with his willingness to allow Argentine winger Angel di Maria to Paris St Germain at a £20million loss that he only wants players who are fully committed to his philosophy....
Juve can't offer Pogba crazy wages
Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta admits the club cannot offer Paul Pogba a 'crazy salary' but reiterated their desire to keep hold of the highly-rated France international. Pogba has helped Juventus win three successive Serie A titles since joining from Manchester United in 2012 and this summer has been linked with a host of European clubs - including Barcelona and Manchester City. Juve turned down a reported 80million euro bid from Barcelona last month and Marotta concedes that the Turin club cannot offer the 22-year-old midfielder the sort of salary some of their European rivals can...
No Isco or Oscar for Juve
There’s more from Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta as he went on to confirm that Juventus are seeking to bolster their midfield numbers this but are not planning to lodge bids for Chelsea's Oscar or Real Madrid's Isco."Isco and Oscar are both stellar players, but in the case of Juventus - unfortunately, for now - we will never be able to sign them," Marotta added...
...But are interested in Nasri
Juventus are keen to sign Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri, according to reports. The Italian champions apparently want Nasri to replace Arturo Vidal, who has joined Bayern Munich. Juventus had initially studied a move for Julian Draxler from Schalke, but that deal looks unlikely according to Rai Sport. Nasri arrived at City from Arsenal in 2011, and has made over 100 appearance for City....
Higuain delivers hammer blow
Blow for Napoli with Gonzalo Higuain apparently having no intention of staying in Naples. "We had a meeting with the President (Aurelio De Laurentiis) in Venice 10 days ago,” said agent and brother Nicolas Higuain. "He offered a one-year contract extension, however, in my opinion - and in our opinion - we’ll continue with the original contract, expiring in 2018. I don’t think we’ll accept the President’s offer, because the contract isn’t that different to the one we signed before, so for us it’s not a real offer. We’re calm and happy to continue with the current conditions. At the moment, we have faith, Gonzalo will stay at Napoli, in a team which is 100 per cent focused and can win something. It seems strange, but the big clubs have not contacted me, nor have I spoken with anyone.”...
Could Pepe leave Real Madrid?
Pepe could leave Real Madrid this summer, reports Sport.The Portugal international, who joined Madrid from Porto for €30m in 2007, is inside the final year of his contract and talks over extending his stay froze several months ago.Madrid are expected to opt for a first-choice centre-back pairing of Sergio Ramos and France youngster Raphael Varane this season and that could relegate Pepe to the status of back-up player.The Bernabeu giants’ recent recruitment of Spain Under-19 defender Jesus Vallejo, according to Sport, is a clear sign that the club are placing stock in youth and that could mean that the club are willing to let Pepe leave before the close of the transfer window later this month...
Charlie Austin eyed for Hammers switch
West Ham will this week step up their attempts to bring QPR’s Charlie Austin to Upton Park. The striker is valued at £15million by Rangers – and director of football Les Ferdinand has insisted they will accept nothing less for the man who scored 18 top-flight goals last season. So far, the Hammers, Newcastle and Southampton have baulked at that valuation. But, West Ham boss Slaven Bilic may go back in again, this time offering winger Matt Jarvis, 29, to Rangers as a makeweight in the deal. The winger has only one year left on his contract and would fetch close to £4m. That means a cash outlay of £11m for Austin – a sum the West Ham hierarchy will find more appealing.The Hammers are short up front following last week’s serious injury to Enner Valencia in the Europa League...
City eye Berahino swoop
Manchester City are set to gazump their rivals and sign Saido Berahino.And, after the debacle in Stuttgart last night, the arrival of the West Brom striker cannot come soon enough.Raheem Sterling and Co were on the receiving end as the pressure was cranked up on boss Manuel Pellegrini ahead of next weekend’s big Premier League kick-off.Albion fielded enquiries from the Etihad this week, with the Champions League qualifiers asking to be kept abreast of interested rivals amid reports that Newcastle were set to make a bid. Spurs are long-standing admirers of the frontman, too, but news that moneybags City are now in the hunt should ensure they win the race for the 21-year-old, who scored 14 Premier League goals last season...
Gradel to return to Bournemouth
Bournemouth are on the verge of re-signing the Ivory Coast international Max Gradel from St Etienne. The former Leeds winger is having a medical ahead of the move being completed. He previously spent time on loan with Bournemouth in 2007/08, has played over 40 times for Ivory Coast and scored 17 times in Ligue 1 last year as St Etienne qualified for the Europa League...
Raheem replacement?
Liverpool are looking to snap up Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev for £14.9 million Although not first choice for Real Madrid the Russian has impressed whilst on loan to Villarreal.Cheryshev is considered to be a good replacement for Raheem Sterling, but Liverpool are also reportedly interested in Barcelona's Adama Traore...
Nobody wants Mario
Roma are the latest club to turn down the chance to sign Mario Balotelli (below, left).The Italian is free to leave Liverpool with Brendan Rodgers having finally lost patience with the £16m striker.A number of sides have been offered the chance to sign Balotelli, including Bologna and Sampdoria - bit both have conceded they cannot afford him.That would not be the case for Roma, who have been offered the player by his agent Mino Raiola...
Sunderland eye double swoop
Sunderland remain in talks with Rubin Kazan to sign midfielder Yann M’Vila.We also understand Dick Advocaat’s side are one of two clubs to have made an enquiry to sign QPR midfielder Leroy Fer.West Ham are also thought to be interested in the Dutchman.Astori set to move to Fiorentina...
...and are offered Pato
Sunderland have been offered the chance to sign Brazil striker Alexandre Pato for £5million.The Black Cats – who have agreed to sell Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace for £9m– have opened talks on Pato, 25.The former AC Milan star is on loan to Sao Paulo from Corinthians, where he has rediscovered his form.Pato scored 51 goals for Milan in 117 Serie A games, but his spell at the San Siro was interrupted by a string of injuries.With the futures of Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham uncertain, Sunderland bossDick Advocaat has also been linked with Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes...
Astori set fro Fiorentina?
Davide Astori has reportedly completed his Fiorentina medical and should soon complete his move to the Viola, according to Football Italia. Brazilian full-back Gilberto is also undergoing his medical today and should be announced as a new arrival from Botafogo later today. Fiorentina are on a high at the moment after beating European champions Barcelona 2-1 in the International Champions Cup yesterday thanks to a Federico Bernardeschi...
Llorente set for Spain return?
Sevilla are keen on signing Fernando Llorente from Juventus, according to reports. The former Athletic Bilbao forward has struggled for regular action at the Italian champions since joining in 2013. Llorente has been linked with various clubs including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and Tottenham, but could now return to Spain for the club's Champions League campaign. Juventus want around 12 million Euros for the player, who would replace Carlos Bacca after he joined Milan. Llorente (below) is apparently ready to take a pay cut to finalise the move...
Loan ranger
Steve Bruce is waiting to see if Manchester United will release Paddy McNair. Hull’s boss has moved James Chester out to West Brom for £8million, but he is under pressure to slash the KC Stadium wage bill. And he is hoping Louis van Gaal will allow the young centre-half out on loan.However, Van Gaal does not have sufficient resources at present to give Bruce a definitive answer – and the Geordie may have to wait until after the season gets under way before he gets his man.In February, McNair was rewarded with a new deal to tie him to Manchester Uniteduntil June 2017...
Connor deal done
Connor Wickham has completed a move from Sunderland to Crystal Palace. We understand the fee will total up to £9m inclusive of add-ons...
Barca keen on Vertonghen?
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona could move for Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen (below right, pictured) this summer.Barca have been heavily linked with Monaco's Aymen Abdennour and remain confident of landing him. However, should Monaco decide to keep the Tunisian - or he want to stay put - they want to have Vertonghen ready. His countryman Thomas Vermaelen joined Barca last summer but injuries hindered his first season and Luis Enrique isn't sure if he will ever re-find his best form...
Follow Kweku on Twitter: @nana_odum. Get more news from the #JoySports hashtag
Story by Ghana/Joy Sports/Gary Al-Smith
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