Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz is days away from becoming a new Chelsea player after it was confirmed that the clubs have agreed a package of €80m plus €20m in add-ons for the midfielder. The official announcement is just around the corner.
Meanwhile, Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has reportedly completed his medical ahead of his quoted £22m move to Everton. There have been a lot of developments in the transfer market as the new 2020/21 season nears, and we look at the top stories from Europe.
Fiorentina closing in on Lucas Torreira
Lucas Torreira’s future has been thrown in the air recently, and reports have emerged that Serie A side Fiorentina are on the verge of luring the midfielder away from London for a fee of around £21.3m.
The Uruguayan arrived at the Emirates in a £26m deal from Sampdoria on the back of a stellar performance in the FIFA World Cup. He took no time in establishing himself as a fan favourite, but things haven’t panned out well recently. He has fallen back in the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and given the fact the Spaniard is chasing Atletico’s Thomas Party, it’s in the best of interest for all parties to part ways.
both Fiorentina and Torino are in talks with Arsenal for Torreira. Lucas strongly wants to come back to Italy. Never had any talk for a swap with Diawara (Arsenal are not interested 👌🏻)
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 4, 2020
Torreira has been tipped to return to Italy and was even linked with AC Milan last summer, but Arsenal somehow managed to keep him on. As things stand, Metro Sports quote that the Gunners have reportedly agreed to loan him to Fiorentina for £7.1m, and the Italian club will have an option of making the deal permanent for £14.2m at the end of his loan tenure.
Manchester United make €30m offer for Sergio Reguilon
Days after acquiring Donny van de Beek from Ajax, Manchester United have reportedly made a shocking €30m (around £26.8m) bid for Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon, who spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Sevilla.
The 23-year-old full-back is being monitored by a host of European clubs including the likes of Juventus, Tottenham, Sevilla and even Napoli, and given the fact that Reguilon himself knows that he is way down the pecking order at Real, he is expected to leave the La Liga champions this summer.
As for United, they are rightly expected to be the favourites as they are willing to offer a long-term deal, while Sevilla will only look for another extension. Ole Gunnar Solskaer’s interest in a left-back has come after it was quoted that he tends to move Brandon Williams to right-back position as a cover for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. This would leave him short of options on the left side, with Luke Shaw being the only one available. And thus an interest in Reguilon.
Lionel Messi could stay at Barcelona
Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi has hinted that there’s a big possibility that the Argentine might see off his contract - which runs until 2021 - with Barcelona after the talks between him and the clubs went ‘well’.
Messi’s representatives arrived in Catalunya on Wednesday, and several stories have since been fabricated. Upon touching down, Messi Sr. had said he did not 'know anything' when quipped about the 33-year-old’s future. As thing stand, any club which intents to land Messi need to pay his €700m (£630m) release clause.
In a recent development, his father has told Mediaset that the talks with Barcelona have went 'well' and the player might remain with the Blaugrana until the end of his current contract in 2021.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rafael Marchante
