Arsenal and Brentford are competing for a Scotland international. And Nottingham Forest are ready to rival Everton and West Ham for a French centre-back.
Former Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton is looking to sign a Premier League star for his Serie A club. There is news on a Tottenham player loaned out in Spain. While Italian papers claim today is D-Day for Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter Milan.
Here is a round-up of the best transfer stories in the European media today:
London derby for Aaron Hickey
Brentford have made an €11m offer for Bologna’s Scotland full-back while offering a percentage of any future transfer which would take the fee to about €15m. But Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Arsenal are prepared to pay the €20m sought by the Serie A club to sign the 20-year-old.
Forest back in the big time
The newly promoted club are competing for the signature of Mainz’s French centre-back Moussa Niakhate, according to L’Equipe. The French sports daily reports that the 26-year-old has spoken to Forest and is open to a move to the Premier League. But the deal is not yet done and Everton and West Ham have also shown interest in his signing.
Atalanta looking at Armando Broja
Welshman Lee Congerton went on to work at Celtic and Leicester after Sunderland and is now the chief scout at the Serie A club. Atalanta are to undergo a summer overhaul after finishing eighth to miss out on European football following three seasons in the Champions League.
Colombian strikers Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel could be on their way out and Gazzetta reports Congerton wants Chelsea forward Broja, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, as a replacement. The sports daily claims Chelsea and Atalanta enjoy good relations since the £8m deal for Davide Zappacosta. Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares is also on the Atalanta wishlist.
Atletico Madrid want Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso has been loaned out by Tottenham to Villareal this season and the Argentine helped the Spanish club to the Champions League semi-finals. Now AS in Spain are reporting that his performances have impressed his compatriot Diego Simeone and Atletico are ready to pay €25m for a player under contract until June 2025.
D-Day for Lukaku
After weeks of negotiations, Gazzetta dello Sport claims there will a decisive meeting today - or at the latest Saturday - to formalise the loan of the Chelsea striker back to Inter Milan. The Italian sports daily claims that new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is involved in the talks. Gazzetta says the Blues want a loan fee of €15m with bonuses linked to appearances and results.
Inter have offered €10m while valuing Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries, a player wanted by Thomas Tuchel, at €45m. Gazzetta reports Chelsea are also interested in Inter Stefan de Vrij and the Dutch centre-back, who is also wanted by Manchester United and Aston Villa, could also be part of any deal.
