It’s August, the Premier League season is nearly upon us, so Manchester United inevitably find themselves the centre of a transfer rumour cyclone. They are going toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich for the ambitous signing of Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni with interest also in Bayern’s very own Leon Goretzka, who isn’t flavour of the month with Thomas Tuchel by all accounts.
Everyone knows United will probably have to sell to buy, with Everton now leading the queue to sign Harry Maguire – whether he likes it or not. Come and join Sean Dyche’s ever-growing list of centre back options, Haz. Tottenham and West Ham are still keen on Slabhead.
Speaking of Everton, Demarai Gray has not trained for three whole days as he seeks to push through a move to Fulham. Craven Cottage is lovely at this time of year. Personal terms have been agreed but the Toffees are sticking to their guns for a decent fee.
Elsewhere, Bernardo Silva is spending another summer waiting patiently in the Manchester Airport departures lounge. He would join Barcelona if they made a bid for him and Manchester City decided not to stand in his way. Franck Kessié is going to be the Saudi Pro League’s latest shiny new toy to brag about on the playground. Barca have agreed the £13m sale of the Ivory Coast international to Al-Ahli.
Clément Lenglet is not playing ball; he’s refused a switch to Saudi Arabia and would rather return to Tottenham after a decent spell on loan in north London last season. Each to their own. Spurs still have their sights set firmly on Dutch defender Micky Van de Ven even if Wolsburg’s £42m asking price seems a little steep. Argentinian talent Alejo Veliz is on his way into the building at a more palatable £12m, while Spurs want rid of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele and Bryan Gil.
Paris Saint-Germain are seemingly desperate to distract themselves from the Kylian Mbappé saga by simply signing star-name forwards from elsewhere in Europe, with Gonçalo Ramos in their crosshairs. Benfica’s World Cup sensation is on the brink of a move to the French capital, although it will be an initial loan due to those pesky Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Remember Max Aarons? He of the perennial transfer links to big, big clubs. Well, it seems Southampton want to make him Tino Livramento’s replacement after the right back’s £40m move to Newcastle. Gaetano Castrovilli could be another player switching to the south coast this summer; the Fiorentina midfielder is wanted by Bournemouth.
Chuba Akpom tore the Championship apart with Middlesbrough last season and is now wanted by Premier League new boys Sheffield United, while Rangers’ Glen Kamara is sought by a clutch of Championship and Bundesliga clubs: Southampton, Leeds, anyone who can afford his £5m price tag.
And lower down the pyramid, gnarled second-tier veteran striker Martyn Waghorn, still somehow only 33, is looking for the 12th club of his career after leaving Coventry. League One pair Derby and Blackpool are keen. The cyclone keeps spinning.
