Lionel Messi received shock Tottenham offer, Lukaku having Chelsea medical, Kane to hold Nuno talks – transfer news

HOUSE OF FRASER

Ryan Fraser reckons he will be like a new signing for Newcastle – as the Magpies close in on Joe Willock from Arsenal.

The misfit winger has been attending summer school to try and force his way into boss Steve Bruce’s plans.

Bruce is set to start the season with a 5-3-2 formation, leaving Fraser asking the Newcastle coaches to teach him a new midfield position.

He said: “In a way, I do feel like a new signing. The fans will probably think I am!

“I’ve never really played in midfield, but I’m trying to learn how to play (as a number) eight to try and get myself in the team, because obviously I’m a winger.

“It’s just trying to fit into the team as much as I can, going in and asking the coaches, ‘look, if you see me playing as an eight in midfield, I need to be taught it’, so they’re trying to teach me at the minute.

“I don’t really fit in the formation…so that’s why we kind of said to each other – ‘right, you see me playing here’, ‘right, let’s learn it’.

“I might not start in the team but I want to be first choice.

“If they want to play me ten, I’ve played ten before, but not a lot, and Allan Saint-Maximin’s going to play there.”

ON THE BOX

Football fans in the UK will be able to watch both Serie A and the Bundesliga live on TV next season.

After Sky Sports won the rights to show the German top division last week, BT Sport have now announced that they will be showing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic live on air in the UK and Ireland next season.

The channel has won exclusive rights to show Serie A fixtures in the UK for the next three years, with the deal finishing at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Over 200 live games will be show on BT Sport every season, with at least five games to be shown shown live on each of the 38 match days, starting on August 21 as champions Inter Milan take on Genoa.

Speaking on the announcement BT Sport’s Sports Rights Director Rachael Knight said: “We want to provide our customers with the best sport from across the world and the addition of Serie A means viewers will get to follow some of the biggest stars, managers and clubs in world football.

“European football has always been an important part of our line-up, with Serie A now joining our exclusive coverage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, alongside France’s Ligue 1.”

FO NO

Phil Foden is facing a month on the sidelines with a foot injury, according to reports.

The Manchester City and England ace over flexed a foot during one of England’s final training sessions ahead of the Euro 2020 final against Italy on July 11.

According to the Telegraph, the damage caused is unusual with City’s medical staff treating it cautiously.

And the last thing Man City want to do is aggravate the foot injury.

The month-long injury will keep Foden out of action until the next international break next month, meaning he will miss City’s first three Premier League matches.

City take on Tottenham on Sunday in their league opener, followed by Norwich and then Arsenal.

British transfer record holder Jack Grealish could be handed a start in Foden’s absence, giving the £100million man time to shine.

BACK IN A HARRY

Harry Kane is expected to be available for Tottenham’s opening Premier League game of the season against Manchester City on Sunday, despite speculation surrounding his future.

Kane, 28, has made it clear his desire to leave Spurs this summer and Man City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed his club’s interest in signing the England captain.

But they have not been able to agree a price for the striker, which has led to no deal being done.

Kane only returned to Tottenham on Saturday and is now quarantining for five days.

But new Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo – who is due to hold crunch talks with Kane today – insists he is still in contention to play the game.

He told Sky Sports: “All the players in the squad are available. It is up to us to consider who is the best options.”

When pressed on whether that includes Kane, he added: “All the players in the squad that work here on a daily basis will be options for us. It is up to us to decide.”

HARRY UP

Manchester City are confident about their chances of signing Tottenham star Harry Kane, according to reports.

Kane, 28, has signalled his intention to leave in order to win silverware but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is determined to keep him.

Levy is demanding £150million for his star man but City are confident of striking a deal, according to the Evening Standard.

The Premier League champions’ hopes of landing the striker would have been boosted last week after Kane failed to show up for training.

Kane may also have been buoyed by Pep Guardiola’s admission that he is keen to sign the England captain.

And he reportedly remains City’s number one target, with a move for free agent Lionel Messi believed to be unlikely.

LIN OF DUTY

Leicester City are lining up Jesse Lingard as a potential replacement for James Maddison should the Englishman leave for Arsenal.

Lingard is seen as an ideal replacement for Foxes ace Maddison, according to reports.

Football London are reporting that Arsenal still remain way off Leicester’s £60million valuation of Maddison.

But with Joe Willock set to join Newcastle United for £25m, more funds could be available to try and tempt the Foxes to part ways with the 24-year-old.

And should Arsenal stump up the cash for creative midfielder Maddison, Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard is a potential replacement.

BLUE LOOK

Romelu Lukaku could start for Chelsea in the Uefa Super Cup on Wednesday – if he is registered by 11pm tomorrow.

The Blues have named their 26-man squad for the clash against Villarreal.

But they have until 11pm on Tuesday to make any amendments – meaning Lukaku could make his debut at Windsor Park in Belfast this week.

Chelsea are closing in on a club-record £97.5million transfer to bring the Belgian forward back to Stamford Bridge.

And despite a lack of training with his new team-mates, he could be thrown straight into the starting XI against the Europa League winners.

STRONG CHANCE

Southampton are set to sign Blackburn striker Adam Armstrong in a deal that could rise to £20m.

Armstrong, 24, is due to have a medical with the Saints on Tuesday after a bid of £15m excluding add-ons was accepted.

The Rovers forward scored 29 goals in all competitions last season, and will replace Danny Ings after his £25m switch to Aston Villa last week.

Armstrong had 12 months left on his contract at Ewood Park, and attracted interest from other Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Norwich as well.

But Southampton – who had an initial bid rejected recently – have stolen the march having all but agreed personal terms.

He has big boots to fill, with Ings scoring 41 goals in 91 games across three years at St Mary’s, as well as being the top scorer in each season.

HERE WE GO!

Southampton have signed Chelsea star Armando Broja on loan, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Happy with that, Saints fans?

OOH LA LA!

Lionel Messi is set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain after officially leaving Barcelona over the weekend – but he isn’t going to come cheap.

The Argentine has declined Neymar’s offer to take his No10 shirt at Parc des Princes, although he will take the Brazilian’s spot as PSG’s top earner.

According to AS, the 34-year-old is set to sign a two-year deal on £650,000-a-week to join the French giants.

This figure is significantly bigger than the £490k-a-week deal that Neymar penned earlier this year.

And it positively dwarfs the £310k-a-week that Kylian Mbappe joined on back in 2017.

MISSED MESSI

Paris Saint-Germain fans crowded an airport on Sunday night – after fake reports Lionel Messi was due to land in the French capital.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the gates of the Le Bourget airport hoping to catch a glimpse of their new hero.

Footage from Marca also showed the large group bustling along the street chanting ‘Messi’.

But they were left waiting – because Messi was still in Barcelona.

SPENDING SPREE

Chelsea are close to completing the signing of Romelu Lukaku and the striker’s arrival could spark a spending spree at Stamford Bridge.

Long-term target Declan Rice, 22, remains of interest to the Blues, with Thomas Tuchel also looking to strengthen the defence.

The German has his eye on Sevilla and France defender Jules Kounde, but Chelsea are yet to meet the player’s asking price.

According to the Express, Chelsea will look to pursue those two targets along with Villareal’s Alfonso Pedraza once Lukaku is tied up.

PEDRI-DICULOUS

Pedri will return to Barcelona this week after playing for Spain during the Tokyo Olympics.

The 18-year-old helped his team to a silver medal, with Brazil winning the final 2-1 after extra time on Saturday.

Pedri featured regularly in the tightly congested Olympic schedule, yet is ready to come back to his club on Thursday, report AS.

The midfielder also played a key role for Spain in Euro 2020, helping them reach the semi-final.

That means he has not enjoyed a break from football since the start of last season – and that was limited due to the 2019-20 season ending late.

DOUBLE DEAL

Leicester City are plotting a double swoop for Inter Milan duo Marcelo Brozovic and Stefan de Vrij, according to reports.

The cash-strapped Serie A champions are in a financial hole and are trying to cut costs.

Title-winning manager Antonio Conte and prized wing-back Achraf Hakimi have already gone out the door at the San Siro this summer.

And new boss Simone Inzaghi is in a tight spot with owner Steven Zhang willing to consider offers for any player.

The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez could be sold this summer to cover the cost of Inter’s financial woes.

According to Inter Live, midfield enforcer Brozovic, 28, and De Vrij, 29, are on the Foxes’ radar.

AS LUK WOULD HAVE IT

Romelu Lukaku is undergoing his Chelsea medical today, according to reports.

The Blues are believed to have struck a deal to sign the Belgian from Inter Milan for around £97.5million.

And with Lukaku himself excited to go back to Stamford Bridge, personal terms shouldn’t be an issue.

According to Calcio Mercato, Lukaku has begun undergoing his Chelsea medical in Italy today.

They claim that tests are taking place at the Columbus Clinic in Milan.

Should everything proceed as planned, Lukaku will fly to London later this week to finalise the move.

MADD ON HIM

Arsenal are yet to meet Leicester’s valuation of James Maddison, according to Football London.

The Gunners are thought to be keen on the England midfielder but the Foxes reportedly want in excess of £60million for him.

And Leicester are not believed to be interested in a player-plus-cash deal.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are rumoured to be on Arsenal’s transfer list, with Joe Willock close to joining Newcastle.

If the Gunners do agree a fee for Maddison, Leicester will reportedly pursue Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard as his replacement.

UM-BELIEVABLE

Barcelona star Samuel Umtiti skipped his side’s Joan Gamper trophy celebrations after being booed by his own fans.

The Catalans are in crisis with six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi having left the club.

And Barca’s fans are fuming that some of the other high-earners couldn’t be shipped out so that Messi would stay.

Umtiti, who’s been linked with a move to Manchester United, is among those players that have remained at the club.

And as he entered the game against Juventus, Umtiti was booed by some of his own fans.

SISTER ACT

Neymar’s sister has dropped the latest huge hint that Lionel Messi will be playing for Paris Saint-Germain this season.

The Argentine star conducted a tearful Barcelona exit press conference yesterday.

It is now expected that he will join PSG imminently, with ESPN reporter Julien Laurens claiming that a deal is already done.

And Rafaella Santos, sister of Messi’s pal Neymar, has all but confirmed it.

Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo posted an emotional goodbye message to Barcelona, alongside a picture of herself with her husband and three children.

Rafaella commented in Portuguese: “Welcome beautiful!!!!”

TIM VICKERY

Lionel Messi’s forced exit from Barcelona seems straight out of negotiations in the bizarro world.

He was overwhelmingly the most valuable asset in the Spanish league. They already had him, and could pay him half of what he had been receiving.

But they have to let him go – in order to keep financing all the bad purchases they have made.

However much Messi was being paid, he guarantees a return – on the field and in terms of sponsorship and global interest in a league which has already suffered the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo.

But it seems that Messi has to go so that Barcelona can keep paying Philippe Coutinho.

Click here to read Tim Vickery’s take on the Messi saga

JUR IT

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has refused to rule out any new signings before the transfer window slams shut.

And Klopp reportedly has a handful of players on his transfer shortlist, including Leicester City ace Harvey Barnes and Wolves’ Pedro Neto.

Click here to read Liverpool’s transfer shortlist

TIME TO STRIKE

Harry Kane is more likely to join Manchester City than remain at Tottenham.

That’s according to bookmakers Betfair, who’ve priced the centre-forward at 8/11 to join the Premier League champions before September 3.

Click here to check out the latest odds

RED RAID

Manchester United are interested in making a shock free transfer swoop for Lionel Messi, according to reports.

The Barcelona great, 34, made an emotional exit from the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Despite agreeing a new contract at his boyhood club, LaLiga rules prevented the terms being signed.

It means the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is now a free agent and open to offers.

And according to Duncan Castles, United may put a contract on the table for Messi and his family to consider.

It is thought the Red Devils are crunching the numbers to work out if they can afford a deal.

TAM’S UP

Tammy Abraham is set to leave Chelsea with the club closing in on a deal for Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues made Abraham available for transfer earlier this summer but so far no club has met their £40million asking price.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for the striker, 23, and he was believed to be keen on joining the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side have maintained their interest in Abraham, as have West Ham, according to the Daily Mail.

And they are reportedly joined by Southampton and Atalanta, which means Abraham could have a number of offers to choose from.

Chelsea only want to let Abraham leave on a permanent basis.

DOUBLE WHAMMY

Barcelona will be without summer signing Sergio Aguero until November with a calf injury, according to reports.

The Manchester City legend joined Barca on a free transfer earlier this summer.

According Gerard Romero of Catalan radio station RAC 1, Aguero will be out for the next three months.

IN FOR THE KYL

Toni Kroos ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Real Madrid sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

The Frenchman has long been linked with a move to Santiago Bernabeu.

Kroos told Bild: “I prefer to talk about signings that have already been completed.

“But since Real always want the best, I would not be surprised.”