Transfer Gossip: What broke down, and what's next after summer window?
The transfer window is officially closed, although that will do little to dampen the frenzied nature of player transactions. Here's a look at some deals that fell through and others that we can expect in the future.
Real target Mbappe, will settle for Haaland
Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe's eventual move to Real Madrid seems inevitable, and according to Eurosport, the Frenchman will join the reigning La Liga champs next summer to replace Luka Jovic. Hardly a like-for-like switch, with all due respect to Jovic.
Mbappe's terms with PSG will lapse in 2022, and while Real chief Florentino Perez is prepared to go all-in for the 21-year-old, the Daily Mail alleges Real will look to trigger Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland's €70-million release clause should a potential Mbappe fee prove too rich. Just get both, cowards.
One in, one out at the back for Manchester City
Manchester City's efforts to provide competition for left-back Benjamin Mendy fell flat, with the club's reported interest in Bayern Munich's David Alaba and Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico amounting to nothing. The Sun claims City will make a €22-million advance for Tagliafico in January.
Speaking of City, center-back Eric Garcia was set to return to Barcelona. According to the Manchester Evening News, Barca's bid for Garcia was €2.2 million short of City's €22-million valuation. But penny-pinching Barca might benefit from their thriftiness - Garcia's available for free next summer.
Cash-strapped Barca go bargain hunting
Spare a thought for financial titans Barcelona who - like every team involved in football at any level - have taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. It seems the Catalan colossus are targeting soon-to-be free agents with the expectation that revenue losses continue.
Barca fancy Bayern's Alaba and United's Paul Pogba, but the latter just extended his deal, according to Mundo Deportivo. City's Sergio Aguero, Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik, Southampton's Oriel Romeu, PSG pair Juan Bernat and Angel Di Maria, and AC Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma are also mentioned.
Tottenham renew interest in Inter's Skriniar
Tottenham's attempts to replace Jan Vertonghen in central defense will renew the club's efforts to pry Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan come January, according to TEAM Talk. Inter wanted €55 million for the Slovakian, but Spurs wouldn't pay more than €33 million.
Spurs will seek a €2-million loan for Skriniar featuring a €40-million permanent clause, although one might think Joe Rodon's signing from Swansea City would cancel this out. Word is Antonio Conte is eyeing Torino's Armando Izzo as a stand-in for Skriniar, with Matias Vecino going the other way.
United eye Kounde as remedy for comical defence
Manchester United are reportedly considering a €65-million move for Sevilla's Jules Kounde in January if the Red Devils can't correct their current defensive failures by then. That puts an unreasonable amount of faith in Victor Lindelof, who continues to perform at Lindelof-like levels.
United are also monitoring Villarreal's Pau Torres but need to offload Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo first. The team omitted Jones and Rojo from the Champions League squad, and both are worthless on the transfer market. Chief executive Ed Woodward continues to win rave reviews - with nobody.
Partey's pops makes Arsenal claim, angers wife
If you listen to the father of prized Arsenal recruit Thomas Partey, the former Atletico Madrid ball-stopper was holding out for a move to a "bigger team," according to everybody's favorite source for transfer news, Ghanaian publication My Joy Online. What's my joy online? Reading the comments.
Jacob Partey claims Juventus and Chelsea had expressed interest in matching Thomas' €50-million release clause. "I know marrying your wife was huge but is this [transfer] the biggest?" the interviewer asked Jacob, who responded, "It is the biggest." Guess who's sleeping on the couch tonight?
Sounders sound out Larin lark, and other MLS stuff
Shifting the focus to MLS, the Seattle Sounders are looking to boost an already lethal attack with the addition of Canadian international Cyle Larin. According to Turkish outlet Sabah, the Sounders have approached Besiktas, who might be convinced to let ex-Orlando City striker Larin leave in January.
Don Balon says PSG's Keylor Navas could leave for MLS next summer with the Ligue 1 champs eying Milan keeper Donnarumma. Elsewhere, Transfermarkt says New York Red Bulls wunderkind Caden Clark has a clause in his deal that could ensure an eventual move to RB Leipzig. Well, he does look the part.
Bits and bobs
Leeds United's efforts to strengthen the midfield before the English window's closing on Friday didn't come to fruition. According to club football director Victor Orta, they considered both Norwich City's Todd Cantwell and Derby County's Louie Sibley and could return for the pair in January.
Elsewhere in English news that will interest few, Watford has reportedly turned down Crystal Palace's last-ditch €27.5-million offer for Ismaila Sarr following the Senegalese speedster's strong link to Liverpool, before Diogo Jota's signing. Watford apparently want €44 million for Sarr. Good luck with that.
New details have emerged concerning Moise Kean's loan to PSG from Everton. The Toffees did include a permanent option - contradicting earlier reports - with PSG securing the Italian striker for €20 million, or around €8-million more than Everton paid Juve for the 20-year-old.
Okay, that'll do. Until next time.