Manchester United have reached a provisional agreement with Ajax over the £84.2million transfer of Brazilian winger Antony.
A breakthrough was reached on Sunday with United offering a £80m fixed amount with £4.2m in add-ons, which includes a solidarity payment for Antony’s previous club Sao Paulo. He will sign a five year contract with the option for a further year.
Ajax had rejected United’s offer of £76m on Friday and insisted Antony would not be sold. However, their stance softened following a board meeting and United’s increased offer. They have also revived their bid to sign Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech as a replacement.
Hudson-Odoi to seal loan move to Bayer Leverkusen
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is reportedly set to seal a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen after the Bundesliga side agreed a deal until the end of the season.
The England international has found opportunities hard to come by since overcoming a crippling Achilles injury he sustained last season and Thomas Tuchel has not found room for the 21-year-old after signing Raheem Sterling.
Now Hudson-Odoi is ready to clinch his first ever loan move from Chelsea and is set to fly out to Germany to put pen to paper on a season-long deal, according to Sky Sports.
Sportsmail reported last week how Chelsea and Leverkusen were in talks over the loan – with Hudson-Odoi informed Chelsea he was keen to leave earlier this month in a bid to secure more regular football.
Liverpool make surprise move for Berge?
Liverpool are eyeing a shock swoop for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge before Thursday’s transfer deadline. The playmaker has caught the attention of Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp and could provide the solution to the club’s midfield injury crisis.
Sheffield United paid Belgian side Genk £22 million for Berge in January 2020 and the Norwegian was a key component in the Blades’ run to the Championship play-off’s last season.
Berge is held in such high regard at Bramall Lane that Sheffield United slapped a £35m release clause on the 24-year-old, but that figure is unlikely to fend off interest from the FA Cup holders, according to the Yorkshire Post.
Cavani set to join Valencia
Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani is on the brink of making his return to club football following his release by Manchester United when he completes a move to Spanish side Valencia.
Cavani spent almost two years at United before leaving Old Trafford when his contract expired at the end of the 2021/22 season and is now set to join the Liga team as manager Gennaro Gattuso begins his first season in charge.
‘When you speak of Cavani, he is not a normal player,’ Gattuso said ahead of Valencia’s hosting of Atletico Madrid on Monday, adding that club owner Peter Lim has been behind the veteran’s arrival. ‘He has played at great clubs and at the top level for a long time. He is 35 but he has an incredible mentality,’ Gattuso said.
Bernardo Silva ‘irreplacable’ amid Barcelona interest
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has pointed to the key contribution of Bernardo Silva after his side came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday.
Erling Haaland was the matchwinner with a hat-trick, but it was Bernardo’s 53rd-minute deflected strike that got City back in the game after Palace’s first-half dominance was rewarded through a John Stones own goal and Joachim Andersen’s header.
In a week when Guardiola ruled out selling him to either Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, Bernardo was the best player on the pitch, once again full of running and invention, dragging City back into the contest and playing a major role in Haaland’s second of the afternoon.
Fofana in US for Chelsea medical
Chelsea have reportedly flown Wesley Fofana out to the US to complete his medical as his move to Stamford Bridge edges closer. Fofana’s switch to the Blues has taken some time to negotiate, with Leicester rejecting multiple offers in recent weeks.
However, the Foxes finally accepted a fee in the region of £70m on Friday, and the 21-year-old centre back arrived Stateside on Sunday to undergo his medical checks, according to The Athletic.
It is understood that Fofana has gone to the east coast of the US to finalise his move to give the club’s owner Todd Boehly further peace of mind after the Frenchman missed seven months of last season with a broken leg and dislocated ankle.
Ajax target Ziyech to replace Antony
Ajax have revived their attempt to sign Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea, who has been targeted as Antony’s replacement.
The Moroccan winger joined the Blues from Ajax for £38 million in 2020 but has since struggled to carve out a regular first team spot in Thomas Tuchel‘s side.
Ziyech has dropped further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following the summer arrival of Raheem Sterling, who scored twice in the Blues’ 2-1 win against Leicester on Saturday.
Alongside the ex-Man City star, the 29-year-old is continuing to fight with Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi for a spot in Tuchel’s front three.
Willy Boly boycotts Wolves to force transfer
Bruno Lage revealed Willy Boly sensationally chose to boycott Wolves’ draw with Newcastle, despite being selected for the matchday squad, in a bid to force a move away.
Wolves last week rejected a bid from Nottingham Forest for the 31-year-old but Lage made plain that Boly, who has been on the bench for the opening three league games, has no interest in remaining at Molineux with five days remaining of the transfer window.
‘He’s been a great professional but he’s trying to force something,’ Lage said.
Asked if the defender will face punishment for his no-show at Molinuex, Lage wouldn’t be drawn.
