Latest news with #defensive reinforcements
Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Liverpool step up interest in Marc Guéhi and Giovanni Leoni
Liverpool are stepping up their interest in Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace and Parma's Giovanni Leoni as they seek defensive reinforcements before the end of the month. Leoni, 18, is well-regarded and has also been tracked by Inter Milan. Inter's new coach Cristian Chivu was in charge at Parma last season, and there is an obvious benefit to Leoni to stay in Italy in the countdown to next summer's World Cup. However, Inter's budgetary restrictions mean they may not be able to stretch to the fee of about £30 to £35million that Parma would seek. Liverpool have not yet made club-to-club contact, but they believe Leoni is the best of the young centre backs in Europe and have been trying to recruit a younger player for a number of years. Interest in Levi Colwill, Leny Yoro and Dean Huijsen was unsuccessful in the last three consecutive summers. In Yoro's case that was primarily to do with the pathway and so he chose to join Manchester United from Lille. Leoni could have similar reservations, and Liverpool want to be sure he is willing to leave Italy. The courtship of Guéhi has intensified, with Palace's chairman Steve Parish having stated the club were willing to sell the England international at the right price. Parish said losing Guéhi on a free transfer at the end of the summer would constitute a 'problem' for Palace, but the key remains the respective valuations of both clubs. It is likely that Liverpool view Guéhi, 25, as nearer to £30million plus add-ons. Deals for Leoni and Guéhi would not be dependent on each other. Liverpool have three centre backs in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35million last month. Gomez is injured and Konaté's long-term future is clouded after he entered the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers risk losing their captain, Lewis Travis, on a free transfer at the end of the season after turning down two offers from Derby County. Travis, 27, is valued at £2.5million by the club he first joined in 2014, and Blackburn have turned down an offer of £1.5million plus add-ons from their Championship rivals. The defensive midfielder has not been offered a new contract despite his length of service and does not want to leave for free at the end of the season, given Blackburn's well-documented financial issues. However, Derby are growing increasingly frustrated by Blackburn's stance and could move onto alternative targets as they look to strengthen the head coach John Eustace's squad. Eustace worked with Travis for a year at Blackburn before leaving to join Derby in February. Chelsea are not interested in the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manchester United do not regard the position as a priority while André Onana remains at the club (Peter Rutzler writes). Donnarumma is expected to be available for a cut-price fee of about £26million this summer after he was told he is no longer in the PSG head coach Luis Enrique's plans. The 26-year-old, who was signed on a free transfer from AC Milan in 2021, has one year remaining on his contract and was left out of PSG's squad for the Uefa Super Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. Chelsea made an offer for the AC Milan and France goalkeeper Mike Maignan earlier in the summer, but the club decided he was not necessarily an upgrade on the players they already have in that position. They retain belief in Robert Sánchez, whose stock has improved after a good showing at the Club World Cup, and Filip Jorgensen, who made 24 appearances in all competitions last season. PSG sources have suggested that both Manchester clubs have checked on Donnarumma's situation this summer, although it is understood United would only look to sign a goalkeeper if Onana, who has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, leaves the club. Donnarumma was an exceptional performer for PSG during their treble-winning campaign, but he was also seen as a slightly awkward fit for Enrique, who prefers his goalkeepers to be exceptional with the ball at their feet. He has signed the promising 23-year-old Lucas Chevalier from Lille, who is expected to be the club's No1 next season. Galatasaray are believed to be an option for Donnarumma. Bournemouth are set to confirm the signing of centre back Bafodé Diakité from Lille after selling Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain (Peter Rutzler writes). Zabarnyi's move to Paris was confirmed on Tuesday morning and the Ukraine centre back has signed a five-year contract with the European champions. After a protracted negotiation, PSG agreed a fee with Bournemouth worth an initial €63million (£54.4million), with a further £2.6million in add-ons. Diakité, 24, is set to sign a five-year deal as his replacement after Bournemouth struck a deal worth €40million (£34.5million), which includes add-ons worth £4.3million. Bournemouth have tried to move quickly to secure replacements after losing four of their back five from last season, with the goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga leaving along with the defenders Dean Huijsen, who signed for Real Madrid, and Milos Kerkez, who has gone to Liverpool. They have signed the Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic for £25million and Adrien Truffert, a left back, has signed from Rennes for a reported £14.5million. Fulham have rejected a £34.5million bid from Atalanta for the striker Rodrigo Muniz (Peter Rutzler writes). Muniz has been subject to Premier League interest this summer, with Fulham also rejecting a £32million bid from Leeds United earlier in the transfer window. Fulham have had a quiet summer so far, but are determined to keep their squad together ahead of the new season. They are also looking to strengthen, with a winger a priority after the departures of Reiss Nelson and Willian at the end of last season. The club are pursuing the Shakhtar Donetsk winger Kevin, but talks have stalled due to a gap in valuation. Fulham are believed to have made an offer for the 22-year-old that would have eclipsed the fee they paid for their record signing, Emile Smith Rowe, had it been accepted. Smith Rowe signed from Arsenal last summer in a deal that could be worth up to £34million. Shakhtar are believed to be seeking a fee of close to £40million for the Brazil U20 international. Fulham are interested in bringing back Nelson from Arsenal, who spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage, as well as Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan, but agreements have not been reached for either player.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 BREAKING: Charlotte complete free transfer for Harry Toffolo
Dean Smith's Charlotte have secured vital defensive reinforcements after completing a move for former Nottingham Forest left-back Harry Toffolo. [recent video] In a [confirmed length of contract] deal, the 29-year-old former England youth international joins up with the Crown amid some of their best form of the current 2025 MLS season, while questions remain surrounding their frailties at the back. Toffolo was previously a standout performer at the City Ground as the club re-established itself in the top flight of the English pyramid, with other postings across a journeyman career including Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, and Swindon Town. Charlotte, despite being on a current run of form that sees them reaching the MLS Cup playoffs as things stand, is posting one of the worst defensive records in the Eastern Conference. Toffolo's experience at the back, hopefully, will prove decisive for Smith and company. 📸 Alex Pantling - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roma submit official bid for Legia's Jan Ziolkowski
While negotiations to strengthen the attack continue, Roma are looking to find additional defensive reinforcements following the arrival of Daniele Ghilardi. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Giallorossi are considering a young player from Legia Warsaw. The player in question is Jan Ziolkowski, born in 2005, but the Roman club isn't the only one interested. An Italian derby is looming for the Polish defender: Udinese are also interested in Ziolkowski, and both clubs have already sent formal offers to Legia Warsaw to acquire him.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gent, Rangers and more: Clubs circle for FC Volendam defender
KAA Gent are reportedly looking for defensive reinforcements and have their sights set on FC Volendam's Xavier Mbuyamba. Fabrizio Romano has reported that the FC Barcelona and Chelsea youth academy product is attracting considerable foreign interest. According to Romano, Gent aren't the only side showing interest. Scottish club Rangers are also reportedly intrigued by the defender. While the Glasgow team are already seen as a strong competitor for Gent, several clubs in England are also monitoring Mbuyamba. It was recently revealed that Southampton and Watford have targeted him. The latter were also linked with Mbuyamba two years ago. There has also been interest from Turkey, Italy, and Poland. Advertisement With the chances of Mbuyamba staying at Volendam slim, Heen en Weer is reportedly willing to let the defender go. With a market value of one million euros and the fact that he is entering the final year of his contract, he appears to be an affordable alternative for several clubs. Mbuyamba could leave Volendam for half a million euros. GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield
