SteemSports Presenter: 
SteemSports General Manager: Nolan Jacobson, 
, STEEM Witness & PeerPlays Witness.
Over the past couple of days; since the last update on the transfer window, SteemSports presenter
has spent countless hours putting his ear to the ground, scouring the web and flipping through TV channels. There has been a lot of noise in the rumor mills, endless static noise. But thankfully out of the mass of data, patterns started to emerge and once again I’ve been able to put together an article outlining the juicy tidbits of verifiable rumors, deals and drama emanating from the biggest market of world football. This is the European Transfer window report.
Transfer News
Manchester City FC are rumored to continue their pursuit of the Tottenham Hotspur right back, Kyle Walker. The England international is Pep Guardiola’s first choice right back and City are said to have been trying to secure his services since the end of last season. Rumor has it that a difference in the valuation of the player remains, as the only stumbling block to securing a deal with Tottenham; who are said to be holding out for 50 million pounds. It has also been reported that the player has told friends that the move would happen sometime in the next two weeks. Which would be in time for him to travel with city on their pre-season tour. It also rumored that Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino is keen for the deal to be concluded quickly so he can move for a replacement early in the transfer window which officially opens on July 1.
Arsenal midfielder, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is rumored to be attracting interest from a host of European clubs. It is being reported that Arsenal FC’s resolve to keep the young speedster will be tested in the coming days with reports of a 30 million pounds move for the pacy winger from Jurgen Klopp's, Liverpool side. Manchester United have also registered their interest in the pacy winger. Liverpool completed a 39 million pounds deal for the Roma winger, Mohamed Salah on Thursday and now have their sights set on the England international who has just one year left on his contract and is said to have become tired of the clubs’ attitude towards a new deal, coupled with the fact that he is not a regular starter under Arsene Wenger.
Reports are saying that Chelsea is interested in the signing of the Juventus defensive duo Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro. Chelsea's manager, Antonio Conte is said to be in the market for a left back and a center half and has reportedly identified the two players as his preferred targets. Bonucci would undoubtedly fit perfectly into Conte’s 3-man defensive setup, having previously worked with together with the system at Juventus. It is said that Conte sees Alex Sandro as a perfect fit for the left back position at Chelsea. A confirmed 55 million pounds bid has already been turned down by Juventus and Chelsea are said to be prepared to move again for the player. A deal for the defensive duo could set Chelsea back as high as 105 million pounds.
Manchester United has emerged as the shock candidates to sign Harry Kane in the summer. Jose Mourinho is said to be interested in bringing in the lethal Tottenham Hotspur forward and he has now reportedly told his recruitment team to give up the chase of Cristiano Ronaldo and instead make a move for the striker. Tottenham values the striker at 100 mil and Mourinho is said to be willing to offer any amount to land his man. Jose Mourinho is said to be keen on pairing the striker with the Real Madrid front-man, Alvaro Morata, and the duo is set to cost Manchester United in the range of 170 mil. The attacking duo scored a combined 58 goals in their respective leagues last season and the combination of the two players would give Manchester United a much-needed potency up front.
Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly set to lodge a 60 million bid for the Manchester City striker, Sergio Aguero. The French side is said to believe that a deal for the Argentine is possible due to the tension between him and coach Pep Guardiola after Gabriel Jesus established himself as the first-choice striker at the club towards the end of last season. Agueros future is more in doubt following Citys’ interest in Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe. The French giants are ready to splash the cash to improve the squad that finished behind Monaco in the Ligue 1 season and they would see Aguero has a perfect fit for their squad.
It has been confirmed that FC Barcelona's target is Hector Bellerin, he has been telephoned by Arsenal's majority shareholder Stan Kroenke to tell him he would not be leaving the club this summer. The full-back who joined Arsenal back in 2011 has been linked with a return to his boyhood club, FC Barcelona, but the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger said that his star player is not for sale and with no concrete offer having been made, Arsenal have moved a step further in holding on to their star man with Stan Kroenke’s call. The player signed a new 5-year deal last summer and he was told by Stan Kroenke that he is expected to honor his new contract.
The Nigerian youngster, Henry Onyekuru, is reportedly attracting interest from numerous clubs around Europe including Arsenal, West Ham, and Celtic. The striker was in lethal form for KAS Eupen in the Belgian Jupiler League last season scoring 24 goals in all competitions. The player has already been a subject of several inquiries with a bid having already been rejected. The players' future is unknown but a move to the Premier League is more likely with the player having already expressed his desire to leave.
West Ham and RB Leipzig are rumored to be set to fight over the signature of Caens’ France under 21 international, Yann Karamoh. Both sides are prepared to pay a fee in the region of 8 million for the 18-year-old player who scored 5 goals in 35 appearances for French side to help them avoid relegation. Monaco had been the front-runner in the race for his signature but they have pulled out of the race following the signing of Jordi Mboula from Barcelona. Caen is hoping to drive the price of the Ivory-Coast born France under 21 international price upward with a transfer battle, but a deal for the player should be formalized soon.
Barcelona is said to be eyeing a host of midfielders to help strengthen their team ahead of next season. A move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti was the most likely, but with the player saying he will stay put if his club strengthens their squad, the Catalan club has turned their attention to other midfield targets like Saul Niguez and Mateo Kovacic. Both of these players play for Barcelona local league rivals and a deal will be hard to conclude but Barcelona's new manager Ernesto Valverde is said to be undeterred and is set to make bids for the two players.
Manchester United are said to have offered Radja Nainggolan a 7.5 million pounds a year deal. The player has been a target for Premier League clubs with Chelsea having a bid for the Belgium international rejected last season. The fans’ favorite has been at AS Roma since 2014, during which he has made over 100 appearances for the Italian side. He seems to be happy at the club, having rejected a Chelsea approach last season. The midfielder is said to be seen as a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick enjoyed an impressive season with Roma last season with 11 goals and 4 assists helping them to a second-place finish and direct champions league qualification.
Deals in the Works
Arsenal FC is set to win the race for Alexandre Lacazette in a 44 million move. The French striker had his sights set on Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, but their transfer ban seems to have poured cold water on the deal. The France international is set to become Arsene Wengers' second signing of the season and the compatriot Olivier Giroud, who is set to leave the club, has been mentioned in a swap deal, other clubs are also interested in Olivier Giroud with West Ham and Marseille set to battle it out for his signature. Lyon has already identified other replacement with Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz to be brought in in a deal rumored to be around 15 million pounds.
The England youngster, Chris Willock is set to leave Arsenal for the Portuguese giants, SL Benfica. The 19-year-old forward is out of his contract at the end of the month and he has already traveled to Portugal to discuss the terms over the free transfer. The player that has been at Arsenal since he was 5 and has represented the Gunners at all levels and he has been involved in their pre-season tour for the past 3 seasons, he has, however, only made 2 first team appearances and a lack of first team opportunities has lead him to move to the Portuguese club that has a history of developing young players.
Confirmed Deals
Marseille has reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of the French front-man, Valere Germain, who is set to sign a 4 year deal with Marseille, the player who scored 10 goals in 36 appearances last season to help Monaco to the league victory is set to complete a medical on Monday ahead of a proposed move to local rivals. Marseille announced the deal in an official statement and the deal will be finalized on Monday if he completes the medical. The player will leave after 12 years with Monaco, and after falling down the order behind Radamel Falcao and the teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe.
Watford has completed the signing of the Derby midfielder for a reported 8 million. The player is currently on international duty with England's under 21 squad in Poland and he will join the Hornets squad on his return. The player is set to be Marco Silva's first signing. The Youngster made his debut for Derby at 16 and has made over 150 appearances for Derby before his transfer and he has now signed a 5-year deal.
Liverpool has completed the signing of Mohamed Salah from Roma for a club record fee of 37 mill, potentially rising to 43 million. The Egyptian international is Liverpool's first signing and he penned a deal worth 90,000 a week and he will become Liverpool's most expensive player, surpassing the 35 mill paid to Newcastle for Andy Caroll in 2011. The deal had been in the works for quite a while and Liverpool's manager, Jurgen Klopp, will be pleased to have completed the transfer. The player almost signed for Liverpool in 2014, only to pick to move to Chelsea from Basel but Liverpool has finally got their man after 3 years of waiting. The pacy winger is expected to slot into Klopps’ high pressing brand of football perfectly.
Monaco has completed the signing of the wonder kid, Jordi Mboula, on a 5 year deal for a reported 2.6 million. The youngster who has represented Spain at various age levels has been likened to Lionel Messi and he will move to Monaco from a club he joined at the tender age of nine. And big things are expected from the Spanish under 21 international, who is expected to fill the void left by Bernando Silva’s exit to Manchester City.