All the top stories and transfer rumours from Friday’s national newspapers…
Mendes has offered Cristiano Ronaldo to AC Milan and Napoli
According to transfer expert Di Marzio, Ronaldo’s agent Mendes is trying to find a suitable home for the Portuguese star before the summer window closes, and for that reason he has contacted Napoli again and AC Milan.
Di Marzio’s report claims that Mendes had contacted Napoli at the beginning of August and that the two sides have once again discussed a possible move for Ronaldo in the last few hours.
The report further suggests that with Napoli having already brought in Kvaracshelia, Laspadori and Giovanni Simeone to strengthen their front line this summer, Mendes could create the possibility of Ronaldo joining Napoli by bringing a major offer for Osmeen, with Manchester United being a potential home for the Nigerian international.
Still, Di Marzio’s report points out that the operation in question is difficult, as Napoli is currently only willing to sell Osmayne for more than 100 million euros, while United is courting Anthony, whose price is not far from Osmayne’s. Bayern is also interested in Osmayne, but the Bundesliga giants are not acting at the moment.
Meanwhile, Di Marzio also said that in addition to Napoli, Mendes also recommended Ronaldo to Milan, for which he may try to bring an offer for Rafael Leao, but Milan currently has no intention of selling the Portuguese international.
The UEFA Europa League Top 32 is out! The draw will take place on August 26
UEFA Europa League Round of 32 for the 2022-23 season
UEFA Cup Top 32
12 direct qualifiers: Roma (Italy), Manchester United (England), Arsenal (England), Lazio (Italy), Braga (Portugal), Feyenoord (Netherlands), Rennes (France), Real Sociedad (Spain), Real Betis (Spain), Union Berlin (Germany), Freiburg (Germany), Nantes (France)
10 UEFA Europa League play-off teams: AEK Larnaca (Cyprus), Ludogorets (Bulgaria), Helsinki (Finland), Sheriff of Tiraspol (Moldova), Fenerbahce (Turkey), Malmo (Sweden), Omonia (Cyprus), Ferencvaros (Hungary), Olympiakos (Greece), Zurich (Switzerland)
10 teams eliminated in the third qualifying round and play-offs of the Champions League: Monaco (France), Sturm Graz (Austria), St. Giles (Belgium), Midtjylland (Denmark), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine), Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Eindhoven (Netherlands), Trabzonspor (Turkey), Bodoggrad (Norway)
Stages of the draw
First grade.
Roma (Italy)
Manchester United (England)
Arsenal (England)
Lazio (Italy)
Braga (Portugal)
Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)
Olympiakos (Greece)
Second rank.
Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Rennes (France)
Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Monaco (France)
Real Sociedad (Spain)
Karabakh (Azerbaijan)
Malmo (Sweden)
Ludogorets (Bulgaria)
Third rank.
Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova)
Real Betis (Spain)
Midtjylland (Denmark)
Bodoglinte (Norway)
Ferencvaros (Hungary)
United Berlin (Germany)
Freiburg (Germany)
Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Fourth rank.
Nantes (France)
Helsinki (Finland)
Graz Storm (Austria)
AEK Larnaca (Cyprus)
Omonia (Cyprus)
Zurich (Switzerland)
St. Giles (Belgium)
Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Asensio was recommended to Manchester United
Asensio has been recommended to Manchester United, but United’s current focus remains on bringing in Anthony.
The report claims that United were offered the chance to sign Real Madrid striker Asensio, the 26-year-old Spanish striker wants to leave Real Madrid and it is understood that 30 million euros is enough to sign him.
The outlet said United were recommended Asensio before signing Casemiro, but they are currently pursuing other targets, mainly Ajax striker Anthony. From the current situation, it is unlikely that Manchester United will sign Asensio.
United hope to sign four more players before the summer window closes, including a striker, a midfielder, a right-back and a replacement goalkeeper
In the battle for Reguilon, Fulham is currently ahead of Lazio
Beijing time on August 26, Sky Sports Radio Italy celebrity Di Marzio revealed that Fulham is currently ahead of Lazio in the battle for Tottenham Hotspur left back Reguilon.
Lazio are looking for a left-back and Reguilon is their potential target,” said Di Marzio. However, in the last few hours, Fulham have been in contact with Tottenham. In the battle for Reguilon, Fulham are now in the leading position.”
In fact, Reguilon prefers to stay in the Premier League.
However, the British Daily Mail reports differently from Di Marzio, with the Daily Mail claiming that Fulham and Lazio are in talks with Tottenham over bringing Reguilon.
Lazio want to take Reguilon on loan in the summer window, with a permanent buyout option. As for Fulham, they are only looking for a loan at this stage.
Everton midfielder Alli joins Besiktas on loan
Everton midfielder Alli joined Besiktas on loan.
Besiktas FC has officially announced that Everton midfielder Alli has joined the team on loan until the end of the season without a loan fee, while the club has a buyout option at the end of the season.
Alli, 26, previously played for Tottenham Hotspur and joined Everton in 2022. Last season, Alli played 11 games for Everton, making only one start.
Barcelona center back Umtiti joins Serie A Lecce on loan
Barça officially announced that central defender Umtiti joined Serie A Lecce on a one-year loan without buyout clause.
Umtiti joined Barcelona in the summer of 2016 and has made 133 appearances for the team scoring 2 goals, winning two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles and two Spanish Super Cup titles with Barcelona.
Due to injury problems, Umtiti has made very few appearances for Barcelona in recent seasons, and last season, he made only one appearance for Barcelona.
Newcastle sign Isak for record-breaking €70 million transfer fee
Romano confirmed: Newcastle are about to sign Real Sociedad striker Isak for a record-breaking transfer fee of 70 million euros.
Romano said that Newcastle paid 65 million Euros + 5 million Euros floating fee for Isak. This will easily break Newcastle’s all-time transfer fee record, which previously stood at £40 million and was held jointly by striker Joe Linton and midfielder Guimaraes.
Isak has arrived at Newcastle and undergone a medical examination, after completing all the work Newcastle will officially announce his signing.
Isak has scored one goal in two appearances this season, after scoring 10 goals and three assists in 41 appearances in all competitions last season.
Milik joins Juve on loan for a fixed fee of 1 million euros
Romano’s news, Milik joins Juve on loan
Romano wrote: “Milik joins Juve, Here we go is confirmed! The parties have reached a comprehensive agreement on the loan, with a fixed loan fee of 1 million euros, plus a floating 1 million euros and an optional buy-out clause of 8 million euros. Marseille has accepted the offer yesterday.”
Milik will arrive in Turin today for a medical and Juve’s next signing will be Paredes.
Nicolas Pepe joins Nice on loan with no buyout clause
Arsenal have officially announced that their striker Nicolas Pepe has joined Ligue 1 side Nice on a season-long loan, which does not include a buy-out clause.
Nicolas Pepe, 27, moved to Arsenal from Lille for a whopping €80 million in the summer of 2019, but the Ivory Coast international made just 23 appearances for the Gunners last season, including eight starts, scoring three goals and assisting six.
Now Arsenal has officially confirmed that Nicolas Pepe will return to Ligue 1 this season to play for Nice on loan.
Depay’s transfer talks with Juve have completely broken down
According to the latest report of well-known journalist Romano, Depay will not join Juventus.
Romano said that the transfer negotiations between Depay and Juventus have now completely broken down 100%. The two sides almost agreed last Thursday, and Depay never changed his demands.
In addition Romano also revealed that the failure of Rabio’s deal with Manchester United changed Juve’s plans as they decided to use their budget to bring in Milik and Paredes.
Atalanta to sign talented Danish 19-year-old striker Hjelund
News from Italy’s leading transfer expert Romano has revealed that Atalanta are on the verge of signing Denmark’s talented 19-year-old striker Hjelund for €17 million.
Romano claims that Atalanta and the OSCE Graz Storm have reached a comprehensive agreement on the transfer of Hjelund, and that Atalanta will pay 17 million euros for the 2003-born Danish striker. The player will arrive in Italy this Friday, local time.
The 19-year-old Hjelund, who started his career in Copenhagen, has made 21 appearances in all competitions for the team, scoring 12 goals and four assists since joining the Stormband in January this year.
THE SUN
Erik ten Hag laid down the law to Man Utd forward Cristiano Ronaldo by brutally axing him from their starting XI to face Liverpool during a team meeting ahead of the game, it has been revealed.
Man City midfielder Cole Palmer is wanted by Borussia Dortmund on loan for the season, but manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to let him leave the club.
Robert Page is set to sign a new four-year deal as Wales manager after leading his country to the World Cup, and take over permanently from Ryan Giggs in the process.
Stoke want Sean Dyche as their new manager after sacking Michael O’Neill on Thursday.
DAILY EXPRESS
Barcelona forward Memphis Depay could secure a surprise return to Manchester United after a proposed move to Juventus fell through this week.
Both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc may have to start from the back of the grid at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix owing to using a fourth engine and reliability issues respectively.
DAILY STAR
Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech would prefer a move to Tottenham than to rejoin former club Ajax, with the Moroccan ‘desperate’ to leave Stamford Bridge.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Worcester Warriors’ owners have hit out over ‘conspiracy theories’ regarding the club’s financial situation.
DAILY MAIL
Manchester United have poured cold water on a report claiming Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘on the verge’ of a sensational return to Sporting Lisbon.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been dragged into the legal quagmire of golf’s civil war after being subpoenaed over a PGA Tour players’ meeting last week.
THE GUARDIAN
Former boxer George Foreman has been accused by two women of sexually abusing them in the 1970s, according to lawsuits filed in a Los Angeles court.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned races in Europe will have no guarantee of their place on the sport’s calendar in future.
Apex Football News 