HERE ARE THE good, the bad, and the unlikely football moves being talked about today…
Chelsea have been relatively quiet in the transfer market this summer with just two, admittedly big-money, buys in the shape of N’Golo Kante from Leicester City for £30 million (€34m) and Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi for £33m (€38m) so far.
According to reports, the Blues will splash another £140m (€160m) before the window closes to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the club as well as adding Napoli’s Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Santos teenager Thiago Maia.
Elsewhere, Yannick Bolasie is expected to be named an Everton player sometime today after undergoing a medical on Merseyside yesterday.
The 27-year-old Crystal Palace winger, who is a DR Congo international, will become the Toffees’ new record signing at £30m (€34m).
Meanwhile, Joe Hart‘s future at Manchester looks to be in real doubt after he was dropped by manager Pep Guardiola for Saturday’s Premier League opener with Sunderland.
The Spaniard was believed to be chasing Barcelona’s Andre Ter-Stegen, but reports in the Catalan media now suggest it is in fact his clubmate Claudio Bravo who is in advanced negotiations with City.
Having already signed Wales captain Ashley Williams to replace John Stones, Everton are also hoping to clinch a £15m (€17m) deal for Valencia defender Aymen Abdennour.
Sunderland’s Lamine Kone is still a target too, but David Moyes is unwilling to sell the Ivorian until he adds another centre-half to his squad.
Retro Deal of the Day
Having started his professional career at non-league Welling United, Limerick-born Steve Finnan went on to play for Birmingham City and Notts County before earning the reputation as a talented full-back in the Fulham side that earned promotion to the top flight under Kevin Keegan.
In the summer of 2003, Liverpool signed the Ireland international for £3.5m and he would go on to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during a five-year spell at Anfield.
Finnan won the Champions League and the FA Cup with the Reds before leaving for Espanyol on 2008. He only lasted in Spain a year and returned to England with Portsmouth — calling time on his career after the 2010 FA Cup final.
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