HERE ARE THE good, the bad and unlikely football moves being talked about today.
Barcelona have got one over on their biggest rivals by announcing an agreement to sign 22-year-old midfielder Andre Gomes from Valencia for £41.7 million (€50m).
The Portugal international had been linked with Manchester United, while Real Madrid appeared to be favourites for his signature, but he becomes Barca’s fourth arrival this summer along with Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez.
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Newcastle United believed to be worth around £25m (€30m) for Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
The former PSV Eindhoven captain will undergo the second part of his medical at Melwood today, according to widespread reports.
Chelsea are in the market for a striker and, after getting knocked back twice already by Real Madrid, they could be prepared to return with a third offer of around £67m (€80m) for Spanish forward Alvaro Morata.
Alternative options are the perennially-linked Edison Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain, and former Blues man Romelu Lukaku, although Everton are keen to hold onto the Belgian.
In more Real Madrid-related news, French defender Raphael Varane is believed to have turned down the advances of Manchester United. The 23-year-old centre-half is wanted by ex-manager Jose Mourinho, but current coach Zinedine Zidane has enticed him to stay with the European champions.
19-year-old Brazilian Gabriel Jesus is a target for a number of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, Man United and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Palmeiras striker reportedly has a buy-out clasue of £33m (€39m).
Retro Deal of the Day
Signed by Chelsea from Parma for €22.5m at the beginning of the Abramovich era, it was hoped that Adrian Mutu would go on to become one of the Premier League’s top strikers.
Life at Stamford Bridge began well, with four goals in his first three games, but controversy followed as he fell out with manager Jose Mourinho before receiving a seven-month ban by the FA and a sacking from the club after testing positive for cocaine.
He returned to Italy and had spells at Juventus, Fiorentina and Cesena, but in 2010, Mutu was handed a second lengthy ban (nine months) after failing a doping test while playing for the Viola in the Coppa Italia.
The Romanian was suspended at international level too, when he was found drinking with team-mate Garbriel Tamas before a friendly against San Marino.
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