Premier League transfer news: Neymar, Paul Pogba, Christian Eriksen, Daniel Sturridge

Real bag Neymar

Real Madrid have ended their interest in Paul Pogba, claims The Sun, after agreeing terms with wantaway PSG star Neymar. The Brazilian is set to sign for the Spanish club “after weeks of talks with the French giants”, and it’s reported that Neymar will pocket a £700,000 weekly wage at the Bernabeu. Neymar has a £198m release clause in the PSG contract he signed two years ago, so he could return to Spain for the same fee that changed hands in 2017. Having already signed Eden Hazard this summer, even Real can’t afford to do any more business and will drop their interest in Pogba.

But Pogba could still leave

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Real’s lack of interest doesn’t mean the Pogba soap opera is over for the summer. The Daily Mirror reports that the midfielder has “stunned” Man United “after claiming that he could still quit the club”. The World Cup winner has admitted there is a “question mark” over his future, but Juventus now look like the only realistic option. The paper notes: “The transfer windows in both Spain and Italy remain open, but time is running out for business to be completed. United bosses have refused to sell the £90m World Cup winner, despite ongoing fears he is not committed to the club.”

Spurs offer Eriksen £200,000 a week

Spurs are prepared to double Christian Eriksen’s wages in a bid to persuade him to sign a new deal at White Hart Lane. The Dane, valued at £100m, has now entered the final year of his contract, and could leave for nothing next summer. “But Eriksen has offered no guarantees that he is willing to sign a new deal and has made no secret of his desire to play for one of European football's superpowers,” says the Daily Mail. “Real Madrid and Juventus have been linked with moves for him this summer.”

Decision beckons for Daniel Sturridge

Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will decide his next destination this week, writes the Daily Telegraph with the paper claiming he’s had “offers from 13 clubs in total”. They include clubs in Europe, the USA and Middle East, with one of the most lucrative a £9m contract with Turkish side Fenerbahce, which would net him £60,000 a week in wages. The Telegraph believes it is increasingly unlikely that the 29-year-old will stay in England, and says that Marseille is one option, as is Italian outfit Bologna. There remains the possibility of a move to DC United in MLS, although they have been heavily linked with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil.

Monaco to move for Bakayoko

Monaco have held initial talks with Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, claims Caughtoffside.com, with the French club looking to secure a loan deal for their former star. Bakayoko left Monaco for Chelsea in the summer of 2017, but he’s struggled to make an impression at Stamford Bridge, and last season was farmed out to AC Milan. Apparently, says French sports daily L’Equipe, the 24-year-old could now head back to Monaco and while the Ligue 1 outfit would like to take him permanently, their finances don’t stretch to Chelsea’s asking price and so they are planning to work out a deal for the rest of this season.

Liverpool to let Lovren loose

Described by The Sun as an “outcast”, Dejan Lovren could be given an escape route from Anfield by Roma. The paper claims that the Italians are considering a move for the Croatian defender, although they are also weighing up the pros and cons of Juventus star Daniele Rugani. He was linked to a late move to Arsenal, and while that never materialised Roma are said to be keen on Rugani. However, Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport says that the experience of Lovren interests new Roma boss Paulo Fonseca and if they can agree a wage package then a deal could be agreed in the next month with Liverpool asking £25m for Lovren.

Inter Milan 'agree Darmian deal'

Inter Milan have agreed a deal to sign Matteo Darmian. The defender is out of favour at Old Trafford and has been pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw's resurgence. Darmian is out of contract at the end of the season and reports in Italy suggest that an agreement with Inter Milan has already been made. (Manchester Evening News)

Mustafi for Arsenal exit

Arsenal boss Unai Emery will not countenance the sale of Calum Chambers, even though the defender had been available for a fee of £25m earlier in the summer, before the departure of Laurent Koscielny. Chambers is now a key defender for the Gunners and Emery’s priority is now moving on Shkodran Mustafi (Football.London)