Transfer rumor roundup 7/13: AC Milan to sign Bonucci?
By Nick Pitner
Here’s a roundup of the latest news and transfer rumors surrounding which players could be joining new teams in the coming months.
Thursday’s transfer news is headlined by a bombshell from Gianluca Di Marzio, which reports AC Milan and Juventus are engaged in talks over defender Leonardo Bonucci.
Widely recognized as one of the world’s best all-around center-backs, Bonucci is said to be open to a move away from Juventus this summer, and the Old Lady have quoted Milan a €40 million fee.
While Milan have already raised eyebrows with a stable of promising signings this offseason, acquiring Bonucci from the six-time defending Serie A champions would easily represent their crown jewel addition.
According to the Milan News, Bonucci has already reached a contract agreement with the Rossoneri, setting the stage for him to make the switch of the summer in Italy.
Should the 30-year-old’s deal go through, then Di Marzio reports Juventus would pay €10 million to sign Mattia De Sciglio is a separate deal.
Capable of playing both left and right-back, the young Italian is seen as a potential replacement for Dani Alves, who left Juventus to join Paris Saint-Germain this week.
Another transfer being negotiated between direct competitors is happening in England, where ESPN reports Manchester City have seen a £50 bid for Kyle Walker accepted by Tottenham.
Of course, the Citizens’ approach for Walker comes in the wake of Alves rejecting them in favor of PSG, forcing manager Pep Guardiola to pursue his Plan B right-back.
The report states Walker is scheduled to undergo a medical with Man City on Friday ahead of sealing his move.
Following the departures of veterans Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta, Walker figures to become City’s first-choice option at his position.
The 27-year-old featured prominently for Tottenham’s league-best defense last season, winning 54 percent of his duels, including 67 percent of his headers and 49 percent of his tackle attempts, per Squawka.
Elsewhere in London, Chelsea’s long-anticipated signing of Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko is set to be confirmed in the coming days, according to the Daily Mail.
The 22-year-old Frenchman will undergo a medical on Friday in advance of completing a £40 million transfer before the Blues take flight for their preseason tour to China and Singapore.
While Bakayoko has been heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge switch, his welcoming has been delayed by concerns over a knee problem.
The imposing midfield presence underwent minor knee surgery after winning the Ligue 1 title with Monaco, postponing his medical with Chelsea.
While that procedure could rule him out for the start of the upcoming season, Bakayoko’s addition figures to provide robust presence alongside countryman N’Golo Kante once healthy.
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Whereas Bakayoko is destined to join the reigning Premier League champions, Riyad Mahrez is inching closer to an exit from the previous title-holders, as Sky Italia reports Roma have contacted Leicester over a sale.
After sending Mohamed Salah to Liverpool earlier this offseason, Roma are is search of a replacement along the right wing, where Mahrez is seen as an ideal candidate to take over.
The Algerian has publically admitted that he wants to leave Leicester, and although he’s thought to prefer to stay in the Premier League, Roma are believed to be willing to pay around £30 million for him.
A transfer saga that’s finally reached its conclusion is Anthony Modeste’s big-money move from FC Koln to Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian.
Koln confirmed Thursday that the 29-year-old has been sold to the Super League side, which comes after Koln only recently released a statement ruling out a deal between the clubs.
At last, though, Modeste’s departure has been approved, giving Tianjin Quanjian the Bundesliga’s third-leading scorer from last season.