TRANSFER ROUNDUP: Besiktas Want Martin Skrtel, Chelsea Open Talks With Lukaku, And More

Juventus And Manchester United Asked To Pay €40m For Their Brazilian Transfer Target

Juventus and Manchester United have been asked to cough up €40 million if they are to sign Palmeiras’ Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus.

Gabriel Jesus is one of the best emerging talents from Brazil, and is being targeted by major European clubs. And as per Gazzetta dello Sport, Serie A Champions Juventus have already made an offer for the striker, which is somewhere in the range of £11.5m to £15.4m. However, Premier League giants Manchester United have gone one step further, by offering £19m for the 19-year-old’s services, according to Brazilian publication O Estado de Sao Paulo.

However, Jesus’ agent Cristiano Simões has revealed that any offers below the sum of €40m will not be accepted by Palmeiras. Speaking to Brazilian outlet Lancenet, Simões said: “€15m is not enough for him. That is much less than his release clause. He is not going to leave Palmeiras for only €15m. Gabriel is playing brilliantly, he is scoring goals and he has a €40m release clause. Of course Palmeiras are not going to sell him for less than that. If we receive a good offer we could think about it, but there is nothing concrete at the moment.”

Lancenet have also reported that the promising youngster has picked Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid as his preferred destinations if he does leave the Brazil based club.

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Besiktas Want Liverpool Defender Martin Skrtel, Confirms Agent

Besiktas have made an offer to sign Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, football agent Mithat Halis has confirmed.

Besiktas were the leading goal scorers in the league last season, finding the net 75 times, but had the worst defensive record amongst the top three, which is why they have made strengthening their defense the top priority in the summer transfer window.

The Black Eagles have therefore identified Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel as one of their prime transfer targets. The Slovakian international joined the Reds in 2008, and has since made 320 appearances for the club. The 31-year-old still has two more years left on his Liverpool contract, but the Turkish Champions are adamant on signing him, as per football agent Mithat Halis, who was quoted as saying: “Besiktas want Skrtel and make no secret of this, Turkish sides have been trying to sign him for five seasons but this summer he could make the move.”

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Chelsea Open Talks To Resign Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea have opened talks to re-sign their former striker Romelu Lukaku, according to Belgian newspaper HLN.

Lukaku previously joined Chelsea in August 2011 for a fee reported to be around €12 million, which late rose to €20 million in add-ons. However, the Belgian was hardly ever involved with the Blues, which eventually led him to join Everton on a permanent move in 2014, where he has now managed to establish himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old scored 25 goals in all competitions this season, and is now set to move to a bigger club, with his father Roger Lukaku publicly stating that his son would prefer joining Bayern Munich and Manchester United above all other clubs.

However, the Belgian’s former club Chelsea are hoping to re-sign the striker, as per Belgian news outlet HLN. Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur wrote in his article for HLN: “Chelsea have put his first steps Romelu Lukaku (23) bows this summer. The London club contacted in order to talk to Everton on the striker… Promising difficult and tough negotiations.”

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Arsenal Interested In Newcastle United Star Moussa Sissoko

Arsenal are interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko, according to reports from Transfer Market Web.

Sissoko was one of Newcastle United’s better players of this term, and bagged one goal and seven assists in 37 Premier League appearances over season, but couldn’t save his club from finishing 18th and getting relegated.

And now, new rumours have emerged suggesting the 26-year-old has no motive to play in the Championship next season, and is looking for a move away. And as per Transfer Market Web, Arsenal are ready to offer the Frenchman a way out, as they themselves are in dire need of replacements for their departing midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini. The Gunners are set to make an offer in the region of £10 million, which will prove to be enough to secure the services of the midfielder.

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Promising Portuguese Starlet Wants Manchester United Move

Paulo Costa, one of Portugal’s brightest prospects, is hoping to get signed by Manchester United.

The 15-year-old was noticed by the Manchester United officials whilst playing for the Portuguese club Sacavenense’s Under-16 team, and was then called in for a five-day trial period at Carrington, where he got the chance to play two games for the Red Devils’ Under-21 side – one of which was watched by manager Louis van Gaal.

He described his time in Manchester to Mais Futebol by stating: “It was good. The experience happened pretty well. Manchester United are very different, it is a very big club. I have always had a special admiration for the club since I was small and watched Cristiano Ronaldo playing there.

“My teammates received me well. I don’t speak English much, but I can speak a bit and I could deal with it. The first training didn’t go very well, I lacked the intensity they have and I was also a bit afraid. But after that it went well. I played two games, scored two goals in the first and one in the second one. It was good, because Van Gaal was watching on the bench. I was waiting for staff to be at the match because I heard something about it, and I focused well before the start. So this game went fine for me ”

Costa now awaits what is hopefully a positive as well as life-changing response from the club. He said: “Of course I’ve been anxious, it’s normal. I’m nervous to get a response from Manchester to find out if they want me there or not. I have to wait and see.”