Soccer transfer news live updates: rumours and gossip in Premier League, MLS, LaLiga...

Porto purchase Brazilian pearl

Porto continue their tradition of signing promising young Brazilian players having completed the signing of Gabriel Verón from Palmeiras. The 19-year-old striker has been handed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2027.

Bayern let Richards go

According to transfer market insider, Fabrizio Romano, Bayern Munich centre-back Chris Richards is close to joining Crystal Palace after reaching a deal valued at 20 million euros. The 22-year-old has already passed a medical with Palace.

Bayern will apparently be investing the money from the sale to bring in striker Mathys Tel from Rennes.

SOCCER

Luis Suárez close to Nacional return

Luis Suárez left Club Nacional in 2006 to seek fame and fortune in Europe, and now he is close to agreeing a deal to return home to Uruguay and rejoin his first club.

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"I'm ready for another challenge. I'm not here just to waste my time and the time of Arsenal because the club is always in front of everyone. I am here to achieve big things and I hope we can win some titles, and I hope we are going to fight for every title in which we are going to be involved. Even from the last season, I was watching Arsenal's games and I could smell it's coming, you know? The team is growing up so quickly and I think it's time. It's time to do our best and to achieve something big. You can see in the style, the picture of the game, so I would love to see that playing and being involved".

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Official: Zinchenko joins Arsenal

The Gunners confirm the arrival of the Ukrainian winger. They will pay Manchester City 38 million euros for the player, including variables.

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Gary Neville criticises Barça for gambling with assets

Gary Neville has harshly criticized Barcelona’s new financial strategy and also remembered their Super League ambitions.

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Varane has no regrets over United move

Raphaël Varane says he has no regrets about joining Manchester United, even though his first season at Old Trafford was dogged by injuries and largely disappointing by his standards. He made just 28 appearances in all competitions and this season will face competition from new signing Lisandro Martínez for a place in the starting XI.

"In football you have to challenge yourself and you also have to try to improve. I wanted to live another experience after ten years in the same place," he told BBC Sport's Simon Stone. "So I think the Premier League is absolutely fantastic and Manchester United are a great club, so there is no doubt about my decision. I think we lost confidence when we lost some games and we could have done a lot of things better. Obviously we want to improve next season. I think we need consistency and to build back our confidence"

SOCCER

Barcelona admit chances of signing Koundé are “complicated”

Barcelona understand that their chances of signing Sevilla centre-back Jules Koundé are looking pretty slim, although they point out that ultimately, it will be the player who decides where he ends up next season.

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Palace weighing up Dwight McNeil deal

Crystal Palace's interest in signing Dwight McNeil has been renewed after Burnley were relegated to the Championship. Palace tried to sign the 22-year-old winger 12 months ago, only for the player to accept a move to Turf Moor. Now Burnley may be forced to sell, and Palace hope to get McNeil for a good price - somewhere around the £15m mark according to some sources.

They will face competition for several other Premier League clubs however, with West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa also admirers of the England U21 player.

Eight years since Atleti unveiled the Oblaktopus

On this day in 2014, Jan Oblak was unveiled by Atlético Madrid after joining Los Rojiblancos from Benfica for €16m.

That is not a bad price-quality relationship, as the Spaniards would say. In his eight years in the Spanish capital, Oblak has won the Trofeo Zamora - given to the LaLiga keeper with the best goals-to-games ratio - no fewer than five times.

In terms of team trophies, he has helped Atleti to a league title, a Europa League and a UEFA Super Cup. He was also part of the side that reached the 2016 Champions League final.

Barça eye Martínez if Koundé bid fails

My colleague Alfonso Herrán reports that Barcelona are lining up Athletic Club’s Íñigo Martínez as an alternative to Jules Koundé.

Barça are unwilling to pay Martínez’s release clause, which is set at around $80m. However, the Spain centre-back is entering the final year of his Athletic contract, giving the Blaugrana some leverage to negotiate a lower fee.

A third-choice option for Barça, Alfonso says, is Villarreal’s Pau Torres.

(Photo: Ion Alcoba Beitia/GTRES)

Newcastle sell Gayle

Newcastle United have confirmed the sale of forward Dwight Gayle to Championship club Stoke City. Gayle, 32, scored 34 goals in 122 appearances for the Magpies.

TRANSFER MARKET

Cristiano Ronaldo sparks speculation with new Bayern Munich following

Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, Marcel Sabitzer, Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, Jerome Boateng, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Ryan Gravenberch have all started followed the Portuguese star’s Instagram account.

AS USA's Pedro Iranzo has the full story

Barça raise funds by selling off more TV rights

As they bid to steal Koundé from under Chelsea’s noses, Barcelona have boosted their transfer coffers by selling off another 15% of their LaLiga TV rights to the investment firm Sixth Street.

Having purchased 10% in June, Sixth Street now owns 25% of the club’s rights for the next 25 years.

“The transaction continues the implementation of a strategy overwhelmingly supported by the Club’s members at its Extraordinary General Assembly in June,” Barça said in a statement on Friday.

The club did not disclose how much they are to receive in exchange for the rights, but widespread reports estimate that the Blaugrana could pocket up to $320m from the deal.

Chelsea look to move Koundé deal closer to finish line

Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea sent Sevilla transfer paperwork overnight in a bid to move their pursuit of Jules Koundé along, as they attempt to get a $65m deal done for the 23-year-old amid competition from Barcelona. The Blues are ready to hand the defender a five-year contract.

Ajax confirm Brobbey deal

Ajax have announced the signing of forward Brian Brobbey on a permanent deal from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old came through the Ajax youth system before moving to Germany in March 2021, and then returned to Amsterdam on loan in December.

Brobbey, who has signed a five-year contract, joins Ajax for a club-record fee of around $16.6m, potentially rising to just under $20m.

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Lazio in talks with Marcelo

AS' Mirko Calemme reports that Serie A side Lazio are talking to Marcelo, who is available as a free agent after ending his 15-year stay at Real Madrid this summer. 

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Alves set for Pumas move

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is poised to join Pumas UNAM on a free transfer. The Mexican club has tweeted "Dani Alves, we're waiting for you," but is yet to properly confirm the signing of the Brazilian, who left Barça at the end of last season.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Alves, 39, will sign a one-year deal.

SOCCER

Raphinha: “Following in the footsteps of Barça’s Brazilian idols is a huge honour”

Winger Raphinha, who this week scored in his first appearance for Barcelona, has spoken of his pride at becoming the latest Brazilian to play for the LaLiga giants.

"It was a dream to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldinho and Neymar, Dani Alves too, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, they are Brazilian idols," the 25-year-old said. "Following in their footsteps for me is a huge honour, there are no words to explain those feelings."

Raphinha's comments in full

Soccer

Real Madrid fans ask president Florentino Pérez to sign Cristiano Ronaldo

As Cristiano Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, continues to look for a new club for his client, Real Madrid fans in Los Angeles urged Los Blancos' president, Florentino Pérez, to take the Portuguese forward back to the Bernabéu.

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CBS Sports' Ben Jacobs reported yesterday that Ronaldo is willing to take a pay cut of up to 30% to get a move away from Manchester United.

Koundé future up in the air

The future of Sevilla’s Jules Koundé remains unresolved. Chelsea are said to be close to agreeing a fee of around $65m for the defender, but Barcelona haven’t given up on signing the Frenchman just yet.

AS’ Juan Jiménez reports that Barça are looking to sell off a portion of their television rights to finance a move for Koundé, although the club admit it’s going to be “very difficult” to get a deal for the 23-year-old done, according to Catalan daily Sport.

Having initially been left out of the Sevilla party that travelled to Portugal for two preseason friendlies, Koundé has now flown to the country to continue training, as he awaits further news.

(Photo: Jose Jordan / AFP)

ICYMI: Lingard in at Forest

Among the most notable moves in the Premier League yesterday, newly-promoted Nottingham Forest announced the signing of England international Jesse Lingard, who has been a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of last season.

Forest have not revealed the length of the contract signed by Lingard, 29.

Summer transfer window, live updates: welcome

Good morning! Welcome to AS USA's live transfer ticker for Friday 22 July 2022.