Transfer rumors, news: Messi heavily pursued by Saudi club
Lionel Messi is being courted heavy by Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and Barcelona have turned their attention back to Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
– Source: Arsenal closing in on €65m Gyökeres deal
– Modrić move to AC Milan confirmed by new coach Allegri
– Ex-Barcelona, Croatia star Ivan Rakitic retires
TRENDING RUMORS
– Lionel Messi‘s contract with Inter Miami is up later this year, and Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli are “ready to do whatever it takes” to convince Messi to sign with them, according to L’Equipe. The club has reportedly made contact with Messi’s camp ahead of the forward’s contract expiration in December. This wouldn’t be the first time parties in Saudi Arabia have tried to sign the Argentine World Cup-winner and Messi is under contract as an ambassador for the Saudi Tourism Board. But Messi is also in talks with Inter Miami about a renewal of his contract.
– Barcelona have reopened talks with Marcus Rashford as the club’s hopes of signing Luis Díaz begin to fade, Florian Plettenberg reports. A move for Liverpool forward Díaz is looking “very unlikely,” while long-term target Nico Williams is to remain at Athletic Club after signing a new 10-year deal with the Bilbao club. As such, Manchester United’s Rashford has emerged as an alternative target, with the England international looking certain to leave Old Trafford this summer. The 27-year-old is under contract at United until 2028.
– Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is “getting closer” to joining Juventus, says Nicolo Schira. Direct negotiations are expected to take place this week, as both sides remain hopeful that a deal can be reached. Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea, where he scored three goals in 31 Premier League appearances. However, the club backed out of a clause to sign the 25-year-old permanently, leaving him in limbo at United this summer.
– Al Hilal are planning on reaching an agreement with AC Milan this week over the transfer of left back Theo Hernández, Fabrizio Romano reports. A verbal pact has been in place for over two weeks, after the France international approved the move. Having exited the FIFA Club World Cup at the quarterfinal stage, Al Hilal are now hoping to proceed with the formal steps of the transfer. Hernández, 27, has been at AC Milan since 2019, playing almost 200 times in Serie A, and scoring 31 league goals. His contract is set to expire next summer.
– Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for Genoa defender Koni De Winter, The Sun reports. New manager Thomas Frank is said to be a “big fan” of the 23-year-old, who is valued at around the £22 million mark. De Winter could arrive as a direct replacement for long-serving center back Cristian Romero, who has been heavily linked with a move to Atlético Madrid. The Belgian made his international debut last year and has since been capped a further three times by head coach Rudi Garcia.
– Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Borna Sosa from Ajax, according to The Athletic. The 27-year-old left-back is due to fly to England to undergo a medical on Monday, and finalize personal terms. Palace will pay an initial £2 million fee to sign Sosa, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Torino. The Croatian international has been capped 26 times by his nation, scoring twice. He is set to become Palace’s second summer arrival after the free transfer of PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Walter Benítez.
COMPLETED DEALS
– Arsenal women have completed the signing of Jamaica international Taylor Hinds on a free transfer after the expiry of her contract at Liverpool. Read
– Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson will leave the club this summer, ending his five-year stay on Tyneside. Read
– Veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has signed a new two-year contract with Barcelona. Read
– United States women’s national team midfielder Lily Yohannes has signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse Lyon. Read
– AC Milan’s 17-year-old forward Francesco Camarda has officially joined Lecce on loan with an option to make the move permanent.
EXPERT TAKE
1:34
Burley: Gyökeres signing puts Arteta under pressure
Craig Burley and the ESPN FC crew discuss Viktor Gyökeres’ potential link with Arsenal.
OTHER RUMORS
– Chelsea value Noni Madueke at £50 million amid concrete interest from London rivals Arsenal. (The Independent)
– Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović could be available for as little as €15 million this summer. The likes of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have shown interest in the Serbian in recent weeks. (TEAMtalk)
– Napoli have booked a medical for PSV winger Noa Lang, after a €28 million package was agreed between the two clubs. All documents have now been exchanged ahead of the Netherlands international’s arrival. (Fabrizio Romano)
– New York City FC have finalized a deal to sign Argentine Nicolás Fernández from Elche. The 25-year-old midfielder will join NYCFC as a designated player. (Tom Bogert)
– Fulham, Everton and Manchester United have all asked for information about Douglas Luiz, who is expected to leave Juventus this summer. (Nicolo Schira)
– Former Manchester United and Barcelona winger Alexis Sánchez has been offered to Fenerbahçe this summer. The 36-year-old is ready to terminate his contract with Udinese. (Ekrem Konur)
– Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Borna Sosa from Ajax, with the 27-year-old left back is due to fly to England to undergo a medical on Monday to finalize personal terms. (The Athletic)
– Parma are lining up a move for Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanović, who is viewed as a potential replacement for Internazionale new arrival Ange-Yoan Bonny. (Football Insider)
– Celtic forward Nicolas Kühn is due to undergo a medical at Como on Monday (July 7) ahead of his proposed £16.5 million transfer. Kuhn has already agreed to personal terms on a four-year deal with the Serie A outfit. (Sky Sports News)
– Mainz are in advanced negotiations to sign Sota Kawasaki on loan from Kyoto Sanga. The deal would also give Mainz an option to make the move permanent at the end of the loan spell. (Sky Germany)
– Fullback Ola Aina has signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest that will keep him in the East Midlands until June 2028. (The Athletic)