April 2017 - Soccer Wiretap

Chelsea Buys Davide Zappacosta From Torino For $30M

Aug 31, 2017 5:50 PM

Chelsea have agreed to buy Davide Zappacosta from Torino for $30 million.

Antonio Conte has been searching for cover for Victor Moses all summer and he has found it in Zappacosta, who can play at right-back, right wing-back or on the right of midfield.

Zappacosta joined Torino from Atalanta in 2015, and he has made 58 Serie A appearances.

Peter O'Rourke/ESPN

Tags: Chelsea, Torino, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Kylian Mbappe Joins PSG On Loan With $214.5M Option To Buy In 2018

Sep 1, 2017 9:47 AM

Paris Saint-Germain has agreed upon a loan deal with Monaco for Kylian Mbappe that contains an option to complete the deal permanently in 2018 for €180 million ($214.5 million).

The structure of the deal allows PSG to circumvent financial fair play rules.

“It is with great joy and pride that I join Paris Saint-Germain,” Mbappé told PSG’s website. “For any young person from the Paris region it is often a dream to wear the red and blue jersey and experience the unique atmosphere of the Parc des Princes. I really wanted to be a part of the club’s project, which is one of the most ambitious in Europe. Alongside my new team-mates, I intend to continue my progression while helping the team achieve the very big objectives it has set itself.”

PSG were fined for breaking FFP rules in 2014 after a sponsorship deal, arranged with Qatar’s tourist body, was deemed to have been of insufficient value to match the £167 million PSG received for it.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Tags: Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Arsenal Seeking $84M Before Add-Ons For Alexis Sanchez

Aug 31, 2017 10:24 AM

Manchester City have made an improved second bid for Alexis Sanchez believed to be in the region of £55 million plus add-ons.

Arsenal have resisted City's overtures and are seeking £65 million ($84 million) before extras.

Sanchez has one year left on his deal and could sign a pre-contract with other clubs beginning in January.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal, Manchester City, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal Pursuing Transfer For Riyad Mahrez

Aug 31, 2017 9:28 AM

Riyad Mahrez has been permitted to live the Algerian national team to finalize his move from Leicester City.

Mahrez is considering offers from Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona.

Mahrez is Barcelona's back-up option if they're unable to secure a deal with Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho. Mahrez could clash with Lionel Messi as a left-footed attacker who prefers to play on the right.

Leicester's transfer price for Mahrez is expected to approach $60 million.

Juan Jimenez/As.com

Tags: Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Leicester City, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Spurs Buy Serge Aurier From PSG For $29.6M

Aug 31, 2017 9:24 AM

Tottenham Hotspur have bought Serge Aurier from Paris Saint-Germain for £23 million ($29.6 million).

Mauricio Pochettino sought a new right-back following Spurs' sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City for £50 million.

“This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive football club and I am determined to prove myself,” Aurier told Spurs’ website. “This is a fresh start for me.”

The Guardian

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Liverpool Agrees To $52M Transfer With Arsenal For Oxlade-Chamberlain

Aug 30, 2017 4:16 PM

Liverpool has agreed upon a £40 million ($51.7) transfer fee with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The deal could take their spending to around £170 million if Monaco sanctions the sale of Thomas Lemar.

Oxlade-Chamberlain also received interest from Chelsea, but he preferred the move to Liverpool.

Arsenal initially refused to hold talks with Liverpool over Oxlade-Chamberlain with relations between the club strained by the Luis Suárez dispute of four years ago. Oxlade-Chamberlain wants a central midfield role with Liverpool. 

 

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Swansea Agrees To Loan Deal With Bayern For Renato Sanches

Aug 30, 2017 12:03 PM

Swansea has agreed upon a loan deal with Bayern Munich for Renato Sanches.

Sanches joined Bayern last summer from Benfica for €35 million.

Swansea will give Sanches more regular playing time than Bayern can offer.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Bayern Munich, Swansea City, Loan, Misc Rumor

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Atleti, Chelsea Finalizing $64.3M Diego Costa Transfer

Aug 31, 2017 9:24 AM

Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are finalizing a Diego Costa transfer deal worth €43 million with €11 million in add-ons ($64.3 million total).

With Chelsea moving closer to signing Fernando Llorente, they are willing to wrap up the Costa sale.

Costa and Antonio Conte appear to have irreconcilable differences. 

Chelsea bought Costa from Atleti in 2014.

E.F.-Abascal/As.com

Tags: Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Sergio Ramos Asks Bernabeu To Not Boo Gerard Pique During Italy Match

Aug 30, 2017 10:07 AM

Sergio Ramos has asked the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu for Saturday's World Cup qualifying match between Spain and Italy to show respect to Gerard Pique.

Pique has become Barcelona's most hated player by Real Madrid supporters for his frequently outspoken comments.

"To Pique or to anybody else you must always respect the players," Ramos told reporters.

"[I ask the fans] to support us, it will be a tense and difficult match.

"We want to perform well and play a good game."

Spain and Italy are level atop Group G's standings.

Sacha Pisani/Goal.com

Tags: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Spain

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West Brom Buys Kieran Gibbs From Arsenal For $9M

Aug 30, 2017 11:30 AM

West Brom has signed Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal for a transfer fee of £7 million ($9 million).

Gibbs, 27, had been with Arsenal since the age of 14.

Gibbs had also been in talks with Watford and Turkish side Galatasaray this summer.

BBC

Tags: Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Rejects Chelsea, Seeks Liverpool Transfer
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would prefer to play for Jurgen Klopp.

Glenn Price, Mark Ogden/ESPN

Danny Drinkwater Requests Transfer From Leicester City
Antonio Conte would like to renew the partnership between Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante that helped Leicester win the Premier League in 2016.

Peter O'Rourke/ESPN

Atleti's Transfer Ban Kept Antoine Griezmann With Club
The former financial adviser of Antoine Griezmann said the transfer ban of Atletico Madrid led him to reject a transfer to leave the club.

Mario de La Riva/As.com

Celta Vigo Buys Emre Mor From Dortmund For $15.6M
Emre Mor spent just one season with Dortmund, joining the club from FC Nordsjaelland for €10 million.

Stephan Uersfeld/ESPN

City Offering Raheem Sterling, $26M To Arsenal For Alexis Sanchez
City initially were willing to offer around £50 million for Alexis Sanchez.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Chelsea Agrees To Buy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain From Arsenal For $45M
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was entering the final season of his contract with Arsenal.

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

Liverpool Agrees To Sign Naby Keita From Leipzig On July 1, 2018
Liverpool will activate the £48 million exit clause of Naby Keita in 2018.

ESPN

PSG, Monaco Agree Upon $185M Kylian Mbappe Transfer
UEFA may reject the move if PSG are unable to comply with financial fair play rules.

Fabrizio Romano, Marcus Christenson/The Guardian

Thomas Muller: My Qualities Not In Demand By Carlo Ancelotti
Thomas Muller was left out of Bayern Munich's starting XI on Saturday, leading him to speak out against the decision made by Carlo Ancelotti.

ESPN

Hackers Post 'Welcome Messi' From Real Madrid's Twitter Account
There were over 27,000 retweets in the first 45 minutes after posting.

Press Association

Chelsea Close To Deal For Oxlade-Chamberlain, Pursuing Ross Barkley
Chelsea has become increasingly confident that they will sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

Everton Interested In Signing Diego Costa
Diego Costa has been attempting to return to Atletico Madrid this summer.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Leipzig Sells Oliver Burke To West Brom For $19.3M
Oliver Leipzig is a 20-year-old winger from Scotland, who came through the academy at Nottingham Forest.

Press Association

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Anticipates Move To MLS In Near Future
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has long been linked to the LA Galaxy.

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Arsenal Open To Selling Jack Wilshere
There has been little interest in Jack Wilshere after returning from his season-long loan at Bournemouth.

David Hytner/The Guardian

PSG Close To $178M Transfer With Monaco For Kylian Mbappe
PSG are exploring ways to secure Kylian Mbappe without having to offer significant funds for another 12 months.

Jonathan Johnson/ESPN

City Calls Move For Lionel Messi 'Impossible'
City has been linked to a transfer for Lionel Messi as he continues to wait to officially sign his extension with Barcelona.

FourFourTwo

Barcelona Close To $59M Deal With PSG For Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria was sold by Real Madrid to Manchester United in 2014 and then moved to PSG in 2015.

Lluís Miguelsanz/Sport

Results: Champions League Group Stage Draw
Real Madrid, Dortmund and Spurs comprise Group H.

RealGM Staff Report

Arsenal Determined To Keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is receiving interest from Chelsea with a valuation of £35 million.

David Hytner/The Guardian