Author: Barkha Roy
Manchester City have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig to secure the services of defender Josko Gvardiol, according to sources reported by ESPN. The Premier League champions are willing to pay a substantial fee of 90 million euros (US$98 million) for the 21-year-old, and the deal excludes any further add-ons.
Before finalizing the transfer, Gvardiol will have to undergo a medical examination and is expected to travel to England in the near future. Once the necessary formalities have been completed, Gvardiol will officially become Pep Guardiola’s second signing of the summer, following the previous acquisition of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
Although Gvardiol is unlikely to make his debut in the upcoming Community Shield match against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday, the talented defender should be fully registered and available for Manchester City’s league opener against Burnley at Turf Moor on August 11.
São Paulo FC welcomes Lucas Moura back after 11 years
Lucas Moura made a long-awaited return to São Paulo FC, rejoining the Brazilian side after an 11-year absence. The striker left Tottenham when his contract expired at the end of June, after five and a half seasons with the English club.
Moura’s journey with São Paulo FC began as a teenager in 2005, when he made 128 appearances and scored 33 goals for the club. His previous spell at the Tricolor Paulista was marked by success, including winning the Copa Sudamericana in 2012, before leaving for PSG.
The timing of Moura’s return is important, as São Paulo FC face a crucial second leg of their Copa do Brasil semi-final against rivals Corinthians on August 16. In addition, the club is currently in the running to qualify for the Copa Libertadores and sits in eighth place as the halfway point of the campaign approaches. This reunion with São Paulo FC comes just a few days after another notable signing for the Brazilian giants, with James Rodriguez also joining the team.
Liverpool target Fluminense midfielder André to strengthen squad
Liverpool are moving to improve their midfield options by offering 21 million pounds for Brazilian midfielder André, from Fluminense. The 22-year-old has shown his skills in 144 Serie A games since making his first-team debut in 2020.
André’s potential also earned him a place in the national team, with his debut in a friendly against Senegal, which ended in a 4-2 defeat in June. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp emphasized the importance of strengthening the midfield after the transfer of Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq for 12 million pounds and the transfer of Fabinho to Al Ittihad for 40 million pounds, both to Saudi Arabian teams.
Despite Liverpool’s interest, André remains under contract with Fluminense until 2026. The Brazilian club had already rejected a £19 million offer from Fulham, indicating their determination to keep the young midfielder.
Al Shabab seeks Fulham striker Willian with lucrative offer
Al Shabab, a club in the Saudi Arabian Professional League, has expressed an interest in securing the services of Fulham winger Willian. According to reports, the club is willing to offer him a lucrative weekly salary of £200,000 after tax. However, Fulham, managed by Marco Silva, have yet to receive an official offer for the player. Despite Al Shabab’s interest, Willian recently committed himself to Fulham, signing a new one-year contract just two weeks ago.
The 34-year-old Brazilian, who has played for top English clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, showed his ability during the last Premier League season with Fulham. He scored five goals and provided six assists in 27 appearances for the Cottagers. While Al Shabab are making moves to attract Willian, Fulham are also pursuing other potential targets, including Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and Everton’s Demarai Gray, in an attempt to bolster their squad for next season.