Welcome to JOE’s Transfer Digest, where we stare the torrents of speculation in the eye and deliver them back from whence they came. Then tell you about it.
Clubs continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes to get deals completed, something which will only intensify as the summer rolls on.
Loud and proud
Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart has refused to allow his stagnant transfer situation to get him down, insisting this week that he remains confident he will be shouting at an excessively loud level for a new team by the start of next season.
Hart is unwanted at the Etihad and is short on suitors after a disappointing and error-strewn season on loan at Serie A side Torino. But the 31-year-old is resolute in his belief that he is loud enough for any top team, especially given how much training he has done this summer.
“At the moment things aren’t going the way I would have planned, but it’ll work out,” said Hart. “I’m loud now, but I’m constantly training and getting louder. Am I loud enough for a Barcelona or Madrid? I genuinely think I am. And I’m certainly loud enough for a Europa League team.”
Sometimes less is Moreno
Liverpool this morning cited “giddy excitement” over the completed transfer of record signing Mohamed Salah as the reason behind the club forgetting to accept an £11 million offer from Napoli for left-back Alberto Moreno.
A club source said the “horrible mistake” took place at a brief moment of weakness for all involved.
“We were all just buzzing, giddy with excitement over the Salah deal. Then someone said that Napoli had bid for Moreno,” the source said.
“Maybe we were high on life or subconsciously couldn’t believe it, but we were like ‘Nah, he can stay’. We knew we’d made a mistake immediately.”
Rumours that plans are underway to offer the Italian side £12m to take the Spaniard off their hands are yet to be concerned.
Why do you need more?
Former Chelsea coach and current radio man Ray Wilkins this week hit out at Antonio Conte’s transfer strategy.
Wilkins hit out at Chelsea for their pursuit of Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco, with the former United player believing the club should be happy to stick with homegrown player Nathan Chalobah, who plays in a similar position.
“I don’t get it. They’ve already got Chalobah so there simply isn’t any need at all. It’s a waste of money,” said Wilkins on talkSPORT recently. “They’ve also got Zouma, Willian, Kante, Batshuayi and Victor Moses. I’m really not sure why they need any more in the squad.”
And finally…
Kyle Walker’s proposed move to Manchester City is likely to drag into next week, according to those close to the deal.
The Etihad club have refused to meet Tottenham’s £50 million valuation – and will continue to do so – due to manager Pep Guardiola’s insistence that they leave at least £15m aside to sign a further two goalkeepers.
“Pep’s only signed one keeper so far this summer and he’s getting a bit tetchy. We hope it won’t affect the deal for Kyle but if it comes down to it, there’s only one way it’s going to go,” said a club official.
