Despite winning LaLiga and the Champions League last season, Real Madrid want to secure a bright future to follow their trophy-laden present.
Having confirmed the signings of Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger this off-season, Madrid managed to bolster their squad in two areas of the pitch.
Meanwhile, they are on the verge of securing the long-term futures of three foundational pieces in those successes last term.
TOP STORY – REAL MADRID TO SECURE BRAZILIAN TRIO
Real Madrid are all but set to confirm renewed contracts for their Brazilian trio of Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Despite tricky initiations for each, all three have now established themselves as vital players under Carlo Ancelotti, as evidenced by their new release clauses.
Militao and Rodrygo have reportedly extended to June 2028, with respective €500million and €1billion release clauses.
After a breakout season, culminating with his goal in May's Champions League final, Vinicius will reportedly extend to June 2027, along with a €1bn release clause.
ROUND-UP
– Manchester United are now considering a move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as an alternative to Frenkie de Jong, Calciomercato is reporting.
– Juventus have made a €23m (£19.5m) move for Liverpool's Roberto Firmino as they finalise the termination of Aaron Ramsey's contract, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
– Jules Kounde's departure from Sevilla appears likelier with the defender close to agreeing personal terms with Barcelona, per Fabrizio Romano.
– Arsenal have confirmed their interest in Lucas Paqueta but are yet to make Lyon an offer, The Times has reported.
Frenkie de Jong reportedly has no interest in signing with Manchester United, instead preferring either Chelsea or Bayern Munich if he is to leave Barcelona.
De Jong has been at the centre of Barcelona's transfer period, with widespread belief that the club must sell the 25-year-old to balance their books.
The Netherlands international has racked up 140 club appearances for Barcelona in his three seasons since arriving from Ajax, and he is determined to have a say in where he spends the next few years of his prime.
TOP STORY – DE JONG PREFERS CHELSEA, BAYERN OVER OLD TRAFFORD MOVE
In an explosive report from Spanish publication Sport, it says De Jong "does not like the city of Manchester or the functioning of United", with claims he feels the club has displayed "erratic behaviour" in recent years.
It also makes clear that he values Champions League football greatly at this point in his career, and any move away from the Spanish giants would need to land him at a club on equal footing.
According to the report, Chelsea are waiting for De Jong to officially decline United's approach before presenting a formal offer, but there is interest.
Ultimately, he would prefer to stay at Barcelona, and if the club cannot clear up the issue of his significant unpaid wages, he may get his way.
ROUND-UP
– Chelsea have set their sights on 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, with The Sun declaring him the Blues' top target to replace Cesar Azpilicueta.
– Sky Sports Germany is reporting Borussia Dortmund are weighing up the potential signing of 35-year-old Luis Suarez in the wake of news that Sebastien Haller will be out indefinitely after the discovery of a testicular tumour.
– West Ham remain engaged with Chelsea as they try to pry away 20-year-old Albanian striker Armando Broja, who Thomas Tuchel is said to be a fan of.
– With fullback Marc Cucurella likely heading to Manchester City, Brighton are considering a loan move for Arsenal's Nuno Tavares to plug the hole, according to O Jogo.
– The Guardian claims Jesse Lingard is in advanced talks to join Nottingham Forest, with the Daily Mail adding they have offered £200,000 to try and fend off interest from West Ham.
Granit Xhaka has revealed he was "very close" to leaving Arsenal and joining Roma last year.
Xhaka was strongly linked with a move to the Eternal City following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as Giallorossi boss last May.
The Switzerland midfielder has confirmed he almost made the switch to the Serie A club, but the Gunners decided they wanted to keep him.
"It was something, yes," he told ESPN.
Asked how close he came to becoming a Roma player, he replied: "Very close."
When quizzed why the transfer did not come to fruition, he said: "Because Mikel [Arsenal head coach Arteta] was the guy with [technical director] Edu, they didn't let me go because they wanted to keep me here.
"Of course, my first reaction was to stay at the football club, but they opened the door: 'If something comes, I can leave.' I have to be honest as well. I don't want to say a name now, but the door was open for me to leave the club as well. But in the end, people decided to keep me here."
Xhaka instead signed a new deal with the London club until 2024 and the 29-year-old is delighted he remained with the Gunners.
He added: "I am very happy here. My family is very happy here. I have a contract for another two years, it is true. I will be 30 in September, but I don't believe in age.
"You can be 18, you can be 90, you can be 35. If you have the quality, you can play. We had a lot of people who were here as well – David Luiz for example – who had an amazing career, 33, 34, 35, he is even playing now.
"That's why age is only a number for me. As long as I am fit, as long as I can help the team, I will try to do everything. When the moment comes, I can't do that, I am the first to say to the club: 'I am not ready to do that.'"
Amid growing speculation in recent months, Christophe Galtier and Luis Campos' arrivals at Paris Saint-Germain this off-season could mean Neymar's departure.
The Brazilian joined PSG in 2017 for what remains a world-record €222 million fee from Barcelona, but there has been no European silverware to complement nine Ligue 1 titles over the past decade.
Lionel Messi linked up alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last term but the team's compatibility came under examination in their dramatic Champions League exit, despite winning Ligue 1 comfortably.
TOP STORY – PSG PROPOSED NEYMAR SWAP WITH MAN CITY
PSG proposed an exchange with Manchester City which would have seen Neymar and Bernardo Silva swap clubs earlier this off-season, Le Parisien claims.
The report alleges that the English champions declined the deal, as they are unwilling to let the Portuguese midfielder go.
Relations between Neymar, who is contracted until 2017, and PSG have been slightly testy recently.
Bernardo was linked with a switch to Barcelona earlier in the off-season, having reportedly been eager to leave the club last year.
ROUND-UP
– Chelsea are concerned that target Presnel Kimpembe will decline their approach, the Standard claims. The Blues are in talks with PSG over a £50m deal for Kimpembe.
– The Sun reports that Chelsea have also entered the race to sign Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, amid the latter's talks with Manchester United.
– Calciomercato claims that Tottenham have shown an interest in Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo although they will need to offload players to afford him.
– Spurs are not interested in signing Jesse Lingard according to Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile. Lingard, who left Manchester United recently at the conclusion of his contract, is hoping to decide on his future this week, with West Ham United believed to be his likely destination, while Nottingham Forest are also interested.
– Fabrizio Romano also claims that there is still no agreement between PSG and Inter on a deal for Martin Skriniar. Inter are not willing to sell the Slovakia international for PSG's last bid of €50m.
– Arsenal and Manchester City have agreed to a £32m deal for Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko, reports Sky Sports.
– Football Insider reports that Liverpool have contacted Ajax about signing their Brazil international winger Antony.
West Ham are reportedly confident they will be able to land 20-year-old Lille midfielder Amadou Onana after increasing their bid for the Belgium international.
Onana, who made his senior international debut on June 3 against the Netherlands in Nations League action, enjoyed a terrific first season in Ligue 1 after leaving Hamburg in Bundesliga 2 for a £6million fee.
The defensive midfielder totalled 41 club appearances in the season, including eight games in the Champions League, but the Hammers may face some competition for his signature from within the Premier League.
TOP STORY – WEST HAM SET SIGHTS ON LILLE'S BIG BELGIAN YOUNGSTER
According to The Athletic, West Ham had a £25million bid rejected by the French club, but the Evening Standard claims that the English side are confident an increased bid of £30m plus add-ons will get the job done.
However, The Athletic's report states that there is also interest in Onana coming from Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United, which could throw a wrench in West Ham's plans.
West Ham appear to still have plenty of business to take care of, with the Evening Standard also linking them with a £30m move for 20-year-old Chelsea striker Armando Broja, as well as trying to convince Jesse Lingard to return after a successful loan stint in the latter half of the 2020-2021 season.
ROUND-UP
– According to Sport, Barcelona are trying to attach Memphis Depay to their offer for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde after not meeting the €65m asking price, while Marca claims Chelsea have already agreed to personal terms with him and have offered Sevilla €55m.
– AS is reporting that Atletico Madrid have enquired with Cristiano Ronaldo's representatives about the superstar's interest in joining the club.
– Leeds United and West Ham are said to be competing for £34m Rennes striker Martin Terrier, according to L'Equipe.
– Calciomercato claims Paris Saint-Germain have been offering Georginio Wijnaldum to Roma and Milan in an effort to move him on from the club, despite arriving on a free transfer 12 months ago.
– Fabrizio Romano claims Manchester City have a bid ready to go for 23-year-old Brighton fullback Marc Cucurella to replace the outgoing Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Lisandro Martinez is set to become Erik ten Hag's third major signing at Manchester United after a deal was agreed on Sunday.
The versatile 24-year-old will follow his former Ajax coach to Old Trafford in a deal that will reportedly cost United €57million (£48million), potentially rising to €67million (£56.5million) with add-ons.
Martinez emerged as a primary target for United after Ten Hag's appointment was confirmed in April. Arsenal were among clubs rumoured to be rivalling United for the Argentina international, but seemingly Ten Hag's presence played a telling role.
Martinez is primarily a centre-back but has also been known to fill in at left-back and in defensive midfield, with this well-roundedness and his ability on the ball making him an attractive option to many potential suitors.
He joined Ajax ahead of the 2019-20 campaign and won two Eredivisie titles during his time in Amsterdam, including last season.
Ajax were reportedly reluctant to sell Martinez, but United made a breakthrough and are now poised to complete the deal.
United said in a statement: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the club has reached agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Argentine international defender Lisandro Martinez, subject to medical, to player terms being finalised, and to UK visa requirements."
Martinez will join United in the midst of a rebuild, having recorded their worst Premier League points total (58) ever last season. They have already recruited left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen on a free transfer after his Brentford exit.
The 2021-22 season was also the first league campaign in over 30 years that United did not end with a positive goal difference.
Ten Hag has been trusted with overseeing an improvement, and for many that means establishing a playing identity.
The Dutchman's Ajax team were regarded as one of the most entertaining sides in Europe as they played an attacking brand of football based on possession retention, and Martinez – as a ball-playing centre-back – is seen as a potentially vital acquisition in Ten Hag's quest to make United more comfortable on the ball.
As a left-footed player, Martinez's arrival could be bad news for the much-maligned United captain, Harry Maguire, who predominantly features as the left of the two centre-backs.
The England international will retain the captaincy, as confirmed by Ten Hag, but the signing of Martinez increases the competition in Maguire's area of defence.
Lisandro Martinez is set to become Erik ten Hag's third major signing at Manchester United after a deal was agreed on Sunday.
The versatile 24-year-old will follow his former Ajax coach to Old Trafford in a deal that will reportedly cost United €57million (£48million), potentially rising to €67million (£56.5million) with add-ons.
Martinez emerged as a primary target for United after Ten Hag's appointment was confirmed in April. Arsenal were among clubs rumoured to be rivalling United for the Argentina international, but seemingly Ten Hag's presence played a telling role.
Martinez is primarily a centre-back but has also been known to fill in at left-back and in defensive midfield, with this well-roundedness and his ability on the ball making him an attractive option to many potential suitors.
He joined Ajax ahead of the 2019-20 campaign and won two Eredivisie titles during his time in Amsterdam, including last season.
Ajax were reportedly reluctant to sell Martinez, but United made a breakthrough and are now poised to complete the deal.
United said in a statement: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the club has reached agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Argentine international defender Lisandro Martinez, subject to medical, to player terms being finalised, and to UK visa requirements."
Martinez will join United in the midst of a rebuild, having recorded their worst Premier League points total (58) ever last season. They have already recruited left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen on a free transfer after his Brentford exit.
The 2021-22 season was also the first league campaign in over 30 years that United did not end with a positive goal difference.
Ten Hag has been trusted with overseeing an improvement, and for many that means establishing a playing identity.
The Dutchman's Ajax team were regarded as one of the most entertaining sides in Europe as they played an attacking brand of football based on possession retention, and Martinez – as a ball-playing centre-back – is seen as a potentially vital acquisition in Ten Hag's quest to make United more comfortable on the ball.
As a left-footed player, Martinez's arrival could be bad news for the much-maligned United captain, Harry Maguire, who predominantly features as the left of the two centre-backs.
The England international will retain the captaincy, as confirmed by Ten Hag, but the signing of Martinez increases the competition in Maguire's area of defence.
The dissonance of winning the Premier League and another Champions League knockout exit has prompted more spending for Manchester City this close season.
While Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips make for high-profile signings, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have headed for the exit.
According to reports, however, City are not willing to let one particular player go despite interest from abroad.
TOP STORY – MAN CITY TO FIGHT FOR BERNARDO SILVA
Manchester City have no intention of selling Bernardo Silva to Barcelona this window, despite reports in Spain suggesting otherwise.
Pep Guardiola was prepared to let the talented midfielder move to Spain last year for personal reasons, but Barcelona failed to come up with the necessary funds to make a deal happen.
In the meantime, the Portugal international has become a pivotal piece in City's midfield, with Guardiola now viewing him as an important part of his plan's for this upcoming season.
Despite suggestions from Spain that City have given Silva's agent Jorge Mendes the clearance to finalise a deal, the Premier League champions are reportedly looking to keep their star.
ROUND-UP
– Meanwhile, City appear set to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal for £30million, according to Fabrizio Romano.
– Chelsea will make a move for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde after failing to secure Nathan Ake's signature, per The Times
– Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has informed the club's hierarchy to persist for Frenkie de Jong's signature, even if he has not joined them by the start of the Premier League season, The Guardian is reporting.
– Juventus are in contact with Atletico Madrid to bring back Alvaro Morata after his two-year loan spell at the club ended at the end of last season, Calciomercato reports.
Chelsea have marked Sevilla's Jules Kounde as their centre-back of the future after a deal for Manchester City's Nathan Ake fell apart.
An agreement had been taking shape to bring 27-year-old Ake back to Stamford Bridge – where he began his Premier League career – before City decided to retain the services of the Netherlands international.
Instead, 23-year-old Kounde is now in Chelsea's sights, likely as a long-term solution after also securing 31-year-old centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for a fee reportedly just shy of £34million.
TOP STORY – CHELSEA ENTER THE KOUNDE RACE
Kounde has already racked up 150 games of top league experience between his time with Bordeaux in Ligue 1 and Sevilla in LaLiga, and is expected to cost in the range of £56million, according to ESPN.
The France international, with 11 senior caps for his country, also has an impeccable injury history, tallying 184 appearances in all club competitions in just the past four seasons, with no significant injuries.
Chelsea will be mainly competing against Barcelona, with the Spanish giants reportedly already agreeing to personal terms with Kounde, and reports claim they are willing to exchange Memphis Depay or Sergino Dest to get a deal done.
Barcelona may be unable to afford the move unless Sevilla are willing to take back a player, as their £65m deal for Raphinha and their chase of Robert Lewandowski could restrict their financial flexibility
ROUND-UP
– Aston Villa have placed a £20million price tag on 18-year-old midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka to try to fend off interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United, according to Talksport.
– The Athletic is reporting that 29-year-old Jesse Lingard is considering a highly paid move to Saudi Arabia.
– According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are set to agree to personal terms with Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko.
– Sky Sport in Germany claims Bayern Munich are close to securing Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt for around €80million.
– The Independent is reporting that William Saliba will try to push his way out of Arsenal if he is not guaranteed a place in Mikel Arteta's starting line-up, with Marseille and Atletico Madrid named as interested parties.
Barcelona's off-season has the potential to become even more complicated than what it already is.
Trying to balance their ambition with the economic realities of their situation is creating a tricky environment with the players to have departed and are still at the club this off-season.
According to reports, one player whose departure can ease the financial burden Barcelona have placed on themselves does not want to leave.
TOP STORY – BARCELONA INFORM DE JONG OF MANCHESTER UNITED MOVE
Frenkie de Jong has reportedly been told by Barcelona they want him to leave for Manchester United, according to The Athletic.
The Blaugrana are trying to convince De Jong that while they believe he is a talented footballer, they must sell him in order to balance their excessive wage bill.
The clubs have reportedly agreed on a guaranteed transfer fee of £63million (€75m) but the 25-year-old has no apparent desire to leave club, given Barcelona still owe him a deferred salary payment.
Meanwhile, the arrivals of Raphinha and Franck Kessie this off-season complicate the club's pitch of De Jong's transfer being economically necessary, as opposed to the sale being a purely sporting decision.
ROUND-UP
– Juventus have approached Arsenal over signing Gabriel Magalhaes as they eye a potential replacement for Matthijs de Ligt, The Independent reports.
– Meanwhile, the Gunners are working on a deal to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, per The Athletic
– Leeds United are close to agreeing terms with PSG over 20-year-old striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, Sport is reporting.
– At the same time, PSG have been joined by West Ham in the race to sign Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Barcelona have confirmed they have agreed a deal with Leeds United to sign Raphinha.
The deal is reportedly worth up to €67million (£56.57m). Raphinha's move is subject to a medical being completed.
Chelsea and Arsenal were both heavily linked with the former Sporting CP attacker, with the Blues striking a deal with Leeds in late June to bring the winger to Stamford Bridge.
However, reports suggested that Raphinha was prioritising a move to Barca, with Blaugrana president Joan Laporta announcing "he wants to come".
Xavi's side are contending with well-documented financial issues, with Laporta revealing new signings Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen could only be registered after salary adjustments.
But Barca have seemingly made further alterations to secure the services of Raphinha, who is set to sign a five-year deal.
Raphinha scored 11 times in the Premier League for Leeds in his last season, after netting six goals in the 2020-21 season following his arrival from Rennes.
That marked his best return in front of goal since he struck 15 times in the 2017-18 campaign Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes.
Indeed, since making his Leeds debut, he has directly contributed to 29 Premier League goals, scoring 17 times and managing 12 assists, at least five more than any team-mates in the period.
Xavi will hope Raphinha can continue his scoring form when Barca open their LaLiga campaign at home to Rayo Vallecano on August 13.
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira revealed he has discussed a move to Roma with head coach Jose Mourinho, as he labelled the prospect of joining the Giallorossi "enticing".
The Uruguay international has spent the past two seasons out on loan after falling out of favour at Emirates Stadium, playing 26 times for Atletico Madrid in the 2020-21 season before making 35 appearances for Fiorentina last term.
Torreira's time in Florence was largely successful; having only scored four times in 89 Arsenal appearances, he netted five Serie A goals for Fiorentina as they finished seventh, a tally only bettered by Nicolas Gonzalez (seven) and now Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic (17).
And with Arsenal adding Porto's Fabio Viera to their midfield ranks in the off-season, Torreira has talked up the possibility of joining another Italian outfit in Mourinho's Roma.
"I spoke with Mourinho some time ago. He is a coach that I admire," he told El Pais.
"It is a chance that entices me, but it is not easy."
Roma have already been active in the transfer market as they attempt to build on last term's Europa Conference League win, signing Lille right-back Zeki Celik, experienced Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic and former Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
Torreira said last month there was "no chance" he would return to the Arsenal squad despite Fiorentina opting not to trigger their €15million (£12.6m) purchase option on him.
Lucas Paqueta has been subject to multiple proposals amid reported interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United, Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas has confirmed.
Mikel Arteta recently brought in Porto star Fabio Vieira to bolster Arsenal's midfield ranks, with reports also linking the Gunners with a move for Youri Tielemans from Leicester City.
Paqueta has been another name reportedly of interest to Arsenal, but the Gunners could face stern competition for the midfielder's signature from Newcastle and Tottenham.
Newcastle, backed by the financial power of their Saudi Arabia-led ownership, attempted to sign Paqueta in January after their takeover, but were only successful in acquiring Lyon team-mate Bruno Guimaraes.
Paqueta could follow a similar path to the impressive Guimaraes should he opt to move to St. James' Park, though the lure of Champions League football may make Spurs more appealing.
Brazil international Paqueta has three years left on his contract after he arrived from Milan in 2020, but Aulas conceded Lyon may lose their prized asset.
"There are proposals for him," Aulas told reporters when asked about the future of the 24-year-old.
"There are certain players who can feel complete in the project, and others who don't. Economically, we have the means to pursue our ideas and objectives.
"The coach gave us his opinion and there is also what the players wants to do."
Paqueta may prove a dominant creative force for whichever club he chooses, having created the most chances (41) and recorded the most assists (six) of any Lyon player in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season.
It may feel like men's football has hardly been away, but Europe's top leagues are already into pre-season, meaning it promises to be a busy few weeks as teams ramp up preparations for the 2022-23 campaign.
Of course, pre-season is a little more compact this year because of the first ever mid-season World Cup, which is due to begin in November.
The World Cup's place in the calendar means the domestic season is starting earlier and finishing later than usual.
You can expect plenty of noteworthy games before the end of July. They may not mean a great deal in the grand scheme, but these games can offer a degree of intrigue, whether bitter rivals are facing each other or new signings are beginning their integration.
Below, Stats Perform has identified some notable matches that may be worth keeping tabs on before the end of the month.
Manchester United v Liverpool - July 12, 14:00 BST
Erik ten Hag's first match in charge of United will be against fierce rivals Liverpool in Bangkok on Tuesday. The Dutchman may not have made all the signings he would surely have liked before jetting out for pre-season, but seeing his new squad in action on the pitch for the first time may give him a better idea of what the club's transfer priorities should be.
RB Leipzig v Liverpool - July 21, 18:15 BST
The first of successive friendlies against 'Red Bull' clubs (they play Salzburg six days after this), and some Liverpool players will find themselves in familiar surroundings when they go to Leipzig. This should provide a good test of the Reds' fitness ahead of facing Manchester City in the Community Shield nine days later.
Bayern Munich v Manchester City - July 23, 00:00 BST
Pep Guardiola faces his former team in what will be the first ever soccer game played at the famous Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Arsenal v Chelsea - July 23, 01:00 BST
London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are the main attractions in the Florida Cup, which confusingly is not just being played in the Sunshine State. However, the Gunners and Blues will be playing their contest in Orlando.
Tottenham v Roma - July 23, 19:15 BST
Spurs versus Jose Mourinho. Say no more.
Barcelona v Real Madrid - July 24, 04:00 BST
This Las Vegas clash will be by no means the first time Barca and Madrid have played a Clasico during pre-season. Their clashes are always worth watching, regardless of the stakes.
Bon diaaaaaaa! pic.twitter.com/JdnE523QIs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 9, 2022
Barcelona v Juventus - July 27, 01:00 BST
After tussling with Madrid in a Clasico, Barca face another European heavyweight in Juventus at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
Arsenal v Sevilla - July 30, 12:30 BST
The Emirates Cup is usually a solid option for pre-season entertainment. Arsenal's visitors this year are Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla, who finished fourth in LaLiga last season.
Real Madrid v Juventus - July 31, 03:00 BST
Having signed Angel Di Maria and seemingly being about to announce Paul Pogba's arrival, Juventus will be under pressure to pose more of a threat in Serie A and Europe next season. In that case, who better to test themselves against than Champions League winners Madrid? This game will be played at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
Manchester United v Rayo Vallecano - July 31, 16:00 BST
This one may buck the trend in that it is not necessarily a clash between two current European high performers, but it is noteworthy as being Ten Hag's first Old Trafford game.
Manchester United have added yet another Ajax product to their wish-list for this transfer period, with 20-year-old striker Brian Brobbey emerging as a new target.
Brobbey came through the Ajax academy when Erik ten Hag was in charge and, after leaving to join RB Leipzig ahead of this past season, he was loaned back to Ajax in a successful move.
After returning to the Dutch giants, Brobbey scored seven goals in 11 Eredivisie fixtures, prompting the club to try and bring him back on a permanent deal.
TOP STORY – RED DEVILS SWOOP IN FOR HIGHLY RATED AJAX YOUNGSTER
Brobbey was widely expected to re-join the reigning Eredivisie champions for a fee in the neighbourhood of £13million.
However, the Times is reporting that Ten Hag has caught wind of the move and is hoping to instead coax the promising young striker to Old Trafford.
It is said the deal with Ajax was almost as good as done, so it remains to be seen if he could be convinced to change directions at the 11th hour, but the Times report includes that Ten Hag has been on the phone to Brobbey in an effort to sway him towards the Premier League.
United's interest in Brobbey follows moves for Ajax stars Lisandro Martinez and Antony, with a package-deal for the pair rumoured to be worth north of £100m.
ROUND-UP
– According to French publication Media Foot, Arsenal are showing interest in 24-year-old Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who is also linked with Newcastle United.
– The Mirror is reporting that Barcelona manager Xavi is keen to re-sign Ousmane Dembele to a new contract, but the club's sporting director Mateu Alemany would prefer a move for Leeds United's Raphinha.
– Everton are targeting 20-year-old Chelsea striker Armando Broja and 25-year-old Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, according to The Mirror.
– Fabrizio Romano claims Chelsea have reached personal terms with Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake, although the final transfer fee, believed to be in the £40m range, is yet to be decided.
– Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that West Ham are considering a £13m move for 23-year-old Roma forward Justin Kluivert, while Goal claims Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma told the Hammers he has no interest in moving there.
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