Italian giants eye move for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott… as Aston Villa prepare to battle Galatasaray with loan offer for AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao: WINDOW WATCH
It’s that time of the year again – the transfer window is now open until September 1 and it’s sure to be a busy period as clubs look to make big signings ahead of the new season.
Here are today’s latest developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team…
Delap signs for Forest
Liam Delap has sealed a £45million move to Nottingham Forest and could make his debut against Liverpool this weekend.
Despite a poor season at Chelsea, Forest have chosen to focus on Delap’s strong campaign for Ipswich and handed Chelsea an instant £15m profit – even though Delap scored only three goals for the Blues.
Liam Delap has joined Forest after a difficult spell with Chelsea
Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been desperate for a mobile No9 to allow Igor Jesus to operate in a different role.
Delap will be expected to make an instant impact after Forest lost twice at home to Leeds in the space of four days.
TOM COLLOMOSSE
Tractor Boys keen on Tammy
Ipswich are in talks to sign Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham on loan.
Villa are signing Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and have made approaches for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane while also making an offer for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
Abraham signed for Villa for £18m in January scored three goals in four starts and 13 substitute appearances.
Ipswich want to strengthen several positions before the deadline.
Elliott eyeing Italian escape
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is attracting interest from Italian sides Napoli and Lazio.
The 23-year-old suffered a disappointing loan at Aston Villa last season stymied by the fact the deal became an obligation to buy at £35m if he made ten appearances.
Unai Emery chose not to select him after a handful of games and admitted that it affected the England U21 international.
Napoli and Lazio are interested in moves for Harvey Elliott
He made just nine appearances and scored one goal last season though still finished with a Europa League winners medal albeit as an unused substitute.
Though interest is expected over the next four days, Liverpool have still to receive a formal enquiry for Elliott.
Villa make Leao loan enquiry
Aston Villa have offered a loan fee of £6.9million to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan for the season.
The Portugal attacker is also wanted by Galatasaray, who are attempting to buy him permanently for an initial £38.6m.
Leao’s transfer is being handled by super agent Jorge Mendes, who played a key role in Unai Emery becoming Villa boss in autumn 2022.
If Leao were to choose Villa, the deal would include an obligation to buy him next summer for nearly £37m if certain conditions were met.
Rafael Leao is being chased by Galatasaray and Aston Villa this summer
Villa agreed a similar deal with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho, who was left on the bench for last Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at Brighton.
Galatasaray are thought to be offering Leao a deal worth more than £300,000 a week, an impossible figure for Villa to match. Instead, Emery hopes the prospect of playing in the Premier League will sway Leao towards Villa.
TOM COLLOMOSSE
Barcola nearing Liverpool switch
Liverpool are closing on a deal worth £120million for Paris Saint Germain forward Bradley Barcola.
The deal is still to be completed but negotiations are continuing on a £100m fee with £20m in add-ons.
Read the full story here.
Hull close on Nice star
Nice forward Mohamed Ali Cho has completed his Hull medical.
The former Everton and Paris Saint Germain prospect, 22, can play anywhere across the front line. The deal is worth up to £15.4m.
Celtic consider Johnstone move
Celtic are understood to be considering a move for experienced Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as they assess their options following their disastrous exit from the Champions League.
The Scottish champions suffered one of the most damaging European defeats in their recent history on Tuesday night, incredibly surrendering a four-goal aggregate advantage to lose 5-4 to LASK and miss out on the Champions League league phase for a second successive season. Johnstone has emerged as a potential option.
The 33-year-old England international is at Wolves but his future at Molineux is increasingly uncertain following the club’s relegation to the Championship and subsequent changes to their goalkeeping department.
Johnstone underwent shoulder surgery towards the end of last season, which ruled him out of the final matches of the campaign and disrupted his pre-season. However, he has been back training for several weeks, has regained full movement in the shoulder and is effectively back to full fitness.
Despite his return to fitness, there are significant doubts over whether Johnstone features in new Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto’s long-term plans.
Jose Sa returned to the side following his involvement at the World Cup, while Wolves have moved to agree a £1.3million deal for Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Joao Virginia and are in talks to bring back John Ruddy, another indication that the goalkeeping order at Molineux is changing.
Although Dan Bentley has recently departed for Coventry City, Wolves have openly spoken about wanting another goalkeeper and would be willing to allow Johnstone to leave.
The arrival of Virginia leaves Johnstone facing an uncertain battle for football and little evidence of a long-term future at Wolves, potentially opening the door for Celtic.
Johnstone would bring considerable experience to Celtic Park. The former Manchester United academy goalkeeper has made more than 350 senior appearances during spells with West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Wolves, while he has also represented England at senior level.
At 33, he could offer Celtic an experienced and proven presence at a time when the club are looking for greater stability following the extraordinary collapse against LASK.
With the transfer deadline approaching and Johnstone now nearing complete match fitness, it could be a situation that develops quickly.
Celtic need a response after their Champions League humiliation and Johnstone needs regular football. A move to Glasgow could potentially suit both parties.
WEDNESDAY: Chelsea in talks over £36m-rated Atalanta teenager
TUESDAY: Nottingham Forest close in £45m deal for Liam Delap
MONDAY: Aston Villa in touch with AC Milan over Rafael Leao