The latest on all the transfer market news from the day just gone to the archives. Between rumors, negotiations and behind the scenes, here are the most important news.
DOVBYK NEW CENTRE FORWARD FOR ROMA. BOLOGNA, HERE IS THE DEFENDER: ERLIC ARRIVES FROM SASSUOLO. SURVEY FOR NIGERIAN DEFENDER TORUNARIGHA. MONZA AND TORINO ARE ALSO THERE. UDINESE, GONCALO ESTEVES SIGNED: CONTRACT UNTIL 30 JUNE 2028. EMPOLI, DEGLI INNOCENTI SOLD TO SPEZIA. JUVE, DECISIVE HOURS FOR RUGANI TO AJAX. LAZIO, CASTELLANOS IS UNSELLABLE: GIRONA’S LAST OFFER REJECTED
The wait is over. Artem Dovbyk is the new centre forward of Roma. The announcement, after the medical examinations and the signatures of the last few hours, came directly from the Giallorossi club that wrote on its official website: “AS Roma is pleased to welcome Artem Dovbyk to the Giallorossi family. Ukrainian international – born in 1997 – he is a physically strong centre forward, who last season played for Girona, a club with which an agreement was reached for his permanent transfer to the Giallorossi.
Bologna makes a move in defense with the arrival of Martin Erlic from Sassuolo. The Croatian center back was announced by the rossoblù club and will have to take up the heavy legacy of Riccardo Calafiori, who flew to Arsenal in recent days. For Bologna it is a permanent investment, with the player costing 7 million euros. The rossoblù club welcomed the Croatian with a social video and with this press release: “Bologna FC 1909 announces that it has permanently acquired the rights to the sports performances of defender Martin Erlic from US Sassuolo.
Bologna are also thinking about Jordan Torunarigha. According to what was gathered by TMW, in the last few hours the rossoblù have made an enquiry for the central defender of Gent. The 1997 class, Nigerian international, has already been sought in Italy by Monza and in the background there is also Torino among the interested clubs.
It’s now official: Goncalo Esteves is a new Udinese player. The Friulian club announced it with the following statement: “The reinforcement for the Bianconeri’s outside lanes arrives from Portugal: Gonçalo Esteves is a new Udinese player. He was purchased from Sporting and signed a contract with the Bianconeri until June 30, 2028”.
With a press release on their social media, Empoli announced the loan transfer with option to buy and counter-option of Duccio Degli Innocenti to Spezia: “Empoli Football Club announces that it has reached an agreement with Spezia for the temporary transfer, with option and counter-option, of the sporting performances of the footballer Duccio Degli Innocenti”.
Daniele Rugani’s future should be at Ajax. According to what was gathered by the editorial staff of TMW in the last few hours, clear steps forward have been made in the negotiations between the Bianconeri and the Dutch club, with the defender who should leave next week for Amsterdam, to undergo medical tests and subsequently sign his contract with the Lancers.
With Artem Dovbyk sold to Roma, Girona has begun looking for a new centre-forward to replace the Ukrainian. Among the various names being considered by the Catalan club, one is being brought to Italy – and it would be a return – more precisely to Rome, but on the Biancoceleste side: Valentin Castellanos, who played the 2022/23 season at Girona. According to what Tuttosport reported today on newsstands, the Spanish club has made an offer of 18 million euros to Lazio, but received a clear refusal. The newspaper adds that for the Roman team, El Taty is considered unsellable. And in this sense, the latest statements from sporting director Angelo Fabiani should also be noted.
RENNES, STÉPHAN’S PLACE ALREADY AT RISK: PIOLI IN POLE FOR THE BENCH. MANCHESTER UNITED, DOUBLE OFFER FOR DE LIGT AND MAZRAOUI BUT BAYERN SAYS NO. BORUSSIA DORTMUND ACCEPTS THE 30 MILLION OFFER FOR FULLKRUG, DEAL CAN BE CLOSED SOON
Although it is only summer preparation, Rennes suffered a real humiliation against Guingamp on Wednesday, losing 3-0. According to information from Foot Mercato today, the coach of the Breton club Julien Stéphan could already be in danger. Internally, support for the French coach is not unanimous, due to results considered disappointing since his arrival in November 2023. For the possible replacement of the former Strasbourg coach, the new sporting director of Rennes Frederic Massara already has an idea in mind: Stefano Pioli, fresh from his farewell to the Rossoneri that he also led to the Scudetto in 2021-22. Sacked by Milan this summer, the Italian tactician has an excellent relationship with Massara after their shared adventure with the Rossoneri.
Manchester United have made a double offer to Bayern Munich to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who ten Hag, who had them at Ajax, considered perfect players to complement his game in his third season in the Premier League and at the helm of the Devils. Yoro’s injury forced the club’s directors to break the ice and certify their desire to bring both defenders to Old Trafford, via a joint offer. There was optimism within United and among player representatives that this would meet Bayern’s expectations of players who are not considered first-choice players, The Athletic reports. But the proposal was rejected and the Bundesliga side told their Premier League counterparts that a higher base would be needed to reach an agreement.
There is a sense of mockery for Milan. After signing Morata and shifting their attention to Fofana and Emerson Royal, the Rossoneri club could now see a potential reinforcement in attack vanish in an instant. In fact, according to what has emerged in the last few hours from Germany, Niclas Füllkrug is now destined for a transfer to the Premier League. Borussia Dortmund had in fact asked for an offer of 30 million euros to let the 31-year-old German striker leave and West Ham, who are interested in the player to strengthen the attack, will accept the offer. According to information obtained by Sky Sports DE, the yellow and black club will collect 26 million in fixed part and another 4 million in bonuses. Füllkrug wants to move to West Ham United. A brand new three-year contract awaits him at Julen Lopetegui’s court (until 2027) with an option for a further extension for another year. The 1993-born player will earn 3 million euros per season. Tim Steidten and Sebastian Kehl have been leading the negotiations, with the Hammers’ Spanish coach pushing hard for the German international’s arrival. If all goes well, Füllkrug will fly to London this week. Meanwhile, BVB are already looking for alternatives to the 31-year-old.