LIVE Transfer Talk: Inter Miami close in on third Barca legend, with Alba to join Messi and Busquets

The summer transfer window is now open in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Alba to join Messi, Busquets in Miami?

Inter Miami‘s pursuit of Jordi Alba appears to be gaining momentum, according to The Athletic.

The 34-year-old left-back is a free agent after leaving Barcelona this month, and the MLS club are now reportedly growing confident that a deal will be reached.

In 11 years and 459 appearances at the Spotify Camp Nou, the veteran full-back won 16 major honours, including five LaLiga titles, five Copa del Reys and the UEFA Champions League.

The Spain international would reunite with former teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, with Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, revealing that the Herons were in negotiations with Alba last week.

Should Alba join the club, despite being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, he would not count toward the club’s three designated player slots.

Inter Miami are bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, with 17 points from 20 matches, and nine points adrift from the playoff places, with 14 games to go.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
– Read on ESPN+: Explaining the language of the transfer window

LIVE BLOG

12.05 BST: Davide Frattesi is on the verge of joining Inter Milan on loan from Sassuolo.

According to news agency Ansa, the 23-year-old has undergone a medical in Milan ahead of his move to the Nerazzurri. The deal, which includes an obligation for Inter to sign Frattesi on a permanent transfer, will cost around €33m.

11.33 BST: Alexis Sanchez is the latest player to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, reports L’Equipe.

The 34-year-old is out of contract at Marseille, and it set to reject the chance to stay at the Ligue 1 with the contract on the table offering a reduced salary.

The report says that the former Arsenal, Manchester United and Inter Milan forward has already moved out of his house in the city.

11.00 BST: Sky Sport Italia reports that Napoli are hoping to tie star striker Victor Osimhen to a new contract which includes a huge release clause.

Osimhen, 24, is one of the most-wanted forwards in Europe, having helped Napoli to the Serie A title last season. He has been linked with a series of clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Nigeria international is, however, expected to stay in Naples for one more season and will be rewarded with improved terms. Napoli will protect themselves with a release clause of €200m.

10.33 BST: Paris Saint-Germain have announced the signing of centre-back Milan Skriniar on a five-year contract. The 28-year-old left Inter Milan at the end of last month when his contract expired.

“I am very happy to be part of this wonderful club”, the Slovakia international said. “PSG is one of the best clubs in the world, with world-class players and fantastic fans.”

🆕✍️

Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to announce that Milan Škriniar has signed a five-year deal with the club.

The Slovak defender’s contract runs until 30 June 2028.#WelcomeŠkriniar https://t.co/4tlU6H52Zk

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 6, 2023

10.00 BST: Manchester United’s Scott McTominay is among the candidates that Roma are looking at to strengthen their midfield, Sky Sport Italia reports. The Giallorossi are looking to bring in an experienced player, and the Scotland international fits the profile.

Bayern Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer and Paris Saint-Germain’s Renato Sanches are the other names Roma are monitoring closely.

McTominay, 26, is under contract with the Red Devils until June 2025 and made 39 appearances across all competitions for United last season.

09.16 BST: West Ham are negotiating with Juventus over the transfer of Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria. According to Sky Sport Italia, the Hammers have made an €18m bid to sign Zakaria.

The offer is considered low as Juve want at least €25m to let the player leave on a permanent transfer. Juve are nevertheless optimistic that a deal could be reached next week.

Zakaria, 26, spent last season on loan at Chelsea and has a contract until June 2026.

08.30 BST: Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe must sign a new contract if he wants to stay at the club, as the French champions will not let him leave for free next year, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said.

Mbappe sent a letter to PSG last month stating that he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024. But he later clarified that he had not asked the French club to allow him to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have in the past tried and failed to land the World Cup-winning forward.

PSG face the dilemma of allowing Mbappe to run down the final year of his contract and being unable to recoup any of the €180m ($195.7m) they spent in 2017 to sign him from AS Monaco.

PAPER GOSSIP

– Tottenham Hotspur have presented Harry Kane with a £200,000-a-week contract in a bid to keep him at the club next season, the Guardian reports. The position of the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, remains that the 29-year-old striker will extend his contract with Spurs under new manager Ange Postecoglou. However, it is reported that the England international has no intention of extending his deal while the transfer window is still open and has been heavily linked with a move to Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich.

– Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle for Jurrien Timber, Sky Sports reports. The 22-year-old defender is set to join the Gunners from Ajax for £38.5m, an initial £34.2m with a further £4.3m payable in performance-related add-ons. The Netherlands international, who has made 160 appearances for the Eredivisie club since coming through the academy, is expected to have a medical in north London in the coming days.

– Al Ettifaq have made an official offer for Atletico Madrid‘s Alvaro Morata, according to Relevo. The Saudi Arabian club, who have appointed Steven Gerrard as their new manager, have offered €40m plus €10m in add-ons for the 30-year-old striker.

– Cesar Azpilicueta will join Atletico Madrid on a free transfer on Thursday, according to Fabrizio Romano. ESPN previously revealed that the 33-year-old defender was closing in on a move to the LaLiga club with just one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge. The Spain international has made over 500 appearances for the Premier League club since arriving from Marseille in 2012, and the Blues captain is now set to join Diego Simeone’s side on a two-year deal.

– West Ham United and Galatasaray are interested in Arsenal‘s Nuno Tavares, according to TuttoMercatoWeb. However, the 23-year-old left-back, who spent last season on loan at Marseille, will turn down those advances and hold out for a move to a higher-profile club. The Gunners are said to want £21m to part ways with the Portugal under-21 international, who joined them from Benfica in 2021.