With the summer transfer window upon us, rumours are picking up steam. Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. Follow our live blog below, and see the latest deals here.
Top story: Pogba deal finally over the line?
Paul Pogba's never-ending move from Juventus to Manchester United looks like it could, finally, be drawing to a close. United officials are in Italy to thrash out a world-record transfer for Pogba, sources close to the English club have told ESPN FC.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Red Devils have agreed to stump up £100 million for the France international. Astonishing wages of £210,000 per week after tax already have been finalised, too, in a deal that will send waves around European football.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have agreed a fee with Newcastle United for midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, multiple sources have told ESPN FC. Wijnaldum will now travel to Merseyside to undergo a medical "as soon as possible," one source said.
LIVE BLOG
23.00 BST: OK, that's it for another fun day of Transfer Talk. Tune in later for Friday's installment and rolling live blog of all the latest deals, steals, loans and rumours. Thanks!
22.53 BST: Juventus' €20 million offer for young Santos forward Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa has been rejected by the Sao Paulo-based club, according to Globoesporte.com.
Per the report, the Bianconeri are considering if an improved counter-offer of €25m is worthwhile, with Santos determined to accept no less than that fee for the coveted 19-year-old who is also said to be on Chelsea's radar.
22.32 BST: Sevilla have officially presented new signing Paulo Henrique Ganso after the former Sao Paulo playmaker and Brazil international passed his medical.
The elegant Ganso, who has played a classic No. 10 throughout his career, has been tipped to occupy a more withdrawn, regista role for Jorge Sampaoli's side, reminiscent of Andrea Pirlo and Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz. Sounds interesting.
Comienza la presentación de @phganso �� pic.twitter.com/wS7P6imhD4
- Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) July 21, 2016
The former Santos star moves to the reigning Europa League champions for a reported fee of €9.5m.
22.02 BST: Zenit St Petersburg have reached an agreement to buy former Selecao midfielder Giuliano from Brazilian club Gremio for €7 million, outlets in Brazil are reporting.
Grêmio aceita proposta e encaminha venda de Giuliano ao Zenit https://t.co/Et5hbOonwV pic.twitter.com/LIYBjCRAvu
- UOL Esporte (@UOLEsporte) July 21, 2016
21.43 BST: Here's a DONE DEAL involving the lower leagues:
BREAKING NEWS: Defender @konch3 has today joined the #Gills on a one-year deal. https://t.co/VgpxNUP4Ck pic.twitter.com/X8dJFphc1g
- Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) July 21, 2016
That's former Liverpool, West Ham and Leicester City left-back Paul Konchesky joining League One side Gillingham FC.
21.29 BST: Some good news for Southampton fans up next as their Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long has signed a new deal at the club.
#SaintsFC is delighted to announce @ShaneLong7 has signed a new four-year contract with the club! �� https://t.co/ThBxg62mA3
- Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 21, 2016
Long, 29, scored 13 goals for the Saints last season in all competitions but has signed a four-year contract to remain at St. Mary's.
21.04 BST: Arsenal are still mulling over a move for Torino's Brazilian defender, Bruno Peres.
Manchester City and Leicester have apparently shown interest at one time or another in the 26-year-old but after receding interest, it's up to the North London club to decide what they want to do. A reported price tag of €15-20m isn't helping matters; Sky Sport Italia said on Wednesday that the Gunners had bid but it was deemed too low.
20.35 BST: Are Everton struggling to complete a deal for Axel Witsel?
The Liverpool Echo reports that talks are breaking down due to the Belgian midfielder's wage demands, which could force the Merseyside club to walk away. Other names on Ronald Koeman's list beyond the Zenit St. Petersburg enforcer include Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko, as previously reported, and AS Roma's Kevin Strootman.
20.07 BST: ESPN Mexico is reporting that Mexico's 2014 World Cup goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa is on the brink of a move from Malaga to Granada.
Ochoa signed for Malaga after starring in Brazil, but couldn't wrestle the starting spot from Carlos Kameni and appears to be looking for a fresh start at Paco Jemez's side, who finished 16th in La Liga last season.
The report states that the deal between the Andalusian clubs is close to being made official.
19.45 BST: Are Liverpool sizing up a move for another defender?
Reports in France suggest that Jurgen Klopp is keeping tabs on Aston Villa full-back Jordan Amavi. The 22-year-old only made 12 appearances for the relegated Midlands side last season but Klopp allegedly sought the left-back when still at Borussia Dortmund.
Signing him now would offer some much-needed competition for incumbent Alberto Moreno. No word yet on any kind of price tag.
19.17 BST: Colombian striker Teo Gutierrez tells ESPN Argentina that he hopes to return to Argentine giants River Plate "as soon as possible." Gutierrez, who was part of Colombia's 2014 World Cup squad, spent last season in Portugal at Sporting Lisbon but is looking to make a return to the Millonarios.
19.10 BST: Mexico goalkeeper Memo Ochoa, who at times has languished on the bench at Malaga in the last two seasons, could be on his way to Granada, reports ESPN Mexico.
.@espnmx reporting Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is on the brink of sealing a move from Malaga to Granada.
- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 21, 2016
19.08 BST: West Brom are planning a new bid for Leicester City winger Jeffrey Schlupp, sources tell ESPN FC. The Baggies' initial bid of £9 million was turned down, but that is not stopping Tony Pulis & Co. from making a second attempt at snagging Schlupp, who made 24 league appearances in 2015-16.
18.50 BST: DONE DEAL A trade has gone down in MLS between D.C. United and the Vancouver Whitecaps that sees striker Fabian Espindola join the Canadian club in exchange for general allocation money. D.C. United then acquired Patrick Mullins from New York City FC, who received general allocation money and an international roster spot in the deal.
18.25 BST: Reports from Spain have Venezuela international Fernando Amorebieta returning to La Liga to join Sporting Gijon. The former Athletic Bilbao defender had spent the previous three years in England after joining Fulham in 2013. Amorebieta had two loan spells at Middlesbrough, including for the entire 2015-16 season.
18.13 BST: It appears that Carlos Bacca will not be joining West Ham. A day after Jack Sullivan, son of Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan, tweeted that West Ham had agreed to terms with Bacca's current club, AC Milan, and that only a thumbs up from Bacca was lacking, Bacca told reporters on Thursday that he plans to go on Milan's U.S. tour on Friday, effectively ending West Ham's pursuit of the Colombian striker.
17.57 BST: According to ESPN's Taylor Twellman, new MLS franchise Atlanta United will announce the signing of Argentine Hector "Tito" Villalba in the next 24 hours. The 21-year-old has spent the four years with San Lorenzo and was part of the club's 2014 Copa Libertadores title-winning campaign.
17.50 BST: Could there be a Mario Balotelli reunion with Roberto Mancini in the works? Thursday's TuttoSport reports that the Italian striker could be reunited with his old boss at Inter Milan.
17.37 BST: News from Swansea as WalesOnline cite a French report that a loan move to send 30-year-old striker Bafetimbi Gomis to Ligue 1 side Marseille is being held up. Gomis would be the third striker to leave the Swans this summer, following in the footsteps of Alberto Paloschi and Euro 2016 hero Eder.
17.21 BST: DONE DEAL Juventus have announced the signing of Marko Pjaca. The Croatian winger joins from Dinamo Zagreb for €23 and has signed a five-year deal with the Turin giants.
OFFICIAL: Marko #Pjaca signs for Juventus on a five-year deal: https://t.co/zWW6Rxmwdh #WelcomeMarko pic.twitter.com/Ae66S11UIe
- JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 21, 2016
16.59 BST: Stoke City have had a loan bid for Robin van Persie rejected by Fenerbahce, a source close to the player has told ESPN FC. Van Persie, 32, has been closely linked with a return to the Premier League over the past couple of weeks with Middlesbrough also expressing an interest.
16.44 BST: Carles Gil is set to quit relegated Aston Villa to return to Spain, bound for Deportivo La Coruna on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent switch. That's from Super Deporte.
16.33 BST: Sky Sports is reporting that West Brom have had a bid of £9 million rejected for Leicester winger Jeffrey Schlupp. Will the Baggies return with an improved offer?
16.21 BST: DONE DEAL Hamburg have signed midfielder Alen Halilovic from Barcelona for €5 million. Halilovic, 20, joins the Bundesliga side on a four-year contract after spending last season on loan at Sporting Gijon.
"Ich denke, ich kann in Hamburg und in der @bundesliga_de viel lernen.", so @AlenHalilovic. #nurderHSV pic.twitter.com/RD3ztNmnen
- Hamburger SV (@HSV) July 21, 2016
16.12 BST: Edin Dzeko's agent has told Tuttomercatoweb that he will "100 percent" still be with AS Roma next season.
15.54 BST: Over in France now, and Le 10 Sport claim that Chelsea are in for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani. It says that Chelsea have offered €50 million, which has been rejected because PSG are demanding €80 million.
EXCLU - Mercato - PSG : Nouvelle offre de Chelsea pour Cavani ! https://t.co/chiAZoJDe6 #le10sport pic.twitter.com/V9KrLilJEd
- le10sport (@le10sport) July 21, 2016
15.35 BST: DONE DEAL Watford have announced the signing of right wing-back Brice Dja Djedje from Marseille for around £4 million. The Ivory Coast international has signed a four-year deal at Vicarage Road. He becomes their fifth summer signing, following on from Jerome Sinclair, Christian Kabasele, Isaac Success and Juan Camilo Zuniga.
OFFICIAL: #watfordfc pleased to confirm the signing of Brice Dja Djédjé from @OM_Officiel: https://t.co/MJogjhUN48 pic.twitter.com/CHWGaXhZHm
- Watford FC (@WatfordFC) July 21, 2016
15.33 BST: James Rodriguez to Manchester United? El Confidencial has a report that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is planning a £65 million move for the Real Madrid man.
15.25 BST: Sky Sports is reporting that Georginio Wijnaldum is currently undergoing his medical ahead of that £25 million move to Liverpool from Newcastle United.
15.22 BST: Is Arsene Wenger in for a big deal on deadline day or are Arsenal destined for another quiet summer? John Brewin takes a look at the Gunners' moves.
15.07 BST: DONE DEAL Another big move here, this time upstairs as Steve Walsh has left Premier League champions Leicester City to become director of football above Ronald Koeman at Everton. Walsh has been given a lot of the credit for the development of the squad at the King Power, including the signings of Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, which culminated in their shock title success. He also recommended the signings of Gianfranco Zola, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien when at scout at Chelsea.
BREAKING: Everton appoint Steve Walsh as Director of Football. Welcome to Everton, Steve. pic.twitter.com/3dWBAEn3Ba
- Everton (@Everton) July 21, 2016
15.01 BST: Just when we thought it was Eric Dier who was going to sign a new contract, Tottenham backup defender Kevin Wimmer has put pen to paper on a new five-year deal.
We are delighted to announce that @kevinwimmer27 has signed a new contract with the Club until 2021. #COYS pic.twitter.com/NBMZTganiY
- Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 21, 2016
14.53 BST: DONE DEAL Ervin Zukanovic has completed his switch from Roma to Atalanta. The defender moves on loan with the option to make the move permanent.
Ervin Zukanović all'#Atalanta https://t.co/V5P99L5nQ4 #Bergamo #AtalantaLife ⚫️��✍ pic.twitter.com/qfWGj2dhss
- Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) July 21, 2016
14.37 BST: It seems Marco Reus is glad to be reunited with Mario Gotze at Borussia Dortmund.
Welcome back ������⚽️ @MarioGoetze
- Marco Reus (@woodyinho) July 21, 2016
14.26 BST: Tottenham Hotspur are ready to offer a new contract to Eric Dier, with the Daily Telegraph suggesting a five-year deal has been put on the table.
14.12 BST: Still over in Spain, and Sport says that Manchester City have won the race to sign Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Jesus from under the noses of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Palmeiras are said to have accepted an offer of €32 million.
Gabriel Jesus to join Manchester City, as Barça seemingly miss out on another target https://t.co/coQpgZdBjW
- SPORT English (@Sport_EN) July 21, 2016
13.57 BST: Marca is reporting that Raphael Varane has rejected the chance to join Manchester United and he will now stay at Real Madrid.
13.40 BST: DONE DEAL Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of Grant Hanley from Blackburn Rovers, with the fee believed to be in the region of £5.5m.
CONFIRMED: Welcome to Newcastle United, Grant Hanley! ⚫️⚪️ #NUFC pic.twitter.com/w6Mqx8Mbrx
- Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 21, 2016
13.31 BST: Inter Milan are a club full of uncertainty at the moment with the futures of Roberto Mancini and Mauro Icardi unclear, writes James Horncastle.
13.17 BST: Sergi Samper has signed a new deal and represents hope in dark times for Barcelona's La Masia academy, writes Richard Martin.
12.54 BST: Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata has said he is grateful for the experience at Juventus but is glad to be back at the Bernabeu and can't wait to train again. Morata's two-year spell with with the Serie A club ended earlier this month after Real Madrid announced they had activated the buy-back clause in his contract.
12.35 BST: Paul Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, says "There is no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla bla bla." Surely a matter of time, though?
There is no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla bla bla.
- Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) July 21, 2016
12.26 BST: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is "confident" that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward can deliver the fourth signing that he needs, but refused to confirm or deny if it is Paul Pogba.
12.07 BST: WATCH - Alison Bender looks at whether Georgino Wijnaldum will be a good fit for Liverpool, as the Reds close in on a £25m deal.
11.49 BST: Stoke City are confident of securing a deal for Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen after agreeing a £13 million fee for his services, sources close to the Potteries club have told ESPN FC.
11.32 BST: Stiliyan Petrov will not be offered a playing contract at Aston Villa despite attempting to make his comeback. The Bulgarian midfielder has been training with Villa this summer after battling back from leukemia, following his diagnosis in 2012.
11.18 BST: Rubin Kazan have reached an agreement to sign midfielder Alex Song from Barcelona. Song, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at West Ham, joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2012 but was unable to make an impact at the Camp Nou.
ФК "Рубин" сообщает о достижении предварительной договорённости о переходе в казанский клуб Александра Сонга pic.twitter.com/UYisLtpwGP
- «Рубин» Казань (@fcrk) July 21, 2016
11.05 BST: Mario Gotze has agreed a four-year deal to rejoin Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich. Bayern say the deal is done, but BVB insist the medical still has to be completed. And after the collapse of Neven Subotic's move to Boro, there's every reason for them to be cautious!
Borussia Dortmund verpflichtet @MarioGoetze. Mehr Infos folgen. pic.twitter.com/Xs84TClWi6
- Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) July 21, 2016
11.01 BST: Amid talk that Manchester United are closer to signing Paul Pogba after making an improved bid for the Juventus midfielder that will break the world transfer record, ESPN FC's Arindam Rej says that Jose Mourinho has full confidence that executive vice chairman Ed Woodward can get deals done.
Ed Woodward could travel to Beijing for the derby but no decision taken yet. Mourinho has said he has confidence in Woodward's work. #mufc
- Arindam Rej (@ARejSport) July 21, 2016
10.52 BST: Looks like Carlos Bacca's move from AC Milan to West Ham IS ON.
Bacca's bags are packed pic.twitter.com/hxCbOkv0Bh
- James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) July 21, 2016
10.40 BST: Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic says he will give "100 percent" to recover his fitness after a rib injury ended his hopes of a summer transfer. A move to Premier League side Middlesbrough collapsed when he failed a medical on Wednesday and he is set to be out for the rest of 2016.
10.23 BST: Real Madrid rising star Borja Mayoral looks set for a move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg after the striker posted his goodbyes on the club's official website. "I'm going to acquire experience and to do the best that I can in order to return," he said ahead of a one-year loan.
10.09 BST: Liverpool have agreed a fee with Newcastle United for midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, multiple sources have told ESPN FC. Wijnaldum will now travel to Merseyside to undergo a medical "as soon as possible," one source said.
10.01 BST: Mauro Icardi has moved to bring an end to speculation linking him with a move away from Inter Milan this summer by saying he is happy with the Nerazzurri. "I have a contract with Inter through to 2019 and they are my club," he said.
09.48 BST: Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marko Pjaca has arrived in Turin ahead of completing a €25 million switch to Juventus.
E' arrivato #Pjaca! Adesso iniziano le visite! pic.twitter.com/sHQoW461Sx
- JuventusFC (@juventusfc) July 21, 2016
09.32 BST: DONE DEAL Rubin Kazan have completed the signing of Ruben Rochina after the Russian club activated the €10 million release clause in his Malaga contract. Championship club Blackburn Rovers will be due a 15 percent sell on windfall.
09.19 BST: Portuguese newspaper A Bola is reporting that Benfica are hoping to resist interest from Chelsea in centre-back Victor Lindelof.
09.03 BST: Tottenham's Clinton Njie will join Marseille on loan, according to L'Equipe. The deal will include an option to buy the winger for €7m. The French newspaper says that Arsenal showed an interest in signing the Cameroonian but Spurs "closed the door" on that idea. It said Villarreal and another unnamed French club were also interested in the 22-year-old.
08.48 BST: Mauro Icardi has revealed that he is not interested in leaving Inter Milan, despite reported interest from Arsenal.
Icardi: "My families objective is to stay in Milan. I've never hidden the fact that my family is happy here + that goes for Wanda + the kids
- James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) July 21, 2016
08.28 BST: Motherwell have rejected an offer from an Australian A-League club for striker Scott McDonald.
08.15 BST: Oostende and Belgium left-back Jordan Lukaku is set to join Lazio on a three-year deal, according to reports in his homeland. The Italian club will pay Oostende between €3m and €5m for the 21-year-old brother of Romelu.
07.52 BST: That was quick -- Sky Sports News reports that Newcastle have accepted a £25 million bid from Liverpool for Georginio Wijnaldum.
BREAKING NEWS: Sky sources: Newcastle accept bid in region of £25m from Liverpool for Georginio Wijnaldum. #SSNHQ
- Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) July 21, 2016
07.44 BST: Liverpool are confident of sealing a £25 million deal for Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, according to the Liverpool Echo.
07.29 BST: L'Equipe's front-page headline is "The Transfer of the Century" -- the French newspaper expects Paul Pogba to complete a record €120 million move from Juventus to Manchester United.
120 millions d'euros = TRANSFERT DU SIÈCLE ! pic.twitter.com/aBse9Eym5O
- L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) July 21, 2016
PAPER TALK
Guardiola keen to add Kroos with £50m bid
Manchester City will look to rival United this summer in the market by splashing £50m on Real Madrid midfield maestro Toni Kroos, according to the Mirror.
MIRROR MCFC LEAD: Pep's Blues Kroos #tomorrowspaperstoday #mcfc pic.twitter.com/sbuWERPBxU
- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 20, 2016
The German international could add the control that Pep Guardiola craves from his midfields, especially with new signing Ilkay Gundogan sidelined with a knee injury until mid-September.
Kroos' role at Madrid became less crucial in the past year once Luka Modric raised the bar with a string of dominant midfield displays, and the European champions may now jump at the chance to double their money on the former Bayern star.
Chelsea table huge bid to lure Lukaku back
Romelu Lukaku failed to break through at Chelsea the first time around, but the Blues appear ready to give him a second chance by offering Everton a huge profit three years after selling the Belgium international.
If not for Pogba heading back to Manchester United for around £100m after leaving Old Trafford on a free, Chelsea might be in for some criticism as Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports a £50m bid has been lodged.
Chelsea already have Diego Costa and new boy Michy Batshuayi, but if Antonio Conte fancies playing a 4-4-2, adding Lukaku will give plenty of depth to his striking options.
Should Arsenal go for Icardi?
Our ESPN FC crew debate the Gunners' rumoured transfer targets to augment a shaky attack. Should they make a run at Inter's Mauro Icardi if they continue to strike out with Gonzalo Higuain?
Check out what they have to say:
Conte turns attention to Lindelof
If Chelsea's first Plan B is anything to go by, the Blues could be in line for an excellent defensive upgrade as attention turns to Benfica's Victor Lindelof.
Antonio Conte & Co. appeared fixed on Roma's Radja Nainggolan earlier in the summer but grew frustrated with the Giallorossi's stubborn approach in negotiating, which appears to have been the case once again with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Mirror reports the Blues will target the 22-year-old Swede for £25m after his breakthrough season in Lisbon last term, rather than competing with Everton and Bayern Munich for Koulibaly after the Partenopei raised their asking price to £45m.
Tap-ins
- There's plenty of Blues gossip in Thursday's papers as the Mail suggests another bid has been tabled -- and rejected -- for Alvaro Morata.
After being knocked back with an initial offer of £50m, Chelsea raised their bid to £62.5m, which also has been rejected and therefore could be related to their subsequent and aforementioned interest in Lukaku.
- Spurs appear to have their man with Marseille starlet Georges-Kevin Nkoudou passing his medical and the Ligue 1 side ready to receive Clinton N'Jie in return.
The Guardian reports that Mauricio Pochettino will have the £11m winger announced soon with Njie ready to sign for l'OM on a season-long loan.