DZfoot journalist Ilyes Kaddouri reports that there has been some direct contact between Bayer Leverkusen and Karim Benzema.
The superstar even inquired about the club with his former teammates Lucas Vázquez and Moussa Diaby and is now said to be interested.
On Instagram, Benzema only follows his former clubs Lyon, Real Madrid and Al Hilal on Instagram – but now Leverkusen as well.
Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that the former Real Madrid superstar is on his way to the Rhineland outfit immediately.
Despite ending his relationship with Al Hilal prematurely, he's still under contract at the Saudi Pro League club until 2030.

#Instagram

Liverpool have made a lot of changes to their squad this summer.
Some players such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones have been moved on, while others, such as Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet have been brought in.
It's not just their playing staff what have changed either with a decent chunk of the Reds' backroom staff also being re-jigged.
Richard Hughes is now Al-Hilal's sporting director and Michael Edwards just decided to quit after Fenway Sports Group's multi-club model was thrown in the bin.
Even though all these changes have been made, it still feels like more needs to be done before Liverpool are ready to be seen as genuine contenders for the Premier League ******* le again.

#Liverpool #jones #victor

With Richard Hughes' move to Al-Hilal now confirmed, Liverpool are seeking a new sporting director for the fifth time since 2022.
Hughes joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 and oversaw the appointments of Arne Slot then Andoni Iraola. He informed the club earlier this year that he wanted to pursue a new challenge in Saudi Arabia.
Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is overseeing the process of finding Hughes' replacement, with Liverpool keen to make a swift appointment.
Liverpool will look at internal candidates, but have not ruled out the possibility of appointing someone from outside the club. There is a desire to have someone that is committed long term.
When the question of stability was put to Billy Hogan, Liverpool's CEO, this summer, he told BBC Sport: "I would send a message that we are in a very healthy place as a football club - the leadership from the ownership is in a very steady place and we're looking forward to the next season and the season ahead."

#summer

Chelsea plot early move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, Chelsea winger Pedro Neto attracts interest, and Manchester United and Newcastle United inquire about Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea want to secure the signing of Bournemouth's highly-rated midfielder Alex Scott now, with a view to the 23-year-old arriving next summer, after having a £60m bid rejected in the recent transfer window. (Teamtalk)
Arsenal, Manchester City and Al-Hilal are interested in Chelsea winger Pedro Neto and could make a move for the 26-year-old Portugal international in the January transfer window. (Caught Offside)
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, 28, turned down offers from Manchester United and Newcastle United before sealing a loan move back to RB Leipzig. (Bild & Sky Sport Germany via Caught Offside)
United States striker Folarin Balogun could move to the Saudi Pro League, where the transfer window is still open, with Monaco under financial pressure to sell the 25-year-old after he pulled out of a switch to Everton late on deadline day. (Football Insider)

#united #manchester #year

Al-Hilal's Karim Benzema (38) was close to signing a return to Olympique Lyonnais this summer, according to reports in L'Équipe.
Approached by the management of the Rhône-based club, where he came through the ranks, the Ballon d'Or winner had expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of once again donning the Rouge & Bleu colours. So much so that he was prepared to play there without receiving any remuneration.
However, despite mutual interest from all parties, the deal could not be finalised, as Benzema had not yet been released from his contract with Al-Hilal at that time – something he has since done. His role as an ambassador for the Saudi league, which runs until 2030 and which the striker was keen to honour, also proved to be an obstacle to a potential move to another country.
Benzema, although still very attached to OL, the club of his life, is therefore unlikely to end his career there, having helped the Rhône-based side win four league ****** les before his departure for Real Madrid in 2009.
GFFN | Léo Aschi

#league #olympique #rouge

Gabriel Martinelli has been officially confirmed as an Al-Hilal player following the completion of his £60 million ($81.2 million) move from ****** nal.
The 25-year-old Brazilian winger departs the Emirates for a club-record transfer fee after the Premier League champions opted to revamp their attack during the transfer window. The £60 million figure comfortably surpasses the previous record for an ****** nal sale, which was established by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35 million ($45.3 million) move to Liverpool back in 2017.
Martinelli's future had been uncertain for months, with speculation connecting ****** nal to some exceptionally talented and high-priced left-wing options, including Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior, as per The Mirror.
Wrexham bid farewell to back-to-back promotion hero following record-breaking signing
'I was edgy about Welcome to Wrexham, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney proved me wrong'

#million #record #back #following

Gabriel Martinelli says he felt like "an adopted Hale End boy" during his seven years at ******* nal.
Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for a fee of £60m after being told by manager Mikel Arteta he was not part of his plans for this season.
The 25-year-old joined the Gunners from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 as an 18-year-old and made 278 appearances for the club, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 ******* ists.
He made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the top-flight ******* le for the first time since 2004.
"When I arrived here, seven years ago, I was just a boy who had only recently turned 18," Martinelli wrote in his farewell message posted on social media.

#martinelli #season

LONDON (AP) — Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli ended a seven-year spell at ***** nal by joining Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal on Thursday.
Arsenal announced the deal on X, saying: "Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi."
No fee was disclosed but media reports put it at 60 million pounds ($81.2 million), which would make the 25-year-old Martinelli the English Premier League champion's most lucrative transfer departure.
It eclipses former midfielder Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's 35 million pounds ($46.3 million) exit to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli's move to the Saudi Pro League comes after fellow left-sided forward Leandro Trossard was sold to Besiktas last month.

#martinelli #arsenal #pounds #Brazil

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, the Premier League champions announced Thursday.
No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the deal was worth a guaranteed £60 million ($81 million).
That would make 25-year-old Brazil international Martinelli the most expensive player to leave the London club, following Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's £35 million exit to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli has signed a four-year deal with Al-Hilal, who are currently joint-top of the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.
"Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a permanent transfer," said a statement on **** nal's website.

#martinelli #hilal #league #deal

With the summer transfer window set to close within the next two days, some significant news for ****** nal has emerged on Sunday as the exits of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Fabio Vieira have all been reported. Jesus will be joining Barcelona, while Martinelli is set to become ****** nal's record transfer with a move to Saudi side Al Hilal. Vieira will return to Hamburg on a permanent move after a successful loan spell last season.
The Fabio Vieira move is one that has been in the making for the last few seasons. He came into the ****** nal side from Porto in the 2022 summer window as an under-the-radar move with a high ceiling. While he displayed his technical quality at times, he just never seemed to adapt to the more physical nature of the Premier League, and he was soon in the window shop for the Gunners. A loan back to Porto in 24/25 was followed by his spell with Hamburg in 25/26 where he shone for the Bundesliga side.
The one drawback of the Hamburg loan was that any fee for a permanent move was never going to majorly move the needle. Considering their record fee for an incoming player was €14m for Filip Kostic, the expectation was that they would not come close to meeting ****** nal's original valuation of €20m. After negotiations this week, the Gunners brought their asking price down and reached an agreement of €9m for the midfielder.
Gabriel Jesus' also saw his role in the side lessen over the past two seasons due in large part to injuries. His addition in the summer of 2022 after joining from Manchester City was a landmark one in the Mikel Arteta era. His arrival took ****** nal from a being simply a competitive side to one that consistent challenged for the ****** le. The first 6 months of his first season were sublime as he immediately elevated the attack with his exceptional ability to receive the ball in tight ****** es and link up with the front line.
Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the 2022 World Cup that began a series of ongoing issues he never seemed to overcome. The cycle that followed was as predictable as it was frustrating. After recovering from an injury, he would show flashes of his brilliance before encountering another setback. The signing of Viktor Gyökeres last summer was a major indicator that the club was preparing for him to take a more diminished role in the attack, and a move seemed inevitable.

#summer

Tottenham are in advanced talks to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, with Richarlison set to move in the opposite direction as part of separate negotiations.
Although a deal for Nidaye is largely agreed between the two clubs, it remains unclear whether he will make the switch to north London, with Manchester City among the clubs to have expressed an interest.
City have also held talks to sign Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, another Spurs target, although the Reds would need to secure a replacement before sanctioning any move.
Everton are open to selling Ndiaye, 26, after he rejected multiple contract offers and held talks with Saudi club Al-Hilal earlier this summer.
Meanwhile, Everton have agreed terms in principle to re-sign Brazilian striker Richarlison after he told Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi "too many times that he wants to leave".

#city #although

Marcus Rashford's future has moved back into focus in the closing days of the transfer window, with TeamTalk reporting that both ****** nal and Barcelona are tracking developments around the Manchester United forward.
The current picture is relatively clear. United have reintegrated Rashford, handed him the number nine shirt and used him from the bench in the opening-day 2-1 defeat at Hull City. Internally, the plan is for him to remain. Even so, the report states that club sources "have not ruled out the prospect of Marcus Rashford leaving the club before next Tuesday's transfer deadline", a line that will inevitably attract attention given the scale of the player and the clubs involved.
Arsenal's interest appears to be one of the more notable elements here. With Gabriel Martinelli having departed for Al-Hilal, the need for left-sided attacking reinforcement is obvious. Rashford is described as "a player ****** nal have admired for a long time", and that alone makes this worth watching in the final days of the market.
The key detail is that a move remains possible rather than probable. United are "currently planning with Rashford and remain keen to retain him", while any shift would likely depend on two conditions, a suitable offer arriving and United being able to restructure their attacking options before the deadline. That point feels especially relevant given Joshua Zirkzee is heading towards Fiorentina, a development that would leave United requiring careful cover if another forward departs.
Barcelona's long-standing interest has not gone away. According to the report, they "have maintained a line of communication with Rashford's camp", despite the player's return to first-team involvement at Old Trafford. That contact matters, particularly because Barcelona are said to remain "huge admirers of Rashford" after his loan spell at the Nou Camp last season.

#remain

Manager Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins apologised for refusing to play for Aston Villa on Sunday as he paid an emotional tribute to departing striker.
Emery praised the England forward's behaviour during his Villa career and said he and the squad accepted Watkins' apology for making himself unavailable against Brighton.
The 30-year-old is expected in Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete a £51m move to Al-Hilal, with Villa poised to finalise the signing of Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson for £65m as his replacement.
Watkins is Villa's record Premier League scorer with 91 goals, part an overall tally of 108 in all competitions since signing from Brentford for £28m in 2020.
"He told us after the Brighton match he was sorry and that he had made a mistake. He was wrong, but we accepted it. The players as well," said Emery.

#villa #brighton #signing

The Champions League draw is another reminder that Aston Villa are back among the elite - but also how much change there has been.
Europa League winners Villa, returning to the competition after a season away, will host defending champions Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.
Trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray add an extra sparkle while Unai Emery's side also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague.
PSG's visit will naturally evoke the memories of the 2025 quarter-final when Villa so nearly upset the eventual winners with a memorable comeback.
Although it will be a very different Aston Villa side which will face the defending champions, with Emi Martinez's move to Chelsea and Ollie Watkins' switch to Al-Hilal due to go through before the deadline.

#villa #side

David Moyes is at Hill ****** inson Stadium and Goodison Park with Enzo Maresca of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City have expressed interest in Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
Comfortable on either wing, Ndiaye's technical flair, dribbling ability, and work rate have put him firmly on City's radar.
The Sky Blues recently parted ways with Omar Marmoush and Savio, leaving the club in need of attacking reinforcements.
However, City's pursuit of Ndiaye is complicated, especially late in the window. Everton are reluctant to lose their star forward, who was recently courted by Al-Hilal.
Ndiaye turned down a move to the Middle East in favour of staying in Europe, and a switch to City would likely appeal to him.

#moyes

Manchester City signed highly rated teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille on Wednesday, getting a rising star seen as the Premier League giant's long-term replacement for Rodri.
City confirmed the transfer in a statement on its website, saying the 18-year-old Morocco international has signed a five-year-contract. No financial details were given but French sports daily L'Equipe estimated the transfer to be 100 million euros ($117 million).
Bouaddi's arrival follows the departure of 2024 men's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who recently joined Barcelona after helping Spain win the World Cup.
"This is a very special day for me and my family," Bouaddi said. "I've watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try and play quality football. And they have shown they are winners, this club feels like it's built to win."
The fee makes Bouaddi the most expense player sold from the French league, surpassing the 90 million euros Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal paid to get Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

#city

Aston Villa's summer planning has taken another intriguing turn, with Athletic reporting that the club have "made an approach to Bayer Leverkusen for striker Christian Kofane". It is a move that says plenty about the market Villa are working in, and even more about the uncertainty surrounding Ollie Watkins.
According to the report, Villa are "long-standing admirers of the 20-year-old, with interest pre-dating his transfer to Leverkusen in 2025". That line matters. This does not read like a rushed reaction to a difficult week, it feels more like a name already established on the club's internal list, now pushed forward by events.
The central issue remains Watkins. The report states he "has made clear he wishes to join Al Hilal", a significant development for a player who has carried so much of Villa's attacking burden. Villa's stance, for now, is firm. "Last week, Villa rejected a fourth offer worth £45million for the 30-year-old and do not wish to sell him." Even so, the article adds that "Villa are stepping up contingency plans, with Kofane among the options to replace Watkins."
Photo IMAGO
Leverkusen's position appears equally clear. They "do not wish to sell Kofane and do not intend to do so after club-to-club contact was made by Villa." That leaves Villa in a familiar transfer-market balancing act, admiration on one side, resistance on the other.

#leverkusen

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
James Benge of CBS Sports reported on Tuesday that Al Hilal and ***** nal were closing in on an agreement for the transfer of Gabriel Martinelli, with the fee expected to be around €58m (£49.7m) guaranteed, with €8m (£6.9m) in further bonuses.
The total package of £56.5m would represent a club-record sale for ***** nal, but Benge added that it's all subject to the player's final approval.
Sami Mokbel then confirmed for the BBC that ***** nal are closing in on a minimum £50m deal to sell Martinelli, with talks advanced and a conclusion imminent ahead of the winger making a formal decision.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

#alex #benge #martinelli #closing

As Ollie Watkins continues to be linked to Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, many Aston Villa fans will wonder why this could turn their centre forward's head.
Saudi football expert Mohamed Qutob told Radio WM that the Saudi side are in the market to replace five-time Champions League winner, Karim Benzema.
"They're a little disappointed with their main man. They want a replacement and Ollie Watkins is top of the list," said Qutob.
"What we also know is the Saudis have plenty of money. If they really, really need Ollie, they might be able to match the valuation after all."
One English forward who was tempted to join the Saudi Pro League was Ivan Toney, who has gone on to win back-to-back Asian Champions League ****** les with Al-Ahli, whilst also still being called up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

#qutob #hilal

Where Unai Emery is concerned, the silent treatment has taken on a new meaning. The Aston Villa manager's pre-match interview at Brighton on Sunday was notable for a one-word answer. "Silence," he said, when asked about Ollie Watkins' whereabouts. The England striker was absent for the 4-0 defeat, Emery hinting he refused to play.
Watkins appears set on joining Al Hilal. A considerable boost to his bank balance would come with a dent to his reputation. For the nice guy, one of football's feel-good stories, it surely wasn't supposed to end like this. When Watkins was playing for Exeter at 21, the riches now offered in Saudi Arabia would have seemed unimaginable. But so, too, would have scoring the winner for England in the semi-final of a major tournament or winning a European trophy. This will be his last big contract – and presumably, much his biggest – but it again invites the question of how much money footballers need.
Ollie Watkins appears set to wave farewell to Aston Villa (Getty)
Six years at Villa Park should not have left him a pauper. Instead, he may leave Villa with Emi Buendia acting as a false nine at Brighton as they made a false start to their campaign.
A tarnished legacy would be a shame because Watkins and Villa have been very good for each other. He had never played in the top flight before he became their club record signing. He became the only player to reach double figures of Premier League goals in each of the last six seasons. His departure may be drawn out, but perhaps Watkins finished in a way with a match-winning brace against Manchester City, his last game at Villa Park, like his third, an evisceration of Liverpool. There were six goals in his last five games for Villa and, in the one where he did not find the net, they won the Europa League.

#villa #aston #ollie #league

Where Unai Emery is concerned, the silent treatment has taken on a new meaning. The Aston Villa manager's pre-match interview at Brighton on Sunday was notable for a one-word answer. "Silence," he said, when asked about Ollie Watkins' whereabouts. The England striker was absent for the 4-0 defeat, Emery hinting he refused to play.
Watkins appears set on joining Al Hilal. A considerable boost to his bank balance would come with a dent to his reputation. For the nice guy, one of football's feel-good stories, it surely wasn't supposed to end like this. When Watkins was playing for Exeter at 21, the riches now offered in Saudi Arabia would have seemed unimaginable. But so, too, would have scoring the winner for England in the semi-final of a major tournament or winning a European trophy. This will be his last big contract – and presumably, much his biggest – but it again invites the question of how much money footballers need.
Ollie Watkins appears set to wave farewell to Aston Villa (Getty)
Six years at Villa Park should not have left him a pauper. Instead, he may leave Villa with Emi Buendia acting as a false nine at Brighton as they made a false start to their campaign.
A tarnished legacy would be a shame because Watkins and Villa have been very good for each other. He had never played in the top flight before he became their club record signing. He became the only player to reach double figures of Premier League goals in each of the last six seasons. His departure may be drawn out, but perhaps Watkins finished in a way with a match-winning brace against Manchester City, his last game at Villa Park, like his third, an evisceration of Liverpool. There were six goals in his last five games for Villa and, in the one where he did not find the net, they won the Europa League.

#villa #brighton #park

Liverpool have made a bid to sign an African star.
Richard Hughes' time at Liverpool appears to be drawing to a close, with his expected move to Al Hilal bringing an end to a relatively short but eventful spell as sporting director.
Assessing his tenure is difficult because it has contained such contrasting periods. Liverpool have enjoyed significant success during his time at the club, but that has been accompanied by several transfer windows in which the recruitment process has appeared increasingly uncertain.
Hughes' first summer was defined by the failure to land Martin Zubimendi, while his third has followed a similar pattern after Yan Diomande opted for Real Madrid. His second window was considerably more productive, with Liverpool securing a number of their primary targets. However, the performances of several of those signings have yet to consistently match the level of investment involved.
That context has inevitably shaped the perception of Hughes as he approaches the end of his tenure.

#hilal

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Juventus striker Jonathan David, with reports from Ekrem Konur suggesting the Italian club could accept £30.07m-£33.74m for the 26-year-old. Manchester United and ***** nal have also been mentioned, but Villa are being presented as the club currently best placed to make a move.
There is one problem with the whole argument, though. Villa's situation has changed dramatically.
Ollie Watkins is no longer the obvious, immovable centre-forward at Villa Park. Al-Hilal are pushing hard for the England international, with Sky Sports reporting that a €45m (£38.5m) offer has already been rejected and negotiations are continuing. That matters a lot.
Morgan Rogers has already left Aston Villa, while Watkins' future is increasingly uncertain after he missed the opening-day defeat by Brighton amid the Saudi interest. So Villa suddenly do need attacking reinforcements, and that makes the David story rather more interesting.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 28: Jonathan David #10 of Canada looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

#california

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says forward Ollie Watkins' absence in the 4-0 thrashing at Brighton is a "question for him".
The 30-year-old was left out of the matchday squad for Villa's Premier League opener after Emery confirmed earlier in the week there had been offers from Saudi club Al-Hilal for the striker.
Asked if it was his decision to leave Watkins out, Emery told Match of the Day: "This question is for him. You can call him and try to get his answer.
"The players here wanted to play and we had two strikers with a small injury. The question on Watkins is for him."
Watkins could become the latest of Villa's European heroes to exit this summer.

#brighton

Al-Hilal are not actively pursuing Chelsea winger Pedro Neto with the Saudi side focused on a deal for Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli leads the shortlist for the Saudi Pro League side who have opened club-to-club contract with ******* nal over a deal. Al-Hilal had explored a move for Neto earlier in the window, and also admirer Juventus' Francisco Conceição, but a move for Martinelli is now the priority.
Neto had been named as an option to leave Chelsea this summer, with both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur considering moves, alongside Al-Hilal's interest,
However, Martinelli is viewed as an easier deal to conclude having entered the final 12 months of his deal. ******* nal are open to his sale, with Martinelli not included in the Premier League squad to face Coventry City on Friday night. The Brazil international has also 'opened doors' to a move to Saudi Arabia, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Arsenal value Martinelli at around £60m, having turned down a £38.4m bid from Turkish champions Galatasaray earlier in the summer.

#saudi #deal

Arsenal have held talks with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal over the sale of winger Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazil international is free to leave the club this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta making it clear to the attacker that he is not in his plans.
Turkish club Galatasaray showed interest in Martinelli earlier this summer, but the Brazilian would not consider a move to Istanbul, despite **** nal receiving a 45m euro (£38.54m) bid.
As reported by BBC Sport's senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, Al-Hilal have communicated that they are willing to bid higher than Galatasaray's offer.
Martinelli made 53 appearances last season, scoring 11 goals, but he was left out of the squad for the champions Premier League opener against Coventry City on Friday.

#league #Brazil

Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez were absent from Aston Villa's matchday squad named to face Brighton in their Premier League opener amid rumours of an imminent exit for both.
Villa frontman Watkins is wanted by Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, and his omission from the travelling squad to the south coast will only heighten speculation.
Goalkeeper Martinez has also been heavily linked with a departure from Villa Park, as he was last summer, but misses out on the squad due to a lack of match fitness following a recent return from his post-World Cup break.
Manager Unai Emery says he wants to keep Watkins but has already confirmed that bids have been made for the England international.
Ollie Watkins could leave Aston Villa for Saudi Arabia (Getty)

#brighton

Alejandro Balde has been left out of the Barcelona's squad for Sunday's La Liga clash against Elche and looks increasingly like he's heading for an exit before the close of the transfer window.
Reports yesterday claimed that Balde has decided to move on after fresh talks between the club and his agent Jorge Mendes.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick now seems to have made it pretty clear there's no place at Barca for Balde this season, with the left-back not part of the travelling squad for the trip to Elche. There's no injury for Balde, it's simply a tactical decision.
Manchester United, Aston Villa and Benfica have all been linked with Balde in the last week as the youngster looks to find a new club for the 2026-27 season.
Meanwhile, Jordi Pesquer has been named in the squad for the game against Elche, while Joao Cancelo also gets the nod after completing his permanent transfer from Al-Hilal.

#club

Paris Saint-Germain completed a couple of key deals last weekend as Luis Enrique's squad was supplemented by the arrivals of Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, yet there was a quiet development elsewhere that, in time, could become a major problem for the Ligue 1 champions.
Much of the summer has been dominated by the saga of Bradley Barcola and Liverpool. It increasingly looks like the French winger will leave for Anfield in what is likely to be a club-record sale far eclipsing the €90 million transfer fee Al-Hilal paid to sign Neymar in 2023.
Losing Barcola is likely not what Luis Campos and Luis Enrique wanted at the start of the summer, but equally, it's not a disaster either.
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His transfer fee alone is likely to cover the transfer fees of Godts and Torres combined, while his exit fits the club mantra of not keeping unhappy players. Furthermore, Barcola was not a guaranteed starter, though he was certainly PSG's most dangerous attacking alternative and a precious weapon because of his raw pace and acceleration.

#torres #summer #Paris

Unai Emery has revealed Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez could be the next Aston Villa players to join the exodus from the Europa League winners.
Villa have rejected several bids for Watkins from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal this week, but Emery hinted the England striker would be allowed to leave for the right price.
England defender Ezri Konsa is on the verge of sealing his move to Premier League champions ******* nal, while Argentina goalkeeper Martinez has told Emery he wants to go.
Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans have already been sold by Villa since the end of last season, joining Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United respectively.
It is a remarkable dismantling of a team that won Villa's first major trophy for 30 years when they beat Freiburg in the Europa League final in May.

#emery #watkins #europa