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A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Brighton and more.
Another day of gossip is in the books, and as always 3 Added Minutes is here with our regular morning round-up of the biggest (and wildest) new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – starting with a story involving Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.
According to TeamTalk, intermediaries have started telling elite teams that Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga “will be available for transfer” over the summer – and Liverpool, United and Chelsea are all in the running to sign the Frenchman.
Liverpool are said to be “leading the chase” as they search for midfielder reinforcements, but both of their Premier League rivals are said to be “registering early interest” in the 23-year-old, who is struggling for regular gametime at the Santiago Bernabeu as it stands – and will be “allowed to leave” as a result.
Apparently Camavinga would be “keen on a move to London,” but would also only consider a Champions League team for his next move. Liverpool, described as “long-term admirers” of the Real man, could thus end up in a better position than Chelsea based on the current table. There’s no suggestion that any offers have been made as yet, nor any word on the likely transfer fee involved.
The 3AM Verdict: It’s looking increasingly likely that Camavinga will be on the move this summer, and we don’t find it difficult to envisage any of these three sides making moves given their tactical needs. Clearly, the asking price will have an impact, but this report dovetails with a number of stories circulating elsewhere.
Chelsea ‘closing in’ on former Brighton wonderkid
Let’s stick with Chelsea for our second story, because transfer journalist Efrem Konur reckons that the Blues are “closing in” on a transfer for Argentine youngster Valentín Barco, who has “shone” at current club RC Strasbourg – Chelsea’s sister side.
Barco has some Premier League experience with Brighton & Hove Albion but has made a far stronger impression in France than he did at the Amex Stadium, and Chelsea are supposedly keen to move him to London to bolster their squad next season. Although initially regarded as a left-back, Barco has moved into midfield at Strasbourg with impressive results.
Talks are said to be “at [an] advanced stage” with the “deal nearly done” – although there’s no word on the transfer fee that Chelsea will effectively be paying their own owners, nor the personal terms that will be involved.
The 3AM Verdict: It’s fair to suggest that any Strasbourg player Chelsea want, they will get, and while signing Barco as a midfielder-cum-defender might feel a little bit ‘Camavinga at home,’ he has developed nicely in France and meets the same needs that the more famous Real player would. There’s no reason to believe that Chelsea wouldn’t take a chance on a talented young player here, especially when getting a deal done would be a matter of routine.
Brighton ‘find next South American wonderkid’
While Barco might have been a miss at Brighton, that won’t stop them chasing young talent from the same part of the world, according to Sports Boom (via Konur again, as it happens) – they claim that the Seagulls “have found their next South American wonderkid” in the shape of Botafogo attacking midfielder Álvaro Montoro.
The 18-year-old’s recent performances have “ignited the interest” of Brighton, although they may not be alone in monitoring the Argentine, with Bournemouth also said to be keen. It’s suggested that Brighton could sign Montoro and leave him in Brazil on loan to help him develop, although it’s also said that Botafogo don’t want to lose him just yet.
As such, they have allegedly slapped a hefty price tag on their young talent, and want him to “mature before entertaining bids in the €30-40m range” – that’s £26-35m in sterling. No offer has been made yet, it’s said, but Brighton plan to “knock on the door.”
The 3AM Verdict: An ascending talent who would be firmly in Brighton’s wheelhouse, but the article makes it sounds like getting a deal done would be complex, and we wouldn’t be surprised if other sides are in the bidding for Montoro should he continue to impress. One to watch, for now.
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