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August is drawing to a close, marking the end of the soccer mercato. The last few months have seen a particularly remarkable transfer window, with two new soccer giants emerging to rival Europe: Saudi Arabia and the USA, who now boast several world-class players in their ranks.
Meanwhile, in Europe, clubs are scrambling to seize their last opportunities to recruit the players they want.
Operation João Félix:
FC Barcelona is set to implement “Operation João Félix” over the next 48 hours. Despite the challenges posed by Financial Fair Play issues, the club is pulling out all the stops internally to figure out how to make this transfer happen. Enthusiasm is palpable, as João Félix is keen to make the switch, and President Joan Laporta is determined to make Félix’s arrival at Barça a reality.
João Félix, for his part, has expressed his willingness to wait for FC Barcelona until the end and to consider other options only if the Catalan club withdraws from the race for his signature. His words still resonate: “I’d love to join Barcelona, it’s been my dream since I was a child,” he confided last July. As he waits to see if his dream will come true, João Félix remains hopeful and patient.
Operation Benjamin Pavard:
Benjamin Pavard is set to join Inter, and the deal has been completed thanks to the approval of FC Bayern. The details of the deal are as follows: FC Bayern will receive a sum of 30 million euros, to which may be added 2 million euros in bonuses. This long-term transfer was motivated by Benjamin Pavard’s own wishes. The next steps include medical examinations and the signing of the contract, scheduled for Wednesday.
Operation Romelu Lukaku:
AS Roma are set to sign Romelu Lukaku on loan, marking a done deal. Romelu Lukaku has been in Rome since Tuesday afternoon. Contrary to an obligatory clause, his return is scheduled for June 2024. The loan fee is in excess of 5 million euros, an agreement that has been sealed with Chelsea. In addition, the salary package amounts to over 7.5 million euros spread over a 10-month period.
In recent days, following calls from coach José Mourinho, Lukaku gave his final go-ahead, sealing his transfer to AS Roma. A new adventure is about to begin for the Belgian player with the Roma team.
Operation Kolo Muani:
Kolo Muani has already informed those in charge of his wish to join Paris, and hopes that Eintracht will agree with his decision. The French player expressed his preference via Sky Deutschland: “Thank you to Eintracht, but let me join Paris Saint-Germain.” He stated that negotiations between PSG and Eintracht had stagnated despite a record offer from the German club. He is now asking to be released. He added, “I owe Eintracht a lot. The fans are in my heart, and I’ve always acted very professionally.” However, he makes no secret of Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in him, saying, “It’s no secret that Paris Saint-Germain have made me a record offer; it’s a great opportunity for my life.”
Operation Ansu Fati:
Tottenham have approached Barcelona about a possible loan move for Ansu Fati. A decision is expected soon, while the Spurs are also in talks for Brennan Johnson. However, Fati’s move will depend on Barcelona, who are keen for his wages to be fully covered. It’s important to note that Ansu’s priority has always been to stay at Barça. What’s more, the potential loans of Ansu and Abde could help facilitate the completion of the deal for João Félix, given the problems associated with Financial Fair Play. In addition, it has been suggested that Ansu Fati could also be considered as an option for Chelsea, but at present no active discussions are taking place with FC Barcelona.
Operation Marc Cucurella:
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Marc Cucurella on personal terms. The green light on the player’s side has been given, pending progress on the deal with Chelsea after they sent an initial loan offer of £2 million.
After kicking off on Saturday, June 10, the mercato will come to a close this Friday, September 1, leaving room for any last-minute surprises. The ongoing negotiations and transfers underline the effervescence of the soccer scene, leaving fans in anticipation of exciting moves to come.
