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Soccer

Report: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid in talks over Griezmann-Felix swap deal

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid opened negotiations over a possible swap deal involving Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, sources told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

Completing such a deal on transfer deadline day could prove difficult given the time constraints.

Barcelona failed in their attempt to sign Felix on loan Monday before returning with a new offer involving Griezmann, who enjoyed a successful five-year spell with the Madrid club before moving to the Catalan capital in 2019.

Barcelona spent €120 million to sign the French international but the club has shopped him around this summer. Earlier talks with Atletico broke down over a potential swap deal involving the French forward and midfielder Saul Niguez, Marsden and Llorens report. Atletico is reportedly willing to reopen talks about that swap.

The 30-year-old Griezmann, who scored 133 times in 257 appearances at Atletico, is believed to be open to the idea of returning to play under manager Diego Simeone.

Felix moved to Atletico from Benfica in 2019 as a replacement for Griezmann in a deal worth €126 million. The Portuguese international has 19 goals in 76 appearances.

Soccer

Report: Real Madrid submit improved €180M offer for Mbappe

Real Madrid have returned with an improved €180-million bid for Kylian Mbappe after their initial €160-million approach was turned down by Paris Saint-Germain, sources told ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez.

The second offer consists of a guaranteed €170-million fee with a further €10 million in add-ons that are apparently “easily achievable.”

Real Madrid reportedly appreciate that negotiating such an expensive deal late in the summer window will be difficult but remain hopeful of completing a transfer before Tuesday’s deadline.

PSG sporting director Leonardo admitted Wednesday that Mbappe “wants to leave” the Parc des Princes but said Real Madrid’s first bid was “very far” from their valuation.

“It’s less than what we paid for him in 2017,” Leonardo complained.

Though Los Blancos’ latest offer would cover the €180-million sum that PSG are committed to paying AS Monaco for Mbappe’s move to Paris four years ago, sources told Kirkland and Faez that PSG are likely to reject the bid as they want closer to €220 million for the 22-year-old forward.

Neymar’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 remains the most expensive in the sport’s history at €222 million.

Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images Sport / Getty

“I think our position is very clear, as Leonardo said yesterday,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said when asked about Real Madrid’s pursuit of Mbappe at Thursday’s Champions League group stage draw, as quoted by ESPN. “For Kylian, our position has not changed. Everyone knows it, Kylian knows it. Our position is very clear and honest.”

Earlier this month, Al-Khelaifi described PSG as the most competitive force in world football and said Mbappe has “no reason to do anything else (other than stay).” The club chief was speaking at Lionel Messi’s official introduction as a PSG player.

To strengthen their bid for an inaugural Champions League crown, Les Parisiens have also signed Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, and Danilo Pereira this summer.

Mbappe is the final year of his PSG contract and has scored 133 goals over 174 outings for the club, scooping up three Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de Frances, and other domestic silverware in the process.

Soccer

Best reaction to Ronaldo's sensational return to Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo is back.

Fans, players, and journalists all shared their shock, dismay, and excitement as Ronaldo secured his return to Manchester United on Friday. The deal materialized just a day after Manchester City emerged as the frontrunners to sign the 36-year-old, who risked angering United’s entire fan base had he accepted a transfer to their rivals.

United’s confirmation post received 1 million likes on Twitter in less than an hour, and the club’s stock skyrocketed shortly after the move was announced. Here are the best reaction tweets from Friday’s remarkable turnaround:

Current and ex-players

The fans

The media

Soccer

Report: PSG to target Lewandowski, Haaland, Richarlison if Mbappe leaves

Paris Saint-Germain have compiled a list of world-class targets in preparation for life without Kylian Mbappe.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland headline PSG’s list of potential replacements should Real Madrid return with a successful bid for Mbappe, reports Julien Laurens of ESPN.

Richarlison is reportedly another possibility despite Everton’s unwillingness to sell the Brazilian attacker.

PSG have been reluctant to part with Mbappe this summer, having rejected two bids from Real Madrid, the latest offer reportedly worth €180 million.

It’s understood that the two sides were still negotiating as of Friday.

If Les Parisiens finally cave in and sell their young superstar to avoid losing him for free next summer after his contract expires, they will need to move quickly to find a replacement, given that the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday.

PSG officials have been in touch with Lewandowski’s and Haaland’s agents, but striking a deal for either could prove too difficult due to the time constraints.

However, the French club believes a bid in the region of €200 million could convince Dortmund to consider selling Haaland, according to Laurens.

Meanwhile, PSG could move for Richarlison, as sporting director Leonardo and manager Mauricio Pochettino are understood to be admirers of the 24-year-old.

Richarlison is believed to be intrigued by the idea of joining PSG, with Laurens reporting that his agent is in Paris despite Everton manager Rafa Benitez saying publicly that the player won’t be sold.

Completing a deal for Richarlison reportedly could cost up to €100 million.

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