Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

Transfer Talk: Manchester United and Chelsea join the hunt for Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa

It's back! The Premier League returns to our screens this weekend, with champions Leicester City ...



Transfer Talk: Manchester Unit...
Soccer

Transfer Talk: Manchester United and Chelsea join the hunt for Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa

It's back! The Premier League returns to our screens this weekend, with champions Leicester City beginning the defence of their title away to newly promoted Hull. 

Champions Leicester City. It still sounds weird doesn't it?

Anyhow, while the cut and thrust of the Premier League is back upon us, let's take a quick glance at the papers and see what sort of moves are being made ahead of the closing of the transfer window.

Leicester may be champions, but they still may not have the pull power that some of the traditionally bigger clubs have. Their pursuit of Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa may be scuppered as Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to sign the 19-year-old.

According to the Daily MirrorJose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are both said to be interested in the signature of the Brazilian and each of the clubs have held talks with Santos' president Modesto Roma.

"We had productive conversations," Roma told Goal.

"We didn’t come to buy or sell players, neither in London or Madrid. We came to build relationships. There weren’t offers, but we did talk about partnerships. I talked to Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid."

Gabriel Barbosa is highly rated in Brazil and is seen to be similar in style to Barcelona's Neymar. Image:  Leo Correa / AP/Press Association Images

Elsewhere, West Brom problem child Saido Berahino has officially informed the club that he intends to see out the final year of his contract.

Berahino has made not tried to hide the fact that he was angling for a move away from the club and now the Daily Mail report that he is set to see out the final 10 months of his £15,000-per-week contract.

Stoke City and Crystal Palace will both be on high alert after this, with the opportunity to pick the forward on a free transfer too big a coup to turn down.

Finally today, Burnley boss Sean Dyche can breath a sigh of relief after his side completed the signing of Anderlecht midfielder Steven Defour.

The newly promoted side have struggled to bring in any new signings, but have managed to land the Belgian for £6m.

The Sun report that Dyche "wanted new players for his engine room all summer" and sees the 28-year-old as the perfect fit to his squad for the new season.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer