Sports
Leeds Told to Pay £42m to Sign Igor Paixao
Leeds United will have to fork out over £40 million to recruit a top attacking target this summer, having missed out on a move for Julian Brandt.
Ajax won the race for the former Borussia Dortmund star, who was highly admired by the Whites. The Dutch side snapped up the winger on a free transfer, following the expiration of his contract in Germany.
That was a blow for Leeds and sent the Premier League club back to the drawing board for recruitment. Daniel Farke’s side have now been handed another setback, learning that Marseille will demand a huge fee to part with Igor Paixao.
Marseille put £42m price tag on Leeds target
Leeds United interest in the player emerged over the weekend, with the club having been linked with the Brazilian 12 months ago. Paixao registered 12 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances for Marseille last season.
The Ligue 1 outfit are under pressure to sell this summer with UEFA monitoring finances following a breach of regulations. Mason Greenwood, Hamed Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have already departed and Foot Mercato claims that Paixao could be next.
It’s reported that the winger is only the third choice purchase at Elland Road and the valuation held by Marseille could prove tricky for any deal.
Marseille owner Franck McCourt is said to have put a lofty €50 million price tag on the player, equivalent to around £42 million. That is between €15 million and €20 million more than Leeds are understood to be willing to pay.
Paixao only arrived in the south of France on a £30 million move from Feyenoord last summer, and has another four years left to run on his current deal.
Igor Paixao dreams of Premier League opportunity
The winger is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League. When speaking to GE Globo in 2022, Paixao said: “The Premier League is a dream for me. Making it to the national team is another goal.
“I’m going to work towards that, so I can be at the Olympic Games. And of course, I want to give my family an even better future, be able to help more, and have a well-established career in football.”
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Paixao missed out on the Olympics in 2024 with two-time defending champions Brazil not qualifying and has only played his football in the Netherlands and France since moving to the continent from his home country in 2022.
The player was handed minutes in the Champions League against Newcastle United and Liverpool last season, playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over the Magpies in France before a cameo in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Sports
Tottenham Make Contact to Sign £70m Liverpool Star Cody Gakpo
Tottenham Hotspur have made contact over a deal to sign Liverpool star Cody Gakpo this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Spurs have been very busy in the market with six signings so far, and the club are now working hard to make further additions, with manager Roberto De Zerbi prioritising new forward options for his squad ahead of the new campaign.
Man City star Savinho is understood to be the leading target for the wing, but the north London club are also keen to bring in someone alongside him who can play across the front line, and the Netherlands star has emerged as the main priority.
Gakpo is understood to have emerged as a target for Spurs this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi believed to be a major fan of the fact he can play across the forward line, including as a number nine.
Liverpool are not pushing a sale of the Dutchman, and reports suggest they would demand at least £70m to let him leave, having used Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona earlier in the window as a measuring stick for their valuation.
Now Romano, speaking on his latest YouTube video, has revealed that Spurs have spoken to the player’s representatives to make initial contact over a move, but explained that any deal won’t be easy to do.
“I told you to keep an eye on Cody Gakpo because Gakpo is a target for Tottenham,” he said.
“Tottenham had contact with the agency representing Gakpo. Tottenham liked the player and believed he could be the right addition for Roberto De Zerbi. Now [it] depends on the price.
“Liverpool are not pushing Gakpo out, Liverpool are very happy with Cody Gakpo. So the only way to change the story, and to let Gakpo go to Tottenham, and to open doors, because so far Liverpool never wanted to open doors, even during the World Cup and the whole month of July, Liverpool were insisting on keeping Cody Gakpo.
“The only way to open doors is if Tottenham present a really good financial proposal. In that case, if the player wants to go, it could change the stance.
“So let’s follow the Gakpo story. But Liverpool are not pushing the player out. So let me say this is not a guaranteed deal.This is something that is being discussed, but is not guaranteed, because for Liverpool, Gakpo is still an important player. This would be in addition to Savinho.”
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Spurs Must Pay Up or Move On
Gakpo has been a regular player for Liverpool since joining from PSV Eindhoven, and the left wing has become his position. But his performances last season weren’t the most impressive, and that has led to speculation he could be on the move.
However, Liverpool’s squad is razor thin currently, especially in attack, and while they pursue a deal for Bradley Barcola, they won’t be willing to sell anyone easily.
If Tottenham are serious about their pursuit of Gakpo, and it seems they are, then they must make a decision on how high they are willing to pay and make that offer. If a deal can’t be done, they don’t have the time to keep waiting and they will be able to move on to alternative options.
Sports
Chelsea Defender Trevoh Chalobah Agrees Como Transfer
Chelsea have reached an agreement to sell one of their stars this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
With Chelsea looking to spend significantly this summer, the reality is some players will be forced to leave the club.
Xabi Alonso’s side will need to offload some of their current squad in order to continue spending, as they’ve already had a busy summer window.
The Blues have already confirmed the signings of Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, and Danny Welbeck in the summer transfer window so far.
A host of players such as Valentin Barco, Giovanni Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha have also arrived, but those deals were agreed long before the start of the summer.
It’ll be interesting to see how much more Chelsea will be willing to spend this summer, but it does feel like exits are inevitable.
Chelsea reach exit agreement
According to Fabrizio Romano, Italian side Como have reached a verbal agreement to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer.
Chalobah, described as ‘flawless’ by Tosin Adarabioyo, may have fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea after they confirmed the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.
A move to Como gives Chalobah the opportunity to hopefully play more regular first-team football under an exciting young manager in Cesc Fabregas.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Chelsea retain sell-on clause
GIVEMSPORT understands that the total fee for Chalobah is €30 million up front plus €6 million in add-ons.
Sources have confirmed that Chelsea also retain a sell-on clause in the contract, meaning they could make further money on Chalobah if he departs Como in the future.
Chalobah has already agreed personal terms with Como, and with a fee now agreed between the two clubs, it shouldn’t be too long before he’s officially a confirmed signing for Como.
Chelsea appear to have already replaced Chalobah with Lacroix this summer, so it made sense for them to green light this deal.
Sports
Liverpool Open Talks to Sign Bradley Barcola
Liverpool have opened club-to-club talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign Bradley Barcola, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds are desperate to bolster their forward options this summer after losing legendary star Mohamed Salah at the end of last season, while there are question marks over the futures of Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa.
France international Barcola has emerged as the club’s top target to be a new marquee option in attack, and an update on their pursuit of the winger has now emerged.
Liverpool and PSG Set for Barcola Talks
Barcola, who has been described as ‘phenomenal’ by Gianluigi Donnarumma, has emerged as a prime candidate to depart the back-to-back European champions as he looks to play more regular football, with talks over a new contract having failed.
Liverpool have made him their top target, and PSG’s valuation is understood to be around £145m. But Liverpool want to lower that price to bring him in, and have intimated that they would be willing to go above €100m (£87m) to get a deal done.
Talks are ongoing between the clubs now, and a deal is on, with Barcola very keen to make the move to Anfield.
Romano has revealed in his latest YouTube video that more talks are planned for this week to find an agreement.
“Next week, new contacts prepared between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola,” he said.
“It’s not a surprise if you follow the channel, one of the biggest exclusive of the summer, when all people say that Barcola was untouchable for Paris Saint-Germain. I was coming here and telling you, Liverpool are there for Barcola. Liverpool will try for Barcola. Now it’s time to make it happen on club side, because the player Barcola wants to go to Liverpool.
“Barcola is more than open to joining Liverpool project. Now it’s on club to club. The conversations will continue next week.
“My feeling: this is not going to be something imminent, so I don’t expect that he will go on Monday or on Tuesday. There is still work to do between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, so there is a possibility this is going to be a saga in this summer transfer window.
“But this depends on Liverpool on how much they want to spend. Paris Saint-Germain are open to negotiating, but their conditions are expensive. So negotiations are going to take place for Barcola, but don’t forget that the player wants to go to Liverpool, and that Liverpool consider Barcola their top, top target.”
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Barcola Saga Only Just Starting
After a stellar World Cup in which Barcola reached the semi-finals with France, scoring three goals and registering one assist in eight games, it’s no surprise that Liverpool have stepped up their interest in the 23-year-old.
While he is a constant threat with his speed, creativity and skill, Barcola has also been praised by Luis Enrique as being ‘the best passer in Ligue 1’, which shows how he could fit into Andoni Iraola’s attack alongside Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
PSG are right to be demanding a huge fee for the winger, especially considering some of the fees we have seen in the market already, but Liverpool will be confident of getting a more realistic number, and this would be a huge coup for the club if they can get it over the line.
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