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Tuanzebe leaves Man Utd amid Boateng & Alderweireld links

Axel Tuanzebe has left Manchester United for Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal, the club have confirmed.

Defender Tuanzebe departs United during an uncertain period, with Jose Mourinho’s side reportedly keen to sign a centre-back this summer.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Villa, though he made just five appearances.

Tuanzebe has made eight appearances for United, but was a regular for the club’s Under-23 side, appearing over 30 times.

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng are all reported targets for United.

Jose Mourinho has repeatedly criticised his club’s attitude in the transfer market, despite signing midfielder Fred and defender Diogo Dalot.

A move for Barcelona’s Yerry Mina has already collapsed, with the club turning to the Colombia international due to his relatively cheap transfer fee.

However, Mina is instead set to join Everton, with United now scrambling to secure an addition before the transfer window closes later this week.

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No Man Utd bid as Willian reveals Barcelona the only side who put in offer

Willian has confirmed that Barcelona were the only club who made a bid for him during the summer, thus rejecting reports of an offer from Manchester United.

Barca were in talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Willian, but the move collapsed and the Spanish club instead signed winger Malcom from Bordeaux.

Willian has now revealed that he knew of the Catalan club’s offer, but says they were the only side to formalise their interest, despite reports of interest from his former manager, Jose Mourinho.

“The only club I knew that really made an official offer for me was Barcelona,” he told ESPN.

However, Willian insists he is now happy to remain at Chelsea, after a rift with former manager Antonio Conte.

“I have my head here and I intend to continue in the club unless the club wants to sell me. But my head is here in the club.”

New manager Maurizio Sarri managed his first competitive game as Blues boss on Sunday, as Chelsea lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Willian, however, believes that Sarri’s methods will eventually pay off.

“[Sarri] is a manager who likes to play football, a manager who has a game philosophy similar to Manchester City,” he added.

“Manchester City have been playing under Guardiola for a few years now and the players are already adapted [to his style] and already know what to do in the pitch.

“We have just started working with him [Sarri] but in the first days we have seen that he is a manager who likes to shape the game from the back, he likes to play football. It will be very important for us.”

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Witsel agrees Dortmund deal ahead of €20m switch from Tianjin Quanjian

Axel Witsel is set for his first crack at one of Europe’s top five leagues after agreeing a move from Tianjin Quanjian to Borussia Dortmund.

Belgium international Witsel will sign a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side after they agreed to pay his release clause, which is believed to be in the region of €20 million (£18m/$23m).

He has long been linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but his career has generally taken routes less travelled. Having started at Standard Liege, Witsel made the jump to Benfica for a season, before spending four years in Russia with Zenit.

Witsel joined Tianjin for a figure understood to be around €20m in January 2017, scoring the club’s first ever goal in the Chinese Super League.

He helped the club to a third-place finish, but after 16 games this term they are down in ninth.

Witsel also played a significant role in Belgium’s World Cup campaign, as they beat England in the third-place play-off earlier this month.

And Dortmund seemingly saw enough from his performances to make a move, with the holding midfielder adding both depth and experience to a young squad.

“After the World Cup, it was my goal to move from China back to Europe,” Witsel said.

“I’m totally happy and also proud to be allowed to play for BVB soon.

“After our first conversation, I did not have to think twice, because for me Borussia Dortmund is one of the best clubs on the continent. Honestly, I can not wait to run around in front of 81,000 people.”

@axelwitsel28 pic.twitter.com/KVbEGFRfFx
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) August 6, 2018

BVB Sporting director Michael Zorc hailed the 29-year-old as a perfect fit for the club.

“We have been very interested in signing Axel Witsel for many months and are very happy that he has chosen Borussia Dortmund,” he said.

“Axel is a player with a great deal of international experience who has all the skills to shape BVB’s central midfield: tactical understanding, tackling power, speed, creativity and mentality.”

Reports suggest the move will pave the way for Julian Weigl to depart, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City reportedly interested.

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‘Grealish is not for sale’ – Aston Villa prepared to fight Tottenham to keep hold of star

Steve Bruce admits it will be tough for Aston Villa to fend off Tottenham’s interest in Jack Grealish, despite insisting the midfielder is not for sale.

Grealish, 22, is believed to be keen on joining Mauricio Pochettino’s side after a season in the Championship.

Spurs, though, are yet to meet Villa’s valuation, with the Midlands club’s financial strains eased by the arrival of fresh investment in July.

Bruce is confident of keeping Grealish beyond the end of the transfer window, but expects to face a fight for his services considering the stature of Tottenham.

“He is not for sale, however, it is very difficult when we are competing against a team which is one of the big teams in Europe now, not just in this country, and has played in the Champions League,” Bruce told Sky Sports.

“But the owner has made it pretty clear that he does not want to sell anybody and that includes Jack.”

Spurs boss Pochettino has consistently been thwarted in attempting to reinforce his squad, which could enter the new season without any off-season arrivals.

“We are working so hard but still we are like it’s the first day of the transfer window – with no signings,” the Argentine coach told a press conference.

“I think I am not the person to explain it.

“Of course, people expect the manager to explain that but, for different reasons, it’s been difficult to add players who can help us. But in the last week many things can happen.”

Their Premier League campaign commences away to Newcastle United on Saturday, while Grealish could feature for Villa in a Championship clash with Hull City on Monday.

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Bordeaux complete Samuel Kalu signing

Bordeaux have announced the signing of Nigerian winger Samuel Kalu in a five-year deal.

#Mercato 🖊 C’est fait ! Samuel #Kalu est Girondins ! L’attaquant 🇳🇬 s’est engagé pour 5 ans avec le club en provenance du @KAAGent ! pic.twitter.com/r7ka45s5uw
— FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) August 6, 2018

Gus Poyet’s side have been shopping for a replacement for Malcom who left in a €30 million deal to Barcelona and, according to reports, the young winger fits the bill.

On Sunday, an agreement was reached between both sides and the deal has been finalised, with Kalu handed the number 10 jersey.

Last season, the 20-year-old was impressive scoring six goals, laying seven assists in 32 Belgian Pro League appearances; an upgrade from his showing in his debut campaign for the Ghemalco Arena outfit.

He joined from AS Trencin in January 2016 and was an instant hit netting thrice with seven assists in 16 matches.

Kalu is yet to be capped at any level by Nigeria and will hope his move, and subsequent performances in the French top-flight pave a way to Gernot Rohr’s heart ahead of the Super Eagles 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Seychelles on September 7.

Bordeaux kick-start their 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign with a tie against Strasbourg on Sunday.

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