Atletico in talks for Pastore
Atletico Madrid are in advanced talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Argentine midfielder Javier Pastore, AS has learned.
Los Colchoneros plan to sign more creative players after Diego Ribas and Adrian Lopez left the club and it appears Diego Simeone is hot on the trail of his compatriot.
Atletico Madrid have been trying to work out a deal with the player’s employers that would see the 25-year-old move to Vicente Calderon, but it remains to be seen if they will succeed in their quest.
Having struggled for playing time at Parc des Princes, chances are Pastore would be interested in joining the La Liga champions, but his €4million yearly wage and high asking price could prove to be the problem.
Despite cashing in on Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Adrian Lopez, Atletico are not in a position to pay over the top, although the midfielder’s value has decreased considerably since PSG paid €42 million for his services three years ago.
Pastore has so far featured in 96 Ligue 1 matches for the Saints and scored 18 goals, while he netted four times in 16 Champions League outings.
Porto sign Yacine Brahimi
FC Porto have announced that they have completed the signing of Algerian midfielder Yacine Brahimi from Granada.
The Portuguese giants agreed a €6.5 million fee with the La Liga side, allowing the player to sign a five-year deal at Estadio do Dragao, with a €50 million release clause.
Porto have been very active in the summer transfer window, having earlier recruited Evandro, Daniel Opare, Igor Lichnovsky, Oliver Torres, Adrian Lopez, Bruno Martins Indi, Cristian Tello and Casemiro.
Yacine Brahimi is, therefore, set to face a fierce competition for a starting berth, even if the attacking midfielder arrives at the club on the back of a very good World Cup.
After impressing at Granada, the 24-year-old made three appearances for Algeria at the tournament finals in Brazil, scoring one goal in the process.
Brahimi had begun his professional career at Rennes and also enjoyed loan spells with Clermont Foot and Granada before moving to Spain on permanent basis.
Sunderland and Palace battle for Amalfitano
French daily newspaper L’Equipe has learned that Sunderland and Crystal Palace are vying for the signature of Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano.
The 29-year-old returned to Stade Velodrome after a successful loan spell at West Bromwich and while new boss Marcelo Bielsa wants to keep hold of the experienced midfielder, everything suggests the player will soon be returning to England.
According to L’Equipe, Sunderland and Crystal Palace are expected to step up their interest in the player, who is valued at €2 million.
Morgan Amalfitano joined Marseille from Lorient back in 2011, but hasn’t quite managed to prove his worth at Stade Velodrome.
The former France international made a total of 60 Ligue 1 appearances for OM and scored 2 goals in the process.
He has since managed to kick start his career at West Bromwich, netting 4 times in 28 Premier League outings.
For more news about football transfers and rumours, visit our Transfer News section. To view all football transfers for 2014/15 season, visit our Soccer Transfers section.
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