Football transfers round-up: Sadio Mane to undergo medical at Bayern Munich after fee agreed with Liverpool
- Leeds make Marc Roca their third summer signing as Spanish midfielder completes move from Bayern
- Southampton replace outgoing Fraser Forster with goalkeepers Gavin Bazunu and Mateusz Lis
Departing Liverpool striker Sadio Mane will undergo a medical at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, British television channel Sky Sports reported.
Media reports in Germany and Britain on Friday said the two clubs had agreed an initial transfer fee of €32 million (US$34 million) plus a maximum of €9 million in add-ons. The 30-year-old is set to sign a three-year deal in Munich.
The Senegal star has openly talked about considering his future at the Reds, who have already found a replacement with the recently completed signing of striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica.
Recruiting Mane could be crucial to Bayern given they risk losing star striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
The Polish Fifa world player of the year has repeatedly said he wants to leave the Bavarians but Bayern say he has a year left on his deal.
Reports say Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann is planning to play a more fluid front three if Lewandowski leaves – in the mould of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool – with Mane interchanging as the focal point of attack with Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller.
Saints replace Forster
Southampton on Friday announced the signing of goalkeepers Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City and free agent Mateusz Lis on five-year contracts.
Irish international Bazunu will cost a reported £12 million (US$14.5 million).
The 20-year-old joined the Premier League champions as a 16-year-old from Shamrock Rovers before spending loan spells at Rochdale and Portsmouth.
The arrival of both goalkeepers follows the announcement of the departure of Southampton’s former England international Fraser Forster, 34, who is joining Tottenham after his contract expires at the end of June.
“We believe he has tremendous potential to improve and will give us great competition for places in the goalkeeping department,” manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said of Bazunu.
“He is a goalkeeper with a very modern style of play, comfortable in the build-up phase, who has developed physically through some very important loan moves early in his career.”
Poland’s Lis joins on a free transfer after his contract at Turkish club Altay expired.
Leeds sign Roca
Marc Roca became Leeds’s third signing of the transfer window on Friday as the Spanish midfielder completed a reported £10 million (US$12 million) move from Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old has joined on a four-year deal after struggling for game time with the German giants since arriving in 2020.
“Everyone told me the Premier League is the best league in the world and the history of Leeds United is amazing,” said Roca. “I hope we can do good things here.”
The former Spanish under-21 international began his career at Espanyol before moving to the then-European champions two years ago, but he made just 24 appearances in two seasons.
Roca’s arrival takes Leeds’ summer spending to close to £50 million (US$61 million) after signing Brendan Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen from Red Bull Salzburg.
Spurs make third signing
Tottenham announced the signing on Friday of midfielder Yves Bissouma from Brighton for a reported fee of £25 million (US$30 million), giving manager Antonio Conte his third signing of the transfer window.
The highly rated Mali international shone as Brighton achieved their best-ever Premier League finish of ninth last season.
Bissouma, 25, has signed a four-year deal and will join fellow new arrivals Ivan Perisic and Forster at the London club.
“I’m very happy to be here, happy to be a Spurs player and hopefully we’re going to have a good season,” Bissouma told Spurs television.
Spurs will play in the Champions League next season after they pipped north London rivals Arsenal to fourth place in the Premier League.
A £150 million investment from owners ENIC has boosted Conte’s transfer budget and the attraction of playing in Europe’s top club competition has made Tottenham a top draw.
Bissouma, who only had one year left on his contract at Brighton, said it was his “dream” to play in the Champions League.
