Real Madrid confirm Konate signing
Real Madrid have confirmed the transfer of Ibrahima Konate.
The central defender will join the club at the end of the month when his Liverpool contract expires.
Real have agreed a four-year deal with the France international.
He joins Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella as Jose Mourinho's first signings since returning for a second spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
How Liverpool beat Newcastle to Munoz...
Latest from Your Site News' Keith Downie:
Newcastle thought they had a deal for Victor Munoz before Liverpool swooped in to sign the Osasuna winger.
Newcastle had a 33.3m fee - an initial 29m plus 4.3m in add-ons - accepted by the LaLiga club.
The 22-year-old had agreed personal terms and told Newcastle that he wanted to come, while agent fees were also agreed.
Newcastle had the wheels in motion for a medical over in the US and felt they had a deal in place.
But they were instructed by the player's representatives to wait over the last 24 hours.
Liverpool had always been at the table for the Spain international, so they did not come in at the last minute, but Newcastle had been told the player wanted to sign for them.
Newcastle are now licking their wounds inflicted by Liverpool again after what happened with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer, and are trying to get to the bottom of what happened in the last 24 hours.
What will Munoz bring to Liverpool?
Liverpool have triggered Victor Munoz's 34.5m release clause, with the Osasuna winger set to sign a six-year deal at the club.
Here's a look at what he could offer as he edges closer to becoming Andoni Iraola's first signing at Anfield...
Salford appoint Cklamovski as manager
Salford City have appointed Peter Cklamovski as the clubs new men's first team manager.
The 47-year-old arrives in Salford following a spell as head coach of the Malaysia national team, prior to which he coached in Japan and Australia.
He replaces Karl Robinson, he left earlier in June after losing the League Two play-off final to Notts County.
Chief football advisor Paul Scholes said: Peter brings a style of football that we like to watch exciting, attacking football.
"But hes not just about scoring goals hes obsessed with keeping clean sheets too. He wants his teams to be ruthless and to have a clear identity and thats something that were excited to bring to the club.
Chelsea keeping tabs on Porto stopper Costa
Chelsea are keeping tabs on Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as new boss Xabi Alonso looks to provide competition for first-choice Robert Sanchez.
According to the Daily Mirror, Costa is valued at 51m by the Portuguese champions.
Sanchez was the Blues' No1 last term, but came under scrutiny. Filip Jorgensen was also used at times.
In all competitions, Sanchez kept 14 clean sheets in 50 appearances, while Jorgensen kept none in his 12 matches.
Costa is currently at the World Cup with Portugal, where he started in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Last season, he kept 26 clean sheets in 53 matches, conceding just 13 league goals in 31 appearances as Porto won the Primeira Liga.
Munoz completes Liverpool medical
Latest from Your Site News' Vinny O'Connor:
Osasuna winger Victor Munoz has completed a medical and is expected to sign a six-year deal at Liverpool after his 34.5m release clause was triggered.
Newcastle were pursuing the Spain international but Liverpool have once again beaten them to a top target as they did with Hugo Ekitike last summer.
Your Site News understands Liverpool will pay the transfer fee in two instalments.
Liverpool have had a long-term interest in Munoz, which was accelerated by the arrival of new head coach Andoni Iraola, who knows the player well from his extensive knowledge of LaLiga.
Munoz, currently with Spain at the World Cup, completed a medical in the US on Wednesday after Liverpool staff travelled to complete the checks.
The Spanish Football Federation granted permission for Munoz to complete the formalities of the transfer.
'Arsenal preparing bid for Barcola'
Arsenal are preparing a bid for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, according to The Independent.
The Gunners are reportedly looking into the necessary details of the deal before making an attempt to sign Barcola.
Your Site News reported Arsenal were prioritising the signing of a left-winger, and have watched Barcola, as well as a central midfielder this summer.
However, sales will need to be made to facilitate those moves.
Barcola scored after coming off the bench in France's 3-1 win against Senegal in their World Cup opener.
Premier League done deals!
All the ins and outs so far...
Liverpool trigger clause for Newcastle target Munoz
Latest from Your Site News' Vinny O'Connor:
Liverpool have triggered the release clause for Osasuna's Victor Munoz.
The Reds have effectively hijacked Newcastle's attempts to sign the Spain winger.
With an agreement reached between Liverpool and Osasuna, the next step is for Munoz to undergo a medical.
Munoz is part of Spain's squad at the World Cup. Reports say he will undergo a medical in the USA and join for a fee of 34.6m.
The situation is reminiscent of last summer, when Liverpool not only gazumped Newcastle in the race for Hugo Ekitike but also signed Alexander Isak, their star striker.
Real Madrid's shift in transfer strategy under Jose
Jose Mourinho has made a fast start in the transfer window at Real Madrid despite the World Cup being under way with the free transfer of Bernardo Silva following hot on the heels of Marc Cucurella's 51.8m signing from Chelsea.
Real Madrid's newly re-elected president Florentino Perez has also lined up the 17m signing of right-back Denzel Dumfries from Inter and the free transfer of centre-back Ibrahima Konate who is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the month.
The signings of Silva, 31, Cucurella, 27, Dumfries, 30, and Konate, 27, show there has been a clear change of transfer strategy at Real Madrid. The focus has shifted from young players with promise to experienced players who are ready to be thrown straight in.
Cucurella, for instance, is the first signing over 25 to have arrived at Real Madrid for a transfer fee of more than 2m since the summer of 2019, when Eden Hazard was signed from Chelsea in a deal worth well in excess of 100m.
Real Madrid have brought in experienced players in the intervening period but only on free transfers. Silva and Konate are just the latest following on from Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Last summer the average age of Real Madrid's signings - Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Franco Mastantuono and Trent Alexander-Arnold - was just over 21 years old compared to nearly 29 years old in this window so far.
Mourinho has often relied more on tried-and-tested players during his career, but because of the pressure everyone at Real Madrid is under after failing to win LaLiga or the Champions League for the past two seasons, experience is required more than ever.
Real Madrid's business is expected to continue beyond the four signings already secured. Perez made big promises during his re-election campaign about making a mega-signing this summer, and none of the players they have signed match that description.
