Cristian Tello is very close to extending his career in the Serie A as Fiorentina are engaged in talks with Barcelona over the permanent transfer of the left-winger.
Sky Italia reported yesterday that Tello, who spent the last six months in Florence on loan last season, is in favour of the move despite other interest from Liverpool and Southampton in the Premier League.
With Fiorentina, Tello, who came up the Barcelona youth academy, scored two goals in 15 league matches.
If the deal goes through, Fiorentina will have to pay the Spanish champions €7 million.
West Ham agree fee for Milan’s Bacca
West Ham Unitedare waiting to hear whether Carlos Bacca will join them after agreeing a fee with Milan.
The Hammers have made Colombia forward Bacca their number one transfer target and are awaiting the 29-year-old’s decision.
Joint-chairman David Gold confirmed on Twitter, when questioned about Bacca, that “a deal has been done with his club, it’s now up to the player”.
West Ham’s hopes of landing the striker were given a boost when his former club Sevilla ruled themselves out as a potential destination.
Bacca was understood to favour a move back to Sevilla as they are playing in the Champions League next season, but they already have the maximum number of non-EU players.
Celtic to sign Toure
Former Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has arrived in Glasgow ahead of an anticipated move to Celtic.
The 35-year-old was photo-graphed outside Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow ahead of a medical yesterday.
The Ivory Coast international could now sign for Celtic before they fly out to Kazakhstan tomorrow for their Champions League qualifier against Astana.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal centre-back will be the second signing made by his one-time Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers since he took over as manager.
Alexander Hleb back at BATE Borisov
Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb has rejoined BATE Borisov, the Bela-rusian champions said.
This will be the 35-year-old former Belarus international’s fourth spell at BATE after previously playing for them in 1999-2000, 2012-2013 and 2015.
“I always return to BATE with the same emotions,” Hleb said.
“This is my home town club.”
Hleb, who scored seven goals in 89 Premier League matches for Arsenal, spent the second half of the 2015-16 season at Turkey’s Genclerbirligi.
Palace launch bid to sign striker Berahino
Crystal Palace have bid £20m plus add-ons for West Brom striker Saido Berahino.
The offer remains on the table and has not been accepted or rejected by the Baggies, PA Sport reported.
It tops Stoke’s offer of £17m plus £3 million in add-ons from last week – which is also yet to get an official answer – but West Brom have always wanted to find a suitable replacement before allowing Berahino to complete a move.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave The Hawthorns this summer after four transfer windows of constant speculation over his future.
Swansea City have one eye on Allen
Swansea City’s American investor Jason Levien has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Wales midfielder Joe Allen.
Last week, Liverpool accepted a £13m bid from Stoke City for the 26-year-old, but his former club could also feature prominently in the market.
And asked about Allen, Levien said: “He is certainly someone we have discussed.
“Thinking about how additions to the club will fit in with the current structure is something we spend a lot of time on, and he is someone who obviously has a great history here.
“He is still a young player… someone we have our eye on.”
Defender Varela joins Frankfurt
Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan from Manchester United.
The Premier League club announced on their website yesterday that they had reached agreement for the player to sign for the Bundesliga outfit until June 30, 2017.
Varela made his senior United bow in a goalless home draw against West Ham last December and made a total of 10 starts for the first team.
He also scored the title-clinching goal for the under-21s last season at Tottenham.
The 23-year-old came on as a substitute in Jose Mourinho’s first game in charge of United – a 2-0 friendly win at Wigan last weekend – but did not travel to China for their pre-season tour.