Football Italia

Multiple sources claim that Bayern Munich have made an approach for Ademola Lookman, but it was already rejected, while Tottenham and Galatasaray are interested.

The Athletic was the first to break the news that the Bundesliga giants have contacted Atalanta for Lookman, proposing a paid loan with option to buy at the end of the season.

This makes it totally unacceptable for La Dea, as Sky Sport Italia, Sport Mediaset, Sportitalia and more report they immediately turned it down.

They will only accept a permanent sale for the Nigeria international.

The reported fee of €28m for the option to buy is also considered far too low, as his value is €50m.

Lookman hopes for last-minute swoop

There might be hope yet for Atalanta and Lookman, because Sky Sports Germany claim that Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray are also interested, and they could be prepared to buy him outright.

Atalanta promised Lookman he could be sold this summer, but only to a club outside of Italy, so turned down the €42m plus €3m bonus proposal put forward by Inter.

He has been training separately ever since returning from a couple of weeks where he went AWOL in protest.

Bayern Munich find themselves suddenly needing a new striker after the chaotic situation with Nicolas Jackson, who landed in Germany for his medical last night only to be told to turn around and return to Chelsea.

That was meant to be a loan with option to buy, cancelled because Liam Delap sustained a hamstring injury.

Milan remain interested in a deal for Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, who has also recently been linked with a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, but there is still plenty of work to do before a deal is struck. Here is what needs to happen.

Where Milan stand in Akanji pursuit

According to reports in the final week of the transfer window, Milan are still looking to bring in new additions at both centre-forward and at centre-back. Akanji, along with the likes of Jakub Kiwior and Kim Min-jae have been linked with moves to San Siro over the last few days.

According to recent updates, a deal for Kim appears unlikely, while Kiwior is set to join FC Porto instead. Akanji, however, remains available.

The Switzerland international had been close to a move to Galatasaray earlier this transfer window. As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Man City had accepted an offer in the region of €15m from the Turkish giants: An indication of the price it will cost Milan to get a deal done.

Akanji, however, did not give his final approval to the move, and a deal ultimately did not come off.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 30-year-old currently earns a salary in the region of €5m per season on a deal that runs until the summer of 2027.

The Pink Paper suggests that Milan could offer Akanji a similar amount to the total wages that he is owed on the final two years of his Man City deal, however, spread over three years rather than two.

Milan could potentially go slightly higher than that by offering a three-year contract until 2028 with a salary in the region of €4m per year.

Friday’s report adds that Akanji is currently Massimiliano Allegri’s preferred option to come in at centre-back.

Reports in Italy claim that Real Madrid have already mapped out a plan for Como talent Nico Paz, who has been subject of transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur, which is likely to see the talented 20-year-old return to the Bernabeu in the near future.

Recent reports claim that Tottenham had submitted a series of bids for the three-time Argentina international this summer, initially worth €50m, and later €70m, although Como President Mirwan Suwarso has claimed that reports the club turned down bids for Paz are ‘untrue’.

What Real Madrid plan to do with Nico Paz

Paz is currently a Como player, having signed for a fee of €6m last summer, but a move away from the club remains complicated given that he is still connected to his former team Real Madrid by a series of buy-back options.

Madrid had an option to buy Paz back for a fee of €8m this summer, which they decided against. They still, however, have a €9m option to buy the player back in the summer of 2026, and for €10m in the summer of 2027. Madrid are also entitled to a 50% sell-on if Paz moves elsewhere.

Though Madrid decided against buying Paz back this summer, reports from Calciomercato.com claim that they have already decided to activate their buy-back option next summer.

This would see the 20-year-old return to the Bernabeu for a fee of €9m, which would bring a small profit of €3m for Como, although that sum does not quite compare to the €70m offer that Tottenham had reportedly submitted.

For now, Paz is expected to stay on with Como for the 2025-26 season according to Wednesday’s update, as he hopes for continuity and regular playing time in Serie A with an eye on the Argentina national team squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup next summer.

Marseille have set an asking price of €15 million for French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, reports from Italy claim, as Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all chase the former Juventus player.

Rabiot has fallen out with Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi after a fight broke out with Bologna-bound Jonathan Rowe. Now, both players have been frozen out of the side and Serie A could beckon the duo.

According to reports from the Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan are especially keen on reuniting Rabiot with Massimiliano Allegri, the Frenchman having played under the Italian coach for many years at Juventus. However, Villa and Spurs are also both potentially interested in the former PSG man.

Marseille set Rabiot price & Milan consider Lukebakio

Marseille want €15 million for the 30-year-old midfielder, who joined the Ligue 1 side in 2024 on a free transfer after his contract with Juventus expired.

Since his arrival at the French side, Rabiot has played 31 games in all competitions and scored ten goals.

Former Juventus director Fabio Paratici is set to return to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur by October at the latest following the 30-month suspension that was handed to him in 2023 according to reports in the UK.

Reports Paratici finally set to return to Tottenham

According to reports from Ben Jacobs and TalkSport, Paratici has agreed to return to Tottenham in a formal role no later than October 1. He has reportedly been serving as a consultant over the summer.

Paratici had been working for Tottenham up until the confirmation of his ban from FIFA, which denied him from any involvement with a professional football side for 30 months at the beginning of 2023.

That ban was eventually completed on July 1.

There had been reports that he was close to joining Milan alongside Massimiliano Allegri earlier this summer, but that move never materialised due to legal complications.

Now, according to Tuesday’s report, Paratici is set to return to Tottenham in an official role, although Tottenham claim that his re-appointment is still hypothetical at this stage, as per TalkSport.

The 53-year-old had been involved in the signing of new Tottenham captain Cuti Romero during his first spell with Spurs, plus the additions of former Serie A talents Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and Ivan Perisic.

‘I can’t say I was surprised’ said Nico Paz after providing a wonderful assist and then going one better with an excellent free-kick to help Como to a 2-0 victory over Lazio in Serie A on Sunday evening, amidst reports linking him with a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

The 20-year-old has been the subject of a reported €50m bid from Tottenham, who are on the hunt for a new attacker after losing out on the signing of England international Eberechi Eze to rivals Arsenal.

Despite the ongoing transfer links, Paz was included in the starting line-up for Sunday’s Serie A clash between Como and Lazio, a game which ended in a 2-0 victory thanks to a goal and assist from the talented Argentina international.

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Watch: Nico Paz provides stunning assist and free-kick in Como 2-0 Lazio

Paz, who has been handed the no.10 shirt for Como this season, started the second half with a neat turn and an impressively incisive ball in for Anastasios Douvikas to slot home for 1-0.

Beautiful football! 👏 Como’s build-up → Douvikas with the goal. Pure class 🔥

GAME ON | Watch Lega Serie A live on https://t.co/i0K4eUu4lJ in select territories

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) August 24, 2025

The 20-year-old then doubled his side’s advantage with a stunning free-kick from well over 25 yards out, which rifled into the roof of the net for 2-0.

🚀 GOLAZZO! Nico Paz with a stunning free kick to put Como 2-0 up! 🔵⚪

GAME ON | Watch Lega Serie A live on https://t.co/i0K4eUu4lJ in select territories

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) August 24, 2025

“I always practice set-pieces,” Como told the press after full-time (via TMW).

“I try to improve in every session. We sometimes joke about it in training, but the idea is always the same: Try to shoot as best as possible. When the ball went in, I can’t say I was surprised because I prepare a lot for these situations. I’d prefer to say that I was really happy.”

Reports from Sky Sport Italia claim that Cesc Fabregas and Como have turned down a €40m offer from Tottenham Hotspur for Nico Paz, who is still inked to Real Madrid buy a 50% sell-on clause and a series of bargain buy-back options.

Reports Como have rejected significant Tottenham offer for Nico Paz

Paz, one of the brightest breakout stars of the 2024-25 Serie A season, has been linked with a number of Europe’s top clubs this summer, including with a return to Real Madrid and a move to join Inter earlier this summer.

Now, according to Sky Sport Italia, Tottenham have submitted a €40m proposal to Como for the Argentine talent, which has been firmly rejected.

According to Thursday’s report, it will take an offer in the region of €70m to convince Como into selling the 20-year-old attacker, who is considered one of the brightest prospects in Europe.

Sky adds that an offer in the region of €60m might be enough to convince Como into negotiating.

Tottenham’s reported bid comes after the departure of long-standing fan-favourite Heung-min Son, who has left the club after 10 years to join LAFC in MLS. Reports on Thursday also confirm that attacking midfielder James Maddison will miss a significant chunk of the 2025-26 season with a cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Como, meanwhile, have been working on a deal to remove Real Madrid’s buy-back options for Nico Paz.

Los Blancos are able to pinch the 20-year-old back for a bargain fee of just €9m until June 30, 2026, and for €10m the following year. As things stand, Real Madrid also have a 50% sell-on clause, which means that Como would have only received €20m had the €40m offer from Tottenham been accepted.

Tottenham Hotspur can expect a wave of local support in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, because it’s the host city of the first Guglielmo Vicario fan club.

The two teams will face off at the Stadio Friuli in Udine for the European Super Cup on August 13, between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League trophies.

While PSG have Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma in the side, the local fans will all be behind Spurs for one very specific reason.

Vicario the local lad who found fame in London

The world’s first Vicario fan club has been founded in Udine, which is the hometown of the 28-year-old goalkeeper.

He came up through the Udinese youth academy, going on to play for Venezia, Cagliari, Perugia, Empoli and then making the €18.5m transfer to Tottenham in 2023.

La Gazzetta dello Sport point out the fan club was set up at the Black Stuff Irish pub in Udine, by Giovanni and Cesare Pigani, with the help of Alessandro Bais and Vicario’s uncle Francesco Persolja.

Reports in Italy claim that Juventus are already beginning to look at potential midfielders, including players at Tottenham, Fulham and Sporting CP, to replace Douglas Luiz after the Brazilian went AWOL on the first day of pre-season training.

Douglas Luiz is expected to be fined and then sold after failing to report for the first day of Juventus’s pre-season training camp on Thursday.

The Brazilian had already struggled to justify his €50m price tag during his first season in Turin following his move from Aston Villa last summer, and is now expected to be shown out of the Allianz Stadium as a result of his unauthorised absence on Thursday.

Who could replace Douglas Luiz at Juventus?

Initial reports claim that Juventus are hoping to raise around €40m if they are to sell the 27-year-old this summer.

Now, according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bianconeri are already beginning to consider potential options to replace the Brazilian.

One of the midfielders that Juventus are particularly keen on is Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, formerly of Lecce.

The 26-year-old is expected to cost just as much, if not more than Douglas Luiz, though, with a price tage in the region of €40m. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that this is only feasible if Juventus are able to make sales first, pointing to Douglas Luiz, Dusan Vlahovic and/or Nico Gonzalez.

Another option for the Bianconeri is Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma.

Though he is slightly more experienced and is expected to cost less than Hjulmand, the Mali international would take up the last remaining non-EU slot in Juve’s squad, which the club are currently hoping to give to Nahuel Mollina if they are able to strike a deal with Atletico Madrid.

Fulham midfielder Sander Berge has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Douglas Luiz at Juventus, as has former Fiorentina and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, and Florentino from Benfica.

Tottenham won’t listen to offers below €50m for Destiny Udogie, which is why Milan turned to Pervis Estupinan after holding preliminary talks with Spurs earlier this summer, reports Gazzetta.

Italy international Udogie won’t leave Tottenham unless the North London club receives offers worth at least €50m.

Tottenham set Udogie price tag

Tuesday’s printed edition of Gazzetta (page 13) reports that Udogie is not considering leaving Tottenham unless he’s tempted by a proposal from a bigger club, which hasn’t materialised at the moment.

Milan had sounded out the availability of the ex-Udinese defender in previous weeks, but they were convinced to look elsewhere for Theo Hernandez’s replacement as Tottenham would not sell the Italian for less than €50m.

Milan picked Estupinan over Udogie

The Rossoneri have now reached an agreement for Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan, who is set to move to San Siro for €19m including add-ons.

Udogie, 22, moved to Tottenham in 2023 in an €18m deal from Udinese. He’s under contract with Spurs until June 2030.