Barcelona ready £60m Raphinha bid to thwart Chelsea’s attempt to sign Leeds United forward – Paper Talk | Transfer Centre News

All the top stories and transfer rumours from Friday’s national newspapers…

THE TIMES

Barcelona are ready to make an offer worth up to £60m for Raphinha in an effort to beat Chelsea to the signing of the Leeds United forward.

Raphinha

Brennan Johnson has given Nottingham Forest a huge boost by agreeing a new four-year contract at the City Ground.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Chelsea’s negotiations with Juventus over a move for Matthijs de Ligt are progressing with talks continuing regarding a return to Stamford Bridge for Nathan Ake.

Chelsea’s new owners have commissioned an investigation into accusations of a toxic culture of bullying within their marketing team after it emerged the former head of the club’s television channel took his own life.

Wimbledon is facing criticism over Centre Court roof bungles, having kept it closed during dry weather for Katie Boulter’s win but then kept it open during rain on Rafael Nadal’s match.

THE SUN

Bruno Fernandes has attempted to end speculation surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s future by claiming the Portuguese is set to stay.

Manchester City will tell rivals Chelsea to forget about re-signing centre-back Nathan Ake on the cheap this summer.

Nathan Ake celebrates putting Man City 2-0 up (AP)

DAILY MAIL

Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer is seeking assurances over his future as the protracted takeover of Birmingham has left him with 12 players, no assistant and poor training facilities just weeks before the start of the Championship season.

West Bromwich Albion owner Guochuan Lai has admitted he borrowed £5m from the club more than a year ago and has still not paid it back.

Celtic are applying the finishing touches to a £6.5m deal to sign Portuguese winger Jota on a permanent four-year contract.

Jota celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0

DAILY MIRROR

Arsenal are intending to keep William Saliba at the club next season and are hoping to tie the defender down to a new contract.

Barcelona boss Xavi has ruthlessly told first-team stars Samuel Umtiti, Martin Braithwaite, Oscar Mingueza and Riqui Puig to skip pre-season training as the Catalans attempt to kick-off a summer exodus.

Xavi

Gabriel Magalhaes remains a target for Juventus but it remains unlikely that Arsenal will sell the defender this summer.

DAILY RECORD

Kenny Miller reckons Rangers could be forced to sell Alfredo Morelos for a lowball offer if they can’t get the Colombian to commit to a new deal.

In-demand Stephen Kelly looks set to leave Rangers before the close of the window despite returning to training at Auchehowie.

Croatian striker Antonio Colak has been labelled as ‘easily replaceable’ as a move to Rangers edges closer.

SCOTTISH SUN

Neil Lennon has tapped into his SPFL knowledge again by adding former Rangers and Hibs winger Brandon Barker to his Omonia Nicosia squad.