Transfer Roundup: Fekir still set to leave Lyon, Napoli waits for Madrid to lower James valuation

Sportstar gives you a round-up of all the major happenings from the summer transfer window, including Nabil Fekir's likely exit from Lyon and Napoli's frustration over Real Madrid's unreasonable asking price of James Rodriguez.

While Nabi Fekir is yet to leave Lyon, star midfielder Tanguy N'Dombele has left for Tottenham Hotspur.

- Fekir still set to leave Lyon but club rules out any other departures -

Arsenal is reportedly weighing up an approach for Fekir, but no movement appears to have been made since Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas declared his willingness to listen to offers.

 

Nabil Fekir may still leave Lyon but the Ligue 1 club will sanction no other departures following a period of upheaval.

Talented left-back Ferland Mendy and star midfielder Tanguy Ndombele have departed for Real Madrid and Tottenham respectively.

That means Memphis Depay, Moussa Dembele and Houssem Aouar are all set to stay, but captain and World Cup winner Fekir could still find a new home after entering the final 12 months of his contract.

"For now, the only possible departure is Fekir," Juninho said.

"I have spoken with him. It was about personal things, to know his life. I translated for the coach. [Sylvinho] likes him personally.

"It's hard to convince him to continue – he's a world champion and his generation has left. It's not a closed matter, but I'm telling you the truth.

"We would like to keep him."

- Napoli waits for Real Madrid to lower James valuation -

Napoli is not prepared to meet Real Madrid's demands for James Rodriguez, whose future remains in limbo.

 

James Rodriguez's potential move to Napoli is being held up by Real Madrid's unreasonable asking price, according to Partenopei president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

LaLiga giant Madrid reportedly wants more than €40million for playmaker James, who has spent the past two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is eager to be reunited with the player he coached in Spain and Germany, but a stalemate in negotiations is said to have alerted Atletico Madrid.

"Carlo likes him very much and we're waiting for a more reasonable demand," De Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport. "The obstacle is Real Madrid, who are asking for too much in our opinion. But James wants to come to Napoli."

- Porto re-signs defender Marcano from Roma -

Ivan Marcano has returned to Porto on a four-year deal following one season with Serie A club Roma.

Ivan Marcano has returned to Porto just one season after leaving for Serie A side Roma. Marcano left Porto in May 2018 on a free transfer following four years with the Primeira Liga team, signing a three-year contract with the Giallorossi.

However, the centre-back managed just 13 appearances across all competitions in 2018-19, and has now returned to Portugal, with Roma receiving a €3million fee.

The 32-year-old has agreed a four-year deal with Porto - who sold defender Felipe to Atletico Madrid earlier in the off-season - keeping him at Estadio do Dragao until 2023.

- Villa signs defender Konsa from Brentford -

Promising centre-back Ezri Konsa has been reunited with Dean Smith after swapping Brentford for Aston Villa.

 

Aston Villa has further bolstered its defensive stocks with the signing of England Under-21 international Ezri Konsa from Championship side Brentford.

Villa reportedly triggered the centre-back's £12million release clause to make him its seventh signing since winning promotion to the Premier League.

The Charlton Athletic product briefly played under Dean Smith at Brentford, for whom he made 42 league appearances in 2018/19.

- Barcelona sign England youngster Barry from West Brom -

Barcelona has fended off reported interest from other European heavyweights to sign England youth international Louie Barry. Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain was rumoured to be eyeing the West Brom forward, along with several Premier League clubs.

Louie Barry has joined FC Barcelona. The 16-year-old English striker, signed from West Bromwich Albion, will play for the Under-19s A team.

https://t.co/QIaF3FlwrN

Welcome to Barça, Louie!#FCBMasia#ForçaBarçapic.twitter.com/DcrpqFXw3d

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 11, 2019

 

But it is Barca who have secured the 16-year-old, who will now be part of the Juvenil A side having signed a three-year contract.

Barry has spent 10 years at West Brom, and made his debut for the Championship club's Under-23 team last season. Formerly a Republic of Ireland youth international, Barry switched allegiance to England in 2019, making his debut against Brazil in February, going on to score seven goals in nine appearances.

- Atletico signs Serbian striker Saponjic -

Atletico Madrid has signed Serbia Under-21 striker Ivan Saponjic from Benfica on a three-year contract. Neither club disclosed the fee paid for the 21-year-old but the deal is reported to be worth in the region of €8million.

A physically imposing forward, Saponjic will provide an extra attacking option for coach Diego Simeone alongside Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata and record signing Joao Felix, who also arrived from Benfica for €126m.

But while the Portugal international starred in the club's Primeira Liga triumph in the 2018-19 season, Saponjic played for Benfica B after joining from Partizan Belgrade in January 2016 and spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan with Belgian club Zulte Waregem.

He joins fellow new faces Marcos Llorente, Hector Herrera, Felipe, Lodi and Joao Felix at Atletico, with star forward Antoine Griezmann widely expected to complete a €120m switch to Barcelona.

(With inputs from Omnisport)