Roma set to sign Iran striker Azmoun and Joao Felix seeks Atletico Madrid exit

The end of the transfer window is looming large on the horizon with clubs targeting last-minute improvements to their squads.

The rumour mill remains in full swing so we bring you the best transfer gossip and the likelihood of those stories materialising.

Iran international striker Sardar Azmoun is close to joining Roma, according to L’Equipe. The Italian club are said to have agreed a loan deal with Bayer Leverkusen that includes an option clause which allows him to be signed permanently. AC Milan were known to have been keen on the 28-year-old, but the latest suggests that Jose Mourinho has won the race to land the highly-rated Iranian frontman.

Monaco have agreed a deal to buy Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun for a fee of €45 million plus bonuses, reveals RMC Sport. Balogun, who changed allegiances from England to the United States earlier this year, has also been on the radar of Chelsea, but he is now said to be on the verge of joining the Ligue 1 side on a five-year deal. It is reported that a medical is set to take place amid confidence from both clubs that a deal will be completed.

Scottish left-back Kieran Tierney is close to completing a temporary switch to La Liga club Real Sociedad, reveals The Athletic. Arsenal are willing to let him leave on a season-long loan, with the 26-year-old struggling to garner regular first team minutes. It is understood that the deal will be a straight loan in which the Spanish side will cover his salary in full, though there is no permanent option clause that would allow them to sign him permanently.

Joao Felix remains intent on leaving Atletico Madrid in the current transfer window, reports El Chiringuito TV. The Portuguese attacking midfielder spent some time last season on loan at Chelsea, and has most recently been looking to join Barcelona, but the latest indicates that there is still some distance between him getting his wishes. Felix’s relationship with manager Diego Simeone has previously been reported to be tense.

Joao Felix is aiming to leave Atletico Madrid this summer but interest is limited. EPA

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is closing in on finding his squad’s back-up goalkeeper, understands Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg. Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is understood to have agreed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the English club, who are also considering Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, submitting a bid to Benfica worth €15m.

Liverpool have seen their bid of €30m for Fluminense’s Andre turned down, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The Reds are reported to have identified the Brazilian midfielder as a key upgrade this summer as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to add another midfielder, but they have seen their first attempt for the 22-year-old unsuccessful. It is said that they are also keeping close tabs on Flamengo star Gerson.

Al Ittihad are interested in signing Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, reports Relevo. The Saudi Arabian club are said to be willing to hand the Egyptian star a salary that would see him surpass the earnings of Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and add that he is also willing to accept their offer if an agreement can be reached between both clubs.

Major deals of 2023/24 summer transfer window

Explained

Who are the bidoon?

Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)

Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time

Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.

Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.

The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.

The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.

Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.

The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.

• Bloomberg

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor