Pepe has decided against a move to England in favor of signing a bumper two-year deal with Beşiktaş. Elsewhere, Gael Clichy is in talks with Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir F.K, while in Italy, AC Milan is closing in on Liverpool and Chelsea Football Club targets Andrea Conti with the defender set for medicals this week. Here's a complete report of the latest transfer updates Making The Rounds:
Pepe signs for Beşiktaş J.K
Beşiktaş J.K have confirmed the arrival of Pepe, who left Real Madrid this summer following 10 glittering years at the Bernabeu.
It was speculated that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was hoping to add the experienced defender to his ranks, but Beşiktaş has now sealed the deal. According to AA Sports, Beşiktaş will pay an annual salary of $10.7m plus an extra $4,500 every time the 34-year-old defender plays in a game. Pepe wrote on the club's official Twitter feed: “I had several offers from Italy, France, and England, but I rather choose @Beskitas.”
Clichy joins İstanbul Başakşehir
Gael Clichy was released by Manchester City Football Club earlier this summer and has apparently been on the lookout for a new club side ever since. Now, it appears that the France international, who has spent the last 14 years in the Premier League with Arsenal Football Club and then Manchester City, could be heading to Turkey to join İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.
According to Mirror, the 31-year-old left-back was in the country of Turkey earlier this week finalizing terms on a three-year contract which could be worth around $3.3million per year for the player.
Andrea Conti set to join AC Milan, despite EPL interests
Andrea Conti has been the subject of many speculations so far this summer, with several top European club sides interested in signing him to their team.
The 23-year-old defender was featured at the recent U-21 European Championship for the Azzurri of Italy and has massively developed into one of the “hottest” prospects around Europe at the moment. Both Chelsea and Liverpool Football Club held an interest in the youngster, but AC Milan was always the clear favorite to sign the defender.
According to Goal, Andrea Conti is now set to have his medicals at AC Milan this week ahead of finalizing the switch. Certainly, the news will come as a “blow” to the EPL duo, with AC Milan making their intentions clear ahead of finalizing their seventh summer signing so far.