Philippe Coutinho set for Santos medical ahead of Neymar reunion

Philippe Coutinho has agreed to join Santos and is due to complete medical tests on Friday before signing a three-month contract that would reunite him with Neymar.

Coutinho move and Brazil options

• Neymar is said to have asked Santos officials to pursue Coutinho after the former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder left Vasco da Gama as a free agent earlier this year.
• Tottenham forward Richarlison could also return to Brazil, with Vasco da Gama exploring a deal for the 29-year-old.
• Richarlison missed moves before the closure of several major European transfer windows despite interest from Everton and Trabzonspor.
• He was omitted from Tottenham’s Premier League squad list and therefore cannot play league football for the club.
• Richarlison had considered seeking an early release from his Spurs contract through legal action, but has stepped away from that approach.
• James Rodríguez faces a decision over his next club after interest emerged from Atlético Nacional. The 35-year-old had appeared close to joining Serie B side Avellino, but Colombia is understood to be his preferred destination following his Minnesota United release in May.
• Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin is expected to remain at the club despite links with a switch to Russia, where the transfer deadline falls on Sept. 11.
• Free-agent striker Mauro Icardi, 33, is weighing up his next move, with Atlético Mineiro and Olympiacos among the clubs showing strong interest.

Contract plans at Real Madrid, Villa and Atalanta

• Arda Güler is nearing a new Real Madrid agreement that would run until 2031 and include a salary rise. The 21-year-old joined from Fenerbahçe in 2023 and has recorded 19 goals plus 26 assists across 116 Madrid appearances.
• Aston Villa are progressing in negotiations with Ian Maatsen over a fresh contract. The 24-year-old left-back is viewed as central to Unai Emery’s plans, while Manchester United have monitored him despite his existing Villa deal running to 2030.
• Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini has accepted terms for a new contract after turning down the possibility of leaving during the summer. Newcastle United had been prominently linked with the 22-year-old.

Premier League clubs monitor emerging targets

• Manchester United are leading the pursuit of Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu ahead of the winter window, with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool also watching the 26-year-old.
• Liverpool are tracking Como midfielder Máximo Perrone as they assess central-midfield options. Napoli, Juventus and Inter Milan are also interested in the 23-year-old Argentina international.
• Chelsea and Manchester United are following Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal. Chelsea see the 19-year-old as a possible long-term replacement for Enzo Fernández after failing to land midfield targets late in the summer window. Bernal has already made 41 Barcelona appearances.
• Arsenal are considering AIK forward Kevin Filling, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Juventus also alerted by the 17-year-old Swede. He has supplied six goals and four assists in 31 matches for AIK.
• Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan are targeting Borussia Dortmund midfielder Justin Ejodamen, 15, after his recent progress caught the attention of leading European clubs.
• Bayern Munich are looking at Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge as a possible squad option behind Harry Kane. The 24-year-old has scored 50 times in 108 matches for Cruzeiro since arriving from Juventus in 2024.