Napoli are monitoring Rasmus Højlund, with the Italian champions considering making a move for the out-of-favour Manchester United forward.
Antonio Conte, Napoli’s head coach, is an admirer of the Denmark international, and a loan deal is thought to be the favoured option. United would countenance a temporary deal for the 22-year-old, though there is no suggestion that he is being forced out of the club. United are, however, open to his departure due to the options Ruben Amorim now has in attack.
Amorim left Højlund out of the matchday squad for Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford, with Matheus Cunha, signed from Wolvesin June, deployed instead as the hosts’ centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko, who came on as a substitute, is expected to be Amorim’s first-choice in the position following his recent arrival from RB Leipzig.
Højlund is also of interest to Milan. “We are evaluating him these days, but the transfer market is unpredictable,” the club’s sporting director, Igli Tare, told Sport Mediaset. “We know that we have to intervene in that position and we also know that they must be players who can give something more to this group.”
Bournemouth have completed the signing of Ben Doak from Liverpool in a deal worth £25m. The 19-year-old attracted interest from Nottingham Forest and Leeds while Porto made a bid for the winger. But the Scotland international opted to join Andoni Iraola’s side and has completed the move following a medical.
Liverpool negotiated a buy-back option in the transfer as they consider Doak has the potential to develop into a top attacking talent. The Anfield club did the same with Jarell Quansah’s £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Doak will make Liverpool a huge profit on the £600,000 they paid in training compensation to sign the teenager from Celtic in 2022. He made three Premier League substitute appearances for the club in total but impressed on loan at Middlesbrough last season before suffering a thigh injury. The departure of Doak means the Premier League champions have made £227m in player sales this summer, including add-ons. Liverpool remain keen to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle and Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace before the transfer deadline on 1 September.”
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of the striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes for a fee of about £26m. Kalimuendo, who scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, is the latest Forest addition after the arrivals of Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee, signed for £37m and £30m from Ipswich and Manchester City respectively at the weekend. Forest are also expected to sign Douglas Luiz, who is keen on a return to the Premier League from Juventus.
The 23-year-old Kalimuendo, who started his career at Paris Saint-Germain, will provide Forest with welcome attacking depth. Igor Jesus, one of seven summer signings and one of two players to join from Botafogo, will provide competition for Chris Wood, who scored twice in the victory over Brentford on Sunday, and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest explored a deal for Rico Lewis but the 20-year-old England defender has suggested he wants to stay with City. Pep Guardiola expects Lewis to remain at the club. “I’ve never ever seen myself leaving,” Lewis said after starting City’s 4-0 victory at Wolves on Saturday. “I’ve always wanted to play for City. It’s my dream. When I’m playing with the kind of players that I’m playing with, it brings out the best of me. I’m so happy.”
The Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is poised to join Roma on loan in a move that could become permanent. The Serie A club will pay about £2.5m for the season and have agreed a £19m option to purchase the Jamaica international. Bailey was used sparingly by Unai Emery last season and is one of several players Villa are keen to offload to generate financial headroom. Leander Dendoncker, who is close to joining Real Oviedo, and Àlex Moreno are among those surplus to requirements. Samuel Iling-Junior and Lewis Dobbin are wanted on loan by Championship clubs.
