Here is the best of Friday's transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals as Arsenal and Manchester United prepare for busy days ahead.
The Gunners were rocked by club captain Laurent Koscielny going on strike yesterday, with the Frenchman refusing to join the pre-season tour to the US. Koscielny has been offered a three-year deal by Bordeaux, while Rennes are also interested, and he wants the club to allow him to leave on a free transfer in return for his nine years of service.
Manchester United meanwhile met with representatives of Inter Milan yesterday to discuss a potential loan deal with an obligation-to-buy for wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku. Talks are still at an early stage, however, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have received a boost in their pursuit of Sporting's Bruno Fernandes after the Portuguese club signed Aleksandar Trajkovski who is seen as a direct replacement. Over in Europe, Barcelona are expected to finally trigger Antoine Griezmann's release clause today in one of the biggest transfers in football history. Follow all the latest news throughout the day here:
Follow all the day's transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals throughout the day.
It's been a busy last 24 hours after Laurent Koscielny went on strike at Arsenal, Inter Milan's representatives arrived in London to attempt to complete a deal for Romelu Lukaku and Manchester United made another positive stride towards completing a deal for Bruno Fernandes. We will keep you abreast of all the day's stories as they develop.
Inter Milan's representatives arrived in London yesterday as official negotiations begun with Manchester United on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy.
United, however, want to receive a significant portion of the payment up-front if any deal is done, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to persuade the striker to stay at Old Trafford for another season.
Tottenham have agreed a £150,000-per-week contract with Real Betis' Giovani Lo Celso, according to reports in Spain.
The deal would make Lo Celso one of the highest paid players in the squad and be another significant display of power in the market after the Champions League finalists secured the signatures of Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke.
Manchester United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Bruno Fernandes after Sporting Lisbon completed the signing of Aleksandar Trajkovski.
Trajkovski is seen as a replacement for the Portuguese midfielder, whose agent has held meetings with a number of Europe's top sides. However, no bid has been made by United thus far.
Manchester City are contemplating a move for free-agent Dani Alves after the veteran right-back showed he still has a large amount to offer during Brazil's Copa America triumph, according to The Daily Mail.
Alves' compatriot Danilo is set to leave City this summer and Alves, who of course worked under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, is seen as a replacement who can offer a wealth of experience and leadership in the dressing room.
Jurgen Klopp is set to block Steven Gerrard signing Ryan Kent on loan this summer.
Kent spent last season with the Scottish side and won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.
However, Klopp wants to give the 22-year-old the chance to impress during pre-season and Kent featured in the club's starting eleven for their opening friendly against Tranmere yesterday.
Manchester United have cooled their interest in Mario Lemina after the midfielder's come and get me please on Twitter.
Arsenal have also been linked to the former Juventus midfielder who has not travelled with Southampton for pre-season.
The agent of PSV winger and Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn has told Bayern Munich that the player is willing to bide his time over any possible transfer after Manchester United raised an interest in the player.
Wilfried Zaha was not included in the release of Crystal Palace's new away kit.
Arsenal had a £40m bid for the forward rejected, before the player's brother said The Eagles should allow him to "realise his dream" and join the Gunners.
The only way Arsenal will be able to finance a deal for Zaha, however, is to do a money plus player(s) deal. Calum Chambers has been touted as one such candidate to be included in a follow up bid by the Gunners.
Callum Wilson is set to dash West Ham's hopes of signing the striker by signing a new long-term deal with Bournemouth, according to TalkSport.
The Hammers are in desperate need of a new frontman after Marko Arnautovic's departure to China, while uncertainty still remains over the future of Javier Hernandez.
Arsenal's hopes of signing Ryan Fraser on a cut-price deal have been dented with Bournemouth now content to keep the Scottish winger for another season before allowing him to leave as a free agent, according to The Express.
Arsenal are still interested in signing Real Madrid's Dani Ceballos, however, the Gunners have now conceded that they can only afford to bring the Spaniard in on loan.
Unai Emery is adamant that he wants to bring in an attacking player this summer after Denis Suarez's failed loan move.
Toby Alderweireld's agent has held talks with Roma over a possible move to Serie A.
The Italians are in dire need of a top-class defender after the sale of Kostas Manolas to Napoli and Alderweireld's £25m release clause has proved an enticing proposition.
Steve Bruce is set to take over at Newcastle with confirmation expected imminently.
The Magpies are currently finalising a compensation package of around £5m with Sheffield Wednesday for the manager, who will replace Rafael Benitez at the helm.
Manchester United have entered negotiations with Newcastle for 21-year-old midfielder Sean Longstaff.
United have held an interest in the Englishman for a number of months now, who is well-suited to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's ideology of bringing through a crop of new young players.
United value Longstaff at around £20m according to The Telegraph, however, Newcastle are demanding £50m. In a recent interview, Longstaff described United's interest as flattering but reiterated his desire to cement a first-team spot at Newcastle before thinking about any transfer.
Gareth Bale is refusing Real Madrid's attempts to oust him this summer and trained with his teammates in Canada yesterday as he bids to win Zinedine Zidane back over.
Bale was left out by Zidane towards the end of Madrid's turbulent season, with the manager clearly displaying his desire for the Welshman to leave.
After Eden Hazard's arrival, Madrid are keen to balance offload Bale's exorbitant wages, however, there has been little suitable interest in the winger.
Sources close to Barcelona have denied that the club paid Antoine Griezmann's release clause this morning, according to reports in Spain.
The negotiations between Barca and Atletico have become extremely messy over the past few days after the former released a statement condemning the Spanish champions and the player.
Peter Crouch is yet to make a decision on his future, according to TalkSport.
The veteran striker was released from his contract with Burnley this summer and is considering retirement.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has deemed the idea of signing Mauro Icardi "colossal, enormous stupidity” in a radio interview in Italy.
De Laurentiis also said of the Inter Milan striker's wife and agent: “I met Wanda Nara three years ago and I have no intention of meeting her again. That meeting was enough.”
Icardi does not appear to be part of Inter's plans under new manager Antonio Conte.
Burnley have rejected a bid from Aston Villa for goalkeeper Tom Heaton, according to Sky.
The club reportedly felt that Villa's offer was insulting and far below what they would want for the England international.
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