Follow the latest updates live from the second day of the summer transfer window as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all look for reinforcements to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Independentexclusively revealed that United are now close to completing a deal for Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund's assist machine who aged 20 is already an England regular and one of Europe's hottest properties. And United are so confident of the Sancho deal they have now turned their attentions to the Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, whose brilliant goal on the final day of the season helped keep his boyhood club in the Premier League.
Arsenal are being linked with Philippe Coutinho, whose time at on loan Bayern Munich is up and who is thought to be seeking another loan move away from Barcelona, while Chelsea are thought to have opened serious negotiations for Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz having now sealed their qualification for next season's Champions League. Follow the live news below.
Here is more on Tottenham's signing of 15-year-old England midfielder Alfie Devine from newly relegated Wigan:
Italian publication Calcio Mercato is reporting that Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling could indeed be on his way back to the Premier League.
The defender has spent the season on loan at Serie A side Roma, who are struggling to meet United's £18 million valuation of the 30-year-old.
That fee is a couple of million over what Roma wish to spend...
The defender has spent the season on loan at Serie A side Roma, who are struggling to meet United's £18 million valuation of the 30-year-old.
That fee is a couple of million over what Roma wish to spend...
New Chelsea signing Timo Werner has opened up on the role that Blues coach Frank Lampard played in coaxing the German from RB Leipzig.
Full story here:
Full story here:
DONE DEAL!Tottenham have snapped up Wigan's 15-year-old Alfie Devine for around £300,000.
Devine was released by Liverpool but impressed on a recent under-16s tournament with England and will now join up with Spurs's development setup.
A couple of interesting new Manchester United lines. The first concerns Jack Grealish, with Metro reporting that the Ole Trafford are club are considering walking away from the deal as Aston Villa dig their heels in over his pricetag – Villa want at least £75m for the club captain.
The second is that the club are considering a move for Villerreal defender Pau Torres. The 23-year-old is considered one of the best young centre-backs in Europe and United are exploring a transfer in region of £45m, reports the Times.
The 20-year-old Manchester City right-back Luke Bolton has secured another loan move ahead of next season. Bolton spent this campaign at Luton Town, helping the Hatters pull off a great escape from the foot of the Championship table, and now he's heading north of the border.
He tweeted: "Buzzing to sign for @dundeeunitedfc upon their return to the SPL. Big season ahead, let’s do this 👊🏼 #UnitedTogether"
And here's a little news from the Championship. Neil Warnock is staying on at Middlesbrough for another season. Full story:
Lille are chasing Rangers' Alfredo Morelos. Full story:
Jack Grealish fears he could be priced out of a move to Manchester United as Aston Villa talk up his price tag, reports The Sun.
United have moved their attention to the 24-year-old midfielder but Dean Smith was quick to point out just how much his captain will cost should he leave this summer, after Grealish scored in the club's final game of the season to help secure Premier League survival.
United are hopeful or reaching a deal worth around £50-60m but Villa are holding out for upwards of £80m.
Leicester's final-day failure to secure Champions League football could end up costing them the services of Ben Chilwell.
The Foxes' first-choice left-back has been linked with a move to Chelsea, and with Frank Lampard's side doing what Brendan Rodgers' couldn't by claiming a top-four spot on the final day of the Premier League season, the 23-year-old's resolve will be tested.
Rodgers seems confident of keeping his player, however, having said: "You can spin it whichever way you want. There is no intention to sell Ben Chilwell and there is absolutely no need for us to sell Ben Chilwell."
The Foxes' first-choice left-back has been linked with a move to Chelsea, and with Frank Lampard's side doing what Brendan Rodgers' couldn't by claiming a top-four spot on the final day of the Premier League season, the 23-year-old's resolve will be tested.
Rodgers seems confident of keeping his player, however, having said: "You can spin it whichever way you want. There is no intention to sell Ben Chilwell and there is absolutely no need for us to sell Ben Chilwell."
A reminder of our top story, by The Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney:
Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter is high on the shopping list of a number of clubs in the Premier League and Serie A, according to Sky Germany.
Inter Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interesting in the 26-year-old centre-back, who has regularly been described as the most underrated centre-back in the Bundesliga, so much so that he is actually pretty well rated these days.
Gladbach finished fourth this season with the third-best defensive record in the league.
Will Wilfried Zaha finally be on his way somewhere new this summer? It feels like one of the long longest running sagas around, and Roy Hodgson did not sound optimistic speaking about him recently.
Arsenal are close to sealing a deal for Dani Ceballos on loan until the end of next season, according to AS. Ceballos impressed in fits and starts on loan from Real Madrid this year and is set to have another opportunity at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta has a raft of decisions to make along with Arsenal's hierarchy as he looks to rebuild the Gunners' squad. Top of the priority list is resolving the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is considering his options. But there are also several big names on his shopping list, as the Evening Standard reports.
Thomas Partey is one of those, but Atletico Madrid want his full release clause of €50m (£45m), which might force Arsenal to turn to Porto's Danilo Pereira. Willian, as mentioned below, is a potential cheap recruit on a free transfer, while Rennes centre-back Malang Sarr could also join for no money.
The mystery purchase is Philippe Coutinho. Could he join on loan from Barcelona? His wages are astronomical but there doesn't seem to be a place for the Brazilian at the Camp Nou.
Here's the full story on the latest news from Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp talking transfers, squad size and more...
Is Willian set to join Arsenal? The Guardian reports that the winger is yet to accept Chelsea's offer of a contract and would prefer a longer deal, in the region of three years, something the Gunners are able to offer. Watch this space.
INCYMI: Leicester's James Maddison has signed a new £110,000-a-week deal that ties him to the King Power Stadium until 2024, according to Goal.
That could just be the big non-transfer news of the summer, and is another reason Manchester United are likely to pursue Jack Grealish rather than Maddison. Leicester appear desperate to keep hold of their big names, including Ben Chilwell.
So what of Liverpool this window? The noises coming out of Anfield suggest we shouldn't expect fireworks, but there have already been the departures of Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana and so we can surely expect one or two incomings.
Yet Jurgen Klopp sounded cautious on the idea and says he is happy to keep a tight-knit squad for the 2020-21 season. This, via PA:
"The solution cannot be to have a much bigger squad for the specific moment and then realise you cannot use all the players," said the manager, who sent his players off on a well-deserved two-week holiday with a reminder of their responsibilities to keep on top of the latest coronavirus travel guidance and potential quarantine restrictions.
"These players can only play the football they play because they know they are needed.
"They are all human beings and nobody can be held back for a year and then on the last day of the year be told, 'Now we need you.'
"In between now and then there must be a lot of training and support and challenges stuff like this.
"We cannot keep someone in the backyard and bring them up in the decisive moment. That will not help. We will have solutions for that, we have young players.
"The size of the squad is not that important to me, the quality of the squad is very much so."
This, by the way, is a lovely little moment from last night's LMA award. Sir Alex Ferguson talking about Jurgen Klopp:
Liverpool are also keen on Schalke centre-back Ozan Kabak. The 20-year-old Turkey international is rated around the £40m mark, but Schalke could sell him for less due to financial difficulties. The Reds will likely have rivals for his signature, with Manchester City, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund having been linked to Kabak in the past.
