Transfer news: Man Utd to agree double deal, Liverpool snubbed, Arsenal step up striker chase
Follow the latest updates live as we bring you the best of Friday's transfer news, rumours and done deals. Will any big transfers be completed today?
There have already been some big deals this transfer window. Manchester United wasted no time in snapping up Daniel James from Swansea City for £18m, while Eden Hazard finally completed his protracted move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, for a fee which could ultimately exceed £100m.
A number of big deals are meanwhile still in the pipeline. Both Paul Pogba and Christian Eriksen have indicated that they want ‘new challenges’, while Matthijs de Ligt is a top target for just about every European super club. Where will he end up? Follow all of the latest below:
Arsenal‘s transfer activity has turned its crosshairs firmly on centre-backs with Unai Emery eying up French World Cup-winning centre-backs Samuel Umtiti and Presnel Kimpembe as potential candidates to reinforce his leaky defence.
Emery worked with Kimpembe at PSG and is very keen to reunite with the 23-year-old, according to Le 10 Sport. PSG are hoping to secure the signature of Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt which would make room for Kimpembe’s departure after a turbulent season with the French champions. However, PSG would demand a price in the region of £35m, which would virtually wipe out the entirety of Arsenal’s summer transfer budget.
Umtiti has long been eyed by the Gunners, but the 25-year-old’s price tag would outmatch that of Kimpembe’s meaning any move is unlikely, despite Barcelona’s willingness to sell the defender if their asking price is met.
The Portuguese international looks certain to leave the club this summer after a record-breaking season with some of Europe's top clubs lining up to sign him.
At the front of that queue appear to be United who are willing to pay whatever it takes to get the 24-year-old on board.
A Bola report that Tottenham's move for Fernandes hinges on Christian Eriksen leaving first which leaves United as clear frontrunners.
Fernandes' agent is understood to have met with United and that a formal offer to his client and Sporting is expected imminently.
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Liverpool have entered the race for talented Paris FC striker Silas Wamangituka, according to reports in Portugal.
19-year-old Wamangituka had a fine campaign for Paris last season, scoring 11 goals in 32 Ligue 2 matches as Paris finished in the playoffs, eventually crashing out on penalties to Lens.
He has been linked with Braga, Marseille and Barcelona, with reports earlier in the season that Liverpool sent scouts to watch him in action.
And now Jornal de Notícias claim Liverpool are ready to make an offer for the rising star.
Arsenal target Yannick Carrasco has been suspended by his Chinese club after returning late from international duty with Belgium
"Yannick Carrasco of the Dalian Football Club was absent from the away game against Hebei China Fortune and missed training," read a club statement.
"The club now imposes the following penalties on him: Order Carrasco to apologise to the team within three days and stop training.
"The club has always attached importance to the team's discipline construction, and no individual is above the collective. The club treats everyone equally."
As Real Madrid continue to contemplate who they want to finally balance out their team, they have not just set another summer saga, but also set themselves one of those choices that will have all manner of ripples – and maybe unbalance so much else for so many clubs beneath them.
David Turnbull will complete his move to Celtic on Friday afternoon so long as he passes his Parkhead medical.
The on-off saga surrounding the Motherwell midfielder's move took another dramatic twist on Thursday night when it emerged he had backed out of a switch to Norwich in favour of joining the Hoops.
That came after it appeared the champions had pulled the plug on their £3.25million swoop for the 19-year-old Scottish Football Writers' Association young player of the year.
Celtic released a statement last week announcing they were ready to "move on" to new targets after Turnbull had rejected their "magnificent offer".
But the Scotland Under-21 playmaker, who netted 15 goals in his breakthrough campaign last year, has had a change of heart and will now swap Fir Park for Celtic Park.
Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has made it clear he wants Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa to stay in Turin.
After being unveiled as the new Bianconeri boss, Gazzetta dello Sport claim he wants the two forwards to stay, despite speculation linking both with an exit.
Sarri will hope to build on his Europa League success and finally land the Serie A title after going so close with Napoli.
Dani Ceballos could be one of the most in-demand players this summer.
The Spain Under-21 international is shining in Italy at the European Championships and Zinedine Zidane is unlikely to have room for him at the Bernabeu.
And Real Madrid's lavish outlay this summer means AC Milan could profit with a double signing.
New boss Marco Giampaolo will hope to sign Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard.
Paolo Maldini and the returning Zvonomir Boban are keen on the pair, claim Gazzetta dello Sport.
Arsenal are meanwhile set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged. A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar.
It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. And Liverpool could be active too as they look to go one better after failing to win the Premier League title by just a single point.
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