The Premier League’s summer transfer window is open with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal set to be busier than ever.
Liverpool enjoyed success in the Champions League this year and their quest to end their league title drought in 2019 will be bolstered by the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. He will not be the last new face on Merseyside, however, with Monaco’s Fabinho already in. Lyon’s Nabil Fekir is next on Jurgen Klopp‘s hitlist. At United Jose Mourinho looks set to spend big again as he targets reinforcements in his bid to haul in record-breaking Manchester City next season. A new left-back and central midfield player are high on his list with a big money move for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale not out the question. Could Cristiano Ronaldo join him?
For the first time in over two decades Arsenal head into the offseason with a new manager at the helm. That man is former PSG boss Unai Emery after a stunning 11th hour change of heart at the Emirates and he already has a new signing in his sights. Chelsea could well be looking for a new manager themselves but across London Mauricio Pochettino won’t be leaving Tottenham Hotspur after signing a new five-year deal.
We will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals right here so don’t touch that dial.
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The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder was in talks with Manchester City in January, with his all-action displays in the Champions League having caught the eye of both clubs in Cottonopolis over the past 18 months.
But with City switching targets to Napoli star Jorginho, United have a clear run at Fred to bring more energy to their midfield.
Michael Carrick’s retirement and Marouane Fellaini’s likely departure on a free transfer see Jose Mourinho short of two of his most trusted players in the centre of the park.
Fred, a box-to-box midfielder who was seen as a cheaper alternative to the in-demand Sergei Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio, is expected to double his wages in the Premier League while his early arrival will allow Mourinho and Ed Woodward to focus on defensive reinforcements, a priority for the Old Trafford club this summer.
United will pay Shakhtar a structured fee of around £52m for Fred, with north of £40m guaranteed.
Once formalities are concluded at Carrington, including a medical, Fred will become the first signing of the summer and the seventh Brazilian to play for Manchester United.
The report says the United boss is willing to include Paul Pogba in a player-plus-cash offer for the former Tottenham star this summer.
Don Balon add that United feel including the France international in the deal would result in them getting Bale for a bargain price.
Lyon are understood to want close to €70m (£61m) for the 24-year-old who has had an outstanding season for the Ligue 1 club, scoring 23 goals and providing eight assists in 40 appearances in all competitions, while Liverpool’s valuation is around £50m.
Liverpool have marked Fekir as a key target ever since the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January for a fee which could reach £140m. That well-publicised figure, coupled with Fekir’s impressive form, has strengthened Lyon’s resolve in negotiations.
The transfer is still expected to be completed before the France international travels to Russia for the World Cup, but on Sunday Liverpool insisted Fekir would not yet be undergoing a medical and that several details are yet to be finalised.
According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea are all tracking the star, but it is United who will make a £50 million move for him this summer.
Despite United's strong interest, Sessegnon is thought to favour Liverpool having supported the side as a youngster.
Even so, the 18-year-old is known to have a strong affiliation to Fulham and reports suggest the youngster may stay at the club for another season having secured Premier League football earlier this month.
Let's start with the biggest story of the window so far.
Mauricio Pochettino has opened the door to leaving Tottenham by suggesting that "when Real Madrid call you, you have to listen".
Madrid president Florentino Perez has made Pochettino his number one choice to replace Zinedine Zidane after the three-time Champions League winner announced his shock resignation on Thursday.
Perez has admired Pochettino for some time but this summer is readying a serious push to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu,and is not thought to be considering any other choices for the role.
It is understood any advance from Real would be firmly rejected by Tottenham but despite insisting he is "happy" in north London Pochettino appears to be open to a move to the Spanish capital.
Manchester City are Premier League champions and everyone else are getting set to spend, spend, spend to catch them.
One of those tasked with doing so will be Unai Emery after the former PSG boss emerged as an 11th hour candidate to take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Liverpool have made the biggest splash though in signing Fabinho from Monaco but he won't be the last new face at Anfield.
Zinedine Zidane is no longer Real Madrid manager leaving the 13-time European champions in need of a new one - could Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino be that man?
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