Transfer news, rumours - as it happened: Liverpool to rival Chelsea for Aaron Ramsey, Manchester United chase Yerry Mina, Arsenal target World Cup star
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. Roma's Alisson is next and could Lyon's Nabil Fekir follow? 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. He's got Fred but another central midfield player is high on his list with a big money move for Real Madrid's Gareth Bale not out the question.
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 four new signings and plenty more on the way with more on his shopping list. Chelsea have a new manager themselves after appointing Maurizio Sarri with the future of Eden Hazard high on his agenda 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.
Pep Guardiola has said that Manchester City will only make a late signing in this transfer window if a “special” player becomes available.
Riyad Mahrez, a £60m club record signing from Leicester City, arrived at the Etihad last month but Guardiola’s attempts to add depth to his midfield have been frustrated.
City agreed a deal with Napoli for Jorginho, only to see the Brazil-born Italy international move to Chelsea with former manager Maurizio Sarri.
Mahrez and Philippe Sandler, an inexpensive young centre-back signed from PEC Zwolle, are likely to be Guardiola’s only additions this summer unless a ‘special’ player can be found.
After Mateo Kovacic reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United owing to boss Jose Mourinho, Chelsea are interested in landing the Real Madrid player according to Calciomercato.
Wolves are interested in Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo, as they continue their lavish summer expenditure.
While the Argentine has been one of Jose Mourinho’s more trusted centre-halves, his injury record has seen him play less than the manager would like over two years, and the club does need to sell to facilitate moves elsewhere.
Centre-half is one of the two areas that the United boss is insistent on improving before the transfer window closes, with Toby Alderweireld still the top option, so he is thereby likely to be open to the sale of Rojo.
Real Madrid are still aiming to bring in two “Galacticos” this summer to both replace Cristiano Ronaldo and symbolise the start of a new era at the club, as they seek to reshape their team.
The Independent has been told that Neymar remains the principal target for this summer, with sources from both the Bernabeu and Paris Saint-Germain stating there is still almost “daily” contact between intermediaries to try and do a deal.
Eden Hazard is their next target, although those close to Chelsea say the Stamford Bridge hierarchy are adamant they will not sell.
Both purchases are seen as very difficult to pull off this summer, but this has not dissuaded president Florentino Perez, who remains confident that Madrid can complete deals “other clubs can’t”.
Toby Alderweireld is still Jose Mourinho’s first choice for a Manchester United centre-half this summer, with the expectation now that the pursuit will go right to the end of the transfer window.
A deal so far has not happened due to the fact Tottenham Hotspur would prefer Anthony Martial included in any negotiation, or for United to at the very least meet a hardline valuation of £55m.
The Old Trafford hierarchy have so far been reluctant to do either, with some of that influenced by Alderweireld’s desire to leave and an expectation that might yet change the situation or force Spurs’ hands.
With CEO Daniel Levy so far predictably unbending, though, it has led United to look at alternative options.
Leicester City’s Harry Maguire is chief among those, while the club have also been looking at Internazionale’s Milan Skriniar, among a few other potential fall-backs.
Raheem Sterling's calculation that a blinding World Cup would bolster his position in contract talks with Manchester City appears to have backfired, the Daily Mirror reports.
The England star is said to have been seeking improved personal terms to his £170,000-a-week deal, although he delayed talks until after his return from Russia.
While the Three Lions' campaign won plaudits, Sterling's value is said to have remained relatively constant and attention from big international clubs has not been forthcoming.
His contract with City is up in 2020, although he will have to sign an extension before next summer, the paper says.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wants a move back to Madrid for family reasons, his agent has revealed.
The 26-year-old former Atletico Madrid number one has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid.
Courtois is due to return to Chelsea training this weekend after helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup and being voted the best goalkeeper at Russia 2018.
He has a year remaining on his Chelsea contract, but agent Christophe Henrotay said Courtois wants a move to the Spanish capital to be close to his two children.
Burnley will need to pay £20m if they want to bolster their strike force with Jay Rodriguez, who is currently with newly-relegated West Brom, the Guardian reports.
Levante will only sell Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma for upwards of £30million, with Bournemouth so far failing to meet this valuation, the Sun says.
Unai Emery is ready to sell Danny Welbeck, The Sun reports.
Everton could stump up £15million for the England striker, who has not yet been offered an extension to his contact, which is up in a year, the paper says.
Goalkeeper David Ospina and forward Lucas Perez could also be put on the market, according to The Sun.
Having only scored 15 Premier League goals in four seasons, Welbeck could be passed over for the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette in Emery's long-term plans.
Jack Grealish will make it clear to Aston Villa's owners that he wants to pursue his dreams of Champions League football and join Tottenham, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Spurs are said to be ready to make an offer for the 22-year-old attacking midfielder as soon as this week.
After a reported £55million takeover by Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens eased Villa's financial concerns the club will be less inclined to sell their talisman.
However ambitious Grealish is said to want out and Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly determined to sign him this summer.
Chelsea are monitoring the situation of Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with a view to a bid if any rival clubs make a move, as there is now a belief by those close to the player that the Serbian international would favour a switch to Chelsea.
The 23-year-old’s fine performances in the World Cup continued a spell where he has caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, especially Manchester United and Real Madrid.
United had seemed set to conclude a deal before Russia 2018, only for both the complications of his Lazio contract and price to put them off. Such issues have also so far prevented Chelsea making a move, but Milinkovic-Savic is seen as someone who could potentially be a focal point of a top side in the mould of Eden Hazard.
The future of Anthony Martial looks to be away from Old Trafford, according to reports.
The Daily Mirror say the 22-year-old will be offered to Bayern Munich as part of a deal which could see Robert Lewandowski move the other way, while Bild says the forward will be used in a deal for defender Jerome Boateng.
Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
The deadline is hurtling ever closer with teams scrambling to get their business over the line before the Thursday cut off. Liverpool have spent big, Manchester United want at least one more while Chelsea could be the biggest late spenders of all as Maurizio Sarri bids to shape his new squad.
We'll bring you all the latest news on that plus all the done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
Without further ado, off we go.
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