Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

The Independent UK

Jack de Menezes

Wednesday transfer news, rumours LIVE: Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs latest plus gossip and deals

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and more are set to be busy in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal are set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged following this week’s Europa League final. 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 Paul 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.

Review all the day’s transfer stories:

2019-05-29T06:34:43.740Z

Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.

The summer window is upon us with the Premier League’s biggest clubs set to spend, spend, spend as the sales re-open.

We'll bring you all the latest news plus all the done deals and the juiciest gossip throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.

We start this morning with a major development on Neymar's future, so without further ado, off we go.

2019-05-29T06:50:36.036Z

Just two years into his Paris Saint-Germain career, Neymar could be heading back to Barcelona.

Catalan outlet RAC1 is reporting that Barca have opened negotiations with PSG that also involve Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, with either of them offered to the Ligue 1 side in a cash-plus-player deal to bring the Brazilian back to the Nou Camp.

Neymar joined PSG for a world-record €222m in 2017 and remains the most expensive footballer in history, and although the reports adds that talks are in their early stages, officials at Barcelona are increasingly confident of Neymar's return this summer.

2019-05-29T07:05:20.500Z

The clearout at Manchester United is ready to get underway after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer met with the club's board to lay out his transfer window plans.

Solskjaer has made it apparent that he wants the players who are not part of his long-term plan sold by the summer of next year, according to the Manchester Evening News, and that will allow him to bring in the targets he's identified as key to rebuilding the United squad (more on that shortly).

However, it looks like it'll be more than just the fringe players who will be leaving Old Trafford...

2019-05-29T07:25:52.386Z

That's because reports in Italy are strongly linking striker Romelu Lukaku with a move to Inter Milan, so much so that the Belgian is ready to take a pay-cut.

The 26-year-old is facing an uncertain future at United after losing his first-team place to Marcus Rashford under Solskjaer, and Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Lukaku is willing to accept less than the reported £200,000-a-week salary that he is currently on.

Inter are currently in the process of appointing Antonio Conte as their new manager, and once the former Chelsea boss is in place, it's expected that they will press on with their attempts to sign Lukaku.

2019-05-29T07:42:02.593Z

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is keen on a reunion with Belgium full-back Thomas Meunier.

Emery worked with the 27-year-old while manager of Paris Saint-Germain and believes he may be the answer to solving Arsenal's weakness in defence.

PSG are understood to be open to negotiations as they look to strengthen their squad in an effort to address their poor Champions league form, and France Football are reporting that Arsenal are ready to move for Meunier this summer - as long as they win the Europa League final to qualify for next season's Champions League.

2019-05-29T07:57:52.420Z

Matthijs de Ligt remains Manchester United's No 1 target this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set for a major revamp of his squad this summer with the 19-year-old a key part of it.

Barcelona remain seriously interested but United are said to have made a big money offer to try and turn his head.

De Ligt, for his part, says all the talk over his future should be taken with a "pinch of salt".

2019-05-29T08:34:58.276Z

Paulo Dybala knows what he wants next year - and it's a stay at Juventus.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for the Argentine with the departure of Max Allegri as manager seen as potentially the trigger for an exit this summer.

But Dybala is keen to stick around.

“[Juventus director of sport Fabio] Paratici knows what I want to do next year – to keep playing here,” he said.

“Paratici knows that next year I want to continue here. Then it doesn’t depend on me.

“Juventus must make its choices with the coach that will come. But society knows it – next year I want to stay here.

“I have a lot of respect for this shirt and for these fans, and because of this I will only talk about Juventus, not about other teams, because that seems to me a lack of respect.”

2019-05-29T08:48:35.380Z

With Petr Cech on his way into retirement this summer Arsenal are in the market for a new goalkeeper.

Could that goalkeeper be Gianluigi Donnarumma?

Well they've made initial contact at least, according to reports in Italy.

Still a long way to go before a deal is done, however, with the 20-year-old one of Milan's most-prized assets.

2019-05-29T08:57:31.193Z

Both Manchester United and Manchester City are interested in England defender Harry Maguire.

The centre-back is viewed as the ideal replacement for Vincent Kompany at the Etighad Stadium, but United have a long-running interest in the Leicester City defender and hope that he would be the answer to their issues at the back.

With the 26-year-old currently on international duty with Gareth Southgate's side ahead of the Nations League finals, any development in his future is likely to be put on hold until the back-end of next month, and he has spoken this week of his happiness with wherehis career currently is that helps him to ignore the speculation over a move to the north-west.

Harry Maguire relaxed with Manchester United and City speculation

2019-05-29T09:10:24.873Z

Napoli are in pole position to sign Kieran Trippier from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The England right-back will be allowed to leave White Hart Lane for the right offer, and the Italian side are confident of reaching a deal for a fee of roughly £25million.

Trippier has three years left on the contract he signed in the summer of 2017, but at 28 years old he is keen on the prospect of a move abroad and the deal on offer from Napoli.

2019-05-29T09:39:15.360Z

There's plenty going on at Newcastle United

The club are currently subject of a takeover attempt, and as a result they could be unusually active in the transfer window this summer should a fresh injection of cash arrive.

One player who has emerged on their radar is the Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, with Portuguese outlet O Jogo reporting that a £13.2m asking price has been set for the 25-year-old.

2019-05-29T09:51:26.266Z

Could Sergio Ramos be on his way out of Real Madrid?

He has told the club that he wants out this summer and wants a free transfer to the Chinese Super League.

Florentino Perez, however, has told his captain that he's not leaving - or at least not leaving for free - under any circumstances.

This one could run and run.

2019-05-29T10:07:49.233Z

Eden Hazard says victory in the Europa League final against Arsenal on Wednesday would be the "perfect farewell" to Chelsea if he is to leave the club this summer.

Hazard is expected to depart Stamford Bridge, having long been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Belgian playmaker insists nothing has been finalised regarding his future, but he conceded lifting the trophy in Baku would provide a fitting send-off.

Eden Hazard wants ‘perfect farewell’ as he nears Chelsea exit for Real Madrid

2019-05-29T10:28:57.323Z

Arsenal plan to firm up their interest in Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser after the Europa League final against Chelsea, with the 25-year-old one of Unai Emery’s transfer targets this summer.

Fraser has enjoyed a fine campaign under Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, contributing 14 assists in the Premier League this season – behind only Chelsea forward Eden Hazard – and establishing himself in Scotland’s national team.

He is entering the final year of his contract after seven seasons at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth eager for the player to put pen to paper on a new deal with the club.

But negotiations between the two parties have stalled and there is an acceptance at the south coast club that it would be better to sell Fraser than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

2019-05-29T10:51:51.990Z

To the future of James Rodriguez, who could be on his way to the Premier League.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all interested in the Colombian international this summer, according to the Mirror.

James spent the last two seasons at Bayern Munich but opted not to stay with Real Madrid keen to now move him on.

2019-05-29T11:07:49.426Z

Arsene Wenger is considering a return to management with Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

The wealthy J1 League club are desperate to recruit Wenger and club officials flew to Europe to meet him last week.

Wenger was offered a lucrative salary to take over at the club. He is now mulling over the decision, for what might be his last chance to manage again before he retires.

Arsene Wenger considering Vissel Kobe management offer in Japan

2019-05-29T11:24:50.973Z

Remember Kevin Strootman?

No it's not 2014. Everton, West Ham and Manchester United have all been offered the chance to sign the now-Marseille midfielder on loan.

That's according to Sky Sports.

2019-05-29T12:02:45.720Z

Tottenham have contacted Real Madrid over the possibility of signing Marco Asensio this summer.

That's according to AS. However, the reigning European champions have no intention of letting the 23-year-old go.

2019-05-29T12:20:41.713Z

Staying in Spain and specifically the managerial dugout at the Nou Camp.

Ernesto Valverde's position is shaky at best after the Champions League and Copa del Rey disappointments with candidates queuing up for his job.

The latest name may be the best of all too.

Roberto Martinez, yes that's right.

RAC1 report that the Belgium boss is the current favourite should Valverde be relived of his duties.

2019-05-29T12:42:22.176Z

Back down to Tottenham where they have their eye on a Championship starlet.

Leeds' Jack Clarke is the man they want.

The Daily Mail report they'll have to pay £10m to get him.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here