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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Ben Burrows

Friday's transfer news and rumours: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City latest, gossip, done deals and more

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and more are open for business with the summer transfer window now officially open. 

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. 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. 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. Champions Manchester City are always big players in the market and could go big with the prospect of a potential transfer ban looming. 

We'll have all the latest throughout the day here.

Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
 
The summer window is very nearly 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.
 
Without further ado, off we go.
 
 
Let's start with Manchester United where their hopes of signing England winger Jadon Sancho this summer have collapsed.

Sancho was United’s number one target for a summer rebuild, and they were willing to pay Borussia Dortmund up to £100million for the 19-year-old.

But United’s recent performances, ending up sixth in the Premier League table, have ended any prospect of a deal. United will be playing Europa League football again next season, entering at the second qualifying round in late July. There are now major reservations on the side of the player whether Old Trafford would be the right environment for his development.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain are still interested in signing Sancho, who has been instrumental in taking Dortmund to second place in the Bundesliga this year. They are now weighing up whether to offer the £100m that he would cost.

But the news is a setback for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hopes to add more young, fast players to United’s squad for next season. They have now turned their attention to Swansea City’s Daniel James.

 
Real Madrid are set to test Liverpool's resolve over Mohamed Salah this summer.
 
That's according to the Daily Mail.
 
Zinedine Zidane is planning a comprehensive overhaul of his squad and that could include the Egyptian.
 
He's unlikely to come cheap though, even if the Reds were willing to part with their star man.
 
 
To Chelsea where Marcos Alonso could be on his way out.
 
The Spaniard saw his first-team opportunities limited down the stretch with Maurizio Sarri opting for Emerson more regularly at left-back.
 
And Atletico Madrid are keen to take advantage, according to AS.
 
 
Antoine Griezmann's announcement he is leaving Atletico Madrid is the biggest story of the window so far.
 
But where is he going?
 
Barcelona appears to be his most likely destination but the Manchester Evening News report that Manchester City would also be willing to pay his £104m release clause.
 
 
Wilfried Zaha has told Crystal Palace that he wants to leave this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
 
Arsenal and Chelsea are long-term admirers but Palace's £100m valuation is likely put both off.
 
A move abroad shouldn't be ruled out with Borussia Dortmund keen back in January.
 
 
Eintracht Frankfurt's Luka Jovic looks all set for Real Madrid.
 
Sky Sports report a deal is done to send the Serbian forward from Germany to Spain for £52.4m.
 
Frankfurt only bought him from Benfica for £6m earlier this season.
 
 
Tottenham have apparently been offered the chance to sign Gareth Bale on loan.
 
The Sun report that the Spanish giants have told Spurs they can have him for £10m for the season.
 
They would also want them to pay half of Bale's £600,000 per week salary.
 
The Mirror report that Bale is happy to stay put in the Spanish capital, however.
 
 

A club interested in signing Danny Rose last summer wanted to make sure he was not "crazy", the England defender has revealed in BBC One documentary A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health.

The Tottenham left-back opened up about his struggles with depression in the build up to the 2018 World Cup, an illness which was triggered by a significant knee injury and the death of a close family member.

In the wake of his revelation, a club interested in signing him insisted they wanted to meet him to check on his mental state.

The potential move fell through, but Rose, who is still angry at the situation, says the unnamed club in question have scuppered any chance of signing him in the future.

To Manchester City where there are suggestions they could be about to spend big before any Uefa sanctions do or don't come down.
 
The Daily Mail suggest that Pep Guardiola has a £200m wishlist including some of Europe's hottest properties.
 
Ajax's Matthijs De Ligt, Atletico Madrid's Rodri and Lyon's Houssem Aouar are all on apparently on the shopping list.
 
 
Inter Milan now face competition from Juventus for the signature of Alexis Sanchez, as it now seems likelier his Manchester United nightmare will end this summer.
 
There have now been concrete meetings between intermediaries and both clubs. The Old Trafford club desperately want to offload the Chilean flop this summer, but have found his huge wages an obstacle.
 
Inter and now Juventus are willing to look at a deal, but only so long as he drops his financial demands, or United subsidise his wages.
 
While that remains a hugely complicated prospect, it is understood there was progress in some of the meetings.
 
Inter are also interested in United's Romelu Lukaku in what is likely to be a busy summer for the Serie A club.
 
 
Some breaking news from the Championship.
 
To Newcastle and the future of Salomon Rondon.
 
West Brom's play-off semi-final loss will have significant ramifications for Newcastle's summer business with the Mirror reporting the Baggies' failure to get promotion will see a clause inserted into the Venzuelan's contract.
 
As a result the Magpies could make a move to reunite with the striker for £16.5m.
 
 
Back to Manchester United where they are firmly in the market for defenders.
 
A centre-back is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's priority with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, Leicester City's Harry Maguire and Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar all targets.
 
But full-backs are also apparently on the agenda with a pair from Crystal Palace of particular interest.
 
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Patrick van Aanholt are those in question, according to The Sun.
 
 
Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham.
 
That's according to the Daily Mail.
 
They say that the club are keen to match Mauricio Pochettino's ambition and will do so by getting to the front of the queue for the 18-year-old.
 
Fulham want £40m with Spurs more keen to do a deal around £25m.
 
 
Manchester United could be in for a big payout if Crystal Palace sell Wilfried Zaha.
 
Daily Mail are reporting that United may be in for 20 per cent of the fee.
 
So if Palace do get the £100m they're after, that's £20m straight into Solskjaer's pocket.
 
That would pay for Daniel James and more.
 
 
Chelsea may be able to sign Gonzalo Higuain and Mateo Kovacic even if their transfer ban is upheld.
 
According to Goalthe two loanees could stay at Stamford Bridge if fees can be agreed with their parent-clubs, Juventus and Real Madrid, which could convert their loans into permanent deals.
 
It remains to be seen, however, whether the deals will go through, with manager Maurizio Sarri's future in doubt.
 
Man City have made an offer for Atlético Madrid midfielder Rodri, says AS.
 
The Spanish outlet claim that City are prepared to pay the 22-year-old's €70m buy-out clause.
 
A long-term contract and a significant pay-rise is on the table, with it now down to the player to decide whether he wants the move.
 
Sean Longstaff is the next target for Manchester United, according to Sky Sports.
 
As Solkjaer looks to add young, British talent to his squad, the Newcastle United centre-mid, who had an impressive run this season before picking up a knee injury, is on the list of potential recruits.
 
Scouts from United, Liverpool and Man City watched Longstaff this season, though Newcastle insist that the 21-year-old is not for sale.
 
Everton and Leicester have inquired about RB Leipzig's Jean-Kevin Augustin.
 
The 21-year-old forward looks likely to leave the Bundesliga side this summer after being linked with a move away in January.
 
Both Premier League clubs are in need of a striker and The Telegraphreports that the France under-21 could be available for around £17.5m.
 

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