Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal eye Ansu Fati; Lavia, Olise to Chelsea; Liverpool make Endo move; Amrabat fight
The transfer deadline is approaching ever closer as the Premier League’s biggest clubs compete to secure more major signings before the window slams shut on September 1. Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United are all now said to be on alert over Ansu Fati, who has apparently decided to leave Barcelona after struggling for regular starts under Xavi in LaLiga.
Arsenal may also be in the market for a replacement for injured summer recruit Jurrien Timber, with Manchester City duo Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte linked. The bulk of the business right now is being concluded by Chelsea, who are set to follow the £115million British record signing of Moises Caicedo with a triple deal in the coming days for Romeo Lavia, Michael Olise and Deivid Washington.
Newcastle are looking to get Lewis Hall on a permanent transfer, while Liverpool have a medical booked for Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo after missing out on Caicedo and Lavia, with Cheick Doucoure also in their sights. They may also now battle Manchester United for Sofyan Amrabat, with Spurs eyeing Evan Ferguson and Gift Orban as West Ham step up their pursuits of Chelsea target Elye Wahi and Konstantinos Mavropanos. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!
Live updates
Newcastle working to sign Chelsea’s Lewis Hall
Chelsea are also set to sanction a slew of further player exits to balance the books amid their ongoing big-money recruitment drive.
Standard Sport reported yesterday that Hakim Ziyech’s imminent move to Galatasaray will kick off another round of sales, with the Blues willing to offload Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen and Malang Sarr. They could also loan out Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu.
One player most fans don’t want to lose is versatile academy graduate Lewis Hall, who made quite an impression after getting a first-team run under Frank Lampard last term.
The England Under-21 international had looked poised to move to Crystal Palace on loan, though that deal seems to have stalled.
Instead Newcastle are now said to be working on signing Hall, according to The Athletic, with the player favouring a permanent exit over a loan despite only recently agreeing a new long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
David Ornstein says Chelsea would demand a £35m fee and hefty sell-on clause if they were to part with him.
Man United face Liverpool battle over Amrabat
Liverpool may also now rival Manchester United for the signing of Sofyan Amrabat.
Fiorentina’s highly-rated Moroccan midfielder has been reported as a key target for Erik ten Hag all summer, though it seems that an official bid for his services has yet to materialise.
That could now open the door for Liverpool, who Fabrizio Romano says have asked to be informed on the conditions of any deal.
We wait and see if the Reds do plan to properly hijack any move by their fiercest rivals for Amrabat.
Wataru Endo set for Liverpool medical as shock deal agreed
Liverpool are set to complete a shock deal for Wataru Endo, reports claim.
The Reds have been scrambling for midfield alternatives of late after missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea in quick succession.
Liverpool had been strongly linked with Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure as well as reportedly considering the likes of Joao Palhinha, Kalvin Phillips and Khephren Thuram, though Endo has now emerged as a surprise No1 target.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, a deal worth £15.3m has now been agreed with Stuttgart over the 30-year-old Japan international, who has also settled on personal terms.
Endo will apparently have a medical today ahead of sealing his switch to Anfield.
Chelsea to complete Lavia, Olise and Washington deals
Chelsea remain the busiest club in the transfer market by far just at the moment.
British record £115m deal for Moises Caicedo now firmly in the bag, they are set to follow up that major signing with a TRIPLE deal over the coming days.
Romeo Lavia underwent a medical at Cobham yesterday after an initial £53m fee – potentially rising to £58m with add-ons – was agreed with Southampton for the Belgian midfielder on Tuesday night.
The same is also true of young Brazilian striker Deivid Washington, who is set to join from Santos in a deal worth £17m, with Chelsea set to decide whether or not he will be loaned straight out to partner club Strasbourg in France.
The Blues are also set to sign Michael Olise after triggering his £35m release clause, insisting their approach for the winger has been entirely above board amid reports that Crystal Palace are unhappy about their conduct over the deal.
Olise will also need to pass a medical of course and is currently sidelined with a hamstring tear.
Arsenal and Tottenham ‘on alert’ over Ansu Fati
A fierce battle could well be brewing between some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs over Ansu Fati.
The Spain starlet has rather fallen out of favour under Xavi at Barcelona, used only as a late substitute on Sunday night as the reigning LaLiga champions began their title defence with a feisty goalless draw at Getafe.
Now reports in Spain suggest that La Masia graduate Fati has decided to leave Barca, where he remains under contract until at least 2027.
According to the Daily Mail this has put all of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United on red alert over the 20-year-old forward, who remains such an intriguing young talent.
Moises Caicedo to take Gianfranco Zola’s iconic number 25 shirt number
Chelsea have confirmed record signing Moises Caicedo will take the club’s No.25 shirt number.
The number has sentimental value at Stamford Bridge, with the last incumbent being the iconic Gianfranco Zola.
Despite a vast array of big money signings in the years since the Italian left west London in 2003, no one has taken the shirt, though it is the number Caicedo wore at Brighton.
Read the full story here!
Arsenal face decision with Timber out
Will Arsenal be forced into the transfer window?
It has been confirmed that Jurrien Timber suffered a serious knee injury in the Gunners’ opening Premier League match of the season, leaving them with big decisions to make before the end of the window.
“Further to detailed assessments with consultant specialists since Saturday, we can confirm that Jurrien has sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,” the club said in a statement.
“Jurrien will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be out of action for a period of time.
“The support and expertise from our medical team and everyone at the club will now be focussed on Jurrien’s rehabilitation programme, to ensure he recovers well and is back playing as soon as possible.”
Risk from Boehly’s huge spending
As Chelsea close in on breaking the £1billion barrier under Todd Boehly, there is still no obvious end to the excess in sight.
By the time they next play, the Blues might have made a new signing for every working day this week, with Moises Caicedo already through the door for a British-record £115million from Brighton and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise close to following. They are also targeting a back-up goalkeeper and another forward.
The numbers are staggering, and the signing of Lavia, who will cost an initial £53m, will take Boehly’s spending on midfielders alone past £300m, also considering the deals for Enzo Fernandez, Lesley Ugochukwu and Andrey Santos. In total, Boehly has spent more at Chelsea than the whole of La Liga in the same period.
Click here for Dan Kilpatrick’s full piece!
Mitrovic closing in on Saudi move
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s move to Al Hilal is expected to be completed imminently.
The Saudi side were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the striker earlier this summer, with Fulham holding firm.
But Fabrizio Romano reports that Mitrovic is set to get the move he wants, with personal terms agreed and the forward now just waiting for Fulham to sign off on the transfer.
Gravenberch on Liverpool’s radar
Liverpool remain interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
Foot Mercato report that the Reds are ready to make a move for the 21-year-old, as their attempts to strengthen in the middle of the park continue.
However, they could face competition from Manchester United, with it claimed that Gravenberch would prefer the move to Old Trafford.
