Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal agree new signing; Man Utd seal Hojlund terms; Chelsea in Lavia boost
The summer transfer window is intensifying with the futures of Kylian Mbappe, Romeo Lavia, Rasmus Hojlund and Moises Caicedo all up in the air today. Arsenal and Chelsea have received a boost in the chase for Southampton midfielder Lavia after Liverpool saw a £37million transfer offer rejected.
Both of the London clubs have also been linked with Mbappe, who has reportedly rejected a £259m move to Saudi Arabia. Arsenal must sell before they can buy though, with a cheap deal for Brazilian midfielder Bitello now sealed. A striker is on Manchester United’s radar but they are focused on Rasmus Hojlund amid links with Harry Kane, and the Dane has agreed personal terms to move to Old Trafford.
Chelsea and Arsenal are also tussling over Mohammed Kudus with the Blues’ Conor Gallagher a target for both West Ham and Tottenham. Spurs have gone on the record about their desire for “at least one” new centre-back. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!
Live updates
Jordan Henderson waves Anfield goodbye
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is on the verge of joining Saudi club Al Ettifaq.
In fact, a clip has emerged online of the midfielder engaged in some filming at Anfield – purportedly from today.
Is it a goodbye video? Only time will tell…
Eden Hazard offered Lionel Messi link-up
Eden Hazard will not be joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
After leaving Real Madrid, the Chelsea legend is looking for a new club and a move to Anderlecht has also been denied.
Voetbalkrant say Hazard, 32, would prefer to stay in European football.
What next for Hakim Ziyech?
Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech could still end up in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.
Al-Nassr pulled out of a deal for the Moroccan due to issues in his medical, something which Ziyech’s camp deny.
Sadio Mane is now Al-Nassr’s top target and CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs says their Saudi rivals could now swoop for Ziyech.
Kylian Mbappe latest update
Paris Saint-Germain are anticipating further player-plus-cash offers for Kylian Mbappe from European clubs in the days ahead following a world-record £259million bid for the player from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
PSG are said by Press Association to have given the 24-year-old permission to discuss personal terms with Al Hilal after they submitted their gigantic offer in writing following the news Mbappe had been omitted from a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
However, sources close to the French club say further bids are also expected, but may take longer to formulate because they are likely to involve a player swap element.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Mbappe since his omission from the pre-season tour on Friday, sources have said.
PSG are understood to feel certain that Mbappe has already agreed a free transfer to Real Madrid next summer, with Parisian sources saying he would benefit from a (£138m) signing-on fee if he wound down his existing contract and moved to the Spanish capital in 2024.
Chelsea lead the race for Mohammed Kudus
Chelsea are closing in on a personal terms agreement with Mohammed Kudus.
That’s according to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, who says the Blues are yet to lodge an official transfer offer to Ajax.
Arsenal, meanwhile, must sell before they can buy the £40m-rated Kudus.
The Mirror say Manchester United want the Ghana international amid his absence from Ajax training – due to injury.
Arsenal set to sign Bitello
Arsenal are set to sign Brazilian midfielder Bitello for £6.9m.
Italian outlet TMW report on the Gunners beating Serie A rivals for the 23-year-old Gremio plater.
Arsenal have even secured a slight discount on Bitello’s initial valuation of £8.2m, it is claimed.
Chelsea DO want Romeo Lavia
As reported by Standard Sport, Sky Sports are saying Chelsea want to sign Romeo Lavia and are monitoring the situation after a bid from Liverpool was rejected.
Their report names the fee Southampton turned down to be a little bit higher, at £40m.
Arsenal and Chelsea boost as Romeo Lavia bid rebuffed
Liverpool has seen an opening offer of £37m for Romeo Lavia rejected.
Championship club Southampton want closer to £50m for the young midfielder, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
The Reds want a replacement for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho while Lavia has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
Man Utd reach Rasmus Hojlund agreement
Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has agreed personal terms with Manchester United.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Danish forward is ready to sign a five-year deal with an additional 12-month option at Old Trafford.
United are this week due to negotiate with Atalanta over Hojlund’s fee with no intention of paying the £80m price tag floated in the press.
Zaha: Unpredictable genius who became a Palace legend
When Wilfried Zaha came off the bench for his Crystal Palace debut against Cardiff in March 2010, the unassuming 17-year-old did not leap out immediately as a star in the making.
But it was not long before he was terrorising defenders with the extravagant skills, close dribbling and searing pace that would come to define his career.
“He plays cage football on the Premier League stage”, says Kwesi Appiah, his former team-mate. “He’s a ridiculous, outrageous player and leaves a Palace legend.”
Last night, Zaha joined Galatasaray on a free transfer after 90 goals and 76 assists in 458 games for Palace.
The boy who grew up in Thornton Heath departs as the greatest player in the club’s history, according to club chairman Steve Parish.
Read more here!
