Transfer news LIVE! Mount to Man United; Arsenal get Gundogan boost; Chelsea to sign Ugarte; Kovacic latest
The summer transfer window will open next week and all of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are expected to be busy. Big-name players have already been touted for moves with Declan Rice, Manuel Ugarte and potentially even Neymar among those potentially up for grabs. Chelsea are also working on selling players, with Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic on the move.
After a Premier League title challenge, Arsenal have a £200million plan to go one step further which should soon see Granit Xhaka depart. Rice, Moises Caicedo and Moussa Diaby are all reportedly on the Gunners’ shortlist for a move this summer.
Over at Chelsea, Sporting star Ugarte is said to be in talks over a £52m switch, while Mount and Kovacic head to Manchester United and City, respectively. Also at Man United, Neymar has decided he wants to join if he should leave PSG. Follow all the latest news, deals gossip and rumours with Standard Sport’s dedicated transfer blog below!
Live updates
Tielemans confirms Leicester exit
Youri Tielemans has confirmed he is leaving Leicester after more than four years at the club.
The midfielder is out of contract this summer and his departure comes after Leicester were relegated from the Premier League.
“Dear Leicester fans, after four and a half special years and with a lot of gratitude I’m bidding farewell to this incredible club,” he said in a video on Instagram. “From the first day I set foot on this ground, your warmth and passion embraced me.
“Victory and triumph, love, hope and even defeat, we’ve shared many special moments together. I am forever grateful for your unwavering support, thank you to Khun Top, the board, the staff, the players and fans for having given me and my family a home.
“This is not a goodbye, but a heartfelt farewell. With pride, love and eternal gratitude, Youri Tielemans.”
Mount agrees Man Utd contract
Huge news breaking tonight as Mason Mount has agreed personal terms and Manchester United and is now expected to leave Chelsea for Old Trafford.
That’s according to The Telegraph, who add that Liverpool were desperate to sign the player but United have stolen a march on the target.
Mount is now expected to leave Chelsea, along with Mateo Kovacic who is in talks with Manchester City.
Erik ten Hag wants to play Mount as a no8, and still hopes to sign a striker – with Harry Kane his dream signing.
More on City’s Kovacic move
Manchester City are in talks with Mateo Kovacic over a potential summer move after Chelsea gave them the green light, writes Nizaar Kinsella and Dom Smith.
Bayern Munich are reportedly also interested in the 29-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, but the player wants to join the newly crowned Premier League champions and is now expected to do so.
Kovacic has been at Chelsea since 2018, initially on a year-long loan before joining permanently for around £45million on a five-year deal which runs out next summer.
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is happy for Kovacic to leave as he looks to reshape a bloated squad.
Mateo Kovacic could leave Chelsea this summer and Manchester City are interested
/ ESKovacic to Man City is on
Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City rumours are building.
The Guardian report that the expectation is the deal is made, and The Athletic add that Bayern were also been but the player wants to join City.
Chelsea are happy to let him leave, and no fee has been discussed yet. The player has just over one year to run on his contract.
Chelsea join Marco Asensio race
Chelsea have entered the race Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio.
The Spain international will be a free agent at the end of next month and has emerged as a top target for Aston Villa. Now 90min.com claim Chelsea have entered the fray.
Manchester City are also interested, along with Juventus and Bayern Munich in what will surely prove a bargain.
Man City want Kovacic
Manchester City have opened talks to sign Mateo Kovacic this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The player is not expected to sign a new contract at Chelsea, and the club are open to letting him leave as Mauricio Pochettino revamps his squad.
Romano adds that talks have been positive and further discussions are planned.
What does this mean for Ilkay Gundogan’s future?
Neymar wants Man United or no one
Neymar only has his sights on Manchester United should he leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who claim the Brazilian has made a decision on his future and it’s United or stay put.
The Brazilian has already rejected overtures from Saudi Arabia to join Cristiano Ronaldo, and possibly Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, in the Gulf state as he keen to stay in Europe.
It has also been claimed that a Qatari takeover of United could facilitate Neymar moving to Old Trafford.
Pochettino wants to sell 15 Chelsea stars
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to get rid of 15 players from this squad this summer.
That’s according to the Mail, who report that the club hope to raise around £280million – and untold sums off the wage bill – from player players as Pochettino trims a bloated squad.
As reported by Standard Sport earlier this summer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be first out the door and others should following, including: Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante.
ICYMI: Spurs step up Postecoglou bid
Tottenham are set to step up their interest in Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou after Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final.
Postecoglou is a contender to permanently succeed Antonio Conte and is said to have impressed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is leading the club’s search for a new head coach and director of football.
Read the full story here!
Bayern make Rice their absolute priority
Bayern Munich have made Declan Rice their no1 transfer target this summer.
Kicker report that Rice and Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel have already discussed a possible move, with Tuchel making talks his absolute priority.
Bayern believe they are the most attractive option to Rice and can offer a better chance of silverware than both Arsenal and Manchester United.
