Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal book Rice medical; Chelsea and Man United in Caicedo battle; Kane ‘rejects’ Bayern
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are among the biggest movers and shakers in the early summer transfer window so far. Arsenal have an agreement in principle with West Ham over a record-smashing £105million deal for top target Declan Rice, who will now undergo a medical. The Gunners have also finally confirmed the £65m arrival of Kai Havertz and will now focus on finalising the signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
Over at Chelsea, they are reportedly plotting another bid for Celta Vigo starlet Gabri Veiga amid a boost over their pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo – also wanted by Manchester United – and advanced talks over Santos starlet Angelo Gabriel. Chelsea are also said to have been alerted to an interesting new development regarding Harry Kane, who is expected to reject Bayern Munich and any potential PSG bid.
Tottenham have announced the £40m signing of James Maddison from Leicester and will now look to signing at least one defender, such as Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven, while Manchester United have re-opened talks over Mason Mount and Liverpool have entered discussions with RB Leipzig to bring Dominik Szoboszlai to Anfield. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!
Live updates
West Ham told to increase Zakaria bid
West Ham have been told to pay £17million for Denis Zakaria.
The Hammers want the Juventus midfielder this summer, having been impressed with the player during a loan spell at Chelsea.
Tutto Juve claim West Ham face competition for the midfielder though, with Lens already lodging a bid worth around £13m.
West Ham have also firmed up their interest, but Juve want more to sell the Switzerland star.
ICYMI: Man United re-open Mount talks with Chelsea
Manchester United have re-opened talks with Chelsea over Mason Mount, reports claim.
The Red Devils had looked set to walk away from negotiations over Erik ten Hag’s top summer transfer target after a third take-it-or-leave it offer worth £55m was rejected last week.
United seemed unwilling to raise their bid any further after Chelsea proposed a counter-offer of £58m plus £7m in add-ons and a face-to-face meeting.
According to the latest from the Daily Mail, United are re-opening talks with Chelsea over Mount in a bid to finally find a solution but are only willing to improve their proposal “fractionally”.
It sounds like an agreement could now be reached, with the England midfielder due back for pre-season training at Cobham on Monday.
Spurs must settle Kane saga quick
For the second year running, the speed of Tottenham’s transfer business is encouraging, but the future of Harry Kane is threatening to hang over the club’s summer rebuild, writes Dan Kilpatrick.
Spurs have already signed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, completed a permanent deal for Dejan Kulusevski (at a discount) and on Wednesday confirmed the £40m capture of James Maddison.
If Spurs sign a new centre-half in the coming days — Edmond Tapsoba is a target and there is interest in re-signing Clement Lenglet — they will have addressed the three biggest issues in the squad before new head coach Ange Postecoglou officially starts work on July 1.
However, the success or otherwise of Spurs’s summer now appears likely to be determined by Kane’s future, with Bayern Munich confident of landing the England captain, despite seeing an initial £60m bid rebuffed.
Spurs must settle Kane saga quick
Chelsea and Man United battle for Caicedo
Chelsea and Manchester United are set to do battle for Moises Caicedo.
The Brighton midfielder is a top target for a host of clubs, and the Blues want him to replace the departed Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante.
Chelsea have recently been locked in talks with Brighton, and The Guardian now claim that good progress has been made on that front.
It is said that a bid of £80m could be enough for Chelsea to seal the deal with United also lurking.
United are growing tired of talks with Chelsea over Mason Mount and are reportedly ready to turn to Caicedo as an alternative, though the England international is expected to cost less than the Ecuadorian.
Eni Aluko takes Rice theory victory lap
Eni Aluko says she has been proved right over viral the Declan Rice transfer theory and described the reaction to her previous comments as “sexist, racist and misogynistic.”
Former England forward Aluko claimed earlier this week that Manchester City only made a bid for Rice at the request of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who had called in a favour from his ex-boss Pep Guardiola.
City did made a better offer for Rice, which was promptly rejected by West Ham and, on Wednesday, Arsenal saw their record-smashing £105m bid accepted as the Premier League champions withdrew from the race.
Rice is now reportedly set to undergo a medical to become the most expensive British player of all time.
Aluko has congratulated the West Ham captain on his “big move”, adding that “haters” have now gone “missing” after days of ” men who project their own jealousy and insecurity” in their reaction to her previous comments.
Read more here!
Chelsea line up second Veiga bid
Chelsea are plotting another bid for Gabri Veiga.
The Blues have the Celta Vigo starlet, whose current contract at Balaidos contains a £34m buyout clause, firmly in their sights as they overhaul their midfield unit this summer.
Liverpool and Manchester City are among the other clubs also tracking Veiga, who is heavily in demand after a breakout season in LaLiga.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea want the 21-year-old alongside Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and are expected to table an improved offer for his services soon.
De Gea to leave Man United
Talking of goalkeepers, David de Gea is now expected to leave Manchester United.
According to reports, the club and player have failed to agree on an extension to his contract – which expires tomorrow.
The goalkeeper yesterday tweeted a yawning face emoji as speculation over his future rumbled on.
The Athletic reported this week that De Gea had agreed a pay cut on a contract, only for United to withdraw the offer and return tot he negotiation table.
Now it appears the two parties are parting ways.
No new keeper at Chelsea
With Edouard Mendy’s move to Saudi Arabia completed last night, Chelsea fans should not expect an imminent replacement, says Standard Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella.
Incoming Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino is happy to work with Kepa Arrizabalaga as his No1.
Gabriel Slonina is likely to get some minutes in pre-season as it stands with Chelsea to re-evaluate the situation at a later date.
Not sure Chelsea fans will be too happy with that…
Kane to reject Bayern move
Harry Kane is “certain” to reject Bayern Munich and stay at Tottenham this summer.
Bayern Munich are interested in a move for the England captain, who is ready to move to the German giants if they can agree a fee with Spurs.
However, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes the England captain is destined to stay at his boyhood club for the rest of his top-level career.
“Family would be the all-important thing for him, so there’s no chance he’s going to Bayern Munich. He’ll be staying at Tottenham,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
“He’s not going to want to go to Germany – he’s not taking his family over there, not a chance. So if he stays here, unless you go to Manchester City, you’re not guaranteed to win anything.”
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Winks set for Leicester medical
Talking of medicals, with Tottenham last night confirming James Maddison’s arrival, Harry Winks is set to finalise his £10m move to Leicester.
Maddison’s £40m move was sealed last night, and Winks will move in the opposite direction.
The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Sampdoria and is now set to complete a permanent switch to Leicester after undergoing a medical later today.