Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal book Rice medical; Chelsea target Veiga and Caicedo; Man United, Tottenham latest
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are among the busiest teams of the summer window so far and are showing no signs of slowing down. The Gunners are closing in on a record-smashing £105million for Declan Rice as they finalise an agreement with West Ham ahead of the player undergoing a medical. A £65m deal for Kai Havertz was announced on Wednesday and a £40m bid for Jurrien Timber has been submitted.
Chelsea are currently clearing the decks before adding any further new faces, who they hope will be Gabri Viega and Moises Caicedo once the likes of Mason Mount, who wants to join Manchester United, and AC Milan-bound pair Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic leave. Edouard Mendy left yesterday and will soon be joined by Hakim Ziyech in Saudi Arabia.
Tottenham have beaten Newcastle to the £40m signing of James Maddison as their third deal of the window. Ange Postecoglou will next address his defence, with Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven of interest. United want to replace the outgoing David De Gea with Andre Onana, and have been linked with Portuguese wonderkid Joao Neves. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!
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Joao Neves: Manchester United chasing move for Benfica midfielder
It’s been rather quiet for Manchester United fans so far this summer.
While there are plenty of links, the looming takeover saga continues to muddy the waters.
Still, a new name has emerged as a transfer target.
According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Red Devils are keen on bringing Benfica youngster Joao Neves – dubbed ‘The Next Ruben Neves – to Old Trafford.
West Ham favourites to sign Harvey Barnes
Despite the seemingly imminent departure of Declan Rice, there has been some good news for West Ham fans.
According to reports, the Hammers will soon be ready to accelerate their plans to Leicester winger Harvey Barnes.
He has also been linked to Tottenham but journalist Sami Mokbel believes it is West Ham who will win the race.
“You mention Harvey Barnes there, and there is an interest in Harvey Barnes. But equally Harvey Barnes has a number of options and while he would be attracted to Tottenham he may look at that and think ‘wait a minute how often am I going to play here?”
“You have Son there you have Kulusevski there and you have Richarlison there. He may look at that situation and think he may be better off elsewhere.
“I think he would look at a club like West Ham or Aston Villa maybe where he knows he would play regularly where at Tottenham there may not be that guarantee,” Mokbel said to the Last Word on Spurs Podcast.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Liverpool track Newcastle target
Having missed out on James Maddison, Newcastle continue to be linked with Dominik Szoboszlai.
The RB Leipzig midfielder has a release clause of around £60m, though only active until the end of June.
The Magpies are said to be monitoring his situation but have been joined in the race by Liverpool.
The Times suggest the Reds are keen but are yet to make a move for the Hungary international.
Nicolo Barella: Liverpool could be priced out of transfer
While the signing of Alexis Mac Allister was a start, Liverpool surely need more in the way of midfield additions to recover from what was a disappointing campaign.
Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella continues to be linked with a move to Anfield but there’s a problem.
According to The Times, the Serie A giants will demand more than the £52m Newcastle are paying to sign Sandro Tonali, thereby pricing the Reds out of a move.
Conor Coady undergoing Leicester medical
After selling James Maddison to Tottenham, Leicester are ready to build a new team to get out of the Championship.
Spurs midfielder Harry Winks is a leading target on that front and could arrive for £10m.
Now, it seems the Foxes are closing in on another England international.
Football Insider claim Conor Coady is undergoing a medical ahead of a move from Wolves.
Man United could let Chelsea sign Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo has long been touted as Chelsea’s leading target this summer as Mauricio Pochettino gets set to start life as the Blues’s new boss.
Manchester United, however, could still enter the race to sign the Brighton midfielder.
Still, according to the Metro, there could be a scenario in which United step aside.
Indeed, if Chelsea accept a bid of £55m for Mason Mount, the Red Devils will not pursue Caicedo.
Pochettino start date pushed back
Mauricio Pochettino will start work as Chelsea head coach on Monday, writes Nizaar Kinsella.
Pochettino’s contract officially begins on Saturday but his first day on the job at Cobham will be at the start of next week.
The 51-year-old was appointed at the end of May but he is yet to conduct any in-house interviews with Chelsea and will be unveiled during pre-season.
A small group of first-team players will also return to Cobham next week, including Armando Broja, who is fit again following a serious knee injury, and those who did not play in the June internationals. They are likely to be joined by some players from the Under-21 squad.
International players have been given their own individual return dates so they can have a substantial post-season break. Pochettino will have exactly two weeks to drill his players at Cobham before Chelsea fly to the United States for their pre-season tour.
Read more here!
Kane and Postecogou schedule talks
Harry Kane will discuss his future with Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou upon his return from holiday.
Football.London report that talks have been scheduled as the player enters the final year of his contract.
Bayern Munich have already seen one bid rejected and are preparing a second.
Spurs have no desire to sell a player who is expected to become their captain this summer.
Arsenal working on Nelson extension
Arsenal are also working hard to wrap up contract talks with winger Reiss Nelson, writes Simon Collings.
Talks over Nelson’s future could run beyond June 30, when his current contract expires, but there is optimism that he will stay at Arsenal.
Arteta is understood to have played a key role in negotiations and trying to persuade Nelson to stay, despite interest from clubs in England and abroad.
Read more here!
Arsenal secure Nwaneri future
Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri has agreed to stay at the club, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester City, writes Simon Collings.
Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history when he came on as a late substitute during the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Brentford last September.
He was just 15 years and 181 days old at the time and is regarded as one of the country’s top prospects. The attacking midfielder’s schoolboy registration was due to run out at midnight on Friday, but he has now agreed scholarship terms with Arsenal.
The Gunners are understood to have made an attractive offer to Nwaneri, who can sign professional terms when he turns 17, with academy manager Per Mertesacker, first-team boss Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu all involved in talks.
Read more here!
Ethan Nwaneri applauds fans after the match against Brentford
/ REUTERS
