Transfer news LIVE! Chelsea want Lavia; Arsenal told Caicedo price; £69m Kane bid; Man United latest gossip
The summer transfer window is still over a week away but, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are all busy working on deals. The Blues have already completed their second summer signing in the form of Kendry Paez and are now looking at Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and have reported interest in Romeo Lavia.
Arsenal are also keen on Caicedo, and a £100million fee has been touted, though West Ham captain Declan Rice remains their top priority and will lodge a first bid this week. Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is another major midfield target. Tottenham will appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new manager this week, though Spurs will soon get an opening bid from Real Madrid for Harry Kane having told Manchester United he is not for sale.
Los Blancos are pushing for Kane with Karim Benzema heading to Saudi Arabia, though Chelsea’s Kai Havertz is also of interest. United, meanwhile, are in talks to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea, and have lined up Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos as Kane alternatives. Alexis Mac Allister is joining Liverpool for around £30m with Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone and Gabri Veiga of interest too. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours with Standard Sport’s live blog below!
Live updates
Postecoglou identifies three Spurs targets
Incoming Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has already identified three transfer targets.
Spurs are ready to back their new man by signing James Maddison, David Raya and Max Kilman.
The Leicester midfielder and Brentford goalkeeper are expected to cost around £40million, though Spurs are reportedly not prepared to go above £20m for the latter.
Kilman has also been linked with Liverpool.
Arsenal still interested in Fresneda
Arsenal remain interested in Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda.
The Gunners were linked with the 18-year-old in January, but he opted to remain with the Spanish club, who have now been relegated from La Liga.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Fresneda has a €20million release clause, but could leave for less than that, as Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund consider bids.
Liverpool keep tabs on Kessie
Liverpool are considering a move for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie.
That’s according to Sport, who claim that the Reds are still undecided whether to push to sign Kessie for a fee in the region of £30million.
Midfield is a key area for Liverpool this summer, and they are on the verge of completing a deal for Alexis Mac Allister. Barcelona are believed to be open to selling Kessie, despite Sergio Busquets’ departure, as they look to clear space on the wage bill for the potential return of Lionel Messi.
Bellingham to Madrid this week
Real Madrid are hoping to wrap up a deal to sign Jude Bellingham this week.
Amid interest in Harry Kane, the Spanish giants are looking to finalise a transfer saga which has rumbled on for well over a year.
Talks with Borussia Dortmund resumed yesterday and Fabrizio Romano claims everything could be concluded in a matter of days.
Saudis want Aubameyang
Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has offers from Saudi Arabia.
According to Fabrizio Romano, both Al Ahli and Al Shabab have approached Aubameyang over a potential move to the Gulf state.
The striker has previously claimed his preference is to stay in European football – will the Saudi money change his mind.
Either way, his miserable time at Chelsea is effectively over.
Man United identify Kane alternatives
Manchester United are also desperate to sign Harry Kane, but are keeping tabs on other options should a deal prove impossible.
Kane’s future at Tottenham remains up in the air and he has been linked with a big-money exit from the club this summer.
The Mail report that while United remain incredibly keen on the England captain, Spurs’ reluctance to sell means that Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos are also being considered.
Real Madrid lodge £69m Kane bid
Real Madrid are set to make an opening offer of €80million (£69m) for Harry Kane.
Marca report that the Spanish giants know it will cost more to lure Kane, if they are successful at all, but want to test the waters with Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy.
The report claims that Spurs are looking for more than £100m but could be tempted into selling at around £85m, which add-ons.
Kane would be offered a three-year deal on around £200,000 a week.
£100m Caicedo prefers Arsenal
However, Moises Caicedo remains keen on joining Arsenal.
Arsenal journalist Charles Watts expects a bidding war for the Brighton midfielder is imminent as both London clubs step up their interest. Caicedo is expected to cost upwards of £70million with Brighton starting demanding £100m to kick things off.
Declan Rice has always been the priority for Arsenal, but it remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta will move for both players.
Chelsea step up Caicedo bid
Talking of Chelsea midfield targets, the Blues have switched focus to Brighton’s Moises Caicedo after cooling interest in Sporting’s Manuel Ugarte, writes Nizaar Kinsella.
Both Chelsea and PSG agreed to pay Ugarte’s £52million release clause but the French club offered him a bigger wage package and the Blues have backed away from talks.
Chelsea will instead target securing a deal for Caicedo ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool, as they rebuild their midfield under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Caicedo could cost more than £80m after establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at Brighton.
Read more here!
Chelsea keen on Lavia
Chelsea are ready to reignite their interest in Romeo Lavia.
The 19-year-old was relegated with Southampton this season but is attracting plenty of attention from the Premier League’s top sides, including Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Express report that Joe Shields, who pushed Southampton to sign Lavia and now works at Chelsea, is urging the Blues’ hierarchy to open talks with the Saints over a deal for the midfielder.
