Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal fired Rice warning, Caicedo bid; Chelsea want Martinez; Spurs told Maddison price
The summer transfer window opens for business next week but Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all pushing to seal some key early signings. Arsenal are set to launch their £90million club-record bid for Declan Rice, but the Gunners have been warned by West Ham over the structure of the deal as they bid to avoid a repeat of the Mykhailo Mudryk fiasco.
Arsenal are also believed to be poised for a decision on Ivan Fresneda as they line up Manchester City pair Joao Cancelo and Ilkay Gundogan as well as planning a new offer to beat Chelsea to Moises Caicedo. The Blues are said to have opened talks with Southampton over Romeo Lavia with Mateo Kovacic on the brink of an exit and continue to be linked with PSG star Neymar and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
Rasmus Hojlund reportedly wants to join Manchester United, who are pushing to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea plus defenders Kim Min-jae and Axel Disasi. Ange Postecoglou wants Tottenham to make James Maddison his first signing, while Spurs remain firm on Harry Kane amid strong interest from United and Real Madrid. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!
Live updates
Tottenham told Maddison price
Tottenham have begun talks with Leicester over a move for James Maddison, though have been told the Foxes want £60m for the Englishman.
That’s according to talkSPORT, with it reported that Spurs see Maddison as a top target as Ange Postecoglou looks to swiftly bolster his squad.
Newcastle are also believed to be interested, though will not match Leicester’s valuation.
Liverpool consider Veiga
Liverpool continue to be linked with most of the midfielders in Europe.
Alexis Mac Allister has been signed, Khephren Thuram is reportedly a target and now talk has turned to Gabri Veiga.
The Liverpool Echo claim that Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to sign the Celta Vigo midfielder, who is valued at €40m.
Chelsea battle Real Madrid for Lautaro Martinez
Chelsea are said to be on the trail of Lautaro Martinez this summer.
The Blues are known to be targeting significant additions in a revamped attack under Mauricio Pochettino after a pitiful goal return in a dismal 2022-23 season.
Having already decided not to keep Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix, Chelsea are thought to be going after the likes of Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen.
According to The Times, Chelsea want Martinez, with Pochettino a long-time admirer of his fellow Argentine.
However, they are reported to be facing a huge battle with Real Madrid, who are also after the player as part of their replacement plan for Karim Benzema.
The Telegraph reported this week that Chelsea were set to meet with Inter Milan after tomorrow’s Champions League final to discuss Romelu Lukaku’s future and a potential Stamford Bridge switch for goalkeeper Andre Onana, with Martinez no doubt also on the agenda.
Arsenal warned over Rice fee
West Ham will not be rushed into selling Declan Rice and want a significant amount of his transfer fee paid up front, write Simon Collings and Malik Ouzia.
Arsenal lead Bayern Munich and Manchester United in the race for Rice and are expected to make a formal approach in the coming days.
West Ham have set an asking price of £120million for their captain, but Arsenal will hope to strike a deal closer to £90m — which would make Rice their club-record signing.
The Hammers want a significant amount of the fee paid up front after spending more than £170m on new recruits last summer.
The club will use Jude Bellingham’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid as a benchmark, with the 19-year-old commanding a fee of £115m. Crucially, Madrid have agreed to pay £88.5m of that up front.
Agreeing terms with Rice is not expected to be an issue for Arsenal, but the structuring of any fee with West Ham will be important.
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Liverpool working to sign Thuram and Kone
With Alexis Mac Allister already signed up, Liverpool appear to be quickly moving on to the latest stage of their long overdue midfield rebuild.
Alongside Argentina’s World Cup winner, the Reds were known to be looking at a number of other targets including the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram of Nice.
talkSPORT now report that Liverpool are working on a deal for Thuram, son of France legend Lillian Thuram.
They are also said to be exploring the signing of Kone as Jurgen Klopp aims to move fast in the summer transfer market.
Tottenham target Maguire wants Man United stay
While Sofyan Amrabat could arrive at Manchester United this summer, Harry Maguire is reportedly looking to stay put.
Tottenham are the latest club to be linked with the oft-maligned England defender after Ange Postecoglou’s arrival, joining the likes of Aston Villa in the race.
Maguire had already slipped behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof in Erik ten Hag’s centre-back pecking order, with United supposedly looking to bring in both Napoli’s Kim Min-jae and Axel Disasi of Monaco in the weeks ahead.
However, according to talkSPORT, Maguire would be reluctant to leave Old Trafford this summer despite that lack of first-team football.
Amrabat has ‘charmed’ Man United
Could Manchester United sign Sofyan Amrabat this summer?
After a sensational World Cup with Morocco in Qatar, the midfielder has continued to shine for Fiorentina and played a star role in Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final outing despite the defeat by West Ham in Prague.
While Amrabat won’t be joining the Hammers in the upcoming window, Nordin Amrabat claims that United boss Erik ten Hag has been “charmed” by his brother, who could also join Barcelona.
“At Barcelona, he is high on the list but you know Barca’s financial situation,” Nordin said.
“Of course you never know, it will be a strong competition when you see which names are going.
“But my brother now has the intention to play in the top, preferably in Spain or England, I think.
“Ten Hag is now looking for a striker, he wants that first. From there he will see what is possible.
“But I know that Ten Hag is charmed by my brother, he broke through under him and they have a good relationship, so who knows.”
Arsenal plotting fresh Caicedo bid
Arsenal are plotting a fresh bid for Moises Caicedo, according to the latest reports.
The Gunners want to make Declan Rice their top signing of the summer transfer window, but are targeting another midfielder in a bid to significantly strengthen their options for another title push under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal are believed to be battling London rivals Chelsea for Caicedo, having seen a number of offers for the Ecuador international, 21, rebuffed by Brighton in January.
But according to The Times, the Gunners are now planning a new move for Caicedo.
Postecoglou asked Tottenham for Maddison
A further update on Tottenham’s pursuit of James Maddison now.
There is some interesting extra detail on the situation from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who reports that Ange Postecoglou has asked for the signing since taking the reins at Spurs earlier this week.
However, Newcastle are long-term suitors for Maddison and are said to have been working on a deal for the England midfielder since last summer.
Negotiations with relegated Leicester are expected to take place soon as Tottenham and the Toon fight it out.
Kovacic agrees Man City terms with Chelsea exit close
Mateo Kovacic is one step closer to leaving Chelsea for Manchester City.
The Treble chasers want the Croatian to bolster their midfield for next season, with Chelsea open to selling a player with only one year left on his contract as they plot a significant squad overhaul under incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Kovacic and City have now come to an agreement over personal terms.
He adds that Chelsea and City will discuss a transfer fee after the latter try to complete their Treble chase against Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul tomorrow night.
Kovacic is said to want to join City after four years at Stamford Bridge.
