Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal agree Timber deal, Rice update; Mount to Man Utd ultimatum; Caicedo to Chelsea
The transfer window is open and all of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are getting down to business. The Gunners are set to complete the signing of Chelsea forward Kai Havertz imminently after striking a £65m deal with the Blues, with the German international now set for a medical in the coming days. A new bid for Declan Rice is also on the way, although Manchester City are now set to enter the race. Personal terms have also reportedly been agreed with Jurrien Timber.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will reportedly submit an £80m offer for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo imminently as they close in on a move for Nicolas Jackson. Mason Mount, however, could be set for a move to Man United, who have set a deadline on the deal ahead of a third bid as Chelsea continue their squad clearout.
Over at Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou could seal first signing after the club reportedly agreed a fee of around £17.2m for Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with James Maddison also a target. Man United meanwhile want Harry Kane to hand in a transfer request at Tottenham. Follow all the latest news, gossip and rumours in our transfer centre below!
Live updates
The latest as Arsenal agree Jurrien Timber deal
In a classic of the ‘transfer market nonsense’ genre, Jurrien Timber sparked a frenzy among Arsenal supporters today.
The Ajax defender simply tweeted the word “thanks” before swiftly deleting it.
Did he mean to send it as a direct message? Was he starting to type out his farewell to Ajax? We’ll never know…
Well, according to Fabrizio Romano he’s agreed personal terms with Arsenal (although that’s no strict relation to his tweet).
Timber’s club want in the region of £50m for this services after rejecting a £30m bid, yet some reckon a deal can be done for as low as £35m.
Arsenal set out plan for Declan Rice
Mikel Arteta wants to make Declan Rice the Arsenal captain if he snubs a move to Manchester City.
The Mail report on the Gunners boss rating Rice highly and as a future man to wear the armband, although Martin Odegaard is unlikely to have the club captaincy taken off him.
A third bid from Arsenal is imminent as they look to beat City to the England star.
Over at The Guardian, it’s reported that Rice still prefers moving to north London over a stint with the champions.
Man Utd hand Chelsea Mason Mount ultimatum
Manchester United want a speedy resolution to their bid for Mason Mount.
Chelsea will accept a deal in the region of £60m, according to Fabrizio Romano, ahead of an anticipated new bid landing soon.
But Erik ten Hag will look at other midfield targets unless Chelsea accept an offer for Mount by the end of next week,
Done deal! Chelsea owners purchase Strasbourg
Chelsea’s owners have bought French club Strasbourg.
Todd Boehly is desperate to launch a multi-club project under the consortium BlueCo, which owns the west Londoners and hope to emulate the models produced by Manchester City and Red Bull.
Strasbourg finished 15th in Ligue 1 last season and president Marc Keller says he’s taken the club as far as he can. He’ll also remain in position to work with the new owners.
The Guardian report on the deal costing £64m.
Surprise interest in West Ham target
Inter Milan want to rival West Ham for Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott.
According to TMW, Inter even reckon they can land the talented young Englishman for £15m.
That feels unlikely with talk of a £25m fee being demanded closer to home.
Fulham want James Ward-Prowse
Fulham are serious contenders in the race for Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse.
The Cottagers are targeting the midfielder, who is interested in a move to Craven Cottage, according to the PA news agency.
Southampton are likely to ask for close to £30million for their captain – who has three years left on his contract – after relegation from the Premier League last season.
West Ham want Fulham’s Joao Palhinha to replace Declan Rice, which would then see the Cottagers line up Ward-Prowse.
Southampton may cash in this summer if a big enough bid for James Ward-Prowse comes in
/ Getty ImagesSpurs set out Destiny Udogie plan
Tottenham will watch young defender Destiny Udogie in European Under-21 Championship action tonight as they decide whether to send him out on loan this summer.
The Italian’s agent told TMW: “I had a discussion with Tottenham: they believe in him a lot, they will watch him again tonight.
“A new coach has arrived, playing four is not a problem for the boy. There is no shortage of admirers because he is a complete player, he has shown over time that he can have a dominant impact on matches.”
Italy face France in Romania at 7.45pm BST, with England currently goalless against Czech Republic in the same tournament.
Follow that game live here!
Kai Havertz medical details
Kai Havertz will undergo his medical this weekend.
Football.London report on the Chelsea striker’s next step to becoming an Arsenal player being booked in after a deal worth £65m was agreed to bring him to the Gunners.
The medical is expected to take place abroad ahead of a possible announcement as early as next week.
Tottenham in talks over Hugo Lloris successor
Tottenham have accelerated their search to find Hugo Lloris’ long-term successor by opening talks with Empoli over the signing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs captain Lloris, 36, is approaching the final 12 months of his deal and revealed earlier this month his desire to seek a new challenge when in an interview with media in France he described his situation as “the end of an era”, having been at the club since 2012.
Discussions took place with Brentford number one David Raya over a potential move across the capital, but the £40million price tag placed on the Spanish international has stalled the move.
Tottenham have now shifted focus to Vicario and are confident of securing his services with talks under way with Empoli, the PA news agency are reporting.
Partey wants Juventus move
Thomas Partey wants to join Juventus this summer.
The Arsenal midfielder had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with a number of clubs interested in a potential €40m move.
However, Fabrizio Romano reports that Partey’s priority is to stay in Europe and hopes to join Juventus, who are yet to make an official approach for the 30-year-old.
