Transfer news LIVE! Salah to Saudi; Chelsea want Smith Rowe; Man United, Arsenal latest; Spurs to sign Johnson
Summer deadline day is fast approaching and Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are all expected to be busy into the final hours of the window. The Gunners are working on outgoings, with as many as eight players with uncertain futures, before potentially adding a new defender before 11pm BST on Friday night.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are set to let Romelu Lukaku leave on another loan deal with Roma his destination, and could replace him with an audacious move for Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe. Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is also a target as Manchester United look into taking Marc Cucurella on loan, plus interest in Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Alonso, Rico Henry and Sergio Reguilon.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are closing in on a deal worth almost £50million for Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson to conclude their summer incomings, while also have plenty of current players to shift. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is also of interest to United. The biggest potential deal is Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia’s interest in signing Mohamed Salah, which is expected to go to the wire. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!
Live updates
Man United step up Nicolas Tagliafico talks
Manchester United’s search for a new left-back is ramping up before Friday’s transfer deadline.
Erik ten Hag has something of a crisis at the position now with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both out injured, and Brandon Williams loaned out to Ipswich last week.
Diogo Dalot filled in as a makeshift left-back against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with young Alvaro Fernandez also on the books.
United have been linked with a shock swoop for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon, Rico Henry of Benfica and Barcelona’s Marcos Alonso, among others.
But Nicolas Tagliafico now seems to have emerged as the primary option, amid reports from The Indepedent and others that talks are stepping up with Lyon over the Argentine World Cup winner.
United are said to want a permanent deal for the 30-year-old, while Lyon would apparently prefer a permanent sale worth around £5.15m plus add-ons for a player who previously worked with Ten Hag at Ajax.
Arsenal reject Chelsea approach for Emile Smith Rowe
Chelsea have failed with an initial approach for Emile Smith Rowe, reports claim.
The Gunners midfielder has emerged as a shock transfer option for Mauricio Pochettino in the final days of a hectic summer transfer window.
But the Daily Mail say that Chelsea have now seen opening overtures for Smith Rowe firmly rejected by Arsenal, who do not want to sell to a direct rival.
Done deal! Everton sign Beto
Everton have signed striker Beto from Udinese.
He has signed a four-year deal.
“Words cannot express the feeling I have right now to play at Goodison Park because it’s a stadium that since I was in high school, I always wanted to play at,” he told the club’s official website.
“The fans here at Everton are a step up compared to other fans.”
Pochettino issues update on Chelsea striker search
Mauricio Pochettino says he would still be happy with Chelsea’s transfer business even if the club fail to sign another forward to “complete” his squad.
Chelsea are in the market for another forward in the final days of the transfer window, which closes at 11pm on September 1.
Pochettino has been hit by a number of injuries for forward players. Most notably, Christopher Nkunku is out for at least three more months, joining the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka on the sidelines.
Speaking ahead of AFC Wimbldon’s visit to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup, Pochettino said: “Yes I am happy. I am really happy with the squad we have got at the moment, so far.
Read more here!
No Chelsea debut for Petrovic
There will be no debut for new Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
The signing from New England Revolution is still waiting for the Football Association to sign off his deal to play.
“[Robert] Sanchez is going to play tomorrow because we don’t have the confirmation that Djordjes can play with the permit,” Mauricio Pochettino has told reporters.
“That is why we prepare the game with Robert.
He needs more time to work with [the goalkeeping coaches] but we don’t want to rush. We don’t know if he is going to be on the bench because the permit is still not confirmed.”
Hojlund finally able to make Man United debut
Rasmus Hojlund could make his debut for Manchester United this weekend against Arsenal.
That’s according to Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand, who has included the 20-year-old in his latest squad after watching the striker train at United’s Carrington base.
Have two wins from their opening three games but have largely underwhelmed so far, so will welcome the opportunity to blood their £73million summer signing against the title hopefuls at the Emirates Stadium.
“I’ve been in Manchester to watch Rasmus train and he’s in full gear, so he’ll probably be in the squad for the weekend,” Hjulmand told reports.
Read more here!
Aston Villa in for Lenglet
Even more Spurs news (kind of) as Aston Villa are exploring a deal to sign Clement Lenglet from Barcelona.
Lenglet spent last season on loan at Tottenham and had been widely expected to return this summer.
But now Fabrizio Romano reports that Villa are now keen on the player who will be leaving Camp Nou before Friday’s deadline.
Spurs reject Sanchez bid
More Spurs news as The Athletic report that Tottenham have rejected the €9million (£7.7m) offer for Davinson Sanchez from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Spurs want between €15-20m for Sanchez and would want to sign a replacement should he leave, so time is running out.
Spence and Hojbjerg explore exit options
Leeds are in talks with Spurs over a loan deal for unwanted defender Djed Spence, writes Dan Kilpatrick, writes Dan Kilpatrick.
The Championship club want the 22-year-old for the season on a straight loan deal, without an option or obligation to buy him next summer, with talks continuing.
Spence was reluctant to drop back down to the Championship, having joined Spurs from Forest in a deal worth up to £20m last summer, but has been told he is not part of Postecoglou’s plans.
Spurs are also looking to offload Sergio Reguilon, Tanguy Ndombele, Hugo Lloris and Japhet Tanganga. Manchester United have been offered the chance to bid for Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who previously worked with Erik ten Hag when the Dutchman was in charge of Bayern Munich’s B team.
Spurs make progress over Johnson
Tottenham are expected to have a clear run at Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson after Brentford ended talks for the forward, writes Dan Kilpatrick.
Spurs are continuing negotiations with Forest for the 22-year-old, who is valued at £50million by the Midlands club, and are hopeful of agreeing a deal — although they still need to make room in their squad by offloading a host of unwanted players.
In a bid to knock down Forest’s asking price and clear the decks, Spurs have offered players in part-exchange, including Davison Sanchez.
Johnson is understood to have stated a preference for joining Spurs, while Ange Postecoglou is a big fan of the Wales international.
Read more here!
