Transfer news LIVE! Ugarte to Chelsea OFF; Arsenal to sign Rice and Caicedo; Man United, Tottenham latest
The summer transfer window is still not yet open but Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United are all busy chasing deals. Chelsea were closing in on their first signing of the Mauricio Pochettino era in the form of Manuel Ugarte, though reports overnight claim the club has sensationally withdrawn from the race to give Paris Saint-Germain a free run at the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.
Arsenal could make their first bid for West Ham star Declan Rice this week, and want to partner him with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo who they have reportedly already agreed personal terms with. Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is another major midfield target. Tottenham are close to appointing Ange Postecoglou as their new manager after he told Celtic of his wish to leave, though Spurs may now have to contend with a mega £100million Real Madrid offer for Harry Kane.
Los Blancos are rivalling Manchester United and Bayern Munich for the England captain with Karim Benzema set to depart for Saudi Arabia after 14 years. United, meanwhile, are pushing hard to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea, with Victor Osimhen, Diogo Costa, Rasmus Hojlund and Kim Min-jae all also targets. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours with Standard Sport’s live blog below!
Live updates
PSG to sign Ugarte today
Paris Saint-Germain have won the race to sign Manuel Ugarte, L’Equipe have confirmed.
Sporting were pushing the midfielder towards Chelsea despite the player agreeing a deal with the French champions, but the Blues on Sunday evening withdrew their bid.
L’Equipe report that the reason for Chelsea’s change of heart was not clear but it is understood money was a likely factor.
Ugarte is now expected to sign for PSG today in a deal worth €60million (£51.7m).
Postecoglou agrees Spurs contract
More on Tottenham’s pursuit of Ange Postecoglou.
According to reports, the Greek-born Australian has verbally agreed a two-year contract to take over at Spurs. The club will have the option to extend by a further 12 months should they see fit.
Postecoglou and Spurs will have further talks this week, but it is now expected that the Celtic boss will be Antonio Conte’s replacement in north London.
City offer Gundogan new contract
Manchester City have made another attempt to convince captain Ilkay Gundogan to stay with a new contract offer.
Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the month and at the weekend scored twice as City beat Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup Final.
The 32-year-old is known to want at least two more years to re-commit, prompting interest from both Arsenal and Barcelona.
City were only offering one more year, but have now reportedly put one year plus the option of a second year on the table.
Will that prove enough for Gundogan?
Mac Allister to Liverpool this week
Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Alexis Mac Allister.
According to reports, the much-anticipated summer move could be wrapped up this week.
The Brighton midfielder’s agent, who is also his father, is in England to sort out the final details of his son’s exit.
Liverpool will offer Mac Allister a five-year deal and could land the player for as little as £30million.
Abraham injury dashes transfer hopes
Horrible scenes in Italy last night as Tammy Abraham faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a horror knee injury in Roma’s final game of the season.
Abraham was stretchered off shortly after his introduction as a substitute in the second half against Spezia, with initial reports claiming he has suffered an ACL injury and could face up to nine months out.
Abraham recently missed out on England’s latest squad after a frustrating season in front of goal for Roma, scoring just nine goals in 53 appearances.
But the striker was poised for a big transfer this summer, with Roma reportedly ready to cash in on a player they signed from Chelsea for around £28million in 2021. Those hopes are now over.
Read more here.
ICYMI: Spurs close in on Postecoglou
Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new manager.
A deal to take the Treble-winning Celtic boss to north London could be completed this week as Spurs zero in on their top target, Standard Sport understands.
Postecoglou has emerged as the leading contender to become the long-term successor to Antonio Conte, having suitably impressed chairman Daniel Levy and incoming chief football officer Scott Munn.
Tottenham were expected to ramp up their interest in the Australian after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final, which Celtic won 3-1 against Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure their fifth domestic Treble in the last seven seasons.
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Real Madrid want Kane and Havertz
Real Madrid are pushing ahead with deals for Harry Kane and Kai Havertz, with both strikers have been identified as replacements for Karim Benzema.
Multiple reports claim Madrid are preparing to blow transfer rivals Manchester United and Bayern Munich out of the water with a £100million offer for Kane. However Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will demand £200m to sell, report the Independent.
That’s where Havertz comes in. The German is one of several players who could depart Chelsea this summer as a bloated squad undergoes a major transformation under incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Havertz is admired by Madrid, with Fabrizio Romano and German newspaper Bild reporting that a summer move is already in the works with Carlo Ancelotti targeting the striker.
Transfer specialist Romano insists that no talks have yet taken place between the clubs, but discussions are expected soon and Chelsea are open to selling as they look to make a profit on the £75.8m they paid three years ago.
Arsenal to step up Rice bid this week
Arsenal will bid for Declan Rice after West Ham’s Europa Conference League final appearance this week.
The Gunners have long since been considered as the front runners to sign Rice, who is widely expected to move on in a big-money deal this summer after years of speculation.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the England midfielder, with suggestions last week that the latter were ready to steal a march on their rivals by making an early £95million offer following positive telephone conversations between Rice and manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, Fabrizio Romano insists that nothing has changed with regards to the Rice situation, with Arsenal set to table their opening offer after West Ham face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal agree Caicedo contract
Arsenal have stolen a march on their transfer rivals by agreeing personal terms with Brighton star Moises Caicedo.
That’s according to Ecuadorian media outlet Teradeportes, who report that Caicedo has decided to leave Brighton this summer and has a number of options at his disposal.
Champions League could be the deciding factor, with Chelsea and Liverpool also keen on Caicedo. The Blues, though, are prepared to offer bigger wages.
Brighton want around £75million to sell the midfielder.
Diogo Costa responds to Man United interest
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa says responded to reports Manchester United want him to replace David de Gea this summer.
De Gea’s performances have again come under the spotlight amid ongoing contract talks with the club, most recently in the FA Cup final as Ilkay Gundogan scored two volleys as Manchester City won 2-1 at Wembley.
The goalkeeper’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the month, and he is expected to sign an extension, but the Porto youngster has reportedly been identified as a long-term replacement.
Asked about joining United, Costa said on Sunday evening: “That’s the internet.”
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