Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Monday’s transfer news, rumours and done deals. W ill any big transfers be completed today?
There have already been some big deals this transfer window. Manchester United wasted no time in snapping up Daniel James from Swansea City for £18m, while Eden Hazard finally completed his protracted move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, for a fee which could ultimately exceed £100m.
A number of big deals are meanwhile still in the pipeline. Both Paul Pogba and Christian Eriksen have indicated that they want ‘new challenges’, while Matthijs de Ligt is a top target for just about every European super club. Where will he end up? Follow all of the latest below:
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
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Arsenal reshuffle continues
Arsenal are continuing to reshuffle their coaching staff: the club have promoted Freddie Ljungberg to assistant first-team coach, effectively replacing Steve Bould going into the new season.
The former Arsenal midfielder has impressed in his work with the Under-23s in recent years, helping to bring through a talented generation of players.
Now Ljungberg will be working closely alongside Unai Emery with the Arsenal first team, tasked with helping some of those young players to make the transition from Under-23s to the first team. Bould, who has been working as an assistant to Emery, having previously done a similar job with Arsene Wenger, will work with the Under-23 side again next season.
Read more:
Juventus enter the race for De Ligt
The clamour to sign Matthijs De Ligt has reportedly spread to yet another club.
Tuttosport report that the Ajax prodigy is now wanted by Juventus, who have put an offer of their own on the table to rival those made by PSG and Barcelona. Pavel Nedved is reportedly among the contingent sent to convince De Ligt’s camp to choose the Italian champions.
PSG are still believed to be in pole position to complete the deal.
Coutinho open to Chelsea move?
Philippe Coutinho is open to walking out on Barcelona and joining Chelsea this summer, according to the Daily Express.
The Brazilian’s move to the Nou Camp has failed to deliver desired results – for both the club and player.
As a result, Coutinho has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Chelsea both said to be interested.
The Express is reporting that Coutinho favours a move to Chelsea – though the club’s current transfer ban would certainly make this a difficult one to navigate…
Derby digging their heels in
Derby owner Mel Morris has stressed the club want to keep Frank Lampard as manager “for the long term” amid reported interest from Chelsea.
Following Maurizio Sarri’s move to Juventus, former Blues midfielder Lampard has emerged as the favourite for the job.
Morris, though, stressed the Sky Bet Championship club, who missed out on promotion when beaten by Aston Villa in the play-off final at Wembley, are determined to hold on to Lampard’s services.
“We have made it very clear to everyone, but most importantly to Frank himself, that we want to retain him at the club for the long term,” Morris said in a statement given to Sky Sports.
Lampard, who turns 41 on June 20, enjoyed a hugely successful career as a player for the Blues, becoming the club’s record goalscorer and winning three Premier League titles as well as the Champions League.
Morris, though, stressed Derby’s position remained the same despite Sunday’s developments at Stamford Bridge.
“There’s no change in the situation at present, except for the fact that Chelsea no longer have a manager,” Morris’ statement to Sky Sports continued.
“If Chelsea want to hire Frank, then it is in their gift to make an offer in pursuit of that.
“In the meantime, we will continue to put our best foot forward to continue with our plans for the coming season, to work with Frank and for him to know how much he is wanted by everyone associated with the club.”
Miguel Delaney has the latest on Paul Pogba’s future, and PSG are currently ahead of Real Madrid in the race for his signature.
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Arsenal youngster Krystian Bielik has hinted at a summer exit from the club.
The 21-year-old was signed by Arsene Wenger in 2015 but has made just two League Cup appearances for Arsenal’s first-team, going out on loan to Birmingham City, Walsall and Charlton Athletic.
“My future is unknown but there is one thing I can say for sure: I will definitely not go back to Arsenal Under-23 team,” he told Goal.com.
“At this stage it wouldn’t make sense. If I do not receive the possibility to join the first team permanently, I will have to look for other solutions. I feel like a senior player now so I want to play senior football.
“This is, however, not the right moment to discuss these issues as I want to be 100% focused on the European Championships.”
Ndombélé favours Tottenham move?
The sought-after Lyon midfielder has branded Tottenham a “big club” and indicated his interest in a potential transfer, reports French outlet Telefoot.
Spurs were inactive in the transfer market last season, but rumours that they are set to strengthen in midfield have been growing.
Sale of the Frenchman would be the second major departure from Lyon this summer, the club having already sold full-back Ferland Mendy to Real Madrid.
Ryan Fraser latest
The Independent reported that Arsenal are confident of winning a bidding war for the Scottish winger, who’s contract expires in 2020.
Bournemouth remain hopeful of holding onto Fraser, but are understood to want at least £30m to tempt them into letting him leave, especially as Aberdeen are owed around 20 per cent of the transfer free agreed when he joined the then League One side in 2013.
Read more:
DONE DEAL.
Palmeiras have exercised a 4.5m euro option to buy AC Milan defender Gustavo Gomez, according to the player’s agent.
Gomez, who has previously been linked with a number of English sides, spent last season on loan at the Brazilian club and will now remain their permanently.
“Palmeiras, with great joy, will buy Gomez,” his agent, Renato Bitta, is quoted as saying by palmeirasonline.com.
Villa seal deal
Aston Villa have taken up an option to seal a permanent deal for Wolves defender Kortney Hause.
A club statement said: “Aston Villa have taken up the option to permanently transfer Kortney Hause from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“The 23-year-old, who has represented England at Under-20 and Under-21 level, becomes the club’s third signing since winning promotion to the Premier League.”
Hause made 12 appearances and scored one goal after joining Villa on loan in January this year.
He had earlier played for Wolves, whom he joined from Wycombe as an 18-year-old in January 2014, on 80 occasions either side of a loan spell at Gillingham.
Hause joins Spanish midfielder Jota and Dutchman Anwar El Ghazi, who also impressed on loan as the club won promotion from the Sky Bet Championship last season, on the books at Villa Park, while a deal to bring Club Brugge’s Brazilian striker Wesley to the Midlands has also been agreed.
PSG president makes ultimatum to Neymar and co. or they will be sold
Torreria to stay put
The Italian press this morning report that AC Milan’s hopes of signing Lucas Torreira from Arsenal have been dealt a blow.
Milan wanted to bring the 23-year-old Uruguay international back to Italy but Sky Sports Italia claim Arsenal have refused to enter into negotiations.
Sassuolo playmaker Stefano Sensi is seen as a possible alternative for Milan, although will cost upwards of £20m.
Manchester United plotting double raid of Barcelona
Mundo Deportivo claim that United are preparing a sensational bid for former Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho in the event that Paul Pogba leaves. Ivan Rakitic is also a target at Old Trafford.
Coutinho has failed to settle at Camp Nou since his big-money move, while Rakitic is reportedly available for the right price.
These potential additions are also thought to be part of a plan to fill the gap left by the outgoing Ander Herrera.
Inter Milan interested in Cahill
Reports in Italy suggest that Inter Milan are considering a move for retired England international Gary Cahill.
Antonio Conte has recently taken over at the San Siro and is keen to work with the 33-year-old defender again.
Cahill is set to leave the Blues this month and will be available on a free transfer.
Here’s the full story on Paris Saint-Germain’s chairman warning Neymar and Kylian Mbappe that their days in Paris could be numbered:
PSG interested in Neres
PSG are considering testing Ajax’s resolve with a 70 million euro bid for David Neres, reports Globo Esporte.
The newly-crowned Dutch champions will look to repel this interest with a new contract for the Brazilian, however, including a clause allowing him to leave next summer.
Nonetheless, a bid of between 80 and 90 million euros may tempt Ajax into a sale in this window.
Xhaka shrugs off Inter Milan rumours
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has shrugged off rumours of a move to Inter Milan.
“It is something the newspapers have written about, but there is no truth,” Xhaka said this weekend.
”I have never had contact with Inter.”
Antonio Conte recently replaced Luciano Spalletti and is planning a summer overhaul of Inter’s squad.
Atletico plan record-breaking £107m move for Felix
Atletico Madrid are planning to make Joao Felix their club-recording signing for €120m (£107m) from Benfica, report Marca.
The Portuguese supertalent could directly replace Antoine Griezmann, who would cost the same if Barcelona, as expected, push ahead with a move for the French international when his release clause drops on July 1.
Felix would beat the €72m paid for Thomas Lemar from Monaco last summer, with only 70 percent of his rights acquired.
Juventus made Guardiola offer in March
Juventus made contact with Pep Guardiola in March about a move from Manchester City to Turin, but were firmly knocked back by the Spaniard.
Rather than try to convince him further, Tuttosport say that is where the interest ended, and former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who was announced as Massimiliano Allegri’s replacement yesterday, was their first choice from then on.
Negotiations were so difficult with the Blues though that it has taken several months before they could strike a deal, despite the Serie A season ending weeks ago.
PSG president opens door for Neymar and Mbappe exit
PSG chief Nasser Al Khelaifi has opened the door for Neymar or Kylian Mbappe to leave the club.
“The players are going to have to assume their responsibilities even more than before,” Al-Khelaifi told France Football.
“It has to be completely different. They will have to do more, work more… They are not here to have fun. “And if they don’t agree with this point of view, the doors are open. Ciao!
“I no longer want to have superstar behaviour.”
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Arsenal are meanwhile set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged. A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar.
It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. And Liverpool could be active too as they look to go one better after failing to win the Premier League title by just a single point.
