Thursday's transfer news: Jadon Sancho addresses Man United interest, Arsenal offered swap deal and Man City rival Liverpool for Thiago
Updates from the summer transfer window as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea look to make major statements while Liverpool and Manchester City go to battle once more
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Follow the latest updates live from the summer transfer window as Premier League clubs look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season. Liverpool face competition for Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara after reports in Germany linked Manchester City with a potential hijacking of the deal, with the 29-year-old keen on a move to England.
Manchester United meanwhile are locked in a stalemate with Borussia Dortmund over the move for Jadon Sancho, with the two clubs so far unable to agree on a transfer fee that would see the England international return to the Premier League. United have seen a £89m offer rejected, with Dortmund holding out for £108m and not a penny less.
Juventus meanwhile are keen on Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, and have offered several players in a player-plus-cash deal which includes Gonzalo Higuain, Douglas Costa and Christian Romero. The Gunners are also poised to sign Willian after he left Chelsea, and retain interest in Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes. Follow the live updates below.
Watford will demand a club-record fee from Liverpool to sign striker Ismaila Sarr, with the relegated club looking for around £40m is they are to let the Senegalese striker leave to remain in the Premier League this summer.
Paulo Dybala is for sale, according to Tuttosport.
Andrea Pirlo has replaced Maurizio Sarri in charge and it seems as if the Argentine is now dispensable despite a brilliant season.
Manchester City and Real Madrid are potential landing spots, which could boost funds for Paul Pogba, or provide Pirlo with a player in exchange such as Isco or Marco Asensio.
AC Milan hope to revamp their midfield with three new additions, according to Gazzetta.
Matteo Pessina of Hellas Verona and Florentino Luis from Benfica could join.
While talks are underway with Chelsea to sign Tiemoue Bakayoko, either initially back on loan or in a permanent deal.
The French midfielder has two years remaining on his deal, which would likely take a loan off the table unless there is an obligation to buy inserted into the deal.
Arsenal could swap Lucas Torreira for 23-year-old Guinea midfielder Amadou Diawara.
Gazzetta dello Sport believe the former Sampdoria midfielder could find a way back to Serie A.
And with Mikel Arteta not signing the Uruguayan, bringing in Diawara could provide a solution to all.
Daniel Sturridge wants to return to the Premier League. Someone will take a gamble on the man who is arguably the most talented English striker of his generation. This is the last chance for a player who has left a trail of disappointment behind him.
Sturridge will be 31 next month but has less miles on the clock than might be expected of someone nearing veteran status. Only once has he featured in more than 30 Premier League games in a season – 36 for Liverpool in 2018-19 but 28 of those appearances came from the bench.
He finished that campaign by picking up his second Champions League winners’ medal when Jurgen Klopp’s team beat Tottenham Hotspur. Sturridge was an unused substitute in Madrid, as he was in 2012 for Chelsea’s triumph over Bayern Munich. This is an allegory for his career. He has always seemed on the fringe of greatness.
Atletico Madrid will still be determined to keep Jan Oblak this summer, but they will be signing a new goalkeeper it seems.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with the Slovenian, who would represent a big upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And Goal report the La Liga side have lined up Eibar's Marko Dmitrovic to replace the outgoing Antonio Adan, who will join Sporting.
But Dmitrovic has a €20million (£18m) buyout clause, which could prove problematic.
Aston Villa are looking at three possible targets this summer as they look to build to avoid a relegation battle next season, according to the Mirror.
Dean Smith could bring in £22m-rated Werder Bremen winger Milot Rashica, who hit eight goals and five assists in last season's Bundesliga.
Brentford's Ollie Watkins, 24, is another target, with Brentford likely to sell after failing to gain promotion to the Premier League, while Divock Origi would be of interest if Liverpool look to sell.
Agent Kia Joorabchian has provided an update on Willian's impending move to Arsenal.
"It won’t be long before we announce it," he told Talk Sport. "We know where he is going."
Kia Joorabchian has taken a shot at former Arsenal director of football Sven Mislintat for making a number of “cock-ups” while in charge of transfers at the Emirates.
The super agent has had an increasing influence on the Gunners’s approach in the market.
With Willian poised to join from London rivals Chelsea on a free transfer, Joorabchian looks to impose himself on Mikel Arteta’s squad.
But the outspoken agent could not resist a shot at Arsenal’s former sporting director Mislintat, who left the club in February 2019.
Arsenal target Thomas Partey is demanding £200,000-a-week to move this summer, putting a potential road block for any move.
The Athletic report the Atletico Madrid midfielder's demands could scupper a deal for Mikel Arteta's side.
While the fee, too, could prove problematic, with Atletico insisting on the £45m release clause to sell.
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