Transfers latest LIVE: Ansu Fati set to fly to Brighton to complete season-long loan from Barcelona
Premier League clubs have just two days to conclude their business with the transfer deadline approaching
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The transfer deadline is fast approaching - clubs have to wrap up all their deals by 11pm BST on Friday 1 September, meaning today and tomorrow will be chaotic and potentially exciting with a host of switches still pending.
Among the biggest clubs, Man City could be set to sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea, while the latter could offload Callum Hudson-Odoi after his return from loan. Manchester United, meanwhile, are still looking for at least two more additions, with rivals Liverpool hoping to land another midfielder in Ryan Gravenberch, currently at Bayern Munich.
Brighton look set to sign Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, while several other Premier League teams could also conclude deals late on before the window shuts. Follow all the latest news and transfer rumour updates below; get all the latest football betting sites offers here.
How Romelu Lukaku, football’s nearly man, became Jose Mourinho’s ideal signing
Like Wolfgang Wolf managing Wolfsburg or Arsene Wenger taking charge of Arsenal, perhaps Romelu Lukaku’s imminent arrival in Rome is striking a blow for nominative determinism in football. When Roma secure his services on a year’s loan, it may seem a triumph for the Giallorossi’s negotiating skills and an extension to the strange on-off relationship between Lukaku and Jose Mourinho.
Yet for Lukaku and Chelsea, trapped in a loveless marriage during which neither has been able to formalise a lasting parting of the ways, it represents a failure on both fronts. Even as Chelsea have sold a host of players this summer, it is ever likelier that they will not recoup a transfer fee for a man who cost them a then club record £97m. Chelsea, it feels, have been doubly culpable in the last two summers, first being too generous and too willing to loan him out to Inter for a relatively small sum last year and then overpricing him 12 months on, when cash-strapped Italian clubs were unlikely to pay £40m and Lukaku had little interest in moving to Saudi Arabia. It was a sign he still has footballing ambitions.
After Lukaku signs for Roma on loan, Rich Jolly dissects the striker’s fortunes and Chelsea’s part in his riddle:
How Lukaku, football’s nearly man, became Mourinho’s ideal signing
The Belgian is poised to join Rome, two years on from his £97m move to Stamford Bridge
Transfer news LIVE
Ibrahima Konate is another target for the Saudi Pro League sides intent on landing several big names out of Europe.
RMC Sport say the centre-back is content at Liverpool and has no wish to depart, but he’s on Al-Ittihad’s wish list along with Jean-Clair Todibo, who is at Nice.
Transfer news LIVE
Trevor Chalobah still faces possible Chelsea exit with Bayern Munich interested in the centre-back.
With the signing and Axel Disasi and the impressive early-season form of Levi Colwill, a departure for the 24-year-old may be sanctioned with Bayern Munich interested in the player as a replacement for Benjamin Pavard, according to The Evening Standard.
A fee of around £50m may prove a sticking point in a deal being completed before the deadline, but negotiations remain ongoing.
When is the Champions League group stage draw?
The Champions League is nearly upon us for the new 2023/24 season, as treble-winners Manchester City try to retain their crown as the kings of Europe following their 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in June.
For the final time before the competition takes on a new format next season, 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four. Each group will contain one team from each of the four seeded pots, and clubs from the same national league will not be drawn together in the same group.
Pot 1 will consist of the Champions League winners, the Europa League winners and six domestic champions of the highest ranked leagues. The remaining pots will be decided by Uefa’s club coefficient rankings.
The final will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on 1 June 2024.
When is the Champions League group stage draw?
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Celtic are all in the draw for the Champions League group stage
Transfers news LIVE
With the transfer window close to closing, Manchester United go in search of a final few signings having already made a number of high-profile signings earlier in the window.
The latest deal saw Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund sign for an initial £64 million to add to Erik ten Hag’s options up front. Mason Mount has also arrived from Chelsea, while Andre Onana from Inter has taken over from David de Gea in goal.
With a takeover at Old Trafford still yet to be completed, there is still a degree of uncertainty over how much money Ten Hag has at his disposal, with the Glazer family still in control of the club. Manchester United finished in the top four and reached two cup finals last season, a big improvement on their competitiveness in previous campaigns - but more may still be required to challenge at the very top.
Here’s the latest news and updates concerning any transfers to and from Old Trafford:
Manchester United transfer news: Amrabat, Henderson, Cucurella and more
Erik ten Hag is looking for more new recruits before the window shuts
Transfers news LIVE
Nottingham Forest were in talks last night, reportedly, over a deal for Fenerbahce striker Michy Batshuayi.
The 29-year-old was close to agreeing a deal with the Midlands club a year ago before the complicated free transfer fell through late on deadline day.
He subsequently moved to Turkey for £3m but Forest have maintained their interest and hope to bring the former Chelsea man back to the Premier League.
Transfers news LIVE
There may still be late action in the window for West Ham, with the club eyeing up a move for Juventus winger Filip Kostic.
The Serbian joined Juventus last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt but has not played for the Turin club this season.
According to The Evening Standard, David Moyes’s side are considering a loan or permanent deal for the 30-year-old. They are also said to be in the market for a striker, with PSG’s Hugo Ekitike a name under consideration.
Transfers news LIVE
Brighton have swooped in ahead of Spurs and have a full agreement with Barcelona for the loan signing of Ansu Fati from Barcelona.
BBC Sport say the deal includes no obligation to buy the young winger, who made a stunning start to his career at the Camp Nou but has endured a tough couple of seasons after injuries.
Brighton are set for European action this term in the Europa League, but lost Julio Encisio to a long-term knee injury last week.
Barcelona will in turn use the space in their squad to land full-back Joao Cancelo from Man City.
Transfers news LIVE
Tottenham plot last-minute bid for Connor Gallagher with Blues set to bring in Cole Palmer
Although it appears as if Chelsea’s transfer incomings may end with the imminent signing of Manchester City’s Cole Palmer, it looks like there is still the possibility of some outgoings.
The Englishman has started all four of Chelsea’s fixtures this year but The Telegraph are now suggesting that Spurs are considering a move for the midfielder who may now see his minutes affected by Palmer’s arrival.
Chelsea rejected a big of around £40m from West Ham for the 23-year-old earlier in the window and are expected to demand a fee of around £50m.
Transfers news LIVE
Marc Cucurella “should” complete a loan move from Chelsea to Manchester United, according to the Evening Standard.
There remains a “small” gap in the agreement over the fee to be paid, reports Nizaar Kinsella, but the Spaniard is United’s first-choice target to provide cover for the injured Luke Shaw.
Sergio Reguilon and Nicolas Tagliafico had also been considered.
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