Monday’s transfer news: Arsenal lead chase for striker as Manchester United fail with Wan-Bissaka bid
Re-llive the latest updates as we round-up the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals
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Your support makes all the difference.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:
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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.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Monday's transfer news, rumours and done deals.
What you need to know about the Pogba situation
If Paul Pogba was to leave Manchester United this summer, this was always how he was likely to go about it. At a promotional event in Tokyo on Sunday morning, Pogba made a first public declaration of his desire to move elsewhere; the public declaration Real Madrid have been waiting for.
“After this season and everything that happened this season, with my season being my best season as well, I think for me it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else,” he said. “I am thinking of this: To have a new challenge somewhere else.”
It is an unsurprising development but an important one. Pogba was unsettled last summer but never publicly said so. He only ever hinted at the breakdown in relations with former manager Jose Mourinho. He described playing for Madrid as a “dream” in March, but in response to a leading question, and he was hardly the first player to ever do so.
Read more:
Arsenal 'agree deal' for target
The French media are this morning reporting that Arsenal have agreed a deal for France defender William Saliba.
The 18-year-old, who plays for Saint-Etienne, is also wanted by Manchester United and City, but Foot Mercato claim Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with the player over a five-year deal.
However they still need to agree a price with the Ligue 1 side, who value the teenager at £26m.
Liverpool’s striker blow
RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick says the Bundesliga club are yet to receive an offer for striker Timo Werner.
The Germany international has refused to extend his contract beyond June 2020 amid interest from Liverpool.
However it appears the Reds are yet to firm up their interest.
“Timo is of the opinion that he does not want to extend the contract,” Rangnick told Kicker.
“So far, no club has reported their interest or said they would speak with Timo and want to sign him.
“It's not a good idea for Timo to go into the final year of his contract, which could be difficult for his relationship with the fans depending on how his performance turns out.”
United step up chase
Manchester United are poised to step up their pursuit of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Guardian claims that United are set for further talks with Crystal Palace this week over the England Under-21 international.
United previously had a bid of £40m rejected by Palace and will increase their offer to around £50m.
Palace are also reportedly ready to compromise on the player’s sell-on percentage in order to smooth over the deal.
And if you want to know more about Wan-Bissaka's transformation from talented teen to £50m man, you can read our profile of the player here:
Maddison keeps coy over future
James Maddison has emerged as a top transfer target for Manchester United this window, but the 22-year-old has insisted that he will not become distracted by rumours of a summer move, as he prepares to play in the Under-21 Championship with England.
"No, you have just got to ignore that and take it all in your stride," he told Sky Sports .
"As a 17-year-old boy, I'd started five games for Coventry and saw on my phone that I was being linked with Tottenham and Liverpool.
"With transfer talk, you need to take it as a compliment that people are even talking about you, it won't distract me."
Sarri's probable XI at Juventus
Maurizio Sarri's probable formation will be 4-3-3, but Corriere dello Sport believe he could look to use a diamond also.
They have two probable XIs with several exciting signings (in capitals) in the works, if Juve have their way.
Option 1: Szszesny; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, EMERSON, Ramsey, Pjanic, MILINKOVIC-SAVIC, CHIESA, Ronaldo, Bernardeschi (Dybala)
Option 2: Szszesny; TRIPPIER (HYSAJ), Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi, Ramsey (Bernardeschi/Dybala), ICARDI, Ronaldo
PSG preparing monster bid for midfielder
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to make a bid for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to Canal +.
When asked recently about the Serb’s future, Lazio president Claudio Lotito told Gazzetta dello Sport: “At Lazio we only keep those who want to stay.
“If the player expresses the intention to try a new challenge, we won’t stand in their way.
“Negotiations aren’t carried out in newspapers. I’ll just put out there that he was considered the best midfielder in Serie A last season.”
And the French media are now claiming that PSG are in the final stages of preparing a huge 100m euro bid for the 24-year-old.
Bayern to poach Celtic youngster?
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are closing in on a deal for Celtic youngster Liam Morrison, according to Football Insider.
The 16-year-old is yet to agree a professional deal with Celtic and could now be poached by the German giants.
Morrison is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents to have emerged through the Scottish youth system, but Celtic will lose him for only minimal compensation if his head is turned by Bayern at this early stage.
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