Transfer news and updates LIVE: Arsenal name Unai Emery as manager, Liverpool chase defender and Man United latest
Follow all the latest Premier League transfer news plus gossip, rumours and deals
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Your support makes all the difference.With the Premier League summer transfer window already open for business, the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool FC and Arsenal are set to be busier than ever as they looked to reel in runaway champions Manchester City.
Arsenal of course will face something that they have not experienced in 22 years as they start the campaign with a new man at the helm in the form of Unai Emery, following an 11th-hour change of heart after deciding against appointing Mikel Arteta. At United Jose Mourinho looks set to spend big again as he targets reinforcements in his bid to catch City, with a new left-back and central midfield player high on his wish list.
Liverpool have enjoyed success in the Champions League this term and their quest to end their league title drought in 2019 will be bolstered by the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig - he will not be the last new face on Merseyside, however. Chelsea could well be looking for a new manager themselves with the future of Mauricio Pochettino across London at Tottenham Hotspur less certain than ever before.
We will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals right here so don't touch that dial.
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Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
Manchester City are Premier League champions and everyone else are getting set to spend, spend, spend to catch them.
One of those tasked with doing so will be Unai Emery after the former PSG boss was named on Wednesday as the replacement for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
We'll bring you all the latest news on that plus all the done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
Without further ado, off we go.
We start this morning with the big news from Wednesday that Unai Emery has beaten Mikel Arteta in the race to replace Arsene Wenger and be named Arsenal manager.
Former Arsenal midfielder Arteta looked certain to be named the next manager at the Emirates, only for an 11th-hour change of heart see Ivan Gazidis decide to go with experience over potential and offer Emery the job
Here's how the drama unfolded
But that's just the easy part. Now that Arsenal have their manager, they must start to rebuild their way towards the top four after this year's disappointing campaign.
As Jack Pitt-Brooke notes, that's not going to be a simple task.
But there is still cautious optimism at the Emirates, particularly among the hierarchy who believe they have pulled off a coup by landing the experienced Emery. Chief executive Iven Gazidis stressed that the arrival of the Spaniard signals a "new chapter" in the history of Arsenal, and here's what else he had to say about Arsene Wenger's replacement.
Away from Arsenal, nearby rivals Tottenham are preparing for a raid by Manchester United on their Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld, who has fallen out-of-favour with manager Mauricio Pochettino and runs out of contract in two years' time.
According to The Mirror, Spurs want £75m for Alderweireld - who has rejected a contract extension offer - but the presence of a clause in his contract means that he could yet leave next summer for just a third of that fee.
Manchester United are also being strongly linked with Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Fred as Jose Mourinho continues his search for a new central midfielder.
The Manchester Evening News claims that United expect to complete the move by the start of next month, before he heads to Russia as part of Brazil's squad for the World Cup, and he will be in nearby Liverpool next week where Brazil play Croatia in a World Cup warm-up at Anfield.
BREAKING
Andreas Iniesta's move to Japanese side Vissel Kobe has been confirmed in the form of a press conference this morning, with the Spanish legend bringing the curtain down on his 22-year Barcelona career.
Is this the next Chelsea manager?
Antonio Conte's future at Stamford Bridge remains very bleak despite the FA Cup triumph over Manchester United last weekend, and another Italian looks poised to take over if Conte is given the boot with Maurizio Sarri strongly linked with a move to west London.
That's because Sarri was sacked as Napoli manager on Wednesday, with the club announcing his successor as the former Chelsea manager and multiple Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti, who penned a three-year deal to return to Serie A.
The dismissal of Sarri frees him up to take another job, and also means that Chelsea do not have to pay a penny in compensation.
The uncertainty surrounding the Thibaut Courtois' long-term future at Chelsea has put Real Madrid on alert, according to the Mirror.
The Belgian has just 12 months remaining on his current deal and with a £200,000-a-week contract still unsigned at Stamford Bridge, the Spanish giants are reportedly hoping to step in this summer.
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