Thursday's transfer news: Arsenal have second Thomas Partey bid rejected, City’s £41m Ake offer accepted, Man United to make goalkeeper decision
All the latest news from the summer transfer window as Premier League clubs looks to reinforce their squads ahead of the new 2020/21 season
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Premier League summer transfer window as clubs continue to strengthen ahead of the new season. Manchester City look poised to announce their first signing of the off-season with reports that a £24m fee has been agreed with Valencia for winger Ferran Torres, who could arrive to replace Leroy Sane imminently.
City have also been alerted to the availability of David Alaba, whose contract extension talks with Bayern Munich have hit a stalemate, while Chelsea are pressing on with their interest in another defender in Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.
Arsenal meanwhile appear to have had a second offer for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey rejected which included offering midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in the opposite direction, while the Gunners continue to be one of three clubs linked with Barcelona’s unwanted midfielder Philippe Coutinho, who is also being monitored by Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester. Manchester United meanwhile remain coy on their interest in Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish, with Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa demanding £90m and £80 respectively for their prized assets. Follow the latest transfer news below.
Liverpool are also expected to dip their toes into the transfer market this summer, although Jurgen Klopp appears to have no interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara and will not make a move for the 29-year-old. The club instead have been linked with a replacement for Dejan Lovren in the form of Schalke defender Ozan Kabak, while they will also be on the hunt for a replacement for Adam Lallana, who joined Brighton on a three-year deal.
Good morning and welcome back to The Independent's transfer news live blog!
With the longest ever Premier League season finally wrapped up and consigned to the history books, attentions once again turn to the summer transfer window, which opens nearly two months later than normal.
Clubs are set for a busy 10 weeks until the 5 October transfer deadline, with a number already confirmed to be in the market to reinforce their squads ahead of the 2020/21 season - which will begin on the weekend of 12 September in fewer than seven weeks' time.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the headlines this morning.
We kick-off Thursday morning with news from Manchester City, where the club are on the hunt for not one but two major signings.
The first looks to be edging towards an imminent conclusion, with the club reported to have reached an agreement to pay Valencia £24.5m for winger Ferran Torres.
The 20-year-old has been lined up to replace Leroy Sane after the German left for Bayern Munich last month, and an announcement could come from City as early as today to confirm an agreed deal.
Having seen their Uefa ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, City are keen to strengthen their squad for their Champions League campaign next season with the ability to offer European football a major factor in who they will sign this season.
City's second potential signing could well prove to be Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, after the Austrian's contract talks with the Bundesliga champions hit a stalemate.
German newspaper Bild report that Alaba's agent has asked Bayern to pay the defender €20m a year in order to extend his contract, which is set to expire at the end of next season, but the club have not been impressed by his demands and are considering selling him this summer or letting him leave on a free transfer.
That has alerted Manchester City, who are in the market for a new left-sided defender despite Benjamin Mendy's return to fitness after growing concerned with the Frenchman's performances.
Chelsea have dominated the headlines in the transfer window so far with the acquisitions of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, along with their interest in Kai Havertz, but if this season was anything to go by, it's their defence that is in desperate need of strengthening.
One player who has remained on their radar is Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell, and Goal reports that the Blues will prioritise his signing over interest in other options, which includes Ajax's Nicholas Tagliafico and Getafe's Marc Cucurella.
The future of Alexis Sanchez is one of the key topics that needs resolving at Manchester United, with the Chile international currently on loan at Inter Milan.
The Daily Mail reports that Sanchez has 'told the club he wants to leave', which would cap a complete failure of his time at Old Trafford since joining from Arsenal in January 2018.
The report adds that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 'believes he still has something to offer', but given how he has regenerated his side since Sanchez left alongside Romelu Lukaku, it's hard to see how he could return to make an impact at United, and that may be a ploy to ensure the 31-year-old doesn't end up leaving on the cheap.
Richarlison has spoken out over his Everton future, having been linked in the past with moves to Barcelona and Manchester United.
The Brazilian has already held talks with manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has made it clear that he remains crucial to his plans at Goddison Park, but whether that convinces him to stay or not is yet to be determined.
Richarlison says that he could look to stay for another season with the club, but should the right offer come in, he will have to take it seriously and consider his options.
DONE DEALBrighton have completed their second signing of the summer.
Fresh from completing the addition of Adam Lallana after he left Liverpool, Brighton have announced the signing of Dutch defender Joel Veltman, who joined on a three-year deal from Ajax for an undisclosed fee.
“We’re delighted to welcome Joel to the club. He has terrific experience from his time with Ajax including the Champions League and, of course, with the Dutch national team," said Brighton boss Graham Potter.
“He’s an excellent defender who can play at right-back and at centre half, but he’s also comfortable in possession.
"He is really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League and we’re delighted he is now a Brighton player and we’re looking forward to working with him.”
Manchester United have a decision to make.
On one hand, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the last decade on their books in David De Gea, who has hit a rough patch of form and has cost them points this season. On the other hand, they have Dean Henderson, the man pushing to be England's No 1 after impressing on loan at Sheffield United this season.
Sky Sports reports that talks between United and Henderson have reached a "vital stage" this week on deciding whether the 23-year-old remains at United for the 2020/21 season, or whether he is sent on loan once again.
However, any decision to keep Henderson could well spell the end for De Gea, and it could even spook him into pushing for a move if he wants to jump before he is pushed.
Atletico Madrid are standing firm on their valuation of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey after rejecting a second offer from Arsenal.
The Gunners are keen on the 27-year-old and have been for some time, having first registered an interest in him towards the start of the year.
Partey has a release clause of €50m (£45.5m), but The Guardian reports that Arsenal attempted to undercut that with a €25m bid two weeks ago that was initially rejected, which prompted the Premier League side to add out-of-favour Matteo Guendouzi to negotiations.
However, the bid was once again rejected, and Atletico have made it clear they have no intention of lowering their valuation due to the release clause.
Arsenal also need to resolve the future of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is already into the final 12 months of his contract and weighing up his next move.
Mikel Arteta has struck a positive chord recently in discussing the likelihood of Aubameyang signing a new deal at the Emirates, in order to prevent him from leaving the club next summer on a free transfer.
According to The Mirror, his decision depends entirely on this weekend's FA Cup final, which will see Arsenal either qualify for the Europa League or face yet another disappointment in a season that has been filled with them.
Should Arsenal fail to lift the FA Cup and miss out on European, the report adds that Barcelona and Inter Milan are ready to bounce in an effort to secure the striker on a cut-price fee.
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