Wednesday’s transfer news, rumours and done deals
Follow the latest from Wednesday’s latest transfer news, rumours and done deals
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live as we bring you the best of Wednesday’s transfer news, rumours and done deals. Will 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 The Independent's transfer live blog as we bring you the latest news, rumours, gossip and done deals from the summer window.
The market appears to be hotting up nicely, with Neymar's future the biggest talking point of the morning as Paris Saint-Germain consider selling the Brazilian just two years after signing him for a world record fee.
Closer to home, Manchester United appear to be keen on West Ham's defender Issa Diop, but the Hammers are playing hardball over any move, while Romelu Lukaku continues to be linked with the Old Trafford exit in a move to Italy.
With all that and more to bring you, let's get underway.
We begins with Neymar, the world's most expensive player, whose stay at Paris Saint-Germain looks to be on borrowed time to say the least.
As The Independent reported yesterday, PSG are having serious reservations about keeping the 27-year-old this summer, with Barcelona and Real Madrid holding interest in the Brazilian.
ESPN reports today that PSG have now decided it is best for everyone is he leaves the club, and while they will not actively look to offload him - and thus lower his asking price - they are open to offers.
Their are conflicting reports about where Neymar could end up.
According to Brazilian outlet GloboeSporte, Barcelona are willing to offer PSG €100m (£89m) plus Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti AND Ivan Rakitic in a deal that would be one of the most extraordinary swaps we've seen.
But Spanish outlet Marca claims that Real Madrid are not yet out of the running, and will use defensive midfielder Casemiro in any offer they make this summer to bring the asking price down after already spending in excess of £350m this summer.
Turning attentions to Manchester United, their pursuit of West Ham defender Issa Diop has taken a turn after the club rejected the Hammers' counter of asking for Anthony Martial to be included in any deal.
Instead, United are facing a £75m asking price for the 22-year-old centre-back according to The Mirror, which would make him the joint-most expensive defender in the world alongside Virgil van Dijk.
City eye mega Koulibaly offer
Man City have made a huge offer for Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Premier League champions have tabled an offer of €95m (£84.7m), according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Pep Guardiola would then have his successor to Vincent Kompany, likely partnering him with Aymeric Laporte.
One player Manchester United could use to try and prise Diop away from West Ham is current defender Phil Jones.
The Sun claims that the 27-year-old has already been offered to the Hammers as a potential makeweight in negotiations, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not viewing the England centre-back as part of his future plans.
Arsenal have been linked with Sampdoria defender Joachim Andersen this summer as Unai Emery seeks to address their big concerns at the back, having missed out on the Champions League for three straight years.
But while the Gunners appear to have been put off by the £31.2m valuation given their restricted transfer budget this summer, one side who still appear to be in the running is Tottenham.
The Star reports that Spurs could steal a march on their north London rivals by moving for the Danish centre-back, although they have not yet made any move for the Serie A player.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has had his say on the future of Romelu Lukaku, and the Spaniard has surprisingly called on the striker to consider a Manchester United exit this summer for the good of his career,
Lukaku is wanted by Inter Milan's new manager Antonio Conte, among other clubs, and United are understood to have told him he is free to leave IF they receive a good offer for him.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on something of a squad revamp over the next year and selling Lukaku for more than the £75m they paid for him would help to fund that regeneration.
Martinez believes that a fresh start for Lukaku - who joined United from Everton in 2017 - could suit everyone involved, not to mention the Belgium national team.
Paul Pogba's revelation at the weekend that he wants a "new challenge" after three years back at Old Trafford was seen as an admission that he wants to leave the club, with former club Juventus the most likeliest destination - though Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain remain interested parties.
But it was also suspiciously pointed out that he could be trying to force the club into offering him a new deal - and hey presto - here it is.
The Daily Mail reports that United are considering making an astronomical offer to Pogba that would see him paid £500,000-a-week, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League and once of the richest footballers in the world along with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar.
One player constantly linked with Manchester United over the last two years has been Gareth Bale, but the Premier League club look to have turned their back in the Welshman this summer as they target younger alternatives.
Bale is not wanted by Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, but the lack of potential interested parties is causing a problem in moving him on from the Bernabeu, especially given that Bale is happy to sit there and play out his contract.
Now, another club looks to have shut the door on an exit as ESPN report that Bayern Munich have not made any approach for the 29-year-old, which has come from the Wales international's agent himself.
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