Transfer news live: Arsenal linked with Ajax’s Andre Onana as Jude Bellingham tweet sparks Liverpool frenzy

Follow the very latest updates from the transfer window

Andre Onana (AP)

Arsenal are being tipped to complete the signing of Ajax’s 25-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana in the coming days as competition for Bernd Leno, according to reports.

Onana is currently still banned from all football until February 2022 after failing a drugs test earlier this year, his suspension appealed by the Dutch giants who said the player had taken his wife's medication by mistake.

Elsewhere, a tweet from Borussia Dortmund’s teenage England star Jude Bellingham in appreciation of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has inspired excitement among the Anfield faithful about his possible arrival this summer while Harry Kane’s future continues to attract wild speculation, the latest suggesting he could be going to Manchester City as part of a swap deal that would see Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus heading to Tottenham in exchange.

Key Points

• Arsenal ‘set to sign Andre Onana in coming days’
• Jude Bellingham’s Gerrard tweet excites Liverpool speculation
• What the papers say: Kane to City in major swap deal?
• Barcelona sign Spain international Eric Garcia
• Rice, Traore and Lukaku linked with Chelsea but Hazard return rubbished

[1 June 2021 14:37 · Joe Sommerlad]

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the very latest Premier League transfer rumours.

[1 June 2021 14:45 · Joe Sommerlad]

Arsenal ‘set to sign Andre Onana in coming days’

Arsenal are being tipped to complete the signing of Ajax’s 25-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana in the coming days as competition for Bernd Leno, according to reports.

Onana is currently still banned from all football until February 2022 after failing a drugs test earlier this year, his suspension appealed by the Dutch giants who said the player had taken his wife's medication by mistake.

According to The Mirror, citing Dutch news agency NOS, the ban will have an impact on how much the North London club have to pay for the keeper.

If it’s lifted, he’ll cost the Gunners £7.75m.

If it’s upheld, they can get him for just £1.7m.

Either way, the story appears to mean the end of Arsenal’s interest in Brentford keeper David Raya, whose £10m release clause will not now be triggered given the Bees’ triumphant playoff final win over Swansea taking them to the top flight.

Andre Onana (Getty)

[1 June 2021 15:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Jude Bellingham’s Gerrard tweet excites Liverpool speculation

This seemingly innocuous, two-emoji tweet from Borussia Dortmund’s teenage England star Jude Bellingham in appreciation of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard hitting some audacious cross-field throughballs has apparently been enough to inspire excitement among the Anfield faithful about his possible arrival this summer.

The Liverpool Echo is so giddy at the prospect they’ve already knocked up a speculative “Bellingham 22” shirt and exhaustively documented the tweets of Reds fans imploring the 17-year-old to join Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Bellingham is, incidentally, expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s trimmed down 26-man Three Lions squad for the Euros this afternoon, the unveiling of which you can follow in our dedicated liveblog below.

Jesse Lingard is not expected to be so lucky.

[1 June 2021 15:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

What the papers say: Kane to City in Ake, Jesus swap deal?

Elsewhere, Harry Kane’s future continues to attract wild speculation, the latest finding The Daily Mail suggesting he could be going to Manchester City as part of a swap deal that would see Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus heading to Tottenham in exchange.

The Sun, incidentally, have the same story but suggest that Raheem Sterling and Jesus will be the players heading south, not Ake, which seems even less likely if you ask me.

There’s also speculation about Eddie Nketiah trading Arsenal to lead the line at newly-promoted Watford today, conflicting reports over the identity of Spurs’ likely successor to Jose Mourinho and a line on Thiago Silva’s future after the aged Brazil stalwart limped out of the Champions League Final at the weekend.

If that’s not enough, there’s word on Cristiano Ronaldo, Donny van de Beek and Martin Odegaard in there too.

[1 June 2021 15:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Barcelona sign Spain international Eric Garcia

The Catalan giants have followed up their free transfer deal for Sergio Aguero with a swoop for a second Manchester City man: Spain international Eric Garcia.

The defender, 20, will return to his boyhood club on a five-year deal after failing to establish himself in Pep Guardiola’s costly squad, despite the latter’s efforts to keep him.

Tom Kershaw has this report.

[1 June 2021 15:45 · Joe Sommerlad]

Rice, Traore and Lukaku linked with Chelsea but Hazard return rubbished

There are all manner of rumours flying around Chelsea today.

The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Law says Thomas Tuchel is interested in bolstering his midfield with Declan Rice and Adama Traore of West Ham and Wolves respectively and bringing back Romelu Lukaku from Inter to lead the line (the latter’s agent was apparently spotted in Porto on Saturday night).

Elsewhere, Fikayo Tomori’s loan move to AC Milan looks set to become permanent, Antonio Rudiger is again being linked with Spurs and Tammy Abraham could be off to either Leicester or West Ham, depending on who you believe.

Burt Eden Hazard’s “stunning return” is apparently not going to happen, you will be astonished to hear.

[1 June 2021 16:05 · Joe Sommerlad]

Serge Aurier tells Spurs he wants to leave

The French right-back has told L’Equipe he has “reached the end of a cycle” in North London and is looking for a new club, apparently favouring a return to PSG, whom he joined Tottenham from in 2017.

Also packing their bags after long service are Danny Rose and Paulo Gazzaniga, whose contracts have expired.

Jamie Braidwood has more on Aurier.

[1 June 2021 16:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Norwich says stars won’t be sold for less than £30m

The Canaries are currently attempting to fend off interest in Emiliano Buendia and Todd Cantwell and hope a hefty price tag will do the trick.

Arsenal in particular have expressed interest in the former, who has hardly discouraged it, saying he is “dreaming of the highest level”.

Jamie Braidwood has more.

[1 June 2021 16:55 · Joe Sommerlad]

The transfer sagas set to dominate the summer

Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba, Kane... yep, it’s that time of year again.

Here’s who else we’re all about to become very sick of.