Transfer news LIVE: Gundogan returns to Man City, Villa want Sterling and Trippier could leave Newcastle
The transfer window has just over a week to run with clubs finalising their deals for the new campaign
The 2024/25 Premier League season is now underway, with clubs and managers finalising their squads ahead of what is expected to be a long campaign.
Up and down the country there have been plenty of signings to bolster squad depths and improve on the results of last season, from Ipswich and Southampton to Mikel Arteta’s title-hunting Arsenal or Arne Slot’s ‘new’ Liverpool side.
The transfer window closes at 11pm BST on Friday, 30 August, so time is running out for teams get sales and transfers over the line in the ongoing battle to balance funds against PSR regulations.
Each day brings more news, rumours and completed deals and as we enter the final days of the transfer window, and you can find all the latest updates in our dedicated blog below.
Follow all the news, rumours, sales and signatures below, as well as build-up to another weekend of Premier League football.
Liverpool sell young midfielder Bobby Clark to Salzburg
Liverpool have sold midfielder Bobby Clark to RB Salzburg in a £10m deal.
The Premier League club will also have a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause and a matching-rights agreement if they want to buy him back.
Clark will be reunited with former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who has taken charge of the Austrian club and could be playing Champions League football after Salzburg beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off.
Liverpool sell young midfielder Bobby Clark to Salzburg
Liverpool’s young midfielder will be reunited with former assistant manager Pep Lijnders
Forest in advanced talks over Nketiah
Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks with Arsenal over the signing of forward Eddie Nketiah.
Discussions are ongoing over the structure of rumoured £30m fee and the make-up of performance related add-ons.
Nketiah looks set to be moving to the midlands if this one can get over the line.
Chelsea and Napoli meet for Lukaku future
Sky Sports are reporting today is a big day for Chelsea as Giovanni Manna, Napoli’s sporting director, is heading to meet club officials.
The No1 item on the agenda is Romelu Lukaku, with the Italian side only offering €30m including add-ons and Chelsea wanting more - but only willing to discuss a permament deal too.
Antonio Conte wants Lukaku, Napoli lost on the opening day and Chelsea don’t want Lukaku on their books any longer - and the striker himself has no current other options in Europe.
Joachim Andersen off to Fulham in centre-back merry-go-round
Crystal Palace have been fending off bids for Marc Guehi, but centre-back partner Joachim Andersen is departing - Fulham have agreed a £30m deal for him.
He’s been having a medical and will join a club he played at on loan in 20/21.
It’s not a direct impact on Marc Guehi, but it still could affect what happens and who does what.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba is now wanted by Newcastle since they’ve been rejected for Guehi, but Axel Disasi is also an option. Palace are now thought to be in for a new defender too, and Leverkusen will sell Jonathan Tah or Odilon Kossounou if they need to before Tapsoba goes - because they want to sign Sepp van den Berg from Liverpool.
The Reds have already accepted an offer from Brentford for the Dutch defender, so he has a choice to make, but Leverkusen must sell before they buy in that position.
Wolves have been offered the other two defenders from B04 but are talking to Burnley over Dara O’Shea instead, with Ipswich keen on him too as well as Sheffield United’s Anel Ahmedhodzic.
So, in short...Andersen has his future all sorted out, but everybody else is now a case of dominoes and brinkmanship on who can wait longest before deciding where they’ll go.
Ilkay Gundogan having medical at Man City
After only one year away and still with two on his Barcelona contract, Ilkay Gundogan is back at Man City and set to sign a one-year deal.
He’s having a medical for City ahead of a free transfer, with Barca simply wanting him off the books given his enormous wages and their summer outlay on Dani Olmo.
Gundogan’s deal is widely reported to include the option of a second year if he completes his move and rejoins Pep Guardiola. He’s now 33 years old.
Fulham could sign French starlet Cherki
Rayan Cherki is in line for a move to Fulham - if he wants to. The London club and Lyon have agreed a fee of around £13m plus £4m in add-ons, report L’Equipe and other outlets, but the 21-year-old has doubts over whether that’s the right move for him.
He can play as a support forward or a creative option from the flanks or attacking midfield, is very skilful, a great ball-carrier and prone to arguing with his coaches.
From a teenager he was a huge prospect, but hasn’t quite managed to find the blend of consistency and productivity just yet.
Different reports on Man Utd’s chase of Ugarte
Manchester United haven’t made much of a secret that they want Manuel Ugarte from PSG as their midfield reinforcement, but there’s no movement on that front for now.
Depending on which recent report you favour, though, it could be getting closer...or not. United don’t want to pay the £51m asking price and while the Mirror suggest PSG simply won’t lower their demands from that point, Sky Germany say United are “closing in” for a deal to be completed in the coming days.
West Ham target PSG midfielder
Former Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler is a decent squad player for PSG but not a guaranteed starter. Presumably he’d be that for West Ham if he joined, but it feels a big deal to get over the line.
The Guardian report tha manager Julen Lopetegui is keen on a £20m deal for him, but the Hammers have to sell players first after an outlay in excess of £100m this summer.
Kurt Zouma’s move to Shabab Al Ahli is off after he failed a medical, and there are so far no buyers for Nayef Aguerd or Maxwel Cornet. Similarly, big earners Michail Antonio and Danny Ings will be tough to shift, the report says.
Alex Moreno leaves Villa for Forest
Aston Villa’s busy summer continues, but this time it’s outgoings rather than incomings, as Alex Moreno is the odd man out at left-back after the arrival of Ian Maatsen. With Lucas Digne also at the club, the Spaniard has no future after being Unai Emery’s first signing at the club and has sealed a move to Nottingham Forest on loan.
There’s also an option for a permanent deal for Forest, who themselves have a handful of full-backs on the books already.
Harry Toffolo, Ola Aina and Omar Richards all play left-back, as well as Moreno now, with Aina getting the nod there on the opening weekend draw with Bournemouth.
Leicester want Palace’s Ayew
Leicester are close to finalising a deal with Crystal Palace for Jordan Ayew.
A fee has been agreed between the clubs that could reach £8m with add-ons, which for an experienced Premier League forward seems very cheap.
The deal is not finalised but Leicester are concentrating on strengthening in the attacking areas of the team.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments