Transfer news LIVE: Raphael Varane ‘ready to accept’ Man United offer, plus Liverpool, Arsenal rumours

All the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from across the continent ahead of the new season

Raphael Varane is starring for France at Euro 2020 (AFP)

The new season is just a few weeks away and clubs are starting to ramp up their interest in targets during this transfer window following a short break after Euro 2020.

Manchester United have made a significant push this summer, agreeing a deal for Jadon Sancho, while Raphael Varane is another key target to elevate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side towards title contention.

The stars of this summer’s tournament could also be on the move with Italy’s Manuel Locatelli, currently with Sassuolo, a target for both Juventus and Arsenal. While the cash has already been spent in south London, with Crystal Palace landing Chelsea’s Marc Guehi for £18 million.

While Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed a new five-year deal with Barcelona, which will seemingly involve the captain taking a huge pay cut due to the financial difficulties that the club are experiencing. Barca teammate Antoine Griezmann looks likely to leave the Nou Camp, with the Blaugrana seemingly eager to send him back to Atletico Madrid and acquire Saul Niguez in return. There have also been rumours that the France international might be heading to Chelsea on loan, but a return to Atletico looks much more likely at his point.

In other news, Leicester are hopeful of fending off Liverpool to retain midfielder Youri Tielemans, per The Telegraph, and the Daily Mirror report that Tammy Abraham could be used by Chelsea to boost a trade deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, Euro 2020’s player of the tournament, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, has signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. He joins the French side from AC Milan. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip below.

Latest transfer news

• Real Madrid’s Varane ‘ready to accept’ Manchester United offer
• Arsenal ready to meet Locatelli price tag
• Spurs ‘finalising’ £20m swap for Lamela with Sevilla’s Gil
• Liverpool duo depart club in deals worth £17m
• Lionel Messi agrees pay cut to extend Barca deal, per reports

[20 July 2021 10:15 · Jamie Braidwood]

Leicester ‘step up’ Tielemans negotiations

Leicester have made signing Youri Tielemans to a new contact their main priority this summer and will step up negotiations with the midfielder when he returns from holiday, the Daily Mail report.

The Belgium international, who scored the club’s winning goal in the FA Cup final last season, has attracted interest from Liverpool but the Foxes are keen to tie the 24-year-old to a new deal.

According to reports, Tielemans will be offered a contract that will put the midfielder among the top earners at the club, alongside Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel.

[20 July 2021 10:00 · Jamie Braidwood]

Brighton eye up £15m Ben White replacement

Brighton are interested in signing Liverpool defender Nathanial Phillips, according to TalkSport, as the club look to replace centre-back Ben White.

Phillips, 24, emerged as a first-team option for the Reds last season during their defensive injury crisis, and played an important role for the team as the club finished in the top four.

With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip approaching full fitness, as well as the arrival of Ibrahima Konaté from RB Leipzig, Phillips has been told he can leave the club if better opportunities are available elsewhere.

White is set to join Arsenal in a £50m deal, with Graham Potter said to be keen to add another defender to his squad following the loss of the England international.

[20 July 2021 09:45 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea ‘identify’ back-up Haaland target

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland this summer but should a move for the striker fail to materialise, the Blues have their eyes on another forward from the Bundesliga.

The Athletic report that Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is an admirer of Stuttgart and Switzerland striker Sasa Kalajdzic, and the 24-year-old target man is considered a back-up option at this stage.

Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane have also been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, but Kalajdzic would be a cheaper alternative.

[20 July 2021 09:30 · Jamie Braidwood]

Manchester City ‘interested’ in 19-year-old Sporting Lisbon star

Manchester City are weighing up a move for Sporting Lisbon left-back Nuno Mendes, Fabrizio Romano reports.

Mendes, 19, starred for Sporting last season as the club won the league title in Portugal, with the defender earning a call-up to the national team as part of their Euro 2020 squad.

He is valued at €50 million by the Portuguese champions, with City not willing to go higher than €30m at this stage.

[20 July 2021 09:15 · Jamie Braidwood]

Everton want Burnley’s McNeil but ‘face £25m battle’

Everton are interested in signing Burnley winger Dwight McNeil, Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo reports, but the club are set to be asked for £25m for the England under-21 international.

Rafa Benitez’s side are close to signing Andros Townsend on a free transfer and Demarai Gray for £1.5m from Bayer Leverkusen, but the club are reportedly interested in a third winger with McNeil their main target.

They face competition from Aston Villa for the 21-year-old, who scored two goals and contributed five assists for the Clarets last season.

[20 July 2021 09:00 · Jamie Braidwood]

Wolves ‘offered’ Barcelona and Denmark striker Braithwaite

Wolves have been handed the chance to sign Martin Braithwaite from Barcelona, according to the Daily Mail. The striker, who started for Denmark in their run to the Euro 2020 semi-finals, is one of a number of players the La Liga club are keen to move on in order to reduce their wage bill.

Braithwaite, 30, joined Barcelona as an emergency signing in 2020 but has only scored three league goals for the club, and has now seen his first-team opportunities take a hit due to the arrivals of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay on free transfers.

Wolves have done business with Barcelona recently, with the club signing winger Trincão on loan for the season as well as buying full-back Nelson Samedo last year. West Ham would also be interested in a move for Braithwaite, according to Marca.

[20 July 2021 08:49 · Jamie Braidwood]

Liverpool duo Grujic, Awoniyi close to ‘£17m exit’

Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic is set to complete a £10.5m move to Porto, while striker Taiwo Awoniyi is close to joining Union Berlin for £6.5m - according to Neil Jones of Goal.

Both players spent last season on loan at the respective clubs and the Reds are keen to raise funds by selling fringe players on permanent deals this summer.

Grujic, 25, was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing at Liverpool in 2015 but the Serbian has not made a Premier League appearance in over four years, while Awoniyi also joined the club in 2015 but is yet to make a first-team appearance after spending the last six seasons out on loan.

[20 July 2021 08:37 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham in ‘advanced talks’ for defender Romero

Tottenham Hotspur look to have prioritised the signing of Argentinian defender Cristian Romero, who has moved ahead of Joachim Andersen and Jules Kounde in their centre-back wish list.

Alasdair Gold of football.london reports that the club are keen on signing a centre-back this summer with director of football Fabio Paratici leading the search. Paratici is believed to be interested in Romero, who he signed for Juventus in 2019.

The 23-year-old joined Atalanta on a two-year loan from Juventus last summer and was named defender of the year in Serie A, earning a call-up to the Argentina squad for the Copa America. Romero started the final as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 to win the tournament.

Tottenham also look set to sign goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini from Atalanta, according to football.london, as a back-up to Hugo Lloris.

[20 July 2021 08:23 · Jamie Braidwood]

Locatelli set to opt for Juventus over Arsenal

Italy and Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli is said to prefer a move to Juventus over Arsenal, according to the Mirror.

The 23-year-old, who starred in Italy’s opening two games of Euro 2020, wants to play Champions League football and with both Juventus and Arsenal prepared to meet Sassuolo’s £34m asking price, Locatelli looks set to sign for the Old Lady.

On Monday, Arsenal completed the signing of midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht for an initial fee believed to be around £15m.

[20 July 2021 08:08 · Jack Rathborn]

Transfer round-up as Chelsea ‘prepare bid’ for Rice plus Varane latest

What the papers say

England international Declan Rice has been linked with a move to one of West Ham’s London rivals. The Express says Chelsea wanted to sign the midfielder a year ago, with the player since featuring in the Hammers’ run into the Europa League and the Three Lions’ journey to the Euro 2020 final. The paper, which cites The Football Terrace podcast, claims the Blues will approach West Ham to query the 22-year-old’s availability and price.

The Guardian reports a bid by Manchester United for Raphael Varane is imminent. The France centre-back has one year left at Real Madrid and the paper says he wants to play in the Premier League United bosses are reportedly willing to offer the 28-year-old a home until 2026, with the Manchester Evening News saying the club is “inching closer” to a deal.