Transfer news live: Manchester United ready to battle for Gareth Bale as Virgil van Dijk hands in transfer request
All the latest from the crazy world of the summer transfer window
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Your support makes all the difference.This summer window has of course been dominated by the news that PSG have announced the signing of Neymar from Barcelona in a world record £200m deal.
The Brazilian signs a five-year contract on more than £500,000-a-week after tax to become the world’s most expensive and highest paid player.
But plenty more deals are likely to be completed before the window slams shut.
Real Madrid’s interest in superstar teenager Kylian Mbappe is maintaining Manchester United’s belief that they can still sign Gareth Bale this summer, with the club’s long-standing desire to bring him to Old Trafford receiving a boost this week, although David De Gea may need to be involved.
With Mbappe telling Monaco that he wants to leave the club, Real are growing increasingly confident that they can fend off competition to sign the 18-year-old striker this summer.
That could result in Bale heading for the exit in order to free up funds as well as move to a club where he would be guaranteed regular first-team football, something that may not be the case if Mbappe arrives at the Bernabeu before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa will hand in a formal transfer request after it was revealed there is no way back for him with the Premier League champions, and that he will only move to former club Atletico Madrid.
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Good morning football fans and welcome to our transfer news live blog.
It promises to be another hectic day with some of world football's biggest names on the move this summer.
Stick with us throughout the day for all of the latest transfer news and rumours.
Without further ado, off we go.
Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Tottenham are working to secure “a few signings” before the end of the summer transfer window.
Barcelona are stepping up their attempts to sign Liverpoolplaymaker Philippe Coutinho, although the Premier League club maintain they have no intention of selling the Brazilian.
Gareth Bale has been told that he is the future of Real Madrid and head coach Zinedine Zidane has publicly defended his recent form, in news that will come as a blow to Manchester United.
Earlier this week, news broke that Bale was willing to move to Manchester should Real Madrid decide to sell him this summer.
The long-mooted big-money transfer was still subject to a few issues, but The Independent was told by sources from both clubs that a deal was “much likelier” than at any point in Bale’s time at the Bernabeu.
However, in news that will come as a blow to United, Real Madrid have sought to assure Bale of his place in the team for the 2017/18 season.
Let's take a look around today's back pages, shall we?
The Daily Star claim Barcelona will offer Liverpool £120million to sign PHILIPPE COUTINHO. The Sun say Barcelona are increasingly confident of finalising a deal this week - potentially for £90million - despite Reds boss Jurgen Klopp saying the Brazilian playmaker will not be sold.
The Daily Express believe Chelsea are ready to challenge Manchester United for the signature of Real Madrid forward GARETH BALE, who will cost about £90million. Meanwhile it is reported that Real have ended their pursuit of KYLIAN MBAPPE to appease Bale.
The Daily Mail report that Stoke have agreed a three-year deal for Cameroon forward JEAN-ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING, who is out of contract at Schalke and will join on a free transfer.
Antonio Conte has once again bemoaned his lack of squad depth at Chelsea.
Conte, who has spoken of the need for Chelsea to add players to the squad, issued terse responses to questions which he has faced repeatedly of late.
The first sign of tension was when he was asked about the importance of Charly Musonda, who came off the substitutes' bench after being a perennial loanee in recent season.
"Now in this moment all my players in my squad are important," Conte said.
Next the former Juventus and Italy boss declined to answer when asked if his squad was ready to challenge in all four competitions this season.
Conte was then asked what strikers Michy Batshuayi and Alvaro Morata can offer that exiled striker Diego Costa cannot.
He added: "I hope in the future to have a different question... 'if there is necessity to improve our squad', about our strikers.
"I replied. My reply is always one, otherwise it means I was telling you a lie."
Jurgen Klopp appears to have finally ended any lingering interest in Virgil van Dijk insisting he's more than happy with the centre backs already in his squad.
↵Everton are "close" to signing Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea and they won't stop there with Ronald Koeman eyeing two more new faces to his already bolstered squad.
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