Transfer news live: Manchester United and Arsenal both left frustrated as prospective deals collapse
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Your support makes all the difference.The summer transfer window is just around the corner but clubs up and down the country are already getting their business done early.
Manchester United have money to spend - and have already signed Victor Lindelof - but may be forced to shell out as much as £70m for both Alvaro Morata and Andrea Belotti as they chase a new No.9 while Chelsea's main man, Diego Costa, looks to be on his way after being told he is surplus to requirements by manager Antonio Conte.
Manchester City already have two players with Monaco's Bernardo Silva and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson in through the door, while Arsenal have snapped up Schalke's Sead Kolasinac on a free.
Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Mohamed Salah as they continue to negotiate with Roma over a fee but won't be adding Virgil van Dijk after being forced to apologise to Southampton for an illegal approach.
We will have all the latest throughout the day here so don't touch that dial.
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Top of the morning to you ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live coverage of the summer transfer window.
It's been a busy few weeks already at the transfer coalface - and the window isn't even open yet.
But never fear The Independent will provide the strong and stable leadership you need throughout and guide you through every piece of news, tidbit of gossip and those all important done deals all day so stick with us here.
Without further ado, off we go.
Manchester United are hoping to have Alvaro Morata in the north-west for a medical this week after productive talks with Real Madrid this weekend.
Jose Mourinho is determined to make his frontline better and younger, with veteran pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney expected to leave the club before next season.
And Morata has become the Old Trafford club's top target sinceAntoine Griezmann decided to remain in Madrid with Atletico.
Real Madrid had been insisting on a fee of £78m but, given that they want to press ahead with upgrading their own forward line with the pursuit of Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe, United hope to be able to tie up a deal for the Spain international for under £70m.
Talks between the two clubs progressed enough on Saturday and Sunday to suggest Morata could feasibly arrive in Manchester to tie up the final details before this week is out.
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Liverpool are likely to sign Mohamed Salah sooner rather than later with Roma needing to sell him by the end of the month in order to comply with Fifa Financial Fair-Play regulations.
Salah is edging closer to a £35m move from the Serie A side back to the Premier League, following a failed spell at Chelsea, with Jurgen Klopp desperate to make him the first of seven new signings arriving on Merseyside this summer.
Roma are under financial strain from Fifa and, bound by FFP rules, they must balance their books by the end of June, according toCorriere dello Sport. The sale of Salah to the Reds would do just that, with the Italian club already having lined up a replacement for the 24-year-old in Swedish teenager Teddy Bergqvist from Malmo.
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Philippe Coutinho has described speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona as “complicated”.
The Liverpool playmaker, who is currently on international duty with Brazil, signed a new five-year contract without a buyout clause in January.
Reports suggesting he could leave Anfield have persisted, however, and when questioned about his future by reporters on Monday, Coutinho neglected to rule out a move to the Nou Camp.
g about this is complicated,” he said ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Australia on Tuesday. “I have a contract with my club and it is long.
“So my focus is on the present and the national team. My focus is here,” he added.
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Laurent Koscielny admitted that it is “good” to have been linked with a move to Marseille but stressed that he will be staying put atArsenal “for now”.
The Frenchman grew up supporting Marseille and after a season of disappointment at the Emirates, the 31-year-old has been touted as a potential transfer target for the Ligue 1 side.
But, speaking to French broadcaster Telefoot, Koscielny reiterated his commitment to Arsenal and pointed to the new contract he signed at the club last November.
“I have a contract with Arsenal, I even signed an extension last November [the club confirmed the deal in January] until 2020,” Koscielny said. “I feel very good over there.
“I have always said that I was a Marseille fan when I was younger. When a mythical club like Marseille contact you, it is good. But will I sign for them? I have no idea at all.”
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Let's take a look around today's back pages shall we.
Arsenal's Hector Bellerin, Chelsea ever-present Cesar Azpilicueta and Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho could be among the names in the frame as Ernesto Valverde begins his rebuild of Barcelona.
The Daily Mail reports Valverde would like to make Barca's style of play more unpredictable, with Azpilicueta's versatility seen as an advantage should he wish to use a back three. Coutinho, meanwhile, could be viewed as a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta.
With Chelsea's Eden Hazard also a major La Liga target, having been linked with Barca's rivals Real Madrid, the Sun claims Antonio Conte will move for Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne as a replacement.
A fee of £45million is reported, with Hazard tipped to bring in double that amount. Insigne, 26, scored 20 goals for Napoli last season and has played under Conte in the Italy national team.
Former Blues skipper John Terry could continue his playing career with Championship side Aston Villa, the Mail reports, after he was pictured playing golf with Villa boss Steve Bruce last week.
Terry left Chelsea at the end of the season after winning his fifth Premier League title in 19 years in their first team.
Manchester City face frustration in their efforts to sign Alexis Sanchez, with the Daily Mirror reporting Arsenal are unwilling to sell to a Premier League rival. The Chilean is instead set to move to Bayern Munich, the paper claims.
Tottenham target Ryan Sessegnon has been tipped for the top by Fulham teammate Ragnar Sigurdsson who has claimed he is “100 per cent” a Premier League player.
17-year-old Sessegnon has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the Championship this season with his performances from left-back for Fulham attracting the attention of the Premier League’s top sides.
“One hundred per cent (he can play in the Premier League)," he said.
“He's a great talent, he just turned 17 and he played more than half of the games this season, he scored a lot of goals.
“He has a very bright future. I'm just surprised he didn't get any offers during the season. I think he was that good. There's no surprise there (in reported interest).”
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Everton are hopeful on signing Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen to kick off a huge summer of remodelling for Ronald Koeman.
The Toffees believe they could finally win the rollercoaster ride for Sandro, having first thought they were in the box seat to sign him last month before Atletico Madrid entered the race.
La Masia graduate Sandro then appeared destined to sign for Atleti, only for Fifa's transfer ban to then throw a spanner in the works. The Madrid club were still keen to complete the deal but, with a renewed confidence that Diego Costa could return to the Spanish capital, have since cooled their interest.
And Everton have taken advantage, inviting the Malaga forward to fly to England and complete a bargain £5.1m move this week.
A deal for Ajax midfielder Davy Klaassen is a little further away but the Merseyside club have received promising noises that the Dutch giants will sell the 24-year-old playmaker.
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Alvaro Morata’s agent has suggested that the Spaniard is on the verge of joining Manchester United, describing the club as “a very interesting option” while admitting that an “important proposal” is in place.
Speaking to Calciomercato, Juanma Lopez, Morata’s agent, suggested that a transfer is increasingly likely and welcomed links to United.
Lopez said of United’s interest: “They are a club of great charm, a very interesting option.”
Asked if Morata had already agreed a deal, he continued: “I can say there’s a very important proposal and the decision rests with Real. I cannot tell [if it will be done quickly], we’ll see.”
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Diego Costa has hinted at the strained relationship between himself and Antonio Conte after the Chelsea manager told him he was not wanted at Stamford Bridge next season.
The pair had a high-profile falling out in January when Costa was dropped by the Italian after a row with the fitness coach, leading to the striker linked with a big-money move to China or a return to Atletico Madrid.
Costa returned to fire Chelsea to the title but with his Blues exit all but confirmed, he has suggested that he does not see Conte as a good person.
“In life there are good and bad people,” said Costa after scoring in Spain’s 2-1 win over Macedonia.
“I'll stay with the good of everything. You have to ask him, not me. It's an opinion of the coach, if he has the option of putting another in.
“But there are things and ways of doing things and saying them. But well, thanks to God I do not lack teams.
“The most important thing is that my team-mates want me. We know what there is there, who is good and bad. I get on very well with everyone and that speaks for itself.”
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