Transfer news as it happened: Manchester United close in on Fred, Nabil Fekir to Liverpool, Luis Enrique nears Chelsea job, Ryan Sessegnon rumours and more
All the latest Premier League transfer news plus gossip, rumours and done deals
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The Premier League’s summer transfer window is open with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal set to be busier than ever.
Liverpool enjoyed success in the Champions League this year and their quest to end their league title drought in 2019 will be bolstered by the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. He will not be the last new face on Merseyside, however, with Monaco’s Fabinho already in. Lyon’s Nabil Fekir is next on Jurgen Klopp‘s hitlist. At United Jose Mourinho looks set to spend big again as he targets reinforcements in his bid to haul in record-breaking Manchester City next season. A new left-back and central midfield player are high on his list with a big money move for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale not out the question. Could Cristiano Ronaldo join him?
For the first time in over two decades Arsenal head into the offseason with a new manager at the helm. That man is former PSG boss Unai Emery after a stunning 11th hour change of heart at the Emirates and he already has a new signing in his sights. Chelsea could well be looking for a new manager themselves but across London Mauricio Pochettino won’t be leaving Tottenham Hotspur after signing a new five-year deal.
We will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals right here so don’t touch that dial.
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Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
Manchester City are Premier League champions and everyone else are getting set to spend, spend, spend to catch them.
One of those tasked with doing so will be Unai Emery after the former PSG boss emerged as an 11th hour candidate to take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He already has one new signing with a second imminent.
Liverpool have made the biggest splash though in signing Fabinho from Monaco but he won't be the last new face at Anfield. Nabil Fekir won't be one of them, however, after a dramatic U-turn.
We'll bring you all the latest news on that plus all the done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
Without further ado, off we go.
Jose Mourinho is reported to be interested in a reunion with Chelsea winger Willian, according to the Daily Mail. Manchester United are preparing a £60m bid for the Brazil international who has been at Stamford Bridge since 2013, scoring 25 times in 166 appearances.
Arsenal will be looking to supplement their midfield with the potential signing of Steven Nzonzi, who previously had a loan spell at Blackburn, reports the Daily Express.
Aleksandr Golovin, who bagged a goal in the side's 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia is also wanted by Arsenal but Juventus may be looking to make a deal too, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.
Following news of Jack Wilshere's Arsenal departure, Crystal Palace have become the latest club to be linked with the midfielder, joining West Ham, Wolves and Everton, according to the Daily Mirror.
Manchester United are determined to stop Anthony Martial from departing over the summer, according to The Times. A representative of the 22-year-old Frenchman, who joined United from Monaco for £36m in September 2015, early last month sensationally claimed he wants to leave.
His deal expires next summer, however the Reds can extend it by a year. Martial scored 11 goals across 43 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League giants last season and is said to be a target for Tottenham and Juventus.
Arsenal are monitoring Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze after the midfielder signalled he wants to move to the Premier League, the Daily Mirror reports. The 26-year-old scored Germany's World Cup-winning goal in Brazil in 2014, however an English club could land him for a reasonable £18m. Everton and West Ham are also said to be keeping tabs on Gotze, who missed out on selection for Russia.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has claimed that Real Madrid are the latest side to show an interest in Nabil Fekir.
The France attacker, who is on World Cup duty with his national side, was poised to join Liverpool earlier this month but the transfer collapsed at the 11th hour.
Reports suggested that Lyon pulled the plug on the move after the Reds attempted to renegotiate a fee due to a knee issue flagged up during Fekir's medical.
However, Aulas suggested that he called off the transfer himself because it had simply dragged on too long, and added that the Champions League holders are now interested in the 24-year-old.
"Listen, at that stage it was foreseen he would go to Liverpool, I had given it the green light to go ahead. but it just took too long, things were just too drawn out," Aulas told RT.
"He is an exceptional player, he keeps the ball in little space and has an incredible talent.
"The fact that things didn't conclude with Liverpool and it didn't happen in that time frame has peaked the interest of a lot of other clubs - Real Madrid, but not just Real Madrid and their new trainer.
"There is a lot of interest from other camps, so everything is possible."
Talks are continuing apace between Arsenal and Sampdoria over their 22-year-old midfielder Lucas Torreira, according to the Daily Mail. A £22m deal is said to be on the cards to bring the Uruguay international to the Emirates on his return from Russia. New boss Unai Emery is said to favour Torreira as part of his summer squad-strengthening spree, although Sampdoria have warned he will not come cheap. A release clause in his contract may have to be paid off in installments as the Gunners seek to maximise their budget.
Newcastle are reportedly planning to bid for Middlesbrough winger Adama Traore. The Yorkshire Post claims the Teesiders are bracing themselves for offers for the 22-year-old, who has also been linked with a move to West Ham. He could also come cheaper than expected, the paper reports, with Boro valuing him at £15m.
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