Transfer news LIVE: Man United target Frenkie de Jong picks preferred clubs, Chelsea near Jules Kounde

Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at Barcelona but if he must leave then his preferred destination is not Manchester United, according to Sport, despite the huge lengths the United hierarchy are going to to sign Erik ten Hag’s primary target in this summer transfer window. Instead, it is reported the Dutch 25-year-old would only consider switches to either Bayern Munich or United’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea. This protracted deal looks like running right to transfer deadline day on 31 August.

Meanwhile Chelsea have moved a step closer to signing the highly rated Sevilla defender Jules Kounde. The Blues have agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old France international centre-back and have now met the Spanish club’s asking price of £55m, according to several reports, with Kounde set to have a medical over the next 48 hours. Thomas Tuchel is rebuilding his defence after the departure of Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen to Barcelona, leaving the ageing Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta as Chelsea’s frontline centre-halves. Kounde would add to the recent arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly at Stamford Bridge.

Follow Euro 2022: Germany vs Austria LIVE

Elsewhere, Real Madrid do not want to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Marca. The Mail reports Leicester have rejected a £15m bid from Monaco for Boubakary Soumare. And Leicester are willing to consider big-money offers for James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho in order to raise funds to strengthen the squad, the Telegraph claims.

Follow all the latest transfer news with our live blog below:

Transfer news LIVE

• De Jong prefers alternative moves to Man United

• Newcastle keen on Leeds winger Harrison

• Man City want Cucurella to replace Zinchenko

• Kounde deal close for Chelsea after £55m bid

• Southampton reach £12m agreement for Bordeaux forward Sekou Mara

• Chris Richards set for Crystal Palace medical ahead of transfer from Bayern

• Brentford agree terms with free agent Ben Mee

Germany vs Austria LIVE: Team news, line-ups and more for tonight’s Euro 2022 quarter-final

Thursday 21 July 2022 18:54 , Luke Baker

Germany face Austria in the second quarter-final of Euro 2022 at the Brentford Community Stadium this evening. The Germans arrived in England with lowered expectations but are now contenders to take the title after a perfect group stage. They defeated Denmark, Spain and Finland to win all three group matches and finish top of Group B. The eight-time European champions will now feel confident of reaching the semi-finals as they take on an over-performing Austrian side tonight.

Austria are one of the biggest underdogs left in the competition. No-one was expecting them to make it out of the group stages but a confident display against England on the opening matchday showed they may have been underestimated. Although they lost that fixture 1-0 they responded with a victory over Northern Ireland before defeating Norway 1-0 in the crucial final group game to finish second behind England and reach the quarter-finals.

No side covered more ground than Austria during the group stages and they will have to produce yet another determined performance if they are to upset Germany tonight. Many of Austria’s team also play in the Frauen-Bundesliga so both sides will be familiar with each other and the winner will set up a meeting with either France or the Netherlands in the next round.

Follow all the action from the Euro 2022 quarter-finals:

Germany vs Austria LIVE: Latest Euro 2022 quarter-final updates

Georgia Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

Thursday 21 July 2022 18:15 , Karl Matchett

It was the type of goal that Georgia Stanway, growing up in the footballing outpost of Barrow-in-Furness, playing in the back garden with her brothers, would always have imagined herself scoring. The sort of emphatic, long-range strike that is befitting of such a stage, that deserved to book England’s place in the semi-finals of another major international tournament.

But in the white heat of the extra time win over Spain in Brighton, when that dream had become a reality, it was a moment she could barely remember.

“It all feels like a massive blur at the moment,” the Bayern Munich-bound midfielder said after the final whistle. “I need to watch it back and see where I was, how it went in the net, I literally can’t remember. I remember saying to one of the girls, ‘At what moment did we actually score?’”

That is one of the great ironies of such moments in elite sport. While a goal as spectacular and as significant as Stanway’s will live long in the memory of many who witnessed it, whether they were one of the 28,994 inside the Amex or the millions watching at home, it will only be a vague, hazed mess of sweat, strains and lactic acid in the mind of the woman who scored it. You wait all your life to score a goal like that and then struggle to remember how you did what did, or even why you did.

Mark Critchley looks at England’s matchwinner in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals:

Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 18:00 , Karl Matchett

Here’s the latest around The Independent over summer transfer news and deals being struck:

Bruno Fernandes says he doesn’t know what’s on Cristiano Ronaldo’s mind in terms of a transfer this summer and that he must be given space to overcome personal issues which have kept him off Man United’s pre-season tour.

Aaron Ramsey has been left off Juventus’ own pre-season tour amid rumours he’s set for a permanent exit from Turin, though his £400,000 a week contract is once again proving problematic in terms of finding a club.

And Mikel Arteta has revealed the biggest reasons behind Arsenal’s move for Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is soon set to seal a £32m transfer from Man City.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 17:40 , Karl Matchett

Nicolas Pepe is one of the names likely to depart Arsenal this summer, be it on loan or permanently, with HITC via football.london suggesting that Newcastle United might be his destination.

The Magpies are keen on a winger this summer, it seems, given their links to Jack Harrison too.

Meanwhile, the Athletic say Arsenal are still keen on Youri Tielemans and Leicester are “open to selling” if they get a “suitable offer” for the Belgian centre mid.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 17:20 , Karl Matchett

The Guardian are reporting that if Chelsea go on and complete the Jules Kounde deal, who Barcelona also want, the Catalan outfit will turn their attentions to Arsenal’s William Saliba.

The French defender is expected to finally be given a chance this season by the Gunners but he won’t necessarily be first choice, which perhaps a move to the Camp Nou might do.

Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are still on Barca’s minds, too.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 17:00 , Karl Matchett

Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda has been talking about Cristiano Ronaldo on Sky Sports News today and still firmly believes he’s set for a transfer away from Old Trafford this summer.

“I can’t see Ronaldo from Man Utd next season. The two main teams one step closer than the others are Chelsea and Atletico Madrid,” he said.

“I can see him playing for those two teams - Chelsea have a new owner, a new project, with money to spend on transfers.

“Likewise Madrid is Ronaldo’s second home, he’s got a home there, his wife is from there. It’s a big option for him - but first of all, they would need to find the money. The transfer fee would be around €15-20m, but his salary would be very high for them.

“We already saw Bayern Munich making an offer for Joao Felix, which was refused, but with the possibility of Ronaldo, I think Atletico will have to decide what they want for their future.”

Still a long way to run on this one.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 16:45 , Karl Matchett

Usually there are a whole load of players available on free transfers who have to wait until nearer the end of the transfer window to sort out their futures, though quite a few have done so already. The aforementioned Matic and Dybala are two, but also Tarkowski, Pogba, Kessie, Rudiger and Sule have all moved after their contracts expired and have new clubs already.

So who is left on the free transfer list? Quite a few, right now. Here are some of the top names and highest ‘valued’ players who are without teams - any you fancy for your club?!

• Andrea Belotti (has just left Torino)

• Jesse Lingard (Man United)

• Jason Denayer (Lyon)

• Serge Aurier (Spurs)

• Dan-Axel Zagadou (Dortmund)

• Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)

• Isco (Real Madrid)

• Yaroslav Rakitskyi (Zenit)

• Marcelo (Real Madrid)

• Dries Mertens (Napoli)

• Edinson Cavani (Man United)

• Matias Vecino (Inter Milan)

• Denis Cheryshev (Valencia)

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 16:30 , Karl Matchett

Georginio Wijnaldum’s short, unproductive and unhappy stay in Paris looks to be coming to a rapid close.

The Dutch midfielder is set for a transfer to AS Roma, reports Italian media and Sky Sport, just a year after moving to PSG on a free transfer.

PSG want a permanent deal and there’s no agreement between the clubs just yet, with Roma having already added midfielder Nemanja Matic this summer as well as yesterday’s deal for free agent Paulo Dybala.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 16:15 , Karl Matchett

Two potential deals for Fulham are moving closer to a resolution but neither are quite there yet.

Kevin Mbabu is almost signed and sealed, with a deal agreed with Wolfsburg over a €5.5m transfer. The 27-year-old has already agreed personal terms but a medical is still required, says Fabrizio Romano.

Bernd Leno on the other hand is still a way off completion, with no agreement yet between Fulham and Arsenal - but the goalkeeper is happy with the move to go through, reports Florian Plettenberg. The Gunners will need to lower their asking price for the deal to happen.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 16:00 , Karl Matchett

Juventus have signed Gleison Bremer and, apparently, this is a big boost for Tottenham. Matthijs de Ligt’s move to Bayern Munich left the Turin club with a hole in defence and money in their pockets, some of which has now gone on Bremer - instead of Pau Torres.

The Villarreal defender is a target for Spurs in the final weeks of the window, say football.london, and there’s no major competition left now Juve are out of the running.

Man United were linked with him for much of last year but cannot offer Champions League football.

Mikel Arteta reveals reasons behind Arsenal’s signing of ‘exceptional’ Oleksandr Zinchenko

Thursday 21 July 2022 15:50 , Karl Matchett

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Oleksandr Zinchenko’s versatility ahead of the Ukrainian international’s move from Manchester City.

The Gunners have agreed a deal with the Premier League champions worth £30million up front, plus £2m in add-ons for the 25-year-old, who will become their fifth recruit of the summer.

Zinchenko worked with Arteta when the Spaniard was an assistant to Pep Guardiola at City from 2016 to 2019.

“There are still a few formalities to get everything completed but we’re really happy to have him,” Arteta told reporters after Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Orlando City. “I know the player really well. He’s an exceptional footballer.

“He is someone that is going to bring as well another competitive edge to that dressing room. He was a natural No. 10 early in his career and we converted him into a left back which can do a lot of things that we want in our way of playing.

“That versatility is something that is going to be important for the team because we have players in that position (left back) who are more specific full backs, so I’m really happy.”

Mikel Arteta reveals reasons behind Arsenal’s signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko

Tyson Fury to sponsor hometown football club Morecambe

Thursday 21 July 2022 15:40 , Karl Matchett

Not exactly transfer news, but retired world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is to sponsor his local football club, Sky Bet League One outfit Morecambe.

The Shrimps have announced Fury’s ‘Gypsy King’ brand will feature on their home and away playing shorts for the 2022-23 season.

The club added that a further announcement regarding an extension to the partnership will be made “at a later date”.

Fury, 33, is originally from Manchester but has been based in Morecambe for much of his boxing career.

Tyson Fury to sponsor Morecambe Football Club

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 15:30 , Karl Matchett

Two Premier League clubs want to bring former Man United youngster Adnan Januzaj back to England, say AS.

The playmaker has left Real Sociedad and he’s now on the shortlist of West Ham, Everton, Napoli and Sevilla, while further afield there are offers in Qatar, say the Spanish outlet.

A big decision lies ahead as he looks to recapture form, fitness...and a place in the Belgium squad for the World Cup.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 15:15 , Karl Matchett

TalkSport say Manchester United have had a £51m bid for Ajax winger Antony rejected, but they are keen to go back for more.

That would make it a manager, a defender and a winger from the Dutch club moving to Old Trafford this summer, with one other midfielder already in place and another midfielder high on the agenda for another summer deal. Oh, and a former Ajax playmaker brought in this summer too. Any more?!

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 15:00 , Karl Matchett

It isn’t always the case that it leads to a transfer, but a few notable names have now been left off their respective clubs’ pre-season tours:

• Man United’s Cristiano Ronaldo

• Juve’s Aaron Ramsey

• Sevilla’s Jules Kounde

The latter is expected to depart for Chelsea very soon now, after another big bid was made last night - that could leave Thomas Tuchel looking at a Kounde, Silva, Koulibaly back line for 22/23.

Ronaldo, we know, has been left out for family reasons - but that hasn’t stopped rumours from circling over his future, though it seems uncertain that any of Europe’s top teams are ready to bring him in.

And as for Ramsey, he has long seemed to have no future in Turin...but he didn’t exactly set the place alight at Rangers last season on loan and no big names have been linked this summer either.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 14:45 , Karl Matchett

And another deal almost done in the Premier League: Sky Sports report that Brentford have agreed terms with former Burnley centre-back Ben Mee.

He is one of several departures from the Clarets this summer after their relegation and he’s having a medical today with the Bees.

Having been Burnley captain for a long time, he’ll provide good organisation and depth for Brentford, who are facing their second season in the top flight.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 14:29 , Karl Matchett

An update for Crystal Palace as they inch closer toward a third senior signing of the summer.

Chris Richards is in London and preparing for a medical, ahead of his £17m move from Bayern Munich.

The centre-back has been capped eight times by USA and has been in Germany since 2019, spending time on loan at Hoffenheim as well as with Bayern’s first and second teams.

Not to be confused with Omar Richards, of course, the English left-wing back who has just left Bayern as well, joining Nottingham Forest.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 14:21 , Karl Matchett

West Ham are in for three attacking reinforcements, according to the latest reports.

Several British outlets have already been claiming that a deal for Armando Broja could be close, with the striker moving from Chelsea, but Italian media also say they want Sassuolo attacker Gianluca Scamacca.

He would be pricey at €40m, with PSG already put off by that fee this summer.

Finally, there’s also a reported Hammers enquiry for Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 14:00 , Karl Matchett

Latest on Josko Gvardiol: Nothing at all.

That’s according to Bundesliga reporter Stefan Bienkowski, who says there have been no bids from anywhere yet but that Man City are into the mix along with Chelsea - linked to the defender yesterday as a Presnel Kimpembe alternative - as Leipzig look to hold onto their talented youngster.

He has played at left-back and centre-back, and was one of the big reasons for allowing both Konate and Upamecano to leave Leipzig a year ago.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:50 , Karl Matchett

Leeds United are “actively pursuing” a new striker and left-back as Jesse Marsch continues preparations for the new season in Australia.

The West Yorkshire club have seen star men Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips leave for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively since avoiding relegation on the final day of last season.

Leeds have moved quickly as they attempt to replace the duo and bolster their options for the 2022-23 campaign, but there remains work to do as Marsch works with the group Down Under.

The Elland Road outfit have been attempting to sign Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere but face stiff competition from Serie A champions AC Milan, with the American pinpointing striker and left-back as areas to improve.

Jesse Marsch reveals positions Leeds are ‘actively pursuing’ in summer window

What Man City’s willingness to sell to key rivals says about Pep Guardiola

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:40 , Karl Matchett

Meanwhile, Man City’s change of approach in the transfer market this summer is a real difference for Pep Guardiola to deal with, writes Rich Jolly.

It was a title won from the bench, by four men who started on the sidelines. Pep Guardiola remained there, too – he has made some leftfield moves in his time but bringing himself on at 51 minutes would have been a stretch too far – but his replacements made the difference. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice. The first was set up by Raheem Sterling, another who was brought on. Sandwiched by the German’s brace came a goal for Rodri; the assist, with a precise cutback capping an influential display in the second half, came from Oleksandr Zinchenko.

In the aftermath of Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa to win the Premier League on the final day of last season, it did not go unnoticed that Guardiola had turned to Zinchenko, Gundogan and Sterling ahead of the £100m man, Jack Grealish. Two months on, it assumes another importance. They proved Zinchenko and Sterling’s valedictory contributions in a City shirt. Gabriel Jesus started that day, but the Brazilian proved a placeholder until Erling Haaland’s arrival.

Now each will play his home games in London this season, the Ukrainian and the Brazilian for Arsenal, the Englishman for Chelsea. Sterling could have been joined at Stamford Bridge by Nathan Ake, had Chelsea been prepared to match City’s asking price and Guardiola been able to find a suitable successor.

If one pertinent point is City’s willingness to sell to domestic rivals – or, to put it another way, the fact that Premier League clubs are paying them some £120m, more than funding the transfer fees for Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and Haaland – another is Guardiola’s willingness to cull his squad players, to dispense with the trusted who have made crucial interventions even when not automatic choices.

What Man City’s willingness to sell to key rivals says about Pep Guardiola

Georgia Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:30 , Karl Matchett

Let’s move away from the transfers for a moment and take a look at last night, where England overcame Spain in extra time to book their spot in the Euro 2022 semi-finals. Mark Critchley discusses the Lionesses’ matchwinner:

It was the type of goal that Georgia Stanway, growing up in the footballing outpost of Barrow-in-Furness, playing in the back garden with her brothers, would always have imagined herself scoring. The sort of emphatic, long-range strike that is befitting of such a stage, that deserved to book England’s place in the semi-finals of another major international tournament.

But in the white heat of the extra time win over Spain in Brighton, when that dream had become a reality, it was a moment she could barely remember.

“It all feels like a massive blur at the moment,” the Bayern Munich-bound midfielder said after the final whistle. “I need to watch it back and see where I was, how it went in the net, I literally can’t remember. I remember saying to one of the girls, ‘At what moment did we actually score?’”

That is one of the great ironies of such moments in elite sport. While a goal as spectacular and as significant as Stanway’s will live long in the memory of many who witnessed it, whether they were one of the 28,994 inside the Amex or the millions watching at home, it will only be a vague, hazed mess of sweat, strains and lactic acid in the mind of the woman who scored it. You wait all your life to score a goal like that and then struggle to remember how you did what did, or even why you did.

Stanway mixes teamwork and timing to provide England’s most spectacular moment

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:15 , Karl Matchett

Rumour round-up time.

Leicester may consider offers for England midfielder James Maddison, according to The Telegraph. The Foxes are yet to make a signing this summer as they look to sell before they buy, with forward Kelechi Iheanacho and full-back Timothy Castagne also reportedly on the chopping block.

Staying with Leicester, the Daily Mail says the club have rejected a £15m bid from Monaco for midfielder Boubakary Soumare as they hold on to a higher price for the 23-year-old.

More here:

Football rumours: Chelsea eyeing Josko Gvardiol to replace Cesar Azpilicueta

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:17 , Karl Matchett

Breaking news, or maybe not: Thomas Muller does not fancy a move to the Emirates. Another season of winning trophies instead, then.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 13:00 , Karl Matchett

Uncertainty over Aaron Ramsey’s future grew on Thursday when he was left out of Juventus’ squad for the Serie A club’s pre-season tour to the United States.

The 31-year-old Wales midfielder, who spent the second half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at cinch Premiership Rangers, has been omitted from Massimiliano Allegri’s travelling party along with Federico Chiesa, Mattia De Sciglio, Kaio Jorge, Arthur Melo, Marko Pjaca and Adrien Rabiot.

Ramsey is in the final year of his lucrative contract at Juve, for whom he made just five appearances last season, and has been linked with a return to former club Cardiff.

The ex-Arsenal player’s career has been blighted by injury, but he remains a key member of the national team as they prepare for their first World Cup since 1958 later this year.

It appears his future lies away from Turin, although his situation is complicated by a reported £400,000-a-week pay packet.

Aaron Ramsey absent from Juventus pre-season tour amid uncertainty over future

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 12:52 , Karl Matchett

Fabio Paratici is “happy with the squad” at Tottenham now and will turn his attentions to selling players this summer, says Fabrizio Romano.

Six additions have been made to the senior squad this summer, with Richarlison the most expensive and Djed Spence the most recent, but now it’s time to offload those who don’t have a future under Antonio Conte.

Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks are no

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Steven Bergwijn are the biggest departures so far.

“I think in August, Fabio Paratici will look at some opportunities, but as of now, they’re really happy with the market they had.”

“Tottenham is focusing on selling players, because they have too many players with Antonio Conte right now.”

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 12:31 , Karl Matchett

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam says Man City’s approach for Brighton wing-back Marc Cucurella is far from over despite having a £30m offer rejected.

However, it’ll take a massive improvement to prise him away from the Amex.

“We know this will carry on. Pep Guardiola is massively keen on Cucurella and he is at the top of their list when it comes to replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko. This is a situation I think will rumble on for some time,” McAdam said.

“It’s our understanding that Brighton will only entertain an offer that is in excess of £50m. He has been such a prominent figure for Graham Potter, he is a hugely loved member of the dressing room.”

Not a bad profit for one year, after they signed him for around £15m.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 12:18 , Karl Matchett

Southampton are on the verge of a £12m deal for Bordeaux forward Sekou Mara.

Newcastle and ‘Gladbach were also in the running but had gone low with their bids, with the French team facing financial problems.

Bordeaux say they now have an “agreement in principle” with Saints and he’s headed to England for a medical and to discuss personal terms. He could become Saints’ seventh signing of the window soon.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 12:00 , Karl Matchett

Man United are in need of a new right-back it seems and French media say they are going for Benjamin Pavard.

Chelsea and the Red Devils are in fact both keen, say L’Equipe, with Bayern Munich open to a sale with two years left on his contract. Worth noting perhaps that the rumour suggests he wants regular game time at centre-back, rather than on the flank where he has been stationed for club and country - though no bids are in for him yet, with Juventus and Atletico both eyeing him up too.

Another French outlet (of less standing, it should be noted) suggests United are considering signing free agent Dan-Axel Zagadou, who just left Dortmund.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 11:45 , Karl Matchett

Mikel Arteta has done some decent business this summer with Arsenal, brining in Jesus, Marquinhos, Vieira and Turner, but after Zinchenko makes it five arrivals it will be a case of offloading some others.

“It’s what we have today. We have a large squad, so we have to make some decisions as well on the players that we’re not going to be using consistently and be fair and straight with them and that’s a process that is going to start very soon as well,” he said.

“We have to [sell some]. We have a big squad and now we have to make things happen.”

The Mirror suggest Nicolas Pepe may be sent out on loan, while Pablo Mari, Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be allowed to leave.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 11:30 , Karl Matchett

Rumour mill quick hits from the papers this morning:

• Newcastle are tracking Benjamin Sesko from Salzburg (Mail)

• Bruno Fernandes “doesn’t know” what Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is at Man United (Times)

• Spurs have offered Barcelona Sergio Reguilon on loan (Express)

• Rangers want Besiktas left-back Ridvan Yilmaz (Mail)

• Man United right-back target Jonathan Clauss has signed for Marseille instead (multiple)

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 11:18 , Karl Matchett

Nottingham Forest are really going big this summer, aren’t they?! Yesterday a double deal for Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien was completed, the pair arriving from Huddersfield, while today they’re linked with two more.

First up, the Mail say they will offer a two-year deal to Jesse Lingard with a £180k-a-week salary, far out-bidding West Ham for his services.

Then, they’re trying to land Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis too, despite already adding Taiwo Awoniyi to the squad this summer as their big attacking addition.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 11:00 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea made another bid for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde last night and reports suggest they are confident the deal will now be completed in short order.

A £55m fee appears to be enough to tempt the Andalucians to part ways with the French defender and personal terms are already agreed.

The Mail and Mirror both claim Kounde has said his goodbyes at Sevilla and he now appears likely to not head away with his current club over the weekend, but instead seal a switch to west London.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 10:49 , Karl Matchett

A couple of rumours from around Europe, then?

First off Real Madrid legend Marcelo, who left in the summer after lifting one more Champions League trophy, is in talks with Lazio.

The Serie A side are hoping to work a deal, but Gazzetta say a three-year deal might be too much for them to offer the 34-year-old, which is what he’s asking.

Back in La Liga, Villarreal have set in motion the wheels to sign former Man United striker Edinson Cavani, say Marca.

The Uruguayan has spoken with Unai Emery and there’s a willingness to do a deal, though it’s not very advanced yet, they say.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 10:30 , Karl Matchett

Everton boss Frank Lampard is going to “need to be inventive in the loan market to acquire midfielders and attackers” and “can reinvest some, but not all, of the £60million received for Richarlison”, report the Telegraph.

The Toffees were hammered 4-0 by MLS side Minnesota United last night in a pre-season friendly, with Lampard saying it was a reminder that the team are not magically improved from last season when they struggled in a relegation fight.

They have only signed James Tarkowski on a free so far, and more deals are needed to boost the squad.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 10:15 , Karl Matchett

Manuel Akanji is being offered around the Premier League after being told he is not in Edin Terzic’s plans at Borussia Dortmund.

That’s the word out of Gazzetta, for some reason, who say the Bundesliga defender has been linked with Arsenal but prefers a move to Manchester United.

£21m is the reported fee - quite a lot for a centre-back with his injury issues and the fact his team don’t seem to want him - but there’s not much other detail to the story.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 10:00 , Karl Matchett

Let’s look around some of the other Premier League teams, starting with Liverpool.

The Echo cite a number of sources over a couple of rumours, starting with the oft-seen one this summer that they like Jude Bellingham, but there’s no chance of a deal. Not much of an update, is it?

Elsewhere there’s talk of a “soft enquiry” from West Ham over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has picked up an injury in pre-season, and a suggestion that Matheus Nunes remains a midfield target for the Reds - at a price of £43m.

Again, it’s looking unlikely that a midfielder will join considering Jurgen Klopp said...that a midfielder would not join.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 09:45 , Karl Matchett

Newcastle are still making eyes at Jack Harrison, say the Athletic.

This rumour escalated quickly across the weekend and the talk is that the Magpies would see a £25m deal as money well spent, but Leeds are aiming to put a £35m price on him and didn’t expect to sell the winger this summer.

After already losing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, it would mean big incomings for Jesse Marsch’s team, but lots of key players needing to be replaced.

Transfer news LIVE latest

Thursday 21 July 2022 09:30 , Karl Matchett

Transfer triangles, you love to see them. But, like part-exchange deals or club record signings who actually turn out to be a club’s best-ever player, they don’t seem to come off quite as often as hoped for.

Arsenal, Man City and Brighton have seemingly got the best chance to do it this summer, with the aforementioned Zinchenko the first domino to fall.

Then it’s about Man City getting the replacement done: they want Brighton’s Marc Cucurella, with reports last night suggesting a £30m bid had been turned down. There’s a huge gap between that bid and the Seagulls’ £50m price tag, too.

But if that goes ahead, O Jogo are reporting that Brighton want Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares on loan to complete the equation.

All very neat. Let’s make it happen.

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Thursday 21 July 2022 09:16 , Karl Matchett

Onto Manchester United next and their Frenkie de Jong chase - which isn’t, at the moment, looking like being a success.

Spanish outlet Sport are today reporting that the Dutch midfielder feels the club is run in an “erratic” manner and he doesn’t see a platform for his career to improve there, naming two other preferences instead if he has to leave Barcelona.

They would be Chelsea or Bayern Munich, both of which can offer Champions League football and both of which he feels are better-run clubs, according to the report.

De Jong apparently isn’t a fan of the city of Manchester either and, in any case, would still prefer to stay at Barcelona - but it’s clear they want him out.

It looks set to be a story which drags on into next month.

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Thursday 21 July 2022 09:07 , Karl Matchett

And here’s where we are on the current Premier League sagas, starting with Man City since they are being particularly busy.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is on the verge of an Arsenal move, with the clubs agreeing a £32m deal for the left-back, who might now actually become the cental midfielder again.

Pep Guardiola had some kind words to say about the Ukrainian before he departs:

Pep Guardiola thanks Oleksandr Zinchenko before Arsenal move

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Thursday 21 July 2022 08:57 , Karl Matchett

Here’s a quick rundown to get us started of some of the notable done deals from the start of this week:

• Paulo Dybala signed on at Roma after leaving Juventus on a free

• Calvin Bassey swapped Rangers for Ajax in a deal worth more than £22m

• Robert Lewandowski completed his Barcelona move at last, for around £42.5m

• While his old club Bayern Munich signed Matthijs de Ligt for up to €80m - who scored on his debut last night in the States

• And in WSL, Man United landed Maya Le Tissier from Brighton on a three-year deal

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Thursday 21 July 2022 08:46 , Lawrence Ostlere

A round-up of this morning’s rumours, with Chelsea’s search for a new defence front and centre:

Football rumours: Chelsea eyeing Josko Gvardiol to replace Cesar Azpilicueta

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Thursday 21 July 2022 08:33 , Lawrence Ostlere

Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours today.