Transfer news live: Nemanja Matic set for Manchester United move as Chelsea close in on £100m double deal
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The summer transfer window may not have opened but that hasn't stopped the rumour mill from working into overdrive.
Every man and his dog has been linked to Manchester United in the last few weeks while Arsenal’s search for a much-needed forward continues.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Alvaro Morata, Andrea Belotti, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez have all been linked with moves in what promises to be another summer of bumper signings.
How Manchester United could line up next season
Show all 12Still, a number of clubs have set about their business early. Manchester City are the summer’s early pace setters, having already signed both Bernardo Silva and Ederson, while Mohamed Salah recently joined Liverpool in a £34.3m move from Roma.
Everton are the other big spenders so far in the window, signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for £30m and Ajax’s Davy Klaassen for £23.6m.
We will have all the latest throughout the day here so don't touch that dial.
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live transfer blog for Monday 26th June.
Join us throughout the day to keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, gossip, updates and rumours from the Premier League and around the rest of Europe.
Here are some of the stories making the headlines across the backpages this morning:
The Daily Star claims that Arsenal and Manchester City are weighing up the possibility of completing a straight swap deal for ALEXIS SANCHEZ and SERGIO AGUERO. Both clubs have been linked with the other's star striker and, with no current movement on any one-way deal, an exchange could be the perfect solution. Sanchez is also said to be attracting glances from Bayern Munich, so City might have to move fast to capture the Chilean.
The Daily Mirror reports that Swansea have rejected a £30m bid from Everton for GYLFI SIGURDSSON. Toffees boss Ronald Koeman is unlikely to be dissuaded, however, as he targets a player who scored nine goals to help the Swans survive in the top flight last season. Following the Icelandic schemer out of the door could be underachieving striker BORJA BASTON, the £15m record buy from Atletico Madrid who looks set to return to Spain with Malaga.
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has reassured WAYNE ROONEY that he would have a "positive experience" if he moved to the Chinese Super League, the Swede has told the Daily Mail. The 31-year-old is considering leaving Manchester United after losing his place in the starting XI.
Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign KELECHI IHEANACHO from Manchester City, writes the Daily Mirror. The young Nigerian striker has emerged as a transfer target for West Ham and Leicester in recent weeks and now the ambitious Eagles are ready to swoop.
New manager alert!
Are Palace about to announce the Pope as their new manager? Or is it Frank de Boer? Their last tweet suggests something is afoot...
Keita to cost Liverpool £70m
Liverpool must pay double what they paid for Mohamed Salah if they are to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig this summer, as Jurgen Klopp looks to push ahead for the second of his seven summer transfers.
Liverpool have been interested in Keita, who has won frequent comparisons to N’Golo Kante, all summer but according to German sports daily Bild, they must pay up to £70m for his services.
It comes only days after Leipzig’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff insisted they would not be selling any of their stars this summer, including another Liverpool target Emil Forsberg, and insisted it would be “negligent” to do so.
“It would be negligent to sell one of our key players now,” he said last week.
“Emil and Naby are extremely talented and developing players. We are glad that we are able to keep up with their development as a club.
“And now we can prove ourselves in the Champions League in the coming season.”
Crystal Palace are expected to announce Frank de Boer as their new manager on Monday afternoon.
The club have called a press conference at their training ground for 2pm, where Sam Allardyce's successor will be named.
The Eagles are also set to unveil a new sponsorship deal but it is the end to their wait for a new boss that will please fans the most.
Allardyce resigned on May 24 and, as a sign of the time it has taken, the club put out a tweet to show white smoke rising from a chimney to signal the news.
Sanogo returning to France
Ex-Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo is set to sign with Toulouse, according to L'Equipe.
The French club looks to strengthen their attacking line as its main striker, Martin Braithwaite, wants to leave.
The Frenchman, who once started for the Gunners against Bayern Munich in a Champions League clash, left Arsenal after his contract expired this summer.
Meanwhile in France...
Claudio Ranieri speaks at his first press conference as Nantes coach.
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