Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal sign Willian, Manchester United push for Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell blow
Look back on today’s updates from the summer transfer window as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea looked to make major statements while Liverpool and Manchester City went to battle once more
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The transfer window is here and condensed more than ever as clubs look to frantically acquire talent with a short rest before the new campaign begins.
The day’s big news was Arsenal finally announcing their signing of Willian after he left Chelsea. Manchester United, meanwhile, could challenge Chelsea to sign Ben Chilwell, with Leicester City previously putting an £80m valuation on the England full-back. Elsewhere, Manchester City could upgrade in midfield with a £40m swoop for Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks. In Spain, Jan Oblak’s future is now under more scrutiny with Atletico Madrid crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of RB Leipzig last night – Chelsea are keen on the goalkeeper to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga after the Spaniard’s poor season.
Man United continued their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, with the Germans holding out for £108m and not a penny less. Juventus meanwhile are keen on Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, and have offered several players in a player-plus-cash deal which includes Gonzalo Higuain, Douglas Costa and Christian Romero. Re-live all the updates below.
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Tammy Abraham has vowed to react to Timo Werner's arrival and thrive off the competition at Chelsea.
Abraham said: “This is Chelsea Football Club, there's always going to be high standards and high competition and this is something I've been dreaming of since I was a kid.
"I've always been fighting for it, it's never come easy, it wasn't easy at the start of the season but I worked my way into the team and that's what I've got to keep doing.”
Marca say Real Madrid's summer business is all about raising €200 million, to cover the costs the club will lose out on due to coronavirus.
They've made a good start by selling Achraf Hakimi (€40m) and Javi Sanchez (€3.5m) but plenty more must follow.
There are doubts over the futures, then, of defenders Nacho and Jesus Vallejo, midfielders Luka Modric, Isco and James Rodriguez, and forwards Luka Jovic and Borja Mayoral...plus Gareth Bale, of course.
It might be that the earliest offers are the ones which are accepted slightly lower, as Madrid worry first about getting cash in and then only later about getting full value.
News from Italy now and Gazzetta dello Sport suggest Antonio Conte is keen on being reunited with another former player.
This time it's Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, who is see as the answer to Inter Milan's midfield search this summer.
No move will be made until after the club have finished their Europa League run, however.
Lee Cattermole has retired as a player as he plots a move into coaching.
After spells at Middlesbrough, Wigan, Sunderland and VVV Venlo in the Netherlands, the 32-year-old admitted the current situation has pushed him to prematurely retire.
“With the current situation, the amount of time I have had at home and a great season in Holland, the time is right for me to look into going down the coaching route," said Cattermole.
"Ordinarily I don’t think it would have been this year, my aim would have been to play two more seasons. It was a difficult decision. If the season hadn’t finished like it did in May then things might not have been like this, but I think this is right.”
In one of the stranger moves of the summer, Mbunya Alemanji, 16, looks primed to swap Cambridge United for Roma.
With personal terms already agreed, according to Sky Sports, all that is left is for the League 2 side to accept a fee.
The youngster would initially join Roma’s Under-18 side.
In bigger news - in terms of player reputation, teams and prices - Manchester City are definitely interested in Kalidou Koulibaly...but haven't yet made an offer.
That's the rumour out of the Manchester Evening News, who also say Pep Guardiola's team definitely don't want Thiago Alcantara, contrary to recent reports.
But further defensive recruitment is on the agenda, with the Napoli man near the top of the list.
Here's a wild one from Tuttosport: the Italian outlet claim Juventus are back to being keen on Paul Pogba.
And here's the best bit—this time they want to use Paulo Dybala as bait to entice Manchester United into a deal, offering up the forward in part-exchange.
Pogba is Andrea Pirlo's top priority for summer, apparently.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is wanted by West Ham United, according to French reports.
The Strasbourg midfielder impressed this season and the Hammers, along with Fiorentina, are keen to sign Bellegarde (right, below), says Foot Mercato.
Manchester United are ready to complete a deal for a talented you winger - no, not that one.
Filip Stevanovic will move to Old Trafford for €12m (£10.8m) from Partizan Belgrade, though he'll spend another year in Serbia on loan before becoming a United player.
That's according to Outlet Republika, with the 17-year-old having featured for Partizan's first team 35 times this season.
In further Man United news, Paul Merson thinks they should forget about Jadon Sancho and sign Harry Kane instead.
"With Sancho, where is everyone going to play? Do they leave Greenwood out?" he says in his Star column today.
"I just think with £100m, why don’t you go and get Kane from Tottenham?
"Over 38 games, Harry Kane will score more goals for you than Sancho. I think they have a chance of winning the Premier League if he goes there."
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