Friday's transfer news: Man United lead Bruno Fernandes chase over Spurs, Liverpool eye £45m Junior Firpo bid
The transfer window is hotting up
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The transfer window is hotting up with clubs up and down the country set to spend big.
There have already been some big deals this transfer window. Manchester United wasted no time in snapping up Daniel James from Swansea City for £18m, while Eden Hazard finally completed his protracted move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, for a fee which could ultimately exceed £100m.
A number of big deals are meanwhile still in the pipeline. Both Paul Pogba and Christian Eriksen have indicated that they want ‘new challenges’, while Matthijs de Ligt is a top target for just about every European super club. Where will he end up? Follow all of the latest below:
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Arsenal are meanwhile set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged. A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar.
It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. And Liverpool could be active too as they look to go one better after failing to win the Premier League title by just a single point.
Sarri demands two players to stay at Juve
Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has made it clear he wants Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa to stay in Turin.
After being unveiled as the new Bianconeri boss, Gazzetta dello Sport claim he wants the two forwards to stay, despite speculation linking both with an exit.
Sarri will hope to build on his Europa League success and finally land the Serie A title after going so close with Napoli.
Celtic set to complete deal for Motherwell star
David Turnbull will complete his move to Celtic on Friday afternoon so long as he passes his Parkhead medical.
The on-off saga surrounding the Motherwell midfielder's move took another dramatic twist on Thursday night when it emerged he had backed out of a switch to Norwich in favour of joining the Hoops.
That came after it appeared the champions had pulled the plug on their £3.25million swoop for the 19-year-old Scottish Football Writers' Association young player of the year.
Celtic released a statement last week announcing they were ready to "move on" to new targets after Turnbull had rejected their "magnificent offer".
But the Scotland Under-21 playmaker, who netted 15 goals in his breakthrough campaign last year, has had a change of heart and will now swap Fir Park for Celtic Park.
Buffon options down to two
Atalanta and Porto are fighting it out for Gianluigi Buffon after his release from PSG.
Sky Sport Italia claim the Portuguese giants are rivaling the revelation of last season's Serie A after Iker Casillas' health problems.
Buffon will only consider a Champions League club, unless it is for his former club Parma.
Xhaka to be handed captaincy
Atletico Madrid ended their interest in Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after confirming a move for Marcos Llorente.
Llorente moves from Real Madrid and the Star report the Gunners are now set to hand the Swiss international the captaincy.
With four years remaining on his deal, Emery sees Xhaka as a big part of his plans.
Brighton set to sign Pompey star
Portsmouth centre-back Matt Clarke will move to south coast rivals Brighton.
The Sun report the 22-year-old will cost up to £5m, with the initial fee £3.4m.
Clarke will boost new manager Graham Potter and pen a four-year deal at the Amex.
Milan knock back Barcelona ahead of £36m offer
Matthijs De Ligt appears to be edging towards PSG, meaning Barcelona must find an alternative.
Alessio Romagnoli has reportedly been identified, claim Tuttosport, but AC Milan have already told them a move is "absolutely impossible".
That was before Barcelona could table a €40m (£36m) bid for the Italian defender.
Unai Emery is looking at bringing in Armando Izzo
The Torino centre-back is edging closer to an Emirates move, claim SportItalia.
The Granata want around €30m (£26.8m), with Sevilla, Lazio and Inter also keen.
Marcos Llorente has completed his move to Atletico Madrid.
The former Real Madrid midfielder has pushed to move across the city, having supported Atleti as a boy.
The £36m move will likely see him replace Rodri, who is bound for Man City or Bayern.
The Spain international has penned a five-year deal.
Christian Romero has confirmed he is set to join Juventus
Maurizio Sarri is set to bring in his first signing as boss in Turin with the Genoa defender arriving.
The Argentine, 21, has impressed in Liguria since arriving from Belgrano last summer.
Romero told Canal Show Sport: "When Chiellini told me he was waiting for me, I almost cried & I couldn't believe it, I told it to everyone."
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