Transfer news LIVE: Newcastle sign Isak, Man Utd chase keeper, Arsenal and Chelsea latest
Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are among those chasing deals with just days left of the summer transfer window
Cristiano Ronaldo’s search for a new club is intensifying as the Portuguese forward seeks an exit from Manchester United. Reports suggest his agent Jorge Mendes is working around the clock to find a suitor, with Sporting CP extremely interested and preparing to announce according to caughtoffside, while Sky Sports says Napoli are in the running and looking to make space in their budget for the superstar striker.
West Ham United are preparing a new bid for 24-year-old Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta after Lyon rejected an offer worth around £50m. Chelsea are weighing up their next – and possibly final – bid for Leicester’s wantaway defender Wesley Fofana, while Manchester United are doing likewise as they consider upping their offer for Ajax winger Antony. Football Insider claims United are also ready to offer for PSV’s Cody Gakpo despite the Athletic’s claim that interest in the winger had cooled.
Arsenal have been linked with Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans and Wolves forward Pedro Neto, with Nicolas Pepe set to depart on loan to Nice. Chelsea meanwhile are set to let winger Callum Hudson-Odoi join Bayer Leverkusen on loan, as talks continue with Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continue. Follow all the latest news, rumours and done deals below.
Thomas Tuchel will not change Chelsea tactics to cover N’Golo Kante injury
Thomas Tuchel will not tweak Chelsea’s tactics despite lamenting the “huge influence” of N’Golo Kante’s latest injury absence.
World Cup-winning France midfielder Kante will miss at least another month with his latest hamstring problem, leaving a notable chink in Chelsea’s armour.
Mateo Kovacic has shaken off a knee injury but is not ready to start Saturday’s Premier League clash with Leicester.
Thomas Tuchel will not change Chelsea tactics to cover N’Golo Kante injury
World Cup-winning France midfielder Kante will miss at least another month.
Hammers agree fee for Paqueta
West Ham have finally agreed a transfer fee for Lucas Paqueta, according to Sky Sports News.
They report that the Hammers have had their third bid for the Brazilian accepted believed to be over £50m.
Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, and the paperwork could be completed on Saturday morning with the 24-year-old’s arrival at the London Stadium taking the club’s summer spending close to the £200m mark.
Forest confirm Hwang Ui-jo signing
Nottingham Forest have signed Hwang Ui-jo and have immediately loaned the player out to Olympiacos.
Reading sign Sarr
Reading have announced the signing of central defender Naby Sarr on a four-year deal. The 29-year-old has signed a contract which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2026.
Sarr made 117 appearances for Charlton, helping them to promotion to the Sky Bet Championship in 2019, and was also a part of the Huddersfield side who went to the play-off final last campaign.
Reading boss Paul Ince said: “Naby is a physical, powerful, experienced centre-half who is proven at this level and is definitely up for the challenge of the Championship.
“He will be a fine example for the younger centre-halves we have coming through the ranks at Reading to follow and I am very pleased he has committed the next four years of his career to what we are aiming to achieve at this club.”
Chelsea hit issues with Aubameyang deal
Chelsea’s attempts to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have stalled again.
The Blues are attempting to bring the Gabon striker back to the Premier League just seven months after he was shipped off to Barcelona by Arsenal.
The first issue is over a fee with Barca wanting €30m for the striker and the Blue are unwilling to go that high. According to The Sun, a second problem has arisen due to personal terms.
Chelsea are only willing to offer the striker a one-year deal, whereas Aubameyang wants a two-year agreement - meaning a compromise will have to be struck for a deal to go through.
Adama Traore is happy to still be at Wolves, insists Bruno Lage
Wolves boss Bruno Lage insists Adama Traore is happy at the club ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.
The forward has remained at Molineux this summer despite failing to nail down a regular spot under Lage.
Traore spent the second half of last season on loan at boyhood club Barcelona but they failed to make the move permanent.
Adama Traore is happy to still be at Wolves, insists Bruno Lage
The forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona.
Conte refuses to rule out more signings
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has refused to rule out any further players joining the club before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
Speaking at his Friday press conference, the Italian coach revealed that he wanted at least two players in every position as he continues to build his Spurs squad.
“If there are players that go out then we need players to come in,” he revealed. “I want a squad with a couple of players in every role.”
Hwang Ui-jo ready to join Nottingham Forest
Fabrizio Romano reports that Hwang Ui-jo has joined Nottingham Forest on €5m deal from Bordeaux on a contract keeping him at the club until June 2025.
But, he will be immediatly loaned out to Olympiacos and regroup with Forest next year.
Economic levers and buying players who can’t play: Explaining Barcelona’s unexplainable summer
Barcelona have been exceptionally busy this summer, with work on and off the pitch ensuring the club has rarely been out of the headlines and frequently perplexing those on the outside.
From jumping in on big-money deals, back-and-forth battles with Spanish football authorities and the seemingly eternal battle to reduce the contracts of those already at the club, Joan Laporta has had a to-do list longer than most other clubs, and his work is far from over.
Given the constant updates that seem almost at odds with each other and the remarkable team rebuilding exercise they have embarked on, it begs the difficult question: exactly what are Barcelona doing this year?
Economic levers and players who can’t play: Explaining Barca’s unexplainable summer
Salary reductions, economic levers, free transfers they can’t afford to register and over €160m spent elsewhere anyway – what’s going on at the Camp Nou this season?
Klopp gives an update on Liverpool’s injuries
Liverpool are once again dealing with an injury crisis which has sparked more calls for the club to dip back into the transfer market and bring reinforcements into the squad.
When asked if this was a possibility Jurgen Klopp said this:
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