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.
Depay has ‘unfinished business’ says Pires
Arsenal legend, Robert Pires, is in favour of Memphis Depay returning to the Premier League as rumours blossom about a potential return to Old Trafford for the 28-year-old.
Depay bagged 13 goals for Barcelona last season but he found the net just seven times in 53 appearances for United. Ajax forward Antony remains United’s key transfer objective, while PSV’s Cody Gakpo has also been linked.
“I think Depay wants to come back to the Premier League and he feels he has unfinished business in England,” Pires claimed. “It didn’t work out for him at Manchester United and Depay is a very proud player.
“He perhaps feels he wasn’t given a chance to perform and earn the right to stay longer considering he was so young and showed glimpses of undoubted potential.
“Depay might want to return to Manchester United or he might be motivated to prove them wrong by performing for one of their rivals in the Premier League.”
Mikel Arteta will not guarantee Arsenal will sign Nicolas Pepe replacement
Mikel Arteta believes the current transfer market is tougher than ever, predicting a “very powerful” end to the window, but offered no guarantees Arsenal would sign a replacement for Nicolas Pepe.
The Gunners sit top of the Premier League table and are the only club to boast a perfect start to the season following their win at Bournemouth last week.
Recruiting early has been key to their strong opening, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko signed before a ball was kicked in earnest.
Mikel Arteta will not guarantee Arsenal will sign Nicolas Pepe replacement
The Ivory Coast international has joined Nice on loan after asking for more game time.
Pepe loan ‘best decision’ says Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says allowing Nicolas Pepe to leave was the “best decision” for everyone. Pepe - who was signed for £72m from Lille - has joined Nice on loan for the rest of the season.
“It’s been three years and he some good moments, some others where he hasn’t really contributed much in terms of minutes,” said Arteta.
“We decided for every party it was the best decision to allow him to go. He needs to play football.”
Newcastle pushing for Gallagher
Newcastle United are pushing hard to complete a season-long loan deal for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher before the end of the summer transfer window.
The Magpies have already secured the signing of Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak for a club record fee and are now hoping to get more deals over the line ahead of deadline day.
Gallagher is eyeing up game time to make a push for Gareth Southgate’s England squad and could well leave the Blues who are yet to decide how to best utilise his qualities this season.
Stoke in talks with Sunderland’s Alex Neil
Stoke City have been permission to speak to Sunderland boss Alex Neil.
Stoke sacked Michael O’Neill yesterday, and Neil’s stock is high following a terrific six months at Sunderland where he gained promotion to the Championship.
Sunderland have not given up on keeping Neil, and are having conversations with their manager internally.
Atletico target Reguilon
Atletico Madrid have held talks with Tottenham over the loan signing of Sergio Reguilon.
The Spanish left-back has also seen interest from Lazio and Fulham this week as he looks set to spend the season away from Spurs.
The 25-year-old has been told he isn’t in Antonio Conte’s plans this year after falling behind Ryan Sessegnon and Ivan Perisic for a place on Tottenham’s left-flank.
Ronaldo not leaving United
Manchester United have moved to silence rumours of a Cristiano Ronaldo move to Sporting Lisbon.
CaughtOffiside tweeted on Thursday that a Ronaldo return to Sporting Lisbon was ‘99 per cent done’ but an Old Trafford source told the Daily Mail that the 37-year-old striker is still expected to stay with the Red Devils this summer.
Ronaldo has alos been linked with Marseille and Napoli as his agent Jorge Mendes looks to secure him Champions League football this year.
Frank Lampard adamant Everton will sign a striker before transfer deadline
Everton boss Frank Lampard is adamant the club will sign a new striker before next week’s transfer window deadline.
The Merseysiders have been linked with a move for Brighton’s Neal Maupay this week and, while Lampard refused to discuss individual targets, he insisted a signing will be completed.
When asked if the money was available regardless of whether the club accept an offer from Chelsea for Anthony Gordon, Lampard said: “Yes I do.”
Frank Lampard adamant Everton will sign a striker before transfer deadline
Brighton’s Neal Maupay has been linked with a move to Goodison Park.
Man Utd could still complete four signings
Manchester United could yet sign another four players before the transfer window closes next week.
Their ongoing pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong continues although progress is slow to complete the £70million deal and this one seems to be the most tricky to finalise.
However the Red Devils are confident that their third bid for Ajax forward Antony will see them get their man and interest remains in PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo.
Finally, United are pushing to bring in Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan from as a back-up to David de Gea.
Is time up for Maguire?
Ex-Manchester United defender Patrice Evra admits that time may be up for Harry Maguire at Old Trafford. The £85million defender has endured a difficult time since moving to the club and was dropped for Monday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.
The Sun says that Erik ten Hag has told Maguire he is no longer first choice at centre-back and with rumours saying that Chelsea could start to pursue Maguire, Evra reckons his old side should cash in.
“I can say people are too harsh on Harry Maguire, but he is paying the price for his transfer fee.” said the Frenchman, “From that day, I said he is going to have the most difficult season for United because people only looked at the price.
“If we bought him for £5m, people would say he’s an amazing centre-back. We all have bad games but now we’ve got to a point where even if he has a good game people are not happy.
“So there’s a negativity around him.”
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