Tuesday's transfer news, rumours: Liverpool’s striker opportunity, Man Utd’s target list, Arsenal eye Carrasco
Follow Tuesday’s transfer news and rumours live, as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona remain the talk of the rumour mill, with the international window opening today, on June 11.
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Last week Real Madrid finally announced the signing of Eden Hazard for a fee that could come to exceed £150m. Elsewhere, Daniel James has agreed to his £18m move from Swansea to United.
The future of Matthijs de Ligt meanwhile remains uncertain, with the 19-year-old defender currently linked to a host of clubs eager to land his signature. And Liverpool continue to press for the signature of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe.
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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 Paul 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.
United ask Barcelona for Rakitic price
Manchester United have approached Barcelona to ask the price for Ivan Rakitic.
Sport claim United are keen on the Croatian midfielder.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be preparing a replacement for Paul Pogba, with Real Madrid making the United star a priority for the remainder of the summer.
Vertonghen doesn't want Eriksen to leave
Jan Vertonghen has said that he is “hopeful” Tottenham can keep hold of Christian Eriksen this summer.
“Obviously when the transfer window starts there are a lot of rumours, but there were rumours last year and everyone stayed together, so I'm hopeful,” he told Sky Sports News.
“Christian is a great player. I have known him since he was 16, played with him since he was 16 or 17 [at Ajax] and I hope he's with Tottenham next season.
“He's an exceptional player.”
Van de Beek targeting Premier League move?
Respected Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan has claimed that Akax star Donny van de Beek is keen on playing in the English top flight next season.
He told talkSPORT: “Van de Beek has his eyes set on the Premier League.
“He is a Premier League type player with an Ajax education and can play in many positions in midfield.
“He wants a move to Man United or Spurs and his agent says if that materialises that would be right up his street.”
Real end interest in Eriksen?
Big news from Marca, who this morning report that Real Madrid have ‘officially withdrawn’ their interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen to concentrate on signing Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
Where does this leave Eriksen? And what could this mean for Tottenham’s transfer plans?
West Ham in talks to sign Fornals
West Ham are in talks to sign Pablo Fornals from Villarreal.
Sky Sports claim the Hammers could sign the Spain international for £25m.
Capped twice by La Roja, Fornals could move two years after joining the Yellow Submarines from Malaga.
Watford have Sarr bid rejected
Watford have had a bid knocked back for Ismaila Sarr.
The Rennes star will cost around €35m at least, and featured against Arsenal in this season's Europa League.
Rennes paid €17m to Metz in 2017 for Sarr and will want to maximise their profit on the player.
Livingston boss Gary Holt has high hopes for new signing Cece Franck Pepe after handing the Frenchman a two-year deal
The former Paris St-Germain and Marseille youngster has joined the Lions after impressing on trial, with Livi holding the option of extending the 22-year-old's contract into a third season.
Holt and assistant Davie Martindale have been on the lookout for a new centre-back since losing skipper Craig Halkett to Hearts.
Now Holt is hoping he has found the answer to his problem in the shape of Pepe, who spent most of last season playing in Italy with Serie C outfit Rieti following a stint in Ukraine.
"Davie and I had Cece in for a week or so training near the tail end of the season and we really liked the lad," Holt told the Livingston website.
"He showed to get on extremely well within our squad and we both feel he will be a fantastic asset for Livingston.
"He is a product of the Marseille youth academy and has also gained some first-team experience in the Ukraine and Italy.
"Cece is an out-and-out defender and likes to defend, good on the ball, physical and has a bit of pace in his locker. All in all, we feel he is a fantastic signing for the club."
Napoli rule out Icardi move
Mauro Icardi is set to leave Inter Milan this summer - but Napoli will not be buying the Argentine.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed his club will not be in the market for the controversial forward.
“I won’t buy him,” De Laurentiis said when pushed on the matter.
But moves for James Rodriguez or Hirving Lozano could materialise after his ambiguous response when the names of the Real Madrid and PSV stars were put to him.
"We'll see," he added.
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