Thursday’s transfer news, rumours: Arsenal to agree deal, Man Utd and Liverpool identify new targets

Transfer deadline day summer 2019: The deals done so far

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona remain the talk of the transfer rumour mill now that the international window has finally opened. So join us for LIVE news, rumours and done deals, throughout Thursday.

Last week Real Madrid finally announced the signing of Eden Hazard for a fee that could come to exceed £150m. And yesterday Daniel James completed 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 – but have a new striker in their sights.

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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.

[13 June 2019 09:22 · Samuel Lovett]

Chelsea stand firm over Sarri

Chelsea are prepared to make Juventus wait in appointing Maurizio Sarri as their new manager as they attempt to secure compensation for his departure, according to The Daily Mail.

Juve are attempting to secure Sarri without paying compensation but Chelsea are standing their ground, with two years left on the Italian's current £5m-a-year deal.

Sarri has told Chelsea he wants to return to Italy and reports say he has already agreed to a three-year, £6.2m-a-season deal to become Juventus' new manager.

The Mail reports that Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici was in London on Wednesday to try and push the negotiations for Sarri forward. 

[13 June 2019 09:32 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

A brief interruption to your usual transfer news and rumours service...

... to let you know that the fixtures for the 2019/20 Premier League season have been released. You can find them here:

[13 June 2019 09:33 · Samuel Lovett]

Real Madrid close in on £300m mark

A reminder that Real Madrid yesterday signed French left-back Ferland Mendy from Lyon for £42.7m.

The move, confirmed by both clubs, took the La Liga club's summer spending to just under £300m as they attempt to bounce back from a trophyless 2018/19 season during which they employed three coaches.

The club have also recently signed Belgium forward Eden Hazard from Chelsea for around £150m, as well as Serbia striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, Brazilian Rodrygo from Santos and central defender Eder Militao from Porto.

Mendy, who has signed a six-year contract, joined Lyon in 2017 from Le Havre. The 24-year-old made 79 appearances, scoring three goals and providing seven assists.

He has played four times for France since making his debut in November in a friendly against Uruguay.

[13 June 2019 10:00 · Samuel Lovett]

United drop pursuit of Bale?

Manchester United have dropped their pursuit of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, according to the Evening Standard.

The Spanish giants are desperately trying to offload the Welshman, whose future at the Bernabeu looks bleak under Zinedine Zidane.

Bale has been a long-standing target for Ed Woodward but it appears United's executive vice-chairman is now backing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s drive to recruit the best emerging domestic talent this summer.

Back to the drawing board, Gareth.

[13 June 2019 10:23 · Jack Watson]

Liverpool "following" Fekir

The Nabil Fekir to Liverpool chatter is picking up pace yet again.

French news outlet Le Progres reported that "Liverpool le suit toujours". Or to those that did not pay attention in French lessons at school: "Liverpool are still following him".

There's nothing to suggest that the interest is something that will result in a official bid or anything as exciting as that, but you wonder if that interest will increase the longer this window runs.

[13 June 2019 10:36 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Villa keen on Phillips

Aston Villa are ready to spend £14m on Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to reports.

The Telegraph claims that Phillips is one of Dean Smith’s top transfer targets ahead of the club’s return to the Premier League.

However Leeds are determined not to sell and have told Villa they value the 23-year-old at £20m.

Phillips is also being scouted by Wolves, who are willing to swap Helder Costa to get their man.

[13 June 2019 10:56 · Samuel Lovett]

Arsenal close to agreeing deal for German wonderkid Schubert

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for German goalkeeper Markus Schubert.

The Dynamo Dresden keeper, rated as one of the best young keepers in Europe, is set to join Arsenal on a free transfer this summer.

Schubert is rated by sources in Germany as a modern “footballing” goalkeeper, similar to Arsenal first choice Bernd Leno. Schubert, who turned 21 yesterday, has been pencilled in to be the long term understudy and challenger to Leno.

More details here from Jack Pitt-Brooke: 

[13 June 2019 11:13 · Jack Watson]

More on Lucas Torreira's potential Arsenal exit. Are some of these concerns genuine?

[13 June 2019 11:26 · Jack Watson]

Now I don't want to alarm anyone, but Frank Ribery could be playing for Sheffield United next season. 

While it might sound like something that is a result of a random transfer rumour generator, it's said to be according to German sports magazine Kicker.

Make of that what you want...

[13 June 2019 11:29 · Jack Watson]

Eden Hazard will be officially presented to a crowd at the Bernabeu after completing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

He has been part of a Real Madrid rebuild job that has already cost north of £300m!