Transfer news LIVE! Fresh Arsenal bid for Rice rejected, Lavia; Man Utd in for Courtois; Caicedo to Chelsea
The transfer window is in full swing and Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all chasing major early signings this summer. Arsenal have launched a new bid for Kai Havertz and have also swooped for Jurrien Timber at Ajax, while the Gunners have Romeo Lavia in their sights and have made a club-record bid for Declan Rice.
Nicolas Jackson is set to undergo a Chelsea medical this week as he finalises a £30million move from Villarreal and the Blues have announced Christopher Nkunku’s £53m arrival. Mauricio Pochettino also wants to sign Gabri Veiga, but Chelsea could be forced to sell players before making their big-money move for Moises Caicedo. Tottenham could now face a battle with Arsenal over Harvey Barnes, though Leicester team-mate James Maddison is believed to want to join Spurs as they also target David Raya at Brentford.
However, Heung-min Son is the latest player to attract big-money interest from Saudi Arabia, though he is not believed to be interested in that move. Manchester United have been dealt a fresh boost over Victor Osimhen as they also target the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, while reports in Spain suggest they have made a shock approach for Thibaut Courtois. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip below!
Live updates
Liverpool to enter Lavia race
Liverpool are keeping tabs on Romeo Lavia, as they look to bolster their midfield options.
Arsenal are believed to be making progress in their attempts to sign the Southampton star, but the Independent report that Liverpool could also enter the race.
Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring the situation too, with the Saints wanting a minimum of £45million and hoping that a bidding war could raise the price further.
Man United in shock Courtois approach
Manchester United have reportedly made a surprise offer for Thibaut Courtois.
David de Gea is out of contract at the end of the month and there is still plenty of uncertainty over his future, with United expected to sign a new goalkeeper regardless of whether he stays at Old Trafford.
Spanish outlet Defensa Central claims that United have presented a £69m bid for Courtois, offering him a huge salary, but Real Madrid have no intention of selling.
Man City submit Kovacic offer
Manchester City have sent Chelsea a £25m written bid as they look to wrap up a deal for Mateo Kovacic.
Fabrizio Romano reports that personal terms have already been agreed and an agreement over the fee between the two clubs is close, with City hoping to complete the deal this week.
Kovacic wants the move to City and a move away from Stamford Bridge looks inevitable this summer, with the midfielder entering the final year of his current Chelsea contract.
Wait for Solomon decision goes on
Tottenham transfer target Manor Solomon will decide on his club future after a summer holiday.
The 23-year-old Israeli winger spent this season on loan at Fulham, after a FIFA ruling allowed foreign players to leave Shakhtar Donetsk indefinitely, amid the war in Ukraine.
He has since attracted interested from Tottenham, but Shakhtar have threatened to sue Spurs if they try to sign him for free, despite FIFA extending the ruling that allowed him to leave Ukraine and handing unilateral power to the player.
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Manor Solomon spent last season on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk at Fulham and impressed during his time at Craven Cottage
/ Getty ImagesArsenal bid rejected
As expected, West Ham have now rejected Arsenal’s second bid for Declan Rice.
The Gunners submitted an offer of £75m plus £15m in add-ons, but that has not met the Hammers’ valuation and they continue to hold out for at least £100m.
That’s according to the Athletic, with it reported that the Gunners will continue their pursuit of Rice as well as pushing to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
Saha warns Man United over striker search
Louis Saha has warned Manchester United that signing Rasmus Hojland will not be enough this summer.
United have been linked with the Atalanta striker as an alternative to Harry Kane, but Saha believes that move would not be enough for his former club.
“Hojlund is very consistent, has a lot of experience for his age, is good technically and is very strong,” Saha told Compare.bet.
“He’s got it all. But obviously in order to go straight into that number nine position you will require someone who can hit the ground running and start performing immediately, and I’m not sure Hojlund is ready for that.
“So I think United would need to sign both Hojlund and someone like a Harry Kane or a Victor Osimhen. This would make Manchester United a real threat again, because on his own Hojlund isn’t going to change anything.”
Liverpool and Newcastle put off Barella
Interest from Premir League clubs in Nicolo Barella has stalled over Inter Milan’s valuation of the midfielder.
According to the Independent, Newcastle were hoping to reach a deal for no more than £50m, but Inter are holding firm for close to £80m.
Liverpool are also keen on the 26-year-old, but are not willing to match the asking price and are instead looking at Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.
West Ham set to reject Rice bid
West Ham are expected to rejected Arsenal’s second bid for Declan Rice.
It’s believed that the Gunners have offered £75m plus £15m in add-ons, though the Hammers still believe that those add-ons are too difficult to achieve.
The Athletic report that the proposal will be turned down by West Ham, but Arsenal remain confident of reaching an agreement.
Maddison race continues
Newcastle want a swift conclusion to their attempts to sign James Maddison.
Fabrizio Romano reports that the Magpies view the Leicester star as their top summer target, but do not want the situation to drag on and are pushing for a deal to be reached this week.
Tottenham remain interest in Maddison, and continue to work on personal terms with the midfielder’s representatives.
Arsenal to table mammoth Rice bid
Arsenal are set to submit a club-record bid of £90million for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
The offer, which is expected imminently, will be the Gunners’s second formal approach after an initial bid of around £80m was rejected last week.
West Ham were thought to be unhappy about the structure of that proposed deal, which contained a number of clauses.
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