Transfer news LIVE! Chelsea make shock move for former Arsenal star; Sancho to Tottenham; Rice twist
The official opening of the summer transfer window is now just days away, but Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have already begun pursuing huge early signings. Arsenal are working on a club-record £90million deal to sign Declan Rice, though it now seems that West Ham may want to take Emile Smith Rowe in part-exchange.
The Gunners are also holding talks over Joao Cancelo as they push for Manchester City team-mate Ilkay Gundogan, while they are rivalling Chelsea for Moises Caicedo and reportedly pondering a shock raid for Kai Havertz and Elye Wahi after agreeing a new contract with William Saliba. Chelsea are believed to have started negotiations with AC Milan over Mike Maignan, with Inter’s Andre Onana also linked as well as fomer Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and midfielders Gabri Veiga and Federico Valverde.
Tottenham have learned the price for James Maddison and have Sofyan Amrabat in their sights as they aim to keep Harry Kane, with Manchester United losing hope on that front but pushing for Diogo Costa, Kim Min-jae, Axel Disasi, Lautaro Martinez and Rasmus Hojlund. Liverpool are close to agreeing terms with Khephren Thuram, while they are also eyeing Benjamin Pavard. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!
Live updates
De Bruyne could miss start next season
A major blow for Manchester City, with news breaking that Kevin De Bruyne could miss the start next season after the midfielder “snapped his hamstring” in their Champions League Final win over Inter Milan.
De Bruyne had to be substituted in the first half as City beat Inter 1-0 in Istanbul and is set for tests to determine the extent of the damage he suffered.
The 32-year-old has been ruled out of international duty with Belgium and could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
“I’ve been struggling for two months, since the Bayern Munich game away,” De Bruyne said. “So I missed I would say a fair amount of games but it was all small ruptures. I snapped it all the way here so I wasn’t able to go on.”
Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is on the move.
The right-back has agreed terms with Real Betis ahead of a return to the club.
Bellerin played for Betis on loan during the 2021-22 season and will now join on a permanent basis after leaving Sporting.
Lukaku’s cameo ‘a tough watch for Chelsea’
Standard Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella says Romalu Lukaku’s cameo “was a tough watch for Chelsea” last night.
The £97.5million striker missed a great chance to take the Champions League Final to extra-time as Inter Milan lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
Lukaku is due to return to Chelsea this summer after a season on loan at Inter.
Arsenal agree four-year Nelson contract
Arsenal have been locked in talks with Reiss Nelson over a new long-term contract and the Gunners have now reached a full agreement to keep the 23-year-old.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims Nelson has signed a new four-year deal valid until 2027, with option for a further season.
Romano says Arsenal want Nelson to officially sign to avoid any late bids from rival clubs.
Modric set for ‘lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia’
Real Madrid legend Luka Modric looks set to be the latest superstar to receive a big-money offer from Saudi Arabia.
The 37-year-old is out of contract at the end of this month and his future is uncertain.
According to COPE, Saudi Arabia have stepped up their attempts to lure Modric to the Middle East and the Croatian will get an “almost irrefutable” offer.
The report claims there are now major doubts over his future at Real Madrid and that a Saudi deal could accelerated next week.
Guardiola praise for Chelsea target
Chelsea target Andre Onana has been praised by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Onana has been identified by Chelsea as a transfer target as they seek a new No1 for new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Onana could not prevent Inter losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the Champions League Final last night.
Before the match in Istanbul, Guardiola said: “Identifying the space and emptying the midfield is a special quality. Normally, teams have great keepers, but he [Onana] is exceptional with his feet.”
And speaking after the match last night, Guardiola lavished more praise on the goalkeeper
“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”
Silva coy on Man City future
Bernardo Silva is another player who has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move for Silva and are expected to make a move for the 28-year-old.
Silva addressed his future after last night’s Champions League final, saying: “My future? Honestly… I don’t know.
“We will see what will happen in the next few weeks and the next few months.”
Tottenham target Zaniolo
Tottenham have been linked with Nicolo Zaniolo in the past and reports in Italy suggest they could be ready to revive their interest in the Galatasaray forward.
Tuttojuve.com claim Spurs and Aston Villa want the 23-year-old, who only joined Galatasaray from Roma in February.
Zaniolo has a £30million release clause in his contract.
Fulham deny Palhinha release clause
West Ham have been strongly linked with a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha as they identify possible replacements for Declan Rice this summer.
But Fulham owner and sporting director Tony Khan has dismissed reporters yesterday that Palhinha has a release clause in his contract at Craven Cottage.
“There is no release clause,” tweeted Khan.
Palhinha has flourished at Fulham since his £20million move from Sporting last summer and has arguably been one of the signings of the season behind Erling Haaland.
Chelsea target shock move for former Arsenal star
A new No1 is a priority for new Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues could be ready to target a former Arsenal goalkeeper should they miss out on Andre Onana.
Italian outlet TuttoJuve claims Chelsea want Juventus star Wojciech Szczesny and could could switch focus to the Pole if a move for Onana cannot be agreed.
Szczesny’s contract is not set to expire until 2025 and the report says Juventus could demand a significant fee for the 33-year-old this summer.
Szczesny left Arsenal in 2017 and has become a key player for Juventus in the past six seasons.
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