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Transfer news - live updates: Liverpool maintain Nabil Fekir hope, Arsenal close on midfielder, Manchester United latest

All the latest Premier League transfer news plus gossip, rumours and deals

Jack de Menezes
Friday 22 June 2018 07:46 BST
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Summer transfer window 2018: Latest Premier League deals and rumours round-up

The Premier League’s summer transfer window is open with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal set to be busier than ever.

Liverpool enjoyed success in the Champions League this year and their quest to end their league title drought in 2019 will be bolstered by the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. He will not be the last new face on Merseyside, however, with Monaco's Fabinho already in. Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri could be next. At United Jose Mourinho looks set to spend big again as he targets reinforcements in his bid to haul in record-breaking Manchester City next season. A new left-back and central midfield player are high on his list with a big money move for Real Madrid's Gareth Bale not out the question. Could Cristiano Ronaldo join him?

For the first time in over two decades Arsenal head into the offseason with a new manager at the helm. That man is former PSG boss Unai Emery after a stunning 11th hour change of heart at the Emirates and he already has one new signing and plenty more on the way with a new goalkeeper and central midfielder next on his shopping list. Chelsea could well be looking for a new manager themselves but across London Mauricio Pochettino won't be leaving Tottenham Hotspur after signing a new five-year deal.

We will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals right here so don't touch that dial.


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Good morning and welcome to The Independent's transfer live blog, where we'll keep you up-to-date with the latest news, done deals and rumours throughout the summer window.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 07:47
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Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.

Manchester City are Premier League champions and everyone else are getting set to spend, spend, spend to catch them.

One of those tasked with doing so will be Unai Emery after the former PSG boss emerged as an 11th hour candidate to take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He already has two new signings with a third imminent.

Liverpool have made the biggest splash though in signing Fabinho from Monaco but he won't be the last new face at Anfield. Nabil Fekir doesn't look like he'll be one of them, however, after a dramatic U-turn - but the club have not yet given up all hope.

We'll bring you all the latest news on that plus all the done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.

Without further ado, off we go.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 07:58
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Today's transfer round-up

Maurizio Sarri is plotting a four-man raid on former club Napoli if he is made the new Chelsea boss, according to reports. Striker Dries Mertens, winger Jose Maria Callejon, full-back Elseid Hysaj and defender Raul Albiol have been linked as transfer targets if Sarri ends up in Antonio Conte's office.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Serie A runners-up want to put a limit on how many players he could take with him to Stamford Bridge.

The paper says it would cost in excess of £70million to bring four of his former players to West London. According to the Daily Mail, Sarri is also eyeing Matias Vecino, Inter Milan's Uruguay midfielder. Meanwhile Chelsea are yet to make any announcement on what the future holds for Conte, who is reportedly on holiday in southern Italy.

Meanwhile Chelsea are also set to take on Barcelona in the race to sign Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic, The Sun reports. Former Juve director Luciano Moggi told the Serie A champions' news site, Il Bianconero, that the Bosnia and Herzegovina international could end up at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £70million. With Sarri's appointment expected to be announced as early as next week, a number of signings could follow. The Blues' managerial situation is said to have put any transfer announcements on hold until it is resolved.

Arsenal have kicked off talks to sign Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega, the Metro says. The Argentina international's agent is said to have flown in to London for negotiations. Banega, 29, is the latest name to crop up as a transfer target for new Gunners boss Unai Emery as he rings the changes ahead of his first season. The departures of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla have given the Spaniard cause to search for talent to bolster his options. Banega, who turns 30 this month, and Emery have worked together before at Valencia and Sevilla. There is a 20million euro (£17.5m) release clause in Banega's contract, which expires in two years, the paper says.

Inter Milan are leading the chase to snap up Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele, the Daily Mirror reports. Entering the final 12 months of his contract, the Belgium international has said that loyalty to Spurs means he would not join another Premier League club. He is expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer. Tottenham are said to be willing to entertain offers for the £30million-rated playmaker, who turns 31 in July.

Manchester City's hopes to land Riyad Mahrez have been given a fillip by Leicester's apparent interest in Basel's Mohamed Elyounoussi, the Manchester Evening News reports. The Foxes are said to have identified the Norway international as a replacement for the wantaway Algerian whose potential transfer to City reportedly collapsed in January over price.

Players to watch

Declan Rice: The West Ham defender, 19, is wanted by Crystal Palace and Bournemouth amid a contract stand-off, the Sun reports.

Ben Gibson: Everton are plotting to tempt Middlesbrough into selling the defender, 25, the Northern Echo says.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 08:01
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Arsenal's third summer signing - a 30 million euro (£27m) deal for Sampdoria defender Lucas Torreira - is all but confirmed.

The Serie A club's president, Massimo Ferrero, let slip live on Italian television that the Uruguay international's departure was happening.

Torreira, 22, joined Sampdoria in 2015 from Pescara for a reported 1.5 million euros (£1.32m).

Ferrero is said to have let the cat out of the bag while discussing how the club uses the transfer market to make handsome sums by developing players - and they do not sell unless they get "excellent offers".

Torreira would follow Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner and Bayer Leverkusen's Bernd Leno in moving to the Emirates as part of Unai Emery's pre-debut overhaul.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 08:15
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Maurizio Sarri's revamp at Chelsea, should he replace Antonio Conte as expected, could see Alvaro Morata moved on after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

According to German newspaper Bild, Borussia Dortmund are keen on the striker, who missed out on a place in Spain's World Cup squad this summer.

Having already taken Michy Natshuayi on loan from the Blues, Dortmund are known to have good relations with Chelsea, but their £45m valuation is set to be a stumbling point.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 08:30
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Manchester City have agreed a £43.1million deal with Napoli for midfielder Jorginho, the Daily Telegraph says.

The Serie A runners-up were pressing for £50million and it is possible the fee could rise to £48.3million with add-ons. One of Pep Guardiola's key targets, the transfer could be completed within days, the paper says.

The Premier League winners opted for the Brazil-born Italy international, 26, after pulling out of the race to sign Brazilian playmaker Fred.

The 25-year-old is expected to end up across town at Manchester United, should they finalise a deal with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 08:45
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Tottenham are believed to be keen on Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba, but the Spain international has said that he has no plans to leave the Nou Camp and that he will stay their for life - if they want him.

Asked if he was on his way to White Hart Lane, Alba said: 

No, no, I'm very good at Barca. If it were up to me, I would stay at Barcelona all my life.

But it does not depend on me but on what the club wants. It also depends on my performance, which this season has been very good, but I do not see myself outside of Barcelona.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 09:00
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Liverpool are circling Tottenham and Aston Villa as the clubs barter over Jack Grealish, The Sun says.

Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy is said to be keeping their offer at £20million, despite Villa valuing the midfielder at £40million.

The Championship club are making hard financial decisions in the wake of their failed promotion bid and are said to be holding out to cash in on the promising playmaker.

The deadlock over Mauricio Pochettino's top pick is said to have attracted attention from Liverpool, who are said to be prepared to pay more than Spurs are willing to part with.

Grealish, 22, played for England Under-21 and is tipped for his senior call-up this year.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 09:15
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Another World Cup star being linked with Spurs is Croatia's Ante Rebic.

The 24-year-old featured in Croatia's brilliant victory over Argentina, and German newspaper Bild claim that Tottenham are keen to land the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder this summer.

With Rebic valued at just over £26m, it looks like a deal that could well happen.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 09:30
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Jose Mourinho is reported to be interested in a reunion with Chelsea winger Willian,according to the Daily Mail.

Manchester United are preparing a £60m bid for the Brazil international who has been at Stamford Bridge since 2013, scoring 25 times in 166 appearances.

Jack de Menezes22 June 2018 09:45

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