Premier League transfer news: Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and other sagas still to be settled

Here are the 10 lasting transfer stories still to be settled before the summer window slams shut

Tom Kershaw
Tuesday 06 August 2019 13:58 BST
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Transfer deadline day summer 2019: The deals done so far

After a reliable summer of protracted transfer sagas, the window is preparing to slam its doors shut in little more than 48 hours.

But, as always in the Premier League’s domino landscape, transfers are triggering one another and at least 10 significant stories stilly remain up in the air with little hope of any clarification until the 5pm deadline on Thursday.

Manchester United are still wrestling over the future of Romelu Lukaku, while the club’s move for Harry Maguire has triggered a need for Leicester to recruit a new first-choice centre-back.

Wilfried Zaha is still attempting to force through a move away from Crystal Palace, Arsenal are desperately scouring Europe for a centre-back, while Tottenham are still in limbo over the future of Christian Eriksen.

Here are 10 sagas set to run right up until the window closes:

1. Bruno Fernandes

The Portuguese international has been the epicentre of one of the most withering transfer stories of the summer with his representatives ferrying across Europe to try and force a move away from Sporting Lisbon.

At a meeting between his agent and Sporting’s hierarchy last Friday, Fernandes laid bare his desire to leave the club and has reportedly agreed personal terms with Tottenham.

However, Spurs highest bid for the 24-year-old midfielder has been £50m plus £10m in add-ons, falling some £20m short of the Sporting’s asking price.

Meanwhile, Manchester United could reunite their interest in the player after a deal for Paulo Dybala fell through. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thought be a keen admirer and sees the No 10 position as the final puzzle needed addressing as part of his summer overhaul.

Verdict: Signs for Tottenham

Bruno Fernandes is being targeted by Tottenham

2. Romelu Lukaku

The Manchester United striker signalled his desire to escape Old Trafford before the Premier League season had ever drawn to a close, musing over a “dream” move to Serie A.

Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan was the Belgian’s preferred destination but after lengthy negotiations with the Italian club, it was decided that they could not meet United’s £75m asking price.

Juventus are now supposedly frontrunners to sign Lukaku, who scored 15 goals in 45 appearances last season, despite a potential swap deal with Paulo Dybala falling through. Mario Mandzukic could now potentially be included in the deal.

However, if Juventus pull out of the race, Inter Milan may be able to steal in and secure a cut-price deal with Lukaku seemingly having little future at Old Trafford.

Verdict: Leaves for Juventus​ or Inter Milan

Romelu Lukaku has stressed his desire to leave to Manchester Untied

3. Wilfried Zaha

After funnelling out pleas via his brother and being openly disheartened by Crystal Palace’s firm valuation derailing a coveted move to Arsenal, Zaha now expects to join Everton before the end of the window.

Despite already investing in Moise Kean, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes this summer, Farhad Moshiri’s cash-flushed side are understood to be preparing a £65m offer for the Ivorian. It’s believed Palace will accept the fee, well below their asking price of £80m, as long as it is paid in full up front.

Verdict: Joins Everton

Everton are confident of signing Wilfried Zaha before the window shuts

4. Christian Eriksen

The agitated Dane continues to stoke rumours of a potential move away from Tottenham, showing no intention to sign a new contract after entering the last year of his deal.

Eriksen’s ideal destination was Real Madrid, however, the Spanish side have shown little interest in making a cut-price swoop for the player with Zinedine Zidane still wearing illusions of Paul Pogba at the Bernabeu.

After Juventus signed Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot, Manchester United is now the only realistic option this window with Mauricio Pochettino understood to be happy for Eriksen to leave, but with any move hinging on Tottenham signing either Bruno Fernandes or Giovani Lo Celso as a replacement.

Despite United’s interest, however, doubts remain as to whether personal terms and a deal between two of England’s elite clubs can be concluded over the course of just two days

Verdict: Stays

Christian Eriksen could leave for Manchester United (Action/Independent)

5. Dayot Upamecano/Daniele Rugani

Arsenal are frantically scouring Europe in search of a new centre-back after Laurent Koscielny completed his backdoor exit to Bordeaux and left an already frayed defence threadbare.

Unai Emery’s side have reportedly had a loan approach for Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani rejected with the Italian champions demanding £50m for an outright sale. Juve’s sporting director is currently in London to finalise the Danilo-Joao Cancelo swap deal with Manchester City and is set to hold talks with Arsenal’s hierarchy with a loan or permanent deal both still possible.

However, Arsenal have also made an enquiry for highly rated RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano. The French U21 international is one of Europe’s most sought after young players and would command a fee of up to £70m. The German club are notoriously tough negotiators and are unlikely to agree to a spread-out series of instalments that fits in with the Gunners’ payment structure.

Verdict: Rugani arrives on loan

Arsenal have made an enquiry for RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano

6. Paul Pogba

After persistently hinting at a glowing desire to move to Real Madrid throughout last season, Pogba threw a Hail Mary this summer when his agent, Mino Raiola, declared that he equivocally wanted to leave Manchester United over perceived unfair treatment at the club.

However, Madrid president Florentino Perez isn’t entirely convinced by the French World Cup-winner, who would come at an enormous fee, and is cautious to provide another significant cash injection this window with one eye already reserved for a potential move for Kylian Mbappe next summer.

Coupled with United’s reluctance to let their talisman leave, there appears to be little to no hope of a late headline-grabbing move.

Verdict: Stays

7. Giovani Lo Celso

Everybody knows the Argentinian is available after Real Betis brought in his replacement, Nabil Fekir, from Lyon earlier in the window. However, the La Liga side are determined not to let their star player leave for anything less than their asking price.

Mauricio Pochettino is a keen admirer of his compatriot who impressed during this summer’s Copa America, however, it appears that Tottenham are swinging towards Fernandes at this stage.

Verdict: Stays

Giovani Lo Celso is a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen

8. Francois Kamano

Liverpool have had a quiet transfer window, only adding teenagers Harvey Elliott and Sepp van den Berg to their ranks. However, the club are now reportedly considering a late move for Bordeaux forward Francois Kamono with concerns over the fitness of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino with all three members of their attacking trio tired by international duty over the summer.

A fee of £20m is thought to be enough to secure the signature of the Guinean, however, Jurgen Klopp seems acceptant that no more business will be done after taking a swipe at Manchester City’s spending power ahead of the Community Shield.

Verdict: Stays

9. James Tarkowski

Leicester have identified the towering Burnley centre-back as one of their preferred candidates to replace Harry Maguire after the England international completed his £80m move to Manchester United.

Burnley are thought to be open to selling Tarkowski while Brighton are confident Lewis Dunk will remain at the club and Bournemouth have priced Nathan Ake out of a move.

With insufficient cover, Brendan Rodgers is determined to secure a replacement and expects a first-choice centre-back to arrive before the end of the window, however, with clubs aware of their sizeable budget a sensible deal may now be hard to strike.

Verdict: Stays

Leicester are eying James Tarkowski as a replacement for Harry Maguire

10. Ismaila Sarr

Watford have been pursuing the Rennes winger summer-long after an impressive Ligue 1 season and the Senegalese winger is keen to make the switch to London.

Personal terms are all but agreed with the pacey winger, who played in both legs of Rennes’ Europa League tie against Arsenal, however, the French club are standing firm on their valuation of the player with Watford have had an offer of £25m plus add-ons rejected.

However, the opinion from both parties is that a deal will be finalised before the window shuts for a fee of around £30m.

Verdict: Joins Watford

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