Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd £92m target, Barcelona £172m Neymar bid, Salah on exit rumor

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip

Wednesday, August 21

• PSG have rejected Barcelona’s latest offer for Neymar

• Barcelona offered a season-long loan deal with a mandatory purchase option

• Liverpool will battle with the likes of Manchester United to sign Kai Havertz

• Liverpool winger Ryan Kent is desperate to leave Anfield this summer
• Chelsea defender David Zappacosta joins Roma on loan

21:45 UPDATE: Mohamed Salah discusses Liverpool exit claim

Mohamed Salah has dismissed the notion of him leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, insisting he’s happy at Anfield.

“I’m happy at Liverpool,” the Egyptian told CNN when asked about his future on Merseyside. “I’m happy in the city – I love the fans and they love me.

“I’m happy at the club.”

21:15 UPDATE: Neymar return statement

The agent of Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has insisted the World Cup winner wouldn’t be bothered in Neymar returned to the Nou Camp this summer.

“He doesn’t feel at all threatened. When you play at Barca, you expect to be in competition there,” Moussa Sissoko told RMC Sport when questioned over the Neymar effect on his client.

“Neymar or another, he does not care about that, he only cares about what he has to do.

20:45 UPDATE: Luka Jovic rules out Real Madrid exit

Real Madrid newboy Luka Jovic has rubbished suggestions he could be sent out on loan a mere two months after his £62million move to the Bernabeu.

“[Zinedine Zidane] believes in me and his story has not changed during this time as we work together,” Jovic told Novosti .

“I am learning from him day by day, which I am very pleased with, because he, as a player and as a coach, is at the very top of world football.”

20:15 UPDATE: Chelsea departure confirmed

Roma have confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta.

The Italy international has joined the Giallorossi on an initial six-month loan deal, which the Serie A giants will have the option to extend in January 2020.

“AS Roma are pleased to confirm the signing of Davide Zappacosta from Chelsea on a temporary deal,” a Roma statement read. “Zappacosta joins the Giallorossi from the English club on an initial six-month loan which runs until January 2020.

“As part of the deal, there is the option to extend the loan until 30 June 2020.”

19:45 UPDATE: Chelsea to finalise £200,000-a-week deal

Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is on the verge of signing a new lucrative contracts at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

German giants Bayern Munch were eager to sign the winger earlier this year, though they had three offers for his services turned down.

And according to The Sun, who claim the Blues have offered the 18-year-old a new five-year deal worth £200,000-a-week.

19:15 Update: Alexis Sanchez exit backed

Former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has backed Alexis Sanchez to get his mojo back if he joins Italian giants Inter Milan.

“He is still the same great player,” van Persie said of the Chilean during an appearance on BT Sport. He has it all: he’s fast, he can assist, he can dribble, and he can score.

“There is just a lot of negativity around him from fans and people who have opinions on social media.

“Maybe it’s all become a little too much for him. He just needs to block it out, find his true happiness and just enjoy football.”

19:00 UPDATE: Chrstian Eriksen order given

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has urged the club to sell Christian Eriksen if he decides not to pen a new contract.

“I’d be surprised if they do keep hold of him due to the fact that he still hasn’t signed his contract that he has been offered,” Robinson said during an appearance on Sky Sports News.

“He’s made noises that he is ready for a new challenge. He’s been at the club now for six years now and the fact that he hasn’t signed a new contract going into his final year – I think it does have an effect on the team.

“I think it does have an effect on the players around him and I think genuinely if he did want to stay and his heart was there he would have signed it by now. The chairman has obviously put a price tag on his head [and] they have to get value for money. If he’s not going to sign a contract then they have to cash in.”

18:45 UPDATE: Paul Pogba bid

Real Madrid will make a bid for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this week after their interest in the Frenchman grew in the last few days, claims transfer expert Ian McGarry.

McGarry says it is very unlikely Real will be able to move out enough players to be able to make room for Pogba, but says nothing should be ruled out.

“We told you on Friday’s podcast our information was Madrid were going to make a bid for Pogba this week,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window Podcast.

“That’s only become stronger in the last two to three days and from the contacts we speak to with regards to what’s going to happen.

“Madrid are a club who believe that they, when they come in for a player, and the player wants to move, that that’s what usually happens, and that’s fair enough. I do believe there will be a bid from Madrid this week.”

18:30 UPDATE: Christian Pulisic snubbed Manchester United

Christian Pulisic decided not to join Manchester United because of Jose Mourinho, according to the midfielder’s former coach.

The Red Devils were believed to be interested in the American, but he eventually joined Chelsea instead.

And Brackley’s youth coach Robin Walker has opened up on why Pulisic picked Chelsea with Mourinho to blame.

“I’m a Chelsea fan, I grew up in London supporting them,” Walker told The Telegraph. “When I was in Dortmund last year, I told him that he had to come.

“He wouldn’t go to Manchester United because of Jose Mourinho. His father couldn’t stand Mourinho, because he didn’t promote young players.”

18:00 UPDATE: Fernando Llorente rivals

Manchester United have competition in their bid to sign Fernando Llorente.

Llorente, 34, left Tottenham in June and is available on a free transfer.

Reports have claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants him at Old Trafford to provide experienced cover for Marcus Ashford and Anthony Martial.

However, Calciomercato claim Llorente’s representatives will meet with Napoli chiefs in the coming hours to discuss a deal.

17:30 UPDATE: Top target…

The Sun are reporting that Manchester United have made Jadon Sancho their top target in January.

The Red Devils will reportedly have cash to spend in the January transfer window ad they’ve decided to go all in on Sancho.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side tried to sign the Borussia Dortmund star during the summer but the Bundesliga side refused.

United could find their task more difficult if Sancho puts pen to paper on a new contract at the Signal Iduna Park.

17:15 UPDATE: Done Deal – Sturridge signs

Daniel Sturridge has completed his move to Trabzonspor.

Sturridge, 29, was released by Liverpool in June have collected a Champions League winners medal.

And he’s now signed a three-year deal with the Super Lig side.

“Our company has signed a three-year contract with the free agent professional footballer Daniel Sturridge, with a one-year option,” Trabzonspor said in a statement.

17:00 UPDATE: Transfer fund

Manchester United have set aside £75million for the January transfer window.

The Sun claim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have a hefty sum at his disposal should the Red Devils need reinforcements for the remainder of the season.

It’s claimed the cash received from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan will be made available to the Norwegian tactician.

Ed Woodward and Co spent approximately £145million on Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James this summer.

16:45 UPDATE: Marcos Rojo latest

Manchester United centre-back Marcos Rojo is on the verge of joining Fenerbahce.

The Argentine defender has been deemed surplus to requirements after the arrival of Harry Maguire at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old was in discussions to join Everton on transfer deadline day – but the Toffees wanted a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer.

Now, the Manchester Evening News claim Rojo is close to agreeing a loan move to Fenerbahce.

16:30 UPDATE: Mario Mandzukic?!

Barcelona are showing interest in Mario Mandzukic.

Mandzukic, 33, was tipped to join Manchester United earlier this summer – but a deal failed to materialise.

Now, Italian newspaper Tuttosport claim Barcelona could listen to a swap deal with the forward heading to La Liga and Ivan Rakitic moving the other way.

Mandzukic made 33 appearances for Juventus in all competitions last season – scoring 10 goals and providing a further seven assists.

16:15 UPDATE: Neymar latest

Paris Saint-Germain have rejected Barcelona’s latest offer for Neymar, which would have been worth a whopping £172m.

That’s according to Spanish outlet Cadena Cope, who report that Barcelona offered a season-long loan deal with a mandatory purchase option.

The Spanish club are believed to have offered up an initial payment of £36million for a one-year loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent for £136m.

Neymar, 27, remains desperate to leave the Parc des Princes with Real Madrid and Juventus also looking to snare his signature.

16:00 UPDATE: Wanted: Kai Havertz

Manchester United will battle with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool to sign Kai Havertz next summer, according to reports.

The 20-year-old contributed 20 goals and seven assists in 42 matches across all competitions last season, with 17 of those strikes coming in the league.

And German TV station Sport1 claim that Manchester United will be one of eight major European clubs in the hunt to land Havertz.

The Germany international is also attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Havertz is under contract until 2022 and Leverkusen expect to raise at least €100million (£92m) with his sale.

15:45 UPDATE: Ryan Kent latest

Liverpool winger Ryan Kent is desperate to leave Anfield this summer.

Kent, 22, enjoyed a profitable season under Steven Gerrard at Rangers last year and was awarded PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.

The Daily Record claim Kent would like to return to Ibrox again on a season-long loan – but Jurgen Klopp is blocking the deal.

The report claims Kent will ‘down tools’ in a bid to make Klopp change his mind about another short-term move.