Football

Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd close on Jadon Sancho and eye Jack Grealish, Arsenal wait on Philippe Coutinho, Chelsea near Kai Havertz



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Follow the latest updates live from the second day of the summer transfer window as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all look for reinforcements to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Independent exclusively revealed that United are now close to completing a deal for Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund’s assist machine who aged 20 is already an England regular and one of Europe’s hottest properties. And United are so confident of the Sancho deal they have now turned their attentions to the Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, whose brilliant goal on the final day of the season helped keep his boyhood club in the Premier League.

Arsenal are being linked with Philippe Coutinho, whose time at on loan Bayern Munich is up and who is thought to be seeking another loan move away from Barcelona, while Chelsea are thought to have opened serious negotiations for Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz having now sealed their qualification for next season’s Champions League. Follow the live news below.



Jack Grealish fears he could be priced out of a move to Manchester United as Aston Villa talk up his price tag, reports The Sun.

United have moved their attention to the 24-year-old midfielder but Dean Smith was quick to point out just how much his captain will cost should he leave this summer, after Grealish scored in the club’s final game of the season to help secure Premier League survival.

United are hopeful or reaching a deal worth around £50-60m but Villa are holding out for upwards of £80m.


Leicester‘s final-day failure to secure Champions League football could end up costing them the services of Ben Chilwell.

The Foxes’ first-choice left-back has been linked with a move to Chelsea, and with Frank Lampard’s side doing what Brendan Rodgers’ couldn’t by claiming a top-four spot on the final day of the Premier League season, the 23-year-old’s resolve will be tested.

Rodgers seems confident of keeping his player, however, having said: “You can spin it whichever way you want. There is no intention to sell Ben Chilwell and there is absolutely no need for us to sell Ben Chilwell.”


A reminder of our top story, by The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney:


Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter is high on the shopping list of a number of clubs in the Premier League and Serie A, according to Sky Germany

Inter Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interesting in the 26-year-old centre-back, who has regularly been described as the most underrated centre-back in the Bundesliga, so much so that he is actually pretty well rated these days.

Gladbach finished fourth this season with the third-best defensive record in the league.


Will Wilfried Zaha finally be on his way somewhere new this summer? It feels like one of the long longest running sagas around, and Roy Hodgson did not sound optimistic speaking about him recently.


Arsenal are close to sealing a deal for Dani Ceballos on loan until the end of next season, according to AS. Ceballos impressed in fits and starts on loan from Real Madrid this year and is set to have another opportunity at the Emirates.


Mikel Arteta has a raft of decisions to make along with Arsenal’s hierarchy as he looks to rebuild the Gunners’ squad. Top of the priority list is resolving the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is considering his options. But there are also several big names on his shopping list, as the Evening Standard reports.

Thomas Partey is one of those, but Atletico Madrid want his full release clause of €50m (£45m), which might force Arsenal to turn to Porto’s Danilo Pereira. Willian, as mentioned below, is a potential cheap recruit on a free transfer, while Rennes centre-back Malang Sarr could also join for no money. 

The mystery purchase is Philippe Coutinho. Could he join on loan from Barcelona? His wages are astronomical but there doesn’t seem to be a place for the Brazilian at the Camp Nou. 


Here’s the full story on the latest news from Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp talking transfers, squad size and more…


Is Willian set to join Arsenal? The Guardian reports that the winger is yet to accept Chelsea’s offer of a contract and would prefer a longer deal, in the region of three years, something the Gunners are able to offer. Watch this space.


INCYMI: Leicester’s James Maddison has signed a new £110,000-a-week deal that ties him to the King Power Stadium until 2024, according to Goal. 

That could just be the big non-transfer news of the summer, and is another reason Manchester United are likely to pursue Jack Grealish rather than Maddison. Leicester appear desperate to keep hold of their big names, including Ben Chilwell.


So what of Liverpool this window? The noises coming out of Anfield suggest we shouldn’t expect fireworks, but there have already been the departures of Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana and so we can surely expect one or two incomings. 

Yet Jurgen Klopp sounded cautious on the idea and says he is happy to keep a tight-knit squad for the 2020-21 season. This, via PA:

“The solution cannot be to have a much bigger squad for the specific moment and then realise you cannot use all the players,” said the manager, who sent his players off on a well-deserved two-week holiday with a reminder of their responsibilities to keep on top of the latest coronavirus travel guidance and potential quarantine restrictions.
“These players can only play the football they play because they know they are needed.
“They are all human beings and nobody can be held back for a year and then on the last day of the year be told, ‘Now we need you.’
“In between now and then there must be a lot of training and support and challenges stuff like this.
“We cannot keep someone in the backyard and bring them up in the decisive moment. That will not help. We will have solutions for that, we have young players.
“The size of the squad is not that important to me, the quality of the squad is very much so.”


This, by the way, is a lovely little moment from last night’s LMA award. Sir Alex Ferguson talking about Jurgen Klopp:


Sticking with underperforming goalkeepers, Sky Sports is among a number to report that Kepa Arrizabalaga’s time at Chelsea could be up.

Frank Lampard is unconvinced by his inherited No1 and Kepa could well be shipped out on loan, probably to La Liga, next season as the Blues search for a replacement. As the Guardian has reported, Ajax’s Andre Onana and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak are top of the wishlist.


Another player that could be on his way out this summer is David de Gea – at least he would be if Roy Keane had anything to do with it. This, via Reuters:

Manchester United must get a better goalkeeper than David de Gea if they want to challenge for the Premier League title, former captain Roy Keane has said.
Calls for De Gea to be dropped have grown since his mistakes in the FA Cup semi-final saw United beaten by Chelsea, and he spilled the ball again during Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Leicester City but recovered to deny Jamie Vardy.
Keane said he had “never been a big fan” of the Spaniard.
“He makes far too many mistakes, big mistakes that cost United big points,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“… If United want to challenge for league titles, they need a better goalkeeper. They need a change, they’ve done it before. I don’t know what the big song and dance is about a goalkeeper, United have been doing it for years.
“Strikers are dropped or sold, same with midfielders, but for some reason with goalkeepers they think we have to stick with the goalkeeper for a bit longer than others because of something they did two or three years ago.”
Keane pointed to how champions Liverpool had loaned German shotstopper Loris Karius to Besiktas and paid a then world-record fee for Brazilian Alisson.
“We’ve seen Liverpool get onto another level when they’ve improved the goalkeeper,” Keane added.
“What’s the big deal? If he (De Gea) isn’t doing it, he’s making mistakes, then make a change.
“There are good goalkeepers out there.”


Jurgen Klopp won the manager of the season award last night. Full story: 


Arsenal face a huge decision on the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker has been prolific in front of goal since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund but after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League, he is considering his options. 

The Athletic reports Inter Milan and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Aubameyang.


It’s crunch time for Eddie Howe, who is set to decide whether he stays at Bournemouth in the next 48 hours, according to the Mail. Should he stay?


Meanwhile Sport in Spain is reporting that Arsenal are at the head of the queue for Philippe Coutinho, whose time at on loan Bayern Munich is up and who is thought to be seeking another loan move away from Barcelona.

Coutinho helped Bayern win the title and generally impressed in the Bundesliga, while Mikel Arteta is said to be a huge fan. Tottenham are also thought to be monitoring the situation as Coutinho considers his options.


To Chelsea, where they are confidently moving for Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz after securing their place in next seasons Champions League, the Guardian reports.

Havertz has told Leverkusen he wishes to join Chelsea, and the Blues are thought to be the only club in the running, offering a five-year contract to the 21-year-old should they be able to convince Leverkusen on the fee.

Chelsea are also chasing a goalkeeper to compete with or replace the underwhelming Kepa Arrizabalaga. Ajax’s Andre Onana and Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak are top of their list.


So let’s start with Manchester United, who are moving quickly in this transfer window to try and tie up deals for a forward and a midfielder. United are in talks with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho, and are thought to be about “£10-15m” apart in their valuations of the forward, with Dortmund holding out for close to £90m. 

Regardless of the outcome of the Sancho situation, United are also pursuing Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish. He’s been told he would not necessarily be a guaranteed starter every week, but that is unlikely to put off the Villa captain from what would be a huge move both for his career and his bank balance. 

Liverpool are also keen on Schalke centre-back Ozan Kabak. The 20-year-old Turkey international is rated around the £40m mark, but Schalke could sell him for less due to financial difficulties. The Reds will likely have rivals for his signature, with Manchester City, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund having been linked to Kabak in the past.



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