Follow live transfer updates throughout the day as we bring you the best of Friday’s transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals.
Manchester United saw a £70m bid for Harry Maguire rejected earlier this week, while Manchester City broke their transfer record on Thursday when they completed the signing of defensive midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid. West Ham are engaged in another bitter transfer struggle with wantaway striker Marko Arnautovic, with Shanghai SIPG placing a £22m bid for the Austrian, who has since handed in another transfer request.
Arsenal‘s £40m bid for Wilfried Zaha was swiftly knocked back by Crystal Palace, however, the Gunners are still prioritising the winger over Malcom, who has reportedly been offered to the club by Barcelona. Meanwhile, another Barca star could be on his way to the Premier League after the odds on Ousmane Dembele making a switch to Liverpool overnight. Elsewhere, Juventus have lodged an opening £58.3m offer for Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt. Follow all the day’s transfer news live below:
Barcelona have set their asking price at £60m for World Cup-winning centre-back Samuel Umtiti.
The defender has lost his place in the Spanish champions’ starting eleven to compatriot Clement Lenglet and has attracted widespread interest from Europe’s top clubs.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in the player.
Manchester United are prepared to hand goalkeeper David De Gea an ultimatum after offering the Spaniard a £350,000-per-week contract.
United triggered a one-year extension in De Gea’s contract, but the goalkeeper remains interested in a move to Juventus or PSG and is reluctant to commit his future.
Ed Woodward’s offer is now considered to be a take it or leave it deal.
Manchester United are considering whether to make a second approach for Leicester defender Harry Maguire after their initial £70m was knocked back.
Manchester City are also still interested in the England international, with the Foxes seemingly resigned to losing Maguire this summer.
Leicester have expressed an interest in Brighton’s Lewis Dunk as a replacement, but have baulked at the Seagulls’ £40m asking price, according to The Sun.
Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez also completed a £30m switch to the King Power yesterday.
Arsenal are considering a shock move for Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld, according to The Daily Star.
The Belgian has a £25m release clause in his contract and is reportedly open to making the switch across North London to avoid uprooting his family.
The defender made 50 appearances in all competitions last season and was pivotal in Spurs’ Champions League run.
Arsenal are still hoping to sign Wilfried Zaha this summer, despite being offered Barcelona winger Malcom.
The Brazilian was hotly pursued by Arsenal, Tottenham and Roma before eventually leaving Bordeaux for Barcelona last year.
However, he has struggled for game time at the Camp Nou, making 24 appearances in all competitions last season, with the 22-year-old thought to be available for a fee in the region of £35-40m.
The odds on Ousmane Dembele making a surprise switch to Anfield plummeted overnight.
Philippe Coutinho’s agent revealed the Brazilian will stay at Barcelona next season, however, despite being highly rated by those at the club, Dembele’s consistent disciplinary issues have become a concern.
Any deal for the 22-year-old Frenchman would in excess of £100m and may make way for Neymar returning to the Spanish champions.
Good morning and thank you for joining us at The Independent.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest transfer stories throughout the day, but first, let’s quickly recap the headline stories of yesterday, beginning with Manchester City breaking their transfer record to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri for £62.8m.
Here’s why the 23-year-old can be such an important figure for Pep Guardiola over the coming seasons:
Please allow a moment for the blog to load.
