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Transfer deadline day is Friday and several Premier League clubs are targeting both sales and signings
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Liverpool have still yet to complete their first signing of the transfer window, which shuts on Friday – but two incoming deals could be quickly completed after Giorgi Mamardashvili had a medical and news emerged of interest in Juventus winger Federico Chiesa.
Meanwhile the future of Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling is still unclear; he has been linked with Manchester United most recently but although reports say he’s open to a move to Old Trafford, talks with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy have to take place first over his £300,000 a week wages and what happens to it if he moves on a lower salary elsewhere. Chelsea, meanwhile, want Jadon Sancho in a swap deal – and Victor Osimhen’s agent gave the Blues a boost by saying he’s not going to Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, there are reports and rumours surrounding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse and Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard, as more deals try to get crammed in before deadline day.
Follow the latest transfer news and updates in today’s live blog below:
Arsenal have completed the signing of Spain international Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.
The tow clubs have agreed a fee of £31.64m (split between £27.42m + £4.22m in add ons). The midfielder has signed a four-year deal at the Emirates, with the option for a further 12 months.
Merino becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Tommy Setford and Riccardo Calafiori, as well as the permanent acquisition of David Raya.
With the news that Ivan Toney has agreed terms to move to Saudi Arabia comes a new development in the saga. Sky Sports News are reporting that Chelsea have made a move to sign the forward.
Chelsea want a new No.9 and the 28-year-old could be seen to fit into their wage structure.
The transfer fee will need to meet Brentford’s demand and then it will be up to Toney to decide where he wants to go. The England international reportedly has an incredible offer from Saudi but a move to Chelsea will ensure he still has Premier League football.
The Guardian are reporting that Kepa Arrizabalaga is undergoing at medical at Bournemouth ahead of a season-long loan from Chelsea.
In 2018, Kepa became the world’s most-expensive goalkeeper after Chelsea paid Athletic Bilbao £71.6m for him, signing him on a seven-year contract.
The deal is believed to be a straight loan, with Arrizabalaga set to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea retain his value.
Manchester United are close to landing their main midfield target this summer after agreeing a £50.7m deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Manuel Ugarte.
The FA Cup winners will pay an initial €50m for the 23-year-old, with a possible extra €10m in add-ons, and he will undergo a medical.
Ugarte’s arrival will take their summer spending to around £200m after buying centre-backs Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, full-back Noussair Mazraoui and forward Joshua Zirkzee.
More on United’s summer chase from Rich Jolly:
Scott McTominay’s sale to Napoli will help to fund the new signing
We mentioned earlier that Forest had been knocked back for Santiago Gimenez and that Eddie Nketiah might be Crystal Palace-bound – now the Tricky Trees have come in with a new offer for a third striker target.
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is the man they seemingly want now, with Wolves also keen say Sky Sports – but it’s Forest who have put in a £25m bid.
No response reported as of yet – meanwhile Forest winger Josh Bowler is set to head to Preston in the Championship. No confirmation if that’s a loan or permanent.
Just what Chelsea needed – another goalkeeper! Mike Penders is in, signing from Genk and agreeing a deal through to 2032 – although he won’t officially join until next summer.
Regardless, the Blues have confirmed his impending arrival, with the 19-year-old staying in Belgium this term.
Raheem Sterling wants talks with the Chelsea hierarchy over his contract situation before opening transfer discussions with any other club, reports the Telegraph.
His £300,000 a week deal guarantees him £40m over the three years left on his Chelsea deal, and he wants clarification on the Blues making up the difference if he moves on a lower salary elsewhere.
Manchester United are said to be interested and he “would consider” a move to Old Trafford, but swift talks would need to take place given the transfer window shuts this week.
Chelsea are keen on a swap deal involving Sterling and Man United’s out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho, but there is no firm offer from United for the squad number-less Sterling at this point.
Nayef Aguerd has turned down the chance to move to an “unnamed club” in the German Bundesliga on loan.
The Moroccan is not in favour under Julen Lopetegui after the arrivals of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, but his big wages after signing for £28m two years ago is making him tough to shift. An offer from Saudi Arabia remains an option, the Guardian reports.
Kurt Zouma is also still set to move to the Saudi Pro League, while Max Cornet is available for sale but similarly has few takers due to the Hammers paying him big wages.
Armando Broja was due to join Ipswich this week but his medical revealed a potential problem.
Kieran McKenna has confirmed though that they are still in talks with Chelsea over the possible loan-to-buy deal which was pinned at £30m.
That would only be executed if Ipswich stayed up this season and clearly they see him as a key component of achieving that – still time for that deal to be resurrected, though perhaps the terms will change now.
Sky Sports News are reporting that Brentford have rejected a £15m bid for striker Yoane Wissa from Nottingham Forest.
The Bees want to keep the 27-year-old forward who has started the season strongly especially with the possibility that Ivan Toney, who has not played for Brentford yet this season, may move away from the club before the end of the transfer window.
Wolves are also keeping an eye on the situation as they hope to bring in more reinforcements but it seems as though any move for Wissa will be difficult to get over the line.
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Chelsea have made a move to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney
Action Images via Reuters
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