Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal in Kante bid; Lewandowski wants Chelsea
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham continue to make big moves in the summer window, with the three London giants looking to strengthen their squads and integrate new signings as pre-season friendlies begin.
Chelsea are set to announce the £50m signing of Raheem Sterling with a medical booked, and Nathan Ake should soon join him at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Tuchel remains interested in Matthijs de Ligt and has been handed a boost in his pursuit of Raphinha, while the Blues have been linked with Bayern Munich pair Robert Lewandowksi and Dayot Upamecano.
Arsenal have spent close to £100m but manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed he wants more after signing Gabriel Jesus. A surprise move for N’Golo Kante has been reported, along with interest in Youri Tielemans and Lisandro Martinez. Tottenham remain locked in talks with Middlesbrough to make Djed Spence their sixth summer signing. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours below!
Live updates
Foden to treble his City wages
Phil Foden has agreed a new £200,000-a-week six-year deal with Manchester City.
The contract signals a huge pay bump for Foden, who had been on £65,000 a week, which would put him among the club’s highest earners.
The Sun reports that Foden turned down £150,000 a week last season, only for his performances last season to see the club improve the offer.
Lewandowski keen on Chelsea
Chelsea have been alerted to word that Robert Lewandowski is open to joining.
Amid links with Dayot Upamecano, the Blues are also weighing up a move for his Bayern team-mate.
Barcelona are closing in on Chelsea target Raphinha and Sport Bild claim the Blues could take Barca target Lewandowski to England as the striker favouring a Premier League move.
Barca ready to pull plug on Raphinha
A new twist in the Raphinha transfer saga!
According to Mundo Deportivo this morning, Ousmane Dembele’s imminent new contract at Barcelona means Raphinha could be put on the backburner.
Barca would prioritise signing Robert Lewandowski, Cesar Azipilicueta, Marcos Alonso and Jules Kounde over Raphinha, despite weeks of negotiations.
A boost for Chelsea, then.
Arsenal plot Kante bid
Arsenal are weighing up a surprise bid for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
According to the Star, Chelsea are open to cashing in on the 31-year-old who has just a year to run on his current deal.
Mikel Arteta believes Kante, one of the club’s top earners who has struggled for fitness over the past 12 months, would fit the bill as the defensive midfielder he craves.
Man United close in on Arsenal target
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Lisandro Martinez, reports Fabrizio Romano.
A new bid worth £42million (€50m) has been submitted for the Arsenal target, which does not match Ajax’s valuation but there is confidence an agreement will be reached.
Martinez prefers United, and manager Erik ten Hag, over Arsenal and has told Ajax as much.
Chelsea turn to Upamecano
Chelsea have been alerted to the possible availability of Dayot Upamecano as Bayern Munich target Matthijs de Ligt.
The Blues see centre-back as a priority position this summer, with Nathan Ake set to arrive and that is unlikely to be the end of the defensive reinforcements.
90min reports that Upamecano could emerge as an option as fellow target De Ligt prefers Bayern.
Spurs remain in Spence talks
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has stressed he wants little to do with the Djed Spence deal as Tottenham continue to discuss a potential move for the full-back.
Spurs are keen on Spence but are yet to agree a deal despite weeks of negotiations.
Wilder told Teeside LIVE: “I’ve got to say, I’ve taken myself away from it. It’s not my job now, it’s gone beyond me and it’s not up to me to do the negotiating and agree a deal.
“That’s with the club and the owner and the chief executive.”
Sterling to join Chelsea pre-season tour
Chelsea have agreed a £50million deal with Manchester City to sign Raheem Sterling, with the forward now set to undergo a medical.
The Blues will pay a guaranteed £47.5m, with £2.5m made up of performance-related add-ons.
Sterling has already agreed a five-year deal with Chelsea, with the option of a further year, which will see him become the club’s highest-paid player on over £300,000 a week.
Chelsea hope Sterling will complete a medical early next week and then join his new team-mates on the pre-season tour of the United States. The squad flew out on Saturday.
Spurs in talks to sell four
The Tottenham squad touched down in South Korea this morning for their pre-season tour, but four big names are missing.
Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Winks and Sergio Reguilon have been left back at Hotspur Way after Antonio Conte made them surplus to requirements.
The Athletic reports that Spurs are in talks with clubs over deals for all four.
Ronaldo pocketed big bonus before exit plea
Cristiano Ronaldo signalled his desire to leave Manchester United just days after taking a “six-figure bonus” from the club, The Sun reports.
Ronaldo was due the payment, which included image rights and performance bonuses, when the second year of his contract began on July 1, and word of his intention to leave first circulated on July 2.
Chelsea remain linked with signing the 37-year-old, but Bayern have ruled themselves out.
