Transfer News LIVE updates: Matic agrees Man Utd terms, Arsenal may sell nine, Salah done

Transfer News LIVE: Updates from Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and more

Friday June 23

14:09: Newcastle are closing in on Florian Lejeune.

The Toon have been linked with the centre-back for weeks and have now ramped up their interest.

That is according to Spanish newspaper AS, who claim the Magpies have activated Lejeune’s £8.8m release clause.

“We are worried that Newcastle are taking very strong steps,” said Eibar sporting director Fran Garagarza.

14.00: Mohamed Salah is a top signing for Liverpool, according to former Reds midfielder Paul Ince.

Salah joined Liverpool yesterday from Roma in a deal which could rise above the club record fee of £35million paid for Andy Carroll from Newcastle in 2011.

“I think it’s a good bit of business,” Ince said on Sky Sports.

“I watched him play a lot this year at Roma. 

“He scored a few goals, 15 or 16 I think he got playing from the right wing.” 

13:47: Tottenham are reportedly eyeing a deal to sign Liverpool flop Suso.

Suso failed to make the grade at Liverpool and moved to AC Milan two years ago.

But Italian broadcaster Premium Sport claim Spurs could make a move for the player, with Roma also keen.

13:45: Newcastle are closing in on a £17.5m deal for Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris.

Toon boss Rafa Benitez’s only summer transfer has been making Christian Atsu’s loan from Chelsea permanent.

But the Mirror say Benitez is close to adding Greek international Samaris to his squad at St James’ Park.

13:36: West Ham are not the only contender for Olivier Giroud’s signature.

The Sun claim Giroud could be sold as Arsenal seek a replacement striker.

West Ham are supposedly gunning for a deal worth around £20m.

But Besiktas are also eyeing the France international and could pose a threat to Slaven Bilic’s aim of bringing him to the London Stadium.

13.15: Southampton were wrong to complain to the Premier League about Liverpool’s approach for defender Virgil van Dijk, according to former Reds defender Steve Nicol.

Southampton reported Liverpool for speaking to the player without their permission and the Merseyside club declared they had dropped interest in him in a statement.

But Nicol is not pleased with how the situation ended and believes every team taps players up.

“Every single team who has ever signed a player has tapped them up, everybody does it,” Nicol said on ESPN FC. 

“The fact that Southampton have got the cheek to complain, because you know they’ve done it. 

“That’s what happens, everyone knows it happens and to say anything else is just stupid.”

12.55: Alex Sandro would be a perfect fit for Chelsea if he joins the Blues from Juventus this summer, according to pundit Shaka Hislop.

Sandro has been linked with a mega-money move to Chelsea and today reports claim a £60million fee has been agreed with Juventus.

Hislop is a huge fan of the 26-year-old and says only Real Madrid’s Marcelo is a better left-back than him in the world.

“Without question (Chelsea should go in for him),” Hislop said on ESPN FC.

“Alex Sandro is a perfect fit for anybody and I’ll say this unapologetically, Alex Sandro on my money is the second best left-back in world football. Second only behind Brazilian team-mate Marcelo.”

12:35: Arsenal’s lack of Champions League football is a concern for Kylian Mbappe’s representatives.

Playing in the Europa League for at least one season does not appear to be a deterrence for Mbappe from joining Arsenal.

However, the same can not be said for his advisors.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Mbappe’s representatives are unsure about Arsenal because of their non-participation in Europe’s elite club competition.

Mbappe has spoken directly with Arsene Wenger, although little has been disclosed from their conversation.

It is said, though, that compatriot Wenger went into detail on his view of what Mbappe’s entire career plan should be during their phone call.

12.05: John Terry won’t consider Aston Villa a step down from Chelsea if he joins, according to Tim Sherwood.

Terry has been offered a deal to join Villa when his Chelsea comes to an end on June 30.

“They need some leaders there and certainly there are no bigger leaders than John Terry,” Sherwood said on Sky Sports. 

“Every club needs them characters, certainly a huge cub like Villa with the fan base that they’ve got. 

“Certainly John won’t feel like he’s going to a smaller club.”

11:30: Manchester United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Matic has verbally agreed a deal to move to Old Trafford and reunite with Mourinho.

Both clubs still need to agree a fee however.

Matic is set to be replaced at Chelsea with the arrival of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko for around £35m.

11:15: Barcelona have agreed to sign Lucas Lima from Santos.

ESPN Brazil claim the midfielder will join Barca on a free deal in January, once Santos’ season is over.

His team-mate Bruno Henrique confirmed the deal, telling ESPN: “We are happy for him, because of the player that he is.

“He is going to be super happy at the team he goes to. We are going to miss him, but life goes on. We wish him a lot of luck in Barcelona.”

11:00: Arsenal need to sign a centre-back and holding midfielder this summer, according to Gunners legend Lee Dixon.

Arsenal have already signed left-back Sead Kolasinac and have been linked with mega-money moves for strikers Kylian Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette.

But Dixon believes defensive reinforcements are more important, telling ITV: “I think centre-back with the new three-man system, that’s an area they need to strengthen. Whether Shkodran Mustafi is the answer I’m not so sure.

“A central midfield player, a holding central midfield player that is at the standard that will do that job. They haven’t got one of them at the club at the moment.”

10:30: Zinedine Zidane has reportedly told Kylian Mbappe he will sell one of his three biggest stars if he joins Real Madrid.

French publication L’Equipe claim Zidane has spoken with Mbappe and reassured him that he will be given plenty of game time at the Bernabeu, should he join.

The report adds that Gareth Bale is the most likely of the fabled ‘BBC’ trio to leave, with Manchester United ready to move for him.

10:05: Gianluigi Donnarumma’s father has defended the goalkeeper’s decision to quit AC Milan.

Donnarumma has told Milan he will not sign a new contact, with Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United all chasing the 18-year-old.

And Donnarumma’s father is keen for the transfer saga to be over with, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: “I hope the media interest in this story will end soon.

“We won’t influence Gigio’s decisions, we only want the best for him and his happiness.”

09:50: Ex-Liverpool star Luis Garcia believes Mohamed Salah is a perfect fit for the Anfield club.

“He has everything to be successful at Liverpool,” Garcia told Omnisport.

“It is not easy. You have to give 120 per cent. But I think he has everything to do a good job. I think the team need someone like him.”

Salah ultimately cost Liverpool £39m including add-ons, which will eventually make it a club-record deal, surpassing Andy Carroll’s £35m move from Newcastle.

But on his fee, Garcia added: “It’s not about the money. It’s about how he will adapt to the team, to the philosophy of the club and playing under [Jurgen] Klopp.”

09:38: Dani Alves has hinted that his future lies in Manchester.

Manchester City want to sign Alves, who will leave Juventus this summer.

And the ex-Barcelona defender hinted to Conversa com Bial that he may hook up with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

“Leaving Juve on a free transfer? I don’t know what’s happening,” Alves said. “Have I asked to leave? I’ve left the work to my agents, and they’ve said they’d talk to me once they found a resolution.

“If I go, it’ll be without any conflicts, without any problems, as opposed to what’s being said.

“City my next team? Well, everyone knows my admiration for Pep Guardiola…”

08:40: Arsenal are considering selling up to nine players in a bid to raise funds to secure the long-term futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, according to reports.

The Independent claim Arsenal are willing to pay Sanchez and Ozil close to £280,000-a-week each to keep them at the club.

But in doing so they will need to bring in extra external revenue, most likely through player sales.

The three biggest names that the club are considering selling are Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere.

The report adds the Gunners are also prepared to sell Calum Chambers, Wojciech Szczesny, Chuba Akpom, Kieran Gibbs, Lucas Perez and Carl Jenkinson this summer.

08:10: Arsenal are ready to allow a number of players to leave this summer as they look to fund a deal for Kylian Mbappe.

According to The Telegraph, the club have been given encouragement in their pursuit as Mbappe considers Arsenal a viable solution this early in his career.

The cost remains an obstacle for the Gunners though, with Monaco wanting around £120m, and their wage budget must also be taken into account.

But an exodus will release funds from their wage bill.

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud all face uncertain futures, despite their important roles in the team.

Additionally, fringe players such as Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczesny may also go.

07:05: Chelsea are closing in on a £100million double swoop for Juventus stars Leonardo Bonnuci and Alex Sandro.

The Sun say Blues boss Antonio Conte is ready to pounce after hearing his old club will listen to offers of around £45m for Italy defender Bonucci.

And Chelsea have also made a new £55m bid for Brazilian left-back Sandro, after seeing a £52m offer rejected on Monday.

06:40: Manchester City are growing in confidence about signing Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates but is yet to show any strong signs of signing another deal.

And The Mirror say City boss Pep Guardiola has made the Arsenal striker his No 1 transfer target with Etihad chiefs convinced they can land him ahead of Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

04:30: Manchester United ace Matteo Darmian has told Jose Mourinho he wants to join Juventus.

That’s according to The Sun, who say the Italy international made his intentions clear over a phone call.

Darmian has been at United since signing from Torino in 2015.

But, despite playing for their rivals, a move to Juventus could now be in the offing.

02:15: Chelsea are reportedly inching closer to a deal for Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Antonio Conte is a long-term admirer of the Monaco star.

And according to the Daily Mail, a fee of £32.5million has been agreed between the two clubs.

This in turn, the report suggests, allow Nemanja Matic to leave Stamford Bridge.