Transfer news LIVE updates: Man Utd close to Perisic, Chelsea want Aguero, Liverpool Keita

Transfer news LIVE: Follow here for the latest breaking news and transfer gossip

Tuesday 18 July

11:35: Mathieu Debuchy’s move to Nice is reportedly off after the French side opted to sign Christophe Jallet.

Debuchy was expected to join Nice in the next 48 hours and end a torrid three years at Arsenal but French outlet RMC Sport say the 31-year-old’s move has collapsed and the Ligue 1 side are now close to signing Jallet, who has been released by Lyon.

Jallet had been Nice’s top target to play at right-back but Lyon were reluctant to release the 33-year-old who is under contract until June 2018.

But the recent arrival of Kenny Tete from Ajax and Lyon’s decision to finally allow Jallet to leave means he is expected in Nice this evening to join them.

11:15: Arsenal are eyeing Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, reports claim.

According to Italian website TMW, Arsene Wenger’s side have made contact with Napoli chiefs to discuss the availability of their centre-back.

Chelsea were known to be interested in the Senegal international, but the arrival of Antonio Rudiger ended their pursuit.

That’s left Arsenal in the clear, but early indications suggest Napoli are unwilling to sell. 

11:10: Chelsea are still hopeful they can sign Alex Sandro and could offer Nemanja Matic in a swap deal.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte made Sandro one of his top transfer targets this summer but has been left frustrated by Juventus’ unwillingness to sell.

The Premier League champions are understood to have had a £61m bid for the Brazil international rejected by Juve.

But the Telegraph insist Chelsea are not prepared to give up on the pursuit of Sandro.

And the report says Chelsea may use Juventus’ interest in Nemanja Matic to reach an agreement.

10:45: Chelsea are preparing a £60million bid for Manchester City superstar Sergio Aguero.

Spanish newspaper AS claim Pep Guardiola is prepared to sell the Argentine talisman.

And Antonio Conte is wasting no time in pursuing Aguero, who’s scored an incredible 169 times in just 253 appearances during six years at the Etihad.

The Mirror claim Chelsea want Aguero to replace Diego Costa, and are poised to launch a mega-money offer to bring him to Stamford Bridge. 

10:15: Vitesse Arnhem have completed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Mukhtar Ali.

The 19-year-old, who’s never made a senior appearance for the Premier League champions, has signed a three-year contract with the Dutch outfit.

A statement on Chelsea’s official website said: “We thank Mukhtar for his service and wish him well for the future.”

Vitesse Arnhem’s chief, Joost de Wit, added: “Our technical men have seen him often and are convinced. You have with your squad certain qualities which are needed. Our technical people are convinced of the qualities of Ali.”

09:45: West Brom remain interested in Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs, despite his sizeable valuation.

TalkSPORT claimed yesterday that Tony Pulis’ side were preparing a £12million offer for the England international.

But the Birmingham Mail disagree.

The newspaper say that although West Brom are considering bringing Gibbs to The Hawthorns, they aren’t close to submitting an offer.

09:30: Newcastle have NOT bid for Liverpool youngster Sheyi Ojo.

The Toon were reported to have bid £10million for the lightning quick winger to bolster their attacking options.

But the Chronicle have dismissed the claims.

Instead, they suggest Rafa Benitez’s side have tabled an offer to take Ojo on a season-long loan.

09:20: Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah’s underwhelming first spell in the Premier League at Chelsea is irrelevant to Jurgen Klopp.

The 25-year-old joined Chelsea in 2014 and struggled to make a mark, scoring twice in 19 appearances before being loaned out to Italy’s Fiorentina and then moving to Roma in 2015.

Klopp said: “A lot of players have shown it is quite easy to struggle at Chelsea. Kevin De Bruyne is one.

“The only thing that we really ignored was what he did at Chelsea. When he was at Basel, Borussia Dortmund played them and we didn’t know him. It was unbelievable. The moment I said ‘let’s go for him’ he was already at Chelsea.

“Then he struggled at Chelsea because it was too early… The question is ‘what did you not see in him?’ because he played all inclusive football. He was quick, he played a lot of games, he created goals and chances and he scored by himself.”

09:10: Jose Mourinho looks like missing out on Tottenham’s Eric Dier but could be ready for one last-ditch attempt to get their man.

Spurs are holding firm in their desire to keep the England international, but the Daily Mirror claim that they are lining up a final offer of £60million.

Jose Mourinho has already made two signings this summer but is keen to acquire more players in the transfer window.

Finding a new defensive midfielder is the Portuguese’s priority despite Michael Carrick signing a new one-year deal.

08:45: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will entertain offers for Toni Kroos, reports claim.

Juventus, Manchester United and Inter Milan have all been linked with the midfielder, who played a key role in last season’s LaLiga and Champions League triumphs.

Club president Perez was initially reluctant to sell the German international.

But Spanish website Diario Gol claim he’s changed his mind because of the enormous transfer fees spent this summer.

The Bernabeu chief’s change in stance could be good news for Jose Mourinho’s side, who are said to have ‘been in contact’ with the Spanish champions.

08:30: Inter Milan still believe Ivan Perisic will join their pre-season tour of the Far East today.

Express Sport understands Manchester United are close to signing the winger in a deal worth £47million.

But negotiations are taking longer than expected.

The BBC claim Inter want Perisic, 28, to be with the squad when they travel to Shanghai today.

And unless there’s a quick resolution to negotiations – Perisic won’t be arriving at Old Trafford in the next 48 hours.

08:15: Crystal Place have no intentions of selling striker Christian Benteke, according to manager Frank de Boer.

The Belgium talisman has been linked with mega-money moves to Chelsea and Everton.

But De Boer insists his future lies at Selhurst Park.

He said: “The only thing I know is that Christian Benteke is happy here and I really want him to stay here.

“He had a great impact last season, especially in the second half of the season. He’s crucial for us and we definitely don’t want to see him go.”

07:50: Huddersfield have rewarded three more promotion winners with new contracts.

After handing German pair Chris Lowe and Elias Kachunga fresh terms last week, captain Tommy Smith, midfielder Jonathan Hogg and winger Rajiv van La Parra have all signed new deals.

The trio have penned three-year contracts until the summer of 2020, with the Terriers holding the option of a further 12 months.

Smith, Hogg and van La Parra played a crucial role in Huddersfield’s surprise promotion to the Premier League and boss David Wagner says they will also have a big impact at the top level.

7:45: Javier Hernandez is set to join West Ham and could be announced as early as this weekend.

The former Manchester United ace has become Slaven Bilic’s top target and the Hammers will pay his £13m buyout clause.

Hernandez is likely to pocket £140,000 a week and become the club’s highest earner.

West Ham face late competition from Chelsea but expect to win the race.

7:30: Newcastle are closing in on the signing of Jacob Murphy from Norwich.

The 22-year-old winger is a Newcastle fan and Rafa Benitez has now had an offer accepted and talks will begin.

Murphy is expected to join up with the Newcastle squad shortly.

The fee will rise to around £12m.

7:15: Joe Hart is close to sealing a season-long loan move to West Ham.

The Manchester City goalkeeper has travelled to London and undergone a medical.

The transfer is expected to be announced today and will sign Hart join the Hammers on an initial loan with the option to buy.

City will continue to pay part of his £100,000 a week wages and Hart will replace Adrian as the club’s number one keeper.

Adrian And Darren Randolph’s future is uncertain.

7:00: Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Ivan Perisic and could have him in place within 48 hours.

Jose Mourinho has been chasing Perisic all summer and hopes to bring the attacking midfielder in.

The Portuguese wants more creative options and sees the Serie A star as an important part of next season.

And Express Sport understands a £47m deal is close.

Perisic has left Inter’s training camp in Riscone di Brunico and returned to Croatia to sort out his personal affairs.

He claimed to have toothache and asked for permission to go see his dentist but Perisic has been sulking in a bid to secure his dream move to the Premier League and was desperate to get out of the base.

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti has been desperate to keep him with the Serie A giants and ordered Perisic to join up with the rest of his squad for the pre-season training camp.

But he held showdown talks with him this week, when Perisic made it clear his heart was set on joining United.

6.45: RB Leipzig remain insistent that they will not sell Naby Keita to Liverpool.

The Reds are expected to make another bid imminently and could even look to pay the £70m he was valued at by Leipzig.

But the German club are now saying he will not be sold regardless.

“It’s a huge compliment for us that we awoke such desires, but it’s not the general idea of our path to allow players a transfer following the first available offer,” said Leipzig head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl.

However Liverpool may now also have to battle Manchester United who are said to be interested in the midfielder as Mourinho is yet to find a breakthrough in bolstering his midfield.

6:30: Chelsea are interested in a stunning deal to sign Sergio Aguero from Manchester City.

The Argentina striker’s future is uncertain following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus and Pep Guardiola’s determination to sign Alexis Sanchez.

And Chelsea are considering a move as they look to replace Diego Costa.

Costa has been told he has not future at the club and has been allowed extra time off while the rest of Antonio Conte’s squad has begun pre season.

And it has been claimed Chelsea’s interest in Aguero is “serious and strong interest” by Sky Sports.