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Express Sport provides all the latest transfer news LIVE. (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United and Manchester City kick off the new season this afternoon when the local rivals clash for the Community Shield at Wembley.
But, in the background, both clubs are reportedly among those across the Premier League working to strengthen their squads before the August 30 summer transfer deadline.
United are looking to address multiple areas, including full-back, centre-back and central midfield, while Pep Guardiola has confirmed that City could yet be active.
Arsenal and Liverpool are both pursuing fresh blood in midfield, with Real Sociedad duo Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi their priority targets, respectively.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are closing in on a £54million deal to sign Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who would be Enzo Maresca's ninth addition of the summer.
Express Sport provides all the latest transfer news LIVE...
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Louis Saha has admitted he has doubts over Manchester United's move for Matthijs de Ligt, pointing out the defender's inconsistent performances since his departure from Ajax.
In a conversation with CSDB, Saha expressed his reservations as he explained: "Matthijs de Ligt is a confident player and a leader in his own right, but he has struggled to maintain his form in the years since leaving Ajax.
"Having said that, I think the Premier League is a good fit for him and it will provide him that extra motivation to get back to his very best."
Saha isn't alone in his concerns. Legendary United defender Rio Ferdinand has also aired his doubts regarding De Ligt's potential impact at Old Trafford.
"He's had a lot of injuries, hasn't started many games over the last two or three years and Man United are spending £45-50m on him," Ferdinand explained.
"Is he going to come into Man United and make a difference? I think it's a big ask for him and all eyes are going to be on him.
"Big pressure, big opportunity for him, but there's a lot of uncertainty I think with this signing because of his previous seasons with two big clubs not going as well as we'd have anticipated."
Liverpool target Martin Zubimendi has reportedly snubbed a move to Anfield and will instead remain at Real Sociedad this summer.
At the end of last week, it was suggested that Zubimendi was keen to join Liverpool and the Spaniard believed the move would be special for his career.
But, according to Spanish outlet Relevo, Zubimendi has decided to ignore Liverpool’s siren songs and will continue his career at Sociedad.
Liverpool target Martin Zubimendi has reportedly snubbed a move to Anfield (Image: GETTY)
Celtic have agreed to pay Norwich up to £9.5million to secure the services of striker Adam Idah, according to Sky Sports. The Scottish Premiership side will pay an initial fee of £8.5m as well as an add-on of £1m, with Norwich inserting a 15 per cent sell-on clause into the deal.
Idah spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic and bagged seven goals in 10 league outings.
Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool transfer target Anthony Gordon that he could be in for a “tasty” reception at Goodison Park if he swaps Newcastle for the Anfield giants. Liverpool are chasing the signature of the 23-year-old England winger less than two years after he joined the Magpies from Everton.
Carragher was asked by Sky Sports about the reception Gordon could expect from Liverpool fans given the fact he used to play for their arch-rivals Everton. And the former defender replied: “It wouldn’t be a problem. It might be tasty at Goodison Park, but he’d be fine.”
Liverpool are reportedly refusing to sell Sepp van den Berg on the cheap with clubs circling for his signature. The 22-year-old was an unused substitute against Las Palmas on Sunday evening as the Reds played back-to-back pre-season friendlies.
Van den Berg has attracted plenty of attention this summer, with a whole host of clubs across Europe believed to be interested in landing him on a permanent deal.
But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have been clear with clubs that they will not accept offers in the region of £8.5million to £10m for Van den Berg as his price tag is £20million.
Arsenal chief Edu may be forced to reassess his summer transfer plans ahead of the new Premier League season as Marseille have reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Nketiah had green lighted a deal to join Marseille.
But the Ligue 1 outfit didn’t want to accept the £25.5million package Arsenal had tabled after having other bids rejected. And they have told the Premier League giants that the transfer has now collapsed.
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a move to Marseille (Image: GETTY)
Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez has completed his move to Atletico Madrid. The deal is said to be worth an initial £64.4m, with a further £17.1m expected in add-ons.
We can confirm Julian Alvarez has joined Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal.
Malick Yalcouye is expected to be sent out on loan by Brighton, Express Sport understands.
The midfielder, who arrived from IFK Gothenburg earlier this summer, has impressed the Seagulls in pre-season but a decision has been made for him to spend the upcoming campaign plying his trade elsewhere.
Championship outfits Luton Town, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday have all registered an interest in signing Yalcouye.
Further loan departures are expected over the coming weeks, with Mark O’Mahony set to depart amid interest from a host of Championship outfits. Andrew Moran and Carl Rushworth also have plenty of loan suitors, though their departures are not expected to materialise until later in the window.
Igor has been the subject of enquiries from AC Milan, Leicester City and Bologna but the Brazilian remains happy at the Amex Stadium. He has been ruled out of the last few pre-season matches through injury.
Real Sociedad hand Zubimendi brutal transfer ultimatum
Real Sociedad have reportedly told Martin Zubimendi that he must trigger his own release clause if he is to leave his boyhood club this summer.
According to The Times, Sociedad are desperate to retain the services of their academy product and have told Zubimendi of their strict demands for a deal to go ahead.
They have informed the 25-year-old that he must trigger his own release clause, worth £51million, if he is to leave the club. The process would involve Zubimendi personally travelling to the La Liga offices in Madrid to inform them of his decision.
Zubimendi is mulling over where his future lies, having snubbed transfer approaches in years gone by – notably from Arsenal – in favour of remaining at the club he has played for since he was 12.
Sociedad are therefore cracking up the pressure on their No. 4 in the hope of persuading him to remain at the club.
Newcastle have now tabled their third bid for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, reports Sky Sports.
The increased offer is now being considered by the Eagles after further talks were held over the weekend.
Eddie Howe is keen to acquire the services of Guehi, who is valued at £65million by Palace, and confidence is growing that an agreement will be reached.
Newcastle are pushing to strike a deal for Marc Guehi (Image: Getty)
An unnamed Premier League club is looking to pounce on Chelsea’s blunder to sign Samu Omorodion, reports Mirror Sport.
The forward was expected to head to Stamford Bridge this summer but a deal is now considered ‘dead’ after it collapsed on Sunday evening. Problems arose between the clubs and on the player side despite his medical being completed.
Omorodion will now entertain talks with his new suitor, with further talks scheduled for today.
Problems have reportedly arisen in Kurt Zouma’s medical with Shabab Al-Ahli.
According to Sky Sports Germany, the West Ham defender is still in Dubai as he waits for a solution to be found.
The Hammers and Shabab Al-Ahli are now in negotiations to resolve the situation, with Zouma already deemed surplus to requirements by new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Julian Alvarez set to undergo medical despite Atletico drama
Julian Alvarez is set to complete his medical with Atletico Madrid imminently, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The Argentina international made it no secret that he was keen to leave Manchester City this summer, and an agreement with Atletico was eventually agreed.
Chelsea remain locked in talks with the Spanish side over their deal for Conor Gallagher, with a ‘solution’ being discussed after Samu Omorodion’s move collapsed.
Julian Alvarez is keen to join Atletico Madrid (Image: Getty)
Newcastle are ‘optimistic’ about their pursuit of Marc Guehi, reports iNews.
The Magpies are said to have held ‘positive’ talks with Crystal Palace recently and the variation in their valuations of the England international has been bridged significantly.
There is said to be just a difference of £10million in what Newcastle are willing to pay for the Palace star and what Oliver Glasner’s side deems a suitable offer.
A bid in the region of £55m is therefore the middle ground that Newcastle are expected to explore, with add-ons taking the fee closer to Palace’s asking price likely to see them strike an agreement.
Man Utd schedule transfer talks for today about fringe star
Manchester United have scheduled a meeting today to discuss the future of Victor Lindelof, according to the Daily Mail.
The Red Devils are set to discuss their recruitment plans for the remainder of the transfer window, as well as those who could be offloaded to cut the size of the squad and raise funds.
Lindelof is among those who have been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford, and interest is said to be growing in the Sweden international.
Chelsea are reportedly in talks to re-sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.
The Portuguese international spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign at Stamford Bridge, and a return is now on the cards for the forward.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Atletico are discussing the possibility of Felix being involved in Conor Gallagher’s move to the La Liga.
Samu Omorodion was set to join the Blues but his move has now collapsed, prompting the two outfits to discuss alternative options as they do not want Gallagher’s transfer to collapse as well. Julian Alvarez’s move to Atletico also hinges on an agreement being reached.
Fulham are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos.
According to Fabrizio Romano, talks between the two clubs have entered an advanced stage, with work left to do on the payment structure and personal terms.
The 31-year-old centre-back joined Villa in 2022, but his stay in English football has been marred by injury.
Fulham are closing in on Diego Carlos. (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool reportedly told Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi to make a decision on his future at the weekend as they attempt to lure him to Anfield.
According to local outlet Noticias de Gipuzk, the Reds have informed their priority transfer target that they won't wait for him in their push to bolster Arne Slot's midfield.
They are said to have concerns over the doubts that Zubimendi has been showing over a La Real exit while his current club fight to retain his services.
The report adds that the La Liga outfit are waiting for Liverpool to enter talks over a transfer fee. They are demanding that his £51m release clause be paid in full.
Manchester United are set to offer Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui five-year contracts ahead of their Old Trafford arrivals, as per Fabrizio Romano.
The duo are on the verge of completing a switch from Bayern Munich, with Romano reporting the deals should be wrapped up by Monday.
United take on Fulham in the opening game of the Premier League campaign on Friday.
\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd34 Manchester United are planning for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui day on Monday!
Bayern have already approved \u20ac45m plus \u20ac5m fee for de Ligt, \u20ac15m plus \u20ac5m for Mazraoui.
Spurs drop transfer hint in friendly with Harry Kane's Bayern
Tottenham Hotspur dropped a potential hint about Giovani Lo Celso's future by leaving him out of their matchday squad for today's pre-season friendly with Bayern Munich.
Spurs, who went on to lose the game 3-2, didn't include the Argentine in their squad, amid links of a move away from the north London outfit.
Lo Celso signed for Tottenham in a deal worth £55million from Real Betis in 2019.
Pep Guardiola has thrown his weight behind youngster James McAtee, revealing he pushed hard to keep him at the club this summer.
McAtee spent last season out on loan at Sheffield United, but the City boss insisted the City hierarchy didn't repeat the feat this time around.
Speaking after the Community Shield win over Manchester United, Guardiola added: "I said to Txiki [Begiristain] I don't want to loan him and I don't want to sell him because I need his specific ability in small spaces."
James McAtee was the most accurate passer (97%) to play 45 minutes or more in the #CommunityShield. \ud83d\udcab
Newcastle United have reportedly suffered the latest blow in their pursuit of a new winger this summer.
The Magpies have been linked with Jarrod Bowen and Pedro Neto, but the former looks set to stay at West Ham United and the latter is leaving Wolves for Chelsea in a £54million deal.
According to HITC, another of Eddie Howe's targets, Nico Gonzalez, is also about to be off the table.
It's claimed that the Fiorentina winger is closing in on a move to Serie A rivals Juventus on loan with an obligation to buy.
Nico Gonzalez is set to join Juventus. (Image: GETTY)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted that the club aren't done in the summer transfer window.
Troyes winger Savinho is Man City's sole arrival so far, arriving from the French sister club for around £30m.
But Guardiola has lost Julian Alvarez, while Rodri is an injury doubt at the start of the season, and he is open to opportunities in the market.
"We will see the chances at the end of the market if a club needs to sell more than now for example so I don’t know," Guardiola explained.
"Coming to the market now and knowing that we make a good transfer in terms of finances with Julian, people are waiting with the red carpet waiting to say come, come here and that is why you have to see what happens.
"Because the club has done well in the past. Many players didn’t come because the club didn’t pay what the other club wanted for that player. The club will continue to do what is fair."