Follow the latest updates live from the transfer window on Thursday as Manchester United’s pursuit of Jadon Sancho continues and another winger leaves the Old Trafford club. After United’s second-leg Europa League victory over LASK on Wednesday night, coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Alexis Sanchez’s permanent move to Inter Milan, where the Chile international has spent the season’s on loan.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are pushing on in trying to secure deals for Philippe Coutinho and Willian, despite having announced 55 staff redundancies on Wednesday. The Gunners have reportedly seen Willian agree to a three-year contract – something he wanted from Chelsea that the Blues were not prepared to give while they remain in talks for Philippe Coutinho.
Meanwhile, Man City are not done in the market yet. Pep Guardiola’s club announced the signings of Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres this week, but they have a spending spree planned as they look to further strengthen their squad and regain the Premier League title next season. Eric Garcia won’t be part of it however, having turned down a new contract at the Etihad. Follow all of the latest news and rumours below:
Some transfer rumours from overseas, now.
In France, Le10Sport are claiming that Everton are in line to bid big for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar.
The French winger hasn’t made the expected impact under Diego Simeone after signing for more than £62m, and Atleti are ready to cut their losses.
The newly promoted Premier League side are reportedly preparing an offer for Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters, potentially scuppering Southampton‘s move for the 23-year-old.
This news had been rumoured for a while, but it’s now official:
The Ivory Coast international is likely to cost potential suitors approximately £35m, and there are already interested parties.
AC Milan and Monaco are both said to be monitoring the situation around the 27-year-old.
Journalist Mark Mann-Bryans just tweeted the following: “Understand more senior scouts from Arsenal’s European network have been let go today, joining the high-profile departures of [Francis] Cagigao / [Peter] Clark / [Brian] McDermott yesterday.
“Other departments expected to discover cuts by the end of the week.”
This news of course follows the announcement by the Gunners yesterday that 55 staff redundancies are to be made. Full story on that here:
According to PA, Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are both in the market for the 24-year-old, who scored 26 Championship goals last season for the Bees.
Prior to that, Watkins played predominantly as a winger.
Colombia international James Rodriguez may be in line to make the short trip across the Spanish capital for as little as €15m, according to El Golazo de Gol.
James joined Real in 2014 after an impressive series of performances at the World Cup in Brazil, but spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich from 2017 to 2019.
ESPN is reporting that the Chelsea winger has now agreed a three-year contract with the north London club.
The contract is said to be worth in the region of £100,000 a week.
PA understands that the Canaries are ready to listen to sensible offers and would make a huge profit on the £1.3 million they paid to sign Buendia from Getafe.
Norwich would be in a strong bargaining position, with the Argentine having four years left on his contract, and they could look for a fee in the region of £20m. Full story here:
Inter Milan have confirmed the permanent signing of Alexis Sanchez from Manchester United on a free transfer.
The Serie A club announced a near €600m deal on Thursday for the Texas-based Friedkin Group to take over control of the team.
Billionaire Dan Friedkin, chairman and CEO of the Friedkin Group, said: “We look forward to closing the purchase as soon as possible and immersing ourselves in the AS Roma family.”
However, the Blues might just have been priced out of a move for the England international, and as a result they’re turning their attention to Jose Gimenez, according to the Daily Star.
The Atletico Madrid and Uruguay centre-back, 25, is estimated to cost in the region of £60 million.
Pep Guardiola’s side announced the signings of Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres this week, but are already looking to add as many as four more names to their squad.
Among them are said to be Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly – a known target – as well as prolific Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez. That’s according to Sky Sports.
The Gunners have offered the Chelsea winger a three-year contract, something the Blues were not prepared to do, Sky Sports have reported.
Could that clinch the deal for the north London club?
The former Liverpool midfielder spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich from Barcelona, but a Premier League return seems close…
Here’s our full story from earlier this week:
The winger has spent the season on loan at Inter Milan, who are set to announce his permanent signing today.
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the news after his side’s Europa League win against LASK on Wednesday evening, the same night that Inter beat Getafe.
Full story here:
Welcome to The Independent‘s live coverage of Thursday’s transfer news and rumours!
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