Transfer News, gossip, deals and rumours as Tiemoue Bakayoko closes on a move to Chelsea and Man Utd's chase for Ivan Perisic rumbles on.

Saturday, July 15

5am: Kylian Mbappe has poured doubt over his Monaco future.

The France striker has become one of the most sought after players in Europe this summer, with Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Arsenal all inerested in signing him.

And now he's fanned the flames of a transfer rumour by telling Marca: "I don't know if I will stay [at Monaco]."

3am: Arsene Wenger has admitted he's been texting Alexis Sanchez in the hope of agreeing a contract extension.

The Chile ace has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal at the Emirates as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract.

But French boss Wenger said: "of course," when asked if Sanchez will remain an Arsenal player.

"There is not a lot to resolve with the player. I have spoken through text and it was very positive. My thoughts are always positive."

1am: Manchester United are confident that Real Madrid won't be able to sign David de Gea this summer.

Los Blancos have  been linked with a move for the Spain stopper in recent seasons, with another approach expected by some this summer.

But ESPN claim Jose Mourinho's side are confident Real don't have the funds to prise De Gea away from Old Trafford.

Friday, July 14

11pm: Inter Milan could ask Manchester United for Anthony Martial on loan as part of a deal for Ivan Perisic.

The Red Devils have been targeting the Croatia midfielder as part of Jose Mourinho's summer spending spree.

But Inter have been unwilling to sell to this point as United have yet to meet their £49m asking price.

Now the Telegraph say the Italian side could ask for Martial on loan to help them replace Perisic.

10pm: Jose Mourinho has opened up on Manchester United's pursuit of Alvaro Morata.

He said: “I don’t like to speak about players who aren’t ours, because Morata is not our player.

“I am nobody to speak about players from Real Madrid. Yes, we have had interest, that is obvious and it’s public.

“We have not come to an economic agreement, that is obvious as well. But it’s a Real Madrid’s right to ask for their players the amount of money that they want.

“We do not determine what the price is of a player of Real Madrid, Real Madrid do that. And we didn’t arrive at an agreement with Real Madrid.

“I do not criticise Madrid and I am not going to criticise my board because my board has made the offer, and they have tried to reach an agreement during a time, and they didn’t come to an agreement. It’s simple.”

9pm: Barcelona are seriously considering a raid for one of Philippe Coutinho, Dele Alli or Ander Herrera this summer.

Paris St-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti remains the top target at the Nou Camp but new manager Ernesto Valverde is looking at alternatives.

Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim the £100m cost of the 24-year-old could force the La Liga side to look elsewhere.

They say Coutinho, Alli and Herrera are the three options seriously being considered by top chiefs at Barca.

8.05pm: Chelsea forward Lucas Piazon has returned to Fulham on a season-long loan for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Brazilian spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage.

Pizaon has also signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

7.45pm: Derby have activated a release clause in Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone's contract, according to Sky Sports.

The midfielder will now discuss personal terms.

7.15pm: Tiemoue Bakayoko is on the verge of completing his move to Chelsea and is expected to sign this evening.

The midfielder has been at the club's Cobham training ground undergoing his medical today.

And French journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi claims final details are being settled between the Blues and the player.

The 22-year-old is expected to move to Chelsea in a deal worth £40m imminently.

Bouhafsi tweeted: "Tiemoue # Bakayoko passed the medical check-up in Chelsea this morning, settling final details between Chelsea and the player. Signature tonight."

6.30pm: Chelsea have given permission to Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa to miss their pre-season tour of the Far East.

Matic has been linked with a £40m move to Manchester United this summer.

And there appears to be no way back for Costa after he was told by Antonio Conte he was not in his plans for the upcoming season.

The striker is currently in Brazil after being excused from returning for pre-season as talks with Atletico Madrid continue.

The decision to leave Matic as well as Costa off the tour is a clear sign Conte is prepared to sell the Serbian.

Matic is hoping to join United but after Jose Mourinho completed the £75m signing of top Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku, the Blues would rather he goes elsewhere.

5.30pm: Alvaro Morata will only sign for Chelsea if Real Madrid sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.

Florentino Perez is not interested in a swap deal for Eden Hazard and is determined to sign the Monaco striker.

Reports had suggested Real would use Chelsea's interest in Morata as a way of convincing the Belgian to make a move to the Bernabeu.

But Spanish gossip outlet Don Balon claim the Champions League winners will keep hold of their striker if they are unable to sign Mbappe.

4.45pm: ASTON VILLA DONE DEAL

Sam Johnstone has completed a season-long loan from Manchester United to Aston Villa.

The goalkeeper spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park, making 22 appearances.

On making the move he said: “I am delighted to be back.

"I really enjoyed my last spell here – it’s a great club with top players and passionate fans.

"I can’t wait to get started now.

"I believe it can be a special season for all of us and I will be working hard each and every day to produce the kind of performances that will help us achieve what we’re aiming for."

3.45pm: MANCHESTER CITY DONE DEAL

Kyle Walker has completed his £50m switch from Tottenham to Manchester City.

The full-back has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad and is delighted to have made the move.

Walker said: “I am thrilled to be signing for City and can’t wait to get started.

“Pep Guardiola is one of the most respected managers in the world and I feel he can help me take my game to a new level.”

3.25pm: Millen Baars has completed his move to Manchester United.

That’s according to the Manchester Evening News who say the Red Devils fended off competition from Chelsea and Arsenal for the Dutch forward.

Baars has been given international clearance to complete the move and has already made his United under-18s debut.

He started in their 6-0 win over SV Ebensee in Austria earlier this week.

Baars follows in the footsteps of the likes of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Tahith Chong in ditching Ajax’s youth system for Old Trafford.

2.50pm: Ivan Perisic’s agent Fali Ramadani met Inter Milan transfer guru Walter Sabatini this week tp try and thrash out a deal.

But he was told the Serie A club won't be lowering their £50m valuation of the player - putting a move to Man Utd in big doubt.

United are keen to land the winger, but don't want to pay more than £45m.

2.20pm: Didi Hamann says Liverpool won't be overpaying if Naby Keita arrives for £70m.

The RB Leipzig midfielder is a top target for the Reds this summer - and Hamann thinks he's worth top dollar.

"He's a class player,” the German told Sky Sports. “Is £70m too much? If it's market value, I think we've got to get away from people saying a player isn't worth it, that's what the prices are like now and that's it.”

1.30pm: Gerard Deulofeu's return to Barcelona has been confirmed.

The Spanish giants have activated a buy-back clause in his Everton contract.

1pm: Tiemoue Bakayoko has posted an update from Chelsea's training ground.

The midfielder is on the brink of completing a £40m switch from Monaco.

And he's now at the club's Cobham HQ ahead of a medical.

12.20pm: Man Utd are still keen on Nemanja Matic, and are awaiting a definitive answer from Chelsea over if they can land the Serb this summer.

Jose Mourinho wants a defensive midfielder and Matic is on his shopping list, along with Radja Nainggolan and Eric Dier.

Mail Online say United are waiting a verdict from Chelsea over if they'll sell them the midfielder, after being left fed-up by the Romelu Lukaku transfer saga.

11.50am: Leonardo Bonucci is set to join AC Milan from Juventus today, reports from Italy claim.

A fee of around £35m has been agreed for the centre-back, with the Italy star set to earn around £5.7m-a-year at the San Siro.

11am: Chelsea are closing on the signature of Danilo from Real Madrid.

Reports in Spain claim the Blues are on track to wrap up the signing of the right-back.

Marca say an agreeement is near for the Brazilian to move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

10.15am: Liverpool are going back in for Naby Keita, report The Times.

They've backed up claims from Germany that the Reds have failed with a £57m bid for the RB Leipzig man.

And it's said Liverpool are now ready to up their offer for the Guinea midfield man.

9.30am: Barcelona are eyeing up Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta after giving up Hector Bellerin.

Arsenal defender Bellerin was the club's No.1 transfer target as they hunt for a new right-back.

But Azpilicueta is now on their radar after the Gunners made it clear they won't be selling.

8.50am: Manchester United are eyeing a move for Anderlecht star Leander Dendoncker.

The defensive midfielder impressed Jose Mourinho during last season's Europa League ties between the two clubs.

And he could now earn a lucrative move to the Premier League if United follow up their interest with a bid.

The Daily Mail report he's on a shortlist of defensive midfield targets, along with Radja Nainggolan, Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic.

7.40am: Tiemoue Bakayoko is in England - but appears to be in Manchester, not Chelsea.

The Monaco star is expected to complete a £40m move to Stamford Bridge today.

He's due for a medical with the Blues and has jetted to the UK to get the deal done.

But Bakayoko's location has sent tongues wagging.

On Twitter he posted 'Good morning' along with emojis of Union Jacks and Beefeaters.

However the location of the tweet was Manchester, not London.

6.35am: Jurgen Klopp needs to add to his midfield and defensive ranks this summer.

At least that's the verdict of former Liverpool star Emile Heskey.

Klopp has been linked with moves for Naby Keita, Andrew Robertson and Virgil Van Dijk since the end of last season.

And those three players may fit the bill in Heskey's mind, with a trio of positions crying out for reinforcements according to the 39-year-old.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "Do I expect them to buy? Definitely.

"Looking at what they need, they probably need a holding midfielder, a left-back and a centre-back as well."

5.40am: Arsenal have reportedly offered Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Chelsea in exchange for Nemanja Matic.

The England international is in the final year of his Gunners contract and Antonio Conte is said to be keen on him.

And it seems Arsene Wenger wants to make the most of that interest, rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.

Gianluca Di Marzio claims Arsenal have proposed a swap deal that would see Oxlade-Chamberlain and Matic trade clubs.

Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan could all make cash bids for the wantaway Chelsea ace though.

4.35am: Liverpool and Chelsea will battle it out for £65m-rated Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.

That’s according to The Sun, who claim the Premier League giants have been in touch with Borussia Dortmund over a deal.

Jurgen Klopp is the frontrunner to sign Aubameyang, 28, having coached him when he was manager of the Bundesliga outfit.

Liverpool chiefs are reluctant to meet Dortmund’s whopping price tag and his £180,000-a-week wage demands though.

That situation means Chelsea are in with a sniff of snaffling up the former Saint-Etienne star as Diego Costa’s replacement.

3.35am: Jose Mourinho has demanded Manchester United chief Ed Woodward gets a deal for Ivan Perisic over the line.

The Croatia international has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford from Serie A giants Inter Milan.

And the Manchester Evening News report Woodward and co. have been informed he is the player Mourinho wants "most of all".

Starsport understands United and Inter have been in dialogue over a potential switch since the end of last season.

However, the Red Devils have so far refused to meet Perisic's price tag - which stands at around £49m.

2.35am: Chelsea are reportedly planning to take three stars off Real Madrid and Juventus this summer.

The Blues marched to Premier League title glory last term and have already signed Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero ahead of next season.

Antonio Conte is not planning to stop there though and The Telegraph reckon Chelsea are in talks with two of European football's biggest clubs.

Negotiations with Real Madrid over Alvaro Morata and Danilo are said to be ongoing, while the west Londoners are speaking to Juventus about Alex Sandro.

Chelsea jet off on their tour of China and Singapore next Monday and Conte will be hoping they can wrap up deals for the trio by then.

1.30am: Arsenal have already offered Monaco a world-record fee for star man Kylian Mbappe this summer.

That's according to Spanish outlet Marca, who suggest Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid are the frontrunners in the race to sign him.

Mbappe, 18, is one of the world's most-coveted forwards having enjoyed an incredible breakout with Monaco last season.

And it seems Arsene Wenger is desperate to beat a host of rivals to securing his services as he bolsters his Gunners squad.

Marca reckon Arsenal bid more than £123m (€140m) for Mbappe - which must have been snubbed as it's not gone anywhere.

Friday July 14

12.25am: Manchester City outcast Joe Hart has reportedly got his eye on a potential move to Chelsea or Manchester United.

The England international, 30, is free to leave the Etihad this summer as he’s not in Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans.

And the Daily Mail reckon West Ham and Newcastle are in for him, with loan moves to the London Stadium and St. James’ Park possible.

The newspaper reckon such a switch would be all Hart is willing to consider as he keeps abreast of Chelsea and United’s goalkeeping situations.

The Premier League giants could be in the hunt for a new stopper in the next 18 months with Thibaut Courtois and David De Gea linked with Real Madrid.

Thursday July 13

11.30pm: Nemanja Matic wants to join Manchester United by the weekend.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who claim he's met Chelsea chiefs with his representative in a bid to sort out a move.

Matic, 28, faces being pushed down Antonio Conte's midfield pecking order by the arrival of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco.

And he's apparently keen to avoid that situation befalling him by reuniting with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Starsport understands United had a £40m agreement in place with Chelsea to sign Matic last month.

10.30pm: Liverpool have seen a £57m offer for Naby Keita rejected.

That’s according to German paper Bild who say Jurgen Klopp is ‘desperate’ to land the Guinea international.

RB have no intention of selling the midfielder and Keita will have to force his way out if he wants to come to England.

Leipzig snubbed the offer and contacted Liverpool on Wednesday to insist their star man is not for sale.

However, Liverpool are not willing to give up as Klopp targets a title challenge.

Bild say Keita is keen to move and would forfeit loyalty bonuses to make it happen.

He may have to slap in a transfer request to seal his dream move.

Klopp has no alternatives to Keita and is desperate to make the move happen.

9.30pm: Tiemoue Bakayoko has shared a picture of himself making his way to England.

The Monaco midfielder is closing in on a £40m transfer to Chelsea after the two clubs agreed a fee.

And he’s set to arrive in London tonight ahead of a medical tomorrow.

This evening Bakayoko posted a picture of a Eurostar carriage to Snapchat.

His ticket is visible, as is his bag and newspapers.

Bakayoko will become Antonio Conte’s second major signing of the summer following the £34m arrival of Antonio Rudgier.

7.30pm: Jose Mourinho has sanctioned the offer of a new contract to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The superstar Swede left Old Trafford at the end of last season after his contract expired.

He also suffered a serious knee injury which looks to have ruled him out until the New Year.

But Mourinho wants Ibrahimovic back and will make an offer of a return in January.

Ibrahimovic is said to be making a speedy recovery and he’s continuing his rehabilitation at United’s Carrington training base.

The Daily Record say Mourinho wants Ibrahimovic in January plus three more new faces to arrive in this window.

6pm: Dwight Yorke has backed Romelu Lukaku to be a smash hit at Manchester United.

The Belgian ace moved to Old Trafford from Everton for £75m earlier this week.

He told ESPN FC: “In my opinion he's my first choice and I'm delighted he's joined our football club.

"I know that the boy Morata is the people's choice because he's a more glamorous one.

"But when you look in terms of consistency, in terms of what someone's done in the Premier League who has been there and done it over the past three seasons, he's been one of the most consistent.

"In my opinion a great person for us to join our club.

"I think that what he needs to do is go in and be himself.

“That's the reason why they paid this enormous fee for him, because he's a great player and he has to believe he's a great player.

"Yes he's come into a much bigger club, no disrespect to Everton, they are a magnificent club themselves but when you make this step up, the scrutiny, the expectation is something that has gone up another level."

4.30pm: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants another midfielder after Tiemoue Bakayoko joins the Blues.

The Monaco star is expected to join Chelsea ahead of Manchester United.

Starsport revealed last weekend that the Red Devils had agreed a fee with the Ligue 1 champions for the France international.

But the Daily Mail say Bakayoko, 22, is heading to Stamford Bridge instead of United.

They add that Conte is also looking to spend as soon as Bakayoko arrives.

The Mailreckon the Chelsea boss wants another midfielder after landing the Monaco star.

Conte wants Bakayoko, N'Golo Kante and another star in his midfield in west London.

3.10pm: Jorge Mendes is sorting out David De Gea's Manchester United exit.

The Red Devils star is a long-term target for the Spanish giants.

De Gea, 26, nearly joined the La Liga champions in 2015 but a late fax ended any hope of a move.

Reports have suggested Real will return for the Spain international with club president Florentino Perez desperate to land the goalkeeper.

And Spanish transfer outlet Don Balon say De Gea is refusing to miss out on the chance to join Real this summer.

They reckon the Spain stopper has told his agent Mendes to sort the move and the super agent is working with Bernabeu chiefs.

2.15pm: Nemanja Matic is desperate to force through a move to Manchester United.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is ready to let the Serbian leave Stamford Bridge but would prefer him to move abroad.

The Sun claim Matic has been training alone as the Blues continue their pre-season preparations.

Tensions between Chelsea and United have risen after Romelu Lukaku opted to move to Old Trafford instead of returning to Stamford Bridge.

Starsport reported last month that the Red Devils had a £40m agreement in place to sign Matic.

And Jose Mourinho is still keen on that deal happening with a midfielder now top of his shopping list.

1pm: Manchester City and Real Madrid are locked in a battle to sign Kylian Mbappe, it has been claimed.

But Spanish football expert Graham Hunter believes City are his most prominent English suitors.

“City are talking actively to Mbappe’s representatives and saying City is the best placed to develop his career, where he could work with Pep Guardiola and be paid handsomely,” he told Sky Sports News.

“Real Madrid, meanwhile, are wooing Mbappe’s agents saying they will break the transfer record for this kid. Zidane, of course, has known Mbappe since he was 14.

“The battle is with Manchester City and they are persuasive and Mbappe is now thinking long and hard between London, Madrid, Paris and now Manchester. City are in that battle.

“At the moment it’s hard to see him choosing Monaco over one of those, but none of clubs know who is favourite to sign this exceptional 18-year-old.”

12pm: Alvaro Morata has rejected an offer to play in the Chinese Super League as he wants a move to Chelsea.

The striker is eyeing a move to Stamford Bridge after falling down the pecking order at Real Madrid.

Both Zinedine Zidane and Florentino Perez want Morata to stay at the Bernabeu but it appears his mind is made up.

The 24-year-old was offered a five-year contract worth £26.4m (€30m) per season, according to Don Balon.

But Morata has no desire to play outside of Europe at this time in his career.

11am: Lionel Messi has urged the Barcelona board to snap up Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.

Manchester City were sniffing around last summer but a move failed to materialise after he broke his leg.

Real Madrid have been linked with a swoop for his services.

Los Blancos view him as a long-term replacement for Pepe.

But, according to Spanish news outlet Don Balon, Messi has told Barca chiefs to battle Real for his signature.

Messi reportedly wants the club to sign quality players - and Laporte fits the bill.

10.30am: Gylfi Sigurdsson will not travel with Swansea for their pre-season tour of the USA amid uncertain surrounding his future.

The Swans have slapped a mammoth £50m price tag on Sigurdsson, 27.

The Icelandic playmaker is being linked with a move to Everton while Leicester have already failed with a £40m bid.

Sigurdsson captained Swansea in the second half of their 1-0 pre-season defeat at Barnet last night.

But the club have revealed he will not travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.

"Having played v Barnet last night, Gylfi did not feel in the right frame of mind to travel due to the current uncertainty over his future," read a tweet from their official account.

10am: Ivan Perisic wants to join Manchester United this summer and his agent met with Inter Milan officials yesterday to try and push through a move.

The Red Devils are keen on the midfielder as they look to overhaul their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League.

Sky Sports say United are getting closer to a deal but Inter are still demanding £48m for Perisic.

Jose Mourinho wants to complete the transfer before the Serie A side fly to China for their pre-season tour next week.

United’s most recent offer for the 28-year-old amounted to £39m but Inter rejected.

A new offer of £45m is planned to finally seal the deal for Perisic and make him a United player.

9.30am: Gary Neville has opened up on what Liverpool need to do in the current transfer window.

"I think they need centre backs," the former Manchester United defender told Sky Sports.

"And a left back. I think James Milner did a brilliant job last season, but to continue to think he can keep playing there…

"I think they need to sort out the defence and the goalkeeper and although I do like Emre Can, potentially a holding midfield player, depending on how Jordan Henderson is."

9am: Liverpool have been told by RB Leipzig that Naby Keita is not for sale.

The Bundesliga club are believed to have hardened their stance over the Guinea midfielder which is a major blow for the Reds, but they have not given up on landing him.

Liverpool made contact with Leipzig last week but were told yesterday that Keita will not be allowed leave.

It is understood that the German side are definitive on the matter, but Liverpool have yet to give up on acquiring boss Jurgen Klopp’s top midfield target.

Reports in Germany last month suggested that £70m would be enough for Leipzig to sell.

Keita, 22, is believed to be keen on a move to Anfield.

8.30am: Manchester United are interested in signing Radja Nainggolan as an alternative to Eric Dier.

The Daily Mail reckon Roma star Nainggolan could fit the bill for Jose Mourinho as he prepares for a Champions League campaign.

Their report claims the Belgian midfielder could be persuaded to leave Italy despite insisting he is planning to stay with Roma.

But United could once again find themselves in a transfer battle with Chelsea as the Mail adds that the Blues are also interested in Nainggolan.

8am: Barcelona have pulled out of a move for Hector Bellerin, according to reports in Spain.

Bellerin has six years left to run on his contract at the Emirates after penning a new long-term deal in November.

And Arsenal are said to value him at around £35m.

But Sport claim the Spanish giants don't believe he is worth that kind of fee.

The Nou Camp hierarchy reportedly met yesterday to discuss transfers.

And their first big decision was apparently to rule out a move for Bellerin.

7.30am: Chelsea ace Nathaniel Chalobah is poised to leave Stamford Bridge for a bargain £5m.

That’s according to The Sun, who claim Watford and Swansea are interested in snapping up the former England Under-21 international.

Chalobah, 22, has spent the past 12 years on Chelsea’s books since joining them from west London rivals Fulham as a youngster.

And last season Antonio Conte handed him his senior debut before integrating him into the Blues’ first-team plans as they won the Premier League.

7am: Jurgen Klopp is unconcerned about Liverpool’s summer transfer business.

He said: "We cannot only buy players because other teams buy players – we do our business as well as we can do it and we are completely in it.

"We are convinced about the way we are going, so that’s all.

"I’m not nervous, maybe that’s the right message."