TRANSFER NEWS LIVE UPDATES: All the latest on Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and more…

Saturday August 12

Giroud rejected exit

12.20: Arsene Wenger admits he was ready to let Olivier Giroud leave Arsenal this summer.

But the France striker opted to stay and paid Wenger back with the winning goal yesterday.

“I opened the door for him at some stage as I had many strikers and it’s important for him to play but I don’t want him to go,” Wenger said.

“In the end he decided to stay and it was one of the great days of the recent weeks for me.

“I know how important he is not only as a player – he’s a fantastic player – but also in the group he has a big weight.

“It was a relief for me he decided to stay. Giroud in his prime is at the top of his game.”

Cancelo to Chelsea blow

11.50: Valencia general manager Mateu Alemany has denied any knowledge of Chelsea wanting to sign right-back Joao Cancelo.

The Blues are in desperate need of new signings and Antonio Conte is reportedly keen to add Cancelo to his defensive ranks.

However, Alemany has insisted he has not heard anything from the Stamdord Bridge club regarding the 23-year-old.

"I’m convinced we will make four more purchases, but [Ezequiel] Garay is close to a Russian club while I know nothing about Chelsea wanting Cancelo," he said.

Varela leaves United

11.10: Guillermo Varela has left Manchester United to rejoin former club Penarol.

The 24-year-old went to Germany last season on a one-year loan deal at Eintracht Frankfurt.

He made just 11 appearances though and was suspended after getting a tattoo.

Varela joined United in 2013, becoming the first signing under David Moyes.

He made just four Premier League appearances.

No Hazard bid

10.55: Real Madrid are ready to stick with what they’ve got after missing out on Kylian Mbappe - allowing Chelsea to breathe easy over Eden Hazard.

Madrid wanted to sign Mbappe from Monaco this summer but he now looks likely to join PSG and follow Neymar through the door in Paris.

And that leaves Madrid stumped, but rather than look at other options, with Hazard mooted as an alternative, they will stick with their BBC front three.

Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The trio helped fire Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga double last term and Zinedine Zidane is said to be ready to put his faith in them again.

Florentino Perez and Zidane had both wanted Mbappe and were ready to ship Bale out to make space, but that moves looks dead.

Barca report that Madrid have given up on the teen sensation and will now make no more moves in the market.

Madrid have had to make plans with Ronaldo at first asking for a transfer, before opting to stay put, following a tax investigation.

And Bale’s future has been uncertain with his place in the side no longer guaranteed and the interest in Mbappe.

But the trio look set to stay and Mbappe’s move to PSG could be rubber-stamped next week.

Madrid had shown some interest in Hazard with Zidane known to be a fan, but his injury appears to have ended that.

Klopp wants midfielder

10.05: Jurgen Klopp admits he wants to sign another midfielder before the transfer window closes.

Klopp has tried to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig but Liverpool were knocked back with all approaches.

And Liverpool are without Adam Lallana and Philipp Coutinho for the season-opener against Watford.

Klopp also faces a battle to keep hold of Coutinho after he handed in a transfer request, but he wants new faces anyway.

“We don’t have too many midfield players in the moment who have experience,” Klopp said.

“Are we looking still for players? Yes. That is the truth. But we were looking for players before Adam was injured. Now he is injured and Phil is injured so we have two less.

“It doesn’t make the situation more comfortable. You cannot be really prepared for situations like this but we have time.

“I’m just thinking about Watford and how we can start the season. But the 31st (August)? Yes, I know. Everything can happen. But I’m not sure that they will happen. If I were sure, they would probably already be in or whatever. It’s still open for business.”

Drinks on Chelsea

09:30: Chelsea are set to sign Danny Drinkwater from Leicester, according to bookmakers Betstars.

Chelsea have seen a £15m bid rejected for the midfielder and are yet to make a second approach.

But Betstars believe a deal could be on the cards.

BetStars director of trading Ian Marmion said: "Chelsea’s lack of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge could be about to come to an abrupt halt with the surprise signing of a Premier League midfielder.

"In the last 24 hours odds have been slashed from to 2/1 to odds-on at 4/5 for Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater to sign for the Blues, as the Premier League champions look to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

"The chance to join Antonio Conte’s men could prove too good an opportunity to miss for Drinkwater and we expect to see him in a Chelsea shirt sooner rather than later."

Barca want Di Maria

09.10: Barcelona are lining up a shock swoop for Angel Di Maria as they look to replace Neymar.

The former Real Madrid star looks out in the cold at PSG following the arrival of Neymar, who will make his debut against Guingamp tomorrow.

Di Maria, 29, played 90 minutes last week against Amiens but could drop out of the side for Neymar putting his future in doubt.

And that will put Barca on alert who, according to Sport, want the Argentina winger to help plug the hole left by Neymar’s departure.

Neymar became the most expensive player in history by signing for PSG for £198m earlier this month.

And Barca are scrambling around looking for replacements.

Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho are their top targets but Di Maria looks like a back up option for the Borussia Dortmund man.

Costa's Chelsea legal dispute

08.50: Chelsea and Diego Costa are locked in a legal battle over his future.

Antonio Conte told Costa he was not part of his plans for the season earlier in the summer.

Conte sent Costa a message by text to confirm his stance although the Italian claims the striker has been aware of the situation since January.

And Costa wants to seal a return to Spain despite seemingly being interested in a move to China in January.

But his future is in limbo with Atletico banned from signing players until January after the transfer embargo was upheld.

Chelsea are keen to move the Spain striker on and have signed Alvaro Morata as a replacement with Costa not even returning to London for pre season.

Claims this morning suggest the Blues are concerned by his weight and believe that is slowing down a move.

However the Press Association claim a legal dispute is ongoing and that is the reason Conte and the club are not discussing the striker in public.

Souness warning

08:15 Graeme Souness thinks Jurgen Klopp needs to do more business this summer if Liverpool are to challenge for the title.

The Reds have made three signings with Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson through the door.

But they face a battle to keep hold of Philippe Coutinho.

And Souness thinks they need more faces as well.

“Liverpool are three or four players light if they’re going to challenge [for the title],” Souness told Irish radio station Newstalk on Wednesday night.

Man Utd's Bale dream

08.05: Manchester United still hope to land Gareth Bale but won't go over their £90m valuation.

Spanish outlet Diario Gol claims United are unwilling to pay more than £90million to land their man.

Bale cost Madrid £86m to sign from Tottenham in the summer of 2013, when United were also in the mix for his signature.

And Real want to make a healthy profit on the 27-year-old if they are to discard him before the transfer window shuts on August 31.

Sanchez to Madrid

07.30: Real Madrid are split on a move for Alexis Sanchez.

The Arsenal ace is keen to leave the Emirate this month but his preference appears to be Manchester City.

But Real Madrid are said to also be in the running with reports in Spain claiming Zinedine Zidane is a fan.

However Florentino Perez is not to sure.

With Kylian Mbappe looking set to join PSG the European champions could miss out on a galactico signing this summer unless a move for Sanchez - or Eden Hazard - is pushed through.

And with the future of Gareth Bale up in the air a new forward play may be needed to keep Barcelona at arm’s length.

Coutinho to Barca

7:05: Barcelona remain in the market for Philippe Coutinho's whose transfer request was rejected by Liverpool yesterday.

It has since emerged that Barca will have to pay a stunning £136m for the Brazil star after seeing a £90m bid rejected earlier this week.

On a dramatic day on Merseyside, Liverpool's owners FSG insisted he was not for sale, Klopp said the same, but then a transfer request came in.

Liverpool must now decide whether they should keep a player who wants to leave.

Barca are also looking at Ousmane Dembele, Angel di Maria and Ivan Perisic.

AC Milan still want Costa

06:00: AC Milan have confirmed they are still keen on signing Chelsea powerhouse Diego Costa.

“We are working for a new striker," director Massimiliano Mirabelli said. 

"And we cannot make a mistake. 

"[Fiorentina striker Nikola] Kalinic and [Diego] Costa are on our list.”

Sanchez dividing Real Madrid

05:00: Real Madrid are split on signing Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

That's according to Spanish outlet Don Balon.

Real manager Zinedine Zidane is supposedly keen to sign the Chile star.

But club president Florentino Perez thinks he is too old to justify a huge transfer fee. 

Ince questions Matic signing

04:00: Paul Ince has questioned Manchester United's decision to sign Nemanja Matic.

"Some people have said that they can’t believe Chelsea let Matic go to United, and that they’ve handed them the title, but I don’t see that,” Ince told Paddy Power.

"Towards the back end of last season, he couldn’t get in their team.

"So I don’t think he’ll be a huge loss to them, but he’s still a very good player to sit in front of the back four, do the simple things, pass the ball – he’s good at what he does."

Philippe Coutinho situation compared to Luis Suarez drama

03:00: Luis Suarez wanted to join Arsenal in 2013 and the current Philippe Coutinho situation reminds me of that, says Jamie Carragher.

“It’s a similar situation to Suarez,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. 

“He put in a transfer request. It was actually Arsenal he wanted to go to. 

“Before Philippe Coutinho put in this transfer request, I felt Liverpool would keep him but he would probably go in 12 months. 

“If this bid had come in for Coutinho at the end of May and someone had offered over £100million and Liverpool had time to line up who they were going to get, you could understand it. 

“Liverpool have got no time to replace him, they can’t get players in at the moment anyway and they’ve got a lot of money to spend. 

“I don’t see any way the club will let Philippe Coutinho go. 

“I said there would be a riot if they went and I still stand by that!”

Diego Costa too chubby for Chelsea?

02:00: Apparantly so.

The Sun say Chelsea are fearful Diego Costa has been indulging himself too much on holiday.

And, as a result, they are concerned about whether they can offload him.

Both Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are keen to sign the Spain international. 

Manchester United fail in Real Madrid swoop

01:00: Manchester United have failed in a bid to lure Real Madrid prodigy Miguel Gutierrez to Old Trafford.

That's according to Spanish outlet Diario Gol.

Jose Mourinho is supposedly awed by the youngster's potential.

But Gutierrez wants to stay at Real, as he supported them as a child. 

Lukaku not bright enough for Chelsea

00:00: Paul Merson thinks Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku is not bright enough to play for Chelsea.

"Alvaro Morata is a top player but how long will it take him to settle?" he told the Daily Star.

"I don’t think Chelsea missed out on Romelu Lukaku. Morata is a better fit for them. But he’ll need time to adapt to English football.

"Lukaku’s not bright enough to play with Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas.

"He needs the ball over the top, and he’ll get that at Manchester United.

"But I still don’t think United have enough to open teams up. They don’t have enough guile."

Friday August 11

Wenger opens up on Giroud

23:10: Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Olivier Giroud does not want to leave Arsenal.

"I love the man and the player because he is a fantastic guy, he loves the club and he does not want to leave and I am happy that he wants to stay," said the Arsenal boss after his side's 4-3 against Leicester tonight.

"But at some stage I opened the door for him because I knew that I had many strikers, but he is really loved here and we really love him and in the end he decided to stay."

Coutinho unhappy by Klopp treatment

22:30: A member of Philippe Coutinho’s family claims he feels aggrieved over the treatment he has received from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Sky Sports claim Coutinho has total respect for Liverpool and their supporters, even though he has become frustrated at his role in the team.

Despite their relationship appearing good to the public, behind closed doors the same family member suggests the pair have their differences.

They suggest problems between them has seen their relationship sour over the last six months.

Benitez's Perez fear 

22:00: Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez fears he will miss out on Arsenal striker Lucas Perez.

Deportivo La Coruna are increasingly confident Perez will head back to Spain, dealing another blow to Benitez’s hopes of strengthening his squad.

Perez has made no secret of the fact he prefers a move to Deportivo ahead of St James’ Park after a frustrating season in English football last term.

That will be particularly upsetting to Benitez, who has missed out on several transfer targets during a frustrating close-season.

Real end De Gea and Courtois pursuits

21.20: Real Madrid have reportedly given up on signing David de Gea or Thibaut Courtois, putting their faith once more in Keylor Navas.

The La Liga champions have been linked with a new goalkeeper for a number of years with many questioning the first-team quality of Navas.

However, Spanish outlet Don Balon claim club president Florentino Perez has full trust in the 30-year-old shot-stopper.

And he has reportedly ended the La Liga club’s pursuit of Manchester United’s De Gea and Chelsea’s Courtois.

Amorim set for United

20.15: Manchester United are on the brink of signing Oliveirense striker Bruno Amorim, according to the club’s director Antonio Jose Leite.

“He had been promoted to the main squad but [United’s] scout was alert and decided to take him there,” director Antonio Jose Leite told Portuguese outlet Noticias ao Minuto.

“At this time the business is 90 per cent done and he may have an excellent contract ahead.

“The contract will shortly be announced, but he is a future bet at United.”

Wenger asked about Lemar and Seri

19:35: Arsenal have been linked with Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and Nice’s Jean Michael Seri.

And when asked about the duo in a press conference he said the following.

“We are still open,” he said. 

“But of course at the moment I have currently 33 players and it is very difficult to manage on a daily basis such a high number.”

Messi and Suarez contact Coutinho

18:20: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have both contacted Philippe Coutinho in a bid to convince him to join Barcelona.

Spanish journalist Marcos Lopez claims Barca have used Messi and Suarez in a bid to turn his head and force an exit from Liverpool.

He claims the Argentine and Uruguayan duo have contacted Coutinho to try and convince him into pushing through a move.

Coutinho could well follow in Suarez’s footsteps with the latter having moved from Liverpool to Barca in the summer of 2014.

Hazard Real's plan b

17.50: Real Madrid have reportedly identified Eden Hazard as their backup signing should they fail to secure a deal for Kylian Mbappe.

Spanish outlet Don Balon claim the Belgium international is the ‘plan b’ signing for Zinedine Zidane.

However, the Real boss will reportedly have a fight on his hands trying to convince club president Florentino Perez to sign Hazard.

Perez is said to be keen to protect Isco and Marco Asensio’s positions in the squad and does not want to sign the 26-year-old.

But the report says Hazard is desperate to sign for the La Liga champions and will push for a move away from Chelsea, potentially decreasing his transfer fee.

Baker joins Middlesbrough on loan

16:50: Middlesbrough have completed the loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker.

The 22-year-old has joined on a season-long loan and becomes the latest Blues player to leave Stamford Bridge during the transfer window.

“It’s going to be an exciting season, there are a lot of games in the Championship,” said the midfielder.

“I’m here to give my input and hopefully get the club back to the Premier League. Hopefully we can do that together.”

Mourinho eyes fourth signing

15.40: Jose Mourinho has admitted he is still holding out for a fourth summer signing, suggesting it could be a wide player.

When asked about the Red Devils’ transfer business, Mourinho replied: “You know 25 per cent means one of four?

“We got a central defender that can play in many other positions, which is important. Victor [Lindelof] can play right-back and can play central midfield.

“We got a central midfielder, we got a striker.

“Obviously the 25 per cent would be a player for another position, playing from the sides.”

14.54: Philippe Coutinho submitted his transfer request by email and has asked to leave the Anfield club.

Coutinho wants to join Barcelona as they look to rebuild after selling Neymar to PSG.

FSG have rejected the requested but will come under more pressure if Barca make another bid.

Liverpool reject Philippe Coutinho transfer request

14:25: Liverpool have rejected Philippe Coutinho's transfer request.

The Brazilian informed the club via email that he wanted to leave, paving the way towards a move to Barcelona.

But the Reds have turned down the request and insist he is not for sale.

Done deal prank

14:15: Pictures today emerged of Coutinho wearing a Barcelona shirt which were mocked up in a Twitter prank.

The official Barcelona account - @FCBarcelona - appeared to confirm Coutinho had signed this morning.

An image began circling of Coutinho in a Barca strip in a post they’d made.

But it was in fact a hoax conjured up by a dab hand on Photoshop during the dramatic transfer saga.

The tweet read: “Done deal, Phil Coutinho is now a Cule. #BienvenidoCoutinho.” That translates to Welcome Coutinho in Spanish.

Conte on transfers

13:55: Antonio Conte claims Chelsea are doing their best to sign more players but has avoided giving details on specific targets. 

Leicester's Danny Drinkwater, Everton's Ross Barkley and Valencia's Joao Cancelo are among the stars to have been linked lately with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Ahead of Chelsea's Premier League opener tomorrow at home to Burnley (3pm), Conte said: "I think I am the coach of this team, my aim is to improve the players.

"Whatever happens in the transfer window, the club are doing their best. 

"My focus is on the pitch, training sessions and the players. This must be my focus."

Liverpool deny transfer request

12.40 Liverpool are denying they have received a transfer request from Philippe Coutinho.

The Reds have been emphatic in their response to Barcelona's interest but face further questions after the timing of the reports of Coutinho's request.

Sky Sports claimed Coutinho handed it in this afternoon but Liverpool are denying everything.

Watch this space...

Coutinho makes transfer request

12.28: Philippe Coutinho has handed in a transfer request at Liverpool.

FSG made a statement earlier today saying he would not be leaving and Jurgen Klopp said the situation was unchanged.

But now Coutinho has handed in a transfer request to send shockwaves through the club.

Merson - Sanchez to join Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow

12:20: Paul Merson reckons Arsenal would allow Alexis Sanchez to join Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow if it prevented him joining Manchester City.

"Arsenal would let Sanchez go to PSG tomorrow," Merson told Sky Sports.

"The biggest worry is Manchester City and that's the problem.

"If he went to City there would be uproar from the Arsenal fans. They would look at it and ask why the club are selling him to a Premier League rival.

"If he goes to PSG he's out of sight, out of mind. He's not going to come back and hurt you.

"However, it's the Man City situation that's the concern and we've seen it all before with Robin van Persie's move to Manchester United."

Danny Rose's future in doubt

12.05: Danny Rose is contesting his fine for speaking out this week - putting his Tottenham future in further doubt.

Rose was hit with a two week fine after voicing his opinions on the club’s transfer policy and wage structure.

His comments alerted Chelsea and Manchester United to his availability but have been met positively within the Tottenham dressing room.

Rose has allies within the dressing room and it appears many feel the same way with the club’s dealings.

And now the Evening Standard now report that Rose is set to challenge his fine.

Mauricio Pochettino faces the media this afternoon and is expected to address the situation.

Klopp only wants Plan A

12:00: Jurgen Klopp won't sign any players at Liverpool who are not his first choice.

The likes of Naby Keita and Virgil van Dijk have eluded Liverpool.

But Klopp will not settle for second best, despite the need for additions ahead of the new campaign and a return to Champions League football.

"If we bring in players we bring in players because I want them," Klopp said. "That’s how I see it. There will not be a Plan B, Plan C or whatever. 

"The players I bring in will be Plan A. I cannot bring in a player just to buy a player.

“I have to make hard decision. We will see what happens on the 31st.”

Targets who'll miss opening day 

11:50: Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has confirmed Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk will miss their Premier League opener against Swansea with a virus. 

He joins the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Philippe Coutinho and Gylfi Sigurdsson – all of which have uncertain futures – on the sidelines for the first game of the season.

Click here to find out which other Premier League targets will miss the opening weekend of the new campaign. 

Chelsea players angry with Conte

11:41: Chelsea players are angry with Antonio Conte and he will leave the club before Christmas, Perry Groves has sensationally claimed.

He told talkSPORT: “Antonio Conte will not be manager of Chelsea at Christmas - fact. I’ve got a mole in the camp and they are not happy behind the scenes. The players are not happy.

“And Conte isn’t happy with Michael Emanalo and Marina Granovskaia, who is the director. They’re the ones dealing with players.

“Antonio Conte has to go through those two first before he gets to Roman Abramovich and that’s where the problem lies.

“You can tell by Conte’s body language. It didn’t make sense to let one of your pivotal players, in Nemanja Matic, go to one of your main rivals.

“Conte has said it himself he didn’t want him to go. I know some of players aren’t happy with him too. They don’t like way he goes about things, it’s very dictatorial.

Drinkwater in the dark

11.30: Danny Drinkwater is in the dark over his future with Chelsea yet to return with a second bid.

The Leicester star was the subject of a £15m approach from Chelsea earlier this summer.

But according to the Telegraph the Blues are yet to follow up their initial interest.

Antonio Conte is desperate for more recruits and is frustrated with the club’s activity.

Drinkwater is up for a move and will miss the first week of the season with Leicester in action against Arsenal tonight.

Wenger wants ‘exceptional player’

11:00: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he is targeting an ‘exceptional player’ in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

"We are open to an exceptional player," he told Sky Sports. 

"However, just to remind you we have 33 players and they are all good players.

"That's unmanageable so to bring one more player in for the sake of it would be stupid, but if we find an exceptional one, we will do it."

Reine-Adelaide to Nantes

10:20: Arsenal youngster Jeff Reine-Adelaide could join Nantes on loan.

French newspaper L’Equipe say Reine-Adelaide has been offered to Nantes and the French side are interested in the possibility of taking the teenager on loan.

FSG make Coutinho statement

10.00: Liverpool’s owners FSG have made an emphatic statement on Philippe Coutinho’s position.

“We wish to offer clarity as regards our position on a possible transfer of Philippe Coutinho,” it said.

“The club’s definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closes.”

Barcelona have been trying to sign the Liverpool ace but will now have to look elsewhere.

Sigurdsson out of opener

10.00: Swansea have omitted Gylfi Sigurdsson from their season-opener at Southampton as the saga over his proposed transfer to Everton continues.

Fernando Llorente is absent after fracturing his arm while on a cycling holiday last month, joining Nathan Dyer (Achilles) and Ki Sung-yueng (knee) on the sidelines.

England Under-21 striker Tammy Abraham is expected to make his debut on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

But Sigurdsson’s name is the biggest absence with his future still uncertain.

Everton want to land the midfielder and have seen a £40m bid rejected with Swansea holding out for £50m.

Morata’s Chelsea doubts

09:50: Alvaro Morata admits he had doubts about joining Chelsea before he received a phone call from Antonio Conte.

He told Spanish newspaper Marca: “I knew Conte loved me, and I had talked to him many times. 

“In a way, I felt indebted to him because I signed for Juve and had to go. 

“Actually, at first, I did not know that I was so interested in signing myself, but when I found out, I did not hesitate and it was my preference.”

Barkley not going on the cheap

09.30: Ronald Koeman has told Tottenham to forget about getting Ross Barkley on the cheap.

Everton value Barkley at £50m despite having just one year left on his contract.

Tottenham want to pay around half of that and think the price will go down the closer it gets to the deadline.

But Koeman says Everton will stand firm.

“No, of course not,” said Koeman when asked if Everton would allow Barkley to leave cheaply.

“We have the experience of what we need to pay for players who came here and had one year of contract. If there is a club thinking we can wait until the last day and we put some money on the table and we get Ross Barkley, sorry, you do not get Ross Barkley.

“I do not know if Spurs are doing that. I am not sure. I have some experience. When I was in Southampton we lost some players, but I am mentioning the name of no club.”

Messi could leave Barcelona...

09.10: Jurgen Klopp says it’s possible Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona.

With Barcelona stepping up their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, Klopp has moved to point people in another direction.

And he has now claimed Messi could leave Barca following the departure of Neymar.

“It's pretty simple. Until now it was simply seen as impossible,” Klopp told DAZN. 

“Then there is the list, with the release-clauses for Barcelona. Leo Messi, €300m.

“In a period of just a month that suddenly sounds possible too. That used to be an outrageous amount. They just set that amount randomly. I mean who would pay €300m. And now it simply happened.”

Mahrez not on Wenger's list

08:45: Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal were ‘never close’ to signing Riyad Mahrez.

The Leicester winger wants a new club this summer and has been linked with Roma and Arsenal.

But Wenger has denied that Arsenal were ever really in the running.

"We were never close... I rate him as a player but we have similar types with [Alex] Iwobi and [Jack] Wilshere back,” he said. 

"[With] Ozil [too], we have plenty of the same type of players.”

No Van Dijk offer yet

08:25: Southampton are still yet to receive an offer for Chelsea target Vigil van Dijk.

Despite the defender officially handing in a transfer request on Monday, no club has broken rank with a bid yet.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are all keen on the Dutchman.

But according to the Daily Echo, no proposal has been submitted to the Saints for the £60m-rated centre-half.

Van Dijk continues to be frozen out at St Mary's and Southampton are maintaining he is not for sale.

But it remains to be seen if they will accept defeat if a £60m offer comes in and Van Dijk's refuses to stay and play.

Matic may have forced move

08:10: Frank Lampard believes Nemanja Matic may have forced his Chelsea exit but was surprised it was signed off by the club.

Matic traded Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in a deal worth around £40m.

It leaves Chelsea looking short in the middle and has strengthened United.

“I was surprised to see him move to United and maybe there is more to this deal that we realise,” he told Yahoo Sport.

“I heard whispers at the back end of last season that he wanted to go and even if the club cannot come out and say too much about that, maybe there was an element of that in play here when this deal went through.

“You get the feeling that Chelsea didn’t really want Matic to go, but players can push for a move at times and that is why this deal feels different compared to Petr Cech’s move from Chelsea to Arsenal a couple of years back.

“Petr had done such a lot for the club, Thibaut Courtois had come in and it would have been harsh to stop him moving to Arsenal when he was so settled in London, but this is different.

“Matic was a big player for Chelsea last season and even though they have sign players to replace him, he is going to be missed and possibly just as significantly, he strengthens Manchester United, there is no doubt about that.”