CRISTIANO RONALDO'S agent Jorge Mendes is said to be 'working hard' to get his client a move to Napoli.
The Manchester United forward has been pushing for a move all summer, but now has just a few days to do so.
Meanwhile Newcastle are set to make a huge statement with the £63m signing of Alexander Isak.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have reportedly made the shock decision to enter the market for Frenkie de Jong.
Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly stressed that he would like a new midfielder and it is claimed that the Reds have offered Barcelona £53m plus £7m in add-ons.
Get all the latest Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd transfer news with SunSport…
- EVERY Premier League done deal this summer
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- Sam Dymond
No Auba agreement as yet
Chelsea were expected to seal a deal for Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last night, but they remain deadlocked in negotiations with Barcelona.
Fabrizio Romano confirms that talks are continuing, but a breakthrough is still some way off.
The Blues are keen to include Barca target Marcos Alonso as part of the transfer, but the Catalans view their pursuit of the wing-back as an all together separate deal.
Instead, the LaLiga giants are asking £25m up front for the 33-year-old forward that they signed on a free transfer earlier this year.
- Sam Dymond
Juve spill Milik signing news
Juventus have confirmed the signing of striker Arkadiusz Milik.
The Polish international has joined the Old Lady on a season-loan from Marseille.
Milik fired 20 goals for the Ligue 1 side last season, but has now swapped the south of France for Turin in a bid to help solve Juve's attacking issues.
Credit: @juventusfc Twitter - Sam Dymond
Asensio wants out of Madrid
Manchester United have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Marco Asensio with the news that the forward wants to leave Real Madrid.
It emerged yesterday that the Red Devils have submitted a bid in the region of £25m for the 26-year-old.
And now it appears that the Spanish international is looking for a move away from the Bernabeu.
Spanish outlet Relevo quote Real manager Carlo Ancelotti as saying: “Marco is looking at things to see if he can leave.”
Asensio scored 12 goals in 42 appearances for Los Blancos last season.
- Sam Dymond
Scott to stay at United
Manchester United have no intention of letting Scott McTominay leave in this transfer window.
The Mail reported that Newcastle were interested in taking the midfielder as part of the deal that saw Martin Dubravka move to the Red Devils
However, the same publication quashed those rumours by revealing that Old Trafford insiders were determined to keep the Scotland international.
The 25-year-old made 37 appearances in all competitions last season, but his first team place is now under threat by the arrival of Casemiro.
- Sam Dymond
Zaha still on the radar
Arsenal’s pursuit of another wide forward has seen them rekindle their interest in Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Eagles ace, having first contacted Selhurst Park officials when Unai Emery was in charge.
And, according to transfers guru Dean Jones, a shock deal could develop in the final week of the transfer window.
“[Pedro Neto and Yeremi Pino] are not the only two names Arsenal are looking at,” Jones told The Done Deal Show.
“In the background, there is Wilfried Zaha. That deal is not moving forward at the moment, but Zaha is definitely one of those players that ticks the boxes and that Arsenal have an eye on.
“We will have to wait and see if they go down that path, Zaha is obviously in red-hot form at the moment.”
- Sam Dymond
Gunners may not Net-o Pedro
Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Pedro Neto with Wolves having no intention of selling the winger this summer.
SunSport understands that the Gunners are willing to fork out up to £35m for the 22-year-old winger.
But Wolves are demanding at least £50m despite already signing a ready-made replacement in £27.5m Goncalo Guedes from Valencia.
Despite Wolves’ £50m valuation of Neto, it has been claimed that they have insisted the forward is not for sale.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has confirmed Arsenal are keen on Neto, but could struggle in securing his services.
He told GiveMeSport: “As far as Wolves are concerned, they’ve got no intention of selling in this transfer window, and their stance is that he is not for sale.
“However, money talks, it just depends if Arsenal were to make that interest formal, how much they would test that resolve of Wolves by going in with whatever money they thought deemed fit for Pedro Neto.”
- Sam Dymond
Blues to bag another wonderkid
Chelsea may have been frustrated in their efforts to land a starring centre-back and striker this summer, but they continue to sweep up some of the best young talent on the globe.
The Blues have already spent big on teenagers Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Gabriel Slonina in this transfer window.
And now they are close to adding Russian international Arsen Zakharyan to their ranks.
The 19-year-old has scored 13 goals and provided 16 assists in 52 appearances for Dynamo Moscow.
Pavel Andreev, the youngster’s agent, is quoted by Russian website Sports RU as confirming an impending move to Stamford Bridge.
“It’s true,” he said. “Everything is close.”
- Sam Dymond
Toffees close in on Maupay
Everton are moving closer to landing Brighton's Neal Maupay, according to Sky's Alan Myers.
The Toffees have been searching for a striker all summer, and are now in advanced talks to with the Seagulls' hitman.
The Frenchman has made 102 appearances for the south coast club in the Premier League, scoring 26 goals – a joint record amount for the club that he shares with Glenn Murray.
Maupay looked set to join Fulham last week, but a move to London failed to materialise.
And the 26-year-old has now switched his attention to Goodison Park, supposedly after a phone conversation with Everton boss Frank Lampard.
- Sam Dymond
Unhappy Ron offered to Napoli
Jorge Mendes is still working hard to seal Cristiano Ronaldo a move away from Old Trafford.
The fast-moving agent has held talks with Napoli this week about a return to Serie A for his client, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Mendes has even encouraged bids for the Italian club’s star striker Victor Osimhen so they can facilitate Ronaldo’s arrival.
The unhappy Manchester United forward is desperate to leave England in order to continue playing in the Champions League.
Napoli were yesterday drawn in a thrilling group alongside Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.
- Kealan Hughes
Good morning football fans
Erik ten Hag is reportedly urging Manchester United to seal an £8million return for Memphis Depay.
The 28-year-old was expected to rip up his Barcelona contract for a move to Juventus.
But with a deal now seemingly collapsed, Sport claims United are ready to pick up the pieces with an official £8m bid.
Ten Hag is desperate to boost his attacking options before next week’s transfer deadline.
Also on the way out of the Nou Camp is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is closing in on a move to Chelsea.
It comes after he appeared to bid farewell to Barcelona fans in his team's friendly against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Pepe has confirmed his loan move to Ligue 1 Lille.
But the deal does NOT include an option for the French side to buy the winger next summer.
- Jack Figg
Top of the flops
After Arsenal agreed to farm out Nicolas Pepe on loan to Nice, an extraordinary pattern of transfer activity was completed this summer.
It meant that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and the Gunners have all allowed their club-record signings — who cost a combined £313.5million — to depart without a single penny being recouped in transfer fees.
There is little surprise that those four members of England’s ‘Big Six’ have been left trailing in the wake of Manchester City and Liverpool in recent seasons, with such haphazard and shambolic recruitment.
And no wonder that clubs on the continent talk of ‘stupid English money’, knowing they can fleece filthy-rich Premier League sides in the market.
First, United’s £89m man Paul Pogba was allowed to leave Old Trafford for Juventus on a free — for a second time — after a largely miserable six-year spell for the French World Cup winner.
Then Chelsea sent £97.5m Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan, after a single season at Stamford Bridge, for a modest loan fee of £7m — so desperate was Thomas Tuchel to get the big Belgian striker out of the building.
Last week, Spurs loaned their most expensive recruit, Tanguy Ndombele — a £55m buy from Lyon in 2019 — to Napoli. There is an option, but no obligation, for the Italian club to buy the French midfielder next summer.
And Pepe’s loan move to Nice completes the set.
- Jack Figg
Rem-mem-ber me?
Erik ten Hag is reportedly urging Manchester United to seal an £8million return for Memphis Depay.
The 28-year-old was expected to rip up his Barcelona contract for a move to Juventus.
But with a deal now seemingly collapsed, Sport claims United are ready to pick up the pieces with an official £8m bid.
Ten Hag is desperate to boost his attacking options before next week’s transfer deadline.
Depay then scored 12 league goals for Barca last season and would give United real depth up top, as well as on the left flank.
The Holland international was set to join Juventus this week after agreeing to rip up his contract.
But the Italians eventually pulled out after striking a deal for Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik instead.
Ten Hag now hopes to wrap up a quick deal for Depay as he looks to build on Monday’s win over Liverpool.
Arsenal and Chelsea were among the interested clubs in England linked with the forward earlier on in the summer.
- Jack Figg
The axe factor
Cristiano Ronaldo was brutally axed in front of the whole Manchester United squad during a two-hour summit meeting.
Boss Erik ten Hag called the players together last Thursday and urged them to air any grievances without the threat of repercussions.
During the clear-the-air session Ten Hag told Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire they would not be starting against Liverpool on Monday.
Ronaldo, 37, did not speak but a number of players had their say, while the manager laid down the law to his under-performers.
They then beat Liverpool 2-1.
Ten Hag is sick of the Ronaldo circus that threatens to undermine his rebuilding job.
He was particularly angry last week after the Portuguese superstar promised he would soon deliver a tell-all interview.
Now Ten Hag just wants the forward out, while a number of players feel Ronaldo’s attitude and mood is affecting spirit in the camp.
The United boss told his players it is his way or the highway in the no-nonsense address to the squad.
The boss invited everyone to have their say at the training ground last week as he tried to get to the bottom of why they had performed so poorly in the opening two games.
In a two-hour showdown, Ten Hag gave every player the opportunity to say whatever they wanted about the state of the club.
But he insisted on going first.The Dutchman told the players that he had the full backing of the United board to do everything his way.
If anyone did not like it or did not want to play for him, they were invited to tell him there and then – and they were free to leave the club.
- Jack Figg
ICYMI
Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Wesley Fofana – who Chelsea are interested in – will not be travelling to Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Chelsea had a third bid of £70million for the 21-year-old rejected by Leicester.
The Leicester boss also revealed that that the defender is still training with the U23 squad after skipping a first-team session last week.
Leicester are holding out for £85million for the promising centre-half.
When asked about whether they’re expecting another bid from Chelsea, Rodgers responded that his focus is on the current players he’s got.
He said: “He won’t be available for the weekend and has trained with the U23 squad.
“I’m not sure, my concentration is on the players that we have, and the team, and I can’t lose energy.
“If something will be done it will be done with the clubs.
“Until that happens we just have to work with what we have.”
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
Ard' target
Man Utd had their surprise bid for Benjamin Pavard rejected by Bayern Munich, according to reports.
The Red Devils were in a race for the French full-back with Chelsea.
Despite attracting other European clubs such as Juventus and Atletico Madrid, Pavard decided to remain with the German giants, L'Equipe reports.
Bayern had been willing to accept £30million for the 26-year-old.
But later, it was revealed that Pavard convinced the club to let him stay at the Allianz Arena.
Pavard usually plays as a right-back but has proved himself as a centre half too, making him a useful asset to have around.
- Jack Figg
Pino pines for Arsenal move
Yeremi Pino would love a move to Arsenal and the Premier League.
That’s the understanding of transfers expert Dean Jones, who reports that the Villarreal teenager has again been attracting attention from the Gunners.
Jones told The Football Terrace YouTube channel: “[Arsenal] are still on the case of Yeremi Pino, who scored in a win at the weekend for Villarreal.
“He’s going to continue to play for his club as normal, but I’m told he is very much open to a transfer like this and would be excited to join Arsenal.”
Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of the Spanish international, but a permanent deal for the winger is not without its complications.
Pino still has five years to run on his current contract with the Yellow Submarine, although it does include a release fee in the region of £67m.
- Jack Figg
Carr race
Chelsea legend John Terry and ex-Man Utd midfielder Michael Carrick are among those in contention to take over at Stoke.
Stoke are now searching for a new manager having sacked O'Neill after a poor start to the Championship season.
Sky Bet think Sean Dyche is the most likely candidate, and SunSport understand the no-nonsense Englishman is Stoke's top target.
Elsewhere Coventry boss Mark Robins is 9/1, ahead of 14/1 trio Gareth Ainsworth, Liam Manning and Tony Pulis.
Four candidates follow at 16/1, and those include Duncan Ferguson, Jack Ross, Terry and Carrick.
- Jack Figg
Nice one
French side Nice confirmed the season-long loan of Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe in a bizarre unveiling tweet.
And the deal does NOT include an option for the Ligue 1 team to buy the winger next summer.
Pepe, 27, has struggled to live up to his £72million transfer fee since joining the Gunners from Lille in 2019.
And following the arrivals of attacking players Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira this summer, Mikel Arteta deemed the Ivorian surplus to requirements.
So the record-signing will now spend the 2022-23 campaign back in Ligue 1 trying to rediscover his best form.
However, the announcement video from Nice – posted just before kick-off in their crunch Europa Conference League play-off – was truly strange.
It featured a comic-strip-style 'WANTED' video which showed the club's Allianz Riviera stadium, fans and then Pepe in the red-and-black home shirt.
Nice captioned the post: "Before getting behind our Aiglons, a short manga?"
Pepe was presented at the stadium in front of the fans wearing his new No29 jersey and received a huge ovation from the Aiglons supporters.
- Jack Figg
Back of the Net-0
Wolves have slapped a £50million price tag on Pedro Neto after Arsenal's reported interest.
But Sky Bet reckon it's more likely he'll stay at Molineux than make the switch to North London in this window.
The Gunners are 6/4 to sign him this summer, with Manchester United next best at 10/1.
It looks therefore that it'll be between Wolves and Arsenal as to where he'll be playing his football this year.
Barcelona, Liverpool and Spurs are 16/1, ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle at 18/1.
West Ham are the outsiders of the lot at 25/1.
- Jack Figg
Haz seen enough
Patrice Evra admitted time may be up for Harry Maguire at Manchester United.
The £85million defender has endured a tough time at Old Trafford, struggling to live up to his world-record transfer fee.
Despite being club captain, he was dropped for Monday's 2-1 win over Liverpool.
SunSport revealed Erik ten Hag has told Maguire he is no longer first choice therefore plunging the armband into doubt.
And with Chelsea sniffing around a potential transfer in their desperate pursuit for a centre-back, former Red Devils star Evra reckons his old side should cash in.
He said: "I can say people are too harsh on Harry Maguire, but he is paying the price for his transfer fee.
"From that day, I said he is going to have the most difficult season for United because people only looked at the price.
"If we bought him for £5m, people would say he's an amazing centre-back.
"We all have bad games but now we've got to a point where even if he has a good game people are not happy. So there's a negativity around him."
- Jack Figg
Max power
Allan Saint-Maximin is going NOWHERE, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said.
But speculation surrounding his future isn't going away and Betfair have the tricky winger at 2/1 to sign for Tottenham.
Reports from France claimed Manchester United might be about to test the water and take a gamble on the winger to help bolster their attacking options.
Chelsea are next best in the betting at 7/2 after they were strongly linked with a move earlier this summer.
They have brought in Raheem Sterling who can play in the wide positions but have offloaded Timo Werner and others could follow.
Arsenal know a thing or two about tricky French players that play out wide and Betfair have them at 11/2 to strike a deal for Saint-Maximin.
While you can get 9/1 on a return home to France with Nice or Monaco, while Barcelona are given the same odds.
- Jack Figg
What a Tuch
Chelsea will take on seven-time champions AC Milan in a blockbuster Champions League showdown.
But it is routine Group E for Thomas Tuchel's side who also face Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
The Blues reached the quarter-finals as defending champions last season.
However, despite a stunning comeback against Real Madrid, they were undone by the eventual champions in extra-time at the Bernabeu.
Now Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will return to Stamford Bridge as Serie A champions.
Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.
Manchester United and Arsenal will find out their Europa League fait tomorrow.
- Jack Figg
Euro stars
The Champions League has returned for another epic season as Real Madrid look to defend their title.
And England's four representatives have discovered their fates in Thursday's draw in Istanbul.
This season's group stage will be packed into just nine weeks ahead of the winter World Cup.
Teams usually get 12 weeks to complete all six matches.
The first games will be played on September 6th.
And the group stage runs all the way until November 2 – just 18 days before kick-off in Qatar.
There will then be a lengthy gap before the knockout stages start.
The last-16 ties run from February 14 to March 15.
The quarters will be played in April, with the semis in May.
And this season's final will take place on June 10 at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey.
- Jack Figg
Ziy in the sky
Hakim Ziyech’s Ajax return is reportedly on the verge of collapse.
That’s with the Dutch side refusing to meet Chelsea’s asking price.
Ziyech, 29, is not in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for this season.
And he is desperate to secure a transfer exit before next week’s deadline.
Italian champions AC Milan were leading the race earlier this summer.
And Chelsea's fierce rivals Spurs and Manchester United have also been linked.
- Jack Figg
Ziy in the sky
Hakim Ziyech’s Ajax return is reportedly on the verge of collapse.
That’s with the Dutch side refusing to meet Chelsea’s asking price.
Ziyech, 29, is not in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for this season.
And he is desperate to secure a transfer exit before next week’s deadline.
Italian champions AC Milan were leading the race earlier this summer.
And Chelsea's fierce rivals Spurs and Manchester United have also been linked.
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