Transfer news LIVE: De Jong, Depay fly to London, Antony medical, Chelsea jet Fofana to US – Express
PSG keeping tabs on Kante
Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring N’Golo Kante’s current situation at Chelsea amid doubts over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge, according to Sky Sports.
It is said that the French heavyweights are long-term admirers of Kante and could look to snap him up before the start of next season for a relatively modest fee.
Kante will be a free agent at the end of the campaign as things stand and is yet to sign a new deal at Chelsea, with Thomas Tuchel admitting that his future at the club could not be guaranteed earlier this month.
DONE DEAL! Hannibal joins Birmingham on loan
Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri has signed for Birmingham City on a temporary basis until the end of the season.
The teenage midfielder had been made available for a loan exit by Erik ten Hag, who will be keeping a close eye on his progress in the Championship over the coming weeks and months.
Hannibal Mejbri is a Blue! ud83dude4c
u2014 Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) August 29, 2022
Forest close in on Boly
Nottingham Forest are close to completing a move for Wolves defender Willy Boly, who is set to become their 19th signing of the summer transfer window.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims that a full agreement is likely to be reached within the next 24 hours.
Boly is believed to be keen on the move after failing to show up for Wolves’ game against Newcastle over the weekend despite being expected to feature in their matchday squad.
Leicester in talks over Harit move
Leicester City have opened talks with German outfit Schalke with a view to signing midfielder Amine Harit, according to Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Marseille and has not featured for Schalke since returning to Germany at the end of the previous campaign.
Schalke are keen to offload Harit on a permanent basis but Leicester are only looking to take the Morocco international on loan as things stand.
Conte: We need two windows to reach top level
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte believes that he needs at least two more transfer windows to transform his squad into one that is capable of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for Premier League titles.
“When you have to go and play one game every three days, it’s normal to make rotation, the players to be intelligent to understand that they have to sometimes go on the bench, come in, alternate,” Conte told reporters in today’s press conference.
“And this is the period that the club can understand if we are really, really complete in the squad or maybe we could do better.
“If you compare to last season, we are more complete. But to reach other teams at the top level, we need time, patience and transfer markets, at least two transfer markets to reach the same level.”
Barkley leaves Chelsea
Chelsea have officially confirmed that Ross Barkley has left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
The former Everton midfielder is now a free agent.
Ross Barkley has left Chelsea by mutual consent.
Wishing you well for the future, Ross! ud83eudd1d
u2014 Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 29, 2022
Antony flying to Manchester for medical
Ajax winger Antony will fly to England this evening to undergo a medical ahead of his expected move to Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Brazilian forward is set to pen an initial five-year deal with the Red Devils, who have agreed a transfer fee in the region of £85m with Ajax for the player’s signature.
Antony will fly to Manchester in the next hours, it will be today. Itu2019s now decided and confirmed. Medical has been already booked. ud83dudea8ud83dudee9 #MUFC
He will be together with his agents. Contracts already approved on both player and clubs side.
The saga will be over soon. u2705ud83cudde7ud83cuddf7 pic.twitter.com/QQlKVTC5bA
u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 29, 2022
Wolves ‘agree’ Sasa Kalajdzic transfer
Wolves have agreed a £15m deal with Stuttgart for striker Sasa Kalajdzic, according to reports.
The giant forward was linked with Manchester United earlier in the window but the Red Devils cooled their interest.
Sky Sports claim that Wolves are now set to sign Kalajdzic.
Thomas Tuchel ‘very, very happy’ with Chelsea transfer business
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he would be happy with the club’s transfer business even if no more players arrive at Stamford Bridge before the September 1 deadline.
The Blues are expected to be active in the next few days. Wesley Fofana is set for a medical, while Chelsea are also pursuing deals for Anthony Gordon, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong.
Tuchel has also told his fringe players that he needs complete commitment if they do not seal departures over the coming days.
“At the moment, I accept it’s like this,” Tuchel said. “But from September 1 there are no more excuses and no more distractions.
“I am very, very happy when the transfer window is over because then we have different leverage to push players and then the commitment has to be 100 per-cent, we will not accept 99 per-cent.
“The reality is that sometimes, in the last days of the window, you have to simply accept it no matter what you wish for. It’s the reality.”
Memphis Depay joins Frenkie de Jong on London trip
Fellow Chelsea target Memphis Depay is joining Barcelona team-mate Frenkie de Jong in flying to London, according to reports.
Barca’s players have been give a couple of days off.
Spanish football journalist Samuel Marsden claims that the trip is not transfer related.
It is likely that midfielder De Jong will remain with Barca.
Frenkie de Jong ‘flies to London’
Frenkie de Jong is reportedly flying from Barcelona to London, according to reports.
The Dutchman was filmed boarding a plane at an airport on Monday.
Some sources have suggested that the flight is not transfer related.
However, speculation will mount as the midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea.
Everton ‘considering’ Cody Gakpo transfer move
Everton are ‘considering’ a move for Manchester United transfer target Cody Gakpo, according to reports.
Gakpo has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Man Utd have been interested in the Dutchman for much of the summer, but seem set to sign other targets.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke explains that Everton could now come in with a bid to PSV.
Chelsea receive Conor Gallagher transfer bid
Crystal Palace have reportedly made a £27m offer for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Gallagher spent last season on loan at Selhurst Park and impressed under Patrick Vieira.
The 22-year-old wanted to compete for a place at Stamford Bridge this season but his red card in the win over Leicester compounded a few below-par displays.
Palace, keen to sign a new midfielder, have now made a permanent bid for the England international. The Times report that a £27m offer has been placed.
Liverpool outline midfielder demands
Liverpool want a ‘cheap, late’ signing to complete their midfield, according to reports.
Ruben Neves is a target but no formal offer has apparently been made.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Liverpool want a simple deal to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
They have a little over 48 hours to conclude a move.
Liverpool have not yet made an offer for Ruben Neves (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Chelsea stalling on Aubameyang transfer
Chelsea are harbouring doubts over striking a deal to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the Premier League, according to reports.
The Blues made a £15m offer to Barcelona to sign the former Arsenal striker.
However, they are yet to reach an agreement with either the La Liga club or Aubameyang’s representatives.
According to The Athletic, there are doubts over the value of the deal given that Aubameyang is now 33.
The Gabon international would want a monster salary, while Chelsea want to give him a contract that is more performance-related.
Wesley Fofana sent to USA for Chelsea medical
Chelsea have reportedly taken the unusual approach to send incoming defender to the USA for a medical.
The Blues are set to sign Fofana from Premier League rivals Leicester, with the centre-back watching Saturday’s clash between the two clubs.
But the France U21 international has now been sent to the USA for his medical.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea’s new American owners want peace of mind over the deal as Fofana has only recently returned to fitness after breaking his leg last summer.
After all, the Boehly-Clearlake partnership will be paying north of £80m for the deal.
Man Utd told Victor Osimhen price
Manchester United target Victor Osimhen would be sold if Napoli receive an £85m (€100m) bid, head coach Luciano Spalletti has conceded.
The Italian has admitted that the Serie A side would find it ‘difficult’ to reject an offer in the region of the fee United are paying Ajax for winger Antony.
Spalletti told journalists: “I don’t have time to think about these things, we have a game every few days. Is the club thinking about it? The club thinks of any situation that is of interest to our players.
“I say that if a club offers you €100m, it is not easy to say no. Since I arrived here, all the players have been on the market for the right price.”
Man Utd have been told they could sign Victor Osimhen for £85m (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Tottenham transfer blocked by Chelsea
Chelsea will block any attempt by a Premier League rival to sign Trevoh Chalobah on loan before the transfer deadline, according to reports.
Tottenham had registered an interest in the 23-year-old but will be given a firm ‘no’ if they enquire.
That is according to the Evening Standard, who claims that Thomas Tuchel wants to keep Chalobah as part of his squad.
An impending transfer for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana had placed Chalobah’s future in doubt, but it is clear that Tuchel wants the academy graduate to remain.
Chelsea ‘internally discuss’ Wilfried Zaha transfer
Chelsea have internally discussed a move for Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, according to reports.
The Blues want to sign a new forward in the final days of the transfer window. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Anthony Gordon are their top priorities.
The Guardian report that Zaha’s name has entered the mix, though. The 29-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park and had interest from Roma earlier in the window.
Express Sport understands that Palace have little interest in selling their star player this late in the window. Zaha is happy at the club and, unlike previous summers, has not angled for a move.
It is unclear, though, if he will sign a new contract.
Chelsea have discussed a Wilfried Zaha transfer (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Antony to have Man Utd medical
Antony will have a medical at Manchester United ‘in the next 48 hours’, according to reports.
The Brazilian is set to join the Red Devils from Ajax in a whopping £84m transfer.
United spent all summer trying to sign the 22-year-old but Ajax remained firm that he was not for sale.
It took Antony refusing to play for the Eredivisie side to budge on their stance. Sky Sports report that that he will now have a medical in the early days of this week.
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s live transfer blog for all of Monday’s news.
We will be bringing all the latest news and gossip as it happens. Stay tuned!
