Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal told Gyokeres offered to Man Utd; Chelsea make £100m decision; Liverpool latest – London Evening Standard

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Arsenal are pushing to continue their spending spree this summer as they try to get a deal for Viktor Gyokeres over the line amid late competition, while Anthony Gordon is also reportedly a target. Liverpool are nearing the completion of Hugo Ekitike’s signing. The Premier League champions are also trying to fend off interest from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz, who wants to leave Anfield.
As for Chelsea, they are always in the market for fresh impetus, and Xavi Simons is another name that they like the look of. The Dutchman wants out of RB Leipzig and could replace Noni Madueke, who departed for Arsenal and left a vacancy on the right wing.
Manchester United finally completed their months-long pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo and landed the Cameroonian in an initial £65million deal, and they now turn their attention to a centre-forward, with Benjamin Sesko, once an Arsenal target, and Nicolas Jackson, seemingly out of favour at Chelsea, on their shortlist. Ruben Amorim may also want to reinforce his midfield with Morten Hjulmand, although he could face a rival bid from Manchester City.
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Hugo Ekitike and his agent are this morning flying to Liverpool to complete his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The striker is set to undergo the first stages of his medical later today, before putting pen to paper on a six-year contract.
Ekitike is expected to fly out and join his new team-mates for their pre-season tour in Asia.
Chelsea will demand up to £100m for Nicolas Jackson this summer.
Manchester United are said to be keen on signing the striker, as they look to address their issues up front.
However, a potential deal will not be cheap. According to Sky Sports, the Blues have set an asking price for Jackson at between £80m and £100m.
The reason for such a high valuation is two-fold. One being Chelsea are under no pressure to cash in on the Senegal international who still has eight years left to run on his contract.
In addition, the £79m fee Liverpool are paying for Hugo Ekitike is being used as a benchmark for any potential deal.
Barcelona have the option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently for £26m next summer.
The forward will tomorrow be officially presented as a Barcelona player, having agreed a season-long loan move away from Manchester United.
The Athletic report that Barcelona will cover Rashford’s salary, but the 27-year-old has agreed a pay-cut of between 15% and 25% depending on bonuses.
Rashford will hope Barcelona then take up their option to keep him in a year’s time.
Chelsea are interested in signing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.
The Blues have been exploring the terms of a potential deal to sign the Dutch international, who has also been checked out by Arsenal.
Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens have already been signed as attackers by Chelsea this summer at a cost of up to £142million, and the Palmeiras teenager Estêvão Willian is also joining them ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
But despite those incomings, Chelsea’s recruitment team have not ruled out signing other attackers and are understood to have been actively looking into the possibility of bringing in Leipzig’s Simons.
The high-profile agent Ali Barat is working with Simons as a consultant over a summer transfer.
Barat was involved in helping to assist the transfer that last week saw Noni Madueke leave Chelsea for Arsenal for a fee of up to £52m.
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Arsenal are interested in signing Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
The Gunners are hoping to wrap up a deal for Viktor Gyokeres and then could turn their attention to signing a left winger.
However, the Athletic report that the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard could determine whether that is possible.
If it is, Gordon is said to be high on the shortlist, along with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.
Jason Wilcox has said that Bryan Mbeumo is the ‘perfect fit’ for Manchester United.
The Brentford forward completed a move to the Red Devils from the west London side on Monday, and United’s director of football believes that he is the ideal signing for Ruben Amorim’s side.
“Bryan’s goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him amongst the most productive players in England for the last three seasons.
“Bryan’s belief in our project and determination to join the club confirmed that he was the perfect fit for Manchester United and the culture that we are developing.
“We are delighted to have secured another one of our primary targets ahead of the pre-season tour. The experience in the US will be the perfect opportunity for Bryan to work with Ruben and his new team-mates as we prepare for an exciting season ahead.”
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Paris Saint-Germain are eager to get a deal done for Ilya Zabarnyi.
The Bournemouth defender wants to join the Champions League winners, according to Fabrizio Romano, and the Ligue 1 side are set to return to the Cherries with a fresh bid for the Ukrainian.
Spurs have not made an offer for Zabarnyi, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise.
David Ornstein reports that Manchester United have now turned their transfer attentions to a centre-forward.
Ruben Amorim’s side had made enquiries about both Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres, but appear to have missed out on both, with Ekitike en route to Liverpool and Gyokeres agreeing on a switch to Arsenal.
Benjamin Sesko, Ollie Watkins, and Nicolas Jackson are all on the Red Devils’ shortlist, but are not being ‘actively pursued’.
United are currently working on other undisclosed options.
Sky Sports report that West Ham are eyeing Mads Hermansen.
The Hammers want to add a new goalkeeper after the departure of Lukasz Fabianski on a free transfer, and the Leicester shot-stopper tops their list.
The two Manchester clubs are set to do battle for Morten Hjulmand, according to A Bola.
The Portuguese outlet claims that both Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim both want to strengthen their midfields this term, and the Sporting holder could be the ideal option.
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