Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal medical for Gyokeres; Chelsea in £104m double swoop – London Evening Standard

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Transfer news LIVE!
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs making big moves in the summer transfer window ahead of the new Premier League season. The Gunners are closing in on the signing of Viktor Gyokeres after finally making a breakthrough with Sporting. A medical has been scheduled and they are expected to announce a deal for Cristhian Mosquera, while there has been a new update on the future of Eberechi Eze.
Liverpool have continued their summer spending by completing the signing of Hugo Ekitike. However, the Premier League champions could lose Luis Diaz as Bayern Munich are expected to return with an improved bid after seeing an opening offer rejected last week.
Chelsea are making progress in their attempts to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons and Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, while Man Utd are weighing up a move for Emiliano Martinez as well as shifting their focus towards signing a centre-forward after landing Bryan Mbeumo in an initial £65million deal. Nicolas Jackson, Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins are among the names being linked with a move to Old Trafford. Follow the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!
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Manchester United are open to letting Rasmus Hojlund leave this summer.
The forward has struggled to impress since his big-money arrival from Atalanta and United are in the market for a new striker.
Corriere dello Sport report that United would even be willing to allow Hojlund to leave on loan, if an obligation to buy is included.
Marcus Rashford has said it was an “easy” decision to join Barcelona.
The forward has left Manchester United on a season-long loan deal, with a £26m option to make it permanent next summer.
Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, but revealed at his presentation today that he had wanted to join Barcelona.
“I was clear on my preference from the very beginning — actually from maybe in January,” he said.
“But that didn’t work out and so I went to Villa and I enjoyed a good period there.
“The summer came around and my choice was easy. I would have waited longer if I had to wait longer.”
Plenty of Premier League sides making big-money moves up front this summer!
Hugo Ekitike has joined Liverpool, Viktor Gyokeres in on his way to Arsenal… will Manchester United join the party?
Football Inside report that Benjamin Sesko is top of United’s wishlist, but it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible.
Liverpool have made an improved contract offer to Ibrahima Konate.
The Frenchman is out of contract next summer and there have been reports that Real Madrid are eyeing a free transfer when that expires.
However, Foot Mercato claim that Liverpool have stepped up their efforts to agree a new deal with Konate, making him a fresh offer.
He turned 40 earlier this month but Ashley Young is not done yet.
After being released by Everton at the end of last season, Young has joined Ipswich as a free agent.
He has made 750 club appearances and will now add to that, having signed a one-year contract with the Championship club.
Jorrel Hato is moving closer to joining Chelsea.
According to Fabrizio Romano, personal terms have been agreed with the Ajax defender and he has informed the Dutch club that he wants to leave.
Negotiations are reaching the final stages over a fee in the region of £35m.
Liverpool have not ended their interest in Alexander Isak.
That’s despite sealing a move for Hugo Ekitike, which has taken their summer spending spree to almost £300m.
The Times report that Isak is still of interest to the Reds, but Newcastle remain insistent that he is not for sale.
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 23-year-old has been signed for an initial £69m fee, with a potential £10m in add-ons.
Manchester United registered late interest in Ekitike and Newcastle were also keen admirers, but it is Liverpool who have won the race and the striker has signed a six-year contract.
The Frenchman has completed his medical and will now fly out to Hong Kong to join his new team-mates on the pre-season tour.
Liverpool announced that Ekitike’s squad number will not be revealed until later this summer.
Marcus Rashford revealed the opportunity to play under Hansi Flick was one of the key reasons behind his decision to join Barcelona.
The 27-year-old was officially presented as a Barcelona player this evening after completing a deal to leave Manchester United on a season-long loan deal.
Barcelona will pay Rashford’s wages and they have the option to make it a permanent move next summer for £26m.
It has been made clear to Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, that he was not in Ruben Amorim’s plans at Old Trafford.
Barcelona have always been the forward’s first-choice and he has got his wish, after talks with Flick further cemented his desire to move to Spain.
“One of the reasons I’m here is because the conversations I had with [Flick] were positive,” Rashford said.
“What he did last season was terrific. In his career he’s proved he’s one of the top coaches. He led such a young team to a very successful season and came back to pre-season wanting to do more.”
It’s already been a busy summer for Chelsea but it looks like there is more to come.
The club are pushing to sign Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato and appear to be making progress on both fronts.
The Times report that RB Leipzig want £61m for Simons and Ajax are holding out for £43m for Hato.
Chelsea are said to have agreed personal terms with Simons and are in talks with both clubs.
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