Transfer news live: Spurs’ Gibbs-White saga takes explosive twist, Gyokeres on strike, Arsenal agree Madueke

Transfer news, rumours and latest deals

• Arsenal agree world record £1m fee with Liverpool for Smith
• Napoli return for £45m-rated Garnacho as Man United begin clearout
• Bayern submit £45m offer for Luis Diaz
• Forest take legal action after Tottenham trigger Morgan Gibbs-White release clause
• Jordan Henderson set to join Brentford as free agent
• Viktor Gyokeres skips Sporting training amid interest from Arsenal

Arsenal agree world record £1m fee with Liverpool for Smith

Arsenal have had their world record bid accepted by Liverpool to make Olivia Smith the first women’s football player worth £1m, as first reported by the Guardian.

The Gunners will bring in Smith from their Women's Super League rivals to better the current world record paid by Chelsea, at £900,000, for United States defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave last January.

Arsenal’s deal for the 20-year-old Canada international Smith will go through pending a medical and personal terms agreed between the two parties.

Smith has shone for the Reds since signing from Sporting last summer, scoring seven times in 20 SWL appearances in her debut campaign.

Liverpool from Portuguese side Sporting last summer and scored seven times in 20 WSL appearances in her debut season.

'Arsenal willing to let Trossard leave'

Arsenal are open to selling Leandro Trossard, according to The Times.

They suggest the Belgian has provisionally agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with Fenerbahce, adding that Arsenal will demand around £20m for the 30-year-old.

Trossard's potential exit comes as Arsenal close in on a deal to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea, so the Belgian could be worried about playing time at the Emirates next season.

(Getty Images)

Forest seek legal advice over Spurs' Gibbs-White approach

An extraordinary story coming out of Nottingham Forest – who’d have thought? – amid reports that the club are looking to sue Tottenham over their approach for Morgan Gibbs-White.

Gibbs-White was due to have a medical at Spurs today after the club triggered his £60m release clause. But Forest have reacted furiously to events and are seeking urgent legal advice to scupper the deal, reports the Telegraph.

Wow.

Former Villa man to move to Fenerbahce?

Fabrizio Romano reports that Marco Asensio is closing in on a move to Fenerbahce, with the “agreement at final stages with all parties involved” according to the Italian.

He adds that Asensio has said yes to the Turkish club’s proposal.

‘Extraordinary’ Luka Modric to join AC Milan after leaving Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Luka Modric will join AC Milan after the Club World Cup, the Serie A club's newly-appointed manager Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed confirmed.

The move means the 39-year-old midfielder, who announced in May that he would be leaving Madrid after the Club World Cup, will bring his 13-year spell at the Spanish giants to a close.

"Modric will arrive in August. He is an extraordinary player," Allegri said in his first press conference as Milan manager.

Madrid close in on former Man Utd youth player

Real Madrid are edging closer to the signing of Benfica full-back Alvaro Fernandez in a deal worth €50m.

Fabrizio Romano reports that there is a verbal agreement in place between the two clubs for the defender, who left Man Utd for around €9m in 2024.

Sheffield Wednesday and Morecambe woes show the problem with modern football

In what is now a “normal” day for Sheffield Wednesday, one employee was asked how they were doing by a fan, only to burst into tears. They don’t know if they’re going to be paid, or what the future is, leading Clive Betts MP to lambast controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri in Parliament on Tuesday.

Many Morecambe fans similarly felt like crying when the news came through on Monday that the sale of the club from Jason Whittingham’s Bond Group Investments to Panjab Warriors wouldn’t yet be completed. This was despite sources insisting that everything was in place for the sale to proceed, and finding its delay “inexplicable”. Local MP Lizzi Collinge publicly said to Whittingham, also in Parliament, "Come on, sign the damn paperwork!" That’s after three years where Morecambe have gone from League One to the National League and, potentially, oblivion.

Bukayo Saka’s back-up or Gabriel Martinelli’s replacement? How Noni Madueke will fit in at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given the green light to the deal for the 23-year-old, who has impressed in spells at Stamford Bridge.

Madueke regularly featured on the right wing for the Blues but, along with many other members of the squad, found continuity hard to come by, and he will leave with many fans thinking he never got the time to really show what he could do in west London.

And Gunners fans will have questions of their own, with the club currently employing one of the world’s best right wingers in Bukayo Saka and some fans feeling the money could have been used better elsewhere.

Barca close in on wing signing

In a separate deal to any for Rashford, Barcelona are closing in on the signing of FC Copenhagen winger Roony Bardghji.

Fabrizio Romano reports that a “deal over €2m agreed weeks ago”, with a medical also completed.

Gyokeres skips Sporting training

Reports emerging that Viktor Gyokeres will miss Sporting CP’s upcoming training sessions as “he only wants Arsenal”.

Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein are reporting that the Sweden striker report for preseason, with a five-year deal ready for him subject to a fee being agreed between the clubs.

Gyokeres has told Sporting’s president that he will not play for the club again.

(AFP/Getty)

Ateltico end interest in Romero

The Athletic reports that Atletico Madrid have ended their interest in Spurs defender Cristian Romero.

It is claimed the Spanish side are already looking for alternatives in defence, with the belief that Spurs will offer Romero a new contract.

Cristian Romero has endured an injury-hit campaign for Tottenham (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

Manchester United sign young forward Enzo Kana-Biyik

Manchester United have signed talented young forward Enzo Kana-Biyik as they continue to bolster their youth ranks in their future planning.

Kana-Biyik, who scored nine goals in 18 appearances for Le Havre’s Under-19 side last season, will not be in first-team contention for Ruben Amorim’s side now.

United have immediately loaned Kana-Biyik to Lausanne, who finished fifth in the Swiss Super League last season.

Rashford still dreaming of Barcelona

Reports suggest Barcelona may have re-ignited their interest in Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford.

Rashford has been told he has no future at Utd but there has been little interest in the England international, with Villa passing up the opportunity to make his loan into a permanent deal.

He has made known his desire to play at Barca but the Catalan club are supposedly struggling with the funding of any deal.

However, having missed out on Nico Williams, Barca have opened the door for a move again, with some reports suggesting Hansi Flick has green-lit the move.

(Nigel French/PA Wire)

Jackson to leave Chelsea this summer?

Fabrizio Romano reports that Nicolas Jackson could leave Chelsea this summer, with Premier League clubs among those interested.

AC Milan have reportedly enquired, but Chelsea’s asking price was too high for the Italian club.

It is unknown exactly what fee Chelsea would demand for the Senegal international.

(AP)

Napoli and Galatasaray to meet as Osimhen talks stall

Negotiations between Galatasaray and Napoli over the sale of Victor Osimhen have reportedly stalled, with the two clubs set to meet again to iron out the differences.

The clubs had supposedly agreed the framework of a deal that could see the Turkish club pay the same value as Osimhen's release clause, which is roughly £65m.

However, the Turkish side have so far not offered the Italian champions enough guaranteed money.

Sky Sports reports that the two clubs will meet today in Milan to try and reach an agreement.

(Getty Images)

Forest back in for Wissa?

Another Brentford-related development as the Bees could be set to lose Yoane Wissa too.

Nottingham Forest have re-ignited their interest in the player, who is said to be valued at around £50m. Forest reportedly made a bid in January, though they valued Wissa at around £22m.

Forest have made another bid for the Congo international, though it is not known the value of this current offer.

Rio Ferdinand warns Man United left with one choice over Bryan Mbeumo transfer pursuit

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United need to find a way to meet Brentford’s valuation of Bryan Mbeumo and bring him to Old Trafford.

United have reportedly agreed personal terms with the Cameroon international but are yet to meet the Bees’ requirements over a fee and risk missing out on their man during the transfer window.

“Man United need to find a way of meeting Brentford's valuation,” Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.

Arsenal agree fee with Chelsea for Madueke

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal have have agreed a deal with Chelsea to buy Noni Madueke, with talks taking place yesterday.

Madueke is thought to be open to the move, which will cost around £50m according to reports.

(Getty Images)

Arsenal confirm move for Norgaard from Brentford

Arsenal have confirmed a move for Christian Norgaard, who will join Martin Zubimendi to complete the replacements for Thomas Partey and Jorginho in the Gunners’ midfield.

How Kyle Walker and Burnley can make unlikely marriage a success

It was, Kyle Walker said, “an opportunity I jumped at”. Two years ago, the scramble for his services was between Manchester City and Bayern Munich, a contest that meant a 33-year-old got a three-year deal. And so, had everything gone to either of his plans, he would now be planning for a final season at either the Etihad Stadium or the Allianz Arena.

Instead, the opportunity he grasped was to go to Burnley. One interpretation is to say that it is a sign of how far and how fast the mighty have fallen: a year ago, Walker played in the final of Euro 2024 and was (somehow) named in the team of the tournament. This season, he may have thought, would have ended with him captaining City to the Premier League or Champions League titles; perhaps even the Club World Cup.

Rather than the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, however, Walker is at the homelier confines of Turf Moor. He was not even named in the City squad that Pep Guardiola took to the United States.

Tottenham trigger Morgan Gibbs-White release clause

This is a deal that has accelerated at a great pace, with a deal now close after Tottenham triggered Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause.

Various sources report the England international is due to link up with Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which should boost his hopes of playing at next summer’s World Cup with England, given the chance to thrive in the Champions League next term.

Gibbs-White will join Mohammed Kudus as high-profile reinforcements for Spurs.

Arsenal setback in Viktor Gyokeres bid despite offering €10m above Sporting’s asking price

Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney reported yesterday that Arsenal have reached an impasse with Sporting Lisbon over Viktor Gyokeres, offering €65m, with potential performance-related add-ons, while Sporting want €70m guaranteed.

“The situation mirrors Arsenal's earlier pursuit of Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko in how neither club are budging,” Miguel writes. “Those talks have temporarily paused over a difference of €10m.

“There is a significant difference with the pursuit of Sesko, however. The desire of the Gyokeres camp to leave has created tension and made it much more difficult for Sporting to keep him.

“Club president Frederico Varandas has been irritated by how the situation has been conducted - if not necessarily by the player himself - especially since Sporting have let it be known they won't stand in his way.”

(Getty)

Henderson set to join Brentford

Sky Sports reports that Jordan Henderson is set to join Brentford as a free agent.

The former Liverpool midfielder left Ajax earlier this month, with Brentford having recently lost Christian Norgaard to Arsenal.

Brentford reportedly believe that Henderson will bring vital experience and quality to their squad.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Bayern submit £45m offer for Luis Diaz

Bayern Munich have submitted a £45m bid for Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, according to Bild.

The winger is considering a move away from Anfield after three years at the club.

However, Liverpool are reported by journalist Ben Jacobs to be highly reluctant to sell one of their key players.

Liverpool have rejected an approach from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Henderson leaves Ajax as Dutch club agree to end contract early

Jordan Henderson is a free agent after exiting Ajax following a mutual agreement between the two parties.

The England midfielder signed for the Dutch giants in January 2024, but his contract, due to expire next summer in 2026 has now been ended prematurely.

"I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone associated with Ajax. To play for this club was an honour in itself," said Henderson.

"To have the privilege of captaining it was even more so. My only regret is that we didn't deliver more success for the amazing supporters."

Stoke sign former West Ham left-back Cresswell

Former West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell has joined Stoke as a free agent.

Cresswell, 35, has signed a one-year deal after ending an 11-year spell with the Hammers.

Bournemouth bid for Chelsea goalkeeper Petrovic

The 25-year-old, valued at £25m, is pursuing a move away from Stamford Bridge to play regular first team football after shining for Strasbourg last term.

The Cherries could sign Petrovic as a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was the No 1 last term during a loan spell from Chelsea, but the Spaniard opted to join Arsenal permanently this month for £5m.

Sunderland sign Brighton winger Adingra

Sunderland have completed a deal for Simon Adingra from Brighton.

The Ivory Coast international will cost in excess of 21m, should bonuses be triggered.

And the 23-year-old has penned a five-year deal at the Stadium of Light after scoring twice and making two assists in 29 Premier League appearances last term.

"It's a pleasure to be here, and I cannot wait to get started," Adingra told the club's website.

"The club and the project are really exciting. I spoke with everyone and their interest in me made the decision easy - I wanted to be part of Sunderland's future.

"Playing in the Premier League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so to continue doing that is incredible. It's a big challenge ahead – we'll be facing top players and strong opponents - but I'm ready for it."

Brighton dominated against Everton at Goodison Park (Getty Images)