Transfer news live: Arsenal given Gyokeres warning, agree Madueke and Chelsea target Donnarumma

Transfer news, rumours and latest done deals

• Viktor Gyokeres on strike at Sporting as Arsenal given stark warning in saga
• Chelsea eye shock move for Gianluigi Donnarumma with PSG future unclear
• Forest take legal action after Tottenham trigger Morgan Gibbs-White release clause
• Jordan Henderson set to join Brentford as free agent

Arsenal 'in process of completing' move for Gyokeres

On Sunday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Arsenal are now “in [the] process of completing move for Viktor Gyokeres after taking final steps in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon”.

It is believed the Gunners made formal advances on the deal over the weekend, with a five-year contract lined up for the 27-year-old.

Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres faces disciplinary action from his club (Zed Jameson/PA). (PA Archive)

Joao Palhinha wanted by Man Utd and Spurs

Manchester United and Tottenham are both targeting Bayern Munich’s former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

According to reports in Germany, the 29-year-old is keen on a return to the Premier League after falling out of favour at Bayern.

Palhinha only moved to the Bundesliga a year ago for a £43.4m fee from Fulham and still has three years left on his deal, meaning he probably won’t come cheap.

Joao Palhinha endured a tricky first season at Bayern Munich (Getty)

Bayern Munich want Malo Gusto

Bayern Munich are chasing Chelsea full-back Malo Gusto.

That’s according to L'Equipe, who claim Vincent Kompany is keen to bring the defender to the club. Bayern are said to have already sounded out Chelsea to outline their intentions before submitting a bid.

(AP)

Aston Villa close in on new goalkeeper

Aston Villa are close to completing a deal for Dutch goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

The Athletic reports that Villa will bring in the 34-year-old from French side Brest to provide competition for Emi Martinez next term, presuming he doesn’t leave.

(Getty Images)

Noni Madueke to complete Arsenal move

It seems that Noni Madueke will finalise his Arsenal deal very shortly, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that he will complete the final part of his medical in the next 24 hours.

The deal is for around £48m plus £4m add-ons for the Chelsea and England forward.

(PA Wire)

West Ham agree deal for Slavia Prague left-back

West Ham have agreed a deal to sign Slavia Prague left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, according to Sky Sports News.

The Hammers, who needed a left-back after Aaron Cresswell’s contract expires, will pay an initial £19m fee plus performance-related add-ons. Diouf has been given permission to have a medical.

Diouf started his career with Norwegian side Tromso before signing for Slavia Prague in January 2024 and has played six times for Senegal, including against England in June.

(Getty Images)

Gyokeres targets Premier League move for 'revenge' as Arsenal move stalls

Viktor Gyokeres has done a fairly incendiary interview with L’Equipe, bigging himself up ahead of an expected move to the Premier League.

“I spent several years there [at Brighton] without being able to play a single match. So, of course, it’s something I would like to do. It would be a great revenge,” he told the French newspaper.

On the lengthy transfer saga, he said, “If something is going to happen, it will happen. The most important thing for me is to play for a club that really wants me.”

(AP)

Ollie Watkins to Man United?

Ollie Watkins was strongly linked with Arsenal in January, but the Gunners didn’t pull the trigger to convince Aston Villa to sell.

Now it seems, according to the bookies at least, that Watkins’ future is at Old Trafford, could he upgrade Man United’s attack and push Rasmus Hojlund to the bench?

Man Utd - 7/4

Arsenal, Newcastle - 15/2

Liverpool, Chelsea - 17/2

Garnacho rejects Saudi move

Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho has rejected the opportunity to pursue a move to Al Nassr.

The Telegraph reports that the 21-year-old is prioritising European clubs after having initial discussions with the Saudi Pro League side, who Cristiano Ronaldo plays for.

Garnacho has been told he can leave United after becoming one of a quintet of ‘exiles’ aiming to exit, which also includes Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia.

Alejandro Garnacho isn’t interested in a move to Saudi Arabia (PA Wire)

Man Utd optimistic of reaching Mbeumo deal

Manchester United remain optimistic of a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, according to Sky Sports News.

United are expected to make an improved offer, possibly as soon as this week. Brentford are understood to want £65m and Mbeumo is eager to join United.

It is thought the deal will come down to the structure and conditions, as United’s last offer was not far away in terms of total fee.

Bryan Mbeumo has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Manchester United (PA Wire)

PSG ready to sell trio after Club World Cup final

Gonçalo Ramos, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Hernández could all be sold by Paris Saint-Germain after Sunday’s Club World Cup final.

According to L’Équipe, Luis Enrique has identified the three players as potential sales in moves to help further boost his squad with purchases to come later this summer.

PSG’s main target appears to be Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi, with the Cherries ready to fight to keep their defender.

Goncalo Ramos is one of the PSG players who could be on the move (Getty Images)

Brighton’s shrewd recruitment has set up Chelsea’s success — but they risk making the same mistake

One of the more famous headlines after Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit combined for the third goal in Brazil’s defeat at the Stade de France in 1998 was “Arsenal win the World Cup”. Perhaps some in Sussex will be tempted to script a sequel on Sunday. “Brighton win the Club World Cup”? It would have sounded especially unlikely in the 1990s, when they were battling relegation from the Football League or exiled to play their home games in Gillingham.

It wouldn’t be strictly true now but Chelsea’s two goals in the semi-final came from Joao Pedro, who started July as a Brighton and Hove Albion player. He has made an increasingly familiar journey. The joke, if not a particularly new one, is that it would have been cheaper for Chelsea simply to buy Brighton than to carry on paying them for personnel. At £115m, Moises Caicedo cost a British record fee. At £62.5m, Marc Cucurella is another of Albion’s three biggest ever sales: all were to Chelsea.

Alexander Isak's next club?

It looks like Newcastle will hold onto Alexander Isak this summer, with Champions League football and a possible title challenge if things fall the right way in front of Eddie Howe and the Magpies.

But long term, where is the Swede’s future? The bookies still think Liverpool is the logical next destination, be that next year or the year after potentially.

Liverpool - 13/8

Arsenal - 13/2

Barcelona - 9/1

Real Madrid - 22/1

PSG - 25/1

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

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke is on the verge of joining Arsenal in a deal worth around £50m.

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.

Here, The Independent looks at how Madueke might fit into the Arsenal team, and whether we can expect the youngster to be a starting player right away.

Mohammed Kudus’s Tottenham transfer is the end result of West Ham’s spending disasters

There are times when West Ham fans may catch the sight of one of their finest former players in action for capital rivals and hear a chant about getting him half price. It involves an element of exaggeration: Declan Rice commanded a British record fee of £105m and even a brace of superlative free kicks against Real Madrid do not make him worth £210m.

And yet there could be a sequel of sorts, Hammers supporters casting more envious glances at another favourite found elsewhere in London. And if, as seems likely, Mohammed Kudus joins Tottenham for £55m, there may be greater reasons to think West Ham have sold him on the cheap. Certainly in the context of the Ghanaian’s talent and his outstanding, 14-goal debut campaign in England, if not the underwhelming, five-goal sophomore season.

But the fee is £30m below Kudus’ release clause and there have been moments, with an ability to spin or glide away from defenders, to finish clinically or spectacularly, when that £85m has looked a realistic valuation.

Three Premier League clubs want Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt are making a major push to keep Hugo Ekitike.

The Germans want to attack the Champions League and see the French forward as a vital part of that bid.

But Sky Sport Germany reports the Bundesliga club expects many offers to arrive soon for the former PSG star.

Liverpool is “a concrete option,’ while Newcastle and Manchester United remain keen.

Chelsea’s interest has cooled after signing João Pedro, with Ekitike likely to cost €100m.

Hugo Ekitike is wanted by three Premier League clubs (Getty Images)

Chelsea set Nicolas Jackson price tag amid Serie A interest

Chelsea have set an huge £100m price tag for Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson.

The Mail reports that the 24-year-old could be sold this summer, with AC Milan keen.

But the Blues value Jackson highly for his output, with 24 goals in 65 Premier League games, work rate and versatility to play in a number of different styles.

But with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro providing competition for places, Jackson could be sold at the right price.

(AP)

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.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s prospective move to Spurs is causing issues (PA Wire)

Chelsea eye shock move for Donnarumma

Chelsea are considering a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma with his PSG future unclear.

L’Equipe reports that the Blues would be keen to bring in the Italy goalkeeper, with his contract set to expire in 2026.

Man United and Man City would also be keen if an extension cannot be agreed with the European champions.

(Getty Images)

Madueke to Arsenal imminent

Will Castle in New York has the details on Noni Madueke’s impending move to Arsenal.

“Enzo Maresca has all but confirmed Noni Madueke’s imminent switch Arsenal after revealing that the winger has left the Chelsea camp ahead of the Club World Cup final,” Will writes.

Madueke looks set to become the latest player to swap blue for red in London after a £48.5m fee was agreed between the two clubs, with Chelsea giving him permission to undergo a medical.”

Speaking ahead of the final, Maresca said, “Noni is in contact with the new club and I guess he is going to be [announced] in the next hours.”

Jordan Henderson set for shock return to Premier League

In case you missed it... Jordan Henderson is set to return to England by signing for Brentford on a free transfer.

The former Liverpool captain left Ajax after deciding not to trigger a 12-month extension to his contract with the Dutch club.

And Brentford have moved for the 35-year-old as they look for a replacement for Christian Norgaard, who has joined Arsenal.

Henderson, who is likely to sign a two-year contract, is expected to have a medical before completing his move to Brentford, which he hopes will enable him to keep his place in the England squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Viktor Gyokeres tipped to fire goals in Premier League

“He always believed he’d play in the Premier League, it didn’t happen for him straight away,” former Coventry City team-mate, and current Charlton striker, Matt Godden tells Sky Sports.

“He increased his profile at Sporting. He’s come back a completely different animal, worked on his physical side.

“He deserves whatever he gets. Very driven, self-minded. Two or three defenders come, his mentality is he’ll run through all of you. He comes across a bit raw, but he’s improved.

“Now is the time to come to the Premier League, being the No 9 he is, he’s going into a team, all sorts of rumours, if he’s going there, they create chances for him.

“If they create chances for him, he will score, I’ll back him.”

Sporting discipline Viktor Gyokeres and warn Arsenal over transfer games

Sporting CP have told Viktor Gyokeres he faces a “hefty fine” for going on strike in an effort to force through a move to Arsenal. The Portuguese club have also warned the Gunners that they will not bow to pressure to accept an offer “below market value”.

Gyokeres, who scored 39 league goals to fire Sporting to the Portuguese title last season, is at the top of Arsenal's wishlist. However, the two clubs are yet to agree a transfer fee and the 27-year-old has appeared to play his hand by refusing to return for pre-season training.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas told Portuguese news agency LUSA: “We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a hefty fine and an apology to the group. If they don't want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we'll be very comfortable with [keeping him] for the next three years.”