Transfer news live: Liverpool agree Ekitike deal amid Isak interest, Gyokeres to Arsenal, Jackson to Man United

Transfer news, rumours and latest done deals

• Liverpool approach Newcastle over record move for Alexander Isak
• Arsenal are closing in on a move for Viktor Gyokeres in a deal worth £60m plus add-ons
• Liverpool bid for Hugo Ekitike as Newcastle cool interest
• Gunners step up Eze pursuit despite Madueke interest
• Man Utd 'monitoring' Nicolas Jackson as Bryan Mbeumo talks stall

Olivia Smith signs for Arsenal to become first £1m player in women’s football

Arsenal have broken the world transfer record by signing Liverpool for forward Olivia Smith, making the 20-year-old the first £1m transfer in women’s football.

It is understood the Gunners beat competition from several clubs - including Women’s Super League champions Chelsea - to sign the 20-year-old Canada international, who arrives on an undisclosed seven-figure-fee.

It comes 46 years after Trevor Francis became the first male player to break the £1m barrier when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.

Chelsea update

Several fringe squad members are up for sale at Chelsea, with Noni Madueke soon to leave.

Joao Felix, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Alfie Gilchrist, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling are all free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with interest in Chukwuemeka and Veiga from Dortmund.

Bayern Munich are said to be interested in Christopher Nkunku and even full-back Malo Gusto, while striker Nicolas Jackson could also leave and has reportedly been targeted by AC Milan, while even Man Utd could be considering the Senegal man.

Liverpool advancing on Ekitike deal

Liverpool are now advancing in talks to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, according to David Ornstein.

The fee will be “in excess of €80m”, and Ekitike wants the move so personal terms won’t be an issue.

(Getty Images)

Inter in for Lookman?

According to reports in Italy, Ademola Lookman could be on the verge of a move to Inter Milan, with the Nerazzurri having reached an agreement with the Nigeria forward on personal terms.

Gianluca di Marzio says that Inter a ready to bid €40m for the ex-Fulham man.

(Getty Images)

Liverpool submit bid for Ekitike

Liverpool have submitted a bid for Hugo Ekitike, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The proposal has been rejected by Frankfurt, who want more money for the Frenchman.

The amount of the bid is not specified, though the Italian explains that Ekitike has already said yes to joining the Reds.

More on Newcastle-Ekitike

Fabrizio Romano has now added that he believes Newcastle’s move for Ekitike is off, with Liverpool advancing instead.

Newcastle cool Ekitike interest and move to Wissa

David Ornstein is reporting that Newcastle United have ‘cooled’ their interest in Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, and are instead weighing up a move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Clubs were quite £50m for the Congo international last summer.

Spurs held an interest in Wissa during the January window too (Getty Images)

Liverpool transfer news: Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Jean-Philippe Mateta and more

Arne Slot orchestrated a stunning debut campaign at Anfield, inheriting a stacked squad from Jurgen Klopp before taking English football by storm to seal a record-equalling 20th top-flight crown for the club.

The summer months of 2024 hardly shaped the season that followed for Liverpool, and Slot has already proven that he doesn’t require overwhelming transfer activity to be successful. Last summer, he saw just two arrivals come through the door in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili (who was immediately loaned back to Valencia) and Federico Chiesa, who played a total of just 104 minutes in the Premier League.

But with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading for the exit and a Premier League title to defend, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards are expected to engage in a substantial recruitment drive over the coming months.

And the early signs are extremely promising for Reds fans, with Jeremy Frimpong having signed from Bayer Leverkusen before Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez followed through the door.

Here’s everything you need to know about Liverpool’s summer transfer plans.

Teddy Sheringham upset by ‘soul-destroying’ Man Utd and Marcus Rashford saga

Treble winner Teddy Sheringham does not believe Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford deserves to join Barcelona after what he feels has been a “soul-destroying” episode.

The 27-year-old is on the lookout for a new club having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out with boss Ruben Amorim and admitting he was “ready for a new challenge”.

Rashford is among five players to have informed United they wish to explore a future away from Old Trafford, where he came through the academy and scored 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances.

Fulham want to re-sign Nelson

Nelson spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage and it is believed that this deal is also likely to be a loan.

Fulham are the only side in the division yet to make any signings so far in the summer transfer window.

Club World Cup star set for Wolves medical

Fabrizio Romano reports that Fluminense’s Jhon Arias is set for a medical with Wolves.

The two clubs have a deal agreed for a €21m package, according to the Italian.

APTOPIX CWC Fluminense Chelsea Soccer (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Arsenal still chasing Eze despite Madueke interest

Arsenal are still interested in Eberechi Eze, with Mikel Arteta keen on the Palace playmaker. The club are set to approach Palace over a deal soon.

The 27-year-old has a £68m release clause, though Arsenal are expected to try and negotiate a deal at a lower price point.

Eze, who scored eight goals and got eight assists for the Eagles in the Premier League last season, is not believed to be deterred by Arsenal’s move for Noni Madueke.

(Action Images via Reuters)

Arsenal close in on Viktor Gyokeres deal as Sporting back down over fees

Arsenal are close to a deal on Viktor Gyokeres, having struck an agreement with Sporting on the basic payment principles of a prospective transfer.

The London club are expected to pay €63m guaranteed over instalments, with another €10m subject to add-ons.

Sporting climbed down from asking for a guaranteed €70m over changes of terms on issues like the payment of agent commissions.

Chelsea leading the race for Hato

Chelsea are reportedly leading the race for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, with Liverpool and Arsenal also interested.

The 19-year-old can play at left-back or centre-back and is valued around £40, according to reports.

Hato has impressed for both Ajax and the Netherlands national side this season (UEFA via Getty Images)

Bournemouth holding firm on Illia Zabarnyi asking price despite PSG interest

The two clubs have been discussing a deal for weeks, with the European champions’ initial proposals only going up to €60m.

The riches of the Club World Cup have arguably worked against Luis Enrique's side, however, as the need for centre-half back-up became clear through the injury to Willian Pacho. Chelsea repeatedly targeted that side to win 3-0.

McAtee assessing options ahead of new season

Manchester City youngster James McAtee is said to be a target for several clubs across England and Germany, and Fabrizio Romano is reported that the England U21 international was visiting Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday.

The 22-year-old is free to leave City this summer, with the club said to be demanding around £40m.

Romano adds that McAtee is “assessing his options” ahead of a move this summer, with other reports claiming he will be visiting Borussia Dortmund during his trip to Germany.

(AP)

Premier League clubs continue to be linked to Rodrygo

The future of Real Madrid winger Rodrygo threatens to be the saga of the summer, with the Brazilian having been linked to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks.

Madrid are believed to be looking for a fee around €100m (£86m) for the 24-year-old, with his future uncertain after playing second fiddle to Mbappe and Vini Jr last season.

(Getty Images)

Bayern see £47.4m bid rejected for Stuttgart striker

Bayern Munich have made a big offer for Nick Woltemade, worth £43m plus £4.4m in add-ons, according to Sky Sport Germany.

The deal also includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause for the Stuttgart and Germany striker.

The 23-year-old could represent a successor to Harry Kane, but the bid has been immediately rejected.

Sunderland eye bold Xhaka move

Sunderland have initiated talks over a bold move for Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Sky Sports reports that the Black Cats are keen to add the 32-year-old midfielder, with his Premier League experience, from his time at Arsenal, coveted.

Xhaka will also have options in Saudi Arabia, adds Sky Sports, with his future away from the Bundesliga club.

Villa one of three Premier League clubs monitoring Garnacho

In addition to Chelsea, Aston Villa have been linked with Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho,

The Mail reports that the 21-year-old could move to Villa, as did his teammate, for the time being, Marcus Rashford, last term on loan.

Rashford has returned and is destined to move abroad, with links to Barcelona and Juventus.

The Mail add Chelsea and Tottenham are also monitoring Garnacho.

Alexander Isak and the difficult choice Newcastle must make

Newcastle have already bought Anthony Elanga for £52m this summer. Their pursuit of goalkeeper James Trafford has continued. They offered a club-record sum of £70m for Hugo Ekitike, which Eintracht Frankfurt declined. Sell Alexander Isak and, together with Newcastle’s existing budget, there would presumably be scope to afford Ekitike, for a raised bid, a back-up striker, Trafford and the right-sided centre-back that has long been on the agenda.

But there is a counterargument.

Garnacho and Jackson in Man Utd-Chelsea swap deal?

The I adds that Manchester United could consider offering Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea in order to sign Nicolas Jackson on more favourable terms.

United want to sell Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho this summer and have singed Matheus Cunha while talks continue over Bryan Mbeumo.

(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Manchester United monitoring Nicolas Jackson?

The Times report that Manchester United are considering a shock move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who is questioning his future after the Blues signed Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.

(AP)

'Newcastle want to pair Isak and Ekitike amid Liverpool interest'

The Telegraph report that Newcastle want to push on with their interest in Hugo Ekitike despite Liverpool opening talks with the striker and the Reds’ approach for Alexander Isak.

Newcastle want to partner Isak with Ekitike, according to The Telegraph, and want to resist Liverpool’s interest in Isak while also beating the Premier League champions to Ekitike.

Liverpool reveal Luis Diaz plan after rejecting Bayern Munich bid

Liverpool have rejected an opening offer of €67.5m from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz and remain adamant that the Colombian forward is not for sale.

The German champions had already made an approach for Diaz, which Liverpool had rebuffed, but they returned with a bid for the 28-year-old.

Liverpool see Diaz, who scored 17 goals last season to help them win the Premier League title and who flourished as both a left winger and a striker for Arne Slot, as a key player for this season and the rest of his contract, which ends in 2027.

Arsenal’s biggest weakness is clear – here’s how Viktor Gyokeres can solve it

Arsenal are closing in on Viktor Gyokeres - the man who can solve Mikel Arteta’s biggest problem: goals.

Liverpool make approach for Hugo Ekitike amid Newcastle interest

Liverpool have asked about Hugo Ekitike as they continue to scour the market for a centre-forward.

The Premier League champions are making inquiries about a number of strikers as they look for a No 9 during the summer transfer window.

Newcastle top scorer Alexander Isak is also among those on their radar but no offer has been made for any of their possible targets yet.

Eintracht Frankfurt have already rejected a bid from Newcastle for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals last season to help them finish third in the Bundesliga.