Premier League transfer news: Zaha, Kean, Bale, Dybala, Pepe, Ceballos, Dembele
Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal battle for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha
Premier League transfer gossip and rumours
Zaha in demand
The race to sign Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is heating up with Everton, Arsenal and now Chelsea in the running.
It has been reported that Zaha would prefer a move to Arsenal, but according to Sky Sports Everton are in talks with Palace.
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The Toffees are set to make a £60m bid which includes a player going to Selhurst Park, that player is understood to be striker Cenk Tosun.
However, Everton and Arsenal could both miss out on Zaha as Chelsea are also “weighing up a bid”, says The Daily Telegraph.
The offer would take Zaha to Stamford Bridge once the Blues have served their transfer ban.
Toffees also keen on Juve’s Kean
It’s not just Wilfried Zaha who Everton are interested in, but also Juventus striker Moise Kean. The Toffees have sold Ademola Lookman to RB Leipzig for £22.5m and they would like to make 19-year-old Italy international Kean “a marquee summer signing”. (The Guardian)
Klopp rules out Bale bid
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed any move for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and is focused on building a team rather than acquiring individuals. Klopp said: “Bale is a Real Madrid player and if he leaves it will be outstandingly expensive and big wages.” (Independent)
Pepe to Italy?
Amid reports that Nicolas Pepe is close to agreeing terms with Italian outfit Napoli, his agent, Samir Khiat, has lambasted claims that the Lille frontman is ready to sign for Manchester United. Khiat posted on Twitter to scotch claims his client “had agreed personal terms with Man Utd”. While it seems certain that the Ivorian international will leave the French side this summer, his destination won’t be Old Trafford. Posting a picture of a tweet from Yahoo Sport France that claimed Pepe had agreed personal terms with United, Khiat described the report as “fake news”. (Daily Mirror)
Gunners confirm Ceballos loan
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
The club’s official website quoted head coach Unai Emery celebrating the deal by saying: “We’re excited to see Dani join us. He is a talented player with big technical ability, creativity and precision.”
The 22-year-old, who made 13 La Liga starts for Real last season, won his first international cap last year and explained why he’d chosen the Gunners.
“The coach was the turning point in terms of me joining this massive club,” he said. “He’s a Spanish coach and he knows me from my time at other clubs. I’m really happy to be able to help Arsenal achieve our objectives.”
The Sun says that the deal has cost Arsenal £15m but does “not include a compulsory purchase next summer”.
Saliba: Guendouzi convinced me
Also arriving at the Emirates is 18-year-old French defender William Saliba. He has signed from Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne on “a long-term contract”. The centre-half will spend a season back on loan at Saint-Etienne before linking up with the Gunners next summer.
“We’re delighted William is joining us,” said Arsenal boss Unai Emery. “Many teams wanted him but he decided he wanted to come to us and be part of our future. He will stay in France next season for more experience and then we look forward to him joining our group.”
The deal has cost the Gunners a reported £27m, and Saliba told French daily L’Equipe that Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi had played a part in his decision.
“I spoke to Matteo,” explained Saliba. “I even bumped into him at a funfair in Paris and that’s where I told him that Arsenal wanted to sign me! He gently advised me to come here and explained what it was like.”
City want Cancelo
Reports in Italy claim that Manchester City are “still keen on signing Joao Cancelo this summer”. There is an obstacle in their path, however, namely Danilo, with Pep Guardiola needing to offload the Brazilian defender to make space in the squad.
Italian paper Tuttosport adds that Cancelo is “eager to make the move to the Etihad” and it’s rumoured that talks were held this week in London between City officials and Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici. Apparently the Serie A champions want £50m for Cancelo, a sum that City will only be able to meet if they get rid of Danilo.
The Sky Blues did suggest a “possible player exchange plus cash deal, but the Turin giants weren’t interested”, so Guardioila must look elsewhere for a purchaser. (Caughtoffside.com)
Levy will back Poch - with Dybala a top target
After securing a new eight-year shirt sponsorship deal with AIA worth £360m, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has promised manager Mauricio Pochettino that he will back him in the transfer marker. Spurs have been linked with an £80m move for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala. While the club are yet to make contact with Juve, it is understood they are preparing a bid. (The Times)
Dembele to replace Lukaku?
If Manchester United sell Romelu Lukaku they could target Lyon striker Moussa Dembele as his replacement. Inter Milan have seen a £54m bid rejected for Lukaku, but United want around £79m for the Belgian. (Sky Sports)
Solskjaer desperate to sign Maguire
Manchester United may be forced to meet Leicester City’s £80m asking price for central defender Harry Maguire. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign the England international after Eric Bailly suffered a knee injury in the 2-1 pre-season win against Tottenham yesterday. (Daily Mirror)
Today’s back pages: Man Utd in a hurry to sign Harry Maguire
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