Transfer News LIVE updates: Liverpool 'deal' in place with Real Madrid star, and the latest gossip from Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Saturday, April 21
11pm: Olivier Giroud did not want to join Chelsea in January, according to Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
“Giroud’s just accepted ‘look, I didn’t want to leave Arsenal but I’ve come here, you’ve bought me, the manager probably didn’t want to bring me in because he’s leaving so he’s not that fussed about me’,” he said.
“But if I’m picking one to start, it would be Giroud.
“He’s not got the pace and running power Morata’s got but I think just to give Chelsea that option that they can hit it in.
“And he’s scored a few goals now, he’s come out and done the business for them.
“I think the Chelsea fans have been pretty grateful for what he’s returned to them.”
10pm: Roma striker Edin Dzeko has revealed his delight at not joining Chelsea in January.
“When I see what happened last month [Chelsea going out to Barcelona] I’m definitely happy I stayed,” he told the Telegraph.
“It’s a big club and I was happy when I heard that they really wanted me, but in the end I think I did well because I wanted to play Champions League.
“I wanted to try to reach first of all the quarter-finals - which I never did - and now I’m in the semis trying to reach the final. It means I decided well.”
8.30pm: Mohamed Salah has reportedly been told he can join Real Madrid this summer - as long as he helps Liverpool win the Champions League.
The 25-year-old’s prolific debut campaign at Anfield has led to speculation surrounding his future, with Real Madrid believed to be circling.
The La Liga giants are desperate for new faces this summer and have been linked with a number of high-profile signings, including Neymar, Eden Hazard and Harry Kane.
Salah is believed to be keen on a switch and reports in Spain suggest he is desperate to move to the Bernabeu this summer.
And according to Don Balon, the former Chelsea star will be allowed to leave if he delivers European glory to Liverpool.
7pm: Burnley manager Sean Dyche insists the club will still be in the market for bargains this summer despite knocking on the door of the Premier League’s top six.
"It's hard for us to buy 'the one' who can walk straight into our team," he said ahead of Sunday's clash with Stoke.
"We have to look at a high level of development player - not necessarily someone for £100,000 to turn into a world beater - but the kind of market for us is a few million quid.
"We can't jump to £25m for people, five times over, we've got to look not just for the next six months but the six months after that, 18 months, 24 months, and that is tough."
6.20pm: Everton manager Sam Allardyce is anticipating a make or break transfer window at Goodison Park this summer.
"It will all be about recruitment. How good it is, what we can achieve, what funds are available," he said.
"We have a difficult summer by the fact the World Cup's on and it's okay saying we want to do this business or that business, a lot of the summer months you try to achieve what you can and then all of a sudden you do business you never expected to.
"What your targets might be at the beginning of pre-season or the end of this season, by the time the middle of pre-season has happened those targets could very well change.
"But, being in a World Cup year, recruitment's going to be difficult to say the least."
5.50pm: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who has been linked with replacing Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, has admitted the Gunners are a “fantastic club”.
He said: "Arsenal is a fantastic club, very much similar to Celtic in terms of the traditions and values it has as a club, you can't deny that.
“It's a fantastic club but, for me, my only focus is on Celtic and doing the very best I can for them."
Friday, April 20
10.40pm: Arsenal are ready to fight Chelsea for Juventus boss Max Allegri.
Hoffenheim wonderkid Julian Nagelsmann is the other top candidate to replace Arsene Wenger, who yesterday revealed he was leaving the Gunners at the end of the season.
And Starsport can reveal Paris St-Germain want Wenger as their new coach to replace Unai Emery,
The France national team are keeping tabs on him, with current boss Didier Deschamps’ future sure to hinge on their showing at the World Cup.
And Japan are also understood to want Wenger to manage their national team.
10.10pm: James Milner is poised to receive a one-year contract extension at Liverpool, according to reports.
Milner joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2015 and has gone on to make 126 appearances for the club.His current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, however, it now appears the 32-year-old could remain at Anfield until 2020.According to Anfield Edition, Kop boss Jurgen Klopp sees Milner as a key member of his squad and is keen to reward the player with a one-year extension to his existing contract.The report also states that Liverpool value the former England international’s leadership skills and experience.
9.30pm: Exeter have said they are "disappointed for football" after a tribunal ordered Chelsea to pay them up to £2.5m for Ethan Ampadu.
Ampadu, 17, moved to Chelsea last summer having come through the Exeter’s youth academy.
The potential compensation fee, set by Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) on Wednesday, would be a club record for the Grecians.
But Exeter chairman Julian Tagg believes the verdict sends out the wrong message to clubs looking to produce home-grown talent.
9pm: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has rejected a huge offer from West Ham as he would prefer a switch to Arsenal.
The Hammers have made an audacious bid to bring the France international to the London Stadium.
Spanish outlet Don Balon, known for their outlandish transfer claims, claim West Ham have made a £52.5m (€60m) offer for Benzema.
But the 30-year-old has snubbed a move to David Moyes’ side as he wants a long-awaited move to Arsenal.
However the departure of Arsene Wenger at the end of the season could now complicate matters.
8pm: Carlo Ancelotti has opened up on potentially taking over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
7pm: Lionel Messi has told Barcelona to sign Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, according to reports.
The Catalan club as well as Real Madrid are said to be tracking the 25-year-old.
And according to Spanish news outlet Don Balon, who are well known for their outlandish transfer claims, Messi wants Salah at the Nou Camp.
They reckon the Argentina talisman has told club transfer chiefs to sign the Reds superstar this summer.
6.15pm: Chelsea are prepared to let Eden Hazard leave for Real Madrid if they can sign Gareth Bale in a mega swap deal.
The Blues are desperate to stop rivals Tottenham from completing the transfer of the Wales international this summer.
And according to Spanish reports, Roman Abramovich has insisted Chelsea must sign Bale at the end of the season.
Chelsea have been disappointing in the defence of their Premier League title and sit fifth, a massive 24 points behind new champions Manchester City.
Don Balon, known for their outlandish transfer claims, say Real initially preferred a deal which would see Bale go to Spurs.
5pm: Chelsea forward Eden Hazard could move to Real Madrid this summer but it will depend on the future of Gareth Bale.
Zinedine Zidane remains keen on the Belgian but Los Blancos may only look to sign the Blues ace if they can move on Bale.
That’s according to the Daily Mail who claim the former Tottenham man has fallen out with the Real Madrid manager.
Hazard has been in good form this season although he failed to make much of an impact against Barcelona in the Champions League.
4.20pm: Liverpool are closing in on the stunning signing of Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
The Belgian is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to sign an extension at Old Trafford.
And with Liverpool expecting to lose Emre Can with Juventus interested, Jurgen Klopp is looking for a replacement.
TransferMarketWeb say the Reds have earmarked Fellaini as that man and are closing in on his signature.
3.40pm: Manchester United hero Dwight Yorke thinks Paul Pogba should stay at Old Trafford.
He told talkSPORT: “No, I don’t think he should leave United.
“When you join United, you are under so much scrutiny, and if you underperform there are always people likely to criticise you – it’s just part and parcel of the game.
“He’s still in that development stage and he’ll embrace all this and understand he can’t just perform when he feels like.”
3pm: Paul Pogba could come back to give Jose Mourinho a bite on the backside, just like Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.
Pogba is being linked with a Manchester United exit this summer, but Martin Keown says that's not a wise idea.
“Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne thrived after being let go by Mourinho, but he would argue that he made the right decision at the time.
“If Pogba is not giving him what he wants now, he will not play. If he is not playing, it would not come as a surprise if he left in the summer.
“Mourinho has to do more to make a success of Pogba or admit that this move did not work out for either party.”
2.40pm: RB Leipzig want Ademola Lookman on a permanent deal.
The Everton man joined the German club in January on loan, but they want him to stick around for good, Starsport understands.
1.55pm: Manchester United ace Andreas Pereira wants to nail down a place in Jose Mourinho's team next season.
The 22-year-old joined Valencia last summer on loan, but says he wants to "make it" at Old Trafford when he returns.
1.15pm: Alvaro Morata is having a nightmare time at Chelsea - but getting a move to former club Juventus could prove tricky.
Morata joined the Blues from Real Madrid for £60m last summer but has been in poor form.
The Sun report Juventus may come back in for him, but only for a cut-price fee.
12.45pm: A round-up of the biggest transfer stories from today
* Liverpool have agreed terms with Real Madrid man Dani Cebellos, according to Calciomercato.
The Italian outlet says the midfielder will pen a four-year deal with the Reds, but it appears no transfer fee has yet been agreed.
* Chelsea have been told: You should sign Jack Wilshere. The Arsenal man is set to leave this summer, and Blues legend Dennis Wise thinks he should be heading across London.
"If Chelsea needed a midfield player I would definitely take Jack Wilshere," he told The Debate last night.
* Arsenal are ready to flog Shkodran Mustaf and Granit Xhaka this summer, report The Mirror.
James Maddison, the Norwich midfielder, Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks are touted as potential additions this summer as the Gunners gear up for big changes.
* Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could be off to Paris St-Germain.
ESPN report the French club have contacted the player's agent Mino Raiola about a switch across the channel.
