The summer transfer window is open until September 1, setting the stage for a hectic spell as clubs race to strengthen their squads before the new season.
Here are the latest transfer developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team…
Ndiaye pursuit latest
Manchester City are admirers of Iliman Ndiaye, but any move would be complicated by his situation at Everton, where he still has three years remaining on his contract and is valued at around £80million.
Zirkzee’s Italian job
Manchester United are holding discussions with Fiorentina over a potential deal for striker Joshua Zirkzee that could begin as a loan and lead to a permanent sale.
Fiorentina are prepared to put forward a £4m loan fee with an option to buy for the 25-year-old, with negotiations continuing between the clubs.
Zirkzee has also attracted interest from Juventus and Napoli, while Aston Villa have made an exploratory call as the market around him intensifies heading into the final stretch of the window.
Delap signs for Forest
Liam Delap has completed a £45million switch to Nottingham Forest and could be in line to make his debut against Liverpool this weekend.
Although his spell at Chelsea was underwhelming, Forest have placed greater weight on Delap’s impressive season with Ipswich, handing Chelsea an immediate £15m profit despite the forward scoring just three goals for the Blues.
Liam Delap has joined Forest after a difficult spell with Chelsea
Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been desperate for a mobile No9 to allow Igor Jesus to operate in a different role.
Delap will be expected to make an instant impact after Forest lost twice at home to Leeds in the space of four days.
TOM COLLOMOSSE
Tractor Boys keen on Tammy
Ipswich are in talks to sign Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham on loan.
Villa are signing Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and have made approaches for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane while also making an offer for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
Abraham signed for Villa for £18m in January scored three goals in four starts and 13 substitute appearances.
Ipswich want to strengthen several positions before the deadline.
Elliott eyeing Italian escape
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is attracting interest from Italian sides Napoli and Lazio.
The 23-year-old suffered a disappointing loan at Aston Villa last season stymied by the fact the deal became an obligation to buy at £35m if he made ten appearances.
Unai Emery chose not to select him after a handful of games and admitted that it affected the England U21 international.
Napoli and Lazio are interested in moves for Harvey Elliott
He made just nine appearances and scored one goal last season though still finished with a Europa League winners medal albeit as an unused substitute.
Though interest is expected over the next four days, Liverpool have still to receive a formal enquiry for Elliott.
Villa make Leao loan enquiry
Aston Villa have offered a loan fee of £6.9million to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan for the season.
The Portugal attacker is also wanted by Galatasaray, who are attempting to buy him permanently for an initial £38.6m.
Leao’s transfer is being handled by super agent Jorge Mendes, who played a key role in Unai Emery becoming Villa boss in autumn 2022.
If Leao were to choose Villa, the deal would include an obligation to buy him next summer for nearly £37m if certain conditions were met.
Rafael Leao is being chased by Galatasaray and Aston Villa this summer
Villa agreed a similar deal with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho, who was left on the bench for last Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at Brighton.
Galatasaray are thought to be offering Leao a deal worth more than £300,000 a week, an impossible figure for Villa to match. Instead, Emery hopes the prospect of playing in the Premier League will sway Leao towards Villa.
TOM COLLOMOSSE
Barcola nearing Liverpool switch
Liverpool are closing on a deal worth £120million for Paris Saint Germain forward Bradley Barcola.
The deal is still to be completed but negotiations are continuing on a £100m fee with £20m in add-ons.
Read the full story here.
Tigers chasing Thomas
Hull have made a revised bid for Stoke ‘crossing machine’ Sorba Thomas. The Tigers have already had a £7m offer rejected for the Wales international winger with Stoke looking for around £10m.
Thomas was Stoke player of the year and made it into the divisional team of the year last season, contributing 13 assists, 10 goals, plus a couple of forced own goals.
Indeed, analysts identified that 26-year-old Thomas supplied 410 crosses in his 45 league matches. The next highest in the Championship was Millwall’s Femi Azeez with 294.
He added to his tally last night as Stoke took on Hull in the Carabao Cup only to lose on penalties.
Afterwards Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic, quizzed on his interest, said: ‘I know everything about Sorba Thomas from the Championship, he’s a difference maker, and he’s a very good player.’
Hull have also enquired about Fabio Carvalho at Brentford but they want the midfielder to stay.
The Premier League new boys have agreed to sign Union Berlin forward Ilyas Ansah for around £21m. The Germany Under-21 international is undergoing a medical today.
The Tigers are also discussing a loan for Roma striker Robinio Vaz, 19.
Hull close on Nice star
Nice forward Mohamed Ali Cho has completed his Hull medical.
The former Everton and Paris Saint Germain prospect, 22, can play anywhere across the front line. The deal is worth up to £15.4m.
Celtic consider Johnstone move
Celtic are understood to be considering a move for experienced Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as they assess their options following their disastrous exit from the Champions League.
The Scottish champions suffered one of the most damaging European defeats in their recent history on Tuesday night, incredibly surrendering a four-goal aggregate advantage to lose 5-4 to LASK and miss out on the Champions League league phase for a second successive season. Johnstone has emerged as a potential option.
The 33-year-old England international is at Wolves but his future at Molineux is increasingly uncertain following the club’s relegation to the Championship and subsequent changes to their goalkeeping department.
Johnstone underwent shoulder surgery towards the end of last season, which ruled him out of the final matches of the campaign and disrupted his pre-season. However, he has been back training for several weeks, has regained full movement in the shoulder and is effectively back to full fitness.
Despite his return to fitness, there are significant doubts over whether Johnstone features in new Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto’s long-term plans.
Jose Sa returned to the side following his involvement at the World Cup, while Wolves have moved to agree a £1.3million deal for Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Joao Virginia and are in talks to bring back John Ruddy, another indication that the goalkeeping order at Molineux is changing.
Although Dan Bentley has recently departed for Coventry City, Wolves have openly spoken about wanting another goalkeeper and would be willing to allow Johnstone to leave.
The arrival of Virginia leaves Johnstone facing an uncertain battle for football and little evidence of a long-term future at Wolves, potentially opening the door for Celtic.
Johnstone would bring considerable experience to Celtic Park. The former Manchester United academy goalkeeper has made more than 350 senior appearances during spells with West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Wolves, while he has also represented England at senior level.
At 33, he could offer Celtic an experienced and proven presence at a time when the club are looking for greater stability following the extraordinary collapse against LASK.
With the transfer deadline approaching and Johnstone now nearing complete match fitness, it could be a situation that develops quickly.
Celtic need a response after their Champions League humiliation and Johnstone needs regular football. A move to Glasgow could potentially suit both parties.
Wanted man Morato
Nottingham Forest defender Morato is wanted by Roma on loan. Forest are looking at Fiorentina right back Dodo after Celta Vigo halted talks for Javi Rueda.
Saints explore Ward-Prowse return
Southampton are exploring a deal to bring Hammers midfielder James Ward-Prowse back to St Mary’s. They have already agreed a £3.8m deal with Augsburg for defender Keven Schlotterbeck.
The 29-year old centre back underwent a medical yesterday.
WEDNESDAY: Chelsea in talks over £36m-rated Atalanta teenager
TUESDAY: Nottingham Forest close in £45m deal for Liam Delap
MONDAY: Aston Villa in touch with AC Milan over Rafael Leao
