Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal set to seal Havertz move, Neymar wants Barcelona return, Kante signs for Al-Ittihad

This is Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest transfer news on Wednesday, with Kai Havertz set to move to Arsenal, Neymar pushing for a sensational Barcelona return and N’Golo Kante swapping Chelsea for Al-Ittihad. 

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Chelsea are set to rake in £130m in transfer fees this month as their summer clear-out gathers pace

Chelsea’s clearout plan has gathered momentum with five deals – led by those for outgoing duo Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz to Premier League rivals – on the verge of completion.

Chelsea need to raise funds, slash their wage bill and trim the size of their squad this summer and a flurry of activity is set to see them agree deals worth around a combined £130m before June 30, allowing them to be factored into the current year’s financial accounts, a period in which the Londoners have splashed out around £600m on transfer fees.

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Arsenal are set to seal a £65m move for Chelsea star Kai Havertz, with personal terms agreed on a £210,000-a-week deal for the German forward and a medical to happen within days

Arsenal are set to complete their swoop for Kai Havertz after agreeing a fee that will guarantee Chelsea a minimum £65million.

Mail Sport revealed on Tuesday that the Gunners had made a verbal offer to Chelsea for their Germany international worth up to £60million.

And the deal has accelerated in 24 hours with the clubs agreeing a package for Havertz that will see Chelsea recoup a guaranteed £65million.

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Newcastle are exploring a deal for Sandro Tonali and are willing to go to the top of their wage structure to secure midfielder

Newcastle will continue to explore a deal for Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali after talks with intermediaries this week.

The 23-year-old is high on the list of Eddie Howe’s preferred midfield targets and, were a price with the Serie A club to be agreed, a move would likely accelerate in the coming days.

However, sources have stressed to Mail Sport that asking prices keep on rising during such negotiations, with initial talks having centred at around £40-45million. 

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Man United and Newcastle ‘join Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for Gambian star Adama Bojang’

There appears to be a four-way race developing for the signature of Gambian wonderkid Adama Bojang who has attracted interest from top Premier League clubs.

Bojang, dubbed The Gambian Hurricane, has attracted interest from a plethora of European clubs including Serie A champions Napoli, and looks set for a summer transfer.

The 19-year-old has been a prolific scorer for Gambian side Steve Biko FC but it has been his performances with the national team that have caught the eye of potential suitors.

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Arsenal ‘will let striker Eddie Nketiah or Folarin Balogun leave this summer’

Arsenal are preparing a summer clear-out in anticipation of new arrivals as Mikel Arteta attempts to rebuild his squad ahead of the Premier League season.

The futures of Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun appear under consideration, with Arsenal reportedly willing to let one of the attacking duo leave, but not both.

The Gunners are also prepared to listen to offers for midfielder Thomas Partey and Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney. 

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Man United ‘make improved bid for Mason Mount worth £50m… but Chelsea have already told them to make it £65m

Manchester United have reportedly increased their offer for priority midfield target Mason Mount, but are still not in agreement with Chelsea.

Erik ten Hag is eager to land the England international to bolster his midfield this summer, but the clubs are still apart when it comes to the valuation.

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Man United ‘could rival Arsenal in the race for Declan Rice as they prepare a player-plus-cash deal including Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay’

Manchester United are reportedly ready to rival Arsenal in their pursuit of Declan Rice by sanctioning a player-plus-cash offer for the West Ham captain.

Rice is the subject of intense transfer speculation with the Gunners already having a £90million bid rejected and Man City are also interested in securing a possible deal.

United have been monitoring the situation and are considering offering either club captain Harry Maguire or Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay, along with a cash sum. 

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Man United ‘speak to Adrien Rabiot’s agent mother AGAIN’, with Erik ten Hag ‘still a big fan of the Juventus midfielder’

Manchester United have reportedly held talks with Adrien Rabiot’s mother for the second consecutive summer as they reignite their pursuit of the midfielder.

Rabiot’s future appears up in the air with Juventus supposedly offering him a new one-year deal to prevent him leaving as a free agent, while United and Atletico Madrid remain interested parties.

The player’s mother Veronique Rabiot acts as his agent and holds the key to any potential transfer for the 28-year-old who has won titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

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Arsenal are ‘clear front-runners’ for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber, despite having £30m bid rejected and interest from Bayern Munich

Jurrien Timber appears braced for a move to Arsenal with the Gunners said to be ‘streets’ ahead of Bayern Munich in their bid to lure the Netherlands defender away from Ajax.

The centre-back has been the subject of interest for the past two summer transfer windows with Manchester United failing in their pursuit of Timber last year and Arsenal are now keen to complete a deal.

Arsenal had an opening £30m bid for the versatile defender rejected by Ajax on Monday and have been instructed to increase their original offer, while Bayern Munich also hold interest.

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Have Liverpool leaked that three big players are set to leave this summer?

A video of new shirts hung up in Liverpool‘s dressing room has got some fans questioning whether three first-team stars are heading for the exit. 

A clip, which was featured on the footy takes TikTok channel, shows a pan around the dressing room at Anfield, with 2023-24 kits hung up by each player’s locker.

But three players have still got their old shirts on the hanger, similarly to four released players, which has raised questions for some fans. 

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Arsenal ‘are close to agreeing a £65m deal for Chelsea star Kai Havertz’

Arsenal are close to agreeing a £65million deal for Chelsea star Kai Havertz, according to reports.

The Gunners have been keen to sign the German international this summer and, as Mail Sport reported, launched a £60million bid for Havertz earlier in the week. 

The two London clubs have now agreed upon a figure just north of their previous bid in order to sign the 24-year-old. 

Read more below. 

Man City agree deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic worth an initial £25m

Manchester City are set to land their first reinforcement of the summer after agreeing a £25million fee with Chelsea for Mateo Kovacic.

The Croatian is still to undergo a medical at the City Football Academy but the two clubs have completed talks over a move that includes £5m in additional clauses based on performance.

Pep Guardiola has been an admirer of Kovacic for some time – City first looked at him in 2018 – and believes he can play anywhere in his midfield.

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Toni Kroos signs a one-year contract extension at Real Madrid to keep him at the club until 2024

Real Madrid have confirmed that Toni Kroos has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

After completing the signing of Jude Bellingham for £113m last week, competition for places in Madrid’s midfield is fierce, but the Spanish giants have been keen to keep hold of Kroos, and he has now put pen to paper on a new deal.

Madrid announced the news on Wednesday, alongside the caption ‘The Story Continues’. 

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Sergio Aguero urges Lionel Messi to join his seven-a-side ‘Kings League’ team

Sergio Aguero has urged Lionel Messi to play for his seven-a-side Kings League team one day.

The 35-year-old is chairman of Kunisports, one of 12 teams making up the wacky competition founded by Gerard Pique and Twitch streamer Ibai Llanos in December. 

It’s a quirky tournament, featuring ‘golden cards’ – special advantages teams can select pre-kick-off, such as removing an opposition player for two minutes – and has attracted names such as Ronaldinho, Iker Casillas, and Andrea Pirlo. 

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Arsenal and Thomas Partey’s representatives ‘are negotiating the midfielder’s potential summer exit’

Thomas Partey’s representatives are in talks with Arsenal for the midfielder to leave the club this summer, according to reports.

Partey joined the Gunners from Atletico Madrid in 2020, and has since made 99 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s men, including 40 last season.

Having been a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield for much of the campaign, Partey lost form in the run-in as his side faltered in the title race and he was replaced in the team by Jorginho.

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Fulham ‘want to sign Man United midfielder Fred’ but Brazilian’s £20m price tag is too high

Fulham are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Fred as Erik ten Hag trims his squad.

The Brazil international, who has one year remaining on his contract and won’t be offered a renewal, is valued by United at around £20million.

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Juventus close in on £5m signing of Arkadiusz Milik from Marseille

Juventus have secured the £5.1million signing of Polish forward Arkadiusz Milik from Marseille after his productive loan spell last season.

The deal also includes an £850,000 bonus if Juventus achieve certain goals next season, with 29-year-old Milik agreeing a three-year contract.

Milik, who scored nine goals in 39 appearances on loan at the Turin club last season, wanted to make the move permanent and Marseille were happy to grant his wish.

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Man United ‘agree to sell academy star Zidane Iqbal to Dutch side FC Utrecht for £850,000’

Manchester United are set to sell midfield prospect Zidane Iqbal to FC Utrecht, according to reports.

Iqbal has come through the ranks at Old Trafford, and made his senior debut in a Champions League game against Young Boys in December 2021.

However, that has proved to be his only appearance for the first team, and having failed to make a breakthrough he is now on the brink of being moved on.

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Callum Hudson-Odoi is ‘approached by multiple Saudi Arabian clubs’

Could Callum Hudson-Odoi be the next player to follow in the footsteps of his team-mate Kante? 

After a lacklustre season on loan in the Bundesliga, the Chelsea academy product returns to Stamford Bridge with his future in doubt as Todd Boehly and co look to swing the axe on the club’s bloated squad. 

The latest destination suggested? None other than the Saudi Pro League. 

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Al-Ittihad CONFIRM the signing of N’Golo Kante with French midfielder leaving Chelsea at the end of the month

Al-Ittihad have confirmed the signing of N’Golo Kante when he becomes a free agent at the end of his Chelsea deal this month.

Kante has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and now the club have confirmed it with a sequence of social media posts, hailing the French midfielder as the best box-to-box player in the world.

It officially marks the end of Kante’s time at Chelsea, having joined the club in 2016 from Leicester City.

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Neymar ‘is pushing for a sensational return to Barcelona this summer despite the club’s delicate financial position’

First up, could Neymar return to the Camp Nou after leaving in 2017 as Paris Saint-Germain’s world record signing? 

PSG have told Neymar he can find a new club, and he has now set his sights on a move back to Barcelona. 

Neymar has been linked with a return to Barcelona in the past, including back in 2018, just one year after he left the club.

Read more below. 

Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s transfer news blog, bringing you all the latest stories as this summer’s transfer window begins to heat up…

Stick with us as we bring you all the breaking news throughout the day. 

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