Evening Standard
·25 June 2023
Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal set Rice, Timber medicals; Lavia bid; Chelsea in Vlahovic talks; Man United latest
Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal set Rice, Timber medicals; Lavia bid; Chelsea in Vlahovic talks; Man United latest | OneFootball
Why Tottenham are signing Manor Solomon
The signing of Manor Solomon on a long-term contract looks like another smart piece of business by Tottenham, who have plugged a hole in their squad with the promising free agent, writes Dan Kilpatrick.
Solomon made just four Premier League starts at Fulham last term and is unlikely to trouble Ange Postecoglou’s first XI at first but, crucially, the Israeli international has already proven that he can impact games at this level from the bench.
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He scored in five consecutive matches in February and March, three as a substitute, during a season-long loan spell at Craven Cottage from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 23-year-old will add competition across Postecoglou’s front three, although he is most likely to compete with Richarlison, Heung-min Son and perhaps James Maddison for a place on the left wing, where he played for Marco Silva’s side.
Arsenal to confirm FOUR deals
It’s very busy at Arsenal this week.
With Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber set to undergo medicals, current stars William Saliba and Reiss Nelson are set to return for pre-season and put pen to paper on new contract extensions.
Saliba has grown into one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders - and his absence hugely affected Arsenal’s title charge last season - while Nelson popped up at crucial times and will extend his already long stay in north London.
Liverpool set to make Romeo Lavia bid
Liverpool are plotting their move for Romeo Lavia.
The Reds have identified Southampton’s Belgian international as the next part of their overdue midfield overhaul following the smart signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Arsenal have also been heavily linked with former Manchester City youngster Lavia along with Chelsea, but it is Liverpool who are seemingly now moving to the front of the queue.
According to talkSPORT, they are actively preparing an opening bid for the 19-year-old, on whom City have a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Arsenal verbally agree Jurrien Timber deal
Jurrien Timber to Arsenal is all but agreed, reports suggest.
The Gunners appear to have had success with their second bid for the versatile Dutch defender valued at around £40m after seeing an opening £30m proposal rebuffed by Ajax last month.
According to CBS Sports, there is now a complete verbal agreement between the parties, with only the final paperwork left to be completed.
Timber, a former target for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, is scheduled to undergo his Arsenal medical this week.
Andre Onana to Man United deal ‘still on'
Going back to the Manchester United goalkeeper situation, a deal for Andre Onana is said to be “still on” as things stand.
The Cameroon international seems to have become Erik ten Hag’s preferred successor to David de Gea as his new long-term No1 after a fine season with Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
United are believed to have been in talks with Inter over Onana, though progress has been slow.
Fabrizio Romano now reports that while there has still been no official bid tabled yet, discussions are ongoing and the move remains on.
He also says that United have Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow listed as a potential alternative to Onana, with the future of De Gea set to be clarified soon.
Josko Gvardiol wants Man City move as talks continue
Manchester City target Josko Gvardiol has asked RB Leipzig to be sold to the treble winners, the German club’s sporting director has confirmed.
Talks are ongoing between the two teams over an £86m deal, which would eclipse Harry Maguire’s £80m move to Manchester United in 2019 as a world-record fee for a defender.
“Josko and his advisors have submitted their wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City," Eberl told Leipziger Volksnachrichten newspaper.
“We are in talks with City. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”
Man United target Bart Verbruggen joins Brighton
One player who won’t be joining Manchester United this summer is Bart Verbruggen.
The Netherlands Under-21 international was said to be on an Old Trafford shortlist alongside the likes of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana and Brentford’s David Raya as Erik ten Hag eyes a long-term successor for current No1 David de Gea, whose future in Manchester remains in considerable doubt.
But while Verbruggen is now heading to the Premier League, it isn’t United he is joining.
Instead, the 20-year-old has swapped Belgian giants Anderlecht for Brighton in a deal worth £16.3m, signing a five-year contract at the Amex.
“I am very pleased to have signed Bart,” said Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi.
“He is used to playing a type of football similar to ours and he will have no problem fitting into our group.
“He has the potential to become a very important player for the club in the coming years.”
Declan Rice cuts short holiday for Arsenal medical
On the point of Declan Rice’s medical, it looks like he is cutting short his post-season holiday to undergo those necessary checks.
The Daily Mirror report that the West Ham captain returned early from a post-England break in Dubai on Saturday in order to finalise his blockbuster £105m switch to Arsenal.
After undergoing his medical, Rice will sign a long-term contract at the Emirates as the most expensive British player in football history.
Arsenal medicals set for Rice and Timber
Confirmation of Arsenal’s moves for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber is getting closer.
The Daily Mail reports that the Gunners are set to complete both high-profile transfers by the end of this week, with a full agreement with West Ham over £105m Rice expected in the next 24 hours and a £40m deal in principle already secured with Ajax for Dutch defender Timber.
It is said that medicals for Rice and Timber have been scheduled to take place in the coming days.
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