Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea close on De Jong and Aubameyang as Man Utd fight for Rabiot and Gakpo | OneFootball

Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a wanted man

(AP)

Chelsea are leading Manchester United in the race to sign Frenkie de Jong, and the Blues are ready and waiting to sign both the Dutch midfielder and his Barcelona teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should they leave Spain during this transfer window.

Chelsea have got loose agreements in place over personal terms for both players and are just waiting on Barcelona to give the green light to sell them, according to Sky Sports, while Spanish outlet Sport reports Chelsea are also closing in on a deal with Barca of around £68m for De Jong. The Times adds that De Jong would prefer Chelsea to United as a destination, and that Chelsea are also ready to put forward a final bid for Leicester’s wantaway defender Wesley Fofana.

Meanwhile Manchester United continue to pursue Cody Gakpo, the PSV midfielder, but he has hinted he would stay in the Netherlands should PSV get through the Champions League qualifying phase – they play Rangers later in August. United have been heavily linked to Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, but negotiations have stalled over the 27-year-old’s bold wage demands, according to Gazetta dello Sport.

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Jesse Marsch backs Leeds’ high-intensity style to survive UK heatwave

Jesse Marsch believes his record in America shows that Leeds United don’t need to abandon their high-energy blueprint to win in the British heatwave.

Leeds’ pressing game relies on intensity and, under first Marcelo Bielsa and then Marsch, they made the most sprints in the Premier League last season.

But the American is confident their style of play can work against Southampton on Saturday, when temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees, and he took heart from New York Red Bulls’ winning habit in extreme heat during his time in charge.

Jesse Marsch backs Leeds’ high-intensity style to survive UK heatwave

Leeds’ pressing game relies on energy which could prove difficult to find as the UK prepares for another period of high temperatures

Michael Jones11 August 2022 19:45

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Harvey Elliott signs new five-year Liverpool contract

Liverpool have rewarded Harvey Elliott with a new deal to keep him at Anfield until 2027, even though he had four years remaining on his previous deal.

It is the third contract Elliott has signed with Liverpool in just over three years, after joining from Fulham in 2019 and then getting an extended deal 13 months ago.

But a pay rise reflects their policy of giving improved and long-term contracts to players who they have impressed and who they want to tie down.

Michael Jones11 August 2022 19:30

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Chelsea waiting on Frenkie de Jong to approve deal

Chelsea are confident they have beaten Manchester United to Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong but they still need to persuade the Netherlands international to leave Spain, according to the Times.

The 25-year-old reportedly wants to stay with the LaLiga club – but if he is forced to move the paper says he is thought to prefer the opportunity to play Champions League football with the Blues.

De Jong’s summer saga is ongoing.

Michael Jones11 August 2022 19:00

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There is momentum behind the Lionesses’ plans to change the game

It took just seconds for Leah Williamson to make the switch. From creating history by becoming the first England captain since Bobby Moore to win a major international tournament, her head immediately turned to the future while everyone else was losing theirs at Wembley.

“The legacy of this team is winning and this is the start of the journey,” Williamson repeated. It crystalised in a moment just what the Lionesses were playing for and what they had achieved when Chloe Kelly’s goal in extra time crossed the line.

A week has now passed since England’s victory over Germany, watched by the biggest crowd in the history of the European Championships and the 17 million that tuned in from around the country.

There have been celebrations in Trafalgar Square, sunglasses hiding hungover eyes to make this squad all the more endearing, congratulations from the Queen and heroic homecomings. Giddy on the success, England announced a friendly against the United States at Wembley in early October. Demand for the match saw the ticketing website crash and it was sold out in 24 hours.

Michael Jones11 August 2022 18:45

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Manchester City agree £11m fee for Anderlecht left-back

Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Sergio Gomez after agreeing a fee of €13m (£11m) plus add-ons with Anderlecht for the left-back.

Gomez is set to undergo a medical ahead of signing a four-year contract at the Etihad.

The 21-year-old is viewed as a development player by City and though he could stay in Manchester this season, he is expected to be loaned out to a City Football Group affiliate.

Manchester City agree £11m fee for Anderlecht left-back Sergio Gomez

Michael Jones11 August 2022 18:30

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Chelsea left wondering what might’ve been as Timo Werner coup ends in failure

It was day two of Project Restart in the Premier League. As grounds were emptied, belts were tightened. Or most of them, anyway. Chelsea took advantage of others’ inability to spend, turning to the bank of Roman.

They activated Timo Werner’s release clause at RB Leipzig. It was a time when deploying Roman Abramovich’s funds seemed more of a legitimate ploy. And, as budgets were frozen amid uncertainty elsewhere, Chelsea stole a march on the European elite by snapping up the Bundesliga’s two most coveted young talents.

A seemingly Real Madrid-bound Kai Havertz was redirected to Stamford Bridge. Werner, who had long looked headed for Liverpool, joined his compatriot in London.

After arriving as a transfer coup, getting into goalscoring positions remained a strength of Werner’s at Chelsea – converting chances once there, however, did not and led to a crisis of confidence

Michael Jones11 August 2022 18:15

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Morocco sack coach Vahid Halilhodzic three months before World Cup

Morocco have fired coach Vahid Halilhodzic just three months before the World Cup.

The announcement by the Moroccan football federation on Thursday ends months of speculation over the fate of the Franco-Bosnian coach, who has now suffered the extraordinary feat of being fired three times by national teams after they qualified for World Cup finals.

“Given the differences and divergent visions between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and national coach Vahid Halilhodzic on the best way to prepare the national football team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the two parties decided to separate,” the federation said in a statement.

Michael Jones11 August 2022 17:50