Transfer News Today: Romano reveals Man Utd PLAN, Mbappe to Arsenal and Chelsea Kudus SWOOP

Updated: 23 Jul 2023 07:04 BST
17 min read

Pre-season is officially here and managers across the world are finalising their preparations ahead of the 2023/24 season.

But, despite action on the pitch restarting, the summer transfer window remains in full flow with done deals galore and shows no signs of slowing down. FootballTransfers brings you the latest transfer news today.

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Manchester United have completed their second signing of the summer, with goalkeeper Andre Onana completing his move from Inter Milan. In the process, David de Gea, who was released by the Red Devils this month, has rejected the chance to replace Onana at San Siro as he looks for a new challenge.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

Meanwhile Romelu Lukaku has apparently made a U-turn and now does want to rejoin Inter Milan on a permanent deal.

Here is all the latest major football transfer news today.

Arsenal Transfer News

* Arsenal could use Gabriel Martinelli as a makeweight to sign Kylian Mbappe in 2024. Though there are doubts that the Gunners would be able to secure the move, it's no secret that Mbappe admires the club and the project on offer. As we exclusively reported before, Arsenal have a package for Mbappe but know any move for the superstar would either come in January next year or the subsequent summer transfer window (FootballTransfers EXCLUSIVE).

* Arsenal have suffered a setback in their attempts to sell Nicolas Pepe, after talks with an unnamed Saudi Pro League club collapsed. The Gunners could even terminate Pepe's contract in order to offload him (CBS Sports).

* Arsenal have not bid for Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus and concrete negotiations haven't taken place, despite rumoured interest in the player (Fabrizio Romano, via London World).

* The Gunners' current plan is to offload players after signing Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. However, Mikel Arteta is still keen to add to his squad this summer (Fabrizio Romano, via London World).

Man Utd Transfer News

* Man Utd have a clear plan as they look to round off a strong summer of transfer business (despite that takeover saga). With Mason Mount and Andre Onana already captured, next up for the Reds is Atalanta's Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund. Then Erik ten Hag will move for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat (Fabrizio Romano).

* Man Utd remain favourites to sign Fiorentina's Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat - and there is a deadline attached to any potential deal. Fiorentina are hopefully things can be resolved by Monday, and reports from Italy suggest all parties want a deal done. Those reports say personal terms will not be an issue, and Amrabat wants to join a top Premier League club. All that remains is for United to offer the 25-30m that the Viola demand (Gazzetta dello Sport).

* Erik ten Hag says whether striker Mason Greenwood stays at Man Utd or leaves will be a decision taken by the club. He was speaking during United's pre-season tour of the United States.

© ProShots - Mason Greenwood - future up in the air.

* Man Utd are preparing a first bid for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, and the Serie A club want €65-70m for his signature (Fabrizio Romano).

* Man Utd transfer target Victor Osimhen has asked for a €120m release clause to be inserted into his Napoli contract extension. The Serie A champions reportedly want the clause to be as high as €200m.

* Andre Onana has completed his €52.5 million transfer from Inter Milan to Manchester United (Manchester United).

* Ten Hag's hopes of offloading striker Anthony Elanga to boost his summer transfer budget appear to have hit a major stumbling block. Everton have pulled out of the race to sign Elanga as he does not fit their style of play (Daily Mail).

* PSG have spoken to Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund and may attempt to hijack Man Utd's deal to sign the Atalanta superstar (Fabrizio Romano).

* David de Gea has rejected Inter's approaches in the wake of Onana's transfer to Manchester United, and favours a move back to Spain (Daily Record).

* Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag is set to lose out to former club Ajax in the race to sign Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce. That's according to Turkish newspaper Posta, who highlight the fact that Bayindir is set to be stuck on the bench at Fener next season following the €9 million arrival of Dinamo Zagreb's Croatia No.1 Dominik Livakovic.

* Benfica have rejected a €70m bid from an unnamed club for striker Goncalo Ramos, who has previously been linked with Man Utd (Record).

Chelsea Transfer News

* The news of Chelsea sales just keeps on coming, and now winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is close to leaving Stamford Bridge. He is close to joining Italian giants Lazio for €10-15m (Gazzetta dello Sport).

* Chelsea are closing on the signing of Ajax and Ghana star Mohammed Kudus. The Blues are set to have a completely new stable of attackers next season. Kai Havertz has left for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined Marseille on a free, and Romelu Lukaku will follow them out of the club if Juventus can fund his €42.5 million transfer (The Athletic).

* Lyon prodigy Rayan Cherki has been in discussion with Chelsea and Tottenham over a summer transfer to the Premier League, with his representatives in London recently to discuss a move. The 19-year-old has long been regarded as one of French football’s hottest prospects, with Real Madrid long-term admirers of a player who has been with Lyon since he was seven years old (FootballTransfers EXCLUSIVE).

* Chelsea's hopes of signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton this summer have suffered another blow with Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi saying he is planning with the Ecuadorean midfielder next season.

* Juventus cannot afford to sign Romelu Lukaku, who has now resorted to pleading with Inter Milan to take him back after two previous spells with the club (Gazzetta dello Sport).

* Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been pictured in Marseille colours, with his move to the Ligue 1 club now a formality. He will leave Chelsea after just one season at Stamford Bridge (Marwan Belkacem)

* Chelsea youngster Omari Hutchinson has joined Championship side Ipswich Town on a season-long loan deal. It comes six months after a proposed loan move to West Bromwich Albion fell through (Chelsea FC).

* Chelsea and Brighton's valuation of Moises Caicedo remains worlds apart, with the Seagulls holding out for a fee of €115m (£100m). Chelsea's highest offer so far is €81m (£70m), which Brighton will not accept (The Athletic).

* Chelsea are demanding a fee in excess of €46m for Conor Gallagher (Sky Sports News).

* Chelsea is seen as a likely landing spot for Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez this summer. The Spaniard fell out of favour last season and the Seagulls have also signed Bart Verbruggen. Stamford Bridge or a return to Spain are his most likely options (The Athletic).

* Crystal Palace have made a 'verbal offer' for Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, who is also wanted by Chelsea (L'Equipe).

Liverpool Transfer News

* Stonewall, the largest LGBT+ rights organisation in Europe, has spoken out ahead of Jordan Henderson's impending transfer to the Saudi Pro League (FootballTransfers).

* Liverpool want to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti as they prepare for life without Fabinho and Henderson (The Guardian).

* Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has agreed to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. He will leave Bayern Munich after just one campaign to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic and Seko Fofana (L'Equipe).

Man City Transfer News

* Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has completed his medical ahead of his transfer to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli (Foot Mercato).

* Brighton are interested in signing Manchester City's Cole Palmer, but Roberto De Zerbi's side want to sign him permanently, while City will only sanction a loan (The Athletic).

* Burnley have completed the signing of James Trafford from Manchester City for a reported fee of €17m. He has signed a four-year deal at Turf Moor (Burnley FC).

* West Ham are closing in on a deal to sign Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges on a permanent transfer. The Hammers are set to pay €16m for his services (Fabrizio Romano).

Newcastle Utd Transfer News

* Harvey Barnes has undergone his medical at Newcastle ahead of his summer switch from Leicester City (Chronicle Live).

Tottenham Transfer News

* Harry Kane will not sign a contract extension at Tottenham and would be keen on a move to Bayern Munich if a fee can be agreed (The Times).

* Arnaut Danjuma has agreed to join Everton for the second time in six months. The forward completed a medical and filmed an announcement video in January, before Tottenham hijacked the deal (The Mirror).

Barcelona Transfer News

* Portuguese superstar Joao Felix has been in hot water after admitting he would love to join Barcelona. His comments did not go down well with his current bosses at Atletico Madrid. His agent Jorge Mendes believes a move to Catalonia IS possible, but Barca have other priorities right now (AS).

* Jordi Alba has officially left Barcelona to join MLS side Inter Miami on a free transfer. He has signed a one-year contract at the club, with the option of a further 12 months (Inter Miami).

* Juventus are willing to offer Federico Chiesa to Barcelona in exchange for Franck Kessie (Calciomercato).

* Sergino Dest is being eyed up by FC Porto, who are keen on taking advantage of Barcelona's poor financial situation by launching a bid to sign the USMNT international (O'Jogo, via Sport).

Real Madrid Transfer News

* Real Madrid of course remain favourites to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG, but there are three Premier League clubs reportedly interested. Man Utd head the way (nothing to do with Sheikh Jassim's takeover bid either), with Chelsea and Tottenham also monitoring the situation (Marca).

* Kylian Mbappe has been left out of PSG's squad for their pre-season tour of Japan, with the move coming as speculation continues to link the France star with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. PSG have said they WILL sell Mbappe this summer unless he extends his contract past 2024 (L'Equipe).

* PSG are willing to fight to retain attacker Kylian Mbappe and are preparing to make him an offer that has been described as “mind blowing” (Defensa Central).

* Real Madrid target Samuel Chukwueze is edging nearer to securing a move to AC Milan after positive discussions between the San Siro side and Villarreal (Calciomercato).

* Former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos is set to decide his future before the end of July after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired (Mundo Deportivo).

PSG Transfer News

* As the Kylian Mbappe soap opera continues, a brutal new detail is emerging from France as PSG look to deal with the issue. It's being reported that PSG have told the 24-year-old megastar he will not play a single game for them this coming season if he does not extend his contract. The French giants have said they will sell Mbappe now but of course that is easier said than done (Le Parisien).

Juventus Transfer News

* Juventus midfielder Fabio Miretti has signed a new contract that runs until 2027 (Juventus).

Aston Villa Transfer News

* Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby is set to join Aston Villa after agreeing to the move. The fee will be in excess of €50m. Both Newcastle and Al-Nassr were interested (Fabrizio Romano).

MORE: Out Of Contract in 2023: Best players available on a free transfer