Transfer news LIVE – latest news and gossip ahead of the summer window and the restart of the Premier League campaign.
Transfer news live updates
- Chelsea are hoping to announce the signing of Timo Werner in the next 48 hours
- Manchester United are considering pulling back on their Jadon Sancho interest
- Newcastle’s takeover is on the brink of collapse
- FIFA say the transfer window can open before the seasons finish in Europe
Chelsea get Ben Chilwell boost
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard wants to sign Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell this summer and he has received a boost in his transfer pursuit.
The England star is desperate to move and the Foxes are resigned to losing one of their prized assets.
Leicester were going to demand £80m for Chilwell, the same amount they got for Harry Maguire from Manchester United last summer.
But the Blues could now sign the 23-year-old for £30m less because of the players desire to leave and the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Evening Standard.
That will be welcome news for Chelsea as they close in on the signing of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner for over £50m.
Leicester are still in a strong negotiating position as Chilwells contract runs until 2024 but they have already started looking at possible replacements.
Werner deal close
Chelsea could announce the signing of Timo Werner in the next 48 hours.
The deal to announce Werner has been held up due to the problems of having him undergo a medical.
He would be forced to quarantine if he travelled from Germany to London and would then miss games for RB Leipzig.
Its possible that hell undergo the medical in Germany however, or when the Bundesliga finishes on June 27.
Jadon Sancho to Man Utd
Manchester United are favourites to complete the signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have made the England international their priority target in the upcoming transfer window.
Domestic rivals Chelsea and Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid are also vying for Sancho’s signature, which is expected to cost £115million.
However, The Telegraph claim United are worried about committing to a club-record deal in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the affect it’ll have on club funds.
Woodward and co. will only press ahead with plans when games return and they know what players are available.
Newcastle takeover twist
Newcastle’s takeover is on the brink of collapse, because the Premier League is refusing to give the green light due to TV piracy issues.
The Premier League has reportedly stalled over approving the £300million takeover of Newcastle.
A consortium, backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, reached a deal with Mike Ashley to buy the Toon weeks ago.
However, background checks conducted by the Premier League have reached a roadblock, due to issues surrounding illegal pirating of live matches.
The Premier League has apparently been trying to challenge the Saudi state over claims they have been involved in illegally streaming games.
The Mirror cites a source, who outlines the difficulty facing the takeover, which will make for grim reading for Magpies fans.
The source said: “The country who are now trying to buy a Premier League club and trying to pass the owners and directors have stolen from the very organisation they now need the approval from.”
Kai Havertz to Chelsea
Chelsea have the opportunity to make a real statement by signing Bayer Leverkusen superstar Kai Havertz.
That’s according to Craig Burley, who believes that following the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and potentially RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner would signal that owner Roman Abramovich means business.
“You can’t have enough good players,” former Blues midfielder Burley told ESPN. “It would be a statement of intent to go out and get one of Europes most exciting young talents.
“It does fit with the narrative that Chelsea and Lampard are going down. They are looking to sign younger players with sell-on value but who can also produce the goods now.
“But it would be a statement from [Roman] Abramovich to say, ‘weve given you Werner and we also want Havertz, one of the brightest talents in European football’.
“Thats a very exciting sign for Chelsea fans, but I doubt they will be in that race alone because Havertz is probably on everybodys radar.”