TRANSFER NEWS will continue to filter through until the deadline shuts on August 31 and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest updates.
Friday August 18
Manchester United uncovered
12:35: Manchester United still want at least one more signing this summer – and Gareth Bale remains on their radar.
Our man in Manchester Richard Tanner explains how Jose Mourinho remains keen to do business.
United sources say the trail has gone cold for Ivan Perisic with Inter Milan unwilling to lower their £48m valuation and the Croatian apparently not prepared to kick up a Diego Costa stink to force a move through.
United retain an interest in Bale – it goes back a decade to his Southampton days – although the player is showing no inclination to leave Real Madrid at the moment while Real seem happy to keep him.
MANCHESTER UNITED UNCOVERED: See all the latest developments from Old Trafford
Costa speaks out over Atletico
12:23: Diego Costa has spoken to ESPN Brazil to express his frustration at his current situation.
“I’ve demonstrated I care for Atletico and have interest in playing for them,” he said.
“But if Atletico and Chelsea don’t come to an agreement and Atletico don’t make a big effort, I can’t keep on wanting to play for a club that isn’t going to make a bigger effort to try and sign me.
“I know that this [big effort] will happen, but if it’s to pay the amount that Chelsea want it won’t be possible.
“What I know is that this offer Chelsea will get is bigger than what they paid [when they signed Costa from Atletico for £32 million in July 2014], so I’ve given them something back in all senses [sporting and financial].”
Leeds offer Wood contract
12:05: Leeds United have offered Chris Wood a contract extension to end Burnley’s interest in the striker.
Leeds have already rejected Burnley’s £12m bid for Wood.
A £20m offer is supposedly being prepared as the Clarets plan to test Leeds’ nerve.
But the Elland Road club are hoping Wood will sign a three-year extension and remain in the Championship this season.
Everton eye Mor
11:42: Everton want to sign Liverpool target Emre Mor, according to talkSPORT.
Everton are keen to continue their summer spending spree after yesterday adding Gylfi Sigurdsson to their squad.
Mor was said to be close to joining Inter Milan, with Liverpool also eyeing the Turkey international.
But a move to the San Siro has stalled and the report claims Everton could now beat Liverpool in hijacking the deal.
Gabi wants Costa
11:20: Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has advised Diego Costa to respect Chelsea over his transfer stand-off.
Costa is currently AWOL in Brazil and wants to join Atletico.
Chelsea are prepared to sell but have also demanded the striker return to training in west London.
Gabi said: “From what I understand, Atletico Madrid want to sign him and he wants to join.
“However, we must know that there is Chelsea in the middle and when you are part of a club you must respect the badge and try and leave in the best way.”
Matic talks Man Utd switch
11:03: Nemanja Matic has shed light on the reason why he left Chelsea for Manchester United.
“He [Mourinho] was very important for me,” Matic told Sky Sports.
“He bought me to Chelsea from Benfica and now when I decided to come to Manchester, he was a reason to come here.
“Mourinho was the reason and so was the club, Manchester United, so you don’t need to think a lot about if you are going to come. My decision was very quick and very clear.”
Real Madrid chasing De Gea
10:34: Manchester United star David de Gea could finally seal a move to Real Madrid this summer if Los Blancos make him and the Red Devils a respectable offer, according to journalist Ian McGarry.
McGarry said on The Transfer Window podcast: “So we’re looking at under two weeks left of the transfer window left to go, I think United will resist this because trying to get a replacement for De Gea would be very, very difficult for them.
“But what we also know is De Gea sees himself playing for Real Madrid in his career.
“He’s already imagined himself in that shirt.
“He will want the move and if it comes back that they make him personally a very good offer in terms of the contract and that they offer enough money for United to be tempted to sell this could be one that we see finally concluded when the window closes in September.”
Who should Liverpool sign to replace Philippe Coutinho?
10:00: Phil Thompson has the answer – and he’s being very ambitious with his suggestions!
“What they can do is try to find somebody out there, maybe even play Barcelona at their own game and say you can have Coutinho but we want Luis Suarez,” Thompson told Sky Sports.
“Suarez might be unhappy with the Neymar situation. You don’t know whether a player is unhappy or a club are willing to sell until you ask the question.
“They could go after Dele Alli, who was a Liverpool supporter as a kid. Tottenham are a bit like Liverpool in that there’s always a price on a player.
“Sergio Aguero is another player that might be interested if he’s not happy at Manchester City, but it comes back to being late in the window and that is the difficult situation Liverpool find themselves in.
“Signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a start and would be available for the right money with his contract situation at Arsenal, but the club need to be ready to move if they do sell so we’re not caught short.”
West Brom snub Man City bid
09:30: West Brom manager Tony Pulis insists he will not sell Jonny Evans to Manchester City.
“We’ve turned down an offer for Jonny,” Pulis said ahead of West Brom’s clash with Bunrley tomorrow (3pm).
“He’ll have a late fitness test today. It’s his hamstring.
“We don’t want to sell Jonny and we don’t need to sell him. It would have to be a very, very good offer.
“Jonny understands the situation and where everything is. Jonny is happy here and wants to get on with his football.”
“Jonny is one of our best players. We all understand where we are.”
Source:www.express.co.uk