Transfer news live: Cristiano Ronaldo wants Real Madrid exit as Arsenal make Alexandre Lacazette bid
All the latest news, rumours and gossip from around the Premier League and the rest of Europe
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
The summer transfer window is just around the corner but clubs up and down the country are already getting their business done early.
Manchester United have money to spend - and have already signed Victor Lindelof for £35m - but may be forced to shell out as much as £70m for both Alvaro Morata, while Andrea Belotti looks like he will stay at Torinio.
Chelsea's main man, Diego Costa, looks like he will be on his way after being told he is surplus to requirements by manager Antonio Conte.
Manchester United summer transfer targets
Show all 8Manchester City already have two players with Monaco's Bernardo Silva and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson in through the door, while Arsenal have snapped up Schalke's Sead Kolasinac on a free.
Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Mohamed Salah as they continue to negotiate with Roma over a fee but won't be adding Virgil van Dijk after being forced to apologise to Southampton for an illegal approach.
Everton are the big spenders so far in the window, signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for £30m while Ajax's Davy Klaassen for £23.6m.
We will have all the latest throughout the day here so don't touch that dial.
Follow all the latest in the blog below...
Please allow a moment for the blog to load...
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live transfer blog!
Join us throughout the day to keep up to date with the latest transfer news, updates gossip and rumours from the Premier League and around the rest of Europe.
Here's a quick round-up of the news making the headlines in the morning newspapers:
Scotland's Daily Record claims Antonio Conte could quit the club if other demands, including a direct line to owner Roman Abramovich and greater financial backing, are not met while Italy's Gazzetta Dello Sport reports tension on both sides.
Chelsea could also face losing goalkeeper THIBAUT COURTOIS, with the Times reporting that contract talks with the Belgium international have stalled.
Across London, Chelsea's FA Cup final conquerors Arsenal are looking to build towards a sustained title challenge next season and could be looking to add a former Blues player, with the Sun reporting they have offered £17.6million to bring JUAN CUADRADO from Juventus.
The Gunners are also linked in Turkey with a £10.5m move for Fenerbahce defender SIMON KJAER.
Liverpool seem set to sell before they buy, with defenders MAMADOU SAKHO and ALBERTO MORENO and winger LAZAR MARKOVIC all made available according to the Times. Markovic has been linked with Watford, whose manager Marco Silva had him on loan last season at Hull.
The Sun reports Manchester City forward PATRICK ROBERTS could be a loan target for French club Nice, while former City full-back BACARY SAGNA could also be heading to Ligue 1 if the Mirror's reports of an offer from Marseille come to fruition.
Where should clubs be expecting the most difficulty in signing players?
Lindelof's Mourinho calls
Victor Lindelof has revealed that Jose Mourinho called him up personally to persuade him to join Manchester United.
The £35m United new-boy told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet: “We talked on the phone.
"He told me about the club and everything around it. He also talked about how he looks at me and why he wants me at the club.”
BREAKING
Reports from Portugal say it's all got too much for Cristiano Ronaldo in Spain and he wants to leave Real Madrid after the Spanish tax authorities brought a lawsuit against him, accusing the 32-year-old of defrauding nearly €15m from the taxpayer.
READ MORE:
Good news for Manchester United?
AC Milan wonderkid Gianluigi Donnarumma has rejected a new deal at AC Milan and will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of next season.
That means he is entering the final year of his deal and is available on the cheap to avoid letting him leave for free next summer.
Real Madrid are the frontrunners meaning they have turned their attentions away from David De Gea for the time being. If they sign Donnarumma then United will be pretty confident in keeping hold of their No 1 for as long as they want him
READ MORE:
Conte frustrated
Antonio Conte is reportedly frustrated at the lack of incoming transfers secured by the Stamford Bridge club this summer, and is said to be holding off extending his contract until certain conditions are met.
But while a number of signings are close - like that of Romelu Lukaku or Tiemoue Balayoko - there is an annoyance that thus far Chelsea haven't added to their squad.
However, Chelsea are confident their title-winning boss won't leave Stamford Bridge.
READ MORE:
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies