Transfer Gossip: Arsenal seduce Liverpool midfield target as deal nears, while bid for Ukrainian winger is stepped up; Chelsea talks for £129m striker
Arsenal are plotting two new signings, including Mykhaylo Mudryk, on Deadline Day, while Chelsea are in talks for a £129m-rated striker and Thursday’s Transfer Gossip claims Newcastle are planning a late raid for a top midfielder.
DOUGLAS LUIZ IN FIRST AS PART OF DOUBLE DEAL FOR ARSENAL
Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa on transfer deadline day.
The Brazilian looks likely to depart Villa Park with the player now in the final 10 months of his deal. Talks over an extension have broken down – leaving Villa with little choice but to cash in on him.
He was the subject of interest from Tottenham, but their move to sign Yves Bissouma ended their chase. But in recent days Luiz has become a potential target for Liverpool as they look to fix a midfield injury crisis.
However, the Daily Express reckons it is the Gunners leading the chase. They claim Mikel Arteta has seduced the former Man City man into signing for the Gunners.
As per reports in Brazil, Gunners technical director Edu has already opened talks with his countryman’s representatives.
The Gunners want to add more options to the middle of the park as they look to build on their excellent start. Arsenal have won all their opening five games and sit top of the Premier League.
But with a hectic period coming up, Arteta wants more options in midfield to see Arsenal through.
He was on the scoresheet on Wednesday night as Aston Villa were beaten 2-1 at Arsenal.
Commenting on his future after the game, Steven Gerrard admits Luiz’s future is out of his hands.
“I’m not in control of that. There’s two people, well, there’s more than two people who are in control of that, but I’m certainly not one of them.
“That will be Douglas, that will be his agent and that will be what happens around that. I’d like to keep him, he’s a fantastic player, I’ve made that abundantly clear.
“We are not in position where we need to lose our top players, but at the same time Douglas has a year to go and it is one of them really touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, not necessarily what is best for me.”
Villa are seeking a fee of just north of £20m the midfielder.
MYKHAYLO MUDRYK NEXT ON WANTED LIST
Arsenal are also reportedly preparing a fresh offer for Mykhaylo Mudryk after seeing an opening bid turned down.
Shakhtar Donetsk are reportedly seeking around £30m for the Ukrainian winger, a price Arsenal are unwilling to meet.
Their opening bid of £21m has been rejected, but the Daily Express claims they are preparing an increased bid. As a compromise, the Gunners will reportedly try and offer a series of bonuses and add-ons to take the deal up to the £30m mark.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of his country’s brighest prospects, having won five caps so far.
He is also the subject of interest from Brentford, who are considering a huge approach of their own.
The Bees have spent £45m so far this summer, but any deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk will likely shatter their transfer record.
Per the Daily Telegraph, the Brentford offer is likely to be around the £25m mark.
That is higher than the Gunners’ opening offer, but lower when bonuses are included.
Both sides will continue talks over a potential deal on deadline day.
CHELSEA RESUME TALKS OVER RAFAEL LEAO
Chelsea are in fresh talks over a massive deadline day deal for Rafael Leao, according to reports.
The Blues are desperate to add a new striker to their ranks, having said goodbye to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner. They have operated with Kai Havertz as their focal point, but the German – more comfortable as a No 10 – is without a goal.
As such, talks have been held with Barcelona over a potential deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker faces a period on the sidelines, however, with a broken jaw sustained after a horrific home burglary on his house.
Furthermore, reports in Spain claim the talks have gone badly. And they have apparently broken down with Barcelona attempts to include Marcos Alonso in the deal seeing the two clubs failing to reach an agreement.
But Chelsea do need a striker before the window closes and now they are reportedly in talks with Milan for Leao.
The Portuguese star is capable of playing across the attack, be it either wing or as a central striker.
Now The Times claims Todd Boehly is planning one final transfer splash, having already spent £242m this summer.
Leao has a whopping £129m (€150m) release clause in his deal. And while Chelsea are not willing to go that high, any deal could set them back something close to a club-record fee.
That currently stands at the £97.5m paid to Inter for Lukaku.
Milan are reluctant to sell Leao at this late stage of the window, but will be tempted if Chelsea launch a huge bid.
NEWCASTLE READY LATE MOVE FOR YOURI TIELEMANS
Newcastle are hoping that timing is everything as they look to pinch Youri Tielemans on deadline day.
The Belgian midfielder surprisingly remains at the King Power despite being set to leave all summer.
His deal now has less than 10 months to run, making him hugely attractive to a number of top sides.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool were considering moves, though neither has come forward with a firm bid.
And with time ticking away, the Daily Mail claims Newcastle are planning a late approach to bring Tielemans to St James’.
They are reportedly preparing an approach worth in the region of £25m. That is less than Leicester’s valuation, but the cash-strapped Foxes cannot afford to wait.
Brenden Rodgers’ side sit bottom of the Premier League and face a rejuvenated Manchester United on Thursday evening.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wants a midfielder to sign as his final action of the window.
The Magpies have spent oover £100m so far this summer. The most eye-catching signing is the £60m spent on Alexander Isak. The Sweden striker showed what he is about with a Man of the Match performance in their defeat at Liverpool.
