Tottenham are considering a move for Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson should the sale of Harry Kane go through.
All eyes will be focused on the summit between Bayern Munich executives Jan-Christian Dreesen, Marco Neppe and Tottenham’s Daniel Levy in London today, to see if they can reach accord on a fee for Kane.
A relaxed looking Dreesen and Neppe took a private jet from Oberpfaffenhofen Airport at 9.51am, confident they can land their main man.
But Tottenham have been busy assessing forward options to fill the void Kane will leave. Bayern’s Mathys Tel has been mentioned, though he isn’t overly keen on a move, and Gift Orban of Gent is another thought to be under consideration. However, Johnson has Premier League experience and is homegrown.
Manager Steve Cooper doesn’t want to sell Johnson, who also has admirers at Aston Villa, but with FFP on their shoulder, Forest have to be realistic. They have rebuffed Brentford’s offer of £35m plus add-ons but it’s understood offers closer to £50m would have to be looked at. Tottenham won’t go that high but could find a middle ground as they target a quicker profile to their attack.
Forest also like Tottenham centre-back Davinson Sanchez. Tottenham accepted £12.9m from Spartak Moscow for the Colombian but he was reluctant to go and was waiting on Galatasaray.
Tottenham are considering a move for Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson (left) should the sale of Harry Kane (right) to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich go ahead this summer
Forest like Davinson Sanchez who Tottenham have accepted a bid from Spartak Moscow for
Brighton star agrees to Chelsea move
Chelsea want Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and he has agreed to join.
The problem will be the fee and Chelsea’s ongoing talks over a deal for £105million-rated Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea want Robert Sanchez, who has fallen out of favour at Brighton
Sanchez has fallen out of favour with Roberto De Zerbi and wants to get away with Chelsea a perfect opportunity. Former Brighton goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts is at Chelsea and played a big part in mentoring Sanchez’s development. Indeed, the 6ft 6ins shot stopper credits his ‘mental fortitude’ to Roberts’s influence.
Though born in Spain and capped twice by them, Sanchez counts as homegrown as he has been brought up through Brighton’s academy since the age of 15, and was courted by England prior to his Spain call-up. That could prove vital with Chelsea’s current recruitment pattern and the fact the likes of Conor Gallagher could still depart.
Chelsea have also been maintaining contact with Southampton over Romeo Lavia and Tino Livramento.
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed new signing from Rennes, Lesley Ugochukwu, should go on loan to Strasbourg with winger Angelo Gabriel expected to follow.
Regardless of shared ownership rules permit only three loans allowed between clubs. They still plan to sign striker Elye Wahi from Montpellier with Strasbourg in mind so Chelsea will need to find different temporary, or permanent, homes for a number of the players they are stockpiling. Impressive midfielder Andrey Santos has interest from eight clubs, home and abroad.
They are also monitoring Southampton pair Tino Livramento (pictured) and Romeo Lavia
West Ham to step up chase for Ligue 1 pair
West Ham are expected to step up their efforts to sign Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana over the coming days.
There has been growing frustration among fans over the lack of signings and hints at tension regarding the profile of players preferred by director of football Tim Steidten compared to those favoured by manager David Moyes.
Bids, considered to be under value, have gone in for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse. Talks have also been held over £45m-rated Scott McTominay, Edson Alvarez at Ajax, Bristol City’s Alex Scott and Ian Maatsen of Chelsea. But with little movement so far, they are asking Rennes about 21-year-old France international Truffert and his compatriot Fofana, who has also been considered by Chelsea.
West Ham’s hierarchy want Steidten to stay so hope a breakthrough on signings can appease all.
Truffert has been recovering from an ankle injury so wasn’t involved in Rennes’ 3-1 friendly win over West Ham at the weekend. West Ham have also looked at Feyenoord’s exotically named Quilindschy Hartman and Cameron Pring at Bristol City.
A deal for Harry Maguire looks unlikely to be revived. United want at least £30million while Maguire is understood to prefer a higher-placed club if he were to leave.
The offer of £20m plus £5m in add-ons may be left on the table for James Ward-Prowse as West Ham believe they are his best option.
West Ham are also looking to give a contract to Stoke City’s 18-year-old centre-back Logan Laird after he impressed on trial.
West Ham are keen on Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana (left) and Adrien Truffert (right) of Rennes
Man United could make further moves after Hojlund
Former Manchester United defender Di’Shon Bernard is joining Sheffield Wednesday today.
The 22-year-old centre-back is a free agent after his United contract ran out at the end of the season. Wednesday are also in talks to sign AC Milan’s Colombian goalkeeper Devis Vasquez on loan.
United may be content that they have three priority signings in the bag, once Rasmus Hojlund completes his medical, following on from Mason Mount and Andre Onana, but they have still been courting agents and players over centre-backs, midfielders and goalkeepers in recent days.
Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat is one well-known target, though he has received interest from Al Ahli over the weekend, but Nice’s much-improved defender Jean-Clair Todibo has come back into the reckoning while Everton’s left-sided centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who impressed scouts while on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, is a surprise name that has been floated.
United are awaiting offers from Real Sociedad for Donny van de Beek while Galatasaray have been short on their offerings for Fred but Fulham and Saudi clubs remain in the frame. Harry Maguire’s future is still to be resolved also.
Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo (pictured), Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite are all players Man United’s scouts have been monitoring
Former United defender Di’Shon Bernard will join Championship side Sheffield Wednesday
Blades looking to sign a defender
Sheffield United have opened talks with Arsenal for £5million defender Auston Trusty.
The Blades are pursuing a loan deal for the USA international who was player of the year at Birmingham City last season and, as Confidential readers will know, was a target for Rangers earlier this summer. Manager Paul Heckingbottom has also been in talks with former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe.
Arsenal would ideally prefer a sale for Trusty. They need to raise funds to offset their spending and appease FFP concerns. They want Brentford goalkeeper David Raya but early signs are they will offer around £15m and Brentford are determined to take £30m at least. Arsenal could sell Matt Turner to help the move. The USA international is one on a long list of keepers courted by Nottingham Forest who want Dean Henderson and one other to start the season.
Bayern Munich have not totally given up on Raya but they were offering a loan with obligation and are now looking at Morocco international Yassine Bouno, or ‘Bono’ to his friends, of Sevilla.
Sheffield United have opened talks with Arsenal for defender Auston Trusty (left), while they have also been in talks with former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe (right)
Brentford are determined to get £30m at minimum for Arsenal target David Raya
Foxes demand £5m for keeper
Leicester City are asking £5million for goalkeeper Daniel Iversen. The Danish keeper is surplus to requirements after the signing of Mads Hermansen but the price is proving prohibitive for some suitors.
Stoke City enquired about a loan but that was rebuffed and they have since signed Mark Travers on loan from Bournemouth.
Leicester plan to confirm the signing of forward Stephy Mavididi from Montpellier after he underwent a medical at the weekend.
Leicester City are asking for £5m from clubs interested in signing keeper Daniel Iversen
Crystal Palace poised to sign Brazilian midfielder
Crystal Palace will complete their long pursuit of Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca following his medical on Monday.
Confidential readers will be well aware of Palace’s chase for the 19-year-old but the Brazilian club’s initial £25million asking price meant there were a few diversions on the way with Newcastle United, Chelsea and West Ham courted at one stage.
Palace though have struck a deal which is £17m with a further £8.5m in add-ons – £4.2m of those are if he should win the Ballon D’Or which hints at Flamengo’s expectations. Palace are keen to get an attacking midfielder signed as Michael Olise is on Manchester City’s list of options while they have still to agree a new contract for Eberechi Eze.
Crystal Palace will complete their long pursuit of Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca
Saudi interest for Everton midfielder
Everton have tentative interest from Saudi Arabian clubs and Lille in Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes. The 29-year-old is one player that is likely to move on as Sean Dyche desperately tries to finance a new striker.
Lyon have also made an enquiry about forgotten man Jean-Philippe Gbamin and there is interest from the Bundesliga but he is recovering from another injury at the moment.
Former Everton defender Yerry Mina remains a possible option for Fulham as they look to sell Tosin Adarabioyo to Monaco.
Everton midfielder Andre Gomes is receiving interest from Saudi Arabian clubs and Lille
Premier League trio in Lavia race
Southampton expect a big week regarding Romeo Lavia. Liverpool, armed with cash from the sales of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will make an improved bid while Chelsea have maintained contact too.
A foreign club and Manchester United are the surprise elements still in the mix.
United would have to sell first while Sofyan Amrabat at around £25m is a much cheaper and ready-made option.
Liverpool have not stepped in for Amrabat as it stands. The Anfield club are closing on another midfield prospect though – 16-year-old Trey Nyoni from Leicester City.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in Saints midfielder Romeo Lavia
Mbappe unlikely to meet PSG deadline
Kylian Mbappe has until midnight on Monday to trigger his option to extend his Paris Saint-Germain contract by one year to the summer of 2025 though it’s pretty plain he won’t.
Real Madrid and Chelsea target Mbappe is due a £51.5million loyalty bonus, payable in instalments, if he is still with the club on Tuesday.
Mbappe turned down a world-record £259m move to Al-Hilal last week and has been put up for sale after refusing to renew his contract so that he becomes a free agent next summer.
Kylian Mbappe has until midnight on Monday to trigger an extension to his PSG contract
Toffees agree deal for Portugal U19 star
Everton have agreed a deal to sign 6ft 4ins Sporting Lisbon teenager Youssef Chermiti.
The 19-year-old Portugal U19 international has had interest from Wolves and Bournemouth in recent weeks but Everton are understood to have reached agreement on a fee overnight and talks are progressing to conclude his transfer.
Everton have agreed a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon youngster Youssef Chermiti (centre)