Key events
Liverpool to resurrect Guehi move?
Jacob Steinberg
There’s still hope that Liverpool will be able to complete a deal for Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi. I’m told that Steve Parish, the Palace chairman, is in two minds about whether to sell Guehi, whose contract expires next year. Liverpool offered £35m plus £5m in add-ons. The message earlier this morning was that it wouldn’t happen; the word just now is that there’s still a chance. Liverpool have certainly looked like they need a new defender.
Ed Aarons
More on Wharton here:
Adam Wharton is set for a scan on his injured groin after limping off for Crystal Palace against Aston Villa yesterday and will not meet up with England’s senior squad this week. The 21-year-old was forced off early in the second half of Palace’s 3-0 win at Villa Park after picking up the injury and Oliver Glasner confirmed afterwards that he will not take part in the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
It is understood that Wharton will have a scan to determine the extent of the damage, with Palace hoping that it is not a recurrence of the injury that caused him to miss almost three months last season after having surgery in November. They also have concerns over Ismaila Sarr after the Senegal forward withdrew from international duty with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, France have confirmed that William Saliba will not play in their qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland after he sprained his ankle in Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Deadline day delays England squad meeting
David Hytner
It is interesting that Thomas Tuchel has asked his England players not to report until tomorrow so they can focus on getting deadline day out of the way. A bit extreme, perhaps, given only Marc Guehi out of the squad he has named for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia is obviously involved in a potential move. Then again, the plan did need to be hatched a little while back.
When the players do report, it is unlikely that Adam Wharton will be there. He sustained an adductor injury playing for Crystal Palace at Aston Villa on Sunday – a huge blow for him as Tuchel had not previously selected him.
Tuchel has been clear about where he sees his central midfielders playing. Wharton is one of the No 6s with Jordan Henderson. Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson are the No 8s. Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White are the No10s. He sees Eberechi Eze primarily as an option off the left wing, although he did say he could also play in the No 10 role. In Wharton’s absence, I wonder whether Curtis Jones could yet get a call. It feels as though Henderson is in the box seat to start.
Harvey Elliott headed for Aston Villa? David Ornstein and local media are reporting on “advanced talks”over season-long loan with obligation to buy. Liverpool want £35m+.
Sterling searching for suitors
Jacob Steinberg
There’s currently no major movement around Raheem Sterling. Fulham have shown interest – they have other irons in the fire when it comes to wingers – but there’s nothing advanced for the former England international.
Jim Clark on Donnarumma, and some good info, too: “While there may be a tactical element to Donnarumma’s exit at PSG it’s mostly about his contract. Donnarumma-era “galactico” PSG signings were on vast money. For a couple of years the owners have been bringing in a different structure – lower wages but potentially colossal performance bonuses.
“Gigi is one of the very last on the old structure and they’ve spent a few months trying to negotiate an extension with him on the new one, which he was having none of; so Luis Enrique said the uncertainty wouldn’t do and moved to change him. All of which suggests that at City he’ll be the highest-paid goalie in English history…”
Thanks, Jim. I still don’t know what went so wrong with Ederson.
Via Sky’s Scotland reporter Anthony Joseph: “Celtic winger Hyunjun Yang is travelling to England ahead of a possible £3m move to Birmingham City. The clubs are close to agreeing an initial fee of £3m, plus add-ons, with Birmingham still waiting for the Hoops to sanction the move.”
Birmingham need some zip, judging by Friday night against Leicester.
David Flynn gets in touch: “Maybe Pep has analysed the current state of football and decided that he must evolve into what I’m choosing to call his Jack Charlton period. I look forward to Donnarumma, with a big hoof straight from the hands, up to Haaland.”
Yes, at last Pep may see the error of his ways, and throw all those medal’s he’s won in the bin.
Kari Tulinius gets in touch: “I’m terrible at fantasy football, so I decided to just chuck it in this year and engage in a bit of music nerdery at the same time. My team, the Global Gang of Johns, is entirely made up of guys named John, or international variations thereof (e.g. Jean and João). Unexpectedly, I’m doing much better than I have when I tried to be smart about it. However, as my two goalkeepers are Jason Sean Steele and Daniel Ian Bentley, I could really use Gianluigi Donnarumma. I realize this is a niche reason, but I’m really hoping that City get that transfer over the line.”
It is suggested by Fabrizio Romano that another potential Fulham arrival is Raheem Sterling. Let’s see. Sterling is one of three Chelsea players with no future at the club but time left on his contract. The two others coming to mind are Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi. Will Chelsea pay them out and leave them as free agents? Unclear at the moment.
Brentford make moves to spend Wissa cash, Fulham talk about Kevin
Ed Aarons
Brentford have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson on loan for the season and are still hoping to add more reinforcements to their squad today after allowing Yoane Wissa to join Newcastle. Crystal Palace, Besiktas and Fulham – where Nelson spent last year on loan – had also held talks over a move for the 25-year-old who came through Arsenal’s academy but he will now join Keith Andrews’ side instead and is set for a medical this afternoon.
Brentford are understood to have cooled their interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Max Beier after seeing a £45m bid rejected last week, while PSV Eindhoven have also turned down a £25m offer for Joey Veermen over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Fulham are moving closer to securing a club record £34m deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kevin, while Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze could also arrive on an initial loan before the transfer deadline.
On the subject of Arsenal, who are presumably spent up now.
“The mentality is always to go forward, to be attacking, to be aggressive, to try to dominate the game and create chances,” Merino said. “But sometimes the game of football is like this. Sometimes the ball puts you in a certain situation. You have to adapt to it.
John Culley gets in touch: “Although Arsenal have bought early and often in this window, looks like Arteta needs three players for each position if they are going to get injured at this rate. Kiwior has been a good squad player for the last couple of seasons, wish him well with his move to Porto, and hope the new signing Hincapie has ligaments of iron to deal with whatever is causing our injury curse.”
Manchester United fans, getting excited about the “new Courtois”? The new Simon Mignolet would do at the moment – the old one is still playing well for Brugge, as it happens. Martínez would be a good buy, too, experienced like a Van Der Sar purchase but that’s not how modern transfers work, is it? Where will Martínez go?
Breaking: Lammens on way to Manchester United
Jamie Jackson
Senne Lammens is on his way to Manchester so it appears the 23-year-old will join Ruben Amorin’s squad. United deal for Lammens is €21m plus add ons – there is no sell on; 5-year contract. The player, who is travelling to Manchester, is viewed as an exciting young goalkeeper with a bright future. Utd considered other GKs (Emiliano Martínez), but ended plumping for the Belgian.
James Kell gets in touch: “As a Newcastle fan, been both “victim” and beneficiary of this trend for players to down tools to force a move, which I really don’t enjoy, and I must say, in an era of grasping agents and prima donnas, hats off to Marc Guehi for not just continuing to turn out for Palace but for being outstanding for them and being a captain and leader. Top pro, top man, that’s how you do it.”
Edward Ricketts gets in touch: “Hard to fathom how Donnarumma is suddenly second choice at PSG, having played a massive role in their Champions League triumph last season and having been arguably the best keeper in the world during that time. Utterly ruthless from Enrique and undoubtedly a coup for City. Any thoughts?”
Not sure it’s a question being second choice though the writing was on the wall was Lucas Chevalier came in. Luis Enrique has overhauled the squad with Luis Campos and Donnarumma was signed by a different regime, and as part of the Mino Raiola agency, now run after his death by Rafaela Pimenta, such players are often on the move because of high demands for their players. Erling Haaland is one of their clients, of course, so City have a business relationship. The odd thing is Luis Enrique wants a progressive keeper who can play from the back and yet Pep, from the same school of thinking, is prepared to deal with a keeper from the Francesco Toldo/Gianluigi Buffon school of shot-stopping.
Kieran McKintosh gets in touch: “Morning John. Watched last night’s game with my best friend, a Palace fan. Absolutely excruciating way to lose, but what can you do?
“We wondered after if Glasner could walk. He’s not very impressed with transfer business and a manager like him will have his pick of the clubs if he does decide to go. I am no longer convinced Arteta is up to the job, so do you reckon Oliver Glasner would be a good candidate as the next manager of Arsenal (if you think it will get to that point? “
Made a prediction that Glasner will be in charge of Bayern this time next year. He’ll have plenty of takers. Could see him at Arsenal, United, City, any of them. His stock could not be higher. Maybe he might fancy winning the Conference League and signing off. He’s a patient man but always truthful in press conferences, he’s friendly but not afraid of speaking his mind. He’s almost too adult for the football game. He can also make a team play 3-4-3, which is beyond certain other managers.
Patterson move to Sevilla denied
Andy Hunter
Nathan Patterson’s proposed move from Everton to Sevilla appears to be off. The Scotland international had been in talks over a season loan as he attempts to revive an injury-hit career. But with Sevilla right back Juanlu Sanchez looking likely to remain at the club – Napoli were interested – that avenue now looks closed.
Harrison Armstrong, the promising 18-year-old midfielder, could depart on loan depending on whether Everton strengthen in that department first. The club are currently in talks with Freiburg’s Merlin Rohl. Everton have received several offers for Armstrong and another homegrown midfielder, Tyler Onyango, is also set to leave on loan today.
Forest back in for BlueCo’s Bakwa
Ben Fisher
Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign the Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa, with left-back Cuiabano also primed to join from Botafogo before the deadline. Forest are targeting a couple of additions, while two or three fringe players could depart. Strasbourg, part of the BlueCo group that own Chelsea, rejected a £30m bid from Forest for Bakwa earlier this window, with the Ligue 1 club wanting closer to £35m. Nuno Espírito Santo is to hold talks with Evangelos Marinakis over his future in the coming days after a rift with Edu, the global head of football at Marinakis’s stable of clubs. Nuno conceded Sunday’s collapse in the 3-0 home defeat to West Ham hardly strengthens his hand.
Beginning to worry about Brentford. An awful lot of pressure on Kevin Schade, who missed a penalty at the weekend. At least Igor Jesus is in the goals.
Wissa’s exit would be the second major sale at Brentford this window, with Bryan Mbeumo joining Manchester United for an initial £65m. Last summer Brentford sold Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli in a £40m deal. Brentford have seen several high-profile departures this summer, with Thomas Frank leaving to become Tottenham manager and former club captain Christian Nørgaard signing for Arsenal. Brentford broke their transfer record to land Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth in a £42.5m deal.
Will they make moves before the end of today? They surely must.
Wissa gets his wish. Seems like refusing to play is the way to get a move these days. That doesn’t sit right, but this is where we are now.
Our story on Ten Hag, another fallen victim to the enduring curse of Manchester United.
Dan King, Villa fans gets in touch: “As a Villa fan the Sancho signing smacks of panic. If we can afford him, why not Jack Grealish? If Sancho gets his head down, works hard and acts professionally then he has the talent to succeed. Unfortunately he has a strong reputation for not getting his head down, not working hard and acting unprofessionally. It’s got bad news written all over it. But then I felt the same about Marcus Rashford, about whom there were also questions about his attitude, and he was great for us.”
I saw Grealish play on Saturday for Everton, and he was fantastic. The Villa Grealish, you’d much rather have than Sancho.
John Brewin
Good morning, and welcome. Anything can happen from here. Well, sort of. Seems like the moves we have discussed all summer are coming to fruition. Goalkeepers seem the order of the day, with Donnarumma set for City, it seems, and Manchester United’s need to sign one, if not two, keepers.
Righto, that’s it from me; here’s John Brewin to guide you through the next bit.
Back to Palace, can they really sell Guéhi? He’s available for free in the summer, but what message does it send to Glasner if they do? He was very clear last evening in stating how crucial it is that he remains.
“With Ten Hag’s sacking following Mourinho’s and Solskjær’s a few days ago,” begins Dean Haigh, “it’s perhaps telling that Manchester United managers seem to really struggle after leaving while players seem to go from strength to strength. It suggests that despite Amorim constantly denigrating his players it is, and always has been, the managers who’ve been the problem.”
There’s a lot of blame to go around, so no need to be sparing, and I also think it’s fair to say that lots of players have left and still been poor. I’d still say the majority of the aggravation is on account of the Glazers, but agree the managers haven’t been good enough.
AC Milan are trying to sign Joe Gomez, but Liverpool will only allow that if they succeed in snatching Marc Guéhi from Palace. On which point, what a shame it is to see Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners plundered in this manner – there’d have been a very serious side there if they’d only been able to buy rather than sell.
Vill are, it seems, also interested in Harvey Elliott, a move that makes a lot more sense – and is a goodun for the player, too. He’s got his league-winners medal having contributed, and now he has to play regularly. Forcing his way into Emery’s midfield won’t be easy, though.
Jamie Jackson
Sancho loan to Villa nearly done: 80% wages to be paid by Villa along with bonuses that should happen, Utd believe, to have 100% covered.
Imagine how James Trafford must be feeling. Leave City to play, prove yourself, reject other offers to re-sign, have the club pursue a Champions League-winner to go ahead of you.
I can’t lie, it freaks my nut that any top-half Premier League manager, never mind Unai Emery, wants Sancho. He’s got such a lovely touch and imagination, but sadly lacks the physicality to succeed in England, while there are also questions about his mentality. It’s hard to see this one working.
Today’s Rumour Mill:
Aston Villa agree a deal to take Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United
How much of his wages they cover will depend on how many games he plays and so on.
