Transfer news LIVE: Ten Hag's Rice alternaive, Maddison price tag discovered, Liverpool latest

All of the Premier League's big-hitters, including the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are aiming to get their summer business done as early as possible

The first day of the summer transfer window is now just a week away and a number of huge deals are already in the pipeline.

Liverpool are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, while the Reds are also being linked with a swoop for Barcelona's Franck Kessie as Jurgen Klopp aims to seriously bolster his midfield options.

Manchester United have a number of targets on their wishlist, including Harry Kane, Chelsea's Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Randall Kolo Muani, but another has now emerged in the form of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka amid fears Declan Rice could be Arsenal-bound.

Tottenham have now officially announced ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou as their new manager and he is already setting his sights on three big-name transfers, including England international James Maddison.

Meanwhile, Maddison's former teammate Youri Tielemans is one of seven players let go by Leicester following their relegation and is now a free agent. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have shown an interest previously, though the Gunners are prioritising a move for Rice while battling it out with Chelsea look over Brighton ace Moises Caicedo.

And Lionel Messi could be edging closer to a decision on his future with Barcelona hoping to tempt him back to the Nou Camp and away from the riches of the Saudi Pro League, despite the reports that the Argentine has been offered the most lucrative contract in football history by Al-Hilal.

For all the latest updates and transfer gossip this Wednesday, stay tuned right here on Mirror Football.

Alexis Mac Allister is on the brink of sealing his Liverpool move - after the Brighton midfielder underwent his medical yesterday.

Mirror Football understands, despite reports that the Reds will pay £35m, that an agreement has been reached at a fee which is thought to be somewhere between £45-50million initially.

The medical is likely to be completed today, which would give Liverpool time to tie up any loose ends on the deal before announcing his signing by the end of the week.

Click here to read more about the move...

Arsenal will face competition in their bid to sign Manchester City's Joao Cancelo this summer, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the running to sign the full-back.

The 29-year-old is set to leave Man City this summer, with Pep Guardiola allowing Cancelo to leave on loan in January in a surprise move for a player who was previously one of his outstanding performers.

He became an important player for Bayern Munich, but the Bundesliga have not made the deal permanent having been reluctant to meet the £60 million buy-out clause included in his loan contract.

Arsenal have now emerged as candidates to sign the full-back, with Arteta previously having worked with the player during his time with Man City. Cancelo joined City in 2019, with the then right-back evolving to become an effective creative threat from the left-hand-side.

Find the full story HERE.

Crystal Palace, Brentford and Burnley are all thought to be monitoring contract talks between Jack Clarke and Sunderland amid reports of talks regarding a new deal having stalled.

TEAMtalk report that the 22-year-old, who 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. has not yet agreed a new deal at the Stadium of Light and could be set for a move to the Premier League.

He still has three years left to run on his current deal, but his growing status will be drawing the interest of clubs who may be more able to match his demands after an impressive 18 months in the north east.

Aston Villa have told Youri Tielemans they want a quick answer after making a move for the free agent.

Tielemans is leaving relegated Leicester when his contract expires at the end of the month.

Villa boss Unai Emery hopes the lure of European football can tempt the Belgian international,26, after they finished seventh.

Tielemans’ representatives have been approached with Emery keen to push ahead with strengthening his squad in central midfield.

Emery also wants a new winger with targets including Leicester's Harvey Barnes and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams.

Villa's Spanish coach also admires Villarreal's Pau Torres,26, at his old club , where the stopper is entering the final year of his deal at the La Liga side.

Meanwhile, Villa are continuing to make progress behind the scenes to tie down John McGinn and Ollie Watkins to new, long-term deals before the start of next season.

Following Southampton's relegtion from the Premier League, they could be set to lose their captain as well, with West Ham thought to be in the market to sign James Ward-Prowse.

According to FootballTransfers, the midfielder could be subject to interest from the Hammers amid the expected departure of Declan Rice.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported that a £40 million price tag had been placed on the set-piece specialist.

Angel Di Maria has announced he will be leaving Juventus after just one season with the Italian giants.

Posting on Instagram, Di Maria said: "I arrive at the end of a difficult and complicated time. I go with the tranquility that I gave everything to help the club win trophies but it wasn't to be.

"I go with a bitter taste of not being able to achieve it but with the happiness of making many friends in a marvellous dressing room. Goodbye to all the Juve fans for all the love you showed every day. I will carry you in my heart."

Tottenham's squad would be "happy" to see star-striker Harry Kane leave the club for Real Madrid this summer, according to Spurs ace Pedro Porro.

Porro is quoted by the Daily Mail as confessing: "If Kane decides to go to Real Madrid we’ll be as happy as he is or more."

Spurs fans keen on keeping Kane at the club are unlikely to take too kindly to those remarks, as speculation linking the stiker with a move to Spain does not seem to be going away any time soon.

Read the full story HERE.

Christian Pulisic has spoken about his woes after Mauricio Pochettino made a decision on the USMNT star's Chelsea future following a frustrating season.

The incoming Blues manager has seemingly deemed the American to be surplus to requirements this summer as he looks to transform a squad that finished in a lowly 12th place in the Premier League back into challengers. The 24-year-old struggled to get a look in last term under both Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, starting just eight games and it appears time is up on his four-year stay in West London.

Now it appears that the Argentinian coach is willing to cut his losses on the attacker who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £58million ($73m)in 2019. According to ESPN, a fee of just £20million ($25m) could be sufficient to see owner Todd Boehly sanction a deal, with the winger's contract about to enter its final year.

Discover Pulisic's stance HERE.

Thierry Henry has reportedly rejected the opportunity to join Julian Nagelsmann's coaching staff at Paris Saint-Germain.

Henry had held talks with the PSG hierarchy over the possibility of joining the French club this summer. The Arsenal legend has coaching experience with Belgium and has previously managed Monaco and Montreal Impact.

The 45-year-old would have joined the staff in an effort to appease PSG's star striker Kylian Mbappe, with whom he has a good relationship. With Lionel Messi leaving upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month and Neymar considering a move too, the importance of keeping Mbappe happy has become paramount in Paris.

Read the full story HERE.

Ange Postecoglou is the next man tasked with taking the reins at Tottenham Hotspur.

Work has already gotten underway with a number of potential transfer targets having already been identified. With that being said, Mirror Footballtakes a look at the side Postecoglou could field on the first day of next season.

We start with one of the most glaring alterations that Postecoglou needs to make to the Spurs side - in goal. Current club captain Hugo Lloris is out of contract this summer and looks likely to bid farewell to North London.

Even if the Frenchman decides to stay, Spurs still need to make a change between the sticks. David Raya seems like the most obvious option with the Spaniard expected to leave Brentford this summer and is already on the North London side's shortlist.

Find the full story HERE.

Chelsea are thought to be eyeing a move to sign Southampton's Romeo Lavia, with news of Ngolo Kante's expected departure coming earlier this evening.

According to Football Insider, The Blues are ready to launch a bid in the region of £45-50 million, with Man City's reported £40 million buy-back clause only coming into effect next year for the young Belgian midfielder.

Liverpool are also thought to be interested in the teenager, who became a Premier League regular this season for the relegated side.

N'Golo Kante is heading out of Chelsea - and it could prove just as big a blow to Arsenal as it is to their London rivals.

The Kante developments will inevitably result in Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino ramping up his pursuit of Brighton's Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian is rated at over £80 million by the Seagulls, who are now able to negotiate from a position of strength after he signed a new contract in January.

Arsenal have already reportedly agreed personal terms with the star, but no transfer has been agreed and the Blues are also set to bid for the midfielder. And despite not being able to offer him Champions League football, Chelsea's financial power, plus their willingness to participate in a swap deal, could present a serious problem for the Gunners.

Find the full story HERE.

Kim Min-jae has said his goodbyes to Napoli and Manchester United look set to activate his £51million release clause in July.

Kim, 26, has been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford for months despite only moving to Naples last year. The South Korean international enjoyed a tremendous campaign as he starred in the club's remarkable Serie A title-winning campaign, but his contract contains a release clause which removes any negotiation process.

A report in CalcioNapoli24 outlined how Kim said his goodbyes to Napoli's fans and his teammates in Sunday's final Serie A game of the campaign – a victory over Sampdoria. The same report claims Napoli were keen to keep the South Korean star but cannot compete with United's financial package.

Read more here.

Contract talks between Arsenal and William Saliba's representatives are progressing positively as Mikel Arteta bids to tie down the French defender.

According to Football London, a new deal is close to being agreed. The Spanish boss knows he can ill afford for negotiations to break down, given that in less than a month Saliba will be into the final 12 months of his current deal, and can leave on a free next summer.

The defender's back injury, sustained in Arsenal's Europa League exit against Sporting CP in March, has been cited as a pivotal moment in the Premier League campaign. The north London side struggled defensively in the final weeks, with the absence of Saliba apparent as they took just 12 points from their final nine games.

Leicester want at least£40m for star-man James Maddison this summer following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Athletic report that the Foxes are ready to part ways with the midfield ace in the coming months after holding onto him last summer.

Newcastle are thought to be leading the charge for Maddison, closely followed by Spurs over the last 12 months.

It is believed that a fee of £40m would represent a hearty chunk of Newcastle's budget as Eddie Howe's side seek to adhere to Financial Fair Play rules.

United are interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, who will be moved on by the German giants if they sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.

A report in Sky Germany claims that part of Bayern's plans to sign Rice would include moving on Goretzka. While United are interested in signing the West Ham star themselves, the report adds they could instead turn to the German international as an alternative.

The former Schalke midfielder was substituted off in Bayern's final game of the campaign having only been introduced earlier in the second half. Tuchel apologised to the player for his strategic move, but it was perceived as a clear indicator over how his future at the club is viewed.

Read more here.

Liverpool are aiming to sign another two midfielders this summer even after they sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton.

Talks have reportedly commenced with the representatives of Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone. Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram has been scouted, whilst recently-relegated Southampton star Romeo Lavia has been discussed by the Reds’ hierarchy. Elsewhere, there could also be a few options in Spain.

Sport have suggested that Liverpool are eyeing up a swoop for Barcelona's Franck Kessie just a year after he arrived at the Camp Nou. Finally, further reports from Spain suggest that the Reds are at the front of the queue for Celta Vigo wonderkid Gabri Veiga.

Find out the full story here

Welcome to Wednesday's live transfer news blog - stay here for all the rumours as the window's open creeps closer...

Here are the main headlined from tonight's transfer news:

Following news earlier tonight that Alexis Mac Allister is set for a medical with Liverpool, sights have already been set on a further two transfer targets.

According to Mail Online, Jurgen Klopp wants at least two more midfielders. Talks have reportedly commenced with the representatives of Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone, with Nice's Kephren Thuram also being looked at closely.

Read more here.

Former Rangers man Ross McCrorie has tonight been confirmed to have joined Championship club Bristol City from Aberdeen.

The 25-year-old has completed move to Ashton Gate for an undisclosed fee, joining fellow new arrival Rob Dickie.

Following completion of the move, he said: He said: "There is ambition at the club to progress, and for myself, it's a new challenge and I think it's a good fit.

"The team's aggressive, plays on the front foot and I like playing in a team that plays that way – it was a big factor in coming to the club.

"I’ve met some of the staff and they’ve been great. They’ve made me feel welcome from the minute I walked in the building and I’m just really looking forward to getting started."

Ilkay Gundogan was the star as Man City beat arch-rivals Man United in the FA Cup final on Saturday, with the German midfirlder scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.

The City captain has now lifted both the Premier League and FA Cup this season and could add the Champions League in what could be his final act for the club this Saturday.

His contract is due to expire in just over three weeks' time, with Arsenal thought to be among the clubs who are interested in making a move for the German.

Mirror Football's John Cross has reported that it will take an 'eye-watering' contract to tempt him away from City, with nothing yet agreed for the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

Former Man United man Jesse Lingard has left Nottingham Forest, with the 30-year-old breaking his silence following his departure from the club.

The attacking midfielder made just 17 appearances for Forest this season and will now be searching for a new club.

He wrote on Instagram: "Thank you to everybody @officialnffc from the fans to all the backroom staff and of course the players. Been a rollercoaster journey but we stuck together through thick and thin and achieved our goal. It's been a pleasure,"

Chelsea are thought to be eyeing a move to sign Southampton's Romeo Lavia, with news of Ngolo Kante's expected departure coming earlier this evening.

According to Football Insider, The Blues are ready to launch a bid in the region of £45-50 million, with Man City's reported £40 million buy-back clause only coming into effect next year for the young Belgian midfielder.

Liverpool are also thought to be interested in the teenager, who became a Premier League regular this season for the relegated side.

Following Southampton's relegtion from the Premier League, they could be set to lose their captain as well, with West Ham thought to be in the market to sign James Ward-Prowse.

According to FootballTransfers, the midfielder could be subject to interest from the Hammers amid the expected departure of Declan Rice.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported that a £40 million price tag had been placed on the set-piece specialist.

Erik ten Hag could be moving towards making David de Gea his backup goalkeeper at Man United amid reports linking Porto's Diogo Costa and Brentford's David Raya to the club.

On Tuesday, Jack Butland confirmed his departure from Old Trafford following the expiry of his loan deal, leaving ten Hag without a backup goalkeeping option.

This means that thoughts immediately turn to incoming targets, with both Brentford's David Raya and Porto's Diogo Costa believed to be in the frame for a move to Old Trafford.

Read more here.

Some huge news, with talkSPORT reporting that Ngolo Kante is set to leave Chelsea and follow Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo into the Saudi Pro League.

Wilfried Zaha has also been named in reports, with both players' contracts expring with their respective clubs this summer.

: N'Golo Kante is ready to quit Chelsea to complete a big-money move to Saudi Arabia.Wilf Zaha is also considering joining Al-Nassr after letting his Crystal Palace contract expire.- talkSPORT sources understand Listen ☞ https://t.co/VJgUHnqdM1 pic.twitter.com/uTFdIQ7AW6

Rangers have confirmed the signing of Jack Butland following his departure from Man United, with a four-year deal announced earlier this evening.

@JackButland_One pic.twitter.com/DEUNtxv8nS

Following news earlier that Alexis Mac Allister is set for a medical with Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp's midfield overhaul appears to be taking shape with news that Kephren Thuram may be in line for a move.

Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna (via HITC) claims that initial contact has taken place to sign the Nice midfielder, who is the son of French World Cup winner from 1998, Lillian Thuram.

However, he will be held to a high price, with Liverpool weighing up a bid to sign the 22-year-old, with an 'explosive' offer reported required for a player whose current deal expires in 2025.

Brighton are reportedly willing to make an offer close to £40 million in order to secure a deal to sign 20-year-old Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill.

The left-footed defender spent the season on loan with the Seagulls and according to journalist Fabrizio Romano is set to be subject to a club-record bid to keep him at the club.

EXCL: Brighton are now preparing a new, record bid for Levi Colwill close to £40m to be submitted soon #BHAFCChelsea turned down £30m bid last week.Chelsea always had the same position: Colwill is part of long term project, no intention to sell him. #CFC pic.twitter.com/aIWFRU2h8r

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