The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow live with our daily blog throughout the summer.
TOP STORY: Tottenham optimistic over Martial move
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial's departure from Old Trafford looks increasingly likely and Spurs are a potential destination, according to the London Evening Standard.
It says Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino wants "a forward who can also play on the wing or at No. 10," and France international Martial is high on his list.
The London club "are hopeful that United, who are interested in Spurs centre-half Toby Alderweireld, will be prepared to do business."
Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News says United are "attempting to negotiate a £55m deal for Alderweireld" and reports Old Trafford sources as saying the club "are prepared to make him their most expensive defensive signing."
Alex Sandro of Juventus is also on United's radar, and is "being prioritised to replace Luke Shaw."
LIVE BLOG
23.00 BST: That will do it for today's edition of Transfer Talk LIVE, remember to check back in a few hours as we start all over again with the latest rumours, links and completed deals from around the globe. Take care!
22.55 BST: Jose Mourinho has said time and time again that he needs more money to build a contender at Man United. Reports from Spanish outlet Don Balon claim that Mourinho's next cash-splash could be on Real Madrid and France central defender Raphael Varane.
The report claims that Varane has now moved to the top of Mourinho's shopping list and that given Florentino Perez's lukewarm stance on the defender, Varane could be available for the right price. The 25-year-old has been at the Bernabeu since 2011 and figures to be a key cog for France this summer at the World Cup in Russia.
In recent months United have spent big bucks on Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez but Mourinho has continue to lobby that it is not enough to compete with rivals Man City. Is Varane the next big-money signing at Old Trafford? Stay tuned.
22.34 BST: Here's one for American fans to take note of. New York Red Bull and USMNT youngster Tyler Adams is reportedly closing in on a move to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.
German outlet Kicker is reporting the deal is done and that Adams will remain with the MLS side for the remainder of the season. So far the move has not been confirmed by either club.
Tyler Adams' move to RB Leipzig from New York Red Bulls has been agreed, according to Kicker. The USMNT midfielder will remain in New York until the end of the MLS season. #RBL #NYRB #MLS
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) May 22, 2018
22.05 BST: After strolling to the Championship title, Wolves have made it clear they will not sit pat and rest on their laurels. The latest player being linked to Nuno Espirito Santo's side is Uruguayan playmaker Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
The 23-year-old De Arrascaeta recently was announced in Uruguay's 26-man preliminary World Cup squad and is expected to be aboard the plane to Russia. De Arrascaeta plays his club football in Brazil with Cruzeiro and is being valued by European clubs at around £20 million.
21.38 BST: Don Balon reckons that Liverpool are in the market for more attacking potency and are "willing to negotiate" with Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele. It would be a surprise given the stunning price Barca paid for the young winger but there you go.
Dembele has scored just three goals in 17 La Liga appearances this past season but it would be quite a shock if the Spanish champions jettisoned the 21-year-old so soon.
21.13 BST: A bit more manager news up next, as Everton are reportedly close to naming their next manager. And Sky Sports reckons it will be Marco Silva. Nice move! It's understood that he is a "consensus choice" at the boardroom level and also has the respect of the Toffees' new Director of Football, Marcel Brands.
Silva is expected to sign a long-term contract at the club (five years) and be there to usher in Everton's next great era in their new stadium, which is slated to open in 2022-23.
20.46 BST: Man City are eyeing up lots of players but there are plenty of teams eyeing up those who appear set to remain on the fringes of the first-team squad, too. For example, in-demand midfielder Phil Foden is expected to be a star but is finding it difficult to get meaningful minutes. Luckily, Manuel Pellegrini is on hand to try and coax him to West Ham and play a significant role, according to the Manchester Evening News.
20.11 BST: Bild has a small line about moves Bayern Munich might want to make now that Niko Kovac has been confirmed as their new manager. In particular, Kovac is a fan of Hoffenheim defender Kevin Vogt and might want to sign him. So there you go.
19.54 BST: L'Equipe reckons that Newcastle United are looking to upgrade at goalkeeper and have pegged Paris Saint-Germain's surplus shot-stopper Alphonse Areola, but only if PSG do land Gianluigi Buffon as has been rumoured.
We've always said that a good transfer policy involves simply picking up whichever PSG stars are suddenly no longer useful at the Parc des Princes...
19.17 BST: Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are looking for defensive reinforcements and the Guardian reckons that young Ajax and Netherlands prospect Matthijs de Ligt could be their man.
18.50 BST: A tidbit about a manager next. Is Patrick Vieira on the verge of a move back to Europe? RMC Sport in France claims that the New York City FC boss is in discussions with Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and that an announcement could be made as soon as Thursday or Friday of this week.
Patrick Vieira said there have not been any negotiations with OGC Nice. "My head and my heart remain here in New York City." #NYCFC
— Christian Araos (@Christian_Araos) May 22, 2018
The outlet also claims that Vieira met with Nice general manager, Julien Fournier, in New York last week and has been on the French south coast this week to continue these conversations.
For what it's worth, Vieira is insistent that there is no such deal in the works:
18.18 BST: Arguably the most intense form of transfer rumour involves the mighty "come and get me plea." It's a step above handing in a transfer request and several steps above the usual summer or January business.
Well if the Derry Journal is to be believed, West Bromwich Albion and Ireland winger James McClean has plea'd for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic to, well, come and get him.
McClean, 29, was on display for the Scottish champions during Scott Brown's testimonial match this past weekend and has been extremely vocal about his desire to play permanently at Parkhead.
"Look, if it was up to me I'd have been a Celtic player a long time ago," said McClean. There are reports of Burnley and Derby Country being interested but it looks like McClean's mind is made up. So will Celtic answer his plea?
17.51 BST: Former Real Madrid youth player Fran Sol is weighing up a move to Liga MX according to reports in Spain.
Sol, 26, scored 16 goals for Eredivisie side Willem II in 2017-18 and helped the small club retain their Dutch top-flight status. However, Cruz Azul is interested in bringing him to Mexico and Sol appears to be intrigued by the prospect.
17.07 BST: Here's a DONE DEAL in the Premier League! Brighton Hove Albion have a new player.
✍🏻 BREAKING...@LeonBalogun becomes our first summer signing! 🇳🇬#WelcomeLeon #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/WcBeZ51CKP
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) May 22, 2018
That's Nigeria international Leon Balogun completing a permanent move, signing a two-year deal. Balogun, 29, has a wealth of experience in the Bundesliga having played for Hannover, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Darmstadt.
08.29 BST: Villarreal president Fernando Roig has all but confirmed young emerging midfielder Rodri is going back to Atletico, where he left youth system a few years back. The player has played for Spain's senior team already and is tipped to be star, hence Atletico triggering his €20m release clause. "The player has already said he is leaving," Roig told AS. "I'd have liked him to stay more years with us, but it was not possible."
08.18 BST: The City Football Group, who own New York City FC, are seeking to keep Patrick Vieira with the MLS franchise, RMC have reported. The 41-year-old former Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan midfielder is reportedly keen to replace Lucien Favre at Nice, but City Football Group would prefer Vieira to remain in their stable with a view to him eventually replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
08.00 BST: West Ham have a new manager. Manuel Pellegrini has been appointed, but will he persuade Yaya Toure to continue his career in the Premier League?
PAPER TALK (By Chris Borg)
Chelsea target Lewandowski
These are turbulent times at Chelsea, to say the least -- but the Telegraph reports that they "will push on with ambitious summer plans and make Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski their No. 1 target."
While uncertainty surrounds the future of coach Antonio Conte and delays enmesh club owner Roman Abramovich's UK visa application, Chelsea are stepping up attempts to bring in the Poland international.
The Telegraph says the FA Cup winners believe he is "ready for a move away from the German champions" -- but he could cost more than £100 million.
Chelsea could raise some of that money from the sale of Alvaro Morata only a year after his arrival as record signing.
And the Telegraph adds that a Lewandowski deal could persuade Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois that their futures lie at Stamford Bridge.
Can poised to sign Juventus deal
And so, after a protracted saga, Liverpool midfielder Emre Can "will formally complete a move to Juventus after the Champions League final," the Guardian reports.
It says Can, who has been linked with the Serie A champions for several months, will sign a five-year deal and is likely to earn around €5m a season.
The Germany international, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, is out of contract at the end of June, with attempts to persuade him to sign new terms having failed.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said he is uncertain about Can's current situation, but the Guardian says he is "desperate to keep hold of his compatriot."
Tap-ins
- News that Manuel Pellegrini is set to take over at West Ham could catapult the Hammers to the front of the queue for West Brom striker Salomon Rondon, according to the Birmingham Mail.
With the Baggies having been relegated, a clause in Rondon's contract means he is available for £16m -- and the Mail says Pellegrini is keen on a reunion with the player, having worked with him at Malaga.
- Championship side Leeds are among four clubs who want to sign Liverpool winger Harry Wilson on loan, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
It says Liverpool are ready to let Wilson leave on a temporary basis following a successful spell at Hull -- but Huddersfield, Aston Villa and Rangers, now managed by Steven Gerrard, could also enter the fray.