Transfer news live: Barcelona want Rashford on loan as Arsenal given Gyokeres boost – UK Times

News from Portugal, where Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly told Sporting that he has no desire to play for the club again. The striker has informed president Frederico Varandas that he wants a new challenge, Lisbon outlet A Bola believe – a boost for Arsenal and the rest of the Swede’s gaggle of suitors.

One Manchester United forward out; one in? A new and improved offer has been submitted for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

Last week, Marcus Rashford certainly suggested a move to Barcelona would appeal, as Richard Jolly reports…

Marcus Rashford’s future is almost certain to lie away from Manchester United, with Barcelona among those strongly linked this summer. The Times and Guardian report that the Catalan club have expressed interest in a loan move for the forward – though Manchester United are said to be keener on a permanent switch and a fee of around £40m.

The transfer window’s incessant march continues as clubs around the world bid to get deals done to bolster their squads ahead of the new season. We’ll have all the latest across the day as the rumour mill churns.

PSG have reportedly had a £55m bid rejected for Bournemouth’s Illya Zabarnyi.

The Champions League winners are keen to bolster their backline and have supposedly agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old Ukrainian but the Cherries don’t want to sell.

The English side have already lost one of their key defensive options after Dean Huijsen departed for Real Madrid in a deal worth £50m, while left-back Milos Kerkez is on the verge of joining Liverpool for £40m.

Tottenham are set to bolster their defensive options with the signature of Japan international Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale. The 20-year-old is highly rated and could yet develop into a first-teamer for Thomas Frank.

We start with the news that Arsenal are hesitating over Benjamin Sesko, not only because of RB Leipzig’s lofty price tag, but because of the striker’s wage demands.

The Mirror reports that Sesko would expect to become the club’s highest earner – currently thought to be Kai Havertz – and that Arsenal are strongly considering Viktor Gyokeres as a back-up option.

The Gunners are already in pole position for Gyokeres, having had a first bid rejected, and the Swedish striker is reported to told friends and family that he prefers the Emirates to Old Trafford as a destination.

John Stones has insisted he wants to stay at Manchester City and hopes to “shut down” any suggestions he will leave this summer.

Manager Pep Guardiola said he wants to trim his squad, which he described as “too long”, and now has seven centre-backs after the January signings of Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov. And Stones, 31, is about to enter the last year of his contract, having only started six Premier League games in an injury-hit campaign.

But the England international, who has not played since February, is adamant he has no intention of leaving the Etihad Stadium.

“I want to stay here,” Stones said. “I love it. I’m here to help the team. I don’t know if there’s been any speculation [about going], but I hope that this kind of shuts it down.”

Tottenham had been keen to reunite new manager Thomas Frank with Mbeumo, making Manchester United’s improved offer something of a setback. Talksport believe that Spurs will now switch their attentions to Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace as they consider parting with club captain Son Heung Min.