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It’s that time of the year again – the transfer window is now open until September 1 and it’s sure to be a busy period with clubs looking to make big signings ahead of next season. Here are today’s latest developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team…
Chelsea seal Palestra deal
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Italian defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta.
‘It’s important for me to have Xabi Alonso as the manager,’ said Palestra, who has signed a six-year deal, with the option of a further year, in a deal worth around £48million.
‘I have had two conversations with him and I’m very happy because he told me what he wanted from me. I’m very happy to know him and to start training with Chelsea.’
Now click HERE to read Kieran Gill’s in-depth piece for Daily Mail Sport on why Chelsea made Palestra their first signing under Alonso
Marco Palestra is a versatile player who was named Serie A defender of the season
Newcastle ramp up efforts for World Cup stars
Newcastle United are pressing ahead in their efforts to land new players for Eddie Howe.
Talks are ongoing over Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi and they are emerging as frontrunners for Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.
Box-to-box midfielder Manzambi plays for Freiburg in Germany and has caught the eye at the World Cup with his brace of goals against Bosnia and man of the match performance, plus another strike in his country’s 2-1 win over Canada.
Manzambi is only 20 and viewed as having a very bright future. He was named the Europa League Young Player of the Season after Freiburg lost to Aston Villa in the final.
Toure is another 20-year-old, who plays in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.
He plays as an inverted left winger. Fast and good in one on ones Toure would be viewed as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who was sold to Barcelona.
Johan Manzambi has been one of Switzerland’s stars at the World Cup so far
Hackney set for Toffees medical – as club look to sign George on permanent deal
Hayden Hackney is expected to have his medical ahead of his £16.5m move to Everton from Middlesbrough – as the club remain in talks to sign Tyrique George from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
Everton had an option to buy the 20-year-old following the culmination of his loan spell at the end of the season but David Moyes’s club are seeking to strike a deal on fresh terms closer to £20million.
Hayden Hackney is set to move to Everton ahead of his £16.5m move
Dan’s the man for Rangers
Rangers have signed midfielder Dan Neil on a three-year contract after he left Sunderland.
The 24-year-old had been in talks with Southampton and looked set to move to St Mary’s. He also had interest from West Ham.
However, Rangers have moved swiftly to sign the former England youth international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town.
Liverpool get their Jacquet
Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for £55m, plus £5m in potential add-ons.
The centre back signs a five-year deal, after agreeing to sign for the club over Chelsea in February, and is expected to be on the upcoming pre-season tour of America.
And Jacquet has assured fans he will be fully fit to start training after missing the end of last season with a shoulder injury. ‘I feel much improved and I will be 100 per cent ready (for the start of pre-season) because I’m a little ahead of schedule,’ he said on Wednesday. ‘With continued hard work I’ll be fully fit before the season.’
Jeremy Jacquet is ready to slot into Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool side
