Transfer news live: Arsenal switch to Ekitike as Sesko talks stall, Liverpool target Guehi, Chelsea agree Pedro deal – UK Times

Sky Sports News report that Southampton are in advanced talks with FC Koln to sign striker Damion Downs.

The 20-year-old is in the USA international squad and is allegedly the subject of a £6.8m (€8m) bid from Saints.

Manchester United are willing to let Andre Onana leave if they can sign Emi Martinez from Aston Villa this summer.

The Argentina international is reportedly available for £45m and Ruben Amorim is believed to have made the World Cup winner his first choice, although it would be dependent on another club taking Onana on loan.

With Jarell Quansah set to join Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool have turned their attention to signing England international Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, according to the Mirror.

Guehi, 24, is Liverpool’s first choice to add to their centre-back options but it would mean Liverpool continue their summer spending spree, after an £170m outlay so far.

Mikel Arteta has made bringing a striker to the Emirates Stadium his main priority for this summer transfer window but Arsenal have faced issues over the fee of Benjamin Sesko.

Arteta is found of the RB Leipzig forward but the club does not sees his value the same way as the German side and talks have stalled.

German outlet BILD are now reporting that Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is firmly back on Arsenal’s radar.

Arsenal had previously held talks with the 23-year-old but Frankfurts’s €100m (£85m) asking price is higher than that of Sesko’s.

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Brighton to sign Joao Pedro.

It is reportedly worth up to £60m and there are agreements all round for the Brazilian to move to Stamford Bridge.

The Brazil international is set to sign a seven-year contract and Brighton have a sell on clause included in the deal.

The 23-year-old is flying to the USA to have a medical and join Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Watford will be due 20 per cent of the profit from the deal after they sold him to Brighton for £35m.

Jamie Gittens is set to have a medical at Chelsea after Borussia Dortmund accepted a £55m bid for the English winger.

The 20-year-old has agreed a seven-year contract and the clubs have no agreed terms after negotiations began before the Club World Cup.

Gittens, an England Under-21s international, moved to Dortmund in 2020 after coming through Manchester City’s academy.

Brentford are widely reported to have last night rejected a bid of £62.5m for Bryan Mbeumo from Manchester United. It’s the second offer that the London club have knocked back for their forward as they hold out for a bigger fee.

A blow, then, for Manchester United – though The Athletic report that Bryan Mbeumo has told both Brentford and Tottenham, another suitor, that he only desires a move to Manchester United if he is to be sold this summer.