Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool close in on Florian Wirtz and Chelsea in talks over £50m winger Jamie Gittens – UK Times

Arsenal finished second and then second. Now they will finish second. “I think we are in the right trajectory,” said Mikel Arteta. But if it is important for managers to maintain an impression of progress, he was not simply citing league position. The Premier League table can indicate that Arsenal have both stood still, in terms of position, and regressed, in their points tally. The Champions League suggests they have made a seismic step forward. Arsenal, the conquerors of Real Madrid, keep company with the best and yet win nothing themselves.

“In the last three seasons there is one team that has been better than us in total points, which is Manchester City, which is the best team in the history,” argued Arteta. Liverpool’s Premier League title, however, did not require any points procured before the 2022 World Cup. Arsenal’s season has instead been something of a holding year, encouraging in parts but not others, postponing long-held ambitions for another year. Arteta’s argument is that injuries have delayed them. “I’ve seen teams finishing 8th, 10th, 16th when they have smaller issues,” he said; it sounded uncoincidental that Manchester United are 16th, and Tottenham were recently, but Arteta claimed to have neither of the underachievers who will contest a European final in mind. Arsenal are not far off their combined points total; they are also 12 adrift of Liverpool’s.

Bruno Fernandes is still deciding his future as Al Hilal chase his signature.

The Manchester United captain is understood to be giving serious consideration to leaving Old Trafford for a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia – although his family are reported to be reluctant to move.

Man City are in talks with Lyon over deal worth around £30m for 21-year-old winger Rayan Cherki.

The Frenchman signed a contract extension with Lyon last autumn but is now expected to switch to the Etihad Stadium.

Mark Flekken is set for a £10m transfer from Brentford to Bayern Leverkusen.

Leverkusen had an initial bid for the Dutch goalkeeper knocked back last week but have now come to an agreement with the Premier League side, and Flekken will link up with former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in Germany.

Brentford never waste time in the transfer market and they will be quick to replace Flekken, ideally with Liverpool No 2 Caoimhin Kelleher, who is thought to be valued at around £20m by the new champions.

The club have a good relationship with Liverpool, having bought Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho from Anfield last season.

Liverpool could follow up initial interest in Bournemouth’s Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez with an offer this week.

GiveMeSport reports that an offer of £40m for the 21-year-old could be tabled in the coming days.

Kerkez has already agreed to join Arne Slot’s side, adds the report, after an impressive season with the Cherries.

Liverpool may have won the Premier League at a canter but Arne Slot’s side look to be among the heavy early investors this summer – a mahoosive bid for Florian Wirtz has been submitted, with the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker keen on a switch to Anfield.

Arsenal will have to pay an initial £75m to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Mail Sport reports.

This comes after it was reported the Gunners had opened talks over a move for the highly-rated striker, who is thought to be interested in a possible switch to London.

The forward will put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with United possessing the option to extend his deal until 2031, after agreeing personal terms.

The transfer will be officially completed when Cunha returns from international duty with Brazil and subject to a visa, which is expected to be a formality.

United triggered Cunha’s release clause at Molineux last week and will pay the fee in instalments over the next two years.

Cunha will become United’s third buy in Ruben Amorim’s reign, after Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, and much the biggest.

Chelsea are in talks to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.

The Blues are targeting another wide player, with doubts over the future of Jadon Sancho, who could return to Manchester United with the Blues paying £5m in compensation to avoid paying the £25m obligation to buy.

And the Telegraph say Chelsea could make a £50m move for Gittens, with a release clause in and around that figure.

Gittens has shone for the Bundesliga giants since joining in 2020, with the Under-21 international the youngest English player to score in the Champions League – aged 20 and 75 days – after his goal against Real Madrid.