Transfer news live: Liverpool out to hijack Gyokeres to Arsenal as Man United make Mbeumo breakthrough – UK Times

Sunderland have asked Sassuolo about the availability of 26-year-old French winger Armand Lauriente, according to ESPN.

Lauriente was one of the standout players in Serie B last season, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in 33 games.

Like Sunderland in England, Sassuolo are newly promoted to Italy’s top-flight, winning Serie B last season.

Spanish sensation Nico Williams has told Athletic Bilbao that he fully intends to leave the club to sign for Barcelona.

That’s according to The Athletic, who cite a £50m release clause in his contract.

Barca are also in advanced stages for the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Ze Lucas, who plays in defensive midfield.

Neymar’s fairytale to boyhood club Santos is not quite over yet after is was confirmed he has renewed his contract until the end of the year.

This was despite links to a return to Europe, with Neymar opting to stay put in Brazill.

Sunderland could boost their Premier League survival hopes by signing Marcin Bulka from Nice.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the Black Cats are keen on the former Chelsea and PSG shot-stopper.

Bulka is attracting interest from many clubs, but Sunderland have initiated talks now.

Liverpool are interested in competing for the services of Sporting’s wantaway striker Viktor Gyokeres.

That’s according to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, which reports that the Premier League have made an initial enquiry over Sporting’s asking price, thought to be around €80m (£69m).

Manchester United have been strongly linked with Gyokeres this summer after the Swedish international scored 54 goals last season. Arsenal are the only club to have submitted a concrete offer and Gyokeres is reported to prefer a move to the Emirates to Old Trafford, but the Gunners have not returned with an improved bid.

Liverpool’s involvement could now throw Arsenal’s plans into chaos, as Arne Slot seeks to replace Darwin Nunez, a target for Italian champions Napoli.

Arsenal need a No 9 after using midfielders in the position for much of last season, while United are desperate for goalscorers after such a poor campaign, with Rasmus Hojlund likely to depart the club.

Kyle Walker-Peters has left Southampton following the expiry of his contract.

The right-back will be available on a free and has been touted with a return to Tottenham.

Liverpool’s active summer transfer window does not seem to be slowing up as they keep hope of signing Newcastle frontman Alexander Isak.

The Times are reporting that despite the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and soon-to-be Milos Kerkez for close to £200m, Liverpool still have the funds to test Newcastle’s resolve for the Swede, who bagged 23 Premier League goals last term.

AC Milan’s new sporting director Igli Tare says Mike Maignan will be staying at the club as things stand after Chelsea walked away from a deal to sign him before the Club World Cup.

“Maignan is not leaving, for now,” he said. “If everything continues like this, he will play for Milan next year too: an agreement has not been reached with Chelsea and he is a point of reference on and off the pitch.”

Former England and Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana says he has “no regrets” after calling time on a playing career spanning nearly 20 years.

The 37-year-old represented Southampton, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Brighton and England, earning 34 caps and scoring three goals for his country, including the goal in Sam Allardyce’s only England game in charge -a 1-0 win over Slovakia.

Lallana spent the majority of his career with Southampton, where he began his senior career in 2006, then returned for a second spell in 2024 after playing elsewhere for a decade, finishing his career with 283 games and scoring 60 goals across his two spells at St Mary’s.