Premier League LIVE: Harry Kane transfer fee agreed with Bayern, Liverpool’s Caicedo bid plus team news

(REUTERS)

Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich have finally reached an agreement over the transfer fee for Harry Kane after a summer of back and forth.

A proposal from the Bundesliga side worth more than €100m (£86.4m) was accepted by Spurs on Wednesday. The England captain will now have to decide whether he wants to stay in north London or move to the German giants.

Meanwhile, Premier League managers are preparing for the new campaign that gets underway on Friday evening with a number of their final pre-season press conferences scheduled for Thursday to provide all-important team news. Fans who are finalising their Fantasy Premier League line-ups will be eagerly anticipating updates as the likes of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Vincent Kompany at Burnley, Sean Dyche at Everton and Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest all speak to the world’s press today.

Elsewhere, the transfer carousel continues to spin with news that West Ham and Monaco are emerging as main competitors for Folarin Balogun as they are currently the only two clubs capable of meeting Arsenal’s £40m-plus asking price. The young striker’s preference had been to go to one of the Milan clubs, with Inter looking likeliest, but the Champions League finalists cannot get close to the fee.

Follow all the latest news below:

Premier League updates live

Harry Kane to decide his future after Tottenham and Bayern Munich agree fee

11:12 , Miguel Delaney

Tottenham Hotspur have accepted Bayern Munich‘s improved offer for Harry Kane, now leaving it down to the player to finally decide if he wants to go through with the move.

Although the personal details of the move are agreed, the 30-year-old had been leaning towards staying in the last week, as it is also felt his greatest ambition is to join Manchester United. The Old Trafford hierarchy have not been willing to get into discussions with Daniel Levy, though, which has left Bayern free to engage in drawn-out negotiations that have finally conclusion – at least at one stage.

It is understood that Spurs will receive over £80m up front, with the totals of the deal taking it beyond £110m in achievable clauses.

Harry Kane to decide his future after Tottenham and Bayern Munich agree fee

Fantasy Premier League: Defenders you must consider ahead of the new season

11:50 , Lawrence Ostlere

And Alexander-Arnold is one of the defenders are experts reckon you should be considering ahead of the new FPL season. Remember the season starts with Manchester City’s trip to Burnley tomorrow night – get those lineups set early…

DEFENDERS

Premium

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool – 8.0

Naturally it’ll feel an obvious pick, but such is Liverpool’s new vice-captain’s impact that he’s a full 1.5m more costly than any other defender this season. Even so, we’d go as far to suggest he’s a must-have if you’re looking for attacking points in deeper areas. Alexander-Arnold isn’t just a set-piece taker, he’s now playing much higher up in midfield in possession, has scored for England from that area and looked in incredible creative form at the back end of last term too.

Kieran Trippier, Newcastle – 6.5

His starting price may have risen 1.5 from last season but the experienced English right-back still offers plenty of upside, having scored 42 more points than the next best defender last season. One goal, nine assists and 16 clean sheets was an excellent return and, despite a tough opening run of fixtures this season, he should be primed for another excellent showing this season.

Mid-range

Luke Shaw, Manchester United – 5.5

With the most clean sheets and third-fewest number of goals conceded, Manchester United’s defensive performance last season may have gone under the radar. Despite his nightmare debut, Andre Onana’s signing should improve Erik ten Hag’s side in that capacity with Shaw set to play a key part once again. The 28-year-old take some set pieces, offers a threat of attacking returns and scored more points last season than his Liverpool rival, Andy Robertson, who is 1m more expensive.

Pervis Estupinan, Brighton – 5.0

The 10th most points from defenders last year (128), a goal and seven assists was a great return. The left-back has a gentle start to the season with four of the favourites for the drop including Luton, Wolves, West Ham and Bournemouth in Brighton’s first six games.

Pedro Porro, Tottenham – 5.0

Pedro Porro quietly assembled an impressive debut fantasy season for Spurs after arriving in January. With three goals and three assists from just 1,132 minutes, you could be looking at a top-five defender under Ange Postecoglu if things break right. Pervis Estupinan, a comparable full-back alternative, played 2,674 minutes last season for Brighton in the Premier League, finishing with the 10th most points, if Porro replicates that game time with last season’s output, he’ll score 139 points, enough to rank sixth among defenders last year.

Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’

11:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

What can Liverpool produce this season? Jurgen Klopp’s side would have been deeply disappointed by a muddled campaign last time around, but a midfield refresh could deliver the consistency the German is speaking. Perhaps his most crucial player will be Trent Alexander-Arnold, though, re-energised in a new role at the end of last season and newly appointed as vice-captain at Anfield.

The Independent’s Karl Matchett had an exclusive chat with Alexander-Arnold, who seems ready to relish his playmaking role.

Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role: With great power comes great responsibility

Liverpool outbid Chelsea for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

11:42 , Lawrence Ostlere

Liverpool have outbid Chelsea for Moises Caicedo, according to the Telegraph.

Chelsea’s recent bid of £75m plus £5m in add-ons was rejected by Brighton and now Liverpool have stepped into the battle for the Ecuadorian. It reported, however, that Caicedo prefers Stamford Bridge as his ultimate destination.

The situation has prompted Chelsea to push forwards in their pursuit of another midfielder, Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. Chelsea have already submitted a bid ofr £48m bid including add-ons but the Championship side are holding out for the full £50m.

Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo could be set for a move (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Premier League may have to scrap mid-season break due to demands of calendar

11:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The Premier League may have to scrap its mid-season break due to the overcrowding of the football calendar.

The change could come into effect next season with FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup set to take place in the summer of 2025, as well as a larger-scale World Cup the following year.

The Premier League introduced the break – which this season will take the form of a structured two-week period in January – in 2018 in a bid to ease the workload on players, but chief executive Richard Masters admits it is under discussion as it could become unworkable.

“It is one of the things we are discussing with the FA and EFL. We want the Premier League, the big cup competitions and the EFL to flourish and that requires an adjustment,” he said.

“It is the last season where it’s recognisable under the current international match calendar, where the Premier League starts on a particular weekend and the FA Cup final has its own weekend and you have the Champions League after that and a mid-season player break in the middle.”

Premier League may have to scrap mid-season break due to demands of calendar

Inspired appointment Vincent Kompany repaying Burnley’s gamble

11:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Long before Burnley’s charge to the Championship title brought a century of points and perhaps even more plaudits, Alan Pace experienced a different kind of charge. It was a more unwelcome sight. Some 15 months ago, before the game against Newcastle that decided their destiny, the Burnley chairman declared they would remain in the Premier League “for a long time.” A couple of hours later, they were relegated.

Cue the rancour. “To have people come up to the directors’ box on their way out and almost charge at the directors’ box, and yell and scream and tell you to eff off and go die, I don’t think people are really ready for that,” Pace reflected. “I know I wasn’t. And then walking down the street and people are waving with one of their five fingers and yelling stuff. The hardest part was being with family when people were telling us to go home: this is home.” It is safer for him to show his face in public now. “It is way, way better when things are going well. People are very respectful and kind.”

Pace can look back smilingly. Burnley’s swift return to the top flight can seem a redemption story for him and a tale of the remarkable reinvention of a traditional club whose identity seemed set in the stone houses that surround Turf Moor. It was the club of 4-4-2, of Sean Dyche and his band of unglamorous, and overwhelmingly British, senior professionals, of rain descending from the Pennines and a microclimate that made it a still less welcoming destination for visitors. And, with the notable exception of the weather, that has changed at an astonishing, well, pace.

Inspired appointment Vincent Kompany repaying Burnley’s gamble

The factors which could stop Man City making Premier League history

11:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And with Manchester City set to kick off their pursuit of a record fourth consecutive Premier League crown against Burnley tomorrow, Richard Jolly has also been digging back through the history books to find out what might stop Pep Guardiola’s men.

The factors which could stop Man City making Premier League history

We are Newcastle United: What we learned from the Amazon Prime docuseries

11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

As Newcastle prepare to embark on a season that will see the Saudi-backed club return to the Champions League, tomorrow sees the release of the first episode of a documentary that followed the Tynesiders through their first full season since the takeover. Richard Jolly, our Senior Football Correspondent, was afforded an early look:

We are Newcastle United: What we learned from the Amazon Prime docuseries

Chelsea make Romeo Lavia bid in attempt to beat Liverpool in transfer race

10:52 , Luke Baker

Chelsea have made a £48m bid for Romeo Lavia, going closer to Southampton’s £50m valuation and hoping to trump Liverpool.

The last few weeks have seen the Anfield club make a series of incrementally improving offers, but they are still at least £4m off a deal.

With Mauricio Pochettino seeking to re-energise Chelsea’s midfield, he has long wanted to bring in two midfielders, and the hope is that Lavia will join Brighton’s Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge.

There is also a personal connection since the 18-year-old has a great relationship with Joe Shields, the recruitment executive who brought Lavia to Southampton and is now at Chelsea.

Chelsea make Romeo Lavia bid in attempt to beat Liverpool in transfer race

Chelsea make Moises Caicedo breakthrough over structure of Brighton transfer

10:44 , Luke Baker

Chelsea have made progress in talks to sign Moises Caicedo but Brighton are now holding the London club to a demand of £90m basic fee.

The Blues would then have to add a further £10m to be made up in bonuses and expected clauses.

The saga has continued with little movement throughout the summer, as Chelsea have proven reluctant to go beyond £80m.

While Brighton, who rarely deviate from their initial asking price, have seen the nature of the talks revolve around pushing Chelsea to go closer to their valuation.

Chelsea make Moises Caicedo breakthrough as Brighton talks continue

Harry Kane fee agreed, according to reports

10:38 , Luke Baker

Huge breaking news. After a summer of back and forth, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Tottenham and Bayern Munich have reached an agreement over the transfer fee for Harry Kane!

A proposal from the Bundesliga side, believed to be worth more than €100million (£86.4m), was accepted by Spurs on Wednesday.

The England captain will now have to decide whether he wants to move to the German giants.

West Ham enter race for Folarin Balogun as Arsenal set transfer price

10:32 , Luke Baker

West Ham and Monaco are emerging as main competitors for Folarin Balogun as they are currently the only two clubs capable of meeting Arsenal’s £40m-plus asking price.

The young striker’s preference had been to go to one of the Milan clubs, with Internazionale looking likeliest, but the Champions League finalists cannot get close to the fee.

If that is the case, he is open to either alternative option, although staying in the Premier League looks more attractive.

Full story from Miguel Delaney:

West Ham enter race for Folarin Balogun as Arsenal set transfer price

Today’s press conference schedule

10:26 , Luke Baker

So who is speaking to the world’s press today? I’m glad you asked! It’s a pretty decent list of clubs expected to give team news hints around lunchtime, headlined by Pep Guardiola at Man City.

(AP)

Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season

10:20 , Luke Baker

Fantasy Premier League is back for another season and the deadline for gameweek one is fast approaching – it’s time to join your work leagues, make promises to stay involved more than a month this season and, perhaps, try out the different league scoring systems too.

Here, The Independent’s sports desk have combined forces to pick out 30 players to consider adding to your squad for 2023/24: Five goalkeepers, nine defenders, nine midfielders and seven forwards who we feel could be big points-earners across the campaign.

Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for GW1

Premier League live

10:19 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League, as a number of managers prepare to give their final pre-season press conferences ahead of the new campaign.

The transfer carousel also continues to spin, so stick with us for all the latest updates.