Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea consider shock Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang move and Marc Cucurella latest

On the eve of the new Premier League season, several clubs are still hoping to get another deal or two over the line in time for their opening weekend squad, though several sagas look set to drag on into the final weeks of the transfer window. One of those is Frenkie de Jong, with the Barcelona midfielder seemingly preferring a move to Chelsea over Manchester United, but not keen to give up the salary owed to him by his current club. The Catalan and west London club could be doing further business too, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso linked with a switch to the Camp Nou, while Xavi Hernandez hopes to have Man City star Bernardo Silva as the replacement for De Jong if all goes to plan.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are trying to land at least two more players for their defensive ranks too – but Brighton released a stern statement rejecting reports that Marc Cucurella was all but sold to the Blues, despite claims that personal terms were agreed for the left-sided player. Wesley Fofana remains an option if Leicester are open to sell, while new reports claim Thomas Tuchel wants Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United are still hoping to sign James Maddison, Manchester United are keen on Serginio Dest, fellow Barca backup Neto could be heading to Bournemouth and Nicolo Zaniolo is still high on Tottenham’s list of priorities, if they can offload fringe players.

Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and updates below.

Transfer news LIVE

The Premier League’s title rivals are chasing a new magic number

12:15 , Karl Matchett

Story continues

Liverpool had just got proof their brilliant pursuit of Manchester City was doomed. “We were close but in the end not close enough,” Jurgen Klopp reflected on the final day of the season. Again. The 2018-19 campaign had already given them the bittersweet distinction of being England’s greatest runners-up. Then “97 points” almost became a catchphrase at Anfield. Three years on. Klopp said: “92 points is obviously crazy.”

It is, and yet it is also the norm. It is the joint eighth biggest total in Premier League history and the other side to finish with 92, Manchester United in 1993-94, did so from 42 matches, not 38. Go on points per game and seven of the eight highest tallies have been posted in the last six seasons, all by teams managed by Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte or Klopp.

The one exception was Jose Mourinho’s 95 in his debut season with Chelsea. Yet since 2016, 95 – or 94.83, to be precise – is the average recorded by Premier League champions.

Rich Jolly looks ahead at another season of relentlessness for those chasing the title.

94.83: The Premier League’s new magic number

Chelsea bid for Wes Fofana rejected by Leicester

12:00 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea are having a lot of offers sent back and forth today, it seems.

Aubameyang, Cucurella, now Fofana too – and Chukwuemeka is already done.

Leicester aren’t playing ball though and L’Equipe say the Foxes have turned down a bid of £60m for Wesley Fofana, but the centre-back is keen on the switch so the Blues will push on with another enquiry soon. A deal of more than £200k a week is expected for the rapid and talented youngster, if they can convince Brendan Rodgers’ team to sell.

Wesley Fofana made his first league start of the season at Old Trafford (Rui Vieira/PA) (PA Wire)

Everton target Coady and look to beat West Ham to Onana

11:45 , Karl Matchett

A couple of unexpected turns from Everton, as they look to suddenly splash out: first up, the Mail report that they have matched West Ham’s bid for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana. The young Belgian was reportedly in talks with the Hammers yesterday but they have been unwilling to match his wage demands so far – and now the Toffees are looking to make use of that.

He’s a one-cap Belgium senior international and the report claims Everton are offering better personal terms.

In addition, Everton are being again linked with Wolves centre-back Conor Coady, with manager Frank Lampard personally keen on the 29-year-old, who was early in his career a Liverpool academy prospect.

Bournemouth close in on signing Barcelona goalkeeper Neto

11:30 , Karl Matchett

Brazilian goalkeeper Neto could be set to swap Barcelona for Bournemouth after positive talks between the two clubs.

The experienced stopper is on huge wages for a second-choice option at the Camp Nou so would presumably be taking a big pay cut to head to the Cherries, but talks were held on Wednesday night according to the Mail and he’s expected to sign over the weekend.

Separately, Bournemouth are also enquiring over Feyenoord defender Marcos Senesi as they look to add to Scott Parker’s options and fight against relegation in their first campaign back in the top flight.

Erik ten Hag’s encouraging start undermined by Manchester United’s familiar problems

11:15 , Karl Matchett

From all of the noise that Manchester United’s summer has produced, there is something that is coming through with encouraging clarity – and it is really the most important element of all.

That is the general admiration of Erik ten Hag’s coaching.

Players are enjoying the work, and the sense of an idea coming together. There is imagination and improvement. There is clarity and – above all – authority.

It says a lot in itself there have been no negative leaks.

A cynical view of that might be this is the sort of thing that always happens with a new manager, of course, but the more salient point is that the level of coaching is not something this United squad have experienced. Ten Hag marks an undeniable break with recent history. He is the first managerial appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired that is both on an upward curve in his career and at the forefront of the game’s methods.

Miguel Delaney on the task facing Ten Hag:

Erik ten Hag’s encouraging start undermined by Manchester United’s familiar problems

Kasper Schmeichel’s picturesque goodbye to Leicester

11:11 , Karl Matchett

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is leaving Leicester for Ligue 1, having spent over a decade at the KP Stadium, winning the league and FA Cup along the way.

He has waved goodbye to the fans with a thread of memories and photos on Twitter, completing his switch to Nice yesterday evening.

Leeds chase Ismaila Sarr to fill Raphinha void

11:00 , Karl Matchett

Leeds are keen to sign at least one and as many as three attackers before the transfer window shuts, according to reports in the Express.

Ismaila Sarr is a £25m target with relegated Watford willing sellers, while the attacker is also keen on a top-flight return.

Elsewhere though, Jesse Marsch’s side are looking at Rennes attacker Martin Terrier, briefly linked with Liverpool recently, and PSV wide man Cody Gakpo.

The latter has been mentioned in conjunction with Arsenal as well as Liverpool, but is intent on winning a spot in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, so may opt against a transfer this summer.

Chelsea confirm signing of Carney Chukwuemeka

10:56 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea have confirmed the capture of Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa.

A deal for the midfielder was agreed a couple of days ago, with the youngster only having one year left on his contract at Villa Park and having been left out of Steven Gerrard’s pre-season plans as he opted against signing a new one.

Chelsea open talks for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer

10:45 , Karl Matchett

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang only left Arsenal for Barcelona in January, but Chelsea want to quickly bring him back to the Premier League.

Several outlets have reported that the Blues are anywhere from “considering” a move to having already “opened talks” with his camp, as Thomas Tuchel looks to boost his attacking options and replace Romelu Lukaku, who went back to Inter Milan earlier this summer.

Aubameyang and Tuchel worked together at Dortmund but fell out of favour at Arsenal before his switch to LaLiga, where he scored 13 times across the second half of last term to help Barca into the Champions League. The Camp Nou side signed Robert Lewandowski as a new No9 for this season.

Chelsea to challenge Manchester United for Frenkie de Jong after opening talks with Barcelona

10:30 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea are in discussion with Barcelona over the transfer of Frenkie de Jong, with the London club now looking the likeliest club to sign the midfielder. Manchester United are currently weighing up whether to continue their interest in the signing.

The Old Trafford hierarchy had agreed a deal in principle with Barcelona a month ago, but the Catalan club have become frustrated with its progress, especially as the player himself has proved obstinate over both the issue of €17m in deferred wages and the very fact he is being forced out.

While there have been repeated claims from Spain that is most bluntly down to the fact he does not want to go to United, there has been a strong belief within Old Trafford that he is willing to come.

De Jong has naturally been speaking to his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, and is close to him, but that may be trumped by the fact Chelsea are a London-based club in the Champions League. United have effectively been caught in a dispute between club and player, but one that has now seen Barcelona get increasingly alert to the fact time is running out to get players off the books in order to register new signings.

Chelsea look to beat Man United to Frenkie de Jong after opening talks with Barcelona

Man City starlet heads on loan to Sheffield United

10:19 , Karl Matchett

Sheffield United have won the race to land Man City’s James McAtee on loan this season.

Leeds and Nottingham Forest had been widely linked with him, with City only keen to send him out to a side who could show a real plan for gametime for the youngster.

‘The biggest show in town’: All eyes return to the Premier League ahead of season like no other

10:03 , Karl Matchett

The Premier League is back tomorrow, don’t you know! Chief football writer Miguel Delaney has the big season preview ahead of 2022/23:

When Erling Haaland and his camp were assessing where to move next, he watched a lot of Manchester City and Real Madrid to see how he might fit in. The discussion, however, kept coming back to one main debate. LaLiga’s comparative lack of intensity was appealing because a few years in Spain at this age would be hugely beneficial to Haaland’s ambitions of a 20-year top-level career. On the other hand, that lessened intensity is a part consequence of the recent decline of the league, which led to Madrid’s offer being lower than City’s. It articulated an obvious truth.

The Premier League is the place to be, especially for a burgeoning megastar. It brings the most eyes.

All eyes return to the Premier League ahead of season like no other

Rumour roundup: Frenkie de Jong ‘prefers’ Chelsea transfer over Manchester United

09:55 , Karl Matchett

To get started, let’s look around the online and print media to see which stories are focused on today:

Metro reports Frenkie de Jong, who has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, would prefer to relocate to West London and join Chelsea rather than sign for Manchester United. Barcelona recently agreed a fee with United for the Dutch midfielder, 25, but the Red Devils have so far been unable to convince him to move to the north west.

The Blues are understood to be willing to offer Leicester defender Wesley Fofana a hefty pay rise. The Mail reports Chelsea want to pay the 21-year-old £200,000 per week to play for them, but the Foxes are not keen to let him go after he signed a new five-year deal in March.

More here on Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Cristiano Ronaldo:

Frenkie de Jong ‘prefers’ Chelsea transfer over Manchester United

Marc Cucurella: Chelsea closing in on £52.5m transfer for Brighton defender

09:47 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea are close to completing a £52.5million deal for Brighton wing-back Marc Cucurella.

The Blues are thought to have signalled their intent to pay the big-money fee Brighton had held out for, inching the west Londoners close to completing the 24-year-old’s signing.

Brighton are understood to be pushing hard towards a separate deal for Chelsea’s highly-rated centre-back Levi Colwill.

Talks between the two clubs are understood to be ongoing over whether the deal for the 19-year-old would be a loan a permanent transfer.

The Cucurella and Colwill deals are completely separate, but it is thought both may have to be signed off for either move to be completed.

Chelsea closing in on £52.5m Marc Cucurella signing from Brighton