Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is set to undergo a medical with Inter Milan on Friday ahead of completing a £30.7m transfer to the Serie A champions.
The Italian side have scheduled the 25-year-old's medical for midday after submitting a bid of £26.7m up front plus £4m in add-ons, alongside a 10 per cent sell-on clause. The financial structure mirrors the deal Inter used to sign defender Djed Spence from Tottenham Hotspur for £30m, with Jones set to sign a five-year contract in Milan.
Jones' departure comes as Liverpool manage several other squad moves. Centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, is in talks to join Spanish side Levante on loan because he does not qualify for an English work permit. Meanwhile, Liverpool remain in discussions over Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, while Sheffield Wednesday are set to confirm the season-long loan signing of 18-year-old Liverpool winger Kieran Morrison, a Northern Ireland international.
Manchester United advance in Carlos Baleba discussions
Manchester United are continuing negotiations with Brighton over a fee for midfielder Carlos Baleba. Brighton rejected an offer of £60m plus £5m in add-ons for the 22-year-old Cameroon international, but discussions are progressing towards a compromise fee. Baleba is hopeful that the deal can be finalized over the weekend.
In another move involving United, 20-year-old right-back Habeeb Ogunneye is scheduled to undergo a medical with Arsenal ahead of a free transfer that includes a 40 per cent sell-on clause. Ogunneye is being signed to boost numbers for Arsenal's Under-21 side while also training with the first team.
Atletico Madrid launch loan enquiry for Nicolas Jackson
Atletico Madrid have enquired about a loan deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, with director Mateu Alemany travelling to London on Thursday for talks. Jackson, who is valued at around £65m, has also attracted interest from Aston Villa, Napoli, and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Chelsea are managing several other potential departures from Stamford Bridge. Forward Deivid Washington is a target for Marseille, Strasbourg, and Sevilla, defender Axel Disasi is discussing a loan move to Crystal Palace, and centre-back Benoit Badiashile is joining Napoli. Elsewhere, Leeds United and Everton are both monitoring striker Liam Delap.
Tottenham push for Savinho and Omar Marmoush
Tottenham Hotspur are working on financial details with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho in a transaction that could be worth up to £84m, while also pursuing forward Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City are actively evaluating replacements for Savinho and have made contact with Brazilian club Palmeiras regarding 22-year-old winger Allan Elias. The uncapped winger is known for his work rate and pressing ability rather than goalscoring. Allan wants to join City for a fee around £35m, though Palmeiras are reluctant to sell mid-season with their domestic campaign running until December. Newcastle United and Aston Villa have also scouted Allan in recent months.
City are also keeping a watching brief on Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, 22. Palace are reluctant to sell the player, who impressed in the Europa League Conference final, though analysts at rival clubs have noted that his running statistics do not fit a high-pressing style. Despite the interest from City, who are also exploring Roma midfielder Manu Kone, Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Palace manager Pierre Sage expects Wharton to remain.
"We did it, and now is not the moment to do that," Sage said on Thursday. "He is able to play in another club, a big club. Here, or anywhere in Europe, but one year with us, in a new dynamic, will be good for him. And we need him; that is why I think he will stay with us."
Aston Villa table Watkins offer and seek defensive cover
Aston Villa have offered a new contract to 30-year-old striker Ollie Watkins to stave off interest from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. The Saudi side had a £38.5m offer turned down on Tuesday and are preparing a fourth bid for the England international, who remains open to a potential move.
Villa have also had a £17.5m enquiry rebuffed by Southampton for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 24, an offer matching a previously rejected bid from Benfica. Villa are continuing discussions while assessing alternative targets, including Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo and AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori, to fill the void created by Ezri Konsa's move to Arsenal.
Bayern Munich agree Joao Palhinha transfer to Benfica
Bayern Munich have reached a full agreement to sell 31-year-old midfielder Joao Palhinha to Benfica for £17m. Palhinha, who was also targeted by Newcastle United and Aston Villa, will reunite in Portugal with his former Fulham manager Marco Silva. Villa were only willing to take Palhinha on loan, an option Bayern rejected.
West Ham United are closing in on a season-long loan agreement for 18-year-old Manchester City forward Divine Mukasa. The deal contains no option to buy for Mukasa, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Leicester City. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have rekindled interest in 22-year-old Auxerre attacking midfielder Kevin Danois, a France Under-21 international who was also monitored by Newcastle United earlier this year.
Wrexham pursue Axel Tuanzebe as Hull City advance on wingers
Wrexham are continuing discussions to sign 28-year-old free agent defender Axel Tuanzebe. The Democratic Republic of Congo international left Burnley at the end of last season and is interested in joining Wrexham's project.
In the Championship, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali confirmed significant progress in securing Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia and ongoing talks for Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez. Speaking about Garcia, Ilicali stated: "I think probably, if nothing unknown happens, we will see him in a black and gold shirt. It has to be finalised, but I would say 90 percent of this deal is done. We are talking about the last details."
Addressing social media photos of Hernandez in Hull, Ilicali told BBC Humberside: "We have to get the club side done and Yeremay also wants to come but it is a very vital, critical decision for himself. This deal is a very hard deal but we are somewhere where it looks positive. He is a young boy and it would change his life completely so he wanted to see where he would come. We will see in three, four days if this deal will be done or not. If it happens it will be a record for sure."
West Ham and Burnley have expressed interest in Sunderland winger Jocelin Ta Bi, 21, who signed a four-and-a-half-year contract in January from Maccabi Netanya but has made just two senior appearances. Formal negotiations have not progressed past initial expressions of interest.
In other goalkeeper and squad moves across the leagues, Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, 31, is closing on a move to Leeds United as deputy to James Trafford, pending Frankfurt finding a replacement. Leeds are also waiting for Lucas Perri to recover from a minor injury before completing his loan to Torino. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Dan Bentley has joined Coventry City on a free transfer as backup to Carl Rushworth, Charlton Athletic are signing Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on a season loan, and Stoke City are targeting San Diego midfielder Manu Duah.
