Transfer news LIVE updates: Gerrard blasts Chelsea; Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs

TRANSFER NEWS is coming thick and fast as Chelsea emerge as contenders to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale – and Express Sport brings you all the latest and breaking news.

Sunday August 6

Gerrard expects new arrivals

20:35: Steven Gerrard says Jurgen Klopp is planning to bring two “big signings” to Liverpool.

Speaking on BT Sport, Gerrard said: “In pre-season, they have looked very strong and with three weeks to go in the window, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jurgen has got a couple of cards up his sleeve.

“He might bring a couple of big signings in.”

Van Dijk update

19:40: Southampton star Virgil van Dijk hasn’t handed in a formal transfer request amid interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.

Widespread reports have suggested Van Dijk has put in a transfer request to facilitate his exit.

But according to the Irish Independent this is not the case and he has only told club chiefs verbally that he wants to leave.

Van Dijk wants to join Liverpool over Chelsea, the report claims.

Gerrard blasts Chelsea

18:30: Steven Gerrard says Chelsea deserve no sympathy for their transfer dealings this summer.

Gerrard is unhappy with Conte for letting a number of young players leave rather than giving them a chance.

Speaking on BT Sport after Chelsea’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal, Gerrard said: “You can’t have any sympathy with Chelsea.

“They bring four players in, one of those is a goalkeeper, and they let seven or eight go.

“Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Ake – for me, all of those are good enough to be in Chelsea’s squad.

“Unless people above Conte are making decisions and selling players without his permission, that’s the only way I can see it.”

Spurs want Bolton’s Turner

18:05: Manchester United and Tottenham want to sign Bolton goalkeeper Jake Turner.

Turner, 18, is a regular in the England youth ranks and has been tracked by United for some time.

The Sun claim Tottenham are now also gunning for the player.

Spurs have had scouts at Bolton’s last two reserve matches.

Everton are also said to be interested.

Bale messages Modric

17:07: Gareth Bale has told Luka Modric he wants to leave Real Madrid.

The sensational claim from Spanish outlet Don Balon suggests Bale is keen to return to the Premier League.

They report that Bale sent a WhatsApp message to Modric confirming his desire to quit the club.

Express Sport understands Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in the £90m Wales international.

Lampard keen on Chelsea moves

16:46: Frank Lampard wants two more players at Chelsea.

Speaking after their penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, Lampard told BT Sport: “I think they need another midfield player. They are waiting on Tiemoue Bakayoko to be fit.

“It’s a lot to ask Cesc Fabregas against big teams in a difficult game to patrol as one of the two, and get on the ball to affect games. That’s a lot to ask.

“Maybe that would relieve Cesc to go further forward and they need cover on the wing-back roles.

“The wing-backs, if that’s what they’ve got, they’re going to play so many games this year and they need more.”

Brighton move for Propper

16:01: Brighton want to sign PSV midfielder Davy Propper.

Brighton have already considered a move for Denmark international Thomas Delaney.

Werder Bremen refused to do business and Brighton have moved on to another target.

The Daily Mail claim Holland international Propper is available for £3.5m.

Verratti on Barcelona

15:33: Marco Verratti insists he is happy at PSG and that he had already decided to snub Barcelona before Neymar arrived.

Barca wanted to sign Verratti earlier this summer and made their pursuit public.

PSG refused to do business and retaliated with a high-profile pursuit of Neymar that led to the £200m transfer.

Asked about his own transfer saga, Verratti said: “Barcelona? There was something, but that was as far as it went. We didn’t have any other negotiations.

“I decided to stay on this path and I’m happy for it.

“Did Neymar change my mind? I did way before. I never knew that Neymar would come here.”

Man Utd eye Gomes

15:25: Manchester United target Andre Gomes is available for €35million (£31.6m) this summer.

Spanish publication Marca claim Barcelona would be willing to do business if they came in with a respectable offer.

United face competition from Juventus for his signature though.

Hoddle calls for Spurs deals

14:30: Glenn Hoddle is shocked Tottenham still haven’t signed anyone in the transfer window.

Spurs have offloaded Nabil Bentaleb, Federico Fazio and Clinton N’Jie – and earned £50m from Kyle Walker’s move to Manchester City.

And Hoddle wants the club to now bring in fresh faces.

“It’s incredible and I don’t understand it.

“The squad wasn’t strong enough and isn’t strong enough. They need to go into debt. They need to be putting players in there that they can play without [Dele] Alli and [Harry] Kane and rest them.

“Spurs don’t have that squad; they didn’t have it last year and they should have gone out and bought three or four top-quality players.

“I keep hearing ‘we’re good enough’ but I’m sorry, they’re not good enough at the moment. They’re not. It’s been proved the last two years. Spurs don’t have that depth in that squad like some of those teams.”

Coutinho’s Barca agreement

14:15:Philippe Coutinho has agreed a deal with Barcelona but Liverpool believe they can keep him, according to Guillem Balague.

The Spanish football expert tweeted: “On Coutinho. LFC insist they have no intention to sell. Orders come from top. They rejected only offer till date of €80m in 45 minutes

“Player has agreement with FCB so Catalans think they can convince LFC but not by Tuesday as Catalan press announced today #chessgame

“From the negotiation table (close to FCB): never say never. Pressure will continue from FCB. LFC say they can handle it.”

Lampard calls for Chelsea deals

13:34: Frank Lampard wants Chelsea to sign more players in the transfer window.

“I think you can sense a frustration in Antonio Conte’s press conferences and I can kind of understand that,” he told talkSPORT.

“If you have such a good season as they did last year, as a manager and as a club you want to push on and freshen up the team, and adding to it is important. Particularly if you’re losing some big players and Diego Costa seems to be [on] the way [out] but I don’t have too many worries about that. Alvaro Morata will be a good signing. I think he’s going to be a 20-goal a season man.”

“What I do think is they need to strengthen as they’re in the Champions League this season and you need a really strong squad. They need to add to it.”

Meanwhile, the Stamford Bridge hero also believes the club must do all they can to hang onto their prized assets.

“It’s hugely important they keep Eden Hazard,” he added. “For me he is one of the best players in the Premier League and in world football. When he is fit and playing he makes Chelsea the team they are.”

How Man City missed out on Alves

13:32: Dani Alves has revealed Neymar told him to join PSG before the forward himself moved to Paris.

Alves signed for PSG earlier this summer after snubbing Manchester City at the last minute.

City thought they have a deal for Alves wrapped up but he changed his mind when PSG lodged a rival offer.

And the Brazilian revealed his compatriot Neymar advised him to move to Ligue 1.

“I’m happy for my debut,” he said.

“Ney still hasn’t. Contrary to what people think, I’m the one who’s grateful because it was Neymar who convinced me [to come here].

“I didn’t tell him anything. I just told him to be happy. [His arrival] didn’t surprise me.

“He told me to sign for PSG, supposedly because he wanted to come here too.

“The lad has grown. It wasn’t planned, but if he convinced me then it’s because he was planning to come to, I’d say.

“Barca? Losing a player of his calibre is a blow, but that’s football. The same happens when Barca sign other good players from other teams.

“Still, it must be said that Neymar and I haven’t moved for money. We’re driven by ambition, new challenges.

“The world doesn’t end at Barcelona. We gave our all there, we bust our guts for the club and that can’t be forgotten.”

Everton eye Vermaelen

13:15: Everton want to sign Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Barca are ready to sell Vermaelen, who spent last season on loan at Roma.

The injury-hit centre-back is also on West Brom and Anderlecht’s radar.

The 31-year-old would act as cover at he back for the Toffees if he were to move to Goodison Park.

Arsenal boost in Seri chase

13:00: Nice believe they can capture Wesley Sneijder this summer, and the move could greatly help Arsenal’s pursuit of Jean Seri.

Arsenal want to sign Seri but Nice are holding out for £35million.

The Ligue 1 club may still not sell even if Arsenal meet that price.

But Nice are closing in on a deal for veteran Sneijder, who is said to be their top target to replace Seri.

Were Sneijder to join the club then Nice are likely to be far more receptive to offers for their midfield star.

Valencia want Arsenal defender

12:00: Valencia boss Marcelino has confirmed he wants to sign Arsenal defender Gabriel.

Valencia are also interested in Jeison Murillo and Ivan Marcano.

And Marcelino is hopeful of capturing the trio before the summer is out.

“I think they’re possible,” Marcelino is quoted as saying by Tuttomercatoweb.

“We’re talking about important players who already know our League. They speak Spanish, and that’s important, so their adaptation would be very quick.”

Bayern Munich eye Dier

11:39: Bayern Munich want to sign Tottenham star Eric Dier.

Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti wants a versatile midfielder and Dier fits the bill.

That is according to the Sun on Sunday, who claim the Bundesliga champions will test Spurs’ resolve with a £50m bid.

Spurs don’t want to sell Dier and have had a very quiet window.

Their sole piece of major business was Kyle Walker’s £50m sale to Manchester City.

Aubameyang snubs China

11:04: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – a long-term target of a number of Europe’s elite club – has revealed he was offered a move to China this summer.

Liverpool are said to be interested in the striker in case Philippe Coutinho moves to Barcelona.

Real Madrid and PSG are also open to a deal, although Dortmund don’t wish to sell.

And Aubameyang admits he did consider the offer from the Chinese Super League.

“Of course, China was an option. It’s only natural that I thought about it when they offered that much money,” Aubameyang said.

“I know many people said I couldn’t go to China because it would be a step backwards in football terms, but I think anyone would at least consider such an offer.

“I did receive an offer. However, the structures are not yet as professional as in Europe. I also noticed the back and forth when Anthony Modeste went to Tianjin Quanjian and it was anything but clear, so I set it aside.

“I believe in God and fate. I believe that everything happens for a reason, so this is the right path.”

Leeds confident over Wood

10:36: Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen says Chris Wood is going nowhere this summer.

Premier League sides Swansea, Stoke and Southampton – us Turkish outfit Besiktas – are said to be interested in Wood.

Asked if Wood will still be a Leeds player after deadline day, manager Thomas Christiansen said: “Yes of course. He’s our player.

“There’s only one thing that I know 100 per cent and that is that we will all pass away. But in football nothing is guaranteed.

“In the case of Chris Wood, he will stay and I want him to stay. But you never know.”

Barcelona’s transfer plans

10:23: Barcelona have shelved their plans to sign Antoine Griezmann in order to focus on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.

Barca have £200m to spend on new players following Neymar’s move to PSG.

But manager Ernesto Valverde doesn’t want a direct replacement for the Brazilian this season.

The boss wants Coutinho and Dembele to come in and feed off Andres Iniesta’s service.

The plan is to then sign Griezmann next summer.

Bale to Chelsea exclusive

09:37: Chelsea have emerged as serious contenders to Manchester United in the race to lure Gareth Bale away from Real Madrid, Express Sport understands.

The Welsh superstar could be on his way out of Real, especially if they land Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe.

United have a long standing interest in Bale but they are known to prefer to wait until next summer to sign him.

Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Bale’s situation at Real all summer with Antonio Conte looking to make four more signings.

The Premier League champions have the financial power to match and improve anything that United put on the table to lure him away from the Spanish capital.

Man Utd’s Perisic struggle

09:00: Manchester United are struggling to complete a deal for Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic.

Sky Sports News reporter Aiden Magee says a deal doesn’t look like being finalised any time soon.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Centre, Magee said: “Their hopes of signing Ivan Perisic look increasingly difficult.”

Four-way Lemar battle

08:30: Arsenal now face competition from Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester City to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

According to the Mirror, Arsene Wenger is prepared to up his offer to £50m, having seen three bids turned down already.

However, Monaco are aware Barcelona can exceed that figure after they received £200m when they sold Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.

With their Premier League rivals in the hunt too, Arsenal now face an uphill mission to land the 21-year-old winger.

Another season at Liverpool for Coutinho?

08:00: Liverpool legend Ian Rush is hopeful his former club can hold onto star man Philippe Coutinho for at least one more season.

Coutinho has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer as the La Liga giants look to replace Paris Saint-Germain new boy Neymar.

“I’ve been in that position when I went to Juventus,” Rush said. “I’d won everything at Liverpool and I just wanted to go to Italy.

“But now the English Premier League is the best league in the world so I’d love Liverpool to keep Coutinho.

“He’s an amazing player and it doesn’t surprise me that Barcelona are interested in him.

“From a Liverpool point of view, I’d love to see Coutinho stay for another year to see how they can do in the Champions League and take it from there.”