It’s that time of the year again – the transfer window is now open until September 1 and it’s sure to be a busy period with clubs looking to make big signings ahead of next season. Here are today’s latest developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team…
Paez set for Stamford Bridge return
River Plate are preparing to cut short the loan of Chelsea forward Kendry Paez.
The 19-year-old, who is with Ecuador at the World Cup, joined the Argentinian side on a year loan at the end of January after Chelsea cancelled his loan to sister club Strasbourg.
However he has had a difficult time with River Plate, making just 14 appearances and scoring one goal.
United keeper heads home
Man United goalkeeping prospect Darlington Osuchukwu has left the club and is returning to Spain for family reasons.
The 16-year-old, who moved to Manchester from Spanish side Gazte Berriak, near Pamplona, when he was 13-years old, was tipped for a bright future having received call-ups for England U16s and Spain over the past year.
Last season, he was on the bench a number of times for the U18s and was part of the squad that won the U16 Premier Shield. He had also been invited to train with United’s first team squad.
Barcelona and Reims have been credited with interest but with the youngster’s family understood to be keen to return to the Basque region, other clubs in northern Spain and southern France are also discussing potential offers.
Meanwhile, Leeds United are in discussions to sign 16-year-old winger Silva Mexes from Manchester United.
Seagulls announce Costinha
Brighton have confirmed the signing of right back Costinha from Olympiacos.
The defender has signed a five-year deal at the club for around £8million.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said: ‘Costinha is a player we have followed closely for some time.
‘He has the defensive capabilities, intensity and understanding of what we value and we feel he will be an excellent addition to the squad.
‘He is also comfortable in and out of possession of the ball and will add competition at right back, alongside our existing options. I am delighted he has chosen to continue his development with us in the Premier League.’
Palace confirm Sage as Glasner replacement
Crystal Palace have announced the appointment of Pierre Sage as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
Sage impressed with RC Lens last season, finishing second to PSG in Ligue 1 and winning the Coupe de France.
Despite securing Champions League football in his first season at Lens, Sage had ambitions to manage in the Premier League and left his post two seasons early to join Conference League champions Palace.
It is just the second time Palace have paid compensation for a manager since promotion to the Premier League in 2013 after buying Alan Pardew out of his Newcastle contract in 2015.
Crystal Palace have announced the appointment of Pierre Sage on a three-year deal
Sage takes over from Oliver Glasner, who left Palace at the end of the season after winning the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League during two and a half seasons in situ.
Sage said: ‘It’s amazing to be here at Crystal Palace. I am excited by the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.’
Bobby Manzi
Gvardiol closing in on City extension
A new contract for Josko Gvardiol at Manchester City is edging closer, with the central defender set to commit his future until 2031.
There had been plenty of interest from La Liga and Germany for the Croatian, who will face England in their World Cup opener in Dallas on Wednesday.
Jack Gaughan
Palace star Lacroix is a Chelsea target
Chelsea have added Crystal Palace centre back Maxence Lacroix to their list of potential targets this summer.
The 26-year-old had an excellent campaign at Selhurst Park ending with the Europa Conference League victory and a call-up to France’s World Cup squad.
Lacroix had previously played for Oliver Glasner at Wolfsburg and joined Palace for £17.6million in 2024.
He signed a five-year deal which leaves Palace in a strong negotiating position but he is reluctant to commit to new terms and wants to assess what offers arise this summer.
Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, 26, is with France at the World Cup
On the strength of his performances in the Premier League and in Europe, Arsenal and Real Madrid have also joined his list of admirers.
Their strength in depth in the centre back position would likely influence any decision he is allowed to make after the progress he has made playing regularly with Palace.
Similarly, Chelsea are well-stocked at centre back but their new manager Xabi Alonso likes to play with three at the back and they are looking to upgrade.
Palace want to build a competitive squad for new coach Pierre Sage so will be reluctant to sell so much depends on the scale of any offers that come forward if Lacroix admirers step up interest.
Rangers get £3m pay-out as Rohl goes to Salzburg
Rangers and RB Salzburg have completed a deal for manager Danny Rohl, with the former Sheffield Wednesday manager heading to Austria and Rangers landing around £3million in compensation.
The 37-year-old joined Rangers last October after two seasons at Hillsborough.
Door opening for clubs to talk to Rashford
The option for Barcelona to sign Marcus Rashford for £26m runs out at midnight, and there is no expectation at Manchester United that the Catalans will trigger it.
There is nothing to stop Barca coming back in for Rashford at a lower price or trying to sign him loan for another season, but the door is now open for other clubs.
Marcus Rashford is with England at the World Cup after his loan spell at Barcelona
Despite interest from Arsenal and Tottenham, there is a feeling Rashford doesn’t want to play for another Premier League club after United and a previous loan spell at Aston Villa. As it stands, he is due to return to Carrington for pre-season after a post-World Cup holiday, and could feasibly be re-integrated at United who are in the market for a left-sided attacker this summer.
But that prospect has been met with a lukewarm response on both sides for some time. The Rashford saga could run for most of the summer.
Chris Wheeler
West Brom’s deal to bag Liverpool defender Pinnington
Liverpool’s talented young centre back Carter Pinnington is joining West Bromwich Albion.
Liverpool are allowing the promising 19-year-old to leave without a transfer fee but the deal will be structured with appearance-based add-ons and a sell-on clause.
Premier League side Crystal Palace were also keen on the Wirral-born defender who was on the bench against them in the Carabao Cup last season.
Carter Pinnington is heading to West Bromwich Albion
A versatile player, Pinnington has played his favoured position centre-back regularly but has also figured at full-back and holding midfield for Liverpool’s U21s, reflecting his ability on the ball.
West Brom, meanwhile, are also in talks to sign Chelsea forward Jimmy Jay Morgan in a deal worth around £1.3million.
Morgan, who had a spell with Southampton as a teenager, is an England U20 international.
He scored 14 goals on loan at Peterborough in League One last season, and Albion believe he can step up to the Championship.
Ex-Liverpool coaches set for Feyenoord return
Former Liverpool coaches Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Sipke Hulshoff are closing on a return to Feyenoord as the club’s new management team.
Van Bronckhorst was assistant coach to Arne Slot at Anfield along with Hulshoff.
The 51-year-old former Rangers and Netherlands midfielder also had interest from Besiktas.
The appointment marks a full-circle moment for van Bronckhorst, who first took charge at the Rotterdam club back in March 2015.
Millwall bid £5m for Hull forward – who manager likened to Messi!
Millwall have launched a £5million bid for Hull City forward Kyle Joseph.
The 24-year-old scored eight goals on the way to promotion last season, two of which were in a 3-1 win over Millwall at The New Den. Joseph has also professed that his father is an avid Lions fan.
The Scotland U21 international can play across the frontline and has plenty of other suitors from the Championship.
After a splendid solo goal against Southampton, Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic said, part tongue in cheek, that it was like watching Lionel Messi in action.
However, having secured a dream promotion to the Premier League with Hull, the main question will be whether Joseph wants to give that chance up for potentially more regular game time elsewhere.
Kyle Joseph (right) in action with Middlesbrough’s Matt Targett last season
Hull know they have to upgrade across their team so face some tough calls on players who have served them well.
Millwall lost to the Tigers in the play-offs after an impressive campaign and are looking to immediately bounce back into the promotion frame next time out.
Crucially, Joseph suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Hull’s play-off win over Millwall which will need a 10-week recuperation period, meaning he will not be ready for the start of pre-season.
Everton will go back in for Hackney after Boro turn down £18m bid
Everton are expected to return to negotiations for Hayden Hackney after Middlesbrough rejected their latest offer of around £18million.
Crystal Palace are also expected to make their move as Boro hold out for £20m plus £5m in bonuses for the Championship Player of the Year.
Everton know Hackney wants to join them but Boro have been holding out for a greater sum in guaranteed payments.
Daily Mail Sport understands Everton’s bid was around £11million with a further £7m in bonuses.
Hull City have also expressed interest in meeting Boro’s valuation but Hackney’s preference is to link up with David Moyes’s side.
Hayden Hackney was named Championship player of the season
Boro agreed to sell for less from Ipswich Town last year but they believe Hackney has improved as a player since then, despite only having one year remaining on contract.
Crystal Palace, who have appointed Pierre Sage as their new boss, have indicated they will come closer to £20m.
Everton have interest from Ipswich in their midfielder Tim Iroegbunam and are still to finalise agreement with Idrissa Gana Gueye on a new contract.
Cucurella seals Madrid move
Chelsea have confirmed their £51.8million sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid – £47.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons – all hastily agreed and completed at the request of new Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho.
‘Everyone at Chelsea FC would like to thank Marc for his efforts during his time at the club and for the role he played in our recent achievements,’ read a Chelsea statement. ‘We wish him every success as he begins the next stage of his career.’
Kieran Gill
Newcastle step up talks for Munoz – with Osasuna holding out for £34.5m
Newcastle United are expected to step up negotiations for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz this week.
Despite reports, those close to the deal say Real Madrid do not intend to take up a buy-back clause nor do they want a new clause inserted after he has spent a year at his next club. They believe no ambitious buying club would accept those terms.
The 22-year-old is with Spain’s squad in USA and has opened the door to a move to the Premier League though there is rival interest from Roma and Bayer Leverkusen. Manchester United have not followed up any interest, as it stands.
Munoz is represented by Niagara Sports agency, who also look after the likes of Barcelona’s Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia plus Alvaro Morata at Como.
Though discussions have taken place with Osasuna they have yet to fully develop and progress is anticipated this week.
Victor Munoz’s buy-out clause is £34.5m and Osasuna want the full amount
The Spanish side want £34.5million, the player’s buy-out, and Newcastle are looking to structure the payments.
Munoz began his youth career with Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before moving to Real Madrid.
Newcastle want to add younger players going forward with the likes of Wolves’ exciting 18-year-old Portuguese attacker Mateus Mane also on their radar.
They also want Atalanta right back Marco Palestra but face serious competition for the £45m-rated Italy international.
As reported by Daily Mail Sport in April, Manchester City’s James Trafford is also back on their list despite the addition of Reims keeper Ewen Jaouen for £18.5m last week.
Meanwhile, head of recruitment Steve Nickson is not expected to move to West Ham, despite reputed interest.
Premier League new boys in for Braga stopper
Hull City have opened talks for Sporting Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.
The Premier League new boys want two keepers for their return to the top flight and are understood to have offered £12.5million plus add-ons for the 6ft 6ins Czech Republic international who is part of his country’s World Cup squad.
The 23-year-old is interested in the move but Braga want more for a keeper who has also attracted interest from Leeds United, Inter Milan and Porto in recent months.
Hull also want to add a second keeper on loan.
Braga goalkeeper Lucas Hornicek is at the World Cup with Czech Republic
They made a bold enquiry for Bayern Munich’s Alexander Nubel, but he is holding out for a bigger club.
The 29-year-old was on the bench for Germany in their 7-1 win over Curacao last night and has spent the last three seasons playing regularly for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga while previously enjoying two seasons on loan with Monaco.
Hull have sent scouts to the World Cup and are also exploring the Croatian market.
They would like to discuss a deal with Manchester United for Toby Collyer, who they had on loan at the end of last season.
It is felt the 22-year-old would benefit from a full pre-season, and develop into a midfielder capable of making an immediate impact in the Premier League.
