Transfer news LIVE: Real Madrid loan confirmed, Zidane to Man Utd backed, Liverpool

  • Barcelona and Real Madrid can still make signings with the window open until August 31.
  • Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe believes Zinedine Zidane would be a good fit to replace Jose Mourinho.
  • Barcelona remain linked with a move for Paul Pogba after his agent suggested he could leave.
  • Chelsea are refusing to sell Marcos Alonso despite Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid’s interest.

Lafferty medical

Kyle Lafferty will undergo his Rangers medical today.

Sky Sports claim Rangers and Hearts have agreed on a fee for the Northern Ireland international, 30.

The deal could be confirmed this afternoon, with personal terms unlikely to be an issue.

Lafferty should be available for Rangers’ Europa League clash against FC Ufa tomorrow.

Transfer news

Transfer news: Pressure is on Jose Mourinho after Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton (Image: GETTY)

Mourinho in freefall?

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is trying to get himself sacked, according to former Liverpool striker John Aldridge.

Meanwhile, in Merseyside, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have continued where they left off last season, winning their first two matches against West Ham and Crystal Palace.

And Aldridge, who made 83 league appearances for the Reds, believes Mourinho could learn a thing or two from Klopp if he wants to improve morale inside the dressing room.

“The only conclusion I can come to as I watch the Jose Mourinho meltdown at Manchester United is that he is trying to get sacked once again,” Aldridge told the Irish Independent.

“It is bizarre to see history repeating itself three years after he was shown the door at Chelsea after he alienated the dressing room and left the cub with no choice other than to get rid of him.

“The Chelsea players refused to play for Mourinho in the end and while it is unacceptable for any footballer to down tools and refuse to give of his best, you can understand why this particular manager is hard to play for.

“I look at Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and while he has not won the trophies Mourinho has collected over the course of his career, he has a wonderful way of getting players on side and presenting his club in a good light.

“Mourinho seems to be precisely the opposite, as he criticises his players in public and looks grumpy and miserable most times we see him in front of a camera.

“This guy seems to go out of his way to inject poison in his dressing room and whatever his motives, he is not getting the reaction from players any more.”

Mendyl on Arsenal 

Hamza Mendyl has confirmed work permit issues prevented him from joining Arsenal.

Before the start of the season, Arsenal were dealing with an injury crisis in defence with Sead Kolasinac ruled out for two months and Nacho Monreal struggling with a knee problem.

Arsenal ended up not signing a defender as cover and Monreal has since returned to action.

But earlier this week, Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel revealed Arsenal were close to beating them to the signing of Mendyl from Lille.

The 20-year-old had made just 14 appearances for the Ligue 1 side but made the big move to the Bundesliga last week.

And Mendyl has now opened up on Arsenal’s interest and revealed Newcastle were also keen.

He told German publication Kicker: “I’ve been in talks with Arsenal FC and Newcastle, but being a Moroccan citizen it’s not so easy to get a work permit there.

“I would have thought I’d play in England.”

Transfer news

Transfer news: Hamza Mendyl was prevented from joining Arsenal by work permit problems (Image: GETTY)

Chelsea’s Alonso stance

Chelsea have reportedly decided they have no interest in selling Marcos Alonso this month.

Reports have emerged suggesting Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are chasing a deal for the Spaniard to bolster their options at left-back.

But according to the Daily Mail, the Blues are ready to rebuff all offers for Alonso should they come in.

The Mail say that there is no particular strong desire on the 27-year-old’s part to leave Chelsea as he is settled.

Transfer news

Transfer news: Express Sport brings you all the latest football gossip (Image: GETTY)

Zidane to Man Utd

Zinedine Zidane would be an ‘ideal’ candidate to take over at Manchester United if Jose Mourinho was sacked.

Those are the thoughts of former Manchester United midfielder Lee Sharpe, who has been left disappointed by his old club’s decline.

Sharpe has previously admitted he thinks Mourinho will be ‘gone before Christmas’ and is backing the former Real Madrid boss to take his place.

“I think Zidane would be the ideal candidate,” Sharpe told talkSPORT.

“He’s played at the highest level, managed at the highest level and has been successful at both.

“He’s a big enough name who could cope with the pressure and the questions asked of managing a club of that size so I think he would be ideal.”

Ramsey expectations

Aaron Ramsey can’t expect to earn as much as Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal have so failed to make any progress to tie Ramsey – who is now the club’s longest-serving player – down to a new deal.

Ramsey is out of contract as of next year and is free to talk to other clubs in January.

The 27-year-old currently takes home £110,000 per week and is seeking a significant increase on his wages.

Ozil is the club’s highest-paid earner after signing a £350,000-a-week deal back in January.

But the London Evening Standard suggest that Ramsey should not be demanding as much as Ozil as the German is not the ‘benchmark’.

It is suggested that the Gunners will not be held to ransom by Ramsey over pay.

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Transfer news: Martin Odegaard has left Real Madrid on loan (Image: GETTY)

Real Madrid loan

Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard has joined Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on loan for the season.

The 19-year-old joined Real in a high-profile move from Stromsgodset three years ago, having made his senior Norway debut at the age of 15.

He has played only two senior games for the Spanish giants and has spent 18 months on loan at Heerenveen.

“Vitesse has shown that it gives young players a chance to dare,” he said.

“I am happy with the opportunity that Vitesse offers me.”

Pogba to Barcelona latest

Manchester United star Paul Pogba is wanted by Barcelona – who expect the prospective transfer to be complicated further following comments made by Mino Raiola, according to Spanish claims.

Raiola has been accused of driving Barcelona’s interest in Pogba.

Pogba’s agent called out Paul Scholes on Twitter after the former United midfielder criticised his displays.

But Catalan newspaper Sport say that, in the wake of his comments, the Catalan giants remain hopeful of a deal.

They feel the transfer will become even trickier to pull off, with United adamant he is not for sale.

And Sport add Barcelona foresee the situation ‘turning into a soap opera’ with the La Liga transfer window not shutting until August 31.

Transfer news

Transfer news: Paul Pogba remains linked with a move to Barcelona (Image: GETTY)

Boyata latest

Celtic star Dedryck Boyata appears close to leaving the club after Sevilla director Joaquin Caparros confirmed the Spanish club’s interest.

The Belgian has been heavily linked with a move away from Parkhead in recent months after proving his worth at the World Cup with Roberto Martinez’s side.

“Boyata is one of those players that we have been following for a long time,” Caparros confirmed on Tuesday.

“Defence is an area we need to reinforce.

“We must proceed calmly because there are many factors with a transfer that doesn’t just depend on ourselves.

“The squad is balanced and impressive, but maybe there is something missing and we will try to address that.”

Rangers signings backed

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard wants to sign players on bigger wages, claims former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan.

Strachan believes the 38-year-old will want to bring in even more high profile names, with bigger wage demands, before the August 31 deadline.

“I’m sure Steven would like even better players on even bigger wages, but he’ll know that the board are giving him everything they’ve got at the moment,” he told Paddy Power.

“It’s not easy to get that kind of trust as a younger manager.”

Klopp on Karius

Jurgen Klopp insists he knows nothing on news of Loris Karius edging closer to joining Besiktas on loan.

Widespread reports earlier this week suggested that the German stopper has agreed a two-year loan to the Super Lig side.

“Nothing to say,” Klopp told reporters. “Nobody told me anything on a transfer.”

Besiktas are set to pay £2.25m for Karius for the initial two-year loan with a clause inserted in the deal for it to become permanent if a number of conditions are met.