Transfer news LIVE: Barcelona plan Neymar announcement, Man Utd exit today, Real Madrid

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip

Thursday, August 28

• Barcelona want to announce the signing of Neymar on Thursday

• Real Madrid are in talks to sign Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes

• Ousmane Dembele has rejected the opportunity to join PSG

10.40 UPDATE: Man Utd reach ‘total agreement’

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling appears to be on his way out of Old Trafford.

Smalling has fallen down the pecking order at United following the signing of Harry Maguire by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Roma have been trying to recruit a new centre-back all summer and have targeted Premier League duo Toby Alderweireld and Dejan Lovren.

But now it seems the Serie A side are raiding Manchester United for a season-long loan deal.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Chris Smalling to AS Roma from Man United, here we go! Total agreement for a simple loan (€3M to Man Utd) without buy option. The player has accepted.”

10.05 UPDATE: Neymar to Barcelona backed

Former Barcelona star Rivaldo believes Neymar will move back to the Nou Camp for two reasons and snub interest from Real Madrid.

“I can’t see Neymar signing for Real Madrid because the player wants to return to Barcelona and the club seems focused on making that a reality before the transfer deadline,” Rivaldo told Betfair.

“I believe Barcelona won’t let Neymar escape and despite all that happened with him leaving the club a few years ago, he would always be an excellent signing for the team and could quickly convince Blaugrana fans once again with his excellent quality on the pitch.”

09:25 UPDATE: Pogba warned

The man who discovered Mancheter United ace Paul Pogba has told him he would ‘clash’ with Zinedine Zidane if he were to move to Real Madrid.

And Franck Sale, who works as head of recruitment at French club Le Havre, believes staying with United would be a blessing in disguise despite his desire to move elsewhere.

“If Paul has a coach with a strong personality around him, in time there will be a clash somewhere,” Sale told Optus Sport.

“When he left for Juventus a few years ago, with Alex Ferguson that was very complicated too. Paul didn’t concede because he has such a strong character. “So when he says, ‘I’m leaving’, he’s leaving.”

08:35 UPDATE: Arsenal exit?

Arsenal might have to fend off interest from Juventus and AC Milan as both clubs have reportedly taken an interest in striker Sam Greenwood.

The 17-year-old, who joined the north London club from Sunderland, scored 11 goals at Under-18s level last season but also impressed for while playing for England.

And according to The Sun, Juventus and AC Milan sent scouts to watch Greenwood at the recent Euro under-17 championship in Ireland.

The striker didn’t disappoint as he scored three goals in three game while playing for the Three Lions.

07:50 UPDATE: PSG reject Barcelona offer for Neymar

PSG have been in deep negotiations with Barcelona over the sale of Neymar for the last two days.

But the French outfit have now rejected a deal because the Catalan club are refusing to meet their demands.

Furthermore players that have been offered as part of a swap deal by Barca are said to have no interest in moving to Paris.

Neymar is desperate to leave PSG before the September 2 deadline.

07:05 UPDATE: Man Utd Jadon Sancho decision

Manchester United will go all out for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho next summer.

The Red Devils were tipped to land the England international in the summer transfer window. However, Dortmund refused to sell the winger, with United failing to agree a deal.

The Evening Standard say that Solskjaer has been assured by the United board he will be given time to overhaul his squad.

That will include United going all out for Sancho next summer.

03:00 UPDATE: Roma reignite their interest in Liverpool defender

Roma want to take Dejan Lovren on a season long loan with an option to buy the player.

The Italian club had been considering Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani but talks the the Serie A champions broke down over their demands.

While Roma are keen on Lovren, Liverpool favour a permanent exit for the defender, who they value at £26million.

And according to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Liverpool are open to a loan but only if it includes an obligation and not just an option to buy Lovren at the end of the deal.

21:00 UPDATE: Dembele in contact with PSG

Ousmane Dembele’s agent IS in contact with PSG – despite publicly rejecting claims his client will be offloaded to the French champions.

Barcelona have proposed a deal for Neymar that involves Dembele and Ivan Rakitic heading to the Parc Des Princess – something agent Moussa Sissoko categorically denied.

“Ousmane stays at Barcelona, 100%. No chance he leaves. He wants to and will succeed at Barcelona,” he told TF1.

However, Spanish website Sport claim Sissoko has indeed opened conversations with PSG.

20:30 UPDATE: The replacements…

PSG have three targets lined up if Neymar is sold.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly appealed for new signings of the Brazilian forward leaves – and Le Parisien claim they have three in mind.

Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen, Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi and Juventus’ Paulo Dybala are on PSG’s shortlist.

Though should Ousmane Dembele and Ivan Rakitic join as part of an exchange deal – Dybala would appear the most likely arrival.

20:15 UPDATE: Monreal to Real Sociedad

Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal is being chased by Real Sociedad ahead of Friday night’s Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao.

Express Sport revealed on Tuesday that the La Liga side want to get a deal wrapped up as soon as possible so they can integrate him into their team.

Sociedad have offered Monreal a contract which could keep him in San Sebastian until 2022 and want him to train with them on Wednesday and Thursday if possible.

Whether Arsenal will sanction a deal remains to be seen, with Unai Emery potentially needing the veteran in the absence of Kieran Tierney.

19:45 UPDATE: Matthijs De Ligt transfer

Matthijs De Ligt could have joined Borussia Dortmund two years ago.

That’s according to former Dortmund assistant Hendrie Kruzen, who says the club didn’t have time to piece together new signings.

“When Lukasz Piszczek got injured we had to make a lot of changes in the defence,” Kruzen told SPOX. “Maybe we should have pushed for a high-profile new signing that summer.

“Unfortunately, when we had that difficult phase, as is often the case in professional football, we did not have the time to sort it out and to get new players in in the winter.

“We were already in talks with some of them, and those players were of a high calibre even for a club like BVB. I don’t know whether they would’ve definitely signed or not but one of them went from Ajax to Juventus for a lot of money this summer.”

19:15 UPDATE: Eh?

Real Madrid are interested in signing Everton third-choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

That’s the report from the Daily Mail, who claim Zinedine Zidane’s side want the veteran stopper to provide should Keylor Navas leave the club.

Stekelenburg joined Everton in 2016 has slipped down the pecking order after the summer arrival of Jonas Lossl.

And it’s highly unlikely the Toffees will stand in his way should Los Blancos come knocking. AC Milan stopper Pepe Reina also on the shortlist.

19:00 UPDATE: Deadline move for Paul Pogba

Zinedine Zidane is refusing to give up on Paul Pogba.

Real Madrid have been pursuing the French international, 26, since Zidane returned for a second spell at the Bernabeu in March.

Manchester United thought they’d priced Real Madrid out of bidding for Pogba by slapping a £180million valuation on the midfielder.

But according to Mundo Deportivo, Zidane’s side could make a last-gasp approach for Pogba before the European transfer window closes on September 2.

18:45 UPDATE: Mohamed Elneny talks

Besiktas are in talks to sign Mohamed Elneny.

The Arsenal midfielder hasn’t featured for Unai Emery this season and is surplus to requirements after the arrival of Dani Ceballos.

Now, Turkish-Football claim Besiktas are looking to snap him up.

It’s claimed the Super Lig side have opened talks with Arsenal to discuss a potential loan deal for the 27-year-old.

18:30 UPDATE: Alexis Sanchez medical

Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez has touched down in Milan ahead of his proposed move to Inter.

Sanchez, 30, has scored only five goals in 45 appearances since he left the Emirates in January 2018.

Inter Milan have reached an agreement with United to take Sanchez on loan for 10 months but there is not an option for the Serie A club to buy the player as part of the deal.

According to Italian publication Calciomercato, Inter have agreed to pay United £4.5million to take Sanchez on loan.

The former Arsenal attacker is expected to undergo his medical ‘imminently’ say Spanish newspaper AS.

18:15 UPDATE: Neymar announcement plan

Barcelona want to announce the signing of Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar on Thursday, according to reports.

As previously mentioned, Barcelona have offered £127million plus Ousmane Dembele and Ivan Rakitic.

And despite Dembele’s reservations – El Chiringuito claim Barcelona want to announce the signing of the 27-year-old this Thursday.

That means a deal could even be announced as early as Wednesday evening.

18:00 UPDATE: Bruno Fernandes talks

Real Madrid are in talks to sign Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes, 24, was a top target for Manchester United throughout the summer but Ed Woodward and Co decided against bringing him to Old Trafford.

United’s loss could be Real Madrid’s gain with Zinedine Zidane’s side now in talks to sign the Portuguese midfielder.

Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha claim super agent Jorge Mendes is in the process of conducting negotiations with Sporting Lisbon on behalf of Real Madrid.

It’s believed Fernandes can be signed for £63million.

17:45 UPDATE: Dembele snubs PSG

Ousmane Dembele has rejected the opportunity to join PSG.

Barcelona wanted to use Dembele, 22, as a makeweight to bring Neymar back to the Nou Camp along with midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

However, Dembele is digging his heels in.

French outlet RMC Sport claims the World Cup-winning forward has snubbed PSG and wants to continue with Barcelona.