Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Eliaquim Mangala and Angel Di Maria latest plus the done deals
With just over three weeks left before the window slams shut time is running out for manager's frantically scrambling to get their squads finalised in time
- Arsenal round up: Joel Campbell set for Premier League loan move?
- Manchester United round up: Fiorentina hand suitors deadline over Juan Cuadrado
- Liverpool round up: Reds in hunt for Real Madrid keeper Diego Lopez?
11:44 am
Ed Malyon
Done deal
AC Milan have signed Diego Lopez from Real Madrid on a 4-year deal.
The Spaniard was first choice for Carlo Ancelotti (and Jose Mourinho) at the Bernabeu, but after bringing in Keylor Navas this summer and failing to shift club captain/poisonous drain on the club* Iker Casilllas, there was no choice but to ship Lopez out.
*delete as appropriate
11:38 am
Ed Malyon
Reports in Spain are that Ibrahim Afellay will be allowed to leave Barcelona.
The Dutch winger was one of Europe's hottest talents when he first moved to the Nou Camp but has somewhat lost his way on a loan tour of the continent and, seemingly, he has decided now is the time to cut loose and start afresh.
But where? I can think of plenty of Premier League clubs that he'd improve.
11:20 am
Ed Malyon
Championship drama
The second tier gets underway today but there's still plenty of deals be done.
Yet one of those won't be Adam Clayton's move to Middlesbrough, it seems.
The former Manchester City youngster was supposed to hook up with the Teessiders in a switch that was to trigger a number of other deals - including Jacob Butterfield's arrival at Huddersfield.
But he hasn't turned up at Boro and now wants to join Brighton and Hove Albion.
More as we get it....
11:13 am
Ed Malyon
Looks like some Manchester United fans aren't brimming with positivity at the potential signing of Alex Song.
"Bring me your finest Beluga caviar" "I'm afraid we're out sir" "In that case bring me the contents of that ashtray" pic.twitter.com/gWhYGskVR8— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) August 9, 2014
The Barcelona man was a curious signing by Pep Guardiola because once he arrived and it was clear he wasn't actually good enough to play in the back line as a converted midfielder - á la Mascherano - he didn't really get much of a look in.
Oh, and he played for Charlton.
If United do decide against Vidal because of his knee issues - as revealed by MirrorFootball - then there are very few like-for-like equivalents... and even fewer that are available.
I wonder if Louis van Gaal would consider Athletic Club's Ander Iturraspe, who today has been linked with a move to Fiorentina?
11:06 am
Ed Malyon
The Championship got underway last night with a 1-1 draw between Blackburn and Cardiff, and 20 other teams join them this afternoon in getting their season going.
Fulham boss Felix Magath admitted yesterday that £15million signing Kostas Mitroglou was a mistake, and now he's confessed that Martin Stekelenburg wants to leave the club too, with Monaco one of the interested clubs.
The Principailty side had their sights set on Real Madrid's Diego Lopez but he now seems destined for Milan.
If you've got any views on the latest news or on who your club should be signing, let us know by tweeting us @MirrorFootball.
10:58 am
Ed Malyon
Chelsea chase?
Italian sports daily Gazetta dello Sport are reporting contact between Chelsea and Roma over central defender Mehdi Benatia.
The Moroccan agitated for a move earlier in the summer when he had a provisional deal agreed with Premier League rivals Manchester City, but the champions are understood to have opted instead for Eliaquim Mangala to fill their central defensive hole.
If the Blues are interested - and didn't Jose say he wouldn't make anymore signings? - then does this mean he's not been impressed enough by Kurt Zouma?
The youngster is one of France's highest-rated young defenders and was brought in at some expense but if Mou believes he's not ready to replace David Luiz then it may necessitate unloading £35million on Benatia.
10:52 am
Ed Malyon
Sky Sports News are reporting that West Ham United are close to signing Morgan Amalfitano on a free.
The Marseille man had a decent campaign on loan at West Brom last year, scoring a memorable goal at Old Trafford, and had been chased by a few top-flight clubs including Crystal Palace and Hull City.
10:41 am
Ed Malyon
Fallen Angel?
The Daily Express are today reporting that Manchester United have bid £55million for Real Madrid midfielder Angel Di Maria.
Paris Saint-Germain (yes, them) yesterday dropped out of the race for the Argentine as he was too expensive, but reportedly United have seized on the opportunity and will go all-out for the midfield dynamo .
But if PSG can't afford him, then what hope does any other club have?
This one could run and run.
10:34 am
Ed Malyon
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman last night confirmed his interest in signing Argentina left-back Marcos Rojo.
Firstly, with Ryan Bertrand having already arrived this summer that is a most peculiar move. Secondly, if he had watched Rojo for any length of time then he'd have no interest in the defender.
A good World Cup does not a good player make (but it often triggers a lucrative move).
10:23 am
Alex Richards
It's hardly a massive surprise but this has been confirmed by Newcastle now.
Of course, Forest have spent the bulk of this cash on Britt Assombalonga in an effort to fire them into the Premier League and Darlow and Lascelles will remain at the City Ground on loan to help their cause.
BREAKING: #NUFC can confirm the signings of Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles from @Official_NFFC. https://t.co/eletYjuJmt— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 9, 2014
10:06 am
Alex Richards
Fraser Forster set for Saints
Southampton are closing in on the £10million signing of Celtic stopper Fraser Forster.
The England keeper, 26, is set to follow the path trodden by Victor Wanyama last summer, in trading in Celtic Park for St Mary's Stadium, after the two clubs agreed a fee.
Forster travelled to the south coast on Friday evening ahead of a medical today.
The two-cap England international - who made his debut in the 2-0 defeat to Chile at Wembley last November - has earned rave reviews for his performances in Scotland since joining Celtic, initially on loan, in 2010.
Neil Lennon spent £2.2million to make that deal permanent in 2012, and Forster has since gone from strength to strength north of the border, breaking the Scottish Premiership record for minutes without conceding during the last campaign.
9:51 am
Alex Richards
Samuel Eto'o's future
A little bit of an addition on news we brought you concerning Samuel Eto'o last night.
The Cameroonian reportedly held talks with Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars in Paris, to talk about a potential move to the Dutch giants.
And now Overmars has confirmed that the 33-year-old - who lest we forget scored 12 times for Chelsea last season - could move to the Amsterdam ArenA, with Ajax looking into the possibility of signing the three-time Champions League winner.
"Samuel seemed very hungry to play for Ajax," Overmars told Voetbal International. "He is fit and has a great drive to succeed once again.
"We don't want to block the growing process of our talents like [Arkadiusz] Milik and [Richairo] Zivkovic, but if it is possible to sign a world class player like Eto'o, then why not?
"It will be fantastic."
Here's a cheeky Twitter pic:
— AjaxFanzone.NL (@AjaxFanzoneNL) August 9, 2014
9:40 am
Alex Richards
Liverpool round up
The Reds are locked in a three-way transfer tussle with AC Milan and Napoli for Real Madrid keeper Diego Lopez.
According to Spanish daily El Confidencial, Brendan Rodgers is keen on bringing the 32-year-old - who has spent the last 18 months as Madrid's No.1 in La Liga - to the Premier League.
Lopez's future at the Santiago Bernabeu is in the air after the club added Costa Rica's Keylor Navas to their ranks, who will battle it out with club legend Iker Casillas for the No.1 spot.
Club chiefs have reportedly told the ex-Villarreal man to find a new club, and would allow him to leave in a cut-price deal.
9:22 am
Alex Richards
Manchester United round up
Secondly, we have our Manchester United round up, and news on Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado.
Dazzling at the World Cup and during the 2013-14 Serie A campaign, the quicksilver winger has been linked with both United and Spanish giants Barcelona this summer, with a mammoth £32million fee having seemingly been the number set by his club.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, suitors for the Colombian have been set a deadline of 10 days if they hope to snare him from the Viola's grasp.
Owner Andrea Della Valle is quoted as saying: "We have given 7-10 days to decide.
"Two weeks at most but if you reach certain numbers it will be almost impossible to [keep] hold.
9:10 am
Alex Richards
Arsenal for starters
Ok, where to start?
Well how about with some round-ups...
Firstly Arsenal, for whom Joel Campbell could still find himself moving out on loan once more.
The Newcastle Chronicle reckons that the Costa Rica starlet - despite Arsene Wenger telling the press he wants him at the Emirates this term - could still head to the north east before the close of the transfer window.
8:59 am
Alex Richards
Morning folks
Good morning folks,
Welcome to today's LIVE transfer blog on Mirror Football. What a glorious day it is.
Grey skies in the north, hurricane warnings down south, but most importantly...the Football League is back!!
However, Premier League sides have another week of preparations ahead, so manager's will still be trying to get deals done on the final Saturday before the start of the 2014-15 top-flight campaign.
Thus, make sure to keep an eye on today's LIVE blog, to see exactly what's going on, and where.
You know the drill by now: we'll have all the best news, views, reports, rumours and done deals right here.
So make sure to keep yourselves abreast of the situation.
Let's go...
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