ARSENAL HOLD TALKS FOR CITY STAR ZINCHENKO
■ ARSENAL have opened talks with Manchester City over a deal for Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukraine international has had enquiries from Everton, West Ham and Chelsea, and City are willing to sell the 25-yearold for around £35million. Anderlecht left back Sergio Gomez is also on Arsenal’s list of targets, while Nuno Tavares could swap the Emirates for Marseille. City have targeted Brighton’s Marc Cucurella and want to secure a new centre back before finalising Nathan Ake’s £45m sale to Chelsea. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Pau Torres of Villarreal are among the names being discussed. City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, 27, underwent a medical with Middlesbrough yesterday ahead of his loan move.
TOTTENHAM hope to complete the protracted transfer of Djed Spence from Boro this weekend after positive talks yesterday. Spurs are offering £12.5m, rising to £20m.
AJAX have switched attention to Rangers defender Calvin Bassey as they prepare to sell Lisandro Martinez to Manchester United. Ajax had enquired about Mykola Matviyenko of Shakhtar but have made an offer for Bassey. BRIGHTON have also made a move for the 22-year-old, who is valued at £25m, while their forward Aaron Connolly has joined Venezia on loan.
SASSUOLO have confirmed WEST HAM have made a £33.8m offer for Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca. Paris SaintGermain have made a lower bid.
NEWCASTLE are willing to offer around £20m for midfielder Jack Harrison (below) but it falls short of Leeds’ valuation. Leeds are continuing talks with PSG for striker Arnaud Kalimuendo and are looking to offload keeper Kiko Casilla amid interest from Spain.
CRYSTAL PALACE are prepared to rival Leicester City and Southampton for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. The 19-year-old centre back also has interest from Arsenal, Brighton and Everton. CHELSEA are signing highly-rated 16-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling after he left Southampton.
BRENTFORD have asked about Hamburg defender Mario Vuskovic and have signed Ukraine midfielder Yegor Yarmolyuk, 18, and former Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha on a free transfer. Strakosha, 27, has agreed a four-year deal.
BOURNEMOUTH are showing interest in Boavista centre back Chidozie Awaziem.
The 25-year-old former Porto man has 26 caps for Nigeria.
NORWICH hope to confirm the signing of Sao Paulo midfielder Gabriel Sara this weekend after he flew into England to start his medical. Sara will cost an initial £6m.