DAMSGAARD TO BE BRENTFORD’S NEW GREAT DANE

■ BRENTFORD are closing on a £12.5million deal for Sampdoria midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard. The fee will involve add-ons for the 22-year-old Denmark international, who can play left wing or behind the striker and would help fill the void left by Christian Eriksen’s departure.

■ BARCELONA have handed Jules Kounde a five-year contract with a buyout clause of £837m. Kounde, 23, chose Barca over Chelsea as he moved from Sevilla for £42m. ‘It’s true that I had another offer, but I made the effort to wait for Barca to reach an agreement with Sevilla,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t a big decision because I wanted to come here.’

■ MANCHESTER CITY midfielder James McAtee is discussing a loan move to Sheffield United after the Championship side made an offer yesterday. The Blades hope McAtee can have the same impact as Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White did last season during his loan.

■ LIVERPOOL are progressing in talks over a new contract for striker Diogo Jota. The 25-yearold is due back in training within a fortnight after aggravating a hamstring injury. Liverpool have confirmed Tyler Morton has joined Blackburn on loan.

■ WEST HAM full back Arthur Masuaku is close to joining Besiktas on a season-long loan. However, the Hammers are looking at alternatives to winger Filip Kostic as they struggle to reach an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt. Talks are ongoing with Lille for Amadou Onana.

■ ARSENAL are in talks with Galatasaray over the sale of midfielder Lucas Torreira. Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno will undergo a medical with Fulham this week ahead of his £8m move and has agreed a three-year contract. Striker Folarin Balogun has agreed his loan move to Reims.

■ EVERTON are close to agreeing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye (right) to return to the club, pending a medical. Everton are not pursuing a move for Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.

■ MANCHESTER UNITED full-back Alex Telles has interest from Sevilla while teammate Ethan Laird is waiting to confirm a loan to Watford.

■ TOTTENHAM defender Joe Rodon has joined Rennes on a season-long loan. The Wales international could make the move permanent for £17m.

■ LEEDS UNITED are handing new contracts to 20-year-old forwards Crysencio Summerville, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood. Leeds target Charles De Ketelaere will join AC Milan today.

■ RB LEIPZIG left back Angelino, formerly of Manchester City, is attracting interest from Premier League sides. ÷ CRAWLEY TOWN have signed Arsenal’s Mazeed Ogungbo on a season’s loan.