Red Devils close in on Lukaku

Manchester United are edging closer to a deal to sign striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

However, the significant progress they thought they had made was knocked back by the Merseysiders who countered claims a £75 million fee had been agreed by insisting no deal has been struck.

And that has left Chelsea, who appeared front-runners in the race to re-sign their former player, with an opening to still make a late intervention.

Everton will hope that is the case as it increases the chances of a bidding war to take the asking price closer to the £100m tag they privately put on the 24-year-old Belgium international.

However, they may have to accept less for a player who has regularly voiced his desire to play in the Champions League.

But with the Stamford Bridge club yet to show their hand United remain in the driving seat to secure a player understood to be Jose Mourinho’s first choice and one they have been quietly pursuing for months while all the talk was of an impending move to Chelsea.

Leicester have completed the signing of midfielder Vicente Iborra from Sevilla on a fouryear deal for around £12 million.

Swansea have completed the £11 million signing of Las Palmas midfielder Roque Mesa on a four-year deal.

The 2017-18 Premier League season will open with a Friday night clash between Arsenal and Leicester on August 11. It will be shown live on Sky Sports.