BLUES FLOP LUKAKU SET FOR INTER MILAN RETURN ONE YEAR AFTER £97.5m MOVE
■ ROMELU LUKAKU is heading back to Inter Milan after they agreed to pay Chelsea £7million plus add-ons to take him on a season-long loan last night. Talks had stalled on Monday as Inter president Steven Zhang wanted to restructure the deal. Chelsea’s club record £97.5m signing — who only joined the club in August last year — will take a wage cut ahead of a medical in Italy next week.
Chelsea have asked about Lens wingback Jonathan Clauss, 29, as a potential replacement for Barcelona target Cesar Azpilicueta. Clauss has one year left on his contract and is valued at around £10m. Chelsea left back Ian Maatsen is wanted by Feyenoord to replace Tyrell Malacia, who has drawn interest from Manchester United.
÷ NEWCASTLE UNITED have agreed a fee of around £12m with Burnley for England goalkeeper Nick Pope. The 30-year-old is scheduled to have a medical today before the move is confirmed later this week. Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman, 25, is joining Preston North End on a threeyear deal and Karl Darlow is wanted by Middlesbrough.
■ MANCHESTER CITY’S Raheem Sterling aims to resolve his future within two weeks, amid interest from Chelsea. The 27-year-old, who is on holiday in Jamaica, wants to be ready for preseason training with his new club should he decide to leave. Sterling has a contract offer from City plus interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. City are considering sales as they look to offset their proposed £100m spend on Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and Brighton’s Marc Cucurella.
÷ BRIGHTON have asked about Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi, 25. The Zimbabwe international recently signed a new contract but Brighton believe he could be prised away for £7m.
■ ARSENAL have confirmed the £34m arrival of Porto midfielder Fabio Vieira, 22, on a five-year deal. Arsenal are focused on adding Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Leeds winger Raphinha, who is represented by the same agents as Vieira. Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez remains a target but Arsenal will need to sell Nicolas Pepe and Lucas Torreira, among others.
■ SOUTHAMPTON have signed Germany Under 21 international centre back Armel Bella-Kotchap from Bochum for £9.5m.
The Saints remain in the hunt for Manchester City’s Romeo Lavia, along with Leeds and clubs overseas.
■ WOLVES are showing interest in River Plate playmaker Enzo Fernandez though they face competition from clubs including Benfica. Wolves officials have been in Argentina this week in an attempt to sign the 21-year-old, who is available for £17.5m.
Defender Ki-Jana Hoever is joining PSV Eindhoven on loan.
÷ LIVERPOOL forward Sadio Mane is expected to be confirmed as a Bayern Munich player today following his medical. Monaco have agreed a £15.5m deal for Reds attacker Takumi Minamino, while Fulham are preparing a £10m bid for defender Neco Williams. The Cottagers have also spoken to ex-Monaco and Everton right back Djibril Sidibe.
■ TOTTENHAM are resuming talks with Middlesbrough for full back Djed Spence as they look to iron out a £16m fee.
÷ WATFORD have agreed to sign Ivory Coast striker Vakoun Bayo from Charleroi.