CHELSEA CLOSE TO £55m DEAL FOR SEVILLA STAR KOUNDE
CHELSEA are finalising the £55million signing of Sevilla defender Jules Kounde after making an improved offer. Sevilla want to accept Chelsea’s bid as it involves straight cash, whereas Barcelona’s proposal includes players such as Memphis Depay. Kounde, 23, did not train yesterday as his deal was being finalised and said farewell to fans as he left Sevilla’s training ground. He believes a deal will be agreed today with personal terms already in place.
■ BARCELONA plan to raise more financial capital today with another marketing rights sale and are considering ARSENAL defender William Saliba as an alternative to Kounde. They are also set to bid for £20m-rated ASTON VILLA midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 18.
■ CHELSEA are signing highly rated left back Zak Sturge after the 18-year-old failed to agree a contract with Brighton. Chelsea will need to pay around £500,000 in compensation. ARSENAL midfielder Marcelo Flores, 18, has joined Real Oviedo on loan.
■ MANCHESTER CITY are looking to offer around £35m for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella as they believe his £50m valuation is too high. Brighton have no desire to sell but Cucurella, 23, is keen to join City. Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa, 24, is another option for City.
■ NOTTINGHAM FOREST are discussing a move for £24m-rated WATFORD striker Emmanuel Dennis. FOREST are talking to Stuttgart over midfielder Orel Mangala, 24, and have agreed a £5m fee with Real Betis for wing back Alex Moreno, 29. They have also asked about West Ham target Amadou Onana, 20, at Lille.
■ WEST HAM manager David Moyes is maintaining an interest in Ben Brereton Diaz at Blackburn over a move for Burnley’s Dwight McNeil, 22, an option for Crystal Palace.
■ PALACE have agreed a fee of £8.5m plus £2.5m in add-ons for Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards. Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland is out for up to eight weeks after breaking a finger on Tuesday. BOURNEMOUTH have asked about United defender Axel Tuanzebe.
■ NEWCASTLE UNITED striker Dwight Gayle, 32, is joining Stoke City on a free pending a medical. NEWCASTLE are keen on Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, 19.
■ BRENTFORD have held talks with former Burnley captain Ben Mee, 32, a free agent. FULHAM have agreed a £6m fee with Wolfsburg to sign right back Kevin Mbabu, 27. NORWICH CITY winger Christos Tzolis is joining FC Twente on loan.
■ SOUTHAMPTON are signing TOTTENHAM teenagers Sam Amo-Ameyaw, a winger, and left back Jayden Meghoma for around £1m in compensation.
■ HALIFAX TOWN forward Jamie Allen has joined the cast of Love Island on ITV. The 27-year-old only signed a new deal with the club last month. They will ‘review the matter’ when he comes back.