Transfer news LIVE: Alvarez to Arsenal saga takes fresh twist, Liverpool linked with £50m-rated winger, Chelsea latest

Xabi Alonso expects Enzo Fernandez to be involved in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town on Thursday amid speculation that Manchester City will make a late attempt to sign the midfielder this summer.

The £120m-rated Argentinian has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge all summer with City interested, and while Enzo Maresca’s side missed an informal deadline set by the Blues, they are expected to make another bid before the deadline on 1 September.

Fernandez featured off the bench for Chelsea in their Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday and Alonso is preparing to utilise the 25-year-old against League One outfit Luton.

“Yes, so we expect that he’s involved,” Alonso said.

“He has trained, he’s training really well, he’s a good professional and he will be involved.”

Arsenal’s feeling throughout the Julian Alvarez saga is that the situation could change, tilting in their favour the closer it gets to the end of the window.

Another potential advantage that Arsenal have is that they can send forwards the other way. Atletico manager Diego Simeone has already been pushing to strengthen his attack, and both Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are appealing to the Madrid side.

There is the possibility that Gyokeres and a financial fee could be offered, greatly smoothing any deal.

Alvarez’s view on an Arsenal move is already understood to have softened, despite wanting to stay in Spain for both lifestyle and family reasons as well as the stature of a club like Barcelona.

He has nevertheless been made aware that Arsenal would play him in his best position and build an attack around him, after a season where Simeone used him in an unusual role.

“I don’t feel pressure about the transfer market,” Roberto De Zerbi told Sky Sports. “If I can, I want to spend more money again without problems, because the other teams don’t spend anything different.

“I feel pressure because I am working in one of the best clubs in the world and I would like to help this club to compete to win the titles.

“I don’t know (whether) this season or next season, but, in the end, it’s my big target, my personal target.

“We have nothing less than the other big clubs in the Premier League, especially now in my time. We are moving very well in the transfer market and why not?

“I can’t understand why Tottenham can’t compete with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal. I don’t understand why Tottenham can’t spend the same money as Chelsea, Liverpool.”

Ismaila Sarr has attracted Liverpool’s attention in the past and was a target in 2020, when they ended up signing Diogo Jota instead.

He scored four goals against Liverpool last season, including one in the Community Shield and two at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool have had two bids, of £50m and £60m, rejected by Brighton for right winger Yankuba Minteh.

They also offered a €100m package for Yan Diomande, who instead left RB Leipzig for Real Madrid while they want Bradley Barcola, though Paris Saint-Germain’s valuation of the France winger is more than Liverpool have been prepared to pay.

Alejandro Balde has informed Barcelona that he wants to stay and fight for his spot at the Camp Nou amid interest from Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The decision surrounding his future will remain up to the club, who will only sanction a move if a big offer comes in.

Hansi Flick has confirmed he will be part of the Barca squad that faces Athletic Club tomorrow.

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez by his representatives.

Villa are looking to offload the World Cup winner following the acquisition of Japan international Zion Suzuki, who they consider to be their long-term number one.

A deal to sell Martinez to Juventus fell through earlier in August and he was not in the squad for the 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation has been under renewed scrutiny following Robert Sanchez’s poor performance in Monday’s 3-2 win against Fulham when he was badly at fault in allowing a tame shot from Josh King to squeeze through him.

The club are understood to be considering whether to act to replace Sanchez with Martinez before the transfer window closes.

It had been hoped that 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg and could make his first-team debut against Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, would eventually prove able to step up and challenge Sanchez for the number one shirt.

However, the possibility of signing an established Premier League keeper and an experienced international presents obvious advantages for a club looking to challenge for the title this season.

Jack Grealish returned to Premier League action for Manchester City at the weekend but could the former England international be sent out on loan again this season?

After a productive spell at Everton last campaign, there are now reports that Sunderland are working on a deal to sign the 30-year-old winger.

Sunderland are in the market for a wide attacking player ahead of their return to European football this season.

Sky Sports report that a move for Grealish, who is into the final year of his contract, could see Sunderland explore both loan and permanent deals.

Liverpool are considering Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as their search for a new winger continues.

The Merseyside club have not made an offer for the Senegal international yet but they are exploring multiple options as they continue to look for a successor to the departed Mohamed Salah.

Sarr, who was strongly linked with Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier this summer, missed Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton on Saturday amid interest from Galatasaray, though manager Pierre Sage said it was for medical reasons.

Atletico Madrid insisted there is “zero per cent chance” they sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona this summer and claim they are “the only victims” in the protracted transfer saga.

The 26-year-old forward has made it clear that he would like to join Barcelona but Arsenal continue to monitor the situation and may move to make a late deal for the Argentina international.

The Independent understands that Atletico would like Alvarez’s future to be decided by Friday. The forward was booed during a substitute appearance in Atletico’s draw with Villarreal on Sunday night and reportedly missed training on Wednesday, which the club put down to “illness”.

Nottingham Forest are intent on fending off late interest in left-back Neco Williams amid interest from Tottenham, according to The Standard.

Forest insist the Welshman is not for sale and are trying to tie him down to a new contract.

Spurs, meanwhile, have not ruled out the move and would be open to understanding any requirements for a deal to happen, but recognise that a transfer is unlikely.