Transfer news and rumours: Jose Mourinho keeping 'options open' while Chelsea consider Romelu Lukaku

All the transfers news and rumours from Friday 22 July

Samuel Lovett
Friday 22 July 2016 02:20 EDT
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Mourinho answers questions during a press conference in China
Mourinho answers questions during a press conference in China (Getty)

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Jose Mourinho has said Manchester United are keeping their options open in the transfer market following reports that they are on the verge of signing Paul Pogba. Sky Sports recently claimed that United have already had an £85m bid for the Frenchman rejected before an offer in excess of £100m was made.

But Mourinho warned fans to be realistic and remained relatively tight-lipped about where the Pogba deal currently stands.

Having struggled to land Alvaro Morata after two failed bids, Chelsea are now turning their attention to Romelu Lukaku. According to the Liverpool Echo, the Blues will lodge a bid of around £50m which falls short of Everton’s £65m valuation.

The Toffees are determined to keep hold of the 23-year-old so it’s likely the west London club will have to up their offer.

Manchester City are closing in on Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, the Manchester Evening News reports. City have faced stiff competition from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but appear set to sign the 19-year-old Palmeiras star with a deal worth around £27m.

Watford are understood to be interested in signing Lille midfielder Sofiane Boufal and it is reported that the Hornets have already tabled a £16m offer for the Moroccan attacker.

However, the Watford Observer has suggested that so far the club is taking it slow and have only made initial enquiries about the player.

Eric Dier will become one of Tottenham’s best-paid players, according to the Telegraph, after the club offered the England international a five-year contract worth £70,000-a-week.

The 22-year-old has impressed for both club and country in recent months and it’s hoped the new contract will keep him at White Hart Lane right up until 2021.

West Brom are set to launch another bid for Jeffrey Schlupp after Leicester rejected the Baggies’ initial £9m bid.

The club are willing to double Schlupp’s current wages in the hope he will decide to leave the King Power Stadium, the Leicester Mercury suggests, but the 23-year-old is very much a part of Claudio Ranieri’s plans for the coming season.

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