Transfer news and rumours: Paul Pogba set for Manchester United medical, Arsenal prepare final bid for Lacazette
All the latest stories from the world of football on Friday 29 July
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Your support makes all the difference.Paul Pogba has arrived in Los Angeles to undergo a medical ahead of his world record move to Manchester United, according to numerous reports.
The deal is picking up pace again after appearing to stall in recent days and is now expected to be completed by the weekend.
United look set to pay Juventus £92m for the Frenchman while a further £20m will go to agent Mino Raiola. All issues involving the agent’s fee also appear to have now been resolved - the Italians will contribute £4m while United will cover the remaining £16m.
Back at Old Trafford, Bastian Schweinsteiger looks set to be axed as the first big-name casualty under Jose Mourinho, according to the Daily Express.
The German did not train with United’s first-team squad on Thursday and was absent from training footage released by the club.
It’s thought the midfielder has been told he can leave the club 12 months after signing from Bayern Munich in a £6.5m deal.
It’s expected Schweinsteiger will be joined by a handful of younger players who have also been told they can pursue the option of first-team football elsewhere.
Arsenal are planning an improved offer for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to Squawka, but are not prepared to spend more than £33.7m to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
Lyon announced on Tuesday that they had rejected a £29.5m bid from the Gunners for Lacazette, though it has since been suggested that the offer was made back in June.
The Gunners are also in talks to sign Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, Sky Sports reports. It is understood that no offer for the 24-year-old German centre-back has yet been made to the Spanish club.
Mustafi has a release clause of £42.1m but it’s believed that Arsenal may be able to sign the German for £25.3m plus a further £8.4m in add-ons.
This follows Arsene Wenger’s recent remarks that the club needs to sign another centre-back after Per Mertersacker was ruled out on a long-term basis with a knee injury.
Manchester City target Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of completing a transfer out of Palmeiras – but has not confirmed his destination, the Daily Mail reports.
The Brazilian has been linked with a number of European sides, including City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the youngster refused to specify which one of these sides he was in talks with.
“My future is almost decided,” he said. And while his focus now is on his country’s home Games, he promised his destination will be known “before long”.
Lastly, veteran James Milner could be utilised as an emergency left-back at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp finally gave up on his pursuit of Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.
Alberto Moreno endured a nightmare end to last season, with a dismal performance in the Europe League Final, but Klopp has been unsuccessful in his attempts to find a new left-back.
While Moreno is therefore expected to remain the first-choice candidate, the Daily Telegraph has suggested that Milner could subsequently fill the position in times of emergency with Klopp insisting he will not be forced into a panic-buy.
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