Transfer news live: Manchester United close in on Victor Lindelof plus latest gossip and done deals

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live coverage of the summer transfer window.

It's been a busy few weeks already at the transfer coalface - and the window isn't even open yet.

But never fear The Independent will provide the strong and stable leadership you need throughout and guide you through every piece of news, tidbit of gossip and those all important done deals all day so stick with us here.

Without further ado, off we go.

Manchester United are hopeful of doing a double striker deal for Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Torino’s Andrea Belotti in the next two weeks, after agreeing terms with the Spanish striker and submitting a bid of around £70m for Belotti.

Manager Jose Mourinho has been keen to completely upgrade his forward line, especially with the anticipated departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, and The Independent understands that the Portuguese has decided to press away with trying to sign two forwards - as well as three other players.

United in the end agreed personal terms with Morata “very quickly”, and are now hopeful that they can secure the signing of the player for a fee of around £60m.

Mourinho wants the club to get a flurry of these key deals done quickly so he can begin planning for the season, and Benfica’s Swedish centre-half Victor Lindelof is now fully expected to join United after this international break.

Progress has also been made with defensive midfielder Fabinho of Monaco, while the Portuguese also plans to bring in Ivan Perisic of Internazionale, although there a difference of over £15m between United’s offering price and the £50m the Milanese club are asking.

Alexis Sanchez has said his future at Arsenal is in the hands of his agent amid mounting speculation of a summer move away from the Emirates.

The Chilean, who has one year left on his current contract, has yet to sign an extension deal at Arsenal and has subsequently emerged as a top target for a number of clubs on the continent.

Bayern Munich have been heavily linked to Sanchez in recent weeks, as have Chelsea and Manchester City.

And in his latest revelation, the 28-year-old has said his agent is now dealing with the matter of his future as he turns his attention to the Confederations Cup with Chile.

"I'm looking at what my agent is doing,” he said. “For now, I'm focused on the Confederations Cup in Russia and trying to do well.

"The truth is that my agent will see to it. He knows and he will sit down with the club to look for the best option for me. I'd like a lot of things but I'm only thinking about the national team."

Sunderland's Jordan Pickford is ready to put any transfer talks on hold to focus on England Under-21s' Euro 2017 bid.

England fly out for the tournament on Monday ahead of Friday's opener against holders Sweden and while Pickford, the Young Lions' first-choice goalkeeper, admits he wants to stay in the top flight, he will wait to resolve his future.

He said: "It's a hard one. I feel like I am proven in the Premier League but I have spoken to my agent and told him that I just want to concentrate on the Euros and be the best I can be. I'll see where it takes me.

"You have to take (the transfer speculation) as a compliment. I have just got to keep concentrating on myself. I have had a good season but it is about doing it next season, the season after that and then the one after that.

"But what will be will be. The Euros is massive for me and a lot of the other players. I feel it will be a great tournament. I feel we can go and win it. We won Toulon last year. All you lot (the media) were raving about Toulon, so we need to do that again."

Manchester United news:

Away from the transfers - check this video out of freerunners breaking into Old Trafford. The club have called them "stupid and irresponsible".

See the video here:

Southampton are targeting former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel as a replacement for Claude Puel, with Mauricio Pellegrino and Roger Schmidt also under consideration.

The Saints hierarchy have spent the past fortnight deliberating over Puel’s future following unrest from supporters and fallings-out with several senior players.

It’s understood the club are now close to sacking the Frenchman, who took charge just one year ago, with the two parties currently in the process of negotiating a pay-off over the remaining two years of the manager’s contract.

Tuchel, who left Dortmund late last month after falling out with the club’s hierarchy, has now emerged as a target for Southampton but would need convincing to make what would be seen as a step down from the German giants.

Manchester United news:

The Independent told you yesterday of how United were aiming to sign both Morata and Belotti as Mourinho drew up a shortlist of five new players to sign this summer.

But how could United find themselves lining up?

Take a look at the team below and let us know...

Felipe Anderson has admitted he "dreams" of playing for Manchester United.

The Brazilian was strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford during Louis van Gaal's tenure at the club but speculation has cooled in recent months with new manager Jose Mourinho understood to be looking at other targets this summer.

That hasn't stopped Anderson though who has talked up a potential switch once again.

"Every player dreams of playing for a team like United," the Lazio attacking midfielder told Sport TV. "After my season that was very good in the second year, there has always been a lot of speculation.

"If an opportunity shows up, or when I present myself at Lazio, I have to present myself very well.

"I leave it with my sister who takes care of my things, with my agents. I'm enjoying my vacation now, I don't even want to think about it.

"Of course it's my career, my future, but I know the work I've done, and even what I have to do on vacation."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's future may have been resolved, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

According to the daily, the Manchester United striker has had an agreement in place to join LA Galaxy since March.

Ibrahimovic feels his year in England was a success after United's Europa League triumph but he is now ready for "a fresh challenge".

As we reported yesterday, Ibrahimovic was named as a 'released' player by United but he may yet play for the club again, depending on how he recovers from his current knee injury.