𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The presumption is that Chelsea would eventually sign Alejandro Garnacho this summer having been strongly linked with the Manchester United forward throughout the transfer window – yet Enzo Maresca’s group of frontline options remains bloated. Sky Sports believe that the London club will only progress with deals for Garnacho and Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig if some can be let go.

Manchester United have been holding out for a permanent departure of Jadon Sancho, but despite heavy interest around Europe, a suitable offer is yet to arrive. There are plenty of loan suitors, though, and Fabrizio Romano believes that Roma may be the winger’s next club if he is willing to move to Serie A.

Still available for transfer, meanwhile, are Manchester United’s exiles. Marcus Rashford has been moved on but all of Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho may yet be on the move before the end of the window.

Ruben Amorim probably needed heavy investment this summer, and the Manchester United hierarchy have backed him. His desire to sign Carlos Baleba will have to wait, though, after Brighton held firm in negotiations and commanded a high fee. The BBC report that Manchester United’s interest has been ended for now.

There will be plenty to watch at Old Trafford this afternoon, but one storyline feels likely to dominate as two new centre forwards go head-to-head. Ruben Amorim once had Viktor Gyokeres at his disposal, helping to turn the Swedish striker into the player he has now become, and will now hope that Benjamin Sesko proves a catalyst in his Manchester United rebuild. Richard Jolly considers the fortunes of the two forwards key to this season-opening clash.

Arsenal, of course, had been heavily linked with Eberechi Eze earlier in the window, though it now seems likely that they will miss out to their north London rivals. Will they go in for an alternative target between now and the end of the window? With Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres already brought in, it may be that Mikel Arteta is happy to stand pat having bolstered his squad – the new signings could make Premier League debuts in the intriguing encounter with Manchester United this afternoon.

Crystal Palace appear to be considering Bilal El Khannouss as a possible target to replace Eberechi Eze. The club have monitored the Leicester forward this summer and could now go in for him if they do sell Eze.

The timing isn’t necessarily ideal for Crystal Palace, who open their Premier League season against Chelsea this afternoon. Will Oliver Glasner leave Eberechi Eze out of his squad? Or might the England international make a farewell appearance at Stamford Bridge?

The Independent has been told negotiations were “difficult” on Saturday night despite Spurs getting closer to a deal for Eberechi Eze, though there is still an expectation that any issues can be overcome. Eze fancies the move, it appears, as he perhaps prepares to swap south London for north of the river.

The big news last night was Tottenham’s breakthrough in the pursuit of Eberechi Eze. A £55m move appears to be on the cards for the Crystal Palace forward, who would be an excellent addition to Thomas Frank’s squad following the departure of Son Heung Min and injury to James Maddison.