Transfer rumours and paper review – Tuesday, July 4: Manchester United to announce £60m Morata deal, Arsenal to bid £70m for Sporting Lisbon duo?
Here are the top transfer-related stories in Tuesday's newspapers...
Manchester United aim to announce the £60million signing of Alvaro Morata on Thursday. There was significant progress made on the deal for the Real Madrid striker over the weekend. Morata’s father and agent met officials at the club on Monday to iron out the details of the deal. (The Sun)
Diego Costa is adamant he will not be pushed out the door by Antonio Conte and is holding up Chelsea’s move to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton. Costa has turned down a move to China’s Super League and will only quit Stamford Bridge for a return to Atletico Madrid. (Daily Mirror)
Chelsea have indicated they are willing to pay a club-record £60 million to land Juventus left-back Alex Sandro. Fresh talks regarding Sandro’s future took place on Monday and it is essentially now down to the player whether or not he will move to Stamford Bridge. (Daily Telegraph)
Arsenal are planning a £70million double raid on Sporting Lisbon for William Carvalho and Gelson Martins. (The Sun)
Jens Lehmann is to join Arsenal as a first-team coach. The German will return to the club for a third time, following two stints as a player, as Arsène Wenger tinkers with his backroom staff. (Guardian)
West Ham want to bring Javier Hernandez back to the Premier League as they strive to bolster their striking options this summer. The Hammers also remain in the hunt for Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud and Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi, but hope to make progress in negotiations over Hernandez. (Daily Telegraph)
Rafa Benitez has been urged to have patience with Newcastle’s lack of progress in the transfer market. Benitez wants at least five new recruits capable of improving his first XI, and has grown increasingly frustrated he hasn’t made a flying start to his rebuild. (Daily Mirror)
Everton are set to make a £20m move for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud. Giroud, 30, is almost certain to be on the move as Arsenal are ready to complete a £44m-plus move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. (Daily Mirror)
Southampton are playing hardball on Ryan Bertrand - and are determined to block him leaving this summer. Manchester City are keen on the England left back as Pep Guardiola looks to strengthen his squad and they believe Bertrand is ready to quit. But Southampton have told Bertrand they are not ready to let him go this summer despite strong interest from City and Liverpool. (Daily Mirror)
Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp plans to spend the money he has saved on John Terry’s wages to pay for five or six other new players instead. (Daily Mirror)
Former Manchester United wonderkid Ravel Morrison is training with Birmingham City with a view to a permanent move from Lazio. (Daily Mirror)
And here are the latest talkSPORT.com headlines...?
talkSPORT EXCLUSIVE - Everton expecting Wayne Rooney to re-sign from Manchester United this summer
Paul Clement EXCLUSIVE: Swansea City boss on John Terry snub, transfer plans and more
DEAL CLOSE? Former Manchester United ace Angel Di Maria has ‘agreed personal terms’ with Inter Milan
SNUBBED! Watford-linked goalkeeper wants Valencia move over Premier League switch
Arsenal transfer ALERT! Gunners to face competition in pursuit of Norwegian teen ace Sander Berge
Transfer BATTLE! Leicester and Roma in fight for Sassuolo striker Gregoire Defrel