THE start of the Premier League is just days away – but there’s still time for plenty of transfer business to be done.
Chelsea have dominated the market so far, splashing out close to £200million on Timo Werner, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz.
Their big rivals have struggled to keep up, with Manchester United finally getting the chequebook out last week to land Donny van de Beek from Ajax – in what Paul Merson described as a ‘panic buy’.
So with less than a week to go before the first whistle blows, which major deals are still on the table and who could be making a late entrance ahead of Saturday’s big kick-off?
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THOMAS PARTEY: ATLETICO MADRID TO ARSENAL
THE £45m-rated Ghanaian midfielder has been chased by Mikel Arteta for months as he looks to add steel to his side.
Dani Ceballos has extended his loan deal but the capture of Partey, 27, who scored four times in 46 games last season, would be a huge coup.
He has reportedly rejected a new deal and wants to move to the Premier League – despite interest from PSG.
But Arteta must raise some funds first after failing with a swap offer involving Matteo Guendouzi and Alexandre Lacazette.
THIAGO ALCANTARA: BAYERN TO LIVERPOOL
JURGEN Klopp appeared to be winning a one-horse race for the Spaniard as last season drew to a close.
The 29-year-old midfielder has a year left on his deal at the Allianz Arena and the European champions were happy for him to pursue a new challenge elsewhere and avoid losing him on a free next year.
But Manchester United are now said to be making a late charge and it’s not hard to see why, with the former Barca star available for around £27m.
Thiago is giving nothing away though, telling reporters at the weekend that ‘I neither care nor am I interested’ in transfer speculation.
Let’s see what he’s saying next weekend.
JADON SANCHO – DORTMUND TO MAN UNITED
THE saga of the summer isn’t over yet – and could well drag on through the autumn.
This ‘summer transfer window’ doesn’t end until October 5, which gives United plenty of time to find the £350,000 a week that Sancho reportedly wants – and the £110m Dortmund are demanding.
Donny van de Beek’s arrival suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have moved on from his No1 target – who United have chased in preference to Chelsea new boy Kai Havertz.
But if Ole still wants him, he’d better get his finger out or risk losing him to Liverpool, Jamie Carragher warns.
KALIDOU KOULIBALY: NAPOLI TO MAN CITY
PEP appeared to be in pole position to land the 29-year-old centre back and tabled a £53million bid weeks ago.
Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadani is even said to have flown to Manchester and spent two days listening to the finer points of City’s offer.
But Napoli supremo Aurelio De Laurentiis will accept nothing less than £63million for the highly-rated centre-back.
And with PSG also said to be in the frame, City need to splash the cash quickly if they are to land the Senegal star, who is also a long-term target of neighbours United.
Neither Manchester clubs plays this weekend but they will be keen to get a deal done ASAP either way.
DECLAN RICE : WEST HAM TO CHELSEA
THE England youngster remains a top target for the big-spending Blues with Frank Lampard reportedly getting the green light from Roman to go all out for him.
The former Chelsea youth, 21, is seen as a solution to the club’s defensive frailties, with Lampard bringing him back to the position he used to play before West Ham converted him to a midfielder.
A move across the capital would be heartbreaking for Hammers fans, and it’s doubtful if the £80m the board would demand for Rice would ease the pain.
