Transfer news LIVE: Man United close to £62.5m signing and Liverpool identify new striker to boost champions

Newcastle United are willing to let Callum Wilson leave after neglecting to take up an option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.

Instead, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Magpies will negotiate a new deal with more performance-based clauses, with a player who has often struggled to stay fit.

Wilson, now 32 years of age, scored just one goal last term over 22 appearances in all competitions.

Barcelona could tie down perhaps the hottest name in football right now: Lamine Yamal.

Fabrizio Romano reports a new contract is ready for the Spaniard, who will sign on for the next six years up to 2031.

Jorge Mendes was at the heart of the negotiation, it is reported, with director Deco and president Joan Laporta eager to secure the future of one of the front-runners to win this year’s Ballon d’Or despite just 17 years of age.

And they could make a double swoop on the 2024 Bundesliga champions, though any transfer for Wirtz could involve breaking Liverpool’s transfer record. Leverkusen reportedly want £126m for Wirtz, who was named the Bundesliga Player of the Year last season.

Liverpool’s current record fee is the £75m paid for Virgil van Dijk, while Darwin Nunez cost £64m, which could rise to £85m with add-ons. Liverpool bid £111m for Moises Caicedo in 2023, before he moved to Chelsea for a British record £115m. The versatile Wirtz has had tallies in double figures of both goals and assists in each of the last two Bundesliga seasons for Leverkusen, scoring 18 and 16 in all competitions.

Mohamed Salah was the posterboy of Slot’s title winners, with an eye-watering 46 goal contributions in 37 games taking the Reds out of reach at the top of the table.

However, it was in midfield where Liverpool surprised most, with Slot refining a midfield trio brought in by his predecessor and making each one of them an invaluable entity. His transformation of Ryan Gravenberch from a promising yet raw talent to a world-class defensive midfielder was most astounding, with the 23-year-old starting all 34 league games before Liverpool sealed the title against Spurs.

Alexander Isak will stay at Newcastle for next season, which has led Liverpool to shift targets, according to Belgian transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri.

The Reds will consider Chelsea target Hugo Ekitike, as an option should Darwin Nunez attract a move to La Liga or Saudi Arabia.

The Reds could then add the Eintracht Frankfurt star to their options alongside Cody Gakpo as a No. 9.

Chelsea have discussed a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, as they hone transfer plans now that they have qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League.

With Nicolas Jackson suspended for the final two games and Marc Guiu just 18 years of age, Chelsea had been left short in attack.

The club are now actively targeting a striker in the market with the French star high on their list, though they also have significant interest in Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.

While Arsenal are considering the former, who has shone for Sporting this season, Manchester United are now expected to sign Delap, leaving Chelsea to extensively discuss a move for Ekitike.

Liverpool rejected that but risked losing Salah on a free transfer this year, as his contract entered its final few months and after the forward described himself as “more out than in”.

Matheus Cunha is nearing a move to Manchester United.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that a verbal agreement in now place between clubs and player.

A five-year contract with the option for another 12 months, to take the Brazilian up until 2031 at Old Trafford is thought to be in place.

Wolves will pocket Cunha’s £62.5m clause in three installments it seems, too, with the the BBC’s Sami Mokbel reporting the first payment is £20.8m this summer.