Transfer news live: Sesko to undergo Man United medical today, Liverpool’s Isak plan, Arsenal reject Rodrygo swap

Tin foil hat, pinch of salt, open mind time.

Arsenal are rumoured to have rejected an approach from Real Madrid to swap defender William Saliba for out-of-favour Rodrygo.

The Madrid forward is on the market this summer with plenty of clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool included, being linked to signing him.

A report from Spanish outlet Defensa Central, as relayed by FourFourTwo, claims that Real have put forward a scenario in which Rodrygo signs for Arsenal and Saliba travels the other way.

Arsenal could make their first formal bid for Ebere Eze later this month as they wait for the proposed transfer of Fabio Vieira to Stuttgart.

The Gunners have targeted Eze all summer but rumours persist that Crystal Palace will insist that Arsenal pay the England international’s full release clause, which is around £68m.

The clause is set to expire around 16 August, though Palace could decide to remain firm in their valuation of the player.

Saudi Pro League side, Al Hilal, are closing in on a deal for Darwin Nunez after securing a verbal agreement with Liverpool, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian says that the “club to club agreement is done”, with the Saudi club in talks with the Liverpool striker over personal terms.

Should this move get over the line it would open up funds for the Reds to pursue Alexander Isak further and up their initial bid of £110m and get closer to Newcastle’s valuation of £150m.

Lots of moving parts but a boost for Liverpool in their pursuit of Isak.

Manchester United are working quickly with the new season approaching fast.

On Thursday 7 August they agreed a £74m deal with RB Leipzig to sign 22-year-old forward Benjamin Sesko.

It was expected that the striker would fly to Manchester on Thursday evening and will undergo a medical on Friday ahead of his move to Old Trafford.

Sesko has signed a five-year contract and as part of the deal United will play a friendly against Leipzig, which is still to be arranged.

Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season and has 39 goals in 87 appearances since joining the Bundesliga team.

Meanwhile, United’s move for Sesko will take their summer spending over £190m having also signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon.

Welcome to The Independent’s transfer news blog where we’ll have all the latest rumours and done deals.

The big news is that Benjamin Sesko is heading to the Premier League and will undergo a medical at Manchester United.

Manchester United are on the brink of signing Benjamin Sesko and will head into the new season with a whole new forward line.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have also been brought in from Wolves and Brentford respectively and bring a heap of Premier League experience with them.

Ruben Amorim is pleased with how his team have been performing in pre-season but may want a few more additions before the window is done.

Here’s how United could line up for their first match against Arsenal on August 17:

Man Utd possible XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Amad, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko

The Slovenian striker, who could cost up to £73.7m if add-ons are triggered, is set to become Ruben Amorim’s third major signing this summer and to take his spending in the transfer window to over £200m.

The Old Trafford hierarchy are trying to find innovative solutions to multiple transfer issues this summer, as Ruben Amorim wants to continue his overhaul of the squad while moving players on. United’s PSR pressures are nevertheless well known, meaning they are investigating deals where players go both ways. The club also want an athletic number-six and a goalkeeper, with the potential order of signings dependent on opportunities and sales.

Barcelona have stripped goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the club captaincy as the rift between the club and it’s No 1 deepens.

Barca wanted Ter Stegen to sign a consent form permitting the club to sign him off as a long-term injury in order for the keeper to be excluded from their salary registration. The club signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol last month, with the club likely expecting to sell Ter Stegen, 33, to make space in their wage bill for Garcia and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford.

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season and will undergo surgery, the club has confirmed.

Maddison, a 75th-minute substitute, only played for nine minutes in Spurs’ pre-season game against Newcastle in Seoul before he was seen in visible discomfort.

The 28-year-old was surrounded by teammates and looked upset, with medical staff taking him off the pitch on a stretcher. New manager Thomas Frank said after the game that the injury was “brutal” and its severity has now been confirmed.