Transfer news LIVE: Foster retires, Laporte to join Al Nassr, Pochettino on Chelsea striker search, Liverpool hold Gravenberch talks

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• Southampton have rejected a £15million bid from Bayer Leverkusen for Nathan Tella, talkSPORT understands.

  Tella was also a target for Burnley earlier in the transfer window after a goal-laden loan spell at Turf Moor last season.

  The 24-year-old attacker scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 45 games for the Clarets last term, playing a major role in their Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League.

  He has one goal and one assist in three Championship appearances for Southampton this term.

  

• Inter Milan are confident of beating Arsenal to the signing of Benjamin Pavard.

  talkSPORT brought you the news last week that the Gunners were keen on Pavard as a potential replacement for Jurrien Timber, after the recent signing was ruled out for most of the season wit ha major injury.

  But Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has claimed the Italian giants are leading the race to land the French World Cup from Bayern Munich.

  “We won’t announce Benjamin Pavard as new signing today but… we’re in good position,” said Marotta.

  “We’re doing our best to sign Pavard, we are ambitious.

  “It’s not an illusion, we feel we can make it happen.”

  

• Kalvin Phillips remains on Liverpool’s radar as the Reds target more midfield arrivals, talkSPORT understands.

  Alex Crook joined White and Jordan to discuss a possible move to Anfield for the out-of-favour Manchester City man.

  “Kalvin Phillips is a player Liverpool looked at before he went from Leeds to Man City, and we know it’s been a tough window for Liverpool in terms of target they’ve missed out on,” he said.

  “Phillips is someone who is proven in the Premier League, he got that £50million move to City on the back of a really good European Championship for England, and we’ve got a Euros at the end of the season.

  “I think at the start of the season Phillips wanted to stay and fight for his place at Man City, but he was on the bench with a load of kids at the weekend and he isn’t going to force his way into that team.

  “Surely if he wants to play for England at the Euros, this would be a great move for him.

  “It’s one to keep an eye on from now until the end of the window.”

  

• Nottingham Forest have agreed a £9.5million fee with Sevilla for Argentine full-back Gonzalo Montiel, talkSPORT understands.

  The 26-year-old scored Argentine’s winning penalty in the World Cup final against France in December.

  He followed that up by scoring the winning spot kick for Sevilla in the Europa League title last season, as they beat Roma in a shoot-out to lift the title.

  Montiel has spent two seasons in LaLiga following his arrival from Argentina giants River Plate, registering two goals and six assists in 72 appearances for the Spanish side.

  

• Ryan Reynolds has paid tribute to Ben Foster after the Wrexham goalkeeper announced his retirement.

  The Hollywood actor and Wrexham co-owner wrote on Twitter: “He built memories I’ll never let go of for as long as I live. I love this guy. Thank you for everything, Ben.”

  Foster has added an explanation for his decision on his Instagram page, and said a heartfelt thank you you fans of the Welsh club.

  “I think the timing is right,” he said.

  “Sometimes you’ve just got to be brutally honest with yourself and just admit that you can’t really do what you use to do.

  “It’s a shame, but being 40 years old it’s kinda expected as well.

  “I feel like there have been four or five goals already that I should be saving, and it’s weird because goals have gone in and I’m thinking, ‘You should have saved that, how haven’t you saved that?’

  “That’s the reason I’m retiring.”

• Ben Foster has announced his retirement from football… again.

  The 40-year-old first announced he was putting his gloves away in September 2022, only to come out of retirement in March of this year to sign a surprise deal with former club Wrexham.

  The experienced goalkeeper helped the Welsh side to promotion back to the Football League with a series of match-saving performances, including a crucial stoppage-time penalty save in a victory over promotion rivals Notts County.

  But things haven’t been so good in League Two, having conceded 13 goals in four matches this season.

  And Wrexham have now announced Foster has decided to retire for the second time in his career, with the goalkeeper telling manager Phil Parkinson of his decision following Saturday’s 5-5 draw with Swindon.

  Foster said in a statement: “The honest truth is that my performances this season haven’t reached the level I demand of myself and I feel that now is the right time to retire.

  “At the forefront of my mind when making this decision, was not only what was best for me but also the club, and making the decision now gives the club every opportunity to assess their options before the window closes.

  “Wrexham will always have a special place in my heart.”

  Parkinson added: “Ben has been the model professional while at Wrexham and has done everything we have asked of him.

  “It takes a big person to make the decision he has and one who really understands this football club, with the timing of his decision.

  “I am sure I speak for everyone, when thanking him for his contribution that went far beyond that one magnificent penalty save against Notts County to help us gain promotion last season.

  “Wrexham AFC was a better place for having Ben Foster around the club.”

  

• West Ham have revived their interest in long-term target Youssef En-Nesyri, talkSPORT understands.

  The Hammers had a £27million bid for the Sevilla striker rejected in 2021.

  En-Nesyri, 26, has netted 55 goals in 157 games in all competitions for the LaLiga outfit since arriving from Spanish second division club Club Deportivo Leganes in 2020.

  He also scored twice against Manchester United in the Europa League last term as his side knocked the Red Devils out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

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• Jeremy Doku has told Rennes he wants to join Manchester City despite interest from West Ham, talkSPORT understands.

  City had identified Doku as a potential Riyad Mahrez replacement.

  West Ham have also held talks with Rennes over a move for the Belgian winger.

  The 21-year-old ace came through the Anderlecht academy but left his homeland for French side Rennes in 2020.

  In 92 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit, he has managed 12 goals and ten assists.

  

• Former Celtic star Jota is reportedly ready to quit Saudi Arabia just one month after his big-money move from Parkhead.

  The 24-year-old was signed by Al Ittihad for £25m earlier this summer, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo has chosen to bench him for both of their opening two games of the season.

  According to leading Saudi journalist Muhammad Al-Bakiri, chiefs from Al Ittihad – who have also signed Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho – have decided Jota is not right for their team and are now ready to move him on.

  It is suggested he will leave on loan, with a transfer to fellow Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab mooted.

  However, some fans on social media are suggesting Ange Postecoglou could make a move to bring his ex-Celtic star to Tottenham.

  Jota played a major role in Celtic’s treble triumph during Postecoglou’s second season in charge in Glasgow, and ended his spell with the Scottish giants with a record of 28 goals and 26 assists in 83 games.

  

• Everton have agreed a fee with Al Shabab for Demarai Gray, according to reports.

  Sky Sports claim the Toffees are ready to sell the 27-year-old winger, but will hold off on giving the transfer the go-ahead until a replacement is found.

  Everton are already without Alex Iwobi, Dwight McNeil and summer signing Jack Harrison due to early season injuries.

  Sean Dyche is keen to bring in more players before the September 1 transfer deadline, but with those players already out the Merseyside club can’t afford to weaken the team further by allowing Gray to leave without a direct replacement coming in.

  

• Son Heung-min says Dele Alli will always be part of the Tottenham family and hopes his former teammate will not ‘have tough times anymore’.

  Dele was warmly greeted back at Spurs on Saturday as he watched his old club’s 2-0 win over Manchester United, and he caught up with many of his ex-teammates afterwards.

  “Dele was always close, as a friend with me,” said new Tottenham captain Son.

  “It was a really tough moment for him and obviously I’m always there to support him because he’s one of my closest friends. This relationship is very special.

  “He helped me a lot settling down in the UK when I was struggling. He was helping me a lot and is still a good friend of mine.

  “It’s always good to see him and any time if he needs anything, any second, I will be always there for him. I don’t want him to have tough times anymore.

  “We will always support him.

  “Obviously it’s up to him now because he has to recover well, get fit and play well because his quality is not in doubt because he has been showing in the Premier League what he can do.

  “Look, I’m always supporting him, like a member of family.”

  

• Manchester United are considering a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, talkSPORT understands.

  Gravenberch wants to leave Bayern in search of regular first- team football and is also attracting interest from Liverpool.

  United want to sign another midfielder this month following the departure of Fred.

  

• Tottenham target Ivan Toney admitted he is a huge admirer of Arsenal as he discussed his future on the Diary of a CEO podcast.

  Toney, who is currently serving an eight-month ban for betting rule breaches, scored 20 Premier League goals last season with Brentford.

  The striker said: “I’ve been a Liverpool fan my whole life, but from young I’ve liked Arsenal. I’ve liked watching Arsenal and how they play and how passionate their fans are.

  “I’m a Liverpool boy at heart.”

  When asked about Man United, host Steven Bartlett’s team, he said: “I liked Berbatov when he was there. I liked watching Man United a lot when he was there.”

  

• Roy Hodgson admits every Premier League manager is looking for a player like Declan Rice to anchor their team as he prepares his Crystal Palace side to come up against the England midfielder on Monday.

  The 24-year-old’s £105million move to Arsenal from West Ham last month made him one of four players in his position to have been bought for a nine-figure fee by European clubs during the last eight months, as the value placed by top sides on central midfielders has rocketed.

  Rice is part of an elite group that includes World Cup-winner Enzo Fernandez and his new Chelsea team-mate Moises Caicedo – both signed by the Blues for British record fees – and England’s Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in July, with each having been signed for fees that could exceed £100m.

  “I think it (central midfield) has always been big,” said Hodgson. “I don’t think it’s anything new. You will never be able to align it to centre forward because centre forwards will always be right up there as really big ones.

  “It’s still Neymar and (Kylian) Mbappe that go beyond our hundred million pounds here. Harry Kane, yes he cost just over a hundred million (when he signed for Bayern Munich), but only because he was in the last year of his contract. If he’d have had a three-year contract, Tottenham would have been asking for a lot more money. They score the goals. The game is about goals.

  “But I think the midfield area is an area where people within football have always understood the importance of it and the importance of getting good players in, none more so than Sir Alex (Ferguson) at Manchester United because he always had really, really top-class players in that centre of midfield, all of whom brought him trophies.

  “(Rice) has got strength, he’s got energy, he understands the game very well. He gets from box to box, and when he’s in each of the boxes, he does a really good job. He knows how to defend and he also has an eye for goal, so really he’s the type of player that every person is looking for.”

  

• Liverpool have held more talks with Bayern Munich over a deal to sign Ryan Gravenberch, according to reports.

  Jurgen Klopp is still keen to sign more midfielders this summer despite the additions of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and most recently Wataru Endo.

  The Mail report that Gravenberch is still high on Klopp’s list of targets, with Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure.

  

• Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Chelsea are looking to add a striker to their squad this summer.

  The Blues have already completed deals to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, but appear thin on the ground at present.

  Speaking to talkSPORT, Pochettino said: “It is a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja but they are injured.

  “It is not easy in this moment to find the right profile. We are in the process, working to see if we can add some players in this area.

  “But it is a job that is not easy for the club. For sure, they are working really hard to add some players.

  “If it is not possible, we need to wait until Nkunku and Broja will be ready and we have the help of Mason [Burstow].

  “I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances that we created, we need to be more clinical.

  “It is not only the strikers that need to be clinical in front of goal.”

  

• That’s your lot for talkSPORT.com’s transfer blog for the weekend.

  Be sure to check back in the morning where we’ll have all of the biggest transfer lines in football as the clock starts to tick down on the summer transfer window.

• Sean Dyche says that he’s waiting for news on a number of Everton signings.

  The Toffees endured a torrid day at the office in which they fell to a 4-0 hammering against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

  Everton have serious work to do as they prepare for what could be another tough season in the battle to avoid the drop and according to Dyche, the focus now has to be on strengthening.

  He said: “We’ve got to look at what we’ve got and work with that.

  “I don’t think there’s a magic wand; there never was. There’s no shortcuts because they usually cost a lot of money. But we’re working hard to construct deals that affect us in a positive way.

  “There’s fresh reports about all sorts of things, so at the minute I’m not going to talk about something that’s mythical. I did talk about (Youssef) Chermiti because I felt that was more or less done, but these deals at the minute I’m waiting for news.

  “That’s not about Che Adams, it’s any deal. We’re in for a number of situations; whether they come to fruition, I’m waiting on news.”

  

• Neil Warnock gave a typically brutal response to Ajax’s move for Chuba Akpom, describing the fee of £12.2million as ‘a bloody miracle’ for Middlesbrough.

  Warnock, who now manages Huddersfield, was in charge of the Teessiders when they signed the ex-Arsenal starlet in 2020 but struggled to get sort of performance out of him, before allowing him to leave on loan for Greek side PAOK.

  However after his 29 goals last term earned him a move to the Dutch giants, Warnock didn’t pull any punches.

  “To get £12.2m for Chuba is a bloody miracle, well done to Michael,” said Warnock after watching his Huddersfield side draw 1-1 at the Riverside on Saturday.

  “I think the people at the top will be happy to get that sort of money in.

  “You can see they’ve signed two players this week for decent money. Michael is a good bloke, there’s only Michael who’d have got that out of Chuba Akpom. I never thought about playing him in the hole and he can’t play up-front, so I hope Ajax haven’t bought him to play up-front or he’ll be back in England or somewhere else next year.”

  It’s an honour to be joining a club with such a history. Thanks for the warm welcome. I can’t wait to get going and working towards more success. Always trust the process.
  God’s Plan @AFCAjax ❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/XyK3HxpDnc

  — Chuba Akpom (@cakpom) August 16, 2023

• Crystal Palace have held talks with Manchester United about goalkeeper Dean Henderson, talkSPORT understands.

  Palace want to sign Henderson on loan with an option to buy.

  The south London club are in the market for a new goalkeeper with Vicente Guaita refusing to play for the club.

  

• Everton have made an improved offer of £15million for Southampton striker Che Adams, talkSPORT understands.

  Saints rejected their initial bid of £12m last week, but will make a renewed effort to sign him.

  Sean Dyche watched his Toffees side lose 4-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday.

  

• Aymeric Laporte is set to become Cristiano Ronaldo’s new teammate at Al Nassr.

  talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs confirmed the news that the Man City defender has agreed a three-year deal with the Saudi Arabia club.

  City accepted a bid of around £25.6million for the centre-back.

  

• Real Madrid are reportedly planning a swoop on Kylian Mbappe THIS SUMMER.

  Bild claim Madrid will make a move for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar and make a £103million offer.

  Mbappe had only just returned to the PSG squad after initially trying to force his way out of the club.

  

• Divock Origi is being lined-up for a shock Premier League return, according to reports.

  The Sun claim Sheffield United want to sign the former Liverpool striker on loan.

  Origi is currently at AC Milan, joining the Serie A club after leaving Anfield last summer.

  

• Dani Olmo has commented on the rumours linking him to Man City this summer.

  The RB Leipzig star has been touted as being possible cover for Kevin De Bruyne.

  He told Bild: “There is nothing! I’m fully focused on the task in Leipzig, the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the cup.

  “Man City are a big club — one of the biggest in the world. Josko Gvardiol] went there. But I’m happy here.”