TRANSFER CONFIDENTIAL: Man United may face hold-up to Andre Onana deal, Chelsea are negotiating £100m Moises Caicedo move, FOUR top clubs like Romeo Lavia… and Wolves eye Liverpool flop

Manchester United are set to resume talks over Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this week, but the issue may not be resolved as quickly as hoped. A number of emails and verbal proposals have been sent to find a compromise on fees, and a formal offer to the Cameroon delegation is awaited. With David De Gea set to leave, United will also need another backup option like Urawa Reds’ Zion Suzuki. Dean Henderson will try to complete his move to Nottingham Forest next month when he feels better.

United new signing Mason Mount received a surprise welcome from defender Lisandro Martinez when he arrived in Carrington last week.

Martinez returned a week early to prepare for preseason training after recovering from a metatarsal fracture. The attacking Argentinean gave Mount a welcome hug when he showed up on his deal last Monday after he and Mount clashed when United and Chelsea faced each other last season.

West Ham target half-price Ward-Prowse deal

Southampton understand West Ham will sign James Ward-Prowse this week, albeit not for the amount they would like.

After relegation, Southampton are looking to recover around £100m from the sale of the player, valuing the 28-year-old Ward-Prowse at around £40m. In fact, West Ham will be aiming for a deal for half that amount.

Ideally Southampton don’t want to sell both Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia at the same time, but it would be the best route to earnings. to the elite. Armed with money from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, West Ham are looking for him and more physical midfielders like Juventus’ Dennis Zakaria and Leeds United’s Tyler Adams.

Four clubs eye Lavia as Chelsea negotiate Caicedo deal 

Lavia is worth £45m but Southampton could land more as Liverpool and Chelsea move up while Arsenal and Manchester United remain on the wing awaiting their own departures. Chelsea are in talks with Brighton over a potential £100m deal for Moises Caicedo. Should things get too difficult, they will return to Lavia, for whom they bid £50million in January.

Liverpool are focused on Lavia as his age of 19 and his progression in the Premier League are key factors in their assessment of building a youth squad.

Southampton have already used substitutes. As Confidential announced last week, they have opened talks with Manchester City over top-flight midfielder Shea Charles.The Northern Ireland international is set to undergo a medical in Southampton this midday ahead of a £15m deal with buy-and-buy clauses. Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury was also in talks but a move seems unlikely at this point. Defender Armel Bella-Kotchap, who is attracting inquiries from clubs in Monaco and the Bundesliga, could also go. Paul Onuachu, the 1.80m forward, has Augsburg, Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach on his trail, while Kyle Walker-Peters and Tino Livramento are also expected to leave.

Livramento is expected to receive offers from Newcastle United and Chelsea but wants to go where he will play.

Bayern weigh up Kane strategy

Bayern Munich are wondering if they should play along in the search for Tottenham captain Harry Kane for long.

Their latest offer of £70m plus bonuses is rejected by Tottenham, leaving Karlheinz Rummenigge and technical director Marco Neppe, who are behind the whole deal, with a decision to make.

Neppe, who has been in contact with Kane’s family and those close to him, believes the Tottenham forward is determined to join Bayern. If the 29-year-old continues to take that commitment seriously, they will consider exiting the auction this summer and returning in January when Kane gets the final months of his contract.

Bayern have a value limit they don’t want to cross and it’s not far from their current offering.

They think Manchester United won’t play poker with Daniel Levy because they don’t have the money and Tottenham would rather see Kane go abroad than lose him to a Premier League rival. That’s why Bayern believe it’s the best option for Tottenham. If Levy doesn’t sell now, they’re willing to wait and make a cheaper offer.

A new contract at Tottenham, with a considerable hike on his £250,000 a week wages is there for Kane but this decision is not about the money. He returns to pre-season training on Wednesday and will want an indication of where his future lies.

Bayern are prepared to give him an incentive next year too if he remains committed to them. They recognise the most important part of the season for them is March, so returning with an offer in January is under consideration.

Meanwhile, Manor Solomon is undergoing his medical at Tottenham on Monday ahead of the winger’s switch from Shakhtar Donetsk. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg remains an option for Atletico Madrid, who are also in the market for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella and free agent Wilfried Zaha, but the Spanish side have minimal cash to bid with as they await Alvaro Morata’s sale to AC Milan.

Wolves could hand Arthur second chance in England

Wolves are considering whether to give Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo another crack at the Premier League.

The 26-year-old Brazilian endured a disappointing loan spell with Liverpool last season that was blighted by a thigh injury and he is eager to prove he can shine in England. He has a lucrative offer from the Saudi Arabia Pro League but is waiting to see if Wolves will firm up an initial enquiry. They need to strengthen in midfield and must be creative with a limited budget. Juventus may sanction another loan with obligation.

Celtic youngster wanted in Spain

He was born in England, plays in Scotland and is eligible for Denmark but cosmopolitan Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley could yet be plying his trade in Spain.

The 22-year-old has Real Betis, Valencia and Sevilla all monitoring developments over his future this summer. Born in Hounslow, O’Riley started out at Fulham before moving to MK Dons and was capped by England at youth level. However, his Danish mum ensures he qualifies for Denmark who have capped him four times at U21 level. Brighton have also taken a keen interest in his progress with the Celtic but Real Betis are discussing a potential offer over the coming days. The Spanish side have been working on a loan deal for Leeds United’s Marc Roca.

Newcastle struggling to meet Barnes valuation 

Newcastle United still have work to do before finalising a deal for Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes.

Confidential revealed the 25-year-old was back on the agenda for Newcastle last week and the England international is keen on the move. However, Newcastle’s budget means a bid to match Leicester’s £40million valuation may not be so swift in the making. Manchester United and West Ham also like Barnes but Newcastle have done the groundwork. Ideally, they would offload players to help offset their spending. Allan Saint-Maximin has been discussed as a potential departure but the Frenchman has no firm move away in the pipeline as it stands.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have earmarked Lyon’s talented young right-back Sael Kumbedi as a back-up option to current transfer targets.

Eddie Howe’s side have been trying to find a middle ground with Southampton for Tino Livramento and retain an interest in Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.

The 18-year-old Kumbedi started out at Paris St Germain and can also fill in at left-back. Newcastle also want a centre-back, budget permitting and have spoken to Monaco’s Axel Disasi as well as considering Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.

Newcastle are also looking to convince former West Ham prospect Divine Mukasa to join them ahead of Rangers. The 15-year-old made a big impact on West Ham’s U18s last season but has left after ten years in their academy.

Seagulls set to sign Romanian wonderkid 

Brighton are closing on a deal for 17-year-old winger Adrian Mazilu from Farul Constanta, managed by Romania midfield great Gheorghe Hagi

Mazilu, a Romania U21 international, played 71 minutes of Farul’s 1-0 Super Cup defeat to Sepsi on Saturday. He won the league in his first season scoring six goals in 19 appearances and Farul would like him back on loan as part of the deal. 

Brighton have also been taking a look at young Rochdale striker Igor Tyjon but he is now poised to join Blackburn Rovers.

Everton surprise Almeria with loan offer 

Almeria have expressed surprise that Everton offered a loan with obligation for speedy striker El Bilal Toure. The cash-conscious Goodison club are understood to have proposed a loan fee then full payment in four instalments. Atalanta also want El Bilal as they await a bid from Manchester United for Rasmus Hojlund.

Everton need to be creative in the market which led to them discussing a swap involving Ellis Simms, now at Coventry, and Tom Cannon for Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton a few weeks back. They retain an interest in Leeds United striker Rodrigo and have spoken to veteran free agent Ashley Young.

Slimane in talks with Blades 

Sheffield United are hoping to wrap up a £2.2million deal for Anis Ben Slimane after he was pulled out of Brondby’s pre-season training camp to continue talks.

Though born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the 22-year-old midfielder made his World Cup finals debut for Tunisia against Denmark and played in their 1-0 win over France too.

Former Bournemouth centre-back Chris Francis is training with Sheffield United. The 20-year-old played in a friendly for Charlton last week and has interest from Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool.

Bamford poised to lead mass exodus at Ellan Road 

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is evaluating his squad with the likes of Patrick Bamford ready to leave the club.

Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams and Marc Roca are also the subject of interest from several clubs.

Farke is looking to bring in some players he knows well and some he has worked with in the past.

Leeds need a striker and are discussing a number of targets from Europe and the South American market.

One option is Denmark international Yussuf Poulsen from Red Bull Leipzig. The 29-year-old is not prolific but has a reputation for being a worker.

Townsend training with Clarets after Everton departure 

Free agent Andros Townsend is training with Burnley after leaving Everton following the expiry of his contract. 

The 31-year-old missed last season as he recovered from a knee injury. Burnley are giving a medical to centre-back Soumaila Coulibaly today ahead of the 19-year-old joining from Borussia Dortmund. 

Chelsea striker David Fofana is closing on a loan move to Union Berlin, who will have Champions League football this season. Berlin signed Brenden Aaronson from Leeds on loan at the weekend.

Brentford are taking a look at a £4million deal for Swansea City’s England U21 international defender Nathan Wood. The 21-year-old has interest from a number of clubs.

Sheffield Wednesday are in talks with Troy Deeney over a player coach role. Deeney knows manager Xisco Munoz well from their brief time together at Watford.