Football transfer rumours: Jordan Pickford off to Manchester United?

E rik ten Hag is a little fed up. The Manchester United sale is taking for ever, Kim Min-jae has chosen Bayern Munich over a move to Old Trafford, Chelsea are demanding £70m for Mason Mount and now even David de Gea is wavering on a new contract he scarcely deserves after a season diving over bobbling shots and booting the ball out of play as his teammates try to build from the back.

What better way for Ten Hag to cheer himself up than by signing the lovable rascal Jordan Pickford from Everton. Reports suggest United are preparing to capitalise on Everton’s money troubles by slapping a £45m bid on the Goodison Park table and sweetening the deal by offering England’s No 1 a double-your-money £200,000 contract to jump ship. Axel Disasi is also being lined up to provide competition for Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane at centre-back, with Monaco looking for £44m to let the France international go.

When Mikel Arteta spoke of a reset after Arsenal missed out on the title most people though he meant mentally, but it seems he wants a whole new midfield – one without Thomas Partey as well as Granit Xhaka. Sources have made it known the Ghana midfielder is up for sale at the right price; £50m and you can come on down. There is interest from clubs in Italy and Spain, but they are all broke, so the Gunners will hope the Saudis join the race after Al-Hilal trumped everyone for Rúben Neves. Roméo Lavia has already been earmarked as Partey’s replacement, and Arsenal have jumped ahead of Chelsea, United and Liverpool for the teenage Belgian who Manchester City can buy back from Southampton for £40m next summer if he fancies a year in the Championship.

Chelsea’s reset is more of a yard sale, with Kai Havertz’s £60m move to Arsenal