Football transfer rumours: Arsenal back for £60m Konsa? Asencio to Liverpool?

Aston Villa struggling to hold on to their World Cup stars has become something of a theme of this transfer window and off we go again with Arsenal stepping up their interest in Ezri Konsa. The Daily Mail reports that the Premier League champions, having had a bid for the England defender rebuffed last month, are coming back with a bigger offer for Konsa, who Villa value at £60m minimum. Meanwhile, Villa are trying to nail down a £14m deal for Atlético Madrid’s Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri.

Liverpool are looking for defensive reinforcements and could swoop for the Real Madrid centre-back Raúl Asencio. The 23-year-0ld has been told he can leave the Bernabéu and various Mr 15%s have approached Liverpool about a move, reports Teamtalk. Also on Andoni Iraola’s radar is the teenage Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye. The 18-year-old, who scored a stunning goal for Senegal against France at the World Cup, is believed to be keen on a move to Anfield.

Across the city, Everton like the cut of Alistair Johnston’s jib and the Celtic and Canada full-back fancies a switch to the Premier League, according to the Scotsman, which reports that David Moyes and Martin O’Neill have already had a chinwag about a possible deal.

It’s all happening in Turkey. Mohamed Salah, whose arrival at Trabzonspor on Wednesday brought fans into the streets, could be joined by his old mate Darwin Núñez as the Turkish club prepare to party like it’s 2023. The Uruguayan striker has struggled since joining Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League last year and would be available on a free.

Elsewhere, Fenerbahce have been linked with a move, most likely on loan, for Real Madrid’s Endrick. Fiorentina and Roma have also shown interest in the Brazil forward, who was on loan at Lyon last season, but Fenerbahce reportedly fancy their chances of adding young Endrick to a maverick squad that contains veterans Nathan Aké, N’Golo Kanté and Marco Asensio.

After another summer of high-profile exits, Newcastle could do with some incomings and Football Insider reckons a bid for the Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall is on the cards, though Nottingham Forest are also making eyes at the Swede. Down in west London, Fulham are eyeing up a deal for Southampton’s Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles, who Saints value at £30m.

Middlesbrough are poised to snap up the goalkeeper Radek Vitek from Manchester United from after the clubs agreed a £14m deal. The 22-year-old Czech spent last season on loan at Bristol City, making 41 appearances, and did not feature for United’s first team but that hasn’t stopped the Reds getting a 35% sell-on clause inserted into the deal, according to Sky Sports. Boro are also about to complete a £7m deal for the Spurs centre-half Ashley Phillips.