Arsenal to land Thomas Lemar; Man Utd to beat Chelsea to Bakayoko?

BY Egbe Emmanuel Egbala















The football world is awash with gossip. Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.

Gunners step up bid to lure Lemar

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Arsenal will make a third bid to sign Monaco and France winger Thomas Lemar, with manager Arsene Wenger "convinced he wants to join," the Mirror reports.
The Gunners have already seen two offers (one of £30 million and another of £40m) rejected, but the Mirror says they "are refusing to give up and believe they can get their man."
That refusal to throw in the towel could see them break their transfer record for a second time this summer, having already splashed the cash on Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette, and the Mirror says they "are ready to go big again this week."
Earlier this month, L'Equipe reported that Ligue 1 champions Monaco had rejected the £40m bid for 21-year-old Lemar and with three years remaining on the player's contract, they were happy to wait for the Londoners to attempt to force the issue.

United to thwart Chelsea again?

Manchester United have already foiled Chelsea's hopes of bringing Romelu Lukaku back from Everton and they are already looking to frustrate them again, according to the Star.
It reports that United have agreed a £35m fee for Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and says "the bitter blow for Blues boss Antonio Conte comes just 48 hours after Chelsea failed in an 11th-hour attempt to persuade Lukaku to return."
The report adds that United's success in pouncing for Lukaku means Chelsea are now "unwilling to sell Nemanja Matic to them after being gazumped."
Reports last month suggested Bakayoko had undergone a medical with Chelsea ahead of a move, with that apparently impending arrival freeing up Matic to sign for United. But now it appears that the 22-year-old may be on his way to Manchester rather than London.

Hammers look to nail down midfielder move

West Ham are keen to strengthen after a difficult campaign last time around, and the Mirror says they are "closing in on the £8.5m signing of Osmanlispor midfielder Badou N'Diaye."
The Hammers, the report says, "are longtime admirers of the 26-year-old" and feel he can add the goals from midfield that were largely missing last season.
Senegal international N'Diaye has scored 16 goals in the last two seasons and is thought to be eager to make a move to the Premier League, the Mirror adds. Reports in Turkey over the weekend said N'Diaye would travel to London to have a medical and a deal could be announced as soon as Monday.

Tap-ins

-- Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez hopes to wrap up a deal for Norwich City attacker Jacob Murphy as he steps up preparations for the Magpies' return to the Premier League.
The Mirror reports that Southampton and Crystal Palace "are also in the race" for Murphy, who has attracted attention with a series of impressive displays for both the Canaries and England's Under-21s.
But it says Benitez "is closing in on the £8m-rated player as his summer spending plans begin to kick into gear."
-- Burnley aren't ready to give up on attempts to sign Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga despite having had a bid of around £8m turned down, according to the Nottingham Post.
It says the Clarets will now attempt to tempt Forest with a player plus cash deal involving defender Tendayi Darikwa but could face competition from Middlesbrough, who also want to add Assombalonga to their ranks.