Transfer news LIVE: Philippe Coutinho to SNUB Man Utd, Liverpool eye Chelsea ace, Arsenal

Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip

Friday, March 22

• Manchester United are set on signing Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane

• Jurgen Klopp remains interested in signing Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi

• Barcelona will listen to offers for Philippe Coutinho

• The father of Lucas Torreira has dropped a hint that his son could return to Italy

• Adrien Rabiot leaving PSG could spark a move for Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera

22:30 UPDATE: Man Utd prepare Kalidou Koulibaly bid

Manchester United are considering a mega-money deal for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

That’s according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, who claim the Red Devils could offer £128.5million.

Koulibaly, 27, has been linked with a number of Europe’s elite including Chelsea, Barcelona and real Madrid.

But the report suggests United have made the towering centre-back their top priority and are prepared to spend big money to bring him to Old Trafford.

22:00 UPDATE: The next step for Xhaka?

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has hinted that he’s looking for a new challenge.

Xhaka, 26, has missed just five Premier League games under Unai Emery but his comments while away on international duty with Switzerland are concerning.

"I'm very ambitious, I want to take the next step, Arsenal does not have to be the last stop," he told Tagblatt.

21:30 UPDATE: VVD’s charm offensive

Agent Virgil van Dijk has praised Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt amid claims Jurgen Klopp wants him at Anfield.

Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the 19-year-old, who plays alongside Van Dijk for Holland.

"He's obviously an excellent defender, that's clear," Van Dijk is quoted as saying by the Liverpool ECHO.

"He can still improve a lot and he realises that, but playing like he does at that age is fantastic and I'm really happy to play besides him."

21:00 UPDATE: Adrien Rabiot

Adrien Rabiot leaving PSG could spark a move for Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera, says Shaka Hislop.

Rabiot is out of contract at PSG in the summer and will leave the club at the end of his deal.

Herrera is also coming towards the end of his Manchester United contract and has been linked with a free transfer to PSG.

“This is a strange one,” Hislop said. “I like Herrera a lot, though he’s found his opportunities a little bit limited, particularly over the last 12 months, let’s say.

“Does that mean a move to PSG is on the cards? I’m not quite sure.

“I’m going to put this down as a miss right now, simply because I think it’s uncertain exactly what happens at Manchester United in the medium term and still very unsure about what happens at PSG.”

20:30 UPDATE: Jadon Sancho update

Manchester City will NOT stand in the way of Manchester United if their fierce rivals launch a move for Jadon Sancho, it has been reported.

According to the London Evening Standard, City DO have a buy back option on Sancho.

But they are unlikely to break their transfer record to take him back to the Etihad.

The £60m spent on Riyad Mahrez last summer remains the most City have paid for a single player.

And, with Sancho valued north of that figure, they will not fight Manchester United for the 18-year-old.

20:00 UPDATE: Nine-point deduction

Birmingham have been docked nine points after breaching financial rules, the EFL has announced.

The Championship side breached the EFL’s profitability and sustainability regulations and faced a possible 12-point deduction and a transfer ban.

The penalty sees the club drop from 13th in the table to 18th, leaving them only five points above the relegation zone.

An independent disciplinary commission heard the case on Monday and decided Blues should not be given the maximum penalty.

19:30 UPDATE: Seri exit

Jean-Michael Seri plans to leave Fulham this summer.

That’s according to Football.London, who claim the midfielder is already planning his departure.

The Ivorian was signed from Nice for £22million, but hasn’t produced the kind of form that earned him the mega-money transfer.

19:00 UPDATE: Jadon Sancho hint

Manchester United target Jadon Sancho has dropped a cryptic transfer hint with his actions on social media.

The England international retweeted a post highlighting comments by Rio Ferdinand.

The United legend has claimed he would like to see Sancho in a Red Devils shirt next season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to have made the 18-year-old a top target for this summer.

On Sancho, Ferdinand told Goal: “I would take him [at Manchester United] all day. English, young, hungry and talented, that's all I need to know.”

18:30 UPDATE: Eden Hazard contract hope

Eden Hazard could still sign a new contract at Chelsea if Real Madrid do not come calling in the summer, claims European football expert Gabriele Marcotti.

“[Hazard joining Madrid is] not inevitable,” Marcotti said on ESPN FC. “We always need to remind ourselves of this, whether it’s Hazard or [Paul] Pogba.

“Real Madrid do not have infinite resources, despite what people think.

“They’ve spent a lot of money on Eder Militao already. They can only buy one, possibly two, A-list superstars on top of that.

“And beyond that if they want to buy more they need to go and get rid of players. Chelsea are respecting that, if the offer comes in the summer, he’s going to go.

“If it doesn’t come, because he’s only got a year left on his deal, if it doesn’t come and they’re not that interested in him, and Chelsea offer him a new contract, which they will, then he’s going to stick around.”

18:00 UPDATE: Toni Kroos…

Manchester United are in with a shout of finally luring Toni Kroos to Old Trafford, according to reports.

David Moyes was desperate to make Kroos one of his first signings after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2013.

But the midfielder opted to stick with Bayern Munich for another season before joining Real Madrid after a stellar World Cup.

The Sun reckon Kroos, who has enjoyed a trophy-laden stint at the Bernabeu, is now keen to embark on a fresh challenge.

And that could see the 29-year-old quit Real for United following a disastrous campaign which has seen two managers get sacked.

Real are said to be willing to let go of Kroos for £50m - a little over double what they paid for him five years ago.

17:30 UPDATE: Joao Felix boost

Manchester United and Manchester City have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Benfica star Joao Felix.

Felix has a £102m (€120m) release clause and City are the team pushing hardest to sign him.

And Benfica admit they won’t be able to keep hold of the forward for ever.

“We will try to keep him as long as possible and that is the case for Felix as for any other player," Benfica’s sporting director Manuel Rui Costa told Italian outlet Tuttosport.

“This is the club’s policy. Then we’ll see. We are aware the clauses exist for a reason and that certain players cannot be held back in Portugal indefinitely.”

17:00 UPDATE: Raphael Varane talks

Manchester United are set on signing Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, reports claim.

Varane, 25, has been tipped to leave the Bernabeu this summer having won four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles and fuelled speculation when refusing to clarify his future.

"I do not want to talk about my future," Varane said. “I am not one to discuss my future publicly."

Now, Calciomercato claim United and PSG are both in ‘constant contact’ with the player about a transfer.

16:45 UPDATE: Chelsea could lose Hudson-Odoi to Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp remains interested in signing Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Bayern Munich are known admirers of Hudson-Odoi and are thought to be frontrunners to secure his signature.

But Liverpool have not given up hope of signing the 18-year-old either, according to Sport Bild.

Hudson-Odoi has yet to start a Premier League game for Chelsea but has still been called up to the senior England squad by Gareth Southgate this week.

16:30 UPDATE: Coutinho to snub Man Utd

Barcelona will listen to offers for Philippe Coutinho.

That’s according to Goal, who claim the Catalan giants are prepared to take a heavy loss on the Brazilian playmaker.

Barcelona signed Coutinho, 26, for an initial £103million but could have to pay a further £39m if add-ons are activated.

It’s reported that Barca will consider bids in the region of £68m for the Manchester United target.

But Goal suggest PSG are the most likely suitors with the player ‘put off’ the idea of returning to the Premier League.

16:15 UPDATE: Lucas Torreira future

The father of Lucas Torreira has dropped a hint that his son could return to Serie A.

Uruguayan Torreira has been a revelation since moving to Arsenal from Sampdoria but dad Ricardo claims Lucas still harbours a fondness for Italy.

“Obviously, Lucas is very fond of Italian football, where he grew up, and might return to Italy in future,” Torreira’s father Ricardo said.

“You can never say never, so it’s possible he could come back to this marvellous country and, why not to Napoli or another club that makes an offer?”