Welcome to Sports Mole's live transfer blog on Tuesday, August 11.
The football season on UK shores is well underway, but there is still plenty of time for clubs home and abroad to sign new players in this summer window.
Business does not cease until September 2, and with Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal tipped to jump back into the market, expect round-the-clock speculation.
Throughout the day, we will keep you up to date with all the latest developments.
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Good morning everyone! What transfer surprises will today bring? Manchester United are rumoured to be in the market for two more big names, while there are questions over Arsenal's potential hunt for an attacking player. Xherdan Shaqiri is believed to be on the verge of signing for Stoke City, and Chelsea are expected to tie up the signing of a new full-back. Will there be developments on all of those fronts today? Stick around to find out...
To catch up with all the transfer stories that have emerged over the past 12 hours or so, have a look through our 8am Transfer Talk Update here. The futures of John Stones, David de Gea and Kevin de Bruyne are all discussed in our roundup.
Hristo Stoichkov is not Louis van Gaal's biggest fan... The former Barcelona star has urged Pedro to reject a move to Manchester United this summer. The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a £23m switch to Old Trafford from Barcelona, but Stoichkov, who fell out with Van Gaal in 1998, believes that the winger would be making a mistake working for the Dutchman. In an interview with Spanish radio station Ondo Cero, Stoichkov accused Van Gaal of "destroying" United and described the coach as "mediocre" and a "bad person". Ouch.
© Getty Images
Let's turn our attention to Scotland and Celtic's reported interest in Club Brugge defender Brandon Mechele. The Hoops were linked with the player back in April, and according to the Daily Record, manager Ronny Deila is considering launching a £3m bid in the coming weeks as Virgil van Dijk's future remains uncertain. The Dutchman has been linked to Southampton and Everton.
Now for an update regarding Henri Lansbury's future. It had been reported that Burnley had agreed a £4m deal with Nottingham Forest for the midfielder, but Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi has insisted that the club have not accepted a bid for the former Arsenal man.
West Bromwich Albion are said to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer. The Baggies have reportedly failed with a bid for Cardiff City's David Marshall, but reports in Wales have stated that they will make a second approach for the 30-year-old. More here.
Manchester United have been linked with a number of goalkeepers this summer as the David de Gea saga rumbles on, and legendary United stopper Peter Schmeichel has now had his say. The Dane believes that Tottenham Hotspur man Hugo Lloris would be an ideal replacement for De Gea, should he go to Real Madrid.
DONE DEAL! Wigan Athletic have announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. The 40-year-old, who was a free agent after leaving West Ham United, has penned a one-year deal with the League One side.
DONE DEAL! Another goalkeeper on the move is Ben Hamer, who had been due to join Nottingham Forest on loan from Leicester City. However, that move fell through and he has instead switched to Bristol City. More here.
© Getty Images
DONE DEAL! Another completed move, this time in the Scottish Premiership. Motherwell have secured the loan services of a Reading winger. Find out who here.
BREAKING! Wolves have completed the signing of Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on loan until the end of the season. You can read more about that move here.
Is Mauricio Pochettino about to boost his attacking options? Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly edged closer to signing Lyon forward Clinton N'Jie...
Manchester United are reportedly not interested in signing Lucas Biglia following claims that they are considering a move for the Lazio captain.
There could be a big deal in the offing for Championship side Bristol City, who have reportedly had a £6m bid accepted for a Premier League striker. Find out who the player in question is here.
DONE DEAL! It's been a busy day so far in the Football League and it doesn't look like slowing down! Blackburn Rovers have confirmed the arrival of Reading midfielder Hope Akpan, who has signed a two-year contract in Berkshire. All the details are here.
© Getty Images
An update for all those clubs pursuing Charlie Austin - it's going to cost you £15m! That is according to Les Ferdinand, who is the director of football at Queens Park Rangers.
DONE DEAL! Well, that didn't last long! Just seven months after he joined Roma, Seydou Doumbia is heading back to CSKA Moscow on loan. Details here.
From Russia to Spain, where Atletico Madrid have tied Lucas Hernandez down to a new contract. The 19-year-old, who made his senior Atletico debut in 2014, has committed himself to the Vicente Calderon until the summer of 2019.
Staying in Spain and Valencia, who are apparently eyeing a Paris Saint-Germain player. Which one you ask? Read on.
Let's stay in Spain once again! Remember how strongly Dani Alves was linked with Manchester United before he signed a new deal with Barcelona? Well, the Brazilian full-back has been talking about his decision to stay at the Camp Nou. Find out what he had to say here.
STAYING PUT! Not that many people will have been expecting him to go anywhere, but Michael Carrick has confirmed that he will not be leaving Manchester United this summer, despite recent reports to the contrary.
© Getty Images
Stoke City have really outdone themselves this time. The Potters have landed Switzerland international winger Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter Milan for a club-record fee of £12. Wowsers. Read more on that deal here.
Experienced goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel has returned to Swansea City by signing a two-year deal at the Liberty Stadium.
Could a certain controversial midfielder be on his way to East London? West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has remained coy over reports that Joey Barton could join the club.
TRANSFER UPDATE! With time running out in the summer transfer window, you can keep up to date with the latest comings and goings in our nightly roundup.
Some very good news coming out of Barcelona for Manchester United fans. Pedro, who was left out of the starting lineup for the club's UEFA Super Cup clash with Sevilla this evening, has reportedly handed in a transfer request. More on that story here.
© Getty Images
A couple of lines to bring you from Italy too. First up, former Italy and Juventus man Simone Pepe has completed a move to Chievo, while a more substantial fee of £17.7m has been shelled out by AC Milan for Roma youngster Alessio Romagnoli.
Let's take a trip around Europe, shall we? We'll start in Spain, where Antonio Sanabria has completed a move to Sporting Gijon, while going from Spain to Germany could be Alen Halilovic, who is reportedly close to sealing a switch from Barcelona to Hamburg. Over in France, Lucas Digne could be on his way out of PSG, with Roma reportedly on the verge of a loan deal, but he may not get there in time to be a teammate of Juan Iturbe, who is understood to have chosen Fiorentina ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
Back on home soil, it is safe to say that Stoke have had a successful transfer window, but according to chairman Peter Coates the club-record arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri earlier today could be the last new face of the summer.
Thomas Vermaelen's Barcelona career has had echoes of Jonathan Woodgate at Real Madrid so far, it must be said. However, he has still been linked with a move to Roma this summer, although the Serie A club now appear to have ended that speculation.
Back over to France now, where Mathieu Valbuena has found himself a new club following a year-long stint in Russia with Dynamo Moscow. Find out who he has joined by clicking here.
We brought United fans some good news regarding Pedro earlier this evening. Well, it's time for some bad news now I'm afraid. Local rivals Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign the striker and are considering a bid closer to Barca's asking price.
While Pedro (who, by the way, may have just added a bit to his transfer fee by scoring the winner in the Super Cup final) appears to have no shortage of suitors, Joey Barton is struggling to find a club right now. The Hammers were reportedly interested but, after a backlash from their fans, appear to have withdrawn from talks for the midfielder.
From a former Newcastle player to a potential future Newcastle player - Werder Bremen defender Jannik Vestergaard is understood to be wanted by the Magpies.
Two more lines to bring you from the Premier League(/Championship): Adama Traore is reportedly set to fly in to England tomorrow for talks over a move to Aston Villa, while Chelsea are understood to be in talks with Reading over another loan move for Nathaniel Chalobah.
Reports suggest that Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin will be offered a bumper new deal if he chooses to remain at the club. More on that one shortly...
More on that Austin story as promised - Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are believed to be circling the striker, but Queens Park Rangers are unwilling to entertain offers below £15m. The Hoops are planning to offer him a lucrative new contract if no club meets his asking price before the transfer windows slams shut.
© Getty Images
Coming up, Barcelona forward Pedro has addressed reports that he wants to leave the club...
Pedro spoke to reporters in the wake of Barcelona's 5-4 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup and firmly denied that he wants to leave the club. However, he was quick to admit that a lack of first-team football opportunities makes his situation "complicated". Both Manchester City and Manchester United are believed to be interested in the forward.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is constantly being linked with Arsenal, but former Los Blancos forward Kaka has cast doubt on the move. The Brazilian has insisted that Real have no desire to part with one of Europe's top strikers - and he might just have a point.
Another one for Arsenal fans to mull over as the club is reportedly on the verge of tabling a £22m bid for Sevilla's Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak. Gunner's boss Arsene Wenger is said to have sent scouts to watch the defensive midfielder play in the UEFA Super Cup this evening.
Reports suggest that Abdul Rahman Baba has completed his move to Chelsea from Augsburg. The Ghana international, who has apparently signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, is expected to challenge Cesar Azpilicueta for the left-back position.
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano is the latest player to chime in on the Pedro transfer saga. Speaking in the wake of his side's 5-4 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, the Argentine expressed his desire for the Spaniard to remain at the club.
BID ACCEPTED! Bristol City have confirmed that they have had a bid accepted for Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle. Robins boss Steve Cotterill confirmed the development in the wake of his side's defeat to Luton Town on Tuesday evening. The bid is believed to be in the region of £6m, a new club record.
© Getty Images
Hull City boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that he is still keen to add Chicago Fire's Shaun Maloney and Andre Gray of Brentford to his squad before the transfer window closes. The Tigers boss revealed that talks with both clubs are ongoing in the wake of his side's penalty-shootout victory over Accrington Stanley.
And that's all we've got time for right now, but be sure to rejoin Sports Mole from 7am for all of Wednesday's transfer gossip. Goodnight all!
