Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal step up Guimaraes pursuit, Liverpool turn attention to Akliouche, Chelsea agree Garnacho exit

Southampton’s head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the Football Association over the ‘Spygate’ scandal.

Saints were thrown out of the Championship play-offs by the EFL in May over the affair and docked four points for the coming season.

The club admitted spying on a training session held by play-off opponents Middlesbrough in May, and on sessions at Ipswich and Oxford earlier in the season.

On May 21 the FA confirmed it was investigating the matter, and on Wednesday it announced charges had been brought.

Bournemouth have rejected an approach from Chelsea for midfielder Alex Scott and the Cherris have reportedly made it clear that they will not be selling the England Under-21 international this summer.

However, the BBC have reported that Scott has rejected a new contract and has told Bournemouth that he is not willing to agree a new deal. The BBC report states that Chelsea’s bid was £64m but Bournemouth do not want to sell.

His current deal runs until 2028, so Bournemouth are not under pressure to sell this summer, having turned down one approach from Chelsea already.

Arsenal and Manchester United are also very interested as they seek help in the engine room and it would be a coup if any of the trio could prise Scott away from the south coast.

1. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa to Chelsea) – £117m

2. Elliot Anderson (Nott’m Forest to Man City) – £116m

3. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle to Tottenham) – £100m

4. Matheus Fernandes (West Ham to Tottenham) – £84m

5. Jeremy Jacquet (Stade Rennais to Liverpool) – £53.7m

6. Johan Manzambi (Freiburg to Aston Villa) – £51m

7. Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton to Tottenham) – £51m

8. Marco Palestra (Atalanta to Chelsea) – £48.6m

9. Andrey Santos (Man Utd to Chelsea) – £48m

10. Luka Vuskovic (Tottenham to Brighton) – £46m

The ruthlessness of Chelsea’s move for Morgan Rogers in a British record £117m deal from Aston Villa caught many by surprise. Rogers was a long-standing Arsenal target and, as The Independent understands, a priority signing for Mikel Arteta from well before this summer.

Let’s take a deeper look at what Rogers brings, where he fits in and the potential issues that could arise with the England international on board under Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola confirmed last night that the club “needs to sign a winger” this summer, and the Reds have since been linked with Spain’s World Cup winner Ferran Torres.

That’s according to journalist Ekrem Konur, who claims that his club Barcelona need to raise funds to sign Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez this summer.

Torres has Premier League experience and won a Premier League title with Manchester City in 2021, scoring 16 goals in 43 appearances across two years at the club.

He has scored 65 goals for Barcelona across his five years back in Spain – and scored the winning goal in the World Cup final against Argentina.

Manchester United have signed midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this summer, but could they add another?

According to Fabrizio Romano, United are in contact with Roma over the signing of France international Manu Kone.

They are yet to make a bid, but Romano reports that United will consider another move for a defensive midfielder this summer.

Michael Carrick’s side need reinforcements following the departure of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte suffering a long-term injury at the World Cup.

They also missed out on the signing of Elliot Anderson, who joined rivals Manchester City on a £116m deal.

Arsenal are prepared to step up their pursuit of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes but have been told that a fee of £100m will be needed to sign the Brazil international midfielder.

Newcastle believe the fee Tottenham paid for Sandro Tonali should set the benchmark for any interest in their captain, yet the Gunners are still said to poised to “accelerate” their interest, according to the Telegraph.

Guimaraes, 28, has emerged as a key leader for Newcastle since his arrival on Tyneside in January 2022, and became their first captain to lift domestic silverware in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup.

He signed a new five-year deal at St James’ Park in October 2023, but Newcastle failed to qualify for the Champions League last season and finished 12th in a disappointing campaign for Eddie Howe’s side.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea with an obligation to by, according to BBC Sport.

The 22-year-old has already completed a medical in Birmingham and has pre-agreed a four-year contract at Villa Park if the loan deal becomes permanent.

The terms of the obligation have not been disclosed but it is expected to be triggered if certain realistic conditions are met, with Chelsea confident they will receive their £43m valuation.

1. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle to Barcelona) – £68m

2. Marc Cucurella (Chelsea to Real Madrid) – £50m

3. Rasmus Hoijlund (Man Utd to Napoli) – £37.5m

4. Donyell Malen (Aston Villa to Roma) – £21m

5. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland to Stade Rennais) – £18.8m

6. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal to Besiktas) – £15.3m

7. Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal to Porto) – £14.5m

8. Manuel Akanji (Man City to Inter) – £12.8m

9. Enzo Barrenechea (Aston Villa to Benfica) – £10.2m

10. Will Lankshear (Tottenham to Middlesbrough) – £9m

Liverpool have made Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton their top midfield target this summer, according to Spanish outlet AS.

The 22-year-old Wharton is under contract at Crystal Palace until 2029 and the Eagles will reportedly not consider any offer that does reach the new benchmark for Premier League-proven midfielders, around £100m.

Liverpool have signed Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to long-term deals this summer while Curtis Jones is now set to stay.

Alexis Mac Allister, who has two years remaining on his deal, has been linked with a move to Spain, but boss Andoni Iraola also wants the Argentina international to stay.