Transfer news LIVE: Man City reject Rodri bid, Arsenal identify Vinicius Jr alternatives, Man Utd done deal

Mikel Arteta is still eager to bring in a new left winger, though, with three notable options still on the table.

Arsenal made a serious bid to sign Vinicius Jr, with an agreement close on personal terms, but the 26-year-old ultimately opted to commit his future to Madrid in a deal until 2032.

No meaningful talks have taken place between the clubs yet with City reluctant to enter negotiations until there is the prospect of a deal near their valuation of the midfielder.

Leeds United have signed James Trafford from Manchester City for a club-record fee of up to £45m and City are already lining up a replacement.

City, who have inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause, also have a matching rights option to sign Trafford for a third time if and when he leaves Leeds.

It’s a significant signing for Arsenal – and perhaps one they had to make. Jamie Braidwood explains:

Ross Wilson, Newcastle’s sporting director, has revealed that Bruno Guimaraes expressed his desire to leave the club – providing little choice as they granted him a switch to Arsenal.

“What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, he effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean he can go, but it certainly plays a part in what our thinking is when we hit a certain range of number.

“There’s no part in saying it was part of our strategy and was in our thinking this summer – it wasn’t.

“But we have got to be flexible and react to things that happen.”

The Spanish club have an option to buy the Turkey international, reportedly for a fee of £3.5m, which would give United a high sell-on clause on top of that.

Speaking of former Liverpool players, Jordan Henderson is a surprise signing for Chelsea but, as Jack Rathborn explains, Xabi Alonso could lean on the 36-year-old to help establish his ideas at an unstable club:

Mohamed Salah will be something of an incongruous sight at Trabzonspor – a stark drop in prestige from Liverpool – but the move to football’s growing, lucrative retirement home does offer intrigue, Richard Jolly writes:

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have been told that Lewis Hall is not for sale by Newcastle as the Tyneside club bid to hold on to at least one key figure this summer. Manchester United are keen to add a versatile left-back option but knew a deal for Hall might be difficult – and it appears he’s likely to stay at St James’ Park.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is out of hospital and in “good form”, assistant Shaun Maloney has confirmed.

The Parkhead club announced on Wednesday that the 74-year-old Northern Irishman had undergone a “small procedure”.