Transfer news LIVE: Aston Villa confirm record £50m Onana with Felix eyed next, Arsenal target Calafiori left out of training camp

Agbonlahor approval

Aston Villa's acquisition of Amadou Onana has former Villans star Gabby Agbonlahor purring.

Onana completed his £50million move to Villa Park from Everton earlier today, a club-record for the Birmingham-based side.

And it's safe to say Agbonlahor is looking forward to seeing what the Belgium international will bring to his new team.

"Onana's a totally different midfielder to Douglas Luiz. Onana's going to be that midfielder who's just in there - solid as a rock," Agbonlahor said on Drivetime.

"'Try and get past me if you dare, you're going down with an injury, with a blow to the face, you're not getting past me. And I can play'.

"He's not just a big defensive midfielder, he can make get the ball and make it tick. He can get forward, he's strong at running with the ball.

"He's only 22 and we can forget that sometimes because he's been around at Everton for two years. He has 17 caps for Belgium and is still learning his trade.

"And he'll get better. He's playing with a manager, no offence to Sean Dyche, but going from a manager like him to Unai Emery - he's going to get so much more out of his football."

Bon Voyage!

Tottenham have confirmed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille on loan.

Spurs' midfielder will be with the Ligue 1 outfit for the 2024/25 season, with the deal including an obligation that would see the move become permanent.

Last week, talkSPORT reported Galatasaray were also interested in the Dane.

Confirming the move, Spurs wrote on X: "Wishing you all the best, Pierre!"

Hojbjerg joined Tottenham for £15million from Southampton in 2020 and has gone on to play 184 games for the club, scoring 10 goals and bagging 16 assists.

He has one year left on his Spurs deal, but has fallen down the pecking order at the club, with Ange Postecoglou preferring other options Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr in central midfield.

Yes, Noussair

It appears we might have a potential right-back swap on our hands.

talkSPORT brought you news last week that West Ham were interested in signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and the Red Devils were willing to sell for around £15 million.

And Sky Sports Germany reports Florian Plettenberg now claims that Man United are looking at Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui, although West Ham are there as well.

The Moroccan international is keen to play in the Premier League, and Bayern have been forced to slash their asking price to anywhere between £12-£16 million.

So, we could see Wan-Bissaka now go to West Ham and Mazraoui to 0ld Trafford, or the Hammers might steal in and recruit the Bayern man

Either way, this is one to keep an eye on.

'Deserves so much more'

It would be fair to say that Rory Jennings isn't too happy with the news that Trevoh Chalobah has been left out of the Chelsea squad for the USA trip.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “They’ve omitted Chalobah from the pre-season squad, he deserves so much more respect than that.

“They should show him a level of respect that doesn’t mean he just gets omitted from the squad.

“I like Trevoh Chalobah, I love how he’s come through the academy at Cobham… but even if you remove any sentimentality he is the best centre-back at the club.”

Howe's about that

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has shut down any speculation about Anthony Gordon leaving the club this summer.

There was a point, with the PSR deadline fast approaching, and the Magpies in a deep financial hole, that the possibility of selling the England international to Liverpool was floated.

There was even talk that the Reds' interest had turned Gordon's head, but Howe is adamant that the former Everton man remains at St James' Park after a stunning 2023/24 campaign.

Gordon managed to end the season with double figures for goals and assists and was arguably the best left winger in the top-flight, and Howe is in no mood for him to leave.

Speaking to the media at Newcastle's pre-season training camp, he said: "I’d welcome him back with three arms if I had them.

"He’s such an important player for us, we didn’t want to lose anybody. Why would we want to lose our best players? We fought really hard to make the right decisions. In those last few weeks, it was very, very difficult.

"He’s an integral part of what we’re doing.

"He needs a bit of a break, he’s a had a really long season and the Euros will have been emotional for him as well.

"I’m confident he is OK. I think you can only judge Anthony on what he has given Newcastle on the pitch. He’s been committed.

"We’ve had no conversations over the summer where it has been fractious or negative. He’s always been the Anthony Gordon who has given absolutely everything to Newcastle and I want to make that clear to all our supporters."

Oh my Gilchrist

Another Chelsea player to be left out of the USA squad is academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist.

talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs reports the right-back has remained in the UK as the Blues search for a loan deal.

Plenty of Championship clubs are keen, but it is Preston North End and Sheffield United who lead the race.

Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers are also looking at Gilchrist.

The 20-year-old made 17 senior appearances for Chelsea last season.

What an absolute Chalobah

talkSPORT understands that Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has been excluded from the Blues' first-team trip to the USA.

The versatile defender has been training with Enzo Maresca since the start of pre-season, but with the rest of his teammates off to the United States, he's going to be staying in England.

The Blues are keen to offload Chalobah this summer because he's an academy product and can be sold for pure profit, with Crystal Palace one of the interested teams.

Plus, the Blues have plenty of players who can operate as centre-backs or right-backs.

Still, some would argue it's a harsh way to treat a player who has never let Chelsea down when called upon.

Yoro going to want to hear this one

New Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has been speaking to the club's in-house media about joining the Red Devils.

Man United have splashed an initial £52 million on the 18-year-old centre-back.

He has penned a five-year-deal, with the option for an extra season, and the Red Devils fought off competition from Real Madrid to sign him, although if reports are to be believed, Lille actually threatened to not play Yoro at all next year unless he joined Man United.

This is because Real Madrid were offering half, and were content to wait until next summer when his contract expired to sign him for free.

However, if Yoro's interview is anything to go by, he's very happy to be at Old Trafford.

He said: “Manchester United is the biggest club in the world. For me, it was a dream to play for this club!

“The fans here are incredible.

“I spoke with ten Hag. He wants players who really want to win. When he puts me on the pitch, I'm ready to die for this club”.

Green around the Gils

Tottenham have left out two players from the club's pre-season tour of Japan and Korea to help facilitate transfers away.

Bryan Gil and Sergio Reguilon were both granted permission not to travel to explore prospective transfer opportunities, Spurs revealed.

Spain starlet Gil made 11 Premier League appearances under Ange Postecoglu last season but failed to score or assist a single goal.

The 23-year-old joined Spurs from Sevilla in 2021, but has spent most of his tenure out on loan including at his former club in 2023.

His compatriot Reguilon was shipped out twice by the north Londoners after falling down the pecking order.

The 27-year-old spent the first part of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Manchester United, before his loan was terminated and he joined Brentford in January.

Burn out

Blackburn have rejected a bid from Ipswich Town for striker Sammie Szmodics, talkSPORT understands.

Talks between the two clubs are ongoing but the opening offer falls well below of Blackburn's valuation of between £15m and £20m.

Szmodics was the Championship's top scorer last season and is also attracting interest from Leeds.

Barry's back

Gareth Barry has made a U-turn on his retirement decision to join non-league outfit Hurstpierpoint at the age of 43.

The Premier League legend, who won the trophy with Manchester City in 2012, hung up his boots four years ago after his three-year stint at West Brom.

But Barry, who made a record 653 appearances in the Premier League, has now come out of retirement to join the 11th-tier outfit.

Hurstpierpoint shared the news on X, where the ex-England international proudly posed with the club shirt.

Feeling Blue

Chelsea have reportedly ripped up the contract of £100,000-a-week forgotten star Malang Sarr.

The 25-year-old still had one season remaining on the three-figure deal he penned following his arrival from Porto in 2020.

However, the Frenchman made just eight Premier League appearances for the Blues in four years.

His extortionate wages also made it difficult to find suitors for Sarr, with Chelsea instead choosing just to cancel his contract early.

Sarr, who picked up £20.8million from his spell at Stamford Bridge, is now expected to join Ligue 1 side Lens, according to L'Equipe.

Talk of the Town

Ipswich are in talks to sign Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics from Blackburn, talkSPORT understands.

The 28-year-old netted 27 league goals last season and Blackburn face a tough task of keeping him at Ewood Park.

Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton signed him for Bristol City in 2019 and hopes to do so again.

The newly-promoted Premier League club do face competition from Leeds United for his signature.

Wiled up

Chelsea have announced the signing of American defender Caleb Wiley.

The 19-year-old has completed a £8.5million move from MLS side Atlanta United and is expected to be sent out on loan.

The left-back has signed a six-year contract, with a club option for a further year, at Stamford Bridge.

Great Scot

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag does not want to sell Scott McTominay this summer, talkSPORT understands.

The Red Devils have already rejected one bid from Fulham for the midfielder, but interest is set to continue over the next month.

The Scotland international was the subject of transfer interest from West Ham last year, but he remained at Old Trafford.

United would be prepared to sell McTominay this time around, who has entered the final year of his deal at the club, for the right price.

However, Ten Hag is keen to retain the 27-year-old, who enjoyed the most productive goalscoring season of his career last season.

Speaking after United's 2-0 win over Rangers on Saturday, Ten Hag said: "I think we have very good players so they'll always have an interest from other clubs. If you score 10 goals in a season and perform very well for Scotland there will be an interest.

"We want to actually keep him because he's a very important player for our squad. We've seen what he can contribute last season.

"When we had the sixes and he could play in a more advanced role, he's a highly interesting player for our team."

Cala-fornia dreaming

Riccardo Calafiori has been left out of Bologna's squad for their pre-season training camp as he closes in on a move to Arsenal.

talkSPORT understands the Gunners have reached an agreement in principle with the Italian side to sign the centre-back.

His transfer moved closer to completion after the defender was left out of Bologna's squad for a pre-season training camp at South Tyrol.

The Serie A side will travel to the north-east of Italy on Monday evening for a camp that runs until August 3, but the 22-year-old is not part of the visiting party.

Instead, Calafiori is set to join as Arsenal's first summer signing for an initial £34million in a deal that could rise to £38million in add-ons.

Eze does it

England star Eberechi Eze remains a long-term target for Manchester City, talkSPORT understands.

The Crystal Palace star, who made three appearances during the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2024 final, is highly rated at the Etihad.

Eze was considered by Pep Guardiola after a failed swoop for Lucas Paqueta last summer before City settled on Matheus Nunes.

However, Nunes struggled to break into the Premier League champions' first-team and has already been linked with a move away.

In addition, Kevin De Bruyne's proposed interest in a switch to Saudi Arabia may put City back in the market for another playmaker.

Despite a campaign beset by injuries, Eze still managed 11 goals and four assists for Palace to force his way into England's Euro squad.

The 26-year-old's contract at Selhurst Park has another three years remaining, but he has a release clause of around £60million.

Palace would be loathe to allow his exit for any cheaper having already lost fellow talisman Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.

Eagle eyed

Southampton are interested in a move for Crystal Palace starlet Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, talkSPORT understands.

The Saints would be willing to take the 21-year-old on loan, should the Eagles not be willing to sanction a permanent exit.

Rak-Sakyi starred for Charlton in League One in the 2022/23 season, winning the club's player-of-the-year award.

However, he suffered a number of injury issues last season that prevented him from breaking through into the Palace first team.

Hull and Leeds had been interested in signing Rak-Sakyi on loan for the 2024/25 season.

There is a De Ligt that never goes out

Manchester United have reportedly had a £29 million offer for Matthijs de Ligt turned down by Bayern Munich.

Despite completing the £52 million acquisition of Leny Yoro last week, the Red Devils are in the market for another centre-back, and De Ligt is a player Erik ten Hag knows very well.

However, the Bundesliga giants are not willing to sell the Dutch international unless it is on their terms, according to BILD's head of football, Christian Falk.

Bayern are looking for £42 million to part ways with De Ligt, who would love to join Man United.

So, we could have a game of brinkmanship over De Ligt, with neither side appearing willing to back down.

Cala-fury

Riccardo Calafiori’s move to Arsenal appears to be delayed amid a reported dispute with his former club Roma.

talkSPORT understands the Gunners have reached an agreement in principle with Bologna to sign the centre-back.

Calafiori is set to join as Arsenal’s first summer signing for an initial £34million in a deal that could rise to £38million in add-ons.

The Italian’s former side Basel, whom he left for Bologna only last summer, are set to earn 50 per cent of the profit from the transfer.

However, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, his first club Roma also had a 50 per cent sell-on clause inserted in his move to Basel in 2022.

The Giallorossi now believe they would be owed around £6.7m should Calafiori move to Arsenal, but the Swiss side contend that the £1.2m sell-on fee the Italians already banked after the player joined Bologna is more than enough.

The dispute has led to both teams employing legal teams to thrash out terms which in turn has put the brakes on Mikel Arteta's men.