Saudi transfer deadline day LIVE: Liverpool face £215m Mo Salah bid, Gerrard wants Jadon Sancho, John Terry EXCLUSIVE

Lyon wants to appoint Julen Lopetgui

Lyon have made former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui their primary target for their vacant managerial role.

The club sacked Laurent Blanc following a poor start to the season and had attempted to appoint Graham Potter earlier today.

Potter though, did not feel the timing was right on the move.

Lyon have now turned their efforts towards appointing Lopetegui who left Wolves this summer due to a dispute over transfers.

Al-Ettifaq to make an offer for Sancho

Al-Ettifaq is set to make a dramatic last-minute loan move for Jadon Sancho, according to CBS.

The winger appears to have no future at the club having fallen out with manager Erik Ten Hag.

His options are limited by the European transfer being closed but Saudi Arabia and Turkey represent potential options.

And it appears he could be following Demarai Gray over to Al-Ettifaq to ply his trade under manager Steven Gerrard.

Demarai Gray presented as an Al-Ettifaq player

Demarai Gray has officially been unveiled as an Al-Ettifaq player after penning a four-year deal with the club.

The winger will link up with former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson as well as Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who is the Dammam side’s manager.

Everton will receive £8million for his signature – a significant profit on the £1.8m they paid to sign him in 2021.

Manchester City sold Cole Palmer after he placed demands on Guardiola

FourFourTwo reports that Manchester City sold Cole Palmer after he asked Pep Guardiola for increased playing time this season.

Having made 40 appearances in three seasons since making the step up to senior football, the 21-year-old wanted to become a more regular member of the starting XI and believed the departure of Mahrez opened that door for him.

However, Pep could not guarantee that Palmer would be given minutes going forward this season.

So when Chelsea made their £45million offer, all sides welcomed the potential exit.

Lingard is to play for West Ham today

Jesse Lingard will play for West Ham today in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

The club is weighing up giving Lingard a contract after his release by Nottingham Forest.

He has been training with the club over the summer and Moyes still thinks fondly of his time with West Ham on a short-term loan in 2021.

Lingard did however reject The Hammers last summer to join Forest, which has led to some reluctance on the club’s side to give him a playing contract just yet.

Details on Gravenberch transfer

The Athletic report that Liverpool had held talks regarding the signing of Ryan Gravenberch back in April as they looked to reinforce their midfield.

The signing had been presented as an opportunistic one in some sections of the media – with United also reportedly being in for the midfielder on loan.

But it turns out Liverpool had been in regular contact with the player and his father from April onwards, with Gravenberch growing frustrated over his role at Bayern.

Thomas Tuchel had limited the player’s game time as he prefers to operate with two out-and-out 6s rather than a player like Gravenberch who is much more box-to-box.

Gravenberch’s £35million transfer was confirmed in the closing days of the window with Bayern finally realising they were better off cashing in rather than keeping a player that was unhappy at his lack of game time.

Demarai Gray signs for Al-Ettifaq

Demarai Gray has signed for Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.

The winger joins the club on a four-year deal, with Everton receiving £ 8 million for his services.

Gray made his desire to leave Everton clear last week, posting on his Instagram story: “[It’s] difficult to play for someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person”

Everton has made a healthy profit on Gray, having signed him for just £ 1.8 million in 2021.

John Terry to become Al-Shabbab head coach

John Terry has verbally agreed to become the head coach of Al-Shabbab, according to Sky Sports.

The role will be John Terry’s first as a manager.

Terry, 42, was approached by bosses at Al-Shabab around a month ago and has been offered a contract of at least two years and up to four if it is rubber-stamped as expected.

He is currently working on a one-year deal as a consultant in the Chelsea academy.

Chelsea has already said they will not stand in his way as a mark of respect for his service to them over almost two decades – even though it will be a big blow to their youth team to lose such a figurehead from their camp.

Eric Dier holds talks with Levy

The Telegraph reports that Eric Dier held talks with Daniel Levy this week after being frozen out by new manager Ange Postecoglou.

The talks were cordial, with no suggestion that there has been a row or a fallout between Dier and Postecoglou.

The details of the meeting were kept private but Dier likely wanted clarity on his position within the squad after falling down the pecking order behind 19-year-old centre-back Ashley Phillips.

There is some interest in Dier from clubs in Saudi Arabia so that will be one to keep an eye on today.

Although it is more likely Dier will see out the remaining year of his Spurs contract before moving to a European club on a free next summer.

Tebas regrets Messi’s decision

La Liga boss Javier Tebas has told Fabrizio Romano that he regrets that Lionel Messi will not finish his career at Barcelona.

Messi held talks with the club over the summer about a return to the Nou Camp but ultimately opted to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

Tebas said on the matter: “Leo Messi didn’t finish his career at Barcelona because they couldn’t find an agreement.

“I wish he could have finished his career in La Liga. It would have been the best for him, for me, and Barcelona.”

Potter rejects Lyon

Graham Potter has turned down the chance to take over as Lyon boss, according to reports.

Potter was the club’s number one target after they parted ways with Laurent Blanc following a difficult start to the season.

But according to Sky, Potter has turned down the move.

He reportedly felt as though now was not the right time to take on the job, despite being intrigued by the project.

Potter has been out of a job since being sacked by Chelsea in April this year.

Saudi deadline day

Today marks the last day that Saudi clubs can make transfers before the window re-opens in January.

It could be a busy day with many Premier League sides still seeing the league as an ideal place to shift their deadwood for a good price.

But the window also represents a threat for some clubs, particularly Liverpool.

Al-Ittihad is desperate to complete a move for Mo Salah and could test Liverpool’s resolve one last time with a bid north of £200million.

Palace include new Olise release clause

Crystal Palace have reportedly allowed for another release clause in Michael Olise’s new contract with the club.

Olise almost left the Eagles to join Chelsea this summer after The Blues activated the Frenchman’s £35m release clause.

But instead, Olise signed a new deal at Selhurst Park that will see him stay in South London until 2027.

However, The Evening Standard has reported that the 21-year-old’s new deal also contains a release clause.

It is said that the clause doesn’t become active until next summer’s transfer window and it is not yet known what kind of fee would trigger it.

West Ham face competition for Lingard

West Ham are reportedly in a battle to sign Jesse Lingard as the free agent assesses his options.

Lingard, whose deal with Nottingham Forest expired this summer, has been training with The Hammers at the start of the campaign.

It is said that he has impressed David Moyes and the East London outfit is reportedly keen to offer him a short-term deal.

But it won’t be easy with Football Insider now suggesting that Turkish duo Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are both interested in the 30-year-old.

Any deal can be completed outside of the transfer window as a result of Lingard’s free-agent status.

Mbappe’s open to Liverpool’s move

Kylian Mbappe is reportedly open to a move to Liverpool once he leaves PSG.

According to L’Equipe, the superstar could make the move to Merseyside in 2024 when his contract expires with the Parisians.

He is said to be a big fan of the club and Jurgen Klopp the German boss also a huge fan of his.

However, Mbappe has been long linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the Spanish giants are certainly still considered his most likely destination next summer.

Bayern to relaunch Palhinha move in January

Bayern Munich is reportedly going to go in for Palhinha in January after missing out the their man this summer.

The Bavarians saw a deal for the Fulham star collapse on deadline day after the cottagers were unable to find a replacement.

It was reported that Palhinha had even done media duties and posed for pictures with a Bayern shirt before the deal fell through at the last minute.

But all may not be lost for the 28-year-old with the Evening Standard reporting that Bayern Munich is going to try and sign him again in January.

It is also said that Fulham are willing to let the Portuguese midfielder leave if they can find a suitable replacement.

Veratti ‘expected’ to leave PSG

Marco Veratti is reportedly expected the leave PSG after agreeing on a deal to move to Qatar.

According to Fabrice Hawkins, Veratti has agreed on a switch to the Qatari outfit Al-Arabi.

It is said that there are still details to be worked out between the parties, but that the Italian midfielder is “very close” to leaving.

The 30-year-old has spent the last 11 years of his career with Paris Saint Germain.

Celtic make contact over Liverpool star

Celtic are reportedly eyeing a January move for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Irish goalkeeper could leave Anfield in January in search of more first-team opportunities despite Jurgen Klopp’s adoration for him.

According to TeamTalk, Celtic is one of several clubs to have enquired during the summer.

The Scottish champions have also been tipped to return for the £20million-rated stopper when the window re-opens in January.

Gundogan breaks silence on City exit

Ilkay Gundogan has explained his decision to leave Manchester City.

The Germany international left the treble winners to join Barcelona this summer after seven years in England.

“City waited a relatively long time until the talks intensified,” Gundogan told Bild.

“In the end, it was the perfect ending, it couldn’t have come at a better time. It was also my childhood dream to play for FC Barcelona.”

Mbappe tempted by Prem’s move

Kylian Mbappe has not ruled out a move to the Premier League next summer.

According to L’Equipe, Liverpool remains an option for the French forward if he leaves PSG in 2024.

Mbappe had looked set for a move this summer after confirming he would not be extending his contract.

However, he has since returned to the fold after initially being banished from first-team training.

The report claims, though, that Mbappe “could be tempted” if Liverpool approached.