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Football transfer rumours: Romero to replace Pickford at Everton?

<span>Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/AFP/Getty Images</span>
Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/AFP/Getty Images

Famed negotiators of a good deal, Manchester United, are going to have one last crack at prising Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund’s tight grip with a like-it-or-lump-it £90m offer. It says here that Dortmund reckon the deadline for any deal being done was 10 August and their asking price was £108m but, ever the optimist, Ed Woodward reckons a mid-pandemic offer of £90m will be tempting enough to persuade the 20-year-old to ink his name on a shiny new contract worth £175,000 a week.

If United are successful, Sancho may see Sergio Romero heading out of Old Trafford as he checks in. Everton have apparently got a “third party” (translation: agent), to see if the Argentina international, who is now third-choice at United, would be willing to tread the well-worn path from Old Trafford to Goodison Park. With current Toffees No 1, Jordan Pickford, averaging a Kepa Arrizabalaga-like bungle every other game, it wouldn’t take much for Romero to dislodge him.

Related: Manchester United target Alex Telles urges Porto to lower asking price

Mike Arteta wants to squeeze a midfield metronome into Arsenal’s midfield before the window shuts. His latest plan, to package up Lucas Torreira and cash in exchange for Thomas Partey, has been swatted aside by Atlético Madrid, who want Torreira separate to any deal for Partey. So the word is that Arteta has turned his attention towards Chelsea and a potential shock bid for Jorginho. The 28-year-old Italy international, who is not as jet-heeled and dynamic as Frank Lampard would like him to be, would not come cheap. A fee of £57m was talked about when Jorginho was in a grump at the end of last season.

Monaco have entered the race to sign Dele Alli on loan from Tottenham. It’s not much of a race, mind, because the latest piffle doing the rounds suggests PSG have given up. And in any case, José Mourinho still appears to want Alli in his squad this season despite making it known he’d like the England international to run around more when Spurs don’t have the ball. Which is quite often.

West Brom’s need for a striker is so desperate that Slaven Bilic may consider handing a contract to … Emmanuel Adebayor. Yes, folks, you read that right. The 36-year-old was last seen in Paraguay, where he made two appearances for Olimpia before Covid-19 brought the league to a shuddering halt. His last Premier League stint was at Crystal Palace, in 2016, where he scored one goal before going 12 games without scoring before being quickly moved on to Basaksehir. Please make it happen!

Sheffield United are still in the driving seat to land Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster on loan. The striker took no part in the Reds’ thumping 7-2 win over Lincoln City on Thursday, thus denying him a chance to net his first ever goal for the club and looks likely to team up with Chris Wilder’s side. Aston Villa, Brighton and Crystal Palace are also sniffing around, though.

And Barcelona will make one last attempt to fill the Luis Suárez-shaped void in their attack by posting £90m in the direction of Inter in the hope that they will send Lautaro Martínez back in exchange.