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live Updated 2h ago 13 New Updates Watford's Wesley Hoedt is in advanced talks with Al Shabab regarding agreeing personal terms on a permanent transfer. The centre-back has been informed that the club has agreed a deal in principle with the Saudi Pro League club. As outlined in the Transfer Deal Sheet on Tuesday, Watford have been in talks with Al Shabab for a number of weeks over the transfer and all parties have been working on a deal. Final details between the player and the club are yet to be formally completed but if all goes to plan the Dutch defender — who has just one year remaining on his deal — will move to Saudi Arabia. Hoedt joined Watford from Belgian club Anderlecht in January 2023. He has made 63 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. Advertisement Getty Images Burnley midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson has completed his move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah for an undisclosed fee. The 33-year-old leaves Turf Moor just over a month after signing a new one-year contract extension with the club. Gudmundsson joined Burnley from Charlton Athletic in 2016 and went on to make 225 appearances for the club. The Championship club said in a statement: "Burnley would like to thank Johann for his contribution and commitment over the years and wish him all the best in the future. " Burnley have won their two opening games under new head coach Scott Parker, who replaced Vincent Kompany following his move to Bayern Munich. Eddie Keogh/Getty Images Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil says he remains hopeful of adding to his squad before next week’s transfer deadline. Wolves are still chasing several pre-deadline deals with recruiting a centre-back with Premier League experience top of their list of priorities. O’Neil played down talk of a firm spending limit in the remaining week of business. "There's not really a financial limit, it's more about are the deals right, are the players right and is the valuation right, " he said. "We can do stuff, definitely, between now and the end of the transfer window, it just needs to fit properly for the team and the football club. "I've not heard any figure in any of my meetings or discussions. It's more about whether we can find things that fit football wise and financially than a set budget. "We are working hard to try to do some stuff that we think will help us. "The important thing for me is that the valuation of the player is correct for us and something that we think fits what we're trying to do. "That would be the key, really, as to how much we can or can't do in the next seven days. " Reinier Jesus will not travel with the Real Madrid Castilla squad for the first matchday of their Primera RFEF group (the Spanish third tier), pending the resolution of his future. Raul’s team visit Marbella this Saturday but the 22-year-old Brazilian forward will not be available. The Athletic reported that Norwich have shown concrete interest in Jesus, with a loan with an option to buy being considered. However, there are differences still to be sorted. Several clubs in Spain, including Tenerife and Eibar, both from Segunda Division, have asked Real Madrid about the situation. Madrid would have to cover huge amount of the player's salary in the event of a deal with any of the Spanish sides. Brazilian teams are also monitoring the situation. Reinier Jesus joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2020 for €30million (£25. 4m, $33. 3m). With a contract until 2026, he has yet to make his debut with the first team. Getty Images We're reaching the business end of the transfer window with a week to go until deadline day. Here's the state of play on Friday lunchtime: Getty Images Mikel Arteta has explained the delay in regards to his contract talks, while assuring Arsenal fans that he is still “excited” about what is to come during his time at the club. The Spaniard is into the last year of his current deal, which was signed in 2022 and expires in June 2025, and has fielded questions about his future since the backend of last season. “The focus has been on the transfer window, ” he said “We had quite a lot of things to do and discuss. We are on it and we will take care of that at the right moment. ” More below GO FURTHER Mikel Arteta explains delay in new Arsenal contract talks Advertisement Adam Hunger/Getty Images Bournemouth are working on deal to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea. Arrizabalaga has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and Bournemouth are looking to recruit him on loan for the 2024-25 season. The south coast club are in talks with Premier League counterparts Chelsea and the 29-year-old, who has been identified as their top target. Other teams are also considering Arrizabalaga, while Bournemouth have alternative options for the position including Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal. Given his contract is scheduled to expire in 2025,  Arrizabalaga would need to agree an extension before embarking upon a temporary transfer. GO FURTHER Bournemouth working on deal to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea Getty Images New Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke will miss his side's game with Everton with a knock. The £65million summer signing from Bournemouth made his debut against Leicester City on Monday night but Ange Postecoglou has revealed he picked up an issue that means he won't make his home bow this weekend. "Dom picked up a knock in the last game, " the head coach said. "He got through the game and it flared up the day after. He will miss tomorrow. "It’s an ankle injury. Somebody went across him early on (against Leicester). It depends on his recovery. It’s not serious. " Solanke played in all 38 of Bournemouth's Premier League games during the 2023/24 season, scoring 21 goals and providing four assists. Spurs have Richarlison, Timo Werner, and Son Heung-min as options to replace Solanke up front. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed he would like to sign another striker before the transfer window shuts next week. The club have already bought 11 players this summer, albeit some are playing elsewhere this season like Estevao Willian at Palmeiras, but their business may not be done yet. Chelsea have Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and 18-year-old Marc Guiu as their main options to play up front and Maresca wants to add another option if possible. When asked about what transfer business he would like Chelsea to do before the deadline next Friday, Maresca said: “If we have the chance to bring in a nine that can help us and make the difference, then we are going to try. Otherwise, we are okay. "We do not need to sign players just to sign players. If we sign players and they help us to improve, then for sure we need players. Otherwise, we are happy with the way we are. " GO FURTHER Chelsea could sign striker before transfer deadline – Enzo Maresca Getty Images Mikel Merino is travelling to London to undergo a medical and complete a move to Arsenal. An agreement has been reached that will see the Spain international move to the Emirates Stadium for an initial €33. 5million (£28. 4m). The 28-year-old has not been included in La Real’s squad for Saturday’s La Liga fixture with Espanyol as he completes the formalities of the transfer. The midfielder said his goodbyes on Friday and if all goes as planned is set to sign a long-term contract at Arsenal and become their third signing of the summer. GO FURTHER Mikel Merino to undergo medical, complete Arsenal transfer Gongora/Nur Photo via Getty Images Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says he hopes midfielder Dani Olmo can be registered in time for the game against Athletic Bilbao tomorrow. Olmo, who joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig earlier in the window in a deal worth in the region of €60million (£51. 2m; $65. 5m), has yet to be registered by his new club. The Spanish side can’t register new players with La Liga until they fix the financial problems that have seen the competition body cut their salary limit (reducing expenditure on wages would also help), which led to the Spanish midfielder missing Barcelona’s La Liga opening 2-1 victory over Valencia last weekend. Ilkay Gundogan has left the club, re-joining former side Manchester City on a free transfer, in order to ease the financial burden on Barcelona and help them register their big-money signing, Olmo. Flick said on the issue: “It’s not my job to register players. I like Olmo a lot, his work has been great and he is ready to play. “I hope he can be available tomorrow. I see how he works and operates under pressure. I hope to have him this weekend as soon as possible because his impact is very positive. ” Barcelona will face their former transfer target and Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams on Saturday. Despite Barca’s interest in the winger, The Athletic previously reported that the 22-year-old is expected to remain with Athletic Bilbao this season and he has since been handed the number 10 shirt. When asked about the Spain international, Flick said: “It’s not my job to speak about him. I focus on my players. We have Jules Kounde that will try to stop him in the best possible way. ” GO FURTHER Barcelona welcome Dani Olmo – but right now, he still can’t play in La Liga Advertisement The final paperwork came through later than expected on the evening of August 12, but there would be no final hitches. Matthijs de Ligt, regarded as one of Europe’s best young centre-backs for almost a decade, would become a Manchester United player courtesy of an opportunistic transfer, which first arose as a possibility during this summer’s European Championship, and which was ultimately completed for €45million (£38. 4m, $50m), plus a potential €5m more in add-ons. For De Ligt, who turned 25 that same day, this had been a long time coming. GO FURTHER De Ligt to Man Utd – inside the deal: Ten Hag’s texts, perfect profile… and lifelong love Tottenham Hotspur defender Ashley Phillips has joined Championship side Stoke City on a season-long loan. The Athletic previously reported that Stoke were in advanced talks with Tottenham to sign the 19-year-old. Upon joining the club, the teenager said: “I’m really excited to be at Stoke City and can’t wait to get started. “It’s a massive club, one I believe deserves to be pushing up the Championship table, and I’m here to help us finish as high in the league as we can. “I’ve done my pre-season work, had some great minutes playing, training and learning so much from some fantastic players with the first team squad at Spurs, now I’m ready to kick on and raring to go. ” Phillips joined Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth around £3million ($3. 9m) in the summer of 2023, signing a five-year deal. He spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Championship side Plymouth Argyle, making 18 Championship appearances as the Devon club narrowly avoided relegation to League One on the final day of the season. The defender also featured in several of Tottenham’s pre-season games earlier this summer. Stoke face West Bromwich Albion at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday. GO FURTHER Ash Phillips: Life at Plymouth, taking Tottenham chance and debt to Blackburn Mikel Arteta has spoken about his sadness at the way Emile Smith Rowe’s time at Arsenal came to an end in the midst of a number of Premier League clubs selling academy players. Smith Rowe left Arsenal for Fulham this month in a deal worth £27million after 14 years at the club, in which he made 115 senior appearances. The first player born in the 2000s to play for Arsenal, the pivotal role Smith Rowe played for Arteta during and just after lockdown played a part in Arteta’s emotions around his departure. "When I had the talk with Emile, I really felt it, " he said. “First of all because I have huge gratitude. He came into the team at a tough moment. I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don’t know how to explain it but that was my feeling. "Something changed when he came into the team. He created a different energy straight away. And I have a feeling like ‘argh’, that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously a lot of things happened in that time. " Smith Rowe was the first Arsenal sale of the summer, with the other two also coming from their academy. Mika Biereth was sold to Sturm Graz for £4million while Brooke Norton-Cuffy moved to Serie A side Genoa in a deal worth a total fee of around £3. 5million. Fellow academy graduates Eddie Nketiah (Nottingham Forest) and Charlie Patino (Deportivo La Coruna for £1million) are the next players set to depart. On academy players departing as a whole and what could change, Arteta added: "From my side it was really sad, because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance. And now, can they sustain this level and make us better? That is the idea. " On Thursday morning last week, Ilkay Gundogan arrived for Barcelona training ready to focus on the team’s season-opening fixture at Valencia. Just a few hours after the session finished, he and his entourage went to work on finding a way out of the club. The turning point was a key meeting with manager Hansi Flick. After training that day, the two Germans had a conversation. There had been growing uncertainty over Gundogan’s future, fuelled by reports in the local media, with some outlets — informed by Barca sources — claiming his salary was standing in the way of the club’s plans for 2024-25. Gundogan was aware of the speculation but had not paid it much attention. He was determined to stay at Barcelona, who he joined on a free transfer from Manchester City the previous summer, on a deal that had just been extended to June 2026. Sources close to Gundogan said he came away from the talk with a different view of things. Back at his city-centre home that very Thursday evening, he picked up the phone and called Pep Guardiola. GO FURTHER Ilkay Gundogan’s Barcelona exit to move back to Man City – the inside story Getty Images Sunderland have completed the signing of French striker Wilson Isidor from Zenit Saint Petersburg. The 23-year-old has joined on an initial season-long loan with the option of making the deal permanent next summer. Isidor said: "I’m so happy to be here and sign for Sunderland. It is an amazing club with a huge fanbase – and when a club like that wants you, it feels amazing. I didn’t hesitate. It was a natural decision. "I always knew Sunderland was a big club, so I can’t wait to get started and to see the Stadium of Light full. Hopefully, I can get the fans chanting my name. ” Prior to Zenit, the forward enjoyed spells with Monaco and Lokomotiv Moscow, having begun his career with Rennes. Sunderland are expected to see winger Jack Clarke leave the club in the coming days, with an agreement in place with Premier League new boys Ipswich Town. Advertisement Michael Steele/Getty Images The Athletic previously reported that City were the frontrunners to secure Gundogan’s return, with the midfielder having spoken with Pep Guardiola over a possible return to Manchester and the manager giving the green light to the move. Gundogan said: “Everyone knows the respect I have for Pep – he is the best manager in the world and working with him every day makes you a better player. You feel constantly challenged, which for any professional is exactly what you want. I cannot wait to work with him again. “And what can I say about my teammates here at City…they are world-class footballers. I am genuinely delighted to have the chance to train and play alongside them. “Honestly, I cannot wait to wear the City shirt again. ” GO FURTHER Ilkay Gundogan completes Manchester City return on free transfer from Barcelona Manchester City have completed the signing of Ilkay Gundogan. The 33-year-old has rejoined the club on a one-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months, after leaving Barcelona on a free transfer. The Athletic reported on Wednesday that City had reached an agreement on terms with Gundogan, who has given up two years of salary owed by Barcelona to move back to the Etihad Stadium. Gundogan was made available for transfer as Barcelona look to cut their wage bill in an effort to register players — including €60million (£51. 6m, $65. 5m) signing Dani Olmo — in line with La Liga’s squad cost limit. GO FURTHER Ilkay Gundogan completes Manchester City return on free transfer from Barcelona Burnley forward Anass Zaroury has signed for French side Lens. The Morocco international has signed a four-year contract with the Ligue 1 club for an undisclosed fee. The versatile forward scored six goals and added six assists in his first season at Turf Moor to help Burnley win promotion to the Premier League in 2022-23. He made six top-flight appearances last season before joining Hull City on loan for the remainder of the campaign.