Leeds are making progress in talks with Bayern Munich to sign the defensive midfielder Marc Roca and hope to conclude a deal this week.
West Have are also interested in the 25-year-old Spaniard but Leeds lead the race for a player valued by Bayern at €15m (£12.9m).
Roca has been unable to hold down a place at the Bundesliga champions since joining from Espanyol in October 2020, starting only six league matches. He was part of the Spain Under-21 team that won the 2019 European Championship.
Bayern have confirmed the signing of the midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax and could end up paying about €25m for the Netherlands international. Ajax’s Brazilian winger Antony remains on Manchester United’s list of potential signings but no bid has been made.
United and Crystal Palace are ahead of other suitors, including Monaco, competing to buy the 18-year-old forward Malcolm Ebiowei from Derby. Ebiowei, who has represented the Netherlands and England at youth level, made 16 Championship appearances last season.
Newcastle hope to seal a deal to sign the Reims forward Hugo Ekitike this week amid confidence among all parties that it will get done. Ekitike suffered a hamstring injury playing for France’s Under-20s but it is not as bad as initially feared.
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Arsenal have announced the purchase of the Brazilian forward Marquinhos from São Paulo, with the fee for the 19-year-old understood to be about £3m. “He is a player for the future,” said Arsenal’s technical director, Edu.
Chelsea have exercised an option to extend Billy Gilmour’s contract by two years to 2024. The 21-year-old last month finished a season’s loan at Norwich.
Aston Villa are poised to sign the 16-year-old striker Rory Wilson from Rangers. The presence of the former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard at Villa has been key to the decision of a player who got 49 youth-team goals last season.
