West Ham are unlikely to go back in for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire after seeing a £20 million bid knocked back.
The Old Trafford giants made the England international the most expensive defender in history when bringing him in from Leicester for £80m in 2019.
Maguire was swiftly handed the captain's armband, but a lack of form and game time led Erik ten Hag to this month name Bruno Fernandes as United’s new skipper.
Numerous clubs have been linked with a summer move for the out-of-favour defender and West Ham have seen a £20m (€23.2m) bid for the 30-year-old rejected.
It is understood that the Europa Conference League winners are unlikely to make another move for him after seeing that bid rebuffed.
Maguire has dropped down the pecking order at United under Ten Hag, yet sources indicate he is still seen as a valuable part of the squad and stressed they are not forcing him out.
The defender has remained a key member of the England squad, despite enduring a poor 2022/23 campaign, but his place could come under threat if things do not improve before Euro 2024.
Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo will miss the start of the 2023-24 campaign after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who made his first-team breakthrough last season and was playing a prominent role on the summer tour of the United States, was injured in Thursday's friendly against Real Madrid in Houston.
Mainoo has flown back to Manchester for further assessment but a report on the club’s website said he was "expected to be ruled out for the first part of the 2023-24 season".
Allan Saint-Maximin has confirmed he is to leave Newcastle this summer.
The French winger has been heavily linked with a £30m move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
The 26-year-old has sat out much of the Magpies' pre-season programme and has now posted a farewell message on his Instagram account.
In it he professes his love for the club and reflects on their journey from relegation strugglers to last season’s impressive fourth-placed Premier League finish.
He wrote: "I fell for Newcastle, I had great opportunities to leave during dark days, but that was too late I was already in love, I wanted, I needed, I had to stay for helping my team to save the club from Premier League relegation because it meant the world for me.
"Of course during those dark days some may have had their doubts, but I always believed in this club and look where we are today, it’s just so beautiful. I’m leaving Newcastle as it should always have been and that’s my greatest trophy because I was a part of it."
Saint-Maximin joined Newcastle from Nice in a £16m deal in 2019. He has made 124 appearances for the club and scored 13 goals.
A switch to Saudi Arabia would see him join a growing list of high-profile players to have moved to the Middle East country.
Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy have already signed for Al-Ahli, while Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and N’Golo Kante have also joined Pro League clubs this summer.
Leeds have announced the signing of goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Newcastle for an undisclosed fee.
The 32-year-old has agreed a three-year contract at Elland Road.
Darlow is the West Yorkshire club's second signing of the summer following the arrival of Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.
Sligo Rovers have announced the re-signing of Fabrice Hartmann on loan until 30 2024 from German Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.
Hartmann had spent the first months of the 2023 season at The Showgrounds before returning to Germany to undergo a rehabilitation programme at his parent club after sustaining a hamstring injury in May.
Hartmann is now returning to full fitness and will go straight into John Russell's squad for next Friday’s crunch game against St. Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds.
Russell said: "I’m delighted to bring Fabrice back to the club again.
"He is a player of immense quality. I felt he was just getting into his stride before his injury so to have him back with us is exciting.
"He makes the difference in the final third with his ability to create chances and score goals.
"I’m sure our supporters will be excited by this news".
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has extended his contract with the club to 2027, the European and Premier League champions have announced.
The Netherlands international has prolonged his previous deal by two years, committing himself to the Etihad Stadium outfit for a further four seasons.
Ake was an integral member of Pep Guardiola's squad during City’s memorable treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, making 41 appearances in all competitions.
The 28-year-old said: "This is the best club in the world, I have no doubts about that. Being a Manchester City player makes me incredibly proud every single day.
"It’s a football club that expects excellence in every area, which makes for the perfect environment to improve. It drives me on and makes me better. I am at the stage of my career where I want to keep developing and I can definitely do that here.
"Pep is the best manager in football – a genius who has made me see the game differently – so to be able to work with him for longer is a real privilege. I am so grateful to him for everything he has done for me, both personally and professionally."
The former Chelsea player joined City in a £41m deal from Bournemouth three years ago.
He initially had to wait for his opportunity but came of age last term, proving a reliable performer at both centre-back and left-back.
"Saudi Arabia has changed the market"
Guardiola has confirmed the club will not be signing a like-for-like replacement for winger Riyad Mahrez.
Mahrez left City for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli in a £30m deal, joining a growing number of high-profile players to have switched to the Middle East country this summer.
Speaking at a press conference during City's pre-season tour of South Korea, Guardiola said: "We are not looking for a replacement of Riyad in terms of skill because every player is different.
"We will see what happens with loan players, and which players stay here. A few things are going to happen.
"Saudi Arabia has changed the market. A few months ago when Cristiano (Ronaldo) was the only one to go, no one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league.
"In the future there will be more and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening. Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we could not say don’t do it."
Mahrez was the second departure from City this summer following the exit of Ilkay Gundogan. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is so far their only signing.
