Transfer rumors: Arsenal's Lacazette, Mustafi pursuit; Toure, Hart latest
The summer transfer season is in full swing, with European powers loading up for the campaigns that have either already begun or are on the horizon with the summer's international competitions in the rear-view mirror.
Manchester United (Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly) and Manchester City (John Stones, Leroy Sane, Nolito, Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Marlos Moreno) have already spent big, while their competitors both in England and abroad position themselves as well. Early results and injuries are also playing and will continue to play into team's decisions for the remainder of the month.
Despite some of the biggest names on the market already switching clubs and settling into their new surroundings, a number of others are still slated for moves as the countdown to the deadline continues.
Here is the latest buzz from the summer transfer window:
Monday, August 15
What will Man City do with Hart, Toure? With Yaya Toure being left out of Manchester City's traveling squad for the Champions League playoff round, murmurs are resurfacing that he'll head to the exits at the Etihad. There's also the matter of goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was benched for the season opener against Sunderland. Barcelona and Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has been heavily linked to a move to Man City, with reports that the player and club have agreed to personal terms. A sticking point is the knee injury to Barcelona's Marc Andre ter-Stegen. Bravo leaving would leave Barcelona thin at the position. Everton is said to be interested in Hart, should he leave Manchester City.
Blind, Mata have won Mourinho's trust: Daley Blind and Juan Mata were thought to be on the way out of Manchester United, but after showing well in the season opener and winning over Jose Mourinho's favor, the duo may be staying put after all.
Is Arsenal actually in Mustafi running? Arsenal is painfully thin in central defense and the long-rumored signing of Shkodran Mustafi remains up in the air. Valencia reportedly says it's not in negotiations with any club for the Germany international. After leaking four goals to Liverpool on Sunday, Arsenal surely needs help in the back while it waits for Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny to recover from injuries.
Lacazette hat trick brightens spotlight: Alexandre Laczette did himself–and Lyon–plenty of favors after a hat trick in his season debut with Lyon. The Arsenal target told Canal+ that "if offers come in that I cannot refuse, I don’t want to refuse them.” Arsenal must improve its previous reported offers if it's to pry him from the Ligue 1 club.
Sunderland aims for bring back Yedlin: DeAndre Yedlin went unused in Tottehham's season opener against Everton, and ESPN FC reports that Sunderland wants to bring back the U.S. right back, who succeeded while on loan at the Stadium of Light last season.
Odegaard set for Rennes loan: Real Madrid's 17-year-old Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard is slated for a loan to France's Rennes. Liverpool and West Ham were reported to be interested in securing his services as well.
Palace has its Bolasie replacement lined up: After selling Yannick Bolasie to Everton, Crystal Palace is eyeing France international and Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko. Christian Benteke is another option for Palace, with Liverpool looking to offload the Belgian forward.
