Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal close in on Bruno Guimaraes, Man Utd learn Lewis Hall decision, Liverpool get Barcola boost

Tottenham have distanced themselves with reports linking the club for a move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson, 25, has returned from a season-long loan at Bayern Munich and is available for another move this summer.

Spurs have already spent £237m this summer and although they have not ruled out a move for another attacker – with Cody Gakpo and Savinho linked – there will be no move for Jackson.

In other news today, embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been accused of “blackmail” by the president of the Jordan FA, Prince Ali bin Hussein, after his foiled plans to sell stakes in the World Cup.

The England international is a surprise signing for Chelsea but, as Jack Rathborn explains, Xabi Alonso could lean on the 36-year-old to help establish his ideas at an unstable club

Bruno Guimaraes’ versatility is key for Arsenal, particularly if Mikel Arteta plans to rotate Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi more this season than he did last campaign as well as further integrating Myles Lewis-Skelly as a midfielder rather than a full-back.

Guimaraes would be able to slot into the deepest of Arsenal’s three midfield roles, in the No 6, with Rice pushing further forward. Or, if Rice is rested, Guimaraes can push forward in the role of No 8 with Zubimendi or Lewis-Skelly anchoring.

Arsenal fans may not see it too often over the first half of the season, but a combination of Guimaraes and Rice – with either Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze deployed at No 10 – would potentially be a mouthwatering one.

On paper, Guimaraes and Rice do share a lot of the same strengths, they win back possession and progress the ball through midfield, but they compliment each other nicely too: while Rice is pure power and legs, Guimaraes brings incision and range.

Everything about Bruno Guimaraes’ tenacity fits into what Mikel Arteta said he wanted when approaching this summer’s transfer market as Premier League champions.

Since 2009, only Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have managed to defend their Premier League title and the past two decades are full of examples of what happens to title-winning teams if they return the next season but fail to match the same level of intensity: a drop-off.

Last May, Arteta said he wanted to “to increase the competition internally” and Guimaraes, who will turn 29 this season, can instantly bring that drive to Arsenal’s squad.

That will be particularly important given that midfield leader Declan Rice is coming off a 69-game season for club and country through to the end of the World Cup, when the England international looked exhausted. Martin Zubimendi, too, was drained towards the end of last campaign.

Vinicius Jr has revealed that new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho encouraged him to maintain his “happy” and “joyful” approach to football as the Brazil international navigates ongoing speculation about his future at the Bernabéu.

The 26-year-old forward, who recently returned for pre-season training following his World Cup commitments, is entering the final year of his contract next summer and has yet to agree a new deal.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after his second day back, Vinicius said: “It has gone very well, getting to know the new coach and the new players and training very hard.”

He added: “Mourinho wants me to be as I have always been: happy, joyful and to play my football. We have to prepare physically so that during the season, we have fewer injuries and thus be able to count on everyone.”

Bruno Guimaraes is a true all-round midfielder, excelling in a number of different areas.

On the ball, Guimaraes stands out highly when compared to other Premier League midfielders when it comes to short, sharp progressive passes through the lines. This will help to quicken Arsenal’s play when faced with deep-lying defences. Guimaraes is also excellent at using long passes to switch play out wide, or to release an attacker running behind the opponent’s back-line.

Newcastle fans appreciated Guimaraes’ quality in possession and his creativity. But where the Toon fell in love with the Brazilian was his snarling attitude off the ball. Guimaraes is the midfield king of one of Mikel Arteta’s buzzwords – duels – and it is his aggression in the challenge and ability to regain possession that made him the beating heart of Newcastle when they were at their intense best under Eddie Howe.

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Bruno Guimaraes this summer.

Here, Archie Corbett explains why Mikel Arteta is so keen on adding the Newcastle captain to his title-winning squad.

Chelsea aren’t the only BlueCo subsidiary making moves. Gio Reyna is in need of rejuvenation after a couple of tricky years in Germany, and the American has signed for Strasbourg.

Liverpool remain interested in signing Bradley Barcola this summer as the Reds bid to talk Paris Saint-Germain down from their £140m asking price.

But Liverpool could have received a boost by the news that PSG are set to sign Monaco’s France international winger Maghnes Akliouche in a £42.8m deal.

Could PSG already be lining up Barcola’s replacement in the 24-year-old Akliouche?