Newcastle United have agreed a £51.5m deal with Freiburg to sign the 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, a versatile player who has impressed at this summer's World Cup. The transfer is a statement of intent by the club, though it cannot be finalised while Switzerland remain in the tournament, and Manzambi is currently nursing a minor knee injury that leaves his availability for the quarter-final against Argentina in doubt.

At the same time, Newcastle insist they have no intention of selling Bruno Guimarães to Arsenal, though they acknowledge the Brazil midfielder has grown unsettled following the exits of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon to Tottenham and Barcelona. Arsenal have yet to make a formal bid, but an offer of around £75m — coupled with the prospect of nearly doubling the 28-year-old's wages — could force a decision. In separate business, Newcastle have also completed a £23m signing of 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur, while Arsenal recruited goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer and Brentford signed striker Callum Wilson on a one-year deal.