Liverpool 'set asking price' for midfielder as Chelsea star boards flight for medical

The Premier League season is now less than two weeks away, and most clubs have now returned to the UK for the final stretch of pre-season. Home friendlies will now be the order of business for most clubs in a bid to tease fans back into their weekly ritual of flocking to stadiums to catch their team in action.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and the other London clubs all have home friendlies lined up ahead of the competitive action kicking off a week on Friday - Saturday and Sunday for most - and clubs continue to work on transfer business in the meantime, Here were round up all the latest from around the top flight.

Gallagher makes decision

Conor Gallagher looks to have made his mind up, with the Chelsea midfielder headed to Madrid to complete his move to Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club agreed a £34million deal with Chelsea, with the Blues wanting to make sure they had a deal in place in case they could not agree a new contract with the England international.

Gallagher wanted a multi-year contract to match the other players at the club, but he has not been able to come to an agreement with Chelsea. Atletico wanted a decision by the end of the weekend, and it seems they got one, with various outlets now reporting that Gallagher is headed for the Spanish capital to complete his Stamford Bridge exit.

Carvalho price

Fabio Carvalho has been one of the stars of pre-season for Liverpool, regularly finding the net and scoring again in the Reds’ thrashing of Manchester United on Sunday. It’s unclear whether the midfielder will get an opportunity in Arne Slot’s starting XI, and reports claim Liverpool have already rejected an offer from Southampton.

But it seems every player has a price, and CaughtOffside report that Liverpool have placed a £25.7million price tag on Carvalho this summer. The Saints are said to have offered around £17million, which puts them short of the valuation mentioned. It’s reported that the Reds are willing to sell if the asking price is met but they will not loan Carvalho again this summer.

De Ligt update

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has spoken about Matthijs de Ligt’s situation amid interest from Manchester United this summer. Erik ten Hag has already admitted that United have an interest in De Ligt, and that interest is only likely to have grown striker with the injury suffered by new signing Leny Yoro during pre-season, leaving United short at the back again. The question is whether Bayern are willing to sell as they close in on the new season.

"I will comment on the reasons when the time comes," Eberl told Sky Sports Germany. "It is not yet that time. Matthijs played very well here for two years and that is why many fans like him. Nevertheless, you have to think about how you decide and also how the boy feels. He is still a player for FC Bayern. And as long as he is, he will get all the support from us."