Transfer talk: Arsenal closing in on Chelsea’s Cech, but no deal yet he says

While reports circulated on Monday night that a deal was done for Petr Cech to join Arsenal from Chelsea, the keeper himself said through his Twitter account nothing was finalised.

Petr Cech made only 10 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea in 2014/15. Tony O'Brien / Action Images / Reuters

Chelsea

Petr Cech has moved to play down reports that a deal had already been struck with Arsenal over a proposed £11million (Dh63.7m) transfer from Chelsea, as talks continued over the future of the veteran goalkeeper.

Arsenal are said to be close to a deal for the Czech stopper, who would prefer to keep his family in London as he seeks a move away from the Premier League champions in search of regular football.

Monday night it was reported a deal had been agreed between Chelsea and Arsenal for Cech. No official confirmation was made by either club.

Read more: The National's Transfer Talk page

Cech himself later retweeted a message from his management company The Sports PR Company on his official Twitter account indicating nothing was yet set in stone.

The tweet read: “@SportsPRCompany ... as we told you, No transfer deal has been done yet for @PetrCech – as soon as any news @PetrCech will confirm.”

Cech – who has played an instrumental role in Chelsea’s success since joining from Rennes in 2004 – found himself as understudy to Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge last season.

Southampton

Southampton have brought in Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg on a season-long loan from Fulham to provide cover for the injured Fraser Forster.

Both clubs announced the deal on Monday evening, with Southampton needing to make a move after Forster damaged his left patellar tendon in March – an injury which he is expected to take up to a year to recover from.

Stekelenburg, capped 54 times by his country, spent last season on loan at AS Monaco following Fulham’s relegation to the Championship.

Stekelenburg, 32, made only four appearances for Monaco as he failed to dislodge first-choice Danijel Subasic, and he is now hoping to find regular football at St Mary’s Stadium.

“I’m very pleased that I’ve joined,” he said on Southampton’s website.

“It’s a big, nice club that will play European football – and I can play. Last year I didn’t play a lot, so it’s an opportunity for me. I’m grateful.

“The last two years weren’t the best of my career. As they say in England: the best is yet to come.”

Norwich City

Norwich City have confirmed the signing of former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu on a free transfer.

The 28-year-old DR Congo international will join the club on July 1 when his contract at The Hawthorns expires.

Mulumbu becomes the second signing by Norwich since their victory in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, with Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans making his move from West Brom permanent.

Norwich manager Alex Neil, who guided the club back to the Premier League after taking over in January, believes Mulumbu will bring with him invaluable experience.

“The fact that we have been able to pick Youssouf up on a free transfer is a fantastic piece of business,” Neil said on Norwich’s website.

“His arrival will add to the competition for places. We have a strong squad with a lot of players that have done well in the Premier League and Youssouf will bring that competition to the squad.”

West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion have made Ireland winger James McClean their first signing of the summer.

The 26-year-old has joined from League One side Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee and is tied to West Brom for three years, with the club retaining an option to extend the deal for a further 12 months.

McClean told West Brom’s official website: “I’m delighted. I’ve played in the Premier League before and not only am I back here, but I’m with a stable top-flight club and one that wants to push on.

“Tony Pulis told me what his plans were, where I would fit in. It was all very positive. The Premier League is where any player wants to be.”

Glasgow Rangers

Rangers manager Mark Warburton is closing in on his first signing with talks progressing with Wigan defender Rob Kiernan and former Hearts of Midlothian skipper Danny Wilson.

Kiernan was photographed entering Murray Park on Monday while Wilson was also reported to have travelled to the training ground for a medical as he nears a return to the place where he started his career.

Warburton is also looking to sign 35-year-old former Watford and Derby County midfielder John Eustace to guide what he hopes will be a predominantly youthful squad.

The manager said: “We are making good progress and there are hopefully a positive few days ahead.”

On 24-year-old Kiernan, who came through the youth ranks under Warburton at Watford, he said: “He’s a very talented player. We are hopefully near the end of negotiations.

“I have known him very well from a very young age, he is technically very good, 6ft 3in, comfortable at Championship level down south.

“We are looking for a young, hungry squad that want to play here but at the same time you need one or two senior mentors to look after them, not just on the pitch but off the pitch too. It’s about getting the balance right, making sure they are good enough to deal with 45,000 out there, but also what they bring to the club away from the pitch.

“People like John Eustace are few and far between. We are having a chat and seeing how far we can take it, no more than that.

“If you look at the win ratio when John is playing, he is really important. He had a big role at Derby in recent years. He is someone I know really well and someone I have always been impressed with.”

Warburton added that Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan was “one of a hundred players” mentioned to him in recent days but he will take his time going through the options.

Burnley

Matthew Lowton has become Burnley's first signing following their relegation to the Championship.

The 26-year-old right-back – a product of Sheffield United’s academy – has left Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee after agreeing a three-year deal at Turf Moor.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche told his club’s official website: “Even back to his days at Sheffield United, I always thought Matt was a very good player and one who I think is motivated to go again.”

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