Transfer news and rumours: Palacios to Ipswich, Diouf to Brentford, Flemming Burnley doubts

Ipswich Town are making progress in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios, according to a report.

The Tractor Boys have already spent in the region of £150m on 12 new players this summer since securing promotion to the Premier League, but Gary O'Neil’s side are still looking to bolster their squad before the September 1 deadline.

Palacios has emerged as a leading target for Ipswich in the final few days of the transfer window and the club have already seen two bids turned down for the 27-year-old.

However, Argentine journalist Renzo Pantich, via Sport Witness, claims that the Suffolk-based outfit have made a third offer for Palacios worth €30m (£26m), including the transfer fee and bonuses, and they now appear ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement with Leverkusen.

There had previously been some doubts over Palacios’s willingness to make the move, as it had been suggested that the midfielder would prefer to join a ‘bigger club’ if he left Leverkusen.

However, Palacios is now said to be very keen on becoming a Premier League player and is open to finalising a late move to Portman Road.

Palacios represented River Plate for the first five years of his senior career before leaving in 2020 to join Leverkusen, where he has played 186 times in all competitions and won the Bundesliga title in 2023-24.

Brentford to make improved £37m bid for Diouf

Staying in the Premier League, Brentford are reportedly preparing to make an improved bid for West Ham United left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The Senegal international only joined the Hammers last summer for around £19m, but he is increasingly likely to leave following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

According to Football Insider, Brentford have already seen three offers for the 21-year-old rejected by West Ham, but they remain determined to secure his signature.

The report adds that the Bees are readying a fresh bid worth £37m and hope that will be enough to strike an agreement with the East London club.

Diouf, who is keen on a return to the Premier League, made 32 appearances for West Ham in the top flight last season, registering five assists.

He played in the Hammers’ opening Championship fixture of the new season - a 2-2 away draw with Burnley - but he was absent for last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Charlton Athletic.

Flemming’s Burnley future remains uncertain

Elsewhere, Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen has refused to rule out the possibility of star striker Zian Flemming leaving the club before the transfer window closes.

The 28-year-old scored a team-high 11 Premier League goals last season and has since made a positive start with the Clarets this term, netting three goals in just two games across the Championship and EFL Cup.

Flemming has since been linked with Ligue 1 club Lille and missed Burnley’s 3-1 league defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, with Hayen citing a calf injury for his absence prior to kickoff.

However, Hayen revealed after the match that Flemming could leave the club before the September 1 deadline.

Asked whether he is confident Flemming will stay at Burnley, he told Sky Sports: "I don't know. If there is an offer that suits the finances of the club, then maybe the transfer can be done, but I want him to stay.

"Everyone has the ambition to play in the Premier League, so if he can make that step, then okay, everything should be in place, but as long as that's not the case, Zian stays with us."

Flemming still has three years remaining on his contract at Turf Moor and is thought to be valued much higher than the £7m fee Burnley paid Millwall for the striker’s services in 2024.