Live Coverage: Transfer Talk - July 24

Welcome to Sports Mole's live transfer blog on Friday, July 24.

With the new football season just over two weeks away, there are plenty of stories surrounding potential signings and departures doing the rounds.

There is still over a month remaining until the transfer window closes, leaving plenty of time for more business to be done.

2.00amThat's all for tonight folks, but we'll be back with the July 25 edition of LIVE! Transfer Talk in about six hours. Until then....

12.54amA certain Arsenal player has admitted he IS flattered by speculation linking him with Barcelona - and says he would consider a move to Spain! Who is it? Click here to find out.

11.39pmDONE DEAL! This one has been coming for a matter of days now, but Fiorentina confirm the arrival of Mario Suarez from Atletico Madrid.

10.47pmArsene Wenger has insisted that Arsenal don't have an endless budget for this summer's transfer window, but it looks like there could be at least one big purchase being lined up for the Gunners. Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus has been linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid in recent weeks, but the latest reports suggest that Arsenal have hijacked those talks.

8.03pmAston Villa have been linked with a number of strikers this week, following Christian Benteke's move to Liverpool. The latest name being linked with the switch to Villa Park is Roma forward Mattia Destro, but they seemingly face competition from Bayer Leverkusen.

7.20pmIf you've missed any of our transfer stories throughout today, why not check out the 7pm Transfer Talk Update, which features all the developments since early this morning.

6.47pmDONE DEAL! Lassana Diarra - remember him? Well, the former Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Real Madrid midfielder has signed a deal to play for Marseille next season.

6.03pmBarcelona winger Pedro has been linked with a number of clubs since it was revealed that he has a Â£21m release clause, and if reports are to be believed, the Spaniard has opened talks with Manchester United, who are known to be keen to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign.

5.15pmBurnley have done well to keep most of their first-team players during the summer after relegation to the Championship, and they have gone a step further to retain the services of Scott Arfield by tying the midfielder down to a new three-year deal.

4.37pmLeyton Orient, who suffered relegation to League Two last season, have been dealt a blow after captain Nathan Clarke revealed that he would be leaving the club to return to the North-East.

4.17pmDONE DEAL! Cardiff City have completed the signing of French defender Jordan Blaise. The 19-year-old, who has penned a two-year deal, will spend next season in the development squad at the Welsh side.

3.35pmMidfielder Louis Reed has handed Sheffield United a boost before the start of the new season by signing a new three-year contract at Bramall Lane. The 17-year-old made 32 appearances for the Blades last season.

3.33pmHe may have been linked with a move to Arsenal, but striker Karim Benzema will be staying at Real Madrid for the upcoming season, according to boss Rafael Benitez.

2.29pmFormer England defender Matthew Upson is currently without a club following his release by Leicester City, but that might be about to change as one newly-promoted Championship club are thought to be interested in him.

2.20pmArsene Wenger confirmed in a press conference this afternoon that Wojciech Szczesny would not take part in the upcoming Emirates Cup because he is on the verge of joining Roma.

1.35pmNow, this is interesting. Jordan Rhodes has hit out at Blackburn Rovers for seemingly blocking a move to championship rivals Middlesbrough. Read what the prolific frontman has had to say here.

1.21pmDONE DEAL! Speaking of Forest, their former striker Darius Henderson has put pen to paper on a one-year contract with League One side Scunthorpe United.

12.59pmBurnley lost Jason Shackell to Derby County yesterday, but they might be about to make a signing as they have reportedly agreed a fee with Nottingham Forest for a former Arsenal midfielder.

12.50pmAnother player we feel could fill the void left by Benteke is Diego Rolan, but it sounds like Newcastle United are leading the race to sign the Bordeaux frontman.

12.47pmA little earlier, we chose five Christian Benteke replacements that Aston Villa could chase and one of them is Charlie Austin. After an impressive first Premier League season, the Englishman is expected to be signed by a top-flight outfit and R's boss Chris Ramsey has admitted that it is unlikely he will stay. Here he is scoring against Villa last term.

12.39pmDONE DEAL! Sheffield Wednesday supporters will have largely been disappointed to see Chris Maguire leave this summer and now he has joined one of their nearby Yorkshire rivals. Find out who here.

12.26pmHe might not be the most exciting player in the Premier League, but John Obi Mikel is an important player for Chelsea and is keen to remain at Stamford Bridge.

11.56amDONE DEAL! There's news of a completed transfer north of the border, meanwhile, as New Zealand international midfielder Cameron Howieson links up with St Mirren on a short-team deal.

11.52amFormer Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby is thought to be closing in on a move to West Bromwich Albion. The Frenchman, who has had numerous high-profile injury layoffs in the past, will reportedly sign a pay-as-you-play deal at The Hawthorns in the coming days.

11.16amDONE DEAL! Some transfer news to bring you from the Championship now, and Brentford have completed the signing of Denmark international forward Lasse Vibe. The 28-year-old joins from IFK Goteborg on a three-year deal. Read more.

10.34amSouthampton have received a big blow with the news that Florin Gardos is likely to miss around seven months of action through injury, and boss Ronald Koeman acknowledges that signing defensive cover is now a "priority".

10.00amHere's a little more on that developing Jordan Ayew story, which suggests that the Ghanaian could be on his way to Villa Park in the coming days.

9.47amBREAKING NEWS! Aston Villa have reportedly had a Â£12m bid accepted by Lorient for striker Jordan Ayew. More on that to follow.

9.16amIn an attempt to improve on last year's poor Premier League showing, Newcastle United have splashed the cash of late on a couple of star players. The spending doesn't appear to have finished quite yet, however, as Chancel Mbemba will reportedly join Aleksandar Mitrovic in swapping Anderlecht for the North East of England.

8.45amNow this news will be of major interest to Arsenal fans. The Gunners have been linked with Karim Benzema this summer, although it has been reported that they will make a bid for Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski if a deal for the Real Madrid man falls through. More on this here.

8.01amWant to catch up on the stories that have emerged over the past 12 hours? Look no further than our latest transfer update, which you'll find here.

7.12amWe start with some news that broke overnight regarding Yaya Toure. The Manchester City midfielder has dismissed speculation regarding his future by stating that he expects to stay with the club for the remainder of his contract.

7.00amGood morning everyone! The new season is almost upon us, so clubs are working hard to get their squads in place ahead of the big kick off. Will this mean that Manchester City's Â£49m deal for Raheem Sterling will be topped? Stay with us to find out.