Arsenal have signed Ben White on a £50 million ($69.5 million) transfer from Brighton. White becomes the third most expensive signing in Arsenal history.

White had been one of Mikel Arteta’s top summer targets and his ability to pass out from defence, as well as step into midfield.

Arsenal now hopes to keep Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka, who would each like a move from the club.

Sergino Dest has turned down approaches from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal to remain with Barcelona.

Those clubs had hoped to take advantage of Barcelona's perilous financial situation by signing Dest.

Barca need to raise funds and reduce the wage bill to be able to register their new signings and Lionel Messi's new contract while complying with LaLiga's financial fair play rules. President Joan Laporta has said the club are open to "all proposals."

Barcelona is deep at right-back in Dest, Emerson Royal and Sergi Roberto.

Manchester United has completed a €50 million ($59.1 million) transfer agreement with Real Madrid for Raphael Varane.

Varane will signed a four-year contract with an option for an additional year.

Varane won four Champions League titles during his time with Real Madrid.

Varane joins Harry Maguire – the world’s most expensive defender – Victor Lindelöf, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s centre-back options.

Chelsea have opened transfer talks with Sevilla on Jules Kounde as they've made him their top defensive target this summer.

Kounde is considered one of the best center backs in La Liga and has a release clause of €80 million. Chelsea, however, are not prepared to pay the release clause. 

Sevilla are in financial difficulties, potentially handing Chelsea an advantage during negotiations.

Manchester United is in final negotiations to buy Raphael Varane from Real Madrid for approximately £40 million.

Varane will be United's third acquisition of the summer. Last week, Jadon Sancho completed his £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund, and they have also re-signed the goalkeeper Tom Heaton, following his departure from Burnley.

Varane joined Real Madrid from Lens in 2011.

Manchester United and Paul Pogba continue to discuss a new contract extension.

Pogba is in the final season of his current contract and has been linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

"Talks are ongoing between Paul's representatives and the club representatives," Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, following a 4-2 preseason defeat to QPR on Saturday.

"All the dialogue I've had with Paul is that he's looking forward to the season. There's always speculation about Paul, the talks between the club and Paul's representatives, I don't know every detail of every single one of them. I've not got anything to say really about that.

"There's always clubs being interested and of course we've seen Paul at his best and Paul knows what we feel about it and I've enjoyed my time working with him and hopefully we can work together."

Joan Laporta won't rule out the possibility of selling Antoine Griezmann this summer. 

Barcelona have held talks with Atletico Madrid over a swap deal of Griezmann involving Saul Niguez. Talks, however, stalled over how the two clubs valued the players.

"Griezmann is a Barca player, he has a contract with the club until 2024 and unless circumstances change, we are counting on him," Laporta said at the presentation of Memphis Depay on Wednesday.

"There have been some movements on the market and we can't deny that there's been interest in him. That's a sign of his quality.

"It's a special market and you have to use your imagination, perhaps thinking in swap deals, but we value Antoine a lot. The club made a big investment in him and we are happy with him.

"It's not easy for a club to come in with an offer for a player at his level. But the transfer window is just getting started and there's a market for Griezmann.

"If things start moving, we're open to all proposals because we're in a delicate moment financially and we have to balance the books for to comply with the league's financial fair play rules."

Emile Smith Rowe has signed a long-term deal with Arsenal and has also been given the No. 10 shirt.

Other clubs had been alerted to Smith Rowe’s potential availability while negotiations with Arsenal continued, and Aston Villa had bids of about £25 million and £30 million firmly rejected last month.

Smith Rowe has been with Arsenal since the age of nine.

“As we all saw last season, Emile is an intelligent player with excellent ability,” Mikel Arteta said. “His sharpness on the turn and exceptional vision have already made him a key player for us. His attitude and willingness to learn have also been very impressive. Huge credit to our team in our academy who have given Emile a great education and have worked superbly to help with his development through the age groups.”

Steve Cooper has left his post as manager of Swansea. Cooper led Swansea to successive Championship play-off finishes but made clear his concerns over the direction of the club.

Cooper said “it feels like a good time for all parties to make a change” and Swansea’s chief executive, Julian Winter, pointed to the head coach’s contract situation. “We felt as a club that the situation needed clarity and with a new season edging closer, the mutual nature of this decision allows both parties a chance to look forward,” he said.

Crystal Palace have completed an £18 million transfer with Chelsea for Marc Guehi.

“I’m very excited, it’s a great opportunity for me to come to such a big club in the Premier League,” said Guehi. “I’m really excited to get going. The club is taking a really exciting direction with the new gaffer that’s come in. A lot of good young players are here and obviously such a stable club with top players really enticed me and made me want to come.”

Guehi was born in the Ivory Coast and grew up in London, joining Chelsea aged eight.