Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for winger Bradley Barcola, potentially hijacking a deal that Liverpool has been pursuing. Meanwhile, Manchester City is said to be interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, though this hinges on Rodri‘s potential departure.
Premier League clubs in transfer discussions
Liverpool‘s reluctance to meet Paris Saint-Germain‘s financial demands for Barcola has opened an opportunity for Arsenal. The Gunners are understood to have significant funds available after their unsuccessful pursuit of another player, which could enable them to make a bid for Barcola.
Reports indicate that Barcola has already agreed to a five-year contract with Liverpool. However, an agreement on a transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain is still pending. Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly seeking a substantial fee for the player, with some estimates suggesting it could exceed €100m. The French club’s pursuit of other players, such as Ajax starlet Mika Godts and Ferran Torres, could influence Barcola’s potential exit.
In other transfer news, Manchester City is reportedly keen on bringing Enzo Fernández to the club, reuniting him with manager Enzo Maresca. This potential move, however, is linked to the possible departure of Rodri from Manchester City. Chelsea, on the other hand, expects Fernández to remain at the club and may increase his asking price above $162 million (£120 million) once the Premier League season begins.
Chelsea has also stated no interest in a permanent sale of winger Mykhailo Mudryk this summer, but is exploring loan options for the player. While a loan to Strasbourg has been suggested, Mudryk is reportedly interested in joining another Premier League team, with interest from various clubs across Europe.
Other notable transfer movements
Galatasaray is reportedly looking into a deal to sign Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Additionally, Lewis Hall has reiterated his desire to join Manchester United to Newcastle United.
Aston Villa has initiated a move for Juventus striker Jonathan David. His potential departure from Juventus could facilitate the Italian club’s plans to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United. Aston Villa is also reportedly interested in Chelsea‘s Nicolas Jackson, who is valued at $69 million (£51 million) by his current club and is also admired by Tottenham Hotspur.
In La Liga, Rodri‘s decision to join Barcelona over Real Madrid was reportedly based on his preferred locker room environment, despite both clubs offering a four-year deal worth $17 million (€15 million) annually. Barcelona is also considering options to replace center-back Ronald Araujo following his loan move to Liverpool. Potential replacements include Tottenham‘s Cristian Romero, Athletic Club‘s Aymeric Laporte, and Inter‘s Alessandro Bastoni, with Álvaro Cortés also a possibility for promotion from within the club.
However, discussions about a new center-back have reportedly led to disagreements between Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and Jules Koundé. Koundé, who prefers playing centrally but has been used at right-back, is reportedly considering leaving the club, with Arsenal among the teams showing interest. Real Madrid had the opportunity to pursue Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi earlier this summer but declined, believing he was not suitable for their long-term project. Furthermore, despite some reports, Barcelona is not interested in signing Inter striker Lautaro Martínez as an alternative to Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Alvarez.
Finally, Inter is reportedly nearing an agreement to sign Tottenham right-back Djed Spence for over $35 million (£26 million).
Source: si.com