The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and more

Welcome to the latest edition of the Transfer DealSheet, your weekly guide to what is happening in the summer window.

Our team of dedicated writers, including Adam Leventhal and David Ornstein, will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on, the players who could arrive and the ones who are on their way out across the Premier League and beyond. In last week’s edition, we looked at Liverpool’s pursuit of a No 6 and the Conor Gallagher situation.

The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Those responses, where they were given, have been included in the Transfer DealSheet.

This week, we look at interest in Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal, examine the Vinicius Junior and Saudi Arabia talks and take a long look at the ongoing Gallagher saga at Chelsea.

We aim to bring you analysis you can trust about what is happening at Europe’s leading clubs and the latest information we’re hearing from across the market.

This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the club or player you want to read about.

David Ornstein’s One To Watch

As we edge closer to the start of the Premier League season, it is becoming increasingly clear which players will be involved at their current clubs — and which need to move on.

One player who was supplanted as first-choice last season and may now struggle for game time is Aaron Ramsdale. He made just six appearances in the Premier League last campaign after the arrival of David Raya from Brentford.

But his situation was made even clearer over the last week when Ramsdale was not given an opportunity in either of Arsenal’s recent friendlies at the Emirates Stadium. The 26-year-old was left on the bench for both matches.

Ramsdale on the bench for the Bayer Leverkusen friendly (Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)

However, Arsenal have recently turned down a chance for Ramsdale to leave. They received an approach from Ajax over an initial loan, but it did not suit the north London side. Ajax remain optimistic and are still interested in a move.

Arsenal would prefer the England international to move permanently this summer — and have already lined up Espanyol’s Joan Garcia as a potential replacement — while Ramsdale’s focus remains to play first-team football.

This one should develop over the coming weeks ahead of the deadline on August 30.

Why Ramsdale is a good option for top clubs

Ramsdale may have fallen out of favour at Arsenal but still has plenty to offer for the biggest clubs in Europe.

A comparison of Ramsdale’s 2022-23 and David Raya’s 2023-24 league seasons illustrate some obvious differences on both team and individual levels. Ramsdale faced 3.6 shots per 90 in the league compared to Raya’s 2.1 behind Arsenal’s league-best defence. However, Ramsdale conceded just one non-penalty goal more than expected (39 conceded from an expected-goals-on-target of 38), while Raya conceded three more (21 from an xGOT of 18).

Similarly, Ramsdale averaged fewer defensive actions outside the penalty area in 2022-23 than Raya (1.1 vs 1.5 per 90). However, the average distance he covered was higher at 25.1 meters to Raya’s 24.2. Arsenal’s defensive improvement had a role to play here as well.

On paper, Raya is also an upgrade on Ramsdale in passing. He completed 71 per cent of his 28.3 attempts per 90 last season, while Ramsdale completed only 63 per cent of his 24.6 passes. However, Ramsdale attempted a higher percentage of forward passes (63 vs 60 per cent) and passes into the attacking third (6.2 vs 5.1 per 90), possibly due to systemic demands. Raya, though, was more accurate when he passed to the final third (36 per cent completion rate vs Ramsdale’s 18 per cent).

A comparison of their pass solar map, displaying the connections they developed with players across the pitch, provides some reasons for the disparity. Ramsdale tried to find his full-backs and had to cover greater distances to find the team-mates closest to him. Raya, meanwhile, had players operating closer to him and rarely passed out wide.

Ramsdale’s reduced minutes last season did not have to do with him alone. Arsenal’s evolution and Raya’s excellent initial displays did not give him the chance to impress Arteta last season. There is room for improvement with both his shot-stopping and passing, but Ramsdale can certainly play in a possession-based system and contribute to build-up play with his feet while sweeping up behind the defence.

The 26-year-old has several good years ahead of him and will be a great addition to most big clubs across Europe.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

What we’re hearing

• Eddie Nketiah is among the options Bournemouth are looking at after Dominic Solanke’s exit. The 26-year-old joined Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend. Bournemouth now have the Arsenal striker, 25, on their list of options. Marseille were pursuing Nketiah before shifting their focus to Elye Wahi. David Ornstein
• Everton are progressing with a deal to sign Burton Albion youngster William Tamen. The 18-year-old centre-back impressed on trial with the club’s under-21 side this summer and Everton are now hoping to wrap up a move to bring him to Goodison Park permanently. Tamen featured three times for Burton’s first team last season, making his professional debut against Everton Under-21s in the EFL Trophy last September, and captained their academy side in the FA Youth Cup. He had a spell on loan at Mickleover of the Northern Premier League in the second half of the campaign. Everton have been keen to strengthen their under-21 ranks and also completed a deal for Omari Benjamin, a free agent previously at Arsenal, earlier this summer. Patrick Boyland
• Watford agreed a fee in the region of £25million with Rennes for the sale of attacking midfielder Yaser Asprilla and left it down to the player to decide. However, the offer came with an expiry date which has passed. This is therefore no longer an active situation. The club is aware that other offers may materialise in the remaining weeks of the window, but are aiming to have him back for selection for their next league game against Stoke after he missed the season-opening win at Millwall. Adam Leventhal
• Queens Park Rangers are in advanced talks to sign Karamoko Dembele on loan from Brest. The deal for the former Celtic winger, now 21, would include a £1.4million option to buy. Adam Leventhal

• After a move to Borussia Dortmund stalled, Lyon are fielding alternative enquiries for Rayan Cherki. The attacking midfielder appeared to be heading to Germany in a deal worth in the region of €15million but now the French club are waiting for other clubs to formally present proposals. Cherki, who won silver at the Olympics with France, has one year left on his deal and is on the list of many clubs in Europe. Adam Leventhal
• Micah Hamilton‘s move from Manchester City to Middlesbrough was in the works for a few weeks before it was finally announced on Friday. The Athletic has learned finer details of the agreement between the clubs, with a fee of £2million being paid by the Championship club and a further £1.7m due in performance-related add-ons. The Premier League champions also included a buy-back option in excess of £15m, which is linked to a matching rights clause akin to Jaden Philogene’s agreement when he left Aston Villa to join Hull, before returning this summer. Adam Leventhal
• Alex Mighten is set to leave Nottingham Forest this summer and the club are preparing to review options for the 22-year-old winger. Mighten, who has had loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday, KV Kortrijk and Port Vale over the last two seasons, has one year left on his deal. Clubs in Belgium, Germany and Denmark are considering approaches. Born in Connecticut, Mighten, who played 23 times in the 2020-21 Championship promotion season, has ambitions to play for the USMNT. Adam Leventhal

Arsenal

What has happened this week?

Not a great deal!

Arsenal have been focused on pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.

Does Zubimendi’s potential move to Liverpool collapsing impact Arsenal’s Merino pursuit?

No. Although Real Sociedad always wanted both players to stay, the Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino situations are separate — and in Merino’s case, his contract has just 12 months left to run. If he declines Real Sociedad’s offer to extend his deal, they will have little choice but to sell.

Merino’s contract runs out in 12 months (Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Zubimendi but ultimately decided against pursuing a deal. Instead, they have shifted their focus to a different profile in midfield — one which Merino seems to fit.

While Real Sociedad are under the impression Merino wants to join Arsenal, they are still yet to receive an offer from the English club. Manager Mikel Arteta is enamoured with Merino, but the club are still considering whether to push ahead with a transfer that is likely to cost in the region of €30million.

At 28, Merino would be an atypical Arsenal signing, and the club must weigh the short-term need against the long-term recruitment strategy.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Having signed David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal’s priority is now to strengthen their midfield, be that through Merino or an alternative.

Arsenal are also hoping to make an addition to their front line, but that would most probably require further departures.

Which players could be leaving?

Eddie Nketiah’s move to Marseille appears to be off after the Ligue 1 side moved forward with a deal for RC Lens’ Elye Wahi. Marseille and Arsenal had been in discussions over a loan deal for Nketiah with an obligation to buy, but there was a stand-off over the €30million fee. He is now on Bournemouth’s list of possible replacements for Dominic Solanke.

Fellow academy product Reiss Nelson is also available for transfer and has informed the club he wishes to explore his options in the market. The 20-year-old full-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy is close to joining Serie A’s Genoa for a total fee of around £3.5million, with a sell-on clause included.

Aaron Ramsdale is another player expected to depart, although Arsenal have rejected an approach from Ajax over a potential loan as they hold out for a permanent deal.

James McNicholas

Chelsea

What has happened this week?

Chelsea managed to spring a rare transfer market surprise by moving quietly and quickly to finalise a deal with Wolves worth €60million plus €3m in potential bonuses for winger Pedro Neto, who was presented to the Stamford Bridge crowd at half-time of Sunday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Inter.

Neto moves to Stamford Bridge on a six-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months. He provides head coach Enzo Maresca with another Premier League-proven option to deploy on the left or right flank.

The drama did not stop there; Chelsea’s sprawling business with Atletico Madrid took an unexpected turn when an agreed deal worth €40million for striker Samu Omorodion collapsed at the 11th hour due to a major problem in finalising the 20-year-old’s contract.

Atletico were banking on money raised from the sale of Omorodion to offset the signings of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City and Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, putting the England international’s agreed move to the Spanish capital in fresh jeopardy.

As a consequence, Chelsea and Atletico re-engaged in talks over a potential deal for Joao Felix, who spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge in the latter half of the 2022-23 season.

In other news, Alfie Gilchrist and Gabriel Slonina completed loan moves to Sheffield United and Barnsley respectively, while Caleb Wiley joined BlueCo sister club Strasbourg for the duration of the 2024-25 campaign.

Aaron Anselmino finalised a £17million move to Chelsea from Boca Juniors, and was immediately loaned back to the Argentine side.

Did Joao Felix do enough at Chelsea to merit a return?

Considerable hype accompanied Joao Felix on his arrival at Stamford Bridge on a lavishly expensive six-month loan in January 2023 — a deal that became even less financially favourable for Chelsea when he was shown a straight red card on his Premier League debut against Fulham, earning an immediate three-match ban.

There were moments of dazzling individual skill and the occasional goal (he scored four in 20 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions), but overall Joao Felix never established himself as a player capable of being a consistent difference-maker, albeit in a mess of a team which lost all sense of identity and purpose under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.

Felix during his loan spell with Chelsea (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

It was telling that there was no significant uproar when Joao Felix lost his starting spot following the first leg of Chelsea’s defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, and no shock when Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly decided against buying him from Atletico in the summer of 2023.

A reasonable but unremarkable return of seven goals and three assists in 30 La Liga appearances on loan at Barcelona in 2023-24 did nothing to suggest that Joao Felix has meaningfully elevated his game since his first brief stint at Chelsea.

As a squad option to cover several attacking positions, Maresca could do worse than Joao Felix — but in terms of transfer fee and salary, Atletico have always priced him as a star.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Neto’s arrival has addressed Chelsea’s most urgent need on the wing, but they are still in the market for attacking reinforcements — as underlined by the talks with Atletico for Joao Felix.

Chelsea retain a keen interest in Victor Osimhen and will move for him if a deal structure is deemed viable; talks with Napoli have so far centred on a possible loan with an option to buy. It is a complicated negotiation that is closely tied to the Serie A club’s pursuit of Romelu Lukaku.

Beyond the first team, Clearlake and Boehly’s youth recruitment drive continues. Mike Penders, a 19-year-old goalkeeper at Genk, is being lined up to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2025 while Chelsea are continuing to negotiate a potential deal with Gremio for 16-year-old attacking midfielder Gabriel Mec.

Which players could be leaving?

Chelsea, to put it mildly, have a lot of outgoing business to resolve. Joao Felix would only add to a squad crush that can be relieved if one of the current wingers in the first-team squad departs. There is currently no substance to reports linking Raheem Sterling with a move to Juventus, and the 29-year-old is fully focused on the new Premier League season under Maresca.

Romelu Lukaku has a release clause of £38million and the club are motivated to ensure he moves to Napoli in this window regardless of whether or not Osimhen comes the other way in the deal.

Fellow exile Kepa Arrizabalaga’s desired return to Real Madrid depends on whether the Champions League winners manage to sell Ukraine international Andriy Lunin.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have signalled interest in Trevoh Chalobah, but both clubs first need to resolve the futures of Diego Carlos and Marc Guehi respectively.

Chalobah has interest from Premier League sides (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Ben Chilwell appears to have no place in Maresca’s first-team plans, but Chelsea’s valuation and his salary could prove obstacles to a sale.

Djordje Petrovic is available to buy following Filip Jorgensen’s arrival from Villarreal and has interest from several clubs across Europe. Armando Broja, David Datro Fofana and Cesare Casadei will all be sold if acceptable offers are received.

Several academy players are also in the process of finalising loan moves, including Leo Castledine, Alex Matos and Harvey Vale.

Liam Twomey

Liverpool

What has happened this week?

Liverpool’s transfer plans suffered a major setback with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi turning down a move to Anfield.

The Spain international had looked set to become the first signing of Arne Slot’s reign as the Dutchman sought to recruit a new No 6.

Liverpool were prepared to trigger his €60million (£51.7m; $63.4m) buyout clause and senior Anfield figures believed they had guarantees that Zubimendi was open to the move.

However, Real Sociedad responded to Liverpool’s interest by launching a charm offensive, including offering a new contract on improved terms, to try to convince him to stay put.

The player requested some time to consider whether to cut his ties with his boyhood club and on Monday, Liverpool’s fears over the delay were confirmed when they were informed that he had decided to remain at Real Sociedad for the coming season.

There was a significant outgoing with Liverpool agreeing the sale of Fabio Carvalho to Brentford for a fee of £22.5million potentially rising to £27.5m with add-ons. Sporting director Richard Hughes also negotiated a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause.

Fulham, who sold Carvalho to Liverpool for £5million in 2022, will be entitled to £3.5m as they had a 20 per cent sell-on clause on any future profit the Merseyside club made.

Will Liverpool move for someone else?

Liverpool insist there is no Plan B and they are currently unlikely to pursue an alternative to Zubimendi, who was identified as a target because he fitted their profile for the No 6 role and they believed he was available.

However, it remains to be seen if that stance changes in the coming weeks given that the holding midfield position has been an area of concern throughout pre-season.

Wataru Endo has struggled to adapt to Slot’s more possession-based approach. Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai have also played there but they are all more effective further forward.

Ryan Gravenberch has shown signs of promise in that deeper role but it would be a leap of faith to believe he’s the long-term answer. Signing someone of the calibre of Zubimendi would have strengthened Liverpool in a key area.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes has been touted as a possible alternative to Zubimendi — but senior Liverpool sources, kept anonymous to protect relationships, are adamant they have no interest in the Brazilian.

Aside from trying to recruit a new No 6, there have been discussions internally over defensive options since Joel Matip left at the end of his contract this summer. Recruiting an attacking wide player has also been a topic of debate.

Liverpool agreed a £75million fee with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon in late June with Joe Gomez set to move in the other direction for £45m. However, the deals collapsed when Newcastle pulled out. Liverpool’s admiration for Gordon remains strong but Newcastle are no longer under financial pressure to sell to satisfy the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Liverpool have been monitoring Valencia’s Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili but as things stand they are not looking to recruit a goalkeeper in this window.

Which players could be leaving?

As well as Carvalho’s departure, Luke Chambers joined Wigan Athletic on loan and Billy Koumetio signed for Scottish club Dundee permanently for a nominal fee.

More outgoings are imminent with several Championship clubs, including Swansea City, showing interest in winger Kaide Gordon, who is available on a season-long loan. Queens Park Rangers are leading the chase to take full-back Owen Beck on loan, while fellow youngster Luca Stephenson has loan interest from some League One clubs.

Red Bull Salzburg have stepped up their pursuit of midfielder Bobby Clark, who Liverpool value at around £12million. Salzburg, managed by former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, hope a deal can be done.

Clark has interest from Red Bull Salzburg (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Liverpool are prepared to sanction a loan move for Stefan Bajcetic, who needs to play regularly after missing most of last season due to injury.

Scottish winger Ben Doak, who has been the subject of interest from Leicester City and Southampton, is also expected to depart. It remains to be seen whether that’s on loan or a permanent deal.

Sepp van den Berg‘s future is uncertain with PSV Eindhoven among his suitors but no club has yet come close to meeting Liverpool’s £20million asking price.

James Pearce

Manchester City

What has happened this week?

Julian Alvarez completed his move to Atletico Madrid after a fee of £82million ($104.6m) was agreed. Pep Guardiola joked in his press conference on Friday that that has caused clubs across Europe to welcome City to the table so they can spend those incoming funds. As a result, there have been several links to new players after a pretty quiet summer on that front.

Rumours about interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo resurfaced — but while Guardiola is a big fan of the Brazilian, it is not a move that is likely to happen this summer. Joao Felix was also linked as part of the Alvarez deal but that is not considered an option.

There have been links with Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, too, who was under serious consideration last summer. There were some informal discussions towards the end of last week, although sources — kept anonymous to protect relationships — indicate that City are casting their net far and wide as they consider bringing in a new face.

Youngster Micah Hamilton joined Middlesbrough for an initial £2million ($2.55m), potentially rising to £5m ($6.3m) (including a 25 per cent sell-on clause, buy-back back option and matching rights). Centre-backs Callum Doyle and Finley Burns joined Norwich and Hull, respectively, on loan. Alex Robertson joined Cardiff on a permanent deal, Tomas Galvez moved to LASK on loan and Mahamadou Susoho went to Peterborough, also on loan.

Surely City have to move for an Alvarez replacement?

Not necessarily. The initial message coming out of City this time last week was that they are happy with what they have got, but they are exploring the market for another player in case they can find somebody who meets their criteria.

Not that that will be easy: Guardiola says they are looking for a top-class, versatile player who is content with not playing every match and is not that expensive. They found that before in Manuel Akanji, so it is possible, but it is hardly an easy task.

It may be the case that interest in Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes is resurrected, which would obviously be a more expensive move. Finding an agreement between the two clubs could be difficult, if not impossible, but City believe the Brazilian is still keen to join them.

What positions/players are they looking at?

City are looking across several different areas of the field: on Friday Guardiola talked about a Rodri alternative who can also play further forward, or further back, or a striker who can also play as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

It is by no means guaranteed they will bring somebody in but they are at least looking.

Which players could be leaving?

At this point, the main figures in the team are staying, including Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, but City still want to move on Kalvin Phillips and Joao Cancelo.

City want to move on Phillips (Chandan Kanna/AFP via Getty Images)

A bid for Mathues Nunes would not be discouraged but, at present, it seems unlikely, with Saudi Arabia clubs cutting back their spending this summer (which helps explain why those star names, particularly Ederson, are staying put).

Sam Lee

What has happened this week?

Manchester United have agreed a twin deal with Bayern Munich for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui worth a combined €70million. The price for De Ligt is €45m guaranteed plus €5m add-ons, while Mazraoui is costing €15m plus €5m. The pair flew from Germany to Manchester on Monday to undergo medicals at Carrington.

Heading out of Old Trafford is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who accepted a move to West Ham over the weekend after the two clubs agreed to a £15million deal. Wan-Bissaka’s exit fee/signing-on bonus was also a point of negotiation for the total amount and how much each club should pay. Wan-Bissaka would have been a free agent next summer and capable of commanding a signing-on fee from a club due to the lack of a transfer cost — and he wanted that factoring into the equation here, with West Ham getting a lower price than if he had several years to run on his deal.

Rather than leave for nothing in 2025, he will receive significant compensation. There are also elements of the agreement to finish off before Wan-Bissaka can leave, although he has completed a medical.

A swap deal between Wan-Bissaka and Denzel Dumfries was floated, with both players interested, but Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi preferred other full-backs, and Manchester United opted for Mazraoui.

Do United need sales before incomings?

Not necessarily. United are expected to sign a midfielder before the August 30 deadline, whatever happens with outgoings, but it may be at the low-cost end.

Sofyan Amrabat’s return on loan has not been ruled out, for example. Talks continue over Sander Berge, but Burnley’s anticipated demands above £20million may be an issue. Berge was left out of Burnley’s squad for their game at Luton to guard against potential injury. Manchester United also have other midfield options.

Amrabat could yet return on loan (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

One additional consideration is Toby Collyer, the 20-year-old promoted to the first-team squad, who has equipped himself well on the club’s U.S. tour. He gained a substitute appearance in the Community Shield — a sign of Erik ten Hag’s admiration, given the experience elsewhere on the pitch.

What positions/players are they looking at?

A No 6 to play alongside Kobbie Mainoo has been a target all window, although Casemiro’s promising return eases the immediate pressure a little. Ten Hag would still like strength in depth there though, and Berge is one of the players on the list, with Manchester United officials in touch.

They are also thinking about back-up left-backs capable of playing on the left side of central defence. Lisandro Martinez started there at Wembley but, looked much more comfortable when shifted inside to his typical position in the second half.

Luke Shaw missed pre-season due to a break after the Euros, having been injured for the end of last season. There is still some uncertainty over Tyrell Malacia’s return after being out more than a year with a serious knee problem.

Mazraoui’s ability to play on the left was a factor in Manchester United picking him to replace Wan-Bissaka, and Diogo Dalot has frequently deputised there.

But Manchester United are investigating options. Club executives met with former Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso in Madrid last week, with the free agent holding talks with prospective new clubs ahead of the new season. But he is not a player United are pursuing at this time

Marcos Alonso, a free agent after leaving Barcelona, has also been discussed at the club.

Which players could be leaving?

Scott McTominay‘s future is up in the air, and may not be resolved until the final fortnight of the window. Ten Hag spoke glowingly of McTominay’s qualities during United’s U.S. tour, but he is one of the most saleable assets and the club are thought to be open to accepting in the region of £25million.

Fulham retain interest after bidding unsuccessfully so far, but Napoli are also weighing up an approach. Everton, Brentford, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have all made enquiries. It is said McTominay will only move for the right club.

United are open to offers on several other players but as stands there is little concrete about inquiries for Jadon Sancho, Antony, or Casemiro. United will look to shift Victor Lindelof.

Laurie Whitwell and Adam Leventhal

Newcastle United

What has happened this week?

Following more than a month without making a senior signing, after a flurry of activity in and out around the June 30 PSR deadline, Newcastle confirmed another addition. William Osula, the Denmark Under-21 international forward, joined from Sheffield United for an initial £10million fee, potentially rising to £15m.

The 21-year-old is a versatile forward, able to play across the frontline, and, although he is raw, the 6ft 4in attacker is seen as an ideal young deputy for Alexander Isak (and potentially Callum Wilson, should the England international remain on Tyneside). Osula made his non-competitive debut during Newcastle’s 1-0 victory over Brest, of Ligue 1, on Saturday, and showed exciting glimpses of his talent. He found the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Osula impressed against Brest (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Discussions have continued with Crystal Palace over the potential transfer of Marc Guehi, the England international centre-back. The 24-year-old has two years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park and is highly sought-after this summer.

Newcastle attempted to get ahead of potential rivals by submitting offers for Guehi but, as of yet, they have not reached a compromise price for the defender. They have submitted a total of three bids — the third an offer of £60million, compromising £55m plus £5m in achievable bonuses — and are actively exploring alternatives now. They are in live discussions with other potential targets as they cannot wait around forever to secure the Palace man.

There is still hope that this ambitious coup can be completed.

Alongside beating Brest on Saturday, Howe fielded an alternative XI against Girona at St James’ Park on Friday and Newcastle hammered the Spanish outfit 4-0.

Do Newcastle need to do some business before the season starts or do they look ready?

It depends on which way you look at it.

Newcastle have just won back-to-back friendlies against two Champions League sides, fielding two separate XIs, by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0. Isak looks sharper than ever, Joelinton and Nick Pope are fully fit, and Jacob Murphy has found the back of the net five times throughout pre-season.

Eddie Howe’s side have rediscovered their front-foot, high-intensity approach, and they look to be in great shape. A late addition this week is unlikely to be thrown straight into the side anyway, as that is not the Howe way and the starting line-up for Saturday’s opener against Southampton already appears set.

Yet do not underestimate the positive momentum boost a marquee signing such as Guehi could have this week.

It will drive competition at the heart of Newcastle’s defence, elevating standards in the process. It will further inspire a fanbase who are craving European qualification once more and, as ever, are desperate to end a 55-year-and-counting trophy drought.

As Howe rightly stressed over the weekend, “there are not many players that will make us better.” But, as things stand, aside from Lloyd Kelly, none of Newcastle’s summer additions are likely to regularly challenge for a starting berth.

Having important players fit again is extremely significant — while Sandro Tonali’s return from suspension on 29 August is beyond consequential — but Newcastle still require a sprinkling of top-level talent in the transfer market to ensure they challenge again this season.

What positions/players are they looking at?

A right-sided centre-half and right-winger have always been priorities, with Newcastle also seeking another possible addition between the posts, which might seem counter-intuitive given the number of goalkeepers already at the club.

While Guehi is Newcastle’s first-choice target for their defence — the right-footed England international is comfortable playing in either centre-half position, and has even been used in defensive midfield at Palace — AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw has been tracked long-term. Liverpool’s Joe Gomez also featured during discussions regarding a potential sale of Anthony Gordon in June.

Thiaw is a long-term target (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Right-wing still feels like an important position to strengthen, given Howe has been keen to bring in a new face in that position for several windows. Newcastle have already missed out on their leading target, however, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich from Palace instead.

Murphy’s pre-season form has lessened the urgency for reinforcing that position, especially given Harvey Barnes and Gordon are both fit, with the latter comfortable playing on the right. Miguel Almiron is also still a Newcastle player and, even if an upgrade is desirable, he has been a reliable performer for Howe.

Newcastle hold an interest in Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Nicolas Gonzalez, Fiorentina’s Argentina international, among others.

Which players could be leaving?

Such is the lingering effect of PSR regulations on Newcastle’s business, further senior players must be moved on if significant additions are to be made. There is an ongoing desire to cut costs, bring in revenue and reduce the average of the squad — something that Paul Mitchell, the new sporting director, is mindful of.

Kieran Trippier‘s future remains uncertain. The 33-year-old is into the final 12 months of his deal and a move to Saudi Arabia has been floated for months but is yet to progress. Almiron, too, could depart if another winger joins and Newcastle receive a decent offer. The Paraguayan continues to court interest from the Saudi Pro League.

Although Martin Dubravka started against Brest, he is expendable given Newcastle’s volume of goalkeepers and the Slovakia international is keen on regular game time.

Wilson was also expected to leave but his present back injury has complicated matters. Osula’s arrival increases the prospect of Wilson departing. Howe loves Sean Longstaff’s contribution to the team, but the midfielder only has a year left on his contract and there is a decision to be made.

Ryan Fraser and Isaac Hayden do not have a future on Tyneside. Jamal Lewis spent 2023-24 on loan at Watford but has played regularly during pre-season. Howe admitted at the weekend there remains a “chance” the 26-year-old leaves and he is likely to, given the options ahead of him.

Chris Waugh

Tottenham Hotspur

What has happened this week?

Tottenham have finally replaced Harry Kane 12 months after he left them to join Bayern Munich. On Saturday, they announced the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth on a contract which runs until 2030. Spurs have broken their transfer record by spending £65million on the forward. Solanke was paraded in front of the fans ahead of their final pre-season game against Bayern at the weekend which coincidentally saw them reunited with Kane.

Solanke’s arrival pushes Richarlison down the pecking order. The Brazilian scored 11 times in 28 appearances last season but struggled with injuries. He had been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League but said he wanted to stay in an interview last week.

“The money is big but my dream is bigger,” Richarlison told ESPN. “An offer has arrived, but my dream of playing for the Brazilian national team and the Premier League is louder. It’s decided.”

With Solanke and Richarlison as central strikers along with Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Manor Solomon out wide, Spurs have serious strength in depth up front.

As an added bonus, on Monday it was confirmed that 17-year-old winger Mikey Moore has signed his first professional contract.

Solanke feels like a different approach in the market — is it?

Last summer, Tottenham signed multiple players aged 23 and under including Micky van de Ven, Johnson and Solomon. In January, they convinced Radu Dragusin — who was 21 at the time — to join them over Bayern. In this window, 18-year-old midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have arrived while Yang-min Hyuk will join in January.

The recruitment department has focused its efforts on identifying young talent — and Solanke breaks the mould.

Solanke arrived at Tottenham this weekend (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

The forward turns 27 next month and is in the prime of his career. They have invested a huge amount of money into him with the expectation he will perform immediately. Postecoglou admitted he was “very keen” to sign Solanke after the 3-2 defeat to Bayern on Saturday.

“It took a while to get it over the line but I think he will be a great fit for us in terms of the player he is and the point of his career where he is at,” Postecoglou said. “I think he will be a good fit.

“We are a bit light in that front third in terms of adding quality not just to the squad but also to our team. He certainly does that. (I’m) pleased to get him on board.”

What positions/players are they looking at?

Solanke’s arrival addresses one of the major issues in Tottenham’s squad. They have a lot of options upfront now but need a couple of more additions in defence and midfield.

Spurs have chased Conor Gallagher and Jacob Ramsey throughout the summer. Gallagher is close to joining Atletico Madrid from Chelsea while Ramsey looks set to stay at Aston Villa. The recruitment department will have to pivot to a different target for the all-action No 8 that Postecoglou craves.

Which players could be leaving?

The 20-year-old striker Alejo Veliz has moved to Espanyol on loan. Emerson Royal has joined AC Milan for an initial fee of €15million plus €5m in add-ons. Sergio Reguilon is surplus to requirements.

Djed Spence has spent the last 18 months on loan with Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa respectively, but Postecoglou has spoken positively about giving him a second chance. Dane Scarlett has joined Oxford on loan.

Jay Harris

Barcelona

What has happened this week?

Big news first: Dani Olmo has been signed.

Deco secured a player both he and Hansi Flick were huge admirers of. Flick wanted to bolster the attack. Olmo’s versatility and quality tick the required boxes. It remains to be seen in which position he fits best given the players Barcelona will have for the No 10 role, but he is seen as an option for the left wing too.

Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia have returned to training after both centre-backs starred in Spain’s gold medal win at the Olympics. They’ve cut their holidays short and are expected to be in contention for the La Liga opener. Fermin Lopez was given an extra week’s holiday, given he was also at Euro 2024.

Can Barcelona really afford Olmo?

As we have reported, Barcelona do not have a problem agreeing to big fees — but registering players under La Liga’s strict rules is another matter.

Barcelona’s campaign starts on Saturday, so these are expected to be busy days for Barcelona to offload players and make room in their salary cap. Currently, Olmo cannot play in La Liga, but the 26-year-old was so excited by the prospect of rejoining his boyhood club that he accepted the club’s situation.

Olmo has joined his boyhood side (Boris Streubel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

In the past two seasons, Barcelona have not been able to register some new signings before the league opener, but they managed to finally do it by transfer deadline day. The club have given Olmo guarantees he will be registered.

What positions/players are they looking at?

As reported in The DealSheet last week, the search for a defensive midfielder has been put on hold given Flick’s satisfaction with La Masia youngsters Marc Bernal, 17, and Marc Casado, 20, as well as Andreas Christensen’s ability to play there.

The main focus remains Nico Williams — or at least this is what club sources, kept anonymous to protect relationships, insist. However, the 22-year-old winger is not just training with Athletic Bilbao, but giving multiple signs he is perfectly comfortable at the club and waiting for the new season. Williams will take the No 10 shirt at Athletic this season.

Which players could be leaving?

A lot. Julian Araujo travelled last week to Bournemouth to finalise his departure. He is set to join the Premier League club in a €10million move.

Vitor Roque, 19, is close to leaving too. Last week there was a meeting at Barcelona’s facilities with the player’s camp, in which Deco told them finding minutes elsewhere is the most reasonable scenario for the teenager. After failing to impress Flick in pre-season, Roque’s camp seems to understand this could be a sensible move. They would prefer a loan to another La Liga side. They will all look for the best options in the coming days.

Clement Lenglet and Ansu Fati are other names who will need to leave given their salary impact, valued together at around €30million for the forthcoming season. Loans seem like the most feasible option for them.

It is difficult to see other senior players leaving. We have reported Barcelona’s board would sanction the departures of Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha or Christensen, but none of them wants to leave — and they do not need to pursue new contracts.

Pol Ballus

Real Madrid

What has happened this week?

Saudi Arabia and Vinicius Jr’s representatives have had talks over a possible move to bring the Real Madrid forward to the Pro League. Representatives from Saudi Arabia met with his agency weeks ago in London.

Although initially, talks did not progress as a deal was not considered to be possible right now, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who, like all those spoken to about the Brazilian, has been kept anonymous to protect relationships, the process is still ongoing. Work is being done to change the state of play, and according to one Saudi Pro League source, Vinicius has not given a firm, final answer. However, another Saudi source suggested they would not continue talks if a move was not feasible.

Sources with knowledge of the situation suggested Vinicius could earn more than €1billion with the move, which would involve five years as a player and work as an ambassador for the country, with a special focus on the 2034 World Cup — although a Saudi Pro League source denied figures this high was on the table. Madrid have made it clear they want to keep the 24-year-old winger, who has a contract until 2027 with a release clause of €1billion.

The team that the Ministry of Sports would assign him to is Al Ahli, as the other three big clubs controlled by the PIF already have a big star. Al Nassr have Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Hilal have Neymar and Al Ittihad have Karim Benzema.

Guardiola admires Rodrygo (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

There have also been rumours of interest from City in Rodrygo, now Alvarez has left for Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of the Brazilian, but sources in Rodrygo’s entourage insist there is no scenario other than him continuing for at least one more season at Real Madrid. Sources at the club point out that they do not expect a bid for Rodrygo from City.

Do Madrid look like they can survive without more signings?

Yes, the board believe that the squad is ready to fight for major titles. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, however, believes the signing of a centre-back is necessary. The serious knee injury to academy player Joan Martinez, who will undergo surgery, does not help, as he was expected to continue taking part in first-team training sessions and even call-ups despite being just 16.

After the serious injury to Martinez, sources close to first-team players have told The Athletic in the last week that they are surprised by the lack of signings in defence, given this could be the longest and most demanding season in history.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Actively, none. If Bayern Munich were to put Alphonso Davies up for sale, Madrid would consider the move but only for a low fee as the player’s contract expires in 2025. Madrid are comfortable with the idea of him arriving then as a free agent.

Which players could be leaving?

Andriy Lunin has expressed doubts about his future in recent months as he wants to be a starter and Thibaut Courtois is Ancelotti’s first choice. However, no offer for the goalkeeper has transpired, at least not one that has reached the amount Madrid are asking for the Ukrainian, which is in excess of €20million.

It is a similar case to that of Dani Ceballos, who has different teams interested in him, but an offer has not materialised. Juanmi Latasa is also in advanced talks over a transfer to Real Valladolid.

Mario Cortegana

(Top image — design: Eamonn Dalton, photos: Getty Images)