We are all set for a very busy summer of transfer activity, as the latest transfer news keeps flooding in and plenty of big names are expected to be on the move in the coming months.
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The 2022 summer transfer window opens on June 10 and closes at 6pm ET on September 1.
With Erling Haaland already signing for Manchester City, Kylian Mbappe staying at PSG (for now), plus Sadio Mane leaving Liverpool and Mohamed Salah potentially moving on — and plenty of other superstars in demand and contemplating moves — this feels like it will be a summer like no other.
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After limited transfer action over the last 18 months, the transfer news is coming thick and fast.
Below we roundup the latest transfer news, done deals, reports and rumors and give our analysis on what’s going on as Joe Prince-Wright (JPW), Nicholas Mendola (NM) and Andy Edwards (AE) will guide you through a hectic next few months.
Transfer news live today! Ins and outs from the summer window, so far…
July 1 – England keeper Sam Johnstone signs with Crystal Palace
A longtime West Bromwich Albion star, Johnstone was capped thrice by England and always seemed on the verge of finding a No. 1 shirt at a bigger club.
The 29-year-old was with Manchester United’s academy from 2011-2018, taking loans to numerous clubs including Aston Villa before joining West Brom in 2018.
Here’s Palace chairman Steve Parish:
“Sam is a player that we have admired for some time, and we are extremely pleased to welcome him to Crystal Palace. His extensive experience at club and international level, alongside his outstanding ability, will add even greater depth to our goalkeeping unit.”
Can he take the job from Vicente Guaita? (NM)
July 1 – Lenglet nears loan from Barcelona to Tottenham
Tottenham is nearing the acquisition of center back Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona after agreeing to personal terms with the player, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Lenglet, 27, has 15 caps for France but has become a part of the periphery at Barca, which desperately needs to offload salary and unimportant pieces.
He barely ran over 1,200 minutes in 27 minutes across all competitions last season with the Blaugranas but has 158 appearances over all competitions since arriving from Sevilla. (NM)
Tottenham have now reached full agreement with Clément Lenglet on personal terms. He’s happy to join Spurs with Antonio Conte pushing to have him. 🚨⚪️ #THFC
Tottenham and Barcelona are still in direct contact to resolve final details of the loan deal, then… here we go, soon. pic.twitter.com/CEGCXfltUd
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2022
July 1 – Richarlison signs for Tottenham
Done deal time! Richarlison has signed for Tottenham from Everton in a deal worth over $73 million. The Brazilian forward will push Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane for minutes up top and Antonio Conte has significantly strengthened his attacking options for the 2022-23 season. This is a very good deal for Spurs and Richarlison but for Everton, losing their main man is a huge blow and Frank Lampard will have to be given significant funds to spend to try and replace him.
As for Spurs, there is a growing sense that Conte could turn them into title contenders this season rather than just chasing a top four finish. With Ivan Perisis, Fraser Forster, Richarlison and Yves Bissouma all coming in, Spurs are stronger in every department than they were last season they finished in fourth. Being back in the Champions League is a huge part of that and so too is Daniel Levy allowing Fabio Paratici and Conte revamp the squad as huge funds have been made available. Richarlison’s drive, flexibility and end product suits Conte’s style perfectly and he will rotate perfectly with Kane, Son and Kulusevski to make sure that Spurs’ front three are always fresh. (JPW)
June 30 – Neymar hearing from Brazilian pals at Chelsea, Newcastle
Thiago Silva and Joelinton are both encouraging Neymar to entertain the idea of transfers to Chelsea and Newcastle.
Paris Saint-Germain is ready to sell the 30-year-old megastar in order to usher in a new era for the Ligue 1 side, and Premier League sides are not out of the question.
Thiago Silva has encouraged Neymar to consider Chelsea and it would be a statement signing for Todd Boehly, who has been linked with a number of big-time forwards.
Clearly Neymar will be looking for Champions League football, but Newcastle United star Joelinton has said Magpies teammate “Bruno has his contact” and encouraged the Brazilian by saying “the No. 10 shirt is available.”
Normally you’d laugh and dismiss it, but Newcastle is now essentially the richest club in the world and money talks. Surely not… (NM).
June 30 – Spurs, Everton agree Richarlison fee
Tottenham is set to complete the second-richest transfer in its history, agreeing on a reported $73 million fee with Everton for Richarlison.
The Brazilian forward makes Tottenham an absolute handful in all competitions, as their depth in attack now includes Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Richarlison amongst others.
All four players are capable of being the best player in the vast majority of attacks around Europe.
For Everton, the money is a huge help as Financial Fair Play stares down the Toffees, but Frank Lampard will be put to the test without one of the players — perhaps the player — who drove them to safety. (NM)
June 28 – Newcastle unveil Sven Botman
Newcastle United’s plans to turn into a power as quickly as possible under new Saudi ownership got a big boost Tuesday with the addition of Sven Botman.
The 22-year-old center back is an Ajax academy product who made his senior debut on loan to Heerenveen. Botman captained the Netherlands’ U-21 team, too, but really raised his profile when he signed for Lille.
Lille saw Botman at the heart of their surprising run to the Ligue 1 title last season and he made 69 appearances for the French powers.
Botman, like Bruno Guimares, is an ambitious signing for Newcastle, a young player with the potential to be a gamechanger at almost any level with proper development. (NM)
June 28 – Man Utd agrees price for Feyenoord left back
Luke Shaw’s latest competition, should the England man stay in Manchester, could come in the form of Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia.
The 22-year-old had a goal and five assists last season as he rang up 50 appearances for the Rotterdam set. He’ll reportedly cost Man United just under $20 million.
Malacia has five caps for the Netherlands and was linked with a variety of clubs. It seems Erik ten Hag has pushed his new club over the line. (NM)
(Photo by Perry vd Leuvert/NESImages/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
June 28 – Chelsea reportedly agrees fee for Raphinha
Did you have this one as Chelsea’s first transfer of the summer?
Raphinha’s the name, and the Leeds United winger may come with a price tag of $80 million if the Brazilian ultimately does come to Stamford Bridge (according to Fabrizio Romano)
This would affect two Americans, loading up Jesse Marsch’s transfer kitty at Leeds and perhaps serving as the latest sign to Christian Pulisic that his services may be better activated at a different club. (NM)
June 27 – Newcastle linked with huge bid for Napoli star Victor Osimhen
It has not taken long for Victor Osimhen to go from high-priced Lille striker to higher-priced Napoli striker.
Linked with Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool two summers ago, the 23-year-old Osimhen is expected to carry a nine-figure price tag if he doesn’t agree fresh terms with the Neapolitan side.
Osimhem has a contract through the 2024-25 season so Napoli won’t be in a hurry to negotiate with the Nigerian should it not receive a super-high bid for his services.
The club’s reported asking price starts at more than $115 million, and both Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked with interest in the player, though the world’s new transfer rumor/agent darlings are lurking in the gossip mill.
Newcastle United is ready to tempt Napoli’s resolve with a “significant sum,” according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Should Man United win the race for Osimhen, they’ll get a player who scored 18 goals with six assists in just 32 matches (a cheekbone fracture and shoulder ailment cost him two periods of availability).
He scored 10 goals in his first season of Serie A play, a year after bagging 18 goals for Lille. That followed a 20-goal season for RSC Charleroi in the year he turned 20. Prior to that he was a debutant for Wolfsburg, where he didn’t score in 16 matches totaling just over 300 minutes.
A player who’s scored and scored often in three separate leagues at his age is going to cost a ton, but is he worth a top-eight all-time transfer fee? Few teams have the budget to explore that, but Newcastle and Man United are two of them. (NM)
June 27 – Cristiano Ronaldo ‘turns down Inter Miami move’ + Barcelona wanted Maguire
Okay, we all kind of expected Ronaldo to end up in MLS one day but apparently that day isn’t right now. According to The Daily Star, the Manchester United and Portugal superstar is wanted by Inter Miami CF and co-owner David Beckham reached out about a potential move to his club. Per the report, the 37-year-old is committed to Manchester United and the Red Devils don’t want to sell him.
However, is all this talk of Ronaldo being linked with Roma, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Sporting Lisbon and now Inter Miami hinting towards an exit from Manchester United this summer? He does have just one year left on his current contract at United and is said to be frustrated with the lack of new arrivals under new manager Erik ten Hag. Again, not great vibes around Ronaldo right now. That said, the report states that ETH could hand Ronaldo the captaincy and wants him to lead a new era at Old Trafford. We have no doubt that Ronaldo will end up in MLS one day, and probably in Miami, but right now it seems like he will remain in Manchester.
Also, one other Manchester United-related piece of gossip to bring you: Harry Maguire is reportedly wanted by Barcelona as the Catalan club asked about his availability as part of a potential deal for Frenkie de Jong. According to The Sun, United rejected the notion of Maguire being included in a deal for De Jong. Even if he had a tough season in 2021-22 (look, we’re being kind) if the Maguire of the last five years suddenly reappears this summer then United have a top-class center back. Per the report, Maguire is happy to stay at United at this stage of his career as the 29-year-old is ready to get back to his best. Being wanted by Barcelona will probably give his confidence levels a boost and there’s no way he, and most of United’s players, can play as badly as they did last season. (JPW)
June 27 – Chelsea consider Richarlison bid
Is there a winger Chelsea don’t want to sign this summer!? After being linked with moves for Raheem Sterling and Ousmane Dembele in recent days and weeks, our partners in the UK at Sky Sports are now stating that Chelsea want to rival Tottenham to try and sign Richarlison. The 25-year-old Brazilian is a man in demand and has apparently told Frank Lampard he wants to leave Everton this summer and wants to play in the Champions League. With Chelsea letting Romelu Lukaku leave on loan, plus the likes of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic all likely to move on this summer, it appears that Thomas Tuchel is seriously freshening up his attack as Chelsea’s new owners try to make a splash.
Would Richarlison to Chelsea make sense? Actually, yes, it would. A lot of sense. Richarlison is a mobile forward who can plan centrally in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 formation but he can also play as one of the underneath forwards. If Chelsea signed Richarlison, Sterling and Dembele this summer, then that would be a huge upgrade on their current attacking options and all three players would suit Tuchel very well. Richarlison would probably cost upwards of $65 million, with Sterling slightly less expensive and Dembele is available on a free. If Chelsea move on Ziyech, Werner and Pulisic for decent fees, or even decent loan fees, then this could work out very well. Defensively they still need a couple of new center backs but new chairman Todd Boehly is certainly busy early on at Chelsea as Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia are both out and he’s taking a leading role in lining up these transfers, at least on an interim basis to start with. (JPW)
June 27 – Spurs to bid for Gordon and Richarlison in package deal
Our partners in the UK at Sky Sports are reporting that Tottenham now want to sign both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon from Everton in a package deal with a bid expected this week. Per the report, Antonio Conte is pushing hard to sign the Brazilian forward but Gordon is now also on his wish-list this summer. Gordon, 21, is a rising star in the Premier League and along with Richarlison dragged Everton to safety at the end of last season. The England U21 winger would strengthen Spurs’ attacking options out wide as they will reportedly allow Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura to leave this summer. Per the report, Conte wants a very strong squad as the Premier League will allow five subs per game next season and therefore his team can keep the intensity of their play high.
Would losing Gordon and Richarlison be a hammer blow for Everton? It appears that Frank Lampard may have to sell some of his better players to fund new signings this summer as there are reports that a bid fronted by Peter Keynon is trying to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri. With that uncertainty, losing Richarlison and Gordon would be a big blow for the Toffees but Lampard has hinted at changing their style of play and if he wants to do that and bring in more possession-based players, then Gordon and Richarlison are their most valuable assets. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will probably stick around at Goodison Park but this latest report is pretty worrying if you are an Everton fan. As for Spurs, trying to sign Gordon makes sense as he will provide something very different to their attack and is a traditional winger who is very good in one-on-one situations. (JPW)
June 27 – Leeds want Tyler Adams to replace Kalvin Phillips
A report from The Yorkshire Evening Post claims that Leeds want to sign Tyler Adams to replace Kalvin Phillips and the USMNT star is ‘high up’ on their list of potential new arrivals. Per the report, Jesse Marsch is keen to sign Adams (who he coached at the New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig) and another central midfielder from one of his former clubs, RB Salzburg’s Mohamed Camara. Maybe we should just rename them RB Leeds… Anyway, the link to Adams is perhaps the most obvious transfer in Premier League history. Marsch helped nurture Adams, 23, during his early years at RBNY and is a huge fan of the New Jersey native who can play in midfield but also out on the right. Replacing Phillips (he is expected to sign for Man City for $55 million this week) is going to be very difficult but if Leeds bring in Adams and Camara they can share the load and Leeds do need more squad depth as injuries ravaged them last season.
Focusing on Adams specifically, would this be a good move for the young American? He doesn’t appear to be a regular at RB Leipzig under Domenico Tedesco so he will have to move somewhere this summer if he wants regular minutes. Adams seems like a good fit for this Leeds side even though he hasn’t got Phillips’ passing ability and is quite a different player. Tyler Adams brings calm on the ball and off it and his positional sense and tactical awareness is very good. Add that in to already being coached by Marsch at two different clubs and this is a very good fit. Adams may want to move to a club playing in Europe but Leeds are a massive club and there is the potential to be part of a squad which can push for the top 10 and a cup run (at the very least) this season. The physicality of the Premier League shouldn’t be too much of a problem as Adams can sit in one of the holding midfield positions and keep things ticking over. (JPW)
(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
June 27 – Matt Turner completes his move to Arsenal
USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner has completed his move to Arsenal and is in north London settling in at his new club. It will take a lot for Turner to usurp Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s starting goalkeeper but he should get plenty of minutes in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League this season. It will be intriguing to see how Turner fares early on at Arsenal, especially as they are heading to the U.S. on a preseason tour and he should play plenty of minutes for the Gunners as he gets to know his new teammates, coaches and settles in further. (JPW)
✈️ From New Jersey to north London…
Welcome home, Matty Turner ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 27, 2022
June 26 – Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal done!
Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus is finally heading to Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the striker has agreed a five-year contract with the Gunners and Arsenal will pay $55 million to Man City for Jesus. As we’ve talked about multiple times already this summer, Jesus, 25, is the finisher Arsenal needed in attack and Mikel Arteta worked very closely with him at Man City during his time as their assistant coach. Apparently that was key in Jesus leaving City as Erling Haaland will be their new main man up top.
Jesus can play out on the right but he’s expected to play in the No. 9 role for Arsenal as they now have their main man up top for the foreseeable future. Even if there are question marks over Jesus’ finishing sometimes, there’s no doubting his work-rate and quality and if he is given chances on a plate from Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Odegaard et al. then he will score plenty of goals for Arsenal. This is yet another fine addition for the Gunners as their young, talented squad could also see Raphinha added to it in the coming days. (JPW)
Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, here we go! Personal terms fully agreed with his agent Marcelo Pettinati and his two partners. Gabriel signs until 2027, it’s 100% done. 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFC
Arsenal already agreed £45m fee with Man City as revealed on Friday.
Edu & Arteta, key for the deal. pic.twitter.com/06dTVNNLmM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 26, 2022
June 26 – Thomas Tuchel makes contact with Raheem Sterling
A report from The Telegraph states that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has reached out directly to Raheem Sterling to discuss a possible move to Stamford Bridge this summer. The England international, 27, could well be surplus to requirements at Manchester City next season and Chelsea need to freshen up their attack. With Romelu Lukaku on his way to Inter Milan, Hakim Ziyech in talks over a loan move to AC Milan and Timo Werner likely leaving too, it’s clear that Tuchel wants to rebalance his attack and Sterling is one of his top targets. Per the report, City value Sterling at $61-73 million and Chelsea will now make a bid after Tuchel spoke directly with the player.
Would this be a good move for both Sterling and Chelsea? Probably. Sterling has been a star at Man City over the last seven seasons but he probably isn’t appreciated as much as he should be and with Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez arriving this summer at City, the speedy winger will face even stiffer competition for a starting spot. He struggled for minutes a little last season (2127 compared to 2537 in 2020-21) but his quality is clear for all to see. The way he stretches teams on the break and cuts inside would suit Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 system well, as Sterling could play as the central striker or as one of the two underneath forwards. Sterling has just one year left on his current contract at City and with Gabriel Jesus set to leave this summer for Arsenal, are City going to allow both to move on? Maybe. They have always been pretty good at letting players move on if they want to but Pep Guardiola may feel a little shorthanded if both Sterling and Jesus leave this summer. (JPW)
June 26 – Breakthrough in Frenkie de Jong, Christian Eriksen deals?
Our partners in the UK at Sky Sports say that Manchester United are still hopeful of signing both Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen. After a report from Goal stated that United and Barcelona have moved closer to agreeing a transfer fee for De Jong which would be in the region of $84.6 million, it is believed that United are confident the deal will get done for the silky central midfielder. This all now hinges on Frenkie de Jong, who hasn’t seemed too interested in a move to United so far this summer. The Dutch midfielder was a star at Ajax under Erik ten Hag but with United out of the UEFA Champions League and Barcelona just turning things around over the last six months, it seems like De Jong needs some convincing that Old Trafford is the right place for him to take his game to the next level.
As for Eriksen, well, the offer to him remains on the table as our partners at Sky say the 30-year-old has two main options: Manchester United and Brentford. The free agent spent the second half of last season at Brentford on a short-term deal as he helped the Bees to a strong finish and the pull of staying in London and being the key man in a team on the up in the Premier League is appealing. As for United, well, they are apparently confident that Eriksen will choose to sign for them. The Danish playmaker would compete with Bruno Fernandes for the starting spot in the No. 10 role and that may not appeal to him at this stage of his career. With United reporting back for preseason this week, the clock is ticking to make their first signing of the Erik ten Hag era. (JPW)
June 26 – Richarlison, Harry Winks deals’ in the works
Multiple outlets are reporting that Tottenham are pushing hard to sign Everton and Brazil star Richarlison, as they also have an interest in Raphinha but it appears the latter will be heading to Arsenal instead. The forward has reportedly told Frank Lampard he wants to leave the Toffees this summer and play in the Champions League. Given Richarlison’s recent ambiguous comments while on international duty, that isn’t a surprise. Richarlison’s tenacity, experience in the Premier League and ability to play up top or as one of the wide forwards is something which will add serious depth to Spurs’ attack. With Heung-min Son, Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski Spurs’ go-to front three, if Richarlison arrives he would start 20-25 games in all competitions and surely chip in with important goals and assists for Antonio Conte’s side. Everton want over $61 million for Richarlison (who has two years left on his current contract) and after a strong start to the summer window, this move would be the best of the bunch if Spurs could get it over the line for Conte.
According to our partners in the UK at Sky Sports, Everton want to sign Harry Winks on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy. Per the report, Spurs want to sell Winks as the central midfielder isn’t in Conte’s plans and the two clubs remain in talks. The England international has fallen behind Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur and Oliver Skipp in the pecking order, while the arrival of Yves Bissouma pushes him even further away from minutes at Spurs. A move to Everton could well revive his career as Frank Lampard wants to change their style of play and is keen to bring in players who can keep the ball well and allow the team to be more expansive. Winks is very simple and smart on the ball but his lack of physicality means he will not feature much under Conte. If the 26-year-old doesn’t move to Everton this summer he will be heading elsewhere. It also seems very likely that Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn could move on this summer if Richarlison arrives. (JPW)
June 26 – Cristiano Ronaldo linked with shock move to Stamford Bridge
Yes, this is actually a real thing. And yes, Manchester United have denied it could happen. However, there is clearly a bit of a theme rumbling behind-the-scenes here. In the past week there have been reports suggesting Ronaldo is unhappy with the lack of new signings at United, plus there have been reports linking him with a move to Roma, his former club Sporting Lisbon and now Chelsea are said to be interested in signing the Portuguese superstar. According to The Athletic, new Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly discussed the availability of Ronaldo, 37, when he met with ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes.
Per the report, Ronaldo was discussed and Chelsea are interested in seeing whether or not he can be temped to west London. Given that he only has one year left on his contract and they’d be strengthening a direct top four rival, United would surely rather keep Ronaldo than sell him to Chelsea this summer. United have since briefed plenty of outlets, including our partners in the UK at Sky Sports, that Ronaldo is not for sale and will not leave this summer.
But would having an unhappy Ronaldo around be a huge problem for Erik ten Hag? Probably. His love for United is undoubted but it is easier to see why he’s so frustrated. Many believe he will not fit into the tactics deployed by ETH but the Dutch coach is said to believe he can. Let’s see how this goes but it seems like Ronaldo’s future is unexpectedly going to be the topic of much discussion this summer. (JPW)
June 25 – Hakim Ziyech to AC Milan?; Tuchel expecting ‘up to six new players to arrive’
A report from our partners at Sky Italy states that Hakim Ziyech could head on loan to AC Milan in a similar deal which will see Romelu Lukaku move to Inter from Chelsea. Per the report, Ziyech is keen on the move and he has been a target for AC Milan for some time. The Moroccan winger has never really settled at Chelsea despite the odd sublime goal and stunning display. With Tuchel looking to freshen up his attack this summer, Ziyech, Werner, Lukaku and even Christian Pulisic appear to be surplus to requirements as Tuchel expects plenty of new arrivals under the new ownership group led by Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly. According to a separate report from The Telegraph the Blues boss expects up to six new players to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer. With De Ligt, Raheem Sterling, Richarlison and Ousmane Dembele strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, this is going to be a very different looking side, especially in attack. (JPW)
June 25 – Raphinha to Arsenal close?
A report from The Sun’s Jack Rosser states that Arsenal are going back with an improved bid for Raphinha as they continue to make big moves in the transfer market. The Leeds winger has been a long-time target for Barcelona but due to their financial situation a move to the Nou Camp doesn’t look likely, at least right now. Arsenal are determined to sign Raphinha ahead of London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea who are both reportedly interested. Per the report, Arsenal’s talks with Leeds are at an ‘advanced stage’ and after an initial bid was rejected, Arsenal could pay over $65 million for the Brazil international. Is this a good move for Arsenal?
They lacked a cutting edge in the final third last season after improving defensively under Mikel Arteta but they do still have Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli around in attack. After moving on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette they have plenty of room on the wage-bill for new signings and as they close in on Gabriel Jesus, and now Raphinha, this Arsenal attack could have a more direct feel to it. Given that Edu’s strong connections with the Brazilian game has no doubt helped and there’s a growing sense that deals are likely to be done. Arsenal have all of a sudden made a huge surge in the transfer market. After signing Portuguese playmaker Fabio Vieira for $45 million and Brazilian youngster Marquinhos, if Arsenal do sign Gabriel Jesus and Raphinha it would be a huge boost for Arteta. Given that Tottenham have already made some impressive signing this summer and Chelsea are about to kick on with their recruitment after the new owners and board have arrived, it was imperative Arsenal started to get these deals over the lines. (JPW)
June 25 – Liverpool open to selling Salah this summer
Liverpool are reportedly open to selling Mohamed Salah this summer as the Egyptian star has just one year left on his current contract. The Reds have been locked in talks with Salah for months about a new deal and per a report from the The Sun, Liverpool could sell Salah this summer for $74 million. Per the report, Real Madrid are the club Salah could move to as they look to bolster their attack after missing out on Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland this summer.
Should Liverpool cash-in on Salah just like they did with Sadio Mane earlier this week? With one year left on his contract and no real movement on talks, the situation is pretty similar and Salah has won everything he can at Liverpool. With Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz arriving over the last six months at Anfield, it feels like Liverpool have already made the moves to replace Mane and Salah long-term. Now it’s all about whether they sell Salah this summer or risk him running down his contract and leaving for free next summer. The latter option would not be good for Liverpool from a business sense, especially as they’ve been very good in terms of net spend and bringing in like-for-like replacements over the last six years. (JPW)
(Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
June 25 – Sven Botman to Newcastle close to completion
Multiple reports are saying that Newcastle have wrapped up their long-awaited move for Dutch defender Sven Botman. The center back will join from Lille and will be the main man in Eddie Howe’s defense as he and Dan Burn will be two towering presences at the back. Botman has been chased by AC Milan, and many others, in recent transfer windows but Newcastle’s interest has been extremely strong. It seems their persistence has paid off and Botman is about to make his move to the Premier League. After signing Nick Pope and Matt Targett already this summer, Newcastle’s defense continues to be strengthened as Kieran Trippier, Burn, Botman and Targett is a very solid back four in front of Pope. (JPW)
Sven Botman can be considered Newcastle player. No issue with personal terms, it’s all agreed on player side after deal in place with Lille for €37m fee with add-ons. Medical already booked, early next week. ⚪️⚫️🤝 #NUFC
Hugo Ekitike deal, now getting more than complicated. pic.twitter.com/mePAhIB79g
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 25, 2022
June 25 – Timo Werner part of potential deal for De Ligt?
A report from Di Marzio in Italy suggests that Timo Werner plus $35 million is the offer Chelsea have put forward for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt but the Turin club want Werner and closer to $45 million. Per the report both Werner and De Ligt are up for the move, with the Dutch center back set to be the new center-piece of Thomas Tuchel’s defense, while Werner is keen for a fresh start in Italy as his goalscoring woes in the Premier League continue. Would this be a good move for all parties? De Ligt has been much better in recent seasons at Juve but he has struggled at times and perhaps the Premier League would suit his game slightly better. As for Werner, well, he’s beloved by the Chelsea fans for his incredible effort in games but his finishing has really let him down and if he moves on now he can leave with his head held high. (JPW)
June 24 – Arsenal, Man City agree transfer fee for Gabriel Jesus
[ MORE: Arsenal transfer news | Man City transfer news ]
Following the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in January and the summer, respectively, Arsenal appear to have filled their massive hole at striker with a 25-year-old (four-time) Premier League champion: Gabriel Jesus. Fabricio Romano reported on Friday that Arsenal and Manchester City have agreed a $55.3 million transfer fee for the Brazilian international. All that remains to be agreed are personal terms for a contract between Jesus and Arsenal. (AE)
Arsenal and Manchester City have reached full verbal agreement today for Gabriel Jesus. Deal in place after new meeting – been told guaranteed fee is £45m. 🚨🇧🇷 #AFC
Arsenal are now working on personal terms with Gabriel’s camp – final step to get the deal completed very soon. pic.twitter.com/sNcy4TuTks
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2022
June 24 – Newcastle sign goalkeeper Nick Pope from relegated Burnley
Nick Pope has left relegated Burnley to join Newcastle United, for a fee reported to be $13.5 million. In six seasons at Burnley (all in the Premier League), Pope made 155 appearances for the Clarets, including 36 in the season just completed. Only time will tell if Pope will be named the starter at St. James’ Park, or if he’ll ultimately be the backup to Martin Debravka, but head coach Eddie Howe called Pope “an exceptional Premier League and international-level goalkeeper.” (AE)
June 23 – Chelsea looks to Matthijs De Ligt
Chelsea’s desire to shore up its back line could lead to an absolutely massive expenditure on Juventus center back Matthijs De Ligt.
The Blues have lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen this summer, at least one of them due to the financial uncertainty at the club prior to new chairman Todd Boehly’s takeover, and need to address the corps of Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, and Trevoh Chalobah.
De Ligt cost Juventus about $79 million from Ajax, and the player has a $126 release clause. Only Joao Felix, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe have been transferred for that much. The clause expires in 2024, according to Sky Sports, and Juve will only entertain bids near the figure (NM).
June 22 – Bayern Munich announces Sadio Mane
It’s a 3-year deal that brings Sadio Mane from Liverpool to Bayern Munich, as the Senegalese star will test himself in the Bundesliga.
Mane, 30, remains a living legend at Anfield despite leaving, his six-year spell an unqualified success as part of one of the era’s best tridents with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
“I’m really happy to finally be at FC Bayern in Munich,” Mane said. “We spoke a lot and I felt big interest from this great club right from the beginning, so for me there were no doubts. It’s the right time for this challenge. I want to achieve a lot with this club, in Europe too. During my time in Salzburg I watched a lot of Bayern games – I really like this club”
The former Southampton, Metz, and Salzburg player leaves Liverpool with 120 goals and 48 assists over 269 games. (NM)
June 22 – Southampton reinforces defense with Bella-Kotchap
German youth international Armel Bella-Kotchap is making a move to the United Kingdom.
Bella-Kotchap, 20, is headed from the Bundesliga to the Premier League after impressing at the age of 20 with VfL Bochum.
The center back already boasts 74 senior appearances for the side and has appeared from Germany’s U-18, U-20, and U-21 sides. Armel is Paris-born, and his father Cyrille was four-times capped by Cameroon.
Bella-Kotchup says Ralph Hasenhuttl was a big part of his reasoning for choosing the St. Mary’s outfit.
“The coach has a big impact on me. We speak the same language and his interest was very big in me. The club convinced me and said they want to make a project with me and I’m ready to go and I will fight for my place.”
Saints have brought in impressive center backs in the past including big successes like Virgil van Dijk, Jannik Vestergaard, and Mohammed Salisu. If Bella-Kotchup can fit neatly into that camp, this signing will have been a success. (NM)
June 21 – Arsenal lands Porto’s $42M Fabio Vieira
It is official: Arsenal has brought in Fabio Vieira — no relation to the club’s legendary midfielder — for a reported $42 million fee.
The Porto youngster and Portuguese U-21 star just turned 22 in late May. He recorded the second-best assist total in Portugal last season in far fewer minutes than his competitors.
What else will the Gunners get in Vieira? Click here for more. (NM)
June 21 – Push for Man United to sign Evanilson, Antony, Martinez is on
It has been a quiet summer so far at Manchester United but things are starting to heat up. Portuguese outlet O Jogo have reported that United have had a bid of $67 million rejected for Brazilian striker Evanilson. The 22-year-old forward scored 21 goals for Porto last season and it appears that a new forward is a priority for Erik ten Hag as he aims to ease the burden on Cristiano Ronaldo (who could move on). He has also reportedly told United that he wants both Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen to build his midfield around and the Dutch coach is clearly going to shift the playing style to a possession-based system.
With that in mind, Ajax star Antony is also a target for United and a report from The Sun says he will be the first signing of the Erik ten Hag era. Antony, 22, will reportedly cost $49 million and the report says that United officials are in Amsterdam to try and seal the deal. Our partners in the UK at Sky Sports also believe that United are trying to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax too, as the Argentine center back/left back has also been interesting Arsenal. Ten Hag heading back to Ajax to pick up some top quality players makes perfect sense and United certainly need fresh ideas and talents in defense, midfield and attack. Bringing in players who already know his tactics inside-out is very smart. (JPW)
June 21 – Chelsea linked with Richarlison
It appears that Richarlison is a man in demand this summer as The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea are set to battle with Tottenham and Arsenal for his signature. The 25-year-old looks likely to leave Everton and it is believed that Thomas Tuchel is a big fan of the Brazilian international. With Romelu Lukaku on his way out, plus doubts over whether or not Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will stick around, Chelsea are set to freshen up their attacking options. They’ve already been linked with moves for Raheem Sterling and Ousmane Dembele this summer and bringing in a wide forward who is comfortable cutting inside seems a priority.
Richarlison can certainly do that and given his experience in the Premier League and his tenacity and work-rate, he seems like a very good fit for Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 system at Chelsea as he could play up top or in one of the two underneath positions. The transfer fee is going to be sizeable (probably $60-70 million) but Richarlison has been consistent at Everton and there’s reason to believe he will create and score plenty of goals in a team who are on the front-foot more often. (JPW)
June 21 – Nick Pope reportedly close to Newcastle move
According to our partners in the UK at Sky Sports, Newcastle United are in talks with Burnley over a move for England international goalkeeper Nick Pope. The 30-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League teams following Burnley’s relegation and Newcastle need an upgrade in goal. Martin Dubravka is a fine goalkeeper but given the investment in the rest of the playing squad at Newcastle since Eddie Howe arrived, bringing in a goalkeeper of Pope’s quality makes sense. It seems like Dean Henderson is heading to Nottingham Forest, Sam Johnstone is going to Crystal Palace and Alphonse Areola is going to make a permanent switch to West Ham, so there is a lack of goalkeeping options right now. If Pope stays fit then he is among the top five goalkeepers in the Premier League as he’s been consistently excellent for Burnley over the last few seasons. (JPW)
Newcastle United are in negotiations with Burnley over the signing of goalkeeper Nick Pope. 💰
[via @SkyKaveh]. pic.twitter.com/gfBqyDGybU
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 21, 2022
June 21 – Sadio Mane arrives in Munich ahead of move to Bayern
The Senegal star is inching closer to his move to Bayern Munich as he is in Bavaria for his medical. Mane, 30, will soon become a Bayern player after the clubs agreed a fee of over $43 million. Liverpool fans will be sad to see these scenes but Mane leaves a legend as he scored 120 goals in 269 games for the Reds and epitomized what they were all about under Jurgen Klopp. At Bayern he will be the main man (Robert Lewandowski is expected to leave) and it felt like he was keen to have a fresh challenge in his career after winning every trophy possible with Liverpool over the last six seasons. Mane’s incredible consistency, intensity and quality will be tough to replace and he will always be a hero at Anfield. (JPW)
🚨 | Sadio Mané is in Munich for his medical ahead of his move to Bayern Munich. 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/Q9S3In9PeN
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 21, 2022
June 21 – West Ham set to bid $37 million for Armando Broja
According to our partners in the UK at Sky Sports, West Ham are set to bid $37 million to sign young Chelsea and Albania striker Armando Broja. The 20-year-old had a very solid season on loan at Southampton last season as he scored nine goals in all competitions and showed plenty of promise despite playing in a team which struggled to create plenty of chances. Broja may be needed at Chelsea this season as they look set to sell Romelu Lukaku, but per the report the likes of Newcastle, Arsenal and Napoli also want to sign the powerful striker. West Ham seems like a very good fit for Broja as he would compete with Michail Antonio for minutes and the pair could be rotated as the Hammers have the Europa Conference League and Premier League to juggle. Broja is good on the counter, deceptively quick and is very aggressive and that suits West Ham’s style under David Moyes very well. (JPW)
June 20 – Raphinha set to sign this week?
A report from Goal.com states that Raphinha could sign for Arsenal as soon as this week as a $53 million deal is ‘very close’ to completion. The Brazilian winger, 25, has been linked with a move away from Leeds for much of the last 12 months and it appears that Arsenal have beaten the likes of Tottenham, Barcelona and many others to his signature. Raphinha is proven in the Premier League and his agent Deco has talked about his next move for some time as Leeds fans expected the Brazil international to move on this summer.
Do Arsenal really need another attacking midfielder? Raphinha has plenty of end product and he would suit Mikel Arteta’s style of play well. It seems like Arsenal are going to really freshen up their attack this summer as Fabio Vieira is set to arrive from FC Porto, Gabriel Jesus could arrive from Manchester City and the Gunners have already signed Eddie Nketiah to a new long-term contract. Add the trio of Raphinha, Vieira and Jesus to Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli and you have incredible depth in attack. Quite how Arteta can keep all of those forward-thinking players happy remains to be seen but these are exciting times for Arsenal as they look to continue moving forward as they just missed out on a top four finish last season. (JPW)
June 20 – Christian Eriksen to make decision soon
It is believed that Christian Eriksen is a key target for new United boss Erik ten Hag and the wait to see where the Danish playmaker signs is almost over. According to Fabrizio Romano the 30-year-old will soon decide where he will sign, as the free agent has offers from United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford to weigh up in the Premier League. Countless other clubs are interested in signing the mercurial attacking midfielder who dazzled on a short-term deal at Brentford in the second half of last season after his miraculous comeback from suffering a cardiac arrest in the summer of 2021. Eriksen has said he is keen to play in the Champions League but it’s not a deal break and if any other manager aside from Antonio Conte was in charge at Tottenham, you would surely see him head back to Spurs. But he never really fit in with Conte’s style of play at Inter Milan and the fact Erik ten Hag plays possession-based football with free-flowing, interchanging midfielders would really suit Eriksen well. (JPW)
Christian Eriksen will make a decision on his future club soon. Manchester United have confirmed their interest to his agent, while Brentford are still in the race. 🇩🇰 #transfers
Tottenham, now focused on right back, centre back and then striker after three signings completed.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2022
June 20 – West Ham complete Nayef Aguerd signing
The Hammers have made their first big signing of the summer as Moroccan center back Nayef Aguerd has arrived from Rennes on a five-year contract. The 26-year-old will reportedly cost up to $37 million and David Moyes was keen to strengthen his defensive options. Per multiple reports West Ham also want to sign a new striker, central midfielder and left back as the Hammers prepare for a second-straight season in Europe after back-to-back top seven finishes in the Premier League. Aguerd will likely start alongside Kurt Zouma at center back with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna as back-up as Issa Diop could move on this summer. (JPW)
Welcome to West Ham United, @AguerdNayef! 🇲🇦⚒ pic.twitter.com/BDotHMUpEZ
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 20, 2022
June 19 – Jurrien Timber deal reportedly off
Louis van Gaal is basically the lumberjack in this situation. According to a report via our partners at Sky Sports, Ajax defender Jurrien Timber (who can play at center back and right back) has been advised against signing for Manchester United by LVG and the deal is now off. The 21-year-old was reportedly a top target for new United boss Erik ten Hag this summer but Louis van Gaal, the current Netherlands boss, has apparently told Timber not to move to Old Trafford as it would impact his game time with the Dutch national team. Is this LVG getting some revenge on United? Probably not. It’s more about knowing the player and his strengths and weaknesses and maybe advising against a move to England, for now. We’ve heard a lot of reasons for why deals break down but this is quite a unique one. (JPW)
June 19 – Calvin Ramsay arrives at Liverpool from Aberdeen
Highly-regarded right back Calvin Ramsay, 18, has arrived from Aberdeen in a deal reportedly worth $8 million. Ramsay was wanted by plenty of Premier League clubs but Liverpool’s pull was too strong and given Jurgen Klopp’s record of nurturing young talent (Harvey Elliott, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones to name a few) this move makes a lot of sense.
“There’s obviously a pathway here – that’s one of the reasons I chose it as well. It’s not just a massive club, they give young players chances in the first team,” Ramsay said.
“So if I can come in in pre-season, put my mark down, then there’s no reason why I can’t push to get in the first-team squad.”
Ramsay has been sensational for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership and is a Scotland U21 international already. He will have his work cut-out to replace TAA at right back but perhaps his arrival will allow the Alexander-Arnold to move further forward or even play in central midfield? (JPW)
Ramsay is a Red 🙌🔴
We are delighted to announce the signing of @calvinramsay03 from Aberdeen, subject to international clearance.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 19, 2022
June 19 – Chelsea want to sign Raheem Sterling
The Blues are getting going in the transfer market and a report from our partners in the UK at Sky Sports states that Chelsea want to sign Raheem Sterling. Per the report, it would take a bid of over $73 million for City to let Sterling go this summer. The England forward, still just 27 years old, is out of contract next summer and it seems like he could be set for a move this summer.
Would this be a good move for Chelsea, and Sterling? It seems like a pretty good fit and if Chelsea can drive down the price a little, they will go all-in for Sterling. That said, City could be selling to potential title rivals so they will want a big transfer fee.
Sterling is not really and out-and-out winger and Tuchel doesn’t like to play with pure wingers in his 3-4-2-1 system. He would be very good on the left of the two forwards underneath a central striker and he loves to cut inside and cause havoc. Even though Sterling gets a bad rep for missing big chances he has still scored 62 goals in all competitions for Man City over the last three seasons. That’s 20 goals per season and Chelsea need someone what that production in their forward line as Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have all struggled to stay fit and in-form. With Erling Haaland arriving this summer at City, Sterling could well struggle for playing time this season at City and he has been in and out of the team over the last 12 months. He could play centrally at Chelsea, as the report suggests, and Tuchel is said to be a big fan of Sterling. Add in all of that to the fact that Sterling grew up in west London and his family connections are in the area and it all kind of makes sense, right? (JPW)
June 18 – Gunners push for Martinez, Raphinha, Jesus deals
Things are really starting to heat up now, aren’t they? As vacations for managers, some players and agents start to come to a close, the rumor mill is spinning into overdrive and it appears Arsenal are closing in on several deals. Our partners at Sky Sports say that Arsenal are ‘cautiously optimistic’ that Jesus, 25, will arrive from Manchester City this summer. Per the report, Arsenal value Jesus at around $35 million but City want closer to $60 million for the Brazilian forward. Arteta has worked with Jesus closely in the past and he would be a perfect fit in this Arsenal side, plus his playing time at City is surely going to fall after Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez arrived this summer.
Per the report, Arteta worked closely with Jesus in individual sessions while he was an assistant at Man City and Jesus wants more responsibility and knows he will lead the line at Arsenal. After the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette over the last six months, Arsenal need a striker to finish off the many chances they create. Jesus is surely the perfect fit and now it’s all about City and Arsenal agreeing on a fee.
As for other potential deals, The Athletic claims that Arsenal want to sign both Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez. Their interest in Raphinha has been known for quite some time and they are clearly looking to restock their attacking options with Fabio Vieira also on the way from Porto (see below). As for Martinez, the Ajax and Argentine star is a versatile defender who can play at center back or left back. Martinez, 24, is said to be keen on the move and Arsenal are negotiating with Ajax over the deal. However, one player Arsenal may not sign is Youri Tielemans as several reports suggest they may now look elsewhere. The Belgian midfielder will be a man in demand this summer as he has just one year left on his current contract at Leicester City. However, the London Evening Standard says that the Gunners could still move for Tielemans as he fits their need in a deeper central midfield role. (JPW)
June 18 – Ronaldo linked with Roma, Sporting Lisbon
Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from Manchester United this summer, as according to Italian outlet La Repubblica both Roma and Sporting Lisbon are reportedly interested in singing the Portuguese superstar. Ronaldo, 37, scored 24 goals in all competitions for United last season but there are plenty of question marks around whether or not he’s in the plans of new manager Erik ten Hag. The report leans heavily on Ronaldo seeing he will not slot in well with ETH’s playing style. Both Roma and Sporting know a deal will be difficult, financially, but Ronaldo has just one year left on his contract at Old Trafford and perhaps the Red Devils could be swayed to let him leave, if that’s his wish, amicably and for a nominal transfer fee. (JPW)
June 18 – United set to miss out on Christian Eriksen; De Jong talks ongoing
It appears that Manchester United’s offer to Christian Eriksen was not appealing enough. According to The Athletic, the Danish playmaker, 30, wants to remain in London. He has offers from Brentford and his former club Tottenham (among many others) and it is believed he wants to stay in England’s capital city. Eriksen did superbly at Brentford last season as his short-term contract saw him return to the PL and back to fitness after the cardiac arrest he suffered in June 2021. Eriksen has said he will take his time over deciding his next club but it appears that he won’t be heading to Manchester United. A separate report from Guardian states that United are still interested in signing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona and even though they are offering as much as $14 million lower than Barca’s asking price for the Dutch midfielder, they are holding out as they know the Catalan club have severe financial problems. (JPW)
June 17 – Tottenham signs Bissouma
Spurs aren’t messing around in the transfer market this summer, are they?
They have completed the signing of Yves Bissouma, 25, from Brighton and it is believed the transfer fee is initially $30 million and could rise to $37 million. Bissouma, a Mali international, had one year left on his contract at Brighton and that drove his transfer fee down. He’s worth at least double what Spurs paid for him and the combative central midfielder is just the type of destroyer who will thrive in Antonio Conte’s system.
🎙 “I’m very happy to be here”
Watch Bissouma’s first interview as a Spurs player! 👊
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 17, 2022
Of course, he’s smooth on the ball and has plenty of poise to his game too, but Bissouma’s arrival adds more steel to Tottenham’s team and more depth too as Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster have already arrived this summer. Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici are certainly delivering the additions Conte wanted. This is a very savvy addition by Spurs. (JPW)
June 17 – Mane closes in on Bayern move, joining Gravenberch
According to our partners in Germany at Sky, Liverpool have reportedly accepted a bid of $42.6 million from Bayern Munich for star winger Sadio Mane. Previous reports claimed the Senegalese has agreed to terms with Germany’s serial champions.
Mane, 29, has been linked to Bayern for some time and Fabrizio Romano says that it’ll be a three-year contract for the forward.
Liverpool has signed Darwin Nunez this summer and added Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota last season to reinvigorate its attack. This asks more questions of Mohamed Salah, who is entering the final year of his deal at Anfield.
One person who won’t be coming to Anfield is Ajax star Ryan Gravenberch, who turned down Manchester United and others for a move to the Allianz Arena.
Now who could be on the way out of Bayern? We know Robert Lewandowski is hoping to leave, but there’s still a lot of attacking talent on the Bavarians’ roster (NM).
June 17 – Fabio Vieira deal done, say FC Porto
FC Porto have released a statement saying that Arsenal have agreed to pay up to $42 million for Fabio Vieira. The Portuguese midfielder, 22, is a silky operator and fits in nicely with Arsenal’s model of buying talented young players who are on the up. He is regarded as the next top attacking midfielder in Portugal and should slot in very nicely alongside the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in attack. This move came out of nowhere and now Arsenal’s fans are hoping for Gabriel Jesus and Youri Tielemans to follow as the want the Gunners to keep moving forward after they came so close to finishing in the top four last season. (JPW)
Official, confirmed. Arsenal signs Fábio Vieira from FC Porto on a permanent deal, Portuguese club statement announces. ⚪️🔴🤝 #AFC
“Deal complete for amount of €40m, and of these, €5m are dependent on achievement of sports objectives”. pic.twitter.com/oaRLXGpeVX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2022
June 14 – Spurs agree fee to sign Yves Bissouma from Brighton
The Tottenham midfield is in desperate need of a two-way workhorse, and it appears Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici have found their man after reportedly agreeing a $30-million transfer fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for star midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 25-year-old Mali international has been a standout star in Graham Potter’s side for four seasons now, with frequent speculation that he would be poached by one of the top-six sides. (AE)
June 13 – Manchester City unveils Erling Haaland
No one was keeping it a secret, but Manchester City has now told the world that Erling Haaland has agreed terms to a five-year deal with the Premier League champions.
Haaland brings a silly and prolific goal-scoring mark to the club where his father Alfie played from 2000-2003.
Erling was born in 2000 so won’t have too many memories of his dad in a sky blue shirt, but he’s expected to make an instant impact on a team who badly needed a center forward.
And he admits he’s a fan of club.
“I was born in England. I have been a City fan my whole life. I know a lot about the club. In the end, [deciding to sign was down to] two things. I feel at home here and I feel I can develop and get the best out of my game at City. I like the style. I like the attacking football. I like the positive vibe we have when City play football. This is what I like a lot, so I think it’s a good fit.”
One thing we still don’t know? Haaland’s shirt number. It seems like that could be a clue that Gabriel Jesus, the club’s current No. 9, is headed for a new home this summer (NM).
June 13 – Arsenal signs Marquinhos (not that one)
The Gunners have nabbed a big name… for the future (maybe).
This Marquinhos is decidedly not the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defensive wonder, but a 19-year-old is coming to North London from Sao Paolo in Brazil.
The younger Marquinhos made his senior debut in the Summer of 2021 and will be a project for the future at Arsenal (NM).
June 12 – Manchester United keeping close eye on Robert Lewandowski
A report from The Sun states that Manchester United are keen on signing Robert Lewandowski, if his dream move to Barcelona doesn’t work out. Lewandowski, 33, has spoken publicly about his desire to leave Bayern Munich this summer as he has one year left on his current contract with the German giants. However, Barcelona have yet to agree a fee with Bayern and given the financial restrictions on the Spanish giants it appears it may take some time for them to offload players and sort out their finances to bring Lewandowski in.
With that in mind, United are lurking in the background as they aim to give the Polish superstar an alternative. Per the report, United are absolutely fine with paying Lewandowski $500,000 per week and the transfer fee to Bayern will be no issue.
Is this the kind of player Erik ten Hag and United really need as they try and rebuild?
There’s no doubt Lewandowski will score over 20 goals a season (at least) but United have brought in the likes of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years and have failed to get the best out of both of them. Ronaldo had success last season but can he and Lewandowski start up top and be successful in the kind of possession based, free-flowing and flexible team Erik ten Hag wants to create? If United sign Lewandowski then it seems like just another short-term flashy signing they hope will wow people rather than actually creating a team which can compete. That’s not disrespecting Lewandowski, who is a phenomenal player, but the fact that United seem to be seriously linked with another signing like this shows that they still don’t really know what they are or what they want to become. (JPW)
June 11 – Tottenham interested in signing Richarlison
A report from The Athletic states that Tottenham are interested in signing Richarlison and are willing to pay $65 million for the Everton and Brazil star. However, the report goes on to state that Everton want more than that fee for their star forward. The 25-year-old has previously stated that he has spoken to Everton and Frank Lampard about his future but didn’t reveal what was said. Both Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be keen on signing Richarlison, who has scored 38 Premier League goals in 135 appearances for the Toffees. His contract runs out in the summer of 2024 and this window represents the maximum value Everton would get for him if he doesn’t sign a new deal.
Would Richarlison to Tottenham make sense? He probably wouldn’t be first-choice as Heung-min Son, Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski would start in the three positions up top. That said, Antonio Conte is going to want to rotate his squad a lot more next season as Spurs are in the Champions League. Richarlison would be a top quality ‘next man up’ for that front three and would likely start at least 20-25 games a season in all competitions. Playing in the right team and getting chances on a plate, he would score a lot. He also really fits in well with Antonio Conte’s philosophy as he works hard, runs the channels and can play up top on his own or as underneath a striker or out wide. (JPW)
June 11 – Arsenal keen on Raphinha
We know that Arsenal are prioritizing the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Youri Tielemans this summer, but according to The Telegraph they also have more than one eye on Raphinha. The Leeds and Brazil winger, 25, has just two years left on his contract at Elland Road and he’s widely expected to leave this summer. Barcelona, Liverpool and many other teams have been linked with Raphinha in the past but there’s be no movement even though his agent (former Portugal legend Deco) has repeatedly discussed his client moving on soon.
Would this be a good move for Arsenal? They already have a lot of similar players to Raphinha and strengthening in midfield and up top (ahem, Tielemans and Jesus) should be their priority. If Raphinha is still available after that then he’s worth looking at but is he want Arsenal need? They have Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli around in the attacking midfield roles and this seems like it would be a luxury signing and a little unnecessary. But if the price is right (around $61 million is the asking price) his quality is undoubted. (JPW)
June 11 – USMNT goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina chased by Chelsea, Real Madrid
According to Fabrizio Romano, a potential deal for USMNT goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, 18, is entering ‘important hours’ as Chelsea and Real Madrid are the frontrunners to sign him. The Chicago Fire goalkeeper has been a Chelsea target for many months and now they have their ownership situation figured out, they can start trying to sign players once again.
Should Slonina sign for Real or Chelsea? He’s not going to play for either team regularly but it would allow him to develop next to some of the best goalkeepers in the world and also go out on loan in Europe to gain valuable experience. (JPW)
Important hours ahead for Gabriel Slonina transfer. Real Madrid made official bid turned down by Chicago Fire last week – but Chelsea are also in talks to sign him, after being really close last February 🚨🇺🇸 #CFC
Decision to be made soon – gonna be one of MLS record transfers. pic.twitter.com/yrAYjITU6T
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 11, 2022
June 11 – Real Madrid complete signing of Aurelien Tchouameni in deal worth up to $105 million
Reigning European and Spanish champions Real Madrid are wasting no time in strengthening their ridiculous strong squad, as they’ve splashed out an initial $85 million (which could rise to $105 million including add-ons) to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco.
The French international, 22, is regarded as one of the top defensive midfielders in the game and his move to Real sets them up very nicely to replace Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos when that legendary trio decides to call time on their careers. Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde are a sensational midfield trio for Real’s future and this addition saw Real beat all of the top clubs in Europe to his signature. What a talent he is. (JPW)
June 10 – Spurs lead race for Djed Spence
A report from the Guardian’s Will Unwin states that Tottenham are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Middlesbrough right back Djed Spence (who excellent on loan at Nottingham Forest last season and was a huge part of their promotion to the Premier League) with the fee expected to be around $24.6 million. Spence, 21, has been chased by several Premier League clubs and teams across Europe as his attacking display down the right flank caused PL sides all kinds of problems in Forest’s FA Cup run this season.
Antonio Conte currently has Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty as his main right wing-back options but Spence is a rising star and the England U21 defender will push hard for a starting spot this season if he does move to Spurs. The former Arsenal academy product is heading back to the other half of north London, it seems. Meanwhile, Conte is building a very solid squad after adding Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster early in the summer window. (JPW)
June 10 – Gabriel Jesus wants Premier League move
According to Fabrizio Romano, Gabriel Jesus wants a move to another Premier League team. He has been linked with Arsenal, while Tottenham are also said to be interested. With Erling Haaland (see below) coming in, Jesus won’t be first-choice at City and he has been very good, consistently, over the last five years. However, the 25-year-old would be the main man up top at Arsenal and surely that appeals to him rather than signing for another club where he is the back-up forward, like he was at City after being in the shadows of Sergio Aguero season after season.
June 10 – Quartet leave Everton as free agents
Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph, Jonjoe Kenny and Gylfi Sigurdsson have all left Everton as their contracts have expired. Delph and Kenny played pretty big roles in keeping Everton in the Premier League under Frank Lampard last season. There will be an almighty freshening up of the squad at Goodison Park this summer and that is badly needed given the roster of players who are remnants of Ronald Koeman, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez. (JPW)
June 10 – Liverpool frontrunners to sign Darwin Nunez
A report from The Athletic states that Darwin Nunez has decided he wants to sign for Liverpool and there is an agreement in place between the club and the player. The Benfica and Uruguay star, 22, has a host of suitors across Europe thanks to his prolific season with the Portuguese giants which saw him star in their run to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal where they lost to Liverpool. Nunez impressed Klopp when Liverpool played against Benfica (Nunez scored in each leg) and with the future of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah uncertain, plus Roberto Firmino coming towards the end of his career and Divock Origi already out, Liverpool need to revamp their attacking lineup.
Per the report, Liverpool would have to pay a club-record $106 million to sign Nunez. The Reds spend big when they want to and that worked out well in the case of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. Nunez is a rising star in world soccer and his aggression, clinical finishing and pace mean he is perfect for this Liverpool team and will slot in well alongside Luis Diaz and Salah (at least for next season) up top. Liverpool don’t mess around when they close in on buying a player and with Manchester United, Real Madrid and others pushing hard to sign Nunez, it seems like his heart is set on a switch to Anfield. (JPW)
June 8 – West Ham still pursuing Jesse Lingard, willing to sell Said Benrahma
West Ham reportedly remain in hot pursuit of Jesse Lingard, who is set to be a free agent when his Manchester United contract expires on June 30, as David Moyes appears set to finally land his top target after months of coveting the 29-year-old. In other West Ham transfer news, Moyes is ready to offload Said Benrahma after a disappointing first two seasons at the London Stadium. West Ham paid Brentford $40 million for the Algerian winger. (AE)
June 8 – DONE DEAL: Spurs sign Fraser Forster to serve as Hugo Lloris backup
Tottenham announced on Wednesday that Fraser Forster has been signed on a free transfer from Southampton. Forster will serve as backup to captain and no. 1 goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, thus guaranteeing an experienced Premier League ‘keeper in net game in and game out. (AE)
Our newest addition ✊ pic.twitter.com/JVNW22EVil
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 8, 2022
June 8 – Everton agree deal to sign James Tarkowski from relegated Burnley
James Tarkowski won’t be joining Burnley in the EFL Championship following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League, as the 29-year-old center back has reportedly agreed a contract with Everton, who were very nearly relegated themselves this season. Tarkowski’s contract is set to expire on June 30, so he’ll move to Goodison Park without a transfer fee involved. Tarkowski has been at Burnley since January of 2016, when he moved from Brentford, who he previously joined when they were in League One, before winning promotion in his first season at the club, for just under $4 million. (AE)
June 8 – DONE DEAL: Leeds sign Red Bull Salzburg right back Rasmus Kristensen
Jesse Marsch has been reunited with another former Red Bull Salzburg star, with Leeds announcing on Wednesday their signing of Danish international Rasmus Kristensen. The 24-year-old joined Salzburg the same summer that Marsch took over, in 2019. Kristensen is, of course, the second former Salzburg player to re-join Marsch at Leeds, after USMNT attacker Brenden Aaronson signed last month. According to a report from Sky Sports, Borussia Dortmund and Brentford were also in the mix to sign Kristensen. (AE)
💬 “Others wanted him, including teams in the Champions League, but he wants to prove himself in the best league in the world”
— Leeds United (@LUFC) June 8, 2022
June 7 – Liverpool reject opening bid from Bayern Munich for Sadio Mane
Bayern Munich reportedly offered $26 million (plus $5 million in add-ons) for Sadio Mane, but the Bundesliga giants were quickly turned away by Liverpool. Bayern will no doubt be back with another offer, though they hope to cap their costs at around $50 million. (AE)
June 7 – Man City want $63 million from Newcastle for Nathan Ake
Newcastle United are expected to make a move for Manchester City center back Nathan Ake this summer, but the Dutchman won’t come cheaply. Man City intend to recoup all of the $52 million they paid for him two summers ago — plus a little profit on top. (AE)
June 4 – Arsenal one of a few clubs interested in Leeds’ Raphinha
With Nicolas Pepe expecting (or, at least hoping) to leave the club this summer, Arsenal could soon have two things in abundance: 1) room in the wage bill (Pepe earns $175,000 per week), and 2) playing time for a star attacker (this was present already). That’s why Arsenal are reportedly considering making a move for Leeds star Raphinha, though they’re likely to face stiff competition from other clubs as well as Leeds, who have dug their heels in and said that Raphinha will only leave if a club meets their valuation. Though he and Bukayo Saka play a similar role, Raphinha is versatile enough that he could play in other attacking positions to get Arsenal’s two best (theoretical) attackers on the field together. (AE)
June 1 – Manchester United “in talks with Barcelona” over signing Frenkie de Jong
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are in direct talks with Barcelona over the possibility of signing Dutch international midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The 25-year-old has spoken over the last few days and says he’s keen to stay at Barca and wants to play in the Champions League. However, it is believed that De Jong may be sold as Barcelona need to get him, and others, off the wage bill in order to fund a move for Robert Lewandowski. The price tag is over $91 million for Frenkie de Jong and he would be the man that Erik ten Hag builds his new-look Manchester United around. If United can pull off this deal it would be a huge coup but is seems like FDJ has reservations. (JPW)
Manchester United have opened direct talks with Barça for Frenkie de Jong. Price tag around €85m, waiting for opening bid. 🚨 #MUFC
De Jong is still not convinced to leave Barça and he wants UCL football – Man Utd will try to push again as Barça need to solve financial issues. pic.twitter.com/jT18D37sPK
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2022
June 1 – USMNT goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina linked with Chelsea
Slonina, 18, has been tracked by some of the top clubs in Europe and it is believed that Chelsea and Real Madrid are going head-to-head to sign the young Chicago Fire goalkeeper. Slonina is currently with the USMNT and the dual-national turned down a call-up to the Polish national team last month. Would this be a good move for him? He’d certainly head out on loan somewhere in Europe for a few years and as long as he’s playing regularly somewhere in a top European league, that would be great news for the USMNT. (JPW)
May 31 – DONE DEAL: Tottenham sign Ivan Perisic on two-year deal
Croatian star Ivan Perisic, 33, has signed a contract at Spurs until the summer of 2024. He worked with Antonio Conte at Inter and the experienced wide player will bring a winning mentality and quality to Tottenham’s squad. Here we focus on where Perisic will fit in at Tottenham, as this signing suggests that Conte is getting to sign the players he wants this summer. After leading Spurs back to the Champions League, this is no more than the Italian coach deserves. (JPW)
🎙 “I’m really excited to start with the Spurs family”
Watch Ivan Perišić’s first interview as a Spurs player! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ktsbfAUEiR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 31, 2022
May 31 – Tottenham want Nottingham Forest loan star Djed Spence
According to Football.London, Spurs are very interested in 21-year-old right back/right wing-back Djed Spence. The Middlesbrough player excelled on loan at Nottingham Forest in the 2021-22 campaign, as he played a key role in their run to the FA Cup quarterfinals and promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs. Per the report, Spence is very interested in working with Antonio Conte and Spurs’ technical director Fabio Paratici has watched Spence closely this season. However, the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Newcastle, Brentford and Forest are all trying to sign him permanently too. Spurs have Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty as their current right back options but Spence would push both for a starting spot. (JPW)
May 31 – Sadio Mane set to leave Liverpool this summer
Well then. Sadio Mane appears to have played his final game for Liverpool. Mane, 30, has one year on his contract and he said he would reveal his decision on whether or not he wanted to stay at Liverpool following the Champions League final. Yours truly was waiting for Mane in the mixed zone after the final in Paris but he didn’t appear, but now multiple reports say he wants to leave Liverpool and Bayern Munich will be his next destination. Per the reports, Liverpool and Bayern are negotiating a price for Mane. What a few years he’s had at Liverpool and if he does leave then this is a big blow for Jurgen Klopp. (JPW).
May 31 – Robert Lewandowski confirms he wants out to move on from Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski confirms he wants to leave Bayern Munich and he’s really pushing hard for that move to Barcelona, isn’t he? Here are more details on what the Polish striker has been saying as the goal machine has won everything he can at Bayern and surely they’ll let him move on as he has just one year left on his current contract. What a fit he would be at Barca. (JPW)
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