Activity in the summer transfer window is intensifying, with several prominent clubs engaged in discussions for potential major deals as pre-season preparations get underway. Among the clubs actively pursuing new talent are Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool.
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Bruno Guimaraes and Morgan Rogers. Guimaraes, a captain for Newcastle, is said to have reached an agreement on personal terms for a five-year contract. Progress on the deal for Aston Villa star Rogers is anticipated after the World Cup. Additionally, Christos Tzolis is another player being targeted by Arsenal.
Manchester United have reportedly ended their pursuit of Ederson from Atlanta due to fitness concerns. The club may now consider options such as Manu Kone, Carlos Baleba, or Alex Scott, with Scott also attracting interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. Michael Carrick is also reported to be an admirer of Crysencio Summerville.
Chelsea are continuing their efforts to secure deals for Pep Chavarria and Maxence Lacroix. The club also reportedly made a late attempt to intercept Atletico Madrid’s move for Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand. However, reports suggest this attempt was unsuccessful as Hjulmand had already committed to a move to Madrid for around £34m.
Midfield and defensive reinforcements
In other transfer news, Manchester United are reportedly nearing agreements for Andrey Santos and Karl Darlow. While full agreements are yet to be finalised, there is an expectation that both deals could be concluded soon. United have reportedly agreed to pay Chelsea £48million, plus an additional £2m in performance-related add-ons, for Brazilian midfielder Santos. An announcement regarding Santos is expected.
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has confirmed the addition of five backroom staff members. Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard will join the team, having previously worked in France. Alioui served as Sage’s assistant at Lyon. They will join existing staff members, goalkeeping coach Andy Quy and assistant coach Paddy McCarthy.
Tottenham are reportedly leading the race to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. The forward is set to return to Old Trafford after a loan spell at Barcelona last season. Reports from Italy indicate that Tottenham are frontrunners to sign him, ahead of some Italian clubs.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida this summer to strengthen their right-back options. Neither club has made a formal approach yet, but Geertruida is considered a player to watch following the Netherlands’ early exit from the World Cup.
Xabi Alonso is reportedly keen for Chelsea to sign Eduardo Camavinga. Reports from Spain suggest that Alonso views the Frenchman as a key part of his team, and Los Blancos may be open to offers in the region of €80m (£68m). The player’s decision could be influenced by Aurelien Tchouameni’s contract extension.
The transfer of Joao Gomes from Wolves to Atletico is reportedly facing difficulties. A club-to-club agreement had been reached, but talks have stalled, leading Wolves to believe the move may be off.
Managerial and staff movements
Nottingham Forest have confirmed that three members of Oliver Glasner’s backroom staff from Crystal Palace will join him at the City Ground. Michael Angerschmid, Emanuel Pogatetz, and Michael Berktold, who previously worked with Glasner at Selhurst Park, will relocate to the Midlands. Angerschmid and Pogatetz will serve as assistant head coaches, while Berktold will be an assistant. James Holland and Michael Gspurning will also complete the lineup.
Portugal has confirmed Jorge Jesus as the new head coach of the national team. He replaces Roberto Martinez, who led the squad to a last-16 exit from the World Cup. Jesus has primarily managed in Portugal and Saudi Arabia, with his most recent role being at Al Nassr earlier this year.
In other developments, an agreement has been reached for Elliot Anderson to join Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for £116m. Sandro Tonali is also moving from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur for a package potentially worth up to £100m. This move would surpass Spurs’ previous club record, set earlier in the week with the £85m signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United.
Arsenal made a verbal offer to Newcastle for Bruno Guimaraes. Chelsea had an £8m bid for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka rejected and are interested in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, similar to Arsenal. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is drawing interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.
Aston Villa’s financial situation, including a UEFA settlement agreement, means they are determined to secure a substantial fee for Rogers if he departs, using Anderson’s record fee as a benchmark. The club aims to improve its finances in 2026-27 to comply with regulations and avoid a potential one-year ban from UEFA competition.
Bournemouth, having qualified for European competition for the first time, are now also subject to UEFA’s squad cost ratio rule. Despite increased turnover and player sales, the club’s wage bill of £158million and £69m in player amortisation costs in 2024-25 may pose a challenge in limiting their squad cost to 70 per cent of their income. The club maintains that Scott is not for sale and is attempting to secure him with a new contract, with two years remaining on his current deal.
Newcastle’s financial considerations have led to player sales in the past, including Elliot Anderson’s move to Nottingham Forest in 2024 and Anthony Gordon’s €80million (£69m) transfer to Barcelona. These sales, along with Alexander Isak’s £125m sale last summer and the impending move of Tonali, have significantly improved the club’s financial standing. Newcastle’s absence from Europe for 2026-27 means they only need to comply with the Premier League’s 85 per cent squad cost threshold, rather than UEFA’s stricter 70 per cent.
Manchester United are reportedly targeting West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville. Discussions have been held with the Hammers, and clarity on Summerville’s future is expected following the Netherlands’ elimination from the World Cup. Summerville scored twice and provided two assists in four tournament appearances.
Marcus Rashford has stated he would not make any decisions regarding his future during the World Cup. He remains a United player after Barcelona did not activate their £26m purchase option. Rashford earned selection for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after scoring 14 goals and contributing 14 assists for Barcelona. During Rashford’s absence last season, United manager Michael Carrick used Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha as left-sided attackers.
At Anfield, Aurelien Tchouameni appears set to remain at Real Madrid this summer. Despite previous links to Liverpool, Madrid’s new manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly halted any potential move. Reports suggest that the player, who has been crucial to Madrid’s recent successes, will be given the opportunity to establish himself as a guaranteed starter next season.
Arsenal are looking to strengthen their attacking options for their title defence, with manager Arteta reportedly facing competition for Dario Osorio. The Midtjylland winger, who scored eight goals and provided 10 assists in 49 appearances last season, is also being targeted by Benfica. His contract runs until June 2030.
Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit has suggested that Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke should approve the signings of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle and Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Andrey Santos has formally signed his contract as a Manchester United player, according to Fabrizio Romano.
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Source: standard.co.uk
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
