Latest news with #DavidOrnstein
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hendrick: Liverpool using Saudi interest to raise Diaz price
Luis Diaz Liverpool Future: Daily Red Podcast Reveals Transfer Tension Luis Diaz remains one of the most talked-about names in Liverpool's summer transfer window, and for good reason. On the latest episode of the Daily Red Podcast, contributor Dave Hendrick broke down the evolving situation with typical candour, highlighting the tension between the club's stance and the Colombian winger's apparent intentions. Liverpool reject Bayern bid for Diaz As reported by David Ornstein and dissected by Hendrick, Liverpool have rejected a €67.5 million offer from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz. But the message coming from Anfield is far from straightforward. According to Hendrick, 'The line is Liverpool have no intention to sell. There's no world in which Liverpool have no intention to sell and also no intention to extend his contract. That's just not a real thing.' Advertisement That contradiction speaks volumes. While the club are publicly firm, behind the scenes, it seems the narrative is being shaped for a potential exit. Hendrick added, 'My guess is we don't want to sell Luis Diaz to a European club unless we get a big fee because we have a big fee waiting for him from Saudi Arabia.' Diaz wants out The crucial detail in Ornstein's report, and reinforced by Hendrick, is that Diaz 'has made it known he wants to leave the club.' From there, the dominoes begin to line up. 'If Diaz wants to leave, I don't think there's any chance we're going to keep him at the club. I do think he'll get sold,' said Hendrick. He went on to explain how Liverpool appear to be leveraging interest from the Saudi Pro League to drive up the price: 'I think we're trying to push him that way.' This would echo the approach Liverpool have taken with other players. As Hendrick noted, 'We've turned down bids from Napoli because I think we know there's a bigger bid waiting from the Saudis.' Advertisement Saudi route or stay put? Luis Diaz's desire might be to play for clubs like Bayern or Barcelona, but Liverpool are clearly setting boundaries. Hendrick offered a stark take on the options facing Diaz: 'Luis, you might want to go to Barca or Bayern, but your option might be staying on the contract that you're not happy with or taking this enormous bag from Saudi.' It is also worth noting that this is not the first time Diaz has shown willingness to move to Saudi Arabia. 'He was willing to go to Saudi two summers ago,' Hendrick reminded listeners, implying this route is not entirely out of the question. Shaping Liverpool's attack With Arne Slot at the helm and looking to evolve Liverpool's forward line, Diaz's exit could open doors for significant additions. Hendrick noted that Richard Hughes, Liverpool's new sporting director, has made signing a 'top number nine' a priority. Whether that is Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen or Julian Alvarez remains to be seen, but it adds further weight to the idea that Diaz may be moved on to fund these ambitions. Advertisement What's becoming increasingly evident through the quotes and breakdowns in the Daily Red Podcast is that Liverpool are playing the long game. They are not in a rush, but the writing may already be on the wall. Hendrick summed it up succinctly: 'If we didn't think we could get [Isak], why wouldn't we have bought a striker by now?' Luis Diaz has been a valuable player for Liverpool since joining, but this summer could mark the end of his time at Anfield. Whether Bayern, Barcelona or Saudi Arabia becomes his next destination, the final decision will rest not just on fee, but on strategy, timing and leverage.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ornstein: Liverpool draw up striker shortlist amid transfer uncertaint
Liverpool's No 9 Puzzle: Pre-Season, Transfers and the Hunt for Firepower Tributes in Preston, Business in Motion Liverpool's pre-season curtain-raiser at Preston North End on Sunday was always going to carry a sombre tone. The death of Diogo Jota has shaken the club to its core, and the tributes that dominated the occasion were as heartfelt as they were heavy. Football, for all its tribalism, has a way of pausing in moments like this. Advertisement But while grief weighs on hearts, the football calendar waits for no one. Arne Slot handed minutes to new arrivals Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, two signings that hint at a well-prepared recruitment plan already in motion. Still, there is a glaring need to add further firepower before the serious business begins in August. As reported by David Ornstein in The Athletic. Photo IMAGO Gap in the Centre Forward Role Liverpool's recent strategy has centred around strength in depth across their front three. With options stacked on the wings, Diaz and Gakpo on the left, Salah and Frimpong on the right, the centre is the concern. There is no clear first-choice No 9. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement Federico Chiesa has been floated as a possibility, but his profile leans more towards a wide forward. Meanwhile, Napoli and Al Hilal are monitoring Darwin Nunez, whose Liverpool career has been anything but straightforward. The club appear ready to move on if the price is right. Nunez, despite flashes of promise, managed only seven goals in 47 appearances last season. 'He only started eight Premier League matches,' David Ornstein notes, 'with Slot preferring to play Luis Diaz as a false nine as he felt the Colombian was better suited to his system.' Photo: IMAGO Targets Under Review Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is now focused on securing a genuine centre-forward. Several names have been considered. Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, and Joao Pedro all fit the bill. Hugo Ekitike is another name that has surfaced, while Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, admired by Hughes from his Bournemouth days, would have been a strong option if not tied to Stamford Bridge. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement Isak and Ekitike remain under consideration, though each would come with significant complications, be they financial or contractual. Chelsea, meanwhile, seem well stocked after recruiting both Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Decision Time on Nunez There is still admiration for Nunez within sections of the fanbase. His energy, commitment and occasional match-winning moments cannot be denied. But football is ultimately judged in cold numbers. A meagre return of seven goals does not justify leading the line for a team chasing major honours. 'If Liverpool can get £60million for Nunez they should cash in,' Ornstein states. That fee could fund a more clinical and composed presence in the box. Florian Wirtz has been considered as a possible solution in the 4-2-3-1 system, although he thrives when playing slightly deeper. The need for a specialist striker remains. Advertisement Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Supporters expecting a title defence won't be content going into the season without a proven centre-forward. The experiment with Diaz as a false nine has its merits in theory, but over the course of a 38-game season, it lacks the consistency and goal return needed to win major trophies. Most fans still like Nunez. He plays with emotion, he presses, he cares. But he's had chances, and the numbers don't lie. Seven goals in 47 appearances just won't cut it for a team with Liverpool's ambition. If Saudi Arabia or Napoli come knocking with serious money, the club should not hesitate. That £60million could go a long way toward securing a complete forward who can thrive in Slot's structured attack. The idea of landing someone like Isak is mouth-watering, even if it's unlikely. But Liverpool need to be bold. Go after a player who will transform this side from a contender into a champion again. The time for patience is over. It's time to fix the No 9 position properly.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Cancel the season' – Man Utd fans give up after latest Bryan Mbeumo transfer update
MANCHESTER UNITED are already reaching for the panic button after begging for next season to be CANCELLED. Just a week into pre-season, supporters are in full meltdown mode as the deal for Brentford ace Mbeumo hits a new deadlock. 3 The gap between Man Utd and Brentford on their valuation of Mbeumo remains big, according to The Athletic. Transfer guru David Ornstein revealed that the Red Devils still have some distance to cover before reaching an agreement with the Bees. The once considered done-deal is at risk of collapsing, with the two Premier League sides reportedly several million pounds apart. While Mbeumo, 27, has agreed personal terms with United, Brentford chiefs have rejected two bids for him. United's second offer of a £55million fixed fee plus £7.5million in add-ons falls short of the £65million Brentford want up-front. And fuming United fans are in a frenzy over the new stand-off over money, with next season starting in a month's time. One raged on X: "Cancel the season already." business is done." A third wrote: "What on earth is going on? The man is clearly worth the money. PAY IT." A fourth fumed: "We're just not serious as a club 😡." 3 One more added: "This absolutely ridiculous. Next season is another write off." Mbeumo turned down all other tracks, including a reunion with Thomas Frank at Spurs, in favour of a move to Old Trafford. But he was forced to report for training duty at Robert Rowan on Monday, as new manager Keith Andrews' squad returned from their summer breaks. Meanwhile, striker Yoane Wissa is a target for Tottenham, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, the latter recently having a £22million bid rejected. Brentford revealed on Monday that they aren't prepared to sell both players this summer. Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals last season while Wissa netted 19. Former manager Frank has already been stolen by Spurs, who paid his £10million release clause. 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW While midfielder and club captain Christian Norgaard, 31, has joined Arsenal for £12million, breaking down in tears after seeing his son in a Gunners kit for the first time. Brentford made an approach to Ipswich Town on Monday for Omari Hutchinson, who has a £35million release clause. The West London club see the former Chelsea star, 21, among a small number of potential replacements for Mbeumo should he join United.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Transfer news LIVE: Henderson to JOIN Brentford, Spurs ANNOUNCE Kudus and close in on Gibbs-White deal
Tottenham eye MGW Tottenham have turned their attention to Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White. According to transfer insider David Ornstein, new Spurs boss Thomas Frank is a "long-term admirer" of Gibbs-White. The North Londoners will try to convince the playmaker to join if a deal is reached with Forest. And the England international is likely to leave the City Ground this summer.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Real Madrid and more
Welcome to the sixth edition of The Athletic's Transfer DealSheet for the summer 2025 transfer window. Our team of dedicated writers, including David Ornstein, will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on. The mini-window ahead of the Club World Cup closed last month, but the regular summer transfer window is open and will run until September 1. Advertisement 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. Their responses, when they were given, have been included in the Transfer DealSheet. 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 year, The Athletic's football finance writer, Chris Weatherspoon, will be adding to our analysis of the transfer market. Last week, we looked at Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze's futures. This week, we look at Lionel Messi's situation, Arsenal's newest midfielder and the Chelsea players attracting interest from Germany. This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the club or player you want to read about. Lionel Messi was back on the global stage this summer as part of the Club World Cup — but few teams around the world needed that to be made aware of his contract situation. The 38-year-old's deal with Inter Miami, which he signed in July 2023, expires at the end of 2025 and therefore suitors can try to lure him away. There is a strong push from Saudi Arabia for Messi, with AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli pursuing the Argentina legend. However, Inter Miami are extremely confident they are going to retain him. The Athletic reported in April that the Major League Soccer franchise were close to an agreement, which would see the playmaker lead his team into their new Freedom Park stadium in 2026. Until the ink is dry, Miami will take nothing for granted — however, they are hopeful of announcing an extension any time now. Miami returned to domestic action over the weekend, winning 4-1 at Montreal as Messi showed his enduring quality by contributing two goals and an assist. As ever, when it comes to Messi, the numbers do little more than echo his obvious brilliance. Watch any Inter Miami game and it's immediately clear how far ahead he is of the rest of the MLS, even in this late stage of his career. Since arriving in 2023, he's scored 34 goals in 42 league games, with an MLS-high goals per 90 rate of 0.92. The graphic below, charting xG and xA per 90 since his debut, underlines his all-round influence, with Messi standing alone as an outlier in both chance creation and finishing. The only real concern going forward is his availability. Last season, he played less than half of the possible league minutes, the first time he's done so since his teenage years at Barcelona in 2005-06. Conor O'Neill Norgaard is not a glamorous signing compared to the other names linked with Arsenal, but he is a necessary addition. The 31-year-old is a true holding midfielder, offering assurance in playing out from the back and moving the ball through the thirds at the required tempo. Simultaneously, Norgaard offers defensive cover, primarily through interceptions and positioning, and is not afraid to make crunching tackles and tactical fouls. As the map below shows, he does not shy away from dispossessing opponents further up the pitch either. The Denmark international's signing, along with that of Martin Zubimendi, signals a potential change in approach from Arsenal. Both Norgaard and Zubimendi excel in progressing play through passes, which should, in theory, enable Arsenal to maximise the ball-carrying abilities from deeper positions of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Advertisement Norgaard could also be a useful Premier League-proven starter early in the season while Zubimendi adapts to life in north London. Anantaajith Raghuraman With the team's imminent return to pre-season training, activity has ramped up — and the wait to discover the identity of Arsenal's new striker appears to be over. The club are in advanced talks over the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. All parties are optimistic that the negotiations will result in a full agreement. If Arsenal were to complete a deal for Gyokeres, it would end their interest in Benjamin Sesko. Sources on the German side of the deal indicate there was still room for further negotiations over the fee and his salary — but clearly not enough room to convince Arsenal, who seem to have decided to advance with 27-year-old Gyokeres. Arsenal have finally announced the signings of Spanish internationals Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi. They also confirmed they have mutually agreed to terminate the contract of 26-year-old defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arsenal began conversations with Tomiyasu over a potential termination earlier this summer. Arsenal saw this as a mutually beneficial arrangement: one that would grant Tomiyasu the liberty to pursue his rehabilitation as he saw fit, while freeing up a space in the squad for a new signing who would be ready to contribute on the field. Eventually, Arsenal and Tomiyasu found an agreement. The player is currently rehabbing in Tokyo with the JFA, and hopes to be fit by October — and potentially sign with a new club as a free-agent. Tomiyasu's focus is on regaining his fitness and representing Japan at the 2026 World Cup. A new centre-forward has been top of Arsenal's agenda for some time. Finalising a deal for Gyokeres would free Arsenal up to focus on the remaining areas of the squad they wish to address this summer. Crucially, manager Mikel Arteta would like to get the new striker in as soon as possible, in order to help them acclimatise ahead of the new season. Advertisement Arsenal have completed a deal for Brentford's 31-year-old midfielder Christian Norgaard. They're also trying to sign Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera. With Tomiyasu having been released, Arsenal intend to add another defender this summer. Beyond Gyokeres, Arsenal are exploring other ways to improve their attack. They have agreed personal terms with Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, but there is no club-to-club agreement as yet. Arsenal see Madueke as a versatile player who can support Bukayo Saka on the right flank as well as providing an option on the left. Other players for the left-wing spot remain under discussion. Arsenal have undertaken significant background work on Rodrygo, and have held preliminary talks about a possible move. Anthony Gordon is admired, while Ademola Lookman has been discussed, but thus far Arsenal have been unwilling to match Atalanta's valuation. Arsenal have also looked at several creative midfield players, such as Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze. Much may depend on what Arsenal have left in the budget after a deal for Gyokeres is struck. It remains to be seen if signings such as Rodrygo or Eze may be dependent on potential outgoings. Arsenal also intend to strengthen their academy sides this summer, and have made Blackburn Rovers' 17-year-old forward Igor Tyjon a target. Tyjon made his professional debut in 2024, and has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs. If signed, Tyjon would become part of Arsenal's Under-21 squad. Fabio Vieira's loan spell with Porto is now officially over, and the Portuguese club have confirmed that he will return to Arsenal. Vieira is likely to report to Arsenal for pre-season, but the club would be willing to listen to offers for the 25-year-old midfielder. The same goes for the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Reiss Nelson. James McNicholas Chelsea confirmed two new signings. Firstly, Joao Pedro completed his move from Brighton for a fee in excess of £50million plus add-ons to make his debut in the 2-1 win against Palmeiras. Jamie Gittens also finalised his switch from Borussia Dortmund, which is worth an initial £48.5m. The deal also includes another £3.5m in add-ons and a sell-on clause. Advertisement The Athletic reported that Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but a transfer has yet to be discussed between the two clubs. Meanwhile, off the pitch, Chelsea have been fined €31m by UEFA for breaching their financial rules. As highlighted in The Transfer DealSheet last week, the priority is to focus on making sales now anyway. Chelsea will consider making more signings in the future, but the exits will have an impact on who arrives. The club do expect and intend to make a lot of sales before the window shuts on September 1. That has the potential to bring in sizeable revenue, which can be reinvested in the squad. As for the UEFA punishment, Chelsea have been preparing for this outcome. Even though it includes possible ramifications for new signings being named in the Champions League squad from next season, they are confident it will not be an issue. The main question right now is whether Chelsea will sign a replacement for Madueke should he complete a move to Arsenal. Chelsea will certainly consider it. They made an enquiry to West Ham United for Mohammed Kudus last month but it has gone no further than that for now. Kudus is currently the subject of strong interest from Tottenham, who have had an offer worth £50m rejected. There are other names on the wishlist. Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has been on it since January and they have also asked Lyon about Malick Fofana. However, Chelsea are also now monitoring Ethan Nwaneri's situation at Arsenal. They tried to sign him before he signed his previous deal in 2023, and there is now just one year left on his contract, with talks over an extension yet to bear fruit. Arsenal are optimistic that an agreement will be reached. Chelsea are also big admirers of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. For Arsenal to sign Madueke, Chelsea will want in excess of £50m. The club believe the current market justifies such a figure given West Ham's valuation of Kudus and Nottingham Forest agreeing a deal worth an initial £52m for Anthony Elanga with Newcastle. The 23-year-old has won seven England caps since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 and was named man of the match in their 1-0 victory over Andorra last month. He still has five years left on his contract, so Chelsea are under no pressure to sell. No talks between the London rivals have taken place yet. Advertisement Despite making four appearances at the Club World Cup, Chelsea are still willing to listen to bids for Christopher Nkunku. As explained above, Bayern Munich like the player and Manchester United remain keen. Chelsea put a price tag of £65m on him in January. Another forward who could depart Stamford Bridge is Nicolas Jackson, who is not considered 'untouchable' following the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Bayern Munich are also one of several teams that want defender Renato Veiga. Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is liked by clubs in the Premier League and across Europe. Valencia have enquired about his situation. Chelsea are only interested in a sale, not a loan. That is the same situation with Carney Chukwuemeka and Borussia Dortmund, where he has been on loan since February. The Bundesliga club want to loan him again with an option to buy, however Chelsea prefer a straight transfer. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is a Sunderland target but they face strong competition from at least five other teams. Chelsea have a gentleman's agreement in place which allows him to leave for £25m. Simon Johnson As The Athletic detailed last month, Chelsea had little fear of breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) this summer. In fact, we estimated they could lose the most of any club, pre-tax, in 2024-25 without falling foul of domestic regulation. That was less true abroad, and Friday's news of them receiving a €31million fine from UEFA for breaching rules in the reporting period ending in 2024 confirmed as much. Chelsea also reported a projected breach of UEFA's loss limits in the 2024-25 accounting period, which ended on 30 June. The fine took the headlines but of importance to Chelsea in the here and now was the sporting sanction handed out. Across the coming two seasons, they won't be able to register any new players for European competition without first selling. Advertisement As part of their Settlement Regime with UEFA, Chelsea have agreed they can only register new signings if their 'List A Transfer Balance' — List A being the registered squad for European competition — is positive. In other words, any new costs stemming from incoming players must be offset by cost savings from exits. One workaround would be to simply not register any new signings for new season's Champions League, though it seems a safe bet none of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens or Liam Delap would be best pleased. Across that trio, Chelsea have spent £133.5m, and that's before adding on nearly another £100m on other new faces — and we're still only in early July. Some may go on loan, in which case there'll be little need to register them this season, but once we add in estimates of agent fees and transfer levies, the annual amortised cost of Pedro, Gittens and Delap is at around £30m. Add on even modest wage estimates, and you're getting toward the £50m mark. Plainly, then, Chelsea have some selling to do. That was likely the case anyway, as their business model has long been reliant on player sales. Across five seasons to the end of 2023-24, Chelsea banked £509.1m in player profits, considerably more than any other club in England. Even with those big player profits, the club has still sold assets — two hotels, a car park, the women's team — to fellow group companies as they have successfully avoided breaching the Premier League's PSR. UEFA discounted such sales, hence Chelsea breaching both their loss limit rule and restrictions around squad spending. Chelsea's operating costs remain high, so player sales remain a necessity. The UEFA Settlement Regime only further underlines that. While Chelsea have agreed to a loss in 2024-25 in line with their current projections, for next season's reporting period, covering 2023-24 to 2025-26, they've committed to losing just €65m. After removing those asset sales, their pre-tax loss across the three years to the end of 2023-24 was around €330m. Avoiding another UEFA breach will likely require plenty of outgoing transfers. Chris Weatherspoon Some rumours regarding a possible exit for Nico Gonzalez surfaced over the weekend and immediately caught the imagination. The story is that City are looking to sell him, and a spin-off version is that his agent is looking for clubs. City sources say neither version is true and that he is in the plans for next season. Advertisement Elsewhere, Kyle Walker sealed a move to Burnley, which is a good deal for all parties considering the right-back's time at City had clearly run its course. Not especially close, but a couple of loans would make things a lot closer. It is easy to imagine very talented youngsters like Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis, both 19, having lots of suitors, but there does not seem to be much progress on more senior options. Ilkay Gundogan's wife, probably inadvertently, contributed to the rumour mill on Monday by posting a picture on social media of the family going to Turkey — Gundogan has been linked with a move to Galatasaray (he has also said he is staying at City). The next picture uploaded clarified that the trip is a family holiday. Right-back remains an area of need, although City sources say links with Inter's Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries, 29, are wide of the mark. Remember, players like Walker, Jack Grealish and James McAtee have long been considered 'gone' and did not play at the Club World Cup, so City would need to move on others beyond them and Echeverri/Reis on loan. That's partly why there is doubt around Gundogan's future, as well as Mateo Kovacic, John Stones (who says he is staying) and Manuel Akanji. Ederson has also said he will stay, but he did come in for a lot of backlash after City's Club World Cup exit, leading to his wife limiting comments on her Instagram uploads, so that may be something to keep an eye on. Stefan Ortega was asked about his future recently and left the door open to an exit, so that is probably more of a possibility than Ederson. Sam Lee United gave Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia permission to return for pre-season training late to allow them time to find new clubs. Rashford was also stripped of the No 10 shirt, with it being reassigned to new arrival Matheus Cunha. Club sources say the five players had told United that they wish to explore their futures away from Old Trafford, but some of the players' camps deny this and say they would have been happy to report back to Carrington on Monday. Advertisement Diego Leon completed his initial $4m (£2.9m) move from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno. The 18-year-old will be assessed over the coming weeks and is likely to acclimatise to English football as part of United's under-21s squad. Negotiations continue with Brentford over the signing of Bryan Mbeumo. United's most recent offer of £55million plus a further £7.5m in add-ons was rejected. Nottingham Forest's sale of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for an initial £52m is expected to earn United about £5m. United included a sell-on clause in the deal taking Elanga to the City Ground, worth 15 per cent of any profit Forest made. Friday's decision made it clear that none of the five players in question currently have a future under Ruben Amorim, who has started preparations for the coming season without them. With little scope for any of the five to force their way back into Amorim's thoughts, moving them on is vital. Rashford and Sancho specifically are among United's highest-earners, so even a loan covering a significant proportion of either's wages would be financially beneficial. But United likely need to raise funds before investing further in the squad beyond the potential signing of Mbeumo, and so permanent sales are preferred from that perspective. Rashford would prefer a move abroad, and the collapse of Barcelona's move for Nico Williams could help his cause. Sources at Camp Nou believe Rashford would potentially be willing to join on a reduced salary, if not on loan. Real Betis president Angel Haro has cited Antony's salary — in the region of £105,000 per week — as one of the sticking points in negotiations over making his successful loan spell permanent, while Sancho's wages are also an obstacle to his exit. Advertisement Garnacho has the potential to attract the highest fee of the five. The 21-year-old hopes to stay in the Premier League, with Chelsea's interest long-established. Leon's arrival, meanwhile, provides further competition for Malacia, with Patrick Dorgu and Harry Amass also options at left wing-back. An addition at centre-forward remains a possibility if United are able to clear space within the squad, despite Cunha and Mbeumo's past experience of playing up top as well as out wide. United have been keeping tabs on Fiorentina's Moise Kean, who has a €52m release clause that can be triggered until 15 July. United are the Premier League club to have shown the most interest in the 25-year-old, who has interest from the Saudi Pro League. Fiorentina's acquisition of Edin Dzeko is not part of a succession plan. Dzeko was signed because he offers something different to Kean. My colleague Conor O'Neill says: 'Since joining Fiorentina, Kean has developed into a true penalty-box striker. His 19 league goals last season trail only Atalanta's Mateo Retegui (25), with all but one coming from inside the area. He averaged six shots on target per 100 touches — the highest ratio in Serie A — underlining how he's now been deployed to lurk with intent rather than drop deep and get involved with link-up play.' As revealed by The Athletic last week, the prospect of Ollie Watkins joining United was raised in talks with Aston Villa over Rashford's loan spell at the end of last season. United also made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt for Hugo Ekitike earlier this summer, although a reunion between Amorim and Viktor Gyokeres appears unlikely after Arsenal entered advanced talks with Sporting CP for the striker. United have also been offered the chance to sign several free agents, namely Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jamie Vardy and Callum Wilson. It is expected that United would only advance on these, if at all, towards the end of the window if they do not get any of their top targets. There remains a prospect of United signing another goalkeeper, with Botafogo's John, 29, on a list of potential targets. Amorim is also keen to reinforce his midfield. Reports have suggested they are keen on Valencia's Javi Guerra, but the Spanish side are not yet aware of their interest. Aside from the out-of-favour five, Rasmus Hojlund faces an uncertain future. The 22-year-old hopes to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, and spent last week training with Harry Maguire in Portugal to prepare for this week's return to Carrington. The addition of another goalkeeper could potentially push second-choice Altay Bayindir closer to an exit. Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell Yes, and in a very material sense that will make both fans and people inside the club happy. Newcastle are now on the verge of their first senior signing this summer. Since former sporting director Paul Mitchell transitioned away from overseeing transfer business during the middle of last month, Newcastle have ramped up their attempts to bring in players. Advertisement They had fruitless efforts. Bids were made for Joao Pedro and James Trafford. While Pedro opted for Chelsea over Newcastle, negotiations with Burnley for Trafford have not progressed decisively. Newcastle also made bids for Anthony Elanga, and finally, on Monday evening, The Athletic reported that they had reached a deal with Nottingham Forest for the signing of the winger. There is set to be an imminent addition to Newcastle's coaching staff, though. As The Athletic reported on Sunday, the club are looking to appoint FC Midtjylland's Martin Mark to the newly created position of set-piece coach. Howe used his final press conference of 2024-25 to urge Newcastle to move swiftly in the market and, ideally, he wanted additions in place for the start of pre-season training. That marker has now passed, given non-internationals returned to Benton for tests on Monday, and Newcastle have already seen key targets move elsewhere — Pedro to Chelsea and Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid — or declare a preference for another move, like with Bryan Mbeumo and Manchester United. At present, Newcastle do not have a sporting director in place, while Darren Eales, the CEO, is serving the final months of his notice after being diagnosed with blood cancer last year. Now, the head coach and the interim recruitment team of Andy Howe, the assistant head of recruitment and Eddie's nephew, and Steve Nickson, the head of recruitment, are trying to source signings by Newcastle's training camp in Austria next week. The hope must be that Elanga is in the door by then. The 23-year-old is a long-term target and is deemed to be the ideal right-wing addition which Newcastle have been seeking since the takeover, given his pace, strength with both feet and Premier League experience. Advertisement It is also hoped that once one signing is concluded, it will provide momentum for further to follow. Goalkeeper, right-wing and centre-back are the priority positions, while a versatile forward in the Pedro mould is also being sought. Beyond the principal targets mentioned above, centre-backs based in the Premier League and across Europe have been discussed during recruitment meetings. Newcastle remain interested in Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace defender who is in the final year of his contract, having failed in a month-long pursuit last August. Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini is also admired, with Newcastle aware of the likely costs of any deal. No bid has been launched or discussions initiated with Atalanta for the Italy international, but he has been closely tracked. Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi is another on Newcastle's defender list, but no move has been made for the 26-year-old Argentina international. Newcastle have not lodged a bid for Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, despite reports claiming otherwise. Newcastle do now have an interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, having previously not held one — the Joao Pedro situation has changed things. This does not mean that Newcastle will move for him, but he has now been featured in conversations, having previously not been on their list of targets. Callum Wilson's contract expired at the end of June and on Monday it was confirmed the 33-year-old would be leaving the club. However, John Ruddy, the 38-year-old goalkeeper, is set to sign an extension for 2025-26, having also seen his previous contract elapse. Odysseas Vlachodimos is available, most likely for a loan given the PSR ramifications of selling the Greece international who Newcastle paid £20million for, while Martin Dubravka is likely to depart should Trafford sign. Advertisement Newcastle have no need or appetite to sell their best players and would not welcome bids for the likes of Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes or Anthony Gordon. They will also rebuff any interest in Tino Livramento, who is repeatedly linked with Manchester City. Matt Targett is available and Newcastle would listen to offers for Sean Longstaff, who is entering the final year of his contract. He has attracted interest and offers from Leeds United, among other Premier League clubs. Joe Willock has two years left and has been linked with moves elsewhere. Isaac Hayden, who is out of contract next summer, is also available. Chris Waugh Jacob Murphy is Newcastle's only real option on the right wing, with Eddie Howe using Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon there with limited success. With more games to come next season, along with their bid to qualify for the Champions League again, depth in every position is necessary. Elanga shone at Nottingham Forest last season, playing across the front line. The 23-year-old thrives in transitional situations, with only three Premier League attackers getting more shots away from fast breaks than his 10. Capable of holding his width and cutting side, Elanga has added goal contributions to his game, ending 2024-25 with six league goals and 11 assists. The former Manchester United winger also offers versatility, experience, and an impressive amount of off-the-ball work. Anantaajith Raghuraman Tottenham Hotspur had a £50million bid for West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus turned down, but talks between the clubs remain ongoing. As my colleague Conor O'Neill points out, 'Kudus had the second-highest take-ons completed per 90 (3.18) in the Premier League last season, only behind Jeremy Doku (6.36).' Elsewhere, players have started returning for pre-season training under new manager Thomas Frank this week. The first day, according to the club website, was July 5, and the first group back was largely made up of players who did not feature in international football in June. The next group of players, who played international football in early June, are expected to report back later this week. The squad will finally be completed by Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel, who all played in the European Under-21 Championship, later this month. Advertisement Kudus has become the most prominent target. It has been clear since the start of the window that Spurs were interested in signing a new winger from a Premier League club. They were interested in Bryan Mbeumo, who did so well for Frank at Brentford, although the player's preference is for Manchester United. They made an enquiry for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, although he has since signed a new deal. The fact Spurs submitted a formal offer for Kudus — and that club-to-club talks have continued — suggests this is the most solid of Spurs' pursuits so far this summer. And given how useful a big fee could be to West Ham, it might well be that a higher fee could be agreed for Kudus to join Spurs. Clearly the priority is a new high-profile wide player. But that is unlikely to be the extent of their business. Tottenham have explored the possibility of adding another full-back this summer, with left-back an obvious area where they could do with more depth. Depending on departures in key positions they may need experienced reinforcements. For example, they have improved their depth at centre-back but if Cristian Romero were to leave this summer then there could be an argument for looking for an experienced replacement, such as Genoa's Koni De Winter. Of the established first-team players, the most interesting cases are Romero and Son Heung-min. Romero has two years left on the five-year deal that he signed in 2022, and Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has declared his interest in the player. Tottenham do not want to lose him, and there has still been no contact from Atletico to Tottenham about signing him. Then there is Son. Spurs' captain has one year left on his contract, after Spurs triggered his extension at the end of last season. He has been at Tottenham for 10 years and finally got to lift a trophy with the Europa League final in Bilbao at the end of May. It remains to be seen what exactly Son wants to do this summer, whether this is the right time to leave or whether he wants to play in one more Champions League campaign with Spurs. There has been interest from Saudi Arabia in the 32-year-old. Jack Pitt-Brooke The biggest headline was the fallout of their chase to land Nico Williams. The 22-year-old winger opted out of a move to Barcelona and signed a 10-year contract at Athletic Club. His camp wanted Barcelona to include an exit clause in his proposed contract to allow him to leave for free if the club failed to register him by the start of La Liga. Sporting director Deco rejected their request, and that triggered Williams' decision to stay in Bilbao. The signing of Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen is progressing and club sources expect confirmation in time for him to join the start of pre-season next week. The plan is for head coach Hansi Flick to assess Bardghji in the summer camp, and from there decide what's best for him — either staying at the club in a potentially secondary role or being loaned out. Advertisement Two academy players left. Sergi Dominguez, 20, who registered six appearances last season, was sold to Dinamo Zagreb while 18-year-old Noah Darvich, who did not make his debut with Barcelona but was included in the matchday squad three times last season, has moved to Stuttgart. The deals have earned the club just above €2million in total. Pau Prim, 19, once tipped as the best-equipped La Masia prospect to become the next Sergio Busquets, has joined Qatari side Al Sadd after the expiration of his contract. Barcelona are moving into other targets — or, in a way, moving back to square one. Deco's top priority, and a player they already made an approach for earlier this summer, is Liverpool's Luis Diaz. Barcelona sources have said Diaz is now the biggest focus in the sporting direction department. They had turned to Williams, 22, as they saw in the Spain international a good market opportunity. He had a set price with no need to negotiate with the club. He is also a younger player than Diaz. But from a football perspective, Deco believes the 28-year-old fits best what they are looking for in a new attacker — on top of being more of a ready-made footballer than Williams. Some levels below Diaz on Barcelona's wish list is Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old is on the Catalans' radar, but a move for him does not seem imminent as they prioritise Diaz. Barcelona are aware Rashford is keen on the move, and that it could happen on favourable terms to them as Manchester United intend to offload the player. Potentially, that's a reason why Barcelona are prepared to wait for any move until later in the transfer window. The left-winger role is still the top priority. This is a position that both Deco and Flick agree they would have more reliable depth on. Now it's a matter of finding the best option. Advertisement There have also been recent reports about Inter Milan's wing-back Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch international, 29, has a €25million release clause which will be active this month. However, The Athletic understands this is not currently a priority position to reinforce for Barca. With Ansu Fati in Monaco, Barcelona are working to resolve the future of multiple fringe players. Pablo Torre is ready to be the next departure. The 22-year-old is expected to join Mallorca on a permanent move. Barcelona intend to retain a degree of control on the player through a buy-back clause or a sell-on percentage included in the deal. Pau Victor is another name tipped as a likely departure. The striker could leave in search of more regular minutes — especially if Barcelona sign a winger, which would reduce his game-time further. Next week, as the team returns to action for pre-season, there is the expectation that Flick will have a private chat with Marc-Andre ter Stegen to inform the goalkeeper he is not expected to be a starter next season — with the plan being to offload him. Pol Ballus While Real Madrid compete in the Club World Cup, there is more talk about which players might leave than who could arrive. The most prominent name is Rodrygo. The Athletic reported last week that the club and head coach Xabi Alonso had agreed to sanction his departure if a suitable offer came in for him, with Arsenal having held preliminary talks with his camp. Other clubs, some from the Premier League, are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old Brazilian. Not at this point. Madrid already signed the Argentina winger Franco Mastantuono from River Plate for more than €60m in June. He will arrive at their Valdebebas training ground on August 14, when he turns 18. There are other players in the squad who can play Rodrygo's role, such as Brahim Diaz — who is in advanced talks to extend his current deal that ends in 2027 — and even Arda Guler (who has played in midfield under Alonso) or Endrick. Left-back. My colleague Guillermo Rai reports that Benfica's Alvaro Carreras remains Madrid's top choice for this position, despite Fran Garcia enjoying a fine Club World Cup. Garcia, 25, has impressed in the United States and while his camp have received interest from other clubs, they do not believe Carreras' possible arrival should affect his continuity at Madrid. The player's objective is to stay at the Bernabeu. Advertisement 'I try to be calm, dedicate myself to working for myself, for the team, give my best every day that I put on this shirt and hopefully I can continue to do so for much longer because I feel good,' Garcia said at the tournament, when asked about Carreras. It remains to be seen what decision the club takes on Ferland Mendy when he recovers from injury. The Frenchman had agreed a contract extension with Madrid but this has yet to be officially announced. Gonzalo Garcia's breakthrough in the U.S. — the 21-year-old striker has scored four goals and provided an assist while appearing in five matches — has led to plenty of talk about a possible exit for Endrick, who is injured until after the tournament. But people close to the Brazilian continue to insist that he will not leave this summer. Another of those being discussed as a possible departure is 20-year-old centre-back Jacobo Ramon. Guillermo Rai reports that his camp are hoping he can leave the club after the tournament in the U.S., with Italian side Como one of the teams contemplating his signing. One exit that is decided is Luka Modric, who will leave Madrid after the Club World Cup. Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri told a news conference this week: 'We're waiting for him to join up with us, he'll be here in August. He's an important and extraordinary player.' And academy graduate Youssef Enriquez, better known as Yusi, is also set to leave after the tournament. The Morocco youth international is expected to sign a four-year contract with Alaves, who are known for their development of new talent and have been monitoring the defender for months. Madrid would receive around €3m for him with a 50 per cent sell-on clause and a right of first refusal. Mario Cortegana (Top image — illustration: Will Tullos/The Athletic, photos: Getty Images)
