The transfer window is open and all of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are getting down to business. The Gunners are set to complete the signing of Chelsea forward Kai Havertz imminently after striking a £65m deal with the Blues, with the German international now set for a medical. A new bid for Declan Rice is also on the way, although Manchester City are now set to enter the race.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will reportedly lodge an £80m offer for Brighton midfielder imminently as they close in on a move for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson. Mason Mount, however, could be set for a move to United, as they ready a third bid and Chelsea continue their squad clearout.
Over at Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou looks set for his first signing after the club reportedly agreed a fee of around £17.2m for Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with James Maddison also of interest. Follow all the latest news, gossip and rumours including updates on Ilkay Gundogan, Sandro Tonali and Bernardo Silva in our transfer centre below!
Live updates
Done deal!
Edin Dzeko has completed his free transfer to Fenerbahce.
The former Man City has signed a two-year contract with the Turkish club, after leaving Inter Milan at the end of his deal.
Man City to make Rice bid
West Ham are braced for an approach from Manchester City for Arsenal’s No1 target Declan Rice, writes Simon Collings.
The Gunners have been leading the race for Rice all summer and have already had two bids rejected.
The second of those was on Tuesday and the total package was worth a club record £90million. The Gunners are expected to make a third offer.
West Ham want at least £100m for their captain and are now expecting City to make a formal approach for him.
West Ham could turn to Guendouzi
West Ham are considering Matteo Guendouzi as a replacement for Declan Rice.
L’Equipe report that Marseille are expecting the Hammers to submit an bid for the former Arsenal midfielder once Rice leaves this summer, which could see Guendouzi return to the Premier League.
Palhinha is another option for West Ham, though Fulham’s £90m valuation is putting them off.
Why Arsenal are prepared to spend £65m on Havertz
At Chelsea, Kai Havertz never really lived up to expectations after his £71million move to Stamford Bridge in 2020 — but Mikel Arteta believes he can unlock his potential at Arsenal.
The Gunners are ready to spend £65m on the Germany international and make him the second-most expensive player in their history. That underlines the belief Arteta has in a player he feels can have a transformative effect on his team.
Arteta has taken Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to new heights, has helped Martin Odegaard fulfil his potential and now he will look to do the same with Havertz. The 24-year-old will prove a valuable weapon for Arteta in attack, and a big attraction forArsenal in their move for him is that he strengthens them in numerous positions.
Havertz is able to play anywhere across the front-three, while he can also operate as a No10 or No8.
Read Simon Collings’ full piece here!
Arsenal make Timber progress
Arsenal are close to agreeing personal terms with Jurrien Timber.
The Ajax defender is keen to make the move to the Gunners, who have had an initial £30m bid rejected.
Fabrizio Romano reports that after making progress with Timber, Arsenal will continue negotiations with Ajax and are expected to submit a new offer soon.
Man City ready to enter Rice race
Not what Arsenal fans wanted to hear this morning…
Manchester City are set to submit a formal offer for Declan Rice today as they intensify their interest in the West Ham midfielder.
Arsenal have had a £90m bid turned down by the Hammers and now face competition for their top target. The Athletic report that City will make their move for Rice, following Ilkay Gundogan’s decision to leave the club.
Bernardo future still up in the air
Bernardo Silva is yet to make a decision over his future, amid reports linking him with a huge-money move to Saudi Arabia.
Marca claimed yesterday that the Man City star is close to agreeing a deal that would see him join a Saudi side, though Foot Mercato report that Bernardo would rather join either PSG or Barcelona.
It looks likely he could leave City this summer, but it is not yet clear where the move would be to.
Tonali nears Newcastle move
Sandro Tonali is edging closer to completing his move to Newcastle.
Fabrizio Romano reports that personal terms have been now agreed with the AC Milan midfielder, who will sign a six-year contract with the Magpies.
Finals talks are ongoing between the two clubs on the structure of the £60m deal.
Man United urged to rival Liverpool for ‘massive’ €80m midfield star
Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to make a big-money move for Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
The Frenchman only arrived at the Bernabeu last summer but there is speculation over his future in Spain, with the signing of Jude Bellingham, for a fee that could rise to £115million, raising the possibility that Real could sell one of their midfield stars.
It remains to be seen whether that is Tchouameni, who signed a six-year deal after arriving from Monaco a year ago and made 24 LaLiga starts in his first season as a Real player.
Chelsea hope for £120m transfer boost ahead of fresh Moises Caicedo offer
Chelsea will target a second wave of player sales after starting their summer clear-out with deals that will bank them around £120million, writes Nizaar Kinsella.
The Blues have agreed to sell Kai Havertz to Arsenal for £65m, Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City for £30m, Kalidou Koulibaly to Al-Hilal for £17m and Hakim Ziyech to Al-Nassr for £8m.
Those deals will also save Chelsea millions on wages and are a major boost as they bid to balance their books and reduce the size of their squad.
