🚨 Chelsea star rejects HUGE offer, key Arsenal meeting in next few days, Bernardo Silva latest, wonderkid's Spurs deal, and more
Latest transfer news, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Spurs!
Good morning! Welcome to my latest Daily Briefing, brought to you completely ad-free and straight to your inbox as always. Thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Romelu Lukaku has snubbed Saudi Arabia
Plus more from Man Utd, Man City and Spurs
AC Milan
AC Milan have decided against triggering €12m buy option clause for Belgium U21 midfielder Aster Vranckx. Vranckx returns to Wolfsburg but he’s expected to leave the club again this summer.
Arsenal
Arsenal have a new top target, but what’s the latest on the potential £50m move, and is there any update on Joao Cancelo? Full details here.
Folarin Balogun has spoken about his future - is there genuine interest from Juventus? Latest exclusive info here.
Could Arsenal and Ligue 1 clubs do more business this summer? Jonathan Johnson provides his insight here.
Barcelona
Official, confirmed. Barcelona have completed the signing of Senegal centre-back Mikayil Faye from NK Kustosija. He’s signed a contract until 2027 with a €400m release clause.
Pep Guardiola has spoken out on Ilkay Gundogan’s future: “I’m aware of Barcelona interest in signing Gundo but we’re also very interested in keeping him at the club! I hope he stays with us. If Barca succeed in signing him, they will get a great, fantastic player.”
However, on Joao Cancelo, Guardiola said: “We’ve not received any bid from Barca for Joao Cancelo — no proposals from them.”
Bayern Munich
No changes on this big story - Bayern are still the favourites to land Kim Min-jae, a deal is almost in place — this coming week will be crucial to get it sealed.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth decided yesterday to part ways with with head coach Gary O’Neil. He’s been replaced by Andoni Iraola, who signs a contract until 2025.
Brighton
Brighton hope to get the Bart Verbruggen deal sealed this week as talks are now at the final stages. Things have been progressing well in the last week, with Roberto De Zerbi really keen on the player and they’re expected to pay around €20m for him.
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson to Chelsea is close - full update here.
Romelu Lukaku has rejected a move to Saudi Arabia - more info here.
Chelsea and Manchester City are now at the final stages of negotiations for the Mateo Kovacic deal. First approach was for €25m, but Chelsea want at least €30m.
Trevoh Chalobah: “Moving to Italy? We never know what happens, I like Italy — it’s nice country. But I’m under contract at Chelsea. Level is high in Serie A, they have very good teams and I also like how’s life in this country.”
💬 Will Nicolas Jackson be a good signing for Chelsea? And how do you feel about letting Mateo Kovacic join a rival?
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce are working on final details in order to complete Edin Dzeko deal in the next 24/48 hours following a positive round of talks. He’d join as free agent and the club hope it can be completed soon.
Inter Miami
Inter Miami are discussing the final details of the contract with Sergio Busquets — as they hope to sign the veteran Spanish midfielder in the next few days while he also has two offers from Saudi. Jordi Alba also remains in negotiations with Inter Miami to potentially follow Busquets and Lionel Messi to the MLS.
Inter Milan
Inter vice president Javier Zanetti has confirmed that there are no talks with Chelsea for Lautaro Martinez: “There’s nothing with other clubs for Lautaro, no negotiations. I can guarantee that Lautaro’s very happy at Inter.”
Manchester City
Chelsea and Manchester City are now at the final stages of negotiations for the Mateo Kovacic deal. First approach was for €25m, but Chelsea want at least €30m. Personal terms are 100% agreed. This could only change if City decide to enter into Declan Rice deal — where Arsenal remain favourites.
Manchester City and Kyle Walker are set to discuss a new deal again in the next few days - these conversations will continue despite interest from Bayern, with nothing agreed with the Bundesliga club as of now.
It is my understanding that Paris Saint-Germain are still planning to insist on Bernardo Silva as one of their top summer targets — this is still the case with Luis Enrique coming in as the new coach. All parties feel Bernardo won’t join any Saudi club now, despite links. PSG will push again — but Man City won’t make any discount.
Pep Guardiola when asked about Kylian Mbappe: “We will not sign Kylian Mbappe, he’s not joining Man City — all of you know where he wants to go…”
Pep Guardiola has spoken out on Ilkay Gundogan’s future: “I’m aware of Barcelona interest in signing Gundo but we’re also very interested in keeping him at the club! I hope he stays with us. If Barca succeed in signing him, they will get a great, fantastic player.”
However, on Joao Cancelo, Guardiola said: “We’ve not received any bid from Barca for Joao Cancelo — no proposals from them.”
Ilkay Gundogan addresses his future in a press conference: “No decision has been made yet, I’m still in the process to decide my future. There was a contact with Borussia Dortmund but it was never close as the return to Bundesliga is not part of my plans.”
Manchester United
Manchester United are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Marcus Rashford over new long term deal. He’s set to accept the proposal. Erik ten Hag has been very happy with the player, so it’s good news, with negotiations now at the final stages - here we go soon!
Things with Rasmus Hojlund are hotting up - full details here!
Could Anthony Martial return to Ligue 1 this summer? Exclusive insight here.
Marseille
Olympique Marseille are working to bring in Marcelino as new head coach. Talks will follow in the coming days and hours as he’s the leading candidate for OM job.
Napoli
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis: “We’ve an agreement in principle with Victor Osimhen to extend his contract for two more years. In case an exorbitant bid impossible to reject arrives, we will see and make the best decision for the club.”
Newcastle United
Newcastle consider Bruno Guimaraes’ contract extension as a top priority. Talks took place recently and are set to continue in the next weeks. Newcastle are insisting on securing Guimaraes’ future, likely with a huge pay rise.
PSG
It is my understanding that Paris Saint-Germain are still planning to insist on Bernardo Silva as one of their top summer targets — this is still the case with Luis Enrique coming in as the new coach. All parties feel Bernardo won’t join any Saudi club now, despite links. PSG will push again — but Man City won’t make any discount.
Support reliable, advertising-free transfer news by subscribing to Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing for only US$1 per month!
In addition to this FREE Daily Briefing sent to your inbox 6 days a week, providing highlights of all the deals you need to know about, paying subscribers will be able to go further, reading in-depth analysis from Fabrizio Romano in his featured columns 6 days a week, watching his weekly video briefing and accessing deep-dives on all the key issues from Christian Falk, Ben Jacobs, Jonathan Johnson and other leading transfer news reporters - everything you need to know about in this summer’s market.
RB Leipzig
I understand the release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai is valid until June 30 — and not until July 15. The €70m release clause fee is only in case a club submits an official bid within June 30. If bid is submitted later, the clause will only be valid for the winter window.
Roma
Official, completed. Bryan Cristante has signed a new long term deal at AS Roma, which will be valid until June 2027.
Could Evan Ndicka still make his way to the Premier League in future? Jonathan Johnson takes a look here.
Saudi Arabia
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still in negotiations with Saudi clubs. Talks are ongoing, no agreement yet — but there are active discussions on.
Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has rejected an approach from Saudi - more on that here.
A deal for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is expected to be also completed between clubs this week. He’s close to Al Ahli — the same for Hakim Ziyech to Al Nassr and Kalidou Koulibaly to Al Hilal.
Al Nassr are trying to approach Saul Niguez over permanent transfer to Saudi league from Atletico Madrid. It’s a concrete possibility, he’s on their list alongside Ziyech.
Saudi clubs are now in talks to sign Matt Doherty on a free transfer after six months deal at Atletico Madrid. Negotiations are taking place with the former Spurs fullback.
Steven Gerrard denies stories on Saudi league appointment as new head coach: “There’s been a lot in the media, a lot of it not true.”
💬 Who will be the next BIG signing for a Saudi club? Give us your predictions!
Tottenham
Here’s Tottenham wonderkid Mikey Moore after signing a new deal valid until June 2026 to commit his long term future to the club. The 15 year old superstar has signed his new contract yesterday. A good move for Spurs as Daniel Levy and the board did their best to keep Mikey at the club. Here we go!
Dejan Kulusevski on Ange Postecoglou: “My understanding is that he was very interested in me. I'm glad we’re getting a new coach with new ideas. What I’ve read and heard about him is good.”
Tottenham have been following Edmond Tapsoba for a long time - more here.
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
No
Jackson seems like a great addition to our frontline and next to Nkunku looks very promising, I have no problem with letting Kova go he did a great service to the club and its his time to move on the best of luck to him.