🚨 Joao Felix revelation, Xavi Simons here we go, Chelsea's Levi Colwill stance, plus latest on Arsenal, Man Utd & more
Today's transfer round-up, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Barcelona and more!
Hello everyone and welcome to today’s Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
AC Milan are in advanced talks over signing Yunus Musah, but what about Premier League interest? More on that here.
AC Milan are closing in on the signing of Alex Jimenez from Real Madrid, full-back born in 2005. Loan move with buy option clause also included.
Al Nassr
Seko Fofana to Al Nassr is official - he joins from Lens after a superb season in Ligue 1, linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in Saudi Arabia.
Alex Telles to Al Nassr, done deal and here we go! Manchester United will receive £4m fixed fee plus add-ons as the Brazilian left-back heads to Saudi Arabia. Telles’ salary will be around £7m net per season plus add-ons.
Arsenal
Arsenal have been linked with Mohammed Kudus, so what’s the truth behind the story? More info here.
Ben Jacobs with a deep dive into how Arsenal won the race for Declan Rice.
Ben Jacobs also has the latest on Thomas Partey and Folarin Balogun.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa just sent their second bid for Moussa Diaby, following a first offer of €35m plus add ons being turned down. Al Nassr have also sent a new formal bid to Bayer Leverkusen and are offering a huge salary. Villa are now hoping for the final green light, while Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is another option.
💬 How impressed are you with Villa’s transfer window? Where will they finish next season?
Atalanta
Atalanta said no to this Manchester United player as part of the Rasmus Hojlund deal - more info here.
Atletico Madrid
Joao Felix has spoken out on his future - full details here.
Barcelona
Joao Felix has revealed he wants to join Barcelona - full story here.
Not only Lamine Yamal - Barcelona will also complete the agreement to extend the contract of Alejandro Balde in the next few days. Balde will sign new deal valid until June 2028, while Yamal will sign a new deal valid until June 2026.
Tudor Mendel left Chelsea as a free agent a few weeks ago after long negotiations… and he’s now joining Barcelona youth team. An interesting talent for Barca, who are waiting to get the deal sealed.
Porto are the most concrete option now for Nico Gonzalez. Talks are now at an advanced stage to sign the midfielder from Barcelona. The deal is being discussed between parties and also between clubs.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich will appoint Christoph Freund as new director starting from September. Freund was close to getting the Chelsea job last year before the deal collapsed. He’s now set to sign as new Bayern director.
Official, confirmed. Kim Min-jae signs as new Bayern player on a five year deal. It’s finally been announced.
Kim: “Bayern is every footballer's dream. I’m really looking forward to everything that awaits me in Munich. For me it means a new beginning.”
Yann Sommer was not called up for Bayern’s friendly game yesterday, with Inter Milan pushing to get the deal done ASAP.
Besiktas
Besiktas are set to sign Brazilian CB Lyanco from Southampton, here we go! Deal agreed between all parties. Lyanco will sign contract valid until June 2027 — he will fly to Turkey on Wednesday.
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Brighton
Mohammed Kudus is still on Brighton’s list - more here.
Brighton’s Reda Khadra will leave to join Ligue 1 side Reims on a permanent transfer, here we go. Khadra has agreed terms on a four year deal, bid accepted by Brighton - medical tests will take place today.
Burnley
Nathan Redmond will travel to Burnley in order to undergo a medical and sign the contract. He joins as free agent after many offers from Europe and Saudi - the project and opportunity to work with Vincent Kompany were key to Burnley landing the winger.
Zeki Amdouni has already completed the medical tests as new Burnley player as he joins from FC Basel. Official statement to follow.
James Trafford has already completed medical tests at Burnley. He will sign the contract as new Kompany’s team player today. Manchester City’s buyback clause is triple the fee Burnley pay for Trafford.
Celta Vigo
Official: Jonathan Bamba joins Celta Vigo on three year deal as free agent after leaving Lille. He’s going to play under Rafael Benitez in Celta’s project.
Chelsea
Chelsea new bid for Moises Caicedo will be more than £70m fixed. It will include add-ons again, for sure — as Chelsea still hope to reach the final agreement on fee this week.
Is there really concern inside Chelsea over a lack of new signings? Details here.
Pochettino on Caicedo: “All of our team are working very hard to get what we want. I don’t want to speak about specific names. Like us, many clubs are working to sign a player to improve their team.”
What’s the latest on Levi Colwill? More info here.
There’s a new young talent set to join Chelsea Academy, the Blues are now closing in on deal to sign Newcastle midfielder Ollie Harrison. Harrison will turn 16 in May and he’s on the verge of leaving Newcastle. Chelsea are ahead of Brighton and Wolves in race to sign him.
Tudor Mendel left Chelsea as a free agent a few weeks ago after long negotiations… and he’s now joining Barcelona youth team. An interesting talent for Barca, who are waiting to get the deal sealed.
Declan Rice wasn’t sold on Chelsea’s project - more from Ben Jacobs here.
Huge blow for Wesley Fofana with an ACL injury - Chelsea will now explore the centre-back market, but will only move if they find the right option for them.
Chelsea’s talent Omari Hutchinson is in concrete and advanced talks to join Ipswich Town on loan. Conversations will continue this week amid interest from several other clubs.
Marc Cucurella on his future: “For sure, I want to stay at Chelsea. No doubts. Sometimes you need time to adapt.”
Cucurella on Caicedo: “I think he wants to come here at Chelsea, I've read in the media lots of times. I have a good relationship with him, he is a good midfielder — and if he comes I think we have a top midfielder for a long time.”
📰 Chelsea want more than £40m to let Conor Gallagher go this summer (Sky Sports)
Inter Miami
Jordi Alba will be the next signing of Inter Miami as the agreement is being sealed — just waiting on final details then he’ll sign the contract. It’s imminent - here we go!
Inter Milan
Yann Sommer was not called up for Bayern’s friendly game yesterday, with Inter Milan pushing to get the deal done ASAP.
Juventus
Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli: “Vlahovic? It’s not a secret that we have to clarify our balance/accounts — so we have to consider huge proposals. It’s important to clarify that we trust Dusan and he’s part of our project.”
Giuntoli on Paul Pogba’s future: “He is returning from a troubled year, but Paul has great desire and we are waiting for him. We’re counting on him to drag the boys along, he’s crucial for us.”
Giuntoli on Romelu Lukaku: “We are in the initial stage of gathering information on everyone. At the moment we are betting very strongly on Vlahovic, Chiesa, Kean, Milik. Fans don’t want him? We’re not worried about consequences of something that doesn’t exist now”.
💬 Where do you think Pogba and Vlahovic will be by the end of the window?
Lille
Jonathan David’s future remains unresolved - more details here.
Liverpool
Ben Jacobs has the latest on potential ins and outs at Liverpool, with details on Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Romeo Lavia, and more!
📰 Liverpool are unlikely to accept the €50m that Al Hilal are preparing to offer for Luis Diaz (Record)
Manchester United
Manchester United tried to offer this player to Atalanta but they said no - more info here.
Officially confirmed yesterday: Marcus Rashford has signed his new contract with Manchester United.
Rashford: “It’s a huge honour to play in front of these fans every week, and it's something that you never get bored of or tired of. So, we're going to keep giving 100 per cent and keep trying to improve because I think the team’s got a lot of growth in us. We desperately just want to win trophies.”
Unexpected news yesterday: Jonny Evans has signed a short-term deal with Manchester United after leaving Leicester City. This will enable Evans to take part in upcoming pre-season games.
Newcastle United
Allan Saint-Maximin did not travel with Newcastle for the game last night. Saudi clubs are interested but decision will be up to the player. Meanwhile, Newcastle keep working on the Harvey Barnes deal.
Eddie Howe: “Saint Maximin? Talks are on. With FFP we have to trade, otherwise we would be stuck this summer - I don’t want to lose him. FFP forces it, to a degree. It looks like it will happen. Sometimes these things have to happen for club to grow.”
RB Leipzig
Xavi Simons to RB Leipzig, here we go! An agreement has been completed for the Dutch midfielder to join on loan from PSG until June 2024. His medical will be within next 24 hours then it’ll be time to sign the contract. NO buy option clause, as previously reported, he’ll go back to PSG next summer. Xavi and his agent are already in Leipzig.
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
Really like the Kim Min-jae signing by Bayern. Solid as a rock.