🚨 Lavia here we go and Olise next for Chelsea, why Maguire to West Ham has COLLAPSED, big few days ahead for Man City, and more
The latest transfer news, featuring Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City and more.
Good morning! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - your essential transfer round-up, brought to you ad-free and straight to your inbox. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Ajax
Ajax full-back Jorge Sanchez has no plans to return to Mexico despite links with Chivas; also Ajax have no deal in place. The player got some offers from big clubs in Europe and will make the decision soon with his agents.
Al Ahli
Al Ahli will formally complete the signing of Merih Demiral today, with contracts being checked and signed for the Turkish centre-back. The fee will be around €18m. Here we go, confirmed.
Al Hilal
Official, confirmed: Neymar has joined Al Hilal on a $300m package record salary in two years, no option to extend. The salary could go up to potential $400m total until 2025 based on add-ons and commercial deals. Th deal was completed by his father and super agent Pini Zahavi.
Al Hilal are insisting to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham. Negotiations are back on track since Saturday and also a new proposal is on the table. Al Hilal want Mitrovic as their central striker and hope to get the deal done this week.
Al Hilal are closing in on Yassine Bounou - more info here.
Arsenal
Official, confirmed. David Raya has joined Arsenal on loan from Brentford, with the player unveiled by the Gunners yesterday.
Edu: “David is a top-quality goalkeeper, we are adding quality and depth to our squad so we can perform at the highest possible level in all competitions.”
💬 Happy with the Raya signing, Arsenal fans? Should he start ahead of Ramsdale?
Aston Villa
Nicolo Zaniolo will leave Galatasaray for Aston Villa. He’ll travel to Birmingham for medical tests today.
Aston Villa have genuine interest in Marcos Acuna. He’s on their list as potential next target, but there’s no agreement on fee with Sevilla; player keen on PL experience.
Lucas Digne could leave as Saudi clubs and also two European clubs are keen on signing the left-back.
Bayern Munich
Brighton
Brighton’s opening bid for Carlos Baleba was €17m plus €3m add-ons, not enough to convince Lille as the French club want around €30m to make deal happen. Negotiations continue, as Brighton consider Baleba the perfect replacement for Moises Caicedo, though there are also two more names on their list.
Brighton are in talks to sign Argentine left back Valentin Barco, negotiations are ongoing — concrete interest club sources confirm. The deal is on, the player is keen on the move and talks will continue to get it done for 2004-born left-back.
Chelsea
Romeo Lavia to Chelsea - here we go! All the details here.
Michael Olise is also edging closer to Chelsea - more on that here.
Deivid Washington has signed contract and completed medical as new Chelsea player. An official statement will come soon as the deal has finally been signed with Santos for the young striker to join on €16m plus €4m deal.
Chelsea want a new backup goalkeeper, but is there any truth to those Kasper Schmeichel links? More from Ben Jacobs here.
Eintracht Frankfurt
A mystery club have made an approach for Randal Kolo Muani - more here.
Inter Milan
Official, confirmed: Carlos Augusto has signed for Inter from Monza in a €13m deal.
Inter director Ausilio confirms issues on the Lazar Samardzic deal: “Stories around about problems on Samardzic side are true, as media mentioned. We agreed deal with Udinese last week — but then on Samardzic side they changes many things.”
Leicester City
Official, confirmed: Cesare Casadei has joined Leicester City on loan from Chelsea. Manager Enzo Maresca was key to make the deal happen.
Liverpool
Liverpool have previously explored the possibility of signing Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone. He’s now back after an injury and looks like one to watch in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Ryan Gravenberch remains open to a move to Liverpool - more from Ben Jacobs here!
💬 Who should Liverpool’s priority midfield target be now?
Luton Town
Luton Town are closing in on deal to sign Tim Krul from Norwich City. An agreement is now in place on both clubs and player side, while medical tests took place yesterday. The deal is expected to be finalised in the next 24 hours.
Manchester City
A new bid for Lucas Paqueta could come soon - more exclusive info here.
Man City and Jeremy Doku - this is one to watch in the next few days, as previously revealed two weeks ago.
Official, confirmed: Rico Lewis has signed a new long term deal at Manchester City valid until June 2028.
Man City have won the race for a top signing for their academy — 2008-born midfielder Tyresse Noubissie. Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal were also following Noubissie who’s leaving Leicester to join Man City.
Pep Guardiola: “Kevin de Bruyne’s injury is serious one. He will be out for a few months. We have to decide in the next days on surgery but for sure we lose Kevin for some time.”
Guardiola on Bayern interest in Stefan Ortega: “We don’t want to sell him and we don’t want to loan him. I’m sorry, but we want him for long time. It always depends on three parties yes but we’d have to go back on market to find a replacement in two weeks… we want Ortega.”
Manchester United
Harry Maguire’s move to West Ham now OFF. Sources close to the player say: “Harry respects West Ham — but there was never an agreement on personal terms. Harry remains settled at United, loves the club and believes he will get plenty of opportunities to play.”
More on Maguire and what his future means for Benjamin Pavard here.
It’s gone a bit quiet on Sofyan Amrabat, so what’s the latest? Full details here.
Monaco
AS Monaco have agreed €10m deal with Torino for Wilfried Singo as new right back — done and agreed. Medical to be booked soon once the agreement on personal terms will be signed. Singo won’t join Atalanta; done with Monaco.
Napoli
Napoli have just improved their bid for Gabri Veiga. A new proposal is on the table and the deal getting closer for the Spanish talent. Celta Vigo want to find a final solution by the end of the week — before the next game. All parties are confident, with negotiations underway.
Newcastle United
Is Kieran Tierney really a target for Newcastle? Full info here.
Newcastle are keen on signing Lewis Hall from Chelsea with a deal with Crystal Palace currently on stand-by. Hall signed a new six-year deal at Chelsea but could leave on loan. It’s not easy to find a way due to FFP but Newcastle’s interest is genuine.
PSG
Official, confirmed. Abdou Diallo has left PSG to join Qatari side Al Arabi SC — deal sealed on permanent move.
What’s the latest on Kylian Mbappe’s future? Exclusive insight from Ben Jacobs here.
Real Madrid
Florentino Perez on signing Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea: “Kepa had big offers on the table but he decided to join us — he only wanted Real Madrid.”
Kepa on his future: “I hope that with my performances Real Madrid will decide to keep me after the loan. This club is legendary.”
💬 Can Kepa bounce back at Real Madrid? Will Chelsea regret letting him go?
Roma
Renato Sanches and Leandro Paredes were both in Rome yesterday in order to undergo medical tests as new AS Roma players. Paredes joins on a permanent move for €4m — Sanches on €1m loan with €15m buy clause, mandatory if he plays 60% of the games.
Southampton
Southampton director Jason Wilcox on Romeo Lavia: “We had an offer which we accepted from Liverpool but then Chelsea came to the table. We’re currently in negotiations with Chelsea, I’m confident that something will get done in the next week or so.”
Union Berlin
Official, confirmed: Robin Gosens joins Union Berlin on a permanent deal from Inter.
West Ham United
Harry Maguire’s move to West Ham now OFF. Sources close to the player say: “Harry respects West Ham — but there was never an agreement on personal terms. Harry remains settled at United, loves the club and believes he will get plenty of opportunities to play.”
Wolfsburg
Lovro Majer to Wolfsburg, here we go! Deal completed with Rennes — it’s €30m fixed fee, €5m add-ons and also sell on clause of 15%. His medical is booked and the deal is done, making him the second most expensive signing in Wolfsburg’s history.
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
Any truth to talk of Arsenal going back in for Ivan Fresneda?
Its going to be a battle of egos. There both starters one is staying and one is leaving. Whoever Arteta favors will stay the other one will be sold.