🚨 Liverpool to bid AGAIN for Isak, major ins and outs at Chelsea, TWO huge injury blows, Ballon d'Or nominees revealed, & more

Liverpool aren't done with Isak yet, plus major updates from Chelsea, Arsenal and much more!

(Photo by Carl Recine, Paul Miller/Getty Images)

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your *FREE* edition of the Daily Briefing - all today’s biggest football headlines in one handy round-up, delivered ad-free and straight to your inbox. Thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)

Today’s top stories:

• Don’t miss Alfredo Pedulla’s latest exclusive column!

• Liverpool to try again for Isak and Arsenal still in for Eze

• Chelsea continuing to chase attackers as striker could leave

• Plus more from Man City, Man Utd & Tottenham

Arsenal

• Arsenal’s move for Eberechi Eze remains complicated despite initial positive talks, with the Gunners needing to sell and Crystal Palace needing to sign a replacement. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa have rejected an offer from Everton for John McGinn, who is also wanted by Newcastle this summer. (Sky Sports)

Ballon d’Or

• The 30 candidates for the 2025 Ballon d’Or have been confirmed, featuring global superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and many more!

Barcelona

• Barcelona confirm they have removed Marc Andre ter-Stegen from his role as club captain, with a statement reading: “Decision follows disciplinary proceedings opened against Marc-Andre ter Stegen. During this period, the duties of first captain will be assumed by the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo.”

Bayern Munich

• Bayern Munich have asked Chelsea about Nicolas Jackson, who could leave this summer, but possibly for a fee as high as €65m. (Florian Plettenberg, Sky Germany)

Benfica

• Benfica have held talks over Antony, but they only want a loan deal, whereas Manchester United are insisting on a permanent sale. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

Bologna

• Bologna are closing in the signing of Alessandro Zanoli from Napoli for a fee of €5m plus €1m in add-ons. The final details are now being prepared for the move to go through. (Matteo Moretto)

Chelsea

• Levi Colwill has undergone surgery on an ACL injury, and is expected to miss much of the coming season. The 22-year-old sustained the problem in his first training session back with Chelsea after the recent Club World Cup. (Chelsea FC)

• Chelsea are not currently looking for emergency signings in defence despite the lengthy injury to Colwill, with the Blues happy with their current options, including Jorrel Hato who can play left-back or centre-back. (Fabrizio Romano)

(Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

• Chelsea are still working on deals for both Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho to bolster their attack. (Fabrizio Romano)

• Chelsea are in talks with Man United over Garnacho, having also come close to signing the Argentina winger back in January. He’s been told he can leave, but the Red Devils want £60m. (Simon Stone, BBC Sport)

• Newcastle, Tottenham and Juventus have made contact over the potential signing of Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, whose asking price has been reduced to closer to £60m. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

• Bayern Munich have asked Chelsea about Nicolas Jackson, who could leave this summer, but possibly for a fee as high as €65m. (Florian Plettenberg, Sky Germany)

• Enzo Maresca on Jackson possibly leaving: “During the window, anything can happen. That’s also the case for Nico Jackson. We signed two strikers… let’s see.” (Press conference)

Como

• A deal is almost done for Alvaro Morata to join Como, with a verbal agreement now considered to be at the final stages between all parties involved. (Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool

• Liverpool are expected to come back in for Alexander Isak with an improved bid to Newcastle after initially seeing an offer worth £110m rejected. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

• Liverpool remain focused on signing Isak as we head into the final weeks of the window. The Reds would be ready to submit a new bid if Newcastle open their doors for the player to move. Isak’s position is clear - he wants to leave Newcastle and join Liverpool. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City

• Manchester City could rival Manchester United for Carlos Baleba this summer, with the young midfielder attracting strong interest even though Brighton are unlikely to sell for less than £104m. (ESPN)

• Manchester City have rejected Roma’s offer to sign Claudio Echeverri on loan as their preference is to send him to fellow City Group club Girona this summer. (Calciomercato)

Manchester United

• Benjamin Sesko is on his way to Manchester with his agent after a total agreement for him to move from RB Leipzig to Man United. (Fabrizio Romano)

• Rasmus Hojlund and Antony both remain likely to leave Manchester United before the end of the summer transfer window, even if nothing has been agreed yet and both deals could come late. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

• Hojlund will hold talks with United over his future, while AC Milan are aware of a potential opportunity to sign the Denmark international on an initial loan deal, with a significant loan fee, and the player’s full salary covered. Hojlund, however, wants to stay at Old Trafford and is, not scared to compete for his place. (Fabrizio Romano)

• Chelsea are in talks with Man United over signing Alejandro Garnacho, having also come close to a deal for the Argentine back in January. He’s been told he can leave, but the Red Devils want £60m. (Simon Stone, BBC Sport)

Napoli

• Juanlu Sanchez wants to join Napoli despite rumours about Wolves. All signs suggest a deal is edging closer after he visited Napoli’s training headquarters yesterday. (Alfredo Pedulla, CaughtOffside)

Newcastle United

• Newcastle have made a new direct approach to AC Milan and to Malick Thiaw’s camp. Milan boss Max Allegri wants Thiaw to stay, so the stance is clear - a huge offer above market value, or he won’t be leaving. (Fabrizio Romano)

Nottingham Forest

• Nottingham Forest have opened talks over a possible deal for Hellas Verona right-back Jackson Tchatchoua. There’s no proposal yet at this stage, but initial contacts to be informed on the conditions of the deal. (Fabrizio Romano)

PSG

• Lucas Chevalier to Paris Saint-Germain deal is now in place. PSG will pay a fee over €40m to Lille, while the French goalkeeper will sign a five-year contract and have medical tests later this week. (Le Parisien)

Real Madrid

(Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

• Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid transfer remains one to watch, with the Liverpool centre-back yet to agree to a new contract. Bayern Munich also look unlikely to sign him, making Real the clear favourites. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)

Tottenham

• Tottenham will look on the market again after the blow of James Maddison being ruled out for the majority of the season with an ACL injury. (Fabrizio Romano)

• Spurs are eyeing up Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, though Chelsea have also shown an interest in the England international this summer, and his asking price could be as high as £100m. (Give Me Sport)

West Ham United

• Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen now looks set to sign for West Ham for €19m fee. There’s an agreement between the clubs and also on the player side, with his medical scheduled for today. The Hermansen deal is done after John Victor’s move collapsed at a late stage. (ExWHUEmployee)