🚨 Mbappe bombshell, Caicedo Chelsea talks, how Arsenal kept Nelson, Onana Man Utd latest, Liverpool sales and loans, and more
Today's transfer round-up, featuring Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Kylian Mbappe's future!
Good morning guys and welcome to my latest Daily Briefing - thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
How Arsenal kept Reiss Nelson and what’s next for them this summer
Romeo Lavia to Liverpool and possible loans - Neil Jones’ exclusive column!
AC Milan
AC Milan will bid again soon for Tijjani Reijnders. Their opening bid worth €19m add ons included was not enough — but talks continue with AZ and player is pushing for the move.
AC Milan have improved their bid for Christian Pulisic. It’s a new formal offer worth around €20m. Negotiations are advancing and getting closer, and Pulisic wants Milan as his priority. He’s been pushing for Milan since last week.
AC Milan have had Wilfried Singo on their list since last week — and he remains a concrete option. Both Singo and Ivan Fresneda are being considered by Milan.
AC Milan are leading the race for Alvaro Morata, who also has interest from Saudi Arabia.
AC Milan are also continuing to work on the potential signing of Samuel Chukwueze too.
Al Ahli
Al Ahli have not submitted any official bid to Sadio Mane yet. There’s interest but still no formal proposal for the Bayern Munich forward.
Arsenal
The clubs Reiss Nelson rejected to stay at Arsenal and how Arteta convinced him.
Official: Ethan Nwaneri has signed a scholarship deal at Arsenal, as expected. Arsenal won the competition against many top clubs to keep Nwaneri, as revealed last week — he has also agreed his first pro deal to be signed when he will turn 17. A huge deal for Arsenal and their project.
Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber to Arsenal are both ‘here we go’ - so what next for the Gunners? Full details here.
Romeo Lavia to Arsenal or Liverpool? Neil Jones provides his exclusive insight here.
💬 How would you rate Arsenal’s transfer window so far out of 10?
Aston Villa
The Pau Torres deal is not in danger at all. The agreement has been completed/sealed between Villarreal and Aston Villa. Torres is on his honeymoon this week with his wife; he will return in the next days and then travel to England to undergo medicals and sign with Villa.
Atalanta
Atalanta are closing in on the signing of Mitchel Bakker from Bayer Leverkusen. An agreement is finally in place between the two clubs, following personal terms also being struck.
Atalanta will sign both Sead Kolasinac - a deal is complete for the former Arsenal defender to join as a free agent. Medicals are booked for both Bakker and Kolasinac.
Atletico Madrid
Official, confirmed. Caglar Soyuncu has signed as a new Atletico Madrid player on a deal until June 2027. He joins on a free transfer from Leicester City.
Cesar Azpilicueta will sign his contract as a new Atletico Madrid player tomorrow. He will leave Chelsea on a free transfer — a deal has been 100% in place since last week, as exclusively revealed.
Barcelona
Official, completed. Inigo Martinez has joined Barcelona after Ilkay Gundogan, another deal completed on a free transfer. Inigo has signed a two year deal with Barca, with a €400m release clause.
Bayern Munich
I understand Kim Min-jae had the first part or medical tests with Bayern Munich yesterday, as had been expected. The plan revealed days ago has now been confirmed. Kim will be a new Bayern player soon on a five year deal. Here we go, confirmed.
Benfica
Angel Di Maria to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement revealed two weeks ago, now completed and sealed. It’s a done deal. Documents are ready with Benfica now preparing the official presentation for Di Maria. He’s signed a contract valid until June 2024.
Chelsea
Chelsea are working on Moises Caicedo and other deals - more exclusive info here.
Mauricio Pochettino will make a decision on this potential loan deal soon - full details here.
AC Milan have improved their bid for Christian Pulisic. It’s a new formal offer worth around €20m. Negotiations are advancing, and Pulisic wants Milan as his priority. He’s been pushing for Milan since last week.
Cesar Azpilicueta will sign his contract as a new Atletico Madrid player tomorrow. He will leave Chelsea on a free transfer — a deal has been 100% in place since last week, as exclusively revealed.
Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign 17-year-old talent Ishe Samuels-Smith from Everton. A deal has been verbally agreed for £4m, with documents being completed. He will sign until June 2026.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Signed, completed. Ellyes Skhiri has signed a four year deal at Eintracht Frankfurt as an agreement was sealed yesterday.
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc on Arda Guler: “I can confirm that Arda will leave because he wants to leave. We found formulas where he can stay at Fenerbahce but he decided to leave.”
Inter Milan
Sassuolo CEO Carnevali confirms: “It’s done deal for Davide Frattesi to Inter, all completed.” Davide Frattesi joins Inter on loan with a mandatory option to buy; he will undergo medical tests in the next few hours.
Official, confirmed. Alessandro Bastoni has signed a new long term deal at Inter valid until June 2028.
Official, confirmed. Hakan Calhanoglu has signed a new long term deal at Inter valid until June 2027.
Inter director Piero Ausilio: “Lukaku knows we want him back here. We’re trying to find a solution. He’s at Chelsea and we are in contact — they told us that he’s NOT available on loan. We are exploring conditions for a permanent move, let’s see later in the window.”
Inter director Ausilio on Man Utd bid for Onana: “As of today, the proposals are not at the level we expected. In this moment he’s our GK and Andre is key player for us — we’d like to keep him, then we’ll see what happens. We wait for him on July 13 for pre season.”
Leeds United
Eintracht Frankfurt have scheduled medical tests for Robin Koch — done deal, he’s set to join German club on loan from Leeds. Koch has accepted all conditions of the deal.
Liverpool
Liverpool chose Dominik Szoboszlai over Khephren Thuram - more details from Neil Jones here.
Romeo Lavia to Arsenal or Liverpool? Neil Jones provides his exclusive insight here.
PLUS a look at which Liverpool players could be going out on loan and being sold.
Manchester United
Mason Mount’s move to Manchester United was finally made official yesterday. The England midfielder has joined from Chelsea for an initial £55m plus £5m in add-ons. He will wear the famous no.7 shirt at Old Trafford.
John Murtough: “We were particularly impressed by Mason Mount’s strong desire to join Man United. We loved his thirst for further success, as we push to drive up our performance levels next season and beyond.”
Mount: “I’m very excited to work under Erik ten Hag. It’s never easy leaving the club where you grew up but Man Utd will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career. I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win major trophies.”
Negotiations between Manchester United and Inter continue for Andre Onana — after £34m bid plus £5m in add-ons rejected. The deal is absolutely on. A new round of talks has been scheduled, and Inter expect the Red Devils to bid again.
Inter director Ausilio on Man Utd bid for Onana: “As of today, the proposals are not at the level we expected. In this moment he’s our GK and Andre is key player for us — we’d like to keep him, then we’ll see what happens. We wait for him on July 13 for pre season.”
💬 Can Mount live up to the iconic no.7 shirt at Man Utd? Is Onana the right choice for the new GK?
Newcastle United
What’s the truth behind those Harvey Barnes reports? Full details here.
PSG
Official, confirmed. Luis Enrique signs as new Paris Saint-Germain on two year contract.
But that wasn’t even the biggest story at Enrique’s unveiling - more on that here!
Luis Enrique on Kylian Mbappe: “When I signed, we always remain open. A lot of things can happen. I will keep it private as it's professional secrecy. I cannot give confidences but we will try to make the best possible squad for PSG.”
Nasser Al-Khelaifi: “I was really shocked to learn that Mbappe intended to leave for free. Kylian is a fantastic boy, a gentleman... and leaving for free, when we're the biggest French club, it's not at his level. I was shocked and disappointed. We had an agreement with Mbappe as he confirmed, verbal agreement. That's the reason why I'm shocked. In football, you never see your best player leaving the club for free. It never happens.”
Paris Saint-Germain have now decided and formally communicated to PSV that they will activate the €6m buy back clause for Xavi Simons. Now it’s only up to the player. I understand the buy back clause expires on July 31. Xavi has to communicate within 25 days whether he accepts a move back to PSG or not. PSG are pushing to agree personal terms with the player.
Real Betis
Official: Manuel Pellegrini has signed a new long term deal at Real Betis valid until June 2026.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid are on alert for Kylian Mbappe - full details here.
Real Madrid and Fenerbahce are now checking documents and contracts of the final, formal proposal for Arda Guler. €20m guaranteed fee, extra add-ons package, taxes and VAT — then also separate commission on player side. It’s the final step for Madrid then time to plan for Arda’s travel.
Sheffield United
Crucial days ahead for Iliman Ndiaye’s future. Olympique Marseille want to sign him but only at their conditions. There also several Premier League clubs in the race including Everton, who have been keen on signing him since April.
Sporting Lisbon
Sporting are finally closer to signing Viktor Gyokeres after late night negotiations. Coventry asked for €24m including add ons in their final meeting, Sporting are expected to decide soon. Green light could be on Thursday. It’s really close now.
Tottenham
Tottenham have submitted verbal opening proposal for Micky van de Ven. Negotiations are ongoing now with Wolfsburg — not done deal yet. No issues on personal terms, parties are close on contract details — it’s up to Spurs and Wolfsburg.
Spurs look to be closing in on this signing instead of Harvey Barnes.
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
Any chance of Mbappe coming to the Blues?