The 2024/25 Premier League season is now underway, with top-flight teams having tested themselves for the first time since May after a summer that contained Euro 2024 and plenty of preseason tours.
And clubs up and down the country have made a plethora of signings in a bid to improve on the results of last season, from the three promoted sides to Mikel Arteta’s title-hunting Arsenal or Arne Slot’s ‘new’ Liverpool side.
The transfer window closes at 11pm BST on Friday, 30 August, so clubs have limited time remaining to get those last signings and sales over the line in the ongoing battle to balance funds against PSR regulations. And each day brings with it more news, rumours and completed deals as we enter the final 10 days of the window, and you can find all the latest updates courtesy of our dedicated blog.
Follow all the news, rumours, sales and signatures below, as well as build-up to another weekend of Premier League football:
Man United latest
Manchester United hope to oversee at least five more exits this summer, with Facundo Pellistri soon to join Panathinaikos and a deal for Hannibal Mejbri to join Burnley also in the works.
In addition, there are deals for Scott McTominay, Will Fish and perhaps Jadon Sancho on the cards.
United have also offered Christian Eriksen to Ajax, and they are hoping for at least £5m.
United still hope to agree a deal with PSG for Manuel Ugarte too – likely a loan with obligation to buy. The Red Devils are reportedly still considering a move for a left-back too, with Ben Chillwell mentioned among targets.
Merino move “a matter of time”
Fabrizio Roman has claimed that Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino is “just [a] matter of time”, with the Spaniard still sitting out of training with the Basque club.
Italy round-up
Juventus continue to be one of the most active clubs in Serie A, with the Bianconeri looking to offload Federico Chiesa before completing a deal for Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners and Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez. French defender Pierre Kalulu arrived in Turin for his medical this morning, while Daniele Rugani has been loaned to Ajax for one season.
AC Milan have offloaded Kalulu to a direct rival, but one player the refuse to sell is Rafa Leao. In addition, the Rossoneri have agreed a deal for Ajax’s Silvano Vos, a 19-year-od defensive midfielder.
Napoli are close to announcing a deal for Benfica’s David Neres, and are looking to complete a deal for Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku too – that would ideally be a loan with obligation to buy, with Victor Osimhen potentially going the other way. Reports also suggest that the Partenopei are stepping up their hunt for Scott McTominay.
Defending champions Inter Milan have been quieter in the market, having rejected the chance to sign Paulo Dybala. They have been heavily linked to Independiente Rivadavia centre-back Tomás Palacios, and are reportedly considering a move for free agent Adrien Rabiot.
In addition, one of Marko Arnautovic or Joaquin Correa are expected to leave the club this summer.
Spain round-up
Atletico Madrid have continued their impressive window, adding Conor Gallagher to the signings of Julian Alvarez, former Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth (who was the second top-scorer in La Liga last season) and Euro 2024 winner Robin Le Normand.
Real Madrid remain inactive in the market, with Ancelotti saying the squad is closed and the only rumour coming from the club regarding the sale of Nico Paz.
Barcelona continue to be linked with a dozen players, but their financial situation is proving problematic, having been priced out of moves for luis Diaz, Nico Williams and Rafael Leao. Most rumours are linking their players with moves away – one such player is Frenkie de Jong.
Federico Chiesa is the lastest winger to be linked with the Blaugrana, but sporting director Deco has said that he expects more signings to arrive.
In terms of outgoings, Brazilian forward Vitor Roque is in line to join Real Betis on loan.
Perhaps the most high-profile sale remains the potential departure of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad to Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest repotedly close to deal for Nketiah
Despite that earlier report of a Forest bid for Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez, The Athletic reports that Forest are close to agreeing a fee for Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah.
David Ornstein says that “talks also progress on personal terms”, with Forest having “seen an opening bid worth £25million including add-ons rejected”.
The report adds that Nketiah is Forest’s top target in that position, with Arsenal “looking for a figure more in the region of £30-35million”.
Ten players Chelsea could sell to fund summer spending spree
With yet another young forward seemingly on their way to the club, Chelsea will now look to shear their swollen squad down to something resembling a suitable size.
Enzo Maresca must now decide which players to prioritise and which players he is willing to part with ahead of the end of the transfer window as the club seek to recoup some cash and cut down his senior playing group.
Like all Premier League clubs, Chelsea will have to submit a 25-player squad after deadline day on Friday August 30, with eight of those players classed as homegrown but no limit on registering players aged 21 or under.
Here are ten squad members who could be headed for the exit before the end of the month:
Liverpool latest
The main story around Liverpool is the deal involving Valencia ‘keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who seems to be on his way to Anfield as reported by The Independent – with a loan likely in his first season, at least.
As with all of the big six clubs though, rumours persist around a number of players – it’s up to fans to consider which ones are concrete!
Names linked to the Reds in the last few days include Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio, Palace’s Marc Guehi and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.
Liverpool continue to look to offload players too, with Joe Gomez being looked at by Villa and Palace, and Sepp van den Berg locked in a mini-saga between Brentford and Bayer Leverkusen.
Forest launch another bid for Feyenoord striker
Fabrizio Romano with another report – this time it’s on Nottingham Forest, who have launched an audacious £30m bid for Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez.
After an initial €25m bid was rejected, Forest have upped their offer as they hope to tempt the Mexican away from De Kuip.
Forest are also interested in Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah if they can’t get the Gimenez deal over the line.
City consider move for Celtic striker
The Athletic’s Sam Lee is reporting that Manchester City are considering a move for Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
He adds that City’s main focus is on finalising the deal for Gundogan before they decide whether to go for a striker as a replacement for Julian Alvarez.
Furuhashi scored in Celtic’s 4-3 win over City in preseason.
Another player out the door at Chelsea
Another player has left Chelsea, though this one is a loan with option to buy.
Bashir Humphreys has left the London club to join Burnley on loan, with the Clarets having an option to buy at the end of the season for £12m plus around £2m in add-ons.
Source: independent.co.uk
