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:
Chelsea transfer news: Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and more
Sterling had previously started in pre-season training, but the £44m signing found himself out in the cold.
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Joao Felix, despite Diego Simeone suggesting he still has a future at Atletico Madrid.
Felix spent part of the 2022-23 season on loan at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with a move, with the Spanish club reportedly wanting £51.4m for the forward.
But Atletico included him in their squad for their opening La Liga match against Villarreal.
Arsenal to lodge another bid for Mikel Merino?
Arsenal’s pursuit of Mikel Merino could yet end in success as the Real Sociedad midfielder edges closer to completing a move to London.
Merino, part of Spain’s successful Euro 2024 squad this summer, has been a key target for Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal manager looks to build a squad capable of challenging again for the Premier League.
The 28-year-old, who spent a season at Newcastle earlier in his career, is out of contract at the Basque club next summer, and could thus be allowed to leave if their demands are met.
But reports in Spain and elsewhere suggest progress may have been made towards an agreement after Merino was left out of the Real Sociedad side that lost 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano in their La Liga opener.
Will Scott McTominay leave Man Utd?
Fulham had reportedly re-opened talks with United over the signing of Scott McTominay, though the south London club’s pursuit of Sander Berge may well end that mini transfer saga.
Napoli have reportedly targeted McTominay too, but are unlikely to be able to afford the midfielder unless they sort the sale of Victor Osimhen, who is reportedly Chelsea’s main striker target.
United are understood to be happy to keep McTominay, and will only consider offers if he makes it clear he wants to leave, so it looks likely that the Scotland international will stay at Old Trafford.
Ilkay Gündoğan latest
Plenty of speculation surrounds the potential return of Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City.
The German international, who recently called time on his international career, is said to be surplus to requirement at Barcelona and could make the move back to the UK if the conditions are right, with City needing midfield reinforcements.
Clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia are said to be interested too.
Oliver Skipp completes move to Leicester City
Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp has completed a £25m move to Leicester City.
The 25-year-old signed for an initial fee of £20m, with £5m in add-ons, and the move was announced yesterday.
“I‘ve got the feeling that it’s a good group of people and a good group of players. I’m sure that we’ve got a squad capable of challenging in every game,” he told the club’s website.
Marseille interested in a loan for Neal Maupay
Sky Sports are reporting that Roberto de Zerbi’s Marseille side are interested in a loan for Everton stirker Neal Maupay.
They are thought to be one of three clubs interested in the Frenchman, and are looking for a loan after an ACL injury to striker Faris Mumbanya
Manchester United transfer news: Fulham back in for McTominay, Ugarte latest and more
United grabbed a deserved win against Fulham courtesy of new signing Joshua Zirkee, though their performance was laboured at times and they gifted the away side chances that a more accomplished team may have taken.
As with last season, plenty of the focus was on the midfield, with an ageing Casemiro clearly unable to play 40-odd matches per season nowadays.
That is part of the reasoning behind United’s much publicised pursuit of PSG and Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is seen as a necessary improvement by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Nottingham Forest interested in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah
Per The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest are among a number of clubs interested in Eddie Nketiah.
The Arsenal striker had been linked with Marseille, but talks broke down, leaving Forest potentially vying with Crystal Palace for the 25-year-old.
Bournemouth previously showed interest, too, until they signed Evanilson from Porto – a club-record transfer for the Cherries.
Arsenal are understood to want around £30m for Nketiah, with Forest considering a move for the Gunner but also other up-front options.
Man Utd need sales to secure Ugarte transfer
The Manchester Evening News are reporting that Manchester United will be unable to secure the services of Manuel Ugarte unless they sell one of their central midfielders this summer.
Scott McTominay is seen as the most likely player to leave considering there is interest from other clubs.
Fulham did have an interest in the Scottish midfielder but have since moved on to finalising their signing of Sander Berge from Burnley.
Brighton break club record with Georginio Rutter signing
Brighton have completed a club-record £40m deal to sign forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds United.
Rutter scored eight goals and made 16 assists in 51 appearances for Leeds last season prompting Brighton to fork out a club-record fee to secure his services before the end of the transfer window.
The Frenchman is Brighton’s seventh signing of the summer, with Brajan Gruda, Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Ibrahim Osman, Malick Junior Yalcouye and Amario Cozier-Duberry all new arrivals on the south coast.
Brighton activated Rutter’s release clause (£40m) last week and verbally came to an agreement with the player before ensuring the deal got over the line on Monday evening.
Source: independent.co.uk
