Arsenal target Julian Alvarez will “never, ever” be sold to Barcelona, according to Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, who did not rule out the possibility of the Argentina international joining another club instead before the transfer deadline. The 26-year-old forward is Arsenal’s top target and the Gunners continue to monitor the situation ahead of potentially making a late move, with Atletico setting a deadline of Friday for the Argentina international’s future to be resolved.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have agreed a £100m fee, with £20m in add-ons, with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Bradley Barcola after the French club lowered their demands for the forward. The Reds still want to sign Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace after moving on from Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, but Andoni Iraola refused to guarantee that forward Cody Gakpo will stay, with the Dutchman has attracting interest from Tottenham and Manchester City.
Manchester City remain in talks to sign Enzo Fernandez while Chelsea have agreed a £7.5m deal to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, following a costly couple of errors from Robert Sanchez in Monday’s 3-2 win at Fulham. Chelsea could turn back to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott if they sell Fernandez, who was left out of Xabi Alonso’s squad to face Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night.
Follow all of the latest news, rumours and done deals below
Why Bradley Barcola should be the ‘perfect’ fit for Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool
They were separated by 264 days. December brought the outburst that ought to have accelerated Liverpool’s search for a winger. Almost nine months later came the news they had reached an agreement in principle to buy Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
Perhaps replacing Mohamed Salah was always going to be hard. Liverpool’s summer in the transfer market has certainly made it look so; the advance warning they had from the moment at Leeds when the Egyptian said he had been “thrown under the bus” and accused the club of breaking their promises to him should have given them a headstart. The subsequent rapprochement only had a temporary feel; it gave Liverpool months to find a successor.
And perhaps they still have not, and not merely because Barcola has yet to complete a medical. He is more of a left winger. But at an initial cost of just over £100m, potentially rising to £120m, he will be the flagship recruit on the flanks. Liverpool have already recruited a winger this summer, the rather cheaper Victor Munoz, whose debut as a substitute at Newcastle came in Salah’s old spot on the right. They also appointed a manager whose gameplan requires wingers, in Andoni Iraola.
Nottingham Forest make bid for Palace star Daniel Munoz
Nottingham Forest are looking to splash the cash again after the £50m deal for Liam Delap.
The Athletic reports that a bid for Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz has gone in.
Forest have tabled an offer worth £20m, with a further £2m in add-ons for the Colombia star.
Enzo Fernandez in talks over £120m Man City move after absence from Chelsea squad
Manchester City remain in talks to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea after the 25-year-old midfielder was left out of Xabi Alonso’s side to face Luton in the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea are holding out for a £120m fee for the Argentina international, which would make Fernandez City’s record signing after the £116m fee City paid for Elliot Anderson.
Fernandez was not in Chelsea’s squad to face Luton Town in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night, despite manager Xabi Alonso saying the previous day that he expected the midfielder to be involved.
Fernandez has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City since the World Cup and Enzo Maresca’s side are expected to return with an offer for the Argentina international despite missing an informal deadline earlier this month.
“We assessed situations, individual and collective and we have decided he is not in the squad for today,” Alonso told Sky Sports before facing Luton, which was Chelsea’s first competitive home game of the new season.
Julian Alvarez will ‘never, ever’ join Barcelona – but Arsenal remains a possibility
Arsenal target Julian Alvarez will “never, ever” be sold to Barcelona, according to Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, who did not rule out the possibility of the Argentina international joining another club instead before the transfer deadline.
Alvarez made it clear earlier this summer that he wanted to join Barcelona but relations between the Spanish clubs have completely broken down over the transfer saga, with Gil Marin accusing Barcelona of “dishonesty” and a lack of “professionalism”.
Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta said on Wednesday that they were still interested in Alvarez despite Atletico’s stance, with Atletico then releasing a statement to confirm there was “zero per cent chance” of Alvarez moving to Camp Nou.
“Our intention and my personal dream is for him to stay with us, to remain at Atletico,” Gil Martin told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus after Thursday’s Champions League league phase draw in Monaco.
“To compete amongst the greats, you need great players, and Julian is one. If he believes that staying at Atletico Madrid is no longer feasible, we will look for an alternative, but it will never, ever be Barcelona.”
Gil Marin’s comments are the latest escalation in Atletico’s row with Barcelona. The Independent has reported that Atletico have set a Friday deadline for Alvarez’s future to be decided, with the forward missing consecutive training sessions this week.
Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Martinelli’s future
”Everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi,” Mikel Arteta said on Martinelli’s future at Arsenal.
“Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that”.
Chelsea agree cut-price Emiliano Martinez fee
Chelsea have agreed a £7.5m fee to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law.
Martinez has wanted to leave Aston Villa for several years and new arrival Zion Suzuki had become their No 1.
Chelsea have acted quickly to sign the Argentina goalkeeper, following Robert Sanchez’s errors in the 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday.
Chelsea also have Mike Penders, the 21-year-old Belgian, but Martinez arrives to offer further competition.
The 33-year-old is set to sign a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months, reports The Athletic.
Martinez will become Chelsea’s 12th signing of the summer – could it take them towards challenging for the title?
Xabi Alonso explains Enzo Fernandez’s absence from Chelsea squad amid Man City interest
Xabi Alonso said it was “decided” that Enzo Fernandez would not be in Chelsea’s squad to face Luton Town in the Carabao Cup, despite saying the previous day that he expected the midfielder to be involved.
Fernandez has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City this summer and Enzo Maresca’s side are expected to return with an offer for the Argentina international despite missing an informal deadline earlier this month.
“We assessed situations, individual and collective and we have decided he is not in the squad for today,” Alonso said before facing Luton, which is Chelsea’s first competitive home game of the new season.
Fernandez featured off the bench for Chelsea in their Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday and was booed by the home fans at Craven Cottage for his role in the Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England.
Fernandez received a comparatively warm reception from Chelsea supporters when he came on, having been previously booed during a friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge before the start of the season.
Man United offered Chelsea defender
Tosin Adarabioyo has been offered to Manchester United as a squad player, reports Ben Jacobs.
The Chelsea centre-back is down the pecking order under Xabi Alonso and could bring his experience to Old Trafford under Michael Carrick.
Adarabioyo joined the Blues on a free transfer from Fulham, meaning BlueCo could make another profit trading a player.
Enzo Fernandez made Chelsea request over Carabao Cup involvement
Enzo Fernandez is out of Chelsea’s squad to face Luton in the Carabao Cup.
César Luis Merlo reports that Fernandez requested to be omitted from the squad, despite Xabi Alonso stating that he was available on Wednesday.
Man City have been targeting Fernandez as a final midfielder for Enzo Maresca’s revamped side since succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Marseille keen on Arsenal goalkeeper
Illan Meslier could be heading for the exit at Arsenal just weeks after signing for the Gunners.
The third-choice goalkeeper, behind David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga, joined after the expiry of his contract at Leeds United.
But now Foot Mercato reports Marseille could target the shot-stopper after losing Geronimo Rulli this summer.
Meslier could displace Jeffrey De Lange and gain valuable first-team football.
