Chelsea have told Manchester City that they have until Friday to submit a bid for midfielder Enzo Fernandez. The Blues have told their Premier League rivals that they will need to sepnd £120m to sign the World Cup runner-up. City, meanwhile, remain in talks with Barcelona over Rodri, who is available for £60m, while they are also interested in the signing of World Cup breakout star Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.
Mikel Arteta has said that Arsenal’s business is not done yet, with the Gunners receiving interest in Gabriel Martinelli from Galatasaray as well as Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly turning down the chance to sign Myles Lewis-Skelly. Arsenal have set their sights high and are interested in adding a marquee signing: they will have to play the long game in moves for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.
Barcola also leads Liverpool’s list of transfer targets and the Reds are in talks with PSG over a fee, though the European champions are demanding £145m to sell the winger. PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi did not rule out a move for Barcola, however, saying: “We’re working calmly, we don’t talk too much. I can’t say whether he will leave or not. Today, he is a PSG player. We’ll see.”
Follow all of the latest news, rumours and done deals with our live blog below
Michael Carrick offers update on Marcus Rashford’s future ahead of intriguing Man United reunion
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has hinted that Marcus Rashford is set to be part of his plans this season.
Rashford was part of United’s squad for the pre-season friendly with Leeds United in Dublin on Wednesday, but did not feature in the 1-1 draw.
The 28-year-old spent last season on loan at Barcelona last season, following six months at Aston Villa. He has not played for United since December 2024.
Rashford could make his return in Saturday’s final pre-season friendly with AC Milan in Wroclow, Poland.
Intriguingly, Rashford could face the manager who froze him out at Old Trafford, in former United boss Ruben Amorim.
Inter ‘closing in’ on cut-price Djed Spence deal
Inter Milan are “closing in” on a deal to sign Tottenham and England full-back Djed Spence, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. Spence is keen on the move and has agreed personal terms, with Inter having a £25.6m bid accepted for the defender.
Why would Spurs sanction the move for one of England’s stars from the World Cup? They’ve signed experienced left back Andy Robertson, and have additional cover there in Micky van de Ven.
Newcastle open interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba
Newcastle are interested in Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba after selling both Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
Baleba, 22, fits the profile of a Newcastle target as they look to the future and bid to strengthen their midfield options.
Baleba was previously a target for Manchester United, and the report in the Daily Mail adds that incoming Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle is an “admirer”.
Who is Brian Madjo? Aston Villa’s 17-year-old sensation being compared to Romelu Lukaku
The teenager, who is eligible to play for England, had to wait eight months for his professional Aston Villa debut after joining the club on his 17th birthday, writes Lawrence Ostlere
Jeremy Doku signs new five-year Man City contract
Jeremy Doku has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City as he has become the fourth first-team player to agree a new deal this summer.
The winger, who had entered the last two years of his previous contract, will now stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2031.
He follows Phil Foden, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol in agreeing to stay with City as their squad takes shape for the new season.
Doku, a £55m signing from Rennes in 2023, believes new manager Enzo Maresca’s style of play will suit him as he said it was an easy decision to remain with the FA Cup winners.
Doku said: “It’s a privilege. I am so happy that they trusted in me first of all and as well that I can continue to play for this big club. I remember when I arrived here from France a bit of an underdog. Nobody really knew me. I had to prove myself and being able now to sign a new contract shows that they trusted me and that they appreciate how I’ve been playing.
“I’m very excited to work with Enzo. I’ve been watching the games the friendly games in Korea and the style of play is very attractive. But already when he was in his previous clubs, I saw this style of play, and it really suits me with the wingers being very aggressive.”
Arsenal rekindle interest in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa?
Arsenal were initially linked with a centre-back last month following William Saliba’s injury, with Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa one of two players mentioned along with free agent John Stones.
Stones then signed for Inter Milan, with interest in Konsa cooling while Arsenal were then briefly linked in a shock move for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. Spurs and Atletico Madrid have since agreed a fee for the centre-back.
So will Arsenal turn their attention back to Konsa? The BBC have reported that Arsenal are set to reignite their interest in the England international Konsa, who missed last night’s Super Cup defeat to PSG as he is yet to return from the World Cup.
Man City ‘reject’ second Rodri bid and in talks over Reijnders
We could be set for a fascinating couple of days for Manchester City and Chelsea.
City have been set a 5pm deadline tomorrow if they want to sign Enzo Fernandez for £120m. It comes as Barcelona press to sign Rodri, with Sky Sports News reporting that City have turned turn a second bid of £55m for the World Cup winner. Meanwhile, Sky Sports News also add that City are in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadisah over a deal for Tijjani Reijnders, said to be in the region of £50m.
City are meanwhile in pole position to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.
PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi on Bradley Barcola’s future
Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi was asked about the future of winger Bradley Barcola following last night’s Super Cup victory against Aston Villa.
Barcola is Liverpool’s big transfer target this summer but the Reds are so far refusing to match PSG’s enormous asking price of £140m for the winger.
“We’re working calmly, we don’t talk too much,” Al-Khelaifi told Canal Plus. “I can’t say whether he will leave or not. Today, he is a PSG player. We’ll see.”
Mikel Arteta welcomes ‘speculation’ around Myles Lewis-Skelly
Myles Lewis-Skelly provided an emotional goal celebration after opening the scoring for Arsenal against Como last night, amid amid reports that the 19-year-old has been offered to Manchester United and Chelsea.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta offered no guarantees over his future. “I’m not going to talk about any speculation,” he said. “If there is a speculation about our player, it’s a good sign. That means that we attract attention and they’re doing a good job.
“I think he had a really good pre-season. I think we asked him to play in a different position, because he played more as a six, because we lacked central midfielders, obviously with international duties, and I think he had a really consistent pre-season.”
Chelsea set Enzo Fernandez asking price
Chelsea will demand £120m from Manchester City for Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues have set their Premier League rivals until 5pm on Friday to submit their bid.
Enzo Maresca is an admirer of Fernandez, but relations between the clubs are frosty.
City had to pay Chelsea £17m in compensation after Maresca stepped down last season.
Chelsea subsequently said they felt “let down” by the Italian, who is now in charge of City.
