Welcome to the 12th edition of The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet for the summer 2025 transfer window.
Our team of dedicated writers, including David Ornstein, will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on. The transfer window is open and will run until September 1.
The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Their responses, when they were given, have been included.
We aim to bring you analysis you can trust about what is happening at Europe’s leading clubs and the latest information we’re hearing from across the market. This year, The Athletic’s football finance writer, Chris Weatherspoon, will be adding to our analysis of the transfer market.
Last week, we looked at Alexander Isak’s situation, Liverpool’s pursuit of Giovanni Leoni and the latest on Gianluigi Donnarumma. This week, we look at the two Crystal Palace players being pursued by top Premier League clubs, a striker still on Newcastle United’s radar and Manchester United’s options after deciding not to pursue Carlos Baleba.
This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the club or player you want to read about.
David Ornstein’s One To Watch
Crystal Palace have endured a whole summer of uncertainty over their two best players, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
But with the transfer window now entering its final fortnight, outcomes — one way or the other — are fast approaching and the impact will extend far beyond the gates of Selhurst Park.
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a one-horse race for Eze, and while no agreement was reached after further talks on Monday, conversations continue, and there remains a good chance the move will happen.
Palace have been exploring possible replacements for some time, and The Athletic revealed last weekend that they had established contact with Leicester City regarding Bilal El Khannouss. A bid also went in for Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge, who are determined to keep their forward.
Another player targeted by Palace is Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Hwang Hee-chan. This would not be to fill Eze’s void, but rather to provide depth up front — especially in Eddie Nketiah’s injury-enforced absence.
There is no deal in place for Hwang, but Palace are speaking to their Premier League counterparts and aim to strike a compromise.
Liverpool identified Guehi as a market opportunity, and initial dialogue took place with Palace, although the situation has not advanced significantly.
The ball is in Palace’s court. If they do not want to lose Guehi as a free agent — given he has no intention of renewing a contract scheduled to expire in June 2026 — they will need to sanction the captain’s sale.
Even then, the England centre-back must decide whether he wishes to go and fight for a starting place at Anfield in a World Cup season or see out his last 12 months before hand-picking the next destination.
If he leaves Palace now, Guehi only has eyes for Liverpool, who believe they already possess four elite central defenders, so are not expected to seek an alternative if they fail to land the 25-year-old.
What would Guehi bring to Liverpool?
Developed at Chelsea’s academy, he is a calming presence on and off the ball, reading the game with consummate ease.
Deployed on the left of Oliver Glasner’s back-three system, Guehi can play off both feet as he looks to punch the ball forward from defence — as shown by The Athletic’s player radar, comparing key attributes with their positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues (pass progression, 80 out of 99).
While he might not go looking for trouble defensively (front-foot defending, 22 out of 99), Guehi’s composure means that he often wins his battles, with a strong tackle success rate (68 out of 99) compared with Europe’s centre-backs.
Mark Carey
What else we’re hearing
Newcastle retain a firm interest in Jorgen Strand Larsen as they look to strengthen in attack before the market shuts. A deal for Strand Larsen is not more advanced than other options, but the 25-year-old striker is among a small group of names under consideration. Discussions at this point are taking place via intermediaries, rather than between clubs, and Strand Larsen is keen on the possibility — although he is not agitating to leave Wolves. David Ornstein
The sale of Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui to Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League was unexpected and has made Atalanta even more reluctant to sell Ademola Lookman to a rival, Inter, amid the player’s stated desire to leave. The club, nevertheless, is on the lookout for reinforcements in attack. Atalanta continue to follow Rasmus Hojlund’s situation and have given consideration to bringing him back to Bergamo. James Horncastle
Napoli are expected to use the final fortnight of the transfer window to source cover for Romelu Lukaku. The 32-year-old Belgian suffered a torn quad muscle last week and faces up to three months on the sidelines. Napoli already moved for an alternative big man earlier in the summer, signing Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca, who was supposed to deputise for Lukaku, but now has to step into the breach. Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone’s departures leave Napoli short in attack. More work awaits Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna to placate Conte, who has otherwise been extremely relaxed this off-season. James Horncastle
Roma have reached an agreement in principle with Aston Villa for the loan signing of Leon Bailey. The loan fee will be around €3million (£2.6m, $3.5m) and will include an option for the Italian side, who will cover Bailey’s wages in full for the duration of the deal, to sign the winger permanently for around €22m. Talks had previously centred on an obligation for Bailey at the end of the season, but further discussions have resulted in Roma instead having the option to make his move permanent. Jacob Tanswell
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in discussions with Besiktas over terminating his contract as he seeks a return to England. The 32-year-old is keen to leave Turkey after two seasons and is attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League and the Championship, including Birmingham City. Oxlade-Chamberlain wants a fresh start back in the UK and is prepared to take a wage reduction. Gregg Evans
How much have Premier League sides spent on transfers?
A further £301million was spent by Premier League clubs in the last week, taking the division’s spending on new players this summer past £2billion. It is the third summer running where Premier League clubs have topped that mark.
A misfiring few weeks came to an end for Newcastle over the past seven days, with £69million spent across the signings of Jacob Ramsey and Malick Thiaw. That tipped them beyond £100m this summer. Half of the Premier League has now spent nine figures on new players.
The other big movers were Nottingham Forest, whose spending on Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo and James McAtee pushed their total to £148m and their net spend above zero.
Forest had been one of the most reserved clubs on a net basis, only spending less than Bournemouth due to the latter’s impressive sales this summer. Bournemouth did sign Bafode Diakite from Lille in time for him to make his debut at Anfield on Friday night, and Ben Doak arrived from Liverpool on Monday, but the further sales of Illia Zabarnyi and Dango Outtara have pushed their player income this summer up to nearly £200m.
That leaves them only trailing Chelsea in the departure stakes, but on a net basis, Bournemouth’s spending this summer is £111m in the negative. Not only is that comfortably the lowest in the division, it would also be the lowest in Premier League summer transfer window history — the previous low net spend in a summer was Manchester City’s net £98m income a year ago.
With two weeks of the window still to run, that figure may shift. But it’s still quite the outlier in a division that is on course, once again, to break transfer spending records this summer.
Chris Weatherspoon
Arsenal
What happened this week?
Not a great deal. Arsenal are hoping to sell several players before the end of the transfer window, but have made limited progress.
Potential buyers will be hoping Arsenal will blink first and reduce their demands and the game of brinkmanship continues.
Based on the weekend’s game, will Arsenal be happy they went for Gyokeres over Sesko?
It wasn’t a particularly dazzling debut for either of the new centre-forwards. Viktor Gyokeres toiled for an hour and showed flashes of his power in his duel with Matthijs de Ligt, but suffered from Arsenal’s inability to turn transitions into chances.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
If Arsenal are to make another signing, it is likely to be on the left wing.
Any arrival on the flank would almost certainly be connected to an outgoing: Arsenal have options on the left, with new signing Noni Madueke competing alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard for the position.
Which players could be leaving?
The matchday squad for the Manchester United game gave some indication of who may leave Arsenal before the deadline.
Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Karl Hein, and Albert Sambi Lokonga were not even named as substitutes. Trossard, who Arsenal would be open to selling at the right price, was named on the bench but did not come on.
Arsenal have been in talks with Porto over Kiwior, Stuttgart over Vieira and Fulham over Nelson, but no offer has satisfied their demands. The interested clubs will hope Arsenal lower their expectations.
For Vieira, talks are centred on a loan with an obligation if certain performance-led targets are met. A figure of £17m has been discussed.
Levante would like to loan goalkeeper Hein, but Arsenal are hoping a permanent buyer comes forward. They value the Estonia international goalkeeper at between £3million and £5m — that kind of fee would be high for Levante’s strict budget.
James McNicholas
Chelsea
What happened this week?
Chelsea handed long-term contracts to their sporting leadership team, with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart committing to the club until 2031, along with senior recruiters Joe Shields and Sam Jewell.
At the end of a relatively quiet week for incomings and outgoings, head coach Enzo Maresca said he believes Chelsea need to sign a new centre-back in the wake of the anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) that will sideline Levi Colwill for most of the season.
Chelsea then kicked off their new Premier League campaign with a goalless draw against an obdurate Crystal Palace side at Stamford Bridge, with Cobham graduate Josh Acheampong deputising for Colwill in the heart of defence and summer signings Jamie Gittens and Estevao making their competitive debuts for the club.
Maresca wants another defender. Do Chelsea need one?
The bigger question might be: does a suitable one exist on the market? Colwill is so good and valuable because he has a rare skill set for a centre-back.
Chelsea are not inclined to sign a new centre-back in this window, as detailed by The Athletic on Saturday, and one key reason is that they do not see a Colwill replacement out there.
Acheampong started in the Colwill role in the middle of Maresca’s back three against Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Tosin Adarabioyo also sidelined. The 19-year-old did not find enough progressive passes to be a perfect solution as Chelsea were stifled in possession, but his impressive display suggested he is ready to play regularly.
Tosin is not expected to be out for long, and Benoit Badiashile could return after the September international break. Both can provide at least some of Colwill’s passing ability out of defence. Acheampong could develop that aspect of his game with more experience.
Chelsea are confident in their depth, including in defence. Colwill’s injury is unquestionably a blow, but there is also full faith in Maresca’s ability to find a solution.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
Chelsea’s recruitment focus in what remains of August is on rounding out their attack.
Alejandro Garnacho remains a priority target to provide competition with Gittens as natural options on the left wing. The Argentinian has ruled out all options other than moving to Stamford Bridge or staying at Old Trafford this summer, and Chelsea are active in talks with Manchester United’s decision-makers.
Chelsea would also like to add an attacking midfielder to Maresca’s squad. Informal talks continue with RB Leipzig regarding Xavi Simons, and Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers is highly rated at Stamford Bridge.
Goalkeeper is not a position that Chelsea are looking to strengthen this summer, so they are not a suitor for Donnarumma.
Which players could be leaving?
Chelsea are well aware that they still have work to do on trimming their player list, and any further signings this month will be made in conjunction with sales.
Nicolas Jackson is working with the club to explore a potential exit. Four clubs in the Premier League’s top half have enquired about him, as well as some Champions League teams.
Chelsea are not desperate to sell the Senegal international but are prepared to do business. While they would like £80m, they would likely engage with buyers at a lower figure within the broad price bracket at which several other high-profile strikers have switched clubs this summer.
Christopher Nkunku’s situation remains complicated. As reported by The Athletic last week, Bayern Munich have been in talks with Chelsea about signing the 27-year-old, but the shared desire of player and club to find a permanent move rather than a loan is proving an obstacle.
Nkunku has interest from other Bundesliga clubs, including former team Leipzig, and has been the subject of enquiries from clubs in Italy and England.
Tyrique George could leave Chelsea on loan or permanently this month, particularly if Garnacho arrives. The club are working closely with his camp to find a club where he can play regularly. Many clubs who want the 19-year-old on loan would also like an option to buy him for an agreed price.
Chelsea would rather sell than loan Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell before the window closes.
The expectation is that Veiga and Disasi will be sold, most likely within the Premier League. Chelsea have rejected offers for Veiga from Spain this summer, and three clubs in England are in the market. Disasi has two firm suitors in the Premier League.
As older players and high earners, the situations surrounding Sterling, 30, and Chilwell, 28, are the most difficult to resolve, and both could run until the end of the window.
Cobham graduate Alfie Gilchrist has interest from clubs in the Championship and abroad, and the 21-year-old is expected to be sold.
Liam Twomey
Liverpool
What happened this week?
Liverpool completed the signing of young defender Leoni from Parma for a fee of £26m plus add-ons.
The 18-year-old Italian centre-back penned a five-year contract at Anfield before watching Arne Slot’s side beat Bournemouth 4-2.
Liverpool held talks with Palace over a possible deal for Guehi, but the two clubs remained some distance apart in their valuations. Further discussions are expected this week.
Sporting director Richard Hughes agreed the £25m sale of winger Ben Doak to Bournemouth. The Scotland international, who made 10 senior appearances for Liverpool, cost them £600,000 from Celtic three years ago. His sale was made official on Monday evening.
If Liverpool cannot secure Isak, do they look ready?
New signing Hugo Ekitike sparkled on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth as he contributed a goal and an assist after lining up in a front three with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
Federico Chiesa also scored after coming off the bench, with talented 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha an unused substitute. However, Liverpool still look an attacker short following the sales of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.
Isak would be the perfect addition, and there’s no sign of them moving on to a Plan B.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
Signing Guehi and Isak would be regarded as the perfect end to a busy window for Liverpool. It would give them the depth they want at both ends of the field.
Guehi is viewed as a decent market opportunity given that the England international is in the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace and could leave for nothing next summer. The Isak situation is more complicated, with the striker desperate for the move to Anfield, but Newcastle refusing to sanction his sale. Liverpool had an initial bid of £110m rejected this month.
Which players could be leaving?
Harvey Elliott‘s future remains uncertain. Bundesliga outfit Leipzig view him as a potential replacement for Simons, but have yet to follow up their interest with a concrete offer.
Kostas Tsimikas is expected to leave before the end of the window. The Greece international wants to join a club who can offer European football and is more likely to move abroad rather than remain in the Premier League.
Liverpool are considering loan approaches for youngsters Lewis Koumas, James McConnell and Kaide Gordon.
Koumas, the 19-year-old who has also attracted some permanent interest, is wanted by Sheffield United, Hull City, Wrexham and Preston North End. Norwich City were keen but opted to sign Jovon Makama from League One side Lincoln City instead.
McConnell’s suitors include West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United, Hull and Sturm Graz, while Gordon is being pursued by Swansea City and Derby County.
James Pearce
Manchester City
What happened this week?
Several departures finally reached their endgame, but the futures of Ederson, Rico Lewis, and Savinho were cast into doubt.
The outgoings that did go through were Jack Grealish to Everton on loan, James McAtee to Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal, and Sverre Nypan moved to Middlesbrough on loan.
Everton are covering around 75 per cent of Grealish’s wages, and it would take around £50m to sign him next summer.
Nottingham Forest agreed to pay a package of £30m for McAtee after weeks of negotiations. The deal will include a sell-on of any future sale of the 22-year-old, and City have covered themselves by negotiating a buy-back clause.
With Grealish and McAtee gone, will Guardiola be happy with the squad?
Not yet, no. After the Wolves game, he said it was “unhealthy” to have so many players left out.
Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki started on the bench, Ilkay Gundogan, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji did not get off it — and that was without Josko Gvardiol, Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Savinho.
“I like a deep squad to compete in all competitions, but I don’t want to leave players at home,” said Guardiola. “It’s not healthy. You cannot create a good vibe or atmosphere to compete.
“The club has known (about) it since last season but the situation is what it is. In the next two weeks, people will talk with players and agents to find a solution. We have to reduce the squad because it will be difficult to sustain the vibe of the team.”
What positions/players are they still looking at?
City will only add if they lose in a key area, which means that the goalkeeper, right-back, and right-winger positions could all see movement.
Right-back was the one space where City could have added, but the ideal option was not deemed to have been available.
Which players could be leaving?
It is no secret that Galatasaray want Ederson and negotiations are ongoing, but there has not been an official offer yet. Guardiola said on Friday that he wanted Ederson to start the season as his No 1 goalkeeper, but will not stand in the way of any player who wants to leave.
While he said no player has outlined their desire to move on, Savinho is still of interest to Tottenham Hotspur, who made contact with City about the structure of a deal to sign the Brazilian. He missed the season opener, with Guardiola saying he had picked up an injury.
After starting the 4-0 win over Wolves, Rico Lewis went some way to cooling talk of him following fellow academy product McAtee to Nottingham Forest, saying he has never imagined himself at any other club.
Lewis’s name arose during discussions between Forest and City over McAtee. If Forest are shown encouragement from the club and player that they would be open to the move, they would be keen to add the 20-year-old to an increasingly young, high-potential squad.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund have made a loan offer for Argentine forward Claudio Echeverri, which includes an option to buy. City are weighing up the German club as a destination, but do not want a buy option included on any deal as they rate the 19-year-old highly.
Wrexham are closing in on the signing of Callum Doyle in a deal worth up to £8million. Sheffield United and Rangers were both interested in the 21-year-old centre-back, who has spent the last four seasons on loan at Sunderland, Coventry City, Leicester City and Norwich. However, Rangers are no longer in the running. Location is a factor for Doyle, who lives in Manchester.
Jordan Campbell
Manchester United
What happened this week?
United pulled back from their pursuit of Baleba, for now at least. A deal is unlikely to be concluded during this transfer window.
Baleba was United’s priority midfield target, and club-to-club talks were held at the end of last week, only for Brighton & Hove Albion officials to insist they do not intend to let the 21-year-old leave this summer.
For officials at the Amex Stadium to consider a deal, any fee would have to have been in the region of Moises Caicedo’s £115m move to Chelsea. That figure is beyond what United are willing to pay at present.
As for outgoings, Roma submitted a £20m bid to sign Jadon Sancho, but convincing the winger to join was always thought to be an uphill task, and a move is not expected to advance.
Toby Collyer completed a season-long loan to play Championship football with West Bromwich Albion, debuting in their 3-2 win over Wrexham on Saturday.
Does not signing Baleba feel like a problem?
United’s midfield has needed improving for years, despite deals worth a potential £120.7m for Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte over the last three summers.
Casemiro is the first-choice partner for Bruno Fernandes, and by no means disgraced himself in Sunday’s opener against Arsenal. Amorim praised Casemiro, a five-time Champions League winner, for how he has adapted to the system after previously being sidelined.
Building up from out the back under pressure is not Casemiro’s greatest strength, though, and at 33, neither is covering a lot of ground in an often-outnumbered midfield two.
Many supporters would like to see Kobbie Mainoo earn more minutes, but the decision to bring on Ugarte before the 20-year-old again on Sunday underlined concerns over whether he has a place in Amorim’s long-term plans.
Strengthening in midfield was considered important enough for United to potentially spend a lot of money on Baleba, if not as much as Brighton were demanding. Is it such a desperate need that they should compromise and look elsewhere, or could they risk playing the waiting game for their preferred target?
Competition for Baleba could become fierce next summer, and Old Trafford hierarchy may hope that showing their intent a year early could work in their favour. The move certainly appealed to the player himself.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
An athletic midfielder has been on United’s agenda all summer, so there will be internal debate about whether to pivot to an alternative.
There is an appreciation for Morten Hjulmand, the 26-year-old Denmark international who captains Sporting CP, Amorim’s old team. The pair had a strong relationship.
Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace is another who could come into the reckoning.
United will carefully weigh up whether to spend more money. Baleba presented a special opportunity, and making a move for a different midfielder is not guaranteed.
Amorim said he is happy with his choice of three goalkeepers, so pursuing a new No 1 is not on the cards.
Andre Onana was out of pre-season and only had three sessions back but his omission against Arsenal was notable. Altay Bayindir started in his place but will be disappointed with the goal he conceded, even if Amorim defended him after the game.
Which players could be leaving?
Hojlund’s omission from Sunday’s matchday squad was the clearest indication yet that United are ready to move him out the door, despite the 22-year-old’s insistence he wants to stay and fight for his place.
Whether Hojlund’s stance will change remains to be seen, amid interest from several clubs including Milan and Leipzig. Atalanta have also considered bringing him back to Bergamo.
Roma’s pursuit of Sancho is unlikely to materialise, but they have also registered an interest in Tyrell Malacia. While Manchester United and Malacia would prefer a permanent move, a loan cannot be ruled out for the 26-year-old full-back, who has also attracted the attention of Porto.
Talks are ongoing with Chelsea for the potential sale of Garnacho, who is set on a move to Stamford Bridge. United still need to find a solution for Antony.
Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell
Could Manchester United be justified in wanting a new goalkeeper?
When they signed Onana, it was as much about ideology as it was about personnel. United wanted a goalkeeper who could reshape the way the team built from the back, act as an extra outfield player and push them toward a more progressive style of play.
But two years on, that theory has not translated into consistent results. Onana has shown his qualities — line-breaking passes, composure under pressure, and bold positioning — yet those highs have too often been followed by lows. Costly errors, lapses in concentration, and wavering decision-making have left him struggling to maintain the reliability required at the very top.
The instability of the back line, the inconsistency of the press, and the lack of cohesion in midfield have exacerbated the issue. In environments where the structure is strong, Onana’s willingness to take risks can be an asset. At United, that same risk-taking has frequently looked reckless. When the goalkeeper carries uncertainty, it quickly spreads throughout the team.
That is the heart of the issue. United do not just need a goalkeeper who can fit an idealised tactical blueprint. They need one who can provide security in the chaos of a still-evolving side.
The question, then, is not simply about ability but consistency and fit. Onana is built for a version of United that does not yet exist. Until it does, the temptation to find a steadier solution will grow stronger.
Matt Pyzdrowski
Newcastle United
What has happened this week?
Newcastle have actually signed two players, doubling their tally for senior summer recruits — significantly bolstering two key positions in the process. More than £65m has been spent on Malick Thiaw, the centre-back who has joined from Milan, and Jacob Ramsey, the midfielder from Aston Villa.
Both were of long-term interest — Thiaw was considered last summer, while Newcastle enquired about Ramsey in January 2024 — and are younger upgrades for Jamaal Lascelles and Sean Longstaff.
The 24-year-old Thiaw is viewed as Fabian Schar’s successor at right-sided centre-back, scoring similarly to the Switzerland international on many metrics when at a comparable age, while Ramsey, also 24, is a dynamic and athletic midfielder who has the potential to offer more than Joe Willock. While Willock is set to stay beyond September 1, partly due to the calf injury which is keeping him sidelined, his medium-term future is uncertain.
Outgoings-wise, Odysseas Vlachodimos, the Greece international goalkeeper, has joined Sevilla on loan for the season. There is no option or obligation to buy, and Newcastle are paying the majority of his wages.
More frustratingly, the Isak saga is dragging on, with no end likely before Newcastle host Liverpool on Monday (and probably the end of the window).
The 25-year-old missed Newcastle’s 0-0 draw at Villa and has been training away from his team-mates amid interest from Liverpool. Those at the very top of Newcastle continue to insist Isak is not for sale and that he can be reintegrated, even after some away fans made their feeling clear by chanting, “There’s only one greedy b******”, at Villa Park.
Howe stresses “all options” remain open regarding Isak’s future.
If Isak doesn’t leave and Newcastle add a striker, has this been a good window?
Yes, there is a strong argument to suggest they will have done well, even given the extreme turbulence.
Isak has not softened his stance that he is determined to leave by September 1, and the Yoane Wissa deal from Brentford is proving far more complicated than some originally suggested. But, if they keep Isak and find a replacement for Callum Wilson, Newcastle will have strengthened every area of the squad they had hoped to.
Anthony Elanga and Thiaw raise the quality levels at right-sided forward and right-sided centre-back, two long-term problem areas, while offering a younger profile than Miguel Almiron and Schar. Aaron Ramsdale, 28, is significantly younger than 36-year-old Martin Dubravka and, although the goalkeeper has only signed on an initial loan from Southampton, Newcastle retain an option to buy.
Ramsey is not a like-for-like replacement for Longstaff — the former primarily plays as a left-sided No 8 and the latter on the right — but Newcastle’s latest signing is more offensive-minded and has a higher ceiling.
It is unthinkable that Newcastle would not bring in at least one striker by the deadline, however, given Wilson’s departure and the fact that Anthony Gordon has been leading the line recently. Will Osula and Sean Neave are not ready to play regularly in the Premier League, so there is still work to do.
Should Wissa or another centre-forward join, then Newcastle will have completed some astute business (with the massive caveat that nobody quite knows what version of Isak would remain on Tyneside post-window).
What positions/players are they still looking at?
Newcastle are actively looking to bring in at least one more player, with the entire focus on recruiting a striker (and two, should Isak leave).
Wissa remains their top target to replace Wilson, but negotiations have been complex and the situation has barely changed in three weeks. Brentford want a replacement before allowing Wissa to leave, and despite signing Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth, it seems he is Bryan Mbeumo’s successor.
While Newcastle have been patient because they recognise Wissa is desperate to join — the DR Congo international’s non-appearance for Brentford at Nottingham Forest offers concerning parallels with the Isak situation — they cannot wait around indefinitely. Previously, the two clubs were significantly apart on valuation, and Newcastle will not overpay for a 28-year-old.
The difficulty in agreeing a fee has meant Newcastle have continued to actively scout alternatives. My colleague David Ornstein has reported that discussions are taking place over Strand Larsen via intermediaries.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos has been floated as an option, though the potential fee and his wages would make that unlikely unless Isak departs. Porto’s Samu Aghehowa has been discussed, though he would be expensive from Porto.
Ollie Watkins is another player Howe likes, but Newcastle have already aided Villa’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) position by signing Ramsey and are unlikely to want to further help a direct rival, especially given the England striker’s likely cost at 29 years old.
Midfield-wise, Newcastle have watched Inter’s Davide Frattesi, but a move is extremely unlikely now they have acquired Ramsey, despite fresh links.
The club are concentrating all their energies on the centre-forward market, which is thin on quality, very expensive and extremely competitive.
Which players could be leaving?
The future of Lascelles, the club captain who missed the whole of last season with an ACL injury, is uncertain. The 31-year-old is in the final 12 months of his deal and was left out of the squad for Villa. Following Thiaw’s arrival, he is fifth-choice centre-half and an exit has not been ruled out.
Newcastle would not stand in the way of full-backs Matt Targett or Harrison Ashby leaving.
As Isak’s situation shows, Newcastle cannot take anything for granted, but they are determined to hold on to their other prize assets — Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Gordon and Tino Livramento.
Chris Waugh
Tottenham Hotspur
What happened this week?
The Thomas Frank era really got underway with the Dane’s first two competitive matches. Positivity abounds, despite the heartbreaking nature of their UEFA Super Cup defeat against PSG, with two good performances and a comfortable win over Burnley in the Premier League.
More important than those matches, however, was the news on Monday afternoon that new club captain Cristian Romero had signed a four-year contract, ending months of speculation over his long-term future. Djed Spence, as trailed by The Athletic last week, also committed his future to Spurs by signing a new deal of his own.
Do Spurs have enough depth to compete on several fronts?
Injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, along with the sale of Son Heung-min, have left them a little short of creativity in attack. They might also be light defensively, particularly if Croatian 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic is sent out on loan.
Radu Dragusin is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in January, and Kota Takai is out with a foot issue. That leaves Frank short of backups, particularly if he wants to play with a back three as he did against PSG.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
Spurs are hoping to agree a deal with Crystal Palace for Eze.
The 27-year-old would bring the kind of guile and flair Tottenham lack without Maddison, and could help give their attack the kind of aura it often lacked last season.
Spurs also still have an interest in Manchester City’s Brazilian winger Savinho, as reported by The Athletic last week.
Which players could be leaving?
Yves Bissouma’s hopes of impressing his new manager were somewhat undermined when the Mali international was left out of the travelling party for the Super Cup due to poor timekeeping.
“He has been late several times, and now this latest time was one too many,” Frank said ahead of last Wednesday’s match. “With everything, you need to give your players a lot of love, but also have demands and there also need to be consequences, and this time there was a consequence for that.
“For me, there has been a consequence, and that is for this trip. I will follow up on that when I come home. I will park it for now because there is a relatively important game tomorrow.”
Bissouma is now in the last year of his contract with Spurs, and has been linked with a move away throughout the summer. Frank announced after the Burnley game that the midfielder had been missing due to injury.
At the other end of the scale, Richarlison will surely have done his chances no harm with his two performances — and spectacular goals — over the last seven days.
Meanwhile, striker Dane Scarlett appears likely to leave on loan, having been granted permission not to travel for the club’s pre-season tour of Asia in order to explore potential loan moves.
James Maw and Elias Burke
Could this be a record summer for the Premier League?
As a collective, the 20 Premier League clubs first topped £2billion in summer spending in 2023. In the two years since, they’ve kept up the habit, although the £2.473bn spent two years ago remains a record.
For now. With 13 days of this summer’s window still to run, the 2025-26 cohort are well placed to set a new high. This season’s top-tier sides have, as on Monday evening, spent £2.289bn on net recruits, and over £1bn net. With a busy fortnight expected, chances are 2023’s high watermark will soon be passed.
Two years ago, that spending was driven by Chelsea — their nearly £400m on new players accounted for 16 per cent of the division’s total. Liverpool are not quite at that mark yet, though their current 13 per share will increase if they do eventually secure the services of Alexander Isak.
Liverpool’s impressive sales this summer mean their net spend is around £100m, significantly less than Manchester United and Arsenal, around the same as Sunderland, Manchester City, Newcastle and Spurs. There’s been plenty of intra-Premier League trading too, but even with Bournemouth having recouped a net £111m to date, the division’s total net spend sits beyond £1bn.
Whether clubs will top 2023’s £1.184bn net spend is a little harder to be sure on, but generally, there’s little sign of Premier League spending slowing down.
Across three summers (less the two weeks still to run on this one), England’s top tier has spent £6.784bn on new signings. That’s an underestimate too; Transfermarkt values such as those used here don’t include the agent fees or transfer levy inevitably lumped on top of each deal.
Chris Weatherspoon
Barcelona
What happened this week?
Barcelona were finally able to get the registrations of summer signings Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford sorted in time for their La Liga start at Mallorca on Saturday.
Garcia’s was made possible after Barca were able to take advantage of a La Liga rule around injured players. After Marc-Andre ter Stegen gave the go-ahead to pass on his medical reports to La Liga, the competition body allowed Barca to pass on some of his salary space to cover Garcia’s.
Rashford’s was sorted after Barca executives agreed to put their own personal wealth at risk as part of a €7m bank guarantee, with Jules Kounde’s renewal also a factor. Now the Frenchman’s contract runs until 2030, Barca can budget the amortisation of his transfer fee over a longer period, which also frees up some space in their salary limit.
On Friday, Barca announced that they would receive a further €11m from the sale of 25-year-old Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao after reaching a deal with Sporting over the “remaining 50 per cent of his rights”. Club sources say these funds will be used to secure further registrations.
Do Barcelona look ready to compete on all fronts?
For the first time in a long time, the sporting debates are all positive at Barca. The team has been strengthened well and intelligently this summer.
There is a real feeling of excitement, of a new beginning that leaves all doors open for a Barcelona side that looks very promising.
Joan Garcia has arrived in goal. Inigo Martinez’s exit was unexpected, but there is strength in depth in defence. In midfield, Marc Casado, Gavi and Dani Olmo all started Saturday’s 3-0 win at Mallorca on the bench (with Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Fermin Lopez starting). Up front, Robert Lewandowski looks set to be pushed hard by an in-form Ferran Torres. Rashford’s arrival has also helped.
Raphinha seems as strong as last season and Lamine Yamal looks capable of reaching an even higher level, now wearing the iconic No 10.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
The club is not actively seeking further signings right now. They consider all positions to be well covered and are focusing on completing the final three first-team registrations they still need to sort; those of Gerard Martin, Wojciech Szczesny and Roony Bardghji.
Martinez’s departure to Al Nassr was not planned, but Barca have plenty of options for the position. On Saturday, Ronald Araujo started alongside Pau Cubarsi at centre-back, with Andreas Christensen on the bench. Eric Garcia, who played at right-back, and Kounde, also on the bench, can both play centrally, too. “We have a centre-back to spare,” Deco said in an interview with La Vanguardia back in June.
After Saturday’s win at Mallorca, Hansi Flick was asked whether he was targeting a new centre-back. “I haven’t spoken to Deco, but there are players (already here) who can play in several positions. We can also use Gerard Martin in this position. I rate him highly.”
Which players could be leaving?
The first to leave will probably be Inaki Pena. The 26-year-old goalkeeper covered capably for Ter Stegen last season, but lost his starting spot after the signing of Szczesny.
There is a sense of Pena’s departure having been delayed by the fact Barca had not registered Garcia. Now that has been sorted, his case will likely accelerate. Barca sources and voices within the player’s camp say there have been approaches from multiple clubs, including Como and Celta Vigo.
The 19-year-old right-back Hector Fort does not seem to be in Flick’s plans either, with Garcia and Kounde established as the German manager’s preferred options there. The club is open to finding him a way out, either on loan or on a permanent transfer, but potentially with a buyback clause.
And finally, Oriol Romeu. The 33-year-old midfielder (who was on loan at Girona last term) is still a Barcelona player, but he is not in the picture for first-team contention, and an exit is being sought.
Laia Cervello Herrero
Real Madrid
What happened this week?
After a busy start to the transfer window, Madrid’s activity has been on the decline. However, every week there is always something new worth mentioning.
The first is last Thursday’s presentation of midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who arrived from River Plate in a deal that will cost Madrid €63.2m. The player attracted attention during his first press conference for his sincerity when speaking and acknowledging, among other things, that Lionel Messi was the best player in the world, despite the latter’s past with Barcelona.
Also, the renewal of 18-year-old academy player Thiago Pitarch until 2030 was made official. Pitarch had already renewed in January, but there is a lot of confidence in him within the club, and he has now extended his contract again.
Pitarch has been a regular in Xabi Alonso’s training sessions and even scored in a behind-closed-doors training match against Leganes the week before last. He has been named in the squad for Madrid’s first game of the new La Liga season later today at home to Osasuna.
Meanwhile, Girona’s sale of 24-year-old left-back Miguel Gutierrez to Napoli for €18m (plus a potential further €2m in bonuses) has also been completed. Madrid expect to receive 50 per cent of the fee thanks to the terms of his 2022 sale to the Catalan club.
What role will Mastantuono play?
Although he has only officially had four training sessions, Mastantuono is expected to play an important role from the outset. During his presentation, he said that the pace of football in La Liga would be “obviously faster” than in Argentina, but his first contact with the team has been described as positive.
According to a source close to Rodrygo, Mastantuono could be preferred over the Brazilian on the right wing. But the 18-year-old might also be an option for a central role, which would be handy given that Jude Bellingham’s absence due to his recent shoulder operation will keep him out until October.
“He could get some minutes (against Osasuna),” Alonso said of Mastantuono in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“He will bring quality, energy and is very committed in defence. In a short time, I have seen that he has that Argentine spirit, he is aggressive and has a spectacular left foot, both in set pieces and in the final pass. He is a young talent, but a high-level one.”.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
At the moment, Madrid are more focused on potential departures. It is yet to be seen whether a major sale will change their strategy. While the official stance is that the squad is closed in terms of signings, privately, they are not saying the same thing about possible sales.
According to sources who have been in contact with Madrid’s leaders in recent months, the signing of another midfielder has been considered, but no one has convinced them so far.
Which players could be leaving?
The big talking point is Rodrygo.
With two weeks to go before the transfer window closes, it remains to be seen whether the 24-year-old will find a destination in the Premier League, where he has been attracting interest for months without any concrete developments.
The player wanted to stay at Madrid, but it also remains to be seen whether this will change if an interesting formal offer arrives that guarantees him a leading role.
Regarding his situation, Alonso said in his press conference on Monday: “There are many rumours in the summer. I’ve seen him in good shape, I count on everyone (the players). I want everyone I count on to be 100 per cent, that’s what concerns me.”
In the last seven matches (including the Club World Cup and friendly matches), Rodrygo has only appeared from the bench, and if his situation continues like this, it could make him change his mind.
Guillermo Rai
(Top photos: Ryan Pierse / Getty, Sipa USA / AP; design: Dan Goldfarb)
