The New York Times

Tottenham Hotspur are set to complete the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The clubs have agreed a deal worth €60million (£51.8m; $70m) for the 22-year-old Netherlands international attacker.

Personal terms are also in place and Simons completed a medical on Thursday ahead of finalising the proposed transfer to the north London side, which is now only subject to Simons closing off the last details of his exit with Leipzig

The Athletic reported on Thursday Spurs had submitted an opening bid for Simons after Leipzig had granted him permission to travel to London as they looked to resolve his future.

​​Spurs are interested in the playmaker as they aim to strengthen head coach Thomas Frank’s attacking options before the September 1 transfer deadline — having missed out on deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze and lost James Maddison to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Chelsea have also been interested in a move for Simons this summer, and on Thursday reached an agreement with AC Milan over the transfer of forward Christopher Nkunku.

The Netherlands international is available this summer, despite only joining the Bundesliga club on a €50m permanent deal from Paris Saint-Germain in January.

The Athletic reported in July that Bayern Munich had enquired about Simons after he expressed a desire to leave their Bundesliga rivals.

Spurs and England midfielder Maddison is expected to miss the majority of the season following surgery on his ACL, while Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace and Gibbs-White signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest.

Spurs have already completed the permanent signings of attackers Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel, who spent the second half of 2024-25 on loan at Spurs from Bayern, alongside the loan arrival of Joao Palhinha.

Simons spent time in Barcelona’s La Masia academy before stints at Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven and Leipzig.

‘Simons yet to find his best role’

Xavi Simons was meant to be one of the hottest properties during this window. When he told RB Leipzig that he was ready to leave, back in May, a deal for one of Europe’s most talented playmakers was expected to be concluded even before the summer had even begun.

It still hasn’t happened. Why?

Like a few of his team-mates, Simons suffered from Leipzig’s relatively poor season (they finished seventh, which was the lowest Bundesliga finish since being promoted in 2016), even though his individual production was relatively healthy.

The bigger problem has been that teams don’t really know what to do with him. Simons has played in a Leipzig system that uses a very specific type of No 10 — part wide-forward, part supporting striker — and there aren’t many teams in the top-five leagues who can accommodate such a player.

With that doubt, clubs baulked at the prospect of paying such a large fee for a player who remains somewhat theoretical. What actually is he? What is his best role? And it seems only now, with Leipzig more lenient on their asking price and keen to move on, that interest is being properly formalised.

(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur will face a few familiar opponents in the group stages of this season’s Champions League.

They will make return trips to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt and Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, who they beat in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of last season’s successful Europa League run.

Thomas Frank’s team will also travel to Paris for a UEFA Super Cup rematch against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

The teams they will face — not in chronological order — are Borussia Dortmund (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Villarreal (H), Frankfurt (A), Slavia Prague (H), Bodo-Glimt (A), Copenhagen (H), Monaco (A).

Which game most excites you?

Tottenham have been to Monaco, Bodo/Glimt and Frankfurt (twice) in recent years, so the most exciting away trip is Paris Saint-Germain… the team they played in the Super Cup earlier this month.

But that was Spurs’ first-ever game against PSG, and this will be their first-ever away game at the Parc des Princes. They are the reigning European champions, playing a level of football last season not seen by anyone in years. It should be a memorable night for Tottenham fans who travel, and a chance to tick off a ground that, on a big European night, can create a special atmosphere

Which game worries you?

Spurs made the trip to Bodo/Glimt look easy when they went there in the Europa League semi-finals last season. Might the Norwegian champions be out for revenge when Spurs return there in the league phase? They could well be desperate to prove why they had such a fearsome home record before Spurs flew up to face them. And if they finally hit the levels they had shown in the past, it could be a much trickier return to the Arctic Circle for Tottenham.

What is Thomas Frank’s biggest issue to confront in the tournament?

Tottenham clearly struggled last season with balancing the twin demands of domestic and European competition. The squad was not deep enough to do both simultaneously, and Spurs suffered an injury crisis that derailed the whole season.

Of course, Ange Postecoglou still found a way to manage the squad through to glory in the Europa League final in Bilbao. But it came at the cost of Spurs having to de-prioritise the Premier League, leading to their 17th-place finish. It was a unique situation which will surely not be repeated this year.

So Frank will have to find a way to balance the Champions League with the Premier League, managing his players through two difficult fixtures every week.

Who could be a breakthrough talent for Spurs in the Champions League?

Pape Matar Sarr had a brief taste of Champions League football under Antonio Conte, but he has improved so much since then and has been one of the most impressive players in Frank’s brief Spurs tenure so far. He has started all three games in an advanced midfield position and made himself an absolute nuisance to opponents, making the most of his energy and intelligence in winning the ball back.

He has shown that he can flourish on the big occasions, crossing for Brennan Johnson’s winner in Bilbao. And he will play a big part in anything that Spurs do in Europe this season.

Which team do Tottenham most want to avoid in the latter stages?

No Tottenham fan would relish a two-legged tie against Arsenal, or for that matter, Chelsea.

Spurs’ record against those two in recent years is not much to boast about. But with so many English teams kept apart in this year’s league phase, if they all progress, then the chances of a London derby in the knockouts will obviously go up.

What would be considered a successful finish?

Tottenham have only had two Champions League campaigns since they lost the final to Liverpool in 2019 — and they have both been utterly forgettable.

In both campaigns, Spurs were eliminated at the last-16 stage without putting much of a fight either time: to RB Leipzig in 2020 under Jose Mourinho, and to AC Milan in 2023 at the end of Antonio Conte’s tenure.

There have barely been any positive memories from those campaigns either. A late 2-1 win in Marseille in November 2022 is probably the closest you can get. So, at a minimum, it would be nice if Spurs could feel like they have at least made a real impression on the competition this time. A few memorable nights in the league phase would be a start. Progression to the next stage is important. And getting to a first Champions League quarter-final since 2019 would surely be seen as a success.

Prediction time… how far will Tottenham get?

Their draw does not look especially intimidating, given what they could have got. And unless the schedule really gets on top of them, Spurs should have enough to make it through to the knockout stages. They might not quite have the experience and quality to get top eight, which means they may be at the mercy of a favourable draw in the ‘punishment round’ early in 2026.

But let’s be optimistic and say they will get through that. Maybe a third straight last-16 exit will be where they end up.

(Top photo: David Lidstrom/UEFA via Getty Images)

This weekend’s action delivered plenty of drama for Fantasy Premier League managers — injuries to key assets, breakout performances from potential differentials, and early warning signs for some highly owned players.

It’s still early days, but these moments are crucial in shaping our squads for the weeks ahead.

Newcastle United host Liverpool tonight in the final game of Gameweek 2, but we already have plenty to discuss. Let’s take a look at the standout stories and how they could impact your transfers, captaincy picks and long-term strategy.

Cole Palmer’s injury raises midfield questions

A shock absentee after picking up an injury in the warm-up before Chelsea’s 5-1 win against West Ham United, there’s no clear timeline for the return of Cole Palmer (£10.5m). Keeping a close eye on team news and press conferences is crucial before making any transfers.

If Palmer is out for more than one game, then he’s most likely a sell. There is a case to keep him if he’s only out for one game and you have a good player who can cover.

There is an international break after Gameweek 3, leaving plenty of recovery time.

If Palmer is out for a while, then Joao Pedro (£7.5m) could become a standout pick. He delivered a huge 15-point haul and played the full 90 minutes against Graham Potter’s side. His minutes seem secure and he could be next in line behind Palmer for penalties.

Against West Ham, he started just behind striker Liam Delap (£6.4m), showing how head coach Enzo Maresca is willing to use him in a variety of positions.

Tottenham Hotspur’s stock continues to rise

Continuing their impressive form under Thomas Frank, Spurs kept another clean sheet to round off a solid performance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Their upcoming fixture run looks excellent too as they come up against Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A) and Aston Villa (H).

This is a great time to invest in their assets. On the attacking side, Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m) continues to look like the best option — he seems likely to play regularly and is taking corners, too, which could help his assist numbers.

Brennan Johnson (£7.0m) is also looking good, with two goals in his first two games. Although his minutes are not as secure, he should continue to start unless Spurs sign another left-sided attacker.

There’s still reason to be cautious on Richarlison (£6.6m), despite plenty of praise from Frank after two goals and an assist in his first two games. With Dominic Solanke (£7.4m) in the squad, Richarlison is at risk of being benched or losing his place.

If you are looking to make a defensive transfer this week, Spurs have excellent options at different price points. Pedro Porro (£5.5m) comes at a premium but takes set pieces. Cristian Romero (£5.0m) should rack up defensive contribution points — he hit the threshold against Manchester City, bagging himself a total of seven points. Micky van de Ven (£4.5m) represents great value and is nailed-on to start.

Aston Villa’s struggles and what to do with Ollie Watkins

After failing to score in their opening two games, Aston Villa have been a major disappointment. Watkins (£9.0m) has been sold by more than 431,000 FPL managers but is still the game’s fourth-highest owned forward.

Two blanks will raise questions over his place in FPL squads.

However, with an appealing home fixture against Crystal Palace next up, selling him this week might be premature. At this early stage of the season, owners should give him at least another week. Accumulating free transfers can be valuable and Watkins is, historically, a very reliable asset.

Patience could pay off, as we saw with the hauls from Joao Pedro and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) this week.

Adding to the points in Watkins’ favour, there doesn’t seem to be any standout replacements this week. After his two goals in the 5-0 win against Leeds, Gyokeres faces Liverpool (A) next — not a great entry point — and switching for Joao Pedro, who has Fulham at home, could be a sideways move.

Chris Wood (£7.6m) has a fine fixture against West Ham (H) up next, but then Nottingham Forest travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in Gameweek 4.

Arsenal’s injury concerns

The celebrations after thrashing Leeds were dampened by injuries to Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) and Martin Odegaard (£8.0m).

Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments and the nature of Saka’s hamstring issue strongly suggest he will miss at least a few weeks, which would make him an easy sell for managers.

I would wait for further updates during the week before you make any moves.

One name quickly rising in popularity is Gyokeres, who opened his Premier League account and looks set to be Arsenal’s primary penalty taker, potentially even when Saka returns.

With Liverpool up next, waiting a week before bringing him in makes sense.

(Top photo: Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven; Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

When Tottenham Hotspur’s first goal against Manchester City was initially ruled offside, it didn’t stop their head coach Thomas Frank from encouraging and praising his players.

Quick build-up moves that focused on wide combinations to slice through an opponent were a trademark of Frank’s Brentford last season, and there were signs in Spurs’ pre-season that it would be an important attacking solution for them this campaign.

Tottenham’s third goal against Burnley in the opening weekend of the Premier League was one variation of the quick build-ups Frank has brought to the side, where Richarlison dropped to link the attack before Pape Matar Sarr found Brennan Johnson’s run behind the defence.

Johnson’s opening goal against City in Saturday’s 2-0 win followed the same attacking principles, but the combinations came in the wide area and followed a different pattern.

Against City’s 4-3-3 press, where the far winger moved inside, there was an extra fraction of a second for Spurs’ full-back when he received the ball.

During Tottenham’s build-up, City duo Oscar Bobb and Omar Marmoush didn’t stick tight to Djed Spence and Pedro Porro to be able to press inside the pitch when the ball moved to the other flank.

Frank’s side exploited that by starting their quick build-ups through Porro, before using Mohammed Kudus and Sarr further up the field to manipulate City’s defence. Once the right-back received the ball, Kudus dropped to drag Rayan Ait-Nouri out of position, while Sarr attacked the vacant space.

In this example, Marmoush’s role in City’s press means Porro has an extra second on the ball, which allows the right-back to find the dropping Kudus. Meanwhile, Sarr moves forward to attack the vacant space, but the lack of pace in the move means Ruben Dias can easily pick him up.

On top of that, Ait-Nouri stops Kudus from progressing the ball and Tottenham have to start all over again.

In another example, you can see Marmoush’s narrow position as Micky van de Ven goes back to his goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario.

The Egypt winger doesn’t move towards Porro to be in a position to press Romero if Vicario plays the ball to Van de Ven or Spence, which is logical because Erling Haaland is blocking the passing lane into the right side.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s smart movement, however, allows Tottenham to find Romero, with Marmoush not in a position to defend Porro. Romero then combines with the Uruguay midfielder to find the free right-back.

Once Porro is in a position to progress the ball, the second part of Tottenham’s quick build-up kicks in.

Here, he returns the ball to Bentancur, who immediately plays it behind City’s defence. As planned, Kudus drops to drag Ait-Nouri forward while Sarr attacks the vacant space.

Even if Dias is free to defend the Senegal midfielder, the idea is for Sarr to attack the space on the run (dynamically) against a centre-back who is starting from a rest position (static).

Bentancur’s pass was overhit and Sarr may have been offside, but these attacks were a warning sign of what was coming next.

Tottenham’s opener came from the exact move they had been trying to execute in the first half.

In the build-up to the goal, Tottenham again start the attack through Porro because Marmoush’s pressing role allows the right-back an extra second on the ball.

Considering Porro’s technical ability, that is enough time.

As the right-back shapes himself to progress the ball, Kudus drops to move Ait-Nouri’s replacement, Nathan Ake, out of position and vacate the space for Sarr to attack. The Senegal midfielder complements that by sprinting forward as Porro plays the ball towards the target area.

Attacking the pass from a more dynamic position (on the run) than Dias helps Sarr beat the centre-back to the ball, and outjump him to flick it into the path of Richarlison.

Tottenham’s centre-forward then plays the ball across goal to find Johnson, who scores with a one-touch finish.

Johnson’s goal changed the momentum of the game in Tottenham’s favour, before Joao Palhinha added the second from a high-press situation. Frank’s side maintained the same pressure in the second half to wrap up a victory where the goals represented two key features of this Tottenham team.

As Frank explained in his post-match press conference, the three key themes he wanted to build his principles around against City were the “defensive side of the game, being brave in phase one (build-up) and two (ball progression), and set pieces.”

His encouragement of the players, after Johnson’s goal was initially ruled offside, was because they were getting better at executing the passing pattern which is based on Tottenham’s attacking principles.

Frank then looked to his bench to check if the goal would stand. The answer made him give two thumbs up to the players.

The quick build-up move Tottenham were trying from the beginning of the match ended up being key to their victory.

(Top Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Arsenal overtook rivals Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table after a thumping 5-0 win against Leeds United.

Goals from Jurrien Timber (34', 56') after corners, Bukayo Saka (45+1') and Viktor Gyokeres (48', 90+4') sealed an easy win.

Martin Odegaard and Saka went off with injuries before Max Dowman, 15, became the second-youngest Premier League player of all time, winning a penalty on his competitive debut.

Earlier, Arsenal announced the signing of Eberechi Eze for £60m plus add-ons on a four-year deal from Crystal Palace.

Mikel Arteta was coy when asked about Eberechi Eze before the signing was officially announced but now the England international is officially on board, it is a different story.

Here’s what Arteta said about his latest star recruit:

💬 “You could feel it in the last 24 hours that something else was happening. It's something special; we signed a player with enormous talent who has had a big impact in this league.

“On top of that, he has amazing feelings towards the football club, he has made that clear and his family has made that clear.

“I just spoke to him and he had a massive smile on his face so, welcome to the family.”

Gyokeres put aside his struggles against Manchester United last weekend to show why he can be the striker Arsenal have been craving.

Their marquee signing from Sporting CP got off the mark with a brace.

His first goal showcased his brilliance, running onto a pass over the top from Riccardo Calafiori, before cutting in from the left, surging into the penalty area and striking it past Perri in the Leeds net.

The elation on the 27-year-old’s face was plain to see.

He then scored late on from the penalty spot to put the icing on the cake for Arteta’s side.

Leeds will be pleased to have another game in three days. A trip to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, where Farke can ring the changes, may be just what they need to wash away this disappointment.

It has to be emphasised: very few people would have expected newly promoted Leeds to come away from Arsenal with anything today.

However, there are ways of losing matches. After a stoic opening 30 minutes, the first goal tested the team’s faith in what they were trying to defend.

Three seasons ago, en route to relegation, this type of game would have disintegrated into even more of a rout. Today’s collapse does not herald the drop in 2026, but the manner and timing of the goals will frustrate Farke and the supporters.

Two sloppy set pieces, a poor giveaway by Ilia Gruev and then meek defending against a Gyokeres run were all punished mercilessly.

Leeds and Farke need to move on quickly and not allow this to disrupt the momentum they took out of Monday’s win.

For the first 30 minutes, Leeds were in a decent place at Emirates Stadium. The makings of a blueprint for the toughest away trips of the season were there.

They had to ride their luck at times, but Arsenal were being kept out in the main in that opening period. There are areas which will need refining, however.

Deploying Joel Piroe as the lone striker against two of the most aerially dominant centre-backs in the world, while playing long to him, never looked like working. Lukas Nmecha is arguably a better fit for these trips to the best clubs in the division.

The other big choice to make is how Farke has Lucas Perri distributing the ball. Going long certainly cleared the imminent danger of conceding, but it only ceded possession to the title-challengers time after time.

Yet, when they went short, they looked badly exposed, too. It’s not an easy problem to solve, evidently, but if Leeds hope to take anything from these games, the blueprint needs work.

It almost goes without saying when you concede five goals that your defence needs to improve.

But how much of this season will be about survival for Leeds?

They needed to survive this game but found it difficult, as Farke explained:

💬 “We knew they would come out of the blocks flying. We spoke about needing to survive in the game. Through the centre, they didn’t create anything but through the wings they were dangerous.

“If you want to travel away with points here on such a night you need to be better with your defending.

“We know that this is not a season-defining game for us.”

And as ever, he has a pretty fair assessment of a challenging afternoon for his side. Here’s what he had to say:

💬 “A difficult game for us, travelling without our most important player and captain Ethan Ampadu. It was their first home game on the back of an important win, their new signing was presented before the game and the stadium was buzzing.

“We had to suffer a bit and it was annoying that we conceded from a set piece. They have five shots on target and it is five goals. That was difficult today.

“Long story short, they were the better side and they deserved to win today.”

If Arsenal ever needed justification for their shopping spree this summer, then losing Kai Havertz to injury in the week and Martin Odegaard then Bukayo Saka going off injured, is why Arteta was keen to add to his squad.

When Saka went down in the 51st minute, the physio was quickly on the pitch and the England international appeared to clutch his hamstring when highlighting the issue.

The club’s obvious hope is that the possible injuries to Odegaard and Saka are not serious and both players are able to feature against Liverpool next weekend.

But with the continued emergence of Nwaneri, who replaced Odegaard, and the arrival of Eze, is that Arteta now has strength in depth at Arsenal to hopefully overcome any injuries in a way they couldn’t last season.

Having played in the right-sided No 8 position in three out of the five pre-season games, Nwaneri, who recently signed a new five-year contract with the club, immediately looked comfortable against Leeds.

This is the latest from Mikel Arteta on the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, which forced both Arsenal players off during the match.

It sounds like there could be a bit of a wait to learn the full prognosis:

💬 “Martin it looks like a shoulder problem and we will have that scanned tomorrow. Bukayo had to come off when he was sprinting and he felt something in his hamstring.

“It was his other side (to the one he had surgery on last year) but not great news.

“We lost Kai (Havertz) which is a massive player already, that is why the squad needs to have depth because it is a long, long season and we need everyone to achieve what we want to achieve.”

The Arsenal manager was unsurprisingly very happy with his team after that win — here’s what he had to say:

💬 “A really positive afternoon. You can sense the energy has immediately gone up a level and that's what we were looking for. The team played well, we didn't concede anything and attacked well. Five goals and a clean sheet is a very good start.

“Teams are really well organised in the league and you need to get through them and score in various ways. For Jurrien (Timber) to score two goals after such a long injury, the debut for (Cristhian) Mosquera and of course Max (Dowman) at 15 years old was very special.

“We have to see how he (Max) reacts and deals with the situation, see what his team-mates feel about him but it's clear they want to get him on the ball. To get that reaction and bring that energy on your debut at the Emirates is incredible.

“It's credit to the family and the way they are raised and the environment they have made. To raise those kids in that manner and with that confidence is very rare at 15 in the game.”

Shortly before Arsenal’s players emerged from the tunnel, their latest signing, Eze, made his way onto the pitch to be unveiled in front of a packed Emirates Stadium.

Sporting an Arsenal shirt with his name and the No 10 on the back, Eze held his hands aloft, occasionally clapping and even touching the badge, as the home supporters roared in delight at their new player.

It was the perfect way to get the crowd off their feet ahead of kick-off, with the supporters no doubt enjoying it even more given Arsenal got in ahead of Tottenham Hotspur to complete the deal for Eze.

The 27-year-old got as far as the centre-circle before turning back and making his way back down the tunnel to roars of “Arsenal!”.

He then made his way to the directors’ box, where he sat alongside Richard Garlick, the club’s managing director, to watch his new team-mates in action.

The two-goal Arsenal goalscorer today, striker Viktor Gyokeres, chatted to Sky Sports after the match. Here’s what he said.

💬 “Of course, really happy with the result and it was very nice to score two goals as well. There’s always pressure but I know I’ll take my chances sooner or later. It was a great day.

“It was a short pre-season for me, not too many weeks training, and didn’t play any (full matches) in pre-season so it was important for me to get 90 minutes for the rhythm, to get to know the team.

“I felt more comfortable in how we play and you could see that.

He scored twice and grabbed an assist today, so it is no surprise to see Jurrien Timber head home with the man of the match award. Here’s what he had to say when speaking to Sky Sports:

“A special day. It’s nice first home game this season, we felt the energy of the crowd and the team played really well. Scoring two times and assisting as well, it was an enjoyable day. I definitely haven't scored twice and assisted as well before. Most of my family are here, some friends too.

“Everyone can see the potential Max (Dowman) has. Already, playing against grown men like this. He is a joy to watch and hopefully he will have some amazing years.

“It's a message to ourselves (to win 5-0). We did lots of things well, we look forward to next week at Anfield and we have to do well.”

Leeds were never expected to win here but to lose by such a margin is a painful wake-up call.

They showed naivety on the ball on too many occasions in that match, while some fans might question Daniel Farke’s team selection.

Even so, they looked well off it and Arsenal were cruising. Food for thought before their next Premier League match.

Tottenham Hotspur have held negotiations with Hamburg about a loan move for defender Luka Vuskovic.

No deal is imminent and Vuskovic travelled on Saturday to the Etihad Stadium for Spurs’ Premier League game against Manchester City, but Hamburg are keen on signing the 18-year-old centre-half to reinforce their squad following promotion back to the Bundesliga.

The German club have held talks directly with Tottenham and are hopeful of finding an agreement.

Vuskovic agreed his transfer from Hajduk Split to Tottenham in 2023 in a deal worth around £12m, with Spurs fending off interest from other European clubs to secure his signing. FIFA regulations meant he did not officially join the club until 2025, after turning 18.

Vuskovic featured for Thomas Frank’s side in pre-season and was an unused substitute for the UEFA Super Cup final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and victory over Burnley in their Premier League opener.

The Croatia international spent last season on loan with Westerlo, in the Belgian Pro League, having had a loan spell at Polish side Radomiak Radom during the second half of 2023-24.

A move to Hamburg would also reunite Vuskovic with his older brother, Mario, 23, who moved to the Volksparkstadion in 2021, but who is currently serving a four-year doping ban, due to expire in 2026.

(Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Exactly three months ago, Tottenham Hotspur won their first piece of silverware in 17 years. Beating Manchester United in the Europa League final, securing qualification for this season’s Champions League in the process, was supposed to transform the mood around the club and, for a brief time, it did.

After two games of the new campaign, everything feels fragile and tense, despite an encouraging performance in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain and a 3-0 victory over Burnley.

Spurs have stumbled around in the transfer market and failed to build upon the momentum of their Europa League success. Missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White was disappointing, but Nottingham Forest dug their heels in, and it ended up being a messy situation. It looks as though their north London rivals Arsenal have pipped them to the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace at the last minute. This feels much more inexcusable.

Eze grew up supporting Arsenal and spent five years in their academy before he was released at 13. Maybe he was always waiting to see if they would offer him an emotional return. Palace held off selling him because of their Europa Conference League qualifying tie against Frederikstad on Thursday. If Spurs had been bullish and offered more money, could Palace have been tempted into letting the England international leave earlier?

The difference between how Arsenal and Spurs operate in the transfer market has been laid bare. Dejan Kulusevski underwent surgery on his right kneecap in May and is not expected to return anytime soon. Spurs failed to sign Gibbs-White in the middle of July, and a couple of weeks later, James Maddison suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the final night of their pre-season tour in Hong Kong and South Korea. They have known for a long time that they desperately needed to sign a creative midfielder.

Kai Havertz came off the bench in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday and, since then, has suffered a knee injury. Arsenal have acted decisively and ruthlessly to pivot to Eze after showing initial interest earlier in the summer. Spurs have come close but seem to have ultimately failed to finalise deals for two of the best players on the market. They did not act with any urgency after Maddison underwent surgery.

Spurs fans are enraged and it is easy to understand why. Last summer, after Ange Postecoglou led them to a fifth-place finish during his first season in charge, Dominic Solanke was the only new signing who immediately raised the quality of the starting XI. Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were, and still are, talented project players. Spurs sold several experienced members of the squad, including Oliver Skipp, Emerson Royal, Giovani Lo Celso and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and never replaced them. The squad was undercooked, and they struggled to cope with the demands of competing in the Premier League and the Europa League.

Now it feels like history is repeating itself with their new head coach, Thomas Frank. The 51-year-old is more adaptable than Postecoglou, and if Spurs fail to sign a No 10 before the window closes, he will find a temporary solution. Frank has echoed the claims of chairman Daniel Levy and new chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham, who spent 14 years at Arsenal, that Spurs should be aiming to win the title in the future. How are they supposed to progress when their squad is only marginally better than the one which finished 17th last season? It is arguably weaker when you consider the loss of Son Heung-min, along with Kulusevski and Maddison’s long-term injuries. Meanwhile, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have all spent over £150million on new recruits.

It is not as if Spurs have not spent money this summer. They have converted the loans of Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso into permanent deals, signed Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus, while Joao Palhinha is on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich. Even so, they are still desperately short of quality in key areas if they want to make a strong impression in the expanded version of the Champions League and reclaim a spot in the top six domestically. Eze and Gibbs-White are experienced Premier League players in the peak years of their careers who would have gone straight into the starting XI.

Frank has used a 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2 formation in his first two competitive games. He had great success with Brentford last season using the former. Mikkel Damsgaard operated as the playmaker who stitched everything together, creating countless chances for Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa, who all scored at least 10 goals in the top flight.

None of the potential options in that role for Spurs are perfect. Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr have operated there but seem more suited to the roles of box-to-box midfielders. Bergvall is supremely talented, but it would also be unfair to expect the Swedish teenager to perform at a consistently high level every week.

Kudus operates as a No 10 for Ghana. He has been thrilling on the right wing for Spurs, and previously West Ham United, using his dynamic one-v-one dribbling skills to break open defences and whip crosses into the box. He provided the assists for both of Richarlison’s goals against Burnley. Moving Kudus centrally would make them weaker out wide. Ideally, you need a creative midfielder who draws multiple opponents towards him and creates more space for the wingers like Kudus, Tel and Odobert to attack isolated full-backs.

Spurs will now have to look lower down their list of targets, but Frank made it clear in an interview with The Athletic earlier this month that it might not be the best solution. “The squad needs to be big and robust enough so we can compete in all four tournaments,” he said. “But I can’t have too many players. It’s just so difficult to keep everyone happy. It’s almost impossible. Then we want to see if we can add quality. We don’t want to sign players we don’t think can really improve the squad. I would want to wait.”

Are there any players available, at the right price, who are on the same level as Eze and Gibbs-White? Could they move Kudus into a central role and focus their money on signing a versatile forward — like Manchester City’s Savinho? Whatever the solution, it is hard not to feel as though every time Spurs appear to have made a significant move in this transfer window, a new hurdle arises.

There is still over a week left for Spurs to act, but time and options are running out. Maybe this situation is a repercussion of their delayed decision to sack Postecoglou two weeks after the season ended. Frank was then appointed six days later. By that point, rivals had already signed players and laid the groundwork for other potential moves.

As Frank admitted, it will take time for sporting director Johan Lange and head of scouting Rob Mackenzie “to understand what I’m looking for” when it comes to transfers. Acting quicker with Postecoglou and hiring Frank would have helped.

That is what it ultimately comes down to. Potentially losing out on both Eze and Gibbs-White is disappointing, but this is about so much more than one individual player. Those scenarios reinforce the idea that Spurs have failed to properly kick on following their famous victory in Bilbao.

(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal have an agreement on principle with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze.

The deal is worth in the region of the expired £68million (€78m, $91m) release clause, matching the level of fee Tottenham Hotspur were prepared to pay.

Personal terms are close to being finalised and the 27-year-old is expected to play for Palace against Fredrikstad in the Conference League play-off on Thursday before undergoing a medical with the north London club.

The operation was executed by Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis.

Eze is set to become Arsenal’s seventh signing of what has been a busy first summer under Berta since his arrival from Atletico Madrid.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defender Cristhian Mosquera, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, winger Noni Madueke and striker Viktor Gyokeres have all moved to the Emirates Stadium.

The move for Eze, who was a boyhood Arsenal fan and played for the club’s academy, follows the injury for Kai Havertz, who is being assessed and could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Eze joined Palace from QPR in the summer of 2020 in a deal worth around £17m and has made 169 appearances for the south London club, scoring 40 times. He has been capped 12 times by England, scoring once.

Why Arsenal want Eze

Analysis from Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas

Arsenal are huge admirers of Eberechi Eze’s talent.

The club initially explored a move for Eze when contact negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri were at a delicate stage. Once Nwaneri agreed a new deal, Arsenal’s interest waned, and they focused on other areas of the squad.

Throughout, Arsenal have held concerns over price: they have been loathe to meet a Palace valuation in the region of £60million.

Their pressing need for attacking reinforcements, particularly in the light of Kai Havertz’s injury, may change things. Arsenal are still awaiting the full prognosis for Havertz, but if he is to be absent for a considerable period, it will weaken their attack.

Eze is not a direct replacement for Havertz, but his signing would potentially free up the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard to fill in at centre-forward until the Germany international returns.

Aside from Eze’s obvious quality, there’s an emotional component for Arsenal fans: Eze is a boyhood Arsenal fan who was part of the club’s academy. Throw in the prospect of beating Spurs to his signing, and there’s plenty for Arsenal supporters to be invested in…

What he would bring to Arsenal

Analysis by senior data writer Mark Carey

Mikel Arteta has needed to strengthen the left side of his attack this summer.

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s output was in the good-not-great bucket last season, and it is clear that Arsenal needed players with the same attacking ferocity that comes from their right flank with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Along with Noni Madueke, Eze’s arrival provides that added strength from the left side of the pitch with a truly versatile profile — operating best as a No 10 but able to play on the left side of his team’s attack or drop into a left-sided midfield position if required. Whatever his role, he will look to find the space to impose maximum damage to the opposition with the sharpest efficiency.

In the modern game, those who can break a player-for-player press with a drop of the shoulder or a driving run forward have never been so valuable — opening up the opposition structure with a moment of individual quality as the dominoes begin to fall. Eze also has the ability to thread a pass forward when spaces open up in front of him, making him a double threat in the attacking third.

Acquiring an attacking midfielder of the 27-year-old’s creative profile will be a crucial addition in Arsenal’s attack, and could well be the difference between a good season and a title-winning one.

(Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Arsenal have made their move for Eberechi Eze and the player wants to join them from Crystal Palace.

Talks over the England international between Palace chairman Steve Parish and counterpart Daniel Levy have taken place over recent days but Arsenal’s interest has remained with negotiations now underway between the clubs following the knee injury suffered by Kai Havertz.

Spurs had the conditions of a deal agreed with Palace today and the player but are ready to move on to alternative targets if Eze chooses Arsenal.

Palace would not finalise a deal because they wanted the 27-year-old available for Thursday’s Conference League play-off match with Fredrikstad.

Arsenal have indicated a willingness to meet the conditions and he wants to join them, leaving Spurs with little option but to look elsewhere.

The Athletic reported earlier on Wednesday that Arsenal were actively exploring the transfer market to potentially reinforce their attack in the event Havertz is sidelined for a significant period of time.

Eze, who was a boyhood Arsenal fan and played in the club’s academy, is keen to make the next step in his career and Palace accept he deserves a top move.

Eze ended last season with nine goals in his final 13 matches for Palace, including the winner in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City and a goal in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.

Despite speculation over his future, Eze started for Oliver Glasner’s side in the Community Shield win over Liverpool and Sunday’s Premier League opener against Chelsea.

Speaking after the goalless draw at Chelsea, Glasner said: “You are just talking about rumours. Eberechi Eze, as much as I know, has a contract with Crystal Palace, he’s a Crystal Palace player. I know Ebs’ clause is gone, it’s the club’s decision and we will see what happens.”

Arsenal have already added significantly in attacking areas this summer with Viktor Gyokeres arriving from Sporting CP in a €63.5m move and Noni Madueke joining from London rivals Chelsea for £48.5m. Ethan Nwaneri has also committed his future to the club with a new long-term contract.

Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2020 in a deal worth around £17m and has made 167 appearances for the south London club, scoring 40 times. He has been capped 12 times by England, scoring once.

Why Arsenal want Eze

Analysis from Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas

Arsenal are huge admirers of Eberechi Eze’s talent.

The club initially explored a move for Eze when contact negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri were at a delicate stage. Once Nwaneri agreed a new deal, Arsenal’s interest waned, and they focused on other areas of the squad.

Throughout, Arsenal have held concerns over price: they have been loathe to meet a Palace valuation in the region of £60million.

Their pressing need for attacking reinforcements, particularly in the light of Kai Havertz’s injury, may change things. Arsenal are still awaiting the full prognosis for Havertz, but if he is to be absent for a considerable period, it will weaken their attack.

Eze is not a direct replacement for Havertz, but his signing would potentially free up the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard to fill in at centre-forward until the Germany international returns.

Aside from Eze’s obvious quality, there’s an emotional component for Arsenal fans: Eze is a boyhood Arsenal fan who was part of the club’s academy. Throw in the prospect of beating Spurs to his signing, and there’s plenty for Arsenal supporters to be invested in…

What he would bring to Arsenal

Analysis by senior data writer Mark Carey

Mikel Arteta has needed to strengthen the left side of his attack this summer.

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s output was in the good-not-great bucket last season, and it is clear that Arsenal needed players with the same attacking ferocity that comes from their right flank with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Along with Noni Madueke, Eze’s arrival provides that added strength from the left side of the pitch with a truly versatile profile — operating best as a No 10 but able to play on the left side of his team’s attack or drop into a left-sided midfield position if required. Whatever his role, he will look to find the space to impose maximum damage to the opposition with the sharpest efficiency.

In the modern game, those who can break a player-for-player press with a drop of the shoulder or a driving run forward have never been so valuable — opening up the opposition structure with a moment of individual quality as the dominoes begin to fall. Eze also has the ability to thread a pass forward when spaces open up in front of him, making him a double threat in the attacking third.

Acquiring an attacking midfielder of the 27-year-old’s creative profile will be a crucial addition in Arsenal’s attack, and could well be the difference between a good season and a title-winning one.

(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

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)