Manchester City could be set to lose three superstars in a drastic transfer window, while Chelsea is set for a squad clean-out following their spending spree in the last 12 months. And Saudi Arabia’s poaching raid on Premier League superstars has continued.
Here’s all the latest in a big Premier League Rumour Mill!
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Bayern Munich are reportedly in advanced talks to sign fullback Kyle Walker, per Sky Germany, after he fell down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.
Walker was left on the bench for the Champions League final with Guardiola opting for Manuel Akanji instead. A change to City’s system – with defender John Stones pushing forward into the midfield – has played a key role in pushing fellow England international Walker out of the starting XI.
In April, Guardiola said of Walker’s place in the system: “He cannot do it.
“He will always have pace; Kyle at 60 years old will be the fastest player in this room. To play inside you have to have educated movements – he doesn’t have every one of the characteristics.”
33-year-old Walker has one year remaining on his contract, and has been a key part of City’s dominance in recent years after arriving from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m. He has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League since then.
But he’s not the only big name who could depart, with widespread reports that Bernardo Silva will be allowed to leave the club.
Silva has long been linked to an exit in recent years – and was linked to a move to Barcelona last season before the Spanish side was priced out – but played a crucial role in City’s treble success this season, making over 50 appearances.
Barcelona remain a likely destination, though Barca president Joan Laporta said in January the club could not afford a massive fee for the superstar attacker: “Bernardo Silva for 80 million (Euro) will surely not come … because we will not pay them.”
The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, but City reportedly are open to a sale if the price is right. French giants PSG have also been linked.
And the future of midfield maestro Ilkay Gundogan is still well and truly up in the air. The City captain’s contract expires in less than two weeks, but Sky Sports reports City have only offered the 32-year-old a one-year contract with an optional additional season.
Barcelona, looking to sign a midfielder after the great Sergio Busquets left the Catalan club, would almost certainly pursue the star on a free transfer and offer a longer deal. Arsenal has also been linked, though their priority remains signing West Ham’s Declan Rice.
The Gunners look set to offload Thomas Partey to help fund the Rice move, per Fabrizio Romano.
CHELSEA ALSO LOOK TO CLEAN OUT CLUB
Chelsea’s record-breaking transfer spree in the last 12 months – the first year under its new American owners – has the club set to offload a host of stars in a major clean-out.
French midfielder N’Golo Kante is on the brink of moving to Saudi Arabia, and he’s not the only one being targeted for a move to join Cristiano Ronaldo and the big names in the Gulf nation.
Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal have lodged an opening bid worth an estimated £21m-£25m for Blues defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. Koulibaly only arrived at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago but talks are ‘advanced’ over his exit. Romano also reports Hakim Ziyech is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia.
And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Edouard Mendy are also being targeted by clubs in that league, according to Mundo Deportivo, while The Guardian names Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku as Saudi targets.
According to Sky in Italy, Inter Milan is also targeting Romelu Lukaku, with the star striker hoping to stay at the Italian club after a successful loan stint.
Fullback Marc Cucurella – who signed from Brighton for £60m last year – is reportedly up for grabs. The 24-year-old made 24 appearances and Newcastle has been linked.
Arsenal is closing in on a £60m deal for Blues attacker Kai Havertz, despite some late interest from Bayern Munich, according to The Sun.
Manchester United had a £40m bid for midfielder Mason Mount rejected, but the Daily Mail reports an improved offer worth £50m is incoming. The Times reports Chelsea is hoping for a fee of £70m.
And Mateo Kovacic is another on the chopping block, with the club in talks with Manchester City over a sale.
With all these potential outgoings, Chelsea is equally looking to bolster their stocks.
The club has agreed personal terms with Villareal attacker Nicolas Jackson, according to The Athletic. He has a €35m release clause and had been set to move to the Premier League with Bournemouth in January before a hamstring injury, but now is set to join the Blues.
Chelsea are also set to submit a bid for Brighton’s star midfielder Moises Caicedo, a player who sparked a fierce transfer battle between the Blues and Arsenal in January.
The Gunners bid £60m plus add-ons back then, while Sky Sports reports the Blues did not make an official offer but were strongly interested.
Now, Arsenal have pulled out of the race, per The Times, while Chelsea is expected to come back with a similar fee in their offer.
Chelsea could also send Conor Callagher the other way in a cash-plus-player swap.
BOMBSHELL AS BARCA SET TO MISS OUT ON PL STAR
Wolves captain Ruben Neves is reportedly close to becoming the next major player to arrive in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal set to spend £47 million ($60 million) on the Portuguese international.
Sky Sports and the BBC reported on Sunday that Neves, who only had one year left on his contract, will leave for Wolves’ club record fee.
Thanks to its oil riches, Saudi Arabia, the conservative Gulf monarchy frequently targeted over its human rights record, has swiftly achieved a prominent role in world sports, dishing out billion of dollars in the process.
Karim Benzema joined his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in moving to the Saudi Pro League earlier this month in what is expected to be just the start of a series of move for stars based in Europe.
France’s World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante will reportedly turn down a contract renewal at Chelsea to join Benzema at Al-Ittihad.
But in contrast to recent moves for players in the twilight of their careers, Neves, 26, still has his prime years ahead of him.
Barcelona had held a long-term interest in the former Porto midfielder but appear set to miss out.
A huge offer would ease Wolves’ financial pressures.
They have been under pressure to sell to avoid breaching Premier League spending rules after splashing out £150 million on transfers over the past 12 months.
Neves has made 253 appearances for Wolves, scoring 30 goals, since arriving in 2017.
He helped them win promotion from the Championship a year later and then to two consecutive seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League.
Wolves also reached the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020, but have struggled to replicate that success and finished 13th last season.
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ARSENAL GUN’S TRANSFER STATEMENT
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun found the target as the United States won the CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday and then took aim at his club’s hierarchy, saying he will not accept another loan move.
Balogun, who switched his national team allegiance from England to the US last month, spent last season on loan at French Ligue 1 club Reims where he impressed with 21 goals.
He further added to his growing reputation with a clinical strike on Sunday to seal a 2-0 win for the US against Canada, winning a medal in just his second game for his new team.
The 21-year-old said he now plans to take some vacation time but made clear he is not in the mood for another temporary transfer.
“What I can say is that I definitely won’t go on loan again,” he said. “I’m not sure (about) the discussions that are going to take place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. But I’m just committed to now, I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family,” he said.
Despite his breakthrough season in France, he will face a tough battle to break into the starting line-up at the Emirates where Brazil international Gabriel Jesus is the first choice centre-forward.
Arsenal also have another promising young striker in Eddie Nketiah and that situation has led Balogun to be linked with European clubs such as Inter Milan and AC Milan.
