The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and more

Welcome to the ninth summer 2026 window edition of The Transfer DealSheet.

Our team of dedicated writers will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on in what promises to be an extremely busy few months. This includes the players who could arrive and the ones on their way out across the Premier League.

The information in this article has been gathered in line with The Athletic's sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each mooted deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Those responses, when they were given, have been included. Sources were granted anonymity to protect their positions.

In this edition, we have Seb Stafford-Bloor, Mario Cortegana and David Ornstein's One To Watch and updates on Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

We aim to bring you analysis you can trust on what is happening at Europe's leading clubs and the latest information we're hearing from across the market.

This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the team or player you want to read about.

One To Watch

While Real Madrid and RB Leipzig remain confident of concluding a deal that will take Yan Diomande to the Spanish capital, they are still to reach an agreement, both on the fee and the structure of the payments, though that is expected to happen imminently.

Leipzig value the player at around €130million (£111.2m; $147.8m) and have already rejected an offer from Madrid worth €100m, which was received more than 10 days ago. A second bid by the Spanish giants, worth in the region of €120m but including a guaranteed €100m, was made over the weekend, but has not yet received an official response.

On Monday, Diomande returned to pre-season training with Leipzig following World Cup duty with Ivory Coast and underwent conditioning tests, alongside his current team-mates.

He is yet to receive permission to travel to Spain or to have a medical, but has already agreed personal terms with Madrid and has spoken with Jose Mourinho, the club's new head coach, as part of that process.

Seb Stafford-Bloor, Mario Cortegana and David Ornstein

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What would Diomande bring Madrid?

Diomande's biggest attribute is his rapid acceleration from a standing start and close control when moving at high speeds.

He recorded eight key passes after a take-on for Leipzig in the 2025-26 Bundesliga, the second highest across Europe's top five leagues after Manchester City's Jeremy Doku (nine). The ability to sustain a rapid pace over big distances is notable, too. Only four forwards — Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Noni Madueke — had more carries of 10 or more yards than his 26 at the World Cup.

Diomande was proficient in front of goal last season too, scoring 12 times in the league while attempting just 1.9 shots per 90 minutes, with an accuracy rate of 49 per cent.

While many of his minutes for Leipzig came on the left, Diomande is two-footed and can feature on the right, too. That is where Mourinho might use him, given Madrid have no natural right-winger in the current squad, though they have two attacking right-backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and newcomer Denzel Dumfries. Should Vinicius Junior depart, Diomande is a shoo-in on the left.

Madrid will aim to maximise the abilities of their players when afforded space, especially in transition. With Marc Cucurella, another new signing, offering plenty of off-the-ball running behind him, Diomande would have opportunities to take his man on and drive towards the box.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

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What else we're hearing

• Paris Saint-Germain have put a valuation of at least €170million on forward Bradley Barcola. The 23-year-old's contract expires in 2028, and he does not wish to extend it. Among the factors under consideration in this valuation are the sums paid by Chelsea for Morgan Rogers (£117m) and Manchester City for Elliot Anderson (£116m). Also taken into account are Barcola's youth, his status as a key player in the club's two Champions League triumphs over the past two seasons and the fact he is a regular for France. The same sources expect competition from Premier League clubs for Barcola, with Liverpool having made him a top target. Arsenal have also shown interest but are prioritising a possible move for Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. PSG sources also point out that their head coach Luis Enrique only wants committed players; therefore, if the club do not secure the desired fee, Barcola may not feature for them next season. Mario Cortegana
• Real Madrid continue to work on a deal for Rodri. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue and, while the Spanish club are working on the assumption that an agreement will be reached, negotiations with Manchester City are still pending. Rodri is under contract until June 2027, and City still hope to secure a renewal but they have yet to receive a positive response from the player, as his wish is to join Madrid. City have not ruled out the possibility that, if no agreement is reached this summer, Rodri enters the final season of his contract without extending. The 30-year-old midfielder has been linked with PSG but sources at the French club deny having approached City or the player's camp, adding that they are not in the market for anyone at that position. Mario Cortegana
• Chelsea are working to sign midfielder Jordan Henderson. Brentford are ready to grant the 36-year-old on a free transfer, with the situation amicable between the player and his club, where he has a year remaining on his contract. Chelsea are also exploring a move for Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion. The 35-year-old striker has 12 months left on his contract and Brighton are aware of the interest. David Ornstein
• John Stones is in negotiations over a move to Inter of Italy as a free agent following his departure from Manchester City this summer at the end of his contract. Talks are ongoing with the hope that the transfer can be completed by the end of the week. David Ornstein
  
• England's third-choice World Cup goalkeeper James Trafford is set to join Leeds United from Manchester City in a deal worth £40million plus bonuses. David Ornstein
• Newcastle United are interested in signing Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. The 24-year-old, who won his first Czech Republic cap in May and was part of his country's World Cup squad, has a release clause of €30million at Portugal's Braga, who will not countenance a departure for less. Pol Ballus and George Caulkin

• Aston Villa continue to explore striking options in case of a possible departure. Ollie Watkins is into the final two years of his contract, while the club are listening to offers for Tammy Abraham. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson remains a long-standing target. Elsewhere, Villa will aim to recruit another wide player following the arrival of Alejandro Garnacho. This is only likely to take place once there have been player departures, namely Leon Bailey, who is in discussions with promoted Hull City. Trabzonspor of Turkey and Spain's Celta Vigo are interested, with Hull yet to agree salary terms and a financial package with Villa. Jacob Tanswell

• Everton are aware of interest in forward Iliman Ndiaye from Al Hilal, but there remains significant work to do to complete a deal. The Saudi Arabian side have received enough encouragement from Ndiaye's camp to consider a bid but talks are yet to begin between the clubs, with Everton expected to place a lofty valuation, similar to the £70million Barcelona paid Newcastle United this summer for Anthony Gordon, on a player who has three years remaining on his contract. Patrick Boyland
• Crystal Palace defender Danny Imray is set to join Wrexham of the Championship in a deal which could rise above £5million. Imray, 23, has not made a first-team appearance since joining the Premier League club from non-League Chelmsford City in 2021. Palace have added a sell-on clause, should he develop further at Wrexham. Matt Woosnam
• Germany's Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement with Racing Genk of Belgium to sign Greek attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas for a fee that could eventually rise to €32million. Karetsas will undertake his medical this week. Seb Stafford-Bloor
• Ipswich are close to an agreement for Union Saint-Gilloise's 26-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. Ipswich hope to announce his signing in the coming hours. Seb Stafford-Bloor

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Why are English clubs dominating net-seller lists?

The World Cup has only been in the can eight days and the transfer window still has five weeks to run, yet patterns are forming.

As ever, Premier League clubs lead the way in spending. As of Monday morning, England's top tier had forked out over £1.4billion ($1.86bn) gross and more than £500m net on reported fees alone (the true figure, inclusive of agent payments and the Premier League's transfer levy, will be higher still). The next highest spending division, Spain's La Liga, trails a long way back.

Correspondingly, English clubs top the list of big spenders, but of particular note are those who rank high on the list of sellers.

West Ham United's bumper deals for Mateus Fernandes (£85million to Tottenham) and Crysencio Summerville (£55m to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia) mean their net spend is the lowest in football so far this summer, and big sales are commonplace for relegated teams such as them, but the identity of other sides clubs with large negative net spends is telling.

After West Ham, each of Nottingham Forest (net receipts this window: £123m) and Aston Villa (£103m) have taken in £100m more than they've spent in the past month and a half. Newcastle's £49m in net fees is the sixth-lowest net spend in Europe this summer, even as they've spent over £100m on new players.

That trio's takings have principally sprung from fellow English clubs. Morgan Rogers (Villa to Chelsea, £117million), Elliot Anderson (Forest to Manchester City, £116m) and Sandro Tonali (Newcastle to Spurs, £92.5m) are the window's three largest transfers to date, and each is an instance of one of England's ‘Big Six' plucking a star player from teams ostensibly trying to disrupt their status at the top end of the Premier League table.

The deals strengthen an increasingly familiar theme. City have now gobbled up the best players from three fellow Premier League sides inside just seven months (Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi being the others), but that is just the thick end of a growing wedge. A combination of superior resources and the way football's finances are regulated is allowing the richest to habitually harvest from those directly behind them — or, in the cases of Chelsea and Tottenham, clubs who have repeatedly finished ahead of them in terms of results on the field.

There's an element of realpolitik — players have long wanted to join the richest, most well-resourced clubs — but the moves we're seeing also reflect the impact financial rules are having. Both Villa and Newcastle are in settlement agreements with UEFA and need to make player sales to get losses down; rivals with greater revenues have pounced accordingly.

The outlier, as ever, are Chelsea. They too are in a UEFA settlement agreement, yet the spending goes on even though sales were needed before the window opened. Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos and Tyrique George have departed Stamford Bridge in recent weeks. Expect more players to say farewell to that corner of west London before the window closes on September 1.

Chris Weatherspoon

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Arsenal

What is behind Arsenal's interest in Vinicius Junior?

Arsenal have been searching for a player who can add a new dimension to the left side of their attack, and are now exploring an ambitious deal to sign Vinicius Junior.

The 26-year-old Brazilian has entered the last 12 months of his contract at Real Madrid. Thus far, there has been no breakthrough in negotiations between club and player over a new one.

Madrid would be concerned about the prospect of losing such a valuable player for free in a year's time, especially as he would be due a significant loyalty bonus next season. Therein lies the opportunity for Arsenal: if Madrid and Vinicius Jr cannot agree terms, the north Londoners believe they are well-positioned to capitalise.

The idea of pursuing the 54-time Brazil international has been approved at all levels of the club. Arsenal recognise it will be very difficult for them to pull this signing off, but are positioning to go for it.

The Premier League champions are also hoping to add a central midfielder, with Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle the primary target.

What else has happened this week?

Arsenal completed the signing of 24-year-old Greek international Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for a fee of €40million ($45.8m, £34m). Tzolis featured for Arsenal in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons, which they won 3-0 with goals from Reiss Nelson, Ethan Nwaneri and 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill.

At academy level, the club announced nine new scholars, including Ethan Nwaneri's younger brother, Emerson.

Arsenal also released a statement revealing that William Saliba is expected to miss an “extended period†with a back injury that forced him off for France in their World Cup semi-finals loss to Spain — something which could have implications for their transfer activity.

Do Arsenal need to make a signing to cover for Saliba?

Arsenal were already looking to strengthen their defence — and Saliba's absence will only intensity that search.

Sporting director Andrea Berta has been looking at expanding their options at the back for some time. In January, Arsenal expressed interest in a summer move for Marc Guehi, before the England international chose to move from Crystal Palace to Manchester City in that window.

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa and free-agent long-time Manchester City star John Stones have been discussed by Arsenal, although Stones now seems set to join Italy's Inter. Another defender on their shortlist is Como's Jacobo Ramon. Arsenal have closely followed the 21-year-old defender's progress in Serie A.

A significant complication is that Real Madrid still own 50 per cent of Ramon's economic rights. Madrid also inserted buyback clauses for the player, who has also been the subject of interest from Chelsea.

Which players could be leaving?

Hamburg and Arsenal remain in contact regarding Fabio Vieira. The midfielder is eager to return to the German side, where he spent last season on loan, but there is still no final agreement between the clubs over a permanent transfer.

James McNicholas

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Chelsea

What has happened this week?

Plenty. On Monday, it emerged that Chelsea are working to secure a move for veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson from neighbours Brentford and also have an interest in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck, although the latter process remains at a very early stage.

Chelsea also agreed to sign Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix for £52million on a six-year contract and midfielder Morgan Rogers officially completed his club-record £117million switch from Aston Villa. A deal to sign USYNT international Benji Flowers from FC Dallas for up to $10m has been put in place. The winger, who is 15, will formally join Chelsea when he turns 18.

The club had a £64m bid for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott rejected. Winger Alejandro Garnacho has left for Villa on a season-long loan with a conditional obligation in place, which is based on a minimum number of appearances, to make it a permanent transfer next year.

It is hard to overstate how much of a swing this is away from Chelsea's previous recruitment strategy.

After years of fairly unswerving focus on youth and potential, executives at Stamford Bridge have thrown themselves into this summer's drive for experience and maturity, as they seek stabilising presences in the team.

If experienced heads in the dressing room are the order of the day, Henderson is about as quintessential as they come. At 36, the midfielder is only eight years younger than Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso.

The Englishman's experience and leadership were cited by head coach Keith Andrews as among the reasons for bringing him to Brentford last summer, while England counterpart Thomas Tuchel, who took Henderson to the World Cup this summer, said in 2025 that he brings “leadership, character, personality, energyâ€.

Yes, Henderson has footballing qualities to add on the pitch and has stayed consistently available for Brentford, making 32 appearances in the Premier League last season. But he is surely being brought in primarily for his non-footballing attributes. That marks a staggering change of approach in Chelsea's recruitment.

Welbeck, too, has a wealth of experience, can add to the number of leaders in the group, provides physicality on the pitch and would be a very useful backup to first-choice striker Joao Pedro, either from the start of some games or off the bench.

He is now 35 and while he has really shone in the latter years of his career, this is clearly a short-term move for a player in his position. In fairness, you could say the same about Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka and John Stones. Chelsea have looked at both during this window and they are also over 30.

Should it go through, Welbeck will be the eighth player Chelsea have signed from Brighton in four years. As explained further down in this section, it would also mean the club having to work on getting more of the strikers they currently own out of the door.

What other positions/players are they looking at?

Bayer Leverkusen attacker Kerim Alajbegovic is still being closely monitored, although he is considered a signing more for the future rather than an immediate necessity for the first XI. Chelsea are working on an asking price of around €25million to €30m for the 18-year-old but are aware they face competition for his signature.

Chelsea made an enquiry for John Stones as reported in the Dealsheet last week but that was before completing the £52m acquisition of Lacroix. Stones is now in negotiations with Inter Milan. The club retain interest in centre-back Jacobo Ramon of Italian side Como, although Lacroix's arrival means Chelsea are more content with what they have in that department.

Discussions with Spain's Rayo Vallecano for Pep Chavarria are ongoing, but Chelsea are looking at other options for the left-back role. They and Rayo are struggling to agree a fee, with the Premier League side wary of the asking price going up since they declared an interest.

Chelsea are considering what to do over their third-choice goalkeeper situation with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders competing for the No 1 position, and Filip Jorgensen being sold. There is a chance the club will not sign anyone and promote former England Under-21 international Teddy Sharman-Lowe from the academy instead. USMNT international Gabriel Slonina, despite currently training at Strasbourg, has also been discussed.

Which players could be leaving?

Alonso will want the chance to assess his squad before making definitive decisions, but Welbeck's potential arrival raises further questions over some of the fringe strikers.

Nicolas Jackson, who has a £65million price tag and is interesting Aston Villa, is among a group of players earmarked to join up with Chelsea's pre-season tour to Australia and East Asia next week following their post-World Cup breaks.

This will give an opportunity for Alonso to assess Jackson at the same time as Liam Delap. Both have interest from multiple clubs in England and abroad, and there is a strong possibility one of them will be sold.

Newcomer Emmanuel Emegha, currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, is also yet to be guaranteed a spot. Chelsea have already decided that Marc Guiu will leave, either on loan or a permanent basis. Clubs across Europe are keen, albeit the asking price is £25million.

Pedro Neto has been left off the not-for-sale list but is still valued by the club, and it will take a very high bid to sign him. The same applies for Enzo Fernandez (rated at £120million) and Malo Gusto (£75m).

Chelsea have held talks with Como over a sale of Trevoh Chalobah. They are asking for a package worth up to £35million and no agreement has yet been reached. Meanwhile, Axel Disasi can go for £25m; Benoit Badiashile is also expected to depart. He is priced at £30m.

Aaron Anselmino is taking part in pre-season training but a decision on what happens next with him has yet to be made. The aim is to loan Mamadou Sarr to an English club.

Chelsea are also looking to seal the departures of David Datro Fofana (sale), Omari Kellyman, Deivid Washington, Caleb Wiley and Shumaira Mheuka (all loans).

Chelsea also have Dastan Satpaev, who has just completed a move from FC Kairat of Kazakhstan. While his exact role for the coming season has yet to decided, he is not for sale.

Simon Johnson and Cerys Jones

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What exactly does Welbeck offer Chelsea?

At this point in his career, Welbeck is a penalty-box expert. Among players to have attempted 30 or more shots in the Premier League last season, only four had a better shot-to-goal conversion rate than his 23 per cent, while only six got a higher share of their attempts on target than his 50 per cent.

Welbeck is capable of keeping defenders on their toes in different ways with his off-the-ball runs, while also serving as a shooting threat from outside the box. His link-up play is effective and he has thrived when involved in quick pass-and-move sequences at Brighton.

This was especially true when he played ahead of Joao Pedro, who he would reunite with should he move to Chelsea, for the south coast club. Welbeck would also be able to create space for Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer to wreak havoc.

While he is in great shape and is energetic out of possession, whether he can lead a press for 90 minutes at age 35 is a question mark.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised Welbeck's leadership last season, saying after the 2-1 win against Liverpool in March, “He's not only so valuable for us as a goalscorer but also as a leader on and off the pitch.†Both of those qualities would be welcome for a young Chelsea squad who could do with more attacking threat off the bench.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

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Liverpool

What has happened this week?

Young Liverpool defender Amara Nallo joined Finnish club HJK Helsinki on a season-long loan. Goalkeeper Armin Pecsi secured a temporary move of his own to Austrian Bundesliga outfit TSV Hartberg.

Kyle Kelly completed a switch to National League outfit Forest Green Rovers on loan, though in his case it's until January not the full campaign. A deal has been agreed for Kelly's fellow under-21s midfielder Tommy Pilling to sign for Slovakian club MFK Zemplin Michalovce on a permanent basis. There is no up-front transfer fee, but there are add-ons linked to appearances and Liverpool have also negotiated a sell-on clause.

Should Barcola be the priority now in the window?

Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool's top target as they look to recruit an elite replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Signing the 23-year-old France international would represent a major statement of intent at the start of new head coach Andoni Iraola's reign, but agreeing a deal with Paris Saint-Germain won't be straightforward.

With Salah gone and Hugo Ekitike out until midway through this season following an Achilles injury, attacking reinforcements are a necessity and Barcola would be an exciting addition.

What positions/players are they looking at?

As well as needing to sign a winger, Liverpool are also considering midfield and defensive options.

Regarding the midfield, much will depend on what happens regarding the futures of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott. There are high hopes for youngster Trey Nyoni, but it remains to be seen whether the 19-year-old can force his way into Iraola's plans for this season or he's loaned out to gain regular first-team action.

Iraola has admitted Liverpool are “thin†defensively, with Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley both still recovering from serious knee injuries. Ideally, they need to recruit a defender who could cover both the centre-back and right-back roles.

Which players could be leaving?

Jones is inside the final year of his contract and has been the subject of interest from Italy's Inter this summer. Elliott is waiting to see where he stands in terms of potential game time after returning from his disappointing loan season at Aston Villa.

Federico Chiesa has been linked with a return to his native Italy having only started nine games for Liverpool across his two seasons, but the former Juventus forward told reporters after Saturday's 4-2 win against Sunderland to begin the club's pre-season tour in the United States that he wants to stay and fight for his place.

More youngsters will be loaned out later in the window once Iraola has had the chance to properly assess them.

James Pearce

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Manchester City

What has happened this week?

City announced contract extensions for Abdukodir Khusanov and Phil Foden. Real Madrid's interest in Rodri was sparked after Spain's World Cup final win last Sunday.

The importance of the new contracts that City have tied up, with one for Jeremy Doku to come, is highlighted by Rodri's situation, with the Spaniard having one year left on his deal, opening the door for suitors to negotiate a lower price than usual.

With Elliot Anderson now through the door, what do City need to do next?

City have long been looking at signing two midfielders this summer, and that will become especially important if Rodri does leave for Madrid.

With the contract talks wrapped up and the World Cup over, all of the focus will have to be on transfers and ensuring that new manager Enzo Maresca has a strong squad to work with, and that has always been City's intention for this summer.

What positions/players are they looking at?

City are expecting to have a busy transfer window, due to the amount of players who could leave and the replacements that would come in. Their priority areas heading into the summer were right-back, central midfield and winger, but exits would mean different positions need to be addressed, such as in goal, given Leeds target James Trafford seems certain to leave.

Which players could be leaving?

The list is inevitably the same as it has been for weeks now. Rodri is of interest to Madrid, Trafford is wanted by Leeds and Rico Lewis, Savinho and Nico Gonzalez are all considered to be potential departures.

There are some doubts around the futures of Omar Marmoush and Tijjani Reijnders, although the latter may benefit from a change of manager. Ruben Dias has also been of interest to Madrid, while Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish will be moved on if the right options come along.

Sam Lee

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Manchester United

What has happened this week?

United signed Tynan Thompson, an 18-year-old winger from Spurs for a fee of £4million plus £4m in possible add-ons.

Goalkeeper Kit Margetson, 20, also joined after the club agreed a compensation package with Swansea City of the Championship. The Wales Under-21 international made 31 appearances last season on loan to Connah's Quay Nomads in the Cymru Premier Division.

Michael Carrick's team flew to Norway to face Rosenborg in their latest pre-season friendly, winning 5-0 with goals from Shea Lacey, Joshua Zirkzee, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass and Ethan Williams.

Does Thompson's arrival impact first-team plans?

United have signed Thompson to become part of their emerging talent pool — youngsters viewed as having shone at academy level who are on the cusp of breaking into senior football. United think there is value in acquiring players in this bracket.

Ayden Heaven was brought aboard in the same way when he joined from Arsenal for £1.5million in January 2025. Heaven, now 19, has since made 24 first-team appearances for United and club staff would be very happy with that kind of contribution from Thompson.

Scout Sam Williams, who returned to United in June 2024 after helping Ipswich Town win Premier League promotion, heads up this area and worked on both the Heaven and Thompson deals.

United will see how Thompson fares in first-team training, and he will likely get games at under-21 level, but his presence does add depth to an area they had been looking to strengthen. He is seen as an exciting ball-carrying winger who can beat opponents and provide goals and assists.

Together with Marcus Rashford's prospective return, Thompson could provide support for Mateus Cunha and/or Patrick Dorgu on the left side, meaning United's transfer attentions are focused at left-back instead.

What positions/players are they looking at?

A third midfielder, after the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, is on the agenda, with several options under consideration. Work has been done on Bournemouth's Alex Scott but Chelsea, who had a £64m bid for him rejected, are currently seen as the likeliest destination if he is sold. Bournemouth say Scott is not for sale.

Lewis Hall of Newcastle remains a player of interest should United decide to go for a left-back.

United are also looking at the market for a striker to share the load with Benjamin Sesko. In 2024 and 2025, they held talks over re-signing Danny Welbeck from Brighton, getting quite far in the process last year, but they have so far shown no indication of moving again for the 35-year-old, who is now the subject of discussions with Chelsea.

Welbeck, who came through United's academy and made his senior debut for the club in 2008, has scored 23 Premier League goals across the past two seasons and many fans have used social media to voice their desire to see him return. It might be that United feel they have sufficient options at centre-forward with Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Rashford, should the latter stay.

Recruitment staff have weighed up centre-backs but that is not an area being pursued. Lisandro Martinez's injury, sustained during the World Cup final, is a muscle strain, so he should be back before the start of the Premier League campaign.

Which players could be leaving?

Zirkzee, who United might be open to selling, is attracting interest.

Juventus have made a check on his circumstances, as have two Premier League clubs. Ajax also enquired on United's stance over the Dutch forward, but are not expected to pursue a deal amid the arrivals of Marcos Leonardo from Al Hilal and Tolu Arokodare of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Zirkzee scored an excellent goal in a good display against Rosenborg.

Amass, 19, also found the back of the net in that game, completing a slick team move, but could leave the club during this window. United are said to prefer a permanent transfer in the region of £6million.

Several Championship clubs have made approaches, with offers being discussed. Amass did well on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season before being borrowed in January by fellow second-tier side Norwich City, where he suffered an injury. He has impressed so far this summer.

Radek Vitek, who started in goal against Rosenborg, has interest from several clubs. Fellow keeper Altay Bayindir is also set to leave.

Laurie Whitwell

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Newcastle United

What has happened this week?

Newcastle completed their fourth signing of the summer, with the capture of Aladji Bamba from Monaco in a deal worth up to €40million (£34.1m).

The 20-year-old defensive midfielder had not been previously linked with a move to Tyneside but, once Aston Villa pipped them to Johan Manzambi, the hierarchy moved swiftly to secure his signature.

Head coach Eddie Howe described Bamba as someone who “will bring unique quality†and who is “a lovely size and good technicallyâ€. There was a caveat, however, that “he's going to need a little bit of time and patienceâ€.

Howe made those remarks following Newcastle's 1-1 friendly draw with fifth-tier neighbours Gateshead on Saturday, when he spoke for the first time about the club's shift in transfer policy to bringing in younger players. “I'm very supportive of what the club wants to do,†Howe said, having singled out the performance of Sean Steur, the 18-year-old arrival from Ajax, who was the only summer signing to start that match.

But Howe did not hide his disappointment over the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, describing this as “another challenging summer so far†personally. He was not questioning why those two were offloaded, more lamenting what were necessary decisions. “We don't want to lose our best players,†he said. “Losing those big two was painful for us and difficult.â€

Elsewhere, long-term target James Trafford is joining Leeds from Manchester City. Newcastle tried to sign Trafford during each of the previous two summers (he rejoined City from Burnley a year ago) and he was also Howe's primary goalkeeper target heading into this window. However, Newcastle moved on to pursuing potential alternatives earlier this month, and are interested in signing Portuguese side Braga's goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, as reported above.

There was positive news on Monday as Harvey Barnes signed a new long-term contract.

Is the Bruno Guimaraes situation becoming a distraction?

Undoubtedly.

Newcastle have been firm and consistent in their stance that their captain is not for sale and that they would not welcome any offers, and they insist they will not be bullied into lowering their demands. There is also bewilderment about Arsenal's approach to potentially signing him, which has been to let this play out through intermediaries.

Guimaraes has indicated that he wishes to join Arsenal and claims of impending bids continue to surface. But Newcastle are adamant they have not received a direct offer from Arsenal, nor have there been club-to-club discussions. There is a belief on Tyneside that the champions are unlikely to get close to their valuation of Guimaraes, but that is only a suspicion and it is yet to be tested. The same is true for Guimaraes and how he reacts, with Newcastle expecting him to remain professional, though nothing can be guaranteed.

On Saturday, Howe revealed that he'd spoken to the Brazil midfielder before, during and after the World Cup and that they were “really good conversationsâ€, but he also admitted he has little control over how this matter gets resolved. “I don't know what's going to happen with Bruno's future,†he said. “That's for other people to speculate about, but also conversations that I'm not part of.â€

There will be a keen focus on La Manga in Spain, where Newcastle head for a training camp this week, given that Guimaraes is scheduled to return on Friday, July 31, following his World Cup exploits with Brazil. “There's nothing to say Bruno won't be back training with us,†Howe said.

If the midfielder does not return, it will be huge news and really will bring about echoes of last summer and Alexander Isak's drawn-out move to Liverpool. But even if Guimaraes does come back to train, that will not necessarily put an end to a saga which risks bleeding into the start of the new Premier League campaign.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Howe wants to bring in at least one full-back and a goalkeeper. Whether another wide attacker is pursued later in the window remains to be seen and depends on outgoings.

At full-back, 21-year-old Joaquin Seys from Club Brugge of Belgium was discussed in January. Despite repeatedly being linked with Milan's Fikayo Tomori, Newcastle are not pursuing the 28-year-old England international defender.

Goalkeeper-wise, with Trafford no longer a target, discussions have been held with alternatives. As well as Hornicek, Parma's Zion Suzuki, a 23-year-old Japan international, had featured during internal discussions, while the name of Brighton's Carl Rushworth, 25, was also floated.

Which players could be leaving?

Nick Pope is expected to go, should a new No 1 goalkeeper arrive. Newcastle cannot allow him to depart until they have signed, or are confident of landing, a replacement. No firm interest has yet been shown in the 34-year-old, though.

Joe Willock is available, with the former Arsenal midfielder into the final year of his contract, and talks have been held between Besiktas of Turkey and Newcastle. Jacob Murphy is also into the last 12 months of his deal, and bids would be considered.

Sean Neave, the forward, and Leo Shahar, the right-back, may both be considered for potential loan moves. However, temporary exits for the two 19-year-olds will not be sanctioned until later in the summer, given the depleted resources Howe is currently working with.

Neave started against Gateshead, with Will Osula absent due to a minor groin problem, and Shahar has deputised at right-back, given Tino Livramento is still recovering from a calf operation.

George Caulkin

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Tottenham Hotspur

What has happened this week?

Tottenham kicked off their pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi named a 35-man travelling squad which included new signings Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke, along with Lucas Bergvall.

Spurs have rejected offers for Bergvall from Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, after the midfielder informed them of his preference to leave earlier this summer. Before the 2-0 victory over Auckland FC at the weekend, De Zerbi said he had not spoken to the Sweden international about his future yet, but planned to.

“We will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us,†the Italian added. “There will be a big competition to play (at Tottenham) because, at the end, I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution.â€

Bergvall's future remains uncertain but Spurs did sanction the sale of forward Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough of the Championship. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan in that division with Oxford United and scored 11 goals in 44 appearances. Multiple clubs were interested in signing him but he felt Middlesbrough represented the best opportunity.

Although it feels bittersweet that Spurs have sold promising young talents in Lankshear, Alfie Devine and Luka Vuskovic this summer, they have earned a decent amount of money through those sales, which is crucial as there are other areas of De Zerbi's squad which still require improvement.

Did the pre-season tour squad give a clear indication of plans?

Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi and Djed Spence are enjoying time off after reaching the latter stages of the World Cup, but there were a couple of eye-catching exclusions. Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr were omitted, though De Zerbi has revealed they both requested an extended break.

“Bentancur (who played in the World Cup for Uruguay) asked me for one week more because he suffered a very tough season last season, and Pape Sarr (who was in Senegal's squad in North America) has a personal problem, and he asked me for one week more,†De Zerbi said. “But nothing, no problem; nothing more than I said.â€

Despite the arrivals of fellow midfielders Fernandes and Tonali, Bentancur should be a key figure in the coming campaign. He signed a new long-term contract in October and played a key role in helping Spurs avoid relegation when he returned from injury towards the end of last season.

Sarr is in a different position. He only started 13 league games last season and will probably drop further down the pecking order with Fernandes and Tonali now in the mix. Although the 23-year-old has missed this tour for personal reasons, it feels like his time with Spurs has reached a crossroads.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Tottenham deserve a lot of credit for upgrading their midfield and defence before the start of the season but now they need to recruit further forward.

They never adequately replaced the elite goalscoring output of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons have shown flashes of their ability when fully fit, but they need more support. Spurs made several offers for Manchester City winger Savinho last summer and retain an interest in him. Savinho and Xavi played together at Dutch club PSV during the 2022-23 season.

De Zerbi said on the pre-season tour that Tottenham are “not finished yet†in terms of recruitment and “have to bring another couple of playersâ€.

“The target now is to complete the attacking positions,†he added. “We want the first target, the first level, because we have, already, important players. But I think to start a new project, we need another couple of important players, for sure.â€

Which players could be leaving?

The other high-profile player to miss out on the pre-season tour is Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italy international goalkeeper was a member of the leadership group last season and started every match until late March, when he underwent hernia surgery. Vicario's situation completely changed in the campaign's last couple of months as Antonin Kinsky seized his opportunity and seemed like a more compatible keeper for then new-appointment De Zerbi's style of play.

Vicario's absence from the tour is officially due to a minor injury. However, on last year's trip to Hong Kong and South Korea several injured players, including Solanke and James Maddison, travelled with then head coach Thomas Frank. Vicario staying behind feels like the clearest indication yet that his time in north London will probably come to an end this summer.

Jay Harris

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Barcelona

What has happened this week?

Barcelona announced and unveiled their second signing of the summer, Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi.

The full agreement was confirmed on Thursday, when the German forward signed a five-year contract to complete a deal involving an initial fee of €22million. Adeyemi trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday.

Barca have also played their first friendly, a behind-closed-doors match against local third-tier side CE Europa. A team mostly consisting of academy players won the game 4-1. All goals were scored by La Masia prospects: Ibrahim Diarra, Hector Fort, Ebrima Tunkara and Alex Gonzalez.

Tunkara is certainly a name to keep an eye on. He only turned 16 this year and is already training with the first team. Last month, he was named the best player of the Under-17 European Championship, playing for semi-finalists Spain.

There has not been significant progress on any of the big transfer targets Barcelona have this summer, but the club are expecting to announce the arrival of 18-year-old talent Jesse Bisiwu soon. Barca are in advanced talks with Club Brugge for the winger, who would be expected to start off with the reserve team, Barca Atletic, while manager Hansi Flick and the first-team unit keep monitoring him.

Barcelona's senior squad departed on Monday to England, where they will be based at the St George's Park complex for a pre-season camp. They will play two more friendlies there, including one on Friday against Birmingham City of the Championship at St Andrew's. The second will most likely be behind closed doors, against Preston North End from the same division on Monday.

Will Frenkie de Jong's injury require Barcelona to dip into the market?

That is not currently Barca's plan but the news has caused quite a stir in the club.

The club announced last week that De Jong has a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and that it has been decided he will not have surgery for now.

Barca executives and decision-makers were not pleased by how the 29-year-old Netherlands midfielder handled his fitness situation. Sources within the club, who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect their roles, told The Athletic that De Jong preferred to not risk injury at the end of last season in order to arrive at the World Cup in better shape. Then he picked up this problem at the start of the tournament, and played through it for multiple games.

De Jong posted a message on his social media channels explaining the injury was initially not deemed too serious. But when he checked back with Barcelona and underwent further tests, all sides realised he had torn the ligament.

“It is difficult for me to see people questioning my commitment to the club because of false reports,†De Jong said in his statement. “Football is everything to me and I have always given everything I have for FC Barcelona and my national team.â€

This injury provides a great opportunity for La Masia talent Marc Bernal. The 19-year-old has progressed very positively over the past two seasons and is seen at Barca as the long-term heir in the holding midfield role. Bernal was been involved in pre-season from the start with Flick's team as he was not involved in the World Cup.

Marc Casado could also fill the role, but Barca remain open to selling the 22-year-old this summer. Academy prospect Brian Farinas, also a midfielder who played with the club's reserves last season, has impressed Flick in the first weeks of training. Farinas started against CE Europa.

What positions/players are they looking at?

It will hardly come as news, but Barcelona's main target is still someone for the No 9 role. The most-liked candidate to fill the gap left by Robert Lewandowski's departure to MLS is Julian Alvarez, but over the past couple of weeks there has been growing pessimism about his signing.

Atletico Madrid have not softened their stance, with their CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin saying they would not sell Alvarez, “not even for €200mâ€. Barca will have to explore the market for other options, unless there are any more twists in this saga.

Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi is a player Barca's sporting executives like and are monitoring, but The Athletic understands the Premier League club are not willing to entertain the sale of the 20-year-old Frenchman.

Barca are also open to bolstering their defence. The latest name to come up in local reports is that of Aymeric Laporte. Catalan media reported last weekend's World Cup final winner would have a €15million release clause in his contract with Athletic Club, something that sources from the Basque side have denied to The Athletic.

Sources from Barca's end say Laporte is a player they like, but no significant steps have been taken towards his signing. The club's approach has always been that for anyone new to come in at the back, some of their current defenders need to leave first.

The club were open to listening to offers for Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde or Ronald Araujo, but none of those three are keen to leave Barcelona right now.

Which players could be leaving?

Barcelona and Ajax reached an agreement over a one-season loan for goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, but the move has not been finalised and the 34-year-old has travelled with Flick's squad to England. Sources close to the deal say a tax-related issue has prevented Ter Stegen from joining Ajax sooner. There is still belief that a move can be concluded in the upcoming days, but there is no clear timeframe for it.

But the biggest name in Barcelona when addressing departures is Ferran Torres. The future of the man who scored the only goal of the World Cup final is in doubt: he has only a year remaining on his contract. The 26-year-old's significant salary and the fact that, as exclusively revealed by The Athletic, Barca agreed as part of his 2022 transfer to pay his previous club Manchester City an additional €7million if Torres ever signed a new deal at Camp Nou, were obstacles.

Sources from the club and the player's camp say all scenarios are still open. Torres could still stay and extend his contract, but Barcelona's board would also sanction a sale if they don't manage to reach an agreement over a new deal. Paris Saint-Germain have been linked to Torres as a replacement for Goncalo Ramos, who has joined Milan.

The situations of Casado and Roony Bardghji are open, too. Barca are keen on selling Casado in order to raise funds as he has had limited involvement in Flick's plans, while the plan with Bardghji is to find a loan club where he can enjoy regular game time.

Pol Ballus

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Real Madrid

What has happened this week?

With the World Cup now over, Madrid's transfer window activity has gathered pace.

As my colleagues at The Athletic revealed, they have entered the race for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with the player now leaning towards a move to the Bernabeu. The club are also exploring a move for Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, the World Cup winner and Golden Ball recipient whose contract expires in 2027.

If the potential arrivals are generating excitement, the possible departures could be just as significant. Club sources expect further outgoing business in the coming weeks, and two names emerged over the past few days.

Arsenal are exploring a move for winger Vinicius Junior. The Brazil international is under contract only until summer 2027, and negotiations over a new deal have yet to make meaningful progress. Meanwhile, former Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa's new employers Fulham want striker Gonzalo Garcia on a permanent transfer.

The situation surrounding promising midfielder Thiago Pitarch may have changed.

The Athletic had previously reported that the club were undecided over whether to keep him with the first team for the coming season, but he suffered a blow to his left knee during his first training session after returning from the summer break. He is not thought to have suffered a serious injury, but he is expected to be sidelined until after the transfer window closes on September 1, an absence of up to eight weeks.

Mourinho liked Garcia — if he leaves, will he want a replacement?

Sources close to new Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho say he not only likes Garcia, but is also keen for him to stay. If Garcia were to leave, attention would inevitably turn to fellow striker Endrick. The Brazilian has returned from a six-month loan at French side Lyon and is currently Madrid's only recognised alternative to Kylian Mbappe through the middle.

The same sources say Mourinho's preference is for a more traditional No 9, and that Madrid have been sounding out the market for that profile. However, there is no clarity at this stage over whether the club will pursue a move for such a player.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Mourinho, who has returned for a second spell as Madrid manager with significant influence over recruitment, would like to strengthen his options with a left-footed centre-back and a midfielder.

The club's position remains unchanged: departures will be needed before any further arrivals. That makes centre-back Raul Asencio one to watch. Madrid have been working on a possible exit for him for some time, and his departure would increase the chances of bringing in a replacement.

Earlier this summer, Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic caught the attention of Madrid's scouting department. Chief scout Juni Calafat watched him playing for Croatia during the World Cup but the interest never developed into anything concrete and he ultimately joined Brighton in a €54million deal.

Which players could be leaving?

Alongside Asencio, the coming days will also be important for attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who only joined Madrid from River Plate of Argentina for €63million last summer. Club sources acknowledge he is another who could leave, although his representatives are expected to meet club executives this week before a decision is made on his future.

Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is another situation worth monitoring. Madrid view him as a player who could move on under the right circumstances, but every indication from the France international so far is that he wants to stay.

In addition, Sevilla are working on a deal for Fran Gonzalez, who is expected to leave Madrid after serving as their third-choice goalkeeper. The 21-year-old is highly rated at the club and was particularly valued by their former goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis.

Guillermo Rai