Florian Wirtz being linked with a move to Chelsea is not a high new entry on the Rumour Ranking, while Arsenal are eyeing another winger...
Florian Wirtz being linked with a move to Chelsea is not a high new entry on the Rumour Ranking, while Arsenal are eyeing another winger…
With so much transfer talk doing the rounds, we’re here again through the summer to sift through the bullsh*t and highlight the whispers that might have some substance.
Each day we’re ranking the top 20 rumours involving Premier League clubs, the higher the link, the more likely we feel they are to become done deals.
So we start with the tittle-tattle…
20) Florian Wirtz – Liverpool to Chelsea
There is a whisper that Chelsea are keen on Wirtz if Real Madrid cough up for Enzo Fernandez. Which seems to be based on the fact Xabi Alonso worked with Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. Not happening, Next…
19) Julian Alvarez – Atletico Madrid to Arsenal
From a safe distance across the Atlantic, Alvarez has gone public with his desire to leave Atletico, prompting the rehashing of some links with Arsenal. Barring something wildly unexpected, though, it won’t be them. The Spanish media reckon Barca, Real and PSG are most interested, but Atletico are playing a blinder. Their public stance towards Barca is ‘no chance’ for less than Alvarez’s huge buyout clause, having teamed up with Florentino Perez recently around a supposed €150million bid from Real. Which was only designed to fulfil Perez’s election promise of a huge offer for a Champions League star while driving the price up for Barca. Given Arsenal’s priorities elsewhere, we’d be stunned if they get involved here given the sums being thrown around.
18) Adam Wharton – Crystal Palace to Chelsea
Liverpool were being linked with Wharton last week amid a surprisingly quiet market for the Palace midfielder, but it seems things are starting to move. One report suggests Chelsea are ‘close’ to an agreement worth £75million, which seems bloomin’ cheap to us. If Newcastle are turning down £80million for Sandro Tonali, Palace should be hanging up on Chelsea for offering anything less.
17) Savinho – Manchester City to Tottenham Hotspur
It’s 2025 all over again as Spurs chase Savinho, who was always out of reach last summer. And if City are asking for £50million, he will be again. The Brazilian, who missed out on the 55-man squad for the World Cup, never mind the final 26, needs game time badly which City don’t look willing to offer. Arsenal might, but Spurs look his most likely destination if City don’t price him out of a move again.
16) Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea to Real Madrid
You just know Fernandez was green with envy when Marc Cucurella got the move he craves, and Real could yet come back for the Argentina midfielder. Apparently, Fernandez is Jose Mourinho’s ideal midfield signing but we cannot see them stumping up the kind of cash Chelsea would demand for a player they paid £107million for in 2023. If this drags, Fernandez’s behaviour towards the end of the window could be interesting…
15) Curtis Jones – Liverpool to Inter Milan
Liverpool don’t seem to believe that Inter are serious in their pursuit of the midfielder, having rejected a £21million offer from the Serie A champions. The Reds want £35million, apparently, but Jones is a year from the expiry of his contract; unlikely to be a regular in Andoni Iraola’s side next season; and Liverpool have lost too much talent for nothing of late.
14) Marcus Rashford – Manchester United to Tottenham Hotspur
Having been custard-pied by Barcelona, who could have signed the England winger for less than anyone else, Rashford is now searching for another new club. United have agreed to let him go for £40million – just not to their two main rivals – and Tottenham are sniffing. But Spurs, apparently, aren’t willing to pay the £40million – a position somewhat weakened by their extravagance elsewhere. United want Rashford’s wages off their books, so sitting tight makes sense to a point. There is plenty of interest elsewhere but all suitors seem to be taking a similar approach. This one will drag.
13) Crysencio Summerville – West Ham to Manchester United
Apparently, United are talking to West Ham about their winger as they look to strengthen their options on the left. That isn’t one of United’s top two priorities this summer but we assume they see an opportunity in the Hammers’ relegation. Summerville is valued at £50million and, as with one of his team-mates, United hoped West Ham might come down on that figure but his World Cup form is more likely to make the Irons dig in.
12) Mike Maignan – AC Milan to Chelsea
This one’s back, is it? Apparently so, according to reports in Italy, which suggest Chelsea are talking again to the France keeper’s agent. Just as they were last summer but the Blues refused to pay what seemed a quite reasonable fee. Maignan, though, is a year from becoming a free-agent so Milan’s bargaining position is even weaker. Chelsea need a keeper: Maignan wants a new challenge; and Milan don’t want to lose him for nothing. All the signs point towards a deal but Chelsea shouldn’t overplay their hand here. They tried to make do and carry on last season and it cost them.
11) Hayden Hackney – Middlesbrough to Everton
This one appeared to be almost done but Boro and Everton still seem some way off on the fee, with the Toffees seeing the offer of an £18million package rejected. Boro, apparently, want something closer to £20million plus £5million in add-ons, which puts enough distance between them and Everton for other clubs to swoop. Boro are also said to be willing to take Everton’s Harrison Armstrong as part of any deal, or at least adjacent to it, which could bring the two clubs closer together.
10) Guglielmo Vicario – Tottenham Hotspur to Juventus
Juve are said to have looked at Alisson and Jordan Pickford, then cast their eye over Emiliano Martinez. But Vicario is now in the Old Lady’s sights, perhaps because he’s the most available of the four Premier League stoppers. Villa have proven themselves to be no pushovers when it comes to Martinez but Spurs would be receptive to an offer for Vicario after a wretched season for the Italy keeper. Handily for Spurs, Napoli are also interested, but they have keepers to sell first, which could prompt Juve to move.
9) Morgan Rogers – Aston Villa to Arsenal
At least half of the Big Six is keen on Rogers, who Villa are open to selling for the right price. Villa are understood to prefer dealing with Chelsea owing to their interest in Benoit Badiashile and Nicolas Jackson, but Rogers’ preference is reported to be for Arsenal. Handily, the champions are said to have made the England winger their top target this summer, which is hardly bad news for Villa if there’s a bidding war brewing.
8) Lucas Bergvall – Tottenham Hotspur to Nottingham Forest
The Sweden international has apparently told Spurs he wants to leave this summer amid a flurry of midfielders being linked with Roberto De Zerbi’s side. Forest are keen on Bergvall as a replacement for Elliot Anderson, which all tallies up quite nicely. Will Forest pay the £45million Spurs are said to be demanding? The massive fee they trouser for Anderson will make negotiating down from there very difficult. Other clubs have been interested in Bergvall in the past too – Villa and United among them – while Dortmund and Chelsea are keen now, but Forest certainly seem to have the initiative.
7) Jack Grealish – Manchester City to Everton
Grealish enjoyed his season at Everton, who certainly enjoyed having him. So another year on loan with the Toffees seems to suit all parties. Though we also aren’t ruling out something coming out of the blue for the England star.
6) Mateus Fernandes – West Ham to Manchester United
Spurs interest complicates things for United, who were hoping to get West Ham down even further as the window goes on. But the Red Devils still appear to be at the front of the queue for the Portugal midfielder having been dealing with the Hammers and Jorge Mendes. They just need to hope that Spurs – or Real Madrid – don’t move decisively because United seem set on playing the long game here.
5) Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur
Tonali’s agent has been trying to manufacture a move out of Newcastle since at least the start of the year, with Spurs the latest Premier League club to be linked with the Italian. Manchester City are said to be ‘undeterred’ and fancy themselves to pull off the deal, but Spurs are on manoeuvres. They have had one bid rejected and, apparently, they are willing to smash their wage structure for Tonali. Which seems… bold.
4) Yan Diomande – RB Leipzig to Liverpool
Liverpool’s first offer of £86million received a curt ‘no’ from Leipzig, which was inevitable. Apparently, the Germans would accept £112million but £26million is a big gap to bridge. Especially with PSG lurking. The Parisians, though, are said to be even more reluctant to go near Leipzig’s valuation and they have a chain involving Bradley Barcola to work through. Our feeling: this gets done, but Liverpool will have to come around more to Leipzig’s thinking than the other way around.
3) Luka Vuskovic – Tottenham Hotspur to Brighton
Our assumption was that Brighton and Tottenham would find common ground over Vuskovic given the two clubs’ motivation to sign the other’s player. But Spurs have got their hands on Jan Paul van Hecke while simultaneously rejecting an offer of £35million for a player yet to wear their colours competitively. Brighton, it was said, did not intend to go any higher – but they have. Their latest offer is claimed to be worth £45million including add-ons, which ought to be enough to make Vuskovic a Seagull.
2) Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest to Manchester City
City have seen a couple of offers rejected, the latest being £106million plus add-ons that could take the fee to £120million. We cannot see City getting this far only to walk away. This will get done, but it might not be swift. He was excellent in England’s World Cup opener v Croatia.
1) Ederson – Atalanta to Manchester United
“Certainly, everything is almost done,” said Ederson after Brazil’s win over Haiti at the weekend. United seem to have got a good deal for a midfielder who could prove to be one of their most important signings of a busy summer.
