Chelsea have set a 5pm deadline on Friday for Manchester City to submit a written £120 million bid for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the Stamford Bridge club yet to receive any formal offers just 23 hours before their self-imposed cutoff.
The Premier League side have also agreed a deal to send French centre-back Benoit Badiashile to Serie A club Napoli on an initial £2.6 million loan with £800,000 in potential bonuses. Napoli will cover the 25-year-old defender's salary in full, and the deal includes an option to buy Badiashile for £23 million.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are among the clubs to have checked on Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, 22, after the principality club rejected an offer from Crystal Palace earlier this week as the summer transfer window approaches its September 1 deadline.
Reijnders completes Al Qadsiah transfer
Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has agreed to join Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah after a £52 million fee was struck between the two teams. The 28-year-old Netherlands international missed City's open training session following the proposal from the Saudi Arabian side, who are coached by former Celtic and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Nottingham Forest had submitted a proposal for Reijnders earlier this month, while Turkish Super Lig team Galatasaray also made an approach in recent days before Al Qadsiah finalized the deal.
Barcelona pursuit of Rodri rejected
Manchester City have turned down a fresh £55 million proposal from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. City are holding out for a fee closer to £68 million for the 29-year-old Spain captain as talks between the two clubs persist.
At the same time, City forward Jeremy Doku has committed his long-term future to the Etihad Stadium by signing a new contract until 2031, with an option for an additional year. The Belgium international expressed his happiness at continuing his development under manager Pep Guardiola.
Doku said: "This club means so much to me - I have developed as both a player and a person. I feel settled here, and I know I am improving every day because of the work the staff here do."
The winger added: "It's hard to explain just how much this Club does to help players. I don't take it for granted and it makes me better. With Enzo here now I am really excited about the new season. His style of football is the kind we love, so that's exciting for the players. The City fans are also a huge reason I have signed this new contract. I feel their love and support, and it means the world to me. I want to focus of bringing them the success they deserve."
Arsenal eye Konsa as Martinelli attracts interest
Galatasaray have launched a £38 million bid for Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, though the 25-year-old Brazilian is not inclined to move to Turkey. Arsenal value Martinelli around £50 million and are prepared to consider offers, with Serie A outfit Roma also showing interest as the player prefers to remain in a top European league.
Arsenal are re-evaluating options to strengthen their left side and continue discussions with Aston Villa for centre-back Ezri Konsa. The London club submitted a proposal of around £40 million for Konsa, who is open to the move, though Villa are expected to reject the initial offer as they work to close deals for midfielder Joao Palhinha and left-back Matteo Ruggeri.
Spence travels for Inter Milan medical
Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence is traveling to Italy ahead of a medical with Serie A club Inter Milan tomorrow. Spurs agreed to sell the 24-year-old England international for £26 million, having signed him from Middlesbrough for £20 million in 2022. Middlesbrough hold a percentage sell-on clause on the profit from the transfer.
Tottenham are also working to complete the sales of defender Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid and Spence to Inter today. Spurs remain interested in Manchester City winger Savinho, Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, and City forward Omar Marmoush.
Sarr targeted by Al Ahli
Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has emerged as a target for Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli. Spurs are willing to allow the 23-year-old Senegal international to leave if a suitable offer arrives, with Brentford, Aston Villa, and other European clubs also monitoring his situation.
Sarr signed for Tottenham from Metz in 2021, but following the arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, the midfielder expects limited starting opportunities in North London and is open to exploring a move away.
Leipzig monitor Arsenal starlet Nwaneri
Interest is mounting in Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri, with RB Leipzig and several Premier League clubs considering a loan or permanent deal for the 19-year-old. Nwaneri is weighing up his options after a challenging loan spell at French club Marseille last season, where he scored two goals in nine appearances.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the England U21 international during pre-season, stating: "Ethan has been really good, probably what happened on the field on his loan in Marseille wasn't what was expected, and there was a lot of noise and change around the club."
Arteta added: "But he looks different, a lot more mature, it's incredible what six months and a different experience abroad can do to you - to be abroad on your own, to go through tough times and to witness that is a part of football you have to be good enough to cope with. I'm very happy with what Ethan has done in pre-season."
Nwaneri joined Arsenal's academy at eight years old and became the youngest player in Premier League history at 15 years and 181 days when he debuted against Brentford in September 2022. He has made 34 appearances for Arsenal.
Leeds target Elvedi as Gelhardt completes Hull move
Leeds United are continuing negotiations for Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi. The 29-year-old Switzerland international, who can play at centre-back or right-back, has given the green light for a move to Elland Road. Elvedi previously played under Leeds boss Daniel Farke at Monchengladbach and could leave the German club for £8.2 million with two years remaining on his contract, following an initial £7 million proposal discussed prior to the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt completed his medical at Championship side Hull City ahead of a £4.5 million transfer on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. Hull beat competition from Scottish Premiership club Rangers and Wrexham for the 24-year-old. Hull have also formalised interest in Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, 23, with an offer exceeding £15 million as he enters the final year of his contract.
Amorim signals eight-player AC Milan departure
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim has decided that eight players do not feature in his plans for the upcoming season. Former Chelsea pair Fikayo Tomori and Christopher Nkunku have been placed up for sale alongside midfielder Youssouf Fofana, David Odogu, Pervis Estupinan, Santiago Gimenez, and Philip Terracciano.
Ferguson targeted by Genoa as Palmeiras sign So
Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson has emerged as a transfer target for Genoa. The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland international scored five goals in 22 appearances on loan at Roma last season before suffering an ankle injury in March, and is also attracting Premier League interest.
Brazilian side Palmeiras have signed 18-year-old midfielder Fabio So from Burnley on a free transfer. The Portuguese player, who previously spent time in Newcastle United's academy, made 15 appearances in the U18 Premier League and two for the U21s before agreeing a contract until the end of January with an option for automatic renewal.
Liverpool youngsters Scanlon and McConnell near loan moves
Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon is closing on a loan return to Cardiff City after spending the second half of last season with the Welsh club. The 21-year-old England U20 international impressed during Liverpool's pre-season, drawing inquiries from League One side Sheffield Wednesday.
Liverpool midfielder James McConnell, 21, is subject to loan interest from Championship side Preston North End, alongside inquiries from rival Championship teams and Leicester City. Meanwhile, Arsenal are finalizing an agreement for 16-year-old Liverpool striker Vincent Joseph after he turned down a scholarship offer at Anfield, following Isaac Moran's move to Newcastle United earlier this year which resulted in a tribunal settlement of up to £5 million.
In other recent transfer developments across the window, Newcastle United have targeted Manchester United option Carlos Baleba, West Ham are eyeing free agent Jamie Vardy, Everton and Crystal Palace are negotiating a swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Sam Johnstone, West Ham agreed a £5 million fee with Tottenham for Manor Solomon, and Rodri informed Real Madrid of his wish to join Barcelona following Manchester City's search for a goalkeeper after selling James Trafford.
