Having spent well over £100m, Arsenal want one final signing to seal what has been a quite glorious summer for the Gunners. Top of the league, it’s amazing what a lovely new kit or two, some sublime Ian Wright #content on the socials, and the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira (who is nearing full fitness) and William Saliba (who has reportedly signed a new long-term contract after his return from his loan spells) can do for the brand.
Pedro Neto is the latest to be linked to the Emirates, and a fine buy he would be too, giving Arsenal some natural width to go with all their silky, jinking cut-inside-and-finishers. The Wolves winger would not come cheap though, with the Portuguese flyer signing a new five-year contract in March. Bids will start from £50m, apparently, and much depends on the potential departure of Nicolas Pépé to Nice.
If Neto is a no-no, Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby could be an alternative for Arsenal, although the pesky old problem of a mammoth transfer fee would remain. Regardless of Diaby’s future, Leverkusen are lining up a loan for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is keen on a move to Germany.
Despite having Christian Pulisic rotting on the bench, Chelsea seem determined to spend up to £60m for a tricky, slight winger who thrives off the left flank. The 23-year-old American international, who has won a Champions League final and long impressed at the highest level – at Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and internationally – seems like an afterthought these days to Anthony Gordon, who will cost the Blues up to £60m, despite showing only glimpses of talent in a handful of Premier League matches, all beneath a patch of hair that Sue Barker would be proud to call home.
While nobody is debating that Gordon is GOOD AT FOOTBALL, the sum that is being bandied around does make the Mill want to just quietly close the laptop and go back to bed. Having lost Richarlison to Tottenham for a similar fee, Frank Lampard and Everton are loathe to lose Demarai Gray’s understudy but could entertain a bid if Chelsea were to throw one of Conor Gallagher or Armando Broja into the mix – most likely a loan deal. Broja seems particularly like a good fit for the Toffees but the ball remains in Chelsea’s court.
One alternative for Lampard is Watford’s João Pedro. The Championship club want near £30m for the Brazilian and have rejected offers from Newcastle worth around £25m for the 20-year-old, who is far, far too good for the second tier. Everton could yet cough up the cash for Pedro in their laborious attempts to replace the aforementioned Richarlison.
Another potential Watford wantaway is Ismaïla Sarr, who looked set to leave for Aston Villa over the weekend after being left out of the Hornets’ squad at Preston. However, personal terms were not agreed after talks with Steven Gerrard and co, and the Senegalese wonder remains in yellow for now. Crystal Palace is also seen as a destination for the winger who scored a ridiculous goal from his own half against West Brom earlier this month.
Following the recent success of Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham in Italy, Serie A scouts are sniffing around for more promising English talent. Both Trevoh Chalobah and Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga could be off to warmer climes, with the Chelsea man linked with an Abraham reunion at Roma and the Spurs defender suggested to the finest minds at Milan.
Ander Herrera is reportedly on his way back to the Basque, with former club Athletic Bilbao swooping in for the 33-year-old on a free transfer following the surprise termination of Herrera’s contract, two years early.
In the most tedious story of the summer, Manchester United are still keen on Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong. You heard it here first.
