Transfer news live: Arsenal strike Eze agreement, Liverpool want Isak after Diaz exit, Man United learn Watkins verdict – UK Times

The club began the summer transfer windows with their usual vigour and have already completed the signings of Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap, while adding Joao Pedro in time for the Brazilian to score in the Club World Cup final against PSG.

Enzo Maresca’s side are preparing for a jaunt into the Champions Leaguenext season after finishing fourth in the English top-flight and winning the Conference League in a busy term.

Some fans will feel the Blues still have work to do in the summer, with a bulking of the squad needed in some areas to provide the quality demanded by Europe’s elite club competition.

There is no shortage of funds at Stamford Bridge, with big-money moves a constant fixture of recent transfer windows, and this summer is set to be no different.

Here’s everything you need to know about Chelsea’s summer transfer plans.

The Daily Mail report that Liverpool are readying to submit an official bid for Alexander Isak this week having boosted their financial power with a deal to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

Newcastle boss, Eddie Howe, has admitted there was ‘no chance’ Isak would be meeting up with the squad in Asia which gives rise to an expected move away from the club.

The club value Isak at £150m but it will be tough to extract that price out of Liverpool though a high bid – somewhere between £100-£130m – is expected.

The Magpies will need to decide whether it is worth cashing in on Isak or forcing him to stay as he has three years left on his current deal.

Manchester United face a crucial summer as Ruben Amorim finally gets the chance to shape his squad and transform his failing team into contenders at the top end of the table.

Now Amorim has a full preseason to prepare his side and a summer transfer window to mould his squad before a season without European football, and he must take full advantage.

The release of the Premier League fixtures shows a difficult start for United, with an opening game agasint Arsenal and fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea within their first five matches of 2025/26, and the manager’s future could be called into question early should his side struggle.

United got some early business done with the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5m deal before completing a move for Brentford star Bryon Mbeumo, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made clear that the money pot is not deep.

Offloading high-wage players such as Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho seems key to funding the revolution, with a lack of movement causing frustration among fans as United lag behind their rivals.

Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester United’s summer transfer plans.

Nottingham Forest are “in advanced talks” with Italian side Bologna over the signing of winger Dan Ndoye, reports the Telegraph.

The deal to sign the Switzerland international would be for a club record fee, above the £30m Forest paid for Ibrahim Sangare.

Ndoye will sign a five-year contract if he completes his move.

Nuno Espirito Santo is also targeting Adama Traore, with talks starting with Fulham over a potential deal, while Jacob Ramsey and Ben Doak are two other options who have been discussed.

Fabrizio Romano reports that PSG are close to reaching an agreement with Lille to sign goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier for €40m.

“Agreement done with the goalkeeper and deal at final stages between clubs,” reports Romano.

It is not known whether the signing will be made as a replacement for Gianluigi Donnraumma, who it is said could be on the way out from the Champions league winners.

Nicolas Jackson has emerged as a target for Newcastle, with the Magpies having made preliminary contact with Chelsea according to the i.

However, Chelsea value the Senegal striker at around £80m, while Newcastle’s valuation is closer to £65m.

When Arsenal finally accelerated plans to get a striker this summer, they had one fixed line. That was not to go above £65m. Such a figure might make it sound like they weren’t that serious about a striker – and there have been some questions about the exact level of the talented Viktor Gyokeres – but then this wasn’t quite about getting the striker anymore. It was about options, and having enough to finally win the title.

This is the defining trait of Arsenal’s summer so far, which is that Mikel Arteta is determined to address the key flaws of last season.

Having claimed 89 points in 2023-24, Arsenal fell away because they didn’t have enough depth, with overuse ultimately leading to fitness issues, and not enough forward options. Their benches at the end of the season were often strikingly thin, resulting in the attack becoming overly dependent on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. That in turn made Arsenal easier to predict, which only accentuated their problems.

Rangers are the current favourites to sign Spurs prospect Mikey Moore on loan, though several clubs have enquired as to the 17-year-old’s availability.

Spurs want Moore to get regular playing time elsewhere, with Thomas Frank said to be happy with the options available to him in that position at present.

The Gunners have been trying to strengthen their forward line for most of the summer transfer window with attempts to bring RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko to the Emirates falling apart before a deal for Gyokeres was spread out over weeks of negotiations.

Arsenal finally secured their striker in a £55m deal, which could rise to £65m with related add-ons, and Gyokeres passed a medical on Saturday 26 July before flying out to Singapore to meet up with the squad for their pre-season tour.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been strengthening during this transfer window with Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga already secured before Gyokeres’ signing.

The Independent understands the Swede is currently in London for his medical, allowing Arsenal to turn their attention to other targets.