The summer transfer window is heating up fast, and Arsenal is leading the charge. The Gunners are preparing a massive opening bid for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to multiple reports. Standard Sport reported last week that the 23-year-old England international had become Arsenal’s top priority, and now Football Insider claims the offer could top £100 million.
Rogers started for England against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday night. That performance only seems to have cemented Arsenal’s interest. The club has been tracking him for a while, and this looks like the moment they try to finally get a deal done.
Bruno Guimaraes situation gets murkier
Arsenal had an initial £55 million offer for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes rejected last week. A second bid was expected soon. Then things got complicated.
A report from Globo in Brazil over the weekend claimed Guimaraes has a £60 million release clause in his contract that becomes active if Newcastle misses the Champions League. That clause, if real, would be a huge break for Arsenal. But Chronicle Live quotes Newcastle sources who flatly deny any such clause exists. So who do you believe? Hard to say right now.
The Gunners also got another shot at signing Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali, who remains a key target for Tottenham. That subplot isn’t going away.
Manchester United medical booked for Colombian teenager
Manchester United has scheduled a medical for Cristian Orozco, the Colombian defensive midfielder who turns 18 next month. An agreement was reached last year for him to join this summer from Fortaleza CEIF in Bogota. Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra reported Orozco was set to fly to the UK on Sunday for medical tests before an official announcement.
Orozco is considered a huge prospect, captaining Colombia at youth level. United is also scouting Maxi Araujo amid uncertainty around Chido Obi and Mason Mount, while the club continues to battle Tottenham for Mateus Fernandes.
Chelsea and Sunderland at odds over Granit Xhaka
Chelsea made an £8 million offer for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka on Sunday. Sunderland rejected it immediately. They insist Xhaka is not for sale at any price. The 34-year-old turns 34 in September and has two years left on his contract, which partly explains Chelsea’s lowball bid. Sky Germany reports the deal is difficult but not completely dead yet. Xhaka wants the move. The two clubs are expected to talk again on Monday.
Chelsea is also moving on other fronts. Marco Palestra is set to finalize his move to Stamford Bridge as the first signing under Xabi Alonso. The Blues are interested in Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria as a potential Marc Cucurella replacement, with Jorrel Hato in line for a promotion to the starting left-back role. Meanwhile, reports suggest Malo Gusto has agreed to join Manchester City.
Liverpool misses out on Yan Diomande to PSG
Liverpool has been scrambling to replace Mohamed Salah and targeted RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as a key option. But Diomande has chosen Paris Saint-Germain. PSG opened direct talks with Leipzig and the player reportedly prefers the move to Paris. The Ivory Coast winger is currently at the World Cup. Liverpool is now turning its attention to Bradley Barcola.
PSG is also closing in on Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, though the Cherries are asking €100 million for the attacker. That might be more than PSG wants to pay, but direct talks have started.
City, meanwhile, is preparing to finalize a £116 million deal for Elliot Anderson. That one feels done.
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