Carlos Baleba Joins Man Utd, Spurs Pursue Marmoush and Mudryk's Future
Carlos Baleba finally lands his Man Utd move, Spurs close in on Marmoush and Mudryk weighs Premier League return in a frantic day of transfer twists.
Baleba deal all but done for Man Utd
Manchester United have their new midfield anchor in place.
Carlos Baleba has passed his medical and signed a five-year contract, with only paperwork standing between the Cameroon international and an official unveiling at Old Trafford. The announcement could drop as early as Monday.
United have agreed a £65million fee with Brighton, with a further £5m in add-ons. It ends a pursuit that has dragged on for more than a year and delivers the move Baleba has been pushing for throughout that time.
Woltemade already eyeing Bundesliga return
Nick Woltemade’s Newcastle story may be over almost as soon as it began.
Just a year after arriving in a club-record £65m deal, the 24-year-old German forward is understood to be pushing for a move back to the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are circling, sensing an opportunity.
For Newcastle, who went big to bring the towering striker to the Premier League last summer, a swift return to Germany would be a remarkable U-turn.
Palace ready to test West Ham resolve over Bowen
Crystal Palace are lining up a bold £50m move for Jarrod Bowen, according to SunSport.
Bowen, now West Ham captain, publicly committed himself to the Hammers at the start of the window despite their relegation. Palace are undeterred. With Ismaila Sarr edging towards Galatasaray, the England winger has been identified as the man to fill the looming void at Selhurst Park.
If Sarr’s exit is confirmed, Palace are prepared to push hard for Bowen and hand him an immediate route back to the top flight.
Newcastle slap world-record tag on Hall
Newcastle have responded to growing interest in Lewis Hall by setting a price that would rewrite the record books.
TeamTalk report the Magpies want more than £68m for the 21-year-old left-back, a figure that would make him the most expensive defender in history. Manchester United have been the most prominent admirers, but that valuation could force them to look elsewhere.
Alejandro Balde and David Raum have moved to the front of United’s alternative shortlist, with Jorge Salinas, Antonee Robinson and Adrien Truffert also on their radar.
Nkunku heading back to Leipzig
Christopher Nkunku is on the verge of a return to familiar territory.
RB Leipzig have reached a verbal agreement with AC Milan for the 28-year-old forward, who is expected to join on loan with an option to buy. Only the final details remain before the deal is completed in the next few days, according to reports from Florian Plettenberg.
Nkunku left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 but never found rhythm at Stamford Bridge, then moved to Milan and again struggled to ignite. Now he looks set to go back to the club where he produced the best football of his career.
Chelsea’s winger puzzle: Mudryk, Neto and Conceicao
The winger carousel at Chelsea keeps spinning.
Mykhaylo Mudryk’s future has grown increasingly uncertain. The Ukrainian, recently cleared to return after an 18‑month absence following a doping ban, has been offered to Tottenham, with Leeds United, Strasbourg and Coventry City also showing interest.
Chelsea have already added Geovany Quenda and Morgan Rogers out wide earlier in the window. Pedro Neto is another name who could be on the move, with Manchester City previously interested and Al Hilal now in the mix.
If Neto departs, Chelsea are eyeing Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao as a potential replacement, underlining how fluid their attacking options remain.
Man Utd prospect Devaney heads to Hibs
Manchester United youngster Jacob Devaney is heading back to Scotland.
Hibernian have confirmed the midfielder will join on a season-long loan, with an option to buy included. The 20-year-old is still waiting for his senior debut at Old Trafford after spending last season at St Mirren.
This move hands Devaney another crack at regular first-team football north of the border as he tries to force his way into United’s long-term plans.
Real Madrid blocked in Zubimendi chase
Real Madrid’s hunt for a new defensive midfielder has hit another wall.
After missing out on Rodri, who joined Barcelona, Los Blancos turned their attention to Martin Zubimendi. That avenue now looks closed.
Reports suggest Mikel Arteta has shut the door on selling the 27-year-old, even though Zubimendi slipped down the pecking order towards the end of Arsenal’s title-winning campaign. The Gunners appear determined to keep him, leaving Madrid scrambling for alternatives again.
Marmoush to Spurs: “Here we go”
Tottenham’s striker search has reached its decisive moment.
Fabrizio Romano has given his trademark “here we go” to a deal that will see Omar Marmoush move from Manchester City to Spurs. The Egypt international is set to join on loan with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met, in a package expected to total around £50m.
Marmoush will travel to London on Monday to complete his medical. For Spurs, who have been desperate to bolster their frontline, the end of the chase is finally in sight.
Hull City land Ali-Cho and tie down Jakirovic
Hull City’s weekend just keeps improving.
The Tigers have agreed a deal with OGC Nice for winger Mohamed Ali-Cho worth a reported £13m plus add-ons linked to Premier League survival. The 22-year-old arrives off the back of 5 goals and 4 assists in Ligue 1 last season and will undergo his medical in Hull. Earlier in the summer he had been linked with a £17m move; Hull have now got their man on slightly lower terms.
Off the pitch, head coach Sergej Jakirovic has been rewarded with a significant pay rise and a new three-year deal after an encouraging opening fixture against Manchester United. Owner Acun Ilicali revealed talks were swift: “We agreed on all terms, and we are renewing the contract. For us, this conversation was no more than five minutes. I’m not joking.”
Willock agrees terms with Besiktas
Joe Willock is edging towards the Newcastle exit.
Besiktas have tabled a €20m proposal and are waiting on a response from the Premier League club. Willock has agreed a contract in principle that would keep him in Turkey until 2030.
Now the move rests with Newcastle’s decision-makers.
Spurs open the door for Richarlison exit
Richarlison’s time at Tottenham could be winding down.
With Omar Marmoush on the way and Savinho and Cody Gakpo also potential arrivals, Spurs are ready to let the Brazilian leave. Trabzonspor are exploring what it would take to tempt him to Turkey and whether the 29-year-old would accept the move.
Everton have also registered interest in bringing him back to Merseyside, two years after selling him for £50m.
Liverpool locked in PSG talks over Mbaye and Barcola
Liverpool remain deep in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola.
PSG are holding out for higher fees than Liverpool are currently prepared to pay. The French champions value Barcola at around €170m, though that figure may soften after the signing of Mika Godts from Ajax.
Liverpool want clarity soon. They plan to resolve both deals before signing off on Cody Gakpo’s proposed move to Tottenham.
Emery coy as Watkins pushes for Al Hilal switch
Ollie Watkins’ absence from Aston Villa’s squad prompted questions, and Unai Emery’s light-hearted response did little to cool speculation.
Al Hilal have seen multiple bids rejected, the latest at €45m. Watkins has told the board he wants to leave this summer and join the Saudi Pro League side.
Villa’s stance is clear: find a suitable replacement or receive a substantial offer, and the door could open.
Spurs double down on Marmoush pursuit
Tottenham’s confidence over Omar Marmoush is growing by the hour.
They have put a contract on the table running until 2031 and believe an offer of £63m will be enough to seal the deal with Manchester City. Marmoush is keen on the move and wants to relocate to north London as quickly as possible.
His arrival would push Richarlison even further out of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans and could accelerate the Brazilian’s departure.
Hull chase Essugo loan
Hull City are not done yet.
They are weighing up a move for Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo as they look to reinforce their squad for a survival fight. Chelsea are open to a loan for the 21-year-old, and several Premier League clubs are already in line.
Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club, are also unsurprisingly interested, according to talkSPORT.
Chelsea shut down Roma over Bynoe-Gittens
Roma have been rebuffed in their attempt to sign Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
The Italian side proposed a loan with an option to buy, but Chelsea have rejected the approach and are unwilling to negotiate any exit this summer, according to talkSPORT. The club see the winger as part of their plans and want him in the squad for the coming campaign.
Palace name their price for Sarr
Crystal Palace have drawn a hard line over Ismaila Sarr.
After dropping the Senegal international against Everton for agreeing terms with Galatasaray, Palace have set an asking price of €60m. The Turkish side will need to meet that figure to get a deal over the line.
Palace signed Sarr from Marseille in 2024 for €14m, and he has since repaid that fee handsomely with 33 goals across two seasons.
Jackson wants Atleti – but Chelsea prefer Villa
Nicolas Jackson has made his choice clear.
The Chelsea striker has given his approval to a move to Atletico Madrid and sees them as his ideal destination. He has attracted several proposals, particularly from Aston Villa, who are preparing for life after Ollie Watkins if he leaves.
Chelsea, though, would rather sell to Villa and are waiting to see if the Premier League club step forward with a formal offer. Jackson is keen on a return to La Liga, where he previously enjoyed several seasons with Villarreal – who face Atletico Madrid this afternoon.
Kane calm over Bayern contract talks
Harry Kane is in no rush over his Bayern Munich future, but he knows what he wants.
With just a year left on his deal, the 33-year-old has made it clear he is keen to stay in Germany. “We’ll talk this week and next. We’ll just have an open discussion. We are not in a hurry or panicking. My full focus is on Bayern Munich and the upcoming season. The talks will happen behind the scenes,” he said.
Only days earlier, Kane underlined that a Premier League return is not on his mind. “When I first left, for sure it was something that I thought I’d definitely be coming back. That itch isn’t there as much anymore. I am extremely happy here in Munich,” he told Harry Winter.
Nkunku’s Leipzig reunion edges closer
Christopher Nkunku’s situation at AC Milan has moved quickly.
Told he is surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim, the French attacker has turned back to his old home. He has reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for a sensational return on an initial loan with an option to buy.
Nkunku is eager to reignite his career in the Bundesliga at the club that sold him to Chelsea for £50m in 2023. The reunion now looks only a matter of time.
Mudryk’s next step: Premier League or Strasbourg?
Mykhaylo Mudryk is back on the market and back in demand.
Cleared to resume his career after charges linked to his long-term doping ban were dropped earlier this month, the Chelsea winger is expected to leave before the window closes. He is keen to remain in the Premier League to regain sharpness, with Leeds and Tottenham interested – especially if Spurs fail to land Gakpo.
Chelsea, though, favour a loan to Strasbourg rather than strengthening a domestic rival. Mudryk, under contract until 2031, now faces a crucial decision over the direction of his stalled career.
Watkins pushes harder for Al Hilal move
The message from Ollie Watkins is unambiguous.
The Aston Villa striker wants to leave this summer and join Al Hilal. The Saudi club have already made four bids, with the latest offer of around £45m turned down.
If Villa secure a replacement or receive a bid they simply cannot refuse, the landscape changes. Until then, tension will linger. As the deadline creeps closer, who blinks first – Villa’s hierarchy or their wantaway No9?
