Manchester United and Newcastle Target Neco Williams as Arsenal Eyes Tzolis

The Premier League’s biggest operators are starting to move in sync. The names are not all headline-grabbers yet, but the money, the intent and the stakes most certainly are.

United and Newcastle converge on Neco Williams

Neco Williams has gone from dependable full-back to wanted man.

Manchester United and Newcastle United have both registered firm interest in the Nottingham Forest defender, according to the BBC, and the attraction is obvious. The 25-year-old Wales international played in 37 of Forest’s 38 Premier League games last season, flipping between right and left-back and giving his managers the kind of tactical flexibility that top clubs now demand.

Forest, though, are not in the mood to be bullied. The plan at The City Ground is clear: tie Williams down to an improved contract and shut the door on the vultures circling above. They know what they have. A homegrown, peak-age full-back who can operate on both flanks is a rare commodity, and the interest from two clubs with Champions League ambitions only underlines his value.

For United, Williams would fit into a broader rebuild under Michael Carrick, with the full-back positions still unsettled and in need of fresh energy. For Newcastle, he would bring depth and intensity to a back line that has creaked under the strain of injuries and European demands. Forest, though, hold the cards – for now.

Arsenal move on Tzolis while keeping Rogers in sight

Across north London, Arsenal are working on two attacking puzzles at once.

The Gunners are pushing ahead with a move for Club Brugge attacking midfielder Christos Tzolis, as reported by The Sun, in a deal that could reach around £35 million. The 24-year-old is being lined up as a potential successor to Leandro Trossard, who has been linked with Besiktas.

Tzolis is no stranger to English football. His previous spell with Norwich City in the 2021-22 Premier League season was brief and bruising, but his resurgence at Brugge has put him back on the radar of elite clubs. Arsenal see a player who can operate between the lines, attack from wide areas and contribute goals – the exact profile that has underpinned Mikel Arteta’s attacking evolution.

Crucially, a move for Tzolis is not expected to derail Arsenal’s interest in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who remains one of their top priorities. It signals intent. Arsenal want depth, variety and competition in the attacking midfield and wide positions, and they are prepared to pay to get it.

United’s midfield plan: Koné over Camavinga

In midfield, Manchester United are drawing a clear line between fantasy and feasibility.

TEAMtalk reports that United are lining up a move for AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné, with the 25-year-old emerging as a primary target. The club are said to view him as a better fit for Carrick’s system than Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, a player admired but realistically out of reach.

The numbers are heavy. An offer in the region of £50 million is expected to be required to prise Koné away, and United are not alone in the chase. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have all been contacted by his representatives, raising the prospect of a full-scale Premier League bidding war.

Koné offers dynamism, ball-carrying and aggression in the middle of the park – the type of profile United have lacked consistently since the decline of their last great midfield axis. If they want him, they may have to move fast and decisively.

Europe’s elite queue up for Elijah Upson

At the other end of the age spectrum, an 18-year-old centre-back is drawing some of the most powerful clubs in Europe into the same room.

Elijah Upson, son of former Premier League defender Matthew Upson, has walked away from Tottenham Hotspur after turning down a professional contract, ending an 11-year association with the club. According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City are all among the clubs keen to sign him as a free agent.

This is the modern market at its sharpest: a teenager with no senior Premier League minutes yet commanding attention from multiple giants. Upson has already visited Arsenal’s training ground and is expected to take his time before deciding his next move. Everton, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco are also watching closely.

One choice, many pathways. His next decision could define a decade.

Bouaddi at the centre of a nine-figure tug-of-war

If the numbers around Koné are heavy, the figures attached to Ayyoub Bouaddi are staggering.

Liverpool and Arsenal remain in talks with Lille over the 18-year-old Morocco international, according to Football Insider. Both clubs are understood to be open to including a one-season loan-back clause, allowing Bouaddi to continue his development in Ligue 1 before making the jump.

The price is the real headline. Any agreement is expected to demand close to £100 million. For a teenager.

Liverpool view Bouaddi as a potential replacement for Curtis Jones, who is being linked with Inter Milan, while Manchester City and other top clubs are also monitoring the situation. The market for elite young midfielders has become a high-stakes game, and Lille know exactly how rare their asset is.

Done deals: City secure Charles, Elversberg land Campbell

Away from the speculation, some business is already signed and sealed.

Manchester City have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Pierce Charles. The 20-year-old, who came through City’s academy before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in 2021, returns to his original club only to head straight back out on loan to Queens Park Rangers. It is a classic City move: secure the talent, then send him out to grow with regular football.

In Germany, American forward Cole Campbell has left Borussia Dortmund to join Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg on a four-year contract running through June 2030. Born in Houston and developed in Dortmund’s system, Campbell now steps into a senior role at a club fighting to establish itself at the top level. It is a significant commitment from Elversberg, and a major opportunity for the 20-year-old.

Other moves on the boil

The transfer market rarely runs in straight lines. Across Europe, several subplots are gathering pace:

• Juventus striker Jonathan David intends to stay at the club despite not being in their plans for next season, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. A stand-off in the making.
• Free agent Luka Modric is closing in on a one-year deal to return to AC Milan, reports Corriere dello Sport, in what would be one of the summer’s most intriguing late-career twists.
• Manchester United are in advanced talks with goalkeeper Karl Darlow after his exit from Leeds United, with The Sun suggesting a deal could be confirmed on Friday.
• Wrexham, still riding the wave of their rise, are interested in Everton goalkeeper Mark Travers, say Football Insider.
• Curtis Jones is open to a move to Inter Milan, per Gazzetta dello Sport, but Liverpool are holding firm on a €40 million valuation.
• Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is drawing attention from LaLiga and Serie A clubs, with previous links to Atlético Madrid highlighted by Fabrizio Romano.
• Freiburg’s Swiss attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi has agreed personal terms with Newcastle, who are closing in on a £49 million deal, according to Sky Sports.
• Borussia Dortmund view FC Köln winger Said El-Mala as a potential replacement for Barcelona-linked Karim Adeyemi, though they want to negotiate down from the €50 million asking price, reports Florian Plettenberg.
• AC Milan are looking at Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue, says Nicolo Schira.
• Tottenham are interested in reuniting with Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, according to Tuttosport.
• Crystal Palace and Fulham have joined Leeds in the race for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, reports Ben Jacobs.
• Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic is on the radar of two Premier League clubs, with a €40 million offer thought to be required, says Nicolo Schira.
• Aston Villa could challenge Leeds for Parma and Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to TEAMtalk.

Names, numbers, and intent are now out in the open. The question is no longer who is interested, but who is willing to push hardest when the window starts to close and hesitation turns into regret.