Transfer information reside: Liverpool make Wirtz breakthrough, Man Utd’s swap deal, De Bruyne chooses membership
The transfer window has officially, briefly, shut after the first mini opening ahead of the summer’s Club World Cup. The window closed last night at 7pm BST but that won’t stop clubs negotiating deals over the coming days, ahead of its reopening on 16 June – Club World Cup teams can register players for the knockout stages from then onwards.
So far this summer there has been plenty of activity in the Premier League with Matheus Cunha, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jeremie Frimpong, Liam Delap, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki among the biggest names to switch clubs.
Arsenal want to get in on the action and hope to bring in Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Arteta has sanctioned talks with RB Leipzig over striker Benjamin Sesko in their ongoing pursuit for a No 9.
Chelsea have been rebuffed in their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, and have walked away from a potential deal for AC Milan and France No 1 Mike Maignan before the Club World Cup.
Manchester United have already secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, and are negotiating with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo with Viktor Gyokeres also on the list of wanted strikers.
Manchester City have captured Ait-Nouri from Wolves, while also agreeing a fee to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and signing Lyon’s Cherki.
And Liverpool have finally made a breakthrough in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
You can sign up to DAZN to watch every Club World Cup game for free, while all the latest updates, rumours and done deals from what promises to be a chaotic transfer window will be covered in the blog below:
Jobe Bellingham on joining Dortmund
He told the club’s official website: “I’m very happy to be a Borussia Dortmund player now and to fight for titles together with this great club.
“I want to play my part in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day.
“And I’m very happy that I’ll be wearing the black and yellow jersey at the Fifa Club World Cup.”
Man Utd dealt Gyokeres blow
Manchester United will not be able to purchase Viktor Gyokeres for £59m (€70m) after claims from Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas.
Previous rumours had seemingly revealed that Gyokeres had a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the club that he would be allowed to leave this summer for a price lower than his £85m (€100m) release clause.
But, Varandas has squashed those rumours and with it probably Manchester United’s interest in signing the forward.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres — neither today nor last season.”
Manchester City complete signing of Rayan Cherki in final moments before transfer deadline
Rayan Cherki has become Manchester City’s third signing in two days after finalising a €37m move from Lyon.
De Jong on new Barcelona contract
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong believes he will sign a new contract with the club with his current deal is set to expire next summer.
“I think I will sign a new contract, but you can never say that with a hundred per cent certainty. If everything goes well, then it will happen,” De Jong told Dutch outlet Voetbalzone.
“They want it and I want it, so normally you can work it out.”
Jorginho joins Flamengo before Club World Cup
Italy midfielder Jorginho has joined Brazilian side Flamengo ahead of this month’s Club World Cup, following a mutual termination of his contract with Arsenal, both clubs said.
Jorginho, whose Arsenal deal was set to expire at the end of the month, has joined Flamengo on a contract until July 2028.
The 33-year-old Brazil-born Italy international moved to North London from Chelsea in January 2023, making 78 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal.
Arsenal finished second to champions Liverpool in the Premier League in the recently-concluded season.
“We can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Jorginho to end his contract with immediate effect to become a free agent,” Arsenal said in a statement late on Friday.
Would Tuchel remain if England lose the World Cup?
“If you ask me today, yes,” the Three Lions boss replied when asked that question.
He added: “Because I feel I am in the right place. I enjoy where I am at the moment, I love the new challenge, I wanted the new environment.
“I feel the support of the people in the federation, I love the group of players, I want to push them and it just feels right.”
Tuchel could extend England tenure
Thomas Tuchel is contracted with the FA until the end of the World Cup in 2026 and could seek to extend that past the tournament.
Speaking to TalkSport, Tuchel said: “I will always be tempted to stay because I love the group and I love the opportunity.
“It’s an honour to be English head coach. I know what is coming after (the World Cup) – a huge tournament in England – I will always be tempted.
“I can tell you that even after the disappointing result yesterday.”
Billing to return to Bournemouth
Napoli are expected to reject the buy option in Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing’s loan.
Antonio Conte’s side are set to sign Yunus Musah as a replacement after verbally agreeing a deal worth around £21m (€25m) with AC Milan.
Billing joined Napoli on loan in January with an option to buy for £9m, but will return to the Cherries for their pre-season.
He has two years left on his contract with the Premier League club.
Man United set Alejandro Garnacho price as Chelsea and Aston Villa join five-club race for winger
Newcastle and Burnley disagree on Trafford value
Newcastle are interested in signing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, but an official deal is not close due to differing views on the goalie’s value.
The Daily Mail have reported that the Clarets have offered an initial asking price of £40 million, a value too high for the Magpies.
The 22-year-old keeper said he would be willing to join the North-East side side last summer, and with Nick Pope entering the final year of his contract, Eddie Howe is on the hunt for a new stopper.
It is hoped that a compromise will eventually be reached, but the transfer could take a long time to be finalised.
