Welcome to the second edition of The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet for the summer 2025 transfer window.

Our team of dedicated writers, including David Ornstein, will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on in this window, which began earlier this month due to the special window for the Club World Cup. This mini-window opened on June 1 and will run until Tuesday, with the normal transfer window then running from June 16 until September 1.

The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Those responses, when they were given, have been included in the Transfer DealSheet.

We aim to bring you analysis you can trust about what is happening at Europe’s leading clubs and the latest information we’re hearing from across the market. This year, The Athletic’s football finance writer, Chris Weatherspoon, will be adding to our analysis of the transfer market, along with tactical analysis from Anantaajith Raghuraman.

Last week, we looked at Liverpool’s ongoing chase of Florian Wirtz, City’s interest in Rayan Cherki — which has now advanced — and Bryan Mbeumo’s decision to join Manchester United. This week, we explore Martin Zubimendi’s situation, Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in a Premier League defender, and the state of play across a number of Premier League clubs.

This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the club or player you want to read about.

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David Ornstein’s One to Watch

There has been plenty of noise around Martin Zubimendi’s future — however the Spain midfielder’s transfer to Arsenal is regarded by the north London club as being done and signed.

Real Sociedad have expressed a preference for the deal to be ratified in July for accounting purposes, and Zubimendi is expected to link up with Arsenal for the start of pre-season.

Our Real Madrid correspondent Mario Cortegana says sources in Madrid assert that the 15-time European champions like the player but did not pursue or actively work on recruiting him.

Arsenal are among those to keep an eye on this week, with work being carried out on a new striker and wide attacker. Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins have been prominent in their thoughts for the No 9 role, while the likes of Nico Williams, Rodrygo and Anthony Gordon have admirers at the Emirates Stadium as wingers.

There should also be some clarity on the future of Thomas Partey in the coming days. The Ghana midfielder’s contract expires this summer, and there is still no agreement over a renewal. Should he depart, it is likely Arsenal will need to enter the market for a replacement.

Arsenal are already on course to bring in Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5million.

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What else we’re hearing

• Bournemouth are aware of interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Illia Zabarnyi. Luis Campos, PSG’s football advisor, and Bournemouth’s president of football operations Tiago Pinto are both Portuguese and know one another. They do not need official negotiations to talk about a deal and are speaking. It will take a high price for PSG to sign the 22-year-old, for whom the potential switch appeals, and there is a good chance it happens this summer. David Ornstein
• Meetings are expected between Bournemouth, Liverpool and Milos Kerkez’s representatives this week. There is a very good chance that agreements are reached for the left-back to transfer to Anfield. David Ornstein

• There could be developments in Manchester United’s pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo this week. As The Athletic recently revealed, the Cameroon forward has decided he wants to join the Old Trafford side — and other suitors are aware of his choice. United made an opening offer that valued Mbeumo at £45million plus £10m in add-ons, but that was below the level of fee it would take for Brentford to sell and discussions continue. David Ornstein
• Arsenal will pay a total of around €65million (£55m) for Martin Zubimendi, more than his release clause — which is in the region of €60m (£51m) — after agreeing with Real Sociedad to pay for his transfer in instalments. Coming to this agreement, after months of negotiation, enables Arsenal to avoid paying the release clause in one lump sum. Mario Cortegana and James McNicholas
• Borussia Dortmund have expressed their interest in Jadon Sancho to the player’s representatives. Dortmund are in the process of rebuilding their attack and see Sancho as a potential No 10 option, behind Serhou Guirassy, in Niko Kovac’s 3-4-2-1. At this stage, Sancho is one of several candidates for the role, with Freiburg’s Japanese international Ritsu Doan another. And while the finances for any deal involving Sancho would be prohibitive given the winger’s current wages, the club remain optimistic that the opportunity to return to the Westfalenstadion, where so many of his career’s best moments have occurred, would be appealing. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
• Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lyon for the signing of Rayan Cherki. The Athletic reported in last week’s Transfer DealSheet that City were exploring a deal for Cherki and were hopeful of signing the 21-year-old. An agreement between the clubs on a fee in the region of €40m (£33.7m; $45.7m) and between City and the player on a contract until 2030 have now been reached. David Ornstein
• Brighton & Hove Albion are working on a deal to sign Italian central defender Diego Coppola from Serie A side Hellas Verona. The club are keen to add the 21-year-old to Fabian Hurzeler’s squad as part of a refresh in the middle of the defence. Andy Naylor

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Have Bournemouth become one of the Premier League’s best sides at selling?

A key tale this summer looks to be the emergence of Bournemouth as a strong selling club. Indeed, there’s already plenty of evidence, with £50million-plus deals for both Dominic Solanke and Dean Huijsen sealed inside the past 10 months.

Now the vultures are circling on two of Huijsen’s fellow defensive mainstays last season in Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi. They are wanted by Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

Neither will go cheap; Solanke and Huijsen brought in Bournemouth’s largest-ever transfer fees, and, should Kerkez and Zabarnyi join them in leaving by the end of this month, it will almost certainly mean the club’s four biggest sales in their history will have all occurred in the 2024-25 financial period.

Bournemouth value Kerkez at around £45m, and were Zabarnyi to make his way to Paris, they’ll be able to command a chunky sum for him, too. They have already surpassed their single-season record for player sale profits of £55.8m, set in 2020-21 after being relegated the previous year.

The Athletic reported in April that Bournemouth had benefited from a £71.4m owner loan write-off being included in their recent PSR submissions, on the back of which they recorded the fifth-highest net spend in England across 2022-23 and 2023-24. Kerkez and Zabarnyi were each signed during that time, and it is clear that good work done in the transfer market then has set Bournemouth up in a strong position now.

If both depart this month, Bournemouth should become only the ninth English club to report more than £100m in player profits in a single season. Across the past 13 seasons, Bournemouth’s combined player profits totalled £113m – a mark they’d likely pass in 2024-25 on its own with those two sales.

Chris Weatherspoon

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Arsenal

Has anything happened over the past week?

Arsenal appear to have solved one of their positional requirements for the summer by agreeing a deal to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea. Arsenal have been looking for quality backup to David Raya, and with initial target Joan Garcia seemingly headed elsewhere, they have moved quickly to agree a deal with 30-year-old Kepa. Arsenal will activate a £5m release clause in Kepa’s contract to complete the deal.

Andrea Berta has also made a positive start on contract renewals, tying Gabriel down to a new contract until 2029.

There have been some departures: Arsenal have confirmed that Neto and Raheem Sterling will leave at the end of their loans, while the club also reached an agreement with Jorginho to terminate his contract three weeks early. That enabled the 33-year-old to join Flamengo in time to take part in the World Club Cup.

Arsenal have also struck an agreement to sell 22-year-old Brazilian winger Marquinhos to Cruzeiro. The winger is currently on loan with the Brazilian club, but will join them permanently for a fee in the region of £3million with a sell-on clause.

Is the striker situation now down to just Sesko and Gyokeres?

Those two are certainly the main candidates. There are others — such as Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins — who remain under consideration, but for the time being, Arsenal’s focus is on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal are actively working on the No 9 situation and hope for progress this week.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Arsenal would also like to add a wide player. As mentioned in The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet on May 16, the La Liga pair of Nico Williams and Rodrygo is of particular interest. Arsenal’s coaching staff are huge fans of both, but a deal for either player would present some financial challenges. There is also interest in Anthony Gordon.

Mikel Arteta would also like to sign a central defender to complement the first-choice pair of Gabriel and William Saliba. Arsenal made a significant effort to lure Huijsen from Bournemouth, but the Spanish international ultimately chose Real Madrid.

If Arsenal do enter the defender market, one man high on their list is Marc Guehi. The 24-year-old has a year remaining on his contract, which could make him considerably more affordable. The issue may be whether England international Guehi is prepared to join Arsenal, where he must compete for a place against the established pair of Gabriel and Saliba in a World Cup year.

If Arsenal and Thomas Partey fail to strike an agreement, the club may have to revisit central midfield. His contract currently expires this summer.

Which players could be leaving?

One player attracting some interest is Reiss Nelson. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan with Fulham, and Marco Silva’s team are interested in bringing him back to Craven Cottage if an appropriate deal can be reached.

James McNicholas

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Would Williams or Rodrygo suit Arsenal?

The key benefit Arsenal will get from either player is versatility. Rodrygo has played across the frontline for Real Madrid, while Nico Williams can play on either flank, often swapping wings mid-game for Spain and Athletic Club.

Williams brings excitement and greater dribbling prowess, with frightening ball control at pace. He averaged 9.2 take-ons per 90 in La Liga last season, only behind Lamine Yamal (10.6) among wide attackers. In contrast, Rodrygo averaged 5.3, but under mitigating circumstances as Real struggled to find an offensive balance.

Rodrygo offers more without the ball and reads pressing triggers well. The Brazilian often compensated for the lack of effort from Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe last season. Williams can rush defenders into mistakes with his acceleration, but is still perfecting his out-of-possession game.

While Williams excels at delivering dangerous crosses into the box, Rodrygo is the more incisive passer, especially closer to the box. His 2.4 passes inside the opposition’s penalty area per 90 is well ahead of Williams’s 1.4.

Both have an affinity for big stages and bright lights. Nico was excellent in Athletic’s 2024 Copa del Rey final win against Mallorca and was one of Spain’s best players in all their Euro 2024 knockout matches. Rodrygo, meanwhile, has scored eight Champions League knockout-stage goals.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

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Chelsea

Has anything happened over the past week?

In terms of completed deals, yes. Chelsea beat competition from several clubs to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m.

Chelsea have had a bid rejected by Borussia Dortmund for Jamie Gittens, but significantly, agreed terms with the winger over a seven-year contract.

Borussia Dortmund value the 20-year-old at £50m, but that is above Chelsea’s valuation for a player who does not fit into Niko Kovac’s preferred style of play.

The Bundesliga club believe there will be more competition for Gittens’ signature later in the summer, which is why they have hopes of getting a higher sum. However, Chelsea do not see how this can be the case if he does not start regularly at the Club World Cup.

Chelsea have also made an enquiry for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, whose representatives have told Milan he wants to leave.

There has been no official offer from Chelsea, but they have communicated that they will pay a maximum of €15m. Chelsea see the sale of Christian Pulisic to Milan in 2023 for €20m as part of their reasoning. The U.S. international also had just 12 months left on his contract, but was six years younger. Pulisic also plays in a position that commands higher fees.

Milan value Maignan at higher than €15m, irrespective of his contract situation, as he is their No 1 and France’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Chelsea decided not to trigger the option to sign Jadon Sancho permanently from Manchester United. Defender Mamadou Sarr has completed his £14m move from Strasbourg, a deal that was agreed back in January.

Can we now expect a pause in business ahead of the Club World Cup?

Not necessarily. The market reopens on June 16, the same day as their opening fixture against Los Angeles FC, and that gives Chelsea more time to sign players for the knockout phase, should they get there. The window to register new players at the tournament runs from June 27 to July 3.

It is one of the reasons Chelsea have not felt under pressure to get all of their business done by June 10.

When a transfer window is shut, that does not mean negotiations between clubs cannot take place. Chelsea showed that in March by agreeing deals in advance with Sporting CP for Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo. The latter officially completed the switch last week and will be competing with Maresca’s side in the U.S. Quenda is going to spend next season on loan at Sporting CP before joining Chelsea next summer.

What positions/players are they looking at?

With Mykhailo Mudryk still provisionally suspended for failing a doping test and Sancho not being signed, Chelsea are looking at buying one or two wide players. Apart from Gittens, others on the list include Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus. Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams has already been ruled out for a variety of reasons.

Chelsea have made an enquiry for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, but they are not prepared to pay the current asking price of €100m.

A centre-back and goalkeeper will be considered if a good enough player becomes available for the right price. This has been shown by Chelsea’s interest in Huijsen and Maignan, respectively.

Which players could be leaving?

Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m in 2018, is on the verge of completing a £5m move to Arsenal. Backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is wanted by Manchester City, having made just one appearance in four years at Chelsea. Chelsea are in talks with City in view of him being able to join in time for the Club World Cup.

Many more are expected to follow. There is a long list involving most of the players who were loaned out last season (not Andrey Santos) and some of the current squad. This includes Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga. Christopher Nkunku is also a player who could leave.

Chelsea do not intend to take all the players to the U.S., so there will be no ‘bomb squad’ out there while departures are being organised.

Simon Johnson and James Horncastle

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Liverpool

Has anything happened over the past week?

Liverpool stepped up their pursuit of Florian Wirtz by submitting an improved offer of €134m to sign the attacker, but Bayer Leverkusen’s asking price is a reported €150m (£126.4m). Liverpool have no intention of bidding as high as that figure. Negotiations are ongoing.

Wirtz played in the Nations League defeat to France on Sunday. Liverpool hoped a €118.7m upfront fee with a further €15.4m in add-ons would be enough to get their man, but they are still trying to find a breakthrough.

The push to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth also continues.

If Liverpool wrap up Wirtz and get Kerkez, will that be the end of their business?

Alongside the signing of Jeremie Frimpong, securing Wirtz and Kerkez early into the summer window would represent a fine start.

Liverpool are taking advantage of what was a smooth, free-flowing season. The position on recruitment is clearly aligned. Well-organised clubs are able to get their business done early and Liverpool have clear targets in areas that need strengthening.

If they are able to move on players for the right money, it will free up room to continue rebuilding for the future.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Whether Liverpool feel the need to recruit a new No 9 and another central defender will depend on future outgoings.

It’s also unclear at this stage whether the signing of Wirtz would give Slot enough variety in the attacking areas should Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa leave, so there may be room for another addition.

Although the central defensive positions are currently well covered, Liverpool would feel more secure if Ibrahima Konate extended his contract. The club continue to look at centre-backs under the age of 24 as part of their succession planning strategy.

It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see further additions made for the under-21 team following the arrival of 20-year-old Hungarian goalkeeper Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akademia.

Which players could be leaving?

Harvey Elliott revealed this week that he is wary of “wasting years of my career”, so he’ll weigh up his options this summer.

Tyler Morton is desperate to play after a loan move was blocked last season, while Nat Phillips has strong interest from West Bromwich Albion and a number of other Championship clubs after his temporary spell at Derby County ended.

Liverpool will also listen to bids for Kostas Tsimikas, Nunez and Chiesa and are expected to sanction a loan move for third-choice goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, who sacrificed a year of football to provide cover last season. The 23-year-old is expected to leave for a top-flight club in Europe and currently has various options in France and the Netherlands to consider.

Gregg Evans

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Manchester City

Has anything happened over the past week?

City have wasted no time in accelerating deals for Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has now signed, Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, and Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.

They reached an agreement with Wolves to sign Ait-Nouri for just below €40m and also struck a deal with Milan to sign Reijnders for a €55m fixed fee, plus bonuses.

Both players have agreed five-year contracts, with Ait-Nouri having the option of a further year. On Monday, City completed a hat-trick by agreeing a fee in the region of €40m with Lyon for France midfielder Cherki.

Ait-Nouri is now confirmed. Pending medicals, which will take place in the coming hours and days, the other two are expected to be available for the Club World Cup. City fly out to the U.S. on Thursday ahead of their opening game against Wydad AC next Wednesday.

Will City make further moves after the Club World Cup?

Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is expected to join on a free transfer from Chelsea as a replacement for backup goalkeeper Scott Carson. The 33-year-old has been at Stamford Bridge since 2021, having made over a century of appearances for Fulham, where he came through the ranks and remained for more than a decade.

He will be replacing a much-loved member of the squad in Carson, who, after playing just 108 minutes of football in six years, is exiting after the expiry of his contract. The 39-year-old has been at the club since 2021, helping to support and provide cover for Ederson and Stefan Ortega.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Despite being on the verge of adding three first-team players, City could yet add another couple.

Right-back is an area they are short in after Kyle Walker moved to Milan in January. Matheus Nunes filled in and improved as the season went on, but it is not a perfect solution. Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji have also been deployed there at times.

Reijnders and Cherki represent a substantial recalibration of the midfield, but out wide, City may require another option, too. However, these other gaps in the squad could depend as much on who leaves in the coming weeks.

Which players could be leaving?

Guardiola still wants a tighter squad, but choosing where he will trim is still to be decided.

Jack Grealish looks the likeliest to depart as, after being left out of the squad to face Fulham on the final day of the Premier League season, he has also been left out of the group that will go to the Club World Cup. With two years still to run on his deal, it is unclear whether it will be a permanent move or a loan, given the finances involved.

James McAtee is another player who will not be taking part in the Club World Cup after City offered him the choice of travelling or going to Slovakia to compete with England at the European Under-21 Championship. He decided that he would be likely to feature more for Lee Carsley’s side, which could be indicative of where he sees his future.

Jordan Campbell

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Manchester United

Has anything happened over the past week?

Manchester United’s opening offer for Mbeumo, submitted last Wednesday, was short of Brentford’s valuation. Suggestions of a second bid already being placed have been dismissed, but talks are continuing this week in the hope of finding an agreement.

Arguably more important than any incoming, Bruno Fernandes ended speculation over his future last week by rejecting a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal after talks with Ruben Amorim and his family.

Jadon Sancho’s return from Chelsea was confirmed, earning United £5m in a penalty fee after the obligation to buy was not executed, but it adds another name — and another hefty salary — to the list of those that United are trying to find a suitor for.

Man Utd seem to want to get their business done early — is that on purpose?

You have to go back six years to Daniel James’ £15m move from Swansea City for the last time United agreed a first-team-level signing in early June, but even that was not settled as early as Matheus Cunha’s.

United entered the window prepared to trigger not only Cunha’s £62.5m release clause, but also Liam Delap’s £30m buyout. The fixed fees set clear parameters for deals to be done.

Agreeing a deal for Mbeumo requires more negotiation, but with Newcastle United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all registering interest, the level of competition for the 25-year-old has also forced a more proactive approach than usual.

But United are far from the only club acting early in this window, as those competing at the Club World Cup have sought to do business quickly, and that has carried a ripple effect through the market.

What positions/players are they looking at?

The signing of Cunha and potential arrival of Mbeumo would leave United well-stocked in the No 10 positions, although both have experience of playing as a centre-forward and could theoretically deputise up top.

But even so, following Delap’s decision to join Chelsea, Amorim is still thought to want a recognised No 9. His fondness for Viktor Gyokeres is well established, although a deal could prove difficult to do from a financial perspective before sales.

United’s latest financial results — released on Friday — listed the club’s cash reserves at £72.3m, although a more detailed filing later revealed the capacity to borrow another £140m under their revolving credit facility as of the end of April.

Generating funds through sales would be a more sustainable route to the necessary squad rebuild, though. Amorim would like to add depth in midfield and the addition of a goalkeeper has also been mooted.

Which players could be leaving?

Sancho’s unexpected return could lead to a reunion with Borussia Dortmund, who are interested in signing the 25-year-old for a third time following his loan spell at Signal Iduna Park in the 2023-24 season.

Inter’s interest in Rasmus Hojlund is concrete but, as the 22-year-old intimated over the weekend while on international duty, he wants to stay at Old Trafford and prove himself.

Real Betis retain an interest in signing Antony permanently, but questions remain over whether they will be able to meet United’s demands. Finding buyers for Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Tyrell Malacia would also make more room for incomings.

Mark Critchley

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Newcastle United

Has anything happened over the past week?

The news that Mbeumo prefers a move to Manchester United, as revealed by The Athletic, has led Newcastle to re-evaluate what they require to bolster their attack this summer. There is an acceptance that a deal for the Brentford right winger is now unlikely, so Newcastle are focusing on alternative targets, as will be discussed below.

Newcastle will not pay the prices they are currently being quoted for those targets.

Newcastle also released their retained list on Friday, which confirmed that Jamal Lewis has been released, Lloyd Kelly’s transfer to Juventus will become permanent on June 30, and a clause has been triggered to extend Mark Gillespie’s stay by another year.

It was also revealed that John Ruddy, the 38-year-old goalkeeper, is in talks over a new deal, with progress being made.

Callum Wilson, meanwhile, is also in discussions over a fresh contract on more incentivised terms, after Newcastle opted against exercising an extension clause in his present deal. Negotiations are ongoing, but an agreement is not close with the 33-year-old striker, with discussions yet to advance in the way they have with Ruddy.

The club also confirmed that Antonio Cordero, the 18-year-old Spanish winger, will join from Malaga on July 1. Cordero is expected to head out on loan next season and is a development signing rather than a first-team addition.

How has the Mbeumo situation affected Newcastle’s plans?

The 25-year-old was Newcastle’s top right-winger target, despite the club never officially approaching Brentford with an offer, and alternative attackers are now being considered.

Eddie Howe is determined to bolster his offensive ranks and while a right winger has been sought pretty much since the takeover of October 2021, versatility in attack is deemed crucial. Forwards who can play in multiple positions will be important as Newcastle tackle another Champions League campaign, so it remains to be seen whether an out-and-out wide man, an attacker who can play across the frontline, or both, arrive.

That will partly be determined by how far Newcastle’s budget stretches. While they do not have a PSR need to sell before June 30, the headroom that the sales of Kelly and Miguel Almiron in January created is not huge. The club’s owners continue to preach the need for financial control internally, with a desire to leave enough space in the kitty to strengthen in January and future windows.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga are admired by multiple senior figures inside Newcastle, with both of long-term interest, and moves for both are being considered. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and West Ham United’s Kudus have also featured in discussions.

Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is not among players being considered, while they do not hold an interest in Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.

Newcastle do not agree with the current asking prices and will not pay those fees to sign the players they are targeting. That is the case for targets both domestically and abroad as things stand, despite a wider perception that European imports are relatively cheaper.

There is a hope that demands will drop as the summer develops, with attacking reinforcements deemed of paramount importance.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Alongside a right-sided forward, Newcastle are prioritising the recruitment of a right-sided centre-half and a goalkeeper, while they may also bring in a striker or versatile attacker.

Newcastle’s interest in Marc Guehi remains, following the failed month-long pursuit of the Crystal Palace defender last August. Having missed out on Real Madrid-bound Huijsen, they have a shortlist of centre-back targets, with Guehi highly regarded.

Goalkeeper-wise, Newcastle had an offer rejected for Burnley’s James Trafford 12 months ago and are expected to return for the 22-year-old, whose price tag has risen following a stellar campaign but remains their top target.

Again, with Newcastle resolute in their determination not to pay what they view as excessive fees, they have explored alternatives. Newcastle had watched Barcelona-bound Joan Garcia during his impressive 2024-25 campaign for Espanyol, while Lille’s Lucas Chevalier has admirers inside St James’ Park.

When it comes to attackers, Brighton’s Joao Pedro is viewed as a versatile, Premier League-experienced option, and the 23-year-old came close to joining Newcastle in 2022 from Watford. Lille’s Jonathan David was tracked but is expected to head elsewhere, while soon-to-be-free-agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not currently under consideration, despite previous interest. A forward arriving is partly dependent on Wilson’s future.

Which players could be leaving?

Howe is keen to keep Nick Pope, even if a rival goalkeeper joins as expected. The 33-year-old has been linked with an exit, but he is still first choice and Howe wants to increase depth in that department.

Newcastle will consider offers for Sean Longstaff, who is entering the final 12 months of his deal and turned down opportunities to leave in January. Should Newcastle sell, they can bank “pure profit” in PSR terms.

Howe would ideally like to retain Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes, though Newcastle may have to consider decent offers for both given funds could be reinvested. Kieran Trippier is also valued by Howe, but the right-back has been repeatedly linked with an exit.

Odysseas Vlachodimos, the £20m goalkeeper who has made only one substitute appearance, is available. Martin Dubravka’s situation is also unclear, despite signing an extension in January.

Newcastle will listen to offers for Matt Targett, while a resolution is required to Isaac Hayden’s situation as he is not part of Howe’s plans.

Newcastle are confident they can rebuff any interest in Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali.

Chris Waugh

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Why Guehi’s passing would make him a good candidate for Arsenal and Newcastle

Guehi’s biggest asset is his comfort on the ball and range of passing, illustrated in the graph below, which will be valuable to Arsenal and Newcastle. His long passes over the top of defences have proved crucial to Crystal Palace’s attacking approach under Oliver Glasner.

Apart from finding Palace’s wing-backs to stretch play, Guehi often passed long down the middle, creating opportunities for the three forwards. He was a consistent back-post threat from set pieces, too, tasked with bringing down the first ball and heading across or crossing to a team-mate in the penalty box. His ball-carrying has also improved over the past few seasons.

Guehi’s defensive stats rarely stand out from the rest due to his reliance on positioning and recovery pace to make tackles. His ability in the air is a concern, with his 54 per cent aerial duel success rate ranking him 50th out of 64 centre-backs who played 900+ minutes last season.

There will be a period of adaptation required, but Guehi would be a solid signing for either team.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

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Tottenham Hotspur

Has anything happened over the past week?

Spurs finally decided to sack Ange Postecoglou, 16 days after he guided them to victory in the Europa League final and on the second anniversary of his appointment as head coach. The Australian won Spurs their first piece of silverware in 17 years, but they lost 22 games last season and finished 17th in the Premier League.

There was more drama in north London last week as women’s head coach Robert Vilahamn was sacked, after they finished second from bottom in the Women’s Super League, along with chief football officer Scott Munn. Ryan Mason, who has been Postecoglou’s assistant for the past two seasons and previously had two spells as a caretaker, left to become West Bromwich Albion’s head coach.

Long-serving executive Donna-Maria Cullen, who is one of chairman Daniel Levy’s most trusted allies, is stepping down from the board to spend more time with her family. All of this upheaval happened as new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham settled into his role. There seems to be movement everywhere across Spurs, except within the playing squad.

Can business move ahead now that Postecoglou has left?

It will take time for the dust to settle from the departures of Postecoglou, Vilahamn and Munn. At boardroom level, roles and responsibilities will change, which could have an impact on their transfer plans as people adjust to the new processes in place.

Tottenham cannot truly move forward until they have appointed Postecoglou’s successor, with Brentford’s head coach Thomas Frank the leading contender. Frank is more tactically flexible than Postecoglou, but he will have his own ideas on what this squad needs to reach the next level.

All of this drama has left Spurs in a messy situation and at risk of failing to build upon the momentum of winning the Europa League. They are being left behind while their rivals, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, have already made moves in the transfer market.

Frank has known Spurs’ technical director Johan Lange for nearly two decades. They previously worked together at Danish club Lyngby. If Frank does join Spurs, hopefully that pre-existing relationship means they will work together effectively and can move on targets quickly.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur shared the defensive midfield role in the 2024-25 campaign. They have both entered the final year of their contracts and a decision needs to be made about who stays and goes.

There is a strong argument to be made that neither of them is a perfect fit for the No 6 position. Spurs should consider signing a specialist who can instantly slot into the starting XI and tutor 19-year-old Archie Gray. The England Under-21 international possesses all of the attributes to excel in that role but needs more consistent game time. Frank wanted to sign Gray at Brentford, which means he might receive more chances next season.

Spurs have a lot of options at left wing, but none of them are at the peak of their powers. Son Heung-min turns 33 next month and failed to reach double figures for goals for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Wilson Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries, Mikey Moore is only 17 and Mathys Tel joined on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy, which has not been triggered yet.

With the challenge of Champions League football coming up, Spurs could do with an elite winger who is capable of playing on both flanks. Spurs were interested in Brentford forward Mbeumo, but he has made it clear he wants to join Manchester United.

Which players could be leaving?

We have already mentioned Bissouma and Bentancur, while Manor Solomon excelled on loan at Leeds United last season and will probably leave permanently this summer. Keep an eye on Richarlison and Cristian Romero, too.

Richarlison has struggled for fitness since he joined Spurs from Everton in July 2022, while Romero has spoken about the appeal of playing in La Liga in the future.

There are a load of young players, including Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear and Yang Min-hyeok, who would probably benefit from a loan in the Championship.

The new head coach will want to take a good look at everybody before making any decisions, though.

Jay Harris

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Barcelona

Has anything happened over the past week?

Barcelona have been edging closer to signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who has a €25m ($28.4m) release clause.

The Barcelona hierarchy see the Catalan keeper as a clear market opportunity at this price — and want to make the 24-year-old the team’s starting keeper for the 2025-26 campaign.

Barcelona also made an initial approach to Liverpool about attacker Luis Diaz. Their sporting director Deco had publicly named Diaz as a target, but Liverpool said they had no intention of selling the Colombia international.

Barcelona have raised almost €15m over the last week. Como exercised their €6m option to sign left-back Alex Valle, after he spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A club. Barcelona will also earn €7.8m from a sell-on clause, with their former defender Jean-Clair Todibo joining West Ham for €39m.

Barcelona’s targets seem to be ambitious — are they in a better position with La Liga’s rules?

La Liga told The Athletic last week that Barcelona are above their permitted salary limit — meaning they have no space to register any new signings to play next year.

To fix that situation, Barcelona must raise money by selling players and/or increasing club income. This could mean further use of financial ‘levers’ (selling club assets such as future revenues in return for money up front).

Barcelona’s most recent ‘lever’, announced last January, involves the sale of future revenues from 475 VIP seats at Camp Nou, which is being redeveloped, to raise €100m. The club has received €58m of the promised €100m — receiving more by June 30 could help, but La Liga has already voiced scepticism over the viability of this deal.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Laporta has mentioned goalkeeper as a priority position. As well as pursuing Garcia, Barcelona have offered Wojciech Szczesny a two-year contract extension. The Pole impressed the club hierarchy after coming out of retirement to join the club last autumn when previous first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen was injured.

Deco and head coach Hansi Flick have said they would like a left winger, with a player capable of operating anywhere across the front three ideal.

Which players could be leaving?

It seems unlikely Barca will have three senior goalkeepers next season — if Garcia is signed and Szczesny renews, Ter Stegen will come under pressure to leave. The Germany international, 33, however has no intention of leaving, so an awkward situation is looming — similar to when the club hierarchy tried to persuade Frenkie de Jong to leave in previous summers.

Clement Lenglet, who was on loan at Atletico Madrid for 2024-25, has reached an agreement with Barcelona to leave the club. France international Lenglet has joined Atletico for free on a permanent deal.

Barcelona would listen to offers for other central defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen — both know they are not first choice for Flick, but would like to stay and fight for a place.

Others not in Flick’s plans for next season include former La Masia starlet Ansu Fati, young playmaker Pablo Torre, homegrown goalkeeper Inaki Pena and holding midfielder Oriol Romeu.

Dermot Corrigan

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Real Madrid

Has anything happened over the past week?

The main focus has been on Madrid’s pursuit of 22-year-old left-back Alvaro Carreras from Benfica and 17-year-old attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono from River Plate.

Madrid reached an agreement with Carreras on personal terms for a long-term contract weeks ago, but they remain in talks with Benfica over the deal and there has been no significant progress towards agreement. The Portuguese club are asking Madrid to meet his €50m release clause. Madrid have been keen to lower that amount and would also prefer to pay a transfer fee in instalments.

Carreras has travelled to the United States with Benfica for the Club World Cup. Their first game is on June 16 against Boca Juniors in Miami, where Madrid land on June 14.

The pursuit of Mastantuono is looking more positive. There had been interest from Paris Saint-Germain, but the player is said to have always given priority to Madrid, while chief scout Juni Calafat has visited Argentina.

The Spanish club and Mastantuono have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms and sources with knowledge of the situation suggest it would be a six-year deal.

Madrid and River have been in contact in recent days, and an agreement is expected to be reached. The Argentine club want Madrid to meet Mastantuono’s €45m release clause, but Madrid could end up paying more if they can reach a deal to pay in instalments. It also has to be specified when he would join, as River are counting on him for the Club World Cup and would also like him to finish the 2025 season with them, including playing in the Copa Libertadores.

In any case, it is expected that Mastantuono will become the most expensive export in Argentine football history, surpassing the €44.25m Benfica paid River for Enzo Fernandez in 2022. This was a key condition for Mastantuono’s camp, as they wanted to leave River on good terms.

Sources close to Mastantuono, who became Argentina’s youngest player last week, say that despite him having an Italian passport, completing the transfer could take time. It is expected he would land in Spain in August at the earliest, when he turns 18.

Madrid seem to be willing to spend more this summer — is this to reconstruct the squad for Alonso?

Madrid are shaping up for their biggest summer transfer window spend since 2019, when they invested almost €300m on Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy, with Rodrygo also arriving following a deal that had been agreed a year earlier.

They planned to sign a centre-back and did so in May by landing Huijsen from Bournemouth via his £50m release clause. They also began to look at left-backs, despite having two under contract in Mendy and Fran Garcia.

More arrivals are not ruled out, especially in midfield and even in attack. Xabi Alonso is one of the voices being heard in this reconstruction.

What positions/players are they looking at?

A left-back — Carreras is their chosen one in that position. They would also like a midfielder, with Nico Paz as another option. Madrid sold him to Como last summer for €6m but have a buy-back clause of €8m. Following talks between the club and the Argentina international’s agents, the final say is with Alonso.

“Xabi wants more signings,” a Valdebebas source told The Athletic when asked about the potential arrival of a midfielder. An attacker has not been ruled out either.

Which players could be leaving?

Luka Modric, who turns 40 in September, did not receive a renewal offer and is in talks with Milan. There is an expectation a deal will be finalised after the international break. Croatia played the Czech Republic on Monday night.

Lucas Vazquez is expected to leave after the expiry of his contract following the Club World Cup.

Reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has said he wants to stay. His agent, Jorge Mendes, has received interest from suitors across Europe.

Left-backs Garcia or Mendy could be an option for a departure if Madrid strengthen in that position, although there is no indication of either wanting to leave.

Paz could also leave again — if he is brought back. Major clubs in Europe have been following him, including Bayer Leverkusen.

It is worth paying attention to Rodrygo. He has been approached through intermediaries by some Premier League clubs, with Arsenal keeping an eye on him. Arsenal like Rodrygo and feel he can add another dimension to their attack.

However, the player’s father and agent do not want to enter into negotiations until the striker has spoken to Madrid and Alonso. Rodrygo says he wants to feel important and he feels most comfortable playing on the left or more centrally than on the right.

Mario Cortegana

(Top photos: Michael Steele, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)