In our exclusive interview, the football journalist provides updates on all the major ongoing transfer stories, including Morgan Rogers to Arsenal and Crysencio Summerville to Man Utd.
What is the latest on Marcus Rashford’s future amid fresh links to Bayern Munich, and is Manchester United’s pursuit of Crysencio Summerville dependent on Rashford departing?
Manchester United are planning for an exit, and there is a clause, except for Manchester City and Liverpool, for £40 million, and yet you may remember there was also a £30m option for Barcelona to buy, which has expired.
My understanding is Man United are prepared to sell Rashford for the clause or even below the price of the clause because they want Rashford off the books, and it will help pave the way to sign Crysencio Summerville, who is certainly an option.
Rashford was banking on Barcelona, so the Rashford camp haven’t explored anywhere else because of the World Cup. Bayern have held a historical interest, Premier League clubs have been looking as well, but at this stage, Rashford hasn’t shut the door on Barcelona coming back later in the window.
Manchester United were informed by Barcelona that they were not going to activate the £30m option to buy, but they were not informed categorically that the pursuit is over, and Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, has already put terms in place with Rashford.
Barcelona’s priority was Anthony Gordon, and now they have to see whether anything is possible with other targets. If they can’t get their preferred option in Julien Alvarez, there’s still a chance they come back to Rashford.
Barcelona’s preference is to do a season-long loan and then likely an option or conditional obligation to buy. This is a proposed formula that Manchester United have flatly rejected repeatedly since January.
Of course, as there becomes more urgency post-World Cup for Manchester United to sell Marcus Rashford, Barcelona may try their luck again. At this stage, Rashford is hoping Barcelona reignite their interest, even though that option-to-buy clause expired on the 15th.
Morgan Rogers has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa this summer. Who is leading the race for his signature, Arsenal or Manchester United?
Arsenal are the leading contender for Morgan Rogers because Rogers is their top choice for that particular position. He can play on the left wing and, obviously, Rogers can play as a No. 10 as well.
Although we have to respect Aston Villa, and Villa sources, my information is that Villa will sell at the right price. The market is quite inflated, and that’s why Villa will be looking at Anthony Gordon, £70 million to Barcelona, with less time on his contract, the current €130m asking price for Yan Diomande, and with Rogers still under a long contract, they can ask for a substantial fee.
But before Rogers extended his contract in November last year, when he added an extra year, so he’s now contracted until 2031, both Rogers and Villa were on the same page that offers in excess of £80m would be considered.
The price still has a question mark as to how high or low it ultimately ends up, but my understanding is that Villa need a big sale and are open to selling Rogers.
Perhaps some of the reluctance to sell Rogers being reported is because Villa are maintaining a strong negotiating position and, secondly, because Villa have Champions League football and Champions League money, which eases the burden slightly.
However, they still have to get through the current financial cycle in terms of Financial Fair Play and the last ever cycle of Profit and Sustainability Rules. That’s why a Rogers sale is still looking more likely than unlikely, even though Villa are going to be tough negotiators.
Arsenal are expected to bid. Manchester United appreciate Rogers as well. Jason Wilcox played a hand in his development at Manchester City, and Michael Carrick worked with him at Middlesbrough.
Chelsea and PSG should not be entirely discounted, but Arsenal are the club that have been most active at the moment, and they consider themselves the frontrunners.
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha has been linked to both Liverpool and Manchester United following his impressive showing at the World Cup so far. Where is he most likely to end up?
I’m not sure this is an easy transfer to do because of the high asking price. As a consequence, Premier League clubs that have been linked haven’t made any formal moves yet.
Liverpool and Manchester United both have other targets at the moment. I think this is going to prove a difficult negotiation, and it’s an asking price that is likely to rise as the summer progresses and after the World Cup.
As a result, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool are all clubs that have been linked with a potential move. Liverpool are focused on Yan Diomande and other wide attacking options that offer pace, such as Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Said El Mala, Yankuba Minteh, and Bradley Barcola.
With Manchester United, they are looking to strengthen on the left side, and most of their targets have proven Premier League experience. More importantly, the bulk of Manchester United’s budget is going to go first and foremost on another midfielder.
Tottenham are working on central midfield, and over on the left wing, they’d like to add Savinho. Crysencio Summerville is also on their list.
Arsenal and Nmecha is really only a historical link, and at the moment, I’m not aware of him being a target for Mikel Arteta’s side.
So, there is a lot of buzz, and there could be a bidding war after the World Cup, but don’t rule out him staying at Borussia Dortmund either because of the high asking price hovering above Nmecha’s head, which is only going to get bigger and bigger as the World Cup progresses.
What price tag have Tottenham put on Luka Vušković and Lucas Bergvall?
Lucas Bergvall has asked to leave, and Tottenham are prepared to sanction a sale for offers in excess of £45 million. There might be some add-ons on top of that, and this is partially because Spurs are confident of being able to invest in Bergvall’s position.
I think the news that the player wants to seek another challenge has come as a surprise to a lot of Tottenham fans, but Spurs are going to be active with incomings as well, and it might be a sale that they’re prepared to reluctantly sanction.
I would keep an eye on Nottingham Forest, who, even though they’re perhaps not identical profiles, broadly see Bergvall as a possible replacement, should Elliot Anderson go to Manchester City.
Aston Villa are keen, and so are Chelsea. Sources have, at this stage, anyway, downplayed that they are active on Bergvall, but they were certainly linked with him in January.
Sources that I’ve spoken to in the last few weeks have downplayed anything, but now the player is seeking another opportunity, the market is, of course, alert.
From Tottenham’s point of view in central midfield, attacking midfields, whatever you want to describe it as, they’re looking at various box-to-box type profiles, whether sixes or eights, such as Sandro Tonali and also Matheus Fernandes.
With Luka Vušković, it’s a fascinating situation, because you’ve got a player who wants to go to Brighton and feels that that will be conducive to his minutes and development, and thereafter, there is longer term interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, and Juventus, so those four clubs are not looking to sign him now, but the player is are aware that he’s being tracked by those clubs.
That means that if he can go somewhere, play regularly, and develop himself as a starter, one day those clubs could come calling, and we know that Brighton are excellent at developing young players.
So Vušković is looking to make a short-term football decision based on the best project, and at this stage, he doesn’t think that Tottenham is right, because they’ve signed Jan Paul van Hecke, they’ve got Micky van de Ven, they’ve signed Marcos Senesi, and although Cristian Romero is likely to leave, as of now, he’s another Spurs option.
What is the latest on the future of Cody Gakpo?
Victor Munoz has come in, and another attacker will arrive, likely predominantly right-sided. So, broadly speaking, a replacement for Mo Salah.
Liverpool are not going to make it easy for anybody if they want Cody Gakpo. They’re going to point towards the Anthony Gordon fee to Barcelona, and the valuation of Yan Diomande that they may end up having to pay, and that will inform the price tag over Cody Gakpo’s head.
So, there’s no active steps at the moment being taken to sell Cody Gakpo, nor is it true, despite suggestions from the Netherlands, that the player has directly told Liverpool he wants to leave, and the links with Spurs, and even Newcastle United, come from the fact that historically both of these clubs have looked.
Aston Villa have, in the past, made some inquiries, but all suitors are aware that Liverpool are not desperate to sell, and as of now, the player is not agitating for a move, so any deal, should it progress, is going to be very expensive.
From Tottenham’s point of view, their main focus, first and foremost, is to see whether Savinho is possible, and then it wouldn’t surprise me to see them go for a more defined number nine.
They obviously have to resolve the situation of Mathys Tel, and they’ve got Xavi Simons, who can play in a central area, number 10, or second striker.
So, Tottenham, at the moment, are looking for more of an out-and-out left-sided winger, and Savinho is seen as a better profile fit, and he just might be cheaper than Gakpo as well.
Yan Diomande is another player who has impressed at the World Cup, and Liverpool have already seen a bid rejected for him. Could he be an ideal Salah replacement?
Yan Diomande is the priority target for Liverpool, but they’re not going to let this drag on all summer, nor are they going to, at this stage anyway, meet the €130 million asking price.
Diomande hasn’t communicated to Leipzig whether he’s prepared to sign a new deal and extend until at least 2027 or whether he’s going to ask Leipzig to sell him now. I think the high asking price is partially informed by the fact that Leipzig are waiting to see whether the player puts pen to paper on fresh terms, and we’re so early in the window that the number is warding off the market.
Liverpool remain in talks. They’ve placed one bid for €80m and €20m in add-ons, and it was rejected, and rejected quite swiftly.
And as a consequence, Liverpool are not just going to bid again without a bit more encouragement from Leipzig. So, they remain in contact with the German club, and they also believe that Diomande wants to join, and terms with the player are not expected to be a problem.
PSG could also enter this race as well, and that’s a complicating factor. Firstly, because Diomande has spoken glowingly about Luis Enrique and the PSG project, and secondly, because if PSG decides to bid, suddenly Leipzig have got a bidding war, and they’re more likely to get their price.
Liverpool simultaneously want Diomande and are working on Diomande, and feel that on the player side, he would pick Liverpool, but Leipzig, currently, are not easy to deal with, and that’s why there are the other targets.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Said El Mala, Yankuba Minteh, and let’s see about the Bradley Barcola situation as well.
Whenever mentioning Liverpool, we shouldn’t discount any pursuit of Bradley Barcola. The only reason why nothing’s developing there, and the same for other clubs like Arsenal, is because PSG, at the moment, don’t want to sell.
But it’s like an all-or-nothing type situation where Barcola will either extend or be sold, potentially, if not probably, with no middle ground, and until PSG know if they’re going to get Diomande or another target, they’re going to be very hard and firm in their keep Barcola position.
If somebody else arrives as a wide attacker, though, coupled with the fact that on the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is ahead of Barcola in the pecking order, then PSG’s stance at the right number might soften, and then Premier League clubs could come calling for Barcola as well, so it’s quite a fluid situation.
Liverpool would like Diomande, but it’s not a hill they’re going to die on, and there’ll come a point in this window where if they can’t get Diomande as their top target, they’ll start looking at some of the other names that I mentioned.”
Please can you provide an update on the future of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones?
The most recent contact was from Inter, who have a long-standing interest in the player.
Inter made a verbal call to Liverpool a couple of days ago, and asked whether anything was possible at €25 million, and Liverpool said no, their valuation is somewhere between €40m and €50m.
So, Inter, including add-ons, might have to essentially double their offer to get Curtis Jones, and that’s reflective of the fact that even with a year left on its contract, Liverpool are comfortable with Jones staying, and also believe that the market for midfielders is inflated and is only going to get more competitive as the window goes on.
Manchester United, for example, paid €45m for Atalanta’s Ederson, and his contract was ticking down. And in Jones, you’ve got a top character in football and an established Premier League player, so Liverpool feel well within their rights to essentially value Jones at a similar ballpark to the fee that Manchester United paid for Ederson.
With Inter, they don’t want to go any higher at the moment, leading Liverpool to think as of now it’s not a viable deal. And then from Jones’s point of view, if the clubs agree a fee, he’s willing to join Inter and move to Serie A.
The Aston Villa links have been there for quite some time. We’ll have to wait and see whether they develop.
There’s nothing major at this point in terms of advancement between player and Villa, or between Liverpool and Villa, it’s more Inter that are active.
Liverpool also haven’t discounted a scenario where perhaps Jones impresses under Andoni Iraola, and then there would be an appetite, under the right circumstances, to actually go to the other extreme and start talking to Jones about extending his contract, so we’re not going to get there yet, and that won’t happen whilst the windows open.
We’ve got a slightly extreme scenario where option A is yes, Jones is for sale, yes, Liverpool would sell, but their valuation has to be met, and option B is, if no one meets that valuation, Liverpool are perfectly comfortable keeping Jones, and then if he plays his way into contention under the new manager, they’ll have to reassess if it’s worth offering fresh terms once the window shuts.
Leeds United seem to be targeting free agents again in the shape of Harry Wilson and Julian Brandt. Are they confident of fending off the competition for these two while also getting Shea Charles over the line?
I expect a new bid for Shea Charles. The opening bid of around £20 million with the add-ons on top was rejected pretty swiftly by Southampton. Sources tell me that it was a derisory offer, so if Leeds want Shea Charles, they’ll have to go significantly higher than that opening bid.
With Julian Brandt, there’s heavy competition for his signature, and Leeds are trying to be opportunistic in the free agency market. The talks so far are only initial with the player, and there are some clubs with both Champions League and Europa League football also in the race.
That’s a deal that Leeds are willing to explore, but it’s not advanced at this stage. Leeds are being very aggressive in the market.
Harry Wilson is coming in as well, and that’s a real coup for Leeds United, as they were up against Aston Villa and Benfica. Harry Wilson wanted Leeds, and some of the reasons why is because Leeds have previously tried to sign Wilson, but he obviously ended up moving to Fulham.
He’s very sold on the Leeds project, the Leeds fan base and living in that part of the world. Eventually, he decided to go with Fulham, but Leeds have always been there for Wilson, so that history and relationship on the player side has helped them get a relatively speedy deal done.
Wilson is certainly an ambitious signing for Leeds as they look to progress next season and solidify their Premier League status. They’ll be looking at the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth, who can string runs together to get European football.
Leeds will know that an extra 10 or 12 points from last season might be enough for them to get into that position and be in contention for those European places.
Signings like Wilson, Brandt and Charles reflect that Leeds’ owners are thinking about survival first and foremost, but there are loftier ambitions beyond just staying in the league. These types of signings are reflective of that, should Leeds get them over the line.
Where is Jarrod Bowen most likely to be playing his football next season?
I wouldn’t necessarily say Jarrod Bowen is on the move, but it will come down to what the player wants to do.
Aston Villa are a club looking at Bowen as they try to strengthen in those wide areas, and it’s a strong pitch as Unai Emery is a fantastic manager to work for, and Aston Villa have Champions League football.
Logically, you would think that Bowen doesn’t want to play in the Championship, but he is the outlier in that West Ham group, and he’s West Ham through and through. Sources have told me that he’s deeply hurt and affected by the relegation.
It’s always been assumed that since West Ham went down, Bowen would leave, but he’s thinking long and hard about his future.
Does he want to be the face and the footballer that brings West Ham back to the Premier League? Or is he just going to go? I believe it’s a 50/50 at the moment, but clubs will be exploring deals and waiting to see what Bowen’s perspective is.
West Ham are also waiting to see on other potential outgoings because their position will be stronger if they sell someone like Matheus Fernandes first.
If they get their £80 million to £85m asking price, then suddenly they elevate a huge chunk of the financial burden that would help them to fight harder to keep Bowen.
It’s the same situation with Crysencio Summerville. A combination of Fernandes and Summerville leaving would satisfy West Ham because they need to bring in more than £100m.
If there are no takers for West Ham’s asking price for Fernandes, and the club has to lower that price, or if no one comes in for Summerville and goes directly for Bowen first, then West Ham are in a weaker position.
It’s a fluid situation. West Ham might even say to Bowen that they need to sell him for financial reasons, so we’d prefer it if you leave. I think Bowen would respect that and likely stay within the Premier League.
There are a lot of moving parts with his situation, and from what I understand, Bowen has wanted a few weeks after the relegation to let the dust settle.
Bowen is aware of the interest surrounding him, especially the interest from Aston Villa, but he’s talking it through with his family and the club internally if he wants to stay or go.
Once there is clarity on the situation, then I think a lot of suitors will make their moves.
What’s the latest with Coventry’s plans? They have been linked with several South America-based players – are they also targeting Premier League experience?
Coventry are going to be active, as you would expect. I’m not so sure we’re going to see a spend like Sunderland, of close to £150 million that ended up getting them European football on the final day of the season, but Coventry will be active.
They’re looking at potential forwards to come in and add some competition to Hadji Wright. They are also determining if another midfielder is necessary, and a goalkeeper is one of their highest priorities as well.
They’ve had a bid rejected for Carl Rushworth from Brighton, and Rushworth was obviously on loan at Coventry and integral as they got promoted to the Premier League.
So, Coventry could be back with an improved offer for Rushworth, and the player is open to that move. It’s just Brighton haven’t really determined what the long-term future is of both Bart Verbruggen and Rushworth, and until they get internal clarity at Brighton on the goalkeeper situation, it’s harder to negotiate for Rushworth, but Coventry haven’t given up there.
Folarin Balogun is another name to watch as well, who’s doing excellently at the World Cup with the US. That would prove an interesting dynamic, because then it would be Wright and Balogun at Coventry competing for the same spot.
You’ve also got Ipswich Town, who have looked at Balogun, and Leeds United hold a historical interest in Balogun, as do Brighton.
I’m not aware that those two clubs are back in the race now, but Balogun is likely to leave Monaco and is open to a return to the Premier League, and it’s believed that Arsenal, by the way, have a sell-on clause there too, so they might be able to make a little bit of money.
So, Coventry have definitely got budget to spend. The owner, Doug King, wants to be ambitious and make sure that Frank Lampard is well-equipped to stay up in the league, and remember, one of the biggest signings for Coventry this summer will be Lampard himself.
There have been several Premier League clubs that have made approaches to Lampard, including Fulham, who are about to appoint Álvaro Arbeloa as their new manager, and yet the direction of travel is Lampard signing a new three-year deal at Coventry instead, and I’d expect that to be formalised before the season starts.
Morocco and Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi looks set to be one of the breakout stars of the World Cup and has been linked to Arsenal and Liverpool. Where does his future lie?
Bouaddi is having an excellent World Cup, and that will only raise his valuation. Both Liverpool and Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs tracking him, while Real Madrid and PSG are others to watch as well.
There is a growing list of suitors, and Lille are looking for €75 million or more at this stage.
I think that prior to the World Cup, those clubs that had explored a move for the talented midfielder had thought, potentially, that the number might be slightly under €75m, but because of his performances so far in the tournament, particularly against Brazil, Lille are demanding around €10m more than those clubs first thought.
Let’s wait and see if those clubs believe that World Cup tax is worth paying, but he’s a top talent, and I do expect a battle for his signature within and outside the Premier League.
Both Rangers and Celtic have been linked with a move to sign Motherwell winger Elijah Just. Who is at the front of the queue for the New Zealand international?
There is nobody necessarily winning the race for Elijah Just’s signature at this moment in time. The World Cup will potentially put a twist on things, and he could maybe have some interest from outside of Scotland.
Celtic seem to be the club from the Old Firm that have made more enquiries, so in these early stages, perhaps we could classify them as ahead of Rangers, but both Old Firm clubs were tracking him before the World Cup.
Don’t discount interest from Turkey and Italy as well. He scored two goals in the opening World Cup game for New Zealand, and this won’t necessarily be a transfer that only plays out in Scotland, as there are a growing list of suitors abroad as well.
Is there any truth behind the rumours linking Lewis Ferguson to Rangers, and could his arrival spell the end for Nicolas Raskin’s time at Ibrox?
Rangers are assessing what they need in the market. The Lewis Ferguson links are not new, and we know that Rangers want to strengthen in that position.
The Bologna interest in Nicolas Raskin is concrete, so if Rangers choose to move for Ferguson, you would imagine that there would be a two-way conversation there.
This is going to be a key summer of change and flux for Rangers where they not only finished behind Celtic but also Hearts as well, and there’ll be careful and diligent recruitment in a number of positions.
I’m told they want an attack-minded midfielder, they’re open to another winger, and they’re looking at centre-backs. Akpe Victory, the Nigerian centre-back, is one name that has been on their radar, although they haven’t bid yet.
This is about building the spine of a team to, naturally, as will always be the case with Rangers, challenge for the SPL title, after a season where they’ve felt, even though they weren’t that far off the title race, they were ultimately leapfrogged by Hearts and lost out to Celtic.
Rangers are not going to rush into any rash signings. Ferguson could be one that develops, but at this stage, there is nothing advanced.
