Carlos Baleba set for Manchester United move as transfer market heats up

Carlos Baleba’s long chase to become a Manchester United player is almost over. The Cameroon international has passed his medical, signed a five-year deal and is now simply waiting for the final signatures that will make him a Red Devil.

United have agreed a £65million fee with Brighton, with a further £5m in add-ons. The paperwork is being tied up and the announcement is expected as early as Monday. United have tracked Baleba for more than a year; he has been pushing for the move just as long. Now he is about to get it.

Woltemade already eyeing Bundesliga return

Nick Woltemade’s time at Newcastle could be cut brutally short. Just a year after arriving in a club-record £65m deal, the 24-year-old German forward is pushing for a move away from the North East.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are both interested in the towering striker. A return to Germany would mark a dramatic turnaround for a player Newcastle once saw as a centrepiece of their project.

Palace ready to test West Ham’s resolve over Bowen

Crystal Palace are preparing a bold £50m move to bring Jarrod Bowen back to the Premier League, according to SunSport.

Bowen, now West Ham captain, publicly committed himself to the Hammers earlier in the window despite their relegation. Palace are undeterred. They see the England winger as the ideal replacement for Ismaila Sarr, who has agreed terms with Galatasaray and looks increasingly likely to leave.

If Sarr goes, Palace want Bowen to fill the void.

Newcastle slap world-record price on Hall

Newcastle have put a huge valuation on Lewis Hall as interest in the left-back intensifies.

TeamTalk report the Magpies want more than £68m for the 21-year-old, a fee that would make him the most expensive defender in history. Manchester United have been heavily linked, but that asking price could force them to look elsewhere.

Alejandro Balde and David Raum are emerging as leading alternatives, with Jorge Salinas, Antonee Robinson and Adrien Truffert also on United’s radar.

Nkunku heading back to Leipzig

Christopher Nkunku is on the brink of a return to RB Leipzig after the German side reached a verbal agreement with AC Milan.

The 28-year-old is expected to join on loan with an option to buy, with only minor details left to iron out. Journalist Florian Plettenberg reports the move should be completed in the next few days, ending Nkunku’s short and stuttering stay in Italy.

He left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 but never found rhythm at Stamford Bridge before heading to Milan. Now he looks set to go back to the club where he produced the best football of his career.

Chelsea’s winger carousel keeps spinning

Chelsea’s wide options remain in constant motion. The latest twist centres on Mykhaylo Mudryk, whose future is again in doubt.

Mudryk, recently cleared to return after an 18‑month absence following a doping ban, has been offered to Tottenham. Leeds United, Strasbourg and Coventry City are also monitoring the Ukrainian, giving Chelsea a range of potential destinations if they decide to cut ties.

The Blues have already added Geovany Quenda and Morgan Rogers out wide this window. Pedro Neto could also depart, with Manchester City previously interested and Al Hilal now in the mix. If Neto moves on, Chelsea are looking at Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao as a possible replacement.

Devaney heads to Hibs for game time

Manchester United youngster Jacob Devaney will spend the season at Hibernian.

The Scottish club have confirmed a season-long loan with an option to buy. Devaney, 20, is still waiting for his senior United debut and spent last season on loan at St Mirren. He now gets another shot at regular first-team football in Scotland as he tries to force his way into United’s long-term plans.

Real Madrid hit Zubimendi wall

Real Madrid’s hunt for a new defensive midfielder has taken another hit.

After missing out on Rodri, who joined Barcelona, Los Blancos turned to Martin Zubimendi as a potential solution. That move now looks unlikely. Reports say Mikel Arteta has closed the door on selling the 27-year-old, even though Zubimendi slipped down the pecking order late in Arsenal’s title-winning season.

Arsenal appear determined to keep him, leaving Madrid back at square one in a key position.

Romano: Marmoush to Spurs “here we go”

Tottenham and Manchester City have reached a verbal agreement for Omar Marmoush.

Fabrizio Romano has delivered his trademark “here we go”, confirming the deal is set. Marmoush will initially join Spurs on loan, with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met. The total package is expected to be worth around £50m.

The Egypt international is due in London on Monday for his medical.

Hull land Ali-Cho and reward Jakirovic

Hull City’s weekend just keeps improving.

The club have agreed a deal with OGC Nice for winger Mohamed Ali-Cho, worth a reported £13m plus add-ons based on Premier League survival. The 22-year-old scored 5 goals and added 4 assists in Ligue 1 last season and will now travel to Hull for his medical. Earlier in the summer he had been linked with a £17m move to the Tigers; they have got him for less.

On the touchline, Hull have moved quickly to tie down head coach Sergej Jakirovic. After an encouraging opening fixture against Manchester United, the club have handed him a significant pay rise and a new three-year deal. Owner Acun Ilicali said talks lasted “no more than five minutes.”

Willock closes on Besiktas switch

Joe Willock looks set to leave Newcastle, with Besiktas pushing hard to bring him to Turkey.

The Turkish club have submitted a €20m proposal and are waiting for Newcastle’s response. Willock has already agreed a contract in principle running until 2030.

Richarlison attracting Turkish and Premier League interest

With Spurs moving aggressively for attacking reinforcements, Richarlison is edging towards the exit.

Trabzonspor are exploring what it would take to sign the Brazilian forward and sounding out whether he would accept the move. Everton have also registered interest in bringing the 29-year-old back, two years after selling him to Tottenham for £50m.

Liverpool locked in talks for PSG duo

Liverpool remain deep in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola.

PSG are holding out for higher fees than Liverpool want to pay. The French champions value Barcola at around €170m but could soften that stance after signing Mika Godts from Ajax.

Liverpool want clarity on both deals before giving the green light for Coady Gakpo to join Tottenham.

Emery tight-lipped as Watkins pushes for exit

Ollie Watkins’ future is turning into one of the stories of the summer.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was asked about the striker’s absence from the squad and responded with a joking, evasive answer that did little to cool speculation. Al Hilal have already had multiple bids rejected, the latest around €45m.

Watkins has told the Villa board he wants to leave this summer. If a suitable replacement arrives, or a huge offer lands, the door could open.

Spurs confident of sealing Marmoush as Richarlison waits

Tottenham believe they will finish the signing of Omar Marmoush from Manchester City.

The striker has been offered a contract until 2031, with Spurs confident a £63m package will be enough to complete the move. Marmoush wants the switch and is eager to get to North London quickly.

His arrival would push Richarlison even further out of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans and could trigger the Brazilian’s departure.

Hull target Essugo loan

Hull City are not done yet.

They are considering a loan move for Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo as they continue to strengthen for a survival fight. Chelsea are open to letting the 21-year-old leave on loan, with several Premier League clubs also interested. Strasbourg have been linked too.

Chelsea shut door on Bynoe-Gittens exit

Roma have seen a loan bid for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens rejected.

The Italian side proposed a loan with an option to buy, but Chelsea have no intention of letting the winger go. The club will not negotiate any exit this summer, convinced he can play a key role in the squad.

Palace name their price for Sarr

Crystal Palace have set their demands for Ismaila Sarr after dropping him against Everton once he agreed terms with Galatasaray.

The Turkish side will need to pay €60m to land the 28-year-old. Palace signed Sarr for €14m from Marseille in 2024, and he has repaid that fee handsomely with 33 goals in two seasons.

Jackson wants Atleti – but Chelsea prefer Villa

Nicolas Jackson has given Atletico Madrid the green light, making them his preferred destination.

The Chelsea striker has several offers, with Aston Villa among the keenest suitors as they brace for the possible loss of Ollie Watkins. Chelsea, though, would rather sell to Villa and are waiting for a proposal from the Premier League club.

Jackson wants a return to La Liga, where he previously shone for Villarreal. Fittingly, Villarreal face Atletico Madrid this afternoon.

Kane calm over Bayern contract talks

Harry Kane is in no rush over his Bayern Munich future, even with just a year left on his contract.

“We’ll talk this week and next. We’ll just have an open discussion,” the England captain said. “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.”

Only days earlier, Kane made clear he is not eyeing a Premier League return. “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

After being told by Ruben Amorim that he is surplus to requirements at AC Milan, Christopher Nkunku has moved quickly.

The French attacker has reached an agreement with RB Leipzig over a sensational return on an initial loan with an option to buy. Nkunku, sold by Leipzig to Chelsea for £50m in 2023, is eager to reignite his career back in the Bundesliga.

Mudryk eyes Premier League stay

Mykhaylo Mudryk is expected to leave Chelsea before the window closes, with several clubs circling.

The Ukrainian international can finally resume his career after doping charges were dropped earlier this month. He wants to stay in the Premier League to regain sharpness, with Leeds and Tottenham both interested if Spurs’ move for Gakpo falls through.

Chelsea, though, would prefer to send him on loan to sister club Strasbourg rather than strengthen a domestic rival. Mudryk is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2031.

Watkins pushes for Al Hilal move

Ollie Watkins has formally expressed his desire to leave Aston Villa amid relentless interest from Al Hilal.

The Saudi club have made four bids, the latest around £45m, all rejected so far. If Villa can secure a suitable replacement or receive a significantly improved offer, they are expected to soften their stance.

TALKSports’ Ben Jacobs reports Watkins has told the Villa board he wants to leave Birmingham and join Al Hilal before the deadline. With Saudi money on the table and Premier League clubs scrambling for strikers, how long can Villa hold their line?