Arsenal are pushing to sign Julián Álvarez as the forward misses training at Atlético Madrid, while Chelsea harden their stance on Enzo Fernandes amid Manchester City’s interest.
The final week of the 2026 summer transfer window has brought high-stakes maneuvering across the Premier League, with clubs scrambling to complete incomings and offload fringe players before the deadline. Arsenal have emerged as a serious contender for Julián Álvarez, who has missed training sessions at Atlético Madrid amid a breakdown in relations with the Spanish club as Arsenal push to snap up the Argentine.
Arsenal’s Forward Hunt and Álvarez’s Standoff With Atlético
While Álvarez desires a move to Barcelona, his relationship with Atletico Madrid appears untenable, potentially opening the door to north London since Barcelona and Atlético are unlikely to trade directly. Arsenal’s stance on Julian Alvarez is that if they don’t sign him, they will be relatively relaxed.
There is some internal surprise they let Gabriel Martinelli go before securing an alternative in that area, although some sources believe it could see Arsenal move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on a temporary deal. It’s just as possible they keep the money and wait. Arsenal don’t have as much deadwood as Chelsea, for example, but they have several players deemed surplus to requirements that Mikel Arteta is eager to move on. Gabriel Jesus comes to mind and his £250,000 weekly wage does not reflect his standing in the squad. He needs to be sold. Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson also aren’t required, while Ethan Nwaneri should be loaned out.
The Gunners have been lurking in the background of Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola, but the France star now seems set for Anfield, where Liverpool have agreed a fee with Paris Saint-Germain. Christos Tzolis looks fantastic so far, but they need a level above him on the left or through the middle to win the Champions League. With Gabriel Martinelli off to Saudi Arabia to join Al Hilal, a new forward will be signed, and a trio of youngsters in James Scanlon, Habeeb Ogunneye and Igor Tyjon are joining.
Chelsea and Manchester City Clash Over Enzo Fernandes Valuation
At Stamford Bridge, tension surrounds Enzo Fernandez as Manchester City circle the midfielder. Chelsea want a higher price than £120m for Enzo Fernandez amid Manchester City’s ongoing interest in the midfielder. Chelsea had long been open to business for a £120m fee for the Argentina international in what was already a complicated saga, but it is understood that no longer applies, partly due to how summer market valuations have risen. One of the higher prices was the £116m fee City themselves paid to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson this summer, and it now appears they would have to greatly increase on that club record to secure Fernandez.
Chelsea would also want to make sure they are able to secure a replacement. There remains a great deal of sensitivity and tension around the Fernandez situation, particularly with how former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca sees him as a key signing for his new club at City. Fernandez was not in Chelsea’s squad to face Luton Town in the Carabao Cup last night, despite manager Xabi Alonso saying the previous day that he expected the midfielder to be involved.
Should Fernandez depart, Chelsea are evaluating alternatives. Multiple sources are now saying that Chelsea are looking at Monaco’s Lamine Camara, in a potential £55m deal, if they sell Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City. Chelsea are looking at alternatives if Fernandez is sold, with Alex Scott seen as unrealistic this summer due to Bournemouth remaining resolute in their stance that he is not for sale. Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga or Roma’s Manu Kone are seen as potential options, but a move for the 22-year-old Camara is seen as possible should Chelsea need to add to their midfield options.
Aston Villa’s Roster Overhaul and Brighton Stand Firm on Minteh
Aston Villa face a massive rebuild in the final days of the window. It’s impossible to narrow Aston Villa’s transfer priorities down with such a colossal mess needing to be cleaned up. Zion Suzuki’s signing means Emiliano Martinez is surely off and Ollie Watkins is expected to link up with Martinelli at Al-Hilal. Those are two massive personalities in that Villa dressing room and their departures, along with those of Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers, mean Villa truly are entering a new era, and an era that might not look as successful as the one with those guys in the team.
Still, Villa’s biggest asset throughout all of this has been their manager, and Unai Emery remains. That is absolutely crucial, but keeping him happy is suddenly the club’s biggest priority, and to keep Emery happy, he will need some new signings. Villa will be forced to do an entire window’s work in the space of a week. At least they already have Martinez’s replacement through the door and Johan Manzambi is a superb addition who can help fill the void left by Rogers. With Watkins on his way, a deal for Nicolas Jackson is close but £65million feels an awful lot when Jackson is in Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ and not a player they are looking to keep. Konsa needs to be replaced – pursuits of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Joel Ordonez are flailing – and Emery’s midfield depth is extremely alarming following Tielemans’ move to Manchester United and Amadou Onana’s ACL injury suffered at the World Cup with Belgium. Boubacar Kamara started in midfield with Joao Gomes in Sunday’s mauling at Brighton and the latter’s debut could go down as the worst in Premier League history. Behind them, with Gomes now suspended, Emery has Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde.
Meanwhile, Brighton have rebuffed heavy interest in Yankuba Minteh as Liverpool turned their interest to Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr after Brighton rejected two bids for Yankuba Minteh, with Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler insisting that Minteh’s future remains on the south coast. Brighton knocked backed bids of £50m and £60m for Minteh.
He is a player for Brighton and at the moment there is nothing else to say. I admire from him that when this window is closed that he is fully committed to this club. Of course there are always dreams of players and there are some wishes for players but in the end we always need to figure what is best for the club and therefore we had an exchange with him, at the moment he’s definitely a Brighton player, I can’t say anything more so let’s see what happens.
Following Brighton’s resistance, Liverpool want Ismaila Sarr as well, which could see Cody Gakpo join Spurs. Elsewhere in domestic business, Brentford completed the signing of West Ham defender. Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf has joined Brentford from West Ham. The 21-year-old defender has signed a five-year deal at the Gtech Community Stadium with the option of another season. Bees boss Keith Andrews praised the addition, noting that He’s a player that fits our ideal age profile, with lots of room to still develop, and some of the qualities and attributes he has as a full-back really add to an already impressive part of our team.
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