Your Thursday hit of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - including news from Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and more.
There’s little over a week to go until the summer transfer window swings open and Europe’s elite clubs are tripping over themselves to lock up their top targets as soon as possible, and we’re doing likewise to serve up your Thursday round-up of the latest wheeling and dealing - with a Premier League club at the centre of two potential blockbuster moves.
If Chelsea qualify for next season’s Champions League and enjoy a successful Club World Cup over the summer they will receive a £200m bonus to their transfer budget, but are focusing on building a young core that can develop together in a similar manner to PSG. Rodrygo’s arrival would apparently upset that strategy despite the Brazilian’s status as the humblest of Real Madrid’s galácticos, though Chelsea are still gunning for a winger alongside their other top priorities: a striker and centre-back.
Arsenal may be the biggest beneficiaries of this news, given Liverpool already appear to be finalising a host of other marquee signings. Joao Pedro and Florian Wirtz currently headline a bumper incoming crop of potential additions that is also said to include Xavi Simons and Jeremie Frimpong among others (more on that later).
Although Liverpool had the fifth-lowest net spend among Premier League clubs last season, the addition of Rodrygo would still be another massive sum to balance on the books at a later date while Arsenal look set to miss out on Pedro so should make Rodrygo a top target to partner Bukayo Saka on the flanks.
The 3AM Verdict: Arsenal appear the most desperate Premier League club in the hunt for Rodrygo and this news is a major boost to Mikel Arteta. Liverpool’s attention seems to be elsewhere and right now this race is the Gunners’ to lose for a player who would instantly upgrade the forward line.
Hugo Ekitike the man for Enzo Maresca at Chelsea
The latest striker to roll off the goal machine production line at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt have netted a staggering profit of €273m (£230m) from flipping Sebastien Haller, Luka Jovic, Andre SIlva, Randal Kolo Muani and most recently Omar Marmoush to Europe’s elite and West Ham. And that number will get another considerable boost with Chelsea focused on capturing the 22-year-old, while PSG are set to recoup a 20% sell-on fee after the uncapped Frenchman left the Parc des Princes for €16.5m.
Chelsea have been part of the gaggle of clubs linked with the in-demand Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap but instead have their hearts set on beating Liverpool and Arsenal to the signature of Ekitike who better fits their youth policy. Though perhaps their best strategy would be cutting out the middle man and signing Frankfurt’s top striker target this summer, who’ll no doubt be worth five or 10 times his current value in a couple of season’s time.
While Ekitike and the misfiring Nicolas Jackson both compare poorly to their fellow forwards in Europe’s top five leagues at converting chances, the Frenchman is much more involved and accomplished in build-up play. He ranks in the top 4% in his position for successful take-ons with Chelsea’s current focal point barely better than average in that department.
The 3AM Verdict: Without wishing to pour cold water on a young man and his dream, neither Eintracht Frankfurt sales nor Chelsea purchases at striker have a particularly good track record of panning out post-transaction. Tucking away chances has been a major problem for the Blues this season and both Gyokeres and Sesko are much more accomplished in front of goal - the latter would also fit the target age profile at 21 years old too. But with 22 goals to his name this season, Ekitike has the tools to prove this pessimism wrong.
Liverpool linked with triple raid on Bayer Leverkusen
Michael Edwards did former Reds icon Xabi Alonso the courtesy of leaving Bayer Leverkusen alone following ‘Neverkusen’s historic Invincible Bundesliga season, but with the 43-year-old now headed to Madrid it’s apparently open season on the former German champions.
Explosive full-back Jeremie Frimpong has been the long-term rumoured replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will likely be Alonso’s first signing at the Bernabeu, as yet another Dutchman heads to Merseyside.
And Liverpool appear to have hijacked Manchester City’s bid for Leverkusen’s attacking superstar Wirtz too, with BILD reporting chief executive of football Michael Edwards has flown to Boston to get the figures approve for a potentially nine-figure deal.
Wirtz would be the biggest-name arrival to the Premier League since Erling Haaland also swapped Germany for north-west England in 2022, but Liverpool aren’t done there. A central defender is another item on Edwards’ shopping list after a very frugal summer 12 months ago, and Piero Hincapie fits the bill according to Fichajes.
Liverpool have a quality quartet of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah at centre-back but it’s a relatively shallow group to fortify the spine of the team and at 23 years of age, Hincapie would be the perfect addition to that bunch.
The Ecuadorian is famed for his aggressiveness and isn’t afraid to step out of defence to apply pressure further up the field. Despite his tender age, Hincapie has been a stalwart of Alonso’s side this season with a useful ability to fill in at left-back contributing to his 45 appearances (just five from the bench) in all competitions in 2024/25.
His release clause is thought to be between €50m and €60m (£42m-51m) on a contract that runs until 2029 and Manchester United are also reportedly interested in Hincapie though can’t tempt him with Champions League football next season.
The 3AM Verdict: The Premier League and Champions League had better watch out. Liverpool are set to be a new-look side next season and while Wirtz, Pedro and Simons would steal the headlines Hincapie looks like an ideal fit for Arne Slot to bolster his defence. The Ecuadorian could anchor Liverpool’s backline for a decade alongside Quansah and another young target in Milos Kerkez while Liverpool can afford to ease him into the Premier League if needed thanks to the continued brilliance of Van Dijk and Konate.
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