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Arsenal Transfer News Today: Gunners make shock entry into Enzo Fernandez race

29 May 2026 21:04 BST | 6 min read

Enzo Fernandez, Arsenal TNT

FootballTransfers runs through the latest Arsenal transfer news, rumours and gossip, including updates on Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Eli Kroupi.

Arsenal have €120m Alvarez bid rejected

Arsenal have had a formal bid of €120 million for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez rejected, according to reports in Spain, which detail the latest on the Argentine’s potential move to Barcelona." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/arsenal-transfer-news-julian-alvarez-bid-confirmed-as-barcelona-accelerate" target="_blank">Arsenal have had a formal bid of €120 million for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez rejected, according to reports in Spain, which detail the latest on the Argentine’s potential move to Barcelona.

Julian Alvarez

Alvarez finds himself in the middle of a three-way battle between Barca, PSG and the Gunners as the opening of the transfer window looms.

Arsenal have tried to sign Julian Alvarez, El Desmarque reports, however they made their big-money approach to Atletico Madrid during the Club World Cup last summer. Mikel Arteta’s side offered €120m to sign the player, but this was knocked back by Atleti.

No offer is on the table from Arsenal as of yet, while Alvarez is said to prefer a move to Barcelona, however the Gunners are still keen on the forward and could still make an approach this summer.

Barcelona interested in Hincapie

Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Piero Hincapie this summer as they search for a new left-footed defender ahead of the 2026-27 campaign." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/arsenal-transfer-news-piero-hincapie-barcelona-summer-2026-loan-permanent-bayer-leverkusen" target="_blank">Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Piero Hincapie this summer as they search for a new left-footed defender ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Piero Hincapie

Hincapie, 24, joined Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen on an initial loan deal on Transfer Deadline Day in September and the Gunners have the option to make the deal permanent for €52 million when the 2026 summer transfer window opens.

This has given Barcelona a slither of hope in their pursuit of the Ecuadorian’s signature and they are eager to finalise a transfer when the window opens, as per a report from The Daily Mail.

It’s claimed that Hansi Flick’s side are weighing up an approach for the 24-year-old, but they are aware that a deal will be incredibly difficult to finalise, with Hincapie happy at Arsenal and the north London giants expected to sign him permanently this summer.

Calafiori reveals Roma ambition

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has confirmed that he would like to return to boyhood club AS Roma as he has “unfinished business” with the Giallorossi." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/arsenal-transfer-news-riccardo-calafiori-as-roma-unfinished-business" target="_blank">Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has confirmed that he would like to return to boyhood club AS Roma as he has “unfinished business” with the Giallorossi.

Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori, 24, spent 12 years at Roma after joining their academy as a child, but he only made 18 first-team appearances for the club before completing a permanent move to Swiss side Basel in 2022.

He eventually joined Arsenal in 2024 and has played a key role for the Gunners but the defender has admitted he wants to prove himself at Roma before his career winds down.

Speaking to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday, Calafiori said (via The Standard): “I’m happy here now, but I’ve left some unfinished business with Roma.

“I barely played for that team when I was very young. I’d like to return. Not right away, but sooner or later.”

Arsenal enter Fernandez race

Arsenal have allegedly joined the race to sign Enzo Fernandez following reports that the midfielder is set to try and leave Chelsea this summer.

Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez has been strongly linked with a move to the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City after Chelsea’s disappointing campaign which has seen them miss out on European football for next season.

Chelsea have no desire to sell Fernandez and would demand more than €120 million to part ways with the Argentine international, who still has six years remaining on his contract.

However, CaughtOffside" href="https://www.caughtoffside.com/2026/05/29/arsenal-enzo-fernandez-chelsea-transfer/" target="_blank">CaughtOffside report that Arsenal are monitoring Fernandez’s situation, although Mikel Arteta’s side are said to be prioritising Sandro Tonali instead.

Arsenal given Kroupi update

Bournemouth are ready to fight tooth and nail to keep their most prized possessions this summer, including Arsenal target Eli Kroupi." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/transfer-rumours-29-may-arsenal-chelsea-man-utd-jeremy-monga-eli-kroupi-enzo-fernandez" target="_blank">Bournemouth are ready to fight tooth and nail to keep their most prized possessions this summer, including Arsenal target Eli Kroupi.

Eli Kroupi

According to the BBC, Bournemouth are firmly planning to have their three most marketable players available beyond the upcoming transfer window. The Cherries want to keep Eli Kroupi, Rayan and Alex Scott.

Kroupi is the club's most in-demand player, and there have been suggestions that he is keen to join a Champions League side this summer.

Arsenal and Man Utd have both been credited with a strong interest in the Premier League's most clinical finisher (as per WhoScored). The 19-year-old netted a stunning 13 goals in under 1,700 minutes of Premier League football in his first year in England.

If keeping the Frenchman proves impossible, Bournemouth will only sell for a huge fee, with some reports suggesting that he could cost north of €90m this summer. Ideally, though, they would prefer to keep him until 2027.