A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Newcastle, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and more.
With the summer transfer window now officially open for business, the gossip columns will be bursting at the seams with new stories over the coming weeks – so to help you stay on top of all the latest news, we’re back with our regular morning round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours that you might have missed over the past 24 hours.
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We start our latest digest off with a story from Sport Witness which suggests that both Arsenal and Newcastle are “in the picture” to sign Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito – and that the Magpies, in particular, are “willing to spend a significant amount” to get hold of him.
Citing sources in the Italian press, the article notes that Arsenal sent scouts to watch Pio Esposito “multiple times” over the past season, while Newcastle are supposedly “keen” to spend a “big chunk” of the Anthony Gordon money on the 20-year-old striker, who already has five goals in nine games for Italy.
Exactly how much of a chunk a side like Newcastle might have to spend is unclear, as Inter view the young forward as “untouchable,” suggesting that there is no asking price – and indeed, this report suggests that Pio Esposito is likely to use the interest as leverage for a new contract rather than to try and force a move.
The 3AM Verdict: This is far from the first story linking Pio Esposito with amove to the Premier League and it likely won’t be the last, but everything we’re seeing and hearing suggests that he plans to stay at the San Siro – and that Inter will do everything possible to keep him. We doubt that Newcastle or Arsenal offer enough money to change their minds.
Aston Villa & Nottingham Forest among sides eyeing former Newcastle star
We’ll stick with Serie A for our next story, which comes courtesy of TuttoJuve – who believe that several Premier League sides are “pressing” to agree a deal for Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly, including Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and even former team Newcastle.
All three teams are said to have “closely monitored” the 27-year-old Kelly, with Villa and – perhaps surprisingly – Newcastle said to be “in the front row,” with Forest presumably a little bit further back in the queue.
Juventus aren’t in a hurry to sell but need to raise some money this summer after missing out on Champions League football, and would “consider” offers in the region of €35m (£30m). There’s no suggestion that such an offer has been made as yet.
The 3AM Verdict: We very much doubt that Newcastle, who barely gave Kelly a game when he was at St. James’ Park, are going to spend £30m on a player that they didn’t appear to rate very highly the first time around – and that detail makes us very sceptical about the likely veracity of the rest of the report. Consider us unconvinced as it stands.
Four sides chasing £30m Birmingham star
Let’s round things off with a story from Sports Boom, which claims that no fewer than four Premier League sides are interested in signing Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield: Everton, Sunderland, and newly-promoted pair Ipswich Town and Hull City are all said to have the 23-year-old on their “active radar.”
All four are “preparing to take concrete steps” to sign Stansfield, who scored 10 goals in 44 Championship games last season. No bids have been submitted as yet, it’s stated, but Stansfield’s suitors are “monitoring the player closely” as the transfer window opens.
Birmingham, for their part, intend to “stand firm” and will “close the door” on any offers which fall below the €30-35m range – that’s £26-30m. With Stansfield under contract until 2031, the Blues have a strong bargaining position and intend to use that to knock back any substandard offers.
The 3AM Verdict: We’re not sure how much we can trust this story, which comes from a pretty gossipy source, but we wouldn’t be shocked if Stansfield was somewhere on a few sides’ shortlists. Whether that means that anyone is shelling out £30m, we’re not sure as yet.
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