The latest Premier League transfer news as Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and more chase summer deals
The summer transfer window is a few weeks in now, and things are starting to move quickly as Premier League sides look to get deals done despite a high number of elite footballers still currently occupied with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, which is now in the Round of 32 stage.
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The gap between the international tournament ending and pre-season starting is minimal, and plenty of clubs will be without a number of their key players until closer to the start of the 2026/27 campaign. New signings will need to hit the ground running, and shake off the effects of the World Cup ahead of another gruelling season of Premier League football.
Today’s transfer rumours round-up starts at Anfield, where Liverpool are preparing for a new era with incoming manager Andoni Iraola and without club legend Mohamed Salah. They’ve been chasing a winger since the end of last season, and reports suggest they might have some difficulty in signing top target Yan Diomande.
Team Talk say Paris Saint-Germain are ready to storm their way into the transfer battle to sign the RB Leipzig gem, who has lit up the World Cup with some dazzling performances for the Ivory Coast. The player is said to prefer a move to PSG over the Reds, but it remains to be seen whether the Parisian club are willing to stump up the fee in excess of £110m that Leipzig are said to want.
It’s claimed that Liverpool could now look to capitalise on the situation, and snatch France star Bradley Barcola from PSG if they sign Diomande. He’s set to leave the club if he can’t get regular first-team football next season, and Reds boss Iraola is said to be a keen admirer of the dynamic forward, who scored a stunning goal in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal in the World Cup group stage.
The 3AM Verdict: We can see this saga dragging on for a while. PSG are mega rich, but we can’t see them handing over such a huge fee at a moment’s notice. Liverpool shouldn’t be ruled out of signing Diomande just yet, but if the player wants PSG, that’s where he’ll go. Barcola would be an excellent signing for the Reds, and the deal would suit all parties involved.
Aston Villa eye Serie A defender
Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly has been linked with a move to Aston Villaplaceholder image
Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly has been linked with a move to Aston Villa | Getty Images
Over to the West Midlands next, where an intriguing story has broken regarding Aston Villa. Italian outlet Tutto Juve report that the Villans have made Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly a “main target” for the summer window. They claim that the club are poised to open talks with the Serie A serial winners, who are likely to demand around £30m for their player.
The story goes on to suggest that Villa should be able to haggle down the Turin-based club, who need to shift some players this summer for financial reasons. Kelly initially joined Juventus on a loan deal and struggled early on, but he’s grown into the role and is now considered an important part of the starting eleven.
The 3AM Verdict: Villa could do with some more numbers at the back, and Kelly’s ability to play at both centre-back and as left full-back is a big tick in the pros column when assessing his suitability. £30m is a fair amount to pay for a player with limited Premier League experience, but if they can convince Juventus to drop their asking price they could get themselves a bargain.
‘Bidding war’ set to erupt for World Cup star
A number of Premier League sides are keen on signing Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddiplaceholder image
A number of Premier League sides are keen on signing Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi | Getty Images
Finishing things off, we’re taking a look at another World Cup star who’s getting a serious amount of hype: Lille and Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old sensation is said to be of interest to a number of elite Premier League clubs, and reports from Spain via Sport Witness say that Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are all prepared to battle for the wonderkid.
The story notes that there’s plenty of interest in Europe too, with the usual suspects - Barcelona, PSG and Real Madrid - also in the mix. Lille are set to demand a fee of around £69m for their youngster, and the Premier League sides mentioned are said to be leading the race to sign him ahead of a potential “bidding war” for his services.
The 3AM Verdict: Bouaddi is another player who could get a big move after the World Cup. Man City really don’t need him, as they close in a on a mega-money deal for Elliot Anderson, but he could certainly help out both Liverpool and Arsenal. Both clubs also need to strengthen elsewhere, however, and may struggle to do that as well as paying what would be a serious fee for a teenager.
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