A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Chelsea, Sunderland, Brentford, Bournemouth and more.
It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up of some of the biggest and strangest new Premier League transfer rumours we’ve spotted over the past 24 hours – and we’ll kick today’s digest off with a story which may interest any Chelsea supporters among you.
placeholder image
Getty Images
According to TEAMtalk – who also cite Chelsea report Simon Phillips as a corroborating source – the Blues have shown an “interest” in signing former Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who isn’t getting regular starts with Real Madrid right now.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has yet to convincingly establish himself at Real Madridplaceholder image
Trent Alexander-Arnold has yet to convincingly establish himself at Real Madrid | Getty Images
The England international has been rotated with summer signing Denzel Dumfries and his future at the Bernabeu appears to be in doubt as a result, with Chelsea said to be “monitoring” the situation, although it’s not clear whether Alexander-Arnold himself wants to leave Real just yet.
Apparently Liverpool are keeping tabs on the situation too, in case there’s a chance to reunite with their former player, but the report suggests that there’s no likelihood that Alexander-Arnold leaves his current club over the winter. If he does move on, it would be a deal which took place next summer instead.
The 3AM Verdict: Alexander-Arnold’s situation at Real Madrid is somewhat uncertain, but it’s too early to suggest that he’s likely to leave and there have been no indications that he wants to leave the Bernabeu as of yet. We don’t find it too difficult to believe that Chelsea would be interested if he does try to force an exit, however, as they still seem intent on selling Malo Gusto. Alexander-Arnold would fit that void in typically expensive fashion.
Sunderland could revive £25m winger deal in January
Iogr Paixão (right) was prolific in the Eredivisie but has yet to find his best form in Franceplaceholder image
Iogr Paixão (right) was prolific in the Eredivisie but has yet to find his best form in France | Getty Images
Over to a story from Sport Witness now, which suggests that Sunderland could take a second stab at signing Brazilian winger Igor Paixão from Marseille in the January transfer window, just months after his current club pulled the plug on a €30m (£25m) deal.
Marseille are now said to be more willing to sell the 26-year-old for financial reasons, while the player himself has supposedly “expressed his desire to leave” the Stade Velodrome.
It’s said that “conditions favour” a January deal as it stands, with Sunderland apparently still keen to bring Paixão in to bolster their struggling attack. Although not mentioned in this report, it’s also worth noting that Leeds United have been regularly linked with a bid for him after losing out on a deal in 2025.
The 3AM Verdict: Sunderland very likely do want to sign another winger and Paixão is certainly a player they appeared to be interested in over the summer, and Marseille are expected to look for opportunities to raise funds this winter, so everything here checks out – but there’s no real evidence provided for the assertion that a deal is likely, or that Sunderland still have him down as a priority signing. We’ll see.
Brentford & Bournemouth eye Serie A star
Eddy Kouatio has been capped at Under-21 level by Italyplaceholder image
Eddy Kouatio has been capped at Under-21 level by Italy | Getty Images
Let’s wrap up with a tale from Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb – they allege that Brentford and Bournemouth are both “eyeing” young Fiorentina defender Eddy Kouadio, who has impressed on loan at Monza so far this season.
The 20-year-old only has 17 senior appearances to his name, but has already earned a call-up to Roberto Mancini’s national squad, where he was an uncapped member of the Nations League team in the last international break, and his performances mean that he has “attracted attention” from two Premier League teams with a recent history of signing young talent from Italy.
There’s no suggestion that any discussions have taken place, nor any word on what the finances involved in such a deal might be. Kouadio is on loan at Monza until the end of the season, however, suggesting that any transfer would have to wait until next summer anyway.
The 3AM Verdict: The problem with stories which suggest that teams like Brentford and Bournemouth are interested in a particular young player is that they’re teams whose names get thrown into so many similar rumours that it’s almost impossible to gauge what’s true and what isn’t. None of our sources have suggested a direct link between Kouadio and any particular Premier League team as yet – but they are two clubs who scout Serie A for rising stars, so there’s nothing particularly implausible here.