Chelsea are one of the clubs preparing for the Club World Cup.Chelsea are one of the clubs preparing for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea are one of the clubs preparing for the Club World Cup. | Getty Images
Chelsea and Manchester City are the two Premier League clubs under extra pressure to complete deals ahead of the Club World Cup.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have a mini Deadline Day looming over them this evening with a new-look transfer market ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The expanded Club World Cup in the United States has led to date adjustments with the transfer window. The first mini window opened on June 1 and will close at 7 pm BST on Tuesday, June 10.
The early week of business was approved to help teams preparing for the Club World Cup to bring new players into their ranks. From the Premier League, that is just Chelsea and Manchester City, but all clubs have been able to conduct business over the past nine days.
FIFA rules demand that a transfer window cannot span any longer than 16 weeks, which is what has led to the unique split this year. The transfer window will reopen on Monday, June 16 when the Club World Cup has been underway for two days.
That means the biggest pressure to beat the deadline tonight is on Chelsea, with the London outfit’s owners known to be taking the Club World Cup very seriously. The Blues will need to wait until June 27 to register any new arrivals signed after the window opens again.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been named in plenty transfer rumours ahead of today’s deadline and LondonWorld looks at what each club are working on right now.
Chelsea in goalkeeper talks and look to improve £30m winger bid
Enzo Maresca has already seen the club move early in the transfer window to sign highly-rated Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The 22-year-old, who bagged 12 Premier League goals last term, arrived at Stamford Bridge for £30 million and the striker will be available for the Club World Cup.
There appears to be two other deals that the club are looking to push through ahead of the deadline this evening. The first is a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Maresca is known not to be convinced by his first team goalkeeper options in west London and the French number one could be the answer to those problems. Chelsea have submitted a £15 million offer for the shot-stopper, who is in the final 12 months of his contract, but the Serie A giants are thought to want at least £25 million. The Athletic has reported that if a fee is not agreed imminently, the Blues could walk away from those talks.
Elsewhere, The Standard reports that Chelsea are in ‘ongoing talks’ with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of Jamie Gittens. The Blues saw a £29.5 million opening bid rejected for the exciting 20-year-old and could have to pay almost double that fee. It has already been confirmed that Jadon Sancho will return to Manchester United and hinted that Noni Madueke is transfer listed, making the flanks a key area for recruitment.
Arsenal sweat over Zubimendi transfer as £70m Sesko deal under threat
However, reports on Tuesday claim that Real Madrid are serious contenders to sign Zubimendi and keep the player in La Liga. That is cause for concern at Arsenal but transfer specialist Guillem Balague wrote on social media platform X: “When Real Madrid come calling, all kinds of doubts normally happen even if a deal is very advanced (agreed and more) with another club.
“But let's say that Zubimendi, aware of the recent interest of Real Madrid, has not been affected at all by it. He is very very calm It sounds to me Arsenal have got the player fully wrapped up.”
The Gunners also remain in talks over a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Arsenal need a new source of goals and that move could be put under time pressure today. Sky Sports are reporting that Al-Hilal are also interested in the £70 million rated bagsman, and are pushing to get a deal done today ahead of their involvement in the Club World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur focus on Thomas Frank
Tottenham Hotspur also appear to be locked in negotiations on Deadline Day but, rather than a player transfer, the next deal the club agrees is set to be with Brentford manager Thomas Frank. That is not affected by the imminent deadline as Frank prepares to replace Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs transfer business will likely come later in the window when the Dane has got his affairs in order. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has speculated that part of the discussions with Frank have been over the club’s shopping list this summer but time will tell who is on the top of that.
In other news, Chelsea's next transfer after Mike Maignan in doubt as 'asking price' claim made.
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