Manchester United have now completed the £47.2 million signing of Cameroonian keeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan, with the 27-year-old set to revolutionise how Erik ten Hag’s side play out from the back.
There are still plenty of deals to complete before the window ends, however, with even United still in the hunt for Atalanta’s 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund.
So, let’s take a closer look at the latest transfer rumours and potential deals, as teams continue to trim and shape their squads ahead of the new season.
Douglas Luiz to Replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Spurs?
Spurs have embarked on a quiet revolution so far under new manager Ange Postecoglou, with most of the focus being placed on Harry Kane’s immediate future.
However, they’re currently in the market to bolster their midfield, especially with Danish
international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in advanced talks to join La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid.
While Spurs have been linked with 23-year-old Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as a potential replacement, a far more realistic target is Aston Villa’s powerful Brazilian international Douglas Luiz.
The 25-year-old has evolved into a complete midfielder under Unai Emery at Villa Park, contributing seven goals and six assists from 40 games last season despite his deep starting position.
The only stumbling block could be Luiz’s fee, which may be £60 million. At the same time, Villa ended last season above Spurs in the EPL table, while the Villains’ recent acquisition of Spanish centre-back Pau Torres is indicative of a club with real ambition and direction.
Will Moises Caicedo Join Chelsea?
With Declan Rice now a fully-fledged Arsenal player, Brighton’s in-demand Moises Caicedo is the next midfielder expected to complete a big-money summer move.
![Will Moises Caicedo Join Chelsea? [Getty]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/70fb8e_20864f34294f4bd6b44efb0273d8b6c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_612,h_408,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/70fb8e_20864f34294f4bd6b44efb0273d8b6c8~mv2.jpg)
Chelsea remain in pole position to sign the 21-year-old, who was verbally promised he would be allowed to leave Brighton in the summer after being prevented from joining Arsenal in January.
However, the Blues have had two bids worth £70 and £80 million turned down by the Gulls, who are thought to be demanding roughly the same fee (£105 million) that the Gunners paid for Rice.
Once again, however, a solution could exist in the form of Conor Gallagher, who Brighton are known to be keen on and could be used as a makeweight to complete the deal. This could prove crucial, especially given Caicedo’s desire to move and the promises that were made to him last winter.
Could Nicolo Barella Become a Manchester City Player?
With İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez having left for Barcelona and Saudi side Al Ahli respectively this summer, Manchester City may also look to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.
While Mateo Kovacic has already joined in a £30 million move from Chelsea, there are now rumours that City’s versatile Portuguese star Bernardo Silva is coveted by new PSG manager Luis Enrique. Of course, Silva is perennially linked with a move from the Etihad, but Enrique is a known admirer of the dynamic 28-year-old and is looking to revamp the French side’s bloated squad.
If Silva does opt for a move to Paris, Guardiola will almost certainly move into the market, with Nicolo Barella one of the Spaniard’s main targets. The 26-year-old was key to Inter Milan’s run to the 2022/23 UCL final, while a staggering fee of around €120 million (£103 million) has been muted for the Italian.
Although Barella is not as versatile as Silva and will operate exclusively in the middle of the park, he offers immense quality and the type of industry that City crave, so he would represent an excellent signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
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