The transfer market is witnessing surprising developments as the big clubs in English football continue to push forward with plans to strengthen their squads. The spotlight is on Manchester United and Manchester City, with their ambitious targets aimed at rebuilding and upgrading their teams.
Manchester United are confident of signing young star Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Manchester United are showing great confidence in their efforts to persuade Arsenal to release young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 19-year-old Englishman is highly regarded for his versatility, being able to excel at both left-back and central midfield.
However, Arsenal's asking price of over £50 million is the biggest financial hurdle that the Old Trafford club must overcome before the transfer window closes.
Conversely, AC Milan are considering signing Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui. The 28-year-old Moroccan international is seen as an ideal option to strengthen the Serie A club's defense, and an official offer is expected to be sent to England soon.
Manchester City shock with Cody Gakpo, sell Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle.
Manchester City have surprisingly entered the race to sign striker Cody Gakpo from their arch-rivals Liverpool. The Dutch forward is also currently being targeted by Tottenham, making this one of the most dramatic competitions in the final stages of the transfer window.
Besides recruiting new players, Manchester City has reached a verbal agreement to sell midfielder Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle. The Spanish midfielder will move to the Magpies for a transfer fee of £47 million plus £3 million in add-ons. The deal is currently finalizing the paperwork before being officially announced.
Activity is high from Newcastle, Bournemouth and Chelsea.
Not only did Newcastle pursue Nico Gonzalez, but they also submitted a £34.2 million (equivalent to €40 million) bid, excluding add-ons, to Lille for striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo. The 21-year-old Belgian forward is a key target for the North East club as they look to upgrade their attack.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have just suffered their third setback in their attempts to sign midfielder Alex Scott from Bournemouth. The Vitality Stadium side are determined to keep their 23-year-old key player, forcing Chelsea to consider raising their bid in the coming days.
Other notable deals in Europe
Hull City have submitted a £17.9 million (€21 million) bid to Union Berlin for 21-year-old German striker Ilyas Ansah, with personal terms for a long-term contract being finalized. In lower leagues, Coventry have agreed a £6 million deal with Brentford for 33-year-old centre-back Ethan Pinnock.
In Italy, Monza are preparing a one-year contract for former midfielder Dele Alli. The 30-year-old Englishman has been a free agent since leaving Como in September 2025 and is expected to bring a significant improvement to Monza's playing style.