Newcastle United have reportedly entered the race to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, joining Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the hunt for the prolific French striker. The 23-year-old is hot property after a breakout season with the Bundesliga campaign, but Frankfurt’s €100 million (£86.2m) price tag remains a major hurdle for potential suitors.
Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Manchester United continues to hang in the balance after the winger was pictured training alone, while the rest of the squad reported for pre-season at Carrington. The 20-year-old Argentine remains on the periphery of first-team plans under manager Ruben Amorim following a fallout that has diminished his standing at the club.
Despite enduring an intense summer campaign in the United States for the expanded Club World Cup, Chelsea have not been granted any scheduling leniency by the Premier League. The Blues are set to kick off their 2025-26 league season at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17, just over a month after completing their Club World Cup final in New Jersey.
Arsenal’s preparations for the 2025-26 season are underway, and one of the most eye-catching developments at London Colney this week has been the presence of 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman in first-team training. The highly rated youngster was involved in the senior squad’s pre-season fitness and technical sessions on Wednesday, joining a host of established stars on the pitch including Bukayo Saka.
Joao Felix and Ben Chilwell are among several Chelsea unwanted players who have reported back to Cobham this week as part of pre-season preparations, as revealed by The Athletic. With the Blues’ first-team staff currently in the United States for the Club World Cup, the group of returning players underwent routine medical checks and physical evaluations on Monday, followed by their first full training session on Tuesday.
Arsenal's hopes of finalising a move for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres remain in limbo but there is an optimism in both camps that a deal could be thrashed out in the next couple of days. The Gunners, who have identified the Swedish striker as their top summer priority, believed they had made considerable progress over the weekend. However, the two sides find themselves in a deadlock over the payment structure of the transfer.
Manchester United have taken their now-infamous cost-cutting measures to a new extreme. The club has decided to drop the long-standing practice of exchanging gifts with their opponents ahead of pre-season matches. While many teams still engage in the ceremonial swap of memorabilia, the Red Devils are breaking tradition to save their pounds.
Liverpool are reportedly weighing a move for Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo as they brace themselves for Luis Diaz's possible departure this summer. With increasing speculation surrounding the Colombian's future at Anfield, the Reds could rival Arsenal for the signature of the Brazilian star, who may be edging closer to his own exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Former Liverpool forward Dean Saunders has lashed out at Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri over his stance on a contract extension. Nwaneri has entered the final year of his existing deal and has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Gunners, with the teenage sensation yet to sign fresh terms. Nwaneri is highly rated by the north London side and they want to secure his long-term future.