Gossip: Blues will not let Nkunku leave on loan
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Metro
a few seconds ago
- Metro
Chelsea agree transfer deal to sell forgotten defender after just 12 months
Chelsea have reached an agreement to sell Renato Veiga to Villarreal, according to reports. Veiga joined Chelsea on a seven-year contract from FC Basel just 12 months ago, for a fee thought to be in the region of £12million. But the versatile defender failed to secure regular playing time under Enzo Maresca and was sent on loan to Serie A giants Juventus in January, where he went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions. Though Veiga did his reputation no harm with a string of assured displays at the heart of Juve's defence, he returned to Stamford Bridge from Turin with his immediate future up in the air earlier this summer. The Blues made it clear they would be unable to guarantee the 22-year-old a regular starting role for the 2025/26 campaign, prompting his camp to begin sounding out potential suitors around Europe. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have all been credited with an interest, but Villarreal have asserted themselves as the overwhelming favourites to land the Portugal international – who is comfortable operating at both centre-back and in central midfield. According to Fabrizio Romano, Villarreal's discussions have advanced at a pace in recent days and the La Liga outfit have now struck a deal with both Veiga's camp and Chelsea over a €29.5million (£25.5m) package, including add-ons. It's claimed the deal will include a 'heavy' sell-on clause, with Chelsea set to retain a significant percentage of any future transfer fee should the player be sold on again. The move would see Veiga become Villarreal's club-record signing, surpassing Arnaut Danjuma's €23.5m (£20.4m) switch from Bournemouth four years ago. There had still been six years remaining on Veiga's contract at Stamford Bridge, which he signed upon arrival from Basel. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Veiga was left out of Chelsea's first-team squad for their Club World Cup campaign and it was clear the Portuguese was not a part of Maresca's plans for the season. There was no place for Veiga on the substitutes bench as Chelsea were held to a goalless draw in their opening match of the Premier League season with Crystal Palace. It was only last October that Maresca singled Veiga out for special praise after handing the defender a rare start in Chelsea's Europa Conference League defeat of Panathinaikos. More Trending 'I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder,' Maresca told reporters at the time. 'He has already played four or five positions. One of my first press conferences, I said that the reason why I really like and love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile. 'Today, in my idea, if they can play different positions, then it is better for the team and especially for the players. Today, if you just play one position, I don't think it's enough. 'You need to learn more positions. Renato, Malo [Gusto], they are playing in different positions and they are doing well.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Rasmus Hojlund makes decision over transfer as Manchester United receive new approach MORE: Joe Cole suggests Arsenal should have signed £65m star instead of Viktor Gyokeres MORE: Oliver Glasner speaks out after 'being ignored' by Marc Guehi after Chelsea draw
The Sun
a minute ago
- The Sun
Arsenal's seven transfer options to replace crocked Kai Havertz revealed as Mikel Arteta scrambles for late deal
ARSENAL were dealt a bitter blow with the news that Kai Havertz had been ruled out with a knee injury. The blow has left the Gunners' squad short of firepower, having brought the German, 26, on during their 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. 9 Club transfer chiefs had already been eyeing another attacker following the arrivals of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke, but Havertz's knock means that search will move into top gear. And reports have indicated the Emirates outfit have a shortlist of seven players they are considering as they scramble to strike a late deal in the summer window. Morgan Rogers SunSport exclusively revealed earlier today that Arsenal were weighing up a stunning move for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. On Tuesday night Rogers was crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta personally congratulating him in Manchester when he received the award. The Gunners had already been monitoring the 23-year-old as someone to potentially challenge Gabriel Martinelli, though Villa are determined to keep hold of the versatile attacker. Villa have no need to shift more players in order to meet Premier League and Uefa financial rules after selling Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £40m and loaning Leon Bailey to Roma. They value Rogers at £80million and are unlikely to entertain offers below that price, meaning Arsenal would have to make the six cap England international their most expensive signing of the summer. So who else is on the table as an alternative, as the Telegraph report Arsenal will happily seek a loan if Havertz is ruled out for months. Julian Alvarez 9 One of the biggest breaking stories of the week is reports coming out of Spain that Julian Alvarez is unsettled at Atletico Madrid. It is claimed that Alvarez's camp believe they have made a mistake by signing for the Spanish club and want out due to being frustrated with his current role under Diego Simeone. How Arsenal survived Man Utd's attacks with 'forcefield defence' The 25-year-old World Cup winner has already cut his teeth in the Premier League with Manchester City, where he spent two seasons and had 36 goals and 19 assists in 103 games in all competitions. Alvarez has certainly retained his scoring touch in LaLiga, having netted a screamer of a free-kick in the opener against Espanyol despite his Madrid going on to lose 2-1. Alexander Sorloth 9 At the same time, team-mate and former Crystal Palace star Alexander Sorloth is available on the market. The 6ft 4" 29-year-old matches Arsenal's favoured type of player whereby he is a physical specimen, and has an eye for goal with 24 goals for Madrid last season. He is also likely to be far cheaper than most other targets - with the Norwegian being valued at £43m by his club - and have less competition in for him, with West Ham having been linked with a move. But there are also options within the Premier League to be considered. Eberechi Eze 9 Arsenal have a longstanding interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, but would need to hijack an expected deal between the Eagles and North London rivals Tottenham to land the 27-year-old. Spurs and Palace have agreed a £60m deal for the attacking midfielder after a major breakthrough in talks on Tuesday. SunSport understands that Spurs will pay £30m up front for Eze, with the rest made in instalments, with the initial payment helping Palace to sign a replacement for their outgoing talisman. The advantage Arsenal do have is the fact he supported them as a boy, though whether that sentimentality could come up trumps remains to be seen. Yoane Wissa Elsewhere, Arsenal could condemn Newcastle to missing out on another transfer target by making a move for wantaway Brentford ace Yoane Wissa. The Magpies have made an improved offer of £40m to land the 28-year-old, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season. That being said, the Bees are thought to want between £50-£60m for Wissa. This comes after they also lost key stars Bryan Mbeumo and captain Christian Norgaard to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively earlier in the window. Nicolas Jackson 9 Luckily, Arsenal do have a pair of options who will also be far easier to attain in the form of Chelsea 's Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. In Jackson's case, the Blues have offered the 24-year-old to the likes of Man Utd, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Arsenal for a price of at least £60m. Arsenal have already brought two players from Chelsea this summer in the form of Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Yet Jackson - who has 30 goals and 12 assists in 81 games for the Stamford Bridge outfit - could be the best of the bunch. Christopher Nkunku Nkunku is out of favour under Enzo Maresca despite an impressive Club World Cup, and has been linked with a move away from England as the likes of Bayern Munich and RB Leizpig circle. Talks with Leipzig are at a crucial stage with the club themselves fuelling speculation on social media, but Chelsea would prefer a permanent sale to a loan. When Chelsea previously discussed Nkunku with Leipzig, it appeared neither the player nor the club were interested in being reunited despite his previous successful spell there between 2019 and 2023. The 27-year-old has also been the subject of enquiries from clubs in England and Italy as Chelsea value the Frenchman at £43m (€50m). Internal? While Arsenal will want to make a key addition to their squad in order to help them finally land an elusive Premier League title after a wait of more than two decades, there are internal options if all else fails. Mikel Merino had a successful stint playing up front last season and could be a perfect impact sub behind Gyokeres for the upcoming campaign, though that would then mean Arsenal are short on midfielders. 9
Daily Mirror
a minute ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool and Man City stars in world class £343m XI available for FREE next summer
There's just under two weeks left of the current transfer market but some Premier League clubs could potentially be starting plans for next year with a host of stars available on free transfers With the transfer window entering the final stretches, Premier League clubs have not been afraid to splash the cash. Champions Liverpool could potentially move take their summer spend beyond the £400m mark with a British-record swoop for Alexander Isak. Their top-flight rivals have also spent heavily too, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United having all spent huge amounts. Given their vast outlays already, some teams may now be tempted to look for a few bargains before the window 'slams' shut. A number of free agents such as Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Jamie Vardy and Kurt Zouma all remain without clubs. But the opportunity to land top talents without dipping into their summer budget, could be even more tantalising in 2026 with a host of top talents primed to be out of contract. In fact, an XI of nearly £350m worth of talent are available for nothing in just 12 months' time according to Sportingpedia. And clubs only have to wait a few months to engage in talks with those players. With that being said, take a look a look at some of the best players who could be on the move completely for free this time next year: Starting in goal, we have a player who could actually be on the move over the final couple of weeks of the window. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma - who is valued at £34.5m - has just one year remaining on his Paris Saint-Germain deal. But he has been told he can leave the club this summer amid interest from Manchester City. Moving into defence, there are a few Premier League stars who could be on the move. Everton's Vitalii Mykolenko has just one year remaining on his contract, which would see the Toffees lose out on an estimated £24m. Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi also has less than a year remaining on his deal. He is another who could move this summer amid interest from Liverpool. And they could get a bargain given his £38.8m valuation. Ironically, Guehi could potentially replace another star in this XI. Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate - who is worth around £51m - is out of contract in a year's time and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. Dayot Upamecano - rated at £43m - could also join his compatriot in being on the move sooner rather than later. He has just a season remaining on his contract with current employers Bayern Munich. Real Madrid starlet Raúl Asencio claims the right side, with his value sitting at £34.5m. The midfield is also stacked with plenty of talent. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong - who has constantly been linked with Manchester United - is valued at £38.8m but could be available for nothing very soon. Meanwhile, Premier League duo Rodrigo Bentancur and Bernardo Silva could potentially be leaving Tottenham and Man City respectively on frees next summer. The pair hold a joint value of around £58.7m. Moving to the frontline, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has less than a year on his contract in Turin. Given he was signed for £66m and is now valued at just £30.2m, that would represent a huge loss for the Italian giants. Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is the final inclusion in the out-of-contract XI but he could also move on well before then. He is valued at £27.6m, albeit the Bees are demanding considerably more than that this summer amid interest from Newcastle as they attempt to find a replacement for Alexander Isak. Out of contract XI: Donnarumma; Asencio, Guehi, Konate, Upamecano, Mykolenko; De Jong, Silva, Bentancur; Wissa, Vlahovic. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
