We finally have some movement in the biggest transfer dealings of the window. Mason Mount has completed his move to Manchester United. Although being associated with Chelsea since the age of 6, Mason is a known Manchester United supporter, so although sad to leave London, he will be living out a boyhood dream. United have strengthened their midfield, I am a huge fan of Mount, who can play a number of midfield positions and possesses a great trait, hard work!
Declan Rice is imminent, I still don’t think he’s “officially been announced” yet. But Arsenal have made a fantastic signing there and someone who could easily be captain, and leader of that club for the next decade. He has the drive and quality to succeed and I’m sure he will. Jurrien Timber from Ajax is very close too, a fee finally agreed of around £38.5m plus add-ons. I’d love to know what these add-ons are but sadly we never get the details of it. Usually it’s dependent on appearances and achievements of the club in the Champions league etc. I still think Arsenal need another midfielder and a proven striker. Folarin Balogun, who had a breakout season at Reims, wants out and so they will need someone to either replace or back up Gabriel Jesus.
United are busy and they need to be. Andre Onana is the name of the goalkeeper they desperately want but a fee is deemed too high by Inter Milan and they also have the added complication of Saudi Arabia turning his head with a pay day. I really feel for David De Gea, if United had just said we are letting him go on a free it would be fine, that’s football. But a new deal for less money was apparently agreed and then taken away and now he has been getting married and officially a free agent. They are still in talks but I think they have treated him really poorly, he’s been their for a decade, player of the year at least 3 times that i can remember and recently got the Premier League Golden Glove. Strange!
They also want a forward, Rasmus Hojlund is the man they want, Atalanta are tough negotiators though, they want at least £50m for him. Seems a bit rich for someone who has had one good season, but his potential is very clear to see. A physical presence too at just 20 years old, that one will rumble on. Dean Henderson is on his way out, a £30m fee from Nottingham Forest, where he’s been on loan.
Liverpool are busy searching for new recruits, Dominik Szoboszlai though is a done deal, it all happened very fast, a release fee of £60m was met and personal terms agreed very quickly. A lovely technician, great on the ball as you’d expect coming through the red bull system, he would be an exciting addition. They still have quality in the midfield but i think they are short of some sort of destroyer, but who’s out there?
Chelsea have been quietly going about culling their squad, a plethora of players off to Saudi Arabia, Azpilicueta off to Atletico Madrid for a free. What a loyal servant and a Chelsea legend whos been there 11 years and won many trophies, but a good decision by all. They seem to be buying a load of youngsters from across the globe, Angelo Gabriel the latest, who looks an exciting prospect, more so a year or 2 ago but maybe he will shine in the premier league after inevitably going out on loan to their new farm club Strasbourg. I don’t know for sure that he will be loaned there but it seems an obvious link to me.
What are Manchester City doing? Well they are still working on Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig who will be drowning in cash but need to fill 2 massive voids left by key players. What an unbelievable defender, left footed too which is a rare commodity in the world, he is fast, reads the game impeccably, tenacious and aggressive in both boxes and fantastic on the ball, he will provide competition, but i think he will go straight in either at centre back or left back where Ake has been playing that sort of wide centre back role.
Plenty more stories will be coming next week as the teams all get back from their holidays. It’s going to be an exciting and expensive Summer!
