CaughtOffside

True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

Fabrizio Romano exclusive update on Manchester United’s potential left-back signing

Then, obviously, Balde could only leave Barcelona in case of a big proposal from a very top club. So, Man United have their chance, but at the moment, the distance on the conditions of the deal is considered still too high.

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True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

Mark Brus — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:11:47 +0000

We recently reported on Arsenal still being interested in Bradley Barcola as things with Liverpool seemed to be stalling.

It now looks like Barcola is closing in on a transfer to Liverpool, with a fee finally being agreed between the Reds and Paris Saint-Germain.

This was actually first reported last night by the Indy Kaila account, supposedly a team of five journalists, and other more established names like Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein have since confirmed these reports.

Interestingly, Indy Kaila has now also confirmed our recent information that Arsenal tried to enter the conversation for Barcola late on…

? Paris sources: ???

Arsenal did make a late move for Bradley Barcola ?

It was too late ??#LFC had already done months of groundwork. The player was locked in.

Arsenal were even ready to match Liverpool’s offer ?

— indykaila News (@indykaila) August 27, 2026

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The Gunners were seemingly prepared to match Liverpool’s bid for Barcola, but the France international was already “locked in” on a move to Anfield, so it was too late.

Has Bradley Barcola chosen the right move with Liverpool over Arsenal?

LFC clearly did a lot of work on convincing Barcola to choose them, but has the France international made the right decision?

Bradley Barcola in action for PSG (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Few could argue that Arsenal look to be in a stronger position right now, going into the new season as reigning Premier League champions, and favourites to retain their crown.

Liverpool, meanwhile, finished fifth last term and have lost key players like Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.

More Stories / Latest News

True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

Fabrizio Romano exclusive update on Manchester United’s potential left-back signing

Andoni Iraola is an exciting new managerial appointment for the Merseyside giants, but in general it’s not that clear how strong or settled a squad Barcola will be coming into.

At Arsenal, Barcola could have slotted in as an obvious upgrade on the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, and he’d have a clear role under the expert guidance of Mikel Arteta, who has got the best out of so many of his players in his seven years at the Emirates Stadium.

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£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

Mark Brus — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:57:04 +0000

Chelsea reportedly still have an interest in Roma midfielder Manu Kone as we edge closer to the end of the summer transfer window.

The Blues have a few midfielders in their sights as they consider replacements for the unsettled Enzo Fernandez, with Kone among them, according to Simon Phillips.

There has previously been speculation about Kone’s future from Gazzetta dello Sport, who stated that Roma valued the France international at around £43m.

That report also named Chelsea as suitors for Kone, along with Manchester United, but the Red Devils are now surely out of that particular transfer battle.

Chelsea given Manu Kone transfer boost

Roma midfielder Manu Kone in action (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

With Man Utd signing three new midfielders this summer in the form of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and Carlos Baleba, their shopping in that area of their squad is now surely done.

It’s hard to see how they could fit Kone in as well, so this should be a boost for Chelsea if they do end up having to replace Fernandez in the final days of the transfer window.

CFC will likely be keen to avoid losing Fernandez to a major rival, but stories about Manchester City targeting the Argentina international aren’t going away.

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BBC Sport have reported on Man City being prepared to bid for the £120m-rated midfielder, and that could leave a considerable gap that needs plugging.

Who else is on Chelsea’s radar?

Phillips also links Chelsea with an interest in Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, as we could also see further additions to the west London giants’ attack before the end of the summer.

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True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

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Chelsea might also look at more signings in defence, according to Phillips, and of course there’s also the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper.

Emiliano Martinez has said yes to a move to Chelsea, as Fabrizio Romano reported for us this morning, so that will likely be another major story to watch in the coming days.

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Report: Chelsea consider rivalling Arsenal for “technically brilliant” attacker

Mark Brus — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:31:03 +0000

Chelsea are reportedly still interested in a potential transfer swoop for Everton winger and rumoured Arsenal target Iliman Ndiaye.

The Senegal international has been a stand-out performer for Everton in recent times and it’s easy to imagine him being a hit at a bigger club.

Ndiaye has been described as “technically brilliant” by Pat Nevin, as per the Liverpool Echo, with his silky dribbling skills making him a joy to watch when he’s really on his game.

We were recently informed of Arsenal having some contact over signing Ndiaye, but it hasn’t advanced so far.

This could allow Chelsea back into the conversation, and it seems sources are talking this up again as we get closer to the of the window, according to Simon Phillips.

Chelsea eyeing another winger signing in Iliman Ndiaye?

Iliman Ndiaye celebrates a goal for Everton (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Chelsea have apparently had Ndiaye on their radar for much of the summer, but they ended up signing Morgan Rogers as their marquee purchase in attack.

CFC also have plenty of other exciting attacking talents like Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian, and Jamie Gittens in that department, so it remains to be seen if there’s much room for Ndiaye as well.

Still, there could perhaps be a place for the 26-year-old if he’s brought in to replace someone else, with Pedro Neto seemingly facing an uncertain future.

More Stories / Latest News

True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

Fabrizio Romano exclusive update on Manchester United’s potential left-back signing

Neto has been linked with Al Hilal by Sacha Tavolieri, and one imagines there’s surely still a chance the west London giants could cash in on him if they receive a good enough offer before the deadline.

Ndiaye could then be a tempting option for Chelsea, though Arsenal arguably need him more, so it will be interesting to see if the Gunners decide to step up their interest in the coming days.

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Everton, meanwhile, have been linked with a move to re-sign Jack Grealish after his loan spell last season, according to Fabrizio Romano, so that could be a decent option to help them replace Ndiaye if he leaves…

???????? EXCL: Jack Grealish to decide his future in the next days with Everton and Aston Villa in contact with his camp.

Grealish keeps all options open ahead of the final decision; nothing concrete ongoing with Sunderland.

?? https://t.co/aypTc7H8z5 pic.twitter.com/Pd9UvKBsus

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2026

“EXCL: Jack Grealish to decide his future in the next days with Everton and Aston Villa in contact with his camp. Grealish keeps all options open ahead of the final decision; nothing concrete ongoing with Sunderland,” Romano posted yesterday.

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Julian Alvarez to Arsenal transfer odds slashed as deal looks “more likely than ever”

Mark Brus — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:10:38 +0000

Arsenal fans may be excited to know that bookmakers Ladbrokes have significantly slashed their odds on Julian Alvarez joining the Gunners.

The Argentina international has once again missed Atletico Madrid training today, with an exit seeming inevitable for the player who was booed by his own fans at the weekend.

It seems that if Alvarez does leave Atletico there is no chance of them selling to their La Liga rivals Barcelona, so Arsenal are now odds-on favourites.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Things are looking positive for Arsenal on the Julian Alvarez front, with a move for the Atletico Madrid man now more likely than ever.”

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See below for the full odds being offered by Ladbrokes as they tip Alvarez for a move to the Emirates Stadium…

Julian Alvarez club after summer transfer window

Arsenal – 10/11
Barcelona – 4/1
Chelsea – 10/1
Real Madrid – 25/1
PSG – 33/1
Tottenham – 40/1

Julian Alvarez has little choice but to join Arsenal

At this point, Alvarez is surely running out of options, largely due to Atletico being unwilling to let him join Barca.

The 26-year-old also surely cannot stay in Madrid after this saga has turned so ugly, as it looks like an impossible task for him to repair his relationship with the club and its fans.

Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring for Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

Even if Alvarez has had his reservations about joining Arsenal, he’d surely be better off there than staying where he is.

The former Manchester City striker has already shown he can handle English football, and he’d be joining a winning project under Mikel Arteta.

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Arsenal would also surely make Alvarez a hugely important part of their team, with the South American looking like he has the quality to be the focal point in Arteta’s starting XI.

Perhaps these latest bookies odds are indicative that Arsenal’s chances are genuinely improving, and we should find out soon enough as we only have a few days left of the transfer window now.

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Arsenal tracking 13-goal attacker as Premier League player emerges as future target

Ahad Shaukat — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:04:01 +0000

Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi as Mikel Arteta continues planning for the long-term future of his attack.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an excellent first full Premier League season, scoring 13 goals and establishing himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in England.

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Arsenal already have Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz available through the middle, but uncertainty around Gabriel Jesus means there is still room for another striker to emerge in the club’s future plans.

Arsenal interested in attacker Junior Kroupi

Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

According to iNews, Arsenal are among the clubs monitoring Kroupi after his breakthrough campaign with Bournemouth.

The French forward can operate as a traditional number nine or in a deeper second-striker role, giving Arteta the sort of positional flexibility he values.

His pace, movement inside the box and willingness to press also make him an interesting stylistic fit.

However, a summer move looks extremely difficult.

The Independent via Yahoo Sports reported that Kroupi suffered a serious foot injury during Bournemouth’s pre-season tour and underwent surgery.

He is expected to miss around three to four months, while Bournemouth have maintained throughout the summer that he is not for sale.

Despite that setback, Arsenal’s interest has not disappeared. The Sun reported that the Gunners could revisit a move in the January transfer window once Kroupi has recovered.

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Gunners should view Kroupi as a long term option

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Kroupi makes far more sense as a future Arsenal signing than an immediate one.

Paying a huge fee for a player who will remain sidelined for several months would be difficult to justify, particularly when Bournemouth have no desire to sell and the forward is contracted until 2030.

But his profile is unquestionably attractive.

Kroupi scored 13 Premier League goals last season despite his age, and he offers qualities Arsenal do not have in abundance among their younger attackers: natural penalty-box instincts, explosive movement and a genuine striker’s mentality.

The Gabriel Jesus situation also makes this one worth watching. With the Brazilian approaching the end of his contract, Arsenal may eventually want another long-term option behind Gyokeres.

For now, patience is the sensible approach.

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Aston Villa set for major Ollie Watkins exit as Al Hilal deal nears completion

Ahad Shaukat — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:41:47 +0000

Aston Villa appear to be closing in on another major summer departure, with Ollie Watkins now set to join Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal.

The England international had already agreed personal terms with the Riyadh club, while negotiations with Villa accelerated over the past few days.

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The situation has now moved beyond initial talks, with reports suggesting Villa have accepted a significant offer and are already preparing to replace their long-serving striker.

Watkins agrees personal terms with Al Hilal

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

According to transfer journalist Nicolo Schira, Watkins reached an agreement over personal terms with Al Hilal while the Saudi club entered advanced negotiations with Aston Villa.

The 30-year-old has been pushing for the move despite Villa initially showing reluctance to sell.

Watkins was left out of the squad for the 4-0 defeat at Brighton, further increasing speculation that his time at Villa Park was nearing an end.

There has since been a major breakthrough. talkSPORT reported that Al Hilal have agreed a deal worth around £51m with Aston Villa for Watkins.

Villa have also moved quickly to secure his replacement, with a deal worth up to £65m reportedly agreed with Chelsea for Nicolas Jackson.

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True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle

Update: How much Aston Villa are actually paying Chelsea to sign Nicolas Jackson

Villa have little choice but to move forward

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Losing Watkins is undoubtedly a major blow for Aston Villa.

He has been one of the most important players of the Unai Emery era, providing goals, intelligent movement and consistency across several seasons. Replacing that influence will not be straightforward.

However, once a player makes it clear that he wants to leave, holding onto him can create more problems than solutions.

At around £51m, Villa are receiving a substantial fee for a striker who turns 31 later this year.

From a business perspective, that represents a reasonable moment to sell, particularly if the money is immediately reinvested in someone younger.

Jackson would offer a very different profile. He is quicker, younger and already knows Emery from their time together at Villarreal, although he remains less reliable in front of goal than Watkins.

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Julian Alvarez misses Atletico Madrid training again in transfer boost for Arsenal

Mark Brus — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:11:23 +0000

Julian Alvarez has reportedly missed Atletico Madrid training for a second day in a row as a transfer to Arsenal increasingly looks like the solution to this issue.

The Argentina international is a star player for Atletico, so is not someone they’d want to lose, but it seems he’s clearly unhappy and looking to leave.

According to Marca, the reason for Alvarez’s absence remains illness, but this follows weeks of intense speculation over his future.

The report adds that Arsenal looks like perhaps being the most likely solution to finalising this saga, with Barcelona also keen but surely not an option.

Atletico Madrid’s strong message to Barcelona over Julian Alvarez

Julian Alvarez in action for Atletico Madrid (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In a statement reported by Marca yesterday, Atletico came out fighting and insisted there was a 0% chance they would sell Alvarez to Barca.

“The player is being victimized, but the only victim of the Julián case is us,” the club said in a statement.

“They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barça. This situation is not about money, it’s about dignity. There is 0% chance of selling it to Barça.

“There’s a campaign with many lies and half-truths. The only one who pays for this is Atlético.”

There is surely no way now that the club can go back on this and end up looking weak by allowing Alvarez to join Barcelona.

Crucially, they only rule out a sale to the Catalan giants, but not a sale in general, so this is all surely quite hopeful for Arsenal.

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Julian Alvarez should accept Arsenal offer

Alvarez himself has been keen on Barcelona all along, but there’s surely now a case for him strongly considering a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The 26-year-old would be a key player in a winning project under Mikel Arteta, and even if it’s not his preferred move for personal reasons, it’s surely better than staying at Atletico at this point.

Julian Alvarez in the pre-match warm-up for Atletico Madrid (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

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Fabrizio Romano exclusive update on Manchester United’s potential left-back signing

Fans booed the player when he returned to the pitch at the weekend, and it’s hard to see him having any kind of future there after this saga.

Arsenal may now be his only way out, and it’s surely time for him to come to terms with this and come back to the Premier League, where he previously had a successful spell with Manchester City.

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Internal talks ongoing as Romano confirms rival player says ‘yes’ to Chelsea move

Ahad Shaukat — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:04:02 +0000

Chelsea have received a major boost in their search for a new goalkeeper, with Emiliano Martinez reportedly giving the green light to a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Aston Villa star is understood to be keen on joining Xabi Alonso’s project and hopes a deal can be completed before the transfer deadline.

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Chelsea are still discussing the move internally, but the player’s willingness to switch clubs removes one of the biggest potential obstacles.

Emi Martinez is keen on a move to Chelsea

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

According to Fabrizio Romano, Martinez has already said yes to Chelsea and is open to completing the move before the window closes.

The Argentina international is now waiting to see whether Chelsea decide to formally advance negotiations with Aston Villa.

Tottenham, who had previously been linked with Martinez, are currently not involved as they are satisfied with Antonin Kinsky and Martin Dubravka.

Chelsea’s interest has already been reported by Football Insider, which revealed that the Blues were exploring a deal after concerns over Robert Sanchez’s performances increased.

Chelsea’s hierarchy want a proven number one capable of immediately improving Alonso’s side.

Meanwhile, The Guardian highlighted Chelsea’s goalkeeping issues following their 3-2 win over Fulham, where Sanchez again came under scrutiny despite the victory.

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Martinez would be the ideal goalkeeper for the Blues

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in action (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

If Chelsea genuinely want to challenge for major trophies this season, signing Martinez makes a lot of sense.

He would bring experience, authority and personality to a position that has remained uncertain for too long. At 33, he would not fit Chelsea’s usual age profile, but that could actually be a positive.

The squad already contains plenty of young talent; what it lacks in certain areas is proven leadership.

Martinez would also arrive with no adaptation period. He knows the Premier League, has performed at the highest international level and is comfortable in pressure situations.

The main question is price. Chelsea should avoid paying an excessive fee for a goalkeeper in his thirties, even one of Martinez’s quality.

Still, the fact that the player wants the move puts Chelsea in a strong position. If Aston Villa are willing to negotiate at a sensible figure, this feels like an opportunity the Blues should seriously consider.

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Just in: Ornstein delivers latest bombshell involving Liverpool and Bradley Barcola

Ahad Shaukat — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:47:44 +0000

Liverpool are closing in on one of the biggest transfers of the summer after reaching an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola.

The France international has been Andoni Iraola’s leading winger target throughout the window, and weeks of negotiations finally appear to have produced a breakthrough.

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The proposed package is worth around £120 million, which would make Barcola another enormous investment in Liverpool’s rebuilt attack.

Liverpool reach agreement in principle for Barcola

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

According to The Athletic, Liverpool and PSG have reached an agreement in principle over Barcola, although several details still need to be finalised before the transfer can be completed.

The overall package is expected to reach approximately £120m, with around £100m guaranteed and the remainder coming through add-ons.

Negotiations accelerated overnight after the two clubs made significant progress towards finding a compromise.

This represents a major change from PSG’s earlier position. Sky Sports reported that Liverpool were preparing further discussions, having previously faced a sizeable gap in valuation, with PSG demanding around £145m for the 23-year-old.

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True: Arsenal were ready to match Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola bid with late transfer hijack attempt

£43m star still an option for Chelsea and Man United now surely out of transfer battle