Manchester City have stolen a march on Arsenal by submitting a formal bid for an England international, while a bid for a star midfielder from Tottenham Hotspur is “imminent.”
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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CITY LODGE OFFICIAL BID AS BATTLE FOR HAMMERS STAR TAKES MAJOR TWIST
Manchester City have nudged ahead of Arsenal in the race for Declan Rice after the European champions officially lodged a $AUD171 million bid for the West Ham United skipper, according to multiple reports.
Arsenal have long been seen as the leading contenders in the race for Rice’s signature, but City’s official bid has thrown a significant spanner into the works for the Gunners.
City’s bid is reportedly an initial offer of $152 million and $19 million in performance-related add-ons, although it still falls short of West Ham’s $190 million valuation.
With City having stolen a march, Arsenal must now step up their efforts for the England international after already having one bid turned down.
Hammers chairman David Sullivan has long resigned himself to losing Rice in the summer but is determined to get a significant transfer fee in return.
City are looking to replenish its midfield stocks after losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer, although a move for Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic is on the brink of confirmation.
SPURS OFFER ‘IMMINENT’ FOR KEY TRANSFER TARGET
Tottenham are reportedly set to ramp up their efforts to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, with a formal offer “imminent.”
The Foxes have slapped a $114 million price tag on Maddison’s head, but according to The Telegraph, Spurs will make a $76 million bid and hope to reach a compromise when it comes to add-ons and instalments.
Maddison is one of new Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou’s key targets and the arrival of the England international would provide a solid answer to the club’s gaping creative midfielder void.
Newcastle were also heavily linked with a move for Maddison but the club has since turned its attention toward AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, freeing up Tottenham to make a virtually unchallenged pursuit for the Foxes star.
Maddison is almost certain to depart Leicester in the off-season ahead of the club’s first Championship campaign since the 2013/14 season.
CITY LODGE STAGGERING WORLD RECORD BID FOR 21YO
Manchester City are wasting little time in cementing their position as the dominating force in European football.
Pep Guardiola’s side have made a bid for Declan Rice and seem confident of beating Arsenal to the England international’s signature, but it appears City are not done yet.
According to the Sky Germany, City have lodged an eye-watering $146 million bid for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
Guardiola is reportedly a huge admirer of the 21-year-old and is making that known with a world-record bid for a defender.
Gvardiol has emerged as one of the best young defenders in the world and would complement a City backline brimming with talent, although it would force Spanish international Aymeric Laporte further out the exit door.
SLIDING DOORS MOMENT BEHIND YOUNG GUN’S IMMINENT BLUES MOVE
Talk about a sliding doors moment.
In the January window, Nicolas Jackson was on the verge of signing for Premier League battlers Bournemouth on a permanent deal, only for the transfer to collapse when he failed his medical.
Fast forward six months and the Villarreal forward has now completed his medical ahead of a $57 million deal to Chelsea, per Sky Sports.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano also reports Jackson’s contract with Chelsea is eight years, a staggering length rarely seen in modern football.
The signature of Jackson will be Chelsea’s second of the summer after snapping up Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku as the Blues refresh their attacking stocks.
Despite his injuries in La Liga last season Jackson scored 12 league goals, five more than Chelsea’s top scorer Kai Havertz.
However, nine of those goals were scored in the final eight games.
EURO GIANTS SET TO HIJACK UNITED DEAL FOR ENGLAND STAR
It’s an open secret Manchester United are heavily interested in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
However, three bids — with the last a $104 million offer — have not been enough to tempt the Blues to part ways with their academy product, leaving the Red Devils frustrated as the deal heads to a stalemate.
Yet United’s inability to get a deal done could play into the hands of a European rival.
According to The Guardian, Bayern Munich are “stepping up their interest” for Mount as they look to capitalise on United’s struggles.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel knows Mount extremely well from his stint as Chelsea manager and is a big fan of what the midfielder offers.
Given Bayern would only be in competition with Chelsea in continental football — something the Blues won’t be involved in this season due to a horror 22/23 campaign — there’s a chance the London side could even accept a lower offer from a foreign club.
Chelsea value Mount at $123 million, a figure United are reluctant to meet given Mount has just one year left on his deal.