A flurry of summer moves and reported valuations is shaping up across Europe as clubs prepare for the 2026 window.

Chelsea are reportedly ready to pursue Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, with a bid said to reach $173.8 million (€150 million, £129.8 million) (Source: El Nacional). Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has emerged as a target for both Arsenal and Manchester United, while Bayern Munich are reported to be preparing an offer in excess of $115.8 million (€100 million, £86.6 million) (Source: Sports Boom).

Manchester United have identified Inter left back Federico Dimarco as a priority and are prepared to bid as much as $69.5 million (€60 million, £51.9 million) (Source: FootballTransfers). Borussia Dortmund right back Julian Ryerson is also attracting interest, with Manchester United and Newcastle United both linked (Source: Football Insider).

Liverpool are plotting an early move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande (Source: TEAMtalk) and have made a substantial contract offer to centre back Ibrahima Konaté to prevent a free transfer, amid interest from Inter, PSG and Real Madrid (Source: CaughtOffside). The club are additionally seeking to keep goalkeeper Alisson until his contract expires in 2027 in the face of Juventus interest (Source: Franco Leonetti).

AC Milan are hopeful of securing Manchester City centre back Nathan Aké at a reduced fee after the season (Source: Calciomercato). Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be willing to sell centre back Cristian Romero, with Atlético Madrid among the leading suitors (Source: Fichajes). Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram, though Juventus plan to offer him a new contract (Source: Tuttosport).

Other developments: Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle are linked over defensive targets; West Ham may need to sell Crysencio Summerville due to financial issues (Source: Football Insider); Beşiktaş are exploring moves for Issa Diop and Kevin Danso (Source: Takvim). Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly asked Real Madrid to sign Cristian Romero and is said to want Marco Verratti alongside targets including Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Adam Wharton or Vitinha (Source: Defensa Central). Barcelona have added Evan Ndicka to a list of potential targets (Source: Fichajes). Manchester United are also monitoring Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni as replacements for Casemiro, who will depart on a free transfer in the summer (Source: Flashscore).

Erling Haaland plans to remain with Man City beyond the end of the season. While he does hope to play in La Liga in the future, he is not convinced that it is the right time to join either Barcelona or Real Madrid (Source: El Nacional).

Julian Brandt will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season and is drawing interest from Arsenal and Barcelona as he prepares to become a free agent.

Dortmund executive Lars Ricken said at the weekend: “Both sides agreed that the expiring contract would not be extended. I believe we parted with a great deal of respect. But it’s also another opportunity for both of us.” Sky Sport in Germany reports that Brandt “wants to go abroad” in his next chapter, and both Arsenal and Barcelona are said to be “monitoring” the situation. As yet, there have been no approaches.

Barcelona, described as cash-strapped in the reporting, are attracted by the absence of a transfer fee and would likely use Brandt as cover rather than a starter. For the Blaugrana, the most probable role would be as the first point of cover for Raphinha, although recruitment plans could also be influenced by decisions around Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United winger would cost in the region of $35–40 million to buy outright because of the option in the loan agreement. He is also less than 18 months younger than Brandt, who would be available without a fee. Brandt’s estimated Dortmund salary ($156,000 per week) is barely more than a third of what Rashford ($436,000 per week) is thought to earn currently.

At Arsenal, Brandt is viewed as a versatile option to provide cover in two positions and to add depth. He could also facilitate outgoing business, allowing the Gunners to offload Leandro Trossard or to cash in on Gabriel Martinelli, while concerns over Martin Ødegaard’s decline and Mikel Merino’s injury have highlighted central midfield fragility.

Brandt is reportedly already learning Spanish, which may give Barcelona an advantage because of a Catalan girlfriend. Dortmund will need a replacement, and the possibility that Jadon Sancho could return for a third spell is raised in the coverage. It’s certainly possible.

Declan Rice has pushed back against what he called disproportionate criticism of Arsenal’s use of set pieces, saying the attention stems from the team doing them well. Rice told The i Paper he found the reaction puzzling. “Everyone talks about it and then everyone does it—so it’s confusing!” he said. “But they’re not doing it to the level that we do it. You can see that when you’re seeing teams take corners. We can still get better and that’s the good thing about it.”

The debate has been heightened in recent weeks. After Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–1 earlier this month in a match that produced three set-piece goals, Liverpool manager Arne Slot criticised the direction of the modern game, insisting it was “not a pleasure ” to watch as he questioned the reluctance to punish excess physicality in the penalty area.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Mathys Tel echoed those concerns during an appearance on ZACK, describing corners as chaotic. “We’re all bunched together, everyone’s pushing, knocking each other to the ground, holding on to each other,” Tel lamented. “Forget it. The goalkeeper can no longer get out, he can no longer see.” He added a broader observation on the league: “I’m going to tell the truth, yes [it’s less exciting]. In the sense that it’s no longer a show, it’s really annoying to watch.

“There are fewer spectacles. There isn’t a Vinicius [Junior] pulling off a sombrero, dribbling past you, or a Kylian [Mbappé] bursting past you. Here, I’d say it’s more structured, maybe too much so, with clear ideas, all the set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes you think it might be too much.”

That critique met public defence from Wayne Rooney on his self-titled podcast. Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, praised Arsenal’s approach and argued coaches should exploit set pieces. “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and the way they’re playing but I think they’ve been brilliant,” Rooney argued. “The set pieces are part of football—why would you not use it? They put bodies in the box, if teams aren’t clever enough or haven’t got the players to deal with it, why wouldn’t Arsenal continue to do that?

“I would be doing it even more if I was Mikel Arteta. It’s part of the game and I love it. They don’t have to change anything. They maybe haven’t scored as many goals from open play as they would like but they’ve made up for it in other ways. ]