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).

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. ]

Arsenal face the prospect of a ruthless summer if their 2025-26 campaign finishes as historic as it has looked. While Mikel Arteta retains a clear group of untouchables — Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice are regarded as cornerstones — the club also holds high-value assets that could be monetised to ease financial pressure and prepare for the season ahead.

The most prominent example is Kai Havertz. Arsenal paid large fees for Havertz in 2023 and, according to Capology, he remains the club’s highest-paid player. Initially signed to replace Granit Xhaka in midfield, Havertz has evolved into Arsenal’s leading option up front. Arteta values his physicality, unrelenting energy out of possession and duel-winning abilities, and Havertz has a habit of popping up with a big goal or two. The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres last summer sits alongside Havertz in the attacking department, but Havertz is widely viewed as better suited to the centre forward role in Arteta’s setup. His 2025-26 campaign has been interrupted by injury. He missed several months earlier this season because of a knee injury and was recently set back by a muscular problem, which he has since returned from. Those fitness issues could influence the club’s thinking and the role he plays during the run-in could help shape his future, with the club unlikely to give up on Gyökeres after just a single season.

Arsenal have also used academy sales before to generate “pure profit.” Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun departed previously for a combined $129 million. Two young players who attracted attention after their breakout 2024-25 campaigns are Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Neither has been heavily involved this season: Nwaneri is currently on loan at Marseille and Lewis-Skelly has struggled for starts outside domestic cup competitions. With two senior left backs competing for minutes and Arteta seemingly reluctant to deploy Lewis-Skelly in his natural midfield role, selling Lewis-Skelly could be a sensible option if the club decide to raise funds.