Chelsea
Alonso’s Answers Leave Fernández Future Unresolved
Alonso backed Fernández but avoided clarity on his future as Chelsea’s transfer stance remains uncertain.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has backed Enzo Fernández publicly, but his remarks did little to clear up the midfielder’s situation as the new Premier League season approaches.
The club had set City a Friday, Aug. 14 deadline to table a $162 million (£120 million) bid, with Chelsea saying Fernández would be taken off the market if no offer arrived. That figure never came, yet the uncertainty around the Argentine has not gone away.
When asked directly if Fernández would still be a Chelsea player once the window closes, Alonso said: “Enzo is a Chelsea player. He’s a top player. He’s training well, he’s preparing for Monday [against Fulham] and that’s my concern at the moment and what I have in mind.”
Pressed on whether Fernández had told the club he wanted to stay at Stamford Bridge, Alonso again kept his focus narrow.
“He’s training really well,” Alonso digressed. “I see him with a good attitude. That’s what we want. Everyone is trying their best to prepare for the kickoff of the Premier League.”
Alonso was also asked whether Fernández would keep the vice-captaincy, but he pointed instead to the leadership structure already in place.
“Reece [James] is the first captain and we have other leaders, other personalities that share the same role.”
Chelsea remain open to selling Fernández despite the deadline passing, although the club had said they did not want to unsettle Alonso’s squad so close to the start of the season. The feeling is that a $162 million offer may no longer be enough.
For now, City appear to be the only realistic suitor. They have raised significant funds through recent sales, including $88 million from Rodri’s move to Barcelona, while Savinho is expected to join Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to $116 million. Omar Marmoush is also expected to follow.
If Fernández stays, he may still need to win over supporters who remain split over his recent conduct. He was booed on his preseason debut against Real Sociedad last week, before the noise was overtaken by support from other sections of the crowd.
Chelsea
Chelsea and Fulham Set for Fresh Premier League Meeting After Tight 2025/26 Race
Chelsea and Fulham meet again after last season ended level on points, with little to split them.
Chelsea’s long-standing edge over Fulham remains clear on paper as the two sides prepare for their 2026/27 Premier League opener. Yet the most recent campaign showed how narrow the margin has become between the neighbours.
Last season ended with both clubs level on points, leaving Chelsea ahead only on goal difference. The split was fine enough that each team won its own home fixture, underlining how little separated them over the course of the league season.
Fulham also had one small statistical advantage in the overall defensive record. They conceded one fewer goal across the campaign, a detail that adds another layer to a fixture that has historically leaned Chelsea’s way but was much more even last time out.
That context gives the opening match of 2026/27 added relevance. Chelsea may still carry the stronger record in the rivalry, but the previous season suggested Fulham are closer than the historical trend would imply. With both clubs having taken a home win apiece and finished tied on points, there is little reason to expect a one-sided contest on current evidence.
The numbers from last season point to a matchup defined by fine margins rather than a clear hierarchy. Chelsea’s edge came down to goal difference, while Fulham’s slightly better defensive return offers a reminder that the balance between these sides has shifted considerably from the old pattern of dominance.
Arsenal
Ten Premier League Signings That May Have Gone Under the Radar
A closer look at the quieter Premier League transfers that have slipped past many observers.
Premier League clubs have already committed huge sums this summer, with the division’s spending said to have reached about $3 billion. Yet some of the moves have barely registered amid the wider noise of the 2026/27 season getting under way.
One of the quieter deals saw Arsenal add Illan Meslier on a free transfer. Once viewed as a major prospect at Leeds United, the French goalkeeper arrives after a difficult spell in which mistakes pushed him down to third choice. He did not play a minute last season, and he is expected to provide cover for David Raya alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga.
João Gomes also changed clubs without quite commanding the same attention as some of the bigger deals. After being linked with Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, he moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Aston Villa in a $46 million transfer completed the day after the World Cup final. The midfielder offers energy and force rather than creativity.
Bournemouth continued their pattern of shrewd recruitment by signing Álvaro Rodríguez, an ex-Real Madrid striker who produced seven goals and five assists for Elche in 2025/26. The 22-year-old adds depth as Bournemouth balance domestic and European commitments.
Brentford turned to Callum Wilson on a free transfer after West Ham United’s relegation. The 34-year-old scored seven league goals last season, all while starting only 11 matches, and now sits behind Igor Thiago in Keith Andrews’s plans.
Chelsea added Pep Chavarría for $21.6 million from Rayo Vallecano, while Crystal Palace brought in Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free after his injury-hit spell at Arsenal and brief time with Ajax. Everton also strengthened with Christian Nørgaard, who left Arsenal after helping them win the Premier League title.
Manchester United moved for free agent Karl Darlow as backup to Senne Lammens after loan exits for André Onana and Altay Bayındır. Newcastle United signed Aladji Bamba for $47 million, and Sunderland added Thomas Meunier in one of their few new arrivals.
Arsenal
Ten summer arrivals poised to shape the Premier League campaign
Major summer signings are set to shape the 2026/27 Premier League season from the opening weeks.
The 2026/27 Premier League season has opened with the usual sense of expectation, but the transfer market has remained just as busy. With the window still open, clubs have already pushed spending to extraordinary levels, building on a summer in which the division again outspent the rest of Europe. Much of the business has focused on proven Premier League talent, though several new arrivals from elsewhere are expected to make an immediate impression.
Arsenal addressed a clear need in midfield by bringing in Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. After a title-winning campaign built on defensive stability, Mikel Arteta wanted added thrust and authority in the middle of the pitch. Guimarães is expected to partner Declan Rice and give Arsenal more energy, more vertical passing and quicker progression through central areas.
Chelsea went big for Morgan Rogers, paying a club-record fee to prise him from Aston Villa. The England international had been linked with Arsenal, but Chelsea moved decisively. In Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, Rogers looks well suited to operate alongside Cole Palmer, with both likely to compete for influence between the lines.
Tottenham Hotspur have rebuilt their midfield at serious cost, adding Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali after losing Yves Bissouma and João Palhinha. The expectation is that both will contribute right away, giving Roberto De Zerbi a new combination to work with after a difficult season.
Liverpool believe they have secured a major defensive talent in Jérémy Jacquet. Cautious management followed his January arrival and shoulder injury, but his brief friendly outing against Como hinted at why supporters are so encouraged. He is expected to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Brentford’s record signing Mamadou Sangaré arrives with strong numbers behind him, having finished among Ligue 1’s leading tacklers and duel-winners. His intensity fits Brentford’s model, and he may prove far more than a short-term bargain.
Coventry City’s Caleb Yirenkyi brings physicality and defensive presence, while Christos Tzolis, Tarik Muharemović and Carlos Baleba also arrive with strong expectations attached. At Manchester United, the midfield rebuild continues, and supporters are already treating the work as a success.
