Premier League
North-west scramble, Camavinga chase and a string of high-fee approaches
North-west clubs contest multiple targets: Camavinga chase, Enzo request, big fees and clauses. soon
The transfer market around the north-west is crowded and competitive, with several clubs pursuing the same targets. That overlap of interest is not limited to Akliouche, and it is producing late-window complexity across multiple positions.
Liverpool have held talks with the agent of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, a player reportedly identified by Bruno Fernandes as his ideal successor at Manchester United. Chelsea face unrest in midfield after Enzo Fernández prepared to hand in a transfer request, though Real Madrid’s chances are complicated by an asking price approaching $173.2 million (£130.8 million, €150 million).
In the north-west, Manchester City are widely reported to have won the race for Elliot Anderson, with a fee believed to be about $86 million (£65 million) for the Nottingham Forest midfielder once admired by Manchester United. Any club interested in Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero would be expected to pay around $57.6 million (£43.5 million).
Elsewhere, Juventus have been linked to former Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez after he fell out of favour at Al Hilal. Arsenal are preparing an offer for Barcelona playmaker Dani Olmo, with the Catalan club thought willing to accept $69.3 million (£52.3 million, €60 million). Brendan Rodgers’s Al Qadsiah were reportedly ready to match that fee and offer Olmo $11 million (£8.3 million, €9.5 million) per year, an approach the midfielder rejected.
Bayern Munich have identified Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as a potential Manuel Neuer replacement, while Chelsea and Newcastle United have shown interest. Chelsea are also monitoring Barcelona fullback Jules Kounde, who, despite signing a new contract, could be available for about $57.7 million.
Liverpool are prioritising a new contract for Ibrahima Konaté but could trigger a $92.4 million (£69.8 million, €80 million) buyback clause in Jarell Quansah’s Bayer Leverkusen deal. A €100 million approach from Chelsea for Barcelona midfielder Fermín López is expected to be refused by the club president, who deemed him “untouchable.”
Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus are all linked with Eduardo Camavinga, priced near $57.7 million (£43.6 million, €50 million), with Liverpool reported to be leading that race. With playing time limited, Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó has asked his representatives to field offers from other clubs.
Analytics & Stats
A Season of Extremes: Grading the 2025–26 Premier League
Arsenal won the title; a season of extremes produced champions, chaos and three relegated clubs 2026
The 2025–26 Premier League was a study in contrasts: one club ended 22 years of agony and others lurched from chaos to survival. Arsenal finished top (finances: 4th; xG: 1st; finish: 1st), and Thierry Henry captured the mood succinctly: “You don’t have to like it,” Thierry Henry said of Arsenal’s robust approach, “but you must respect it.”
Manchester City closed as runners-up (finances: 2nd; xG: 2nd; finish: 2nd). Their campaign left Bernardo Silva to argue, “If we didn’t make so many mistakes,” the captain argued , “we would have won this league.” Manchester United recovered to third (finances: 5th; xG: 3rd; finish: 3rd) after a season of extremes.
At the top end and middle of the table there were disparate stories: Aston Villa finished fourth (finances: 6th; xG: 13th; finish: 4th) and won the Europa League; Bournemouth produced a remarkable sixth-place finish (finances: 14th; xG: 10th; finish: 6th) and recorded the season’s longest unbeaten run (18 games). Brighton secured Conference League qualification (finances: 12th; xG: 6th; finish: 8th) and Lewis Dunk was unequivocal: “100% it’s a success.”
Several established names struggled. Chelsea endured a chaotic year (finances: 3rd; xG: 4th; finish: 10th) and even saw Robert Sánchez match Liam Delap for direct Premier League goal contributions. Liverpool underwhelmed (finances: 1st; xG: 5th; finish: 5th). Tottenham produced a poor return (finances: 7th; xG: 16th; finish: 17th) and Igor Tudor reflected: “The bottle is always either half-empty or half-full,” and “Here there is nothing full. There are a lot of empty things.”
Relegation hit big clubs and small alike. West Ham went down (wage bill: 13th; xG: 17th; finish: 18th) and Nuno Espírito Santo insisted, “West Ham has to be in the Premier League,” and “We are a big club that has to be in the Premier League.” Wolves finished bottom (finances: 13th; xG: 19th; finish: 20th) and chairman Jeff Shi admitted: “Maybe we sold too many players in one window.” Burnley were also relegated (finances: 19th; xG: 20th; finish: 19th).
Other narratives included Newcastle’s slide after a summer of upheaval (finances: 8th; xG: 9th; finish: 12th), Everton’s deflated near-miss with Angus Kinnear calling himself “happily dissatisfied,” Fulham’s middling campaign where they “missed the cherry on the cake,” and Nottingham Forest’s turbulence with multiple managers. This season left clear winners, clear losers and plenty for clubs to reflect on ahead of 2026–27.
Chelsea
Where Jarrod Bowen Might Land After West Ham’s Drop: Three Plausible Fits
West Ham relegated, Jarrod Bowen remains the club’s most valuable asset and a likely summer target..
West Ham’s relegation has forced an urgent summer of choices. Traveling supporters will face novel away days and the absence of VAR next season, but the larger consequence is the club’s reduced leverage over its top players. While Bowen has insisted he’ll remain loyal despite their plight, he may not have a choice.
Tottenham Hotspur are an obvious talking point. West Ham ended their unofficial transfer embargo with Tottenham Hotspur last summer when the clubs completed a deal for Mohammed Kudus, so there is a recent precedent. Spurs need greater quality and depth in forward areas, but selling Bowen to the East End’s bitterest top-flight foes would be incendiary. Few were thrilled by the Kudus deal and moving West Ham’s crown jewel to Tottenham would “surely spark acrimony.” For those reasons, Spurs look an unlikely destination this summer.
Chelsea present a plausible tactical fit. A pivotal summer awaits the club after a season that ended with a 2–1 defeat at Sunderland and the absence of European soccer. New manager Xabi Alonso could use superior quality out wide whether he operates a back three or a back four. Chelsea must streamline their squad and trim a mediocre group of wide players. Estêvão’s hamstring injury is a concern at a key stage of his development. Bowen is the experienced head Alonso supposedly wants, plus he spent the past two seasons as West Ham’s captain. His work ethic out of possession, pace on the counterattack and finishing would address several Chelsea priorities, even if other options appear more likely at this stage.
Manchester United also warrant consideration. United spent more than $270 million (£200 million) to reinvent their attack last summer and will prioritise other positions as they prepare for a return to the Champions League. Michael Carrick’s back-to-basics approach delivered the highest points-per-game of any Premier League manager this season and earned him a two-year contract. Amad Diallo has recorded just one goal contribution at club level in 2026, and with Bryan Mbeumo offering more as a fluid centre forward, United could look to upgrade down the right and exploit West Ham’s weakened negotiating position.
Analytics & Stats
Ten Years in Numbers: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Record
Pep Guardiola finished ten years at Manchester City with 423 wins from 593 matches and 20 trophies..
Pep Guardiola brought his decade-long Manchester City tenure to a close as the 2025/26 season ended. He managed 593 matches, winning 423 for a 71% win rate, drawing 77 and losing 93. The final defeat was a home loss to Aston Villa.
His reign began on Aug. 8, 2016, with a 2–1 victory against Sunderland. Sergio Agüero scored after four minutes and a Paddy McNair own goal three minutes from time sealed the first win. Guardiola’s 593rd match also overtook a long-standing club appearance record, surpassing Les McDowall’s 592 matches as manager from 1950–1963.
Across competitions Guardiola’s record reads: Premier League 380 played, 269 wins (71%); Champions League 107 played, 66 wins (62%); FA Cup 54 played, 46 wins (85%); Carabao/EFL Cup 39 played, 33 wins (85%); UEFA Super Cup 1 played, 1 win (100%); Club World Cup 6 played, 5 wins (83%); Community Shield 6 played, 3 wins (50%). The totals match the 593 games and 423 wins.
In the Premier League Guardiola’s City finished third in 2016–17, then made history in 2017–18 by winning 32 of 38 matches and becoming the first side to reach 100 points. City again won 32 matches in 2018–19, finishing on 98 points. The last two seasons under Guardiola were the club’s weakest in Premier League points during his tenure, with 71 points in 2024–25 and 77 in 2025–26.
City scored 1,462 goals and conceded 557 during the decade. Jermain Defoe was the first opposition scorer faced and Ollie Watkins the last. Sergio Agüero became City’s all-time top scorer during the period, surpassing Eric Brook’s long-standing record in 2017 and finishing on 260 goals. Erling Haaland is the highest scorer under Guardiola with 162 goals in four seasons.
Manchester City’s historic trophy haul changed markedly. Four pre-2016 league titles grew by six under Guardiola. The club had five FA Cups before 2016; Guardiola added three. He more than doubled the Carabao Cup total with five further wins. European success arrived once with the 2022–23 Champions League. In total Guardiola won 20 trophies in 10 years compared with 18 in the rest of the club’s prior history.
