Chelsea
Tottenham’s spending push could eclipse Liverpool’s transfer benchmark
Tottenham’s ambitious summer could push them beyond Liverpool’s record spend with three major moves.
Tottenham Hotspur are moving aggressively in the market and, in doing so, could end up surpassing Liverpool’s record-setting transfer outlay from last summer.
Liverpool became the first club to spend more than £400 million in a single transfer window, with club-record moves for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak helping take the total beyond that level. Few expected that mark to be challenged so quickly, but Spurs are now positioned to do exactly that.
Their response to back-to-back 17th-place finishes has been bold. Last season, Premier League survival was not secured until the final day, leaving the club uncomfortably close to a first relegation in 48 years. This summer has therefore brought a major reset.
Tottenham have already added Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dúbravka on free transfers, while £237 million has been spent on Matheus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke. That figure is still short of the top 10 most expensive windows, trailing Newcastle United’s £250 million from last year by £13 million, but the business is far from over.
According to The Athletic, Spurs are “working on” moves for Manchester City forwards Omar Marmoush and Savinho. Savinho remains a target from last summer, even after the managerial change from Thomas Frank to Roberto De Zerbi. Marmoush, meanwhile, has found opportunities limited behind Erling Haaland and struggled to deliver last season.
There is no agreement yet, though talks are “advancing.” Fabrizio Romano reports that if Savinho does not join, Tottenham would turn to Chelsea’s Pedro Neto instead. The Portuguese winger is already linked with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and is valued at around £100 million.
Spurs also want two wide players and are looking at Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo on the left, with the wider idea of building an entirely new forward line. De Zerbi’s side are currently £178 million behind Liverpool’s £415 million world-record spend, but a three-player outlay at that level is clearly within reach if the club pursues Marmoush, Savinho and Gakpo.
Even with mixed returns from Savinho and Marmoush over the last year, City are known for extracting major fees for players they can afford to move on. This week’s sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for a profit is another example.
Arsenal
Five Premier League talking points as Gameweek 6 begins
Arsenal, Chelsea, United, Spurs, City and Liverpool face a pivotal Premier League weekend.
After an international break that was longer than most, the Premier League resumes with a slate of fixtures that should quickly restore the league to centre stage. Gameweek 6 brings heavyweight meetings, difficult home tests and plenty of pressure on sides already searching for rhythm.
Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion before the break ended a remarkable run and raised the question of how they would react. Five months had passed since their previous league loss, but the 3-0 reverse on the south coast was a severe setback. Leeds United now arrive at the Emirates Stadium unbeaten and sitting fifth, only three points behind the Gunners, while history still strongly favours Arsenal, who have won their last eight meetings with Leeds in all competitions.
Chelsea also need a response after being beaten 3-0 by Brentford. That result was their third consecutive league match without a win and the third time they have conceded three goals in a game this season. Bournemouth’s visit offers little comfort, especially with Chelsea waiting on late checks for João Pedro, Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo and Reece James. Marco Rose’s side may be winless, but they have taken points from Chelsea in four of the last six meetings.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet under clear pressure. United have managed only five points from a manageable run, with defeats to Hull City and 10-man Manchester City damaging the mood. Tottenham, meanwhile, sit bottom after two goalless draws and three defeats, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side arrive with their costly new arrivals yet to settle. The stakes are obvious for both clubs.
The weekend’s headline fixture comes at Liverpool, where Manchester City play for the first time since being found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. After a three-year investigation, the verdict has inevitably shifted attention onto Enzo Maresca and his players, even if they had no part in the issue. City have won all five league games under Maresca, but this is a different test entirely.
Liverpool have every reason to make the occasion felt. They have twice been runners-up to City title teams since 2009 and remain one of the most persistent challengers of the last decade. With the atmosphere set to be intense, this could become one of the defining matches of the round.
Arsenal
Alex Scott’s likely next move and the clubs in contention
Chelsea are said to lead the race for Alex Scott, with Arsenal and Liverpool also linked.
Alex Scott’s future is still open to question, with Bournemouth expecting strong transfer attention to continue around the midfielder. Chelsea are said to be in the strongest position at present, while Arsenal and Liverpool remain part of the picture.
Scott underlined his qualities with a standout full debut for England in the 7-0 win over Croatia, showing the combination of athleticism, tenacity and grace that has made him such an attractive target. Chelsea’s interest is not new. They made more than one bid for him in the most recent transfer window, but Bournemouth rejected every offer. Those proposals were reportedly above $79 million (£60 million).
According to the Telegraph, Chelsea plan to revisit the pursuit over the next year and are currently leading the race. Bournemouth are understood to have ruled out a winter move, although Chelsea are prepared to wait until next summer, when Scott would have only one year left on his contract.
Arsenal are also among the clubs linked, and the appeal is obvious. The chance to join the Premier League champions would be significant, but regular playing time would not be guaranteed. Arsenal already have a strong midfield group, with Declan Rice the main figure and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, Martín Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz all in the mix. The situation became even more competitive with the arrival of Bruno Guimarães.
That leaves Scott with a clear footballing choice to make if interest turns into a formal move. Arsenal would be an impressive destination, but the squad balance suggests he would face serious competition for minutes. Arsenal also have other areas needing attention, particularly on the left wing and at center forward, which makes Scott a valuable but not essential target.
Chelsea
Tuchel Voices Sympathy for Sterling as Career Stalls
Tuchel has backed Sterling amid legal trouble, club uncertainty and a sharp fall from his peak.
Thomas Tuchel has spoken publicly in support of Raheem Sterling, saying he feels for the forward as his career and personal life continue to unravel. Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges last month and remains without a club after failing to secure a move since then.
The case has already drawn significant attention. In May, Sterling crashed his Lamborghini into a metal gate after an incident on the M25 and M3. At the scene, police found six nitrous oxide canisters, and bodycam footage released in September showed him trying to move them onto the back seat after he admitted the charges.
Tuchel, who previously asked Todd Boehly to prioritise Sterling’s arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2022, believes the winger’s decline began after leaving Man City. Sterling had established himself as a major Premier League figure after breaking through at Liverpool and moving to the Cityzens in a $75 million deal in 2014. Under Pep Guardiola, he produced five straight double-digit Premier League goal returns between 2017-18 and 2021-22.
“I have a lot of sympathy for him, and I feel that he has struggled ever since he left Man City and he was at the peak of his career,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday.
Sterling scored 13 goals in his final season at the Etihad before joining Chelsea in 2022. He managed 24 Premier League goal contributions across his first two seasons in west London, but his position changed sharply after that. A loan move to Arsenal did not revive him, and he later found himself outside Enzo Maresca’s plans, spending much of his time with the Italian’s “bomb squad” before leaving the club earlier this year.
His stint at Feyenoord brought more frustration, with his own supporters mocking and jeering him. Then came the Lamborghini incident.
“It’s sad to see that someone struggles because he was a devoted father to his children and he was a family guy, a nice guy to be around,” Tuchel added.
Tuchel still believes Sterling can recover from what he called a “downward spiral”, though the evidence of the last few seasons suggests a long way back for a player who once looked destined for a far brighter end to his career.
