Liverpool have ruled out signing Moises Caicedo, Manchester City are preparing a superstar bid, and Arsenal want Everton star
Welcome to the most recent edition of my biweekly column, in which I bring you exclusive transfer and contract news and news from the Premier League, EFL, Scottish Premiership, and elsewhere.
Mikel Arteta is pressuring Arsenal to sign a new striker this summer.
The Spaniard is pleased with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah’s contributions this season, but believes his team would benefit from a more physical and powerful forward.
Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus has been identified as the club’s top target, while Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also on Arsenal’s radar.
Arsenal’s search for a new striker may be accelerated if Folarin Balogun leaves at the end of the season.
While on loan at Reims, the 21-year-old has been in scintillating form, scoring 18 goals in Ligue Un.
He is set to return to North London in the summer, but has informed Arsenal that unless Mikel Arteta guarantees him first-team action, he will seek a move away.
The Gunners have made it clear that if Balogun decides to stay and fight for his place in the team, he may be offered a new and improved contract.
If Balogun decides to leave, Arsenal will only sell him permanently if he is worth £30 million or more.
Balogun is already generating a lot of buzz in the Premier League and throughout Europe.
Red Bull Leipzig, Marseille, Lyon, Villarreal, and Sevilla have all expressed an interest in him, while Brentford, Wolves, Everton, and Crystal Palace are also keeping an eye on his availability.
Manchester City believe they have taken the lead in the race to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.
Liverpool were heavy favorites to sign the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder, but the Merseyside club withdrew from the race earlier this week.
City have a good relationship with Dortmund after signing Erling Haaland last summer, and Bellingham is also said to be interested in reuniting with the Norwegian striker.
City is willing to pay the £100 million-plus asking price set by Dortmund, and they believe they have a financial advantage over rival Real Madrid.
Dortmund has offered Bellingham a contract to stay in Germany for another year, and the England international has not ruled out signing it.
City are already preparing a world-record deal to sign Bellingham and are awaiting his final decision before submitting a bid to Dortmund.
City expects more midfield changes this summer, with club captain Ilkay Gundogan set to leave at the end of the season to join Barcelona.
The Spanish giants have long admired the 32-year-old and are prepared to make an offer when his contract expires this summer.
According to my understanding, Gundogan is eager to move to Barcelona, and it now appears that he will accept their offer.
City have also offered Gundogan a contract extension, but Pep Guardiola does not want to stand in his way if he decides to leave.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping an eye on Gundogan’s situation, but they are far behind Barcelona.
Barcelona have long been interested in signing Bernardo Silva, but signing Gundogan has made a deal for the Portuguese playmaker impossible, with City adamant that they will not lose both stars in the same transfer window.
To fend off any summer bids, the Premier League champions have set a £70 million asking price for Silva.
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