EPL Transfer Rumors: Latest on Rashford, Grealish, Lukaku and More
The transfer window officially opened on June 14, 2024 and will close on August 30, 2024. Some clubs are out of the market, some try to take advantage before closing, so here are the hottest rumors and odds for the EPL potential transfers.
Marcus Rashford Emerges as Top Saudi Target?
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United is reportedly a top target for Middle Eastern teams, with Saudi clubs willing to pay as much as £86 million (€100 million) for the England winger, according to a recent report from Fichajes. The Sun indicates the Red Devils are open to considering any and all offers for the struggling 26-year-old. A price as high as £86 million would undoubtedly force talks.
Instead of Saudi giants we have PSG and Barça at 6/1 The French side has been looking for an England international for a while, so their interest is always somewhere near. And Barça with financial and registration problems can potentially buy Marcus, but they have to sell someone in the first place.
Grealish on the Move?
Jack Grealish's future in Manchester City has apparently been discussed in-depth by Pep Guardiola with the England forward, despite speculation that he may leave before the transfer window closes. With the acquisition of Savinho from sister team Troyes, City has only made one acquisition thus far.
After Julián Álvarez signed a £82 million contract to join Atlético Madrid, another attacking addition is anticipated. Reports suggest that Grealish may be sold in the last week of the transfer window, with Aston Villa being mentioned as a possible destination, as Guardiola looks to restock his attacking options.
But according to 90min, City will not entertain any offers for the adaptable forward and has no plans to part ways with him. Grealish had a difficult 2023–24 season, but he is still considered a key member of the team both now and in the future. Due to his difficulties, the 28-year-old was left out of England's squad for Euro 2024, which prompted the winger to speak with Guardiola.
His manager reassured him that he will recover from the setback and that he is still an important member of the City team. Since then, more discussions have taken place earlier this week, during which Grealish was informed that he is still "important to the dynasty" that City hopes to establish. The odds on him to stay with the Citizens are 1/20
The Osimhen Saga
Osimhen wants to leave Napoli, and it seems likely that a solution will be found, but the destination is still unknown. PSG and Saudi Arabia are interested, while Chelsea have reportedly only been interested in a loan agreement after talks with Napoli.
Osimhen was believed to have approved a transfer to the French capital, but PSG and Napoli have not been able to reach a consensus. After Ramos sustained an ankle injury that could keep him out for three months, it was believed that PSG might make another move for the striker. But even with Ramos out, the French publication L'equipe has revealed that PSG has decided not to pursue a move for Osimhen, which is encouraging news for Chelsea.
The Blues would appear to be the only team vying for the Nigerian international in light of this news, but they have not yet reached a deal with either Napoli or the player. Though Fabrizio Romano has reported that both deals are seen as separate, with Lukaku getting closer to a return to Italy, there had been talk of Osimhen being involved as part of the deal that would see Romelu Lukaku joining Napoli.
Is Saudi Arabia Ivan Toney’s Only Way?
Ivan Toney was left out of Brentford's opening game due to transfer interest; he was previously linked to both Chelsea and Arsenal. Now, Toney is only wanted by Al Ahli, a club in Saudi Arabia.
Ivan Toney described his dream summer to Sky Sports News back in March. Maintain Brentford's Premier League status - check. Make an impression on the Euro 2024 - check. Then the hope that he would be sold by Brentford to a Premier League team emerged. That final one has not materialized. Al Ahli of the Saudi Pro League is the only team that has made an attempt to sign him so far this summer. It was not the level he was looking for, despite Saudi football's wealth and obvious appeal. The betting sites offer the odds of 11/20 for him to stay with Brentford.
Everyone is aware of Toney's abilities. He scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford in the previous season, and despite missing the majority of the previous campaign because of a betting ban, he performed well enough to be included in the England squad for Euro 2024 and to play a significant role in it.
Lukaku’s Move from Chelsea to Naples is Imminent
For the majority of the transfer window, Napoli has been the clear favorite to sign the 31-year-old Belgian international striker. All parties are apparently confident that a deal will be reached, and Napoli representatives are scheduled to visit London within the next 24 hours.
Lukaku, who scored 21 goals in all competitions while on loan at AS Roma last season, is reportedly eager to return to Italy. The former Manchester United striker has a contract with Chelsea that expires in 2026, so the Blues are under pressure to let him go this summer before his value drops the following year when he only has 12 months left on it. According to reports, Napoli is offering €25 million plus bonuses. Betting sites don’t doubt Osimhen will join the Italian side, offering 1/10 for this outcome.
Victor Osimhen of Napoli is reportedly a target for Chelsea as well, as the West London team is eager to add more strikers to their roster. The Nigerian international is unlikely to be involved in the deal between the two clubs for Lukaku, though, as no move has materialized thus far.
Mohamed Salah Still Hasn't Signed a New Liverpool Contract
Fans of Liverpool find it difficult to accept this fact. Less than four months from now, in January, Mohamed Salah will be free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club. It would be an understatement to say that the Egyptian has been a key member of the Reds since joining in 2017. Considering that he has played in 350 games and contributed to the club's first Premier League title in addition to victories in the FA Cup, Champions League, Club World Cup, and League Cup, his goal involvements total 300.
In 2022, he signed his final contract, extending his affiliation with the team for an additional three years. At a base salary of £350,000 per week, he became the highest-paid player in the club's history thanks to the contract, and he could potentially earn even more through performance-related bonuses. Since then, he has kept up his impressive play on the field, scoring 18 league goals in the previous season and 19 this one, bringing his total in the Premier League to 158 goals in 264 games. Nevertheless, Liverpool has only succeeded in winning the 2024 League Cup (and Salah was injured for the final) since agreeing to new terms in July 2022.
He would rather focus on improving his on-field performances than obsessing over potential future outcomes. Furthermore, as The Athletic journalist Simon Hughes states: "He knows that a strong season for Liverpool will increase the demand for him." And there's the managerial scenario.
Salah scored a goal and provided an assist in the Premier League's opening round victory over Ipswich Town, marking his first game under new manager Arne Slot. Despite this impressive start, the Egyptian is "intrigued to see how things play out in the post-Jurgen Klopp period, and he is not in a rush to commit himself."
So, if you still believe that he’s staying you can place your bet at 1/20 Otherwise, there’s another option.
Raheem Sterling Makes Preferred Transfer Decision after Brutal Talks with the Chelsea Boss
Raheem Sterling wants to stay in the Premier League and wants to permanently leave Chelsea after learning he has no future there. After being left out of the matchday squad to play against his old team, Manchester City, on Sunday, by new Blues manager Enzo Maresca, 29-year-old Sterling's future has come under intense scrutiny. Following Chelsea's humiliating 0:2 defeat in their opening Premier League game of the year, Maresca announced that Sterling had been left off the team for "technical" reasons.
After yet another disappointing season at Chelsea, the England international was left off of Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024. He then stirred up controversy when he gave his representatives a permission to issue a statement expressing their shock at Sterling's exclusion. Since then, Maresca has confirmed that Sterling, along with Ben Chilwell, Romelu Lukaku, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, is training apart from the rest of Chelsea's first team roster. Currently the odds on Sterling to remain in Chelsea are at 1/2
Sterling hopes to arrange a move before the summer transfer window ends on August 30. Sterling wants to leave Chelsea permanently. A deal has been offered to Aston Villa, who lost out on Chelsea's new signing João Félix, as the Blues try to reduce the cost of their highest paid player.
The 29-year-old has also been linked to Juventus, who were interested in trading for the player, who Chelsea paid £47.5 million to sign from City in 2022. However, Chelsea was not happy about the move, which would have sent Federico Chiesa, an Italy international, to West London.