Author: Rowan Clarke

Manchester City have turned their attention to Roma midfielder Manu Kone following Manchester United’s decision to abandon their pursuit of the player. City are now considered the frontrunners to land the French midfielder, who has impressed significantly during his time in Serie A with the Italian capital club. Kone has established himself as one of the more sought-after central midfielders in European football, attracting interest from several top clubs across the continent. Manchester United had been strongly linked with a move for the player but have since moved on, opening the door for City to step up their interest in…

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Italian defender Matteo Ruggeri, with the player revealing his excitement about joining the Birmingham club. Ruggeri has spoken publicly about his decision to choose Villa, using notably warm language to describe the impression the club made on him during the process. The Italian full-back admitted he was left “enchanted” by what he saw and heard from Villa, a striking phrase that underlines just how convincing the club’s approach was. Villa have been one of English football’s most ambitious clubs in recent years, investing heavily in their squad as they target sustained competition at…

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Aston Villa over a deal to sign defender Ezri Konsa, according to reports from Sky Sports. The move marks a significant piece of transfer business for Arsenal as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of the new campaign. Konsa has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-backs during his time at Villa Park, earning widespread recognition. The England international has been a cornerstone of Aston Villa’s defensive setup, helping the club compete at the highest levels of European football in recent seasons. Arsenal’s pursuit of Konsa signals their…

Arsenal are among the busiest clubs in the current transfer window, with fresh reports indicating they have been offered the chance to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. The Gunners have long been linked with attacking reinforcements, and an approach involving Alvarez would represent a significant statement of intent from Arsenal’s recruitment team. Alvarez, who joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City, quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after forwards in European football following his exploits at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been keen to add firepower to his squad as the club…

Arsenal are set to retain their Premier League title this season, according to BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty in his annual predictions piece. Having finally ended a 22-year wait for the championship, Mikel Arteta’s side are backed to go back-to-back, with McNulty calling it the easiest prediction of them all. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis impressed heavily as Arsenal dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield, signalling the quality of reinforcements brought in this summer. Manchester City are predicted to finish second despite a significant period of transition, with Enzo Maresca stepping in following the departure of Pep…

Aston Villa have agreed a deal with West Ham United to sign defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka on loan, with an obligation to make the transfer permanent. The move represents a significant piece of business for Villa, who are strengthening their defensive options as they look to compete on multiple fronts this season. Wan-Bissaka is a well-established Premier League right-back, known for his tenacious defensive qualities and ability to win one-on-one duels out wide. The England-born defender joined West Ham after leaving Manchester United, but has found regular first-team football difficult to come by at the London Stadium. A loan move to…

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has launched a sharp attack on Fifa president Gianni Infantino over his abandoned plan to commercialise World Cup rights. Masters told BBC Sport that Fifa had “pressed the self-destruct button” by attempting to sell a 21% stake in a new company managing the commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions. The proposed vehicle, Fifa Forward Enterprise, was scrapped following fierce criticism from several confederations, most notably Uefa, which threatened a boycott of all Fifa competitions. Masters made clear the Premier League stands firmly behind the English Football Association’s decision to withdraw support for…

Villa’s summer transfer activity has hit an early obstacle after an opening offer for a World Cup star was turned down by the selling club. The Birmingham side are eager to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign and have already identified key targets to bolster their options. The rejected bid signals that negotiations will not be straightforward, with the club now forced back to the drawing board on that particular pursuit. Villa’s recruitment team are understood to be working hard behind the scenes to get deals over the line before the transfer window closes. The club’s ambitions have…

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly targeting an Aston Villa player as their next major signing, with transfer activity at the club continuing to gather pace. Spurs have been active in the transfer market and appear keen to further strengthen their squad ahead of the challenges that lie ahead in the 2025-26 campaign. Aston Villa have established themselves as one of the top clubs in English football in recent seasons, making their players highly sought after by rival Premier League sides. Tottenham’s reported interest underlines their ambition to compete at the highest level and bring in quality additions who can make an…

Newcastle United have completed the signing of defender Amar Dedic from Benfica for approximately £30 million on a five-year contract. The deal was announced on Tuesday, which also happened to be the 24th birthday of the Austrian full-back. Dedic underwent his medical on Tyneside on Monday before the transfer was formally confirmed the following morning. The move represents a reunion between Dedic and Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle, who previously worked together at Red Bull Salzburg, winning the Austrian title in 2023. “It’s a special feeling and a really big honour for me to join Newcastle United,” Dedic said after…