This week, we look at the striker high among the options left on the market, a possible deal for an Arsenal midfielder and the latest on Benjamin Sesko.
David Ornstein's One To Watch
As the striker jigsaw continues to form, the football world is watching closely to discover how the various pieces will eventually fall into place.
The likes of Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres have made their moves — but the futures of players such as Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are yet to be resolved.
On Monday night, The Athletic revealed that Newcastle United have increased their offer for Sesko as they battle Manchester United to secure the 22-year-old.
Whoever misses out will need to find an alternative recruit — unless they stick with existing personnel — and there are not a huge array of candidates on the market.
Whether it is for those two clubs or others also looking to strengthen up front, that will naturally increase the consideration given to the market’s remaining options.
High among them is Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, owing to his suitability and availability.
The Stamford Bridge side are not desperate to trade the 24-year-old, especially given they require depth ahead of contesting Champions League football next season.
But the arrival of Delap and Joao Pedro provides competition and puts Jackson at risk of not being the primary front man, and after scoring 30 goals across 81 games in west London, he will want to be the main man somewhere.
That explains why Chelsea are open to sanctioning the Senegal international’s departure, if an acceptable proposal arrives.
Interest stems from suitors in both the Premier League and Europe. Some of them want Jackson only if their key target cannot be obtained, or someone leaves; others in addition to what they already have.
Either way, there is a growing expectation that he will exit, and developments on that case are anticipated in the coming days.
It would continue a remarkable sequence of sales completed or agreed by Chelsea, which mean they will have accumulated more than £200million in the current transfer window. They are forecasting another £100m to £150m before the deadline.
Why top clubs would benefit from signing Jackson
In an increasingly transitional league, Nicolas Jackson’s devastating ability on the break is a highly sought-after resource. Last season saw a seven-year high of 112 Premier League goals scored from counter-attacks, and few players were as central to those moves as Jackson.
His ability to collect the ball in deep areas and surge up the pitch sets him apart. According to advanced data provider Footovision, he led the division for counter-attacking involvements via ball carries.
Jackson is electric in transition, but his finishing and final-third choices remain raw. Yet few strikers possess the relentless desire and movement to reach those advanced areas in the first place: Jackson made 60 sprints in behind the defence — defined by SkillCorner as off-ball runs of at least 25km/h — nine more than any other Premier League player.
Jackson specialises in specific traits that make him an appealing profile for a host of Premier League clubs. And for all the noise around his performances, it’s easy to forget that Jackson has hit double figures for league goals in both of his two seasons at Stamford Bridge.
What else we're hearing
RB Leipzig have received an improved offer from Newcastle United to sign Benjamin Sesko. An opening bid worth €75million plus €5million in add-ons was deemed insufficient by Leipzig, leading Newcastle to raise that to at least €80m. Sesko is also wanted by Manchester United, but a proposal has yet to arrive from Old Trafford and the figures they have indicated a willingness to pay are lower than those of Newcastle at present. That leaves the St James’s Park side in a strong position as things stand, after a day of positive talks held by their co-owner Jamie Reuben with Leipzig and the 22-year-old striker. Nothing is agreed yet and there is currently no guarantee of the outcome, which could still be Sesko staying if Leipzig do not accept a deal. David Ornstein
Burnley are set to strengthen in midfield ahead of their return to the Premier League after reaching an agreement with Chelsea to sign Lesley Ugochukwu. The France youth international, 21, has been granted permission to travel for medical tests and complete a permanent move to Turf Moor. If all goes to plan, Ugochukwu will put pen to paper on a five-year contract — significantly boosting head coach Scott Parker’s options in the No 6 and No 8 roles. David Ornstein
Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle with Ruben Dias to sign a new contract. The 28-year-old’s existing deal expires in 2027. Dias has been a major part of City’s success since he joined from Benfica for an initial £62million in 2020. David Ornstein
VfB Stuttgart are working on a deal to sign attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira from Arsenal. The German club have approached their Premier League counterparts about Vieira. The 25-year-old was loaned to Porto last season but Stuttgart’s interest is over a permanent move. An agreement has yet to be reached but talks are ongoing, with Arsenal likely to seek a respectable price for a player they recruited for up to €40m in the summer or 2022. #David Ornstein
Borussia Dortmund remain interested in securing the permanent transfer of Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka, who spent last season on loan at the Westfalenstadion. Chelsea have no interest in loaning Chukwuemeka out again, and would only consider a permanent deal for the 21-year-old. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor and Simon Johnson
Botafogo have reached an agreement with Bournemouth to sign Neto. The 36-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper was scheduled to fly to Rio de Janeiro on Monday night and undergo a medical before completing the proposed move. It will not involve a transfer fee, but as one of Bournemouth’s highest earners, the Premier League club will make significant salary savings. Neto’s contract was due to end next June, and he is set to join Botafogo on a deal until the summer of 2027, with an option to extend by six months. Bournemouth have already signed Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea as their new No 1, while Neto spent last season on loan with Arsenal. David Ornstein
Everton are in talks with Chelsea over the permanent transfer of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for an initial fee of £25million. As reported by The Athletic last week, Chelsea will only consider a permanent sale and placed a valuation of £30m — the fee they paid Leicester City last year — on the midfielder, while other Premier League clubs have also made enquiries.
#Patrick Boyland and Simon Johnson
Who has spent the most in the Premier League so far this window?
A look at Premier League spending by club so far this summer throws up few surprises at the top end. Using figures sourced from Transfermarkt, Liverpool’s big summer puts them top of the tree with over £250m spent on new players; add in £25m on Giorgi Mamardashvili (deal agreed last summer, but only joined Liverpool officially this season) and expectations of agent fees and the four per cent transfer levy payable by clubs on incoming transfers and you land beyond £300m.
Behind Liverpool sit Chelsea, again offering little surprise. Indeed, of the seven clubs to have spent over £100m to date, all but one form part of England’s ‘Big Six’. The exception, Sunderland, have spent heavily as a result of past prudence and out of necessity as a newly promoted club. The Wearside outfit are expected to spend even more before the season commences.
Of greater note are those clubs who haven’t spent much yet. Between Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham, less than £10m has been laid out on new players, which looks pretty stark when set against the backdrop of the rest of the division’s spending.
Premier League clubs have spent over £1.8billion on players so far this summer, though plenty of that has been among themselves, with the division’s net spend standing at around £865m.
Even so, Premier League spending continues to dominate the world transfer market. That net spend figure is far and away the most in football this summer, with only the Saudi Pro League also reaching nine figures (£185m). The Saudi league’s gross spend is just £280m so far, though there are expectations that will soon rise.
#Chris Weatherspoon