The summer market is back in full swing, with the transfer window open until September 1 and clubs across Europe preparing to strengthen before the new campaign. Follow the latest updates from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team…
Brighton land Portugal young gun
Brighton have announced the arrival of Portugal Under-21 winger Rodrigo Rego.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, having featured five times for Benfica’s senior side last season, including a substitute appearance against Ajax on his Champions League debut.
‘Last season gave him his first exposure to senior football, both domestically and in the Champions League, underlining the strides he has taken in his development.
‘We feel we can support the next stage of his growth and help him maximise his talent. We are excited to begin working with him as he takes this next step.’
Spurs’ summer overhaul continues with Tonali
Tottenham have struck an agreement with Newcastle over a move for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The clubs are putting the finishing touches to a £92.5million package, with Champions League-related add-ons potentially lifting the overall value to £100m.
Daily Mail Sport understands talks are focused on a six-year contract, while personal terms are already in place. Tonali is believed to be set to earn around £275,000 a week at Spurs.
Sandro Tonali looks set to join Tottenham in a deal worth £100m
Talks intensified earlier on Wednesday evening as Spurs looked to deliver their new-look midfield for Roberto De Zerbi, just 24 hours after agreeing to pay West Ham £85m for Mateus Fernandes.
Earlier, Tottenham accepted a £50million offer from Brighton for Croatia centre back Luka Vuskovic.
Toure heading for Toon
Newcastle have agreed a fee in the region of £42million with Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure.
Daily Mail Sport have previously reported the club’s interest in the wide man, who has been away at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast.
He has now been given permission to travel for a medical, though the deal is still being finalised. Hoffenheim have negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the deal.
Seagulls swoop for Vuskovic
Brighton have agreed a £46million fee with Tottenham for Luka Vuskovic.
The deal includes a further £4m in add ons plus a 20 per cent sell on and matching rights for Tottenham.
Daily Mail Sport understands a five-year contract is on the table for the Croatia international, who is expected to have a medical in the USA as he is at the World Cup.
It is an improvement on Brighton’s previous offer of £43m plus £2m in add-ons, which was rejected by Spurs.
In June, Spurs completed a £52m deal for Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton.
Luka Vuskovic looks set to swap Tottenham for Brighton
Vuskovic was on loan at Hamburg last season and wanted to continue to play regularly.
The arrival of Van Hecke alongside Marcos Senesi indicated he was not at the forefront of Roberto de Zerbi’s plans despite the fact he was highly regarded by the club.
SIMON JONES and BOBBY MANZI
Swansea bag Salzburg winger
Swansea City have confirmed the signing of RB Salzburg winger Moussa Yeo for an undisclosed fee. However they are losing Ethan Galbraith to Stoke City in deal worth £5million plus add-ons.
Arsenal close on new sporting director
Arsenal are closing on a deal to bring Granada sporting director Javier Alonso to the club after he resigned from his post earlier this week.
Newcastle ask about Gray
Newcastle United have asked about Archie Gray’s situation in talks with Tottenham over Sandro Tonali. However, sources say they have stopped short of making a bid. Tonali remains hopeful they can reach agreement on his fee after indicating to Roberto de Zerbi that he wishes to join Spurs.
Talks are still ongoing on that front with Newcastle awaiting improved figures.
Archie Gray
Chelsea seal Palestra deal
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Italian defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta.
‘It’s important for me to have Xabi Alonso as the manager,’ said Palestra, who has signed a six-year deal, with the option of a further year, in a deal worth around £48million.
‘I have had two conversations with him and I’m very happy because he told me what he wanted from me. I’m very happy to know him and to start training with Chelsea.’
Chelsea plan to test Sunderland by submitting a second bid for their captain, Granit Xhaka.
The Stamford Bridge outfit saw their first offer worth £8million on Saturday turned down with those inside the Stadium of Light taking a dim view of that valuation. Sunderland have insisted their 33-year-old skipper is not for sale this summer.
However, with Xhaka keen on being reunited with his former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Chelsea are ready to return in another effort at securing their target.
Sources are not disclosing how much their second bid is set to be worth at this time, though Chelsea did feel their initial bid was fair and close to Xhaka’s value.
Chelsea’s interest in Xhaka has largely been driven by Alonso, whose four-year contract in charge of his new club officially kicked in today (July 1).
Together, Alonso and Xhaka did the Double with Leverkusen in 2023-24 as they won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. They also reached the final of the Europa League, where they were beaten by Atalanta.
Sunderland signed Xhaka from Leverkusen last summer in a deal worth £13m, plus £4m in add-ons. As captain, he helped them secure European football in their first season back in the Premier League, and is contracted until 2028.
The former Arsenal midfielder, who turns 34 in September, is currently away with Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup.
Now click HERE to read Kieran Gill’s in-depth piece for Daily Mail Sport on why Chelsea made Palestra their first signing under Alonso
Marco Palestra is a versatile player who was named Serie A defender of the season
Newcastle ramp up efforts for World Cup stars
Newcastle United are pressing ahead in their efforts to land new players for Eddie Howe.
Talks are ongoing over Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi and they are emerging as frontrunners for Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.
Box-to-box midfielder Manzambi plays for Freiburg in Germany and has caught the eye at the World Cup with his brace of goals against Bosnia and man of the match performance, plus another strike in his country’s 2-1 win over Canada.
Manzambi is only 20 and viewed as having a very bright future. He was named the Europa League Young Player of the Season after Freiburg lost to Aston Villa in the final.
Toure is another 20-year-old, who plays in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.
He plays as an inverted left winger. Fast and good in one on ones Toure would be viewed as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who was sold to Barcelona.
Johan Manzambi has been one of Switzerland’s stars at the World Cup so far
Hackney set for Toffees medical – as club look to sign George on permanent deal
Hayden Hackney is expected to have his medical ahead of his £16.5m move to Everton from Middlesbrough – as the club remain in talks to sign Tyrique George from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
Everton had an option to buy the 20-year-old following the culmination of his loan spell at the end of the season but David Moyes’s club are seeking to strike a deal on fresh terms closer to £20million.
Hayden Hackney is set to move to Everton ahead of his £16.5m move
Dan’s the man for Rangers
Rangers have signed midfielder Dan Neil on a three-year contract after he left Sunderland.
The 24-year-old had been in talks with Southampton and looked set to move to St Mary’s. He also had interest from West Ham.
However, Rangers have moved swiftly to sign the former England youth international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town.
Liverpool get their Jacquet
Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for £55m, plus £5m in potential add-ons.
The centre back signs a five-year deal, after agreeing to sign for the club over Chelsea in February, and is expected to be on the upcoming pre-season tour of America.
And Jacquet has assured fans he will be fully fit to start training after missing the end of last season with a shoulder injury. ‘I feel much improved and I will be 100 per cent ready (for the start of pre-season) because I’m a little ahead of schedule,’ he said on Wednesday. ‘With continued hard work I’ll be fully fit before the season.’
Jeremy Jacquet is ready to slot into Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool side
