Transfer News Today: Latest Arsenal deal is DONE, Kudus SHOCK, Mbappe OFFER, Man Utd takeover

Robin Bairner

• 6 Aug 2023 15:12 BST
• 9 min read

With a week remaining before the Premier League season begins, the transfer market is starting to heat up considerably, with clubs rushing to get their moves over the line before the start of the new campaign.

Manchester United have done just that thanks to their signing of Rasmus Hojlund, while also on Saturday Manchester City broke the transfer record for the most expensive defender in history by adding Josko Gvardiol to their ranks from RB Leipzig.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

On top of this, Chelsea finally completed a deal with Brighton... only it wasn’t for Moises Caicedo, the player they really crave. Instead, it was goalkeeper Robert Sanchez they signed.

Here is all the major football transfer news on 6 August.

MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals

Arsenal transfer news

* David Raya’s transfer from Brentford to Arsenal is a done deal. All terms of the deal have been agreed in order to take the Spanish goalkeeper to the Emirates. Arsenal will pay a fee of between £25-30 million for the 27-year-old (FootballTransfers Exclusive)

* In a huge transfer upset, Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus could move to Brighton. Arsenal and Chelsea had been sparring for the Ghana star. The Seagulls have agreed a transfer fee with the Eredivisie side but have yet to agree personal terms.

* Inter Milan are set to make a move for full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, although Arsenal’s asking price of €35m is likely to prove too great. (Calciomercato)

Man Utd transfer news

* Manchester United have completed their long-awaited deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. The Denmark international was presented before the 3-1 win over Lens in friendly action – a match in which goalkeeper Andre Onana was lobbed from 50 yards out. But the real dampening news on the day was the announcement that Hojlund is carrying an injury and could wait some weeks for his Man Utd debut.

* Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has won the race to take over Manchester United, according to reports. News on the purchase of the club has been overshadowed by the transfer market in recent weeks, with the drawn-out process hampering manager Erik ten Hag in the window. The process could be completed in November. (The Sun)

* Sofyan Amrabat is desperate to move to Man Utd, with claims in Italy saying that he would “gladly take the plane” to join the club. Fiorentina are asking for around €30m for the Morocco international and are not willing to negotiate on the fee. (Corriere dello Sport)

* Man Utd have fielded two offers for fringe defender Eric Bailly, according to reports in the Daily Mail. A couple of offers have arrived from the Saudi Pro League after Bailly struggled to impress at Marseille last season.

Chelsea transfer news

* Chelsea have completed the signing of Robert Sanchez from Brighton. He arrives at Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Edouard Mendy, who left to play in the Saudi Pro League.

* Could the Blues finally be closer to completing a deal for Moises Caicedo? Sanchez’s Brighton teammate is Chelsea’s leading transfer target this summer but they have already had four bids turned down. It has been suggested that the Seagulls closing in on Kudus will allow them to move for the Ecuador star. (The Sun)

* Deivid Washington will become a Chelsea player after an official bid was tabled for the 18-year-old Santos attacker. Personal terms are already agreed. He will move to Strasbourg on loan. Real Madrid have also been following the youngster. (Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool transfer news

* Liverpool are tracking Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene, FootballTransfers and Anfield Watch can confirm. Philogene has started all of Villa’s friendlies this summer while competition could come from Newcastle, so this deal will be tough to broker.

* Liverpool continue to be hotly linked with Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, but if they fail to sign him, Liverpool.com suggest that Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace would represent an excellent alternative. It is pointed out that transfer boss Jorg Schmadtke tried to sign him last summer at Wolfsburg.

* Andre’s potential move to Anfield seems to hang in the balance, with Fluminense eager to hold onto the midfielder, who is seen as an alternative to Lavia. The Brazilian club are eager to make progress in the ongoing Copa Libertadores, and this could drive them to keep the player. (The Express)

Man City transfer news

* Manchester City have no interest to negotiate with Barcelona or PSG over a transfer for Bernardo Silva. Far from selling the player, Pep Guardiola wants to offer him a new contract very soon. The player may yet push to leave. (Fabrizio Romano)

* Josko Gvardiol’s move from RB Leipzig has been completed, with Man City making the Croatia centre-back the most expensive defender in history.

Tottenham transfer news

* Given a deadline to respond to Bayern Munich’s offer for Harry Kane, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has not communicated any decision to the Bundesliga club 24 hours later. FCB are said to be “irritated” by this attitude but remain optimistic a transfer can be done. (Fabrizio Romano)

* Spurs are close to signing Argentine youngster Alejo Veliz, who has all the attributes to become a successful heir to Kane in the future.

Barcelona transfer news

* Neymar back to Barcelona? A report from a Qatari journalist close to PSG’s Qatari owners has stated that the Brazil international will go back to Camp Nou this summer. The Parisian side even offered him in a swap deal for Ousmane Dembele. (Sport)

* PSG have yet to receive the documentation that will allow them to sign Dembele, with the hold up coming from Barcelona’s end. As such, he has not been able to undergo a medical or, naturally, sign a contract with the Parisian club. It is still expected that this will happen on Monday. (RMC)

* Several Saudi Arabian financial groups are considering investing in Barcelona but there has been no formal contact yet. (Mundo Deportivo)

Real Madrid transfer news

* Real Madrid have been boosted by the fact that Kylian Mbappe has turned down a special contract offer from PSG. Such a deal would have seen him commit to the Parisian side beyond 2024 but would give him the chance to pick his next club next summer, assuming they could pay a release fee. (Fabrizio Romano)

PSG transfer news

* PSG head coach Luis Enrique has “thrown in the towel” with Kylian Mbappe. He felt capable of changing the situation when he took command of the club at the start of July but now accepts the situation is hopeless. (Marca)