Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Chelsea's NEWEST wonderkid targets, Ugarte to Man Utd TRUTH

Tom Weber

Updated: 30 Jul 2024 13:13 BST
7 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided updates on all the biggest transfer stories, including Chelsea's latest wonderkid targets, Manuel Ugarte and Man Utd and Arsenal's business after Riccardo Calafiori.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has addressed Arsenal's transfer business now that they have managed to sign Italy defender Calafiori. "It was an important day for Arsenal. Finally, Riccardo Calafiori became officially a new Arsenal player after a deal was completed with Bologna."

"Five-year contract, so everything okay between Arsenal, Bologna, and the player who has finally signed as a new Arsenal player. And also, a player is leaving Arsenal. And the player is Emile Smith-Rowe, who signs for Fulham."

"The deal is done. £27 million plus seven in add-ons, so a package of £34m. Payment terms are very good. This was also a really important detail for Arsenal to give the green light."

"The player accepted after several very positive conversations with Marco Silva, the manager of Fulham, who made a difference in this story because many clubs around Europe wanted to sign Smith-Rowe, especially in England, [not only] Crystal Palace, but Silva had a big impact. And so the player is on his way to undergo medical tests and sign as a new Fulham player. Remember, Arsenal's interest in Mikel Merino."

Chelsea eye more wonderkids

Romano then proceeded to provide updates on Chelsea's pursuit of two more wonderkids in Mike Penders and Gabriel Mec. "Remember that Chelsea are always very active on the market. And for Chelsea, we can say that they keep recruiting talents for the future."

"They signed Filip Jorgensen as a goalkeeper, everything is okay, from Villarreal. €24.5m. But they want one more goalkeeper. Yes, one more for the future, not for the first team."

"So what I'm going to tell you now is not going to impact the situation of Jorgensen. But the name is Mike Penders, playing for Genk and so a big opportunity for the future because he's considered a very talented goalkeeper, very tall, born in 2005 and followed by many important clubs around Europe."

"Chelsea's plan is to sign the player and eventually let him stay at the club on loan at least for one more season. Let me say that Chelsea have still not decided whether they want to proceed or not with this deal. They are having contacts, so they are considering this possibility. assessing all the details of the deal in order to understand whether they want to proceed or not, the decision will be made soon."

"And Chelsea, in the next days, will try to advance also another deal, and it's about Gabriel Mec. Born in 2008, this talented player from Gremio can play as number 10, can play also as a winger when needed but is more a kind of number 10 from what I'm told."

"Chelsea already presented the project to the player. It was two weeks ago when I told you about that, but now Chelsea want to advance also on the club side with a formal proposal. So the next steps of the deal are coming and Chelsea want to go for Gabriel Mec."

Gallagher in Atleti talks

Also regarding Chelsea, Romano revealed on X that Atletico Madrid and the Blues have officially started 'direct talks' over the transfer of Conor Gallagher.

Chelsea want €40m for the homegrown, but it is not yet clear whether the Spanish giants have the money for this kind of operation. Nevertheless, Romano states that a potential deal is 'getting closer.'

Alvarez to stay or go?

Back on YouTube, Romano addressed Julian Alvarez's comments at the Olympics in which he hinted that he is not entirely happy at Man City. "Today, Julian Alvarez spoke in public about the situation at Manchester City. He confirmed that after the Olympics, he wants to assess the situation with the club."

"Meanwhile, his agents are already having regular conversations with Man City to decide what's going to happen in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. At the moment, let me clarify one thing, something I told you since June, Man City's intention is to keep Julian Alvarez at the club. It's what the board wants, it's what the manager, Pep Guardiola, wants."

"So they want to continue with Julian and they don't want to lose him. But it's also important to say that the conversation is needed to clarify to Julian his role in the squad. Julian said even today that he wants to play more, especially in the big games. He said, yes, my percentage of games is good, but I want to appear when the game is important, when the match is a big match."

"What I can tell you is that Man City keep not giving a price tag to Julian Alvarez because their intention is to keep the player at the club. So only a crazy proposal could change the situation. But so far, Man City insist on their position to continue with the player...And so while interest is still there from several clubs, now the idea of Man City is to talk with the agent of the player again this week and then with the player at the end of the Olympics."

Liverpool still keen on Gordon

One of the more surprising stories of the early stages of the window was Liverpool's interest in Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon. According to Romano, appreciation in the boyhood Reds fan remains.

"I'm hearing is that the interest of Liverpool in Anthony Gordon remains a strong interest, remains a concrete interest. He is a player they really rate internally, a player they really like, and so the name of Gordon remains high on Liverpool's list."

"Then we know that for this summer they are looking at midfield, they are looking at the centre-back position also, so there are other things to do for Liverpool in this summer transfer window. They are considering doing these things...but what's important to say is that in case they decide to do something in offensive positions, Gordon remains a player they really rate, they really like..."

"But again, the problem could be in valuation with Newcastle because he's a really important player for Newcastle and they don't have the intention to make a normal price for Anthony Gordon. It has to be a big price for him in order to give a potential green light. But at the moment, Newcastle really want to keep the player at the club."

Thiaw not close to Newcastle

Staying with the Magpies, Romano played down suggestions that AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw is close to a move to Newcastle. "Today we had reports in England of a deal done for Malik Thiaw from AC Milan."

"What I can tell you is that the agent has been honest. Gordon Stipic, just speaking to Sky Sports, said that it's not true and it's the reality. Malik Thiaw has been on the list of Newcastle since June."

"So in June, I told you that Newcastle had a conversation for him. But what I'm hearing is that they've not sent any formal proposal to Milan yet. So, It's still early for this story. We can confirm the appreciation since June, but still nothing else."

Manuel Ugarte to Man Utd

Finally, Romano spoke about Man Utd's ongoing pursuit of PSG midfielder, Manuel Ugarte. "Ugarte said yes to May United almost two weeks ago. He wants to go to United."

"He agreed on personal terms and he's also waiting for May United to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain. What I'm hearing is that PSG could also be open to a loan with an obligation to buy for Ugarte, but still an obligation, still a mandatory clause, not a loan with a buy option, at least at the moment."

"Then we know things can change in the market. But at the moment, PSG want an obligation or permanent transfer. And so let's see what's going to happen. But the player is waiting and still hoping to go to Manchester United, his priority for this summer.