Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Chelsea SURPRISE, Calafiori MATCH POINT, Van de Beek leaves Man Utd

Robin Bairner

Updated: 6 Jul 2024 19:53 BST
6 min read

Fabrizio Romano, the football transfer news expert, has given an update on the stories making the headlines, including Chelsea making a surprise swoop for Renato Veiga, the latest on Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori bid and Manchester City’s first big deal of the summer.

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Chelsea to complete Veiga deal

Romano has revealed that Chelsea have wrapped up a deal for Renato Veiga of Basel.

The Blues believe they have got excellent value for the player, who is their alternative to Riccardo Calafiori, the Bologna defender who is poised to sign for Arsenal.

“I can confirm that Renato Veiga is a new player for Chelsea. It’s here we go!” Romano reported on his YouTube channel.

Current ETV

Renato Veiga

AM, DM (C)

Basel

Renato Veiga

AM, DM (C)

Basel

ETV Range

€1.4M - €2.4M

“He’s joining Chelsea on a permanent transfer from Basel in Switzerland, the former club of Riccardo Calafiori. They replaced Calafiori with Veiga. He can play in several positions, midfield, left-back, centre-back. He’s very tall, very talented, he was born in 2003.

“What Chelsea did was to scout the player for months and then close the deal in the last 24 hours. It’s come out of nowhere.

“Chelsea paid €14m. His contract runs until 2032 for Renato Veiga. Chelsea believe the value of the player is way higher, in terms of potential, and that he can do many important things, and they were able to agree on everything in a very fast way. There was no sell on clause and no add ons included in the deal.

“Basel have given the green light and the player is heading to London for medical tests.

“Chelsea have spent weeks looking for a left-footed talented defender. Renato Veiga is considered to be exactly that kind of player. But Chelsea also believe he can help at left-back. They think he can be a good solution for the present and the future.”

Calafiori transfer latest

On the subject of Calafiori, Arsenal are closing in on a deal for the Italy defender, who will cost them around €50m.

“Arsenal are advancing on a deal for Riccardo Calafiori,” Romano said. “They’ve got an agreement with Calafiori of around €4m net per season. It’s not a huge salary because Calafiori was on a ‘normal’ salary at Bologna.

“Now they’re working on a deal with the Serie A club. The package with Bologna has to be something around €50m, but they’re now discussing the structure of the deal. Arsenal and Bologna are in constant contact to make it happen.

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Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

ETV Range

€12.9M - €21.5M

“Remember the role of Basel because they’ve got 50% of the sale of Calafiori after €4-5m, which is the fee Bologna paid to sign the player. What’s important to say: Arsenal have an agreement with Calafiori, the relationship between them and Bologna is very good and they’re working on closing the deal. Negotiations are underway.

“Chelsea signing a player like Renato Veiga means that they will not attack the situation because they considered Calafiori but never presented an official bid.

“For Arsenal, it’s a big match point in this Calafiori story. The deal is absolutely on and is absolutely concrete.”

Romano has also revealed that the Gunners could sell one of Jakub Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko after sealing the signature of Calafiori.

Van de Beek to leave Man Utd

Donny van de Beek is set to leave Man Utd for Girona, according to Romano and Relevo. The Catalans have agreed a complex financial package with their Manchester counterparts for the Dutchman.

Though Girona will initially only pay €500,000 for Van de Beek, add-ons could take the deal as high as €15m, while bonuses amounting to around €5m are particularly easy to reach. Man Utd have also secured a significant sell-on percentage.

Juventus ace Chiesa open to move abroad

Juventus have taken the decision to sell Euro 2020 champion Federico Chiesa, with the Italy winger set to be available for a bargain fee. And he is open to joining Premier League teams, Romano has hinted.

“Chiesa has to leave Juventus this summer because his contract expires in one year. Juventus will not extend because he is out of the project of Thiago Motta. Juve want to sign Teun Koopmeiners in the midfield and so they don’t want to keep Chiesa. They want to bring in money for him, sign Koopmeiners and bring in a new winger,” Romano said.

“There’s interest in Jadon Sancho.

“Chiesa is available for €25m and he’s also open to trying a new experience abroad. Let’s see what happens.”

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Federico Chiesa

F (C)

Juventus

Federico Chiesa

F (C)

Juventus

ETV Range

€20.7M - €34.5M

Man City close to €50m deal

Manchester City are poised to complete a move that will see goalkeeper Ederson depart the club to the Saudi Pro League.

The Brazil international has agreed terms and Pep Guardiola is willing to take a big decision over his replacement.

“Contact will start soon between Manchester City and Al-Nassr on the price of Ederson,” Romano confirmed.

“My understanding is that City will not give the player for a normal fee. It will still be an important fee, maybe something like €50m, not less than this. Ederson has given his green light and is ready to go to Saudi. Now it depends on the clubs, they need to agree a deal.

“Stefan Ortega will be the first-choice goalkeeper of Manchester City. The idea is to bring in a new backup, with Oretga being first choice. This is their plan, with Ederson prepared to say yes to Al-Nassr.”

Current ETV

Ederson

Man City

Ederson

Man City

ETV Range

€38.6M - €64.4M

Man Utd ‘really pushing’ for Zirkzee

Manchester United seem to be close to two deals, with Romano stating that the Red Devils are pushing particularly hard to get a deal with Joshua Zirkzee over the line.

“Matthijs de Ligt deal is absolutely on but Erik ten Hag has been on the phone in recent weeks to several players who could be opportunities for Manchester United,” Romano said.

“With De Ligt, the relationship is excellent, but also Joshua Zirkzee. We can confirm that contact between Ten Hag and Zirkzee has been constant. Ten Hag is really pushing. He wanted to speak directly to the player and is convinced Zirkzee could be a good option for Manchester United.”