The Transfers Podcast: Arsenal target Fabian Ruiz, Osimhen's next club, Ederson replacement

Updated: 25 Jul 2024 16:14 BST
5 min read

The Transfers Podcast, Fabian Ruiz, Victor Osimhen — © IMAGO

The Transfers Podcast, powered by FootballTransfers.com and hosted by Duncan Castles, brings you the latest news and insight from the world of football.

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Kristof Terreur joins Duncan Castles for a Transfers Podcast special this week.

Here is a detailed looked at the key headlines discussed from this week’s episode.

Arsenal target Fabian Ruiz

Arsenal have initiated discussions with Paris Saint-Germain for Spain international midfielder Fabian Ruiz, The Transfers Podcast can reveal.

Ruiz, 28, was among the best players at Euro 2024 - scoring twice, making two assists and being named in the UEFA team of the tournament as Spain won a record fourth title.

"For someone a Premier League club are looking at, he won more balls than anyone else at the tournament and won twice as many in the final third of the pitch as any other player,” said Duncan Castles on The Transfers Podcast.

“So you've got that pressing ability, which is fundamental to the way [Mikel] Arteta plays. He passes the ball accurately, beats opponents one on one. In many ways, he looks like an obvious fit to that Arsenal system.”

Discussions are dependent on Arsenal moving a midfield player out.

It is possible that if they come to an agreement with PSG on a transfer fee the deal will be structured in the same way as the one they used to bring David Raya from Brentford - a loan with an obligation to buy a year later.

© IMAGO - Fabian Ruiz was a standout performer for Spain at Euro 2024

Napoli cut Osimhen fee

Napoli have cut their asking price for Victor Osimhen in the hopes that they can finally secure an exit for the Nigerian, with Paris Saint-Germain desperate to sign the striker.

"Luis Enrique has been pushing Paris Saint Germain to sign a new forward, which is likely to be, not guaranteed, but likely to be Victor Osimhen," Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast. "They offered, I'm told, €150m last summer for the player. Napoli refused to sell, asking for 200 million.

"They've now got themselves in a situation where Osimhen, off the back of a much poorer season for Napoli in the last campaign has a €130m release clause but nobody's willing to pay it.

"My guidance from the Italian end is that Napoli have dropped their asking price to €100m. That is still too much for Paris Saint Germain. Osimhen has met Paris Saint Germain in the last few weeks for direct discussions about moving there. He has expressed his interest in coming so that there has been that discussion over salary and whether he would come to the club.

"It was emphasised to him by PSG that he would need to change his attitude, change his behaviour and that they wouldn't be interested in bringing him if he was going to perform in the way he did in his last season in Italy."

© IMAGO - Victor Osimhen is wanted by PSG.

Ederson out, Donnarumma in at Man City?

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is being pursued by a number of Saudi Pro League sides and the Brazilian could be replaced by PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast: "City's asking price is understood to be 50 million for Ederson. The player is unsettled by the amount of money that's being offered in Saudi Arabia and by the end of the season, in which Stefan Ortega came on for him in a game against Tottenham Hotspur made an incredible save.

"People seemed to forget that Ederson had been forced off in that match with quite a bad head injury inflicted on him by Cristian Romero, making a save from Romero and posting on social media after that match about no one understanding him.

"Interestingly, obviously Manchester City have to set up potential replacements because they know that there is a scenario in which Etihad or another Saudi club provide the transfer fee they're asking for and they have to let Ederson go.

"Paris Saint Germain believe that Gianluigi Donnarumma is Manchester City's first choice to replace Ederson. They would be open to selling Donnarumma to City at the right price, and it will be a very high price. SciSports estimated transfer values have Donnarumma at 65 million euros.

"PSG are in quite a strong position there and that they have already signed a new goalkeeper this summer. The first signing of the summer, the Russian international Matvey Safonov for an initial 18 million euros from Krasnodar, who was seen as quite a surprise acquisition by many people.

"But I understand that PSG see him as a potential, easily a potential first team goalkeeper and potentially a better goalkeeper than Donnarumma."