Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Man Utd's Ugarte TRUTH, Chelsea 'HERE WE GO,' FOUR Arsenal deals

Updated: 21 Aug 2024 17:05 BST
8 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest on all the biggest transfer stories, including Manuel Ugarte to Man Utd, Armando Broja's Chelsea exit and several Arsenal deals.

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With just nine days left in the window, the transfer guru took to YouTube to drop updates on several interesting sagas. The biggest elephant in the room is, of course, Chelsea and their crazy summer.

Though the Blues could still sign several players after Joao Felix, the main focus is now on outgoings, with Armando Broja a big 'here we go' done deal.

"Joao Felix is done, he signed. Joao Felix is a new Chelsea player, 100%. Conor Gallagher is a new Atletico Madrid player, 100%, already training with the team. Armando Broja leaves Chelsea and goes to Ipswich Town. The deal is done, 'here we go' from yesterday is confirmed.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer news

"It is a loan with an obligation to buy clause in case Ipswich will avoid relegation and continue in the Premier League for next season. The total package is worth more than £30 million from what I'm hearing. So this is the agreement, Broja said yes, he's on his way, medical today and so then everything will be official for Broja to Ipswich Town.

"Don't forget that Chelsea are also, from what I'm told, very close to selling Romelu Lukaku to Napoli. The agreement is very close. Napoli's director will be in London again this week to close the deal for Romelu Lukaku, but all parties involved, player's side - three-year contract with Napoli already agreed - Napoli and Chelsea, they all believe the Lukaku deal will be done.

"So, Broja is going, Lukaku is going, and we know Chelsea have a lot of work to do also to clarify situations like [Raheem] Sterling, [Trevoh] Chalobah, Carney [Chukwuemeka] and many others, including also Kepa [Arrizabalaga]. But, first of all, important to say that today they fixed the situation of Broja."

Arsenal working on four deals

Romano then provided the latest on the happenings at Arsenal, confirming that the Gunners are currently working on four deals. "Keep a close eye on Arsenal because, for Mikel Merino, we know the expectation is for the deal to happen. It's just about working on the details of the deal. But Arsenal are very relaxed and confident to see Merino as a Gunner before the end of the summer transfer window.

"And then some players could leave. We know about the situation of Nketiah. There is still a possibility with Nottingham Forest interested. Let's see what's going to happen. But also Aaron Ramsdale. For Ramsdale, we have many rumours. But what's important to say is that Ramsdale has several possibilities.

"There is interest from Bournemouth because Bournemouth will not sign a Giorgi Mamardashvili anymore in the Liverpool-Valencia deal. So Bournemouth are looking for a goalkeeper and Ramsdale is an option. Wolves are also keeping a close eyes on the situation of Ramsdale. As of today, Arsenal are rejecting all the loan proposals.

"They want a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation almost guaranteed. Let's see if they can find a solution. But in any case, sources in the industry believe that Ramsdale will leave Arsenal before the end of the summer transfer window. So negotiations will continue. And there is a concrete possibility to see Ramsdale leaving.

"Arsenal already have an agreement with Joan Garcia. Garcia is a Spanish goalkeeper. He won the gold medal at the Olympics with Spain. He's playing for Espanyol and he has an agreement with Arsenal. So there is an agreement in place on the contract. Now working on the club-to-club deal, but that's not going to be a problem from what I'm hearing. So Arsenal are basically waiting to see what happens with Ramsdale.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

Mamardashvili and Van den Berg updates

As already mentioned above, Romano also confirmed the reporting from elsewhere that Giorgi Mamardashvili will not join Bournemouth but will move to Liverpool directly and rejoin Valencia on loan.

"I told you that Mamardashvili is no longer going to Bournemouth because now the negotiation Liverpool-Valencia is for Mamardashvili to stay at Valencia alone. So instead of going to Bournemouth for one season and then Liverpool in summer 2025, Mamardashvili, who already said yes to Liverpool and yes to the possibility of staying at Valencia alone, is close to Liverpool, always for summer 2025.

"Alisson will be the goalkeeper for this season, but Mamardashvili would stay at Valencia for one more season alone. The player has decided, now the two clubs are completing the final details of the deal.

"There is still something to sort between Liverpool and Valencia, in constant contact to make it happen, so negotiations are ongoing. Valencia are optimistic, there is still some work to do, but Mamardashvili is close to Liverpool and Bournemouth are no longer part of this story.

"Meanwhile, for Liverpool, Sepp van den Berg is set to leave the club. The final package will be even more than what Liverpool fixed as a fee. They wanted £20m, but then they had several proposals and so they will make £25m. For Van den Berg, there is Bayer Leverkusen, there is Brentford. Both clubs are pushing."

Gundogan back to Man City

Elsewhere at the summit of the Premier League table, Man City are on the verge of re-signing club legend Ilkay Gundogan. "Ilkay Gundogan, his agents were in Manchester in the last 24 hours. The conversation Gundogan-Man City is going very well.

"Barcelona will let Gundogan leave as a free agent. So Gundogan will not leave for a transfer fee. What I'm hearing is that Barca has been clear with Gundogan. You have to leave and we are prepared to give you the famous Carta de Libertad. So basically, Gundogan will be able to leave on a free transfer.

"It's on Gundogan and Man City to reach the agreement. It's not a financial conversation. It's a personal conversation. So Gundogan wants to decide together with his family what he wants to do because he also has some possibility in other countries like Qatar, Saudi. So it's on Gundogan to decide.

"But Man City interest is very genuine. They are confident to make the comeback happen. And also Pep Guardiola wants Gundogan. Guardiola said yes to Gundogan's return. Pep really believes that he could make the difference for Man City. And so now it's on the two parties to close this deal. But Gundogan will 100% leave Barcelona. It's going to be a permanent transfer. It's going to be a free transfer and Man City are on it."

Real Madrid wonderkid close to Fabregas link-up

Romano subsequently confirmed that Barcelona's El Clasico rivals Real Madrid will also lose a midfielder, with Argentine wonderkid Nico Paz close to linking up with Cesc Fabregas at promoted Serie A side Como.

"Nico Paz is leaving Real Madrid because Paz will go to Como. Como are finalising this deal for Paz from Real Madrid. Paz is an Argentinian important talent for Real Madrid, he also scored in the Champions League last season. Then obviously Real Madrid have many players, so for them it makes sense sometimes to let the players, the young players go and keep a buy-back clause to control the players for the future.

"And this is what they are doing for Paz. Deal around €6m-€6.5m for Paz to Como in Serie A. Cesc Fabregas is the manager, Fabregas is pushing...Como will also sign Maximo Perrone from Man City, loan with a buy option and buy-back clause. And also Como are working on a deal to sign Sergi Roberto from Barcelona as a free agent. They are very busy on the market."

Man Utd only want Ugarte

Lastly, Romano clarified that, despite links to Atalanta's Ederson, Man Utd only want PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte. "There are rumours in the last hours on Ederson from Atalanta...What I'm hearing is that for Man Utd the name is one. I know they told you sometime in July, in August, beginning of August that Man Utd believe that it's too expensive, [that they're] going for some alternative name - no, guys.

"The full focus has always been on the top target, Manu Ugarte. And Man Utd remain optimistic for Ugarte. Man Utd are working on the deal, can be a loan with obligation, as I told you in the last 24 hours, from PSG. But the negotiation is going absolutely in advance. So they are progressing for Ugarte.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

"Ugarte wants to go to Man Utd. He has an agreement with Man Utd. He's pushing like crazy to go to Man Utd And so Man United are absolutely working on Ugarte. Forget about other names at this moment like Ederson because Atalanta are not selling him and the full focus is on Ugarte."