Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: CRAZY Chelsea triple deal, Liverpool GO BIG, Barca’s NEXT signing

Robin Bairner

8 Aug 2024 08:10 BST
5 min read

Fabrizio Romano, the football transfer news expert, has given the latest updates from the window, including information on Julian Alvarez, Martin Zubimendi and Dani Olmo.

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Alvarez dominos fall in triple deal

Romano has explained the complications behind a "crazy" triple deal between Chelsea, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid that will see Julian Alvarez, Samu Omorodion and Conor Gallagher swap clubs.

"Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid from Manchester City will be signed in the next days. Everything is being planned in terms of documents. It will be a record sale for Man City. They’ll earn €75 million plus €20m in add-ons. Everything is agreed, despite some tension on Tuesday in the negotiations between agent and club, now everything’s OK," Romano said on his YouTube channel.

"The only way to do that deal was to sell Samu Omorodion. It was a matter of Financial Fair Play (FFP). Samu Omorodion will become a new Chelsea player: here we go! Obviously, we are waiting for the formal steps, but the agreement is OK. Atletico Madrid will receive €40m, the value of the exit deal for Omorodion.

FABRIZIO ROMANO TRANSFER NEWS: Osimhen deal OPEN, Sancho one to WATCH, Alvarez REPLACEMENT

Current ETV

Julián Álvarez

F, M (C)

Man City

Julián Álvarez

F, M (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€48.1M - €80.1M

"Atleti gave the green light after Chelsea already had a bid rejected last June - €30m plus add-ons. They wanted to keep the player, but then Atletico understood they had the chance to sell Julian Alvarez.

"The only way to see Omorodion at Chelsea was to do a kind of swap – a separate deal but the same discussion. And this was for Conor Gallagher to leave Chelsea. They wanted to find a solution with Atletico Madrid, whose full focus was always Gallagher. He’ll sign a five-year contract for a €42m transfer fee. It’s a really important contract for Chelsea in terms of FFP.

"This crazy domino is happening after bid tension on Tuesday when the deal was in danger."

Compared

Conor Gallagher

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

Conor Gallagher

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

VS

Samu Omorodion

F (CRL)

Atlético

Samu Omorodion

F (CRL)

Atlético

€53.2M	ETV	€12.1M
€39.9M - €66.5M	ETV Range	€9.1M - €15.1M
24 years old (06 Feb, 2000)	Age	20 years old (01 Jan, 2004)
England	Nationality	Spain

Barcelona sign Olmo and target another deal

Barcelona are finally set to get their transfer window rolling with the signing of Dani Olmo - and another player could be added swiftly afterwards.

"Dani Olmo to Barcelona is a here we go! They’ve reached an agreement for €55m plus €7m in add-ons – difficult add-ons, for example, a Champions League win for Barca in the next six years. Not easy at all," Romano said.

"Dani Olmo had the medical with Barcelona on Wednesday. It’s a done deal – Barcelona’s first signing of the summer.

"But it’s not over!

"Barca are still thinking of Joao Cancelo. The contact continues with Manchester City but they’re looking at FFP and trying to work out how they can make it happen. Joao Cancelo is waiting for Barcelona, hoping for Barca but still waiting for a green light.

"It’s not close yet, but Barcelona are still active."

READ MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer rumours

Current ETV

Dani Olmo

M, AM (C)

RB Leipzig

Dani Olmo

M, AM (C)

RB Leipzig

ETV Range

€23.8M - €39.7M

Liverpool go big on Zubimendi

New Liverpool boss Arne Slot could land a "special" player in the form of Martin Zubimendi, with the Reds seeking to succeed where Barcelona and Arsenal have failed by luring the midfielder to Anfield.

"Martin Zubimendi: Liverpool are on him," Romano says.

"It would be a special signing. He’s a top, top player. His brain is different. We saw the quality in the Champions League but also with the Spanish national team. His release clause is €60m, taxes included, so it’s an expensive deal.

"Liverpool want to go very big on this one. They feel they can reach an agreement with Real Sociedad or trigger the release clause. So Liverpool are very optimistic. Now working on the player side.

"Many clubs have tried to convince Zubimendi in recent years – Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal. Many clubs have spoken to the player. He wasn’t keen on the move but now Liverpool are going very big. They’re using their abilities to persuade the player to accept their contract proposal.

"Liverpool are also looking at other opportunities on the market."

Current ETV

Martín Zubimendi

M, DM (C)

Real Sociedad

Martín Zubimendi

M, DM (C)

Real Sociedad

ETV Range

€28.9M - €48.2M

Man Utd’s transfer priority

Man Utd are still going all out to complete a deal for Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, with Erik ten Hag eager for both deals to be conducted swiftly.

"Man Utd are still in contact with Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, Despite all the stories on Dumfries, the top priority for Manchester United for the right-back is Mazraoui because he can also play on the left and because he’s a player already well known to Erik ten Hag," Romano adds.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours

"They’re still waiting for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to leave the club, to join West Ham. This is the stumbling block. It depends on him. Man Utd are patiently waiting for the player to give the green light to West Ham, but as of today they remain focused on Mazraoui and De Ligt. The players are prepared to wait for Man Utd.

"Ten Hag wants the signings as soon as possible because the Premier League start is getting close. They’re still working on this one. This story remains active."