Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool in Barcola breakthrough, Alvarez to Arsenal saga takes fresh twist, Chelsea latest

Aston Villa are set to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea after agreeing a total package of £65m for the striker, according to multiple reports.

The fee several includes add-ons, with David Ornstein of The Athletic reporting that the initial fee for Jackson is £47.5m.

The 25-year-old Jackson spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich and Chelsea wanted to sell the striker this summer.

Jackson is set to replace Ollie Watkins at Villa Park, with the England striker set to sign for Al Hilal, while Unai Emery will reunite with a striker he worked with at Villarreal.

Chelsea are also set to sell striker Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest for £50m, with Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck their two options for the season.

Jackson was signed by Chelsea from Villarreal for £32m in 2023, signing an eight-year contract, so the Blues are set to make a profit.

They could yet sign Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who is no longer first choice under Emery after the arrival of Zion Suzuki.

Liverpool have held more positive talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Bradley Barcola, according to The Times.

Crucially, The Times report that PSG are prepared to lower their asking price for the France international to £115m after previously demanding £145m.

It would still make Barcola, Liverpool’s top target all summer, their second-most expensive signing in history.

Barcola is committed to joining Liverpool and has been left out of PSG’s squad for their last three matches.

PSG have signed three attackers this summer in Spain’s World Cup winner Ferran Torres from Barcelona, Belgian winger Mika Godts from Ajax and France international Maghnes Akliouche from Marseille.

With PSG also retaining the services of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, opportunities for Barcola were limited.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola admitted he is short of wingers ahead of the new Premier League season and there have also been approaches for Brighton’s Yankubu Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.

But what about Cody Gakpo? Manchester City remain interested, while Tottenham have also been linked.

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez by his representatives.

Villa are looking to offload the World Cup winner following the acquisition of Japan international Zion Suzuki, who they consider to be their long-term number one.

A deal to sell Martinez to Juventus fell through earlier in August and he was not in the squad for the 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation has been under renewed scrutiny following Robert Sanchez’s poor performance in Monday’s 3-2 win against Fulham when he was badly at fault in allowing a tame shot from Josh King to squeeze through him.

The club are understood to be considering whether to act to replace Sanchez with Martinez before the transfer window closes.

It had been hoped that 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg and could make his first-team debut against Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, would eventually prove able to step up and challenge Sanchez for the number one shirt.

However, the possibility of signing an established Premier League keeper and an experienced international presents obvious advantages for a club looking to challenge for the title this season.

Liverpool are considering Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as their search for a new winger continues.

The Merseyside club have not made an offer for the Senegal international yet but they are exploring multiple options as they continue to look for a successor to the departed Mohamed Salah.

Sarr, who was strongly linked with Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier this summer, missed Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton on Saturday amid interest from Galatasaray, though manager Pierre Sage said it was for medical reasons.

Liverpool have had two bids, of £50m and £60m, rejected by Brighton for right winger Yankuba Minteh.

They also offered a €100m package for Yan Diomande, who instead left RB Leipzig for Real Madrid while they want Bradley Barcola, though Paris Saint-Germain’s valuation of the France winger is more than Liverpool have been prepared to pay.

Atletico Madrid insisted there is “zero per cent chance” they sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona this summer and claim they are “the only victims” in the protracted transfer saga.

Atletico are pushing for the saga to be resolved by Friday, essentially giving the 26-year-old a choice to make on his future.

If Alvarez does agitate for a move to Arsenal, and the English champions meet an acceptable price, Atletico at least want the time to prepare for replacements.

The Argentine has made clear his ultimate ambition is to go to Barcelona but Arsenal have continued to work on the deal, in the knowledge that Atletico absolutely do not want to do business with their LaLiga rivals. That stance was reiterated in meetings this week intended to resolve the situation.

Barca could change that with an actual offer of around €150m (£128m), but there is a belief within both Atletico and Arsenal that the Spanish champions do not currently have the available budget to get close to that.

Arsenal’s feeling throughout this saga is that the situation could change, tilting in their favour the closer it gets to the end of the window.

Nico Gonzalez says he is “really excited” to be a Newcastle player after completing his move from Manchester City.

The 24-year-old Spanish midfielder has signed what Newcastle have described as a long-term deal and cost the Magpies up to £52m.

Gonzalez told the club website: “I’m really happy to be here at this amazing club.

“I’ve only heard top words about the club and the city, so I am really excited to live here and to be part of this project.

“I love the black and white shirt already and I can’t wait to start wearing it on the pitch for this club.

“I’ve experienced playing at St James’ Park twice with Manchester City and it was really tough. The atmosphere was amazing and so passionate.

“I can’t wait to experience that as a home player.”

Nottingham Forest winger Dilane Bakwa has signed for Lille on a season-long loan.

Bakwa played 24 times in a difficult first season at the City Ground following his 2025 transfer from Bordeaux.

Former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has joined Benfica from Bayern Munich.

Palhinha’s strike against Everton kept Spurs up last season, where he spent the campaign on loan.

He was keen to return on a permanent basis but Tottenham opted to splash out on the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi on a season-long loan.

The summer transfer window closes on 1 September as clubs across Europe aim to wrap up their summer business ahead of the 2026/27 season.

There have been several notable moves throughout Europe over the summer, with Barcelona’s capture of Rodri and the transfers of Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Bruno Guimaraes making headlines.

But while some teams will feel their business is done this summer, most clubs – especially some in the Premier League – know they need more arrivals if they’re to compete this season.

Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa will need to replace some of their outgoing stars, while Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and even champions Arsenal are all hoping to make late additions in the coming days – and big-spenders Tottenham might not be done just yet.