August 18 – Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest is being eyed by Chelsea in the latest twist in their summer transfer saga as Todd Boehly’s spending will inevitably smash the £1 billion mark by the end of the window.
The 22-year-old Wales international had an impressive Premier League debut season last term, notching 8 goals and 3 assists whilst playing for a forest side in the heat of a relegation dogfight. Able to play both on the wing and as a striker, Johnson would bring some much-needed efficiency to the Chelsea attack.
A move for Johnson would cost the club around £40 million and would see him join Moises Caicedo, Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Jackson amongst others in a bustling transfer window for Pochettino’s men. The club have already spent €385 million so far this summer.
The news dropped following the bizarre twist in their hunt for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who signed a new long-term contract with the Eagles despite his boyhood club Chelsea triggering his release clause. The move seemed all but complete but is now completely off the table, as the blues search for other available wingers.
21-year-old Belgian international and Stade Rennais winger Jeremy Doku is also on the blues’ radar, alongside Olympique Lyon youngster Bradley Barcola.
Fulham are the latest Premier League side to enquire about 22-year-old Arsenal and USA forward Folarin Balogun after a prolific loan spell in Ligue 1 last year saw him score 21 goals.
Balogun has a market value of €30 million according to TransferMarkt and after his debut performances for the US in the Nations League is June issued Arsenal with a ‘play-me or sell-me’ ultimatum. The young American goalscorer (who could have chosen English or Nigerian nationality) would replace the outgoing Aleksandar Mitrovic, as he continues to be linked with a move to Neymar’s Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, despite netting a record 14 goals for the lilywhites.
PSG forward Kylian Mbappe told his entourage that he will stay at the French champions this year but has every intention to move to Real Madrid in 2024.
The 24-year-old has been the subject of high-profile controversy in the French capital, which appears to have cooled. The tension between Mbappe and PSG’s Qatari ownership, has slackened, as Mbappe rejoins first-team sessions after being dropped from the club’s tour of Japan and training with PSG’s band of ‘undesirables’ over the summer.
AS Monaco and France defensive midfielder Youssouf Fofana to has been linked to a move to Nottingham Forest as they look to strengthen their squad in the middle of the park. The transfer window has looked barren for Forest compared to last summer’s activity, which saw the acquisition of 21 first-team players, the most of any club in Europe, in a scramble to stay in the Premier League. Now, the club is looking to sign quality, not quantity, and Fofana would be expected to slot straight into the first XI. The player is valued at €25 million on Transfermarkt.
Despite signing Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart this week, Liverpool are still in the hunt for players to bolster their midfield. Mario Lemina of Wolverhampton Wanderers is the latest name to crop up in the club’s shortlist after impressing on Wolves’ Premier League opener versus Manchester United on Monday evening. The 29-year old Gabonese international joined wolves in January for a fee of €11 million.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714503561labto1714503561ofdlr1714503561owedi1714503561sni@o1714503561fni1714503561