Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Arsenal 'close' to Rogers agreement as Salah closes in on new move

8 Jul 2026 07:02 BST |
11 min read

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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has delivered his latest update on the market, including Arsenal pursuit of Morgan Rogers and Mohamed Salah’s future after leaving Liverpool.

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Arsenal agree goalkeeper transfer

Arsenal have agreed to sign Ilan Meslier on a free transfer as a backup goalkeeper, although doubts still remain over Kepa’s future, Romano confirmed.

“The future of Kepa, the backup goalkeeper, is not guaranteed yet,” Romano said on YouTube. “There is a possibility for him eventually to leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

“There is this chance, it depends on proposals. There were links with Inter but completely wide of the mark, never been a possibility. Inter said no to Kepa around April when he was offered to to them. There are some possibilities in Spain. Let’s see if Kepa decides to go or to stay at Arsenal to compete as backup goalkeeper with David Raya.

“In any case, Arsenal have agreed a deal with Meslier, the goalkeeper from Leeds United, now available as a free agent. Agreement done between Meslier and Arsenal on contract terms, and so he’s ready to go to Arsenal eventually to be second or third goalkeeper—we will see that depending on Kepa—but he said yes to Arsenal.”

Arsenal ‘close’ to Rogers personal terms

Arsenal’s top target remains Morgan Rogers and they are working on a deal with Aston Villa and an agreement is ‘close’ on the player side.

Romano said: “Arsenal will sign an important winger in this summer transfer window, that’s for sure. it’s not based on who is going, who is staying. In any case, Arsenal will sign a top winger.

“Leandro Trossard could go to Beşiktaş. There is an agreement club-to-club: €18 million plus two, but it is waiting on Trossard to decide. A delegation from Beşiktaş will travel to the US to have an initial conversation with Trossard to present the project and the player doesn’t want to decide anything during the tournament.

“But in any case, Arsenal want to sign a top winger. The name, the top priority they have in mind remains Morgan Rogers. Arsenal want to sign Morgan Rogers. The agreement with the player, from my understanding, is quite close. It’s something that Arsenal see as close—not a problem.

“But Aston Villa start at €130m. This could be eventually negotiated, we will see. We have to see what’s going to happen in the club-to-club conversations. But Arsenal are working on the Morgan Rogers deal as a top priority.”

Barcola ‘not untouchable’ at PSG anymore

Bradley Barcola is looking increasingly likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after long-term interest from Arsenal and Liverpool in the winger.

Romano said: “Until last week, Barcola was untouchable; now I see him linked to several clubs. The reality, guys, is that Barcola is not untouchable. Barcola has serious possibilities to leave Paris in the summer transfer window. I maintain my information since April and I stand by my information.

“Don’t forget also Liverpool, because both Liverpool and Arsenal are calling for Barcola. Liverpool have the player on the very top of their shortlist since the summer transfer window 2025, and Liverpool remain interested in Barcola.

“Barcola is also appreciated by Arsenal, but he is not position number one. Position number one is Rogers, position number two is Barcola, and there are more options in terms of wingers. So that’s the situation at Arsenal.

“Then, important to mention for PSG, he is not untouchable because the new contract talks are completely, completely on standby, stalling for a long time. So Barcola-PSG at the moment, there is no agreement over a new deal, and also important to say, PSG would ask for important money. So who’s going to sign Barcola? It’s not just about the interest, it’s also about the package of money they’re going to present to Paris Saint-Germain. So that’s the situation.”

Chelsea open to Garnacho exit

Alejandro Garnacho could leave Chelsea after just one year at the club, although the preference currently is for a permanent sale rather than a loan move.

“There is a possibility for Alejandro Garnacho to be on the move in this summer transfer window,” Romano said. “It’s not something 100% guaranteed yet, also because the pre-season is about to start. Garnacho is not at the World Cup, so he will have the possibility to work under Xabi Alonso, and let’s see what happens there.

“But in case of a permanent deal proposal on the table, Chelsea could open doors to the exit of Garnacho. Just one year after his arrival from Manchester United, Chelsea could be open to making a switch and letting Garnacho go in this summer transfer window. So I would keep the doors open for the future of Garnacho for sure.

“Chelsea today, July, are not accepting a loan deal for Garnacho—permanent or nothing. Then at the end of the window, we never know what happens because sometimes, as I always say in the market, it’s not just for Chelsea, it’s not just for Garnacho, it’s in general: what is a permanent transfer today could become a loan with obligation to buy in August, and can become a loan with option to buy and salary covered in the final days of August. This is typical in the market.

“But in this case, to tell you what’s going on today, Chelsea are communicating that Garnacho is not available on loan.”

Cancelo in Barcelona talks

Joao Cancelo is likely to join Barcelona on a permanent deal this summer from Al-Hilal, although talks are still not advanced as of yet.

Romano said: “Two important pieces on João Cancelo. The first side, the first 50% of the story: Cancelo, 99.9%, will be a Barcelona player. I never had any doubts. I told you in March, in April, in May, while the season was already ongoing, that Cancelo wanted to stay and Barcelona wanted to keep Cancelo. So when this is the intention, in some way it’s going to happen, and I keep telling you now that Cancelo is going to stay at Barcelona, is going to continue at Barcelona.

“The other 50% is the reality of what’s happening today. At the moment, there is still no agreement in place. So Cancelo is not traveling tomorrow for medical tests and contract signing, and the deal is not signed or completed yet between Barcelona and Al-Hilal. Barcelona and Al-Hilal are negotiating. The agent of the player, Jorge Mendes, is in charge of the negotiation.

“Is it taking place on a daily basis? Now it’s going to take some time before the deal can be agreed because it’s about the transfer fee. Cancelo has one year left on his contract at Al-Hilal and he doesn’t want to play for Al-Hilal anymore. He’s been very clear: he only wants to go to Barcelona.

“So now it’s just about reaching an agreement. According to my information, the agreement is not done yet. Then if you ask me, ‘Is it going to get done?’ Yes, Cancelo will be a Barcelona player by the end of the summer unless something crazy happens. But this is the direction of the deal.”

Alvarez still wants Barcelona move

Julian Alvarez is still focused on leaving Atletico Madrid for Barcelona this summer despite refusing to be drawn into further comments on his future.

Romano said: “Julián Álvarez, after the game when asked by reporters about Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, ‘Okay, what’s going to happen with your future now?’ Julián, this time—after last time he did an interview and said ‘I want to leave, I want to go, I want to fulfill my dream’—Julián this time decides to go slow, to go cold, and to say, ‘Now my focus is on Argentina. We have important games upfront and then we will see my future after.’

“So Julián didn’t want to put fire on fire, and so at the moment, the situation remains this: that Julián hopes to go to Barcelona. This is not changing. Julián’s desire is to go to Barcelona and this is not changing. Then on the other side—Barcelona, Atlético Madrid—the relationship remains very cold, and so at the moment, club-to-club remains the issue of this deal. Julián still has an agreement with Barcelona, but again, club-to-club, this is still not developing. So we have to be patient and see what’s going to happen next.”

Fernandez set to resolve future after World Cup

Enzo Fernandez will aim to resolve his future at Chelsea after the 2026 World Cup after seeing a move to Real Madrid die down in recent weeks.

Romano said: “Enzo scored a goal for Argentina to beat Egypt in the final minutes of the game and then goes to the press and says, ‘I’m not thinking about my future. Focus now on Argentina, then we will see.’ That is Enzo Fernández’s message.

“Real Madrid already made clear finally that the deal is not happening because it was completely false that they started negotiations with Enzo, with his agents, or with Chelsea. It never happened. It was just discussed internally among names, but never concrete—never even close, the Enzo Fernández story.

“Now talking about Enzo, the situation will be discussed after the World Cup. So during the World Cup, nothing will change for Enzo Fernández. The agent of the player, Javier Pastore, will talk to Chelsea after the World Cup to try and understand which one could be the best solution for all parties.

“Remember that this story started because Chelsea and Enzo were not able to reach an agreement on a new contract since the end of November, beginning of December. So the contract is still a problem between Enzo Fernández and Chelsea.

“Then let me tell you once again, after the Real Madrid statement, I saw some stories of Manchester City. From what I’m aware, Manchester City are not in active talks to sign Enzo Fernández at this stage.”

Rodri could leave Man City next year

Manchester City could be set to lose Rodri, although his exit is more likely next year rather than this summer, with Real Madrid not pursuing the midfielder.

“Not this summer, but my feeling is that the Rodri situation has to be monitored by the end of the 2026-2027 season, because for this summer, the situation is very quiet,” Romano said.

“With Real Madrid, we saw a candidate to the Real Madrid presidency—before Florentino Pérez won—announcing Rodri’s potential signing. But with Pérez, the situation is completely cold. So between Rodri and Florentino at the moment, my understanding is that Florentino is not convinced by signing Rodri, and so it’s very quiet with Real Madrid this summer.

“Next summer, 2027, Rodri could leave Manchester City on a free because as of today—then I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 10 months—but as of today, a new contract proposal from Man City is on the table since months, and Rodri is still not accepting. There is still no financial agreement between Man City and Rodri.”

Salah could move to MLS

Romano also revealed that Mohamed Salah has proposals on the table from MLS sides after leaving Liverpool despite strong interest from Saudi Arabia.

“What I wanted to tell you on Mo Salah is that he has a possibility from Saudi, because from Saudi, they always wanted Mo Salah. Already three years ago, two years ago, Mo Salah has always been a top target,” Romano said.

“But my understanding is that also from the MLS, some calls took place to understand the situation of Mo Salah, and so MLS could be a possibility as well. So MLS, Saudi… let’s see what Salah decides. But now after the World Cup, it’s going to be time for him and for his agent, Ramy Abbas, to decide the future.”

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Suraj Radia is an NCTJ-qualified journalist and editor with more than a decade of experience at some of the biggest sportsdesks and press agencies across the industry. He has been a regular freelance contributor to FootballTransfers since April 2022.

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