Updated: 17 Jul 2026 06:58 BST |
9 min read
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Football news expert Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on several major transfer stories, including the latest on Bradley Barcola, Dominik Szoboszlai and Julian Alvarez.
Arsenal working on Christos Tzolis transfer
Arsenal have already signed Piero Hincapie and Illan Meslier so far this summer and a deal is now in place for Christos Tzolis to become their next addition ahead of the 2026-27 season, as confirmed by Romano.
He told his YouTube channel: “Don’t forget that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are negotiating a new contract. The contract extension for Arteta, with a new deal, is expected to become a reality over the next few months. At the same time, Arsenal are working to bring in new players.
“Leandro Trossard has left to join Besiktas for €18 million plus €2 million in add-ons and I told you that with Trossard leaving, Tzolis was the player Arsenal wanted. It is now a ‘here we go’. The agreement is done on a €40m deal. This is the transfer fee Arsenal will pay to Club Brugge.
“Basically, there was almost no negotiation because the asking price was always €40m. Club Brugge did not want to negotiate, and Arsenal decided to pay the full asking price. This was also because two clubs, one in Italy and one in Germany, tried to enter the race over the last two or three weeks. They wanted to understand whether Arsenal were moving too slowly for Tzolis and whether they could sign the player instead.
“The final decision, however, was always very clear. The player told every interested club, ‘I’m sorry, thank you, but I only want to go to Arsenal.’ Now the deal is in place. He will sign a long-term contract in the coming days, with his medical and contract signing already scheduled. Arsenal have their new winger from Club Brugge.”
Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers to Arsenal truth
Despite finalising an agreement for Tzolis, Arsenal remain interested in additional attacking reinforcements and they have been heavily linked with Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers in recent weeks.
“Arsenal are not finished at all,” Romano confirmed. “They will continue to be very busy in the market. We have to see what happens with William Saliba because the injury appears to be quite serious. In midfield, we already know they want to strengthen, and it is also important to mention the situation regarding another winger.
“I maintain my information. I know there have been many reports linking Arsenal with Bradley Barcola. It is a strange situation because, for several weeks, the reports suggested Barcola was not available. Then suddenly the reports switched to Barcola and Arsenal, while nobody was mentioning Barcola and Liverpool. Liverpool remain very interested in Bradley Barcola.
“At the moment, Arsenal are not negotiating for Bradley Barcola. There are no active talks. From my information, the player Arsenal still want to add as their new winger is Morgan Rogers.
“Discussions with the player are already at an advanced stage. There are no significant issues regarding the contract, and the personal terms are almost fully agreed. Only a few details remain to be clarified before Arsenal are ready to move and begin club-to-club negotiations for Morgan Rogers.
“After completing the deal for Christos Tzolis, Morgan Rogers is expected to become Arsenal’s next major target.”
Bradley Barcola future
While Arsenal aren’t in talks over a deal for Barcola, he could still be set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, although an extended spell at the Parc des Princes may also be on the cards.
“I told you in the last video that now the World Cup is over, Bradley Barcola’s situation will become one to watch,” Romano said. “From next week, Barcola will meet with his representatives. His agents will also speak with PSG, but Barcola is not currently negotiating a new contract with the French club.
“An exit is possible, but only if a very significant offer arrives. It has to be a major proposal. So yes, a transfer is possible, but it is not guaranteed unless a club comes forward with serious money. Liverpool are fully aware of the situation and remain interested in the player. We will have to see how this develops over the coming weeks.”
Dominik Szoboszlai signs new Liverpool contract
Liverpool have signed Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet so far this summer, but their best piece of business may prove to be tying Dominik Szoboszlai down to a new long-term deal.
“One of the biggest stories of the day is that Dominik Szoboszlai has signed a new contract with Liverpool – it is a ‘here we go’ and everything has been completed and confirmed,” Romano revealed.
“He has agreed a new five-year deal and will become one of the highest-paid players in Liverpool’s squad. It is a very important contract with a significant salary.
“I think this is fantastic news for Liverpool. Szoboszlai has been incredible during what has been a very difficult season for almost everyone at the club. Many top players have struggled, but he has consistently performed at the highest possible level.
“Not only has he delivered on the pitch, but his leadership and commitment have also been outstanding. He has been a fantastic player throughout the campaign.
“It is also important to remember that, had Liverpool not extended his contract over the coming weeks or months, with his previous deal running until 2027, he would have become a major target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. There had already been enquiries from clubs trying to establish whether he would sign a new contract or leave Liverpool.
“Liverpool have done an excellent job by securing this agreement. If you have been following the channel, you will know this is not a surprise because I have been telling you for months that Szoboszlai wanted to sign a new deal and that Liverpool were making good progress. Now the agreement has been completed, and Dominik Szoboszlai will remain at Liverpool on a new long-term contract.”
Julian Alvarez to Barcelona latest
Atletico Madrid are still desperate to rebuff offers for Julian Alvarez, however Romano has confirmed that Barcelona remain eager to finalise a deal for the Argentina striker.
“More to mention, guys, and today there was also an important interview from Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo, who was once again asked about Julian Alvarez and the ongoing links with Barcelona,” Romano said.
“Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently said that their offer remains on the table, but not indefinitely. The bid is still there, although it will not remain available forever.
“In response, Enrique Cerezo made his position very clear. He said, ‘Laporta is my good friend. We are good friends, but Laporta already knows where Julian will play next season.’
“In another answer, Cerezo added that Alvarez is an Atletico Madrid player and will remain an Atletico Madrid player next season. The message from Atletico is one of complete confidence. They have no intention of selling the player to Barcelona.
“However, Barcelona have not given up. The club deliberately chose to respect the player during the World Cup and avoided creating unnecessary distractions. Now that the tournament is over, Barcelona will resume their efforts to understand whether there is still a way to complete the deal. This is certainly a story that will be very important to follow.”
Ibrahim Mbaye to leave PSG?
In addition to the aforementioned Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye has also been tipped to leave PSG this summer and Romano has admitted that he wants to depart the club.
He said: “According to my information, Jorge Mendes has now become involved in the player’s future. Mendes has officially signed Ibrahim Mbaye as a new client. For those who may not know, Jorge Mendes is one of the most influential football agents in the world, and he is already working hard to find the best solution for the player’s future.
“Fortunately for Mendes, this will not be a difficult task because there is strong interest from several clubs. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund remain interested, while a number of Premier League clubs have also entered the race.
“The player’s intention is to leave PSG. He believes the right step for his career is to move elsewhere, where he can play regularly and become an important member of the squad. He likes the club, but he knows it is extremely difficult to secure consistent playing time, especially with the level of competition already in the squad.”
Romano continued: “Even more so now because Fabian Ruiz has agreed a new contract with PSG until 2029, with an option to extend it until 2030.
“It is also important to mention that, regarding PSG’s contract renewals in general, you may not always see the official announcements immediately because some of these agreements have actually been completed for quite some time.
“Fabian Ruiz agreed to his new contract a few months ago, while Willian Pacho signed his extension back in December. PSG have been working very hard behind the scenes to secure the futures of several key players.”
Aston Villa double deal
Finally, Aston Villa have already reached an agreement to sign Johan Manzambi and two additional new faces are also set to join the club.
“The arrival of Lucas Digne to PSG will probably also open the door for the transfer of Pervis Estupinan from AC Milan to Aston Villa. That deal is currently underway, with an agreement already reached with the player. Work between the clubs is continuing,” Romano admitted.
“Today, Aston Villa also completed the signing of Joao Gomes. The deal is done for €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons. The player has already travelled for his medical and the contract signing.
“Joao Gomes is now an Aston Villa player. As I told you, there were many rumours linking him with Manchester United, but the reality is that Man Utd were never interested in signing Joao Gomes.
“There were also many rumours involving Liverpool, particularly coming from Brazil, perhaps to encourage interest from other clubs. However, Liverpool were never pursuing Joao Gomes either. From the beginning, Aston Villa were the club making the strongest move.
“Villa are also maintaining active discussions over a deal for Joao Palhinha. The club remain ambitious in the market and continue to work on strengthening multiple positions before the window closes.”
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