15 Aug 2026 10:01 BST |
7 min read
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Fabrizio Romano delivers major Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona transfer updates, with Arteta, Quansah, Savinho, Rodri, Liam Delap and Julian Alvarez all in focus.
Arteta set to sign new Arsenal contract as final details are agreed
Mikel Arteta is expected to put pen to paper on a new Arsenal contract after talks progressed to the final stage.
Romano told his YouTube channel: “Arteta has one year left on his contract but said, ‘I’m very happy here. The feeling between me and Arsenal is excellent. We want to be together.’
“So Arteta is fully expected to sign a new contract with Arsenal. The conversations really started before the end of the season, around the end of March or beginning of April.
“Now Arteta’s agent, Arteta himself and Arsenal are talking about the final points of the contract. The expectation is for Arteta to put pen to paper and sign a new contract very soon.”
Arsenal make Quansah approach as Leverkusen reject first bid
Arsenal remain determined to sign a new defender, and Romano has confirmed that they have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over Jarell Quansah.
“Arsenal are still looking for a centre-back. They made some calls for Marc Pubill over the week, but the player is not for sale. Atletico Madrid have no intention to sell the player, and so Pubill’s story is a no-story at this stage. They consider the player, but he is not for sale,” Romano said.
“Then, in the last 24 hours, Jarell Quansah, the defender from Bayer Leverkusen, emerged as a new option for Arsenal at centre-back. Liverpool already have future control on the player, but it is true that Arsenal have an interest in him.
“Arsenal made official contact with Bayer Leverkusen in recent hours, at night. The answer from Bayer Leverkusen is that they don’t want to sell the player, so they rejected the approach from Arsenal. It was a first approach with a verbal exchange.
“Let’s see if Arsenal decide to try again in the next few days and understand if Bayer Leverkusen can change their stance.
“Don’t forget that Liverpool maintain future control on the player. But Liverpool had no possibility now to activate the buy-back clause because it has already expired. If Liverpool want to bring Jarell Quansah back to the club for €70m, it has to be in summer 2027.
“But for sure Arsenal are interested in the player at the moment. Bayer Leverkusen rejected the first approach, so let’s see if Arsenal try again. For sure, the interest is genuine and movements took place, so we have to follow that situation.
“The other name I would keep on the shortlist for Arsenal remains Ezri Konsa. The Aston Villa defender is very appreciated. Arsenal are considering the player and have him on their shortlist. He’s been on the shortlist for some time, so for sure Konsa is a name to keep in mind when we talk about Arsenal.”
Tottenham keep Savinho talks alive as winger remains a top target
Tottenham’s pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho remains very much active, with discussions still taking place.
“Savinho remains a top target for Tottenham. Don’t forget, in my last video I was talking about winger Mika Godts going to Paris and Cody Gakpo being a Liverpool target. But don’t forget what I’ve been telling you throughout the summer: Tottenham want two wingers,” Romano explained.
“Gakpo is one we spoke about in the last video, but for Savinho, negotiations have taken place. Discussions have taken place, conversations have taken place.
“So the Savinho story is absolutely on, and we have to keep the name of Savinho in mind for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Como approach Chelsea for Liam Delap as Blues consider exit
Liam Delap is another player to watch before the transfer window closes after Como made an approach to Chelsea.
“We then have to understand what’s going to happen also with Liam Delap, because Chelsea are prepared to let the player go in case they have a good proposal,” Romano revealed.
“That’s the exclusive update of the afternoon. Como made contact with Chelsea for Liam Delap. Chelsea were asking for the conditions of the deal.
“My understanding is that Como would be interested in a loan deal for Liam Delap. So the initial approach was over a loan move.
“At the moment, the salary of Liam Delap and also the salary share, which Chelsea would have to cover, is the problem. Como cannot pay the whole salary, so they need to find a different kind of agreement or this deal could be complicated.
“But Como made an approach. Como like the player, and we have to follow the situation because Chelsea believe more clubs will also join the race for Delap in the next two weeks.
“So let’s see the timing of this story. But for sure, Delap is one to watch from now until the end of the summer transfer window.”
Barcelona prepare third Rodri bid as talks with Man City continue
Barcelona remain confident of signing Rodri and are preparing to make a third proposal to Manchester City.
“Contacts took place again today and contacts will continue over the weekend. Barcelona keep working on Rodri,” Romano said.
“Barcelona are prepared to present a third proposal for Rodri. Barcelona are coming back, bidding again. Barca want to go for Rodri and remain confident.
“At the moment, this depends on the financial agreement between Manchester City and Barcelona. But the deal is absolutely on and the third bid is coming, so negotiations are absolutely underway for Rodri.”
Barcelona reject €80m Luis Suarez price as Alvarez remains priority
Barcelona continue to consider striker alternatives but remain unwilling to overpay for Sporting’s Luis Suarez.
“In terms of the striker position, while they remain confident in Rodri, Luis Suarez from Sporting is a player that Barcelona had in consideration as a potential alternative,” Romano affirmed.
“What was the problem here? Sporting point to the €80m release clause. Sporting don’t want to negotiate and don’t want to lose one of their key players in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
“So Sporting keep telling any club interested that it’s €80m. For example, Fenerbahce, one of the candidates to become president, tried to sign Luis Suarez and even had an agreement with Luis Suarez on the contract at the beginning of the summer transfer window.
“The answer from Fenerbahce has always been €80m, the release clause, or nothing.
“So at the moment Barcelona are not going to pay the release clause for Luis Suarez, €80m. One thing is about opportunities and one thing is about overpaying.
“Barcelona believe that €80m at this moment is too much, and so that’s the situation.”
Barcelona still waiting for Julian Alvarez as Atletico keep door shut
Despite considering alternatives, Barcelona’s message remains that they want to wait for Julian Alvarez and see whether Atletico Madrid change their position.
Romano confirmed: “For sure, Barcelona’s message again today, and I’m sure it’s going to be the same over the weekend, is: ‘We still want to wait for Julian Alvarez. We still want to see what Atletico do with Julian Alvarez.’
“So Barcelona are yet to give up on Julian Alvarez. The story remains exactly the same.
“From Atletico Madrid’s side, Atletico don’t want to sell the player. Atletico have no intention to negotiate with Barcelona. Atletico believe that the player staying at Atletico is what is going to happen.
“The player is still pushing, the player is dreaming of Barcelona. The player told Atletico he wants to go to Barcelona, so the story has really not changed.
“But from Barcelona, the message today is: okay, there could be alternatives, but first of all, we will not overpay. Second, we will not sign just to sign. Third, we are not paying €80m like in the case of Luis Suarez.
“Barcelona made contact over a standard situation, but it is not advancing because of the price at this stage.
“And on Julian Alvarez, we are still waiting. We are still hoping. Let’s see what’s going to happen. But from Atletico, the doors remain, as of today, still closed.”
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