Arsenal's pursuit of Leicester City's highly-rated England Under-19 winger, Jeremy Monga, has hit an early roadblock after their opening bid was reportedly rejected by the Championship club. The 19-year-old is understood to be a long-term target for the Gunners as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. This development comes as the Premier League transfer window begins to heat up, with numerous clubs across the top two divisions making moves to bolster their ranks.
Beyond Monga, Arsenal are also believed to be preparing an offer for Paris St-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola, aged 23. This indicates a clear intent from Mikel Arteta's side to add more attacking depth and talent to their squad. Meanwhile, fellow Premier League giants Liverpool are also making significant strides in the market, rekindling their interest in Juventus and France midfielder Khephren Thuram, 25. The Reds have also reportedly triggered a 40m euro (approximately £34.5m) release clause for Osasuna and Spain winger Victor Munoz, 22, as they target a central midfielder, centre-back, and right-back.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Everton have been contacted by RB Leipzig regarding their 23-year-old France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry. While no formal offer has yet been received, the Toffees' football leadership group is poised to decide on the next steps should a bid materialise. Tottenham Hotspur are also in the mix for Anderlecht and Belgium midfielder Nathan De Cat, a 17-year-old talent who has also attracted the attention of Manchester United.
Tottenham's transfer activities don't stop there, with reports suggesting they are also interested in West Ham's £80m-rated Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, 21, who is also on the radar of Real Madrid and Manchester United. This highlights a competitive market for promising young talent. In the Championship, Stoke City are reportedly close to securing their first summer signing with former Sheffield United loanee Djibril Soumare, 23, from Braga. Other notable movements include Portsmouth, Preston North End, and QPR all being linked with Swansea City's 26-year-old English right-back Josh Key.
The EFL market is equally busy, with Wrexham joining the race for Newcastle United's head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, who is set to move to a Championship club. Burnley winger Luca Koleosho is expected to leave Turf Moor this summer, with Italian Serie A club Fiorentina reportedly interested in the 21-year-old. West Ham are also eyeing Sunderland and Haiti striker Wilson Isidor, 25, who played a key role in the Black Cats' promotion to the Premier League in the 2024-25 season. These movements underscore the intense competition and strategic planning underway across English football as clubs prepare for the upcoming campaigns.