Aston Villa Prepare for £50m Watkins Sale as Transfer Window Heats Up
The window is open, the clock is ticking, and the money is moving. With the market running until September 1, clubs across Europe are scrambling to fix squads, offload assets and pounce on opportunity. Today’s deals and manoeuvres tell their own story.
Villa brace for £50m Watkins raid as Jackson lined up
Aston Villa are standing firm on Ollie Watkins – and expecting Saudi money to eventually crack their resolve.
Al Hilal have already seen four bids rejected for the England striker, but Villa believe the Saudi Pro League side will finally meet their £50million valuation if they decide to get the deal done. The lure for Watkins is obvious: a salary far beyond what he currently earns at Villa Park and a starring role in a league intent on hoovering up European talent.
Watkins is keen on the move. Villa, crucially, are already plotting life without him.
They are pursuing a £65m deal for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, a move that would effectively make the Senegal international Watkins’ replacement at the tip of Unai Emery’s attack. The message from Villa is clear: they will not be bullied on price, but they are preparing for the day the Saudis finally pay up.
Monaco circle as Spurs face fresh interest in Pape Matar Sarr
Over in north London, one of Tottenham’s most intriguing midfielders has fresh admirers.
Monaco have joined the queue for Pape Matar Sarr, monitoring the 21-year-old as they brace themselves for potential change in their own engine room. The French side are scouring the market in case they lose Lamine Camara, who has attracted offers from Crystal Palace and interest from Chelsea.
If Camara goes, Sarr is among the names Monaco are considering. Spurs may yet have a decision to make on a player whose stock continues to rise.
City keep door wide open for Grealish as Maresca weighs options
At Manchester City, Jack Grealish’s future is deliberately being left on a knife-edge.
The 30-year-old has rejoined the first-team picture, coming off the bench in each of City’s opening two league games, but there is no guarantee he stays. The champions have not ruled out a permanent sale. They have not ruled out another loan. They have not even ruled out keeping him with the caveat of potentially limited game time.
Everton, where Grealish spent last season on loan, remain in the conversation. Chief executive Angus Kinnear has confirmed the Merseyside club have stayed in contact, keeping alive the possibility of a return.
Enzo Maresca is coaching Grealish as normal, but he is under no illusions about how volatile the final week of a window can be. After Sunday’s win over Bournemouth, the City coach said: “He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best. Then it is one more week to go and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players.”
And there is plenty happening around those “other players”.
Omar Marmoush is due for a medical at Tottenham today as Spurs move to strengthen their attack, while Nico Gonzalez is putting the finishing touches on a move to Newcastle. City are also pushing incoming business: Palmeiras winger Allan Elias is joining, and a formal bid is expected to go in for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as the champions look to refresh their core.
Liverpool baulk at £80m Minteh price and scan for new winger
Liverpool’s wide-forward search has hit a wall of numbers.
Brighton’s valuation of Yankuba Minteh is viewed at Anfield as simply too high. The Seagulls are looking for a fee closer to £80m for the 22-year-old Gambian, who is currently sidelined until October with injury. Liverpool had hoped to strike a deal in the region of £50m.
That gap has forced the club to explore alternative options out wide rather than get drawn into a bidding war for a player they cannot use until the autumn.
There is interest in their own ranks, too. Celta Vigo are understood to be keen on midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who began his career at the Spanish club. As yet, Liverpool have not received a formal approach, but the 21-year-old’s roots in Vigo add a layer of intrigue to any potential move.
Forest work on Rueda deal as Corinthians hold firm on Andre
Nottingham Forest are busy on multiple fronts.
Talks have opened with Celta Vigo over right-back Javi Rueda, with Forest discussing an £8m offer for the 25-year-old, who only joined Celta from Real Madrid in 2024. Strengthening the flanks is clearly a theme at the City Ground.
Tottenham have asked about Forest full-back Neco Williams, but he is expected to remain with Forest for the coming season.
In midfield, Forest are in negotiations over a £13.6m move, including add-ons, for Corinthians youngster Andre. The 20-year-old only made his league debut a year ago, yet Corinthians are holding out for more, convinced his value is climbing with every performance.
The sense is that Forest are trying to move quickly before the price rises again.
Ipswich close on £23.5m Palacios coup
Ipswich Town are on the verge of one of the most eye-catching deals of the window.
They are finalising a £23.5m agreement for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios, with the 27-year-old having already agreed a four-year contract. For a club still re-establishing itself in the top flight, this is an ambitious swing at proven quality from one of Europe’s most efficient operations.
There is outbound business to manage as well. Ipswich want £9m for midfielder Anis Mehmeti, who has offers from Wrexham, Birmingham and Derby. Any sale there could help smooth the Palacios outlay and further reshape Kieran McKenna’s midfield.
Osmajic exits Preston as Heckingbottom faces rebuild
At Championship level, Preston North End have lost a key forward.
Striker Milutin Osmajic has completed a move to Genoa, a departure that manager Paul Heckingbottom had already flagged as likely over the weekend. Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, he laid bare the scale of the task now facing his recruitment team.
“The business we’ve done so far has been really good in terms of players we’ve brought in to replace, players who have gone out, but we’ve lost a lot of players,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot to replace and now Milly is another one we’ve got to replace.”
Osmajic’s exit only deepens that need. Preston’s next signing up front will say plenty about their ambitions for the season.
Deals are edging closer elsewhere too. Nottingham Forest are closing in on a £45m move for Liam Delap, while Aston Villa have been in contact with AC Milan over Rafael Leao.
The window is open, the money is ready, and the final week is looming. Who blinks first?
