Tottenham Eyes Gakpo as Arsenal Pursues Guimarães
Cody Gakpo’s Liverpool career has already taken a few twists. It could be about to take a far more dramatic one.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing a bid in the region of £70m for the Dutch forward, a statement move aimed at dragging him from Anfield to north London. It is the sort of number that makes even the most stubborn club pause, and yet Liverpool’s stance, publicly at least, remains firm.
Liverpool “have no plans to sell Gakpo” and “it would take a huge sum to change their stance,” report the Mail. The Athletic go even stronger with “no intention of selling” – before adding the important caveat that his valuation will be judged against other deals this summer, including Morgan Rogers’ move to Chelsea. The message is clear enough: Gakpo is not on the market, but everyone has a price. If Spurs are serious, they will need that recently rediscovered XXL chequebook on the table, not in the drawer.
Mudryk interest grows as Lampard’s Coventry join the queue
Over at Chelsea, the phones are busy again. Mykhailo Mudryk, back in the frame after a doping ban, is drawing interest from “multiple Premier League clubs”, according to the Mirror, with Coventry City the only one named.
Coventry’s involvement adds a layer of intrigue. They are coached by Frank Lampard, twice in charge at Stamford Bridge and still closely associated with the club. Now he is eyeing one of Chelsea’s most mercurial, and most debated, wide forwards. The Sun report that two more Premier League sides have made enquiries, with three European clubs also circling. The Mirror could hardly resist it, labelling the emerging scramble for the Ukrainian’s signature “Mud Fight”.
Coventry’s shopping list does not stop there. They are among the clubs interested in Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, with teams in Italy, Hull and Ipswich also in the mix. Hull, for their part, are casting the net wider. They have already seen a second bid rejected for Augsburg’s Mert Kömür as they push to reshape their midfield.
Arsenal push on Guimarães as big names and young guns fill the radar
At Arsenal, the picture is more familiar: a packed agenda, ambitious targets and a boardroom trying to juggle big deals with future planning.
The Guardian reported that the Gunners have opened formal talks with Newcastle United over Bruno Guimarães. The two clubs are understood to be around £10m apart in their valuation of the 28-year-old, a gap that feels bridgeable when a player of his influence is involved. Arsenal’s midfield has been remodelled in recent seasons; Guimarães would be another major piece.
The Express go further, claiming Arsenal “can complete as many as six transfer deals just this week”. On the list of potential arrivals, alongside Guimarães, are Vinicius Júnior and Ferran Torres. The reality is more complicated. Barcelona are said to want a new deal for Torres, while he has also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid. That kind of competition – and Barça’s desire to keep him – makes a move to north London feel like a long shot.
Outgoings at the Emirates could be just as significant. Milan are keen on Gabriel Jesus, whose future has come into sharper focus amid injuries and tactical reshuffles. Fábio Vieira and Christian Nørgaard are also described as unwanted, underlining the extent of the planned refresh.
At the same time, Arsenal are hunting aggressively in the domestic youth market. Blackburn’s 18-year-old forward Igor Tyjon, Cardiff’s 16-year-old midfielder Axel Donczew and Crystal Palace prospect Mylo Bernard – a 16-year-old forward – are all on the list. It is a familiar dual track: headline names for the here and now, teenagers for the next cycle.
West Ham turn to Solomon and Parrott as Isidor door slams shut
West Ham United, never far from a transfer tangle, are in the market for a winger and have fixed their gaze on Tottenham’s Manor Solomon. They believe the 27-year-old could add the direct threat they lack on the flanks, but they are not alone. Fiorentina are also interested, and negotiations are said to be under way.
Just as West Ham probe one London rival, they have been rebuffed by another suitor entirely. Sunderland have decided not to sell Wilson Isidor to the Hammers, forcing a change of plan up front. The response is typically bold: West Ham are preparing an £18m offer for AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott.
That price, and the player’s profile, have drawn a crowd. Any move for Parrott will mean a fight with Porto, Como, Ajax, Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven, all of whom are tracking the forward. For a club that wants to push back towards European contention, winning that race would send a message.
From Gakpo’s uncertain Liverpool chapter to Arsenal’s pursuit of Guimarães and West Ham’s gamble on Parrott, the market is crackling. The numbers are rising, the shortlists are lengthening, and one question hangs over it all: who blinks first?
