Manchester United and Newcastle Target Neco Williams as Arsenal Pursue Tzolis

The Premier League’s heavyweights are moving early, and the market is already starting to tighten.

At Nottingham Forest, Neco Williams has become the latest full-back in the crosshairs of Manchester United and Newcastle United, with both clubs registering their interest in the Wales international, according to the BBC. Forest, fully aware of how rare reliable, versatile full-backs have become, are trying to slam the door shut before it properly opens.

Williams, 25, featured in 37 of Forest’s 38 Premier League games last season and did it on both flanks. That kind of durability and flexibility is exactly what top-six squads crave. Forest’s response is simple: upgrade his deal at The City Ground and hope the project, the pay rise and guaranteed minutes keep him out of the clutches of clubs offering European football and bigger stages.

Arsenal line up Tzolis as Trossard cover

In north London, Arsenal are moving on a different type of profile. The Sun reports that the Gunners are pushing ahead with a deal for Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis, closing in on a fee in the region of £35 million.

The 24-year-old, who had a brief spell in the Premier League with Norwich City in 2021-22, has been identified as a potential replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is attracting interest from Besiktas. Arsenal’s recruitment team view Tzolis as another multi-functional forward who can slide into the attacking midfield line and offer goals from wide areas.

Crucially, a move for Tzolis is not expected to derail Arsenal’s pursuit of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. The Villa man remains one of their top priorities, underlining Mikel Arteta’s determination to add both depth and variety to his attacking options rather than simply swap like for like.

United weigh Koné as alternative to Camavinga

At Old Trafford, the midfield rebuild is taking shape on paper, if not yet on the training pitch. TEAMtalk reports that Manchester United are lining up a move for AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné, who is emerging as a leading option for Michael Carrick’s new-look side.

United are understood to see the 25-year-old as a better tactical and physical fit than Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga. Any deal will not be cheap: an offer in the region of £50 million is thought to be required to tempt Roma into selling.

United are not alone in the race. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have all been contacted by Koné’s representatives, with the player being quietly shopped to Europe’s elite. For United, who cannot afford another expensive misstep in midfield, the decision carries weight.

Scramble for teenage defender Elijah Upson

One of the window’s more intriguing subplots is unfolding around 18-year-old centre-back Elijah Upson. Having turned down a professional contract at Tottenham Hotspur, the son of former Premier League defender Matthew Upson is suddenly one of the most in-demand free agents in Europe.

The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City are all keen on the teenager, who has just ended an 11-year association with Spurs. Upson has already visited Arsenal’s training ground and is expected to take his time before committing to his next club.

The interest does not stop there. Everton, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco are also monitoring the situation. For a player yet to sign a senior deal, the level of attention is striking – and a reminder that elite clubs are now fighting just as hard for the best teenagers as they are for established stars.

Liverpool and Arsenal in high-stakes Bouaddi race

If the battle for Upson is about potential, the chase for Ayyoub Bouaddi is about securing a possible midfield cornerstone for the next decade.

Football Insider reports that Liverpool and Arsenal remain locked in talks with Lille over the 18-year-old Morocco international. Both English clubs are said to be willing to include a one-season loan-back clause, allowing Bouaddi to continue his development in Ligue 1 before crossing the Channel.

Lille’s price, though, is eye-watering. Any agreement is expected to come close to £100 million, a figure that would place Bouaddi among the most expensive teenagers in history. Liverpool view him as a potential replacement for Curtis Jones, who is being linked with Inter Milan, while Manchester City and other top sides are also watching closely.

Done deals: City move for Charles, Campbell heads to Elversberg

Amid the swirl of rumours, a couple of moves are already sealed.

Manchester City have brought back Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Pierce Charles. The 20-year-old came through City’s academy before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday in 2021. City have re-signed him and immediately sent him on loan to Queens Park Rangers, a familiar pathway for young keepers looking for Championship minutes.

In Germany, American forward Cole Campbell has left Borussia Dortmund to join Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg. The 20-year-old Houston-born attacker has signed a four-year contract running through June 2030, a clear statement from Elversberg that they see him as part of their long-term top-flight project.

Other moves in motion

The rest of Europe is hardly quiet.

• Juventus striker Jonathan David intends to stay at the club despite not being in their plans for next season, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. A stand-off is brewing in Turin.
• Free agent Luka Modric is close to signing a one-year deal to return to AC Milan, reports Corriere dello Sport, a twist that would see the veteran midfielder back in Serie A.
• Manchester United are in advanced talks with goalkeeper Karl Darlow after his exit from Leeds United, with The Sun suggesting the deal could be confirmed on Friday.
• Wrexham’s ambitious rise continues, with Football Insider reporting interest in Everton goalkeeper Mark Travers.
• Curtis Jones is open to a switch to Inter Milan, say Gazzetta dello Sport, but Liverpool want around €40 million before they consider letting him go.
• Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is drawing attention from LaLiga and Serie A clubs, with previous links to Atlético Madrid noted by Fabrizio Romano.
• Newcastle United are closing in on Freiburg and Switzerland attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi in a £49 million deal, according to Sky Sports, with personal terms already agreed.
• Borussia Dortmund are eyeing FC Köln winger Said El-Mala as a possible successor to Barcelona-linked Karim Adeyemi, though Florian Plettenberg reports they want the €50 million valuation reduced.
• AC Milan are looking at Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue, says Nicolo Schira, as they reshape their defence.
• Tottenham Hotspur are exploring a reunion with Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, according to Tuttosport, a move that would inject serious pace and power into their frontline.
• Crystal Palace and Fulham have joined Leeds in the chase for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, reports Ben Jacobs, setting up a Premier League tug-of-war for the 20-year-old.
• Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic is on the radar of two Premier League clubs, with Nicolo Schira suggesting an offer of €40 million would be needed.
• Aston Villa could challenge Leeds for Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, TEAMtalk reports, as Unai Emery looks to future-proof his options between the posts.

The window is still young, the fees are already soaring, and the same names keep colliding: Arsenal, Liverpool, United, City, Chelsea, Bayern. The question now is simple: who blinks first and who lands the piece that tilts next season’s title race?