Football transfer news reporter Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest on all the biggest headlines, including moves at Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Future Chelsea star?
Romano dropped an update on a player who could soon be heading to Chelsea – but not before a spell in France in a now-familiar route for young stars hoping to make their way at Stamford Bridge.
He told his YouTube channel: “There is a player who is going to Strasbourg, but who, according to my sources, has a very good chance to be a Chelsea player in the future if his potential becomes realised in the next few years. And this Angelo Candido, a Brazilian right-back from Sao Paulo, considered a very talented player.
“Keep an eye on this boy because he’s going to Strasbourg with a very ambitious project, playing European football next season, but also with a potential view on a Chelsea move for the near future.”
Barcelona considered shock transfer for Perisic
Ivan Perisic will sign a new contract with PSV, but the Croatia veteran was considered at Camp Nou for a surprise move, Romano has revealed.
“Ivan Perisic was a possibility for Barcelona, especially because of Hansi Flick. He is a big fan of Ivan Perisic as a top player, as a top professional,” Romano explained.
“He’s not young anymore, but he’s still delivering fantastic performances, with PSV Eindhoven winning the league thanks to his goals, his assists in Champions League, and he’s doing fantastic with the Croatian national team.
“So really, Barcelona internally considered this possibility to go for Ivan Perisic as a backup. But my understanding is that now Barcelona maintain their full focus on the Nico Williams deal.
“They’ve also signed Roony Bardghji. The deal will be done formally next week.
“So Perisic will not be going to Barcelona. He’s agreed to sign a new contract at PSV for two years. Everything will be signed on Friday.”
Tension builds over Nico Williams
Athletic Club are still doing everything they can to retain Nico Williams, going so far as to try to sabotage Barcelona’s hopes of a move by playing up the financial problems of the Catalan club in a statement asking La Liga to investigate whether the Spain winger can be registered.
Romao says: “It was expected by Barcelona, to be honest. Yesterday president Joan Laporta spoke and said that he was not so happy with Athletic commenting on Barcelona’s staff with La Liga, but today Athletic maintain their position with a public statement, a strong statement, asking La Liga to inquire about the situation of Barcelona, if they can register players or not, if they pay the clause. So quite tense situation, let’s say, between Athletic and Barca.
“Athletic are doing their best to keep the player. We know they also have the possibility to offer the player a new contract in case he stays at the club. Athletic are doing their best to keep Nico Williams, but the reaction from Barcelona is that they maintain their plan. They want to pay the release clause. They want to go for Nico. Now it depends on these technical steps with La Liga in terms of payment of the release clause, financial for play and all the rest, when, how they can make it happen.”
Arsenal target Mosquera opportunity
Romano says that Arsenal are looking to Spain to sign a player well known to sporting director Andrea Berta.
He says: “Arsenal are working on a new defender, Cristhian Mosquera. He’s Spanish, talented, a very good player, who is out of contact in 2026.
“I can tell you that Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s sporting director, already wanted to sign the player to Atletico Madrid when he was there in the past. It was not possible because for Valencia he was untouchable. Now Mosquera is not that untouchable. Why? Because he’s still not extending his contract at the club. The contract expires in 2026, so a big opportunity for a young player, talented, with big potential.
“Arsenal already spoke to the player’s camp to present their project. The player is attracted by this opportunity. He knows that Arsenal will play many games next season, and so to compete with William Saliba and Gabriel is not easy. But the idea at Arsenal is to develop Mosquera and to have him as a very credible solution for the upcoming season. And so contacts are expected with Valencia. The transfer fee could be something around €20-25 million, but Arsenal are working on it. On player side, there are very good feelings, so personal terms will not be a problem.”
What’s happening with Rodrygo?
Arsenal’s move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo has gone quiet in recent days, so what’s happening?
“It’s important to say that this Rodrygo story will only enter into clear stages when Real Madrid complete their experience at the Club World Cup. For the moment, nothing will happen, nothing will develop, forget about that. Rodrygo is fully focused on the Club World Cup with Real Madrid,” Romano says.
“After that, Arsenal’s appreciation for Rodrygo remains confirmed. Arsenal love Rodrygo, as they also used to love Nico Williams. So for sure, they would love to sign a top winger this summer.
“But the real point is what Rodrygo wants to do. The only case for Arsenal to go for Rodrygo is if Rodrygo decides to go and to leave the club. In that case, Arsenal can have the opportunity to try to talk to the player, to talk to the agents, to talk to Real Madrid in terms of transfer fee. But to do that, they need to have approval from Rodrygo. And at the moment, he has still not told anything to Real Madrid or to Xabi Alonso about his future.
“So the situation is still quiet and calm. Then if later in the window, Rodrygo goes to Real Madrid and says, let me go, I want to go, I want to play more, I want to be a superstar in another club, Arsenal would be ready to try.”
Liverpool asking too much for Darwin… so far
Darwin Nunez’s move away from Liverpool has stalled for the moment, with Romano explaining that the Reds’ asking price is too much for Napoli.
He says: “My expectation remains for Darwin to go. At the moment, the price after the contacts between Liverpool and Napoli remains important. So not less than €65m. Ideally, Liverpool even want more than €70m. So at the moment for Napoli, obviously, the idea is: ‘OK, we like Darwin, we want Darwin. Darwin is open to joining Napoli, but these conditions are complicated.’
“Let’s see if they can find a way, if they can find a structure with Liverpool. Otherwise, these conditions are not an easy deal to make for Napoli. It’s not advanced in terms of negotiations club to club yet because of the price.
“For Darwin, there is also the interest of Saudi clubs, but the price is going to be the crucial part of this story because the player is open to a move. Napoli want him, but at the moment, €65-70m minimum as transfer fee is still considered very high.”
Massive Monaco moves
Finally, Romano dropped a ‘here we go’ for two players at Monaco.
“Confirmation of Paul Pogba and Ansu Fati arriving tonight in France for medical tests and contract signing at Monaco. Massive signings for Monaco. Both were already here we go, but now we have the final confirmation,” he said.
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