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When did the summer of 2026 transform into a midfield merry-go-round? Now Bruno Guimarães has rocked up at Arsenal and Manchester United have a couple of new signings, it stands to reason that more midfielders will be on the move soon and Real Madrid appear to be chasing Gunners metronome Martín Zubimendi.
It seems odd that Arsenal would sanction a sale, given they spent most of the 2024-25 campaign coveting the former Real Sociedad star, but Mikel Arteta has forward and defensive targets to land instead. Pedro Neto is the latest winger to be linked, though Liverpool and Tottenham are also in the queue for the Chelsea flyer. Tricky Juventus wide man Kenan Yildiz has also been mentioned in relation to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson are on the departures list at the Emirates Stadium to make room for a new attacker or two. A loan to West Ham could be on the cards for Nelson, who is now 26 and seemingly set to embark upon his third successive London loan. Roma and Galatasaray like the look of Martinelli, while Napoli want Jesus.
It might be 2026 but Chelsea still have a “bomb squad” and they are trying their best to offload the likes of Benoît Badiashile, Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana for a few quid. Badiashile could join Jesus at Napoli, having been squeezed out under a succession of Stamford Bridge bosses.
Manchester United have turned their attention away from Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, who is deemed to be too expensive, instead locking their sights on RB Leipzig left-back David Raum. The eternal search for a Luke Shaw competitor goes on. Raum will hope to fare better than Brandon Williams, Alex Telles and Tyrell Malacia in that regard. Racing Santander youngster Jorge Salinas has also been linked.
Leeds United have quietly completed some good business this summer and central defender Nico Elvedi of Borussia Mönchengladbach could add to that tranche of incomings. Forward Joe Gelhardt may be heading to Wrexham to balance the books.
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And speaking of Championship transfers, could Jamie Vardy be set for a stunning return to English football? A move to West Ham is apparently on the cards. The Leicester legend spent a year in Italy with Cremonese but is a free agent again and, at 39, could he do a job for the Hammers? Start the party.
