Summary

  • Transfer news latest, done deals, gossip and analysis

  • Gossip: Arsenal could beat Tottenham to signing of Eberechi Eze

  • Gossip: Brentford to demand £65m for Man Utd target Bryan Mbeumo

  • Newcastle could complete Anthony Elanga deal this week

  • Everton close in on signing of Villareal's Thierno Barry

  • Get Involved: WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)⁠

  1. How do Anthony Elanga and Bryan Mbeumo compare?published at 13:41 British Summer Time

    Anthony Elanga versus Bryan Mbeumo Games 38 38 Goals	6 20 Assists	11	7 Chances created	50	70 Big chances created	9	17 Shot conversion (%)	13.64	23.53 Big chance conversion (%)	33.33	55

    Bryan Mbeumo is heavily favoured in these Premier League stats, outperforming Anthony Elanga in all but one category last season.

    The Cameroon international scored more than double the goals and created nearly twice as many big chances in the same amount of matches as Nottingham Forest's number 21.

    Mbeumo also had a much better shot conversion rate and big chance conversion rate, which would have contributed to Brentford scoring the same number of league goals, 58, as Forest last season despite finishing three places below them.

    Elanga does stand out in the assists chart though, racking up 11 to Mbeumo's seven, which put him third in the league - bettered only by Jacob Murphy (12) and Mohamed Salah (18).

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Is Wirtz a better comparison for Mbeumo?published at 13:35 British Summer Time

    WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    I judge Bryan Mbeumo's cost by the Florian Wirtz fee not Anthony Elanga's. If a player is worth £116m for 10 goals in the Bundesliga, then Mbeumo with 20 in the Premier League has to be worth more, surely?

    Simon

    Florian WirtzImage source, Getty Images
  3. Postpublished at 13:32 British Summer Time

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    We left the question hanging earlier as to how the agreed £55m fee between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest for Sweden winger Anthony Elanga might influence Brentford's valuation of Bryan Mbeumo.

    Remember, the Bees have already turned down a £62.5m offer from Manchester United for Mbeumo.

  4. Postpublished at 13:28 British Summer Time

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    While we wait on Everton to announce the signing of Thierno Barry [it could be hours or days, who knows?], let's return to the ongoing saga that is Bryan Mbeumo's protracted transfer from Brentford to Manchester United...

  5. 'An aerial threat with an eye for goal' Who is Everton-bound Barry?published at 13:17 British Summer Time

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    A Premier League move at the age of 22 will cement Barry's rapid rise in European football in recent seasons.

    Only three years ago, he completed his first season of senior football in France's fifth tier before moving to Belgian second-tier side Beveren in July 2022.

    Twenty goals in 28 starts were enough to earn a move to Basel a year later and he subsequently finished as the club's top scorer on 12 goals in his first campaign of top-flight football.

    A flurry of eight goals in the first four matches of 2024-25 convinced Villareal to pay €15m (£13m) for his services in August.

    The 6ft 5in striker was an instant success, scoring 11 goals to help the Yellow Submarine finish fifth with their highest points tally in 17 years and qualify for the Champions League.

    Barry's height makes him a huge threat in the air and he ranked second of all forwards in Europe's major leagues (and top of anyone in La Liga) for aerial duel success in 2024-25, winning 66.7% of his 153 challenges (minimum 100 aerial duels).

    Barry
  6. Barry announcement close?published at 13:09 British Summer Time

    There are images doing the rounds on social media - unverified I might add - that appear to show Thierno Barry wearing an Everton shirt inside the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

    Could an official announcement be imminent?

  7. Postpublished at 13:05 British Summer Time

    Right, Gooners - that's your lot for now but let us know on socials what you think about the club's transfer plans.

    We'll be switching our attention to Everton's new striker next as well as proposed moves for Anthony Elanga and Bryan Mbeumo.

  8. Where would Madueke fit in at Arsenal?published at 12:59 British Summer Time

    Madueke has made the vast majority of his appearances for the Blues on the right, with 88% of his Premier League minutes coming on that flank since joining in January 2023.

    His signing would, therefore, ease the burden on Bukayo Saka, who has perhaps been overworked in recent seasons.

    Saka started 108 of 114 league matches from 2021-22 to 2023-24 but missed three months of the most recent campaign with a hamstring injury. Like Saka, when Madueke features on the right wing, he looks to cut inside and shoot with his favoured left foot.

    However, Madueke actually ended 2024-25 playing on the left for Chelsea, with head coach Enzo Maresca altering his approach during the run-in.

    The former PSV Eindhoven man started four of the Blues' final five Premier League matches on that flank, plus the Conference League final. He also began on the left in England's win against Andorra in June, when he was one of the Three Lions' better performers, setting up Harry Kane's winner.

    MaduekeImage source, Opta
  9. Eze or Madueke?published at 12:46 British Summer Time

    With Martin Zubimendi through the door and deals for Christian Norgaard and Viktor Gyokeres progressing, it feels like Arsenal may only have room for one addition in wide areas this summer.

    Though very different players, it could come down to a choice of whether to pursue Eberechi Eze or Noni Madueke.

    Eze, at 27, is the more experienced of the duo but he's likely to be far more expensive, too, with a £68m release clause written into his Crystal Palace contract.

    The Palace wide man scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 34 Premier League appearances last season as the Eagles ended the season by winning the FA Cup.

    Madueke scored fewer goals (seven) and laid on fewer assists (four) but the 23-year-old is younger and would likely command a lower fee.

    However, while Eze can play from the left or in an attacking midfield position, Madueke predominantly operates from the right. Where a certain Bukayo Saka plays.

  10. Madueke agrees personal terms with Arsenalpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time

    As BBC Sport revealed to you earlier this week, Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

    The 23-year-old is said to be open to making the switch across London but is not pushing to leave Stamford Bridge at this stage. There have been no club-to-club talks as yet.

    The England winger, a £35m signing from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, scored seven goals and laid on four assists for Chelsea in 32 Premier League appearances last season.

    MaduekeImage source, Getty Images
  11. Arsenal consider multiple attacking optionspublished at 12:28 British Summer Time

    Rodrygo #11 of Real Madrid C.F. passes the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Real Madrid CF at Lincoln Financial FieldImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal are definitely casting a wide net when it comes to signing a wide playmaker this summer.

    Our senior football reporter Sami Mokbel has reported that Arsenal are interested in Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with the belief he could be a game-changing addition if he was able to adapt to the physicality of English football.

    However, there has been no public confirmation that Rodrygo is open to leaving Madrid, though it has been suggested to BBC Sport by a well-placed source that the Spanish side would listen to offers.

    If the 24-year-old was available, he would cost at least £70m.

    Arsenal are also considering Newcastle's Anthony Gordon who they have been monitoring since last summer.

    But it would take a huge fee for Newcastle to even consider selling the 24-year-old, given his importance to the team and the fact they are looking to build their squad as they return to the Champions League.

  12. Eze not Arsenal's only optionpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time

    Arsenal certainly haven't put all of their eggs in Eberechi Eze's basket, though...

  13. How Eze could boost Arsenal's creativitypublished at 12:14 British Summer Time

    Noel Sliney
    BBC Sport

    Eberechi Eze could provide the creative spark which Arsenal lacked at times last season, especially without the injured Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

    As well as his ability in tight spaces, Eze ranked highly for most combined shots and chances created in the 2024-25 Premier League, with only a handful of exalted players faring better.

    Graphic showing only five players having more shots and chances created than Eberechi EzeImage source, BBC Sport

    He is known to be somewhat ambitious with his shooting; only four players have had more goal attempts from outside the penalty area in the Premier League than Eze’s tally of 165 since he joined Crystal Palace.

    Mind you, only three players have scored more than his 11 top-flight goals from outside the box during that time – and Eze’s sweetly-struck long-range efforts against Fulham and Aston Villa put Palace en route to FA Cup glory in May.

  14. Postpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time

    It's a good point, Adam and one I think many Arsenal fans will be keeping an eye on this summer.

    Ethan Nwaneri has one year left on his deal and the youngster will want to see a clear pathway into the first team before committing to a new contract.

    Gooners, are you worried that new signings could block Nwaneri's progress? Or, even worse, convince him to look elsewhere?

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time

    WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    As an Arsenal fan, I’d love us to sign Eze. However, I think I echo all other Arsenal fans when I say that I hope whoever we sign does not affect Nwaneri’s place in the squad as he showed last year how valuable he is.

    Adam

  16. Eze - Arsenal's past and future?published at 11:53 British Summer Time

    Noel Sliney
    BBC Sport

    Eberechi Eze’s £68m release clause hasn’t deterred Arsenal from reportedly exploring a deal for the Crystal Palace playmaker.

    The south Londoner has an Arsenal past, having played for the club from the age of eight until he was released at 13. “I remember crying in my room for a solid week,” he said in 2020 of that rejection.

    Eze joined Palace from QPR five years ago for an initial £16m and has improved his goal and assists output in each of the past three seasons. That has been aided by his switch from the left wing to more central areas as one of two attacking midfielders in a 3-4-2-1 formation under Olive Glasner:

    Graphic showing Eze's goals & assists increasing each seasonImage source, BBC Sport
  17. Is Eze the man for Arsenal?published at 11:45 British Summer Time

    That's the question many Gooners will be asking this morning.

    There's no doubting the England winger's ability but is he the right fit for the Emirates?

    EzeImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    Feel free to send us your thoughts - especially Crystal Palace and Arsenal fans - on which player the Gunners could use to sweeten any proposed deal for Eberechi Eze.

    While we are talking Arsenal, let's delve deeper into their transfer plans.

  19. Would Palace loan move suit Nwaneri & Arsenal?published at 11:31 British Summer Time

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    Hang on Graham, we are are supposed to be asking the questions here.

    It is a very good question though.

    You would imagine that Ethan Nwaneri is very much in Mikel Arteta's plans for next season after the 18-year-old scored nine goals in what was a breakout campaign in 2024-25.

    Would the Spaniard want to oversee his development at Emirates Stadium or could a loan move to Palace, and potentially more European experience, be just what he needs to make the next step?

    Ethan NwaneriImage source, Getty Images
  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time

    WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    If Arsenal are to swap a player as part of a deal for Eze, who would it be and who would Palace fans want? Maybe Nwaneri on loan for a season?

    Graham