Pete O’Rourke transfer column: Chelsea eye double PSG swoop, Newcastle plot £60m raid, Man United in advanced contract talks

Mon 1 May 2023 7:45, UK

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ARSENAL

It is my understanding that the Gunners are monitoring the availability of Barcelona star Raphinha.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of the Brazilian winger and wanted to sign him last summer before he opted to move to Spain.

But Barcelona are now eyeing up a move for Lionel Messi and are prepared to sell a handful of stars to fund a move – Raphinha is one of many players they are willing to sell.

The La Liga leaders want between £50-60million to sell Raphinha.

A winger is certainly not the top priority for Arsenal this summer, but Mikel Arteta and the Gunners board see Raphinha’s sudden availability as an opportunity too good to turn down.

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If the Gunners manage to land their top targets quickly, then a move for Raphinha is certainly on the cards.

But Arsenal’s focus is solely on strengthening their midfield, and while Raphinha is an enticing option, the North London club are prepared to spend big on Declan Rice or Moises Caicedo this summer.

The duo are at the very top of Arsenal’s shopping list, and they are prepared to spend a large portion of their summer budget bringing either star to The Emirates.

Arsenal had a £70million bid for Caicedo rejected by Brighton in January, but they plan to reignite their interest in the summer with a fresh proposal.

Rice has rejected all contract offers put forward by the Hammers, and Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of landing the England international.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

It is my understanding that Newcastle are also monitoring Raphinha’s situation at Barcelona.

Eddie Howe is a huge admirer of the 26-year-old winger and views him as a direct upgrade to his starting XI at St James’ Park.

Newcastle have previously considered a move for Raphinha but a move is viewed as more realistic this summer because of the club’s imminent qualification for the Champions League.

Raphinha is open to a Premier League return if forced out by Barcelona, but only to a team competing in the Champions League.

Newcastle are willing to meet the £50-60million asking price set by Barcelona.

The Magpies have also pulled out of the race for Mason Mount.

The North East club are eager to strengthen their midfield but deem Mount’s asking price too expensive for a player with only one year remaining on his contract.

CHELSEA

The Blues are plotting a double swoop for Paris Saint-Germain duo Achraf Hakimi and Neymar.

The French giants are planning a major summer overhaul, with the club hierarchy frustrated at their lack of success in Europe.

PSG are planning to sell a number of star players this summer and focus their recruitment on signing young up-and-coming stars.

The Ligue Un leaders are willing to listen to offers for Lionel Messi, Neymar, Hakimi and Renato Sanches among others.

Chelsea are long-term admirers of Hakimi and attempted to bring him to Stamford Bridge when he was at Inter Milan.

Hakimi’s availability has alerted the Blues, but they face competition from Man United for his signature.

PSG value Hakimi between £50-60million.

Neymar is another PSG star who could be sold this summer, and Chelsea have also registered interest in the Brazilian forward.

However, the London club are set to have their summer budget significantly capped by Financial Fair Play unless they are able to raise funds through player sales.

PSG are willing to let Neymar leave, but only if a huge bid arrives in the summer.

LIVERPOOL

I understand that Liverpool’s search for a midfielder has extended to Renato Sanches.

The Reds are still considering all options for the summer window after pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham.

PSG’s firesale this summer has made long-term target Sanches available, and the Merseyside club are considering a bid.

Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of the Portuguese midfielder and urged the Liverpool board to sign him prior to his PSG move last summer.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Mason Mount is also being contested by Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Thomas Tuchel is urging the German giants to reunite him with his former Chelsea playmaker, and the Gunners are also prepared to go head-to-head with Liverpool for the England international.

The sticking point in Mount’s contract negotiations has been his wage demands, and Bayern are willing to meet his wages and match any bids offered by the Premier League duo.

I understand that Liverpool are still favourites to sign Mount, but the Chelsea star is open to reuniting with Tuchel in Germany.

MAN UNITED

The Red Devils are in advanced talks with David de Gea over a new contract.

The 32-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, but there has been a breakthrough in negotiations and the Spaniard is now expected to stay at Old Trafford.

Much of the negotiating process has been spent discussing wages, with United keen to lower their wage bill and introduce a £200,000 per week cap.

De Gea was the club’s top earner on his current £375,000 per week deal, but he has agreed to take a considerable wage cut to stay in Manchester.

However, I understand that United will continue to search for a new goalkeeper in the summer.

With Jack Butland set to return to Crystal Palace and Tom Heaton in the twilight years of his career, Ten Hag is eager to bring a young goalkeeper in over the summer to challenge De Gea with the idea of eventually becoming the first-choice shot-stopper.

Dean Henderson will not be taking up that role – the 26-year-old now considers a return to United ‘impossible’ after hearing the news on De Gea’s contract.

He does not want to play second fiddle to the Spaniard and will push for a permanent exit this summer.

Henderson wants regular first-team football in the Premier League in order to work his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England plans.

Nottingham Forest are ready to submit a bid for Henderson if they survive relegation, but accept that a deal is not possible if they are demoted to the Championship.

Tottenham are also interested in Henderson and could swoop to sign him this summer.

United are also prepared to go head-to-head with Chelsea for Achraf Hakimi.

The Morocco international is open to a Premier League move but wants to compete in the Champions League, and so the Red Devils are confident that they lead the race to sign him.

Ten Hag wants to sign a new right-back this summer and Hakimi’s sudden availability has piqued United’s interest.