The 2025-26 Premier League season kicked off with a flurry of action, headlined by Manchester City’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux. Erling Haaland announced his return to form with a brace, while debutants Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki stole the spotlight, Reijnders contributing to two goals and scoring one himself, and Cherki netting a late stunner. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur began the Thomas Frank era in style, thrashing newly promoted Burnley 3-0 at home. Richarlison’s scissor-kick volley and Brennan Johnson’s composed finish capped a dominant display, though Burnley’s wastefulness in front of goal drew criticism from manager Scott Parker. Sunderland marked their Premier League comeback with a 3-0 rout of West Ham, showcasing their Championship-winning grit. Defender Dan Ballard was the hero, scoring a header and delivering a commanding performance, while new signings Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra impressed in midfield. In a somber note, Brighton’s 1-1 draw with Fulham was overshadowed by the death of a 72-year-old Seagulls supporter during the match, prompting tributes from both clubs 13. Rodrigo Muniz’s late equalizer denied Brighton all three points, but the result paled in significance to the tragic incident. Newcastle’s 0-0 stalemate at Aston Villa highlighted their reliance on Alexander Isak, who was omitted amid transfer speculation. Eddie Howe admitted the need to resolve the striker’s future “quickly” after a toothless display. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth was marred by an alleged racist incident involving Antoine Semenyo, leading to a match pause and an arrest. With Manchester United vs. Arsenal still to come, the opening weekend has already delivered fireworks on and off the pitch. Sources: BBC Sport, ESPN, Sky Sports, The Guardian.

Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Manchester City’s versatile defender Rico Lewis in a deal worth £30 million, with personal terms already discussed and the player reportedly open to the move for increased playing time, the 20-year-old, who can play as a right-back, left-back, or defensive midfielder, made 44 appearances for City last season but has fallen behind Matheus Nunes in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order, Forest, who recently secured James McAtee from City for £30m, are offering to double Lewis’s wages to lure him to the City Ground, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo eager to strengthen his squad ahead of their Premier League campaign. While Manchester City initially rejected Forest’s €25m + €5m add-ons bid earlier this month, they are now open to selling Lewis if their £30m valuation is met, likely including a sell-on clause and buyback option similar to the McAtee deal. Lewis, a product of City’s academy, has attracted interest due to his tactical flexibility, and Forest view him as a key addition to address their defensive and midfield gaps. With City managing their homegrown quota and Lewis yet to agree to a new contract, a move could be finalized before the transfer window closes, pending further negotiations. Sources: The Athletic, Daily Mail, OneFootball, SportsView

Chelsea defender Renato Veiga is edging closer to a Stamford Bridge exit after Villarreal submitted a formal bid, though the offer falls short of Chelsea’s €40 million valuation for the Portuguese international, the 22-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, has been excluded from Chelsea’s squad and is keen on a move, with Villarreal emerging as a surprise suitor after Atletico Madrid’s interest faded. Despite Veiga’s willingness to join the La Liga side, negotiations remain complicated, with Chelsea holding firm on their asking price and Villarreal facing financial constraints due to an ongoing defensive injury crisis. While Villarreal lead the race, Borussia Dortmund have re-entered the picture as a potential destination, having previously agreed terms with Veiga last summer before he joined Chelsea. However, Dortmund consider the €40 million fee “expensive” and may only pursue the deal if Chelsea lower their demands. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich had shown interest but are now prioritizing other targets, leaving Veiga’s future uncertain as the transfer window nears its close. Chelsea remain determined to offload the defender, with Axel Disasi also on the market, as they look to recoup funds for future signings. An update is expected in the coming days, with Villarreal likely needing to improve their offer to secure the deal. Sources: Fabrizio Romano, Sky Germany, OneFootball.

Tottenham Hotspur have intensified negotiations to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, with the £68 million release clause in his contract set to expire on August 16, the 27-year-old England international, who contributed 14 goals and 11 assists last season, has emerged as a top target for manager Thomas Frank following James Maddison’s season-ending ACL injury, while Arsenal retain long-standing interest, their focus on other signings like Viktor Gyökeres has left Spurs as the frontrunners, though they hope to negotiate below the clause with Palace open to discussions, Eze’s versatility as a No. 10 or winger would address Spurs’ creativity void, but the deal hinges on whether they can offload players like Pierre-Emile Højbjerg to free up funds. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has publicly acknowledged the possibility of Eze’s departure, though the club prefers to retain him for their upcoming Europa Conference League play-offs, Spurs face competition from Manchester City for winger Savinho, but Eze remains their priority, with talks advancing on personal terms, Arsenal’s reluctance to meet the clause pending sales of Leandro Trossard and Fabio Vieira has further tilted the balance toward Tottenham, An agreement could be finalized before the weekend, with Eze potentially debuting in Spurs’ Premier League opener if medicals are completed swiftly.Sources: Sky Sports, The Guardian, ESPN, Telegraph

Liverpool are on the verge of completing a £35 million deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, with personal terms already agreed and negotiations with Palace reaching the final stages, the 25-year-old England international, who captained Palace to FA Cup glory last season, is keen on the move to Anfield but has sought assurances over playing time ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with just one year left on his contract, Palace chairman Steve Parish has admitted the club may have to sell to avoid losing him for free next summer, despite rejecting a £65m bid from Newcastle last year, Guehi’s arrival would address Liverpool’s defensive depth issues, particularly after the sales of Jarell Quansah and the injury to Joe Gomez, leaving only Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté as fit senior center-backs. The deal, expected to be finalized imminently, would take Liverpool’s summer spending close to £300 million, with the club also eyeing Parma’s teenage defender Giovanni Leoni as a long-term prospect, Guehi’s Premier League experience and ball-playing ability make him an ideal fit for Arne Slot’s system, while his leadership qualities could prove vital in a title defense campaign. Palace, meanwhile, are already lining up replacements, including Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior, as they prepare for life without their captain, With the transfer window closing soon, Liverpool are pushing to wrap up the deal before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth, where Guehi could make his debut alongside Van Dijk.Sources: The Athletic, Sky Sports, ESPN, Fabrizio Romano, Telegraph.

Newcastle United are finalizing a £40 million deal for Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, with personal terms already agreed and negotiations between the clubs reaching the advanced stages, The 24-year-old, who has been a long-term target for Eddie Howe, is seen as a key addition to bolster creativity in midfield, particularly after Newcastle missed out on other targets like Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo, Ramsey, a product of Villa’s academy, has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but remains highly regarded for his versatility, capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing, With just under 12 months left on his contract, Villa are open to a sale to comply with financial regulations, especially after missing out on Champions League revenue last season. Ramsey’s move to St. James’ Park is expected to be completed imminently, with the player reportedly rejecting interest from West Ham and Nottingham Forest to join Newcastle’s project under Howe, his arrival could provide competition for Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, and Sandro Tonali, while also offering depth in attack, where Newcastle have been light following Alexander Isak’s potential departure, Ramsey’s Premier League experience 12 goals in 69 appearances and his familiarity with Howe’s system make him a low-risk, high-reward signing, An official announcement is anticipated in the coming days, with Ramsey likely to feature in Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Villa this weekend.Sources: The Athletic, FourFourTwo, Yahoo Sports.

Liverpool are on the verge of completing a €35 million (£30.3m) deal for Parma’s teenage defender Giovanni Leoni, with personal terms already agreed on a contract until 2031, the 18-year-old Italian, who broke into Parma’s first team last season with 17 Serie A appearances, is super excited about joining the Premier League champions, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, negotiations with Parma are advancing, with the club lowering their initial €40m asking price to facilitate the move, though Liverpool may structure the deal to allow Leoni to remain on loan at Parma until June 2026, the Reds view Leoni as a long-term successor to Jarell Quansah, who departed for Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, and his eventual homegrown status (by 2028/29) adds further value to the signing. Leoni, a 6’5″ center-back with ball-playing ability, has drawn comparisons to Virgil van Dijk for his composure and aerial dominance, despite his young age, his performances against top Serie A sides like Napoli and Lazio last season convinced Liverpool to act, beating competition from Inter Milan and Tottenham, The deal aligns with Liverpool’s dual focus on youth development and immediate squad depth, as they also pursue Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, With Ibrahima Konaté’s contract expiring soon and Joe Gomez injury-prone, Leoni’s arrival could signal a defensive overhaul under Arne Slot, An official announcement is expected imminently, pending final negotiations with Parma.Sources: Fabrizio Romano, The Athletic, Goal, Liverpool Echo. 

RB Leipzig have completed the signing of Brazilian striker Romulo Cardoso from Turkish club Goztepe in a deal worth €23 million, including €20 million guaranteed and €3 million in add-ons, making it the most expensive transfer in Goztepe’s history, The 23-year-old, who scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists in 46 appearances last season, has agreed to a five-year contract and will bolster Leipzig’s attack following Benjamin Sesko’s €85m departure to Manchester United, Romulo’s blend of pace, physicality, and link-up play aligns perfectly with Leipzig’s high-pressing style, and he is expected to debut in next week’s Bundesliga opener against Bayern Munich, The deal also marks a major milestone for Goztepe’s ownership group, Sport Republic, which has turned the club into a profitable talent hub since taking over in 2022. While Romulo’s signing is now official, Leipzig remain active in the market, with negotiations ongoing for Wolves’ Fabio Silva as a potential second striker, the club has also shown interest in Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, though a move hinges on Xavi Simons’ potential exit, Romulo’s arrival underscores Leipzig’s focus on young, dynamic attackers, with the Brazilian joining a squad eager to rebound after a seventh-place Bundesliga finish, For Goztepe, the record fee—over 1 billion Turkish Lira—could fund infrastructure upgrades, as demanded by fans, An official unveiling is expected imminently, with Romulo set to wear the No. 9 shirt.Sources: Fabrizio Romano, OneFootball, Sky Germany. 

Paris Saint-Germain have officially announced the signing of Ilya Zabarnyi from Bournemouth in a deal worth €63 million (£54.5m) guaranteed, with an additional €3m in performance-based add-ons, the 22-year-old Ukrainian center-back, who has signed a five-year contract, becomes PSG’s first-ever Ukrainian player and is expected to compete with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho for a starting role in Luis Enrique’s defense, Zabarnyi, a key figure in Bournemouth’s record-breaking Premier League campaign last season, expressed his excitement about joining the “best club in the world,” while PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi praised his talent and professionalism. Zabarnyi’s departure marks the third major defensive exit for Bournemouth this summer, following Dean Huijsen’s move to Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez’s transfer to Liverpool, the Ukrainian defender, who was voted Bournemouth’s Player of the Season in 2023-24, shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, thanking the club and fans for their support during his incredible journey, PSG, meanwhile, are reshaping their backline after Milan Škriniar’s departure to Fenerbahçe and the arrival of goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, Zabarnyi will miss PSG’s UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham due to registration delays but is expected to debut in Ligue 1 soon.Sources: Sky Sports, Yahoo Sports, Flashscore

Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has completed a season-long loan move to Everton, with the deal including a £50 million option to buy, the 29-year-old, who fell out of favor under Pep Guardiola last season—making just seven Premier League starts—underwent a medical on Monday and is set to wear the No. 18 shirt, paying tribute to Everton legends Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney, Grealish, eager to reignite his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup, prioritized regular playing time over Champions League football, turning down interest from Napoli and other European clubs, verton manager David Moyes views him as a key creative force, likely deploying him as a No. 10, though his £300,000-a-week wages—partially covered by Everton—make this a high-stakes gamble. Grealish’s arrival marks Everton’s fifth summer signing, joining the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carlos Alcaraz as the club prepares for their debut season at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium,  while fans are excited, questions remain about how he fits into a squad already stacked with left-sided attackers like Iliman Ndiaye, and whether Everton would trigger the £50 million clause for a 30-year-old next summer, For City, the move sheds salary and resolves a strained relationship, while Grealish aims to recapture the form that made him pivotal in their 2022–23 treble win, His debut could come in Everton’s Premier League opener against Leeds on August 18, a symbolic fresh start for a player once hailed as England’s record transfer.Sources: Sky Sports, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports