𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Arsenal have broken the world transfer record by signing Liverpool for forward Olivia Smith, making the 20-year-old the first £1m transfer in women’s football.

It is understood the Gunners beat competition from several clubs – including Women’s Super League champions Chelsea – to sign the 20-year-old Canada international, who arrives on an undisclosed seven-figure-fee.

It comes 46 years after Trevor Francis became the first male player to break the £1m barrier when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.

Several fringe squad members are up for sale at Chelsea, with Noni Madueke soon to leave.

Joao Felix, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Alfie Gilchrist, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling are all free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with interest in Chukwuemeka and Veiga from Dortmund.

Bayern Munich are said to be interested in Christopher Nkunku and even full-back Malo Gusto, while striker Nicolas Jackson could also leave and has reportedly been targeted by AC Milan, while even Man Utd could be considering the Senegal man.

Liverpool are now advancing in talks to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, according to David Ornstein.

The fee will be “in excess of €80m”, and Ekitike wants the move so personal terms won’t be an issue.

According to reports in Italy, Ademola Lookman could be on the verge of a move to Inter Milan, with the Nerazzurri having reached an agreement with the Nigeria forward on personal terms.

Gianluca di Marzio says that Inter a ready to bid €40m for the ex-Fulham man.

Liverpool have submitted a bid for Hugo Ekitike, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The proposal has been rejected by Frankfurt, who want more money for the Frenchman.

The amount of the bid is not specified, though the Italian explains that Ekitike has already said yes to joining the Reds.

Fabrizio Romano has now added that he believes Newcastle’s move for Ekitike is off, with Liverpool advancing instead.

David Ornstein is reporting that Newcastle United have ‘cooled’ their interest in Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, and are instead weighing up a move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Clubs were quite £50m for the Congo international last summer.

The summer months of 2024 hardly shaped the season that followed for Liverpool, and Slot has already proven that he doesn’t require overwhelming transfer activity to be successful. Last summer, he saw just two arrivals come through the door in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili (who was immediately loaned back to Valencia) and Federico Chiesa, who played a total of just 104 minutes in the Premier League.

But with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading for the exit and a Premier League title to defend, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards are expected to engage in a substantial recruitment drive over the coming months.

Here’s everything you need to know about Liverpool’s summer transfer plans.

The 27-year-old is on the lookout for a new club having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out with boss Ruben Amorim and admitting he was “ready for a new challenge”.

Rashford is among five players to have informed United they wish to explore a future away from Old Trafford, where he came through the academy and scored 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances.

The BBC is reporting that Fulham have approached Arsenal to re-sign attacker Reiss Nelson.

Nelson spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage and it is believed that this deal is also likely to be a loan.

Fulham are the only side in the division yet to make any signings so far in the summer transfer window.