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A transfer deadline day is already upon us with the summer’s first special window slamming shut at 4am Wednesday (AEST).
As such, there is expected to be a frenzy already among the clubs that are looking to bolster their squads for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.
In the Premier League, that includes Manchester City and Chelsea, while Arsenal’s own plans could be indirectly impacted by a rival bid coming from another Club World Cup competitor.
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For Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is reportedly hopeful of being able to complete the signings, and registrations, for Rayan Cherki and Tijani Reijnders.
Cherki, a 21-year-old who just made his international debut for France, is expected to complete a £34m (A$70m) move from Lyon in the coming hours, according to ESPN sources.
The publication reports that he’s set to sign a five-year deal to move to the Etihad, although he is still in a race against time to complete his medical on Tuesday to become available for the Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, Reijnders’ move from AC Milan is on the same tight deadline for City, but is expected to be completed.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that Reijnders has passed his medical at the club, although an official announcement is yet to arrive.
It has previously been reported that City agreed a fee with AC Milan in the region of £59m (A$123m).
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The expected arrivals of Cherki and Reijnders come along with the confirmation of Rayan Ait Nouri’s £31m (A$64m) transfer from Wolves, taking the club’s late triple play in the special transfer window to £125m (A$260m).
A subplot to City’s first summer window is the future of one-time British transfer record signing Jack Grealish, who is widely expected to leave the club after being snubbed for the Club World Cup.
According to The Sun, Bayer Leverkusen has entered the race to sign Grealish, joining Spurs, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton, who are all said to be interested.
City’s asking price has been reported as being at £40million — just a fraction of the £100million he was signed for in 2021.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s deadline plans are said to centre around Mike Maignan from AC Milan and Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea has been involved in a standoff over goalkeeper Maignan, with Sky Sports reporting that even an ultimatum has now been issued.
The Blues have reportedly threatened to walk away from its £12.6m (A$26.2m) offer if it can’t be completed by the deadline.
Daily Mail understands that AC Milan’s asking price is around £20m.
Chelsea’s main target remains 20-year-old winger Gittens, but Dortmund has also baulked at the club’s early offers.
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Sources told ESPN that Dortmund is holding out for a fee of around £40 million (A$83m) — £10m more than Chelsea’s best offer, although talks are ongoing for the former City academy player.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s moves for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko could be hi-jacked by a big money offer from Al Hilal.
The Saudi side is looking for its own striker to take to the Club World Cupand, according to Sky Sports, are interested in Sesko.
Arsenal has reportedly held talks with Sesko but after being turned down by priority target Victor Osimhen, Al Hilal could make a last ditch play to snap up the star before the deadline.
After the exceptional transfer window closes on June 11 (AEST), it will open again on June 16, the day after the Club World Cup starts, before shutting on September 1.
