LIVE Julian Alvarez chase €150m as Arsenal race, City eye £120m Enzo Fernandez bid

Arsenal are racing to submit a bid for Atletico Madrid’s 26‑year‑old forward Julian Alvarez before the 11 pm deadline, while Manchester City must outbid Chelsea’s £120 million asking price for Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez, both clubs scrambling in the final hours of the transfer window.

Premier League champions Arsenal have sold Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus to free space for the Argentine, but Atletico Madrid are holding firm at €150 million. With time running out, the Gunners have turned their attention to Lyon winger Malick Fofana as a possible late alternative.

City's midfield rebuild

Manchester City need to present a bid higher than £120 million to secure Fernandez from Chelsea, where the player has been omitted from the last two matchday squads. Xabi Alonso’s side will only consider a sale if a suitable replacement is identified, with Monaco’s Lamine Camara, Roma’s Manu Kone and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott listed as targets.

Chelsea remain firm on their valuation, insisting any offer must exceed the £120 million mark. Enzo Maresca, the club’s sporting director, has expressed a desire to reunite Fernandez with former teammates, while fans have booed the midfielder after his exclusion from the squad that beat Brighton 4‑3.

Manchester United are still without a permanent left‑back, and Liverpool appear finished for the window after signing Bradley Barcola and turning down Manchester City’s approach for Cody Gakpo.

Everton and City dealings

Manchester City have agreed a £60 million deal with Everton for winger Iliman Ndiaye, a move that could free Everton to pursue Richarlison and other targets. Everton have also secured a £40 million signing of United States striker Folarin Balogun from Monaco, a player who previously came through Arsenal’s academy and scored 19 goals in Ligue 1.

Everton are in talks with City to bring back Jack Grealish, while also closing in on right‑back Kenny Tete from Fulham. The club’s activity follows the removal of a Bookmark, with Comments disabled; Go to the next update for further details.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Alvarez remains complicated by Atletico’s refusal to sell to Barcelona, the forward’s preferred destination. The Spanish club is also close to securing Juventus striker Jonathan David on loan, but insists Alvarez stays beyond the deadline, prompting the Gunners to consider a club‑record offer for Malick Fofana instead.

City’s breakthrough in the Fernandez saga came last night, yet Chelsea continues to demand more than £120 million. With the deadline looming, the outcome may hinge on whether City meets the valuation and on Chelsea’s own search for a replacement midfielder.