Arsenal table 'monstrous' £40m bid as Liverpool ready to 'break the bank' for midfielder

We begin Thursday’s Premier League transfer rumour roundup with news of a tussle for the services of midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The 29-year-old is a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Juventus at the end of June, and is attracting interest from both Liverpool and Newcastle United, according to a report from Calciomercato.

It is claimed that both clubs have ‘already made moves’ to sign Rabiot, with AC Milan having fallen out of the running after failing to meet his salary demands. By contrast, Liverpool are said to be ‘ready to break the bank’ to sign the Frenchman this summer.

The 3AM Verdict: This will mainly come down to salary demands. Rabiot is a wonderful talent who would add depth and quality to any midfield, but with no transfer fee attached, you suspect that he will be pushing for a higher wage from whichever club he eventually ends up at. That could prove to be a problem, but with Liverpool reportedly willing to go all out, maybe they hold an advantage here.

Arsenal in for Calafiori

Elsewhere, Arsenal have supposedly firmed up their interest in Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori by making an approach for the defender. As per Corriere dello Sport, the Gunners have tabled a ‘monstrous proposal’ of £39.8 million for the Italian defender, who impressed at Euro 2024 prior to his country’s exit at the hands of Switzerland on Saturday.

Arsenal’s initial offer has not fully convinced his current employers, however, with Bologna reportedly demanding ‘more money’ to sanction his sale. The Serie A side value Calafiori at around £42.3 million, a figure inflated by the fact that they have to pay 40% of their profit to the his former club, FC Basel.

The 3AM Verdict: For the sake of £3 million or so, just do the deal. Calafiori is a superb defender with the potential to be world class, and with the likes of Chelsea, West Ham, and others circling, if Arsenal don’t pull the trigger, somebody else will. If the Gunners are serious about luring him to the Emirates, then they cannot let such a trifling sum derail their plans.

Spurs eye Andre

And finally, journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade ahead of a prospective swoop. The Brazilian has been linked with a potential Premier League transfer for some time now, with his current employers valuing him at around £30 million. Fulham have previously been touted as admirers, but according to Jacobs, could drop out of the race if Joao Palhinha remains at Craven Cottage this summer.

Speaking about Tottenham’s pursuit of a defensive midfielder, the reporter told The Last World On Spurs podcast: “I would also add Fluminense’s Andre into the mix as well. Fulham basically have a verbal agreement but if Joao Palhinha doesn’t leave, they won’t proceed. They nearly signed him in January, but Palhinha stayed. Now, flash forward to the summer, Fulham in the box seat still, but until Palhinha is done, the door’s open to other suitors as well. I know that Tottenham have been looking at that player, including at the Club World Cup, for several months.”

The 3AM Verdict: Andre is a marvellous player, and whoever wins the race for his signature will be securing themselves a real gem. If Spurs are willing to act quick and meet his valuation, then there is surely no reason why they couldn’t beat Fulham to the punch on this one.