Aston Villa tipped for bold £40m transfer decision as Nottingham Forest eye bargain Serie A gem
Premier League transfer news including stores on Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and more
Another day, another transfer rumour mill bursting with gossip, as Premier League clubs look to get some big deals done now the window is open. It’s been a relatively quiet start to the summer in terms of actual deals done, with a vast number of elite players currently involved in the FIFA World Cup in North America - but that hasn’t stopped some clubs making moves.
Tottenham, for example, have been nothing short of prolific, having already brought in three new signings - the most recent of which being Brighton and Netherlands star defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Meanwhile, Liverpool have got one over on Newcastle United once again, hijacking their move for Spanish gem Victor Munoz.
We’ll get today’s rumours round-up underway at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues are looking to get some business done after seeing star left-back Marc Cucurella snatched away by Real Madrid. Things could get even worse for the Blues, with vice-captain Enzo Fernandez also tipped for a big move to the Bernabeu, which would see them lose another key senior player.
Team Talk claim that the Blues have settled upon Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso as their ideal Cucurella replacement, and are already in talks with the Serie A giants to agree a deal. Other targets such as Nathaniel Brown and Alejandro Grimaldo look to be unobtainable, with the former heading to Bayern Munich and the latter focused on moving to a Spanish club instead.
The story goes on to suggest that Chelsea would be willing to offer as much as £25m for Cambiaso, but Juve want almost £10m more to agree to the sale. In light of this valuation gap, it’s said that Chelsea could offer a player as part of the package, with the Blues potentially including Juve outcast striker Nicolas Jackson, who is said to be of interest.
The 3AM Verdict: It was thought that Jackson would get the chance to impress under new boss Xabi Alonso in pre-season, but that could all change if his exit would help the Blues sign a key target. Half the Premier League are after a left-back this summer, so top quality players in this position will be in high demand. Chelsea should make their move quickly, with our without Jackson added into the bargain.
Nottingham Forest could accelerate centre-back move
Next up, we’re heading over to the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest will look to continue building after a chaotic 2025/26 campaign that saw the club sack three permanent managers over the course of the season. Vitor Pereira has stabilised things, and is now looking to make the squad his own with the some big summer signings.
According to reports from the Italian press, via Sport Witness, Forest are looking to push on with their efforts to sign Roma centre-back Jan Ziolkowski, after weeks of speculation suggestion he could seal a Premier League move. The article says that Roma desperately need to sell due to financial concerns, with a June 30th deadline in place to meet their FFP target.
This could now work in Forest’s favour, as the Serie A side very much have their backs against the wall when it comes to negotiations. The report claims that the East Midlands club’s previous offer, thought to be in the region of £13m, was below the club’s £17m valuation, but the pressure on Roma could now see them fold and sell for a lower price.
The 3AM Verdict: Ziolkowski, a three-cap Poland international, is a towering central defender with serious potential. Given that Forest were willing to spend around £200m on new signings last season, and that Elliot Anderson’s inevitable exit will bank them some serious dough, they should just pay up and get the deal done. What’s £4m in Premier League football finances?
Aston Villa could sign World Cup star
Rounding things off nicely, we’ll saunter on down to Villa Park, where Aston Villa are mulling over what to do about their goalkeeping situation. Number one Emi Martinez looks set to leave this summer, likely to Juventus, and the club have been linked with a host of potential alternatives, including Manchester City’s want-away stopper James Trafford.
Football Insider say that Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is now under consideration, as he is expected to cost considerably less than the £40m fee that Trafford is likely to command. It’s noted that Leeds United could also be in the mix for the 23-year-old, who could garner more interest as his nation, Japan, continue to impress at the World Cup.
The 3AM Verdict: Suzuki is an imposing figure between the sticks and fits the ball-playing goalkeeper that Villa are after. They shouldn’t have to worry about competition from Leeds, with the Villans’ current Premier League significantly greater than the Whites’. They’ve got Champions League football to offer next season, too. They’d do well to save some money and take a gamble on Suzuki, allowing them to stretch their transfer budget further.