Chelsea forward on brink of exit as Tottenham plot £40m raid for West Ham target and Wolves open defender talks

Thursday; not quite as good as Friday, still a little bit better than Wednesday. And this Thursday in particular comes bowling in brimming with intriguing transfer speculation for our leisured consumption.

It can sometimes feel as we go through periods during the summer window where not a great deal happens, but the way I see it, the market is like a swimming duck - even when it appears nice and calm above the surface, you can bet it is going fifty to the dozen below.

With that in mind, here are today’s Premier League transfer rumours. Enjoy...

Aubameyang nears exit

If I was in the business of making cheap, corny puns about prospective transfer dealings - and let’s face it, I am - then it would be about now that I might hammer the phrase ‘Auba and out’ into my Chromebook keyboard. And hey, would you look at that, I just did.

According to ESPN, Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - a flop by just about any metric - is set to end his affiliation with the Blues, and will instead join Marseille on a free transfer once his contract at Stamford Bridge is terminated.

The 34-year-old, who scored just three times in 21 outings for Chelsea, is understood to be close to agreeing a three-year deal in the south of France. Lucky so-and-so.

The 3AM Verdict:No real surprises here. The writing has been on the wall for Aubameyang’s stint in West London for quite some time now, and it was only ever a question of where he would end up, rather than whether or not he would depart. Marseille feels like a suitable destination, and at 34, the striker will be eager to prove that he still has what it takes to cut it in one of Europe’s top leagues.

Gallagher in demand

Elsewhere - or rather, in exactly the same place - the Chelsea exodus threatens to continue. The Blues were always going to require some streamlining this summer, but we’re getting to a point where the squad is going to end up bordering on the translucent.

The latest player to be linked with an exit is Conor Gallagher, with Football Insider reporting that Tottenham have joined West Ham in the race for his signature. The Blues are understood to be demanding at least £40 million for their academy graduate, and may not sanction his exit before they have made some midfield signings of their own.

The 3AM Verdict:The wisdom of selling Gallagher will depend heavily on whether or not Chelsea can secure their own midfield reinforcements over the coming weeks. If they can, and if they can coax a decent fee out of Spurs or West Ham, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t sell a player who has struggled for starting opportunities of late. If they can’t, however, then they run the risk of leaving themselves a little short in a key area.

Wolves in Cresswell talks

And finally, a potential transfer that just feels... right. According to local outlet the Express and Star, Wolves are in talks with West Ham over a potential deal for left-back Aaron Cresswell, and if you tell me that me that you can’t absolutely imagine the 33-year-old strutting up and down the touchline in a golden shirt next season, I will call you a barefaced liar.

Wanderers are said to be keen on adding more experience to their ranks in defence, having already seemingly wrapped up a homecoming for Matt Doherty, and it is claimed that they are hopeful of striking a deal with the Hammers worth around £2.5 million. Bargain.

The 3AM Verdict:A deal that could benefit everybody involved; Cresswell has been in and out of the West Ham side in recent months, and would surely appreciate more minutes; Wolves could do with a little more assuredness at left-back, especially at that price; and West Ham would be handed a chance to clear a little space on their wage bill. Don’t be surprised if this one comes off.