Liverpool could snatch Tottenham's top transfer target as Aston Villa 'open talks' to sign midfield wizard
The latest Premier League transfer news involving Liverpool, Aston Villa, Fulham, Man United, Spurs and more
We’re closing in on the end of April, and the 2025/26 Premier League is now approaching its thrilling climax. An intense Saturday of top tier action saw more drama at the bottom of the table. Tottenham secured a 1-0 win at Wolves and briefly moved out of the relegation zone, before West Ham scored a stoppage time winner to beat Everton 2-1 and move two points clear of them again.
At the top of the table, Arsenal forced their way back into first place, after defeating Newcastle United 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Manchester City were busy beating Southampton in their FA Cup semi-final, so will now have to wait for their game in hand to try and make up the difference.
Meanwhile, Liverpool eased their way past Crystal Palace - a side whose thoughts may well have partly been on their midweek Europa Conference League semi-final with Shahktar Donetsk - and Fulham picked up a surprise 1-0 win over Aston Villa - another side with a European semi-final to contend with next week.
As the dust settles on another exhilarating set of Premier League fixtures, we’ve rounded up the latest transfer news concerning the division’s biggest sides:
Aston Villa ‘open talks’ with Fulham midfielder
Let’s kick things off in the West Midlands, where Aston Villa look to be doing a bit of groundwork ahead of the summer window opening in mid-June. Football Insider claim that “early talks” have taken place between Villa and representatives of Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson, who is set to leave Craven Cottage once his contract expires in just over two months time.
The report goes on to detail that the 29-year-old has “rejected multiple contract extension offers” but provides no further detail, apart from mentioning the Wales international’s impressive form this season, and going on to discuss other players the Villans have been linked with. There is no indication of the player’s stance regarding a potential move to Villa, either.
The 3AM Verdict: On paper, this makes a lot of sense: Villa could do with another central attacking midfielder, especially as talisman Morgan Rogers continues to be linked with an exit. From Wilson’s perspective, it could well be a route to playing Champions League football, and he’s the kind of player who could thrive under manager Unai Emery.
Given Villa’s need to remain mindful of FFP and PSR restrictions, bringing in a player of Wilson’s class on a free transfer really is a no-brainer. However, If Villa have indeed reached out to the ex-Liverpool starlet’s entourage, they certainly won’t have been the only Premier League club to do so, given the potential bargain up for grabs.
Liverpool could snatch key Tottenham target
To Anfield next, where it appears that Liverpool could be ready to muscle in on Tottenham’s top summer target. On Saturday, we covered reports suggesting that the north Londoners had stolen a march on their top tier rivals in the pursuit of Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, convincing the Argentina international to agree personal terms in principle ahead of a summer move.
Caught Offside have now said nothing has been agreed yet... which was surely indicated by the ‘in principle’ part of Florian Plettenberg’s original report. The ‘principle’ essentially being a case of the player being up for it if, crucially, Tottenham don’t get relegated. Aside from this, the story suggests Liverpool “remain in the race” to sign him, as they look to recruit another centre-back this summer. Manchester United are also credited with an interest.
The 3AM Verdict: Of course, if Tottenham go down, there’s no way on earth Senesi will be joining them. If they stay up, he may well relish the opportunity to be part of the club’s big summer rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi. If not, that certainly opens the door to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, with Champions League football highly likely for both.
Remember that heart-breaking scene from Friends, where a young Ross skipped up the stairs to get ready to escort Rachael to the prom, only for her flashy date to turn up late and take her instead? That could well be the eventual situation here, with Spurs being the crestfallen Geller seeing the object of his affections whisked off into the night.
Arsenal make Sporting CP star ‘number one target’
Last but not least on our whistlestop tour of Premier League transfer talk, we’re dropping in on Arsenal, who are another club likely to be busy with comings and goings this summer. They’re likely to go all guns blazing for a new left-back, with Myles Lewis-Skelly seemingly no longer trusted by Mikel Arteta.
According to a booming front page headline from Portuguese outlet Record, via Sport Witness, Sporting CP’s Maxi Araujo has emerged as the Gunners’ “number one target” this summer, with the club showing “concrete interest” in the highly-rated 26-year-old. An offer in excess of £51m is said to be required to seal the deal, and it’s noted that the player has a release clause close to £70m.
The 3AM Verdict: If they can land a top class specialist left-back and Arsenal’s formidable squad would start to even more imposing. Unlike Chelsea, say, the Gunners have an excellent record of identifying where they’re short of quality, and going out to sign players who fit Arteta’s system to the letter.
Arsenal got a good look at Araujo in their recent Champions League quarter-final clash, and that first-hand viewing of the player across two high stakes legs of European football will have been the ideal scouting opportunity. The Gunners won’t be the only top side on his trail, but they’ll stand a fine chance of signing him if they get in nice and early.