Virgil van Dijk Liverpool outcome backed to 'be made public' as Arsenal star 'set for medical' in £35m move
A look at the latest eye-catching headlines on the Premier League transfer rumour mill.
With the transfer window in full swing and the 2024 Olympics underway, there’s plenty to keep an eye on within the world of football. Rumours continue to fly as the summer rolls on and we have already been treated to plenty of exciting Premier League deals — but who could be next?
Ex-PL chief says Van Dijk outcome to ‘be made public’
Liverpool have a lot on their plate this summer. Not only are they adapting to a new chapter without Jurgen Klopp but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding their transfer business. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are all in the spotlight right now as their deals are due to expire in 2025.
The captain is particularly sparking discussion following the comments he made at Euro 2024, stating he needed to ‘think carefully’ about what he wanted for his future. Since then, rumours have been swirling and many are wondering where the Dutchman’s future lies. Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness has weighed in on the matter and believes that talks are very much being held, which could be revealed soon.
“Is Van Dijk going to stay? Still, that question hasn’t been answered — and it’s a big question. The Saudi situation is hanging over Liverpool. They’re going to have to make those decisions in the coming weeks,” he told Football Insider.
“I’ve got no doubt that there are discussions going on right now behind the scenes. I would expect to see the outcome of those talks in the public domain pretty quickly.”
The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool must accept they will lose players like Salah and Van Dijk sooner or later. The skipper especially is now 33 and potentially approaching the final years of his career. It will certainly be a huge blow for Reds fans to see him leave this summer, particularly after stressing his commitment to the club. If Van Dijk opts to see out his contract, Liverpool will not see any of the £75 million spent on him back, but he will leave the club next summer just before his 34th birthday and it will give the Reds enough time now to focus on his replacement.
Arsenal star set for medical ahead of £35m move
While Arsenal eye exciting new signings, they are also looking to trim back their own squad and cash in on players deemed surplus to the project moving forwards. The Gunners had listed several players who they were willing to sell in order to balance their books this summer and they are now nearing the sale of Emile Smith Rowe.
According to the Evening Standard, Fulham are ‘closing in’ on a £35 million deal for the 23-year-old who was left out of their pre-season win over Bournemouth. Smith Rowe is ‘expected to finalise’ his move to Craven Cottage as talks between the two Premier League clubs have reached an ‘advanced stage’. The midfielder is set to leave Arsenal’s pre-season squad to ‘discuss personal terms’ and ‘have a medical’ with Fulham.
The 3AM Verdict: Bidding farewell to homegrown players is always a tough thing to do in football but these discussions seem to be the best option for all involved. Smith Rowe has struggled to fully integrate himself as a guaranteed starter under Mikel Arteta and with Arsenal only recruiting further, his chances are unlikely to get any higher. At 24, Smith Rowe should be one of the focal points of a team and if a club cannot offer that, he must do what is right for him and his career.