Premier League Transfer Drama: Sesko, Grealish, Garnacho Lead Intense Summer Moves
The Summer Transfer Window Hits Top Speed
No one’s catching a break in the Premier League transfers race this summer. Just when you think a club is done, another headline pops up. Manchester City are about to drop more than £60 million for Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. All the hype around Sesko isn't for nothing – he’s fresh off a killer Euro 2024 performance and is only 21. There’s a real sense that City want him locked down, especially since there’s chatter about Jack Grealish eyeing the exit. Imagine seeing Grealish return to an ambitious Aston Villa under Unai Emery, who are quietly loading up for the Club World Cup.
Grealish's future brings a domino effect. If he goes, City's push for Sesko could get turbocharged. Pep Guardiola’s never been one to dither when he wants a guy, and with the season start creeping closer, things could move fast.
Top Clubs Scramble to Secure Talent
Manchester United are not sitting out the fun. Alejandro Garnacho is about to score a new contract with a fancy wage bump and a beefed-up release clause. Barcelona have been poking around the 20-year-old winger, so United want to block that avenue early. But they're keeping options open—if Bruno Fernandes leaves, Juventus’ Nico Gonzalez is on their radar as a replacement. Nothing official yet, but the wheels are in motion.
Over in north London, Arsenal are throwing their weight (and their wallet) around. After months of speculation, they’ve wrapped up Noni Madueke’s £52 million move from Chelsea. That’s not all. Martin Zubimendi joins from Real Sociedad for £51 million—the Gunners clearly want steel in the midfield. Kepa Arrizabalaga arrives from Chelsea, setting Arsenal back another £5 million. They’re also eyeing Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera, likely to bolster the defense. Mikel Arteta seems intent on giving fans a completely new-look squad when the season starts.
Aston Villa are reshaping quickly too. The Robin Olsen era is officially over with his switch to Malmö for free, and Emery has more deals in the pipeline. Villa are going after creative reinforcements to come out swinging in Europe.
Crystal Palace often fly under the radar, but they may have found a bargain in defender Borna Sosa from Ajax for just £2 million. Everton can't be ignored either—paying £27 million for Thierno Barry from Villarreal and forking out another £25 million to snatch Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea. Newcastle United’s priority right now? Wolves' Nelson Semedo, with Eddie Howe keen on better options at the back.
Liverpool have been quietly tracking Alexander Bah from Benfica. He’s seen by some as an ideal heir to Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there’s no bid in just yet. Maybe they’re keeping their powder dry until the window’s closing days.
On the flip side, Chelsea’s outbox is filling up fast. Raheem Sterling’s returning from his Arsenal loan, while Nuno Tavares packs up for Lazio. The West Londoners are still dealing with the fallout of a busy window, balancing incomings and outgoings nonstop since the market swung open on June 16th.
There’s a sense of urgency created by FIFA’s new squad registration rules and the hard deadline of September 1 at 19:00 BST. Just two weeks ago, the transfer window overlapped with the Club World Cup, cranking up the madness. Top clubs are scrambling, and if the past few summers are any clue, there’ll be a flurry of last-minute deals and enough surprises to keep phones buzzing until the window slams shut.
