The start of the new Premier League season is just under a week away, but teams are still busy trying to complete more transfers, both incoming and outgoing.
Chelsea, who have already had an eventful summer with players big players coming in and going out, could have more of the latter. Meanwhile, Newcastle are hoping to snatch one more big-name attacker before the start of the season.
Elsewhere, the two Manchester clubs also have some more transfer business they’d like to get done before their respective Premier League campaigns begin.
So read on below as SBOTOP rounds up the biggest pieces of transfer-related Premier League 2022 news ahead of the season opener.
Chelsea keen to let Werner, Kepa leave on loan
Chelsea have already seen centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christiensen leave on free transfers and Romelu Lukaku return to Inter on loan this summer. And now, it looks like two more players – Timo Werner and Kepa Arrizabalaga – could also be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have reportedly been in talks with Juventus and RB Leipzig for a potential Werner loan deal. Newcastle are also purportedly interested in the German, but they have not yet opened direct talks.
Werner has had a tough time at Chelsea after moving from RB Leipzig in 2020. The 26-year-old German striker has scored just 10 goals in 56 Premier League games over the last two seasons. He made just 21 league appearances last season (15 starts) and is likely to be behind Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, and Christian Pulisic in the Chelsea pecking order this season.
As for Kepa, Napoli appear to be closing in on the Spanish international goalkeeper as a replacement for the departed David Ospina. With Eduoard Mendy entrenched as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, Kepa has made just 11 Premier League appearances over the last two seasons.
Kepa has been reduced to cup duty, and he infamously missed the decisive penalty in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool last season.
Barca prez declines to comment on Chelsea’s Azpilicueta, Alonso
And staying with Chelsea, there could yet be more departures at Stamford Bridge, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso still strongly linked with a move to Barcelona.
Although, Barca president Joan Laporta declined to discuss the possibility of the two Spanish Blues coming to the Camp Nou.
“Azpilicueta and Alonso to Barça? They are under contract at Chelsea and we respect this as well as the new owner. I respect both as are very, very good players. They show their quality and talent. But I don’t want to talk about them,” Laporta said.
Aside from losing Christensen to Barcelona this summer, the Blues have also lost out to the Catalans in their pursuit of both Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
Leicester reject Newcastle bid for James Maddison
While Chelsea are bracing for the potential loss of a few more players, Newcastle are busy trying to add at least one more attacking star.
Aside from Werner, the Magpies have their sights set on Leicester’s James Maddison. However, the Foxes have reportedly rejected Newcastle’s massive £40m bid for their star attacking midfielder.
Maddison, 25, had the best Premier League season of his career last year as he had 12 goals and 8 assists for the Foxes.
Newcastle already have a potential breakout star in Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, but landing a much-needed creative playmaker could significantly improve their Premier League 2022 odds of a top-half finish.
Brighton cut Cucurella talks with Man City
Brighton have ended discussions with Manchester City over the transfer of left-back Marc Cucurella, Andy Naylor of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old Cucurella handed in a transfer request on Friday, but Brighton are holding out for a fee of around £50m in order to sell the Spanish defender to City.
City have targeted Cucurella to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko as Joao Cancelo’s primary backup at left-back following the Ukrainian’s departure to Arsenal.
Cucurella had an impressive debut campaign for Brighton last season as he played in all 38 games, registering one goal and two assists.
Defending champions City are coming off a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Manchester United ‘exploring’ Benjamin Sesko deal
After Manchester City signed a former RB Salzburg striker in Erling Haaland this summer, rivals Man United might be doing the same as they are “exploring” a deal for Red Bulls centre-forward Benjamin Sesko, per Fabrizio Romano.
The 19-year-old Slovenian scored five goals in 24 league appearances for Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season.
Romano says it’s Salzburg’s plan to sell Sesko on in 2023, but United’s interest could lead to the teen’s departure a year earlier.
United could have a big hole to fill up front with Cristiano Ronaldo stating his desire to leave in order to play Champions League football. Ronaldo, who missed United’s 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and has yet to play in pre-season, is set to return to the side in their upcoming friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
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