With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Premier League clubs are scrambling to complete a flurry of deals, headlined by Liam Delap's expected departure from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old striker is reportedly closing in on a move to the City Ground for around £50m, a fee that would represent a new club-record signing for Oliver Glasner's side. The switch comes despite a underwhelming campaign for Delap in west London, where he managed just a single Premier League goal in the 2025-26 season while also being hampered by shoulder and hamstring issues. Should the transfer go through at the reported valuation, Chelsea would still turn a £20m profit, having signed the forward from Ipswich for £30m in 2025.
Forest are not stopping there. The Midlands club are also said to be pursuing Corinthians and Brazil midfielder André as they look to strengthen further before Monday's deadline.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa's interest in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta continues to build momentum. Villa have lodged a bid for the France international, though it is understood to fall well short of Palace's valuation. Any deal for Mateta could be financed by an unexpected departure at Villa Park - Ollie Watkins looks set to leave for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in a transfer reportedly worth £59.8m, with the England forward set to earn an annual salary of £12m. The move has reportedly taken many by surprise, but Villa are said to be close to finalising the switch.
Activity is also heating up elsewhere in the division. Manchester United have registered interest in Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, while Newcastle United have submitted a bid for Lille winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo. West Ham United defender El Hadji Malick Diouf could remain in the Premier League after all, with Brentford reportedly closing in on a deal for the Senegal international. Newly promoted Hull City, meanwhile, have agreed terms to sign Ilyas Ansah from Union Berlin in a £20m deal.
Tottenham Hotspur are pushing hard to complete a deal for Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush. Should the Egyptian international arrive in north London, Spurs' summer spending would approach £400m - a staggering figure that comes on the back of a chastening 3-0 defeat to Brentford last weekend, a result that left many supporters stunned.
Back at Chelsea, midfielder Enzo Fernández could also be on his way out. The Argentina international, who was jeered by home supporters during Chelsea's opening-day fixture against Fulham, is reportedly a target for Manchester City ahead of the deadline. Chelsea are said to want as much as £120m for the 25-year-old, a fee that would make it one of the biggest transfers of the summer window. Fernández's history with English fans remains fraught following his goal celebration during Argentina's World Cup semi-final win over England, and reaction to a potential move to City is unlikely to be any warmer.
With deadline day just around the corner, further twists and late deals are expected across the Premier League as clubs finalise their business for the window.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.