Manchester United Weigh €16m Jorge Salinas Move as Liverpool Target £78m Wharton

Manchester United are considering triggering a €16 million release clause for Racing Santander left back Jorge Salinas following his European Under-19 Championship win.

Manchester United have identified 19-year-old Racing Santander left back Jorge Salinas as a primary target, weighing up the activation of his €16 million release clause. The Spanish defender recently secured promotion to LaLiga with his club and played a vital role in Spain’s victory at the European Under-19 Championship. While United have extensively scouted the teenager, they face direct competition from Atlético Madrid. Salinas remains one of several options for the Old Trafford side, who are also monitoring Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall and RB Leipzig’s David Raum.

Liverpool are moving to restructure their midfield with a £78 million pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The 22-year-old England international, who has three years remaining on his contract, is viewed as the replacement for Curtis Jones. Jones is set to join Inter Milan in a deal worth £30 million. Wharton previously moved from Blackburn to Palace for £18 million in February 2024 and has attracted interest from Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, despite missing out on the final 2026 World Cup squad.

Premier League Midfield and Defensive Shifts

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is targeting Roma’s Manu Koné to rebuild a midfield recently vacated by Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. The 25-year-old France international is valued at approximately €50 million by the Italian club, where he is under contract until June 2029. While Arsenal and Manchester United previously tracked Koné, their interest has cooled, potentially leaving City unopposed in negotiations. Meanwhile, Manchester City are also engaged in talks with Lille regarding 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, a deal estimated to cost €100 million.

Arsenal have finalized a £51 million agreement to sign defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa. To fill the void left by Konsa, Villa are looking at Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo. The 28-year-old Adarabioyo was recently left out of Xabi Alonso’s squad for a friendly against Real Sociedad, signaling his availability. Marseille have already made initial contact with Chelsea for the defender, who is also being tracked by Benfica and Sevilla. Additionally, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are competing for AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana.

European Market and Done Deals

Benfica have officially signed Australian international Alessandro Circati from Parma on a five-year contract. The transfer fee is reported at €20 million plus additional add-ons. In other confirmed business, Crystal Palace rejected an opening bid from Galatasaray for Senegal winger Ismaïla Sarr, maintaining that only a substantially higher fee would prompt a sale. In Italy, Lazio are preparing a medical for free agent Bamba Dieng, while Torino have reached a verbal agreement with Fiorentina for Niccolò Fortini.

Barcelona have paused their pursuit of Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez to explore alternative options. The Catalan club is also monitoring Harry Kane’s situation at Bayern Munich, prepared to intervene if the England captain does not sign a new deal with the Bundesliga champions. In the Premier League, Sunderland are ready to spend a record £51 million for Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo, and Everton are tracking Como’s Assane Diao, who carries a €60 million price tag.

Additional Transfer Developments

Burnley have offered £6 million for Feyenoord defender Anel Ahmedhodžić, though the Dutch club is holding out for a higher valuation. Nottingham Forest are nearing a €10 million deal for Fiorentina’s Dodó, described as being "one step away" from completion. In France, Hamburg have reached an agreement with Nice to sign Nigerian forward Terem Moffi. Olympiacos have submitted a €12 million bid for Sevilla’s Rubén Vargas following his loan spell at Augsburg.

Newcastle United have placed Atalanta center back Giorgio Scalvini on their shortlist for the summer window. Gabriel Jesus has reportedly rejected interest from Napoli, as the Brazilian forward intends to stay at Arsenal despite being listed alongside Nicolas Jackson and Joshua Zirkzee as potential targets for the Italian side. Finally, Ipswich Town and Hull City are competing with Ajax and Al Ittihad for Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, while Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has emerged as a target for both Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb.