Transfer News: Alvarez, Fernandez, Fernandes, and Barcola Updates

Diego Simeone has confirmed that Julian Alvarez will start Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga season on the bench, as the striker’s future hangs over the club’s opener on Wednesday.

Alvarez wants out. Barcelona is his preferred destination this summer and reports in Spain point firmly towards Camp Nou as his next stop, even with Arsenal pushing hard and monitoring the situation. Atletico, though, are drawing a line in the sand.

Club CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has made it clear they will not cash in easily on the former Manchester City forward, insisting the club would not even accept €200m. For now, that defiance means Simeone begins the campaign with one of his star men sidelined and a transfer saga still raging in the background.

Manchester City hit with Enzo Fernandez price hike

Manchester City’s midfield rebuild is already proving expensive. Their interest in Enzo Fernandez has not gone away, but missing Chelsea’s Friday deadline for offers has come at a cost.

City were looking at a deal around the £120m mark last week. That figure is now gone. Any move for the Argentina international will require a significantly higher fee, with Chelsea ready to drive a harder bargain after the deadline passed.

At the same time, City are preparing a huge outlay on the future. They are set to sign 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for £85m, a staggering sum for a teenager and a clear statement about the next phase of their squad.

That comes on the back of a seismic departure. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been sold to Barcelona in a deal worth up to £65m, leaving a gaping hole at the heart of Pep Guardiola’s side and cranking up the urgency in City’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements.

Manchester United shut door on Bruno Fernandes move

Manchester United, by contrast, are not entertaining the idea of losing their captain.

Galatasaray have made an audacious move for Bruno Fernandes, putting together a comprehensive financial package that would have doubled the 31-year-old midfielder’s salary. The Turkish club are determined to land a marquee name this summer and identified Fernandes as that statement signing.

United’s answer is simple: not for sale. The club’s stance is firm, regardless of the money on offer, and they are set to reject the approach outright, keeping their captain at the centre of Erik ten Hag’s plans.

Liverpool cool on Mbaye but keep eyes on Barcola

Liverpool’s forward planning in attack has taken another twist. They had reportedly agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye, but fresh reports now suggest they are moving away from a deal for the 18-year-old.

Their gaze, though, still lingers in Paris.

Interest in Mbaye’s teammate Bradley Barcola remains strong. Both Mbaye and France international Barcola were left out of PSG’s squad for the French Super Cup on Sunday, a decision that only fuels speculation around their futures.

The European champions were set to demand £145m for Barcola, who is also on Arsenal’s radar. Liverpool are not rushing into that kind of fee. They are prepared to play the long game, test PSG’s resolve and work to negotiate the price down.

As Europe’s heavyweights jostle for position, the opening weeks of the season are being shaped not just on the pitch, but in boardrooms, with some of the game’s biggest names right at the centre of the storm.