Premier League LIVE: Tottenham push to agree Eze deal, Brentford continue to block Wissa exit, transfer latest

Live Blog

• Gian-Luigi’s mansion

  Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers around, but he would struggle playing in the Premier League.

  That’s the view of European football expert Andy Brassell, with the Italian international of interest to Manchester City this summer.

  talkSPORT understands City will consider a move for the Paris Saint-Germain star if their long-term no. 1 Ederson leaves for Galatasaray.

  Donnarumma released an emotional statement saying goodbye to PSG fans after missing their Super Cup win against Tottenham.

  His contract expires next summer and he could therefore leave Paris for free in 2026 without a move this summer.

  Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with him, but Brassell has warned them and City that he may not be a wise signing.

  “I think the stylistic side of it is really important,” he said on Trans Europe Express. “We know he’s as good as it gets on his line.

  “But the link with Manchester City is really interesting, because of course, it’s been brought up a lot this week about that fact that Donnarumma is not great with his feet.

  “We’ve seen that first-hand in the UK. If we go back to that game early in the Luis Enrique period where they were absolutely pummelled at St. James’ Park.

  “Newcastle getting after Donnarumma was a huge part of that by the way, as well as the atmosphere at St. James’ Park that night.

  “If I was Pep Guardiola, I wouldn’t want him. If I was Galatasaray, who play with a very, very high defensive line, I wouldn’t want him.

  “In fact, it’s very, very hard to say, admirable and excellent as he is, where does he fit?”

  

  Gianluigi Donnarumma suitors given major Premier League warning by European football expert

• Drop a Dus-an

  Newcastle United should make a late move for former Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic.

  That’s the view of European football expert Andy Brassell, who told talkSPORT that the Toon could do a lot worse than trying to sign the Juventus star.

  Newcastle are in desperate need of at least one striker this summer with Alexander Isak on strike and Callum Wilson having joined West Ham.

  It leaves Will Osula as the club’s only first-team forward, though he didn’t start the Toon’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on the opening day.

  Instead, Anthony Gordon led the line, while Eddie Howe has spoken about the need for a striker.

  And Brassell thinks Vlahovic moving to St James Park would make sense.

  Speaking on the Trans European Express and when asked about Vlahovic’s time at Juventus being a failure, he said: “I agree, especially when you look at his age. I would say he’s a qualified failure because he’s had his moments.

  “Obviously, he’s way too expensive, they are paying him 12 million a year, which he’s not going to get anywhere else outside Saudi.

  “I would say there are a few Premier League clubs, maybe a certain one who are having striker issues at the moment in the North East of England [Newcastle], who I think it’s worth having a little go for him.

  “He only has a year left on his contract. Juventus have to sell him now, they won’t be charging a lot of money for him.”

  

• News Just-in

  Leeds United are assessing whether to still move for Leicester City full-back James Justin after he sustained an injury in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Preston.

  Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes downplayed the injury as just “a kick on the leg” but talkSPORT understands that Leeds are waiting to hear back on how serious the problem is before deciding whether to proceed.

  

• James Milner’s tribute to Diogo Jota

  James Milner has revealed he had a catch-up with former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota the night before his passing.

  Jota passed away aged 28 on July 3 following a car crash in Spain which also claimed the life of his brother Andre Silva.

  Liverpool have since confirmed Jota’s number 20 shirt will be retired across all their men’s, women’s and youth teams.

  Meanwhile, Milner, who has also adopted the shirt number for Brighton this season, revealed he had a catch-up with Jota the night before his passing.

  He told the Athletic: “Nothing major, just checking in and asking each other how things were going…”

  Upon hearing the news at Brighton’s training ground the following morning, Milner added: “Someone asked, ‘Is that true?’ and I didn’t know at that point. I messaged someone at Liverpool to try to find out and… just horrific. Not many tougher days than that.

  “I loved the guy, absolutely loved him. Loved him as a player, loved him even more as a team-mate and a friend, absolutely loved him.

  “Carlos [Baleba] wanted to change his number, so the No 20 became available and it felt like the right thing for me to do. Every day when I put my kit on, I’ll think of him.

  “We were only together at Liverpool for three seasons and you might not have thought we had much in common — different nationalities, very different ages — but we hit it off immediately.

  “Maybe it was because we were both so stubborn. Honestly, people say I’m stubborn, but Jots could give me a run for my money.

  “He was an unbelievable guy, one of my favourite team-mates I’ve had in all my time playing.

  “He was always up for a laugh, always winding people up. He was one of those you could put in any corner of the dressing room, next to any other player, and he would click with them straight away.”

  

  

• Deal Ebs and flows

  Tottenham are confident of reaching an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze this week, talkSPORT understands.

  Negotiations are being led by Spurs chair Daniel Levy and he is speaking directly to his counterpart Steve Parish.

  Talks are expected to accelerate in the next 48 hours, with the Lilywhites prepared to pay a package of around £60million

  Tottenham are hoping to reach an agreement in principle before Palace take on Norgeian side Fredrikstad in the Conference League on Thursday.

  Eze has already informed Palace of his desire to leave, but does not want to sit out games while still a Palace player.

  

• Fat chance

  Sunderland have sent an offer for Leicester City attacker Abdul Fatawu in the region of £28million, talkSPORT understands.

  The Foxes do not want to sell the 21-year-old Ghanaian, who has featured in both of their Championship matches this season.

  Fatawu only joined Leicester permanently last summer, following a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon the year before.

  He registered two assists in the Premier League at the start of the 2024/25 campaign before suffering an ACL injury.

  Now fully recovered, Fatawu has become a key figure under new Leicester boss Martí Cifuentes.

  However, he called on supporters to stick together and give more to the players following their 2-1 defeat to Preston on Saturday.

  Fatawu wrote on Instagram: “So disappointed about the game yesterday. But as we say and believe that Foxes never quit, then is too early at this stage of the season seeing fans leave the stadium so early when we are down by one.

  “This is the best time we need you. You can’t be celebrating wins with the team and don’t want to lose with the team.

  “This is a game of football and you can’t be winning every time. We need everyone in both sides so you can be proud to celebrate victories with the team.

  “This is the time to stick together, to be strong, to make this team get what they deserve.

  “Thanks to all the traveling fans for your amazing support but we need more.”

  

• All gone to Pott

  Simon Jordan has delivered his verdict on Graham Potter after West Ham’s woeful opening day defeat to Sunderland.

  Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady defended manager Potter on talkSPORT following the shocking 3-0 defeat to a team back in the Premier League for the first time in eight years.

  Potter has come in for plenty of criticism since arriving at the London Stadium to replace Julen Lopetegui in January.

  Since starting the role, he has only managed five wins and five draws with 10 losses in his opening 20 games.

  They ended last season in 14th, and fans would have been hoping for significant improvements.

  Jordan told talkSPORT: “He didn’t have the stomach for Chelsea.”

  “The expectation at West Ham is different to the one at Chelsea, with all due respect, so I expect him to come through this because he’s a good manager.”

  

• Great Doaks from little acorns grow

  Bournemouth are closing in on the signing of Liverpool winger Ben Doak, talkSPORT understands.

  The Cherries are close to agreeing a transfer worth around £25million with the Premier League champions for the Scotland international, who has impressed in pre-season.

  Doak, who cost Liverpool £600k from Celtic in 2022, has now completed the first part of his medical.

  Liverpool also have a buyback option!

  The promising starlet joined Middlesbrough on a season-long loan and impressed in the first-half of last campaign.

  But his stay at the Riverside was cut short due to a thigh injury, with Doak returning to Merseyside in March after undergoing surgery.

  

• Kal of Duty

  Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Arnaud Kalimuendo on a five-year deal from Stade Rennais.

  The 23-year-old, who scored 18 goals for the Ligue 1 side last season, has completed a deal worth around £25million and follows Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee to the City Ground.

  Upon signing, Kalimuendo told the club’s website: “When I heard about the interest from Forest, I was honoured. This is a proud moment for me, joining a team who had a strong season last year and a Club with great history.

  “I’m ready for the challenge, and I arrive here with good experience. I had a good season last year with goals and assists but I want more and want to reach a new level here.

  “I can’t wait to play in the Premier League, and to play at the City Ground. I watched games from last season and it’s clear the fans create a beautiful atmosphere. I’m excited to see them and impatient to get started.”

  Chief Football Officer, Ross Wilson, said: “It’s been a busy few days for us — the culmination of a lot of hard work from our staff over a number of weeks.

  “Arnaud is someone whose progress we’ve followed closely across PSG, Lens, and Rennes, and we’re delighted that the next step in his journey will be here in Nottingham.

  “He’s arriving with real excitement and big energy, and we look forward to seeing that on the pitch.”

• Glass half full

  Martin Odegaard’s half-time interview during Arsenal’s showdown at Manchester United divided viewers – but not Ally McCoist!.

  Gunners captain Odegaard was put on the spot during the interval at Old Trafford, with his side leading 1-0 at the break.

  During the interview, which lasted around a minute, the 26-year-old had told Sky Sports: “They have quality and really good players up front. I think we let them play through us too easily at times, but also we had a lot of space up front.

  “When we regained the ball and we got to run and counter. We just need to be a bit more clinical in those moments and we will have chance to score more.

  “It has been a bit too hectic at times. So much space. It’s too open.

  “We need to control it a bit better and be more compact without the ball. When we get the ball, we need to pick the right moments and be more accurate when we counter.”

  

• Djed dead redemption

  Djed Spence has signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham Hotspur, the club have confirmed.

  The versatile defender has been rewarded for a fine breakthrough campaign last year at Spurs.

  The full-back made 35 appearances in the 2024-25 season, finally earning his full debut in December, two-and-a-half years after his initial arrival..

  The 25-year-old was labelled a “club signing” by former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte in 2022.

  He then endured mixed loan spells at Rennes, Leeds, and Genoa, but earned the trust of Ange Postecoglou last summer.

  New head coach Thomas Frank has since started him in Wednesday’s Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain, and the 3-0 win over Burnley.

• Baby Reijnders

  talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist was among the fans in awe of Tijjani Reijnders’ Premier League debut.

  The 27-year-old Dutchman delivered an all-action performance during Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.

  The former AC Milan midfielder contributed a goal, an assist, and was instrumental in a third at Molineux.

  Reijnders became only the second City player to both score and provide a goal on his Premier League debut, after Sergio Aguero.

  “I picked Rayan Cherki [who also scored against Wolves] as my player to watch this season,” ‘Super Ally’ began on talkSPORT Breakfast.

  “Exceptional player, think he’ll do really well, but tell you what, I was not half impressed with Reijnders…”

  McCoist added: “One of the performances of the weekend!”

  

• Gyok won

  Viktor Gyokeres made a slow start to his Arsenal career during their win over Manchester United.

  Asked what he made of the forward’s showing, the former Newcastle manager told talkSPORT: “Well, poor. I think you can’t gloss it up any more than that.

  “He looked not quite at it, whether he was nervous or or whatever… it didn’t look what I was expecting because I’m a big fan of his. I was expecting a little bit more from him today.

  “And I think at 60 minutes to get subbed was you know, what I would have expected with this performance.

  “Maybe he felt he should have had a little bit longer, but no that wasn’t the best. I’m surprised.”

  

• Yoane Ranger

  Brentford are continuing to block Yoane Wissa’s move to Newcastle, talkSPORT understands.

  The Bees view new signing Dango Ouattara as Bryan Mbuemo’s replacement, so they will not sanction the sale of Wissa without another forward coming in, or unless the Magpies up their bid to £60million-plus.

  Newcastle are set to resume talks this week, knowing they have player buy in, but the Magpies are not expected to offer above £40m, given Wissa’s age and the fact he has one year left on his contract.

  Brentford retain a club option to extend by a further year.

  Manager Keith Andrews worked closely with Wissa last season and is hoping he stays.

  Wissa is understood to believe an exit will be sanctioned, but Brentford sources insist it is currently more likely he stays.

  

• Eze does it

  Oliver Glasner poured cold water on suggestions that Eberechi Eze was saying goodbye to Crystal Palace fans on Sunday.

  talkSPORT understands the midfielder is close to joining Tottenham from the FA Cup winners.

  Spurs and Palace are in talks over a fee after Eze’s £68million release clause expired on Friday.

  Amid the speculation surrounding his future, the 27-year-old started his current side’s season opener.

  Palace held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge with Eze having a free-kick ruled out by VAR.

  Eze played 84 minutes before being replaced by Justin Devenney, and he applauded the travelling Palace fans as he made his way off the pitch,

  He was later the last player to leave the pitch following the final whistle as he appeared to say goodbye to the supporters.

  Asked if Eze turning and applauding the away fans could be a goodbye to the club, he told talkSPORT’s Alfie Reynolds: “No.”

  As for whether he will be a Palace player beyond the end of the transfer window, Glasner added: “I don’t know, but I think it was not a goodbye wave.”

  The Austrian also told Sky Sports he expects Eze to feature in the Conference League in midweek.

  Palace hosts Norwegian side Fredrikstad in their play-off round first leg on Thursday.

  Glasner explained: “Eb should have scored a goal today, he had one and it was disallowed.

  “He will come tomorrow to the Crystal Palace training ground, Tuesday off, we take Wednesday, and I expect him to be back playing for us against Fredrikstad.”

  

• Yes or Noah

  Leeds United have opened talks with AC Milan forward Noah Okafor, talkSPORT understands.

  The talks are said to have begun earlier this week and continued over the weekend.

  However, nothing has been agreed with the newly-promoted Premier League side and the Italian giants.

  Swiss forward Noah Okafor joined Milan from Red Bull Salzburg two years ago.

  Okafor has scored seven goals in 55 appearances for the San Siro outfit having also spent time on loan at Napoli while a Milan player.

  

• ‘I choose Altay’

  Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has fiercely defended his decision to pick Altay Bayindir in goal this afternoon.

  The Turkish international was at fault for Arsenal’s winning goal, as he failed to deal with a corner whipped into the box.

  Riccardo Calafiori then converted from a yard out.

  And after the match, Amorim was asked if he should have played Tom Heaton, but the former Sporting Lisbon boss reminded everyone of Bayindir helping Man United beat Arsenal in the FA Cup at the start of this year.

  He said: “At Arsenal, who saved the penalty? Who saved the game?

  “I remember the game. Altay was unbelievable in that game.

  “I considered everything to put one or the other, and I choose Altay.”

• ‘Really, really pleased’

  Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was delighted with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

  The duo made their debuts for Man United today in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal and both were lively.

  Immediately, the Red Devils had much more attacking threat than in previous seasons.

  Speaking to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook about the duo, he said: “I am really, really pleased. Not just with the ball, but without the ball.

  “They ran a lot and pressed a lot. Then there were moments when Cunha was receiving the ball and turning, elevating the stadium.

  “The fans need to be inspired.”

  

• ‘We fought until the end’

  Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was awarded the Man of the Match award after helping the Gunners beat Man United 1-0 at Old Trafford.

  The Spaniard made seven saves, though many of them were straightforward, and after the match, he spoke to Sky Sports.

  He said: “We weren’t at our best with the ball. Defensively, we weren’t at our best.

  “We got a goal and we fought until the end. Credit to the boys that we kept a clean sheet.

  “We know we could have lost, but days like this are all about the three points.”

• ‘Poor’

  Viktor Gyokeres made his Arsenal debut this afternoon in the Premier League as the Gunners won 1-0 against Man United.

  However, it wasn’t really one to remember.

  The striker lasted just 60 minutes before he was withdrawn for Kai Havertz, while he failed to have a shot.

  And it would be fair to say Alan Pardew wasn’t impressed.

  Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Well, poor. I think you know, you can’t gloss it up any more than that. He looked not quite at it, whether he was nervous or or whatever… it didn’t look what I was expecting because I’m a big fan of his. I was expecting a little bit more from him today.

  “And I think at 60 minutes to get subbed was you know, what I would have expected after this performance. Maybe he felt he should have had a little bit longer, but no that wasn’t the best. I’m surprised.”

  

• Man United 0-1 Arsenal – FULL TIME

  The referee blows the final whistle, and Arsenal cling on for three points.

  It was far from pretty, but the Gunners dug in and got the job done.

  They scored in the first half through one of their only shots on target as Altay Bayindir failed to deal with Declan Rice’s corner, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to nod in from a yard.

  After that, and before that, Man United were the better team and saw Patrick Dorgu strike the woodwork.

  Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were lively on their debuts, and the Red Devils will take plenty of positives out of the game.

  Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta will be delighted his side got out of their with three points despite being nowhere near their best.

• Man United 0-1 Arsenal

  We have six minutes of added time at Old Trafford.

  Can the home side get a deserved equaliser?

• Man United 0-1 Arsenal

  The free-kick sees Declan Rice rattle his effort into the wall and out for a corner.

  That proves to be Rice’s final contribution as he’s replaced.

  Mikel Merino comes on for the closing stages.

• Man United 0-1 Arsenal

  Harry Maguire is on for Man United, and immediately he has to foul Kai Havertz.

  Manuel Ugarte plays a pathetic, blind pass straight to the German.

  He glides towards the box, and Maguire clatters into him.

  Free-kick on the edge of the area to come…

• Man United 0-1 Arsenal

  Good save!

  Patrick Dorgu drives down the left and dinks a cross into the box.

  Bryan Mbeumo meets it with a good header.

  David Raya springs to his left and gets down well to stop the effort.