Latest Premier League News and Transfer Rumours
Here is our EPL transfers and news round-up from today’s papers.
EPL Rules Changing
There are a couple of modifications to existing Premier League rules ahead of this season.
Firstly, due to teams now being able to make five substitutions per game, the number of players from each team who are allowed to warm up next to the pitch has gone up from three to five.
Ball boys are no longer allowed to supply the ball to the players when it’s out of play. Each game will have 15 balls on cones all around the pitch and players must get one of the balls themselves if the one that went out of play is not quickly retrievable. Ball boys must return the initial ball to the empty cone. However, the change for this season is that ball boys positioned behind the goals are allowed to return the ball to the goalkeeper.
As we have seen last season, added time was up dramatically compared to recent years, but 2024/25 might see a drop again. Starting this month, when a goal is scored, referees will only start adding time at the end of the half when the delay between scoring and the game restarting is over 30 seconds.
EPL Transfers
Tottenham are in advanced talks with Bournemouth for the transfer of Dominic Solanke. The Athletic reports that the striker has agreed personal terms with Spurs and is “desperate” to complete the transfer. The release clause in his contract with the Cherries stands at £65 million, but is reportedly only valid for certain clubs. As things stand, it seems that the clause does not apply to Tottenham.
And Bournemouth are hoping to replace Solanke with Tammy Abraham from AS Roma, according to a report from HITC.
Fulham are stepping up their interest in Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos, who is expected to leave the club before the end of the transfer window. (Daily Telegraph)
AC Milan are close to agreeing a deal with Tottenham for right-back Emerson Royal, according to Sky Sports. The fee is understood to be £12.8 million plus add-ons.
West Ham have scheduled a medical today for Jean-Clair Todibo ahead of a loan move with a £35 million option to buy from Nice. Personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle. (Sky Sports)
Bournemouth are looking to bring in Barcelona right-back Julian Araujo this summer. The Catalan club are looking for £8.5 million for the player, who was on loan at Las Palmas last season, plus a percentage of a future sale. (ESPN)
Arsenal are stepping up in their pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, who has reportedly already agreed personal terms with the Gunners. (Fichajes)
Liverpool Echo understands that Liverpool are still interested in the possibility of bringing Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon to Anfield this summer. There was an attempt to secure Gordon’s services in June, when Newcastle was looking to sell players in order to comply with PSR, but a deal never came to fruition. Time will tell if the Reds will be back with another bid for a player who is said to have “had his head turned” by the prospect of playing for Liverpool.
Fabrizio Romano tells us that Chelsea have reached an agreement with Genk for the services of goalkeeper Mike Penders, who will rock up at Stamford Bridge in 2025.
And we end with Tottenham’s Richarlison, who has brushed away talk of a potential transfer to the Saudi Pro League by saying that “the money is big, but my dreams are bigger.” (ESPN Brazil)