Latest Premier League News and Transfer Rumours

Here is our transfers and news round-up from today’s papers.

Important Dates for the 2024/25 Season

The next Premier League campaign will kick off on the weekend of August 17/18, 2024. The season will run its course over 33 weekends, 4 midweek rounds and one UK Bank Holiday matchday.

All 380 Premier League fixtures will be released at 9 AM (UK time) on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, while the season will end with the final round of games being played on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

The 2024 summer transfer window will officially start on June 14, the same day as the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. The window closes on August 30, at 11 PM UK time.

There will be no mid-season break in the EPL this coming term to accommodate a mid-August start to the campaign.

New Chelsea Manager?

After parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the season, Chelsea are now looking for a new manager.

Leicester have granted permission to the Stamford Bridge outfit to negotiate with Enzo Maresca, who has guided the Foxes to the Championship title in the recently concluded season.

Chelsea were also interested in the coach of another newly-promoted team, Ipswich, but Kieran McKenna is now set to stay with the Tractor Boys and sign a new contract.

Emery Extends Villa Stay

Aston Villa have announced that manager Unai Emery has signed a new 5-year deal to continue at Villa Park.

Emery said: “I am very happy to take this step and the responsibility of leading this club. […]

“There’s a great chemistry in Aston Villa. And the element of the fans’ support also makes the difference to feel like home. We are really excited to continue this journey with no limits to our dreams.”

Guardiola’s Future Plans

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shed light on what might be the next step in his career after news emerged that he could leave the club at the end of next season.

When quizzed about his remaining football ambitions by ESPN Brasil in February, Guardiola answered: “A national team. I would like to train a national team for a World Cup or a European Championship. I would like that.”

Further expanding on his long-term plans, Guardiola said: “I don’t know who would want me! To work for a national team they have to want you, just like a club. I would like to have the experience of living through a World Cup, or a Euro or a Copa America, or whatever it is.

“I would like that. I don’t know when that would be, if that is five, 10, 15 years from now but I would like to have the experience of being a manager in a World Cup.”

Manchester United’s Europa League Spot in Doubt?

While United has secured qualification for the 2024/25 season of the UEL thanks to winning the FA Cup, their place is not yet guaranteed. This is due to INEOS’ ownership of French club Nice.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS currently holds a 27% stake in United but has plans to pump an additional £245m into the club. This investment would increase their ownership stake to over 30%, breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership threshold, reports the Mirror.

At the same time, INEOS are the sole owners of Nice, who finished 5th in the Ligue 1 table to qualify for the same competition. If the company can not find a solution, one or both of their clubs could be demoted to the Europa Conference League.

EPL Transfers

Manchester United have sold left-back Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica, where he has already spent the second half of 2023/24 on loan. The reported transfer fee is £5 million, as per the loan agreement’s clause. (90min)

Daily Star tells us that Manchester United are still chasing Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who is valued at £60 million by the Toffees. If they are unable to secure his signing, they will turn their attention to Chelsea’s Levi Colwill.

While Ousmane Diomande has a £70 million release clause in his contract with Sporting CP, the club would be willing to sell him for roughly £20 million less. This development has set the alarm bells ringing at Arsenal and Chelsea, who are interested in the defender. (Record)

Long-term Liverpool target Federico Chiesa might leave Juventus this summer. Bayern Munich, Napoli and AS Roma are also interested in him. (TEAMtalk)

Another attacker reportedly of interest to Liverpool is PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko, who helped his side pip Arne Slot’s Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title this season. (FootballInsider)

Bruno Guimaraes might end up at PSG this summer, as the French champions are considering selling Manuel Ugarte and bringing in a big-name signing to replace him. If that is the case, they are looking at Newcastle’s Brazilian midfielder, as well as Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich. (Le10Sport)

Liverpool keep getting linked with wingers: a third one today is Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville. The Dutch forward is also of interest to Chelsea, according to Daily Mirror.

Lastly, a rumour about an EPL departure. Tottenham right-back Emerson Royal is in negotiations with AC Milan about a summer transfer. (Gianluca Di Marzio)