Arsenal and Liverpool chase £51m defender as Tottenham plot bargain Man Utd raid

We begin Thursday’s Premier League transfer rumour round-up with reports of a potential battle between Arsenal and Liverpool. According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the pair are both interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho, and have reached out to the Bundesliga club to enquire about his availability this summer.

The 22-year-old is under contract in Germany until 2028, and is considered a key player in Frankfurt, but could be allowed to leave in the coming months if a bid of around £51.2 million is submitted. Pacho has already amassed 10 senior caps for his native Ecuador.

The 3AM Verdict: Pacho is a serious talent, and one who has previously been linked with the likes of Real Madrid. The likelihood is that he will be in demand this summer, and with Arsenal and Liverpool both arguably requiring some kind of reinforcement and added depth in the centre of defence, they could do far worse than pursuing a deal for the South American.

Wolves and Everton eye De Winter

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton are considering swoops for Genoa defender Koni De Winter in the summer, according to today’s Tuttosport. The Belgian is currently on loan with the Serie A club from Juventus, but is expected to be complete a permanent switch due to an obligation-to-buy clause written into his agreement worth around £6.8 million.

From there, he would be Genoa’s to do with as they pleased, and that could involve selling him on immediately. To that end, there is interest from the Premier League, with both Everton and Wolves keeping tabs on his situation as it develops.

The 3AM Verdict: A summer swoop for De Winter. The 21-year-old is a versatile defensive talent brimming with potential who looks as if he has a big, big future ahead of him at the highest level. If all goes to plan, he will become a Genoa player in the coming weeks, but if the right offer is submitted, then there is no reason to believe that his stay in Liguria couldn’t be a relatively short one.

Spurs keen on Martial

And finally, another report from Tuttosport, who claim that Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for Manchester United striker Anthony Martial once his contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season. The Frenchman is currently sidelined through injury, but had fallen out of favour with manager Erik ten Hag even before his stint on the treatment table and is widely expected to leave in the coming weeks.

To that end, Spurs could offer him an opportunity to stay in England, but are said to be holding off on matching the striker’s contract demands – a three-year deal worth £100,000 a week – until they know for sure which continental competition they will be playing in next season. A number of Italian sides are also said to be keen on Martial.

The 3AM Verdict: This might not be as daft as it initially sounds. Martial’s reputation lies in tatters at his feet, but Ange Postecoglou has already done a pretty decent job of rehabilitating Timo Werner, and if the price is right and the player is willing, perhaps he could do a similar thing for the United forward. Stranger things have happened.