Chris Wheatley’s transfer round-up: Arsenal ready for domino effect spending spree, sell-on fee windfall plot

Open for just over a week, the 2023 summer transfer window has been an intriguing one thus far: Lionel Messi ended speculation of a glorious return to Barcelona by instead joining Inter Miami - narrowly avoiding the bizarre fate of being managed by Phil Neville - while a host of Premier League stars, including Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, have been lured to Saudi Arabia with big-money contracts.

As is often the case, it takes just one major transfer move to see the window really take flight, and things are expected to go up a notch in the coming weeks as managers look to trim the deadwood and bring in high quality new signings to aid their efforts in the 2023/24 campaign.

With the latest Euro 2024 qualifiers now done and dusted, players - after the briefest of breaks to recuperate from a gruelling season that for many involved participation in the winter World Cup - will be looking to what lies ahead after the summer, and a host of stars will need to resolve their futures.

As the off-season business begins to pick up pace, National World’s football editor and journalist, Chris Wheatley, returns with his regular column, providing the latest insight into transfers and football news:

Transfer clauses

Arsenal will insert buy-back clauses and matching rights into deals for promising outgoing players this summer. The likes of Folarin Balogun and Charlie Patino and in talks over possible exits with interest for both players already hotting up.

Balogun recently made his debut for the USMNT and is expected to command a fee of at least £35 million in the current market. Interestingly, Arsenal inserted a sell-on clause in the deal of Greek defender Dinos Mavropanos, who left the club permanently in May 2022.

It means they stand to profit from any potential deal, with the Stuttgart centre back linked with a host of top European clubs and likely to be sold for a fee in the region of £15-20 million.

Domino effect

Kai Havertz will undergo a medical this week ahead of finalising his transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal. The £65 million signing is expected to be the first of several big money signings this summer, with confirmation likely early next week.

They remain confident of landing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber for a fee in the region of £35million. Arsenal’s transfer war chest is expected to reach £180 million once player sales have gone through.

Agent commission a factor in Rice transfer

Manchester City are expected to join the race to sign Declan Rice. It’s an ideal situation for West Ham who value the midfielder at £120 million, at least £30m more than Arsenal’s most recent bid for the England international.

The Hammers know a bidding war between City and Arsenal will increase their chances of securing a figure nearer to their valuation. LondonWorld understands Rice has spoken with both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta since the end of last season.

Agent commission is also expected to be a sticking point. City paid the most (£52.56m) to agents in fees during February 2022 to January 2023, although a large chunk of that figure was the agents’ fee to sign Erling Haaland. In comparison, Arsenal paid just £16.7m across the same period.

Agents’ fees will be capped from October under new FIFA regulations, to 10 per cent of a transfer and 6 per cent of a player’s contract. Rice, whose preference is to stay in London, has been represented by his father Sean for the past few years. An end to the saga is expected soon with West Ham keen on securing a replacement for their star man.

Maddison latest

Tottenham are growing in confidence over signing James Maddison. Newcastle United were interested in signing the Leicester City midfielder but are on the verge of completing a deal for Sandro Tonali.

Spurs have also agreed a £17.2million fee with Empoli for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after being priced out a move for Brentford’s David Raya.

Big bucks

Fulham want at least £90million if they are to part ways with Joao Palhinha this summer. West Ham have expressed interest in signing the 27-year-old defender midfielder, who made the most tackles (147) in the Premier League last season.

The Cottagers are referencing the proposed deal for Declan Rice, which could reach at least £100million, as one reason why Palhinha is valued so highly. Ryan Sessegnon’s £25million move from Fulham to Tottenham in 2019 remains the club record departure for Marco Silva’s side.