Arsenal eye bold transfer swoop for £100m midfielder as Aston Villa contact super agent ahead of striker raid

We begin Thursday’s Premier League transfer rumour round-up with a report from Italy suggesting that Aston Villa could go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest clubs in the division for a chance to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna this summer. The Dutchman has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in the recent past, but it is understood that Villa’s director of football, Monchi, has already contacted super agent Kia Joorabchian over a possible swoop.

Zirkzee is expected to cost somewhere in the region of £60 million, and a lot could hinge on whether or not Unai Emery’s side qualify for the Champions League next season. Assuming they do make it into Europe’s top competition, however, it is understood that Villa do stand a realistic chance of signing the striker, with Joorabchian supposedly keen to make a deal happen.

The 3AM Verdict: Another day, another Jonathan Zirkzee rumour. The Dutchman is in demand, and Villa are just the latest in a long line of Premier League clubs to be linked with his signature. With that in mind, if Emery’s men could somehow fend off the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, or even Tottenham Hotspur, his arrival would represent a genuine coup for the club.

Sudakov to be sold

Elsewhere, HITC reports that Shakhtar Donetsk are preparing to sell midfielder Georgiy Sudakov this summer, with a whole host of Premier League and continental clubs keeping tabs on the Ukrainian international. The 21-year-old has a release clause of around £100 million written into his current contract, with Shakhtar having previously rejected an offer of around £35 million from Italian giants Napoli.

According to this latest update, Sudakov is attracting attention from the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and West Ham, as well as European outfits Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Bayer Leverkusen. Speaking recently, the player himself said: ‘[Shakhtar director] Sergei Palkin informed me about offers from Juventus and Napoli. Shakhtar rejected Napoli’s 40 million euro bid. The club want to get as much money as possible from my sale. Palkin has said I can go to Europe in six months or a year. I trust him and the President.’

The 3AM Verdict: Sudakov is not exactly short on quality, or self-confidence for that matter. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, he likened his style to that of both Man City’s Phil Foden and Tottenham creative James Maddison. In fairness, he might not be too far wide of the mark. The likelihood is that he will cost somebody a fair amount of money, but whoever lands him is going to be nabbing themselves a huge talent.

Spurs learn Simakan asking price

And finally, Tottenham Hotspur may have to pay up to £60 million to sign defensive target Mohamed Simakan this summer. According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Philipp Hinze, the centre-back has a lofty release clause written into his contract with current side RB Leipzig that comes into effect this summer.

It is also understood that Newcastle United are monitoring Simakan’s situation, and that the prospect of a move to the Premier League appeals to the 23-year-old, As well as operating at the heart of defence, the Frenchman is also capable of playing at right-back.

The 3AM Verdict: Simakan is a quality player with plenty of potential, and on paper, he would strengthen the defensive options of either Spurs or Newcastle. That being said, £60 million is a lot of money, and the hope will be that the Frenchman’s asking price can be brought down before any deal is struck.