Chelsea ‘ready’ to increase Caicedo bid after £110m Liverpool bid as Man Utd linked with bizarre transfer move

Manchester City and Burnley kicked off the 2023/24 Premier League season last night as the reigning champions picked up a 3-0 win over the Championship winners at Turf Moor.

The action continues thick and fast today, starting with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest in the early kick off, while the transfer window remains open until the end of the month. Here is a round up of some of the latest transfer news stories concerning the biggest clubs in English football and beyond:

Chelsea ‘ready’ to increase Caicedo bid after £110 Liverpool offer

Chelsea look determined to secure the signing of long term transfer target Moises Caicedo despite Liverpool coming over the top with a huge £110 million offer earlier this week. The Guardian have reported that The Blues are refusing to give up their pursuit of the 21-year old Ecuadorian.

The player is considered a ‘top target’ for the Stamford Bridge side who previously bid £100 million for his services. Now, Sky Sports are also reporting on the news and claim Chelsea will up their offer to £115 million with a bidding war now well and truly underway and Brighton in line for a huge pay day at the end of it.

The 3AM Verdict: Either Chelsea or Liverpool are going to get one of the best young midfielders in the world at the end of this transfer saga but it’s Brighton who will be laughing all the way to the bank. A player’s value is of course dictated by multiple factors including the current market but would anyone have thought two months ago that Caicedo would leave for £10 million more than Declan Rice? This bidding war is fantastic news for Roberto De Zerbi and the south coast club.

Man Utd linked with shock transfer for Rangers goalkeeper

Manchester United seemingly want to sign another new goalkeeper. While that alone isn’t surprising, links to Rangers back-up keeper Robby McCrorie certainly are.

The 25-year old Scot is currently behind new signing Jack Butland, who made zero appearances during his loan spell at United last season, for the starting jersey at Ibrox. Several Scottish publications, including GlasgowWorld, claim there is significant interest from the Red Devils with the former Livingston loanee likely to be fighting with Tom Heaton to be first choice back-up to Andre Onana - assuming Dean Henderson leaves.

The 3AM Verdict: This one is really bizarre. McCrorie is a decent keeper and a recent Scotland call up but surely there are more logical options out there for United? Reports suggest that Rangers want £1 million but sources are confident that could be negotiated down to £500,000. Surely you’d think for that kind of money you would go after a player who at least helped to fulfil home grown quotas for the squad.

Arsenal set to be offered €20m for defender

Takehiro Tomiyasu is the latest first team player to be linked with a summer switch away from Arsenal, with Sport Witness claiming that Inter will offer the Gunners €20 million for the Japan international. The versatile defender is now well down the pecking order at the Emirates following the summer arrival of Jurrien Timber.

The 3AM Verdict: It makes sense that a few fringe players will be heading out the Arsenal exit door before the window shuts. However, in the current market a fee of €20 million seems low for an accomplished international who is still only 24-years old. The Gunners might not have big plans for Tomiyasu but they should hold out for a figure of at least €10 million more.