Chelsea ‘agree personal terms’ on replacement ahead of striking ‘shock deal’ with Arsenal

The summer transfer window is now underway, and clubs are wasting no time in getting to work on new arrivals.

It’s that time of year when managers finally get some time away on holidays after wrapping up the season and handing over their list of desires to their club chiefs. Much of this part of the summer is used for preliminary talks, but we have already seen a number of deals done, with Liverpool snapping up Alexis Mac Allister, while Real Madrid have signed Jude Bellingham in one of the moves of the summer.

Here we have rounded up all the latest rumours surrounding Premier League clubs.

Jackson claims

Chelsea are said to have agreed personal terms with Villarreal star Nicolas Jackson, who has been in demand this summer.

Jackson’s move to Bournemouth fell through in the January window due to injury concerns but the forward went on to enjoy an electric finish to the season, winning LaLiga’s player of the month award for May. The Athletic are now saying Chelsea have identified Jackson as their striker signing this summer, and terms have agreed with the player.

It’s claimed Chelsea will now likely need to meet Jackson’s near-£30million release clause to seal the deal.

The 3AM Verdict: The funny thing about these reports is that personal terms always seem to come first these days. It’s always hard to believe that level of negotiations have already taken place between a club and a player without the current club having agreed a fee. Of course, conversations do happen, but to get this one moving, Chelsea are going to have to meet that release clause, with Villarreal not likely to accept anything less.

Havertz links

Crucial to Chelsea pulling off a deal to Jackson is their offloading of Kai Havertz.

Havertz was not expected to leave this summer, but Arsenal have now stepped in to strike a deal, and Fabrizio Romano says the player is willing to make the move to North London. Havertz hasn’t been a total success at Chelsea, but he has been one of the high-level performers during his time at the club, and he did win the Champions League for the Blues.

He has repaid his fee already based on that goal, but Chelsea are said to want £75million to seal the deal.

The 3AM Verdict: This one has come out of nowhere, but it does seem like it will happen. You also wonder - given the Jackson links - if Chelsea might hurry this along and take less to get Havertza out the door and bring in Jackson before another club makes a move. Havertz will be an interesting addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, able to play wide, up top and also in an attacking midfield capacity.

Gundogal latest

Ilkay Gundogan is said to remain in conversations with Manchester City over a new contract despite being named on the club’s retained list.

City have now confirmed who they will be letting go this summer, and Gundogan features on the provisional list due to contract talks remaining ongoing. The Germany international is yet to decide on his future after a hugely influential year in City’s title success.

There’s no question City want Gundogan to stay, but he may want a new challenge after winning pretty much everything at the Etihad Stadium.

The 3AM verdict: City will be desperate to keep Gundogan, who has been an immense player during his time at the club, while he has produced at so many important moments in the season just gone. From the player’s point of view, there is the lure of a new challenge and a chance to achieve success elsewhere, but he may also feel let down and undervalued given his contract has been allowed to run down.