Chelsea storm ahead of Liverpool in £50m wonderkid transfer race as Everton eye first summer signing

It’s time for Tuesday’s round-up of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re going to get things started today with an update on what’s set to be a hotly-contested summer transfer battle over a Bournemouth player.

If TeamTalk have their facts straight, then Chelsea have edged ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign the Cherries’ prodigiously-talented defender Dean Huijsen, having offered the Spain international a “slightly better financial package” during preliminary discussions.

Huijsen, who has been one of the best young players in the Premier League over the past six months or so, has a £50m release clause in his contract at the Vitality Stadium and has also been the subject of reported interest from Real Madrid.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool are making a “strong push” to persuade the towering centre-half to stay in England, however, although the Blues are said to be “confident” of getting their man – and appear willing to pay to do so.

The 3AM Verdict: This has all the hallmarks of a full-on “saga” this summer, and it doesn’t sound as though Huijsen is in a rush to make a decision amid a host of options – we doubt preliminary talks and hints of possible salaries will count for much just now. If Chelsea don’t make the Champions League, for instance, they have a hard sell ahead of them even if they pop a few quid extra on top.

Manchester City ready bid for rival side’s wing-back

Up to the recently-deposed champions, now, with a story from TBR Football which suggests that Manchester City could be getting ready to raid rival Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers – in the hope of signing wing-back Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Several recent stories across the press had suggested that Pep Guardiola and his transfer team were prioritising a fresh approach for Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso, but this story has them “conducting background checks” on the Algerian as they prepare to “formalise their interest”.

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Whether that’s as a Plan B to Cambiaso or instead of the Italian, we don’t know, but this report acknowledges that they have also “maintained contact” with the Juve star. Wolves are said to be willing to sell Aït-Nouri, however, so long as their £40m asking price is met.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s much more noise being made about Cambiaso but Juventus may not be all that keen to sell – we suspect that if City are in for Aït-Nouri, it’s likely as a second choice. £40m seems like a solid price, at least, although Arsenal are mentioned briefly as a possible rival for that transfer.

Everton in ‘advanced talks’ over first summer signing

David Moyes may not have to wait long to get some reinforcements from Everton’s new owners this summer according to a story from GiveMeSport, who allege that the Toffees are “in advanced talks” with Panathinaikos over a deal for right-back Georgios Vagiannidis.

The primary source for this rumour is actually the Greek media, who claim that Everton have already “submitted an official offer” for the 23-year-old, who spent one season at Inter Milan as a teenager but has otherwise plied his trade in the Superleague.

No word, unfortunately, one how big the offer that’s allegedly been made actually is, but right-back is a clear priority position this summer given the lack of options – especially options who aren’t very old – in that area.

The 3AM Verdict: A more attacking sort of full-back than we’re used to seeing from Everton, Vagiannidis knows how to defend but is at his best stretching the pitch and getting into good areas going forward – so if this is true, Everton could be moving in a more adventurous direction under the Friedkin Group. As for whether it really is true, we’ll admit to not knowing how reliable those Greek sources are…