Transfer news live: Arsenal in last-minute Eze talks, Isak to Liverpool update, Hojlund makes Man Utd exit demand | OneFootball

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Opta Profile: Eberechi Eze - Transfer heist in north London?

Arsenal have dramatically stolen Eberechi Eze from Tottenham’s grasp after acting decisively following a major injury blow to Kai Havertz.

The Gunners moved quickly after the news that Havertz damaged his knee in their win over Manchester United, and look set to complete a transfer worth £60m and £7.5m in add-ons – pretty much exactly Eze’s release clause, which expired for this window last Thursday. Spurs are now searching for a new attacker as the deadline looms with Manchester City winger Savinho remaining a target.

Alexander Isak’s explosive statement this week accused Newcastle United of “broken promises” and “lost trust”, with Liverpool still strongly linked with a move for the Swedish striker. The Reds’ offer of £110m fell short of Newcastle’s valuation and the North East club issued a statement of their own saying conditions for a sale were unlikely to be met before the transfer window deadline. Newcastle have missed out on a raft of strikers and their latest bid, offering £40m to Brentford for Yoane Wissa, has also been rejected.

Elsewhere, Manchester United continue to endure frustration with their goalkeeper situation, and could yet rival Manchester City for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while striker Rasmus Hojlund could be on his way to Napoli. Chelsea are closing in on Brighton winger Julio Enciso and are still working on a deal for United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Leeds are set to announce AC Milan’s Noah Okafor, and Nottingham Forest are close to completing a deal for Douglas Luiz from Juventus.

Spurs still keen on Savinho

Tottenham remain keen on Manchester City winger Savinho, reports Fabrizio Romano.

However, the City hierarchy are currently blocking a move, with the club interested in Rodrygo if Savinho were to leave.

City are said to want around £70m for the Brazilian, and they reportedly turned down a proposal worth around €50m recently.

Savinho has emerged as a surprise target for Spurs (Getty Images)

Chris Wilson21 August 2025 18:02

Eze confirmed to miss Palace's Conference League play-off

Eberechi Eze will indeed not feature in Crystal Palace’s Conference League play-off match tonight, with the England international on the verge of signing for Arsenal.

The decision “follows direct contact between Eze and Oliver Glasner today”, according to Fabrizio Romano, and a medical has already been booked for the attacker.

How Arsenal silently hijacked Spurs’ Eberechi Eze transfer well before anyone knew

Just hours before Arsenal clinched a deal for Eberechi Eze, in an even crueller twist, Tottenham Hotspur finally put in the offer they felt would be acceptable to Crystal Palace. There had been a verbal agreement. Spurs just never got a proper answer. The reason was soon to become clear.

After days of difficult and painstaking negotiations between Daniel Levy and Steve Parish, Arsenal had appeared to steal in within a matter of mere hours. That has already seen this move cast as the mother of all transfer hijackings, especially with how it is another North London derby victory.

Except, it wasn’t really a hijacking at all. The Independent can now reveal that Arsenal had actually struck the principles of an agreement with Palace as early as the morning of Sunday 10 August. They managed to keep it extraordinarily quiet, as illustrated by how it was only after Wednesday evening’s sensations that multiple sources were willing to talk about it.

How Arsenal silently hijacked Spurs’ Eberechi Eze deal well before anyone knew

Exclusive: It seemed the Gunners swooped past their North London rivals on Wednesday, but they made their move much earlier than that

Chris Wilson21 August 2025 16:46