Folarin Balogun has completed his move from Arsenal to AS Monaco in a deal that could ultimately be worth £34.4 million.
The striker has become the second most expensive sale in Arsenal’s history, marginally behind the £35 million they received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017.
It was thought that Arsenal might receive close to £40 million for the 22-year-old but the club has negotiated a significant sell-on clause as part of this transfer to Monaco. Arsenal will receive 17.5 per cent of the fee if Balogun goes on to be sold by the Ligue 1 side.
Balogun will hope to pick up where he left off in France after an impressive loan spell with Reims last season. The United States international, a graduate of the Arsenal academy, struck 21 goals in 37 league appearances for Reims in 2022/23.
Balogun has signed a five-year contract at Monaco after the French side moved ahead of Inter Milan in the race for his signature this summer.
Brentford rival West Ham for PSG forward Hugo Ekitike
Brentford are firmly in the race for Hugo Ekitiké in the battle involving several European clubs for the Paris Saint-Germain forward.
Ekitiké, 21, has attracted interest from a number of teams during the window after it emerged he would be available, possibly on a loan depending on the terms of the deal. West Ham have been linked with the France Under-20 international as cover for Michail Antonio.
It is understood that Ekitiké is a deal Brentford have been working on recently as they look to bolster their attacking positions for Thomas Frank before the transfer deadline on Friday.
As reported by Telegraph Sport this week, they went back in for Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson after having bids rejected for the Wales international earlier in the window.
Ekitiké is a similar player, with speed that attracted Champions League clubs when he made a breakthrough at Reims two seasons ago. Newcastle United also worked on a deal for him at the time but lost out to PSG eventually, who landed him on a loan that led to a €35 million transfer.
Carroll across the channel
Former England striker Andy Carroll is close to a shock move to French club Amiens SC and has travelled to finalise his deal to the Ligue 2 side.
The 34-year-old was at Reading last season where he scored nine goals in 30 Championship appearances but could not prevent relegation to League One, with Ruben Selles picking him twice this campaign.
But a move to France has emerged as a possibility early this week, which would see him be part of a promotion campaign for Amiens to return to the top flight for the first time since the 2019/20 season.
Carroll has not played abroad during a career that has seen him move to Liverpool for £35 million and also enjoy a successful spell at West Ham.
His season at Reading was the second time he signed for the club after a short-term move two seasons ago during a campaign when he also played for West Brom. He is in the last year of his contract at Reading, who have granted him the move away from the Madejski Stadium.
Luton eye United centre-back
Manchester United centre-back Teden Mengi is on the radar of Luton Town manager Rob Edwards in his search for a centre-back ahead of the deadline.
Mengi, 21, has had previous loans at Derby and Birmingham and will be made available by United for the right move that will give him the opportunity for first-team football.
Axel Tuanzebe, who left United in the summer, has been training at Luton as he looks for a new club. He is also a centre-back, which is a priority position for Edwards in the market.
Spence to Elland Road on loan
Tottenham full-back Djed Spence has signed for Leeds United on a season-long loan to be part of Daniel Farke’s bid for Championship promotion.
The 23-year-old was promoted to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest before his move to Spurs last summer but did not break through as a first-team regular and was loaned to Rennes in France for the second half of the season.
Leeds have scrapped their bid to land Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri after talks over a £5 million move.
Wolves look to bolster defensive options
Wolves are set to sign Girona centre-back Santiago Bueno in their first cash signing of the summer transfer window.
Bueno, a Uruguay international, is flying into the UK for a medical on Wednesday and will sign a long-term contract.
Wolves have raised almost £100m in player sales this summer and incoming transfers have been restricted, ultimately leading to the departure of head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Bueno could be the first arrival of this week, with at least two more expected, as Gary O’Neil looks to build on two successive victories.
Moore could move from Bournemouth
Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore is expected to attract several bids before the summer transfer window closes.
The Wales international, 31, has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and was taken off at half-time of the EFL Cup win against Swansea City in his first start of the campaign.
Clubs in the Championship have been enquiring over the player who went to the World Cup but he could attract interest from Premier League clubs such as Sheffield United.
Moore has experience in the top flight from last season at the Vitality Stadium when he made 27 appearances in the Premier League.
New Serie A club interested in Stoke midfielder
Italian club Frosinone, newly promoted to Serie A, have made an enquiry over Stoke midfielder Josh Laurent over an initial loan deal. Laurent’s club are keen to keep a player who has started every game this season