10 Mega-Transfers That Can Still Happen: Toney To Man Utd And Merino At Arsenal

The summer transfer window has life in it yet, and we could still see some huge deals get over the line leading up to Deadline Day.

Headline-making moves have already occurred this summer, with Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Champions League winners Real Madrid perhaps the most fetching.

However, the Premier League witnessed some significant switches, too. Tottenham secured the club-record signing of English striker Dominic Solanke, while Manchester United recruited both Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt in defence. Chelsea also staged a coup for Pedro Neto.

Ivan Toney, Eberechi Eze, and Victor Osimhen could all still be on the move as Mirror Football dives into the transfer market to look at some potential mega-deals in waiting.

Victor Osimhen

Nigerian striker Osimhen has been touted as the final piece of Chelsea’s incredibly expensive and heavily-populated puzzle. The 25-year-old has fallen out with current club Napoli, who tumbled to a tenth-placed finish last season after winning the Scudetto the previous campaign.

The primary reason the striker hasn’t yet moved is his transfer fee, which is thought to be in the region of £100million – only the Blues and PSG, it has been claimed, are interested clubs who can afford to purchase him.

Despite his goals last season, current Chelsea first-choice marksman Nicolas Jackson proved that an upgrade like Osimhen might be necessary during their 2-0 loss to Manchester City after he missed a range of glorious chances.

Though it seems unfathomable that Todd Boehly would part with more cash, especially £100m, if the club can offload some players like Romelu Lukaku – who is tipped to join Osimhen’s Napoli as a replacement for the Nigerian – then a new star striker could soon grace Stamford Bridge.

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino’s Arsenal move remains likely despite the delay. The Spaniard was handpicked as an ideal midfield recruit under Mikel Arteta, who wants to find a partner for Declan Rice.

The main hurdle that needs to be overcome is the transfer fee, as personal terms have reportedly been agreed. The Spanish outfit are holding out for a £30m fee, but with the player’s deal expiring next year and him being 28 years old, Arsenal are aiming to pay a little less.

A deal may also depend on the Gunners gathering funds by offloading some players, with Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale both linked with moves away from the Emirates this summer. Should the Merino deal get over the line as expected, Arteta will have another tool to play with as he sets his sights on the league title.

Ivan Toney

The England striker’s departure from Brentford seemed an inevitability this window, with the Bees not wanting to let their star player’s contract wind down and him leave for free. However, much to Toney’s dismay, there has been very little interest in his signature from Premier League clubs, prompting rumours that a move to the Saudi Pro League is on the cards.

With Tottenham having already spent £65m on a striker, Chelsea perhaps preferring Osimhen, and Arsenal uninterested, Toney’s dream move to a top English club may lie on United’s shoulders.

The rumoured £50m bid and mouthwatering contract offered by Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli might have to be matched by Erik ten Hag’s side. This may prove difficult unless potential outgoings occur. Yet, with Rasmus Hojlund out for the beginning of the season, a Red Devils move for Toney could still happen.

Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi’s big-money move to Newcastle has developed into a transfer saga. The Magpies’ back-line, particularly at centre-half, has been decimated heading into the new season.

With Sven Botman out until Christmas after tearing his ACL back in March and Fabian Schar having picked up a straight red card in the club’s opening 1-0 victory over Southampton, a player like Guehi is badly needed.

The defender, who impressed at Euro 2024 for England, has reportedly been the subject of four bids from Newcastle, the latest totalling £65m, but Crystal Palace have not yet budged. If Eddie Howe’s side are willing to part with the necessary fee, then it seems likely they’ll get their man.

Eberechi Eze

Guehi’s Palace team-mate Eberechi Eze is far less likely to be on the move this summer. However, it is still possible that he will find himself making a big move like another of his former colleagues, Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich for £47m in July.

Though there has been no concrete approach for Eze from a Premier League club, two rumoured parties interested this summer were Manchester City and Tottenham. With the latter having already spent big on Solanke, that would leave Pep Guardiola’s City as the lone suitors – and a move for Eze makes sense.

Oscar Bobb will be sidelined for months after fracturing his leg in training, and Julian Alvarez has departed for £82m. Despite the signing of Savinho, City could still feel a replacement for Alvarez is necessary and aim for Eze.

One complication with a potential deal is the expiration of the Englishman’s release clause. The 26-year-old had a £60m clause in his contract that would’ve allowed any club to pay the fee and begin negotiating with the player. However, said clause expired earlier this month, so it remains to be seen just how much it would take to coax Eze away from Selhurst Park now.

Jarrad Branthwaite

Jarrad Branthwaite looked sure to become a United player this window after the Red Devils handpicked him as their latest centre-back signing. Alas, issues regarding valuation with Everton saw the deal collapse.

The Toffees are reportedly holding out for nearer £70m, while United’s second bid for roughly £50m hasn’t yet been improved upon. In a surprising turn, Branthwaite saw his name linked to bitter rivals Liverpool, though there has supposedly been no contact between the two Merseyside clubs.

Branthwaite’s move to United is unlikely, given the £58m spent on 18-year-old centre-back Yoro and £42m on De Ligt. However, given the Frenchman has undergone foot surgery and Lisandro Martinez’s less-than-ideal injury record, United may still pull the trigger on signing Branthwaite.

Viktor Gyokeres

Though it remains unlikely Arsenal will sign a striker this summer, some moves could still mean a new number nine comes in, and Viktor Gyokeres is perhaps the most probable candidate.

The Sporting CP striker is used to English football, having guided Coventry to the play-off final in 2023. He is also reportedly available for far less than his £86m release clause, and his club paid the Sky Blues a small sum to reduce any sell-on fee, indicating they may be preparing to see him leave.

For the Gunners to finance a move for the 26-year-old Swede, they would have to sell some important players, namely Gabriel Jesus and/or Eddie Nketiah. The pair could fetch a reported £90m – enough to secure Gyokeres’ services. It seems incredibly implausible at this moment that Jesus is sold after the pre-season the Brazilian enjoyed, but with less than two weeks left of the window, anything can happen.

Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa has been publicly ousted from Juventus’ squad by new boss Thiago Motta and has a range of suitors waiting in the Premier League.

Liverpool seem a likely candidate, given their previous attempts to sign the Italian, one approach culminating in a failed £82m bid. However, a player of Chiesa’s stature could end up at any one of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester United, or Chelsea.

A rough price of £20m has been set for Chisea, but a bid as low as £15m could tempt the Old Lady to part with their star, who only has one year left on his current deal. The primary obstacle for any club approaching Chiesa is his wages, which are repeatedly so high that they’ve forced Juventus to let the ace leave.

Few clubs could afford the rumoured £180,000-a-week that Chiesa may demand, and this has driven off any interest so far. However, there are many moves left to develop, and a club could yet come in for the Italian should they have the funds.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling was thought to be considered part of Enzo Maresca’s upcoming Premier League plans. Yet, a complete omission from the Blues’ opening fixture against City has turned that expectation on its head.

It now seems probable, considering the 29-year-old’s statement and desire to play first-team football, that he will depart Chelsea this summer. He would be an incredibly difficult asset to shift, considering he is allegedly one of the league’s highest-paid players and still has three years left on his Chelsea deal.

However, a front-runner has emerged in Juventus. If they lose Chiesa, they may need a replacement and could turn to Sterling, whom they supposedly held an interest in earlier this summer. Clubs such as Newcastle and Crystal Palace have also been loosely linked with the English winger.

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona ace Ilkay Gundogan could be on the move this summer after being left out of the Catalan club’s opening La Liga fixture. The German’s return to the Etihad makes a lot of sense and has reportedly been mooted.

The 33-year-old spent seven successful seasons at City before leaving last season and joining the Blaugrana. His current deal expires in 2026, and it is unclear what fee would be demanded for the former Citizens captain.

Guardiola’s side will likely face some rivals for the German’s signature, namely from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but singing Gundogan would aid them in their league title fight and provide cover for Euros-winning enforcer Rodri, who has had a long summer.