Barcelona close to deal for Arsenal's Jesus

Barcelona are closing in on a move for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus worth £8.6m (10m euros).

A deal for the Brazil international is believed to be at an advanced stage and, while the finer details still require finalising, the transfer is expected to be completed before Tuesday’s deadline.

Napoli had shown an interest in Jesus, but the 29-year-old is set to join last season’s Spanish league champions and will travel for a medical on Monday.

Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, scoring 32 goals and adding 22 assists in 123 appearances for the Gunners.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Jesus was not training with the squad before Monday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa (20:00 BST).

When asked whether that meant Jesus was leaving, Arteta said: “Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it’s clear.”

Jesus would be Barcelona’s third signing from a Premier League club this summer, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and Rodri from Manchester City.

Earlier this week, Barcelona’s pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez - also an Arsenal target - appeared to end as sources told BBC Sport that Atletico would not negotiate with their Spanish rivals.

Meanwhile, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a medical with Al-Hilal.

It is believed a deal of at least £50m has been agreed for the 25-year-old Brazil international, after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made clear he is not in his plans.

It is understood Martinelli will sign a four-year contract, with Al-Hilal offering wages thought to be significantly more than his reported £180,000 per week deal at Arsenal.

It looked as though Barcelona were not planning to sign another striker in the event of failing to capture Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, who continue to make a deal extremely difficult.

However, the unexpected availability of Gabriel Jesus has changed Barca’s approach. The Brazilian was not initially part of the club’s plans, but the circumstances surrounding his situation at Arsenal have opened the door to a move.

Barcelona have taken advantage of the fact that he is no longer as prominent in Arsenal’s squad as he has been, especially with Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres now ahead of him in the pecking order.

With Jesus’ Arsenal contract running until the summer of 2027, the club are willing to consider his departure for a fee rather than losing him on a free transfer next year.

The main question surrounding the move to Barca is Jesus’ injury history. He has suffered significant knee problems during his time at Arsenal. An anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee, suffered in January 2025, kept him out for 10 months.

None of these necessarily means Barcelona will abandon their long-term interest in Alvarez.

Following Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres’ departures from the club, Barcelona wanted to add a natural centre-forward to their attacking options. Jesus offers something different from a traditional number nine, with his ability to operate across the front line and contribute to the build-up making him an attractive option for Hansi Flick.

If the deal is completed, Flick will be adding a highly experienced forward to his squad. Jesus made 27 appearances for Arsenal last season in all competitions, scoring six goals, while his six-season spell at Manchester City produced 236 appearances and 95 goals.

For Barca, the move represents a relatively low-cost opportunity to add experience, versatility and Premier League pedigree to their attack.

Boreham Wood accept Vardy-beating record fee for Abdulmalik

Swedish club Djurgardens have agreed a National League record fee thought to be in excess of £1.5m to sign winger Abdul Abdulmalik from Boreham Wood.

The 23-year-old’s move breaks the record fee paid for a fifth-tier player in England, set in 2012 when Leicester City paid Fleetwood Town £1m for Jamie Vardy.

Abdulmalik is currently in Sweden completing a medical after the deal was agreed on Sunday morning.

The forward enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025-26, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists as Boreham Wood reached the National League play-off final, where he scored and set up a goal at Wembley.

The agreement also brings to an end a long-running transfer saga, with the Hertfordshire club having rejected bids of £1m and £1.5m for the former Millwall academy player earlier this summer.

Abdulmalik said: “I’m ready for the next challenge. I’m ready to prove to myself and those around me that I’m capable of reaching the top.”

He scored in his final appearance for Boreham Wood in mid-August but subsequently made himself unavailable for selection in an attempt to secure a move.

Clubs in England, including Peterborough United, had also expressed an interest.

Abdulmalik was previously an England Under-17s international but was released by Millwall in 2024 and had an unsuccessful trial at Portsmouth.

Stockholm-based Djurgardens are currently fifth in the Allsvenskan - which runs from April to November - but have two games in hand on the majority of their rivals and remain in contention to qualify for Europe.

Hamburg in advanced talks for Arsenal's Vieira

Hamburg are in advanced talks to buy Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira in a 10m euro (£8.6m) deal.

The Gunners are actively trying to offload the 26-year-old before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

It is understood there is a growing expectation at Emirates Stadium that a deal with the German side will be agreed.

Vieira spent last season on loan at Hamburg, making 29 Bundesliga appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.

The Portuguese midfielder joined Arsenal from Porto in 2022 for £34m but failed to establish himself at the Emirates.

He made 47 appearances for the Gunners – but only five of those were Premier League starts.

Vieira was loaned back to Porto during the 2024-25 campaign before his spell at Hamburg last season.

Teenage Cardiff midfielder Donczew joins Arsenal

Cardiff City teenager Axel Donczew has joined Arsenal as part of the Premier League champions’ first-year scholarship intake.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder made headlines last October when he became Cardiff’s youngest ever senior player, a record broken this August by Noah Anyadike.

Cardiff say the club offered terms for Donczew to continue his development with the Bluebirds and made efforts to retain the player, but said he “opted to pursue a move away from the Welsh capital”.

Donczew has also signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal, a move the north London club say will “lead to him signing professional terms with us”.

The Bluebirds academy product has played for Wales at youth level, though he is also eligible to play for Poland.

Donczew was just 15 years and 234 days old when he came on as a substitute in Cardiff’s EFL Trophy game against Newport County.

He made a second first-team appearance for Cardiff last December, featuring as a substitute in an EFL Trophy defeat by Wimbledon.

Liverpool agree £123m deal for PSG's Barcola

Liverpool have agreed a deal worth up to £123m for Paris St-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.

PSG initially valued the France attacker at £145m, but the Reds have agreed a package worth an initial £106m with £17m in potential add-ons.

The 23-year-old is expected to have a medical this weekend before signing a long-term contract at Anfield.

Right-footed Barcola prefers to play on the left wing and his impending arrival will increase the doubts around Cody Gakpo’s future at Liverpool.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have shown interest in the Netherlands forward.

Liverpool are also in the market for a right winger, having explored moves for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.

Barcola has become a main target for Liverpool as they look to bolster their attack following the departures of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in the past two summers.

He moved to PSG from Lyon in 2023 for a reported £38.5m and has won three Ligue 1 titles, two Champions Leagues, the French Cup twice, as well as the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.

Barcola, who scored three goals for France in this summer’s World Cup, can also play on the right or through the middle and could provide cover for Alexander Isak while Hugo Ekitike recovers from a serious Achilles injury.

Speaking before Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest (12:30 BST), Reds boss Andoni Iraola was asked about Gakpo’s future and said he “cannot guarantee anything”, but wants to keep the 27-year-old at the club.

“[Gakpo] has been very good since he came back from the World Cup and his holiday, with a very good attitude. I hope we can keep him at that level because I think he has been very influential in our games,” Iraola he said.

Barcola has been a priority for Liverpool since Yan Diomande opted to join Real Madrid earlier in the window. The Frenchman’s move to Anfield - for up to £123m - would be a record fee for a player leaving Ligue 1.

Barcola will bring star factor and inject real quality into a Liverpool attack that could become feared if last summer’s expensive signings Isak and Florian Wirtz can step up.

PSG can feasibly look at the deal as an excellent outcome, given they signed Barcola for £38m and will more than triple their money - if add-ons are met - for a player who is entering the last two years of his contract and has shown no willingness to sign an extension.

Barcola was often behind Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wings in the biggest games last season and PSG have added to their options in those areas this summer by signing Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Godts.

However Liverpool will be pleased with the deal too, having held firm earlier in the summer in terms of meeting PSG’s valuation of £145m - but eventually bringing in one of Europe’s most exciting forwards.