Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Arteta contract talks, Cherki success, Kroos back at Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

13 Apr 2026 08:28 BST
6 min read

Fabrizio Romano, Transfer Market, Mikel Arteta, Rayan Cherki — © IMAGO

Football transfer news insider Fabrizio Romano brings you all the latest from the market, with updates on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal future and a big plan at Real Madrid.

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Man City’s Cherki gamble paying offer

Manchester City might have had some reservations over signing Rayan Cherki, but their gamble to snap up the France international has been richly rewarded.

“What a player, what a signing, and crucial again for Manchester City against Chelsea in a key game for the title race in England. Ten Premier League assists, so Cherki is doing fantastic at Manchester City. An excellent signing for less than €40 million,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

“What I can reveal is that Manchester City decided to trust Cherki despite knowing about several clubs that were in conversations to sign him one year before, in summer 2024, because of some reports around the player.

“City decided to trust him and give him a chance. And that was a smart decision because Cherki is doing fantastic. He is making an impact on and off the pitch, and he is really appreciated in the dressing room too. He is one of the faces of this Premier League season for sure.”

Current ETV

Rayan Cherki

AM (C), M (CR)

Man City

Rayan Cherki

AM (C), M (CR)

Man City

ETV Range

€57.5M - €70.3M

Rosenior under pressure at Chelsea

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior finds himself increasingly under pressure following Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City.

Romano says that the Englishman is not under pressure at the moment.

“Chelsea lost 3-0 against Manchester City, and that means three consecutive games without scoring a single goal, for the first time in Premier League history since 1998. It is a very complicated moment,” he told his YouTube channel.

“Chelsea’s message, though, is that they want to back and trust the manager. That is the message coming from the club. It is a difficult moment for Chelsea, for sure, but they do not forget that the manager arrived in January. So it is not the same as having a pre-season and preparing your own team. That is how Chelsea see it.

“Of course, we are in an industry that is always linked to results, so we have to understand how the end of the season will go. That will also help us understand more about the summer transfer window. But for now, the message from the club is clear. They want to trust the manager.”

© IMAGO - Liam Rosenior: Chelsea manager under threat

Arteta in Arsenal contract talks

Romano has revealed that there are ongoing contract talks between Arsenal and head coach Mikel Arteta over renewing the Spaniard’s deal with the club.

He said: “Arsenal are in conversation, in active conversation, with Arteta’s lawyer already since January and February to discuss a new contract.

“So there are contract talks ongoing between Arsenal and Arteta. But the club and the manager decided together to focus on the pitch first. There is a Champions League quarter-final return leg, there is the Premier League title race, and they decided to keep the contract situation calm for now.

“At the end of the season, in the summer, they will restart the conversation. Length of the contract, salary, all the usual topics when it is about a new deal. So the talks have already started around January and February, and the trust between Arsenal and Arteta remains total.”

© IMAGO - Mikel Arteta: In line for new Arsenal deal

Senesi makes transfer decision

Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi is one of the most coveted free agents on the transfer market, with interest in him coming from across Europe. However, the Argentine has prioritised staying in the Premier League.

Romano explained: “Despite proposals from Italy, with Juventus interested, and some calls from Spain, he wants to stay in the Premier League. So Marco Senesi will leave Bournemouth in the summer transfer window as a free agent. He is not going to sign a new deal at Bournemouth.

“His agents are already talking to Premier League clubs. The conversations will continue in the next days and weeks to pick the right project. Nothing is close to being signed or agreed yet. It will take some time to understand the projects, the proposals and the financial side. But the idea of Senesi is clear. He wants to continue in the Premier League.”

Current ETV

Marcos Senesi

D (C)

B'mouth

Marcos Senesi

D (C)

B'mouth

ETV Range

€17M - €20.8M

Real Madrid plotting Kroos return

Real Madrid might not have replaced Toni Kroos successfully on the field since he left the club as a player in 2024, but they want to bring him back to bolster the club in the background.

“Real Madrid are considering internally whether to try to bring Toni Kroos back to the club as part of the management or sporting structure,” Romano says.

“We all know Kroos retired as a player after a legendary career, with the Champions League in his hands at Wembley. Fantastic mentality, fantastic career, an incredible figure for Real Madrid and for football.

“Now Real Madrid, and also president Florentino Perez, would like to have Kroos back at the club in some role. That is the idea internally. But at the moment, Toni Kroos has not received any official proposal yet. There is no contract on the table and no negotiation.

“It is just an internal idea for now. They are discussing it, the president and the people close to him, because Kroos is seen as a perfect Real Madrid figure in terms of leadership, mentality and football passion. We still need to understand when they want to proceed, how they want to proceed, what kind of role it would be, and whether Kroos would be interested. So there are many steps before we can say here we go.”

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