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Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Yildiz to Arsenal latest, Barcola update, Gakpo to Man City?
25 Aug 2026 07:35 BST |
8 min read
News
Football news expert Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on several major transfer stories, including the latest on Kenan Yildiz, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo.
Nico Gonzalez completes Newcastle transfer
Manchester City are set to be extremely active in the market before Deadline Day and they have now finalised the sale of Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle United, as per Romano.
He told his YouTube channel: “I can confirm to you my information on Nico Gonzalez. One of the stories of the day, Newcastle have their new midfielder. Everything is being planned in terms of the medical test and contract signing.
“Everything has been agreed between Nico, his agent Jorge Mendes and Newcastle in terms of the contract. Everything is agreed between the two clubs, Man City and Newcastle.
“The understanding is that Man City have already given the green light for the player to go for his medical and sign his contract. So, it is now time to schedule everything, and then Nico Gonzalez this week will become a new Newcastle player. They need quality in midfield, they need leadership after losing Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, and Nico is coming for £47 million plus £3 million in add-ons.”
Current ETV
Nico González
DM, M (C)
Man City
Nico González
DM, M (C)
Man City
ETV Range
€38.9M - €47.6M
Enzo Fernandez remains a Man City target
With Nico departing, Man City are set to step up their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez, with talks expected to intensify over the coming days.
Romano revealed: “The Enzo story is absolutely open. The Enzo story is absolutely alive. Man City are talking with Javier Pastore, the agent of the player, on a daily basis, before the deadline, after the deadline. So, Man City are still working on Enzo. I will tell you more very soon. But Man City are on it. Man City are not giving up. And so, the Enzo story is absolutely alive.
“Chelsea's message is that they want big money. They set a deadline at £120 million and it has to be, according to Chelsea, more than this. But also Chelsea make it very clear that they will only open the doors to his exit if the money is right and if they can still improve the squad.
“So, that is the message from Chelsea. Let's follow this situation. But I want to tell you once again, after the words of Xabi Alonso, that the story is pretty much alive.”
Man City agree deal for Allan
In addition to their pursuit of Fernandez, Man City have agreed a deal to sign Palmeiras winger Allan as a replacement for Savinho.
“Talking about stories of the day, done deal was what I was reporting to you about Allan, this Brazilian winger, 22 years old, from Palmeiras,” Romano said. “Man City agreed a deal with Palmeiras in recent hours. Also with the agent of the player, everything is done. €40 million plus add-ons for Allan, who is ready to fly to England this week for the medical test and contract signing.
“Tonight, Man City and Palmeiras start to exchange all the documents, and then any moment could be good for Allan to say goodbye to his teammates, as he will do already today, and then fly to England to become the new Manchester City winger.
“And Man City are not done because Savinho is going, [Omar] Marmoush is going, and so Man City need two new players up front. One is going to be Allan and they want one more.”
Man City consider Cody Gakpo hijack
Cody Gakpo has emerged as a shock late signing for Man Utd and they are keen to hijack Tottenham’s deal for the Dutchman.
“The meeting for Cody Gakpo took place, but do not forget that Tottenham have an agreement with the player,” Romano confirmed.
“Tottenham agreed personal terms with Gakpo. So now we have to see if Man City will be able to kind of hijack this agreement between Tottenham and Cody Gakpo on the contract and try to reach an agreement with Liverpool.
“But also do not forget that Liverpool are not selling Cody Gakpo until they get two wingers on the market. The top target is Bradley Barcola and then one more.”
Liverpool push for Bradley Barcola transfer
With Gakpo potentially set to leave, Liverpool are ready to bring Bradley Barcola to the club, despite Paris Saint-Germain’s lofty asking price.
“On Bradley Barcola, guys, I told you since the beginning, it is not going to be €170m,” Romano revealed. “With all respect for PSG, he feeling of those in the industry has always been that it is never going to be €170m, but it will still be a big amount of money.
“And this is why Liverpool and PSG are having a direct exchange day by day. So, the conversation is continuing behind the scenes. I told you the updates, the media updates on this story are not so traditional, like an official bid, this money, accepted, rejected, because this is a direct conversation between directors, between owners.
“So, they are talking in a direct way, Liverpool and PSG, but the deal is alive. Barcola is absolutely, absolutely a deal that Liverpool want to complete in the next few days, and my expectation is absolutely for Liverpool to go very strong for Barcola.
“Then you still need to reach an agreement for PSG to have the ‘Here We Go’. So, that remains the story and Liverpool are going very strong for Bradley Barcola. And then they want one more if Gakpo goes to Tottenham or Man City.”
Arsenal interest in Kenan Yildiz fades after injury
Arsenal are also interested in signing a new winger, but an injury to Kenan Yildiz has halted their pursuit of the Juventus star.
“Do Arsenal like Kenan Yildiz? Of course they do. Who doesn't like Kenan Yildiz? But this is not news from today, yesterday, or this week. That is a story from April, May, June.
“Arsenal always appreciated Kenan. But Arsenal knew that Juventus were not selling the player. That is it. End of the story since May. So, no chance. And now he is injured. He is going to be out for some time. So, forget about Kenan Yildiz.”
Rafael Leao offered to Aston Villa
However, fellow Serie A attacker Rafael Leao could be on his way to the Premier League, with Aston Villa among his suitors.
“We have to follow the situation of Rafael in the next few days because Aston Villa have been offered by the agents of the player the possibility to go for Rafael,” Romano stated.
“There was a direct contact between Gerry Cardinale, AC Milan chairman, and Aston Villa owners to discuss Rafael Leao. The conversation between Milan and Villa was on several players already days ago. For example, Milan were offering Fikayo Tomori, the English defender who is not part of the project and was offered to Aston Villa, who are looking for a centre-back.
“But now the favourite to become the new centre-back is Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge. So, for example, they were talking about players who might leave Milan, and then there is also Rafael in this list of players who can leave Milan in the final days of the window.
“What is the point now? Villa have been offered this possibility. Now it is on Villa to decide whether they want to go for him or not. The two owners are talking. There is a conversation. Leao could be open to Premier League football, but at the moment that is it.
“At the moment, it is still a conversation offered by AC Milan to Aston Villa. So, let's see if it is going to develop into a serious negotiation. For sure, an interesting one to watch because Rafael is an important player and is going to be one of the important names of these final days of the summer transfer window.”
Romano continued: “For Leao there are also calls from Saudi Arabia and Galatasaray. Galatasaray have been there for a few weeks now. It has been since the start of the work. Galatasaray have been around Rafael Leao, and so Gala remain interested in Leao.
“Let's see what is going to happen with Leao, but Gala are still there also for the Portuguese winger. So, it is going to be very interesting to see what happens with his situation.”
Gabriel Martinelli nears Al-Hilal transfer
Finally, Romano confirmed that Gabriel Martinelli is edging closer towards an Arsenal exit amid interest from Al-Hilal.
“Big optimism tonight around Gabriel Martinelli,” Romano confirmed. “I told you that Martinelli is on the Al-Hilal list and they made contact with people close to Martinelli. Now the agreement between Al-Hilal and Arsenal is very close for around £50-55 million. The starting request from Arsenal is £60 million, but the feeling is that around £50-55 million the deal could be done.
“Martinelli is opening doors. There is a conversation ongoing on personal terms with his agency, Roc Nation. And so, the conversation is underway. Gabriel Martinelli could be the next player to join Al-Hilal with Simone Inzaghi in Saudi Arabia.”
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