The latest Premier League transfer news including the latest on Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea and more

The 2026/27 Premier League season got off to a flying start, as reigning champions Arsenal set the pace with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Coventry City. Elsewhere, there were shock wins for Hull City and Brentford over Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, while the likes of Leeds United, Ipswich and Everton also picked up big wins.

Off the field, Premier League clubs are working overtime to get their final summer transfer window business done, and it’s set to be a dramatic few days with plenty of high profile deals expected to go through. Once the window shuts late on September 1st, no more players can be bought or sold until it opens again on January 1st.

Today’s rumours round-up starts at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are bracing themselves for a big-money bid for winger Pedro Neto. The Blues are said to have set a whopping £100m asking price for the Portugal international, amid interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City.

The Daily Mail now report that the Blues will look to replace Neto should he go, and could turn to his fellow countryman Francisco Conceicao, who plays for Serie A giants Juventus. It’s claimed that the Turin side would be looking for more than the £36m they paid to sign the 23-year-old last summer, and could use the funds to make a move for Man United forward Joshua Zirkzee.

Aston Villa step up Konsa replacement hunt

Over at Villa Park, Unai Emery is scrambling to get some late window business done. Top of the priority list is a replacement for defender Ezri Konsa, following his big-money move to Arsenal. According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa have now “made contact” with Club Brugge regarding a move for their 22-year-old centre-back Joel Ordonez.

It’s said that the discussions are still in their infancy, and that, as things stand, a deal is not yet close to completion. The report notes that Villa have also been after Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis, but saw an £18m offer knocked back due to it being significantly less than the Saints’ valuation of the one-cap England international.

The 3AM Verdict: If we were Villa, we’d keep pushing for Ordonez over Harwood-Bellis. While the latter has Premier League experience, the former is a 20-cap Ecuador international who looks to be a top class prospect. That said, Ordonez is yet to be tested at a league level beyond the quality of the Belgian top tier.

Nottingham Forest set for busy window finale

Nottingham Forest’s season got off to a dismal start, as Oliver Glasner’s side slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Leeds United. Plans are afoot to improve the squad, however, with two reports suggesting the club are after new signings. Football Insider claim that Forest are readying a £25m move for Crystal Palace right-back Victor Munoz, as Glasner looks to link up with one of his favoured former players.

On top of that, transfer insider Rudy Galetti has claimed that Forest have gone so far as to have submitted a mega £70m bid for Brentford striker Igor Thiago. No further detail of the supposed bid is given, but it’s stated that a move “can’t be ruled out” despite the lethal striker’s contract not expiring until 2031.

The 3AM Verdict: If Forest can pull both these deals off, they’ll be delighted. The Munoz transfer looks to be realistic, and it would be ideal for Glasner to parachute in a player who knows his system inside out. The Thiago move sounds a little unlikely given that it’s a bit of a sideways – if not downwards – move for a striker already outgrowing a mid-table club.

Aston Villa have now made an approach to sign Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, with Unai Emery setting out to improve his defence.

Emery’s backline struggled in their opening Premier League game, succumbing to a 4-0 defeat against Brighton at the American Express Stadium, a result that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table at this very early stage.

Villa are already well-stocked at left-back, with Ian Maatsen being given the nod against the Seagulls, ahead of new signing Matteo Ruggeri, who joined from Atletico Madrid last week.

However, they have set their sights on another left-back, with Balde among the targets, having established himself as a regular starter for Barcelona over the past few years, making 42 appearances in all competitions last season.

The 22-year-old, who interestingly is represented by the same agency as Emery, was an important player for Barca, but he was outperformed by Ruggeri across some key metrics for defenders in La Liga.

That said, the full-back is still young, and Barcelona boss Hansi Flick believes he can still develop further, saying: “Balde is a player who needs confidence. His performance is incredible and he has improved and I love what I see. But he has potential and can be much better. He handles situations very well when he is under pressure. He can improve, defensively and offensively. He can score goals. It is very nice to see how he has improved.”

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have made an approach to sign Balde, but there is competition for his signature, with Premier League rivals Manchester United also keen.

The Spain international initially wanted to remain at the Camp Nou, but Barcelona’s willingness to sanction a sale has changed his stance, although they have set the relatively high asking price of €40m – €45m (£34m – £38m).

As such, Jorge Mendes has received the green light to find his client a new club, and the super agent has been in discussions with Man United.

The Red Devils have been searching for a new left-back to provide competition to Luke Shaw, whereas there are question marks about whether Villa need to sign Balde, after securing Ruggeri’s signature.

REUTERS/Juan Barbosa

Strengthening in the centre of defence may be a bigger priority, following Ezri Konsa‘s departure to Arsenal, with Emery saying: “We want one centre-back more to replace Konsa, but we have a young centre-back, (Modou Kéba) Cissé, working with us in pre-season. He’s a young player with potential.

“This is the way we are trying to work. We are building the team again. The challenge we have is a huge challenge, like every year at the beginning of the season. We can remember how we were at the beginning of last season.”