Ben Jacobs REVEALS LATEST on Arsenal's KEY TARGETS, Adam Wharton & Cristian Romero's FUTURE!

Paul Hawksby, Andy Jacobs here on TalkSport, time to talk transfers once again with our senior football correspondent, Ben Jacobs.Hello, Ben.Good afternoon.Let's start with one quite close to my heart.Cristian Romero to Arsenal.It won't seem to go away.

My gut feeling is with three years left on his contract, there's not a way in the world Spurs would sell him to Arsenal.But we were just chatting about this off air.If the option is, I don't know, 25 million from Atletico or 75 million from Arsenal, it might pique their interest.But what would you say the chances are of this happening?

very slim unless there's a clause that we don't know about because Tottenham don't want to do business with Arsenal and as you said it would take astronomical money to even start a conversation and Arsenal have been quite disciplined in the market Romero would be open to Arsenal as one option but nothing really more to say at this point and Atleti are the ones working on this deal they know the number because Napoli have already agreed a 40 million euros fee it's just a case of unable as it stands to get terms over the line with the player because as he said last year he would be very open to a move to La Liga which by all accounts would be both the football and as importantly a family decision.So as it stands Atleti feel in control.Barcelona could in theory with Ronaldo Reo going off to Liverpool on an initial loan with a buy option also look to strengthen in defense but La Liga looking like the most likely destination and if Arsenal want to change that they would likely to put crazy money on the table and still hope that Tottenham answer that call.Arsenal are also keen on Esri Konca, there's a goal from valuation with Aston Villa but they've not given up on that as a possible option as well.

Can you tell us a bit more about Joaquin Sace from Club Bruges, Manchester United and Arsenal are showing an interest in him so tell us more.

Yeah at the moment there's a possibility of a move there to the Premier League but both clubsare assessing options.And I think this is a deal that, like with Christos Solis, Club Brugge would be willing to sanction.Nothing advanced, though, at this point.But the player's been tracked for quite some time, particularly, I'm told, by Arsenal.We know that Manchester United's window is not done as it stands yet either.

And for United, there's a few priority positions that they're looking to address.One is potentially the left wing, if Marcus Rashford departs one is still another central midfielder and then some form of defensive cover in the long run they may be gonna need a replacement for Harry Maguire but of course both Lenny or in aid in heaven viewed as a young partnership that could be the foundations of Manchester United Football Club for some time to come and then over on that left -hand side still finding another left back because the fact that Diego Leon is young Luke Shaw's not gonna be around forever but of course Patrick D 'Orgo if Rashford returns could play in a more defensive minded position.So all of this under discussion at Manchester United as they assess the market and work out where they want to put the remainder of their budget because there is still money to spend.

We spoke about Endrit with Andy Brassel earlier on.He wasn't all together sure this was the best move for him, not because it's Villa, just maybe a move to the Premier League per se isn't the best move for him at the moment.Where are we at with this, Ben?

Yeah, he's got other options though as well outside the Premier League, including AS Roma, and it's being driven by the player, according to my information, because he wants to stay at Real Madrid, and that means suddenly there's only a loan available, and that takes out a few clubs that maybe love Endrit, but aren't particularly comfortable with the idea of only having him for one season and not having at least an option to buy.Aston Villa as they've shown in previous seasons are willing to do these kind of loans and they're interested and they've definitely held some initial talks but it's on Endrick and Real Madrid and there are several clubs and those that think the Premier League isn't the right fitwill ultimately be only proven wrong if Hendrik makes that move and my own opinion is that he is built for the Premier League because he's quick, he's more physical than he was a year ago and playing under a manager like Unai Emery with his philosophy and coaching which of course has come from outside of the Premier League could be the right kind of fit and pathway and I think that Real would see it that way.just about finding a move that isn't necessarily driven by, say, Champions League football, even though Aston Villa have got it.It's all about more minutes.So Endrik is going to be looking less about prestige and more about the right fit to be playing week in week out.

So Villa are there, but keep an eye on Roma and several other clubs who have made inquiries, mostly from Europe's big five leagues.

Okay.What news of Adam Wharton?Because Palace would love to keep him.

He's a terrific player.He's been linked with quite a few clubs, hasn't he?But what's the latest?

Yeah, no real news on Adam Wharton.It's been surprisingly quiet.In fact, there were some early inquiries as Chelsea looked at their midfield market, but they've now added Jordan Henderson and they tried for Granit Xhaka, and the feeling is that Chelsea need to focus on outgoings rather than incomings anyway.Of course, we should point out from Palace's point of view, they'd love to just keep and we'll hope that it stays quiet between now and the end of the window.Manchester City are maybe one club to also keep an eye on because they may an inquiry before the window opened.As it stands, they're focused on Ayub Buadi.

Advanced talks ongoing with Lille and City would like to sign Buadi now, even though Lille would prefer a loan back or a pre -agreement and then the player to move in 2027.But it's not impossible that Manchester City should, Rodri, as expected, join Barcelona, look for more than one midfielder.So we might get a twist towards the end of the window with Adam Wharton.But at the moment,I think one of the biggest surprises of this window is that all of the noise and inquiries came before the window opened and as far as I'm aware as of today Palace haven't had a single bid.

Interesting to see what happens with Enzo Fernandes whether he goes to City whether he stays at Chelsea or he goes and he goes to Madrid that might affect.

Well that would free up quite a lot of money wouldn't it?Bradley Barkler, there's a couple of stories today suggesting that Arsenal could try and hijack any move to Liverpool.What's the story there?

Yeah, it wouldn't really be a hijack in the sense that...Arsenal appreciate Bradley Barcala and Barcala would like to move to Liverpool.Maybe you get a situation where the highest bidder wins Barcala because I don't think he wants to stay at PSG regardless.And Arsenal are basically drawing up a list of names because they didn't get Vinny Junior, who extended at Real Madrid.Kenan Yildiz is another that they like at Juventus, but he only recently signed a new deal.Ileman N 'Jai, as we've reported on Talk Sport.

In theory, Junior Krupi, but Bournemouth have always said not for sale.And now he's got a Metatarsal.injury so that rules out any kind of imminent move and then Julian Alvarez even though we can't really call him an out and out left winger another target that if Arsenal are given any encouragement on because Atleti prefer maybe to sell outside of La Liga than to Barcelona they'd be prepared to move there as well but of course Atleti's public stance is that Alvarez will stay he's back in training so key to the narrative there is going to be how those talks go and if Alvarez agitates for a move or just accepts that he's going to stay at the football club but yeah Arsenal in theory could decide Barcelona is somebody that they want to enter the fray for that plays into PSG's hands in getting as close as they can to this 170 million euros number but Liverpool feel in control of this narrative because they're in contact with PSG and I think more important than worrying about what Arsenal do to Liverpool is waiting for Paris Saint -Germain to maybe sign Goalkeeperfrom Ajax and in addition Ferran Torres is very close from Barcelona for 50 million euros.He's already agreed a five -year contract and Magnus Akljus has come in as well.So once PSG get who they need through the door, and I think it might be clearer this week, then Liverpool will feel that they can finally make a bid and maybe suddenly that Barcelona price comes down.

Now, we often, when we talk about swap deals, we say they never happen.They never happen, swap deals.Money always changes, never a straight swap deal.But apparently, we are told, Ben, you can tell us if this is the case, Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson could be doing a swap with no money changing hands between Everton and Palace.

That's a loss for Palace.

Well, they spent 35 million on Brennan Johnson in January.It's not been the best move, I think it's fair to say.McNeil nearly went to Palace in January on loan with an obligation at 20 million.So this is a chunky old loss for Palace, isn't it, in a short space of time.

Yeah, it appears quite damaging for their books, but we understand it's a good old -fashioned swap deal.I think it might be the first Premier League to Premier League that we've seen or window and usually clubs do these mirrored or separate deals, but there doesn't appear to be cash changing hands, which I agree is a surprise because Brennan Johnson prior to Jorgen Strand Larsson arriving was briefly Crystal Palace's club record.Whereas with McNeil a lower valuation if we look at the market valuation anyway, and as you say, He thought that he was going and making this move to Crystal Palace in January only to find that there was a last -minute paperwork issue which disappointed the player at the time, but he was sold on that move.So personal terms on a four -year contract there, not a problem.Both players undergoing the medical today.They may even be completed by the time we're live because they were given permission to start them this morning.

this will be one going one way one going the other in a swap deal and it does look on paper or financially like the deal to gain Johnson is a better one but I think Palace would argue that he hasn't worked there and they always wanted McNeil and that's maybe why the two clubs have been able to come to this solution good stuff Ben as always we'll speak to you soon thank you cheers