Everton could miss out on 'ready-made' £75m star replacement as Arsenal 'open' to 'fringe player' offers

There are just days left before the summer transfer window opens for business and plenty of rumours are doing the rounds. Links both old and new have reared their heads as Premier League clubs look to dive straight into the market to bolster their squads ahead of another thrilling season.

While Euro 2024 will take up the bulk of the focus, there’s plenty to keep an eye on in the domestic game too. Let’s take a look at some of the latest Premier League rumours and what we make of them.

Everton could miss out on ‘ready-made’ Branthwaite replacement

Everton’s summer is expected to be quite the rollercoaster as, despite their relegation survival, takeover talks are not going as smoothly as hoped. There is also the matter of addressing the exit-linked players and the main man in the headlines is Jarrad Branthwaite.

A number of clubs have shown interest in the centre-back and Manchester United remain keen on snapping him up. New reports claim that the Toffees are looking for £75 million to part ways with Branthwaite, which would see them pocket a huge profit. It also seems like Everton have accepted the England international will move on this summer, as they are already lining up targets.

A report from Football Insider earlier this year claimed the Blues have identified a ‘ready-made’ replacement in the form of Hull City’s Jacob Greaves. The Everton board see the 23-year-old as a ‘natural replacement’ at centre-back. Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be keen on Greaves but their interest is ‘nowhere near’ as strong as Everton’s. However, a new update from talkSPORT says Burnley are ready to raid their upcoming Championship rivals for the defender.

The 3AM Verdict: It’s always a tough ask to replace a player that both club and fans think highly of but it seems the Blues feel strongly about Greaves. The 23-year-old started all but three games in Hull’s Championship run and captained his side on ten occasions. Greaves is valued at €15 million (£12.7m) and if they can get the full amount for Branthwaite, they will have more than enough to sign the Tigers star, with cash left over afterwards, so they should use this to their advantage by beating out Burnley for his signature.

Arsenal open to offers for £35m ‘fringe player’

Arsenal are eager to make big strides on the transfer market this summer but they also know the importance of balancing the books in the process. Reports throughout the season have linked a number of senior players to exits this year as the Gunners look to add funds to their spending pot. One man who has been placed on the transfer list is Eddie Nketiah, with Football Insider reporting that Arsenal will accept a ‘big offer’ for the goal-getter if it comes along.

Mikel Arteta’s ‘top priority’ is to bring in a new forward and with Nketiah already low down in the pecking order, the club are exploring options to potentially cash in ahead of the new season. It was reported last month that the Gunners value their homegrown talent between £30-35 million and with three years left on his current deal, Arsenal can afford to hold out for the right offer before making a decision.

The 3AM Verdict: Nketiah struggled for regular game time last season but still managed to pop up with five goals two assists in his sporadic Premier League appearances. One of his most notable displays was his hat-trick against Sheffield United and at 25, he has a lot of time left in his career to replicate similar performances, but as the main target man. He has slipped out of favour at Arsenal, who will benefit from the cash raised through his sale, but Nketiah also deserves his chance to be an untouchable starter at another club.