Arsenal have one of the clubs said to be interested in a move for the Nigerian striker as Mikel Arteta looks to add competition up front.

However, Galatasaray have just shown exactly how hard the Turkish champions will fight to keep him.

Victor Osimhen to Arsenal rated ‘unlikely'

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

The Football Whispers Index weighs finances, need, motivation, the selling club's incentive and the strength of the reporting behind a deal.

Arsenal tick most of those boxes, with a statistical case for Osimhen over Viktor Gyokeres and no immediate financial barrier to a fee near his market value.

The single number that pulls this into Unlikely is Galatasaray's own selling club incentive score, which sits close to the floor after their public refusal to do business at any price this summer.

Financial viability

The three years left on Osimhen's Galatasaray contract matter because it removes any urgency for the Turkish club to cash in before his value depreciates.

His wages are the real obstacle, since matching a weekly figure north of Bukayo Saka's would blow open the pay structure Arsenal have built around their homegrown captain.

None of that changes the raw affordability picture, given Arsenal's Squad Cost Ratio headroom leaves them free to negotiate a fee without the compliance pressure some Premier League rivals are under.

Buying club need

Gyokeres has done little wrong since arriving from Sporting, but Arsenal chasing both Alvarez and Osimhen in the same window tells its own story about wanting a genuine alternative rather than pure squad depth.

The gap between the two strikers' underlying numbers is wide enough that this would not be a like-for-like swap; it would be an upgrade on the numbers alone.

Spending close to £110m on Tzolis and Guimaraes already this summer shows Arsenal are building rather than settling, even after winning the league.

Player motivation

Moving from a Round of 16 exit to a Champions League finalist is the kind of jump that usually sells itself to a player chasing bigger nights in his career.

What complicates it is that Osimhen would not be walking into a guaranteed start the way he does in Istanbul, and that uncertainty cuts against the appeal of the move.

A pay cut on top of that uncertainty is a lot to ask of a player currently paid among the highest wages in Turkish football history.

Selling club incentive

Turning down more than double what Arsenal are ever likely to offer tells you everything about where Galatasaray's board currently stands.

Ozbek's language was not the usual transfer-window hedging; it was about as categorical as a public statement from a club president gets.

With no alternative senior striker signed and Osimhen scoring freely in the season's opening weeks, there is no obvious pressure point pushing Galatasaray toward a sale.

Market momentum

Three separate outlets independently placing Arsenal in contact with Osimhen's camp is enough to treat the interest as real rather than speculative.

The presence of Tottenham and Manchester United in the same conversation, according to TEAMtalk, suggests Arsenal are not operating with any special access even if they seem to be moving first.

What the reporting has not produced, at any point, is a number that Galatasaray have engaged with, which is the piece still missing from turning interest into a deal.

Victor Osimhen to Arsenal: Will or won't it happen?

For this to happen, Osimhen likely needs to force the issue himself, the way plenty of unsettled strikers have done before him, and accept less money to do it.

For it to die, all Galatasaray have to do is nothing, since their current position requires no further action from them at all.

With eight days left before the window shuts, doing nothing is exactly what a club that has just rejected £128m looks capable of.

Here, FootballWhispers counts down Man City's worst five signings of the Premier League era.

5) Benjamin Mendy

While Man City did not envisage what would have happened when they signed Benjamin Mendy, he enters our list in fifth.

Indeed, the left-back had to attend several court cases after being accused of six counts of rape, but was found not guilty of those upon leaving the club in 2023.

Still, having paid a significant fee for Mendy in 2017, he only featured 75 times for the Cityzens, and left for free.

Mendy did win nine trophies during his time in Manchester, but it is safe to say he hardly contributed to them.

4) Eliaquim Mangala

There was some hype when Eliaquim Mangala signed for Man City, but he just did not live up to his £39m price tag.

The centre-back struggled to adapt to the Premier League, and quickly found himself out of the team.

There were loan spells at Everton and Valencia during his time in Manchester, and eventually he left for free.

In Man City's most successful period in their history, Mangala only won one Premier League title and two Carabao Cups.

3) Jack Rodwell

Off the back of winning the Premier League in 2012, Man City decided to fork out £13m for promising talent Jack Rodwell.

However, it was quickly clear that he simply was not at the level the club would have hoped, and he was shipped at a loss just two years later.

Having only made 25 appearances, Rodwell managed a mere two goals and no assists from midfield.

He does go down in history as a Premier League winner, but his contributions were minimal.

Want to know who Man City might sign this summer? Check out our Man City transfer targets page.

2) Robinho

Robinho was meant to be the signing that kickstarted the new era at Man City.

After their takeover in 2008, he was signed for what was a club-record £37m, but he did not live up to his enormous hype.

Spending just three years at the club, he scored an unimpressive 16 goals in 53 appearances, and was eventually shipped for around half of what Man City paid for him.

Robinho was brought in to help the Cityzens win major silverware, but he failed to do so in Manchester.

1) Man City's worst Premier League signing of all time: Kalvin Phillips

Topping our list is a player that is still at Man City in Kalvin Phillips.

After impressing in the Premier League at Leeds United and with England, where he won their Player of the Tournament at Euro 2021, the Cityzens decided to fork out £42m for him.

However, it quickly became apparent that Pep Guardiola did not fancy him, and he has been sent out on loan multiple times including this season to Sheffield United again.

Phillips has won many major honours in Manchester, but with just one goal and no assists in 32 appearances from midfield, it is safe to say he has hardly contributed to them.

Also, check out who we think are Man City's best Premier League signings of all time.

Osimhen left Napoli permanently for Galatasaray in 2025 after initially spending the previous season on loan in Istanbul, but his prolific form has ensured that speculation over his future has not gone away.

The Nigeria international has continued to attract interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, with Arsenal now reportedly holding talks over a potential deal.

Chelsea have been linked with Osimhen for several years and remain among the clubs associated with the 27-year-old, although the latest reports suggest Mikel Arteta's side have emerged as a serious contender for his signature.

With Galatasaray reluctant to part with one of their prized assets and Osimhen still under contract in Istanbul, any potential move would require a significant deal, but the next few weeks could determine whether he remains in Turkey or finally makes the long-awaited move to the Premier League.

Victor Osimhen next club odds

The odds below are Football Whispers estimates based on current transfer reporting and are not taken from a live bookmaker market.

Always check with a bookmaker for the latest prices before placing a bet.

Victor Osimhen next club – Saudi move currently dominates the market

Any Saudi club currently looks the most likely destination for Victor Osimhen based on the latest betting market, with the Nigerian heavily favoured to make a move to the Middle East.

Osimhen only completed a permanent move to Galatasaray last summer after initially spending the 2024-25 campaign on loan in Turkey, but speculation over his future has continued despite his contract running until 2029.

Juventus are the leading European option at 7/2, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also among the clubs being linked with the striker.

Arsenal could also enter the race, particularly if they decide to strengthen their centre-forward options, with Osimhen's goalscoring record making him an obvious target for a club looking for a proven striker.

Recent reports also suggest that the Premier League champions have held talks with the Turkish side over the strikers availability.

For now, though, a move to Saudi Arabia is the clear market leader, with Juventus, Manchester United and Chelsea among the more realistic European alternatives should Osimhen leave Galatasaray.

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Newcastle United 2-0 West Brom

Head-to-Head:

This will be the first meeting between the sides since a goalless Premier League draw in 2021.

Form:

Both sides have made an unbeaten start to the season.

Top tip:

Under 2.5 goals.

Days after their thrilling 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Newcastle United will welcome Championship side West Bromwich Albion to St James' Park on Wednesday night for an EFL Cup second-round tie.

The Baggies cruised past Rotherham United 4-1 in the first round, while Newcastle enter the competition at this stage due to their Premier League status.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Newcastle United vs West Brom key stats

• Newcastle have won just one of their last five competitive matches since Eddie Howe's departure.
• Matthias Jaissle recorded a 65.22% win rate across his 138 matches in charge of Al-Ahli.
• West Brom avoided relegation to League One by just four points last season.
• Since losing on the final day of last season, the Baggies have won seven consecutive matches.
• West Brom have scored nine goals and conceded just three across their first three competitive matches of the campaign.

Newcastle United vs West Brom preview: Who will advance to the next round?

Newcastle United endured a turbulent summer after parting ways with long-term manager Eddie Howe, with the club appointing German coach Matthias Jaissle as his successor.

The Magpies also saw several key players depart during the summer, including Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, while they have invested heavily in the squad with the arrivals of five new players.

Four of those signings made their Newcastle debuts against Liverpool at the weekend, with three named in the starting XI as Jaissle's reign began with a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Newcastle looked on course for victory after taking the lead twice at St James' Park, but Liverpool were awarded a 99th-minute penalty, leaving the Magpies to settle for a point.

Despite the late disappointment, there were plenty of positives for the hosts, who caused the visitors problems throughout the contest and will now turn their attention to the EFL Cup, a competition they won in 2025.

West Brom, meanwhile, ended last season with their Championship status still intact, although they came uncomfortably close to relegation.

The Baggies relied on a strong late-season run under James Morrison to survive, with the former midfielder subsequently handed the permanent managerial position.

Morrison's side have made a much more encouraging start this time around, sitting second in the Championship after two matches following victories over Norwich City and Burnley.

The Baggies managed just five away league victories last season but have already matched that winning start on the road, while their home victory over Burnley underlined their early-season improvement.

West Brom will also arrive at St James' Park having already played in the EFL Cup, comfortably overcoming Rotherham 4-1 in the first round, whereas Newcastle are entering the competition at the second-round stage.

The visitors have also won seven straight matches since their defeat on the final day of last season, although they now face a significant step up in opposition against the holders.

Newcastle United vs West Brom form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Newcastle United 2-0 West Brom

Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Liverpool showed enough attacking promise to suggest they can overcome a West Brom side playing in confident form.

We are backing the Magpies to secure a 2-0 victory, a scoreline priced at 4/11.

With West Brom having conceded just four goals across their opening five matches and Newcastle potentially making changes for the cup, we are also backing Under 2.5 goals, which is priced at 7/5.

Newcastle United vs West Brom — Whispers' Tips

> Newcastle United to win at 4/11 | Likelihood: Probable

> Under 2.5 goals at 7/5 | Likelihood: Probable

> Harvey Barnes to score anytime at 6/4 | Likelihood: Possible

While there are question marks over the legality of their spending with 115 charges looming over their heads, they have still bought some world-class superstars that have helped them win major silverware.

Here, FootballWhispers counts down Man City's best five signings of the Premier League era, with no room for the likes of David Silva or Yaya Toure!

5) Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland is not a bad way to kick off the list, after Man City paid what now looks a measly £51m to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

His debut season in Manchester was truly remarkable, as the Cityzens won the coveted treble only matched by their city rivals Manchester United in English football.

Haaland also broke the record for the most goals in a Premier League season, notching up 36, and was a solid candidate to win the Ballon d'Or.

The Norwegian continues to break records in a Man City shirt, and we are sure he will hit double figures for trophies won at the club very soon.

4) Kevin De Bruyne

How Kevin De Bruyne only makes it into fourth in this list just shows how many incredible signings Man City have made.

Bought for what many claimed was a hefty £65m fee from Wolfsburg in 2015, the Belgian put in a decade of service in Manchester, winning an astonishing 17 trophies along the way.

Among those are the Champions League and six Premier League titles, as he was instrumental in the Cityzens winning four in a row between 2021-2024.

De Bruyne is widely regarded to be one of the best players to ever play in the Premier League, with his passing ability and vision especially unmatched.

3) Sergio Aguero

The man who started Man City's dynasty is in third in Sergio Aguero, after scoring the most dramatic winning goal in Premier League history to give the Cityzens their first title over city rivals Man United in 2012.

That was one of a staggering 260 strikes for the club, and so Aguero remains Man City's all-time record goalscorer.

£34m from Atletico Madrid in 2011 now looks an absolute steal, and he was really the striker that elevated the club from title challengers to winners.

Aguero gave a decade of service in Manchester, winning a total of 15 trophies.

Want to know who Man City might sign this summer? Check out our Man City transfer targets page.

2) Vincent Kompany

Largely because he was bought for only £7m from Hamburg in 2008, Vincent Kompany claims the runner-up spot in this list.

The fee is absolutely miniscule given how much service he gave to Man City as their captain.

In 11 years, he won 12 trophies including four Premier League titles, and even scored some important goals from centre-back to ensure he lifted major silverware.

Now an accomplished manager at Bayern Munich, Kompany goes down as one of the best-ever defenders of the Premier League era.

1) Man City's best Premier League signing of all time: Rodri

A little bit of recency bias may be in play here, but Rodri is the only player on this list to win the Ballon d'Or after Man City paid £60m to Atletico Madrid for his services in 2019.

Just joining Barcelona this summer off the back of winning the World Cup with Spain, the midfield maestro won 13 trophies during his time at Man City, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan in 2023, giving the Cityzens what remains their only Champions League trophy.

After winning the Ballon d'Or in 2024, Rodri will go down as one of the best players of the modern era, and in Premier League history.

Also, check out who we think are Man City’s worst Premier League signings of all time.

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Preston North End 0-3 Everton

Form:

Preston North End scraped past Huddersfield Town in a penalty shootout in the first round and have since suffered consecutive Championship defeats, while Everton won their Premier League opener at the weekend.

Team news:

Brad Potts remains out of action for Preston while Everton are unable to call on midfielders Christian Norgaard and Tim Iroegbunam.

Top tip:

Everton win to nil

Everton will play their second game of the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, when they head to Deepdale to take on Preston North End in an EFL Cup second-round tie.

The Toffees made a winning start to the Premier League season last weekend, while their hosts won in the first round at Goodison Park and have since lost consecutive Championship matches.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Preston North End vs Everton key stats

• Preston North End have conceded first in all three of their matches this season.
• Preston North End lost to Wrexham at this stage of the EFL Cup last season.
• Everton have reached the EFL Cup third round or further every season since 2001-02.
• Everton's victory at the weekend ended seven-match winless run in competitive games.
• The last competitive H2H came in the EFL Cup third round in 2004, with Everton winning 2-0.

Preston North End vs Everton preview: Toffees to make it back-to-back wins to start 2026-27?

Preston North End will aim to lift spirits at Deepdale on Wednesday with an EFL Cup win over top-flight opposition after a tough start to their 2026-27 Championship season.

On the back of a 14th-placed finish last time around, Paul Heckingbottom's team began the new term against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup first round at Goodison Park, and they scraped through, winning the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in normal time thanks to Jusef Erabi's injury-time leveller.

They have since kicked off their 12th straight Championship season and suffered a pair of defeats, firstly losing 2-1 away at newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers on the opening day, before hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and falling to a 3-1 loss with Jordan Thompson's 91st-minute goal nothing more than a consolation.

With cause for concern around their start to the term, having conceded six goals in three matches and only managed a draw and shootout victory, Heckingbottom may opt to make some changes on Wednesday with Brad Potts still sidelined by an injury.

They will now look to take a major scalp at Deepdale to kickstart an improvement on all fronts and book a third-round spot.

Their visitors, meanwhile, begin their EFL Cup journey with the hopes of building on a dream start to the Premier League season.

Everton entered at this stage last season but were only able to advance to the third round before being eliminated by Wolves, in a season in which they finished 13th in the Premier League on 49 points after a seven-game winless run to end the term.

Then following a busy summer with seven pre-season friendlies and the departures of Seamus Coleman, Dwight McNeil and Idrissa Gueye and signings of Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson, they began at home to Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

David Moyes's men made a winning start in style, cruising to a 2-0 victory as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring on the stroke of half time and Thierno Barry added a second early in the second half.

With confidence to take from that opening result, and meetings with Bournemouth, Manchester United and Tottenham looming in the coming weeks, Everton will aim to make it consecutive wins on Wednesday and seal their third-round qualification in the EFL Cup.

Preston North End vs Everton form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Preston North End 0-3 Everton

Preston North End have managed to score once in each of their first three games of the season, but facing a tougher test on Wednesday, we do not see them causing the top-flight visitors much trouble and fancy Everton to win to nil at 13/8 (2.63).

Thierno Barry led the Everton attack and scored in their season-opener, and while Moyes may make some rotations, Barry should continue in attack in a bid to build a run of scoring form after netting eight goals in the Premier League last time around. He is priced at 7/5 (2.40) to score anytime.

Preston North End's previous EFL Cup tie at Goodison Park produced 13 corners, including six for third-tier Huddersfield Town. Everton are bound to put the Lilywhites under more pressure and could force another high corner count. Over 10 corners is priced at 10/11 (1.91).

Preston North End vs Everton — Whispers' Tips

> Everton win to nil at 13/8 (2.63) | Likelihood: Possible

> Thierno Barry to score anytime at 7/5 (2.40) | Likelihood: Possible

> Over 10 corners at 10/11 (1.91) | Likelihood: Probable

The 21-year-old has already asked Lille to let him leave this summer, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid also credited with interest.

Lille president Olivier Letang has resisted every approach so far, and RB Leipzig have moved further than anyone else in the race.

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo to Arsenal rated ‘Unlikely'

Chelsea have already turned down two loan offers from Elland Road, even as the Ukraine winger makes his own preference for a Premier League move clear.

With the window closing on September 1, Daniel Farke's club now have to decide whether to come back with better terms or look elsewhere.

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

Mykhaylo Mudryk to Leeds rated ‘Very unlikely'

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Bradford City 0-1 Burnley

Form:

Bradford City have won all three competitive games without conceding this season, while their visitors won in the first round in a penalty shootout and have since drawn one and lost one of their first two Championship games.

Team news:

Bradford City could be unchanged from Thursday's win at Sheffield Wednesday, while Burnley may rotate with key striker Zian Flemming likely to miss out again.

Top tip:

Under 2.5 goals

Burnley will head to Mbanq Valley Parade on Wednesday to take on Bradford City with an EFL Cup third-round place on the line.

The visitors won their first competitive game under Nicky Hayen to reach this stage but are winless in the Championship, while their hosts have won all three of their matches in 2026-27.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Bradford City vs Burnley key stats

• Bradford City have kept clean sheets in all three of their competitive matches in 2026-27.
• Bradford City have won both of their first two home matches of the season 2-0.
• Burnley's only competitive win under Nicky Hayen thus far came in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against Notts County in the EFL Cup first round.
• Burnley won the last competitive H2H at Valley Parade in the 2003-04 Championship season.

Bradford City vs Burnley preview: Burnley to get up and running under Hayen?

Bradford City will bid to continue a perfect start to the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, when they return to EFL Cup action.

In the midst of a memorable spell under Graham Alexander, having won promotion from League Two in 2024-25 and finished fourth on their League One return last time around, going on to lose in the playoff semi-final, the Bantams set out for another promotion bid in the third tier this term.

They have won all three competitive games without conceding thus far, firstly meeting Rochdale in the EFL Cup first round and winning 2-0 before beating Peterborough United by the same scoreline in their league curtain-raiser with Macaulay Gillesphey and Nick Powell on the scoresheet.

A trip to Sheffield Wednesday then followed last time out, and Alexander's men continued their winning run with a 1-0 triumph in their first away outing, as Aden Baldwin scored the only goal early in the second half.

Likely to field a similar starting XI from that latest win, with Stephen Humphrys still ruled out, Bradford City will aim to take a major Championship scalp in their toughest test of the season so far to progress to the third round.

Their visitors, meanwhile, head to Yorkshire aiming to get back on track under new management, having had a slow start to life back in the second tier in the last two weeks.

After their Premier League relegation in 2025-26, Burnley turned to Nicky Hayen over the summer, tasking him with leading a charge back towards the top flight at the first time of asking, but they have not had a seamless start under the Belgian.

The Clarets did scrape past third-tier Notts County in the EFL Cup first round and their first competitive game under Hayen, drawing 1-1 in normal time thanks to Zian Flemming's leveller and winning the resultant penalty shootout, and they have since managed one point from their first two league games, conceding five goals along the way.

They began at home to fellow relegated side West Ham United and snatched a point from 2-0 down, as Flemming scored in the 83rd and 92nd minutes to force a share of the spoils, before visiting West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and leaving empty-handed following a 3-1 defeat, having led early through an own goal.

With pressure and the need to get up and running growing after their tricky start, Burnley will now bid to win in 90 minutes for the first time in competitive action this season with Hayen at the helm to book a third-round place and kickstart an improvement in their Championship campaign with a tough run of fixtures looming.

Bradford City vs Burnley form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Bradford City 0-1 Burnley

Burnley should have the quality to break through at Valley Parade and force Bradford City to concede a first goal of the season, but given their relatively slow start under Hayen and the hosts' run of clean sheets, we anticipate a low-scoring affair and fancy under 2.5 goals at 8/11 (1.73).

Three of Burnley's four goals this season have come through last season's top scorer Zian Flemming, who missed their trip to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend with a knock, and in his absence, their only goal came from an own goal. Yet to kick into gear under their new boss and meeting a strong and resilient Bradford City team, we do not envisage the Clarets running away with the game. Under 1.5 Burnley goals is priced at 4/7 (1.57).

Bradford City have won 26 corners in their three competitive matches so far this season and will fancy their chances to attack Burnley rather than sit deep, while the visitors' quality going forward, even without Flemming, could earn them plenty of set pieces. We fancy over 10 total corners at 6/4 (2.50).

Bradford City vs Burnley — Whispers' Tips

> Under 2.5 goals at 8/11 (1.73) | Likelihood: Probable

> Under 1.5 Burnley goals at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Likely

> Over 10 corners at 6/4 (2.50) | Likelihood: Possible

Al Hilal have agreed personal terms with the striker and are preparing a fresh offer after seeing bids rejected.

Villa are already lining up Nicolas Jackson as his replacement.

Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal rated ‘very likely'

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

The Index weighs five things: whether Al Hilal can afford the deal, whether they actually need Watkins, whether he wants the move, whether Villa have a reason to sell, and how solid the reporting behind it is.

Every one of those points the same way here, which is why the score sits at 92.

The single most decisive fact is the personal terms agreement itself, since a club that has already won over the player rarely walks away empty-handed.

Financial viability

Al Hilal already spend more on wages each year than the club generates in football revenue, which is the clearest sign that ordinary financial logic does not govern this deal.

That gap is bridged by ownership, and the identity of that ownership is shifting rather than shrinking, with the chairman personally bankrolling transfers earlier this year.

Watkins arriving on a significant pay rise would still leave him a distant second earner behind Benzema, so there is no wage-structure friction to slow this down.

A two-year contract also works in Al Hilal's favour, since it leaves Villa less room to simply wait the situation out.

Buying club need

A club with only two senior centre-forwards, one of them 38 and already being moved on, does not have a depth problem so much as a looming vacancy.

Watkins was not Al Hilal's first idea, and the Kane and Osimhen pursuits both dying on the vine tells its own story about how urgent the Benzema succession has become.

The age gap between Watkins and Benzema is the whole point rather than a coincidence, since Al Hilal need someone who can lead the line for years rather than months.

Player motivation

Turning down a four-year contract is not a small gesture from a 30-year-old with two years left on his current deal, and it only makes sense if his mind is already made up.

Missing out on the Brighton game while this was unfolding reads less like a rest and more like a player who has checked out of the current project.

None of this is really about football, since Watkins would be leaving a Europa League-winning side with Champions League football for a league without that level of competition, and he is coming off the best season of his career rather than fading out of one.

The pull here is financial and personal rather than competitive, which is exactly the profile the Index now has room to score honestly.

Selling club incentive

Watkins leaving would not be an isolated sale, it would be the third significant departure of the summer alongside Rogers and Konsa, which points to a club balancing its books rather than losing a player willingly.

Villa already knowing who they want in Watkins' place removes the usual hesitation that comes with selling your top scorer with no plan behind it.

Four rejected bids sound like resistance, but they are better read as Villa negotiating a number rather than refusing to sell at all, since the direction of travel throughout has been toward a deal rather than away from one.

Market momentum

Having Romano confirm the size of the bid and Sky Sports separately confirm it was knocked back means this is not resting on a single voice.

TeamTalk putting an actual number on Villa's valuation gives the reporting a level of specificity that speculative transfer stories rarely reach.

The gap between Al Hilal's global ranking and the calibre of player they are chasing is a reminder of exactly why this move appeals more to Watkins' bank balance than his career trajectory.

Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal: Will or won't it happen?

Everything that usually stalls a deal like this, an unconvinced player or a reluctant seller with no succession plan, is already resolved here.

What is left is a fee negotiation between a club that knows exactly how it wants to reinvest and a buyer who has shown, repeatedly this window, that a rejected bid is a starting point rather than an ending.

Barring a genuine impasse on price before the window closes, this one looks like a matter of when rather than if.

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Fleetwood 2-0 Shrewsbury

Head-to-Head:

Fleetwood have won two of their last five matches againts Shrewsbury.

Form:

Fleetwood have made an unbeaten start to the season.

Top tip:

Under 2.5 goals.

Shrewsbury Town will take on Fleetwood Town in the second round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, in a clash between two League Two sides.

Both clubs will know that a win on Tuesday could lead to a match against Premier League opposition in the next round, meaning there is plenty of financial incentive to progress.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Fleetwood vs Shrewsbury key stats

• Fleetwood have made an unbeaten start to the new EFL season.
• Shrewsbury are yet to win a match inside 90 minutes this season.
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in each of Fleetwood's first three competitive matches this season.

Fleetwood vs Shrewsbury: More misery in store for the visitors

It has been a dismal start to the new season for Shrewsbury Town, whose supporters may now be seriously concerned about the prospect of potentially falling out of the Football League in May.

Salop were only relegated from League One two seasons ago, but after finishing 19th last season, alarm bells should have been ringing. Despite that, the club have not spent any money in the transfer window, which is certainly cause for concern.

Currently at the helm is Gavin Cowan, who has been in charge since January. After an initial ‘bounce' in February, Shrewsbury's form has nosedived, and it isn't unthinkable that the 45-year-old is replaced in the near future.

A cup run could help to breathe new life into the Shrewsbury squad, so Cowan could go with his best available XI here. That will not include Jack Price, who is out for the foreseeable with a hamstring injury.

As for Fleetwood, they will be feeling completely differently to Shrewsbury, after making a strong start to their season.

The Fishermen have won two of their three matches across all competitions, which included a 1-0 triumph over Chesterfield in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Their impressive start to the campaign has been built primarily on a strong defence; they have yet to concede a goal in any of the three matches they have played in and will be confident of retaining their record against Shrewsbury.

Manager Matt Lawlor has made several additions to his squad this summer, and he will be delighted with how many of them have fared so far. A win on Tuesday would see them reach the Carabao Cup third round for just the third time in their history.

Fleetwood vs Shrewsbury form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Fleetwood 2-0 Shrewsbury

Both of Fleetwood's victories this season have come without conceding a goal. Fleetwood to win has been priced at 1/1.

Only two goals have been scored across Fleetwood's first three matches of the season. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 4/5.

Ched Evans has scored all of Fleetwood's goals so far this season. Evans is priced at 6/4 to score anytime on Saturday.

Fleetwood vs Shrewsbury — Whispers' Tips

> Fleetwood to win at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable

> Under 2.5 goals at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable

> Evans to score anytime at 6/4 (2.50) | Likelihood: Possible

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Birmingham 1-2 Brentford

Form:

Birmingham City managed one win in their last four competitive matches.

Team news:

There are no new injury concerns for the hosts.

Top tip:

Brentford to win

St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park will host an EFL Cup encounter between Birmingham City and Brentford, as both teams battle for a place in the third round.

The visitors are brimming with confidence ahead of this clash and will be eyeing their fourth consecutive win across all competitions.

Birmingham, meanwhile, will look to keep their unbeaten run intact with a victory.

Read our Birmingham vs Brentford prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Birmingham vs Brentford key stats

• Birmingham City have no losses in their last 14 matches across all competitions.
• Brentford have scored 14 goals in their last three outings alone.
• There were at least 11 corners in four of Brentford's last five games.

Birmingham vs Brentford preview: Can the hosts hold their own?

*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.

Birmingham City needed a stoppage-time goal to salvage a point in their clash with Bristol City over the weekend.

Although the hosts have strung together a 14-match unbeaten run, it is important to note that they have won only one of their last four competitive fixtures, with the other three ending in stalemates.

Moreover, while the Blues eliminated Swansea City in the first round of this competition a couple of weeks ago, they have not won back-to-back EFL Cup fixtures since 25 August 2015, exactly 11 years to the date of this clash.

No new injuries have been reported for Birmingham after their clash with Bristol City. However, head coach Chris Davies is expected to keep an eye on Marc Leonard, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Due to their busy schedule in August, the Championship side are expected to rotate their squad heavily to give fringe players valuable minutes on the field of play.

On the other hand, Brentford kicked off their Premier League campaign with a surprising 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. They have now won three in a row and are unbeaten in their last five outings.

Unlike their opponents, the Bees did not feature in the first round of this competition due to their top-flight status. They advanced to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup last season, ultimately losing to eventual champions Manchester City.

Sepp van den Berg remains sidelined with a groin injury suffered during pre-season, while Antoni Milambo is recovering from a knee injury and is not expected to be available for this fixture.

Following Saturday's statement win over Tottenham Hotspur, head coach Keith Andrews is expected to shuffle his starting XI significantly.

While Brentford are unbeaten in the last six clashes between these sides, it is fair to note that their most recent encounter took place during the 2020/21 season, when both teams were plying their trade in the Championship.

Birmingham vs Brentford form guide & betting tips

Whispers Predicts: Birmingham 1-2 Brentford

At 19/20 (1.95), Brentford are considered favourites by the bookmakers. The visitors are a top-flight team, while Birmingham play in the Championship.

Keeping in mind that Brentford have won and scored at least three goals in each of their last three matches, coupled with Birmingham's recent struggles in competitive fixtures, we are leaning toward the visitors for the win.

Moreover, seven of Brentford's last nine games went above the 2.5-goal line, and this can be backed at 3/4 (1.75).

We also fancy HT Brentford to win at 7/5 (2.40). This landed in the visiting team's last three matches.

Birmingham vs Brentford — Whispers' Tips

> Over 2.5 total goals at 3/4 (1.75) | Likelihood: Probable

> BTTS – Yes at 13/20 (1.65) | Likelihood: Probable

> Match result: Brentford at 19/20 (1.95) | Likelihood: Probable

> Brentford & BTTS – Yes at 5/2 (3.50) | Likelihood: Possible

> Correct Score: 1-2 at 8/1 (9.00) | Likelihood: Outsider

Chelsea gave Manchester City a deadline to act, City let it pass, and the story kept going anyway.

Now Barcelona have taken a look too, only to be waved away by the player's own camp.

Enzo Fernandez to Man City rated ‘Likely'

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

The Football Whispers Index weighs five things: whether the buying club can afford the deal, whether it actually needs the player, whether the player wants to go, whether the selling club has a reason to let him leave, and how strong the reporting behind it all is.

On four of those five measures, this deal clears the bar comfortably.

The one holding it back is Chelsea's own incentive to sell, since a player scoring goals and creating chances at this rate is not an obvious candidate for a discount.

Financial viability

A £120m fee on top of the £202m already spent on Anderson and Bouaddi would take City's midfield outlay in a single window close to a third of a billion pounds.

That scale is exactly why the valuation gap has become the story rather than the interest itself, since City have shown they can find the money but not that they are willing to spend all of it in one position.

Fernandez's six years of contract security cuts the other way for Chelsea, who cannot lean on an expiry date to force a cheaper deal the way they might with a player entering his final year.

Put together, the fee looks affordable in isolation but expensive in context, which is a different problem for City's board than simply whether they can raise the cash.

Buying club need

Four departures from one engine room in a single summer is the kind of turnover that would leave most Premier League squads short, whatever else has come in.

Anderson and Bouaddi both address that gap in profile, an 18-year-old destroyer and a young ball-carrier, but neither is the ready-made, proven Champions League and World Cup winner that Fernandez represents.

The Bournemouth scare on the opening weekend is the kind of evidence that turns a boardroom debate into an urgent one, since it showed City's midfield could be got at even with two new signings already bedded in.

Wharton's unavailability matters here too, because it removes City's fallback option and leaves Fernandez as close to the only remaining name on the list for that final piece of business.

Player motivation

Ruling out a move as prominent as Barcelona is not a routine denial, it is a statement of intent from a camp that has already had one dream move fall through this summer.

The Maresca relationship gives City something no rival can offer, a manager who already knows exactly how to use him, which matters more for a player switching leagues within the same country than it might elsewhere.

Set against that is the honest complication in this pillar, since Fernandez already starts every week at Chelsea and City cannot promise him anything more in terms of first-team football.

What City can offer instead is a step up in what he is playing for, from a club rebuilding around a new manager to one defending its status at the top of the table, and on the evidence of his public stance that trade-off is one he is willing to make.

Selling club incentive

This is the pillar doing the most to hold the score back, and for good reason.

A club that genuinely needed to sell would not have let its own self-imposed deadline pass without either closing the deal or pulling the player from the market entirely.

Ten goals and four assists from a midfielder is not the profile of a player Chelsea are desperate to move on, whatever the player himself wants.

The clearest sign Chelsea are still willing to do business is not financial distress, it is the summer already spent replacing pieces elsewhere in the squad, which suggests a club planning for his departure rather than fighting it.

Market momentum

What stands out here is not the volume of coverage, which is high on most Chelsea rumours, but the consistency of direction across outlets with very different sourcing.

BBC Sport and Football Insider do not typically lean on the same contacts, yet both are describing the same picture of a City move that survived a missed deadline rather than dying because of one.

The Barcelona interest is a useful stress test rather than a complication, because it gave the market a chance to see whether Fernandez's stated preference would hold, and it did.

Enzo Fernandez to Man City: Will or won't it happen?

Every part of this deal that depends on people wanting it to happen is in place, the player has ruled out the alternatives, and his old manager is waiting for him at the other end.

The only genuine tension left is a boardroom one, City weighing a third marquee midfield fee against the £202m they have already spent this summer, and Chelsea weighing a firm asking price against a self-imposed deadline they chose not to enforce.

That is a negotiation, not a stand-off, and negotiations over a fee this far along tend to move rather than collapse.

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Blackpool 1-0 Lincoln City

Head-to-Head:

Blackpool have lost just one of their last five matches against Lincoln City.

Form:

Blackpool have made an unbeaten start to the season.

Top tip:

Under 2.5 goals.

Blackpool will take on Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday night, with both clubs eyeing a potential match against Premier League opposition in round three.

Both teams have already come through one round of the competition, and there will be a determination in both camps to extend their respective cup runs as long as possible.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Blackpool vs Lincoln City key stats

• Blackpool haven't lost any of their last seven competitive matches.
• Lincoln City have failed to win both of their last two matches.
• Four of Blackpool's last six matches have produced fewer than three goals.

Blackpool vs Lincoln City preview: Hosts to pull off a cupset?

After a strong second half of last season, Blackpool finished in mid-table at the end of 2025/26, which has helped to build some optimism ahead of the new season.

For a long time, Blackpool's focus, regardless of which division they have been in, has almost always been on merely staying in the division. Now, however, manager Ian Evatt has their fans wondering what may be possible the other way.

The Tangerines have enjoyed a strong start to the season, going unbeaten across their first three competitive matches. In the first round of the Carabao Cup, they overcame Grimsby, doing what Manchester United famously failed to do last season by winning at Blundell Park.

Meanwhile, in the league, they have taken four points from their opening two matches. Evatt will be keen to build on that league form, which could mean he rotates his squad on Tuesday night.

As for Lincoln City, life in the Championship could not have started much worse. The Imps have lost both of their matches in the second tier, and many so-called experts are already writing them off despite there still being 44 games to play.

The one positive from their season so far was their first-round League Cup win over Derby County. Not only did that see them progress to the second round of the competition, but it also proved they are capable of beating Championship opposition.

Bizarrely, the Imps are ‘co-managed' by two head coaches, a model that is very rarely seen at this level. If things don't pick up quickly, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club revert back to a more traditional model of having just one leader.

Ahead of Tuesday night, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw will be without Tendayi Darikwa, who left Fratton Park on crutches following the club's 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday.

Blackpool vs Lincoln City form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Blackpool 1-0 Lincoln City

Sometimes, a match comes at the perfect moment for a cupset, and we feel that is the case here, given the contrasting starts to the season. Blackpool to win has been priced at 11/4.

Three of the last five H2H meetings between Blackpool and Lincoln have produced fewer than two goals. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 1/1.

Josh Bowler has scored two goals in three Blackpool appearances this season. Bowler is priced at 9/2 to score anytime on Saturday.

Blackpool vs Lincoln City — Whispers' Tips

> Blackpool to twin at 11/4 (3.75) | Likelihood: Possible

> Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable

> Il Mizouni to score anytime at 9/2 (5.50) | Likelihood: Outsider

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Bodo/Glimt 4-1 NEC Nijmegen

Form:

Bodo Glimt have no losses in 16 consecutive matches.

Team news:

Four players are ruled out for Bodo/Glimt.

Top tip:

Bodo/Glimt to win.

NEC Nijmegen will seek to overturn a two-goal deficit when they take on Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie at Aspmyra Stadion on Tuesday.

The visitors will have their work cut out for them after suffering a disappointing 3-1 home defeat in the first leg.

Bodo/Glimt, meanwhile, are eyeing their fourth consecutive win across all competitions.

Read our Bodo/Glimt vs NEC Nijmegen prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Bodo/Glimt vs NEC Nijmegen key stats

• Bodo/Glimt are unbeaten in their last 16 fixtures.
• The hosts also drew first blood in all 16 outings.
• Five of NEC Nijmegen's last six matches produced goals at both ends.

Bodo/Glimt vs NEC Nijmegen preview: Can the visitors make history?

*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.

Bodo/Glimt extended their winning run to three games with. A 3-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen in the first leg of this tie.

The Norwegian Eliteserien champions have almost been unstoppable in recent months, winning 14 and drawing two of their last 16 fixtures across all competitions.

In fact, Kjetil Knutsen’s troops have won eight consecutive matches at Aspmyra Stadion, averaging three goals during that stretch. They have also reached the knockout phase of at least one UEFA club competition in each of the last five seasons, most notably the Europa League semis in 2024/25.

August Mikkelsen and Hakon Evjen remain unavailable for selection due to injury. Backup goalkeeper Isak Sjong is also out, while defender Jostein Gundersen continues to deal with a knock and remains a major doubt after missing the first leg.

Unlike their opponents, NEC Nijmegen have never qualified for the UEFA Champions League. In fact, the visiting team's last outing in Europe came during the 2008/09 UEFA Cup season.

Moreover, the Eredivisie side have never successfully engineered a comeback in a European tie, and they do not exactly have a great track record on the road, having won only one of their last seven away matches in all competitions.

With that in mind, the visitors are guaranteed a place in at least one UEFA club competition, as the loser of this tie will feature in the league phase of the Europa League.

Head coach Dick Schreuder will have to do without defenders Philippe Sandler and Yassin Moslih, who are both sidelined with ongoing physical fitness issues. Key midfielder Sami Ouaissa is out with a hamstring injury, while forward Koki Ogawa's status is questionable.

Bodo/Glimt vs NEC Nijmegen form guide & betting tips

Whispers Predicts:Bodo/Glimt 4-1 NEC Nijmegen

At 11/20 (1.55), Bodo/Glimt are considered favourites by the bookies ahead of this skirmish.

The hosts have won eight consecutive matches at this stadium, and considering NEC Nijmegen's struggles on the road, anything other than a comfortable victory for Bodo/Glimt would be surprising.

Additionally, Bodo/Glimt's last four fixtures and five of NEC Nijmegen's last six games produced goals at both ends, and this is priced at 9/20 (1.45).

We also fancy Bodo/Glimt & BTTS – Yes at 7/5 (2.40), as was the case in the first leg of this tie.

Bodo/Glimt vs NEC Nijmegen — Whispers' Tips

> Over 3.5 total goals at 9/10 (1.90) | Likelihood: Probable

> BTTS – Yes at 9/20 (1.45) | Likelihood: Probable

> HT result: Bodo/Glimt at 19/20 (1.95) | Likelihood: Probable

> Bodo/Glimt & BTTS – Yes at 7/5 (2.40) | Likelihood: Probable

> Correct Score: 4-1 at 16/1 (17.00) | Likelihood: Outsider

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Leeds United

Form:

Forest failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five games against Leeds.

Key Stat:

Leeds have scored first in four of their last five games against Forest.

Top tip:

Under 10.5 corners.

Nottingham Forest will be looking to avoid another defeat against Leeds United when the two sides meet in the EFL Cup at the City Ground on Wednesday.

The Tricky Trees opened their 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 loss to Leeds, and Oliver Glasner will be eager to see a response from his players this time around.

Leeds finished 14th in the Premier League last season, and Daniel Farke will be hoping to guide his side towards a top-half finish while also making a strong push in the domestic cup competitions.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United key stats

• Forest have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches against Leeds.
• Each of Leeds' last eight matches has produced Under 10.5 corners.
• Each of Forest's last 10 matches has produced Under 4.5 cards.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United preview: Can the Whites pick up back-to-back wins?

Oliver Glasner's time at Nottingham Forest got off to a disappointing start with a defeat to Leeds in the Premier League opener, but the Austrian now has an opportunity to respond in his first cup game. 

He is already the club's fifth manager in less than a year after replacing Vitor Pereira, but his recent success with Crystal Palace, where he guided the Eagles to the Conference League title, should give Forest hope that he can bring some much-needed stability to the City Ground.

The EFL Cup gives Glasner an opportunity to assess his squad, and he is expected to make several changes from the team that started the league opener.

John Victor could replace Matz Sels in goal, while Ousmane Diomande may make his Forest debut. The home side are without Nicolo Savona and Ryan Yates, who are both sidelined with injuries, but otherwise, Glasner has a strong squad available.

Leeds could hardly have asked for a better start to the new campaign, beating Forest 1-0 at the City Ground while keeping a clean sheet.

The Whites have strengthened their defence this summer by adding goalkeeper James Trafford, and defenders Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic after the Yorkshire club conceded 56 goals last term.

Daniel Farke will have to manage several absences, with Wilfried Gnonto, Noah Okafor and Mateo Joseph unavailable, while Ilia Gruev remains sidelined with a knee problem. 

Gabriel Gudmundsson is also a doubt, although Dan James, Sean Longstaff, Sam Byram and Largie Ramazani are all in contention to start.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Leeds United

Leeds have won four of their last five meetings against Forest, and their disciplined display in the 1-0 victory gives them confidence heading into this cup tie. They are priced at 11/10 (2.10) to qualify, despite being slight outsiders.

Forest will be expected to respond on home soil, but Leeds have enough attacking quality to trouble them again.

The Whites have scored first in four of their last five matches against Forest, and are backed at 5/4 (2.25) to score first again, while BTTS – Yes at 7/10 (1.70) also looks a good option given the competitive nature of the fixture.

Four of Forest's last five matches have seen less than 11 corners, and Under 10.5 corners at 4/7 (1.57) is therefore worth considering.

The match could also become physical as both teams fight for a place in the next round, making Over 2.5 cards at 4/7 (1.57) another appealing selection.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United — Whispers' Tips

> Leeds to score first at 5/4 (2.25) | Likelihood: Outsider

> BTTS – Yes at 7/10 (1.7) | Likelihood: Probable

> Leeds to qualify at 11/10 (2.1) | Likelihood: Outsider

> Under 10.5 corners at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable

> Over 2.5 cards at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable

Chelsea have already had a £64m bid rejected for the midfielder, with the Cherries valuing him at around £80m.

The Blues are thought to be preparing a second offer of £70m, but would that be enough to convince Bournemouth to sell with the transfer window slamming shut so soon?

Scott's teammate Eli Junior Kroupi has also been linked with a move away from the Vitality Stadium despite recently picking up an injury, and new manager Marco Rose will be desperate to keep his best players, but the Cherries have been known to sell their prized assets before if the money is right.

Alex Scott next club odds

According to Oddschecker, Chelsea are the favourites to sign Scott this summer, which is unsurprising given they have already had a bid rejected for him and are preparing another offer.

A number of other Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature, while he could also move to France, Germany, Italy or Spain.

Which club offers the best value to sign Alex Scott this summer?

In terms of value, it could be worth betting on Scott to join Liverpool instead this summer.

Of course, former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is now in charge at Anfield, and could reunite with his former player.

Curtis Jones has also sealed a move to Inter Milan, and now that the Reds have sold him, may feel they need to bring in a midfield replacement.

It is unclear whether Liverpool would be willing to pay Scott's £80m price tag given their big transfer splurge last summer, but he could be a valuable asset to their midfield should he sign.

In terms of other clubs to keep an eye on, Newcastle United could turn to Scott after selling Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m, while Manchester City could also look at him should they fail to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Quick Predictions

Score prediction:

Walsall 0-1 Leyton Orient

Head-to-Head:

Walsall haven't won any of their last five meetings with Leyton Orient..

Form:

Walsall have made an unbeaten start to the season.

Top tip:

Under 2.5 goals.

Walsall will take on Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, 25 August, with a place in the third round of the competition the reward for whichever side comes out on top.

Both sets of players will be dreaming of a match-up with Premier League opposition, so we anticipate a fiercely contested match at the Bescot Stadium.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Walsall vs Leyton Orient key stats

• Leyton Orient are one league and 17 places above Walsall in the EFL pyramid.
• Leyton Orient have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, if you include a penalty shootout victory in the EFL Trophy.
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in four of Walsall's last five matches.

Walsall vs Leyton Orient preview: A difficult task ahead for the hosts

As a League Two side, there is an argument that Walsall have already done all that could have been expected of them in the Carabao Cup, having made it through the opening round.

The Saddlers beat Championship side, Bristol City, in the opening round of the competition, so if anything, a match against a League One side on Tuesday night should feel rather straightforward.

Manager Lee Grant, who is fresh in the job this summer, will be delighted with how his team have started the new season. Not only have they already beaten Championship opposition, but they have also picked up four points from their opening two league matches.

Grant may elect to rest some players for this match, with league momentum arguably more important. Aaron Pressley, the matchwinner against Bristol City, will be keen to retain his place up front for the Saddlers.

As for Leyton Orient, they will be well aware of their status as pre-match favourites given that they play in a higher division than Walsall.

The O's have also started their season strongly, though, with Richie Wellens's side winning three of the four competitive matches they have played. The only blight on their record is a 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

In round one, Leyton Orient defeated fellow League One side Oxford United to set up a clash with Walsall. Goals from Demetri Mitchell and Idris El Mizouni got the job done late on, and there will now be an appetite to progress further.

Wellens will also be tempted to rotate his squad, particularly as he looks to build up early-season fitness across his entire squad.

Walsall vs Leyton Orient form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Walsall 0-1 Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient possess a deeper and better squad than Walsall, which will be more apparent if both managers choose to rotate. Leyton Orient to win has been priced at 11/10.

None of the last five H2H meetings between Walsall and Leyton Orient has produced more than two goals. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 1/1.

Idris El Mizouni has scored two goals in his last two Leyton Orient starts. El Mizouni is priced at 5/1 to score anytime on Saturday.

Walsall vs Leyton Orient — Whispers' Tips

> Leyton Orient to win at 11/10 (2.10) | Likelihood: Possible

> Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable

> Il Mizouni to score anytime at 5/1 (6.00) | Likelihood: Outsider

Personal terms with the Reds are verbally agreed; PSG have brought in Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres and potentially Mika Godts to cover his departure, and Fabrizio Romano says the two clubs are in daily contact over the fee.

The obstacle is money: PSG want £125m up front, Liverpool have offered around €135m (£115m), and with eight days left until the window shuts on 1 September, neither side has blinked.

Bradley Barcola to Liverpool rated ‘likely'

The Football Whispers Index scores every transfer rumour across five weighted factors. Read how it works here.

The algorithm weighs five factors: whether Liverpool can afford the fee, how badly they need a left winger, whether Barcola himself wants the move, whether PSG have a reason to sell, and how strongly the reporting supports the deal getting done.

The strongest signal in the entire score is Barcola's personal commitment to Liverpool, which is unambiguous and confirmed by multiple tier-one journalists, combined with a near-perfect squad fit for a club that has lost Mohamed Salah and is rebuilding its front line.

The weakest signal is the fee: PSG do not need to sell, Barcola's contract runs until 2028, and the asking price of £125m sits above what Liverpool have shown willingness to pay, which is why selling club incentive is the lowest-scoring pillar by some distance.

Financial viability

The gap between £115m and £125m does not sound vast, but it represents the difference between Liverpool's ceiling and PSG's floor, and neither side has shown signs of moving in weeks.

If a deal does close, the fee would likely match or exceed the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak from Newcastle last summer, making Barcola one of the most expensive signings in football history.

The wage side is far simpler: Barcola earns roughly a third of what Van Dijk takes home at Anfield, so whatever personal terms have been agreed, they are almost certain to sit comfortably within Liverpool's structure rather than stretch it.

Two years remaining on the contract is the detail that underpins every negotiation: PSG know that if they do not sell now, they face the same conversation next summer with one fewer year of leverage and a player who has made clear he will not extend.

Buying club need

Liverpool's need for Barcola exists regardless of whether Gakpo stays or goes, because replacing Salah's production is the central task of Iraola's first transfer window, and the current squad has nobody who can match what the Egyptian delivered for nearly a decade.

The Gakpo situation creates an interlocking chain: Liverpool will not sell Gakpo until they have replacements, and Barcola is the replacement they want, so neither deal can close in isolation.

The statistical case is overwhelming even across different leagues: Barcola's per-90 expected-goals output last season was more than double Gakpo's, his shot volume was higher relative to minutes played, and his FotMob trait profile is stronger in every attacking category.

At 23, Barcola would join a forward line where Wirtz is 23, Ekitike is 22, and Munoz is 23, giving Liverpool an attacking core with seven or eight peak seasons ahead of it rather than one built around players already in or past their prime.

Player motivation

Barcola's desire to leave is not speculation: he has told PSG he will not extend, he has agreed terms with Liverpool, and he is no longer training with the first team, a sequence of events that goes well beyond a player flirting with a move.

The playing-time frustration is specific and well-documented: he scored 13 goals across all competitions last season but was not trusted to start in the Champions League finals, watching Kvaratskhelia and Doue take his place in the two biggest games of PSG's year.

At Liverpool he would not simply start; he would be the marquee signing of the window and the focal point of Iraola's front line, a status PSG's crowded forward group cannot offer him.

The reason the pillar does not max out is that this is a sideways move on the global stage: both clubs are in the Champions League, both have recent domestic titles, and the 1.4-point Opta gap between them is negligible, so the competitive draw is about role and minutes rather than prestige.

Selling club incentive

This is the pillar that holds the score back, because PSG are under no financial pressure to sell, and the only reason they would accept less than their asking price is that keeping an unhappy player on a depreciating contract is worse for them than banking £120m now.

The fact that PSG have spent over £85m on Akliouche and Torres this summer, and are in talks for Godts on top of that, tells you they have already planned for life without Barcola, which is the strongest structural indicator that a sale is coming.

What drags this pillar down is that Barcola is at his peak market value and improving, which for a club that does not operate as a trading business means the football case for keeping him is stronger than the financial case for selling.

Market momentum

The sourcing behind this deal is strong: Romano, Joyce at The Times, Tanzi at L'Equipe and RMC Sport have all independently reported the deal as live and progressing, which is a tier-one consensus that rarely forms around a story that goes nowhere.

What prevents a perfect momentum score is the direction of travel in the most recent reporting: the early-August picture was one of confidence on both sides, but the late-August picture, with CaughtOffside and Football Insider both using the word “stalled,” is more cautious.

Liverpool's rejected £50m bid for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh is the clearest sign that the club is hedging: they would not be testing alternative targets if they were confident of closing Barcola in the next eight days.

Bradley Barcola to Liverpool: Will or won't it happen?

Everything in this deal points toward completion except the one thing that actually has to happen: PSG accepting a number Liverpool are willing to pay.

The pattern of the last month – initial offer rejected, price dropped but not enough, daily talks that produce no breakthrough – looks increasingly like a negotiation that will be settled by deadline-day pressure or not at all.

If Liverpool close this, they get a 23-year-old France international with back-to-back Champions League winners' medals, an improving goal output, and a decade ahead of him as the centrepiece of their attack, which is exactly the kind of signing that justifies the fee even when the fee is uncomfortable.

With that in mind, Football Whispers looks at the top stories floating around the rumour mill today.

Liverpool hold fresh Yankuba Minteh talks

Liverpool are expected to have held ‘fresh talks' over a move for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh this weekend.

According to reports, the Reds are mulling a third bid for the 22-year-old, as Andoni Iraola continues to search for wide reinforcements.

Bradley Barcola has been the top target for some time now, but frustrations continue over his mooted £140 million asking price.

That leaves Liverpool looking at viable alternatives, with Gambia star Minteh among them, with the Seagulls wanting around £70 million for his signature.

Man City ready to pay Enzo Fernandez asking price

Manchester City missed Chelsea’s firm deadline to submit an offer for Enzo Fernandez, but that has not stopped them from advancing their pursuit.

Emerging reports now suggest the champions are prepared to pay £120 million for the Argentina international before next week’s transfer deadline.

Fernandez has been Enzo Maresca’s top target for several weeks, and the exits of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have freed up the funds required to strike a late deal.

Chelsea remain open to a sale despite their hard stance, while the player is keen to reunite with his former manager at the Etihad Stadium.

Aston Villa make Joel Ordonez enquiry

It has been a summer of change at Aston Villa, with several high‑profile departures leaving Unai Emery needing to complete some positive business in the next seven days.

That could now be on the horizon, as The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that the Midlands club have ‘made contact' over a move for Club Brugge centre‑back Joel Ordonez.

He states the 22‑year‑old defender is among several options Emery is assessing to strengthen his backline, with Southampton’s Taylor Harwood‑Bellis proving difficult to secure.

It remains unclear what Brugge will demand for the 6 foot 2 Ecuador international, but he is understood to be highly admired within Villa Park.