Thanks for joining us this afternoon, where we will be looking ahead to the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season this weekend.

There are nine scheduled media conferences to come in the next few hours, and we will bring you the biggest and best news lines from all of them.

That's all from us this morning, thank you for joining us as we brought you the latest transfer updates.

We will be back later to hear from the Premier League managers before the new season kicks off this weekend.

In the meantime, here are the top stories from today:

• Inter close in on £30m deal for Liverpool's Jones
• Arsenal agree £50m-plus deal to sign Villa's Konsa
• Man Utd to make Baleba their 'third midfielder'

See you shortly!

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter

Will the Barcola deal be signed before deadline day? - Chris, Rhondda

Are Liverpool now going to go for a midfielder with Jones leaving? - Josh, Darlington

Liverpool's priority in the transfer market is still in attack and namely, Bradley Barcola. The pursuit of Barcola is dragging on but it is very likely that both PSG and Liverpool to come to an agreement this summer for the French winger.

As it stands, a move for another midfielder looks unlikely but as is always the case, if an opportunity in the market presents itself then Liverpool may act.

This year, Liverpool have tied down Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch to new long-term deals while 19-year-old Trey Nyoni will now get an opportunity to show Andoni Iraola what he can do.

Alexis Mac Allister, who is entering into the final two years of his current deal at Anfield, will also be staying put this summer.

With no active talks over a new deal yet for Mac Allister though, midfield could well become more of a priority over the coming 12 months for Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter

Sam, Birmingham: Is there anything to these Yildiz to Arsenal rumours?

There is definitely an Arsenal interest in the player and he is someone that they have looked at.

Fans don't like the word monitoring but it is true, they have monitored the player.

Arsenal are looking for a player who can level up their attack.

Yildiz has got an incredible amount of potential but it remains to be seen if the fee required to get him, if Arsenal were to move, would be worth the money and if he would immediately give the forward line the boost they are looking for.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Max, Sheffield: Why are Villa selling all their best players? Why don't they appear to be willing or able to put up a fight to prevent them going?

There was always going to be change at Villa Park this summer, the squad were braced for it and the Europa League win in May was the final chance for them to do something together.

It could be most drastic than envisioned, though, with so many crucial players either gone or going. It is a transition which would usually take two or three windows, in an ideal world.

There are different reasons for the departures so far, including lowering the wage bill and average age of the squad - which was the second highest in the Premier League last season.

Villa need to comply with Uefa's and the Premier League's financial regulations and selling Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for £117m was the best way to ensure they brought in as much profit as possible for someone who cost £16m.

Youri Tielemans was different, with Manchester United triggering his £35m release clause and he wanted to go, while Villa wanted to revamp their left back spot which is why Lucas Digne moved to PSG and Matteo Ruggeri has replace him from Atletico Madrid.

Emi Martinez has looked to leave previously and Villa could do without another drama - the reason for his failed move to Juventus was because the clubs could not agree a free - while Ezri Konsa's Arsenal moving could be done by the end of the week.

Ultimately, Villa are still a selling club even if that jars with the fact they are in the Champions League and Europa League holders.

Yet, Villa want to keep Ollie Watkins and he would be difficult to replace. Should the England forward leave it would represent the most emotional departure from Villa Park this summer and really signal how much change is happening.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter

Junaied, Dewsbury: Is it a wise move from Konsa? When Saliba and Gabriel are fit, he won't be getting a game. Should've gone elsewhere from the big clubs and had a better chance of becoming a main figure in the back line.

Arsenal are planning to compete in multiple competitions this coming season and will need to utilise their squad.

They played 63 games in total last season as they won the Premier League and lost in the Champions League final.

Injuries also plagued them last season so the Gunners are using this campaign, after their title win, to kick on and bring in quality players that can challenge the first team.

Yes, Konsa will find regular game time hard when Saliba and Timber are fit but he could also push to start if one of those two players form drops.

Arsenal are doing the same in midfield with the signing of Bruno Guimaraes. His arrival means that one of Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly or Mikel Merino will always have to start on the bench as the first choice three will likely be Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Guimaraes.

Image source, Getty Images

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Kieran, Omagh: What is the latest in which a club can register a new signing ahead of their opening game of the season?

Players must be registered before 12:00 on the last working day before the match.

However, do not be too concerned if the clock ticks past noon on Friday and the new signing has been announced.

Quite often a deal will be completed, but the club still needs to get the photoshops and interviews done to put up as part of the announcement.

So sometimes a transfer might be announced in the afternoon, but the player will actually have been registered ahead of the deadline.

If you're just joining us now, the top stories we've been discussing this morning are:

• Manchester United edging closer to Carlos Baleba deal
• Inter agree £30m deal for Liverpool's Curtis Jones
• Arsenal agree fee in excess of £50m for Villa's Ezri Konsa

We've had some healthy debate on the go - thanks for all your contributions.

Now let's hear from our reporters, who have been busy answering your questions.

Ian, Lincoln: Unlike Rich, I think it's been a good summer at United. That's the best midfield we've had for years and if Sesko can hit his potential alongside Cunha & Mbuemo then it's a fearsome attack. You can't fix everything in one window. Left back to be sorted in Jan.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Of the four players Man Utd signed in 2025, striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens were the only two who were not bought from Premier League clubs.

The ease with which Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha settled into their new surroundings must have played a part in shaping thinking at Old Trafford this summer.

There is an argument buying from Premier League clubs costs more because they are all relatively rich. The premium, in theory, limits the risk of players failing to settle. It seems Manchester United feel the extra is worth paying.

"We want more, we need more," Michael Carrick stressed last week.

Carlos Baleba cannot be the end. It is accepted the need for a new left-back is acute. No-one knows who it will be at this stage. But it is fair to assume there will be one.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

A bit of movement within the academy ranks at Manchester United, with a number of their older players set for moves to rival clubs.

Winger James Scanlon and full-back Habeeb Ogunneye, who spent time on loan in League Two with Swindon and Newport respectively last season, are both in talks with Arsenal.

Although the pair only made a handful of appearances in senior football, it is felt, at 19 and 20, they have further development in them.

Neither were involved in United's pre-season campaign under Michael Carrick, even though 15 academy players were picked in the 25-man squad for the opening game against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July.

Ogunneye started for United's Under-21 side in a pre-season match against Altrincham on 31 July. Scanlon, who has 24 caps for Gibraltar and featured in the Premier League 2 play-off final defeat at Brighton in May, missed the game with a minor injury.

It is understood other players with significant experience at Under-21 level, who have also had periods away from United on loan could move before the transfer deadline on 1 September.

Image source, Getty Images

Johnny Cantor
BBC Sussex commentator speaking on BBC Radio Manchester

There's certainly no surprise in terms of everybody on the south coast has known of the interest in Carlos Baleba from Manchester United and I think people know that the player himself is quite determined to get to Old Trafford as quickly as possible.

Probably an indication of that is the fact that he seems to have agreed personal terms a long time ago. It's more a case of coming up with the right fee. It did feel like his form dropped a little bit when the interest came in and maybe his head was distracted, he is still quite a young man so that may have been inevitable.

It's all about whether the price is right when it comes to Brighton and selling their best assets.

£70m would probably be where they are looking for. Brighton never actually name a figure at all. They will have a figure in mind but they will not divulge it. Until that figure is met, they will not sell. That price may have dropped over the last year or so depending on his form but I think they will be looking for something around the £70m mark.

You can listen to more of Johnny's analysis of Carlos Baleba's Man Utd switch on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

It is fair to accept Manchester United's data and recruitment department have succeeded in reshaping Michael Carrick's midfield.

It was known in January veteran Brazilian Casemiro would leave when his contract expired on 30 June. Ruben Amorim's exit had already seen skipper Bruno Fernandes move into a more advanced role.

With Manuel Ugarte not rated highly despite his £50.8m price tag, it meant United went into the summer with Kobbie Mainoo as the only experienced midfielder likely to play a prominent part in the 2026-27 season.

Mainoo's strength is taking the ball in tight spaces and progressing it up the pitch. Andrey Santos has screened the defence in pre-season. Youri Tielemans has composure, passing range, and is determined to increase his goals output.

What the defeat by AC Milan in Wroclaw at the weekend highlighted was a lack of energy; a player in the old box-to-box mould. Carlos Baleba's main strength is his ability to cover the ground quickly.

If the deal goes through, and when Baleba has recovered from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season that is expected to keep him out for another couple of weeks, Carrick will have variety and options, which also include Mason Mount, Scotland World Cup squad member Tyler Fletcher, and Fernandes.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Manchester United's midfield reconstruction is nearing completion.

After signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa in the space of 24 hours last month, there has been an element of 'will-they, won't-they' about the past five weeks.

At times, it felt the 'third midfielder' search has taken on a life of its own.

Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni was heavily touted, so too Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Roma's Manu Kone. In more recent days, the name of Fulham's Sander Berge has become more prominent. That of Bournemouth's Tyler Adams has never gone away.

United privately played down potential interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba.

But in a sense, they didn't need to be actively interested in him. Most of the work was done 12 months ago, when United made a play for him but backed off when they discovered the asking price would be in excess of £100m.

Now the first offer has gone in; £60m, plus an additional £5m. It won't be enough.

Talks are continuing though and the expectation is the transfer will get done.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks James.

We're moving on now. Let's check in at Old Trafford, where they are preparing to welcome Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.