Galatasaray have lodged a formal offer of 45 million euros (£38.4m) with Arsenal for Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli, 25, as Thursday's transfer gossip also links Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a move to Chelsea and reports Newcastle pushing to sign Benfica right-back Amar Dedic.
According to ESPN, the Turkish club's bid has been submitted directly to Arsenal, with Martinelli currently entering the final year of his contract, which includes a club option for a further 12 months. Reporting on the fee is not entirely consistent across outlets — while ESPN and others cite 45 million euros, a separate report via Yahoo Sports put the figure at 40 million euros.
Will Arsenal accept the bid for Martinelli?
Arsenal are understood to be reluctant to sanction a sale unless they first identify a replacement on the left wing. Sources cited by Goal indicate the club is not prepared to let the forward leave without securing a like-for-like signing beforehand, and one report via Football Presse suggests Arsenal actually value Martinelli at closer to £50m, meaning the current offer falls short of their asking price.
Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano back in 2019 and has since made 278 appearances for the club, scoring 62 goals, according to the same Football Presse report. Separately, Goal's coverage suggests the Brazilian has become Galatasaray's principal transfer target as the Turkish champions prepare for their Champions League campaign, as detailed in a further Goal report.
Could Zubimendi also depart Arsenal this summer?
Arsenal are said to be willing to let Spain international Martin Zubimendi, 27, leave for a fee of at least £77m, with Chelsea described as strong contenders for his signature, according to Teamtalk. The midfielder's potential exit would come amid wider reshaping of Arsenal's squad this summer, which has separately included interest in Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes — Arsenal were previously reported to be readying a £70m bid for the Brazil midfielder, part of a broader pursuit of Newcastle's engine room that also touched on Sandro Tonali earlier in the window.
What other moves are in motion in the Premier League?
Aston Villa have opened talks with West Ham over signing right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 28, with the DR Congo international valued at £25m, per the Athletic. Villa have also offered Bayern Munich a loan deal with an option to buy for Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 31, though the German club are said to prefer an outright permanent sale, according to reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Newcastle are continuing discussions to sign Benfica right-back Amar Dedic, 23, of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who is valued at around £25m, the Mail reports. The Magpies are also weighing up a move for Brighton's Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, 22, as a possible replacement for Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali, per the same Mail report — Baleba has separately been the subject of interest from Manchester United, as noted in earlier transfer coverage involving multiple Premier League clubs. Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock, 26, is reportedly open to a move to Besiktas, with a fee of around 20 million euros (£17m) potentially enough to complete a deal, according to Foot Mercato.
What's happening lower down the divisions?
Ipswich are close to completing the signing of 20-year-old Ivory Coast-born right-back and midfielder Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg, Sky Sports reports. Hull City are confident of finalising a deal for Augsburg midfielder Mert Komur, 21, despite an initial £10.2m bid being rejected, according to Teamtalk, and the club are also close to re-signing striker Joe Gelhardt, 24, permanently from Leeds after two loan spells at the MKM Stadium, per Sky Sports.
In the Championship, Southampton and former England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 24, is being targeted by Benfica, the Daily Mail reports. Preston, Millwall and Stoke are all showing interest in Hull City right-back Cody Drameh, 24, who has a year left on his contract, according to Sky Sports. Derby are in talks with West Brom over midfielder Alex Mowatt, 31, and remain keen on re-signing Chile forward Ben Brereton Diaz, 27, from Southampton, per journalist John Percy.
Manchester City defender Max Alleyne, 21, who impressed on loan at Watford last season, is set to join Burnley on a season-long loan, the Daily Mail reports. Birmingham are interested in Bristol City midfielder Max Bird, 25, who has a year left on his contract at Ashton Gate, according to Birmingham Live. Norwich are expected to lose out to Nottingham Forest in the race to sign 16-year-old Swedish-born twins Joseph and Jubilee Ntege, who impressed for Reading's under-18 side last season, per the Daily Mail.
What happens next in the Martinelli saga?
Arsenal are expected to assess Galatasaray's offer in the coming days, with negotiations potentially accelerating should the club decide to engage with the Turkish side on the proposed fee, according to a further Yahoo Sports report. However, any eventual sale is reported to hinge on Arsenal first securing a replacement left-sided attacker, per Goal's latest update, meaning a resolution may not come quickly.
- Galatasaray have bid 45m euros (£38.4m) for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, though some reports cite 40m euros
- Martinelli has scored 62 goals in 278 appearances since joining from Ituano in 2019
- Arsenal reportedly want closer to £50m and a replacement winger before selling
- Chelsea are strong contenders for Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi at a valuation of £77m
- Newcastle are pursuing Benfica's Amar Dedic and eyeing Brighton's Carlos Baleba
