Crystal Palace prepare £50m bid for Jarrod Bowen

The new week opens with Premier League clubs already swinging hard in the market – and Crystal Palace are preparing one of the loudest shots.

Palace line up audacious Bowen bid

Crystal Palace are readying a daring £50m offer to bring Jarrod Bowen back to the Premier League, according to reports. The move would be a huge statement from Palace, who are looking to add proven top-flight firepower and see Bowen as a ready-made solution rather than a project.

The fee being discussed underlines how aggressively Palace are prepared to act to reshape their attack, with Bowen viewed as a player who can walk straight into a starting XI and change the tempo of their season.

Al Hilal target Premier League double raid

In Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal are not easing off. The club are working on an ambitious double swoop for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

Both players are central figures at their current clubs, but Al Hilal’s financial muscle has already altered the landscape for a number of Premier League sides. A successful move for even one of Martinelli or Watkins would send another shockwave through European football; landing both would be seismic.

Watkins saga deepens at Villa

The Watkins situation is already under an uncomfortable spotlight. Unai Emery did nothing to play down suggestions that the England forward had refused to play in Villa’s bruising 4-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex on Sunday.

The heavy loss was troubling enough. The idea that one of Villa’s key forwards chose not to feature raises bigger questions about harmony inside the camp and adds more intrigue to any potential approach from abroad.

Balde left out as United watch on

In Spain, Manchester United’s interest in Alejandro Balde has taken on a new twist. The Barcelona full-back was left out of the squad for their LaLiga opener against Elche.

For a player linked with a move to Old Trafford, that omission will not go unnoticed. Whether it signals an imminent exit or is simply an early-season selection call, it adds fuel to a story United’s recruitment team will be tracking closely.

Keegan honoured at Anfield–St James’ showdown

On Merseyside and Tyneside, there was a moment for nostalgia. Before Liverpool and Newcastle met on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, supporters from both clubs united to pay tribute to Kevin Keegan.

A figure woven into the history of both sides, Keegan’s legacy drew applause from across the divide, a rare shared celebration before the rivalry resumed on the pitch.

EFL: Osmajic bound for Serie A

Away from the top flight, one of English football’s most talked-about characters is heading for a new chapter abroad. Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic, who has picked up a series of bans during his time in England, is set to leave for Genoa after agreeing a move to Serie A.

His departure removes one of the EFL’s more combustible figures from the domestic scene and hands Genoa a striker with edge as well as ability.

Europe: Pogba slashes mansion price amid Monaco exit

Off the pitch, Paul Pogba’s future continues to shift. The former Manchester United midfielder has drastically reduced the asking price of his five-bedroom Cheshire mansion as he edges towards an exit from AS Monaco.

Pogba has knocked £450,000 off the original £3.95m tag after struggling to find a buyer. The cut underlines his determination to draw a line under his Premier League-era life in England and move on cleanly.

Simeone explains Alvarez gesture

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has moved to clarify the situation around Julian Alvarez, a player on Arsenal’s radar. Alvarez did not join his team-mates in acknowledging the Atletico supporters after full-time on Sunday, a moment that drew instant scrutiny.

Simeone insisted the decision was planned rather than a sign of discontent, a line that will be noted in North London as Arsenal weigh up their interest in the forward.

Kane named 2026 player of the year in Germany

In Germany, Harry Kane continues to collect honours. The Bayern Munich striker has been voted the 2026 player of the year in Germany by an association of sports journalists, finishing ahead of team-mate Michael Olise.

The award reflects Kane’s dominance in the Bundesliga and his status as the defining centre-forward of the era, even with Olise’s rise adding an extra layer of attacking sparkle to Bayern’s squad.

Scotland: Rangers miss out as Driouech nears PSV exit

North of the border, transfer stories are gathering pace. Couhaib Driouech now looks set to leave PSV after all, just nine days after his proposed move to Rangers collapsed.

The winger’s future had appeared to swing back towards Eindhoven, but fresh developments suggest he will be on the move again, with Rangers watching a target slip further from their grasp.

Kuhn listed, Gineitis on Celtic radar

Former Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn has been placed on the transfer list after being left out of Como’s squad entirely. His availability will be noted in Scotland, even if a Parkhead return is not currently on the table.

Celtic, meanwhile, are preparing to step up their interest in Gvidas Gineitis once Tuesday’s Champions League play-off is out of the way. The timing is deliberate: secure Europe’s elite stage first, then push for the midfield reinforcements that could define the rest of their campaign.