Transfer Centre

Transfer rumours: Chukwuemeka to Milan, Diop to Fulham, Edozie to Southampton

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 29 July 2022

Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer rumours, including Carney Chukwuemeka to AC Milan and Southampton's late hijack for Sam Edozie.

Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has reportedly given the green light to a potential move to AC Milan.

The 18-year-old's future has been the subject of much speculation after he entered the final year of his contract at Villa Park.

Numerous European clubs are said to be keeping a close eye on Chukwuemeka's situation, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain credited with an interest.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chukwuemeka has now given his approval to a switch to the Serie A champions, but Villa are refusing to budge on their £20m stance.

The Under-19 Euros champion was recently left out of the Lions' pre-season tour squad to Australia, with Steven Gerrard confirming that he had yet to respond to the club's offer of a new deal.

West Ham United's Issa Diop applauds fans after the match, October 21, 2021 © Reuters

Meanwhile, West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop is another Premier League player being strongly linked with a summer transfer after struggling for opportunities under David Moyes last term.

The arrival of Nayef Aguerd has pushed Diop further down the pecking order, although the former Rennes man will spend a few weeks recuperating from ankle surgery.

Nevertheless, Diop is still expected to leave, but L'Equipe reports that the Hammers have now raised their asking price for the 25-year-old in the wake of Aguerd's injury.

Fulham are already understood to have seen a £14.8m bid for the Frenchman rejected, and the Hammers could now demand as much as £16.7m.

Diop only has one year left to run on his contract at the London Stadium, but West Ham do possess the option to extend his stay until the summer of 2024.

Vincent Kompany pictured on August 17, 2020 © Reuters

Fulham are not the only ones who have reportedly failed with a bid for a transfer target, with Royal Antwerp playing hardball over Burnley-linked Manuel Benson.

Vincent Kompany's side are expected to lose Maxwel Cornet to Nottingham Forest in the coming weeks, and the Clarets will therefore be in the market for a new attacking star.

According to the Daily Mail, Burnley recently submitted a £1.5m bid for the 25-year-old's services, but Antwerp knocked back their approach.

The report adds that the Belgian top-flight side are holding out for a fee of £3m for Benson, whose contract is up in 2023, but Antwerp can trigger a one-year option until 2024.

Benson ended the 2021-22 season with six goals and eight assists from 42 appearances in all tournaments and previously made two appearances for Belgium's Under-21s.

Manchester City's Sam Edozie during training on April 12, 2022 © Reuters

Finally, Bayer Leverkusen's proposed move for Manchester City's Sam Edozie is now in jeopardy, with Southampton supposedly aiming to hijack a move for the 19-year-old.

Leverkusen were initially expected to welcome Edozie to Germany in a £5m deal, with the teenager being given the green light to end his stint at the Etihad Stadium.

According to the Daily Mail, Southampton are now aiming to pip Leverkusen to Edozie's signing, and the attacker would therefore become the Saints' third summer arrival from Manchester City after Romeo Lavia and Gavin Bazunu.

Edozie has only made one senior appearance for Pep Guardiola's side since joining from Millwall in July 2019, which came in last year's Community Shield loss to Leicester City.