Transfer mailbag: Rice to Arsenal latest, Kane’s future and what next for Mbappe?

The transfer window officially opened on Wednesday, and there has already been activity across the Premier League and Europe — most notably England midfielder Jude Bellingham’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid.

To keep on top of all the ins and outs this summer, you can follow The Athletic’s live transfer blog, while our dedicated club reporters will bring you news and analysis on what’s happening at your team.

But we also like to engage with our readers directly and find out what they want to know about what’s happening within the world of transfers. So, earlier in the week, we put a call out for questions to put to our experts — and you responded.

Here, we’ve collated the most-asked questions, along with answers from David Ornstein, Raphael Honigstein and more.

Follow the summer transfer window with The Athletic…

We had plenty of questions regarding Arsenal, with D asking about Declan Rice, and also whether the club are targeting any attackers?

David Ornstein: West Ham are ready to sell Rice for what could be a British-record fee, and over time Arsenal have emerged the favourites to sign him. Personal terms shouldn’t be a problem but the clubs have to agree a price.

As The Athletic reported yesterday (Thursday), Arsenal made an opening offer to sign Rice, which was rejected. This development followed talks between Arsenal executive Tim Lewis and West Ham counterpart Karren Brady at the Premier League AGM. Sporting director Edu and director of football operations Richard Garlick are leading the process for Arsenal.

There is interest from other clubs — not least treble winners Manchester City. They are actively exploring an approach of their own for the 24-year-old.

Arsenal also want to recruit a more attack-minded player. They initially targeted Mason Mount but once it emerged that his preference is to join Manchester United, the focus shifted to another Chelsea player in Kai Havertz. A first proposal has been submitted amid contact both between the clubs and with the Germany international.

Chelsea want to tie Havertz down to a new contract — his current one expires in summer 2025 — or sell him for what they deem an acceptable price. If the 24-year-old does stay, there is optimism he will return to form under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino after a difficult season.

But if a deal emerges which suits all parties, it is highly possible that he will leave Stamford Bridge.

We had a lot of questions, including one from Adrian H, about Manchester United’s transfer business and whether they will sign a new No 9; with David J also asking whether the takeover situation has had an impact on their plans…

Ornstein: Signing a new striker is Manchester United’s priority for the summer. Manager Erik ten Hag wants Harry Kane, but I don’t think everyone at United feels the same. Despite Kane turning 30 next month and entering the last year of his Tottenham contract, it would still take a huge fee to land him. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy doesn’t want to sell, and especially not to one of their direct domestic rivals.

As my colleague, Laurie Whitwell, reported on Wednesday, United have decided against making an official approach for Kane.

Other options include Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Napoli’s new Serie A champion Victor Osimhen, although the latter is likely to be out of United’s reach financially. But much will depend on United’s budget, and that’s not helped by the uncertainty over their ownership.

Quite a few people asked about Kylian Mbappe potentially leaving Paris Saint-Germain and the impact that would have on the market — and Gabriel M. specifically asked about the possibility of a move to Manchester United.

Ornstein: It’s unclear. If Mbappe stays, there will be no real impact this summer. If he is to go, there will be a big impact. The outcome is up in the air. He sent PSG a letter earlier this week saying he would not extend his contract to 2025, only to then insist he had no interest in leaving this summer.

Let’s say he moves — the first question then is ‘Where?’. Real Madrid have been most heavily-linked but you imagine there would be competition. For example, teams such as Manchester United also need a new forward. Right now, demand for that position is higher than supply.

Mbappe entering the market would increase the talent pool and could make it easier for clubs to recruit. But it might also block the path for someone such as Harry Kane if Madrid or Manchester United were planning to push for him but then choose to focus on Mbappe.

That said, Mbappe’s exit would free up a slot at PSG too, and provide potential targets with an opportunity that few of us expected this summer.

There was also interest in the future of James Maddison, following Leicester City’s relegation.

Ornstein: Leicester being relegated and his contract expiring in 12 months mean a summer move is likely for Maddison.

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are among those chasing him from the Premier League. Reports suggest Leicester want £60million ($76.2m), which would-be buyers feel is steep, but I would still expect that a deal gets done in this window.

How about a question for our German football expert Raphael Honigstein from Renan F, who wants to know how active Bayern Munich will be in this window?

Raphael Honigstein: Bayern’s top priority is a centre-forward. They will only address other needs in the squad once they have found a new No 9 — and that won’t cost them much less than €100million (£85.8m).

But there’s a good chance they will also be forced to sign a central defender if Lucas Hernandez is sold to Paris Saint-Germain. The France international has told the serial German champions he won’t renew his contract beyond next season; the same is true of countryman and fellow defender Benjamin Pavard. There’s a good chance both will leave, freeing up money to re-invest in replacements, as well as a holding midfielder — coach Thomas Tuchel would love a more defensively-minded specialist to complement Joshua Kimmich.

It’ll be a fairly busy summer in the Bavarian capital.

It’s over to Jacob Whitehead next, who is answering this question from Chris C: Are Newcastle targeting two or three elite players or going for more squad depth and not getting carried away with their quick progress?

Jacob Whitehead: Good question. The mood music has had more key changes than a Whitney Houston ballad, but as Newcastle’s budget has solidified, it is understood that coach Eddie Howe wants to add around two elite players who will immediately improve the starting XI before filling out the rest of Newcastle’s needs with depth pieces.

Those splashy additions are likely to be midfielders, or at least a wide forward/midfielder hybrid, with the cheaper options currently slated as a left-back, a right centre-back and a developmental-level forward.

To some extent, this approach has been dictated by financial fair play (FFP) — but recent windows have seen Newcastle take risks late in the process, powered by new owner PIF releasing funds and the magic of amortisation. The late signing of Alexander Isak last summer is just one example.

We go to Andrew Jones with the next question. Justin M wants to know: Who are Burnley talking to?

Andrew Jones: Negotiations are now underway for Southampton’s Nathan Tella, after last season’s successful loan to Burnley. There is expected to be a sticking point over the price but there is hope a compromise can be found.

Chelsea have rejected a £15million offer for Ian Maatsen. Vincent Kompany wants to bring the left-back, another of last season’s impressive loanees, back to Burnley permanently. Chelsea are open to keeping him, while the player himself wants another loan to Turf Moor.

Burnley are also planning to lodge a second bid for Bart Verbruggen, who would replace Arijanet Muric their first-choice goalkeeper. Kompany is a huge fan of the 20-year-old, but they are facing competition for him. Burnley are also in advanced talks with Lawrence Vigouroux, 29, who was named in the League Two Team of the Season such was his form in goal for title winners Leyton Orient.

There was some interest in Teemu Pukki, who has left Norwich at the end of his contract, so we’ve gone to our resident expert Michael Bailey. Quinton G. asked: Where is he going to sign?

Teemu Pukki’s camp has remained tight-lipped on what is next for the Finnish striker. His wife suggested on social media as recently as Wednesday that the family are still to decide where their next chapter lies.

The strongest links have involved the U.S., with Minnesota United considered the prime candidates. There had been some rumours at the start of May that fellow MLS side Inter Miami could be a viable destination but, even if that was the case, the availability of Lionel Messi probably shuts that down.

Less probable was an offer from Super Lig side Samsunspor, with Turkey an unlikely destination — however Pukki is yet to rule out staying in Europe somewhere.

The 33-year-old is currently on international duty, ahead of two home European Championship qualifiers over the next few days against Slovenia and San Marino. Once they are done, Pukki is expected to make a final decision on his next move.

Do you have a question that hasn’t been asked/answered? We’re going to do this again early next week. Ask your question below and we’ll put it to The Athletic’s transfer experts over the weekend.

(Top photos: Getty Images)