Man Utd and Arsenal can take advantage of 'mini transfer deadline day' as Chelsea at risk

Manchester United and Arsenal are primed to pounce ahead of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline on June 30, with Chelsea one of six Premier League clubs reportedly in need of lucrative sales over the next three-and-a-half weeks.

Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Leicester City are also under pressure to cash in where they can, according to Sky Sports, before what has been described as a ‘mini transfer deadline’ at the end of the month. PSR restricts Premier League teams losing more than £105million over a three-year period – or even less if they spent some of that time outside the top flight.

The Toffees are reportedly prepared to listen to offers for anyone in their entire squad as they scramble to raise funds and avoid another points deduction, having been dragged into a relegation battle last season.

Jarrad Branthwaite is their most valuable asset, and United are said to be ‘very keen’ on buying him. Everton are believed to have placed a whopping £100m price tag on the centre-back in the last 12 months, but as the PSR deadline approaches, their bargaining power dwindles and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them accept a significantly lower fee.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is in need of reinforcements in central defence, with Raphael Varane no longer at Old Trafford and Jonny Evans out of contract. They are sure to face stiff competition in the race for Branthwaite, who has plenty of admirers despite being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Opportunity for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta lies in Newcastle’s need to raise cash. The Gunners have been linked with two of Eddie Howe’s top players in the lead-up to the summer transfer window – Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.

Both stars would command a fee in the region of £100m, which would push Arsenal’s financial flexibility to its limits. While the Magpies are naturally keen to keep hold of their top players, moving either one of them on would make complying with PSR significantly easier.

In their quest to get back into the top four, Chelsea will be desperate to avoid doing business with their rivals. Unlike Newcastle and Everton, new Blues boss Enzo Maresca should be able to get through the summer without selling his very best players.

But a number of homegrown talents are expected to be auctioned off due to the fact their sales can be accounted for as pure profit and make a huge dent in their PSR figures. Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah, who were both in the starting XI for Chelsea’s final game of last season, are attracting transfer interest.

Armando Broja is also expected to be sold after a disappointing loan stint at Fulham, and Ian Maatsen’s promising spell at Borussia Dortmund could land him a permanent move away if BVB, or another interested party, is tempted to trigger his £35m release clause.