Arsenal line up Stones free transfer - Monday's gossip

What the report says

BBC Sport Football’s Monday transfer gossip round-up, published 19 July 2026 and updated 20 July, says Arsenal are assessing a possible free-transfer move for Manchester City and England defender John Stones. The item, attributed by the BBC to the Sun, frames Stones, 32, as a potential option if William Saliba’s injury proves to be a long-term problem. The report does not state that a bid has been made or that an agreement is close.

The round-up also says Chelsea have held formal discussions with Crystal Palace about France defender Maxence Lacroix, with Palace said to value the 26-year-old at about £55m, citing Talksport. Liverpool are reported by Football Insider to be ready to compete with Manchester United for Roma midfielder Manu Kone, while Calciomercato says Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe remains of interest to Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Several other Premier League-linked claims feature in the BBC digest. Teamtalk reports Aston Villa have spoken with Chelsea about Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho, while Gazzetta says AC Milan forward Rafael Leao would favour a Premier League move over Turkey, with Villa named as a possible destination. The Mail links Lazio with West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and says Arsenal also have him on a list of options.

The BBC’s article is a transfer gossip aggregation rather than confirmation of completed deals. Such round-ups are significant because they indicate where clubs may be looking before or during the transfer window, but the claims remain dependent on the original outlets cited and can change quickly as negotiations, injuries and squad planning develop.