Fabrizio Romano's best kept transfer market secrets

In transfer market news, things often need to be kept secret for several days, or even weeks.

Transfers can be put at risk if news of the deal emerges before a club gives the greelight for it to be spoken about publicly.

Here are five cases I had to keep secret until the last minute to help the deal go smoothly.

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Donny van de Beek to Everton

Van de Beek was one step away from joining Crystal Palace last January, and the deal with Manchester United was very close.

This is why it was important to stay silent when Everton started talks with him, managing to complete the deal within 24 hours during the last week of January.

Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea

Lukaku's move was full of secret meetings as Chelsea quietly negotated with Romelu's agent.

Making the news public could have been risky for the deal, which likely came as a surprise to Inter. So the news between Lukaku and Chelsea only emerged when the English club made its official proposal last August.

Eduardo Camavinga to Real Madrid

Manchester United and PSG had been in contact with Camavinga's agents for months.

But Real Madrid chose to make an offer to buy him last August, instead of in June 2022, as a free agent. To avoid other clubs doing the same, total silence was needed as negotiations played out on Deadline Day. 

The Spanish club concluded the deal in 48 hours, with 'leaks' totally prohibited.

Martin Ødegaard to Arsenal

Arsenal's strategy was to wait until August to enter the scene and make an offer for Martin Ødegaard, knowing that the final decision would be up to Real Madrid.

Arsenal's interest in Maddison of Leicester had been widely reported, but the priority was always Ødegaard.

Arsenal worked in secret until the official offer was accepted by Real Madrid.

Bruno Guimaraes to Newcastle

Newcastle had intended to make an offer last January for the Brazilian midfielder, but they knew that in the event of public news, the costs of the deal would rise. Plus, other English and Italian clubs could have joined the race.

That is why it was kept silent until a meeting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to conclude the negotiation.