As the consortium that has reached a “definitive agreement” to buy a 30 per cent stake in Liverpool continues to generate noise, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is described by industry figures as a mere “silent partner”.

It’s perhaps apt given the lack of actual explanation or intention behind this, despite all the commotion.

The entry of one of the world’s wealthiest men into football has naturally stoked a lot of emotion, not least from the supporter group Spirit of Shankly. They have written to Liverpool asking for clarity, having warned how previous changes in the running of the club have led to “decisions and behaviours that many would not want to see at Liverpool”.

For all the inevitable focus on the hard figures of the numbers, and the influence of Bezos’s own wealth, there’s a sense this is all about something much bigger. “It just looks like a power/political play over an investment decision,” one well-placed source says.

Holding part of an “asset” in a sphere of such increasing social and political importance gives you entry into another world, as the recent World Cup made clear. It has become a solid platform for the highest politics. That is one of many reasons why beleaguered Fifa president Gianni Infantino won’t resign.

Football itself is morphing, which is why there is such an unstable time at the top. That attracts the interest of figures like Bezos, who are likely to change it more. The world is increasingly centring on football, as its single global sport, so the world’s biggest conglomerates are getting involved. Such concentrations of interest and wealth are inevitable.

Tijjani Reijnders’s fleeting time at Manchester City is almost over. The Dutch international is on the verge of joining Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah in a transfer worth around £55m. Will he lift the “Pride of the Eastern Province” to Saudi Pro League glory? Who knows? Also: who cares?

Amid the summer transfer churn, perhaps it is not a particularly eye-catching or noteworthy deal. City will make a small profit on a player they bought for £45m last summer. City fans won’t shed many tears. Reijnders is far from the first Premier League player to accept Saudi Arabian riches, and he won’t be the last.

But there is something jarring and a little bleak about the road from AC Milan’s marauding midfielder to Al Qadsiah’s flagship signing in little over a year.

A deal for Myles Lewis-Skelly to Chelsea is considered highly unlikely.

Chelsea are generally happy with their squad, and will only now move in the event of "reactions" to the market.

There is still some puzzlement within Arsenal as to how reports of the 19-year-old being offered around has got out. Lewis-Skelly's camp have not been in touch.

There is long-standing interest from Manchester United but the Old Trafford hierarchy do not have the finances right now to even test Arsenal's willingness to keep their teenage star.

Ruben Dias is in pole position to become Manchester City’s next captain – because Erling Haaland scores so many goals.

New manager Enzo Maresca is yet to pick the next skipper, after Bernardo Silva left to join Real Madrid, but for now defender Dias and striker Haaland are the only two of the previous leadership group left in contention.

But Maresca likes to call his captain over to the touchline to make tactical changes after his side scores, which counts against Haaland, who got 38 goals last season and has 162 in four years with City.

That points to Dias leading the team, with Maresca saying: “Because if he scores he can’t celebrate, yes.

“Ruben has shown during his time at this club how he is as a player, in terms of leadership. It’s important for the captain and the leader to know that the reason they are captain is because I expect more from them. It’s not because I give them more freedom or advantage. It’s the opposite, the leadership group and captains have to show more and give more than the others.”

Barcelona, in typical fashion, are attempting to spin a few plates at once this transfer window, writes Miguel Delaney in his Inside Football newsletter.

Having sold Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona want to sign Rodri and also try and get the right striker in.

With Atletico Madrid currently intent on keeping Julian Alvarez, however, Barca have started to look at Internazionale’s Lautaro Martinez in addition to Victor Osimhen.

Enzo Fernandez is set to stay at Chelsea after the club’s 5pm Friday deadline passed without any acceptable bids being received.

The club laid down terms on Thursday that they expected either to receive a written bid matching their £120m valuation of the player or they would consider the matter of his future closed, and would not entertain any subsequent offers.

It is understood that the verbal terms and conditions that were made available to Fernandez’s representatives for potential suitors at end of May are now off the table, and the club expects him to stay.

Manchester City are the last remaining club with a known interest in signing the World Cup winner, after Real Madrid publicly stated in July that they would not be pursuing Fernandez.

The 25-year-old worked with City boss Enzo Maresca during their 18 months together at Stamford Bridge and the Italian is known to admire the player.

It was thought that, with a £52m deal having been agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Pro-League outfit Al-Qadsiah, funds would be freed up for City to take Fernandez to the Etihad Stadium as a like-for-like replacement for Rodri, who looks set to join Barcelona.

However, unless Chelsea can be persuaded into a U-turn and be brought to the negotiating table, Fernandez will still be at Stamford Bridge when the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Arsenal are in contention to sign Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood.

That’s according to The Sun, who reported earlier that Mikel Arteta is a fan of the 21-year-old. Hinshelwood can play across the midfield as well as at full-back. He scored four goals in 27 Premier League appearances last season.

Brighton would value their academy graduate at around £43m, potentially up to £50m in add-ons.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli has turned down the chance to join Galatasaray after the Turkish club explored a bid for the Arsenal winger.

It is known that Arsenal want to upgrade their attack this summer and Martinelli was reportedly part of talks for striker Victor Osimhen.

"The journey wasn’t perfect, but I don’t want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years.

"Thank you to everyone at the club who shared this journey with me. Coaches, teammates, staff and every person working behind the scenes you are all part of my story and have a place in my heart.

"And to the fans: Thank you for loving me, respecting me and making me feel like one of you from day one. Thank you for every hug, every song, every flag, every applause and for always being there.

"I know I wasn’t perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart.

"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I’m leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here.”

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a busy end to the transfer window, according to Miguel Delaney in his Inside Football newsletter. With Savinho set to be secured for a fee of £65m plus add-ons from Manchester City, they are still chasing Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, and there may even be a right-winger as Roberto De Zerbi has been toying with playing Mohammed Kudus more centrally.

Spurs have been linked with Victor Osimhen, too, who has been offered to several Premier League clubs. Gakpo, a major target all summer, has reached an agreement with Tottenham over personal terms, according to reports in the Netherlands. Liverpool maintained that they would not consider letting Gakpo leave without a suitable replacement.

England defender Djed Spence has joined Inter Milan from Tottenham after the Spurs captain Cristian Romero completed his move to Atletico Madrid.

Spence posted a thank you message to the Tottenham fans, writing on social media: “A special chapter comes to an end, It’s been some journey, with plenty of memories, moments and experiences that I’ll carry with me for forever, especially that night in Bilbao Thanks to all the staff members who’ve helped me along the way, the players who’ve become family & most importantly thank you to the fans. Time for a new chapter now, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart.”