What happened: Hoffenheim have reached a verbal agreement to sign Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat and Nijmegen midfielder Kodai Sano, per Sky Germany. Both players are reported to have agreed personal terms running through 2031. Hoffenheim are now negotiating with each club to finalize the transfers.

Why it matters: Landing two highly-rated central midfielders signals Hoffenheim's intent to invest in youth and rebuild the spine of their squad. De Cat, at 17, is already a first-team regular at Anderlecht and rated among the brightest talents in his position. Sano has been a fixture in Nijmegen's midfield across three seasons in the Eredivisie.

What to watch: Hoffenheim want at least one of the pair to arrive this summer, so watch whether they can close terms with Anderlecht and Nijmegen. The fee and timing of each move remain to be settled.