When asked about the potential tag of bottlers ahead of the pre-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refused to entertain the question, saying the word is not part of his vocabulary and that he is not concerned about the tag.
Mikel Arteta said on the tag of bottlers: “It’s not part of my vocabulary, and I don’t see it like this because I don’t think anybody wants to do that, as an intention, but I wouldn’t use that word, but that’s, that’s me.”
“Bottlers is not a word in my vocabulary” – Mikel Arteta’s response to his Arsenal team being branded “bottlers”…pic.twitter.com/B0JdzEymFr
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can bounce back strongly and put together a winning run now. They have a formidable team, and they have done quite well overall. They need to be more consistent if they want to win the league title. Manchester City are breathing down their necks, and they have extensive experience winning league titles. Arsenal must look to get their act together if they want to beat Manchester City and Pep Guardiola to the title.
Liverpool and Manchester City have not been at their best this season. This is a golden opportunity for Arsenal to win the league title and return to the top of English football. They must not slip up at this stage of the season. They have come close in recent seasons, and they will look to finally get over the line.
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James Trafford wants Villa move
However, a report from The Shields Gazette claims that a player would prefer to join the West Midlands club instead. It will be interesting to see if Aston Villa can wrap up the move in the summer. They could use a quality goalkeeper, especially with Emiliano Martinez being linked with an exit. The South American is expected to depart in the summer, and Trafford could be the ideal replacement.
He has shown his quality with Burnley in the past, and there is no doubt that he is good enough to start for Aston Villa. He could help them improve. Regular football at the West Midlands club could help the goalkeeper fulfil his potential as well.
James Trafford in action for Manchester City (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Aston Villa are pushing for Champions League qualification, and they will be an attractive destination for players if they manage to finish in the top four. Newcastle have an ambitious project as well, but they are unlikely to compete in the Champions League next season. It is no surprise that the goalkeeper wants to join Aston Villa instead. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
Trafford will have to compete with Marco Bizot for the starting spot at the West Midlands club. At Newcastle, he would have to compete with Aaron Ramsdale. The move to Aston Villa certainly makes a lot more sense for the player.
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Malick Thiaw has excelled at Newcastle
The player joined Newcastle for £30 million in the summer, and he has been excellent for them. He has a long-term contract with Newcastle, and they are under no pressure to sell him. They are likely to demand a lot of money if Liverpool or Manchester United decides to come calling in the summer.
Liverpool need more quality in the defensive unit, and there is no doubt that German could be a useful acquisition. The 24-year-old is entering the years of his career, and he could be attracted to the idea of joining an elite club like Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konate will be out of contract at the end of the season, and Joe Gomez has been linked with an exit as well. Liverpool need to invest in a quality central defender at the end of the season. The Newcastle star could be ideal for them.
Lewis Miley and Malick Thiaw celebrate for Newcastle. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Similarly, Manchester United would also need to add more depth to the defensive unit. Harry Maguire is in his 30s, and they need to start planning for his succession.
It will be interesting to see whether either club is willing to pay a premium for him. Newcastle will not want to lose the player easily. They are looking to build a formidable team and retain their best players.
Meanwhile, the interest from top clubs could turn heads, and it will be interesting to see how the player reacts.
Real Madrid and Liverpool are interested in signing the Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic.
The 18-year-old is currently on loan to Hamburg and has been exceptional for the German club. According to a report from SportsBoom, the two clubs have been monitoring his progress and scouting him extensively.
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Spurs do not want to lose Luka Vuskovic
They could look to make a move in the summer, but Tottenham consider the Croatian talent “unsellable”. The report claims that they would only entertain negotiations for an offer of around €70 million. It will be interesting to see if Real Madrid or Liverpool comes forward with an acceptable offer for the player.
Real Madrid have looked vulnerable defensively, and they are looking to improve in that area of the pitch. Signing the 18-year-old would be a major coup for them. He is regarded as a generational talent, and he could develop into a world-class player with the right guidance.
Luka Vuskovic of Hamburger SV (L), currently on loan from Tottenham (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
The €70 million investment might seem expensive right now, but the player has the quality to justify the outlay in future. Similarly, Liverpool needs more depth in the defensive unit. They need to start planning for a Virgil van Dijk replacement, and the Croatian could be a superb acquisition.
It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Tottenham must keep players like him at the club if they want to build a formidable team for the future. Selling him to Real Madrid or Liverpool could prove to be a huge mistake. The 18-year-old has all the attributes to become a future star, and Tottenham could regret the decision in future.
Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss is currently on loan at German club VfB Stuttgart.
The 21-year-old Moroccan has been excellent for them, scoring five goals in his last eight European appearances. He has three goals and three assists in the Bundesliga as well. His performances have attracted interest from Tottenham and Newcastle United, according to SportsBoom. It would be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for him at the end of the season.
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Bilal El Khannouss to join Stuttgart permanently
The German outfit will be able to sign him permanently for around €20 million. They have an obligation to make the move permanent should certain conditions be met. It remains to be seen whether they are prepared to sign him permanently and sell him for a quick profit again.
Tottenham could use more quality in the final third, and the 21-year-old attacking midfielder could be a useful addition. He has played in the Premier League with Leicester City, and the opportunity to join a big club like Tottenham could be exciting for him. He can operate both centrally and on the flanks. He will help create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net as well.
Bilal El Khannouss in action for Leicester CIty (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
On the other hand, Newcastle could use more quality in the final third as well. They are looking to build a team capable of competing in the UEFA Champions League regularly and fighting for domestic trophies. They need cutting-edge in the final third.
Leeds United and Crystal Palace are also monitoring his situation. However, it seems unlikely that the player will want to join them. If he returns to the Premier League, he would hope to secure a move to a big club with an ambitious project.
Manchester United are hoping to sign the Brazilian attacker Gabriel Veneno.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, they have already begun work in the background to sign the Brazilian sensation. The 16-year-old recently became the first player in the history of Brazilian youth football to score more than 80 goals in a single calendar year. He is a “generational” talent, and clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea are also interested in signing him.
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Man United keen on Gabriel Veneno
Manchester United have been scouting him extensively and maintaining regular contact with intermediaries.
It will be interesting to see if they can beat Arsenal and Chelsea to his signature. They have a tremendous track record in grooming young players, and they hope to sign the Brazilian and nurture him into an important player for the club.
Arsenal and Chelsea have also done well to groom players in the past. It remains to be seen whether they can sign the 16-year-old in future.
Manchester United appear to be the most interested right now, and they are already working to get ahead of their rivals. If they manage to get the deal done, it could prove to be a solid long-term investment for them.
Veneno is a tremendous talent with a bright future, and he could establish himself as an important player for Manchester United with the right guidance. He could help them save millions in the market.
Manchester United are looking to build for the future, and signing the 16-year-old would be a step in the right direction. It remains to be seen whether they can wrap up the move quickly.
Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in signing the PSG attacker Bradley Barcola at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old has struggled to secure regular opportunities at PSG and needs to leave the club to play more often.
Moving to the Premier League would be ideal for him. Liverpool and Arsenal need more quality on the flanks, and the French International could be ideal for them. He will add explosive pace, technical ability and unpredictability in the final third.
He needs to play regularly at this stage of his career, and sitting on the bench at PSG will not benefit him.
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Liverpool and Arsenal eye Bradley Barcola
Liverpool needs a player with his skill set. They have not been able to replace Luis Diaz properly, and Barcola could be the ideal alternative. Similarly, Arsenal need more quality on the flanks. They have invested in players like Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, but they have been quite underwhelming since joining the club. Arsenal need more cutting-edge from the flanks, and the French attacker could help them improve.
The report from Fichajes claims that Liverpool and Arsenal would not hesitate to pay a premium for the player in the summer. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. He has the technical attributes to succeed in the Premier League, and he will look to establish himself as a key player for either club.
Bradley Barcola of PSG in action against Manchester City (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Regular football in England could help him improve further and fulfil his potential. The move would be ideal for all parties.
Despite not starting regularly, the 23-year-old has recorded 13 goal contributions already this season. His numbers will only improve when he plays regularly at a high level.
Sint-Truiden striker Keisuke Goto has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.
The 20-year-old has been excellent since joining the Belgian club on loan from Anderlecht. He has been able to find the back of the net regularly, and his performances have attracted the attention of Chelsea and Tottenham. According to a report from Sports Boom, both clubs are interested in the 20-year-old Japanese international, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
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Keisuke Goto could be a superb addition
Goto has shown that he has the physicality and technical attributes for English football, and he could prove to be a very useful acquisition. He is a young player with significant potential, and he could develop into a star with the right guidance. The player could be available for €15-20 million, and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Tottenham decide to pay up. He has 16 goal contributions this season.
Keisuke Goto of Japan warms up ahead of the international friendly match between Japan and Bolivia at National Stadium on November 18, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Chelsea need more cutting-edge in the final third. They need someone who can lead for them and find the back of the net regularly. The 20-year-old Japanese attacker could be the ideal fit.
Similarly, Tottenham needs more quality in the final third. They have struggled to find the back of the net regularly, and it needs to be seen whether the 20-year-old can solve that problem.
The asking price is quite nominal for a player of his potential, and the deal could look like a major bargain in future. It remains to be seen where he ends up. Both Premier League clubs have the finances to get the deal across the line.
Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the Greek international goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Tzolakis has done quite well for Olympiacos, and he has attracted the attention of multiple clubs. He could be available for a fee of around €20 million at the end of the season, as per Area Napoli.
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Liverpool keen on Konstantinos Tzolakis
Liverpool is reportedly looking at him as a long-term replacement for Alisson Becker. The Brazilian has been an exceptional servant for the club, but he is 33. He has struggled with injury problems, and Liverpool could use a quality alternative. In addition, Alisson will be out of contract in 2027.
Tzolakis has the quality to succeed in the Premier League, and he could be a very useful option for Liverpool. The opportunity to join them will be exciting for him. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.
The asking price is quite affordable, and Liverpool should be able to get the deal done if they are truly interested in the player.
Kostas Tzolakis of Olympiacos looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Arsenal Stadium on October 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Arsenal are looking at the players as well. They could use a reliable backup option to David Raya. The Greek international could compete with the Spanish for the starting spot, and more competition for places will help Arsenal improve as a team.
They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and they are fighting for major trophies. The goalkeeper will be tempted to join them, especially if there is an opportunity to start for them regularly.
It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.
Several clubs from across Europe are also monitoring his progress. The 6’4″ goalkeeper has the physicality for English football as well, and moving to the Premier League would be ideal for him. It remains to be seen where he ends up eventually.
Mateus Mane continues to be linked with a move away from Wolves at the end of the season.
Manchester United remain keen on securing his signature, and he could cost around £50 million. According to a report from Fichajes, Liverpool is interested in signing the 18-year-old attacker, but Manchester United are leading the race for his signature.
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Man United could use Mateus Mane
They need a versatile attacker like Mane, and he could prove to be a solid long-term acquisition. He is capable of slotting into any of the front three roles and will add pace, flair, and goals to the team. The opportunity to join a club like Manchester United will be tempting for the young attacker. It would be a huge step up in his career.
Wolves are expected to go down at the end of the season, and they will lose multiple key players in the summer. Mane will want to stay in the top flight, and Manchester United could provide him with an exit route.
Both clubs need more quality in the final third, and the 18-year-old would be a solid long-term investment. He has the potential to develop into a top-class Premier League attacker. Joining a big club could help him improve further. Playing alongside elite players will only accelerate his development.
It will be interesting to see where he ends up. The £50 million asking price is quite high, but the player has the potential to justify the investment in future.
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav.
According to a report from Fichajes, Mikel Arteta has identified the 29-year-old as a target, and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can get the deal done.
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Arsenal believe the striker could be signed for €30 million. He will be out of contract in the summer of 2027, and the German outfit will be under pressure to cash in on him at the end of this season. They will not want to lose him for free. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.
The striker is at the peak of his career, and this could be the right time for him to take on a bigger challenge in the Premier League. The opportunity to join Arsenal will be quite exciting. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a formidable squad.
Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres at the start of the season, but the Swedish International has been underwhelming. They need an upgrade on the player, and Undav could be a useful acquisition.
Arsenal need someone who can find the back of the net consistently and bring others into the game. The 29-year-old certainly has the skill set to add a new dimension to the Arsenal attacking unit. He could be a complete forward for them.
The €30 million asking price is reasonable for a player of his experience and quality. He could justify the investment if he manages to adapt to English football quickly.
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Atletico Madrid is looking to add more depth to the attacking unit, and Chelsea needs to find an upgrade on Liam Delap, who has not been able to find the back of the net consistently.
Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by the same organisation, BlueCo, and that could give Chelsea an advantage in the transfer race. It will be interesting to see if they can beat Atletico to his signature.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone has already informed the Atletico Madrid hierarchy that he wants to sign the 23-year-old. He believes that the Argentine forward could develop into a top-class player with the right guidance. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
The French outfit paid €17 million to sign him, and they will look to make a substantial profit if they are forced to sell him in the summer. The striker will want to compete at the highest level, and the opportunity to join Atletico Madrid or Chelsea will be quite exciting for him. Both clubs could offer him the chance to fight for trophies.
He has the physicality and technical attributes to succeed in La Liga and the Premier League. It remains to be seen where he ends up eventually. He has shown his quality in France, and this could be the right time for him to take on a bigger challenge.
Despite winning the Premier League title last season, Slot has under-performed with Liverpool this term, with the Merseyside giants sitting in sixth place in the table at the moment, and facing an uphill struggle to finish in the top four.
Fabrizio Romano on Arne Slot’s Liverpool future
“For Arne Slot, the situation is quite clear: being in the Champions League next season is crucial for Liverpool,” Romano said.
“It will also help Arne Slot arriving toward the end of the season in a more relaxed situation with the club. Otherwise, if Liverpool aren’t in the Champions League next season, let’s see what kind of Champions League campaign they’ll enjoy.
“This could bring Liverpool into an important review for the summer. Now, the full focus is on the pitch, and the opportunity to win a trophy, of course, will be massive for Liverpool.
Arne Slot shouts instructions to Liverpool’s players during the win vs Brighton (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“Then in the summer, a review of the club. Let’s see if Liverpool will be in Champions League next season or not, and this will be one of the factors to decide on Arne Slot.
“So I expect the club at the end of the season to meet – owners, board, management, all together – to decide what they want to do.”
Who could replace Arne Slot as Liverpool manager?
It remains to be seen if Slot really deserves more time at Anfield, as his second season has seen such a significant drop-off from his debut campaign.
We’ll likely have a clearer idea before too long, but it’s also worth looking at who’s out there as a candidate to replace the Dutchman.
Changing managers always carries a degree of risk, and LFC would have to be confident they could find someone better to come on board.
Things didn’t work out for him at Real Madrid, leading to his recent sacking and subsequent availability, so that could end up being a significant factor.
? Liverpool are set to review Arne Slot's position at the end of the season, depending on if #LFC get #UCL football.
Do you think he should be sacked if they don't make top four?
Liverpool and Arsenal have reportedly both made checks on the possibility of signing Bayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl.
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However, the Bundesliga giants already have an agreement in place for Karl to sign a new contract at the Allianz Arena on his 18th birthday.
Karl, 17, is one of the most exciting young talents in world football at the moment after a superb breakthrough season with Bayern, and it seems this has led to big interest from elsewhere.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool and Arsenal have made their interest known, but it looks like they won’t be able to get him as the Germany Under-21 international’s future has already been secured.
Lennart Karl already has agreement in place to stay at Bayern Munich
Despite Liverpool and Arsenal being in contact, Karl has an agreement in place to sign a new Bayern deal when he turns 18 in two days’ time.
Lennart Karl in action for Bayern Munich (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
As Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk notes: “Arsenal and Liverpool have made their interest known in Bayern Munich’s rising star Lennart Karl, with sources confirming that the Premier League giants have checked in on the teenager ahead of his 18th birthday this weekend.
“Bayern are understood to have an agreement in place to extend Karl’s deal on his birthday, but we can reveal that talks are ongoing about a further extension – potentially locking him into a fresh four-year contract.”
The report also mentions interest from other top clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
How good can Lennart Karl be?
Karl’s playing style has already drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi, and it certainly looks like he’s sure to have a great career at the highest level.
The teenager has played 30 first-team games for Bayern this season, scoring seven goals, and one can only imagine how good he’ll be once he’s gained a bit more experience.
Liverpool and Arsenal could have done well to land this top talent, but Bayern will be delighted that it looks like he’s committed his future to them.
The entourage of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Ousmane Dembele have reportedly contacted Chelsea to sound out their interest in a potential transfer.
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The reigning Ballon d’Or winner is said to be unhappy at PSG, with the club unwilling to meet his astronomical €60m-a-year contract demands, according to Fichajes.
A previous report from Fichajes also linked Dembele as a target for Liverpool, and the Reds could certainly do with a signing of that calibre to give them a replacement for the ageing Mohamed Salah.
Ousmane Dembele looking for Chelsea transfer
Dembele’s entourage now seem to be trying to get him a move to Chelsea, with those close to the France international approaching the Blues board about him.
Ousmane Dembele in action for PSG (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
It would be fair to say it’s slightly hard to imagine Chelsea going for this, as Dembele doesn’t fit in with their current transfer strategy at all.
The west Londoners have focused a lot on investing in top young players under their current ownership, so they’re more likely to continue looking for the game’s next superstars, rather than a proven big-name talent like Dembele.
Still, there can surely be an exception to every rule, with the 28-year-old just the kind of world class forward who could help get CFC back to being genuine contenders for the Premier League and Champions League.
Ousmane Dembele’s mixed time at PSG
Dembele struggled at former club Barcelona, and things didn’t immediately click for him at PSG either.
Dembele at PSG
Games
Goals
2023/24
42
6
2024/25
53
35
2025/26
25
11
Still, the former Barca man was almost unplayable last season, as he shone as one of PSG’s best players to fire them to glory in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
Dembele finished the campaign with 35 goals in 53 games, and it saw him win the Ballon d’Or, but this season has again been a bit of a struggle for him.
It seems all is not well between him and Enrique now, so that could mean there’s an interesting opportunity for the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool to think about.
LFC are currently struggling, however, to qualify for next season’s Champions League, so that could favour Chelsea, as it’s hard to imagine Dembele being keen on stepping down to a Europa League team.
Liverpool are reportedly preparing a bid as high as €100m for the transfer of Tottenham central defender Micky van de Ven, according to Fichajes.
The Reds could do with securing the services of an elite centre-back as soon as possible, with the club potentially facing a bit of a crisis in that position this summer.
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The Netherlands international has gone on to look like a bit of a bargain for that price, as he’s become a club legend and is still going strong for Arne Slot’s side even at the age of 34.
Still, Van Dijk cannot go on forever, so it could be time for LFC to go and spend similar money again on someone like Van de Ven.
Spurs will surely do all they can to keep the 24-year-old, but it won’t be easy for them after two difficult seasons in which they’ve hovered dangerously close to the relegation zone.
As with Van Dijk when he was at Southampton, Van de Ven would surely see Liverpool as the step up his career needs.
Tottenham in a strong negotiating position
Fichajes suggest Tottenham are in a strong negotiating position with Van de Ven, whose current contract with the north Londoners expires in 2029.
That means Spurs are not under too much pressure to let him go, so it will inevitably take an enormous offer for Liverpool to get him.
Still, Fichajes suggest the Merseyside giants could be ready to do it and go all out with a €100m offer for the Dutchman.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing to offer €50m for the surprise potential transfer of Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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The former Liverpool star would be a controversial signing for Man Utd due to his long and successful career at Anfield, but it seems this is a transfer opportunity the Red Devils are keeping an eye on.
According to Fichajes, United are hoping to swoop for Alexander-Arnold and could try making a €50m bid for the England international as they look for a new right-back.
Alexander-Arnold has not had the easiest time at Real Madrid, but he remains a big name and one of the finest full-backs in the game on his day.
Trent Alexander-Arnold to Manchester United – how realistic is this transfer?
Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
The 27-year-old has only just joined Real, and even if he hasn’t hit the ground running at the Bernabeu, the club will surely give him a bit more time to adjust.
Perhaps Alexander-Arnold himself is unsure about staying in Spain and is homesick for English football, but even then, would he really ruin his reputation with Liverpool fans by joining United?
We saw this happen with Michael Owen back in the day, but Alexander-Arnold would surely have other more tempting options.
Man United need a new right-back
Still, MUFC could really do with a top class right-back signing this summer, with Diogo Dalot still playing there far too often despite clearly not being good enough.
Alexander-Arnold would be a major upgrade, but there could be other more realistic options out there as well.
The title race isn’t over yet, but a lot of Arsenal fans will be starting to feel like it’s taking an too familiar course.
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As the season has gone on, the more it has become clear that the Gunners simply have too many weaknesses in their squad that need addressing if they are to come back stronger next season.
Read on for our look at a potential summer transfer window for Arsenal if they get their ins and outs right…
OUT – Viktor Gyokeres
Despite one or two moments when it looked like he might turn it around, there can be no escaping the fact that Viktor Gyokeres’ signing has proven to be a big mistake.
It always looked a gamble signing the Sweden international on the back of those admittedly superb scoring numbers from Sporting Lisbon, with the Portuguese league simply not a good enough marker of how he’d settle in the English top flight.
Gyokeres has just eight goals in 25 Premier League games so far, and only six of those have come from open play, and six of the eight goals came against newly-promoted clubs.
Barring a remarkable turnaround between now and May, it’s very hard to see any justification for Arsenal to keep Gyokeres, who turns 28 in June, and who will surely very rapidly lose what little resale value he has.
IN – Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez in the pre-match warm-up for Atletico Madrid (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Possibly the best striker who’s at all likely to be on the market at the moment is Atletico Madrid front-man Julian Alvarez, who has been linked with Arsenal by ESPN.
The Argentina international has 42 goals in 92 games for Atletico, while he’s also proven himself in the Premier League, scoring 36 goals in two seasons mainly as a squad player at Manchester City.
Alvarez makes perfect sense for Arsenal and is the kind of statement signing they need to show that they’re the real deal in every department, with their attack this season just looking a long way off what’s required when it comes to getting over the line in the biggest competitions.
OUT – Leandro Trossard
Despite making a very decent contribution during his Arsenal career, Leandro Trossard is not getting any younger, so seems an obvious candidate for the exit door this summer.
The Belgian has his qualities, but it’s also hard to imagine he’d be starting for many other top European sides, with Arsenal in need of more of a genuine superstar in that area of the pitch.
Football Insider have suggested that Trossard could leave the Emirates Stadium at some point in 2026, so although there’s nothing concrete for now, it just looks like one that would make sense to help raise funds for signings to take this team up another level.
IN – Morgan Rogers
One of the game’s biggest rising stars, Morgan Rogers is surely the kind of talent Arsenal need to move for next.
The Declan Rice of attacking midfield, Rogers looks like he’s just about to hit his peak years, and there’ll surely be plenty of top clubs ready to pay big to prise him away from Aston Villa.
Of course, if Villa qualify for the Champions League, it’ll be harder for Arsenal to get this deal done, but in a way, that’s precisely why they need to go all out to get it done. They went for depth last summer, and this year needs to be about a lower number of genuine superstar signings.
Morgan Rogers celebrates a goal for Aston Villa (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
OUT – Riccardo Calafiori
A top player, but Arsenal probably need to seriously consider Riccardo Calafiori’s future after two injury-hit seasons at the Emirates.
The Italy international simply isn’t reliably available enough, and perhaps getting rid of him would also give AFC an opportunity to bring in a different kind of player at left-back.
Arteta currently focuses more on defensive qualities in that position, with Calafiori, like Jurrien Timber, more of a centre-back playing at full-back, with many Arsenal fans likely to feel there’s room to take more risks in that department with a more attack-minded player.
That player in question could perhaps be RB Leipzig’s David Raum, who has an impressive four goals and six assists in all competitions for club and country this season.
The 27-year-old Germany international is more like a wing-back than Calafiori, so could give Arsenal a new dimension with his passing and crossing qualities.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal have any interest, but this is surely an underrated player that a number of top clubs should be looking at ahead of this summer.
What do you think of our recommended changes to this Arsenal squad? Let us know in the comments!
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has spoken very highly of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo after making him a key player since he replaced Ruben Amorim.
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Mainoo had been struggling for playing time at Old Trafford this season, with Amorim for some reason not rating him and leaving him on the bench a lot.
The Portuguese tactician struggled during his time in charge of Man Utd, and it now seems clear that he really missed a trick by not making more use of Mainoo.
The talented young England international first burst onto the scene under Erik ten Hag, and Carrick also says he’s known about him for a while.
Michael Carrick’s special praise for Kobbie Mainoo
Speaking to BBC Sport, Carrick made it clear just how highly he rates Mainoo, whilst also backing the 20-year-old to keep on getting even better.
“I’ve known Kobbie a long time. I started working with him when I think he was 13 or 14, when I was starting to do my coaching badges – a good few years ago. Just little bits. And then, obviously, when I was here the first time, he was in and around a little bit,” Carrick said.
“So I think knowing him and having experience with him and seeing him perform at such a level on such big occasions… I said earlier about coaches being able to cope with being here and at the level to deal with it. What Kobbie’s done at such a young age is quite incredible really.
Kobbie Mainoo in action for Man Utd (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“We forget how young he still is. I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of. So it wasn’t really a big decision to play him. And, to be fair, it’s not easy when you haven’t played to find your rhythm and find your form.
“There are things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven’t really got started on any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again. I’ve been really conscious of not giving him an awful lot – a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things and some little bits here and there – but trust in what he is. He’s a fantastic footballer and he’s got a huge talent.”
Kobbie Mainoo flourishing under Michael Carrick
It’s interesting to hear Carrick say that he doesn’t like to overload Mainoo with too many instructions, which really feels like a breath of fresh air in the modern game.
It remains to be seen if United will end up hiring Carrick beyond his spell as interim manager, but there is perhaps something to be learned from how he’s managed to get the best out of Mainoo.
While there are a lot of elite coaches in the game who approach things differently, it seems there is also something to be said for giving players the freedom to express themselves.
This also worked well while another former MUFC player, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was in charge at Old Trafford, so it might be that Carrick will be another good fit for the job.
Carrick has won four and drawn one of his five games in charge of the Red Devils so far.
There’s a growing buzz in the industry about about Mateus Mane, who is attracting strong interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
As first reported in my exclusive here for the Daily Briefing, the Wolves wonderkid’s name is on everyone’s lips at the moment, so I thought I’d do some digging to give you more information about his situation.
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Many of my sources state that Wolves are resigned to losing Mane this summer, especially as relegation to the Championship looks a near-certainty at this point, and some early conversations have already taken place over a transfer.
Liverpool leading Mateus Mane transfer battle
“Wolves accept that it’s going to be very hard for them to keep Mateus Mane,” one source told me. “This is one of the most outstanding talents in the country, and his rapid progression is no secret to Premier League scouts.”
There has mostly been a lot of speculation about Manchester United pursuing Mane, and while they have been mentioned to me as one of his potential suitors, for now the information I’m getting is that Liverpool are leading the race for the 18-year-old’s signature.
Mateus Mane in action for Wolves (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
It’s still early enough for things to change, of course, but the Reds have done some early work on this deal, sounding out his representatives, with initial discussions described as “positive”.
Some sources are now saying Liverpool are fully prepared to make a bid for Mane this summer. The England youth international won’t come cheap, however, with Wolves’ current valuation being around the £50m mark. If they truly stand firm on that, then I wouldn’t expect Liverpool to go ahead and pay it.
Arsenal also eyeing Mateus Mane
One name that is yet to get much mention, unless I’m mistaken, is Arsenal. They’re also big admirers of Mane and are keen to mix it up by bringing in more young players this summer.
With a focus on winning trophies straight away, the Gunners prioritised ready-made players like Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Zubimendi last year, but there are some key figures behind the scenes who will also push for more signings in a similar vein to William Saliba, who are both good enough to play regularly straight away, but who also have a few years ahead of them before hitting their peak.
That has worked well for Arsenal with Saliba in particular, but also with others like Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli. All of these are players whose value will have shot up since joining the Gunners.
Mane is well liked by Arsenal, but let’s see if they can compete with Liverpool, who for now have the early advantage in the race for his signature.
? Mateus Mané is not a priority target for Manchester United at the moment. Anthony Gordon has been discussed internally and if Newcastle miss out on Champions League qualification, a major sale could be considered in the summer to raise funds. [@JacobsBen, @UnitedStandMUFC] pic.twitter.com/eZolhBKDLE
Gordon, however, has been quoted by Goal as playing down all transfer stories as he insists it’s often “rubbish” and he’s just focused on the here and now with Newcastle.
Anthony Gordon responds to transfer speculation
“It’s the same old, same old. I haven’t heard anything, they might want to tell me before they tell you (the media). I have gone through enough transfer stuff now to know that it is all a load of rubbish,” Gordon said.
“I am focused on me and focused on the team, I am focused on right now. You look too far in the future and you start to underperform. And believe me I have done that (before) and I am not going to do that now.”
NUFC fans will certainly be glad to hear that Gordon isn’t giving a transfer too much thought, and they’ll hope their club can keep hold of this in-form attacking talent.
Anthony Gordon’s importance for Newcastle
Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring for Newcastle against Tottenham (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Gordon has 14 goals and four assists in all competitions for Newcastle so far this season, and it surely wouldn’t be easy for them to replace that.
The 24-year-old is still young enough that he can also keep on getting better, so even if the club were planning to make a profit on him at some point, they could do well to wait a little longer as his value could still increase.
Arsenal will surely keep monitoring Gordon, however, as he looks like he could be a good long-term replacement for the ageing Leandro Trossard, as well as an upgrade on the inconsistent Gabriel Martinelli.
Liverpool, meanwhile, could also do with a goal-scoring winger like this as Mohamed Salah is starting to look past his best, while his future could be in some doubt this summer.
As for Manchester United, they would also surely benefit from bringing in someone like Gordon as he could be a better fit to complete that front three than Matheus Cunha has been in an inconsistent first season with the Red Devils.
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The Norway international is emerging as an ambitious target for PSG, with this story from TEAMtalk coming amid a row between Luis Enrique and Ousmane Dembele.
It could be that PSG are eyeing Haaland to replace Dembele, though the report also cites sources stating that these sagas are unconnected.
Either way, it’s worrying news for Man City fans, who won’t want to see a star name like Haaland leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon.
The 25-year-old is having another superb season in front of goal for City, and it would likely be impossible for the club to replace him as there’s a real shortage of strikers on the market at the moment.
Haaland Man City stats
Games
Goals
2022/23
53
52
2023/24
45
38
2024/25
48
34
2025/26
37
29
Could Erling Haaland really leave Manchester City for PSG?
Haaland has a contract with City until 2034, so one imagines they’re very much in control over the player’s future.
There has often been speculation about whether Haaland could have a release clause in his City deals, but Sky Sports reported that this contract contains no such clause.
All in all, this probably makes a PSG move for Haaland highly unlikely, even if the Ligue 1 giants may have tested the waters.
Erling Haaland celebrates scoring for Manchester City against Liverpool (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
It could be that Haaland will at some point be tempted to try something different, especially if Pep Guardiola steps down as manager, but for now he seems to have firmly committed his future to the club.
What’s going on with Luis Enrique and Ousmane Dembele?
Dembele recently got on the wrong side of PSG boss Enrique with some comments after the defeat to Reims.
The France international, who won the Ballon d’Or after his superb contribution to PSG’s Champions League success last season, suggested that the team played too much as individuals.
Enrique reacted badly to this, and is quoted by TEAMtalk as saying player comments are “worthless” as he seemed to take issue with Dembele perhaps questioning his tactics, and made it clear he felt he should stay in his lane.
Still, even if PSG do need to replace Dembele some time soon, they’re surely going to have to look elsewhere as Haaland won’t be available unless something dramatic happens.
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford is reportedly keen on a transfer to Aston Villa this summer instead of Newcastle.
The England Under-21 international has struggled for playing time since joining Man City in the summer, with Gianluigi Donnarumma clearly ahead of him in the pecking order.
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According to Football Insider, this is because Trafford is keen to work with Villa manager Unai Emery, while they also look like having a better chance of being able to offer Champions League football next season.
Can James Trafford revive his career after Manchester City struggles?
James Trafford of Manchester City (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Trafford looked like a fine player at former club Burnley, and he’s been a bit unlucky at the Etihad Stadium so far.
When Trafford first joined City in the summer, it looked like he would probably be the club’s number one, but he made a poor start and Donnarumma later ended up joining when he became available.
It will be interesting to see how Trafford can bounce back from this, but it makes sense that he surely needs to leave City to have a chance of going back to playing regularly.
James Trafford to replace Emiliano Martinez?
Of course, it’s not guaranteed that Trafford would be number one at Villa due to the presence of Emiliano Martinez.
With Martinez not getting any younger, it could be a good time for AVFC to make a change anyway, and bring in a talented young ‘keeper like Trafford as a smart long-term investment.
The 23-year-old looks like a good opportunity on the market and if it’s true that he’s really keen to play for Villa, then they should surely do what they can to take advantage,.
It remains to be seen how much influence Tudor will have given that he’s perhaps unlikely to be in the job for that long at Tottenham, but there’s no doubt that Pellegrini is a fine player with the quality and experience to make an impact for a top Premier League club.
According to Calciomercato’s report, Pellegrini is now seriously tempted to try a new challenge abroad after an entire career spent in Italian football so far.
Lorenzo Pellegrini future up in the air as opportunity emerges for Tottenham
Lorenzo Pellegrini in action for Roma (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Roma are still keen to tie Pellegrini down to a new contract, according to Calciomercato, but it looks like he could be heading towards an exit from the Stadio Olimpico.
The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer if he doesn’t agree a new deal, so it’s a big opportunity for Spurs and others.
Perhaps if the Croatian tactician can impress in the weeks and months ahead then he’ll have a stab at landing the job beyond this campaign, in which case it could be smart to give him someone like Pellegrini to work with.
Still, there are a lot of moving parts here that could make this deal complicated, so it’s a bit early to know for sure how the whole saga is going to pan out.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is reportedly already deep in talks over his next move as his loan spell at Bayern Munich comes to an end in the summer.
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The Senegal international has struggled to impress at the Allianz Arena, so it’s not too surprising to see that intermediaries are already working on his next move.
This has Aston Villa and other Premier League clubs on alert, according to TEAMtalk, with some teams from abroad also monitoring the situation.
Jackson looked like a big prospect when he first joined Chelsea, but it’s fair to say it’s hard to see him having a future at Stamford Bridge now after some underwhelming form.
At the same time, it’s perhaps understandable that there are still some big clubs out there who’d be willing to gamble on the 24-year-old.
Nicolas Jackson in action for Bayern Munich (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Nicolas Jackson could be a smart signing for Aston Villa
Unai Emery could probably do with a new signing up front this summer, though, with Ollie Watkins not getting any younger.
There’s every chance that Jackson could still develop into a top Premier League striker with the right guidance, and Emery is someone who knows him well from their time together at Villarreal.
It’s probably still too early to know for sure where Jackson will end up, but the Emery connection at Villa could be one to watch as talks seemingly get started to settle the player’s future.
Chelsea will hope to make a decent fee from Jackson’s sale, as their policy of signing promising young players does mean that their value can often go up as they gain more experience, even if they don’t necessarily hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.
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Kim Min-jae wages could be an issue
The player earns £200,000 a week at the German club, and that could be a major problem for any club looking to secure his signature. It will be interesting to see whether the South Korean is willing to accept modest wages to move to the Premier League.
Dean Jones told TEAMtalk: “Kim Min-jae is being linked with Chelsea and while it is true there has been an element of interest, I’m told the prospect of a transfer is still quite slim.
“I do get the impression Chelsea are more open minded than when they were previously only looking at younger players. There is definitely a chance they look to sign someone with more experience and seniority.
“But at the moment I am told the Kim links are just one of a number of deals they have on their mind for the summer and ultimately they will still be looking for good value.
“From what I understand, Kim is on good money, in the top ten earners at Bayern, and that brings a layer of difficulty too for any potential deal that Chelsea would look at.”
Kim Min-jae in action for Bayern Munich (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Chelsea have looked vulnerable at the back this season, and they need to improve there. Signing a quality defender could make a big difference for them. They are pushing for Champions League qualification and need to improve the team to challenge for league titles.
Newcastle United are interested in signing the Roma defender Saud Abdulhamid in the summer.
The 24-year-old defender is currently on loan at Lens, and he has done quite well for them. Newcastle scouted him in action recently, as per TEAMtalk, and it remains to be seen whether they come forward with an option to sign him at the end of the season.
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Lens also keen on Saud Abdulhamid
The French outfit is also interested in making the move permanent, and they have an option to do so. It remains to be seen where the 24-year-old ends up.
The Saudi Arabian right back will want to compete at a high-level and the opportunity to move to the Premier League could be exciting for him. Newcastle have an ambitious project, and they have the resources to get the deal done as well. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.
It is no secret that Newcastle need more depth in the full-back areas. Kieran Trippier is in the twilight stages of his career, and Newcastle will need to replace him properly. Signing the 24-year-old could prove to be a wise decision.
Convincing the player to join the club might not be too difficult for Newcastle. The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be hard to turn down.
Saud Abdulhamid of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between AS Roma and SC Braga at Stadio Olimpico on December 12, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Newcastle have an ambitious project and a talented squad. The defender will want to compete at the highest level in future, and joining a Premier League club could be ideal for him. It remains to be seen whether Newcastle can agree on a deal to sign him at the end of the season.
Even if Lens decides to make the move permanent and exercises the option available to them, Roma have a buyback clause in the deal. They could easily look to sign the player back and sell him for a profit.
Manchester United are showing interest in signing the Wolves attacker Mateus Mane.
The 18-year-old has impressed in the Premier League with his maturity and versatility. He is capable of operating across the front three, and Mane has attracted the attention of Manchester United. They could use a versatile attacker like him, and he is likely to cost around £50 million.
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Liverpool also keen on Mateus Mane
Meanwhile, Liverpool is also interested in the player. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. Both clubs could use more quality in the attacking unit, and the 18-year-old would be a solid future acquisition.
“Mateus Mane is being linked to United and I have had quite interesting reports on this one because people close to the club admit he is an interesting option and that his profile does make sense,” Jones told TEAMtalk.
“He obviously has a sense of versatility for the attack and midfield, but he also has potential to grow into a star.
“When we consider what they want to do in the summer, he would be quite a good player to go for because he is the kind of progressive talent they want to invest in.
“We all know they are looking at signing well-established stars from within the Premier League, but they would like to start signing players like this too.
“The fact that he could provide cover in various positions across the side means the stories linking him to United for the summer are worth paying some attention to.”
Mateus Mane of Wolves (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
The opportunity to play for Manchester United or Liverpool will be tempting for the young attacker as well. It could be the ideal next step in his career. Wolves are likely to go down in the summer, and he will want to stay in the top. The two clubs could provide him with that platform.
Both clubs have the financial resources to pay his asking price, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops. Even though he has done nothing to justify the £50 million price tag at the moment, he could do so in the future.
England youth International George Jobling has been released from the Chelsea Academy this week, and Tottenham have now secured his signature.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the London club has secured the services of the England international, and he is expected to sign a professional contract with them when he turns 17. The teenage talent is highly rated at the youth level, and he has a bright future. He could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for Tottenham.
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Chelsea have let George Jobling leave
It is unclear why Chelsea decided to let the player leave, but there is no doubt that Spurs will be delighted to sign the young defender. They are looking to build a team for the future, and Jobling could prove a useful acquisition for them in the long term. If they can help him develop and fulfil his potential, he could end up saving them millions in the transfer market.
Meanwhile, the young defender will be delighted to have joined one of the biggest clubs in the country. He will now focus on his development and force his way into Tottenham’s first team plans in the future. The defender will certainly look to prove that Chelsea has made a mistake in letting him leave.
Meanwhile, Tottenham should also look to bring in players who are first-team ready and can help them improve immediately.
It has been a disappointing season for them, and they are closer to the relegation zone than they are to Champions League qualification. It will be interesting to see if they can turn things around in the coming weeks. They have brought in Igor Tudor as their new manager, and he will be expected to turn things around.
Karl Etta Eyong has been linked with a move away from Levante, and the Spanish club is willing to sanction his departure.
According to Ben Jacobs, Manchester United and Arsenal are showing ‘significant’ interest in the talented attacker, and it will be interesting to see if they are willing to make an official move in the summer.
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They could use more quality and depth in the attacking unit, and the 22-year-old could be the ideal acquisition. He will add goals and creativity to the team. At Manchester United, he could compete with Benjamin Sesko for the starting spot. The Slovenian needs more support in attack. More competition for places will help both players improve.
Meanwhile, Arsenal need more depth in the attacking unit. Eyong could compete with Viktor Gyokeres for the starting spot. The Swedish International has not been able to live up to the expectations, and Arsenal could use more cutting-edge in the final third. It will be interesting to see if they are prepared to sign the La Liga forward.
It is clear that he could be signed for a fee of around €30 million. The deal could prove to be a bargain in future. He is a talented player with significant potential, and he could easily justify the investment.
Alejandro Balde has been linked with the move away from Barcelona in recent weeks.
The 22-year-old has not been at his best, and it will be interesting to see if the club is willing to sanction his departure. The player is reportedly losing prominence at Barcelona. The 22-year-old is still a tremendous talent with a bright future, and he could prove to be an excellent acquisition in the right team.
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Man United keen on Alejandro Balde
According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United are keeping tabs on his situation, and they are considering an offer of around €40 million for him. They could use more quality and depth at fullback, and Balde would be an excellent long-term investment for them.
He could be the ideal long-term replacement for Luke Shaw at Old Trafford. If Manchester United can sign him for €40 million, Balde could prove to be a shrewd investment for them. He has the potential to become a top-class player, and Manchester United would do well to sign him.
Manchester United have done well to groom young players, and they could help regain his confidence. Balde could justify the investment in future. He was a target under Ruben Amorim as well.
Alejandro Balde celebrates a Barcelona goal (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
A move to the Premier League could be ideal for the young defender. He will aim to establish himself as an important player for the Red Devils and contribute on both ends of the pitch. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United can get the deal across the line.
They have shown great improvement in recent weeks, but they need more quality in order to compete with elite clubs. They need to improve multiple areas of the squad in the summer, and signing a quality left-back will certainly be one of their priorities.
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Arsenal could use Nico Williams
Arsenal need more quality on the flanks, and the 23-year-old would be the ideal acquisition for them. However, his release clause is quite high, and Arsenal will want to sign him for a more reasonable fee.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. Arsenal need more cutting-edge in the final third if they want to fight for major trophies. They need someone who can take on defenders and beat them in one-versus-one situations. They could use his explosive pace and technical ability in the final.
Nico Williams in action for Athletic Bilbao (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Williams will look to fight for trophies and joining one of the biggest clubs in the world would be ideal for him. Arsenal have a tremendous team, and they are fighting for the league title and the UEFA Champions League. They will be an attractive destination for the attacker.
Williams is entering the peak years of his career, and this is the right time for him to join an elite club. Arsenal could be the ideal step in his career right now.
Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard has been linked with a move away from the club, and Gabriel Martinelli has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot. Williams could prove to be an upgrade on both players.
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Odilon Kossounou asking price revealed
According to AfricaFoot, the player is reportedly valued at €25 million, and it will be interesting to see whether Newcastle can get the deal done. They need more quality in the defensive unit. Dan Burn and Fabian Schar are in their 30s, and Newcastle will need to replace them properly.
Signing the Ivorian would be a step in the right direction. He is a talented player with a bright future, and he is at the peak of his career. He has the physicality to succeed in the Premier League, and he could establish himself as an important player for Newcastle. The reported valuation seems quite reasonable for a player of his quality as well. He could easily justify the €25 million investment in future.
Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta BC reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be exciting for the defender. It will be interesting to see if the Italian outfit is willing to sanction his departure. He joined them from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and he has a long-term contract with them. They are under no pressure to sanction his departure.
Newcastle have an ambitious project and aims to be capable of fighting for trophies and competing regularly in the UEFA Champions League. They need to plug the gaps in their squad, and improving their defensive unit will be a priority. They have looked vulnerable at the back this season, conceding 37 goals in 26 league matches. It remains to be seen whether they can get a deal done for the Ivorian international.
Liverpool are interested in signing the Brazilian midfielder Allan from Palmeiras.
The 21-year-old is a promising young player with a bright future, and Liverpool is working to secure his signature. According to reports from Brazil, the deal could be completed in the coming weeks, with the player joining his new team after the World Cup.
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Liverpool close in on Allan
The report further claims that Liverpool could seal his signature for €35 million. The 21-year-old is a phenomenal player with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for the club with the right guidance. He could justify the investment in future and establish himself as an important asset.
Allan is capable of operating on the flanks as well as in the attacking midfield role. He will add goals and creativity to the Liverpool attack. The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for him. He will look to showcase qualities at the highest level. Regular football in England could help him improve further and fulfil his potential.
Alexandro Bernabei of Internacional and Allan Elias of Palmeiras compete for the ball during the match between Internacional and Palmeiras as part of Brasileirao 2026 at Beira-Rio Stadium on February 12, 2026 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro H. Tesch/Getty Images)
Liverpool has done well to groom young players in the past, and they could help him develop further. It remains to be seen whether they can wrap up the move quickly. Multiple clubs have been linked with the talented young midfielder, but Liverpool are now in the driving seat to complete the move.
They have done well to improve the team in recent windows, and they are looking to build for the future. It is no surprise that they are keen on the South American prodigy.
It will be interesting to see if the 21-year-old can adapt to English football quickly and establishment itself as an important first team player for Liverpool next season.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is currently on loan at Bayern Munich and is expected to return to the club in the summer.
The German outfit is unlikely to sign him permanently, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. According to TEAMtalk, the player’s representatives are working to secure his long-term future, and top clubs are keen on him.
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Nicolas Jackson is in demand
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Aston Villa are monitoring his situation. It remains to be seen whether they are prepared to make an official offer to secure the deal.
Nicolas Jackson in action for Bayern Munich (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
He should look to join a club that will offer him regular football next season. Manchester United and Tottenham could use more depth in the attacking unit. Jackson is more than just a goalscorer, and he will add creativity to the team as well. He could be the ideal second striker for them. If they can sign for a reasonable amount, the deal could be worth it.
The opportunity to play in the Premier League with Manchester United or Tottenham will be exciting for the player as well. He is at the peak of his career, and he will look to compete at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on the player as well, and they have been in regular contact with his representatives. It remains to be seen whether the player is ready to move to Spain.
Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, and the player has now reflected on his decision.
The 24-year-old has been with the club since he was eight years old, and he has committed to the club long-term. He has been a key player for Arsenal in recent seasons, and keeping him at the club for the long term will be a huge boost for them. They have built a quality team, and they will look to win major trophies. They need players like Saka at their disposal.
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The player has now revealed that signing a new contract with Arsenal was an easy decision for him, and that he decided to put pen to paper because Arsenal are back where they belong and regularly pushing for major trophies. He wants to win every major trophy in the coming seasons, and it remains to be seen whether he can help the Gunners win the league title this season.
Bukayo Saka on his contract decision
He said to the club’s official website: “I’m feeling amazing. I think it’s a fantastic moment for my family and for me. I feel immense joy to continue my journey at this club. For me, it was an easy commitment and I just hope to win everything here.
“The journey that I’ve been on, from where I started to where I am now, and the journey the team’s been on as well, is a special one. I believe the next few years are going to be the years that we get over the line, and we’re able to win trophies and make history for this club. We’re back where we belong, fighting for everything.”
Bukayo Saka in action for Arsenal against Liverpool (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal are currently leading the Premier League title race, but Manchester City are breathing down their neck. They will need to be more consistent in the coming weeks if they want to go all the way. Saka ended his goal drought with a header against Wolves last time out, and with his long-term future sorted, he will look to recapture his peak form once again.
Manchester United have reportedly had some internal discussions about the potential transfer of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon.
According to Ben Jacobs, speaking to The United Stand, the Red Devils have discussed the possibility of moving for Gordon, who could be available this summer.
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If Newcastle don’t qualify for the Champions League then they could be in a position where they need to make one “major” sale, according to Jacobs.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Gordon would be the one to go, but see below for what Jacobs had to say about it…
? Mateus Mané is not a priority target for Manchester United at the moment. Anthony Gordon has been discussed internally and if Newcastle miss out on Champions League qualification, a major sale could be considered in the summer to raise funds. [@JacobsBen, @UnitedStandMUFC] pic.twitter.com/eZolhBKDLE
“Anthony Gordon has been discussed internally and if Newcastle miss out on Champions League qualification, a major sale could be considered in the summer to raise funds,” Jacobs said.
Anthony Gordon eyed by Manchester United but also Liverpool
United surely won’t be alone in pursuing Gordon if this transfer opportunity does indeed emerge in the summer.
The England international is also understood to be on the radar of top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, as we recently reported here.
Anthony Gordon in action for Newcastle against Manchester United (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Our information is that Gordon’s asking price would likely be as high as £95m, so it won’t be easy for any of these clubs to get a deal done.
Newcastle showed last summer that they’re no pushovers as they eventually sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record transfer fee.
Anthony Gordon could be a fine signing for Manchester United
MUFC have made some progress this season, but they could probably still do with more depth in attack, as well as a more natural wide player than Matheus Cunha.
Bryan Mbeumo has performed really well since joining from Brentford, and Gordon could offer something similar from the other flank.
Still, Liverpool might also do well to spend big money on Gordon as Mohamed Salah is not getting any younger and may face an uncertain future if his form doesn’t improve between now and the end of the season.
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes Como boss Cesc Fabregas could be a good option to replace Mikel Arteta.
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One imagines Arteta’s future as Arsenal manager will surely be a topic for the club to consider this summer if the Gunners once again finish trophyless despite looking in such a strong position to win the Premier League.
A surprise 2-2 draw away to Wolves last night means Manchester City can cut Arsenal’s lead to just two points, and Pep Guardiola’s side are still preparing to host Arteta’s men at the Etihad Stadium.
Petit says he can see Arteta one day being tempted by the Barcelona job, and named Fabregas as a good option to possibly replace his fellow Spaniard.
Mikel Arteta to Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas to Arsenal?
Fabregas is another former Arsenal player who was hugely popular during his time at the Emirates Stadium, and he looks like a promising coach from his relatively short managerial career so far.
It’s easy to imagine Arsenal being keen to bring Fabregas back if they did decide to replace Arteta, and Petit also thinks plenty of other big clubs will be monitoring the 38-year-old.
Fabregas at Como
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
2024-present
27
20
20
40.30
Speaking to BetBrothers, as quoted by the Evening Standard, Petit said: “Mikel Arteta will one day manage Barcelona, I think eventually we’ll see that.
“To be honest, if he is to leave Arsenal, I see him more likely to go abroad than to another Premier League club. So, obviously, I’d say Barca would be his favourite next move if he were to leave Arsenal.
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s best. If he wins, he will leave. If he doesn’t win, he will leave. I don’t know. If he wins, he might continue to increase the number of trophies.”
Cesc Fabregas looks on during Como’s game against AC Milan (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He added: “I think Cesc Fabregas will take his time because he has everything he needs at Como. He wants players, they bring him players. Whatever he wants, they bring it to him. And that’s allowing him to have that kind of power in the decision-making.
“His former clubs will let managers go and obviously Chelsea, Arsenal, I mean really any club at the top, will be looking at him as an option because he’s doing an incredible job at Como.”
Arteta has done a tremendous job to turn Arsenal into serious competitors again, but questions remain over whether he’s now the man to make that final step over the line to winning major silverware.
Arteta Arsenal record
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
2019-present
200
63
69
60.24
The former Manchester City coach won the FA Cup with Arsenal in his first season, but has not delivered a trophy since then, with the club finishing 2nd in the Premier League in the last three years in a row.
While Arteta’s work deserves credit, it could also be fair to say that another season finishing runners-up might merit some serious questions over what would be the best for the team’s future.
It might be a bit early for someone as inexperienced as Fabregas, but it will be interesting to see what the Arsenal manager situation ends up looking like if results don’t improve soon.
Cole Palmer’s friend, Manchester-based rapper Tunde, has stated his strong view that Chelsea star Cole Palmer will end up at Manchester United.
Tunde has posted on Instagram about former Manchester City youngster Palmer, insisting that he’ll talk him into making a move to Old Trafford as he’s a Red Devils fan.
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“1 day I will get CP to UTD back home where he belongs. Go ask him who his favorite team is,” Tunde posted, as quoted by Goal.
Chelsea fans won’t be too happy about this, with stories about Palmer and Man Utd not really going away following some recent talk of the England international being unsettled in London and being homesick for a move back up north.
Cole Palmer to leave Chelsea for Manchester United?
Cole Palmer of Chelsea FC (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Chelsea surely won’t sell Palmer if they can help it, after his fine contribution of 52 goals in 115 games for the Blues since he joined from Man City.
Still, the Sun have previously reported that Palmer could be tempted to move back to Manchester, so this could end up being an issue for Chelsea.
Fichajes have also previously claimed that United could be prepared to set aside huge money to bring Palmer to Old Trafford.
Real Madrid are reportedly really keen on a potential transfer deal for highly-rated Tottenham wonderkid Luka Vuskovic.
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The talented young Croatian centre-back has shone on loan in the Bundesliga with Hamburg this season, and is quickly earning comparisons with some of the game’s greats.
It remains to be seen if Spurs will sanction a sale, however, with Vuskovic yet to play a single game for the north London club.
They’ll surely want to bring Vuskovic back next season and make him part of their first-team, with his value surely able to go up even higher in the years to come.
Luka Vuskovic lining up for Hamburg (Photo by Marc Carrena/Getty Images)
Luka Vuskovic transfer: Will he end up leaving Tottenham already?
Tottenham have struggled in the last couple of seasons, so will surely be keen to bring in an elite young talent like Vuskovic to help their chances.
The talented teenager already looks more than good enough to go into the Spurs starting XI next season, and it makes sense that big clubs are keen on him.
Real Madrid signed Dean Huijsen last summer, another highly-rated young central defender, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t made the best start at the Bernabeu, so Vuskovic could be a good upgrade in that position.
Still, THFC surely need to ensure they keep hold of Vuskovic for a bit longer, even if they often do end up selling their best players eventually.
With Vuskovic yet to actually kick a ball for the north London club, however, it seems like it will surely be too soon to convince them to sell, unless Real can come in with frankly crazy money.
Barcelona are reportedly eager to extend Marcus Rashford’s stay beyond the current campaign, with the Catalan club preparing to open negotiations over a permanent deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
However, discussions with Manchester United are expected to be complex, as the Premier League side are understood to be holding firm on a €30 million valuation.
Rashford’s situation has quickly with the attacker impressing Barcelona on his loan spell in La Liga.
Barcelona want to prolong Rashford’s stay
Barcelona view Rashford as a player capable of adding directness and attacking depth to their evolving frontline.
The England international has offered versatility, operating both from the left wing and centrally, fitting into Barcelona’s fluid attacking system.
Club officials are reportedly keen to renegotiate the existing €30 million purchase option, seeking more favourable terms.
Salary negotiations are also expected to be a significant component of talks.
Any permanent move would require alignment between his wage expectations and Barcelona’s financial framework.
Offloading Rashford permanently would free up salary space for Man United and potentially fund reinforcements elsewhere, but the club are also mindful of maintaining value in outgoing transfers.
With months remaining before definitive decisions are required, negotiations are likely to intensify as the summer window approaches.
Liverpool could be facing missing out on as much as £50-60m if they miss out on qualification to next season’s Champions League.
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That’s according to former Everton chief Keith Wyness, who told Football Insider that this could end up being a challenging summer for the Reds.
Liverpool spent big in the transfer market last summer, bringing in big names like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike as exciting signings for the present and future.
It could be harder for Liverpool to continue progressing next season if they don’t get that bonus cash from being in the Champions League, according to Wyness.
Liverpool could really struggle without Champions League money
Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness discussed how a lack of a top four finish could impact LFC and their budget.
“Well, it’s not just having an impact on the club. It would have a big impact on Arne Slot himself. I think he’d get the sack. I think that they’ve really got themselves into a situation there. They seem to be finding some form,” Wyness said.
Liverpool players celebrate during the FA Cup win vs Brighton (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
“As I say, five places seem to be what will get you into the Champions League and Arne Slot needs to get them in there. It would be a hit of maybe 50, 60 million that they’ve probably been budgeting in the forecast right now. And that’s a big number for Liverpool.
“They were just making some big strides in terms of the revenue coming in, hitting some record numbers. And they were challenging competitors in the area in terms of revenue. It would be a big hit for Liverpool and a big step backwards.
“They’ve set themselves up in a certain business model, as we know, with some big signings on big wages. And if there is no Champions League, not only is it the revenue from the Champions League, it’s also those bonuses from the sponsors that kick in as well.”
What will we see from Liverpool this summer?
It may be that Liverpool don’t need two big-spending summer transfer windows in a row.
The Merseyside giants didn’t really do anything of note before Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first season in charge.
Perhaps after making so many changes last year, they can stick with this current squad for 2026/27.
There are also some uncertainties around Mohamed Salah’s future as the ageing forward has suffered a dip in form this season, so this is not a club that can necessarily afford to rest on its laurels too much.
Leon Goretzka’s future is attracting attention, with the Bayern Munich midfielder reportedly prioritising a move to Arsenal, according to BILD.
The Germany international is entering the final months of his contract at the Allianz Arena and will be available without a transfer fee in June, attracting attention from across Europe.
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While several clubs have made enquiries, Arsenal are believed to be high on Goretzka’s list as he considers the next chapter of his career.
Mikel Arteta’s side are seeking experienced reinforcements capable of adding leadership and tactical quality, particularly with the demands of domestic and European competition intensifying each season.
Goretzka’s profile fits that requirement. A powerful box-to-box midfielder, he combines defensive discipline with the ability to make late runs into the penalty area.
His experience in high-pressure matches, including Champions League triumphs, would add valuable maturity to Arsenal’s relatively youthful core.
Gunners face intense competition to sign the midfielder
Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich in action (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Interest, however, is widespread. Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly initiated contact with Goretzka’s representatives, viewing him as a potential addition to strengthen their midfield depth.
Yet financial constraints may complicate matters, as his current salary exceeds €10 million per season.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are also said to be monitoring developments.
Each club offers competitive environments, but wage structures could influence negotiations significantly.
Goretzka’s signing would not involve a transfer fee, but wages and signing bonuses will play a central role in discussions.
Manchester United appear ready to bring the Jadon Sancho chapter to a close, with reports from The Sun suggesting the Red Devils are prepared to allow the winger to leave on a free transfer once his current loan spell concludes.
After several seasons of uncertainty and multiple temporary moves away from Old Trafford, United’s hierarchy have reportedly decided against offering the 25-year-old a new contract.
Man United are ready to cut their losses and with Sancho reaching the end of his deal at the club in the summer, the Premier League side have made a decision on the future of the English winger who has failed miserably since his big money move from Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho was a gamble that never fully delivered
Man United signed Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for a reported €85 million, handing him a lucrative five-year contract worth around £300,000 per week.
The move was widely hailed at the time as a statement of intent, with Sancho arriving as one of Europe’s most exciting young wide players.
However, his time at Old Trafford has been marked by inconsistency, managerial changes and off-field complications.
Loan spells back at Dortmund, and later at Chelsea and Aston Villa, have offered opportunities to reignite his form, but stability has proved elusive.
This season at Aston Villa, Sancho has struggled to make a decisive impact, registering just one goal in 25 appearances.
While flashes of his technical quality remain, he has not consistently demonstrated the explosiveness and productivity that defined his Bundesliga peak.
Reports suggest the club have opted not to pursue a contract extension aimed at preserving resale value, instead accepting that a clean break may be the most practical solution.
Releasing Sancho from the wage bill would create room for reinvestment elsewhere in the squad.
Allowing him to depart on a free transfer may signal the end of an expensive experiment.
Tottenham may reportedly already be in early discussions over hiring USA manager Mauricio Pochettino for a second spell at the club.
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The Argentine remains popular among Spurs supporters since his first stint with the north Londoners between 2014 and 2019, and he could be available after the 2026 World Cup in the summer.
Now Spurs find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table, so bringing Pochettino back could be the best move to improve results, performances, and the overall mood at the club.
Mauricio Pochettino looks on during USA vs Costa Rica (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Tottenham already discussing Mauricio Pochettino return?
Igor Tudor has just come in as interim manager for Tottenham until the end of the season, but it’s perhaps hard to imagine him landing the job permanently.
It will be interesting to see if a few candidates could be in the frame to come in once Tudor’s time with THFC comes to an end, but former Everton chief Keith Wyness told Football Insider that he could imagine talks are already starting over Pochettino’s return.
“I think Igor Tudor is a short-term situation. I think it does point to the fact they want Pochettino back after the US exit the World Cup. And I think those discussions, I’m pretty sure, are going on,” Wyness said.
Pochettino stats
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
Tottenham
216
45
32
73.72
PSG
55
15
14
65.48
Chelsea
26
11
14
50.98
USMNT
13
2
7
59.09
“And that’s what I think would calm things down at Spurs and allow the Lewis group to really back somebody, like Pochettino, with a proven track record and to get things done. So I think that’s the plan.”
Tudor will hope to get off to a winning start with Tottenham this weekend as he prepares to face rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners would normally be heavy favourites in this fixture, but it’s fair to say Spurs might sense an opportunity to rub salt into their rivals’ wounds after some poor recent form.
Arsenal are on a poor run of just two wins from their last seven Premier League games, so this could be the best time for Tudor to be taking charge of Tottenham.
Goretzka is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and he is likely to leave the German giants for a new challenge in another league.
The 31-year-old midfielder will not be short of offers as he gets ready for a new adventure in what has been an illustrious career.
The experienced midfielder has won several titles with Bayern Munich. He brings a calming influence to the midfield as well as strength along with his experience at the top level.
Romano issues update on the future of Goretzka
The Bayern Munich star was heavily linked with Man United in the January transfer window and now Romano has issued an update on his future.
“Goretzka will leave Bayern as a free agent,” said Romano on his Youtube channel.
“We are starting to have several rumours around Goretzka and I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of rumours because he’s one of the most interesting free agents potentially available in the summer.
“He’s not staying at Bayern, we know that, it’s official. He has many possibilities, in Italy, there are some clubs interested.
“Napoli, there were links with AC Milan as well, so Italy could be a solution. In Germany, some clubs would like to try for Goretzka, but my understanding is Goretzka’s priority is to move abroad and try something different.
“And then also from the Premier League. From the Premier League some calls took place.
“I can guarantee that despite the rumours in January, Leon Goretzka has not agreed anything with Manchester United.
“So nothing is pre-agreed or signed between Goretzka and United. Let’s see what United decide to do with midfielders.
“Remember that Atletico Madrid already tried [for Goretzka] in the January window, and Tottenham also tried in the January window, so we have to see what’s going to happen with these two clubs [in the summer].”
If there were any doubts in the last few weeks, there can surely be no more any longer – Arsenal are wobbling and quite possibly throwing away this title.
If Manchester City win their game in hand then Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table will be just two points. Given that Pep Guardiola’s side have themselves had a few setbacks over the winter period, a few better results could easily have seen the Gunners go nine points clear, but that opportunity has been wasted.
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The reality is, Arsenal are now on a run of just two wins from their last seven Premier League games, including the worst of all, last night’s 2-2 draw from 2-0 up against bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
So what’s gone wrong for Arsenal when this finally looked like being their year?
Poor recruitment
In the summer, it looked, on paper at least, like pretty much a 10/10 transfer window by Arsenal, as they added depth in numerous positions, and much-needed goals and spark in their attack with Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.
Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
This was where Arsenal had really fallen short the year before, when only Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori joined, and the team simply couldn’t cope with the long list of injuries, particularly in attack.
With hindsight, however, Arsenal’s summer signings look woefully inadequate, with Gyokeres in particular simply looking out of his depth at this level despite tearing it up in Portugal, while Eze, for all the quality he’s shown in the Premier League throughout his career, hasn’t adjusted to the new demands he faces in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Noni Madueke is another questionable purchase considering the other similar players who have moved either in the summer or in January, with Bryan Mbeumo or Antoine Semenyo clearly superior to both Madueke and Eze, whilst costing similar prices. Instead of Gyokeres, any one of Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, or Benjamin Sesko surely would’ve performed better.
Arteta’s lack of rotation
As much as Arteta has enjoyed having a bigger squad to work with this season, he hasn’t exactly made the most of it on a week-to-week basis.
Players like Jurrien Timber and Martin Zubimendi in particular are now looking tired after being run into the ground by Arteta, who has barely used Ben White or Christian Norgaard as alternatives, despite both being very solid options for any top six club.
This lack of rotation has also arguably also played a part in Eze’s struggles, with the England international recently having a long run left on the bench when he surely could have had a few more minutes here and there to give him the chance to find a bit more rhythm in this team.
Defensive record worsening
It seems like a long time ago now that we were talking about Arsenal breaking Chelsea’s record of conceding only 15 goals in an entire Premier League season.
AFC started superbly on that front, conceding only three goals in their first ten league games. They’re now on a run of 17 goals conceded in the 17 games they’ve played since then. From seven clean sheets in their first ten games to just six in the following 17.
Injuries have undoubtedly played a part, as the team would surely have benefited from having William Saliba available in the recent draw at Brentford, while at one point the central defensive partnership was Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie.
Still, over a long enough period of time you have to start asking questions as what was once a well-drilled and organised side now looks nervy and error-prone, with their opponents taking full advantage.
While the Spaniard has made some stunning saves and mostly been a solid and reliable performer throughout his time with the club, he does seem to have the unfortunate habit of conceding some absolute worldies, such as the first Wolves goal by Hugo Bueno yesterday.
See below as James Benge sums up this strange phenomenon of Arsenal’s opponents getting a lot of good fortune from low-quality chances, which could point towards Raya having a bit of a weakness when it comes to long shots…
Arsenal have conceded 19 goals in the Premier League this season. Six of them have been from shots worth 0.04 xG or less.
There was the Bueno goal yesterday, but also Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick for Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the season, plus great long-range strikes by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha in Man United’s win at the Emirates.
Again, it could be coincidence and bad luck that so many of those unlikely shots ended up being struck so well against Arsenal, but when it happens that often then perhaps the goalkeeper has questions to answer about his positioning, anticipation, or reflexes.
Nerves
It’s become a cliche almost to the point of sounding pretty meaningless, but are Arsenal bottling it?
Injuries derailed their unexpected title challenge in 2022/23, while their incredible winning run to take it to the final day of 2023/24 can hardly be called a bottle job by any stretch of the imagination. Then last season Arsenal weren’t really that close to Liverpool at any point, so it seems daft to argue they could bottle a title race they weren’t actually in.
This season, however, they started brilliantly and had opportunities to go further ahead of a stumbling Man City. The fact that they put in some decidedly nervy displays in games such as Liverpool and United at home is surely the very definition of bottling it.
Arsenal got a lot of their toughest games out of the way early, their squad is now mostly back to full fitness, and yet they’ve still just not played with any real conviction in games that should be easy victories if not for a nagging mental block coming from the fear of losing everything.
Arteta himself addressed this publicly, urging his players to turn the temperature down and enjoy this title race more. From the looks of it, it hasn’t worked. Can he now do anything to spark a turnaround in this form before City do what they usually do and run away with it?
Football pundit Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal does not have any world class players.
Although the former Manchester United striker admitted that Mikel Arteta’s side know how to win matches but they still do not have a superstar in the team.
Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League table and their chances of winning the league have taken a hit after their 2-2 draw against Wolves last night.
The gap at the top of the league table is now five points with Manchester City having a game in hand.
Rooney believes the Gunners are lacking a superstar player like other title winning teams in the past who had players like Didier Drogba, Sergio Aguero and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Wayne Rooney on lack of superstars at Arsenal
“I agree with the fact that Arsenal don’t have an out-and-out superstar, a world-class player that you can pin everything on,” Rooney insisted on The Overlap Fan Debate.
“However, what we’ve seen over the last few years is, they know how to win games.”
“Quality-wise, Arsenal have got a lot of quality. Have they got that superstar—that [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Sergio Agüero-type player that’s going to make a difference?,” the Man United legend added.
“I don’t think they have, but they know how to win games, and they’ve shown that over the last three years.”
Gunners have world class players in midfield & defense
Declan Rice of Arsenal (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The players that Rooney mentioned, Drogba, Aguero and Ronaldo, were all world class attackers and the Gunners do not have that, there is no doubt about that.
However, in other positions, they have some of the best players in the world.
The likes of Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber are world class players who can play for any team in the world.
They have shown that with their performances and consistency throughout the season.
Yes they lack a prolific goal scorer in attack since Viktor Gyokeres has struggled all season but in the midfield and in defense, Arteta’s team is blessed with world class players.
Speaking at his press conference today, as quoted by Empire of the Kop, Slot stated that he expected Isak could be back by late March or early April.
The Dutch tactician did stress, however, that that won’t necessarily mean the Sweden international would be ready to play straight away.
See below for Slot’s comments in today’s press conference as he also backed Isak to come back a “different player” from the one Liverpool fans saw this season…
Arne Slot’s quotes on Alexander Isak
?? Slot on possible Isak return date: "It will be somewhere around the international break,. It depends on whether he has a setback. It'll be the end of March, start of April when he's back with the group, but it doesn't mean he's ready to start playing straight away." #LFC
Slot said: “It will be somewhere around the international break,. It depends on whether he has a setback. It’ll be the end of March, start of April when he’s back with the group, but it doesn’t mean he’s ready to start playing straight away.”
?? Slot on Isak: "We're expecting a different player at the end of this season compared to what he has done up to now. Unforunately for him and us, we haven't seen the best Alex. We will next season." #LFC
He added: “We’re expecting a different player at the end of this season compared to what he has done up to now. Unfortunately for him and us, we haven’t seen the best Alex. We will next season.”
Alexander Isak’s difficult first season at Liverpool
Isak was a world class performer at his former club Newcastle United, scoring 62 goals in 109 games for the Magpies.
Alexander Isak in action for Liverpool (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
This then saw Isak move to LFC for what was reported as a British record transfer fee by BBC Sport last summer.
Isak is surely capable of much better than this, and it seems Slot is optimistic he can come back well from his injury struggles this term.
Liverpool fans will hope to see Isak get some chances to play before the end of this campaign, but it’s most likely next season when they can expect to see him back to his best.
“Manchester City now have Newcastle and Leeds and you’d take that over Tottenham and Chelsea.
“I wouldn’t want to be in Arsenal’s shoes if it [miss out on the title] happens again.
“I was quite shocked by Mikel Arteta’s post-match interview then. It’s the first time, really, that I’ve seen him not majorly positive.
“Usually, he comes out, ‘We’ve done this, we’ve done that’, and he’ll be saying, ‘Oh, we deserved it here, they deserved it here’.
“Instead of coming out saying, ‘We’re five points clear, as long as we don’t get beaten by Manchester City, we win the league’, but it wasn’t like that, though.
“I was a bit worried with that interview. You can only do so much to the team and when you’re watching that, there’s something missing. I can’t put my finger on it but there’s something missing.
“Something is missing and I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes if they don’t win the league this year.”
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League for three seasons in a row and if that happens again, serious questions will be asked about manager Arteta and his future at the club.
He has one of the best squads in Europe right now and possibly the best in the Premier League, there is just no room for excuses now.
The Arsenal team is experienced and they have top quality players in almost every position.
The lack of leadership in the team when thing are going against them is particularly surprising.
Arteta and the Gunners cannot afford any more slips ups because Man City and Guardiola are waiting to pounce.
Manchester United are planning to make changes in midfield this summer and that could mean cashing in on transfer interest in Bruno Fernandes.
As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, there is serious interest in Fernandes from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, as well as from Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
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The Portugal international has been a world class performer for Man Utd and it could be risky to sell him, but there’s some internal recognition that circumstances could force the club’s hand.
Fernandes will have just one year left to run on his contract this summer, and he’s a high earner who’s not getting any younger.
Sources on Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United future
Bruno Fernandes in action for Man United vs Tottenham (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
This means United have to consider good offers for their star player, according to multiple sources in the industry.
“A lot of people inside Manchester United will describe Bruno Fernandes as ‘indispensable’, and there’s an element of truth to that,” one source said. “However, they’re also realistic about his age, his high earnings, and the fact that his current contract expires in 2027.”
No offers have been made yet, and clubs may also decide that these factors mean it’s not worth pursuing Fernandes at this stage, but figures with a close understanding of the market insist the sense is that United would let their star player go for around £87m.
“In an ideal world United would keep him, but the reality is that this is their last chance to make big money from selling him, and they have plans of their own in terms of new signings to reshape their midfield,” another source said.
Bruno Fernandes
Games
Goals
Manchester United
315
104
Should Bruno Fernandes leave Manchester United?
Fernandes has given a lot to MUFC over the years, and that means he’s largely under-achieved as a player.
The 31-year-old is clearly someone who’s good enough to have won a few league titles, and to have played for a club challenging for the Champions League.
If Bayern and PSG step up their interest this summer, it would surely be a good move for Fernandes to finally get his hands on some major European trophies.
A stay at Old Trafford can’t be ruled out either, however, and surely most fans will hope for that outcome, even if business figures inside the club have to be open to approaching the situation differently.
Liverpool have no intention of parting ways with Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, despite renewed speculation linking the Hungarian midfielder with a move to Real Madrid.
According to TEAMtalk, the club are instead prioritising discussions over a contract extension, reinforcing their commitment to one of the most influential players in their current squad.
With Szoboszlai under contract until 2028, Liverpool believe they have the upper hand when it comes to dealing with the player and sorting his contract situation.
Szoboszlai has been the star for Liverpool this season
Liverpool have endured an inconsistent season by their own standards, navigating tactical adjustments and squad evolution.
Through that turbulence, Szoboszlai has emerged as one of the most reliable performers.
Beyond his statistical output, Szoboszlai’s leadership qualities and resilience have stood out during challenging moments.
His long-range shooting, intelligent movement between the lines and set-piece delivery have provided Liverpool with alternative attacking routes.
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“Bottlers is not a word in my vocabulary” – Mikel Arteta’s response to his Arsenal team being branded “bottlers”…
