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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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 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.
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