Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sent a simple three-word message to his players ahead of Sunday’s huge game away to Manchester City.
When asked in his pre-match press conference if he had a “final message” for his players, Arteta stated simply that he wants them to “go for it” at the Etihad Stadium.
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“Go for it, let’s be ourselves and go for it,” Arteta said. “Put everything we have on that pitch.
“Huge belief, huge conviction, and go for it, because we are more than capable of doing it.”
He added: “This is exactly where we want to be. This brings a lot of positive things, and I don’t see anything that has to hold you, because this is where you want to be … playing against an opponent that requires the best of you.”
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Can Arsenal players find their belief in potential title-decider vs Man City?
As much as Arteta talks a good game, it will be interesting to see if Arsenal’s players really play like they believe in themselves on Sunday.
There have been times this season when the Gunners have had the opportunity to run away with the league, and they’ve failed to really capitalise.
This game will be a huge opportunity for Arteta’s side as they surely have to use this six-pointer as the moment to stamp their authority on this title race.
Mason Mount was not exactly Mr Popular as he returned to his former club Chelsea with Manchester United in Saturday evening’s Premier League clash.
The England international was once a real fan-favourite at Stamford Bridge, but he has clearly soured his relationship with Blues supporters since leaving to join Man Utd back in 2023.
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Mount did not get a friendly reception upon his return to Chelsea tonight, and it seems the player himself couldn’t resist a little dig back at the home crowd.
See below as Fabrizio Romano shared an image of the moment Mount decided to shush the Chelsea fans as the game neared full time…
Mount will likely have enjoyed that, with the 27-year-old also on the winning side today in what could end up being a crucial result in this season’s race for Champions League qualification.
Manchester United dent Chelsea’s Champions League hopes
United won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to a first half goal from Matheus Cunha, and it’s a result that surely secures their place at Europe’s top table next season.
The Red Devils are now ten points clear of Chelsea, who sit just outside the top five after an awful run of form that will likely now see them have to settle for Europa League football next term.
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United really needed a big improvement and they’ve got it under interim manager Michael Carrick this season, with the club looking in much better shape since sacking previous manager Ruben Amorim.
Chelsea, by contrast, only seem to have got even worse since replacing Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior, with this youthful squad once again struggling for consistency.
Liverpool are understood to still be keen on a potential transfer deal for Bradley Barcola this summer, with the French winger stalling on signing a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds urgently need to strengthen in attack this summer after a difficult season, with Mohamed Salah recently confirming he’ll be leaving the club at the end of the season.
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Olise and Diomande, like Salah, are primarily right-sided players who favour their left foot, so would be more direct replacements for the legendary Egyptian.
Barcola, however, could also be targeted to give LFC that extra goal threat and spark from the left flank, as an upgrade on the inconsistent Cody Gakpo.
Bradley Barcola surely set for transfer away from PSG
Barcola has an impressive total of 13 goals and eight assists in all competitions for club and country this season, but he hasn’t always established himself as a regular starter for PSG.
The 23-year-old is clearly a fine talent who deserves more playing time, and there’ll be plenty of clubs ready to give him that.
That would likely explain why Barcola is yet to move any closer towards an agreement over a new PSG contract, as sources confirmed to us this evening.
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“No progress for PSG on Barcola’s contract,” our source said. “Nothing advanced with any club, but he could leave. Liverpool have liked him for some time, and this development could lead to concrete talks soon.”
It remains to be seen if LFC will definitely make Barcola a priority, but with others like Olise and Diomande perhaps less realistic and more expensive, it could be a sensible option for the Reds to explore.
There is not yet any indication of PSG being ready to let the player go, so it’s hard to know what kind of price could tempt them, but this is something that could develop and gather pace in the weeks ahead.
This is the big one – it’s Manchester City vs Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday in what increasingly feels like winner-takes-all in this season’s Premier League title race.
The Gunners go into the game top of the table, albeit only with a slender lead that Man City can cut into, while Pep Guardiola’s side also have a game in hand over their rivals.
Bukayo Saka will miss out, Martin Odegaard’s fitness is not yet certain, while Erling Haaland’s form will be one key detail to watch.
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They met in the Carabao Cup final just a few weeks ago but this game arguably feels even bigger, as it’s almost a cup final for the Premier League title itself, whilst potentially also giving Arsenal a springboard to compete for the Champions League.
Read on as we identify the six main things to watch out for in this Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash…
Arsenal may have to play for a draw, but is it enough?
While there’s in some way more pressure on Arsenal going into this game due to the fact that they’re chasing a first title in 22 years, it’s worth remembering that City actually arguably need the win more or their title hopes would likely be over.
In which case, we may see Arsenal play for a draw, as it might suit them to rely more on their strong defensive record, particularly while they have so many key attacking players like Bukayo Saka, and potentially also Martin Odegaard, out injured for this game.
And yet, it feels like the one thing Arsenal have lacked in recent title challenges is that statement victory away from home. They’ve drawn their last two visits to the Etihad, which is some progress since that highly damaging 4-1 loss in 2022/23, but a bit more ambition in that 0-0 draw late on the following season would have seen the title go to north London instead of Manchester.
? "If somebody offered you a draw today, would you take it?"
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It’s important not to let emotions get the better of Arsenal, though, and Mikel Arteta will surely know that a point keeps City a decent distance behind, with the destination of the trophy out of their hands.
How will the Carabao Cup final will impact the psychology of the game?
We know these two met very recently in another big game, and on that occasion it was City who came out on top, lifting the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley.
In many ways, it’s the perfect test for Arsenal’s players, who stayed and watched City lifting the cup and celebrating in front of them – can you respond? Can you learn from the mistakes of that day? Or will that defeat only inhibit your performance?
City are the far more experienced side in terms of getting over the line and winning major trophies, so one imagines that will only boost their confidence for this match. Winning tends to beget more winning, though of course this hasn’t exactly been a vintage City side this season, so could some complacency also kick in?
2025/26 league stats
Arsenal
Manchester City
Wins
21
19
Draws
7
7
Losses
4
5
Goals for
62
63
Goals against
24
28
Goal difference
+38
+35
What to make of Arsenal’s big-game record?
Until defeats against Liverpool and Manchester United this season, Arsenal were on a lengthy unbeaten run against the so-called ‘big six’ sides in league matches.
Arteta tends to know how to get something extra from his players in these important games, but the catch is that City, particularly away from home, have been a bit of an exception to that rule.
Arsenal have drawn their last two games at the Etihad, and were only a matter of seconds away from winning with just ten men last season, but it’s undoubtedly a difficult ground for them, with the north Londoners failing to win there since all the way back in 2015.
Given that Arsenal aren’t in great form right now, while City have picked up, this is probably not the fixture they’d ideally pick if they could, but it’s also true that they don’t have to be perfect – a draw there for a third season in a row would not be a bad result by any means.
How will injuries impact things?
Another worry for Arsenal is the sheer number of injuries they’ve had, with Bukayo Saka confirmed as missing this game, while it’s not yet clear if Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori will return. Even if they do, they’re unlikely to be at peak fitness or form.
City mainly have a clean bill of health, though, with Pep Guardiola confirming that Nico O’Reilly will be back, though Ruben Dias is still out and that’s a pretty big loss, while Josko Gvardiol also remains a long-term absentee.
The issue for Arsenal is that their main injuries are in attack, which is already the main area of weakness in their current squad. Noni Madueke is really no substitute for a fully fit and in-form Saka, and even if Eberechi Eze being back is a big boost, there’s no one else who offers quite the same ability to dictate a game as Odegaard does.
Eze was missed in the Carabao Cup final, so he can provide a bit of spark in the final third for Arsenal, but for the most part this current situation probably only adds to the north Londoners’ need to set up quite defensively.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 17, 2026
Strangely, it’s gone a little unnoticed, but Erling Haaland really hasn’t been in great form for a while now.
The Norway international has a good record against the Gunners, scoring home and away against them last season, as well as in their encounter at the Emirates earlier on in this campaign.
In total, Haaland has 33 goals in 45 games this season, but in his last 13 league games he has just three goals, two of which came from the penalty spot.
Of course, it would be unwise to ignore the fact that he recently scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup win against Liverpool. It’s possible that we’re about to see him get back to his best form, though at the moment he doesn’t look like someone who’s going to have a lot of joy against William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Can Arsenal respond to bottler tag?
We’ve all seen it by now, so surely the Arsenal players have as well.
We’re talking, of course, about this viral clip from last weekend when City won 3-0 way to Chelsea just a day after Arsenal’s slip-up in the 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 12, 2026
This kind of thing surely has to fire Arsenal up to prove their critics wrong. This a club that has been mocked and ridiculed as bottlers for far too long. They may never get a better chance to finally change people’s perspectives.
How do you see this game going, and who do you ultimately expect to go on and win the league? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments!
Paris Saint-Germain chief Luis Campos has reportedly held surprise talks with the representatives of Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazil international has been an inconsistent performer for the Gunners, though he showed a lot of potential when he first broke through as a youngster at the Emirates Stadium.
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Still, it’s perhaps a bit of a surprise to see PSG eyeing Martinelli, though that’s what’s being reported by L’Equipe, as cited and translated by Get French Football News.
The report also suggests PSG have held talks over RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, who would perhaps make more sense as the Ligue 1 giants’ priority target in that position.
Martinelli could make sense as an alternative for PSG to keep in mind, especially as it may well be that the 24-year-old would perform better in a more attack-minded side, and in a slightly less competitive league.
Should Arsenal sell Gabriel Martinelli?
Arsenal surely need to offload Martinelli this summer if the money is right, as they could do a lot better on that left-hand side of their attack.
With just one Premier League goal all season (though he’s done better in the Champions League, Martinelli really seems to have gone backwards, and it’s meant Mikel Arteta’s side just haven’t looked quite good enough in the final third.
Of course, others have also under-performed, but bringing in a truly elite forward on that side could also help the rest of the attack up its game.
Would PSG really sign Martinelli?
Martinelli seems like a bit of a gamble for PSG, especially as he probably wouldn’t come very cheap.
See below for our Transfer Fit rating for this deal, which we gave a very low 9/25 – find out more about how we score these here…
Gabriel Martinelli
TOTAL SCORE: 9/25
Transfer fee
**
Performance
*
Achievements
**
Career phase
***
Squad need
*
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PSG already have Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola as options on that left-hand side, and all look a lot better than Martinelli.
Quite simply, this rumour doesn’t make much sense at all, but it’s coming from a respectable source, so perhaps it’s going to be one to keep an eye on.
Clubs look at a lot of players and will have Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan D targets behind their favoured options.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could reportedly have a chance of playing against Manchester City tomorrow as he’s been included in the travelling squad for the game.
The Norway international has been struggling with an injury in the last couple of games, having been taken off in that 1-0 win away to Sporting Lisbon in the recent Champions League quarter-final.
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It seems Odegaard may now have a chance of playing at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, though, with the reliable Hand of Arsenal account posting on X that he’s travelling to Manchester.
See below for details as a final decision on Odegaard is expected tomorrow…
? Martin Ødegaard has been included in the travelling Arsenal squad for tomorrow. Final decision tomorrow on his inclusion in the official matchday squad. pic.twitter.com/cum57qCqgU
It perhaps sounds like it’s a bit too much of a close call for Odegaard to realistically have a chance of starting the game, but perhaps it points towards the 27-year-old being on the bench.
That would be better than nothing, with Arsenal perhaps able to call on him as a substitute if required in what will likely be a close game in this title race six pointer.
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Arsenal facing injury crisis ahead of Man City trip
It looks touch and go for Odegaard, while Arteta also could not confirm if the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, or Noni Madueke could make it back in time.
This has been a common theme for Arsenal all season, with others like Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Magalhaes also missing chunks of the campaign.
Tottenham were so close to a vital three points against Brighton this afternoon before a late equaliser by Georginio Rutter.
It wasn’t great defending by Spurs as they held onto a 2-1 lead late on, with Kevin Danso losing the ball in his own penalty area, allowing the ball to be squared to Rutter, who made no mistake with a clinical finish.
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It looked like Xavi Simons had won it for Tottenham as he fired in a superb goal late on in the second half, but they couldn’t hold on and are now stuck in the relegation zone, with West Ham and Nottingham Forest above them also still having games in hand.
Watch below for the critical moment as Danso’s mistake was immediately punished…
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 18, 2026
Perhaps it’s being a bit harsh on Tottenham as it was a good Brighton move and a really well-taken finish, but at such an important stage of the game, and such an important period of the season, they surely needed to do better.
Can Tottenham escape relegation?
Tottenham will have hired new manager Roberto De Zerbi to get them out of trouble, but so far it’s proving a tough job for the Italian tactician.
Manchester City reportedly lead Arsenal in the race for the transfer of Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento.
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The 23-year-old has shone at St James’ Park and could now be someone the Magpies struggle to keep hold of, though it seems Arsenal might struggle to afford him.
That’s according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states that Man City currently look more likely to be able to make the right kind of financial commitment to sign Livramento this summer.
Livramento has looked like an elite talent for some time now, having first really caught the eye at former club Southampton.
Ex-Gunner Theo Walcott was full of praise for Livramento at the time, telling talkSPORT that he had been “fantastic” for them and that he even reminded him of Gareth Bale.
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“It just shows that there’s a future star there but again we need to be careful as we always do but its why we love football isn’t it? I can’t complain, he’s been absolutely fantastic,” Walcott said of Livramento back in 2021.
“Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth (Bale) when he came through as a full-back.
“That’s a big statement of course to compare him to someone like that but just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power and it’s no surprises that you know what he’s going to do.
“He’s so strong with the ball and very clever and technically he is fantastic.”
TEAMtalk also mention Newcastle facing interest in Italian midfield maestro Sandro Tonali this summer.
IT could be a difficult transfer window again for NUFC after they lost Alexander Isak last year, with Tonali and Livramento’s futures now looking uncertain.
On top of that, the Telegraph have reported on Anthony Gordon wanting to leave, and the England international wasn’t in Eddie Howe’s squad for the Bournemouth game today.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and RB Leipzig are also credited with an interest in the highly-rated 16-year-old, who is fast becoming one of the most sought-after teenage talents in world football.
However, it seems there are early signs of Newcastle making the most significant progress on a potential deal for Eichhorn, according to TEAMtalk.
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The Magpies are said to be stepping up their interest in the German youth international, though it’s also not a deal that would be entirely straightforward to get done.
Kennet Eichhorn transfer could face complications due to regulations
The report from TEAMtalk explains that there are some regulations that might impact Newcastle’s chances of signing Eichhorn for the time being.
Kennet Eichhorn (Foto von City-Press GmbH Bildagentur)
Bundesliga clubs would supposedly hold the advantage in the race for Eichhorn as he cannot move to England until he turns 18.
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Newcastle fans will hope there’s some way around this, but it looks like an ambitious deal for their club to get done with so much competition.
It may be that NUFC can agree a deal now that sees the player move once he turns 18, but it remains to be seen if he’d really be keen on that option.
TEAMtalk also name the likes of Bayern, Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund as suitors for Eichhorn, and that could work well for him at this early stage of his career.
Newcastle are a big club but it would be quite a gamble to move abroad so early, so continuing his development in German football would probably be the best thing for his career progression.
Arsenal are reportedly one of the clubs in the mix for a surprise potential transfer swoop for Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons this summer.
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The Netherlands international only joined Spurs from RB Leipzig less than a year ago, but has struggled in what has been a hugely challenging season for everyone associated with the club.
It may well be that Simons and Spurs are soon relegated to the Championship, in which case it’s hard to imagine him sticking around for very long.
See below as journalist Ekrem Konur now claims that Simons is already being eyed up by Tottenham’s rivals Arsenal, as well as by Bayern Munich and his former club Paris Saint-Germain…
The report states that Simons is likely to cost around €50m, but it’s also hard to imagine THFC wouldn’t charge a lot more than that if Arsenal came calling.
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Do Arsenal need Xavi Simons?
Arsenal could do with adding someone with a bit of spark and creativity to their squad for next season, with Mikel Arteta’s side sometimes criticised for lacking enough flair and quality in the final third.
It could be that Simons would be a decent option for AFC, but he only has four goals and five assists in all competitions this season.
At the same time, though, the 22-year-old has been in a struggling Spurs side and might improve with better players around him.
It might also be that Simons will fare better after a year spent developing and gaining experience in English football.
Still, as already mentioned, the issue will surely be if Tottenham are prepared to sell to their bitter rivals, as these two clubs rarely do business together.
The Red Devils are the latest club to be linked strongly with the England international, with Fichajes claiming they’re ready to make a big offer for him.
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That report mentioned interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich, but not from Man Utd, so it remains to be seen how concrete this latest update is.
While it’s easy to imagine United might also have an interest in Gordon, one imagines the Telegraph’s information is probably more accurate than that of Fichajes.
That doesn’t necessarily mean MUFC aren’t going to end up being in the mix, but it probably suggests that Fichajes’ claims of a big bid being prepared probably need to be taken with a pinch of salt, or are premature at best.
Where next for Anthony Gordon?
Gordon has shone at Newcastle, having also previously looked like an exciting young talent during his time at former club Everton.
Capable of playing a variety of attacking roles, Gordon has 17 goals and four assists in all competitions for Newcastle this season, and could surely be an upgrade on some of the current attacking players at the Emirates Stadium, Anfield, and Old Trafford.
United invested a lot in attacking players last summer, though, so may well look at other positions as more of a priority for the time being, even if Gordon would undoubtedly be an exciting player to be able to bring in, perhaps as a superior option to Matheus Cunha.
Arsenal, meanwhile, surely need someone better than Gabriel Martinelli, who has just one league goal all season, while Leandro Trossard has also lost form lately and is not getting any younger.
Liverpool have endured a frustrating season so could do with making some changes, and Gordon makes sense as an upgrade on the inconsistent Cody Gakpo.
Where do you see Gordon ending up? Let us know in the comments!
Leicester City midfielder Harry Winks has been filmed angrily shouting at a fan after today’s defeat to Portsmouth that puts the club in serious danger of relegation from the Championship.
The Foxes have endured a nightmare campaign after being relegated from the Premier League last season, with it now looking increasingly likely that they’re heading for consecutive drops and life in League One next season.
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Understandably, it seems tensions are high, but Winks really lost the plot here as he can be seen yelling in an angry exchange with an unseen fan, telling the person to “shut the f**k up” before being escorted onto the team bus…
? WOW…Harry Winks in a furious exchange with a fan…it goes from bad to worse for Leicester City ?
This seems far from ideal at a time when everyone at the King Power Stadium needs to be sticking together, and one imagines Winks will have to issue an apology for losing it at a fan like this.
Leicester City nightmare continues as relegation now inevitable
Leicester are currently 23rd in the Championship and a whole eight points from safety with only three games left to play.
In short, there’s really very little prospect of LCFC staying up this season, meaning they’re looking at life in English football’s third tier next season.
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Leicester finished 18th in the Premier League last season, going straight back down after just one season back in the top flight, and they’ve just been unable to rescue themselves from this negative spiral.
Remarkably, it’s just ten years ago that this club won the Premier League title in what is one of football’s most remarkable fairytales, and it can’t be too often that a club has gone from being champions of England to playing in the third tier in the space of just a decade.
I’m aware there’s been a lot of speculation about Sporting Lisbon players in the last few days, with transfer rumours about two names in particular.
I’ve done a bit of digging and it looks like there are some conversations that have gone in in the last few days that has to led to a number of stories, some of which are more based in reality than others.
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So, my understanding from speaking to a variety of sources in the industry, who have asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, is that Arsenal chiefs used the opportunity to speak to their Sporting counterparts.
Arsenal discuss three Sporting players
Arsenal have been among the clubs linked with two players: Ousmane Diomande and Morten Hjulmand. There’s also been talk of others like Chelsea and Manchester United being credited with an interest in those players.
However, it’s important to note that conversations like this when club officials are visiting during games is very common and not necessarily a sign that the aforementioned players are priority targets. It’s more about establishing relationships and asking to be kept in the loop if certain players are going to be available.
It’s also likely that links with the likes of Chelsea and Man United would have come from Sporting’s side to try to strengthen their own negotiating position if it were to come to dealing with Arsenal.
Will Arsenal and Sporting negotiate another transfer?
Interestingly, I’ve heard mixed messages about Arsenal’s relationship with Sporting after slightly tense negotiations over Viktor Gyokeres last summer.
The Gunners ended up bringing in the Sweden international from the Portuguese giants, but there was a lengthy back and forth that some sources said left some “bad blood” between the clubs.
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Not everyone is convinced that will be an issue, however, and I’m inclined to believe them. Some clubs have better relationships than others, but it’s normal for talks over major deals to run into complications.
At the end of the day, Sporting are known for selling players when the time is right, and if a club like Arsenal come in with decent money then there’s always a chance of an agreement.
Players like Diomande, Hjulmand, and Fresneda will also likely be keen, just as Gyokeres was, to take the chance to move to a major Premier League club if the interest is there.
Jones came up through Liverpool’s academy, but has not quite lived up to his potential, and no longer commands a regular first-team place at Anfield.
According to TEAMtalk, Villa are now emerging as strong contenders to sign the England international in what could be a summer of major changes to Arne Slot’s squad.
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Jones looks like he could be a decent addition to Unai Emery’s squad, even if he’s not quite shown himself to be good enough to start regularly for a big club like Liverpool.
Curtis Jones set for Aston Villa transfer?
TEAMtalk report that Villa and Liverpool have a good relationship, despite some issues this season with Harvey Elliott’s loan spell at Villa Park.
Elliott has not played very often for Emery’s side and LFC probably aren’t too happy about that, but that shouldn’t necessarily prevent the clubs agreeing another deal.
It surely makes sense for the Reds to offload Jones, with the Telegraph also recently naming the 25-year-old as one of the players who could be shown the door in a major clear-out this summer.
Arne Slot has hinted he would rather keep Curtis Jones
It will be interesting to see how this develops, however, as Slot himself has recently said that Jones remains part of his plans.
See below as Fabrizio Romano quoted Slot as discussing Jones’ future back in February, suggesting he was not planning to allow the player to leave…
? Arne Slot: “It’s perfectly normal that Curtis Jones is in the interest of big clubs, like us, trying to extend with him and clubs wanting to sign him”.
“He will be part of our plans for the upcoming weeks, months and also for next season”. pic.twitter.com/A9iGT3E0vV
Jones could be a useful squad player for Liverpool, but all speculation since then suggests he’s no longer part of the long-term plan at Anfield.
That may be because Jones himself wants to leave and play more often, or it could be that LFC have decided that they’d like to take the opportunity to make pure profit from selling a homegrown player.
Anthony Gordon transfer speculation is now surely set to intensify even further as he’s been left out of the Newcastle United matchday squad today.
The Magpies are taking on Bournemouth at St James’ Park, but Gordon is not involved for what has officially been reported as a slight hip injury.
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That’s according to the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, who admits that it is not a great look for Gordon given that there’s talk of him looking to leave and that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has spoken about not wanting to use players who aren’t 100% committed to the club…
Anthony Gordon not involved against Bournemouth 24 hours after Eddie Howe said he can only pick players who are totally committed to the club. Not a great look in that context but official reason given is a slight hip injury #nufchttps://t.co/G6j3Z918Oa
“Anthony Gordon not involved against Bournemouth 24 hours after Eddie Howe said he can only pick players who are totally committed to the club. Not a great look in that context but official reason given is a slight hip injury,” Edwards posted on X.
This follows the Telegraph reporting on Gordon being open to leaving NUFC this summer, with Liverpool and Arsenal mentioned as suitors for the England international.
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Anthony Gordon surely heading for Newcastle exit
It may be that Gordon is just carrying a knock that Newcastle have decided not to take any risks with, but it’s certainly not ideal timing.
The 25-year-old has been a key player for Howe’s side and it would be a big blow to lose him, especially after the Alexander Isak saga that dragged on for so much of last summer.
It’s easy to imagine Gordon being good enough for the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, and one imagines other clubs could also get involved in the race for his signature.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is reportedly growing increasingly unhappy with his situation at loan club Barcelona.
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The England international is unsettled and seriously considering a change as it seems Barca are now leaning towards not taking up their option to make his loan permanent.
That’s according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, who state that Rashford would like his situation resolved quickly.
A lot has been written about Rashford in recent transfer reports, but it all seems to point towards his time at the Nou Camp coming to an end.
Marcus Rashford transfer saga timeline
Here’s a recent summary of the Rashford situation, which could make things slightly complicated for Man Utd in the upcoming transfer window…
January 10, 2026: Fabrizio Romano reports on his YouTube channel that it looks increasingly like Rashford will continue with Barcelona, with the club communicating this to the player’s camp.
January 31, 2026: Michael Carrick is described as keen to working with Rashford if he stays on as manager next season in a report from the Telegraph.
March 18, 2026: Barcelona reportedly hope to be able to sign Rashford on loan again rather than signing him permanently, according to the Daily Mail.
March 19, 2026: BUT then a report from the Daily Mirror states that United will not accept a second loan offer for Rashford.
April 16, 2026: BBC Sport report that Rashford would be open to coming back to Old Trafford next season.
All in all, it’s hard to know precisely how MUFC will deal with the Rashford situation, but there’ll surely be buyers who come in for him at some point.
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It seems a bit harsh, though, that Barcelona seem so clearly to have decided against signing him after his impressive impact during his time there on loan.
Arsenal could reportedly be set to enter into a bidding war with Real Madrid for the potential transfer of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi.
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The Gunners are up against Los Blancos in the race to sign the talented 20-year-old, who has shone in the Bundesliga in recent times, drawing comparisons with Paul Pogba.
That’s according to a report from Fichajes, who state that Arsenal are emerging as very serious contenders for Manzambi, in what looks like a two-horse race for his signature.
It surely wouldn’t be easy for Manzambi to turn down Real Madrid, but Arsenal are also emerging as a real powerhouse under Mikel Arteta, with the club still chasing a possible Premier League and Champions League double this season.
The Switzerland international has seven goals in 46 games in his club career in total, as well as three goals in ten caps for his country.
Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Manzambi has also occasionally played further forward, either in a central attacking role and even out wide.
WhoScored list his strengths as long shots and dribbling, which will likely be why he’s drawn comparisons with Pogba.
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Arsenal to strengthen in midfield
Arsenal will surely look to add depth in midfield this summer after relying so heavily on Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice without much rotation this season.
Manzambi could be ideal to come in as someone who could initially provide cover, but then develop into more of a regular once he gains more experience.
Still, it’s perhaps hard to imagine he’d start regularly straight away, though that’s possibly true for if he moved to the Bernabeu as well.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided some mixed injury news ahead of his side’s huge game away to Manchester City this weekend.
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The Gunners take on City at the Etihad Stadium for what is being billed by many as a Premier League title decider, with so much at stake in this closest of title races.
See below as Charles Watts has the key updates from Arteta’s press conference today, with slightly more hopeful news on the likes of Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, who have not yet been completely ruled out…
At Mikel Arteta's press conference:
On Madueke: "We have another session tomorrow. It didn’t look that bad after the game, I’m hoping he could be available."
On Saka "Bukayo is out, that’s for sure. He’s just starting to do some stuff, but at the moment he’s not available."
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Mikel Arteta on Arsenal injuries ahead of Man City clash
On Saka’s injury, Arteta said: “Bukayo is out, that’s for sure. He’s just starting to do some stuff, but at the moment he’s not available.”
On a more positive note, though, the Spanish tactician did suggest Noni Madueke could be available to fill in for Saka on that right-hand side, whilst also suggesting later calls would be made on Odegaard, Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori.
“We have another session tomorrow. It didn’t look that bad after the game, I’m hoping he (Madueke) could be available,” he added.
“We will try again. Some players are quite close. We will try tomorrow to push everybody,” he said when asked about Odegaard, Timber, and Calafiori.
Manchester City also have a few players out
City also have some injuries, even if it’s quite clearly not as bad for them as it is for Arsenal.
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The Gunners are said to be long-term admirers of the 16-year-old, who can play as a winger or central attacking midfielder.
That’s according to the Telegraph, who add that Arsenal are keen on Monga after keeping tabs on him as he’s become regarded as one of the most exciting talents in the country.
Our information in recent months has been that Chelsea are also interested in Monga, but it may now be that Arsenal are moving ahead in the race for his signature.
Jeremy Monga could be a smart signing for Arsenal’s future
The Telegraph reports that Arsenal want to smarten up their recruitment of young players, so it certainly makes sense that Monga is on their radar.
The teenager is behind Arsenal stars Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman as the third youngest Premier League player ever, and he’s played alongside the latter of those for England at youth level.
Monga could do well to link up with Dowman at the Emirates Stadium, though one imagines he might also be tempted by Chelsea due to their current project that’s focused so much around developing young talents.
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Monga will likely have a lot of options, and AFC fans will just have to hope their club can come out on top here and land this huge prospect for the future.
It sounds like Monga could be a fine investment, and someone the Gunners could surely sell for a profit later on even if he didn’t end up making it as a regular in their first-team.
Liverpool have reportedly done extensive background checks on Crystal Palace central midfielder Adam Wharton as they prepare a summer move.
The Reds are eager to strengthen in the middle of the park ahead of next season, with Wharton identified as one of their top targets and being discussed internally by the club.
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That’s according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states that Liverpool could get a deal done for the England international for around £70m.
That would represent Palace’s biggest ever sale, with the Eagles likely to be keen to hold on to Wharton for a bit longer if possible.
Still, we’ve seen a lot of big names leave Selhurst Park in recent times, such as Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last summer, and Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January.
Adam Wharton transfer race hotting up
This is not the first story we’ve heard about Wharton in recent times, and it probably won’t be the last, with the 22-year-old showing himself to be a top talent with a big future.
An intelligent and technically gifted player, Wharton has a real knack for dictating play from a deep midfield role, and that could be something very useful to this LFC side.
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Manchester United are also in the market for a new midfielder, with the Daily Mail mentioning Wharton as one of a few different names on the Red Devils’ list.
Adam Wharton looks ideal for Liverpool
Liverpool would do well to land a talent like Wharton, who gets a high score with our Transfer Fit rating system (read more about how these are calculated here)…
Adam Wharton
TOTAL SCORE: 21/25
Transfer fee
****
Performance
****
Achievements
****
Career phase
*****
Squad need
****
Given his surprisingly low £70m asking price, current career trajectory, and the fact that he’d surely be an upgrade on Alexis Mac Allister, this deal ticks all the boxes for Arne Slot’s side.
Pep Guardiola has spoken ahead of Manchester City’s big game against Arsenal this weekend, so what can we learn from the Spanish tactician’s pre-match thoughts?
Man City go into this game six points behind the league leaders, but with a game in hand, and of course with a big opportunity to cut right into that lead by dealing a potentially huge blow to Mikel Arteta and co.
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It’s being billed by some as the title decider for this season, though of course there are still plenty more games left that could swing things in either direction. Still, there’s no doubt it has the feel as one of the biggest Premier League matches in many years.
Here’s a look at Guardiola’s key points as he spoke to the press ahead of the game and provided some insight into City’s preparations.
Guardiola seems calmer than Arteta
One interesting quote from Guardiola is his line that he’s been telling his City players this is just a game.
“Today I will say to the players, ‘It’s just a football game’,” he said. “So we have to approach it like a football game.
“Really important, of course, but if we are distracted too much by emotions, this kind of things, after you will lose the focus. What is the target? It’s the perform well. That is exactly what we have to do.”
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Perhaps when you’ve already won multiple titles and don’t have a lead at the top to lose, there’s some truth to that.
Still, it’s also a potentially massive psychological boost for City, and in stark contrast to Arsenal, who have seemed nervous about losing their lead at the top for the last few weeks.
But…he knows this game is City’s last chance
Even if Guardiola is relaxed, he also knows that the reality is this is his side’s last real chance to stay in the title race.
When asked if he felt this was a ‘final’ for the Premier League title, he responded: “Yeah, obviously. If we lose, yeah, it’s over.
“But the other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t win against Bournemouth, still we have games to play.
“Six games is a lot, our calendar, it’s terrible I would say: Everton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home, Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Brentford. Crystal Palace, look what’s going on! Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in Europe. Still many things to do.”
Guardiola enjoys watching Arsenal play
Is this a mind game or just straightforward praise for a rival? Whatever the thinking behind it, Guardiola has hit back at some of Arsenal’s critics, saying he enjoys watching them.
“People are so demanding; from the media, supporters, everyone. I enjoy watching them. I learn a lot in many, many things,” he said.
“And the people, what they want is to win. And we fight in an aspect that is really, really important that we cannot fight again; 22 years without winning the Premier League. In that aspect, we cannot fight. They have something that makes them unique.”
Arsenal have had some criticism this season for being overly defensive and relying too much on set-pieces, and we can probably expect that kind of approach in this weekend’s game.
It is worth remembering, though, that that’s pretty much how Guardiola himself set up in the fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.
What are your predictions for this big game? Let us know in the comments!
Manchester City have reportedly been dealt the blow that Ruben Dias will not be fit in time to play against Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
The Portugal international has been an important player for Man City down the years, but he also missed the Carabao Cup final victory over the Gunners.
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In truth, Pep Guardiola has a lot of depth in that area of his squad, with Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Nathan Ake all available as perfectly solid options for City.
There’s not yet been an update on Nico O’Reilly, who went off injured in the win over Chelsea last weekend, but the Manchester Evening News report that Dias is out of Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City’s other injury issues
Josko Gvardiol remains out of action with a long-term injury that has derailed his campaign, while John Stones is also out for the time being.
Overall, though, City have a strong squad that should be able to cope, even if fans will be eagerly awaiting an update on O’Reilly, who has been such a key player for them this season.
The 21-year-old has shown himself to be an outstanding talent, and scored twice against Arsenal in that Carabao Cup final last month.
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Arsenal facing injury crisis ahead of City trip
Arsenal are in a much worse situation with injuries, with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka missing a lot of games recently.
There are also concerns about Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, and Gunners supporters will hope Mikel Arteta has positive updates on these key players ahead of the trip to Manchester.
A full-strength Arsenal XI should have what it takes to get a result at the Etihad, but if they again find themselves under-strength then it could prove crucial to allowing Guardiola’s men back into this title race.
Chelsea could reportedly still have a chance of beating Brighton to the potential transfer of FC Koln forward Said El Mala.
The talented young German attacker looks like an exciting prospect with a big future ahead of him, and it could be that we’ll be seeing him in the Premier League soon.
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This could allow Chelsea back into the mix, according to Falk, who says El Mala could cost around €50m.
Chelsea given Said El Mala transfer boost
Discussing El Mala’s future, Falk made it clear that Brighton are still leading the race for his signature, though nothing is done yet and that means Chelsea can’t be ruled out.
“It is TRUE: Brighton are in the lead for Said El Mala,” Falk said. “But it could be that other interested clubs still have a chance in this race, like Newcastle and Chelsea.
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“That’s because the Brighton offer was about €35m plus €4m in add-ons, and Cologne want €50m. If they don’t get this money, perhaps they’ll be open to talking with Chelsea again. This could happen.
“At the moment, the way is clear – El Mala looks very likely to be playing Premier League football next season. Now we have to see whether he ends up at Brighton, which is the current plan, or if FC Köln say it won’t work because of the money on the table.”
Chelsea could do with changing things up in attack
CFC would surely do well to land a talent like El Mala to give them something a bit different in attack, with some of their recent signings struggling.
There could well be doubts about the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, who have not had anywhere near the kind of impact that the club will have hoped.
El Mala could be an upgrade, and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea can get there ahead of Brighton, though even that might point towards a future move for the west London giants given how much those two clubs have done business in recent times.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made the big claim that he feels Hugo Ekitike can come back even stronger after the “devastating” news of his serious injury this week.
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The France international has started well at Liverpool after his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, but he now faces around nine months on the side-lines.
This means Ekitike will miss this summer’s World Cup, and most likely won’t get back on the pitch for Liverpool until midway through next season.
Slot admits it’s a big blow and that his thoughts are with the player, though he also made the bold prediction that he’s someone who could bounce back and keep on improving despite this setback…
? Arne Slot says Hugo Ekitike's injury is "devastating" but has backed him to come back even stronger ?? pic.twitter.com/29t6pmuRyW
“Devastating for him,” Slot said in his press conference on Friday morning.
“Coming to a new club, having so much impact straight away. Playing against your old club in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with so much more to come for him in the summer.
“Your first thoughts are always with him being out for such a long time, missing out on so many special moments.
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“But, he’s not the first and will not be the last player that experiences something like this in the start of his career, and there are so many examples of players that came back even stronger.
“That’s the challenge he has now and I’m 100% sure he will be one of those that in 10-15 years time can say maybe this injury even helped me to become stronger and become even more ready to perform even at a higher level than I did before.”
Hugo Ekitike’s strong start at Liverpool
Ekitike impressed at Eintracht Frankfurt and he certainly took that form with him to Liverpool with a highly promising first season.
The 23-year-old is on 17 goals and five assists for the 2025/26 season, and one imagines he could easily have hit the 20-goal mark if he’d stayed fit.
Coming back from serious injuries like this is never easy, but Ekitike will surely benefit from Slot’s encouragement, while he’s also young enough that he should have a good chance of making a strong recovery and continuing to develop as both a player and an athlete in years to come.
Manchester United reportedly have a concrete interest in signing Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, whose release clause is a bargain £32.6m.
The 25-year-old has really caught the eye in the Bundesliga in recent times, leading to talk of Man Utd being keen on him from a variety of sources.
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TEAMtalk have linked Stiller with United, while we’ve also previously received information about him being one of a number of names on the Red Devils’ list.
Angelo Stiller a concrete target for Manchester United
Discussing Stiller’s situation, Falk admitted United could sign him on the cheap, but also made it clear that Stuttgart have the option to increase the Germany international’s current buy-out clause.
“There is a lot of interest in Stiller from the Premier League; Manchester United are concretely interested,” Falk said.
“The Red Devils were there last summer but didn’t clinch a deal because they came too late in the transfer window. But this could be a serious option for them this summer.
“The 25-year-old has a release clause in his contract (€37.5m [£32.6m]), but VfB Stuttgart can buy this option from Stiller (for an amount between €2m-4m). Then, they’d have the idea of selling the midfielder for €50m [£43.5m].
“There are a lot of things that could happen, but I can say that there’s still a chance Stiller would leave Stuttgart in the summer.”
Would Angelo Stiller be a good fit for Man United?
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Angelo Stiller
TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee
****
Performance
****
Achievements
**
Career phase
****
Squad need
*****
It’s clear that Stiller ticks a lot of boxes in terms of being affordable, as well as proven, but still not too old, whilst also clearly strengthening a position United are weak in.
One downside with Stiller is his lack of Premier League experience, but he’s played in the Champions League, so he’s no stranger to playing at the very highest level.
Chelsea are likely to accept transfer offers for Enzo Fernandez this summer as he’s become increasingly unsettled at the club.
As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, the Argentina international is ideally someone the Blues would try to keep, but there’s also an acceptance that he’s not happy.
There is also genuine interest from Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants long being in the market for that profile of midfield player.
Fernandez now looks like an opportunity for Los Blancos, and he would also be keen to explore this option if possible.
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As ever, though, an agreement is needed between the clubs, and Chelsea surely won’t let the former Benfica man go on the cheap.
What sources are saying about Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid transfer
Having spoken to numerous well-placed sources in the industry, there’s definitely the sense that Chelsea are prepared to let Fernandez go if the money is right.
“There’s been uncertainty surrounding Enzo for some time,” one source said. “Chelsea would rather not sell, but they’re at the stage now where they’ll have to accept big offers because it’s just not worth keeping an unhappy player.”
“There haven’t been any direct talks yet, but clearly Enzo has caught wind of Madrid’s interest and he seems keen to explore that opportunity,” another source said.
Should Chelsea let Enzo Fernandez go?
Fernandez is one of the big faces of this Chelsea project, having joined in an exciting big-money move from Benfica a few years ago.
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However, it would perhaps also be fair to say that he’s been a bit underwhelming overall, and if he’s not happy then it might be a good time to accept his departure and find a replacement who could do a better job anyway.
Chelsea fans will probably have mixed feelings about this as it’s taken them so long to build this squad, so they won’t want to see more upheaval this summer.
It also surely depends on what other players are realistically available in the months ahead, with someone like Anderson looking somewhat unrealistic, while others like Adam Wharton will also surely have a lot of suitors too.
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One imagines this result could be crucial for Slot as he needs some confidence-boosting performances and results between now and the end of the season.
Liverpool board split over Arne Slot
According to the latest from X journalist Indy Kaila, one issue with Slot is that he doesn’t have the full backing of the Liverpool board.
Richard Hughes seems to be the main one pushing for the Dutch tactician to stay, while Michael Edwards, who is more senior, is less sure about keeping him.
Indy Kaila posted: “Richard Hughes is really the key player in keeping Arne Slot at Liverpool. He’s all in on Slot for next season and has plans to bring in two pacey wingers to shake things up.
“Now, Michael Edwards is still on the fence about Arne Slot, which adds some tension. Since Hughes is calling the shots on football decisions, it puts Edwards in a tricky spot. If Michael Edwards wants to move on from Slot, he’d have to go against Richard Hughes, and that could really sour their close relationship.
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“Will Hughes get his way, or will Edwards make a bold move to override him? All information above has come from reporter who works closely with us.”
It will be interesting to see how this pans out, but Slot certainly doesn’t seem to be in the most secure situation.
Who could replace Arne Slot as Liverpool manager?
The most obvious name that will come to mind is Xabi Alonso, who is a former Liverpool player, and who is available after being sacked by Real Madrid earlier this season.
Still, these links have also been played down to a certain extent, with the Times reporting that one issue LFC have with Alonso is his commitment to playing three at the back.
That would be a big change from how Liverpool have played under Slot and under previous manager Jurgen Klopp, while it’s also generally not a system that has much of a history of succeeding in English football.
Still, there could be other names out there, such as Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, who will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
Cesc Fabregas could also be on the move to a bigger club soon after doing an impressive job at Como, while there will also surely be eyes on the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Julian Nagelsmann, depending on how they do at this summer’s World Cup.
Manchester United have reportedly made formal contact over a potential transfer move for Benfica midfielder Richard Rios.
The Colombia international has shone during his time in Portugal, and it seems he’s been identified as a potential replacement for Casemiro in Man Utd’s midfield.
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United will no doubt be keen to invest in new signings in midfield as Casemiro is coming towards the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte has largely flopped during his time at Old Trafford.
That could mean MUFC realistically need to make more than one new addition in that area of their squad.
Manchester United preparing multiple midfield moves?
Rios is the latest name to be linked with United, and he’s one of the cheaper options out there if recent transfer rumours are anything to go by.
See below as Florian Plettenberg has been among the reporters to claim that Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is a top target for United, though he could cost £100m or more…
??? Forest expect Elliot #Anderson to join either Manchester United or Manchester City if he leaves this summer.
If United can win the race for a world class talent like Anderson, then that wouldn’t leave them with much more to spend, so a cheaper option like Rios could be ideal.
The 25-year-old might not be the kind of glamorous name that a lot of Red Devils supporters are craving, but he’s a solid defensive midfield player who can also contribute going forward.
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Rios has an impressive record of eight goals and six assists in all competitions for club and country this season, as per WhoScored stats.
Benfica often sell their best players when big enough offers come along, and one imagines Rios might be keen to now try testing himself in a more competitive league.
The Red Devils made a lot of changes up front last summer, bringing in an entire new front three in the form of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo.
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However, Sesko has perhaps been a bit underwhelming so far, so Man Utd could do well to bring in Thiago as an upgrade after his superb performances for Brentford this season.
The Brazil international has 24 goals and one assist in all competitions so far, with only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scoring more than him in the Premier League.
Manchester United advised to sign Igor Thiago
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce praised Thiago’s performances and suggested he was the obvious choice for United in this summer’s transfer window.
“I mean, who’s going to buy Brentford’s centre-forward, Igor Thiago?” Allardyce said.
“Manchester United need to look no further as far as I’m concerned. He’s hit the 20-goal mark, you don’t need to look any further.
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“I thought they’d go for [Jean-Philippe] Mateta, but maybe with his age they thought better of it.
“But this Brazilian lad [Thiago], he’s scored 20 goals already and has got Brentford almost pushing for Europe.”
Who else could be in the mix for Igor Thiago transfer?
Thiago’s fine form will surely mean he has plenty of suitors in this summer’s transfer window, so it might not be easy for United to get a deal done.
For now, it seems nothing is concrete or advanced over Thiago’s future, and it will be interesting to see if he can star for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup to add a bit more to his potential price tag this summer.
Arsenal reportedly have an eye on a player who’s been compared with club captain Martin Odegaard as they’re linked with Eirik Granaas.
The 16-year-old looks like an outstanding prospect as he’s already playing first-team football with Fredrikstad, and he’s been on Arsenal’s radar for almost a year.
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That’s according to the Sun, who also claim that RB Leipzig are interested in Granaas, who is from Drammen, the same city as Odegaard.
It seems clear that the teenager is going to be one to watch in years to come, so Arsenal would do well to move for him quickly if possible.
Arsenal would have to wait to sign Eirik Granaas
Eirik Granaas in action
One issue, however, is that Brexit rules mean Arsenal would not be able to sign Granaas until he turns 18, as noted in the Sun’s report.
That might end up favouring any other European clubs that come into the equation, while somewhere like Leipzig generally looks like a good destination for young players like this anyway.
The Bundesliga side have done great work in recent years when it comes to developing young players and giving them a chance to play before cashing in on them for significant profit.
Perhaps a more likely scenario here is that Granaas goes to somewhere like Leipzig first, and ends up being a target for Arsenal again later on in his career if he continues to progress well.
The Gunners could do with investing in more young talent, however, as one area they’ve struggled in in recent times is making enough money from player sales.
Building a competitive team is one thing, but in the modern era of Financial Fair Play it’s also vital for clubs to be able to sign players on the cheap and then sell them for more money later in order to balance the books.
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Meanwhile, the Sun’s report also suggests that Bayern Munich could be appealing for the 25-year-old as it would give him the chance to link up with England teammate Harry Kane.
February 20th 2026 – Gordon himself is quoted by Goal as saying transfer speculation over his future is “rubbish”.
April 13th 2026 – Bayern Munich are the latest to be linked with Gordon by Florian Plettenberg.
April 16th 2026 – The Telegraph report that Gordon is open to leaving Newcastle, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern linked as suitors.
Arsenal could do with signing Anthony Gordon
Arsenal clearly have issues in attack at the moment, with Gabriel Martinelli only scoring one Premier League goal all season, while Leandro Trossard is yet to score for the Gunners in all competitions in 2026.
Gordon, meanwhile, has an impressive record of 17 goals and four assists in all competitions for Newcastle this season, so he could surely strengthen Mikel Arteta’s side.
£75m isn’t bad for a player of his calibre either, so we’d give this a 21/25 with our Transfer Fit rating system…
Anthony Gordon
TOTAL SCORE: 21/25
Transfer fee
***
Performance
*****
Achievements
****
Career phase
****
Squad need
*****
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Gordon is at a good stage of his career, in fine form, and proven in the Premier League in a position Arsenal need to strengthen, so if they really can get him for £75m that’s surely superb business.
Saudi sources reportedly remain optimistic about landing Liverpool director Richard Hughes at some point despite an initial approach being rebuffed by the Reds.
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Al Hilal are keen to bring in Hughes from Liverpool to work on their recruitment, but for now it looks like he’s set to stay at Anfield, according to talkSPORT.
Hughes’ current Liverpool contract runs until the end of next season, so it seems the Reds remain in control of the situation for now, but perhaps not for much longer.
Even if Hughes is not currently heading to the Saudi Pro League, it seems their sources are confident he will make the move eventually, according to the report.
Richard Hughes facing important summer for Liverpool
Even if Hughes is highly regarded inside Anfield, there will surely be a lot of pressure on him and other senior figures this summer after a disappointing season.
While there has been a lot of focus on the performance of manager Arne Slot, it’s also worth noting that the club’s recruitment last summer has ended up looking really poor.
LFC invested huge amounts of money in a lot of new signings, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz both costing record-breaking figures but proving underwhelming on the pitch so far.
This seems far from ideal for the club, as there may well be the very real risk of both Edwards and Hughes leaving at the same time.
With that in mind, it perhaps makes sense that Slot seems safe in his job as manager for now, with some stability definitely needed in what may well be a period of big change.
If Rashford does end up missing out on staying at the Nou Camp, it seems he’d be open to returning to Man Utd, according to BBC Sport.
Could Marcus Rashford still have a role to play at Manchester United?
It has seemed unlikely for some time now that Rashford could have any kind of future at United, but perhaps there’s still a way back for him.
The 28-year-old was once a key player for the Red Devils, but he suffered a significant loss of form before going out on loan to Aston Villa last season, and then to Barcelona this term.
Rashford is also one of United’s highest earners, so it makes little sense for them to bring him back unless he’s ready to become a regular starter and consistent performer again.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool goalkeeper Alex Manninger has tragically died in a car crash at the age of 48.
The Austrian’s passing has been announced by another of his former clubs, Red Bull Salzburg, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The post read: “We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander.”
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See below for the post, which shows a picture of Manninger during one of the two spells he had with Salzburg throughout a playing career that spanned over 20 years…
Wir trauern um unseren ehemaligen Torhüter Alexander Manninger, der tragisch bei einem Verkehrsunfall verunglückt ist. Unsere Gedanken sind bei seiner Familie und seinen Freunden. Ruhe in Frieden, Alexander. ?? pic.twitter.com/AjfpNOwNU7
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) April 16, 2026
Alex Manninger’s career
Manninger is perhaps most well known in England for his spell with Arsenal as a youngster, where he played a key role in their 1997/98 double-winning season.
Despite not being a particularly big name before he arrived, Manninger put in a series of strong displays late on in the campaign when called upon to fill in for the injured David Seaman.
Manninger has remained fondly remembered by Gunners supporters for his contribution to the club’s success in the Premier League and FA Cup that season, and they’ll surely be devastated to hear about the passing of this popular former player.
The former Austria international also had a spell as a backup ‘keeper at Liverpool in 2016/17, whilst also making a name for himself with various Serie A clubs, including Juventus.
Awful news that Alex Manninger has passed away after a car accident. Played such a key role in the 1998 double, stepping up when the team needed him with David Seaman out.
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Tributes have been pouring in on social media this afternoon after the sad news of Manninger’s passing.
The Austrian FA also put out a statement on the news, saying: “The news of Alex Manninger’s death is deeply shocking. With him, football loses a special person. In this difficult time, our sincere condolences go to his family, his friends, and all those who were close to him. Much strength for the time ahead.”
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This news has now been made official, though of course neither the club nor the player have yet made an announcement about where he could be moving to next.
Silva is undoubtedly a City legend and one of the best players in the Premier League from the last decade or so, with the 31-year-old winning six titles during his time in England, as well as the Champions League and other major honours.
Manchester City pay tribute to Bernardo Silva
City have paid tribute to Silva on their official site, with a club statement noting that his “contribution to our greatest sustained period of success is incalculable” and that “he will be deservedly remembered both as one of City’s finest and most popular players of all time.”
City also added that they plan further tributes for the player nearer the end of the season.
They added: “The Club and all of our fans will now take the time to deliver a fitting tribute and farewell to a wonderful servant of Manchester City Football Club at the end of the season.”
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What next for Bernardo Silva and who could replace him?
It won’t be easy to replace a world class talent like Silva, but our understanding is that those plans are already underway.
City have been aware of Silva’s decision for some time now, with the player yet to decide on his next step despite top European clubs being sounded out while Saudi sides also take notice of his situation.
It is also our understanding that City are continuing to assess targets such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali in midfield.
The precise profile the club go for will depend on a number of other factors, however, with there still being no final resolution on the future of manager Pep Guardiola and another star player in the form of Rodri.
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