Mikel Arteta might be breathing a massive sigh of relief today, but the pundits certainly aren’t letting him off the hook.

Arsenal managed to scrape a gritty 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, securing three absolutely crucial points to bump themselves back to the top of the Premier League table.

Eberechi Eze was the early hero, curling in a beautiful strike from the edge of the box following a clever short corner routine.

But while the fans were busy celebrating a desperately needed return to winning ways, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was busy analysing a glaring issue in the middle of the park.

Gary Neville is unhappy with the performances of Zubimendi

He pointed out the poor performances of midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who joined the club in the summer transfer window.

‘I thought at the start of the season that Zubimendi was a great signing,’ Neville told The Gary Neville Podcast after the game.

‘He’s been a good player for Arsenal, but right now I was expecting that this would be where Zubimendi would be the player.

‘Who’s going to be the difference player? I thought (Viktor) Gyokeres would get the goals for them in these big moments and get to 2-0. His lack of quality at the end was poor on that counter attack. He’s got to do better than that.

‘But you think of what (Andrea) Pirlo is, or (Paul) Scholes or Rodri, Bernardo Silva – the player who can dictate play in a game like this, get Arsenal on the ball, organise and get them with authority and he’s not demonstrating that. He’s struggling in the games and he has done for a few weeks now.’

Neville is spot on with his assessment of the Arsenal star

Neville hit the nail firmly on the head. When Arsenal shelled out £60m for the Spanish maestro, the expectation was that he would be the ultimate anchor to dictate the tempo during these chaotic, high-pressure title run-ins.

Instead, he has looked completely off the pace for weeks, lacking that authoritative spark that Arsenal so desperately crave when the going gets tough.

Getting three points on the board against a stubbornly physical Newcastle side is exactly what Arsenal needed to stop the rot, but the performance raised just as many questions as it answered.

If the Gunners are going to hold off Pep Guardiola’s relentless Manchester City machine and finally conquer Europe, they need their big-money signings to step up and lead from the front.

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Chelsea star Cole Palmer is being linked with a move away from the club ahead of the summer transfer window.

With the Blues struggling in the Premier League and looking highly unlikely to make it to the Champions League next season, Palmer is being linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge, albeit for a record transfer fee.

Premier League rivals Manchester United have been linked with a move for the English attacking midfielder.

As per our exclusive, they hold ‘genuine and concrete’ interest in the former Manchester City player.

Cole Palmer linked with surprise Chelsea exit

According to Football Insider, Chelsea could be willing to accept an eye-watering £130 million offer for their talisman if push comes to shove.

Palmer isn’t just another player for the Blues, he is the absolute heartbeat of their attacking system.

Setting a massive £130 million barrier is widely seen as a strategic move by the Chelsea hierarchy to fiercely protect their most valuable asset and deter rival clubs from even making an approach.

Pulling off a deal of that financial magnitude is incredibly complex.

Football finance experts, like Stefan Borson, have pointed out that realistically, only financial juggernauts like Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain have the sheer spending power to comfortably execute a £130 million transfer without completely shattering UEFA and domestic financial regulations.

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Can the Blues afford to lose a player like Palmer?

From Chelsea’s perspective, cashing in on Palmer would be a tough pill to swallow for the fanbase, but it would undeniably represent pure, massive profit on a player they signed for an initial £40 million back in 2023.

This profit would instantly ease any lingering Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns after years of heavy, record-breaking spending under their current ownership model.

For now, Palmer remains Chelsea’s ultimate main man, and the club’s management reportedly has absolutely no intention of letting him walk away easily.

But as we all know, money talks incredibly loudly in the Premier League.

The player himself would be reportedly open to a move to Manchester and that could make things intriguing in the summer transfer window.

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Liverpool are preparing for life without Mohamed Salah and their search has started over who would replace the Egyptian attacker at Anfield.

Salah has been a brilliant servant for the club and his goals have guided them to the biggest honours in football.

The Merseyside club now face a mountain to climb as they look to replace Salah in the summer upcoming summer transfer window.

According to Bild, representatives of the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande have begun discussions with both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, signaling growing interest from two of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Despite the early contact from major sides, RB Leipzig remain confident they can hold onto their prized young talent, at least for the short term.

The German club reportedly values Diomande at around €100 million, a figure designed not only to reflect his enormous potential but also to discourage premature transfer bids.

Why Diomande is attracting interest from top clubs

Diomande’s rapid rise has caught the attention of scouts across Europe. Although still in his teenage years, he has shown maturity beyond his age, combining pace, technical skill, and attacking instinct in a way that makes him stand out among young forwards.

His ability to take on defenders one-on-one, create space, and deliver decisive moments in the final third has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s elite wide players.

More than his performances this season, it is the potential of becoming a world class player in the future that has caught the attention of clubs like Liverpool and PSG.

Liverpool’s involvement is hardly surprising. Over recent seasons, the club has begun planning for the long-term future of its attack, particularly with senior players entering the later stages of their careers.

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RB Leipzig are determined to keep the winger

RB Leipzig remain determined to maintain control over the situation. The Bundesliga club has built a reputation for identifying young players early, developing them carefully, and selling only when the timing and price are right.

Sources in Germany suggest Leipzig are confident they can persuade Diomande to remain in Germany for at least another season, allowing him to continue developing in a familiar environment.

From Leipzig’s perspective, patience makes sense. At 19, Diomande still has time to refine his game, gain experience in European competitions, and increase his market value even further.

Selling too soon could risk losing a player who might become one of the most valuable assets in the club’s history.

Financially, the €100 million valuation sends a strong message, any club hoping to secure his services must be prepared to make a major investment.

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Just as Arsenal fans thought their injury curses were finally lifting, the Premier League giants suffered another injury setback on Saturday.

The Gunners managed to grind out a nerve-wracking 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League table.

However, those crucial three points came at a heavy cost. Both Kai Havertz and match-winner Eberechi Eze were forced off with worrying injuries, instantly turning the post-match celebrations into a nervous waiting game for Mikel Arteta and the fanbase.

The drama started early in the first half. After brilliantly assisting Eze’s stunning ninth-minute opener from a short corner, Havertz went down off the ball around the 33rd minute with what appeared to be a problem in his upper leg.

Kai Havertz suffered injury against Newcastle United

Following some on-pitch treatment, the visibly dejected German international was forced to hobble off down the tunnel accompanied by a club physio.

He was quickly replaced by Viktor Gyokeres in the 34th minute, an early indication that the medical staff weren’t taking any risks.

As if losing their versatile forward wasn’t bad enough, things went from bad to worse shortly after the restart.

Eze, who had been electric after scoring the decisive goal, also went down with an issue and had to be swapped out for Gabriel Martinelli less than ten minutes into the second half.

For Havertz in particular, this is a bitter pill to swallow. His 2025/26 campaign has already been heavily plagued by stop-start physical setbacks, including a serious knee injury back in August that sidelined him for a staggering 32 games.

Naturally, the immediate concern shifted to how long the attacking duo might be out, especially with a monumental Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid looming on Wednesday, April 29.

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Arteta issued encouraging injury update

Following the match, Arteta issues an update on Havertz, as reported by Fabrizio Romano:

“I don’t know how serious it is but should not be too bad. The action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp”.

Eze himself also eased tensions, telling reporters after the game that his substitution was mostly precautionary and insisting, “Yeah, I’m alright. I’m all good”.

The Gunners successfully ended a poor run of domestic form to get three massive points on the board, and with Bukayo Saka finally back in the squad, the attacking depth is slowly returning.

Now, all eyes turn to the medical room at London Colney. If Arteta can somehow patch up Havertz and Eze in time for the trip to Madrid, this nail-biting weekend might just end up being a minor speed bump on the road to a historic season.

Both Havertz and Eze are crucial for Mikel Arteta’s team and offer them versatility as well as depth in the attacking positions.

With Manchester City breathing down their neck, Arteta needs all his players fit to win the Premier League title.

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Chelsea are looking for a new manager after sacking Liam Rosenior following his poor performances.

Rosenior became the second Chelsea boss relieved of his duties this season after Enzo Maresca departed the club earlier this year.

The Blues are now on the lookout for a new manager and several names are being linked with the job, with one of them being former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian manager left the Premier League giants after disagreements with the club’s board over their transfer policy but he could now be in contention to take charge of the club again.

Chelsea are seriously contemplating a spectacular move to re-sign their former boss Conte, according to Calciomercato.

Chelsea target former manager Antonio Conte

Following the brutal dismissal of Rosenior, who oversaw the absolute worst domestic slump the club has experienced in 114 years, the Blues ownership are exploring the surprising idea of bringing the fiery Italian back to London at the end of the season.

If you look at the absolute mess Chelsea currently find themselves in, pivoting back to a familiar face actually makes a lot of sense.

The boardroom reportedly views Conte’s relentless drive and intense winning instinct as the perfect, immediate antidote to rebuild their deeply fractured, underperforming squad.

Fans certainly haven’t forgotten his first highly successful stint in West London; he famously stormed to the Premier League title in the 2016-17 season before lifting the FA Cup in the 2017-18 campaign.

Right now, Chelsea desperately need a proven winner with an iron fist to whip the dressing room into shape, and there are very few managers on the planet who fit that exact description better.

However, pulling off this massive reunion won’t be a walk in the park. First of all, Conte is currently contracted to Napoli until the summer of 2027.

While he brilliantly led them to the Scudetto in his first season in charge, his second campaign has been a bit bumpier, fueling whispers that he might be eyeing an exit.

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Blues may face competition from the Italy national team

But Chelsea aren’t the only ones aggressively knocking on his door. The Italian national team is heavily pursuing him for their vacant head coach role.

After Gennaro Gattuso recently resigned in the wake of Italy shockingly failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, Conte has emerged as a massive frontrunner to step in and save his country’s sporting project.

Bringing Conte back would require a monumental shift in strategy from the BlueCo ownership.

The Italian is notorious for demanding strict control and has historically refused to work under rigid corporate structures where he has little say on behind-the-scenes matters.

If Chelsea truly want him to transform them back into legitimate Premier League contenders, they will have to swallow their pride and give him the keys to the house.

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Manchester United’s summer rebuild has been handed a massive, unexpected boost.

The Red Devils are looking to strengthen their attack, their midfield as well as their defense in the summer transfer window.

Having saved their season following the exit of Ruben Amorim, Champions League qualification for the Red Devils is now a certainty.

Now the focus will shift towards signing new players in the summer and balancing their squad.

Man United target is available for transfer

According to Calciomercato, AC Milan are open to letting their 26-year-old Portuguese superstar, Rafael Leao, leave the San Siro this summer.

The Portuguese winger is on the radar of Man United for some time and now they have been given a major boost to sign the Serie A star.

Leao has scored ten goals in all competitions for AC Milan this season, along with three assists.

For an INEOS-backed boardroom desperate to inject world-class, elite talent into the Old Trafford forward line, this is exactly the kind of market opportunity they have been waiting for.

Leao has been an absolute sensation in Italy, but the changing landscape at Milan means the winger is no longer considered completely untouchable.

The Rossoneri are reportedly ready to sanction a sale for a highly reasonable fee in the region of €60 million (£51.9m).

Given that Leao previously had a staggering €175 million release clause embedded in his contract, this heavily reduced asking price represents an absolute bargain in today’s inflated market.

His departure would allow Milan to confidently work within their financial guidelines and strengthen their squad elsewhere.

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Red Devils are ready to strengthen their squad

For Man United, his dynamic versatility to seamlessly play across the entire front line makes him an incredibly attractive major asset for the 2026/27 campaign.

However, United won’t have a completely free run at the Portuguese maestro. Barcelona are also intensely monitoring the situation, setting the stage for a massive summer tug-of-war.

Interestingly, United hold a massive, secret trump card in this specific battle: Marcus Rashford.

With Rashford currently on loan at the Catalan club, Barcelona’s ability to fund a move for Leao heavily depends on whether they decide to trigger the buy option to keep the Englishman permanently.

If Barca invest their limited funds into keeping Rashford, it essentially clears the runway for Man United to confidently swoop in and secure Leao for themselves.

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Bernardo Silva is set to receive a number of offers as he moves closer to exit from Manchester City, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.

After nearly a decade at the Etihad Stadium, the Portuguese playmaker is preparing to move on, bringing an extraordinary chapter in his career to a close.

Man City have confirmed that Silva will leave at the end of the season, marking the end of a nine-year spell that helped define the club’s most successful era.

During his time in Manchester, Silva collected an impressive list of honors, including six Premier League titles and the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy.

Manager Pep Guardiola has openly spoken about the emotional weight of Silva’s exit, describing it as losing a part of himself, a clear indication of just how important the midfielder has been to the team’s identity.

Juventus lead the race but plenty of suitors remain

With Silva set to become available, interest from across Europe has intensified. Juventus appear to be one of the most serious contenders at this stage, with reports suggesting the Italian giants have already been in regular contact with his agent, Jorge Mendes.

The Turin club are believed to have proposed a three-year contract worth around €7 million net per season, with bonuses potentially pushing the figure closer to €8-9 million annually.

Juventus view Silva not just as a marquee signing but as a central piece in their tactical structure under Luciano Spalletti.

His ability to operate in multiple midfield and attacking roles makes him a perfect fit for a system that values technical precision and intelligent movement.

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Demand is high for the experienced Man City star

However, Juventus are far from the only club interested. Barcelona have long admired Silva, and the idea of playing in La Liga has reportedly appealed to the midfielder in the past.

Financial challenges, however, continue to complicate Barcelona’s pursuit.

Another emotional possibility is a return to Benfica, the club where Silva began his professional journey. Such a move would carry strong sentimental value, though financial considerations could make it difficult to match offers from Europe’s top leagues.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain remain quietly attentive to the situation. The French champions have not made a decisive move yet, as their transfer strategy currently focuses on strengthening other areas of the squad.

Beyond Europe, Al Hilal have emerged as a financially powerful option, willing to offer wages above standard European levels.

Despite that, Silva is widely believed to prefer continuing his career at the highest competitive level in Europe rather than making an early move outside the continent.

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Jadon Sancho’s time in the Premier League could be coming to an end in the summer.

As the 26-year-old winger prepares to become a free agent, the rumour mill is already working overtime.

According to Sky Germany, Sancho has clearly communicated his willingness to pack his bags and return to his ultimate safe haven: Borussia Dortmund.

With his current loan spell at Aston Villa set to conclude simultaneously with his Old Trafford contract, he has been completely free to negotiate with foreign clubs since January 1.

Jadon Sancho to move back to Dortmund?

Now, a massive third stint in the famous Black and Yellow jersey is starting to look like a very concrete reality.

Sancho’s return to English football simply hasn’t gone according to the script.

After joining the Red Devils for a massive £73 million fee back in 2021, he struggled to consistently replicate the elite, world-class form that originally made him a superstar in Germany.

This season hasn’t exactly been a redemptive fairy tale either. Shipped out on loan to Aston Villa for the 2025/26 campaign, the 26-year-old has managed a disappointing return of just one goal and three assists across 33 appearances in all competitions.

Because of those underwhelming numbers, there is practically zero expectation of him extending his stay at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, the Man United boardroom is absolutely desperate to finally wipe his reported £300,000-a-week wages off their financial books.

The club has decided they won’t even trigger his one-year contract extension option just to try and desperately squeeze a transfer fee out of his departure.

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Signal Iduna Park is the only place Sancho has truly consistently thrived, and he reportedly holds a strong preference for Dortmund despite receiving a multitude of offers from other clubs around the globe.

To prove just how eager he is to make this happen, he is even prepared to take a significant salary cut to push the move over the line.

The ball is currently sitting firmly in Dortmund’s court. While current head coach Niko Kovac has already given the massive green light to reintegrate the winger into his squad, the final call comes down to the boardroom executives.

Sporting director Ole Book and managing director Lars Ricken are currently heavily weighing the pros and cons of bringing him back for a third spell.

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Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has reportedly held talks with Manchester City over becoming the successor of manager Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard is being linked with an exit from Man City in the summer and a number of managers are now being linked with the job at the Etihad Stadium.

While the legendary Catalan still has a year left on his current contract, there is a rapidly growing expectation that he will finally call time on his glittering ten-year reign in Manchester this summer.

Naturally, the City hierarchy isn’t waiting around to be caught off guard.

Man City involved in talks with Enzo Maresca

According to talkSPORT, the Premier League giants have already initiated high-level talks with their preferred successor, former Chelsea boss Maresca.

To understand why Maresca is sitting firmly at the top of City’s wishlist, you have to look at his deep roots at the club.

The Italian tactician is incredibly well-regarded by the City boardroom. He originally worked as the under-23s coach before being promoted to work directly under Guardiola.

During City’s historic, treble-winning 2022/23 season, Maresca served as Pep’s trusted assistant, helping to mastermind their triumphant Champions League campaign.

Because he is a strict disciple of Guardiola’s possession-heavy style of play, the club’s director of football, Hugo Viana, views him as the ultimate, natural continuation of the current sporting project.

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Maresca has impressed in his short managerial career

Maresca’s managerial stock has skyrocketed. He brilliantly led Leicester City to the Championship title in 2024 before taking over the chaotic reins at Chelsea.

His first season at Stamford Bridge was wildly successful, culminating in UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs.

With Maresca now a free agent, talkSPORT reports that he is completely clear to sign for any club this summer.

Replacing an era-defining genius like Guardiola is an almost impossible task, just look at the struggles Manchester United faced after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

But by aggressively targeting a man who already knows the Etihad inside and out, Man City are desperately trying to ensure a smooth transition.

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Manchester United are gearing up for a massive summer rebuild, and it looks like their midfield is getting the most attention.

With veteran Casemiro ready to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, the Red Devils are actively hunting for a long-term replacement.

Although other positions in the squad also need attention, it is the midfield that will be the biggest focus of the club in the summer transfer window.

Man United target move for Atalanta midfielder

According to talkSPORT, Man United have added Atalanta’s dynamic Brazilian midfielder, Éderson, to their summer wishlist.

Éderson has been an absolute standout for Atalanta since joining them back in January 2022. He’s a relentless, box-to-box presence who excels at breaking up play and driving the ball forward.

United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, is reportedly a massive admirer of the Brazil international and is closely monitoring his situation.

The financial timing makes a lot of sense, too. Éderson is rapidly approaching the final 12 months of his current contract, which is set to expire in June 2027.

Because of this, Atalanta are naturally looking to cash in, slapping a valuation of around €40m to €50m (£35m-£45m) on their star man.

Interestingly, Atlético Madrid previously agreed on personal terms with the player, but the Spanish giants simply refused to meet Atalanta’s hefty €45m asking price.

There have even been wild whispers floating around about a potential summer swap deal that could see Joshua Zirkzee head to Italy in exchange for Éderson.

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Brazilian midfielder would be ideal Casemiro replacement

Bringing in Éderson might just be the tip of the iceberg for United, as the club genuinely intends to sign two new central midfielders this summer.

With Manuel Ugarte struggling for minutes and potentially facing the exit door via a sale or loan, the Old Trafford hierarchy is casting a wide net.

Other prominent names heavily featured on their radar include Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

For a heavily scrutinised Man United squad desperate to inject some much-needed energy and grit into the center of the park, Éderson looks like a brilliant, tailor-made fit.

If they can successfully outmaneuver their European rivals and negotiate a fair fee with Atalanta, the Brazilian enforcer could be the exact profile they need to finally anchor their midfield in the post-Casemiro era.

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After suffering a devastating playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Azzurri will officially miss out on the 2026 World Cup, marking their third consecutive absence from football’s biggest stage.

That unthinkable failure prompted the immediate departure of manager Gennaro Gattuso.

Now, as the Italian Federation desperately looks to pick up the shattered pieces, an absolute bombshell name has emerged.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester City’s mastermind, Pep Guardiola, is genuinely open to taking on the monumental task of rebuilding the Italian national team.

The Spanish tactician actually has some incredibly deep ties to the country.

Pep Guardiola to become the new Italy boss?

During his playing days, Guardiola had stints with Serie A sides Brescia and Roma.

He already speaks the language fluently and has never shied away from his long-term ambition to eventually manage a national team at a major tournament like the World Cup or European Championship.

Pep is currently tied down to a lucrative Man City contract that runs until June 2027.

There is also a massive, elephant-sized financial hurdle. Guardiola earns around €24.8 million gross at City, a figure that wildly exceeds Italy’s traditional wage structure.

The reports of Guardiola leaving Man City have resurfaced once again in the media, suggesting that his time at the Etihad Stadium could be over soon.

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Man City boss is highly respected in Italy

Within the Italian camp, the excitement is already bubbling. Historic defensive legend Leonardo Bonucci recently went on record at the Laureus Awards, stating that if Italy truly wants a “radical change,” Guardiola is the absolute perfect man for the job.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is scheduled to hold massive presidential elections on June 22.

Interestingly, current executives reportedly want to make contact before that date in order to present Guardiola as the definitive leader of their new sporting project.

While the finances and timing make it a massively complicated deal to pull off, the sheer prospect of “Operation Guardiola” is finally giving brokenhearted Italian fans a glimmer of hope.

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