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Talks ongoing: Chelsea still have a chance to land world class manager but he needs convincing

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly still continuing in talks over hiring Xabi Alonso, who may still need some convincing to take the job.

The Spanish tactician is out of work after leaving Real Madrid earlier this season, and it seems he’s one of Chelsea’s top targets.

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According to Simon Phillips, the Blues are continuing in their efforts to persuade Alonso to join, but their manager search has supposedly proven tricky so far.

In general, it seems a lot of the candidates Chelsea have been approaching are unsure about the job, and some have already outright rejected the west London giants’ advances.

Latest on Chelsea’s pursuit of Xabi Alonso

Discussing the latest on the Alonso to Chelsea situation, Phillips wrote in his Substack: “Chelsea have continued talks with their top managerial target Xabi Alonso this week, and the fact that these talks are continuing, means there is still a chance.

“Overall, as reported yesterday, Chelsea have been finding it very hard to convince manager targets to come. And we’ve heard that some managers have already rejected their approaches.

“However, Alonso has not walked away from talks yet, but does need a lot of convincing and promises in order to take the role. Chelsea are offering Alonso more control, which is what he has asked for. He’s also been asking around recruitment, especially centre backs, and who they will be looking to bring in.

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“There is a lot of planning and Alonso is insisting that if he is to take the role, then he needs much more of a say than previous managers have had, and more assurances overall around the project and the flexibility on it all. At the moment, Chelsea are working to give those assurances to Alonso, and see him as the main target they want in.”

Is Xabi Alonso the right fit for Chelsea?

The Chelsea job looks like a particularly challenging one at the moment, and it’s unclear if even a talented coach like Alonso could be up to the task.

Xabi Alonso Wins Draws Losses Win %
Bayer Leverkusen 88 33 19 62.86
Real Madrid 24 4 6 70.59

The 44-year-old seems keen to have a lot of control, but that’s surely unlikely to happen under this ownership and board structure.

Alonso also has the habit of using three at the back and wing-backs, which is not a system that has always had a lot of success in English football.

It might be that Chelsea could make it work, as they did in the 2016/17 season under Antonio Conte, while Alonso might also be flexible and able to adjust his methods.

Overall, however, Alonso looks a risky candidate in some ways, while he also needs to pick his next club carefully after the difficulties he encountered at Real Madrid.

The post Talks ongoing: Chelsea still have a chance to land world class manager but he needs convincing appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Luis Enrique aims subtle dig at Mikel Arteta as PSG book CL final place vs Arsenal

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By:Mark Brus

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique may have unintentionally aimed a bit of a dig at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as they prepare to meet in the Champions League final.

PSG triumphed 6-5 on aggregate against Bayern Munich in their semi-final yesterday, while Arsenal ended a 20-year wait to reach the final again after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate.

The Gunners will now surely be the underdogs against holders PSG in the final later this month, with Enrique’s side also coming out on top when these two teams met in the semi-finals last season.

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Luis Enrique’s slightly patronising Mikel Arteta comment

Interestingly, as Enrique and Arteta prepare to renew their rivalry, the PSG manager referred to his opponent as “Mikelito” after last night’s game.

See below for the quote, via Fabrizio Romano on X, while the Telegraph’s Sam Dean suggested it might not go down well…

? Luis Enrique: “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta! We used to be teammates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal”.

“It will be difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style”. pic.twitter.com/8JlK6uVlD5

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 6, 2026

“I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!” Enrique said. “We used to be teammates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style.”

Despite the praise for Arteta, “Mikelito” could be seen as a slightly demeaning comment, as it means little Mikel.

Wonder how Mikel Arteta will feel about Luis Enrique calling him "Mikelito" in a post-match interview last night.

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) May 7, 2026

Enrique probably didn’t mean to sound insulting to Arteta, but it’s very possible that the Arsenal manager will take it that way and look to get one over his older ex-teammate.

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Arsenal chasing Premier League and Champions League double

Arsenal are getting closer and closer to a truly great season in their history as they’re now top of the Premier League and 90 minutes away from winning the Champions League for the first time.

Of course, it’s so delicately poised that this campaign could still end trophyless for the Gunners, so it’s going to be a big test of Arteta and his players in the next few weeks.

Arsenal have an easier run-in than Manchester City on paper, but this season has been full of twists and turns as both sides have missed opportunities to run away with the title.

PSG have the advantage of being able to focus mainly on the Champions League as Ligue 1 is not as competitive as the English top flight, so that could give them a big advantage when they meet Arsenal in Budapest at the end of this month.

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Bid prepared: Barcelona to offer €30m to sign Tottenham star ahead of Real Madrid

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By:Mark Brus

Barcelona are reportedly preparing to make a bid for the transfer of Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro in order to beat Real Madrid to his signature.

The Spain international has impressed during his time at Spurs, but could be a likely candidate for the exit door this summer after a hugely challenging season.

Tottenham still look in danger of relegation, and even if they just about survive the drop, someone like Porro would surely be looking to move on.

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According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the 26-year-old has interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid as he could return to La Liga.

Porro has previously had spells with Girona and Valladolid, and Fichajes now report that Barca look prepared to bid €30m for him in order to get ahead of their rivals.

Pedro Porro could leave Tottenham in summer shake-up

Even if THFC would probably ideally like to keep Porro around, it might not be the worst idea for the club to undergo a major squad overhaul after such a poor campaign.

The likes of Porro, Micky van de Ven, and Xavi Simons are all big names with plenty of potential, but for one reason or another it just hasn’t happened for them at Spurs.

This could be a chance for the north Londoners to raise some money from sales and use that to make some better recruitment decisions moving forward.

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Barca or Real for Pedro Porro?

Porro is a fine player on his day, but it’s perhaps hard to make sense of his possible move to Real Madrid, who signed Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer.

The former Sporting Lisbon man would probably be more likely to play regularly at Barcelona, where he’d arguably be an upgrade on Jules Kounde.

Kounde’s Barcelona future is in doubt, so that could mean Porro can come in and play a key role at the Nou Camp straight away.

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Arsenal showing great interest in Liverpool transfer target after breakthrough season

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly among the clubs showing a great interest in the potential transfer of Porto midfielder Victor Froholdt.

The talented 20-year-old has enjoyed something of a breakthrough season this term, contributing eight goals and seven assists.

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Froholdt was previously on the books at Copenhagen, but he’s stepped up well since moving to a bigger club in a more competitive league.

According to Bold.dk, Arsenal are now up against the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United for his signature this summer.

This follows our exclusive information earlier this season on Arsenal and Tottenham eyeing Froholdt, who looks like he’ll be a tricky player for Porto to hold onto for much longer.

Victor Froholdt set for Arsenal transfer?

It remains to be seen if Arsenal are making serious progress on this potential transfer, or if it’s still something at a relatively early stage.

Still, the Gunners will likely be looking for a player of this profile this summer – a young midfielder who can give Mikel Arteta more depth behind Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

Christian Norgaard has struggled to impress since moving to the Emirates Stadium, so there’s surely room for someone like Froholdt to come in and initially be a squad player, but perhaps then later grow into a starter once he has more experience under his belt.

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Liverpool might also be able to lure Froholdt as they are another club who could do well to make some changes in the middle of the park.

Still, it’s been a pretty dire season for the Reds, so it might be that the Gunners’ project looks more tempting at the moment.

Arsenal are top of the Premier League table and in the final of the Champions League, while Liverpool have dropped to fourth in the table and are set to finish trophyless.

The post Arsenal showing great interest in Liverpool transfer target after breakthrough season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Man Utd eyeing 3 options to strengthen problem position, including Chelsea transfer target

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly looking at Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo as one of three main targets in defence for this summer.

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The Red Devils are looking to strengthen what they view as something of a problem position in their squad after a poor recent injury record for the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.

Meanwhile, Leny Yoro hasn’t been entirely convincing since joining Man Utd, and the ageing Harry Maguire is probably not likely to continue as a regular starter despite recently signing a new contract.

According to Fichajes, this could lead United to moving for Murillo, while other big names such as Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba are also on their list.

Murillo transfer eyed by Manchester United and Chelsea

Murillo has shone during his time at Nottingham Forest and it makes sense that a big move could soon be in store for the Brazilian.

It’s not been the easiest season for Forest, though they now look to be closing in on safety from relegation, while they also have one foot in the Europa League final.

Murillo, though, seems like someone in this squad who’ll fancy playing at a higher level, and United could be an exciting opportunity for him to do that.

Still, Chelsea have also been linked with the 23-year-old by Simon Phillips in recent times, and there could well be others who take a look at him.

Murillo needs to play regularly wherever he goes next, and both United and Chelsea should be able to guarantee that to him.

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However, the Blues look a generally riskier option right now after a difficult season that looks set to see them drop out of the Champions League.

MUFC have had a difficult few years but perhaps look like they’ve finally found some stability, so they’ll surely be the favourites over CFC as things stand.

The post Man Utd eyeing 3 options to strengthen problem position, including Chelsea transfer target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: Chelsea under pressure to sell star, Real Madrid discussing potential £100m+ transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are under pressure to sell players this summer, with Enzo Fernandez emerging as the leading candidate amid interest from Real Madrid.

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, there is growing interest from Real Madrid and an overwhelming feeling from both sides that it would be best for the Argentine to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Fernandez’s future has been in doubt for some time, with the player himself notably flirting with a move to Madrid by discussing how much he’d love to live in the Spanish capital.

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As reported last month, Real have discussed Fernandez internally, with an approach expected soon. The latest I’m hearing is that a move to the Bernabeu is “the strongest scenario” at the moment, despite Manchester City and PSG also looking at the former Benfica man’s situation.

Enzo Fernandez set for Chelsea exit

I cannot yet confirm if direct talks have taken place between Fernandez and any other clubs, but the interest is there and Real Madrid are understood to be making preparations for a major summer in the transfer market.

Sources in the agents industry are all saying that Los Blancos want to set aside funds for a significant midfield signing, with Fernandez ticking all their boxes.

At Chelsea’s end, there is the growing sense that this sale is necessary, though of course multiple sources are also keen to make it clear that the Blues will demand big money.

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“Chelsea must sanction a major sale this summer and Enzo Fernandez is the obvious candidate – he’s keen to explore his options, and he’s aware of Real Madrid’s interest,” one source explained.

“Fernandez fits the bill for Real, who want an elite ‘regista’ in midfield. The asking price could be an issue, though, as Chelsea will look to start the negotiations at £100-110m.”

Why Enzo Fernandez to Man City is unlikely

Despite City’s interest, I’m told that a move is not currently considered likely. The appreciation for Fernandez is genuine, but Elliot Anderson remains their top target.

It’s also unlikely that CFC would look favourably on selling such a key player to a major rival, and City are likely aware of that.

I’m also told that although Fernandez has not ruled out the option of staying in England, his preference remains for that move to Madrid, as he himself hinted so strongly with those recent public comments.

The post Sources: Chelsea under pressure to sell star, Real Madrid discussing potential £100m+ transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Arsenal ready to pounce for attacker transfer as €75m price tag could drop

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a potential transfer opportunity as Ajax winger Mika Godts could end up moving for below his current €75m asking price.

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The exciting young Belgian has really caught the eye in the Eredivisie in recent times, establishing himself as one of the biggest talents outside Europe’s big five leagues.

A recent report from TEAMtalk claimed that both Arsenal and Chelsea had scouted Godts in a game in which he scored a goal of the season contender with a stunning solo run.

Manchester United and Newcastle have also been linked with Godts by Football Insider, but now Arsenal are the main name being mentioned in a fresh report from Fichajes.

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Arsenal sense Mika Godts transfer opportunity

Arsenal are said to be big fans of Godts, and they’re keeping a close eye on what happens with Ajax this season as they could miss out on European football.

According to the Fichajes report, that could likely mean the Amsterdam outfit’s negotiating position for a talent like Godts is significantly weakened.

For now, the 20-year-old is expected to cost around €75m, according to the report, but finishing outside the European places would probably bring that price tag down.

Mika Godts Games Goals Assists
Ajax 2025/26 38 17 13

Arsenal need more inspiration in attack

Arsenal may be in the Champions League final and top of the Premier League table, but there are undoubtedly some weaknesses in Mikel Arteta’s side’s attack.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been hugely inconsistent this season, while even Bukayo Saka has struggled to hit his usual heights, largely due to being in and out of the team with injury.

There’s surely room for someone to come in and provide a new element of spark and unpredictability, with Godts looking like a talent well worth investing in.

It would be a big step up from Ajax to Arsenal, but Godts surely has it in him to become a genuinely top player if he continues to develop and benefits from the guidance of an elite coach like Arteta.

The post Arsenal ready to pounce for attacker transfer as €75m price tag could drop appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Might just help Arsenal…” – Steven Gerrard makes interesting CL final prediction

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By:Mark Brus

Steven Gerrard has spoken about Arsenal’s chances against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, saying it might suit them to be underdogs.

PSG beat Bayern Munich in their semi-final last night, while Arsenal overcame Atletico Madrid, setting up an intriguing clash in Budapest later this month.

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The Gunners will fancy their chances against PSG, even if the reigning European champions will be slight favourites, but Gerrard feels that could also suit Mikel Arteta and his players.

Watch below as Gerrard, who knows a thing or two about Champions League final upsets, said it can sometimes be beneficial to feel like there’s less pressure on you than your opponent…

“Arsenal are going to have to be perfect on the night!”

Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard on the challenge facing Arsenal against PSG in the Champions League final ?

TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/OdPs8CGo5k

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 6, 2026

“Everyone expects PSG to maybe win it,” the former Liverpool captain told TNT Sports. “If you look at tonight’s performance, you look at them winning it last year, the players they’ve got, you would have to say that the bookies will probably make PSG favourites.

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“Obviously Arsenal have had the easier ride [to the final] if you like, but that’s going to be some final at the end of the month, one for us all to look forward to, two different styles. Both deserve to be there, you have to say that.”

Gerrard added that Arsenal would need a bit of luck against such a good PSG side.

“It’s a possibility [that Arsenal win] but they’re going to have to have a bit of luck,” he added. “They’re going to have to have things go their way on the night because this PSG team, they’re just so good everywhere.”

Can Arsenal beat PSG to win first-ever Champions League?

Arsenal will be desperate to finally get their hands on this trophy, with the north Londoners arguably the biggest club in Europe never to win it.

AFC have only reached the final once before this season, losing 2-1 to Barcelona back in 2006, and this will be another big challenge for them.

PSG have world class players in every position and an elite coach in Luis Enrique, but this surely won’t be a walkover for the French giants like their 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in last year’s final.

Arsenal are well-drilled defensively and remain unbeaten in all their Champions League matches so far this season, while they can also take some heart from the fact that they played well and were pretty unlucky in their semi-final defeat against PSG last season.

The post “Might just help Arsenal…” – Steven Gerrard makes interesting CL final prediction appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Man United transfer stance explained after player’s possible social media hint

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United reportedly still have no plans to reintegrate Marcus Rashford into their first-team squad next season.

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The England international is facing an uncertain summer as he may not end up getting his loan move to Barcelona converted into a permanent deal.

Still, that won’t mean there’s a way back for him at Man Utd, according to the Sun, despite the player posting on X to congratulate the club on their return to the Champions League, which was his first social media post about the Red Devils for almost a year.

While some might have taken that as a hint that Rashford is looking to reconnect with his parent club, it still seems that Old Trafford chiefs would prefer to sell the 28-year-old.

Marcus Rashford transfer options

It has seemed the case for a while now that Barca would not take up the option to keep Rashford, despite the United forward doing a decent job during his spell on loan at the Nou Camp.

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As previously reported, our understanding is that Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan could be keen on Rashford this summer, with the player frustrated about Barcelona’s stance.

One imagines other clubs could also join the running soon, with Rashford looking like a decent option after 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season.

Some United fans might even look at that and question if they should consider bringing Rashford back into the fold, but it’s fair to say it seems that ship has sailed.

Rashford was once a key player for MUFC, but it looks like he’s benefited from the change of scene since joining Barcelona on loan, so moving again seems like the only realistic option to suit all parties.

The post Report: Man United transfer stance explained after player’s possible social media hint appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Crystal Palace move on from Iraola to eye up 38-year-old replacement for Glasner

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By:Mark Brus

Crystal Palace are reportedly now eyeing up an alternative to Andoni Iraola as they look for a replacement for Oliver Glasner this summer.

That man could be Rayo Vallecano’s highly-rated young manager Inigo Perez, who is also being strongly linked with the Villarreal job.

That’s according to a report from Sports Boom, who suggest that Palace are now unlikely to be able to land Iraola, so are looking at someone who’s already drawn comparisons to the Bournemouth boss.

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Perez has done a fine job at Rayo Vallecano and will surely move on to bigger things soon, so it will be interesting to see if Palace have any chance of beating Villarreal to the 38-year-old Spanish tactician.

Crystal Palace preparing for life after Oliver Glasner

This could be a very challenging summer for Palace as they look to move on from Glasner, who announced earlier this season that he would be leaving Selhurst Park at the end of his contract this summer.

The Austrian tactician will surely land himself a big job after his impressive work with Palace, with whom he won the FA Cup final last season and the Community Shield at the start of this campaign.

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Iraola would have been an exciting appointment for the Eagles, but it looks like they’ll have to take a punt on someone like Perez, who has less experience, and who would be new to English football.

Palace could also lose star players

On top of changing managers, Palace will likely also face interest in their star players again this summer.

Adam Wharton is a top talent who will surely have a long list of suitors, while Maxence Lacroix could be another name to watch.

All this change is far from ideal when Palace already had to deal with losing Eberechi Eze last summer and Marc Guehi in January.

The post Crystal Palace move on from Iraola to eye up 38-year-old replacement for Glasner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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From Italy: Aston Villa make important decision on midfielder transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Aston Villa have reportedly decided that they don’t want to keep Douglas Luiz this summer after his disappointing second spell at the club on loan from Juventus.

The Brazilian midfielder was a star performer for Villa during his first spell at the club, before being sold to Juventus, where he then struggled.

This led to Luiz going out on loan, first to Nottingham Forest, and then back to Villa Park, though he’s struggled to make the same kind of impact.

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According to Tuttosport, it now looks like Luiz’s future is in serious doubt as Villa aren’t keen on keeping him unless they can get him for a lot cheaper than the €25m option they initially agreed (fee via Birmingham Mail).

However, Juve can’t afford to give any discounts due to their own financial concerns, according to Tuttosport, so it looks like he’ll be heading back to Turin for now.

What next for Douglas Luiz after Juventus and Aston Villa struggles?

Luiz will surely still be sold by Juventus this summer, but it remains to be seen where he could end up if Villa don’t want to make his move permanent.

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At this point, it might be better for Juve to try reintegrating the 27-year-old into their squad, as his value will only have gone down after failing to impress whilst being put into the proverbial shop window whilst going out on loan.

It’s surprising to see Luiz going downhill like this after he looked like a player with such a big future in that first spell under Unai Emery, and it really looks like it’ll be a challenge for him now to get his career back on track.

The post From Italy: Aston Villa make important decision on midfielder transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Talks held: Chelsea star on offer to Barcelona for bargain transfer fee

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea reportedly look to be open to selling Wesley Fofana this summer as his representatives have offered him to Barcelona.

The French centre-back has struggled to find his best form at Stamford Bridge, despite initially looking like he’d be a fine signing after impressing at former club Leicester City.

Now, however, it could make sense for Chelsea to offload Fofana if there are any takers for him, with the Blues perhaps in need of a few sales this summer when accounting for the financial hit of missing out on Champions League qualification.

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According to Sacha Tavolieri, Fofana is someone who could be available for as little as €30m…

?? Le dossier Wesley Fofana est sur la table du Barça.

?? À voir ce que les Catalans décideront d'en faire…

?? Détails ??

? https://t.co/w50rGF4p7t

?? @SkySportCH #mercato #FCBlive #CFC

— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) May 6, 2026

Posting on X, Tavolieri said: “The Wesley Fofana file is on the table at Barça … To see what the Catalans decide to do with it.”

Barcelona may well be tempted by Fofana even if he hasn’t been at his best for Chelsea, as there’s every chance the 25-year-old could still revive his career in the years to come.

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Wesley Fofana needs to leave Chelsea

It’s fair to say Fofana hasn’t done himself any favours during his CFC spell, but it’s also an environment in which few of their players are thriving.

It could make sense for the former Foxes ace to try a new challenge and perhaps to go abroad where he’d be playing in a slightly less physically competitive, demanding, and fast-paced league.

Barca fans might also feel their club could do better, though, so it will be interesting to see if this develops, with the Catalan giants not yet looking like they’ll necessarily take this opportunity that’s being offered to them.

The post Talks held: Chelsea star on offer to Barcelona for bargain transfer fee appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Chelsea held transfer talks with Premier League star’s reps over the weekend

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea reportedly held talks with the representatives of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon on Saturday, according to Simon Phillips.

The Blues are one of the clubs pursuing Gordon at the moment, with the report also mentioning serious interest from Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano recently posted on his YouTube channel about the England international having serious chances of leaving St James’ Park this summer.

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Phillips now claims that Chelsea had a meeting with Gordon‘s reps just a few days ago, though it seems the current indication is that he’s rejecting advances from Stamford Bridge.

Should Anthony Gordon risk transfer to unstable Chelsea?

Gordon will surely not be the only player at the moment looking at Chelsea’s project and having serious doubts.

Indeed, many of their own squad at the moment will likely be considering their futures, with CFC slipping out of the running for Champions League qualification after a dire run of six Premier League defeats in a row, and just one win from their last ten.

Gordon will know he has other options on the table this summer, so it makes sense for him to rule out Chelsea for the moment as he could just become the latest player to go there and struggle in such an unstable environment.

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Can this Chelsea project succeed?

Chelsea just haven’t been the same since the change in ownership from Roman Abramovich to Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

The west London giants used to sign a lot of the best players in the world and hire proven managers who could deliver success straight away.

Now, however, there’s been a lot of chopping and changing in personnel, with the club seemingly more focused on recruiting top young players who they can later sell on for profit.

For a proven name like Gordon, there really seems little reason to go there now if you have serious ambitions of advancing your career.

The post Report: Chelsea held transfer talks with Premier League star’s reps over the weekend appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Nine targets named as Manchester United ready to invest £150m on midfielder transfers

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United reportedly have as many as nine midfielders on their list of transfer targets for this summer, including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba.

We’ve seen those names linked with the Red Devils a few times, and it seems we can also add a few more big names.

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According to Fichajes, the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Alex Scott, James Garner, and Shea Charles are also under consideration at Old Trafford.

United fans will no doubt have a few favourites in mind for the role, but it could be that the club will bring in more than one new addition as they look to invest as much as £150m on that part of their squad, according to Fichajes.

Manchester United’s midfield transfer targets analysed

From that list, it would surely make sense to make Anderson and Wharton the two top targets, with the talented young England duo looking like the dream options, if a bit less realistic due to the amount they’d cost, and the long list of other top clubs also surely chasing them.

Outside of those two, there’s also a lot to be said for investing in prospects like Fernandes and Baleba, who have shown a lot of potential in the Premier League, even if they’re not quite at the level of Anderson or Wharton just yet.

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If those names don’t work out for whatever reason, MUFC could certainly still do well to bring in someone like Tonali or Garner, while Scott has also shown a lot of promise at Bournemouth.

Charles is a surprise name, though, due to his relative inexperience, but could end up being a smart investment for the future.

The 22-year-old was on the books at Manchester City as a youngster, and he’s impressed for Southampton, albeit at Championship level.

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Pundits and ex-Arsenal player joke about wanting to “punch Arteta in the face” in bizarre rant

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By:Mark Brus

ESPN’s pundits, including former Arsenal player Stewart Robson, spent a surprising amount of time complaining about Mikel Arteta after last night’s Champions League semi-final.

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The Gunners boss had just celebrated guiding the club to only their second ever appearance in the Champions League final after beating Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, and yet it seems much of the focus was on personal digs at his antics.

Watch below for a bizarre exchange between the ESPN host and ex-Gunner Robson as they discuss wanting to “punch Arteta in the face” whilst questioning if he’s actually doing any real coaching or just acting up for the cameras…

Meanwhile, this is what the folks at ESPN are talking about. These men are so weird. pic.twitter.com/K8O3XsYBXt

— Uzumaki Tony (@thearsfamily97) May 6, 2026

Pictures from ESPN

“He’s meant to coach the game, he’s meant to give instructions,” Robson said.

“All Arteta does, I think he’s doing it for himself, is ‘look at me I’m great, I run this club, I do this, I do that’.

“It’s just absolutely pathetic.”

Robson added that in last night’s game he could hardly watch Arteta and said he had to turn away when his face appeared or he would have had to throw something at his TV.

Why does Mikel Arteta rub people up the wrong way?

Arteta is clearly not everyone’s cup of tea, and yet it’s a bit strange that he seems to get so much more criticism than a lot of managers who do similar things.

Last night’s opponent, Diego Simeone, is one example of someone else who doesn’t always cover himself in glory, while even greats like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp often get quite animated.

And don’t get us started on Jose Mourinho.

Perhaps the issue with Arteta is that he’s yet to win one of the major trophies, though the Spanish tactician may now be in with a serious chance of lifting both the Premier League and Champions League titles this season.

Is it time to show him a bit more respect, or does he need to calm down with his behaviour on the touchline? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

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Video: Arsenal star appears to strike Atletico Madrid player in the face in post-match brawl

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus appeared to hit or slap Atletico Madrid player Marc Pubill in the face after last night’s Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

The Brazil international clearly reacted badly when Pubill approached him and his teammates in their post-match celebrations, and it’s not quite clear if something was said that provoked his reaction.

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Take a look at the video clip below and decide for yourselves, but there seems to quite clearly be contact between Jesus’ hand and his opponent’s face…

Gabriel Jesus has a short fuse. Marc Pubill deserved that slap. pic.twitter.com/cz3WOKQXaY

— AFC Xtra (@AFC__Xtra) May 6, 2026

This is certainly not the kind of thing anyone wants to see after what was otherwise an intriguing game between two top teams.

Arsenal players were surely perfectly entitled to celebrate reaching a first Champions League final in 20 years, so it seems strange that Pubill felt he had to get involved, even if there can be no justification for Jesus reacting so aggressively.

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Arsenal to face Bayern or PSG in Champions League final

Arsenal’s win last night means they’re now preparing to travel to Budapest on 30th of May to take on the winner of tonight’s other semi-final.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in a thrilling first leg encounter last week, and it seems tough to predict who will come out on top this evening.

Arsenal have already beaten Bayern this season as they ran out 3-1 winners in a league phase game at the Emirates, while they lost to PSG in last season’s semi-finals.

Whoever they face, Mikel Arteta’s side will arguably not be the favourites, but they remain unbeaten in the Champions League this season and have no reason to doubt themselves as they look to win this trophy for the first time in their history.

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Video: Diego Simeone walks on the Arsenal badge despite complaining when Ben White did the same

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By:Mark Brus

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been filmed walking on the Arsenal badge as he made his way off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium last night.

While this strange new obsession with supposedly showing ‘respect’ by not walking on a certain area of flooring is a bit bizarre, it seems worth pointing out that Simeone did this less than a week after he complained about Ben White doing the same with the Atletico Madrid badge in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final.

See below for a video clip of Simeone doing nothing to avoid the Arsenal badge after his side’s 1-0 defeat at the Emirates, without anyone making the kind of fuss he did about White’s similar action last week…

Diego Simeone was spotted walking on the Arsenal badge at full-time, while his players avoided it ?

The Atletico Madrid manager confronted Ben White for doing the same thing in the first leg.

(via @arsenaltunnelcam/tt) pic.twitter.com/hZV0Mqr3vf

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 6, 2026

Perhaps the reality here is that Simeone didn’t give it too much thought, because in all honesty, why would you?

As far as we can remember, this slightly manufactured controversy just wasn’t a thing until the last two or three years, but correct us in the comments if we’re wrong!

Arsenal reach Champions League final but more heartache for Atletico Madrid

Arsenal fans will be delighted to have made it to the Champions League final after a 20-year wait, and they’ll hope they can finally see their club win this competition for the first time.

Atletico, meanwhile, are facing more heartache after coming close on a few occasions and also still never managing to lift this famous old trophy.

Simeone guided the Spanish giants to two finals just over a decade ago, but lost to bitter rivals Real Madrid on both occasions, so this was a big chance for them to get there again without having to face a side who have such a psychological edge over them.

It could be a major rebuilding job for them this summer, however, with Antoine Griezmann set to leave and doubts over Julian Alvarez’s future.

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Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid crisis sees Liverpool express interest in shock transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool have reportedly expressed an interest in an ambitious potential transfer swoop for Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.

The France international is currently going through a difficult period at the Bernabeu, despite his impressive individual statistics so far this season.

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Mbappe has 85 goals in 100 games for Real Madrid since joining last season, though he’s yet to win a major trophy with Los Blancos, and this season is also set to finish without silverware.

According to Fichajes, this has seen Liverpool register an interest in Mbappe in an ambitious potential move.

This comes as Marca and other Spanish football news outlets have reported on the former Paris Saint-Germain man’s attitude seeming to rub his teammates up the wrong way.

Could Liverpool really sign Kylian Mbappe?

But before everyone gets too excited about this story, it seems worth emphasising how it seems a tad premature to be seriously thinking about Mbappe moving to Anfield.

Liverpool, let’s not forget, spent huge money last summer on big names like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, so that could limit what they’re able to do this year without some serious sales to help balance the books and stay in line with Financial Fair Play rules.

Even then, not only would Mbappe cost a huge transfer fee, but he’d surely immediately become the club’s highest earner by some distance, which seems far from ideal, even if he is one of the best players in the world.

But before we even get into that, it’s not even clear if the 27-year-old will definitely be leaving Madrid.

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There may be some issues going on behind the scenes, but this sort of thing happens at every football club and the most likely thing is that all parties will work to resolve it.

Mbappe’s performances on the pitch mean it’s surely worth trying to keep him happy, and unless things really spiral from here, it doesn’t currently seem like we’re close to the stage where the club would look to get rid.

It would be hugely exciting to see Mbappe at Liverpool or another Premier League club, and while there’s perhaps always going to be some interest in his situation, we can’t see that leading to any concrete bids or negotiations just yet.

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Joao Pedro has spoken to Barcelona player about transfer as Chelsea stance explained

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has reportedly spoken with Barcelona winger Raphinha about life at the Nou Camp amid doubts over his future.

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Still, it seems the Blues do not intend to sell Pedro this summer and the Brazil international has also not explicitly told them he wants to leave, according to Simon Phillips.

The report adds that Chelsea could make some sales this summer, but it seems that Pedro is not likely to be one of those, even if he does seem to be putting feelers out over a potential move away.

It would surely make sense for Pedro and other Chelsea players to consider moving on after such a poor season, with the west London giants now looking unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, while they could even miss out on Europe altogether.

Is Joao Pedro looking for a transfer to Barcelona?

Barca seemingly have an interest in Pedro, according to Phillips, but for now it’s all at an early stage and not necessarily likely to happen, even if the player himself has also asked his fellow countryman Raphinha about the club.

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Pedro certainly looks like someone who could flourish at a bigger club like Barcelona, but he’s on a long-term contract at CFC, so it would take a lot to force them into letting him go.

The 24-year-old has 20 goals and six assists in his first season at Chelsea, so they’ll no doubt want to keep him around for a long time.

Still, if he keeps performing like this it’s going to be very hard fighting off interest from Barcelona and other elite clubs if Chelsea are unable to convince players of this calibre that they’re serious contenders for the biggest trophies.

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Sources: Liverpool, Man United, & Aston Villa could have exciting €40m transfer opportunity

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By:Mark Brus

I’ve been speaking with my sources about a Serie A star who could be heading to the Premier League this summer after some impressive form.

A player attracting growing interest is Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu. I’ve reported before on the Frenchman being eyed by Liverpool after his strong performances and positive scouting reports. I’m told that the Reds continue to monitor him closely as one of their top defensive targets, while Manchester United and Aston Villa are also in the mix.

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Juventus, however, are standing firm. Sources close to the Italian giants insist they “do not intend to sell Kalulu” and view him as “central” to their long-term project.

Some sources have also suggested that Juventus are preparing a new contract for Kalulu, running until 2030, which would include a salary increase to around €3.5 million net per season plus bonuses. This move would not only secure the player’s future in Turin but also protect his market value against potential offers from abroad.

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Pierre Kalulu transfer could go through for the right price

I feel I should also share some information, however, from sources who’ve done a lot of work in and around the agents industry, who state that the strong suspicion is that Juve would sell for the right price, perhaps around €40m, especially if the player won’t agree to a new contract.

There is not yet a clear frontrunner out of Liverpool or Man United, but both clubs are making a defensive signing a top priority this summer, so it’s just about determining who looks like the best option and also who’s available. On that latter factor, it’s fair to say the messages are a bit mixed, but my personal feeling is that I suspect there might be an offer that would test Juventus’ resolve, even if they genuinely want to keep him.

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Aston Villa’s pursuit adds another layer to the story. The Midlands club are keen to reinforce their defensive line and see Kalulu as a potential solution. Yet Juventus’ determination to keep him makes negotiations difficult. Only an extraordinary offer could force the Italian side to rethink their position, and Villa’s Financial Fair Play issues certainly make that look unlikely without a big sale. With all the speculation surrounding Morgan Rogers, however, perhaps that’s something that can’t be entirely ruled out.

Kalulu’s fine form for Juventus shows just how big a talent he is, and we’ve seen many times before that in this situation if the Premier League’s top clubs want a player like this, they usually get him. It’s early days on this one, but it definitely has the feel of one of the biggest stories to watch for summer 2026.

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Arsene Wenger highlights decisive factor in Arsenal’s win vs Atletico Madrid

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By:Mark Brus

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained how the Gunners masterminded a Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.

The legendary ex-Gunners boss says he felt that Mikel Arteta’s side’s ability to win their duels and limit Atletico Madrid’s chances ended up being key on the night.

Arsenal won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, and 2-1 on aggregate, booking their place in the Champions League final in Budapest later this month.

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They’ll face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in that game, but for now Wenger feels it’s normal to celebrate even just making it to the final.

Arsene Wenger on Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final success

“I think Arsenal wanted wanted it a bit more than Atleti and they were more decisive in the duels,” Wenger said, as quoted by the Metro.

“We said before the game that to go to the final they needed to be strong defensively and they didn’t concede a goal tonight.

“They played a team who for 45 minutes absolutely needed to score a goal and they didn’t give them a chance.

“I believe it shows how strong Arsenal are defensively and how disciplined they are, as well a bit the limitations of Atletico, who were not good enough in the final third.”

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He added: “In the end it’s a well-deserved win for Arsenal, there’s no doubt they were the better team over the two legs.

“They celebrate well tonight which is normal but you want to focus already on the final and the next games.

“The celebration is deserved and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the next step is to go to the final and win in.”

Arsenal have been superb in the Champions League this season, having gone unbeaten in the competition up to this point.

The north London giants are also sitting top of the Premier League and may now be the favourites to win it after Manchester City slipped up away to Everton in their game on Monday night.

Could Arsenal now go all the way and win a Premier League and Champions League double? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Thierry Henry names Arsenal star who’s proven critics wrong and is now feared by opponents

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has given credit to the improved form of Viktor Gyokeres in recent games after a particularly strong display in last night’s Champions League semi-final.

The Sweden international scored twice in the win over Fulham at the weekend, and though he didn’t find the back of the net against Atletico Madrid, he worked tirelessly all night long and proved a real handful for Diego Simeone’s side.

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Henry admits he’s been critical of Gyokeres at times, but he now feels that the former Sporting Lisbon man is proving him and his other critics wrong by becoming more of a real number 9 that opponents fear.

Watch below for Henry’s analysis…

Thierry Henry gives the Arsenal team their flowers after they make their first #UCL final since he played for the club in 2006 ??? pic.twitter.com/dlZpHPO1tm

— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 5, 2026

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Thierry Henry on Viktor Gyokeres

Discussing Gyokeres, Henry said: “You know, I’m old school, show me what you can do and I’ll say it.

“If you’re not playing well I’ll say you’re not playing well. For a very long time, for example, if I take the example of Gyokeres, the jury was out on him.

“It’s not a bad thing – embrace it, try to prove people wrong. Tonight he did, not only tonight but in the last month.

“I will give him his credit. He’s running, he looks solid, he looks a bit more like a number 9 you can be scared of.”

The Frenchman also praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and the players for seeming to adapt better to Gyokeres by looking for him early and doing more to get the best out of his strengths.

Viktor Gyokeres’ first Arsenal season in numbers

Gyokeres stats Games Goals Assists
Arsenal 2025/26 51 21 3

Gyokeres hasn’t always looked that convincing in a red and white shirt, having been an absolute goal machine at former club Sporting.

Still, the 27-year-old has managed an impressive 21 goals in 51 games in all competitions, which isn’t bad considering it’s his first season with a new club in a new league.

Gyokeres has also managed five goals in the Champions League to help the Gunners reach only their second ever final.

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Report: Liverpool weighing up offer to hijack major Tottenham transfer deal

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool are reportedly weighing up trying to hijack Tottenham’s move to sign Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi.

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The Argentine is set to be out of contract at Bournemouth this summer, and our understanding is that he has been in advanced talks over joining Spurs.

However, nothing has been fully agreed yet due to uncertainty over whether Tottenham can stay in the Premier League, which could lead to other clubs joining the race.

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool could be set to try to get in ahead of their rivals, with there still seemingly being no clarity on Ibrahima Konate staying and signing a new contract at Anfield.

Marcos Senesi transfer looks like a good opportunity for top clubs

Even if Senesi isn’t the biggest name in world football, he’s a quality player with Premier League experience who’s about to be available on a free transfer.

Tottenham could certainly do well to add someone like that to their squad for next season after flirting with relegation this term.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, have also had a disappointing season by their high standards, with Champions League qualification still not entirely guaranteed yet.

It seems clear the Reds would benefit from strengthening at the back after conceding 47 league goals – more than the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace, and 21 more than league leaders Arsenal.

Bournemouth to lose more star players?

Bournemouth saw Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez leave last summer, while Antoine Semenyo then joined Manchester City in January.

The Cherries now look set to lose Senesi for nothing, while there’ll likely be speculation over other star players such as Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott.

Meanwhile, manager Andoni Iraola is also leaving his position as he’ll also be out of contract this summer.

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Premier League Players Looking To Impress At The World Cup

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By:Mark Brus

The World Cup is the biggest stage in football, and a chance for the top players to prove their worth. There will be a whole host of stars from the Premier League heading to North America this summer, looking to do the business, and we’ve picked out some of those who could make the difference for their respective nations.

Elliot Anderson

For the last couple of seasons, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has established himself as one of the top-flight’s leading players in his position. This has allowed the Whitley Bay-born star to secure the role next to Declan Rice in England’s central midfield. The Three Lions start as one of the favourites to win the tournament according to the latest online World Cup betting, and if Anderson can transfer his league form to the competition, they have a great chance of success.

Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes is in the running to be named the Premier League’s player of the season due to his stellar form for Manchester United. The Portuguese number ten continues to excel, regardless of United’s form, and he also plays a key role for his country. The talk is often about Cristiano Ronaldo, but in Fernandes, Portugal have another genuine world-class talent who can make the difference on the pitch by scoring a goal or finding the right pass.

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Antoine Semenyo

Last season, Antoine Semenyo started to show what he’s truly capable of at the top level of the English game, and he continued that form into the current campaign. Even before he joined Manchester City in January, the Ghana star was doing the business with goals and assists. Since arriving in Manchester, he’s taken his game to another level, and the Black Stars will be relying on him to help them compete in and progress out of Group L, a group that also features England.

Igor Thiago

Rewind a season, and people would have scoffed at the mere suggestion that Brentford striker Igor Thiago could be on the plane to represent Brazil at the World Cup this summer. Serious injury halted Thiago’s start to life in the Premier League, but this season he’s delivered an impressive goals return of 21 in 33, and is only second to Erling Haaland in the goalscoring charts. The 24-year-old is brimming with confidence and will be looking to take that into the tournament.

Emiliano Martinez

Emiliano Martinez has been one of Argentina’s most important and dependable players in recent times, as proven by his displays at the 2022 World Cup. Argentina ran out winners of that tournament, with Martinez showing up in the big moments, and in the final especially. The Aston Villa keeper sets the tone for the rest of the team, and if La Albiceleste are to defend their crown, they will need Martinez to be that big presence he’s shown he can be once again.

Conclusion 

As anticipation builds ahead of the 2026 World Cup, a whole raft of Premier League players will be dreaming of what’s to come. The players mentioned above all have the ability to make a difference for their respective nations when it matters most. And, it’s players like these that can ultimately make the difference between progressing in a tournament or heading home.

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Casemiro ready to take pay cut for special reason as he decides next club after Man United

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has reportedly decided he’d be prepared to take a pay cut to get a summer transfer to Inter Miami.

The Brazil international is heading towards the end of his Man Utd contract and is keen to make a move to Miami his priority due to a desire to play with Lionel Messi.

Apparently, Casemiro would even be willing to accept a pay cut to get this dream move, with he and his family also keen on the move to the US, according to Sky Sports.

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Casemiro has performed well for United this season, with some fans perhaps even wondering if the club should make a quick U-turn on the 34-year-old’s deal as he edges closer to becoming a free agent.

Manchester United will surely miss Casemiro

Despite surely coming towards the end of his career, Casemiro has enjoyed a real renaissance this season, putting some of his past difficult MUFC form behind him.

It’s slightly surreal that it was two years ago we were seeing Jamie Carragher famously declaring that Casemiro should leave football before the football leaves him, with the former Real Madrid man now looking like someone the Red Devils are really going to miss…

It will be interesting to see how United end up replacing such an influential player, with Casemiro widely regarded as one of the top defensive midfielders of his generation.

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Even if we didn’t see Casemiro at his peak during his time at Old Trafford, he was world class for many years at Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, and numerous other major honours.

United will surely have a tough job on their hands this summer trying to strengthen in midfield, with a signing needed to replace Casemiro, and also another probably required as an upgrade on the struggling Manuel Ugarte.

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Saka gets big reaction from Henry & Richards as he says he knows who he wants Arsenal to play in CL final

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka got a big reaction from the pundits in the CBS Sports studio as he discussed who he wants to play in the Champions League final.

The Gunners were in celebratory mood last night as they made it to the final of Europe’s biggest club competition for the first time in 20 years and only the second time in their history.

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Saka scored the winner for Arsenal as they beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium and 2-1 on aggregate, and he was asked about his preferred final opponent out of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain afterwards.

Watch below, however, as Saka insisted he couldn’t give an answer to that question from Micah Richards, though he dropped the cryptic line that “deep down” he knows who he wants to face…

Micah Richards asking Saka who he wants to face(Bayern/PSG) ? pic.twitter.com/dwKQcukJCu

— EMDG (@EmanDaGoon) May 5, 2026

Pictures from CBS Sports

This got a big reaction from the likes of Richards and Thierry Henry on the punditry team, and it’s interesting to think about what Saka could mean.

Who does Bukayo Saka want Arsenal to face in the Champions League final?

We will probably never know for sure which team Saka was talking about as Bayern prepare to host PSG at the Allianz Arena this evening for the second leg of their semi-final tie.

It may be that the England international has his eye on revenge on PSG for knocking them out in last season’s semi-final, which was a closer contest than the 3-1 aggregate score-line would suggest.

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Then again, perhaps Saka is thinking back to Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Bayern earlier this season in the league phase of the competition, with the player and the rest of his teammates perhaps fancying their chances against a side they already know they can beat.

We’ll find out later who will be Arsenal’s opponents, with the two finalists set to meet in Budapest on the 30th of May.

The post Saka gets big reaction from Henry & Richards as he says he knows who he wants Arsenal to play in CL final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Video: Arsenal chief has to be held back during bizarre row with Diego Simeone

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta could be seen having a major touchline row with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone during last night’s Champions League semi-final.

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It’s not clear precisely what went on between the pair, but there’s clearly some bad blood after their time working together with the La Liga club.

See below for a video of the incident, though it possibly doesn’t capture the entire context of what went down, with additional footage and reporting from TNT Sports suggesting Simeone may have started it by pushing a member of Arsenal’s coaching staff…

Video footage shows Diego Simeone in a heated touchline confrontation with Andrea Berta late in the match. #ucl https://t.co/yqmySARrep pic.twitter.com/OZA68zqxsV

— Arsenal Radar (@ArsenalRadar) May 6, 2026

Tensions were clearly high towards the end of such a big game, with Arsenal eventually going through after a 1-0 victory on the night, and a 2-1 win over both legs of the tie.

Simeone is known for being a bit of a fiery character, so it’s possible that he didn’t show his best side here as he looked to get his team back into the game.

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Arsenal get past Atletico Madrid into Champions League final

In the end, Arsenal held on to their lead in a close and intriguing tie against Simeone’s side to make it to only their second ever Champions League final.

The Gunners have had to wait 20 years for this moment, with the club last reaching the final of this competition in 2006 when they were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta’s side are also top of the Premier League in what could still be a memorable season, though they will likely be underdogs in the Champions League final whether they end up facing Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.

The post Video: Arsenal chief has to be held back during bizarre row with Diego Simeone appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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