All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need of huge improvement over the course of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, needing to right the wrongs of last season.

The Lilywhites only managed to register a 17th-placed finish, losing 22 matches out of their 38, a tally of defeats that subsequently cost Ange Postecoglou his job.

Thomas Frank is the latest manager to try and push the club closer to a consistent place within the division’s top four and eventually push for a title charge in the years ahead.

The Dane will need the hierarchy to hand the new boss the funds he needs to make the desired changes to provide him with the platform for success in his first year at the club.

Numerous names have been touted with a move to North London, this window, with progress appearing to be made on deals to land key players in multiple areas.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Ademola Lookman is the latest player who has appeared on Spurs’ radar, with the Lilywhites preparing an offer for the Atalanta star in the coming weeks.

He could be available for a fee in the region of £50m this summer, a deal which could be a bargain given his tally of 20 goals across all competitions last season.

However, a deal could be edging closer for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, with talks already being held, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

He claims that the club’s hierarchy are preparing another bid for the Ghanaian international, after their first offer of around £50m was swiftly rejected.

Romano also stated that the 24-year-old would be extremely keen on a move to join Frank’s side, with the Lilywhites currently leading the race for his signature this summer despite his £85m release clause.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s own Saka

Bukayo Saka is a player who many Spurs fans have envied in recent years, given the performances he’s often produced against them in the North London Derby.

The 23-year-old has scored five times against the Lilywhites in his career, the most of any side in his professional career, with the Englishman one of the Premier League’s dangermen.

He registered six goals and 10 assists in England’s top-flight last season, but his contributions couldn’t catapult the Gunners to the Premier League title – undoubtedly to the joy of all Spurs supporters.

However, Frank’s side could be about to land their own version of the forward with a move for Kudus this summer, as the Ghanaian has been labelled as a similar player to Saka by FBref.

The West Ham star also possesses a very similar trait of liking to cut inside onto his left foot off the right flank, as demonstrated by the stats he’s produced in recent months.

Kudus, who’s been labelled as “sensational” by one analyst, has registered fewer goal contributions, but has posted a higher goal per shot on target rate, showcasing the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, completing more balls into the final third, having the ability to provide other forwards with the chance for success in forward areas.

Games played

32

25

Goals & assists

8

16

Goals per shot on target

0.3

0.2

Pass accuracy

84%

75%

Passes into final third

1.6

0.7

Take-ons completed

3.2

2.1

Carries into final third

2.1

1.6

Fouls won

2.2

2

The Ghanaian’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of take-ons completed and carries into the final third, having the talent to take the ball forward at any given opportunity.

It may be a deal that could cost a small fortune this summer, but it’s evident that, from the stats produced, he would be worth every penny in their quest for domestic glory.

Should he get near the levels produced by Saka in recent times, it would be an astute piece of business and one that could provide the difference within the final third.

Frank's own Vertonghen: Spurs make enquiry for "unreal" £21m CB

Tottenham need to sign a new defender or two this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2025

Russell Martin and his Glasgow Rangers players are already hard at work in pre-season as they prepare for their European qualifier later this month.

The new Gers head coach will be looking to progress through to the next round of Champions League qualifiers, and will want the best possible squad available to him at Ibrox.

Max Aarons and Lyall Cameron have already been added to the team during the summer transfer window so far, but the Light Blues will not stop there.

According to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, central midfielder Joe Rothwell turned down LaLiga teams to join Scottish Premiership giants on a permanent deal.

The former Bournemouth star has put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Ibrox and could make his debut against Panathinaikos later this month.

What Joe Rothwell could bring to Rangers

Rothwell will bring an experienced head in the middle of the park that Rangers do not currently have. Nicolas Raskin (24), Mohamed Diomande (23), Bailey Rice (18), and Connor Barron (22) currently make up Martin’s midfield ranks.

This means that the 30-year-old maestro, who has played 204 games in the English Championship, could be a mentor to the younger players in the squad, and give valuable advice to the likes of Barron and Rice, as he has been there and done at a good level in the game.

The midfield whiz, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Leeds United, will also offer quality in possession through his impressive passing range.

Rothwell is a metronomic midfielder who likes to constantly get on the ball to progress play for his team with progressive passes and passes into the final third, helping to create chances for his teammates.

Passes completed

63.74

Top 6%

Long passes completed

6.44

Top 2%

xA

0.22

Top 4%

Key passes

2.44

Top 1%

Progressive passes

6.64

Top 8%

Passes into the final third

7.40

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, the experienced star provided plenty of quality on the ball in the 2024/25 Championship campaign with Leeds, who won the title to secure promotion to the Premier League.

He played in a ball-dominant title-winning side and showcased his ability to consistently progress play and create chances in the middle of the park, which suggests that he could thrive in a ball-dominant Russell Martin team chasing the Premiership title.

Whilst Rothwell, who is also capable of scoring screamers, looks set to be a terrific addition to the squad, Rangers are eyeing another midfielder who could be an even better signing.

Rangers in the race to sign former Liverpool gem

According to Liverpool-focused outlet DaveOCKOP, Rangers are one of a number of teams in the race to sign RB Salzburg central midfielder Bobby Clark in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Liverpool could be due a sell-on clause fee as a result of the English starlet moving on from the Austrian side this summer, just a year on from his Anfield exit for a fee of £10m.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Rangers, Leicester, West Brom, Sunderland, Koln, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburg, Birmingham, Leicester, and Southampton are all eyeing up a move for the midfield talent.

DaveOCKOP reveals that the former Newcastle United youth prospect is expected to look for a fresh opportunity to play elsewhere next season, and that there is a concrete chance that he will leave Salzburg.

However, it currently remains to be seen how much of the £10m that was paid for him last summer Rangers would need to pay to secure his services.

Why Rangers should sign Bobby Clark

The Scottish giants should push to win the race for the English midfielder this summer because he could be an even better signing for the club than Rothwell in the long run.

Clark is ten years younger than the signing from Bournemouth, at the age of 20, and this means that he has far more potential, both in terms of development and his viability as a long-term option for Martin in midfield.

If the Gers can land a deal for the Salzburg youngster, he could be a starting option in the middle of the park for the next decade if all goes well, whereas Rothwell is heading into the latter stages of his playing career.

Clark is not the finished article in the present, like Rothwell, though, after he only started seven of his 17 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, but he did show a lot of promise in the OFB Cup, the domestic cup in Austria.

Appearances (starts)

2 (2)

Touches

217

Pass accuracy

85%

Key passes

8

Dribbles completed

12

Dribble success rate

63%

Ball recoveries

22

Duels won

30

As you can see in the table above, the English midfielder thrived as a starter in the cup across two appearances in the competition, creating eight chances and winning a staggering 30 duels.

Whilst it is an incredibly small sample size, it does show the kind of quality that he could provide if Martin is able to help him take the next step in his development after failing to earn regular starts with Salzburg.

Clark, who was hailed as “exciting” by reporter Lee Ryder, also showed a lot of promise during his time at Liverpool, with one goal and two assists in 14 first-team appearances for the Premier League giants, which earned him a £10m move to Austria.

The 20-year-old gem produced 18 goals and 11 assists in 64 games for Liverpool’s U18 and U21 sides combined, further illustrating the kind of attacking quality he can provide at his best.

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Therefore, Clark could be an even better signing than Rothwell because he could be an incredibly exciting midfield talent if Martin can unlock his immense potential as a dynamic, attack-minded, midfielder, who still has many, many, years left ahead of him to develop and improve.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be keen to use this summer as a chance to bring several high-profile players to the Midlands.

The club won’t play in the Champions League next term, but this will hopefully only be a short-term blip as far as Emery is concerned.

Players such as Jadon Sancho, Tyler Dibling, and Barcelona star Fermin Lopez have been linked with a move to Villa Park this summer.

All three would be excellent signings, but perhaps signing a centre-back should be the main priority so early in the transfer window.

Aston Villa chase move for Barcelona defender

Lopez isn’t the only Barcelona player that Emery is keen to bring to the Premier League this summer.

Indeed, defender Andreas Christensen looks like he could be set to leave the La Liga giants, and Aston Villa are one of the clubs linked with a move for the centre-back, as per The Birmingham Mail.

The Dane has a year left on his current deal, and the Catalan side could be set to accept bids of around €20m (£17m) for the player. This is certainly a far cry from his reported €500m release clause, making it a potential bargain for the Villans.

At the time of writing, Villa have just three senior centre-backs on their books. Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa are certainly at the peak of their powers, but Tyrone Mings is 32 and appears to be on the wane.

Might Christensen be an upgrade on the Englishman?

Why Aston Villa must sign Andreas Christensen

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Mings has featured only 23 times for Villa due to injury.

There is no doubt the 32-year-old is a solid option to call upon, but might his time at the club be coming to an end?

Both Mings and Christensen have suffered their share of injury problems in recent years. To truly compare the two, you have to go back to the 2022/23 season.

Metric

Mings

Christensen

Accurate passes

46

61.1

Tackles

0.4

0.9

Total duels won

3

3

Interceptions

1.5

0.9

Clearances

4.5

2

Possession lost

8.6

4.5

Using FBref, Christensen not only registered more shots per 90 (0.51 vs 0.2) than Mings, but the Barcelona star also registered a higher pass completion percentage (94% vs 85.2%), won more tackles (15 vs seven), tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (62.5% vs 45%) and received fewer cautions (two vs seven) in their respective defensive leagues.

Although these stats may be from a couple of seasons ago, it proves that when both are fit and healthy, it is Christensen who is the better player.

REUTERS/David Klein

Lauded as a “cheat code” by journalist Domagoj Kostanjsak in 2023, the former Chelsea man racked up a total of 93 Premier League appearances during his spell at Stamford Bridge.

Given the fact that he is also three years younger than Mings, bringing Christensen to Villa Park, especially for a fee below £20m, could be an impressive piece of business for Emery.

His qualities would allow Emery to sign a competent defender who knows the top flight inside out. Therefore, it must be a deal he is looking to complete sooner rather than later.

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Sunderland have now “done work” to hijack Leeds United’s move for a “brilliant” midfielder, transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Black Cats vying to sign midfielder after Bellingham departure

After sealing a move to Borussia Dortmund, Jobe Bellingham has now penned a heart-felt goodbye to the supporters, saying: “Your support, on so many occasions, has completely blown me away, especially in the times of adversity, which we pulled through together.”

Regis Le Bris is now left with the difficult task of finding a replacement for the 19-year-old, who provided four goals and three assists for the Black Cats in a season that will forever be remembered, having achieved promotion back to the Premier League.

Having been promoted alongside Leeds United, Le Bris is likely to be shopping in the same talent pool as the Yorkshire side this summer, with both clubs now battling it out to sign West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal on a free transfer.

Not only that, but the Black Cats have now started to take steps towards hijacking Leeds’ move for a midfielder, namely Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra, with some reports suggesting Daniel Farke’s side have already submitted a £22m bid for his services.

In an interview with The Boot Room, Bailey denies the reports of an offer being made, but confirms that Sunderland have now joined the race for Diarra’s signature, saying: “Leeds are looking at him. They like him and have enquired and held talks with his camp – however, we can confirm no bid yet.

“He had a very good season and a number of Premier League clubs have looked at him. Sunderland, Fulham, Bournemouth – all have done work on him… they are all clearly watching him (vs England) too!”

"Brilliant" Diarra starred in Senegal's triumph over England

The recent international break was far from ideal for Thomas Tuchel, stumbling to a 1-0 victory over Andorra before losing 3-1 against Senegal at the City Ground, where the Strasbourg midfielder put in a quality performance to help his side secure the win.

The 21-year-old scored the second goal in his side’s surprise victory, while also displaying his ability in possession of the ball by maintaining a 88% pass-success rate throughout the match, with Senegal going on to become the first-ever African nation to defeat England.

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also praised the Senegal international for his passing ability in the past, amongst other things.

As such, it is exciting news that Sunderland are now “doing work” on a deal for Diarra, and having sold Bellingham for £32m, they should have ample funds to secure his signature.

Celtic missed out on the domestic treble earlier this month when they were beaten by Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park.

The Hoops had already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup, but they were unable to claim the third trophy in the collection against the Dons.

Brendan Rodgers may want to go all the way next season, after failing to win the treble in both of his first two years back at the club, and could do that by improving his squad in the summer transfer window.

With that in mind, here is the dream starting line-up that Rodgers could build to attack the 2025/26 campaign head-on when they return to action later this year…

1 Kasper Schmeichel

Starting off between the sticks, Kasper Schmeichel should still be the number one for Celtic next season, at least to begin with, after an impressive debut campaign, despite his own goal in the SFA Cup final.

The former Leicester City stopper racked up an impressive 24 clean sheets in 49 appearances after joining from Anderlecht on a free transfer last year.

2 Alistair Johnston

At right-back, Celtic should be aiming to keep hold of Alistair Johnston amid reported interest from English sides Ipswich Town and Fulham this summer, after he scored four goals and provided ten assists in the Premiership this season.

3 Cameron Carter-Vickers

At the heart of the defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers should be a mainstay in the team again next season, after he was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year yet again. The colossal central defender has the right-sided centre-back position locked down, and it should stay that way.

4 Liam Scales

The left-sided centre-back position is up for debate, unlike the right side, with Auston Trusty, Maik Nawrocki, and Liam Scales all in contention to play that role.

Scales, however, ended the season as the first-choice for Rodgers, despite Trusty and Nawrocki being fit and available, which suggests that he will head into pre-season as the obvious partner to Carter-Vickers.

5 Kieran Tierney

Left-back is another position that should be fairly obvious. Kieran Tierney is joining on a free transfer from Arsenal and should be the go-to option in that area of the park when fit and available.

The Scotland international produced 37 assists in 170 matches for Celtic during his first spell at the club, which suggests that he could provide a huge creative outlet down the left flank for the Scottish giants next season.

It remains to be seen whether or not Greg Taylor, who is out of contract this summer, will be at Parkhead next term, so Tierney is currently the only senior left-back who is guaranteed to be in the squad.

6 Callum McGregor

At the base of the midfield three, captain Callum McGregor is another obvious pick for Rodgers. The skipper started 34 of his 35 appearances in the Premiership this season, which does not suggest that he is close to being on his way out of the XI.

7 Arne Engels

Celtic broke the bank to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg last summer in a club-record £11m move, and he repaid them with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances for the club in his debut season.

8 Lennon Miller

Another new addition to the squad, alongside Tierney, could be Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller, who could arrive to complete the midfield trio with McGregor and Engels.

Serie A side Udinese have been linked with a summer move for Reo Hatate, and Celtic could sign the Scottish starlet, who is a reported transfer target, to replace the Japanese ace.

Appearances

37

32

Goals

10

2

Big chances created

14

12

Key passes per game

1.2

1.6

Assists

2

8

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

3.1

Ball recoveries per game

3.2

6.3

Duel success rate

44%

53%

As you can see in the table above, Miller would be an exciting replacement for Hatate because he offers a similar threat as a creator whilst being better out of possession, albeit he does not provide as much of a goalscoring presence.

At 18, the Scotland U21 international is also nine years younger than the Celtic star and could be the long-term option for Rodgers in that position, which is why it could make sense to cash in on the Japanese star to sign the Motherwell maestro.

9 Nicolas Kuhn

Nicolas Kuhn ended the 2024/25 campaign with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions from a right wing position for the Hoops.

The left-footed star provided a constant threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants, which is why he should remain the starting option on that flank.

10 Mathias Kvistgaarden

The third signing that could be added to this dream starting XI, alongside Tierney and Miller, is Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.

Celtic are reportedly weighing up a club-record swoop for the Danish marksman, who is valued at in excess of £12m, and it could be a fantastic piece of business for the club to upgrade on Adam Idah.

Appearances

29

35

FotMob rating

7.29

6.86

xG

13.99

13.57

Goals

17

13

Chances created

19

19

Assists

5

0

As you can see in the table above, their respective performances at league level this season suggest that Kvistgaarden would offer far more than the Irishman as a superior finisher.

Therefore, Celtic should attempt to conclude a deal for the 23-year-old centre-forward, dubbed “sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, in the weeks to come as he could add an even greater goal threat to Rodgers’ side than Idah currently does.

The domestic season may have only ended a couple of days ago, but there’s no rest for the wicked, and the powers that be at Arsenal will already be hard at work ahead of the summer transfer window.

New Sporting Director Andrea Berta will be keen to prove his worth as soon as possible by making the right additions to get the club over the line in the Premier League and maybe even the Champions League next year.

However, the Italian will need to get his skates on, as the last few weeks have seen Liverpool making significant moves in the market, with the seemingly imminent signing of Florian Wirtz being the most impressive signal of intent.

Fortunately, if reports are to be believed, the Gunners are now looking at another high-profile international who could be their answer to the German star.

Arsenal looking at former Premier League forward

With this summer feeling like the most important since Arteta’s appointment in 2019, there have unsurprisingly been a slew of incredible players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

The former has been a target for the Gunners for over a year now and has a release clause worth around £50m in his current contract, which may well prove to be value for money, as in 45 games for Athletic Bilbao this season, he has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists.

Likewise, Gittens has enjoyed a pretty impressive season with Borussia Dortmund this year, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 48 games and could be available for about £46m.

However, for a player to be Arteta and Co’s answer to Wirtz, they’ve got to be seriously special and capable of changing games for the team, someone like Julian Alvarez.

According to a recent report from Spanish outlet Marca, Arsenal are among a number of clubs keen on the Atlético Madrid star.

In fact, while the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona are credited with an interest in the Argentine, the report makes it clear that the Gunners are currently leading the pack and are ‘are now the strongest bidder for his services.’

While no price is mentioned in the report, he reportedly has a £126m release clause, but this might prove a tad steep.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Alvarez’s immense ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Arsenal’s answer to Wirtz.

Alvarez could be Arsenal's answer to Wirtz

The first thing to clear up is that, yes, both players primarily play in different positions, with Alvarez generally starting up top and Wirtz in midfield, but both players have proven themselves to be quite versatile.

The former Manchester City star has played off the right and left, as a second striker and even in midfield a number of times in his career.

Likewise, the soon-to-be Liverpool star has made appearances as a second striker, striker and winger before.

On top of this, even though the Atleti star is more of a goalscorer than the German, he has also proven himself to be a creative outlet.

For example, according to FBref, the 25-year-old, who has “the ability to change games out of nowhere,” per analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions from live passes, the top 5% for passes completed, the top 6% for passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Appearances

54

Minutes

3705′

Goals

29

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

Minutes per Goal Involvement

102.91′

Finally, and this is perhaps the most crucial similarity of them all, the Calchín-born superstar has proven he is capable of becoming a team’s most important and talismanic attacker.

In his first season with Atleti, with the pressure of a big price tag hanging over him, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided seven assists in 54 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Ultimately, if Liverpool are going to sign Wirtz this summer, Arsenal need to make their own statement addition to their attack, and Alvarez looks to be the perfect candidate.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta have been alerted to the price tag of a “gifted” attacker, and it has dropped by nearly half compared to last year, as the Gunners are presented with a £63 million discount.

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Before their final game of the Premier League season, Mikel Arteta was asked about the club’s summer recruitment drive, which is now set to take centre-stage after a very disappointing campaign.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini May 22, 2025

The Gunners end 2024/2025 with no silverware, despite being tipped to win this year’s Premier League title and mount serious challenges across other competitions as well.

Since Arteta’s appointment, there hasn’t exactly been a lack of investment in the squad, and some critics are beginning to wonder whether he is really the right man to end Arsenal’s two-decade-long-plus wait for a domestic league crown.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

However, 24/25 hasn’t been without major obstacles for Arteta either, with the 43-year-old lacking major firepower upfront for the majority of this term. Injuries to Kai Havertz – who has since returned to action – and Gabriel Jesus meant that Arsenal had been forced to deploy Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for months.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were also unavailable for extended periods at points during the campaign as well, proving very unfortunate, and it highlights the need for Arsenal to reinforce their squad with further attacking quality.

Speaking in his pre-Southampton press conference, Arteta expressed his desire for Berta to bring in more “firepower” this summer, all while sharing his high expectations for the ex-Atletico Madrid chief, who officially joined in late March.

“I think he’s going to be a big contributor with his experience, and the fact that he’s already won in very difficult contexts and the way he’s built teams, he is exceptional,” said Arteta about Berta.

“I think we have to share that responsibility and Andrea is going to be a key part to driving the plans and the ideas we have and try to execute them, and we are here to support him.”

Andrea Berta handed £63m Rodrygo discoCunt after Arsenal open talks

A key target who has emerged this week comes in the form of versatile Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who England star Jude Bellingham thinks is “underrated” and the “most gifted” player in their squad.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated earlier this week that Arsenal have opened talks over signing Rodrygo, and the Brazilian has shot to the “very top” of Berta’s transfer wishlist for the wide area.

Reports last year claimed Real president Florentino Perez was demanding around £130 million to sell the 24-year-old to Man City, but according to journalist Anton Meana, this price has dropped by nearly half.

Meana, speaking on Cadena SER show El Larguero this week, shared news that Real’s asking price for Rodrygo is now £67 million – meaning Arsenal can sign the South American star for £63 million less than previously believed.

£67m for a player of Rodrygo’s quality seems extremely tempting, and this potential deal has been made all the more doable by this latest financial update on an increasingly developing story.

Arsenal are set for a significant call over potentially selling a “difference-maker” this summer, amid a serious issue which could determine his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta makes PSG vow after Arsenal loss to Bournemouth

The Gunners have a season-defining Champions League semi-final second leg tie against PSG on Wednesday – a match that will truly shape the course of their 2024/2025 campaign and determine the success of Arsenal’s year.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 6, 2025

Mikel Arteta’s side trail 1-0 on aggregate, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé’s early winner at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, and they go into a testing clash at the Parc des Princes off the back of a shock defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

However, Arteta has vowed to use the frustration and upset from that loss to Andoni Iraola’s side as fuel to overcome PSG in the French capital.

“We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe, a positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday,” Arteta said in a post-match press conference.

“What we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So, make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”

One player who has been unable to contribute recently is 2024 summer signing and Italy international Riccardo Calafiori.

The £42 million arrival has spent the last month out with a knee injury, and despite some excellent performances, injury absences have been the story of his first season.

Arsenal set for "big decision" over selling Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori has been called a “difference-maker” for Arteta when fit and available, but reports from Italy are now claiming that Arsenal are prepared to sell the defender this summer as a result of his fitness issues.

Speaking to Football Insider, former chief Man United scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the beautiful game, says that Arsenal have a “big decision” to make over letting Calafiori return to Serie A.

“It’s a decision Arsenal and Arteta have got to make,” he told Football Insider.

“They will know the extent of his injury issues and whether it’s going to keep cropping up. Then, they’ll weigh that up against what they know he can do when he’s fit and they’ll decide whether it’s worth keeping him on.

“There is interest in a move back to Italy and AC Milan have been mentioned as one of those teams. If Arsenal can make back the money they spent on him last year, they might think it’s the best thing to do given how many games he’s missed.

“His injuries are a major concern because if he can only play in 15-20 games a season, he’s not going to be somebody they want to keep on the books. But at the same time, there are a few players who look like they’ll leave Arsenal this year.

“They can’t let too many of them go because their depth is already an issue. So it’s a big decision for them to make and one they’ll sit down and discuss soon.”

A six-time Premier League champion could now leave Manchester City at the end of the season, according to a new update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Man City legends set to depart this summer

It has been a season to forget for Pep Guardiola and his players, especially by their high standards, with the defence of their league title petering out early in the campaign. Granted, they can still win the FA Cup, but they haven’t been good enough in the league or in the Champions League.

This summer feels like it could be the end of an era at City, not least because club legend Kevin De Bruyne is moving on, having not agreed an extension at the club – Tottenham ace James Maddison has been mentioned as a replacement option.

The Belgian may be far from the only legend to move on, with the likes of Ederson, John Stones and Bernardo Silva’s futures all up in the air. The City trio are all out of contract at the end of next season, so the club will know that this summer is the last chance for them to earn a fee, rather than losing them on a free transfer in 2026.

Stones backed to leave Man City

Speaking for The Boot Room, Bailey claimed that Stones could depart Manchester City this summer, with the England international potentially leaving alongside De Bruyne, possibly even returning to former club Everton.

“John Stones’s future at Manchester City is far from certain. City are planning a number of new arrivals this summer and we are going to see a number of changes and that means some of the biggest names from the last decade or so could and will depart. Kyle Walker left in January and we know Kevin De Bruyne is going, things are changing.

“Ederson, Bernardo Silva and Stones could follow. Stones has interest from the Saudi Pro League, but in England there are clubs who would be willing to take him including West Ham and his former club Everton to name but two. The issue is with his injury record, less than 10 stars in the last two seasons, it would be a risk for anyone. If he does indeed hit the open market, I believe that Everton would be open to the prospect.”

While losing Stones in the summer would be sad, considering he is a six-time league champion at the Etihad, there is some sense in allowing him to move on. At 30, the Englishman isn’t getting any younger – he turns 31 later this month – and his injury problems are increasingly problematic, limiting him to only six starts in the Premier League this season.

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As mentioned, a summer sale would allow City to receive money for Stones’ services, allowing them to bring in a younger, less injury-prone centre-back ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Manchester United are now willing to make a £52m offer for a “special” Real Madrid player, who is likely to leave if Carlo Ancelotti remains in his post as manager, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on attacking midfielder

Ruben Amorim’s side were put to the sword at St. James’ Park on Sunday, with Newcastle United emerging 4-1 winners, in a match that once again underlined the need for the manager to make major changes to his squad this summer.

Having recorded an xG of just 0.72 against Newcastle, Man United were clearly devoid of ideas once again at the weekend, which indicates they may need to bring in a new attacking midfielder this summer, and a number of targets have been identified.

The Red Devils are now plotting a bid for Lyon maestro Lyon Cherki, while they have also launched a £70m move for Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers, who has played a major role in the Villans’ success in both the Premier League and Europe this season.

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It may be difficult to convince Villa to strengthen a direct rival, however, which means it could make sense to pursue an attacking midfielder from abroad, and a report from Spain has revealed United are now keen on signing Real Madrid’s Arda Guler.

Such is their level of interest, Amorim’s side are willing to submit an offer of around €60m (£52m) for the attacking midfielder, who is also capable of playing at right-wing.

Injuries have stunted Guler’s development this season, and there is now a feeling the 20-year-old is likely to be moved on this summer, should Ancelotti remain in his post as manager.

"Special" Guler could be "genuine superstar"

It is a little strange Ancelotti could be willing to sanction the youngster’s departure this summer, given how highly the Italian has spoken of him in the past, saying: “I think the closer to goal, the better. He is very effective, he scores a lot with little space, he has a special talent. He shows it better closer to the goal.”

The Turkey international also received high praise from football writer Colin Millar, in light of his impressive performances for his national side at Euro 2024.

The 20-year-old hasn’t caught the eye quite as much for Madrid, picking up just one goal and four assists in La Liga this season, but it was always going to be a tall order to get on the scoresheet regularly, given that he has often been limited to appearances as a substitute.

Should Man United be willing to give Guler regular game time, there are signs he could become a star player in the future.