All posts by h716a5.icu

This summer is a huge one for Mikel Arteta if he is to be successful at Arsenal, needing to secure key additions to his first-team squad to help take them to the next level.

The Spaniard has been in the role since December 2020, conducting an overhaul of the squad and helping them rise back up the Premier League table over recent years.

However, in the last two years, the Gunners have only been able to finish in second place, unable to make the leap and go one step further and end their two-decade wait for a title triumph.

During his tenure, the 43-year-old has only won one major trophy, claiming the FA Cup back in 2019/20 – with more success needed if he is to maintain his position at the helm.

If he is to do that, he will need to be backed by the board in the transfer market, needing to land various key targets in multiple areas to provide the strength and depth he greatly desires.

An update on Arsenal’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last few weeks, a striker has been top of Andrea Berta’s shopping list as Arsenal’s sporting director, with Viktor Gyokeres being his number one option this summer.

The Swede is of huge interest from multiple clubs across Europe after netting 52 goals in his 48 games across all competitions in 2024/25 for Sporting CP.

However, he’s not the only player on their shortlist, with Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz the latest name to emerge on their summer shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Serie A side could entertain offers in the region of €90m (£76m) for the 20-year-old Turkish international in the coming months.

The Gunners are said to be wanting to improve Arteta’s options within the final third, with Yildiz high in their estimations given his versatility and that they could offer the youngster an exciting opportunity in North London.

Why Arsenal’s £76m target could replace Odegaard at Arsenal

Martin Odegaard has been Arsenal’s go-to star in terms of creativity over the last couple of seasons, handing Arteta the platform to succeed in the Premier League.

The Norwegian has been a regular starter in the attacking midfield role for the Gunners since his £30m move from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021.

However, he’s been unable to produce his best performance levels in recent months, with injuries hampering his progress and undoubtedly having an impact on his showings.

The ankle issue he suffered back in September saw him miss six weeks of action, only registering nine combined goals and assists in the league since, highlighting his lack of form at the Emirates.

The summer will give the 26-year-old more time to regain full fitness, but he may not be able to thrive in his regular role in 2025/26 should the hierarchy pull off a deal for Yildiz.

The youngster, who’s primarily a winger, is also capable of operating in a number 10 role, which could end the Norwegian’s time as a regular starter in Arteta’s plans.

When comparing their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Turkish star has managed to outperform Odegaard in various key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be in North London.

Games played

33

27

Goals & assists

8

9

Progressive carries

4.1

3.4

Shot on target accuracy

36%

30%

Take-ons completed

2.3

0.9

Take-on success

56%

51%

Tackles won

1.2

0.4

The Juve star, who’s been labelled “spectacular” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed more progressive carries per 90, along with more take-ons completed – showcasing the threat he poses with the ball at his feet in attacking areas.

He’s also managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target rate and more tackles won, having the ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch within Arteta’s system.

Whilst it would be a hefty addition given the price tag that has been mooted, Yildiz has showcased his quality consistently at the top-level despite his tender age.

He has the potential to take his career to the next level in the Premier League, arguably being the club’s shining light in their ambitions of returning to the top of the division in the near future.

Arteta must axe £27m Arsenal dud who was worse than Odegaard v Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped yet more points, this time at home as they hosted Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

ByMatt Dawson May 4, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Liverpool football club if they are to sustain the success they’ve achieved in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm on Merseyside.

The Reds have claimed the Premier League title for just the second time in 2024/25, achieving such a feat with multiple games to spare, highlighting the impressive job done by the Dutchman.

Many supporters undoubtedly had fears for the side after Jürgen Klopp’s departure last summer, but it’s safe to say Slot has rapidly put those worries to bed.

He has the opportunity to create a new era of success for a generation of the fanbase, but it’s crucial that the board backs him in his quest by landing him the targets he wants.

With just a couple of weeks until the transfer window opens, work has already been done behind the scenes to land targets who would drastically improve the options at the manager’s disposal.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders this summer

Whilst boasting the second-best defensive record in the Premier League, Liverpool are still in the market for added reinforcements in such a department.

Bournemouth ace Milos Kerkez has been their number one option to strengthen the left-back department, with the Cherries demanding a fee in the region of £40m for his signature.

However, the Hungarian might not be the only star to join the Reds from Andoni Iraola’s side in the coming months, with Dean Huijsen on their radar, according to one Spanish report.

It claims that Slot’s side have already made an offer to the 20-year-old’s representatives over a summer switch to Anfield, but face competition from sides such as Real Madrid and Chelsea.

It also states that it remains to be seen whether he will stay in England or move to LaLiga during the off-season, with multiple outfits willing to trigger his £50m release clause in his contract.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be better than Murillo

Huijsen isn’t the only defender linked with a switch to join Liverpool in the near future, with Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian star Murillo emerging as another target for Slot’s men.

The 22-year-old has been a key part of their hunt for a Champions League spot, having a real impact at both ends of the pitch – as seen by his goal against Crystal Palace earlier this week.

He’s a unique option in today’s market, taking pride in his ball-playing ability, always offering a presence in driving out with the ball from the back and playing a diagonal pass to a teammate – but could cost a fee in the region of £80m.

However, despite his eye-catching ability at the City Ground, the hierarchy should still prioritise a move for Bournemouth star Huijsen, with the Spaniard a better option in 2025.

When comparing his stats to those of Murillo this campaign, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – handing the manager a perfect partner to Virgil Van Dijk.

Huijsen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more progressive carries per 90 whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted – showcasing his impressive ability on the ball.

Games played

29

34

Goals & assists

4

2

Progressive carries

1.5

0.6

Progressive passes

4.7

3.1

Pass accuracy

83%

78%

% of tackles won

60%

58%

Interceptions made

1.9

0.9

Aerials won

2.6

1.2

He’s also won more of the tackles he’s entered to date and made more interceptions, highlighting that he’s a better option than Murillo without the ball – further improving the club’s impressive defensive record.

Given the difference in stats, it should be a no-brainer for the club, not to mention saving themselves £30m if they were to make a move for Huijsen instead of the Forest gem.

Such a saving could allow for added investment into other key areas of the first-team squad, further improving their chances of making it back-to-back triumphs in the Premier League next season.

Slot has struck gold on Liverpool star worth far more than Kerkez & Huijsen

Liverpool’s title-winning defence is set to undergo a transformation this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 8, 2025

Liverpool have “made contact” with a rival Premier League attacker over a move to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool in need of Nunez and Jota upgrade

The Reds are expected to have one of their busiest summers in years, with upgrades needed in various positions, despite their Premier League title win.

In attack, a new centre forward is badly needed, with neither Darwin Nunez nor Diogo Jota representing the solution in that area now. The former simply hasn’t kicked on enough in three seasons, while the latter is an injury-prone player who cannot seem to stay fit for a whole season.

Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a move to Liverpool various times, and could stand out as the most exciting No.9 option this summer, especially considering Newcastle United look highly unlikely to allow Alexander Isak to leave.

Brighton attacker Joao Pedro has also been mentioned as an option for the Merseyside, as has Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, who could potentially be used in a false nine role, even though it isn’t his most common position. Now, a big claim regarding the Reds signing another attacking player has emerged.

Liverpool make contact with Premier League attacker

According to Foot Mercato‘s Santi Aouna on X, Liverpool have made contact with Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku over a summer move to Anfield.

There would have to be question marks about Liverpool signing the £195,000-a-week Nkunku, considering he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success in a Chelsea shirt since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2023, only making nine starts in the Premier League this season.

Signing the 27-year-old would feel like a gamble by the Reds – one they don’t need to take – even though Thierry Henry has admitted he loves watching him play, and he has been lauded by former Chelsea and England centre-back Gary Cahill, who hailed him as a “very strong” player.

If Richard Hughes and Arne Slot truly feel that Nkunku is the best option to bring in this summer, they need to be trusted, but given his injury record and form at Chelsea, it would be a surprise if that was the case.

A better signing than Wirtz: Liverpool ramp up move for "the next Mbappe"

Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.

ByAngus Sinclair May 16, 2025

Liverpool would be far wiser to look to sign Ekitike, who is five years his junior and seemingly on an upwards trajectory, following a great season for Frankfurt that has seen him score 15 goals in 30 Bundesliga starts.

Newcastle United are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a summer deal for an “unbelievable” forward this week, according to a report.

Magpies eyeing new forwards with Wilson heading for exit

It would be fair to say Callum Wilson has been a fantastic servant to Newcastle, with the striker making 129 appearances for the club, but it looks as though his time at St. James’ Park is now set to come to an end when his contract expires this summer.

The Englishman has suffered with injuries throughout the campaign, while often being limited to appearances as a substitute, and he is now starting to attract attention from elsewhere, with Leeds United believed to be leading the race for his signature.

As such, Eddie Howe’s side have now started to run the rule over potential replacements, with the manager particularly keen on signing versatile Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is among the Premier League’s top scorers this season.

Player

Premier League goals

Mohamed Salah

28

Alexander Isak

23

Erling Haaland

21

Chris Wood

19

Bryan Mbeumo

19

Mbeumo is not the only Premier League forward of interest, however, with a report from talkSPORT revealing Newcastle are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this week.

Delap is planning to hold in-person discussions with all his potential suitors ahead of the summer window, and the Magpies are the latest English side to express an interest in triggering the £30m release clause in his contract.

Howe is keen on bringing in another striker to ease the goalscoring burden on Alexander Isak, with the manager looking to strengthen his squad in a number of different areas this summer.

He'd be their new Gordon: Howe wants Newcastle to sign "deadly" £60m star

Newcastle are looking to upgrade their attack

ByJoe Nuttall May 20, 2025 "Unbelievable" Delap could push for Isak's starting spot

Understandably, Wilson’s game time has been very limited this season, given that Isak has enjoyed his best season to date in a Newcastle shirt, leading his side to EFL Cup glory and scoring 27 goals in all competitions.

However, the Ipswich star has also started to make a name for himself this season, finding the back of the net 12 times in the Premier League, with teammate Luke Woolfenden lauding him as “unbelievable”.

Howe has also been impressed by the start the 22-year-old has made to life in the Premier League, saying: “He’s a pivotal player for [Ipswich], there’s no denying that. I think he’s had a very good season. “He’s got big strengths, very strong, powerful runner.”

The only concern for Newcastle will be that Delap may not be tempted to move to St. James’ Park this summer if he doesn’t have guarantees of being a regular starter, and that is unlikely to be the case unless Isak decides to move on.

Fulham are now primed to move for a 23-goal striker who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Cottagers eyeing new striker amid Silva uncertainty

There has been doubt over Marco Silva’s future in west London for quite some time, with Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs keen on the Portuguese manager, and the latest update from BBC Sport’s Simon Stone doesn’t exactly do much to allay fears.

Stone said: “They have just had their third mid-table finish but I got the strong feeling around March-time that Silva felt Europe, either through the league or FA Cup, was a possibility. He will want improvement. If he doesn’t think he will get it, Silva is bound to start looking at his options.”

As such, the hierarchy may feel the need to build a squad capable of competing for a place in Europe next season, in order to tempt Silva into staying, and they have now set their sights on a new striker target.

Indeed, according to a report from The Express, Fulham are now primed to pounce on a deal for Hamburg striker Davie Selke, who is in line to leave the German club on a free transfer this summer, should he be unable to agree a new deal.

Remaining at Hamburg is a possibility, but there is certainly no shortage of interest from elsewhere, which could turn the forward’s head, with West Ham United and Leeds United also being named as potential suitors.

Offer made: Fulham make £1m bid for EFL ace with a "wonder of a left foot"

The Cottagers have made an opening bid for a new defender.

ByDominic Lund May 28, 2025

RB Leipzig are in pole position to sign the 30-year-old, however, which could make a deal difficult to orchestrate for the Cottagers, and they have a number of other potential alternative options on their shortlist.

Selke in high demand after firing Hamburg to promotion

Hamburg finally ended their seven-year Bundesliga absence this season, securing a second-place finish to clinch promotion, and the German forward played a fundamental role in their success, scoring 23 goals in all competitions.

Former FC Köln manager Steffen Baumgart has also given an overview of the marksman’s abilities in the past, saying: “He creates spaces for his teammates, he can be nasty for the opponent and gives presence in the penalty area.”

Raul Jimenez enjoyed a solid 2024-25 campaign, netting 12 Premier League goals, but it could be a smart move to bring in a striker capable of competing for the Mexican’s spot, considering he is now 34-years-old and arguably in his twilight years.

A track record of goals in the German second tier doesn’t necessarily mean Selke would be a success in the Premier League, but given that he is set to be available on a free transfer, it is certainly worth Fulham taking a punt this summer.

Chelsea have identified Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as a top centre-back target for the summer transfer window, following yet another impressive campaign for the commanding centre-half.

£47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"

Enzo Maresca’s side are busy behind-the-scenes amid their Club World Cup campaign.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025

This time last summer, much to the bemusement of fans and critics alike, Branthwaite was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 – but he’s since taken that rejection in his stride.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The 22-year-old starred for Everton again last term, playing a key role as David Moyes’ side comfortably avoided the drop, and supporters will be hoping that Branthwaite will repeat those same feats at their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season.

Five years after Carlo Ancelotti handed Branthwaite his senior top flight debut against Wolves, followed by a succession of productive loan spells at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven, the towering 6 foot 5 starlet is now a wanted man across the Premier League.

His growing list of admirers includes Chelsea, with the addition of a centre-back still on Enzo Maresca’s to-do list after the west Londoners missed out on a deal for Dean Huijsen, who eventually chose to join Real Madrid instead.

Chelsea made contract offers to Huijsen, but it wasn’t enough to convince the Spaniard to U-turn on his dream move to the Bernabeu, with Maresca’s side back on the hunt for exciting defensive options.

Jarrad Branthwaite's fresh stance on joining Chelsea

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Chelsea have been handed a boost in pursuit of Branthwaite as an alternative to Huijsen, as BlueCo set their sights on the Englishman despite rumours he’s set to command a seismic £80 million price tag.

It is believed that Branthwaite could now ask to join Chelsea, amid “frustration” that Everton have placed such a large asking price on his head.

“Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides,” said Phillips.

“The other further info we have received from SPTC sources is that there’s a feeling now that Branthwaite could actually leave Everton this window for a Champions League club – which puts Chelsea in a strong position.

“We’ve also heard that he is a little frustrated, on Everton putting such a big valuation on his head. We had initially heard that Branthwaite would not actively push for a move. But it has now transpired that he is keen on Chelsea and could end up asking for the move. He loves Everton and wants to respect them, but he is keen to advance now to the next stage of his career and play UCL football. I don’t foresee him kicking up a fuss as such, but he may privately ask for the move.”

His ball-playing ability and defensive intelligence would complement Chelsea’s possession-based system under Maresca, offering both quality for now and excellent long-term potential.

However, there is little denying that Chelsea will definitely want to re-negotiate the mooted fee Everton are demanding, and Branthwaite’s desire to join them could play a pivotal role in this.

Birmingham City were an absolute joy to behold at the very top of League One last season.

Chris Davies’ rampant Blues would only lose three of their 46 league fixtures, leading to a colossal 111-point total being reached, with standout figures such as Jay Stansfield very much raising the excitement levels with a bumper 19 strikes tallied up in third-tier action.

Come the end of their very enjoyable League One marathon, Birmingham would go on to accumulate a mightily impressive 84 goals.

They won’t be receding into their shell when heading back up to the Championship, with plenty of fresh strikers now being linked to make the switch to St. Andrew’s to boost their already frightening firepower, which includes a promising Premier League-bound talent.

Birmingham monitoring situation of £10m striker

According to a report from GIVEMESPORT, the super-confident Blues are now monitoring the situation of Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph.

GIVEMESPORT states that Birmingham have been interested in the Spanish hotshot for some time now, with Davies’ men potentially seeing this opening in the summer transfer window as the perfect opportunity to strike up a deal.

RC Strasbourg are also noted as an interested party- on top of a January £10m bid from Real Betis being mentioned – but Birmingham have successfully flexed their muscles recently to win a similarly expensive striker from a Premier League side.

Of course, Stansfield cost £15m to pick up from Marco Silva’s Fulham last summer, with everyone at St. Andrew’s hopeful that Joseph can go down as an unbelievable success story much like the former Cottagers forward.

How Joseph can be Stansfield 2.0

It was somewhat of a gamble to fork out £15m for Stansfield’s services, considering the electric number 28 only had 21 strikes next to his name in senior action in the EFL before confirming a permanent Birmingham stay.

Now, that lavish fee doesn’t look too steep, with Stansfield an integral part of the Blues’ promotion story.

When moving up a division, Birmingham will be keeping their fingers crossed that Joseph can play an equal starring role, but this time around he could be the exact figure they desire in helping Davies’ men consolidate themselves as a Championship-worthy outfit.

After all, despite fading into the background at times last season under Daniel Farke’s wing, Joseph would still chip in with three goals and three assists in league action. This is a more than respectable return when you weigh up the fact that the 21-year-old only started 11 Championship contests.

With Leeds now in the big time, Joseph will be worrying that his first-team opportunities will become even more sparse. Therefore, a move to St. Andrew’s could be just what the Spain U21 international needs to kick on as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Stansfield, a fellow young striker who was also on the periphery of his then employers, Fulham, before finally becoming a main striker option in the West Midlands.

Leeds

73

6

3

Leeds U21s

33

19

3

Leeds U18s

4

1

1

Spain U21s

11

8

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

That was the case even as Stansfield scored a blistering 38 goals for both the Fulham U18s and U21s combined, with Joseph not that far behind on a healthy total of 20 on the youth pitches at Thorp Arch, away from also hammering home six strikes in the senior ranks.

Staggeringly, Stansfield would only ever reach two senior goals at Craven Cottage, but all of that is firmly at the back of his mind now as Birmingham’s leading star.

The “dynamite” Leeds forward – as he was once glowingly labelled by U23 scout Antonio Mango – will want to be held in the same high esteem soon, rather than fighting it out for scraps at Elland Road.

Therefore, another statement striker deal could soon be on the cards at St. Andrew’s, as Joseph possibly joins and fires in the goals to make Birmingham’s transition to Championship life as smooth as possible.

Birmingham City want to beat EFL rivals to sign Klarer 2.0 this summer

Birmingham City could land their next Christoph Klarer by signing this gem from Germany.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

Liverpool’s expeditious start to the summer transfer window has seen the double signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz wrapped up before the end of June, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is set to follow.

And there’s more yet to come. With a deal agreed for the transfer of Jarell Quansah to the BayArena, Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Of course, the Reds still need a striker too.

Liverpool chasing Premier League star

Darwin Nunez’s proposed transfer to Serie A champions Napoli could see efforts on that front doubled over the coming weeks.

Saying that, though, Liverpool love a market opportunity, and are monitoring a right-sided Premier League forward as Federico Chiesa expects to leave Anfield as well this summer.

As per French reporter Sébastien Vidal, in a bid to possibly replace Chiesa, Liverpool are interested in signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, though they face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cherries have valued the Ghanaian at £70m, a figure none of his suitors are willing to meet, but if that figure can be whittled down, Mohamed Salah would have the perfect understudy to cover him on the right.

This isn’t a priority for Liverpool, but the versatile Semenyo has the perfect profile for Slot’s system and could become the latest jackpot signing from the south coast.

Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo

Liverpool have raided a rising Premier League winger from the south coast before. Indeed, Sadio Mane is one of the club’s most iconic modern players, starring under Jurgen Klopp’s wing for many years after joining from Southampton for £35m in 2016.

Semenyo carries certain similarities to the prolific Senegalese, who was a deadly goalscorer but also a fierce advocate of his manager’s vision, working like a machine, covering numerous positions. Klopp once called Mane a “complete” and “world-class” player, and who would argue against him?

Hailed as a “workhorse” and a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Semenyo has been instrumental for Andoni Iraola’s system at the Vitality Stadium, scoring 13 goals and assisting seven more across all competitions last season.

Mane, let’s not forget, wrapped up his Saints career with 15 goals and seven assists across 43 matches in 2015/16, so, like Semenyo, he wasn’t the finished product and needed that move to a club on a higher rung of the ladder.

Right winger

46

13

3

Left winger

29

7

5

Centre-forward

6

1

0

As per FBref, the versatile forward also ranked among the top 20% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last season for successful take-ons and the top 5% for shots taken per 90, underlining his prowess as a pressure-applying force in front of goal but also a player who can drive play into the danger area himself.

All told, Semenyo is a talented and proven Premier League star who would not only cover Salah but also use his dynamism to cover on the left flank too.

To reach Mane’s level would be difficult indeed, but he’s certainly underrated, and a move to Merseyside could help put his name on the map.

The next Torres: Liverpool preparing huge bid to sign "frightening" striker

Liverpool aren’t messing around in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 23, 2025

A video doing the rounds on social media shows Rauf confronting a group of people

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2024Haris Rauf, the Pakistan quick bowler, has responded to a video of a confrontation between him and some unidentified men, which has done the rounds on social media, saying he was open to “feedback from the public” but that he will “respond accordingly” if the feedback turned to abuse and his family was targeted.The video in question shows Rauf, with his wife, talking to a few people, and Rauf, not long after, rushing across a hedge towards the group, even as one of the men tries to stop him. There is some pushing and shoving, and some raised voices, before Rauf is taken back across the hedge to where his wife is. The finger-pointing and shouting isn’t quite over when the video ends.In a social-media post, Rauf wrote: “As public figures, we are open to receiving all kinds of feedback from the public. They are entitled to support or criticize us. Nevertheless, when it comes to my parent and my family, I will not hesitate to respond accordingly. It is important to show respect towards people and their families, irrespective of their professions.”

pic.twitter.com/KuUSZWoDaq

— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) June 18, 2024