All posts by n8rngtd.top

Ask an Arsenal fan where the team need to improve this summer, and we reckon the majority would say attack.

After all, Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League this season with the best defence but scored 17 fewer goals than Champions Liverpool and three fewer than third-place Manchester City.

However, while the North Londoners seem to be making progress on deals to sign the likes of Christian Norgaard and Christian Mosquera, they have yet to make significant ground on a new winger or striker.

Fortunately, the club have now been linked with another centre-forward, a world-class marksman who would be a better signing than Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal's striker search

Arsenal tend to find themselves embroiled in some kind of transfer saga every summer, with Declan Rice being the subject two years ago and Mikel Merino last summer.

Transfer Focus

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

This year, the saga has focused more on a position: a striker.

While there have been more than a handful of centre-forwards linked with the club in recent weeks and months, the two most significant have been Sesko and Gyokeres.

The former has been a long-term target for the Gunners, but with reports suggesting RB Leipzig now want between €80m-€100m for him, which is around £68m-£85m, the North Londoners’ interest seems to have cooled.

At the same time, the latter is currently in open conflict with Sporting CP over a supposed gentleman’s agreement that the club have broken, which in turn has seen his price soar up to £80m, per some reports.

With these problems present, it would make sense for the Gunners to look towards other targets, which appears to be what is happening.

At least that’s according to a recent report from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, who revealed that Arsenal are, in fact, interested in Julian Alvarez.

Speaking on the Latte Firm podcast, the respected journalist claimed that the North Londoners have “looked at” how they could do a deal for the Atlético Madrid superstar this summer.

Unfortunately, Mokbel does not believe it would be a deal the club is capable of doing, which may well be the case, as he only joined the Spanish giants for £82m last summer, and according to the CIES Football Observatory, he is now worth up to €125m, which is around £106m.

With that said, even though it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, as Alvarez would be a better signing than Sesko and Gyokeres.

How Alvarez compares to Sesko and Gyokeres

So then, if we start by looking at the comparisons between Sesko and Alvarez, it’s really quite straightforward to understand why the latter would be a better signing for Arsenal than the former, and it almost entirely comes down to their respective output.

For example, there is no denying that the Slovenian enjoyed a strong personal campaign with RB Leipzig this season, in which he scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3,258 minutes, which is an average of a goal or assist every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.

However, even with impressive numbers such as those, he was less effective than the Atlético star.

In his 57 appearances for the Spanish giants, which totalled 3967 minutes, the “best forward in the world,” as dubbed by Argentine journalist Roy Nemer, scored 29 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to a sublime average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 107.21 minutes.

Okay then, what would make the former Manchester City star a better signing than Gyokeres, who ended this season with a haul of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games?

Well, in this case, the argument comes down to two interlocking reasons: the level of opposition and his experience.

Regarding that first reason, the Portuguese league is currently ranked as only the 11th best in world football according to Opta, and worse than that, 11 of the 18 teams in it are considered to be around League One level. In contrast, La Liga is the third best in the world.

Add to that the fact the Swedish international has never played in a top-five league, and the risk of signing him over someone with Premier League-winning experience becomes crystal clear.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to make sure they sign the right striker this summer, and Alvarez looks like he ticks all the boxes, even if it’ll prove tough to get him out of Madrid.

Arsenal have just announced something that's more exciting than Zubimendi

Arsenal unveiled a special announcement on Thursday.

By
Matt Dawson

Jun 26, 2025

Supposing Liverpool get themselves a new centre-forward this summer, Arne Slot has the potential to forge a truly special outfit down Anfield Road, capable of dominating European football for many years to come.

Liverpool have already wrapped up deals for Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, while today is Tuesday, and it’s now Milos Kerkez week.

Without question, FSG aren’t spinning their wheels this summer, acting with intent to secure the core of Slot’s squad over the coming years.

While signing a centre-forward is very much on the radar, Darwin Nunez’s sale to Napoli must be finalised (Saudi Arabian suitors are also keen) before forward movement can take place on that front.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are being forced to contend with the possibility of losing one of their star forwards in Luis Diaz.

Why Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz

Back at the start of the month, Diaz spoke of his future on Merseyside, spoke of discussions held with potential suitors. He called it a natural part of the transfer window, especially in the earlier stages. He’s right.

Barcelona have a historic interest that they tried to act on, but Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes retorted in the negative when they made their approach. Barca, it’s felt, don’t have the financial sway to meet FSG’s demands. Diaz is one of the best wingers in Europe, after all.

However, Bayern Munich do have some moolah lying about and have reportedly since made their own enquiry for the 28-year-old Colombian, who scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists for the English champions in 2024/25. Cody Gakpo is also on the German giants’ wishlist.

Diaz is entering the next-to-last year of his Liverpool contract, but he will only be sold if a fitting proposal is tabled. Something in the region of €80m (£68m), perhaps.

Should Diaz go, though, he’d need to be replaced.

Liverpool make contact for Luis Diaz replacement

It must be stressed that the probability of this one coming to fruition is low, but according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are interested in signing Bradley Barcola this summer.

In fact, FSG have already made an official enquiry as they look to sign the silky Paris Saint-Germain star. However, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are also keen on the winger, who has emerged as one of the leading forwards in Europe over the past year.

As such, PSG have responded to calls by stating the 22-year-old is not for sale. Though it’s not explicitly stated, Bailey suggests Liverpool would be willing to fork out another £100m this summer, while discussing the intrigue surrounding Barcola.

Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola

If one of Liverpool’s biggest talents in Diaz leaves, a fitting replacement will be needed to balance the output and ensure Mohamed Salah is not encumbered by even more responsibility than he carried last term, albeit to a title-winning effect.

Barcola could certainly be that man, for the rising star has proven himself capable of taking the step from good prospect to world-class superstar under Luis Enrique’s wing at the Parc des Princes, scoring 14 goals and supplying ten assists across just 27 league starts in 2024/25, creating 18 big chances and averaging 1.5 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Joining PSG from Ligue 1 rivals Lyon in 2023 for a €45m (about £38m) fee, Barcola has only gone from strength to strength in a Parisian shirt, principally fielded off the left flank but also having tasted actually on the right and in a central berth.

Were he to take Diaz’s left wing spot (with the possibility of acting like the more experienced man in a false-nine-type role), Barcola would surely forge an incredible alliance with Wirtz, whose “generational” ball-playing quality – as has been commented on by journalist Chris Stonadge – would see the Frenchman picked out in promising position with frightening regularity.

Moreover, Wirtz’s off-the-ball intelligence is an impressive thing too, and as Barcola utilises his rapidity down the wing, the Germany international can weave into space and collect a pass, strike on goal.

Wirtz will bring creativity and a bouncing athletic style to Anfield, but Barcola would magnify that and then some through his fleet-footedness and electric dribbling, ranked as he was among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last term for goal contributions, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 7% for goal-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Think Diaz, but even more energetic, even more potent in the final third. Barcola will collect the ball and move into the danger area at breakneck pace, making inroads into enemy defensive territory after sweeping passes from, you guessed it, Wirtz.

Bagging the German is incredible enough for Slot’s project, but if a budding superstar in Barcola can be signed as well, there’s no telling how bright the future might be for the Premier League champions.

PSG might have issued an emphatic no to hungry suitors, but that hardly means a move couldn’t be brokered, particularly if his reported £100m price tag is met.

Any move for Barcola hinges on Diaz’s (or Gakpo’s) summer sale, and if such an eventuality does come about, Barcola might just be the perfect replacement.

He’s yet to realise his potential, and he’s already “one of the best wingers in the world”, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson. Liverpool need to get it done.

Slot's answer to Mane: Liverpool chasing "monster" £70m Premier League star

Liverpool have set their sights on another attacking star this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 24, 2025

Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing a free agent for manager Enzo Maresca, with the player leaving his club this summer and now readily available for hire.

Chelsea continue transfer plans after Club World Cup deadline

The Blues couldn’t get some high-profile deals signed and sealed in time before the pre-Club World Cup deadline, which passed on Tuesday at 7pm, but they could still add new players to the tournament’s squad thanks to a unique registration window open from June 27 to July 3.

"World-class" ace wants to leave Chelsea, many clubs now phoning his agent

The Blues also want to sell.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 13, 2025

This does exclude winger Jamie Gittens, though, due to the fact he’ll be registered as a Borussia Dortmund player for the Club World Cup.

However, regardless of not being able to participate for Chelsea at the tournament in any aspect, if they do eventually strike a deal, club director Sebastien Kehl confirmed in an interview this week that Chelsea will hold transfer talks for the 20-year-old again.

“We spoke on the phone, in the end we did not agree, because we have different ideas about the current value of the player,” he said to Tage Spiegel.

“Jamie definitely makes our team better. We are glad that he is there. We are in a good exchange and see how things are shaping in the future.

“Of course, at some point, if you take a player with it, you also have to sell. I assume that his market value will not fall. We will see to what extent we can keep it until the end of the tournament. There will be talks again.”

Alongside Gittens, Chelsea are believed to be prioritising new attacking additions right now, which includes a new winger, versatile attacking midfielder and another new striker after Liam Delap (Simon Phillips).

They could also add to their large crop of promising youngsters, following deals for Geovany Quenda, Dario Essugo and 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg in the last six months.

Chelsea close to finalising deal for ex-PNE defender Kian Best

According to a report from EFL Analysis, Chelsea want to sign former Preston North End left-back Kian Best on a free transfer.

The teenage defender was a “shock” departure from Deepdale this summer and is free to talk to clubs, which has piqued interest from Stamford Bridge officials who are now looking to bring Best to Cobham.

It is believed Chelsea are “close to finalising” a deal for Best after opening talks, with Maresca’s side pushing to make it happen. The England Under-19 international could then go out on loan to sister club Strasbourg to further his development.

Despite interest from Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, Best is on the verge of a move to Chelsea instead, and he’s been called “different class” by the manager who gave him his senior debut in 2023.

“His intelligence, passing range and quality on the ball is different class,” said former PNE boss Ryan Lowe.

“I think you only have to look at my record, I won’t hesitate to put them in regardless of how old they are. He’s definitely deserved a place in the team so far.”

Leeds United have now made an approach to sign a defender who’s “pure class”, and he could be available for a fee of just £5m, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

Leeds eyeing new defender amid Firpo uncertainty

Junior Firpo played a key role in the Whites’ promotion, collecting four goals and ten assists in 32 Championship games, but the left-back could now be heading for the exit door, amid widespread links with La Liga side Real Betis.

While Firpo is capable of making a real impact from an attacking point of view, former Leeds man Paul Robinson believes it may be the right decision to let the defender leave this summer, given his previous struggles in the top flight.

Robinson said: “Firpo, I’ve got my concerns about. I think he’s been excellent in the Championship. But some players, the Championship is their level, and in the Premiership, before he was exposed defensively, he was well out of position many times, susceptible to goals, and teams targeted him, and I think the step-up was maybe too much for him.”

In the Premier League, Daniel Farke’s side may have to be a bit more pragmatic than they were last season, which means the manager is looking to bring in a new left-back, who is defensively solid, rather than a threat going forward.

According to Jacobs, in an update on X, Leeds have now made an approach to sign Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno, submitting an enquiry about a deal for the left-back, who is also attracting interest from Burnley and a number of unnamed La Liga clubs.

With Moreno’s Villa contract set to expire in 2026, he is set to be available for around £5m this summer, making him an affordable option for the Championship title-winners.

Leeds United in talks over personal terms to sign £17m "absolute hero"

The Whites have stepped up their pursuit of a midfielder, with discussions ongoing.

2

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 11, 2025

"Pure class" Moreno impressed during Nottingham Forest loan

Having been deemed surplus to requirements by Unai Emery, the defender was shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season, and the Spaniard managed to impress at times, with writer Lee Clarke describing his performances as “pure class”.

Clarke also added: “I confess I was uncertain about his hamstring history when he signed but there have been no ill effects in that sense so far. Moreno is established on the left in the team now and he’s a 7/10 at the very least in every single game.”

That said, the 32-year-old, who has the same agent as Illan Meslier, went on to play less of a prominent role as the season went on, often being left on the bench by Nuno, which suggests he was unable to maintain his initial levels of performance.

As such, there are doubts over whether Moreno would be a worthwhile signing for Leeds, but he could be an upgrade on Firpo from a defensive standpoint, having outperformed the left-back across some key metrics over the past year.

Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday afternoon, celebrating Arne Slot’s triumph in front of so many legends, so many fans.

It was a day charged with emotion, an outpouring of joy and, for those such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, ruefulness, for he parted ways with his boyhood club ahead of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer next month.

It’s a big blow going forward: Alexander-Arnold is Anfield’s vice-captain and the club’s beating creative heart besides. However, don’t expect the newly-crowned champions to rest on their laurels.

Slot’s surpassing season has put Liverpool back on their perch, and FSG don’t want to stop there. Indeed, swift and incisive moves are being made to do it all again next season, making a through line into the fresh campaign.

Liverpool plan to make a series of exciting changes, but it’s hard to imagine any deal would top the move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool made their first official bid for Wirtz on Monday morning, offering Leverkusen a package in excess of €100m (£85m), including add-ons.

This suggests previous claims that the Germany international would cost FSG something in the ballpark of €150m (£126m) were wayward, and indeed music to the ears of those of a Liverpool persuasion.

There are a number of ways the Reds can line up with Wirtz in the squad, and that’s without even entertaining the possible acquisition of a new centre-forward.

We haven’t reached the finish line with this transfer ‘saga’, but we’re getting close. It would take a drastic and deflating turn of events for 22-year-old Wirtz to begin the 2025/26 campaign in a shirt other than Liverpool’s.

The rapidity with which FSG are taking care of business testifies to the enviable manner in which Liverpool get things done. There’s a reason Anfield has stood near the top of the European pile for a decade, after all.

Remarkably, the bid for Wirtz hasn’t detracted from other ventures. Jeremie Frimpong has reportedly completed his medical, should be announced this week. And moreover, Liverpool are closing in on yet another signing.

Liverpool agree terms with top target

Liverpool are making headway in their bid to sign Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. At the weekend, Fabrizio Romano revealed the Reds have the lead over Manchester City in the race, and indeed are in active discussions to bring the 21-year-old over to Anfield.

Now, the reputable journalist has confirmed to GIVEMESPORT that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with the sought-after left-back, with just “some small details to be clarified.”

It’s understood the Cherries want £45m for their prized prospect, though FSG would certainly hope to whittle this down and structure the outlay into smaller chunks.

Why Liverpool want Milos Kerkez

Andy Robertson’s performance against Palace on Sunday could be used as a gauge to examine the pressing need for a new left-back.

It was wonderful to see the 31-year-old receive his second Premier League title, but he’s past his best, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing him an “absolute legend” but noting he’s “hanging on in every game.”

Given Kostas Tsimikas has struggled to displace the veteran, forever his deputy, it’s understandable FSG should be pulling out all the stops in their bid to sign Kerkez, who has fallen in love with the prospect of Anfield after his immense breakout campaign.

The Hungarian, Dominik Szoboszlai’s international teammate, started all 38 of Bournemouth’s Premier League fixtures last season, scoring two goals, providing five assists and notably winning 60% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

The left-back will dynamise the left flank, raise the level through enhanced energy levels and attacking output. Moreover, his defensive game is at a superior level. With Wirtz arriving on the scene too, this bodes well for Slot’s second season.

Left-back Alex Grimaldo has been an incredible asset for the Werkself in recent years, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the role and covering large stretches of ground to provide a platform for those such as Wirtz, who is technically a ten but his influence is such that he defies positional definition, often drifting over to the left.

The Leverkusen star might be one of the elite playmakers of his generation, but he can’t do it all alone, especially if his left-back fails to drive play into his zone.

Luckily, Liverpool’s potential new defensive signing has the full package and could complement Wirtz’s silky, stylish attacking arsenal, having been described by pundit Izzy Christensen as a “machine” of a player.

Kerkez has a long way to go before he can call himself a playmaking asset on the level of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, but with Trent gone and the Scottish star no longer at his best, it’s crucial Kerkez steps in to supply the likes of Wirtz with the support he will need to flourish.

However, given his youth and impressive start to life in the Premier League, there’s every chance Kerkez can now go from strength to strength and make a significant impression for Slot’s Liverpool.

Across the past two seasons, Wirtz has posted 69 goal contributions across all competitions for Leverkusen, making a telling comment on the calibre of player the Reds are set to welcome.

With Kerkez in behind him, striking a devastating partnership, this could elevate the Anfield project to a level scarcely imaginable.

Forget Gravenberch: Slot's 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool drew against Crystal Palace before lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 25, 2025

After missing out on Matt O’Riley last summer, Atalanta have now reportedly made contact over a deal to sign another Celtic midfielder in this summer’s transfer window.

Celtic lift Scottish Premiership

The favourites before the season even got underway and dominant winners by the time the final whistle was blown to end the campaign, Celtic finally got their hands on the Scottish Premiership title last weekend. Having sealed their victory at the end of April, the Bhoys were forced to wait until their 1-1 draw against St. Mirren last time out to lift their fourth-consecutive title in front of Celtic Park.

Brendan Rodgers, who will go down as one of the most successful managers in Celtic history, went as far as to claim that this season’s title win is the most satisfying of his career.

He told reporters: “This is certainly the most satisfying. When I came in here in the first season, obviously I’m getting to know everyone in the club and the feeling.

“But now, especially coming back the second time, I can really embrace it more and enjoy it and just see it obviously as well how the team have been performing.”

That same satisfaction may not carry into the summer transfer window, however, as clubs begin to eye their moves for some of Rodgers’ best players. And just like last summer in the case of O’Riley, Celtic may struggle to keep hold of their star men.

A "Larsson-type signing": £7.8m star would "love" to play for Celtic

A former Celtic star has revealed that he would love to play for the club again.

By
Dan Emery

May 21, 2025

One that will be interesting to watch is Nicolas Kuhn. The winger enjoyed an excellent campaign – scoring a stunning 21 goals and setting up another 15 in all competitions. Now, he’s reportedly on the radar of sides such as Leeds United ahead of the summer transfer window and could yet leave alongside one other key player.

Atalanta make first Engels move

According to Sport Italia, Atalanta have now made a concrete move to sign Arne Engels from Celtic this summer. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly a fan of the midfielder and could now finally get a Celtic star one year on from missing out on O’Riley.

As much as the Bhoys are reluctant to sell Engels, too, it will be interesting to see just how far that stretches if the right offer comes in. Of course, if they ask Rodgers for his opinion on the matter, then he is likely to be keen to keep hold of one of his most important players.

When asked about the Belgian earlier this season, the Celtic boss told reporters: “I just think it’s about time with him. He’s really enjoying his time here. I’ve taken him out for some games just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him because it’s a big move and everything that comes with it.

“But he’s been excellent in training and he’s only going to get better and better. When he’s asked to step up in pressure moments, he delivers and that was an important first penalty for us. His ball in for the corner was absolutely great as well. So I’m really pleased with Arne.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now seen as favourites to appoint an “exciting” manager ahead of a significant Bundesliga side, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy allegedly making plans to potentially replace Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham identify new managers amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Postecoglou could lead the Lilywhites to their first European final since 2019, if they manage to get past Bodo/Glimt at their freezing-cold ground in Norway on Thursday.

Tottenham: £4m-per-year manager who Levy wants is tempted to replace Ange

He’s now open to joining Spurs.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 6, 2025

The prospect of a first major trophy since 2008 is also very much alive for Tottenham, but domestically, it’s been a season to forget. The north Londoners could still break their record for most Premier League losses in a single campaign, with Postecoglou’s side tasting defeat on 19 separate occasions already this term.

A succession of injuries to key players throughout 2024/2025 have severely handicapped Spurs’ chances of success, but only the three relegated sides (Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton) have lost more games overall, which simply isn’t good enough for a ‘big six’ side.

As a result, Postecoglou has been under the microscope, and there are reports the Australian could part ways with Tottenham regardless of their possible success in the Europa League (The Telegraph).

Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been mentioned as managerial candidates to replace Postecoglou in the last few weeks, alongside more high-profile names like Carlo Ancelotti, Jürgen Klopp and Xabi Alonso (GiveMeSport).

Another name who’s reportedly attracting interest from N17 is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

Last month, German media sources indicated that Tottenham have already made contact with Glasner over a potential move (Sport Bild), but the Austrian is also a top target for RB Leipzig amid their hunt for a new manager.

Tottenham ahead of RB Leipzig in race to appoint Oliver Glasner

The Austrian is turning heads after an excellent campaign at Palace, where he’s guided the Eagles to an FA Cup final at Wembley.

The south Londoners have a chance to win their first ever major trophy under Glasner’s watch, after coming very close in 2016, when they lost the FA Cup final to Man Utd under Alan Pardew.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with media outlet Bild now reporting that Spurs are seen as the likelier destination for Glasner ahead of Leipzig, despite the Bundesliga side’s “concrete” talks.

Tottenham are viewed as such favourites to appoint the 50-year-old that Leipzig are already considering other targets, which makes for promising reading if you wish to see Glasner make the move across London.

The tactician also guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory before his switch to England, with pundit John Wenham adamant Glasner would be an “exciting” appointment.

“He was flying with Palace last season. I know they made a slow start this season, but they lost some key players. However, since then, he has rebuilt well,” said Wenham to Tottenham News.

“He is far more exciting than most names that have been linked. Therefore, he is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest.”

Arsenal head into the summer with a new sporting director, Andrea Berta, and given the volume of work expected to be carried out, it’s just as well they’ve acted swiftly to appoint Edu’s successor.

Given Arsenal’s domestic plight this season, this summer is a crucial one for the Gunners as they go in search of adding the bodies required to help them lift their first Premier League title in over 20 years.

Top of Berta’s priority list must be a striker. Kai Havertz has been a solid signing, but he’s not your 20-goal-a-season man.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and of course, Alexander Isak continue to be linked with moves to north London.

Yet, this summer won’t all be about incomings. The Gunners need to get rid of a few bodies too.

Arsenal's exit dilemmas this summer

There are a few players definitely expected to depart this summer with Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney set to bring his association with the club to an end when his contract expires.

It’s expected that Tierney will head to former club Celtic, the side he swapped Arsenal for in a £25m deal in 2019.

Midfielder Jorginho is also expected to depart upon the conclusion of his contract but against all odds, Thomas Partey looks set to stay.

The Ghana midfielder’s deal ends at the conclusion of the season and it was widely thought that he would depart but the Athletic’s David Ornstein reported last week that talks are being held over a new deal.

So, who else could take their leave? Well, Oleksandr Zinchenko – who was linked with Dortmund last January – has seen decreased game time and will likely seek pastures new.

If Arsenal sign a new batch of forwards then don’t be surprised to see Leandro Trossard flee the Emirates either. There has been Saudi interest in the enigmatic Belgian who has found a recent run of strong form.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The other forward who must leave Arsenal

Over the last two seasons, there has been a common theme with Arsenal’s summer business. They’ve seen a batch of homegrown attackers leave the club.

In 2023, it was the turn of Folarin Balogun who after a rip-roaring season on loan in France, headed to Monaco in a permanent deal.

Last summer, Eddie Nketiah left for Crystal Palace, Mika Biereth headed to Sturm Graz in Austria and infamously, Chibo Obi Martin left to Manchester United.

Well, in 2025, it must be the turn of Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

The striker is out of contract in the summer and it’s unlikely Arsenal will take the opportunity to renew his terms.

Now aged 22, the forward has still only played 27 senior games of football in his career, and the returns he has to show for those appearances are non-existent, failing to find the back of the net.

While it might be a harsh assessment, one has to be realistic here. Butler-Oyedeji is just one year younger than Saka. He’s four years older than Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. While we wish him the best for the rest of his career, he’s not going to make it Arsenal, it’s as simple as that.

Despite that, it has been a landmark campaign for the young attacker who must have learnt plenty from his regular appearances in the Arsenal matchday squad.

He made his first-team debut against Dinamo Zagreb, appearing off the bench in a Champions League dead rubber a few months ago and then finally earned his Premier League debut last weekend, coming off the bench against Ipswich.

He’s rated highly, particularly by the aforementioned Nwaneri, who revealed that his “finishing is so good”.

It was a lovely moment indeed, but for a 22-year-old it’s for the best of his career that he goes out and finds regular first-team football at a senior level next season.

Arsenal are yet to see much of that expert finishing, but there’s no doubt he’ll have a successful career elsewhere. As we always say, one a Gooner, always a Gooner.

Arteta's next Havertz: Arsenal make enquiry to sign £52m "monster"

Arsenal could be about to land a new fprward to end their issues in the final third.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 27, 2025

Nottingham Forest are now interested in signing another Manchester City player alongside James McAtee this summer, according to a new report.

Nottingham Forest are chasing McAtee as summer plans begin

The Reds still have a lot to play for in this campaign, but given what they can achieve, the hierarchy at the City Ground are already putting plans in place ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Instead of Cunha: Nottingham Forest now eyeing "incredible" £50m PL forward

The Tricky Trees are now considering a surprise move for a Premier League forward, who may join instead of Matheus Cunha.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 24, 2025

Forest have been heavily linked with strengthening their forward line this summer, as Nuno Espirito Santo wants to take some of the burden off Chris Wood. But the Reds are also looking at improving their midfield options, and a recent report has revealed that the Premier League side are working on a deal to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus. Forest are set to have intensified talks with his representatives, and an offer could soon be on its way.

As well as working on potentially signing Luiz, Forest are also among the teams interested in signing McAtee from Man City. The Englishman will enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer, and while it is unclear if City are ready to sell, Forest are keeping an eye on his situation.

Nottingham Forest want to sign £100m Man City star

But McAtee is not the only City player who is on the Premier League side’s radar, as according to Caught Offside, Forest have now surprisingly joined the race to sign Jack Grealish from City.

The report states that the Reds see Grealish as a statement signing, especially if they can secure Champions League football for next season. However, they are not alone in the race for the England international, as teams such as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and West Ham are also keeping an eye on his situation.

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week (£15.6m per year) at the Etihad, is under contract until the summer of 2027, but given he has played just 19 games in the Premier League this season, with only seven coming as a starter, his time with City may be coming to an end.

Since moving to the Etihad in a deal worth £100 million, his career has kind of stalled, and a move to someone like Forest could rejuvenate his football career. Despite the lack of game time, Grealish is a player Pep Guardiola likes, as he labelled him “incredible”.

“I want him to make goals and assists, and he does too, but it’s not about that. It’s about his contribution without the ball and what he can produce for the other ones. We didn’t sign Jack Grealish for the incredible goals or assists at Aston Villa. It was for another reason. He competes with top, top players as well, and he knows it perfectly. He never complains about that.”

Last night was not the game or result Arsenal would’ve been hoping for ahead of their Champions League semi-final next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side lined up against Crystal Palace, who happen to have an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, and put in one of their most lacklustre and underwhelming performances of the entire season, which saw them pick up their 13th Premier League draw of the campaign – the second most in the competition.

From David Raya between the sticks to Raheem Sterling in attack, there were dire displays across the pitch for the Gunners.

However, there was at least one player who put in yet another impressive showing, a player who has made himself undroppable and is starting to resemble Granit Xhaka in certain ways.

The story of Xhaka's redemption at Arsenal

Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach around £30m for Xhaka in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t particularly poor, it would probably be fair to say he underwhelmed for the first few seasons of his career in North London.

However, it was clear from the get-go that he was a passionate player and that, combined with his seniority, saw him handed the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 following a vote from his teammates.

Unfortunately, the team’s results nosedived soon after and, following an unsavoury episode in which he swore and goaded a jeering Emirates before throwing the shirt and armband to the floor, he had the captaincy stripped from him less than two months after receiving it.

The Swiss international would later reveal that at that point, he was set on leaving the club but eventually decided to stay and fight for his reputation after being convinced to do so by the recently appointed Arteta.

While it took some time, the Basel-born titan eventually started to win the fans back onside, and finally, after three years of graft, he was handed the armband again by Arteta in the absence of Martin Odegaard away to Brentford in September 2022, a game that also saw the fans begin to sing his name again, much to his appreciation.

That season would be his best in red and white as he racked up a brilliant tally of nine goals – two of which came in his final game – and seven assists in 47 appearances from central midfield.

Xhaka left the club that summer, but instead of doing so under a cloud of controversy as it seemed he would just a few years earlier, he left as a cult hero and with a rapturous Emirates Stadium singing his name.

Now it looks like a player in the current squad could be crafting something of a cult status for himself this year.

The current Arsenal star with shades of Xhaka

There are probably some of you thinking that the player in question is Mikel Merino, as, after all, the Spaniard is positionally similar to Xhaka and has seen his stock skyrocket among Arsenal fans in recent months, but you’d be wrong.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Instead, the current Gunners star who is starting to have shades of the Swiss international about him is none other than Jakub Kiwior.

Okay, so we know the pair couldn’t be more different in terms of position and, therefore, playstyle, but where they play has practically nothing to do with this comparison, as it’s based on their standing within the fanbase more than anything else.

For example, just a few months ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who’d had a particularly strong feeling towards the Polish international, as while he’s stepped in here and there, he’s never really looked like a first-team quality player.

In fact, it was only in December that Arsenal podcaster Phil Costa branded the former Spezia ace “shocking,” claiming that “he hasn’t kicked on at all since joining” and that, at the end of the day, “he isn’t good enough.”

Now, in his defence, it wasn’t an uncommon opinion, with content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny describing the international as “shakey” following his underwhelming performance vs Bayern Munich last season.

So, while there wasn’t the same vitriol that there was surrounding Xhaka’s fall, there was a similar desire from plenty of fans to move the Tychy-born star on and find someone better as soon as possible, which in turn led to some serious concern over how he’d cope covering for Gabriel Magalhães following the Brazilian’s hamstring surgery.

However, instead of becoming a weak spot in the team, the “extraordinary” defender, as dubbed by Robert Lewandowski, has stepped up in a massive way.

For example, aside from a minor mistake early on in the first leg against Real Madrid, he was simply sensational. Moreover, after William Saliba’s mistake that led to a goal in the second leg, there is a strong argument that he was the better centre-back of the pair.

Then again, last night, while the Frenchman made a costly mistake, he was near-enough faultless, scoring a goal, making some impressive tackles and earning himself an 8/10 match rating from journalist Tom Canton, which was more than justified by his statistics.

For example, in 98 minutes of action, he scored, made six clearances, won 100% of his duels, blocked two shots, made one tackle, lost the ball just seven times despite taking 135 touches, completed 115 passes, was accurate with two of three long balls, and was even successful in 100% of his dribbles.

Ultimately, Kiwior has transformed from a player fans were worried about starting into one who’s outshining Saliba and becoming an increasing fan favourite for the no-nonsense way he’s going about his job – if that doesn’t remind you of Xhaka’s transformation, we don’t know what will.

Worse than Saliba: 3/10 "passenger" must never start for Arsenal again

Arsenal suffered yet another draw as they slipped up against Crystal Palace.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 24, 2025