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Arsenal appear to be eyeing up a move for a free agent, with the Gunners already having him at London Colney.

Arsenal transfer rumours

Mikel Arteta’s side have been in fine form in the Premier League in 2024, with the Gunners looking to pip both Liverpool and Manchester City to the title.

However, away from the pitch, sporting director Edu Gaspar already appears to be planning for the summer.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of players in recent months, including some high-profile names such as Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong and Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee.

However, the Gunners also appear to have their eyes on some young talent, looking to the future, with AC Milan starlet Franceso Camarda, Brazilian talent Douglas Mendes and Georgian teenager Vakhtang Salia all on the Emirates radar.

Another gem has now been linked with a move to north London, one who has already trained with Arsenal.

Free agent trains with Arsenal

According to reports from Denmark, relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal have recently had highly-rated goalkeeper Lucas Martin Nygaard training with them.

The 17-year-old has been without a club since leaving FC Nordsjaelland earlier this year and has also trained with Paris Saint-Germain. The report claims that the two sides have brought him to their bases to take a good look and decide on any offer.

Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal boss Arteta absolutely loves £60m midfielder

The Spaniard is a really big admirer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 6, 2024

No concrete offer has been made as of yet, but it looks as if Arsenal have their eye on Martin, who Denmark U18 manager Lasse Stensgaard recently called a “real winner”.

“He’s a real winner and he will do everything he can to win. He trains insanely well and gives it his all on the pitch, and that also means that he takes the lead in that part when we play the games. He sets a standard that we are here because we have to win and not just play the game.

“In the last couple of years, he has improved his saves so that he’s also a decisive player and can take some balls, so he’s not just primarily good with his feet, but also good at what is actually in the job description.”

A move to north London could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks or months, especially with Martin already visiting London Colney.

The Blues went down 2-0 at Stamford Bridge as they barely laid a glove on the defending champions following another tumultuous summer

Back in the summer of 2021, Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Champions League final. The Blues were back moving in the right direction as a team packed with homegrown stars won the club's second European Cup. City, on the other hand, were still waiting for their first taste of continental glory after another Pep Guardiola over-think in Porto.

Fast-forward just over three years, and the two teams couldn't be further apart after hurtling in opposite directions almost ever since. City have gone on to become an unstoppable force in the Premier League while getting over the line in Europe in 2023, while Chelsea have become the laughing stock of English football after a change in ownership that brought with it the biggest spending spree the world has ever seen, coupled with a cull of the Blues' beloved academy graduates to make room on the wage bill for countless big-money flops.

It was against that backdrop that Chelsea hosted City on Sunday in their opening game of the new campaign, and to no one's surprise, Guardiola's defending champions ran out easy winners as Enzo Maresca was left to pick over the bones of a disappointing 2-0 defeat following his debut in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

Goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic cruised City to victory over a team they failed to beat last season, while drama surrounding the future of Raheem Sterling overshadowed Maresca's big day as his new boss Todd Boehly watched on from the stands at what was a muted stadium given the occasion.

Quite where Chelsea go from here is anyone's guess. The only certainty anyone was able to take away with them was that City will yet again take some beating.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stamford Bridge…

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  WINNER: Pep Guardiola

  If there was a time to play City this season, it was the opening weekend. Four of the champions' biggest stars – Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones – were not in the XI at Stamford Bridge following their Euros heroics in reaching the final, and thus Guardiola was all but forced into the line up he selected.

  Despite that, his team barely had to get out of second gear all game as they eased to victory. Aside from initially having Jeremy Doku and Premier League debutant Savinho on the 'wrong' wings for the opening 15 minutes, Guardiola set his team up perfectly and clearly his squad doesn't lack for motivation despite all their success.

  If this is what City can do without some of their best players and with others still in pre-season mode following their own summer tournament travails, then imagine what they will be capable of once they get into a proper rhythm… The rest of the title-challengers will not have enjoyed what they saw in west London.

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  LOSER: Enzo Maresca

  Given Maresca's previous life working under Guardiola, few managers will have been better prepared for their first meeting with City than the Italian. You wouldn't, however, have known it from the insipid display Chelsea served up on Maresca's competitive debut.

  Despite having an excited home crowd to entertain on the opening day, the Blues barely threatened, with Nicolas Jackson's propensity to drift offside ruining their best opportunities to cause the visitors problems in the first half. Maresca's side improved slightly after the break, but by the end they were chasing shadows as City toyed with them.

  Maresca has walked into an unenviable situation given the dysfunction that has enveloped Chelsea over the past two-and-a-half years, and though this wasn't the calamity of some of the Blues' pre-season showings, it did not inspire much confidence, either. Easier games are on the horizon, but the lack of atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge for much of the game told a story of a team that lacked any kind of fluidity.

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  WINNER: Erling Haaland

  This was Haaland's 100th appearance for City and marked the start of his third season with the club. Unfortunately for everyone else in the Premier League, he once again looks in the mood to dominate the goal-scoring charts.

  This was a typical Haaland display; though he wasn't too involved in general play, he proved a nuisance for the opposition centre-backs, and when the time came, he provided a combination of power and precision to put the ball in the net.

  The Norwegian's goal – his 91st in a City shirt – was a thing of beauty, and one the man himself deemed "perfect" after he finally got his revenge on Robert Sanchez for a save the Chelsea goalkeeper made from him last season. The Spanish shot-stopper did keep Haaland from making it three opening-weekend braces in succession, but the two-time Golden Boot winner knows there will be more opportunities to add to his tally, starting with Ipswich at the Etihad next week.

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• Getty Images
  

  LOSER: Enzo Fernandez

  Chelsea had a lot of players who underperformed in this game. Jackson was culpable on more than one occasion, Christopher Nkunku failed to back up a promising pre-season and Sanchez looked shaky with the ball at his feet before hopelessly flapping at Kovacic's shot as it nestled in the goal. But perhaps the most disappointing display came from Enzo Fernandez.

  Despite the off-field issues that plagued his pre-season, Fernandez was handed the captain's armband in Reece James' absence, but lead from the front he did not. His first touch was off, he pressed as an individual rather than as part of any team-wide structure, and he spent as much time remonstrating with others as he did making a positive impact on the game.

  The Argentina international will perhaps feel he should have had two penalties in the first half, but on both occasions he was guilty of throwing himself to the ground after losing possession inside the penalty area. Chelsea fans have been calling on the £107 million man to stand up on a consistent basis as he enters his second full season in west London, so this was not a good early sign of any improvements being made.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are flying high in the Premier League at the moment, but thoughts will soon begin to turn towards the summer transfer window.

Gary O’Neil has enjoyed a solid debut campaign managing the Old Gold and if they secure a top half finish in the top flight, he could attract some talented players.

Wolves transfer news

O’Neil will have to wait until the end of the season to see just how much money he will have to spend during the summer, but he may have to move on a few players in order to raise some funds.

Bolstering his defence could be one of his main priorities. Will this lead him to perhaps reignite a move for a Brazilian defender?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Fabricio Bruno is reportedly open to a move to Europe this summer, with Flamengo valuing the centre-back at as much as €15m (£13m) following some solid performances.

Romano goes on to state that Wolves, along with Atalanta and Nottingham Forest all approached him in 2023 regarding a potential move, but nothing ever materialised.

Wolves have the ninth-best defensive record in the top flight, conceding 44 goals so far, but improvement can always be made. Craig Dawson also does not have long left at the top, suggesting that Bruno could be an ideal replacement.

Fabricio Bruno’s statistics for Flamengo

Dawson has started 25 league matches this season, emerging as a key member of O’Neil’s side, but his contract is due to expire in 2025, and it is clear some new blood is required at the heart of the defence.

Throughout 2023, Bruno played a staggering 64 matches for Flamengo, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists, proving to be a reliable member of the first-team squad.

In the Brazilian top flight, Bruno ranked third among his teammates with regard to overall Sofascore rating (7.12), along with ranking first for accurate passes per game (58.7) and accurate long balls per game (4.2), demonstrating his wonderful passing ability.

His ability to bring the ball out from the defence could also be key for O’Neil going forward. When compared to his positional peers, Bruno ranks in the top 5% for progressive passes per 90 (5.91) in the men’s next 14 competitions, suggesting he is a forward-thinking defender with an eye for a pass.

Dawson, on the other hand, currently ranks in the bottom 19% for progressive passes per 90 (2.35) when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, and it clearly shows he is more of an old-school centre-back, preferring to use his physical strength rather than play the ball forward on a regular basis.

There are merits for both a combative defender and one who plays out from the back and thinks of advancing the ball, but with O’Neil looking to push his side to the next level, making a move for the 6 foot 3 Brazilian this summer could be a wise one.

Dawson may have another year left in him, but there is no doubt Bruno – who has been dubbed a "colossus" by insider All Things Brazil – could be a wonderful replacement for the Englishman.

Wolves leading the race to sign dream Hwang rival in “clinical” star

The 27-year-old striker would be a brilliant addition to the Wolves squad.

By
Tom Lever

Mar 27, 2024

Liverpool have made three signings so far in the transfer window with Calvin Ramsey, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho all joining the Anfield outfit, but they have in an equal measure lost a number of players this summer.

Divock Origi, Taki Minamino and Sadio Mane have all left the club to take on new challenges elsewhere, with Mane’s unexpected exit the most likely to cause disruption in the team following his fantastic number of goal contributions.

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The Senegalese winger made the decision to leave the Reds just 12 months before his contract was due to expire with Mane joining Bayern Munich on a permanent move. Now, Liverpool could ask a favour of the Bundesliga champions in return.

The Merseyside club has been linked with a move for Serge Gnabry this summer, and despite playing predominantly as a right winger he can offer the goal contributions and attacking capabilities needed to replace Mane.

Gnabry has scored 64 times and delivered 40 assists in 171 appearances, impressively with a goal contribution every 105 minutes for Bayern, but it’s not just his goals and assists that have been attracting the attention of the powers at Anfield over the last season.

The £34m dynamo created a whopping 17 big chances, making 1.4 key passes, 1.4 tackles and taking two shots on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels combined (51%) and being successful in the majority of his dribbles (61%) over 34 Bundesliga appearances.

This season Gnabry ranked ninth for G/A contributions, shot-creating actions, and ranked seventh in the entire top five European leagues for key passes completed.

The Germany international has been the recipient of high praise, with Rio Ferdinand branding Gnabry “world class” on BT Sport (via Daily Mail);

“His stats are phenomenal. He’s sitting in the top level, world class.

“He’s come to Germany and set the place on fire, he was absolutely stunning tonight. His decision making has been extraordinary.”

With all considered, the former Arsenal man would be a great addition and a valuable asset to the team, especially if Mohamed Salah leaves next summer as he plays mostly on the right wing so it could be a win win situation for FSG ahead of next term.

AND in other news: Offer made: FSG closing in on Liverpool deal for “special” £35m gem, he’s Coutinho 2.0

Leeds United will ‘really push’ to sign Wolves forward Adama Traore this summer, according to Dean Jones.  

The Lowdown: Traore linked with Leeds

Hailed as a ‘danger man’ by Noel Whelan, the Spain international has once again been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road this summer.

Leeds appear to be in the market for a new pacey forward after already making three signings, with Wolves willing to sell the 26-year-old for around £18m.

Reports in recent days have claimed that the Whites have made an approach for Traore, who has 18 senior career goals, and Jones has shared what he knows regarding the situation.

The Latest: Jones’ comments on Traore

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist said that Leeds are looking to make a ‘breakthrough’ in their pursuit of Traore after going back in for the Spaniard.

Jones outlined:

“One of the things I have heard is that Leeds are back in for Adama Traore and they’re going to really push to see if they can get a breakthrough on this one.”

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The Verdict: A gamble?

Jesse Marsch already has a quick forward at Elland Road in Dan James, who has question marks when it comes to his end product, so looking to sign Traore could be a gamble by Leeds officials.

Despite his searing pace, the Spain international has also struggled in front of goal throughout his career, netting just eight times in 160 Premier League appearances for Wolves, Aston Villa and Middlesborough.

However, Victor Orta is a big admirer of the 26-year-old and signed him for Middlesbrough in 2016. Marcelo Bielsa was a huge fan of James and eventually got a deal over the line last summer, so it wouldn’t come as a shock if Orta gets his way and brings Traore to Yorkshire.

TalkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Liverpool to sell Roberto Firmino this summer after the new arrival of Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Nunez signs

It was confirmed earlier this week that the Benfica striker has made the move to the Premier League after putting pen to paper on a six-year deal at Anfield, for what could rise to a club-record fee of £85m.

Firmino has been one of the Reds’ longest-serving players, having joined the Merseyside outfit in 2015, but he, alongside his strike partners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are all set to be out of contract with the top-flight giants next year, creating plenty of speculation surrounding their individual futures.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes Firmino claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor insisted that Liverpool had to sign a new forward as a result of Manchester City securing Erling Haaland, but it leaves Firmino out in the cold:

“They needed to do it. Regardless of whether Mane stays or goes, they needed another attacker.

“Firmino is not good enough. He’s done well for Liverpool over the years but it’s time for him to go.

“You’ve got to keep up with other teams, you can’t stay still. It’s a big statement signing.

“I’m sure Man City were buzzing when they signed Haaland and now they’ve seen Liverpool get Nunez they will think it’s going to be a hard season and it’s hard to call.”

The Verdict: Ideal backup option

Firmino was definitely unlucky when it came injuries last season, having missed a total of 25 matches as a result of sustaining four separate problems, something which contributed to him slightly falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Brazilian still managed to make 20 top-flight appearances and recorded nine goal contributions during that time, as per Transfermarkt, showing that he is still very much capable of producing the goods when given the chance.

There’s no way that the 30-year-old will consistently be chosen to be in the Liverpool starting XI ahead of Nunez or Diogo Jota for that matter, but he’s still a player who is good to have around the building and can make a hugely positive impact from the bench, so there would be no harm in keeping him around for a little bit longer.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped a Sadio Mane transfer twist.

Everton’s interest in Harry Winks could play a part in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over Richarlison, according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law.

The lowdown

Tottenham have expressed an interest in signing the 25-year-old, but the Toffees are driving a hard bargain. They believe he’s worth ‘well over’ £50m, having paid an initial £35m (potentially rising to £50m with add-ons) for the Brazilian in 2018.

Winks, who can play as both a defensive midfielder and a number eight, has two years remaining on his contract with the Lilywhites. The 26-year-old only started nine Premier League matches last season, and may therefore be open to making a move in pursuit of additional game time.

The latest

In The Telegraph, Law explained that Everton are admirers of Winks, who could consequently be included as part of a deal which would see Richarlison going in the opposite direction.

Alternatively, he and the Brazil international could move in separate transfers.

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The verdict

Transfermarkt value Winks at £15.3m, so that’s roughly the figure that we may see knocked off Richarlison’s price tag if he becomes part of the package. Would this be a smart business decision from Everton?

Winks is an accomplished distributor, ranking in the 76th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for passing accuracy (86.6%) and the 98th percentile for progressive passes, as per FBRef. Also, he is capable of ‘dictating the game’, in the words of former Spurs striker Robbie Keane.

In this respect, the Englishman – who is similar in profile to Chelsea’s Jorginho – could be a real asset if he is added to Frank Lampard’s midfield.

He has earned praise from Pep Guardiola in the past, with the City manager noting after a 1-0 win for his team against Spurs at Wembley in 2018 that Winks ‘changed the game’ as a substitute, while the 26-year-old’s former boss Mauricio Pochettino likened him to Xavi and Iniesta.

Just imagine seeing a player of that ilk strutting his stuff at Goodison Park every other week…

In other news, David Ornstein has shared some big Everton news.

Pod On The Tyne host Taylor Payne has been left buzzing as Sven Botman could now sign for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Closing in

Writing in his latest piece for The Daily Telegraph, reliable journalist Luke Edwards has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are now ‘closing in’ on a deal to sign Botman.

Sources have indicated that they are close to a breakthrough for the central defender, after holding talks with Lille following their failed swoop in January.

The Latest: Payne buzzing

Taking to Twitter, Payne, who hosts The Athletic’s regular Magpies show, was left buzzing after hearing that the North East club are close to signing Botman:

“Massive signing if we can get this done. One of the best young defenders in Europe.”

The Verdict: Big coup

Signing Botman would certainly be a big coup for the Tynesiders, especially considering the fact that Serie A champions AC Milan are also in contention for his signature.

Of course, the Italian outfit can offer him UEFA Champions League football, so getting one over on them will feel huge for the Magpies in terms of their lure for top players.

Botman was Lille’s third-best performing player in Ligue 1 last season, and averaged more clearances and passes per game than any of his teammates (WhoScored), showing that he is equally as comfortable at playing out from the back as he is at getting stuck in to challenges.

Nonetheless, the six-foot-five colossus could end up forming a truly frightening partnership with the six-foot-six Dan Burn.

In other news, find out what Craig Hope is now ‘hearing’ from NUFC here!

Aston Villa are closing in on the permanent signing of goalkeeper Robin Olsen, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

As per the transfer insider, the Midlands outfit appear keen to exercise the buy option in the Swede’s loan deal, with the 32-year-old having joined the club on a temporary switch from Serie A side AS Roma back in January.

Writing on Twitter about the situation regarding the 56-cap international, Romano revealed that an agreement is close: “Aston Villa are getting closer to find full agreement with AS Roma on Robin Olsen deal. Buy option clause for €3.5m expected to be triggered soon, as Aston Villa want to keep Olsen at the club. Talks in progress, the deal could be completed soon.”

The £1.8m-rated giant had spent the first half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship outfit Sheffield United, prior to moving to Villa Park, having also played the role of understudy to Jordan Pickford at Everton the year prior.

Supporters delighted

It may not prove to be quite as exciting as the club’s other summer business – having already snapped up Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho – yet supporters will no doubt be delighted to see the proactive attitude to Steven Gerrard’s squad rebuild, with the former Rangers boss seemingly wanting to get his transfer dealings done swiftly.

With further additions also in the pipeline, amid links to soon-to-be free agent Luis Suarez, the former England skipper appears to be receiving substantial backing in order to put his stamp on the squad, with expectations for next term now likely to have sky-rocketed.

As for Olsen, there may not be too many fireworks over a player who was technically already at the club and had made just a solitary Premier League appearance during his six-month loan stint, although he will no doubt provide quality cover to undisputed first-choice, Emi Martinez.

The 6 foot 5 stopper’s solitary top-flight outing came in that remarkable final-day defeat to eventual champions Manchester City at the Etihad, with the visitors squandering a two-goal to help hand Pep Guardiola’s men the title.

The one-time Malmo man had hardly been culpable for any of City’s excellently crafted goals – nor did he deserve to be on the receiving of an awful, post-match assault from a home supporter – with Villa’s problems this term having largely been among the defence, rather than between the sticks – shipping 54 goals in the most recent campaign.

A veteran at international level, Olsen also provides valuable experience to a dressing room that is beginning to overflow with top-class talent, with his presence in the dressing room potentially set to prove vital next term.

As for supporters, they will likely be glad to see the deal wrapped up quickly, so that the club can prioritise other areas of need.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

The Athletic’s Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers has provided an update on the possibility of the West Midlands club luring Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes to Molineux this summer.

What’s the story?

Speaking on the Talking Wolves YouTube channel, Spiers explained: “So he’s one, again, given who he is and his agency, he’s just constantly on Wolves’ radar, obviously because they know it’s a deal that they can do.

“So that link will perpetually be there, really. If a forward option came up this summer, he’d be right at the top of the list for them.”

The winger has one year left on his current deal with the La Liga outfit and is a client of Jorge Mendes, who represents numerous members of Wolves’ squad.

Therefore, the Portuguese agent’s association with Guedes could seriously increase the likelihood of the 25-year-old signing for Wolves this summer.

Wolves must sign Guedes

If Wolves are to strengthen any position this summer, you would argue that it would have to be in attack, with Bruno Lage’s side ending the campaign with one of the Premier League’s lowest scoring records.

Despite finishing 10th, the Old Gold scored just 38 goals in as many top-flight matches, with only the three relegated clubs scoring fewer goals.

Moreover, creativity from the flanks has been limited in the league this term, with Daniel Podence being Wolves’ most potent winger with two goals and three assists.

Guedes would undoubtedly improve Wolves’ front line, with the 29-cap Portugal international scoring 11 goals and setting up a further six in La Liga this season as Valencia finished ninth in the Spanish top flight.

This campaign has been a major improvement in front of goal for the winger, who scored just five goals in La Liga last season alongside six assists.

Guedes’ strong pedigree is clear to see, making him an excellent prospective signing for Wolves.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old can be accommodated straight into the team, with Francisco Trincao set to return to Barcelona after an unsuccessful loan spell, whilst Adama Traore could still leave despite Barcelona not taking up the option of making his loan deal permanent.

Wolves supporters will want to see intent from the board this summer, particularly after such a poor end to the campaign. With the prospective signing of Guedes, fans would certainly be appeased.

AND in other news: Wolves now closing in on “special” £23.4m-rated signing, it could be bye-bye Neves