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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is prepared to sell an “important” player who “goes under the radar”, with the Gunners looking to recuperate much-needed funds after a summer of serious spending.

Mikel Arteta’s side are widely expected to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title with Liverpool after splashing north of £250 million on eight key arrivals in Kepa, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie.

There’s been promising signs from a few of them already, perhaps most notably Madueke, who has showcased real improvement since joining Arsenal at both club and international level.

The former Chelsea star has already been tipped to end Gabriel Martinelli’s career in north London, amid uncertainty over the Brazilian’s long-term future.

Martinelli is attracting interest from AC Milan and a move in January is very much possible, according to reports, but the Gunners value him at around £60 million and suitors were only willing to go up to £40 million in the summer (CaughtOffside).

Arsenal could be set for major changes in the wide area following the arrival of Madueke and Eberechi Eze, who’s primarily viewed as a central playmaker but can operate on the wing.

Alongside Martinelli, Belgian winger Leandro Trossard has been linked with a move elsewhere, even after he put pen to paper on a non-extended new contract with improved salary terms.

The 30-year-old is a wonderful impact player on his day, but Arsenal are running out of time to make any money back off the winger’s sale as his deal expires in 2027, and reports last week even suggested that Besiktas held out-of-window talks to sign Trossard in a potential £19 million move.

While this ultimately didn’t go anywhere, ex-Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown says that Trossard’s exit is still likely in January or next summer.

Arsenal prepared to sell Leandro Trossard as replacement mooted

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown states he’s “heard” that Arsenal are prepared to sell Trossard if the right offer comes in — despite him being an “important” member of the squad.

During his time in N5, Trossard has scored some big goals at crucial times, and fired home an impressive 16 in all competitions across 2023/2024 in what was his best season at the Emirates to date — including four in the Champions League.

Trossard also racked up eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League alone last term, so while he’s not one of the mainstays on Arteta’s team sheet, the attacker could still have a significant role to play before Berta finally decides they have to sell.

Mjallby AIF, based in a small fishing village, have achieved an incredible feat as they secured their first-ever Swedish league title with a 2-0 win over Goteborg on Sunday. Mjallby made history with three games to spare as they now lead second-placed Hammarby by 11 points. The club have secured an outstanding 20 wins in 27 league games and have lost just once.

• Leicester-esque achievement from Mjallby

  Mjallby AIF come from a small southern fishing village Hallevik, which has a population of just 1,500. With a 2-0 win over Goteborg on Monday night, the club wrote an unthinkable underdog story as they secured their first-ever Swedish top division title. In the process, they have also secured a berth in the 2026-27 Champions League (second qualifying round) for the first time in their history. Mjallby's achievement is drawing comparisons to what Leicester City achieved in the 2015-16 season when they won the Premier League, beating a 5000-1 odds. Also, it has to be noted that when the Foxes did the unthinkable in England a decade ago, Mjallby were struggling in Sweden's third tier. 

  The current era in Sweden has been mostly dominated by Malmo, who won in eight out of the last 12 editions of the Allsvenskan. However, Mjallby have broken that recent dominance, managing to do so on a budget estimated to be around 15 per cent of Malmo's.

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  How have rivals described Mjallby's historic season?

  Kim Hellberg, head coach of Hammarby, who have been Mjallby's closest rival in the 2025 campaign and are poised to finish as runners-up, spoke highly of the new champions.

  "Mjallby are a really good side," he said. "They’ve been absolutely fantastic, they've exceeded all expectations. It's also a team that has got an exceptional amount out of what they've created. If you look at the underlying numbers, they've been overperforming quite a lot."

• Who are the key figures behind Mjallby's success?

  Firstly, Mjallby's head coach Anders Torstensson has to be named who has played a key role in club's historic success. 59-year-old Torstensson is assisted by Karl Marius Aksum, a tactics guru who has a PHD in 'visual perception in football'. The club have sold several of their youth players and reinvested the money judiciously for fresh signings, strictly based on data-based recruitment. This has resulted in the club signing Gambian attacker Abdoulie Manneh. 

  Another key figure in their dressing is 23-year-old goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist who has had exceptional campaign with the now Swedish champions. Mjallby conceded only 17 goals throughout the season and much of that credit goes to the Swedish custodian. Tornqvist was so good at his job that he attracted interest from Como boss Cesc Fabregas, who signed the goalkeeper in the summer but loaned him back for the remainder of 2025. Tornqvist will soon head to Italy to play in Serie A from January following the conclusion of the Swedish campaign. He has also earned a call up to the national team after Sweden's long-serving No.1 Robin Olsen announced his international retirement.

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  Mjallby's achievement a silver lining amid Sweden national team's crisis

  While Mjallby's historic title win will inspire clubs across the globe, the Sweden national team's performance is at an all-time low. They are on the verge of failing to qualify for the expande 48-strong World Cup after taking just one point from their first four matches. Most recently they lost back-to-back games in the October international break against Switzerland and Kosovo. The losses meant that only a miracle can help them secure a berth in the World Cup next year.

  Sweden took steps to remedy that by sacking head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson. The Dane became Sweden's first-ever foreign coach in February 2024 but his reign lasted less than two years as he was relieved of his duties last Tuesday, a day after Sweden suffered that embarrassing loss against Kosovo.

  Both of Sweden's star forwards, Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, featured in the October clashes but the high profile Premier League pair failed miserably in front of goal. Sweden next face Switzerland and Slovenia in their final two group fixtures in November. If they win those last two matches, they will at least stand a chance to progress to the World Cup play-offs next month. 

West Ham United have made an offer for an “outstanding” midfielder, who is now keen on a move to a new Premier League club.

West Ham's midfield criticised amid slow start

There was some respite before the international break, with West Ham picking up a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground, but the 3-0 defeat at home against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday underlined the fact that many problems still remain.

One of the Hammers’ main issues is their midfield, as pointed out by journalist and fan writer James Jones, who said: “It has been painfully clear that Potter’s side lacks pace, creativity and physicality in the middle of the park. A combination of James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez does not equal a top quality midfield at this level.”

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Soucek, in particular, struggled in the thrashing at home against Tottenham, being shown a straight red card early in the second half, which arguably emphasised the importance of Graham Potter bringing in a new central midfielder during the January transfer window.

According to a report from Africa Foot, there could be an opportunity to do exactly that, with it being revealed West Ham have made an offer for Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma, who has now expressed his desire to remain in the Premier League.

Having suffered a knee injury, Bissouma has been ruled out until October and is set to remain in north London until the January transfer window, and there is no shortage of interest in the midfielder’s signature, with the likes of Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Chelsea also making proposals.

Spurs are open to cashing-in on the central midfielder, who has previously been valued at £14m, but the north Londoners would prefer to sell him to a foreign club, with Chicago Fire, Galatasaray Spor Kulübü, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Lyon keen.

"Outstanding" Bissouma could be upgrade on Soucek defensively

There is no denying that Soucek has had a difficult start to the campaign, being dismissed against Spurs last time out, while also recording a 6.1 SofaScore match rating against Chelsea, the second-lowest figure of any outfield player.

As such, it could be worth bringing in an upgrade on the Czechia international, and there are signs the Tottenham ace could be exactly that, at least from a defensive point of view, given his ball-winning and passing abilities.

The Mali international is also vastly experienced at Premier League level, having been lauded as “outstanding” by Statman Dave during his time with Brighton & Hove Albion.

There may be some concerns over the signing of Bissouma, having fallen out of favour under Thomas Frank, but he clearly has the talent to be a success at the London Stadium if his attitude is right.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has no regrets after being sent off for his wild celebration following his side’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool, saying the emotion of the affair meant that his dismissal was “worth it”. The Blues boss was given his marching orders after running down the touchline to join in the euphoria at Stamford Bridge after Estevao Willian’s dramatic late winner.

• Maresca hugged his players after Estevao sent Stamford Bridge into raptures

  Facing the possibility of going four Premier League games without a victory, teenager Estevao popped up with a crucial winner in Chelsea’s last-gasp triumph over Liverpool on Saturday, 4 October. The Brazil international scored his first league goal for the club as he prodded home at the back post in the fifth minute of added time. And the goal sparked incredible scenes of jubilation in west London with manager Maresca getting caught up in the moment as he hugged his players near the corner flag.

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  Italian received his marching orders for a second bookable offence

  And as a result of sprinting down the touchline to celebrate with his players in front of the delighted Chelsea faithful, Maresca was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for his second bookable offence of the evening. And now the Italian will serve a suspension when Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, 18 October, following the resumption of the Premier League after the international break.

• Maresca does not regret letting his emotions get the better of him

  But when speaking at the Trento Sports Festival, Maresca refused to be self-critical for letting his emotions get the better of him, insisting his celebration was an “instinctive” reaction to Chelsea securing a rare, late victory under his stewardship.

  In quotes carried by Maresca told the festival: “It was a huge emotion (against Liverpool). It's my second season at Chelsea and it was the first time we won at home in the last minute. The sending-off? (I’ve said) many times, football is passion, instinct. I probably didn't have time to think. It was an instinctive reaction, but I think it was worth it.”

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  Coach keen to follow in footsteps of other Italian managers at Chelsea

  Maresca also opened up about the pressure of managing Chelsea, a club who won every major honour available to them under Roman Abramovich before Todd Boehly reshaped the club after his takeover in 2022. Following in the footsteps of compatriots Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte, Roberto Di Matteo, Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri and Maurizio Sarri, Maresca says it was a huge relief to not become the only Italian to fail to lead Chelsea to silverware by lifting both the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season.

  “It's one of the most important clubs in the world,” Maresca continued. “In the last three or four years, for various reasons, it (Chelsea) has struggled. Having brought the club back to a great level is a great satisfaction. When I signed for Chelsea, I felt a bit of pressure of being the only Italian not to win here, but fortunately, that hasn't been the case.”

It is fair to say that the deadline day of the summer transfer window at the start of this month did not go exactly to plan for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.

The Hoops wanted to make several additions to their forward line heading into the day, and allowed Adam Idah to sign for Swansea City on a permanent deal.

Sebastian Tounekti arrived from Hammarby on a permanent deal to add to the manager’s options on the right wing, but they did not land a striker or a right winger.

Celtic were reportedly interested in a deal to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan from Crystal Palace, only for him to remain at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, the club made a £10m offer to sign Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, but lost the race for his signature to Dutch giants Ajax.

Missing out on those deals meant that the Scottish Premiership giants had to dip into the free agent market to tempt Kelechi Iheanacho into a reunion with Rodgers at Parkhead, having worked with him at Leicester City in England.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the former Manchester City centre-forward will be a success in Glasgow, it was a blow for the Hoops to miss out on Dolberg.

Why missing out on Kasper Dolberg was a blow for Celtic

Missing out on a deal to sign the Denmark international from Anderlecht on deadline day was a big blow for Celtic because he could have been the main number nine for the club this season.

As aforementioned, Idah’s move to Swansea left the Hoops in need of a new centre-forward. Dolberg’s form in Belgium in recent seasons suggests that he could have been the perfect replacement.

The new Ajax signing scored 44 goals in 96 appearances in all competitions for Anderlecht, per Transfermarkt, and started the current campaign with a return of five goals in nine games.

Dolberg’s output in the Belgian Pro League in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Idah’s in the Premiership, in particular, illustrates the gulf in class between the two.

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old marksman could have arrived at Parkhead as a big upgrade on the Ireland international to provide Rodgers with a lethal and reliable centre-forward option this season.

Instead, Celtic have had to take a gamble on Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored four goals in 26 matches in all competitions last season for Sevilla and Middlesbrough combined, per Sofascore.

Therefore, Celtic’s failure to get a deal over the line for Dolberg on deadline day last week was, ultimately, a big blow because of his quality and because of the gamble they have had to make as a result of that failure.

The club’s options in the number nine position could have looked a lot different, though, because they once had a striker on trial who is now worth more than £20m more than the £10m they bid on Dolberg.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson, who is currently loan at Roma, previously revealed that he had trials with the Scottish giants in his younger days.

Celtic missed out on Evan Ferguson

When asked last October if Celtic had tried to sign him in recent seasons, the striker said: “No, nothing. I went on a few trials when I was younger.”

The young marksman played for St. Kevins Boys and Bohemians in Ireland before his move to Brighton’s academy in 2021, but it is unclear as to when he went on trials with the Hoops, whether it was just before his move to Brighton or before his move to Bohemians.

Either way, Celtic will rue the fact that they missed out on bringing him over to Glasgow, whether it was their decision or his, because he is now a top striker prospect who is an incredibly valuable asset.

Ferguson scored 18 goals in 39 matches for Brighton at U21 level, per Transfermarkt, before being thrust into first-team action at the age of 17. He was valued at just £519k by Transfermarkt when he made that step up.

The Ireland international has scored 17 goals in 80 first-team matches for Brighton, but he may not get a chance to add to that tally because Roma reportedly have an option to sign him on a permanent basis for a fee of roughly £35m, which shows how much his value has soared in recent years.

Ferguson, who scored against Hungary for Ireland last weekend, scored two goals in two games for his country during the current international break, but is still looking for his first competitive goal for Roma.

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old marksman’s finishing quality in the Premier League for Brighton suggests that he will score goals for the Italian side if they provide him with enough chances.

Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker compared him to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland during the 2023/24 campaign, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”

That was an incredibly high praise from Lineker, a former striker himself, and it came off the back of Ferguson scoring six goals in the Premier League as a teenage centre-forward, which is partly why he is such a valuable young player, because he has proven himself in a major European league.

Now, he is worth £35m, £25m more than the £10m that Celtic were willing to pay for Dolberg, and the Hoops could do with a talented striker like him in their current squad after their deadline day woes.

Brown 2.0: Celtic have their next number 8 in the making & it's not Nygren

Celtic may have their next Scott Brown in the making and it is not Benjamin Nygren.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 6, 2025

Wayne Rooney has delivered a damning assessment of Florian Wirtz, claiming that the £116 million ($156m) star “damages” Liverpool. The German playmaker was acquired by the Reds, in what was a British record transfer at the time, to provide more creativity for the reigning Premier League champions. He has endured a slow start to life in English football, with questions already being asked of his place in Arne Slot’s strongest starting XI.

• Wirtz's early Liverpool record: No goals or assists

  Wirtz surprisingly dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s first Merseyside derby of the season against neighbours Everton and has been subbed off in every one of his starts for the Reds in all competitions, with little impact being made. He is still waiting on a first goal and assist after eight appearances.

  Expectations were high when the 22-year-old made his way to Liverpool, with a talismanic role being taken up with Bayer Leverkusen – a side he helped to Bundesliga title glory in 2024 and registered 34 goals for across his last two seasons in Germany. Time is still on his side when it comes to making a decisive contribution at Anfield. He is no longer the most expensive player in Britain, so does not have to contend with that added pressure, as club colleague Alexander Isak inherited that standing when completing a £125m ($168m) switch from Newcastle.

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  Rooney's assessment: Is Wirtz right for Liverpool?

  Amid questions of where Wirtz fits into the bigger picture at Anfield, with Slot blessed with plenty of alternative options in the midfield department, former Manchester United and Everton star Rooney has suggested that the highly-rated German actually makes Liverpool weaker.

  The ex-England captain told podcast: “It's been tough for him. I don't think there's any denying that. He's played OK. When you sign so many players like Liverpool have – Liverpool don't normally do this but they've signed basically a whole new frontline, and then you've got [Mohamed] Salah there as well – they're all competing and they all want to do well. Wirtz is probably the one who's not doing as well, but he's got so much ability.

  "I don't see where he gets into the team. I think it was a lot of money. I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play. He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better – but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that.

  “I've seen players come into this league and it takes time. It's not the price tag. It's not the player or his ability. I don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that system. Is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So if I have to choose between him and [Dominik] Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai.”

• Difficulties settling in England: Wirtz admission

  Wirtz has admitted to enduring difficulties settling in new surroundings, telling Sky Deutschland of that process: “Of course I would have liked to have scored a goal or collected a few points. But no matter what anyone says, I'm staying cool. I don't want to constantly hear ‘give it time, give it time’. Instead, I simply try to do it better each time than before.

  “Sometimes there are just phases where things aren't going well for you. I haven't had that very often in my career. Once I get through it – that might be harsh, because I'm not playing badly, I just haven't got the points (goals and assists) yet – it will come at some point, and then everything will be fine.”

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  Next up for Wirtz: Liverpool face Champions League test

  Wirtz’s next opportunity to impress, potentially opening his account on the goal contribution front along the way, could come in a Champions League clash with Galatasaray on Tuesday. Liverpool are readying themselves for a European fixture in the most hostile of atmospheres. Trips to Istanbul are never easy, but the Reds need their expensive German playmaker to start delivering on the grandest of stages as there is only so long that they can wait for a missing spark to be found.

Celtic are reportedly closing in on making their first addition to their ranks on the flanks with the signing of Belgian star Michel-Ange Balikwisha this week.

Sky Sports reports that a fee of £5m has been agreed between the two clubs and that a medical will take place later this week before the move is rubber-stamped and made official.

Brendan Rodgers made it clear earlier this month that he wants the board to bolster his attack with more signings before the window slams shut at the start of next month.

The Hoops boss said: “The squad will hopefully look again different come the end of the window. I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

Nicolas Kuhn left to join Como earlier this summer and Jota is due to be out until the turn of the year with an ACL injury, though, which means that Celtic may need more signings than just Balikwisha.

One other option they have been linked with in the attacking midfield positions is Go Ahead Eagles forward Jakob Breum, who could bolster their options out wide.

What Jakob Breum could bring to Celtic

The Denmark U21 international would be an interesting signing for the Hoops, if they are still keen on him, because he is not a typical out-and-out wide player.

Per Transfermarkt, 23 of his 29 starts in the 2024/25 campaign came as an attacking midfielder, with the other six on the left wing. This suggests that his best role in a Rodgers system may be as one of the central midfielders ahead of Callum McGregor, rather than as an out-and-out winger.

Benjamin Nygren, for example, played wide and centrally during his time in Denmark, but has mainly operated as a central midfielder, tasked with scoring and creating goals in central areas, since his move to Parkhead.

Therefore, Breum could arrive at Parkhead as a player who is more likely to impact games as one of the three in midfield than as an out-and-out winger as a replacement for Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, or Hyun-jun Yang.

As you can see in the table above, the Danish attacker performed well as a number ten for Go Ahead Eagles as an efficient finisher who also offered decent creativity at times.

However, Celtic seem to need more of an out-and-out right winger, with Balikwisha coming in on the left, than a number ten option to play over Reo Hatate or Nygren.

It should not be a surprise, therefore, to learn that the Scottish Premiership giants are reportedly looking to bring a natural right winger to the club.

Celtic set to bid for Dutch star

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are preparing to submit an offer to sign Feyenoord forward Calvin Stengs before the end of the summer transfer window.

Speaking on Football Insider’s podcast, the reporter said: “Stengs is a player that has emerged on Celtic’s radar – he had a difficult season for Feyenoord, a few injury problems, so that may be a concern for Celtic. He’s into the final two years of his contract with Feyenoord, so could be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

“Celtic are looking at that, seeing there could be real potential to land a former Dutch international for a relatively small fee with a bid imminent.”

O’Rourke has not revealed how much it would take to snap the Feyenoord star up, but it was reported earlier this month that a fee of around £5m could be enough to get a deal done.

It now remains to be seen whether or not this “imminent” bid from the Hoops will be enough to convince the Dutch side to part ways with the left-footed star before the deadline.

Why Celtic should sign Calvin Stengs

The Premiership champions should do everything in their power to ensure that their bid is enough to secure a deal for Stengs because he could be a much-needed addition to the team.

As aforementioned, Celtic do not need a player of Breum’s profile as much as they need a right winger, due to the current make-up of the squad, which is why the Feyenoord ace could be an even better signing for the Hoops this summer.

The 26-year-old dynamo, who scored against Celtic in the Champions League in 2023, could come in as the best option on the right flank ahead of Forrest and Yang, whilst Breum would just be one of a number of decent options in the attacking midfield roles.

Stengs missed 35 games through injury in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, which meant that he was unable to showcase the best of his abilities at the top end of the park last season.

However, the right-sided attacker’s form in the Eredivisie during the 2023/24 campaign, when he was fit for the majority of the season, suggests that he has the quality to be a terrific signing for Celtic.

As you can see in the table above, Stengs was directly involved in 18 goals, more than Breum’s 15 in the Eredivisie last term, in 29 games for Feyenoord.

The Netherlands international, who was described as a “flamboyant” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a winger who can provide a huge threat as a creator whilst also finishing chances at an efficient rate.

Yang and Forrest have scored six goals between them in the Premiership since the start of last season, which speaks to their lack of output in the final third, and that is why it is important for the Hoops to bring in a right-sided attacker before the window closes.

Stengs appears to be a player who suits what Celtic need, positionally and quality-wise, and could be a much better signing than Breum, due to his superior numbers in the Eredivisie and his better fit within the current squad.

Nygren repeat: Celtic agree personal terms to sign "creative" forward

Celtic are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star who could be a Benjamin Nygren repeat.

2

By
Dan Emery

Aug 24, 2025

As rumours continue to arrive over Arsenal’s summer transfer plans, new sporting director Andrea Berta is now reportedly keeping a close eye on a somewhat cheaper attacking option who has scored 25 goals this season.

Arsenal looking to ease goalscoring woes

Whilst it’s easy to list the absurd number of injuries that Arsenal have suffered throughout the current campaign, their Premier League form since the return of Bukayo Saka has highlighted their clear problems for all to see. And Berta must address those issues in his first summer in charge.

Even though their form has come at a time when the Premier League title has drifted away from them and into Liverpool’s grasp as official champions, Arsenal still have Champions League qualification to worry about. Mikel Arteta, with three games to go, simply has to seal a place in the top five amid concerns that a disappointing campaign could still turn disastrous.

Mega upgrade on Odegaard: Berta lining up Arsenal move for £100m "machine"

The £100m-rated star would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 7, 2025

The Spaniard recently had his say on Liverpool’s title win and the Gunners’ failure, telling reporters: “Winning trophies is about being in the right moment in the right place. Liverpool have won the title with less points than we have in the last two seasons. With the points of the past two season we have two Premier League [titles].”

What would certainly help ensure that Arsenal are in the right moment in the right place, however, is the arrival of a pure goalscorer this summer. Amid links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, those in North London must get things right this summer and solve Arteta’s greatest problem.

Meanwhile, if it’s a question of money, then Berta may yet turn towards a cheaper options who could turn into the summer’s best bargain if all goes to plan.

Arsenal plotting £34m Patrik Schick move

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now plotting a move to sign Patrik Schick from Bayer Leverkusen this summer with Berta keeping a close eye on the Czech Republic forward. Valued at around €40m (£34m) by the Bundesliga club, the Gunners could swoop in and solve their attacking problems for far cheaper than if they signed Isak or Sesko.

Despite his bargain price, Schick has enjoyed a season worthy of a far higher valuation – scoring 25 goals in all competitions – and could yet prove that in the Premier League. At 29 years old, the only concern for Arsenal should be his age, but as Chris Wood has proved at Nottingham Forest this season, players are more than capable of making the difference even when outside of what are considered prime years.

Smashing his expected goals in the Bundesliga this season, Schick is the pure goalscorer that Arsenal have so desperately lacked all season. His name wouldn’t steal the same headlines as an Isak or Sesko, but he would arguably be just as clinical. Previously dubbed “great” by former Sampdoria boss Marco Giampaolo, Schick is one to watch this summer.

Everton are on the verge of entering a new era under David Moyes and he has now identified an exciting transfer target that their hierarchy are willing to heavily pursue, per reports.

Everton look forward to a new dawn under David Moyes

The Toffees are on the verge of ending their lengthy association with Goodison Park, and it isn’t in the least bit surprising that supporters are fighting tooth and nail to witness their final match against Southampton in L4. David Moyes has steadied the ship at Everton and secured their Premier League status for another year, paving the way for an exciting summer under the guise of The Friedkin Group.

PSR regulations will ensure that clever additions need to be uncovered to avoid any conflict, though it is fair to say the Blues aren’t alone in that regard. According to reports, Everton are eyeing a move for Lazio loanee Nuno Tavares, who is expected to complete a permanent switch to the Italian giants this summer and then be sold on for profit.

He could be set for an immediate return to the English top-flight if circumstances align. The former Benfica man could be joined by Emanuel Emegha after the Dutch forward emerged as another Toffees target.

Moyes' next Louis Saha: Everton desperate to sign £30m "battering ram"

Everton are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 1, 2025

Richarlison arriving to kickstart Everton’s new era hasn’t been ruled out and fans are rightfully ecstatic at the prospect of heading for Bramley Moore Dock, albeit a little emotional about leaving Goodison Park behind.

Change is needed to a playing squad that looks set to encounter mass surgery, with several established stars leaving to make way for fresh blood. Now, further information has come to light on who Moyes could look to bring into the fold during the off-season.

Everton board ready to back Moyes move for Gustavo Hamer

Per Football Insider, Everton’s interest in Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer is growing as their hierarchy are willing to back Moyes with funds to strengthen their starting XI come the summer.

The Scot wants to add creativity to his industrious side and the former Netherlands Under-20 international is seen as an ideal option to help fashion chances from the engine room, having initially been added to a shortlist of several targets earlier this week.

Enjoying a campaign where he has been red-hot after winning the Championship player of the season award, Hamer has completed 45 successful dribbles and laid on 71 opportunities for his teammates.

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s uncertain future on Merseyside has hastened the search for a new midfielder as his contract runs into its final few weeks. Notably, West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek and Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg have been mentioned as alternative targets.

Furthermore, any move for Hamer may hinge on whether Sheffield United claim promotion from the Championship, where they are set for the playoffs after Leeds United and Burnley sealed a return to the top-flight.

Everton are in the market for talent to rejuvenate their squad and Hamer would be a terrific asset that would please supporters should he arrive this summer.

Aston Villa stand on the edge of glory. While their Champions League may have ended by PSG, Unai Emery’s side have a wonderful chance to reach a first FA Cup final since 2015.

The club have not won this competition since 1957. Indeed, they haven’t won a major honour since 1996, and it would be fitting to finally end this drought under a man who has lifted them from the doldrums.

In midweek, the Midlands side suffered a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League. While not disastrous, it represented a chance to cement their place in the top five of the table.

Several of the starting XI failed to perform as expected, most notably Boubacar Kamara in the heart of the midfield.

Why Emery must drop Boubacar Kamara

There is no doubt Kamara has been excellent when called upon this season, but against City, he didn’t quite look himself.

He played the full 90 minutes alongside Amadou Onana for Villa and succeeded with 87% of his passes, but the Frenchman could only win one of his seven contested ground duels, along with losing possession eight times.

Kamara also failed to make a single tackle during the match and was dribbled past on two occasions. Despite his tireless shift, it wasn’t enough to see Villa take home all three points.

With an FA Cup final place at stake this weekend, Emery might just switch things up ahead of the match against Crystal Palace.

This could see Kamara dropped from the starting XI, with Youri Tielemans slotting back into a deeper role.

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If so, there is only one man who should be deployed as Villa’s number ten – Marco Asensio.

Marco Asensio must be unleashed by Aston Villa

The Spaniard has been a truly inspired signing by Emery, even if it is just on a temporary basis.

Indeed, the former Real Madrid starlet has scored eight goals and chipped in with a solitary assist for the club across 20 matches.

In the Premier League, Asensio has created one big chance, averaging 1.3 key passes and succeeding in 58% of his dribble attempts.

These statistics are made even better considering he has started only five matches in the top flight since arriving back in January.

Dubbed as “world-class” by former Arsenal and Birmingham City defender Matthew Upson in March after his exploits against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

If the club have a chance of signing him on a permanent deal, then Emery must do everything in his power to do so.

Starting him against Palace at Wembley could give Villa the best chance of reaching the final of the competition, no doubt about that, because of the attacking quality that he can provide with his ability to both score and create.

The PSG loanee has scored twice in the tournament so far, netting a double against Cardiff. If he is unleashed, expect him to conjure up some more magic for the Villa faithful.

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By
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