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Over the last few years, Liverpool’s midfield has undergone a serious rebuild with the final pieces of the puzzle looking to be completed this summer.

Despite Dominik Szoboszlai’s arrival two years ago, Florian Wirtz – a £116m signing – has been added to Anfield’s core and he’s ready to take the Premier League by storm.

However, despite the likes of Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all arriving, Richard Hughes and Co are not content.

Indeed, they reportedly feel as though they still need a natural defensive midfielder. Graverberch filled in admirably last term, notably winning the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award, but he’s forward-thinking by nature and not the long-term holding midfielder that Arne Slot desires.

So, where could they look?

Liverpool's hunt for another midfielder

In recent years, Liverpool have done a lot of work on signing a new holding midfielder but haven’t quite got anything over the line.

Last summer, it was Martin Zubimendi, now of Arsenal, who they tried to lure to Anfield. They were confident too, only for the Spanish maestro to remain at Real Sociedad for another year.

Before that, there was Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Liverpool wanted to spend big money on Caicedo but he ultimately chose Chelsea.

The Ecuadorian was a key player for Brighton and made himself a household name while on the south coast.

Transfer Focus

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

Carlos Baleba – Caicedo’s replacement as the Amex – is now earning himself a similar reputation in Brighton’s midfield.

He’s attracted big interest from Manchester United this summer with David Ornstein reporting that the Red Devils want to do a deal. However, it could be a difficult one to finalise this summer.

Now, according to Caught Offside, a number of other Premier League teams have also registered their interest in the 21-year-old.

Indeed, it’s revealed that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Spurs are also all monitoring the Cameroonian’s situation.

However, Brighton reportedly have no interest in selling the midfielder and according to prior reports, it could take an almighty bid of £104m to prise him away.

Why Baleba could finally replace Fabinho

Liverpool are not missing many pieces of the puzzle heading into the 2024/25 campaign. They’ve added Wirtz – one of the best attacking midfielders around – and signed Hugo Ekitike, a player who some suggest could be “the next Mbappe.”

However, if you are looking for areas to critique, then it would be the defence. Amid links to Marc Guehi, the Reds want to sign a central defender before the window shuts with Joe Gomez injured, Ibrahima Konate linked with an exit and Jarell Quansah having already left Anfield.

Well, the other area of perceived weakness might be in holding midfield. Gravenberch was exceptional in that role last season, officially crowned as the Premier League’s best young player, but you sense that was only a short-term fix. The Dutchman’s future surely lies as a more advanced number 8.

As a result, the big-money addition of Baleba could finally see Liverpool replace Fabinho.

Since the Brazilian left following a hugely successful stint on Merseyside, the Reds have struggled to really replace him.

Indeed, Fabinho was a rock during the Jurgen Klopp era. After the midfielder left, the German told the club’s website that “Fab was for so long the insurance we had in midfield.”

The German continued: “He always gave us the freedom to play all the fancy stuff. He was involved in that from time to time as well but loved to be the hoover for the team, loved to do all the dirty work for the team.”

Baleba is very much cut from a similar cloth, but perhaps possesses more power and energy. Described by data analyst Ben Mattinson as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the young Brighton gem has quickly become a force to be reckoned with.

In the words of Seagulls writer Ryan Adsett, the youngster is a “powerhouse” and that comes across in the stats.

Pass success %

87%

87%

Passes into final 3rd

3.68

5.58

Progressive passes

3.99

5.58

Tackles won

1.55

1.52

Interceptions

1.55

1.47

Blocks

1.59

1.08

Errors leading to a goal

0.03

0.04

Successful take-ons

1.11

0.39

Progressive carries

1.45

0.82

Comparing Baleba in the 2024/25 campaign to Fabinho in his prime and there are some similarities, coupled with some big differences.

The duo both completed their passes with the same degree of accuracy and made a similar number of tackles and interceptions.

However, if we are to refer to that ‘powerhouse’ nature, we can see that as far as progressing the ball and getting up the pitch are concerned, Fabinho is bettered by the Brighton superstar.

He’s got a huge amount of energy in the locker and if Liverpool are to sign a player with Fabinho’s defensive work-rate but Gravenberch’s progressive ability, Baleba looks pretty ideal.

Liverpool have bigger priorities this summer, of course they do, but if the opportunity to sign the midfielder arises in the coming years, the Reds must be all over it.

Better than Barcola: Hughes leading Liverpool bid for £120k-p/w "wizard"

Liverpool are preparing to launch another marquee move in the summer transfer market.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Aug 9, 2025

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed he wants this team to use long throws and long balls in their bid to win World Cup 2026.

Tuchel urges his team to be more directWants to make most of set-piecesEngland face Serbia in Belgrade nextFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tuchel has admitted he wants the Three Lions to go back to basics in their bid to win the World Cup next year. The England boss has spoken of the tactics he plans to deploy and is not afraid of instructing his team to be far more direct and to make the most of set-pieces.

AdvertisementWHAT TUCHEL SAID

He told reporters: "I told you: the long throw-in is back. But we do not have a lot of time. But once we arrive at the World Cup, all these things matter, so we will also talk about long throw-ins, we will talk about long kicks from the goalkeeper and not only playing short. But we cannot put everything into four days of training. But these things will matter. And let's see. I need to reflect now with my assistant coaches. All these patterns are back and crosses are back as well."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

England have opened up their qualifying campaign with four straight wins but have struggled to shine under their new manager. Next up is their toughest assignment so far, an away day in Serbia, which comes after an uninspiring 2-0 win over Andorra. Both goals came from crosses into the penalty area, with Tuchel critical of his attackers after the game at Villa Park.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

England take on Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday night in World Cup qualifying. The hosts are also unbeaten so far in the campaign after picking up two wins and a draw from their first three matches.

أكد الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، أن نادي الزمالك يعمل على تسويق أحد لاعبيه المحترفين خلال شهر يناير المُقبل، بسبب عدم اعتماد يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني للفريق الأبيض عليه، مُشيدًا بروح اللاعبين رغم الأزمات المالية وعدم صرف مستحقاتهم.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأحد: “بالنسبة لسيف الجزيري، رغم أنه عاد إلى التدريبات، ورغم أن الأمور انضبطت، إلا أن الأمر المؤكد – وهذا خبر مؤكد – أن الزمالك يبحث عن فرصة لتسويقه في يناير المقبل”.

وتابع: “ورغم الصلح وعودته للتدريبات ووجوده في القائمة، إلا أنه لم يشارك، ثم خرج منها، أي أن العلاقة لم تصل بعد إلى المستوى المأمول من الناحية الفنية”.

وأوضح: “لم يعد هناك خلافات بين الطرفين (سيف الجزيري ويانيك فيريرا)، لكن على المستوى الفني هناك فرصة أمام أحمد شريف ليكون حاضرًا، خاصة أن المدير الفني مقتنع به، وهناك أيضًا فرصة لعمرو ناصر”.

وأضاف: “هناك أزمة داخل نادي الزمالك تتعلق بالرواتب والمستحقات والمكافآت، كنت قد نقلت لكم على لسان مسؤول كبير أن أزمة المستحقات انتهت وأن الإدارة تدفع، لكن ما زال هناك جزء من المستحقات لم يتم سداده، هنا يجب أن نعترف أن لاعبي الزمالك قدّموا أداءً مخلصًا، فرغم أن بعضهم لم يحصل على حقوقه كاملة، إلا أنهم يلعبون بإخلاص وروح قتالية”.

طالع أيضًا | خاص | سبب استبعاد شيكو بانزا من مباريات الزمالك

وواصل: “الفريق يتصدر الدوري في موسم لم يكن أحد يتوقع أن يكون الزمالك في صدارته، الجميع كان يشير إلى الأهلي وبيراميدز، لكن لاعبي الزمالك بذلوا جهدًا استثنائيًا، نعم، خسروا أمام وادي دجلة، وتعادلوا مع المقاولون العرب، لكنهم حتى الآن أقل الفرق خسارة للنقاط في الدوري العام”.

وشدد: “إذا كان اللاعبون يقدمون كل ما لديهم من أجل النادي بهذه الصورة، فعلى النادي أيضًا أن يقدّر تضحياتهم، أعلم أن الأمر صعب، وأن ملف الأموال والجانب المادي شديد التعقيد، لكن هذا هو دور مجلس الإدارة”.

واختتم: “كما قلت سابقًا عن الإسماعيلي، فهذا دور مجلس الإدارة؛ أنتم جئتم وأنتم تعلمون أن هناك مشكلات، وأعلم أنكم دفعتم غرامات كثيرة جدًا لرفع القيد والتعاقد مع لاعبين وإبرام صفقات والمنافسة على البطولات، وهذا أمر مؤكد ولا شك فيه، لكن في النهاية، هذه هي مسؤولية المجلس”.

With the summer transfer window in full flow, Aston Villa have made just one signing so far – Yasin Ozcan.

The Turkish youngster might not be the most exciting of signings, but aged 19, he is certainly one for the future.

With Unai Emery keen on ending the club’s near 30-year wait for a major trophy next season, bringing in several high-profile players is a priority.

Players such as John McGinn and Morgan Rogers helped the club secure a place in the Europa League next season. Could Emery potentially sign someone who is a hybrid of the two this summer?

Aston Villa transfer news

Villa have been linked with their fair share of attacking players this summer. Indeed, the likes of Jack Grealish, Nicolas Jackson and even Malick Fofana have been targeted by Emery.

Transfer Focus

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

Much will depend on the funds Villa have to spend, especially as they seek to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations throughout the summer.

According to reports in Brazil, however, the club have made contact regarding a move for Porto winger Pepe, with it said they have opened talks for the 28-year-old.

The Portuguese giants are willing to sell him this summer in order to sign other targets, and a price tag of €25m (£21m) has been set. A more than affordable figure by Emery’s standards.

Both McGinn and Rogers enjoyed plenty of success last season and by signing Pepe in the coming weeks, Villa could be landing a player who is similar to both.

Why Aston Villa must sign Pepe

Last season, McGinn registered ten goal contributions for Villa, while Rogers recorded 29 goal involvements in all competitions for the club.

This highlights how vital the pair were. Both players excel at dribbling and playing through balls during matches, supporting Ollie Watkins incredibly well.

With McGinn staring on the left at times, with Rogers operating in a more central role, will Emery manage to sign a player like them for the right flank ahead of next season?

Pepe certainly fits the mould. According to FBref, Rogers is the ninth-most comparable player to the Porto winger, while McGinn is the seventh-most comparable when taking into account their statistics from the Champions League last term.

In this competition, he ranked in the top 16% for assists per 90 (0.31), while also ranking in the top 14% for tackles (1.86) per 90.

Pepe’s statistics for Porto (league only)
Goals	3
Assists	2
Big chances created	5
Key passes per game	1
Successful dribbles per game	0.6
Shots per game	1
Via Sofascore

In comparison, McGinn recorded 0.25 assists and made 1.23 tackles per 90, while Rogers registered 0.18 assists and 0.79 tackles per 90 in the Champions League.

It is more the manner in which all three tend to have similar playing styles which could make a move for the winger an important one.

South American football expert Tim Vickery hailed the wideman a couple of years ago, saying: “I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”

For the sort of fee Porto are demanding, bringing Pepe to the Midlands might be an interesting piece of business indeed.

An eye for goal while being able to create chances indicates that he could shine alongside players such as McGinn and Rogers next season.

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By
Ben Gray

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حقق منتخب ليبيا فوزًا مهمًا على نظيره إيسواتيني، بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما مساء الإثنين، ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وتواجه منتخب ليبيا مع نظيره إيسواتيني، على ملعبه في بنغازي، ضمن الجولة الثامنة من مباريات المجموعة الرابعة في تصفيات كأس العالم.

طالع | فيديو | ليبيا تفوز على إيسواتيني بثنائية نظيفة في تصفيات كأس العالم

وبهذا الفوز، وصل منتخب ليبيا إلى النقطة 14 محتلًا المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة الرابعة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم القادم.

منتخب ليبيا يتواجد في المجموعة الرابعة من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات الرأس الأخضر والكاميرون وأنجولا وموريشيوس وإيسواتيني.

وضمن نفس الجولة، حقق منتخب الرأس الأخضر فوزًا تاريخيًا على الكاميرون بهدف دون رد، ليواصل صدارة المجموعة ويقترب من التأهل إلي نهائيات كأس العالم.

وفاز منتخب أنجولا على موريشيوس، بنتيجة 3-1، في إطار نفس مباريات المجموعة أيضًا. ترتيب مجموعة ليبيا في تصفيات كأس العالم

1- الرأس الأخضر – 19 نقطة.

2- الكاميرون –  15 نقطة.

3- ليبيا – 14 نقطة.

4- أنجولا – 10 نقاط.

5- موريشيوس – 5 نقاط.

6- إيسواتيني – نقطتين.

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب مجموعات تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة إلي كأس العالم 2026 محدث باستمرار من هنا.

Before their historic Europa League win, this season was shaping up to be Tottenham Hotspur’s worst in a generation.

The North Londoners finished 17th in the Premier League, and it would be fair to say that, bar a few players, the squad were massively disappointing.

One of the few who stood out for the right reasons was Lucas Bergvall, who only joined up with the squad last summer but ended up winning every end-of-season award, including the club’s Player of the Season Award.

In short, the Swedish gem has been an incredible addition to the team, and now it looks like the club might be looking to repeat the move with another exciting youngster who might be able to replicate his form for whoever comes in to replace the recently sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham transfer news

They might not have signed anyone yet, but that has not stopped a seemingly endless stream of talented players being linked to Spurs in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber.

Transfer Focus

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

The former would reportedly cost around £60m and has been nothing short of brilliant for Crystal Palace since joining the South London club.

Interestingly, the latter, who is the captain of Feyenoord and the brother of Arsenal star Jurrien Timber, could be available for just £25m, but there would be some risk in signing him due to him being out injured.

Moreover, it would be hard to draw any comparisons between the two aforementioned stars and Bergvall, which isn’t the case for Victor Froholdt.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Spurs have now “entered the race” for the tremendously exciting “top talent.”

Alongside the Lilywhites, Plettenberg claims that Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also incredibly keen on the promising youngster.

According to other reports from last month, the teenager is now valued at between £15m to £20m, and while that is a lot of money, he looks like he’d be a worthy investment, just like Bergvall.

Why Froholdt could be another Bergvall

Okay, so there are quite a few reasons why Froholdt could be the club’s next Bergvall, so let’s get through some of the more surface-level ones.

Firstly, it would be another example of Spurs not only going out to sign a promising youngster but also a Scandinavian one from a Scandinavian team in FC Copenhagen.

Furthermore, like the Swede before him, the 19-year-old prospect is now highly sought-after, and it could be another example of the club proving themselves to be an attractive destination for the game’s next superstars.

Now, on to the more substantive comparisons, and while he can play in a variety of positions, the “extraordinary” gem, as dubbed by one Danish analyst, is primarily a central midfielder.

Moreover, the 5 foot 9 dynamo never stops running, covering the second-most amount of ground in the competition this season, which could see him become a perfect midfield partner for Bergvall, as they’d be able to run opposition pairings ragged.

Shots on Target %

75.0%

Top 1%

SCA (Take-On)

0.32

Top 2%

Progressive Carries

2.56

Top 4%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.48

Top 4%

Blocks

1.76

Top 7%

Successful Take-Ons

1.28

Top 7%

Dribblers Tackled

1.44

Top 10%

Tackles

3.04

Top 11%

Carries into the Final Third

1.76

Top 11%

Finally, while there is not an abundance of data on him this season, the underlying numbers we can look at are more than encouraging.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in the next best 14 competitions for shots on target percentage, the top 2% for shot-creating actions from take-ons, the top 4% for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for blocks and successful take-ons, the top 10% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.

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Ultimately, while it is early to say definitively if he will be a success or not, the early signs around Froholdt are more than encouraging, and Spurs could have another Bergvall on their hands if they sign him.

With Steven Gerrard potentially on his way back to the club, Rangers could now reportedly bring an experienced star to Ibrox this summer in a surprising new role at the club.

Rangers' manager update

With the season now over, the Gers have instantly turned their attention towards finding their next permanent manager. It’s a decision that those at Ibrox must get right as the 49ers look to make an instant statement in Scotland. Just who will take to the hot seat next is the unanswered question. So far, a range of names have been linked with the role with Davide Ancelotti and Gerrard particularly standing out.

According to recent reports, Gerrard could return to Ibrox for the first time since leaving them for the chance to take charge of Aston Villa in 2021 in what may receive a mixed reaction. The Liverpool legend would certainly need to get off to a strong start back in Scotland in an attempt to get any frustrated fans back onside four years on from his departure.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti is also an interesting candidate. The assistant manager to his father, the legendary Carlo Ancelotti, for much of his career, he could now choose to break away and commence his own managerial spell.

Igniting reports, his father has chosen not to take Ancelotti to the Brazil national team with him, claiming that his son is in talks with a European club. The former Real Madrid manager told reporters: “Davide is currently in negotiations with a European team. I don’t think it’s right for him to come with me. If he goes to a club, I wish him the best. And if not, he can come back to us at any time.”

Whether that European club is Rangers remains to be seen, but Ancelotti is certainly one to watch alongside Gerrard.

Gerrard could bring Henderson with him to Rangers

If it is to be Gerrard, then he could bring a Premier League-winning captain with him to Ibrox. According to reports from the Netherlands, as relayed by The Daily Record, Rangers and Gerrard are now interested in signing Jordan Henderson from Ajax this summer in an unexpected coaching role, with the former Liverpool midfielder reportedly open to a new adventure.

It’s been a tough few years for Henderson on the pitch. His decision to leave Liverpool to join Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq side in 2023 was ultimately one that he came to regret. Meanwhile, his time at Ajax has since been mixed and he could be on his way out of the Dutch giants just 18 months after arriving. From being a Premier League-winning captain at Anfield, Henderson is at a major career crossroads.

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If anyone knows about the midfielder’s quality too, it is Gerrard. The Anfield hero played together with Henderson, currently on a base salary of £75,000-a-week, at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for a number of years and shared high praise for his former teammate back in 2019 – telling reporters: “Some people don’t see the stuff behind the scenes, the gym work, the way he eats, but he is an incredible role model.

“He is selfless. He puts himself at the back of the queue because he looks after everyone else first. He puts Jordan Henderson last.”

Based on what we’ve seen since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the club three years ago, we’re expecting yet another busy summer of transfer activity at Chelsea.

So far, under Boehly’s ownership, the Blues have spent in excess of £1bn on over 40 new first-team players, numbers that are likely to rise this summer, regardless of whether or not Enzo Maresca’s side secure Champions League qualification next Sunday.

A new striker is likely to be at the top of their list of priorities, so could they return to one of their favourite shopping destinations?

The latest on Christopher Nkunku's Chelsea future

Earlier this month, Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland reported that Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided’ he will leave Chelsea this summer.

The French international arrived from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £52m two summers ago, but has made very little impact at Stamford Bridge, as the table below outlines.

Total appearances

56

Total starts

24

PL appearances

38

PL starts

11

Matches an unused substitute

7

Matches missed due to injury

43

Total goals

17

Total assists

5

PL goals

6

UECL goals

7

As highlighted in the table, Nkunku has spent almost half of his Chelsea career in the treatment room, while 41% of his goals have come in the Conference League, which isn’t the competition they spent big money hoping he would star in.

Aurélien Léger-Moëc of Foot Mercato claims that Bayern Munich and Newcastle are amongst those ‘interested’ in signing Nkunku this summer, and now is certainly the time for Chelsea to cash in and attempt to recoup a decent fee, so do they have their eyes on a replacement?

Chelsea could sign dream replacement for Nkunku

As reported by Sam Dean of the Telegraph, Chelsea are ‘interested’ in signing Brighton forward João Pedro, with Arsenal and Liverpool also considering making a move.

This week, the Brazilian was nominated for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, with manager Fabian Hürzeler praising his forward as an “important player” for the Seagulls.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “simply fantastic”, Oliver Haines from Breaking the Lines is impressed by his high-quality finishing, while Chris Wilder, who was his manager at Watford, believes he is a “super-talented player”.

Pedro joined Brighton for a reported £30m two years ago, and his outstanding form means the Albion now value him at £100m, according to James Holland of Team Talk.

Well, Chelsea are not usually shy when it comes to signing Brighton players, as the table below underlines.

Moisés Caicedo

£115m

Robert Sánchez

£25m

Marc Cucurella

£62m

Shumaira Mheuka

£4.25m

Zak Sturge

£1m

Total

£207.25m

With that in mind, could João Pedro be next?

Well, let’s compare his statistics this season to those of Nkunku to see if he would, indeed, be the dream replacement for the wantaway Frenchman.

Appearances

27

27

Minutes

910

1,953

Goals

3

10

Assists

2

6

Shots

25

42

Shots on target %

44%

35.7%

Big chances created

1

11

Big chances missed

6

7

Shot-creating actions

34

72

Goal-creating actions

4

9

Touches per 90

44

44

Average Sofascore Rating

6.82

7.15

As the table outlines, Pedro boasts almost universally better statistics than Nkunku this season, when it comes to goals, assists, shooting, and chances created.

Thus, the Brazilian would surely be an excellent signing for the Blues, and that is why the club should ruthlessly ditch Nkunku from the squad in order to make room for this new addition.

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Leeds United are now eyeing a shock move to appoint an attacking 4-3-3 manager who has been called “successful”, according to a recent report.

Daniel Farke’s Leeds future cast into doubt following promotion

After being one of the strongest teams in the Championship, the Whites confirmed their place in next season’s Premier League by winning promotion last week. Leeds bounced back from play-off disappointment last season and now have not only sealed promotion but could also win the Championship title.

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However, that might not be enough for Daniel Farke to keep his job, as it’s been claimed by the Daily Mail that the 49ers could be ready to sack Farke and bring in a replacement. It is reported that the hierarchy could be tempted to move on from Farke, and while a decision hasn’t been made yet, they have a list of names who could replace the German.

The 49ers believe that Farke may not be the man who can lead Leeds in the Premier League, given his record in that division when he was at Norwich City. José Mourinho has been talked about making a return to England and taking over at Elland Road, but that may be considered very ambitious by the newly promoted side.

Leeds eyeing shock move for Russell Martin

There is now a new name that is in the frame who could possibly replace Farke at Elland Road. According to Give Me Sport, Leeds are showing an interest in appointing Russell Martin as their new manager.

The report states that the Whites are considering a move to appoint the Scotsman as their next boss. The Championship side have sounded Martin out about returning to the dugout and what his vision is for the future which is part of the club’s plan to look at who they could appoint as their manager if they decide to move on from Farke.

However, Leeds are not the only team chasing Martin, as surprisingly, Southampton are contemplating bringing Martin back to St Mary’s. The Saints sacked the 39-year-old earlier this season, but he still has admirers at the club, and discussions have been had about trying to bring him back as they prepare for life back in the second tier.

A positive for Leeds, it’s claimed that Martin is unlikely to head back to Southampton after his recent sacking.

Martin

Farke

Games

16

49

Won

1

6

Drawn

2

8

Lost

13

35

Points

5

26

Points per game

0.31

0.53

A move for Martin, who likes to play an attacking 4-3-3 formation, by Leeds may come as a considerable shock to their supporters, especially when you consider that Martin has a worse Premier League record than Farke and both have been managers who have struggled in the top flight.

Despite Martin’s struggles in the Premier League and lack of wins, he is a manager who has been lauded as a “successful” coach, whose teams are a “joy to watch”, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Martin may well be open to the idea of taking over at Leeds, given the size of the club and the fact they are a Premier League team, so it could be one to watch.

Here’s a not particularly original statement: Arsenal should probably sign a striker!

The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes have been over for a while now, and it’s their lack of attacking firepower that supporters want to see addressed in the summer.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was the 22nd time in all competitions Mikel Arteta’s team have scored either zero or one goal in a match, doing so in a whopping 50% of their Premier League fixtures.

Thus, do the Gunners lead the race for one of Europe’s most sought-after centre-forwards?

Which striker are Arsenal seeking to sign?

According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of Sporting Clube de Portugal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who he believes will be available for as little as £55m this summer.

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David Ornstein and James McNicholas of the Athletic previously reported that the Gunners have ‘developed a strong interest’ in the Swedish international striker, with recently appointed new sporting director Andrea Berta described as a long-term admirer.

They add that Arteta’s preference would actually be to sign Gyökeres’ international teammate Alexander Isak, but Newcastle United ‘have no intention’ of selling their most-prized asset, let alone to a direct rival.

So, could Gyökeres be the final piece in the jigsaw?

How Gyokeres would improve Arsenal's attack

Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are currently sidelined long-term; the Brazilian ruptured his ACL against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January, while the German required hamstring surgery after suffering this injury during the warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

However, despite scoring 29 goals for the club, Havertz was never supposed to be Arsenal’s striker, initially signed as a midfielder.

Jesus, meantime, simply has not been the same since suffering a knee injury against Cameroon at the last World Cup, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

22

74

Minutes

1,453

4,008

Goals

5

21

Minutes per goal

291

190

Assists

6

14

Minutes per assist

242

286

Matches missed due to injury

0

48

% of matches missed

0

37.8%

As the table outlines, Jesus simply cannot be counted upon due to fitness reasons and is unlikely to feature again until Christmas, so he cannot be in Arteta’s immediate plans.

As a result, for now, Mikel Merino is spearheading Arsenal’s attack, his stunning strike against Real Madrid last Tuesday actually his eighth for the club, six of which have come since becoming the emergency striker at Leicester in February.

Nevertheless, Gyökeres would be a clear upgrade on the Spaniard, as his remarkable statistics at Sporting prove.

Appearances

95

Minutes

7,779

Goals

87

Minutes per goal

89

Assists

26

Statistics

Gyökeres in UCL

UCL rank

Goals

6

13th

Goals per 90

0.89

7th

Shots per 90

3.26

24th

Goals – xG (min 4 goals)

+1.5

15th

Gyökeres’ statistics at Sporting are obviously frightening, hence why Romano has labeled him a “goal machine”, adding that he is “wanted by several clubs for the summer”.

Meanwhile, Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines believes the Swede is a ‘clinical finisher with great movement’, also impressed by his ‘link-up play, physicality…. [and] top-quality ball-striking’.

Speaking on the Arsecast Extra, Andrew Mangan claims Gyökeres would represent a ‘win now’ signing, which is exactly what Arsenal are attempting to do, hence why they should push the boat out to make this move happen. He’s be a phenomenal upgrade on their current options.

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