All posts by z3u9t.icu

There are a number of reasons why Arsenal are back to their exhilarating best, but every one of those reasons points back to one man. And that’s Mikel Arteta. The former Manchester City assistant has transformed the Gunners.There were some initial doubts about his ability to take Arsenal back into the Premier League’s top four. Those doubts were understandable, however, given his inexperience and the number of miserable years fans at The Emirates had been forced to sit through.Even in the season prior to the last, as the North London side missed out on a Champions League place yet again, some may have been left wondering whether Arteta really was the man for the job.One year later on though, and it’s clear that Arsenal have arguably got themselves one of the most exciting young managers in Europe.The Spaniard expects nothing less than the high standards he sets for his players, too, as shown in recent training footage.

Mikel Arteta’s standards shown in recent training footage

As seen in a clip shared via Twitter, when warming up with club captain Martin Odegaard, they’re playing a little game, keeping the ball up in the air.

One of the club captain’s volleys falls just short of Arteta who, instead of reaching to try and save it, lets the imperfect pass hit the ground and then penalises the tiny error.

Odegaard laughs in joke disbelief but his manager simply retorts “This is Arsenal” emphasising the high standards he holds at the club.

The midfielder, in particular, has reached a new level under Arteta, leading by example for the rest of his teammates, who will be looking to make their mark in the Champions League next season.

In the last campaign, Odegaard had a year to remember, scoring 15 goals, and assisting a further eight in the Premier League. The fact is, the former Real Madrid man has quickly emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League.

What is Martin Odegaard’s market value?

Signed by Arsenal for a reported £30m, Odegaard has turned out to be quite the bargain. If the Gunners were to sell their star man now, which is extremely unlikely – so you can take a sigh of relief, Arsenal fans – they would potentially receive €90m (£76.83m), according to Transfermarkt.

At 24, that number is only likely to go up and up, too, given the sheer potential that Odegaard has, combined with the level that he is currently operating at.

Arsenal, in general, are on the up. Reportedly on the verge of welcoming Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber this summer, we may see Arteta’s side go one step further next season, and seal the ultimate glory of a Premier League title win.

Manchester City will have something to say about that, of course, following their sensational treble win last season. Meanwhile, Liverpool have fixed some of their midfield issues by welcoming both Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, so Jurgen Klopp’s side may well return to their dominant best come August.

One certainty is that Arteta is keen to ensure that the standards do not slip for one single second at Arsenal. He will want to make sure that last season was no fluke, but instead the start of a successful era in North London. They’re certainly due silverware, that’s for sure.

Arsenal fans reacted to the training footage, some of which you can see below:

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen defender, Jeremie Frimpong, with Erik ten Hag still seemingly eyeing a possible upgrade on his current right-back options.

What are the latest Man United transfer rumours?

While much of the talk at present is centred on United's bid to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana and Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that the Red Devils are also "monitoring" Frimpong, with a fee of around £35m having been suggested.

Writing on Twitter regarding that interest, the transfer insider stated: Arsenal and #Frimpong, it’s not a hot topic at this stage. Instead, ManUtd is still monitoring his situation. Next steps depend on the new owners. #MUFC Player has not yet taken a decision.

"He’s considering his options. But: Key player for Alonso. His price: £35m."

This follows a report from Football Insider back in April that claimed the Old Trafford outfit were in 'pole position' to complete the signing of the 22-year-old, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona also said to hold an interest in the former Celtic whiz.

How good is Jeremie Frimpong?

Since making the move to Germany from Glasgow on a reported £11.5m deal back in January 2021, the Netherlands international has blossomed into arguably "one of the best wing-backs in Europe", according to talent scout, Jacek Kulig.

The promising "speedster" – as described by Kulig – has already racked up 31 goal involvements in just 96 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga side to date, after previously chipping in with 11 goals and assists in 51 games during his stint at Parkhead.

Such attacking brilliance could ensure that the 5 foot 7 dynamo represents a long-term solution for Ten Hag on the right of the defence, with neither Diogo Dalot nor Aaron Wan-Bissaka having truly nailed down that role of late.

In the case of Dalot, the Portugal international has only recently signed a new long-term deal at the Theatre of Dreams, although the 24-year-old seemingly looked "a bit off it" following the World Cup break, according to the Mirror's Colin Millar, having lost his place to Wan-Bisska in the latter stages of the season.

As for the latter man, it was not too long ago that he was being tipped for an exit, while the Englishman's ability in the final third is still rather limited, as he made just one goal involvement in all competitions last term.

The addition of Frimpong therefore – who contributed 20 goals and assists in 2022/23 – would represent a far more attack-minded option, with the chance there for the Amsterdam native to help get Antony firing down the right flank.

The £86m Brazilian endured a tough debut campaign in English football after scoring just four goals and notching only two assists in 25 Premier League games, although having additional support in his wide berth from Frimpong could be just the solution to help revive his fortunes.

The Leverkusen man's willingness to get forward and aid those ahead of him is shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, with Dalot and Wan Bissaka, by contrast, ranking in just the top 33% and the top 13%, respectively.

While that did come with Frimpong largely featuring as a more advanced right-wing back, it still shows that desire to impact proceedings at the top end of the pitch, ensuring he could create space for Antony – who seeks to cut in onto his stronger left foot at any opportunity – with countless overlapping runs.

That combination could then potentially prove deadly next term, ensuring that United's mercurial wideman can truly begin to make his mark as an attacking weapon.

Liverpool have had their opening offer for Torino defender Perr Schuurs immediately turned down, however they are set to return to the negotiating table with a new bid, according to reports from Italy.

Are Liverpool signing a defender?

Jurgen Klopp has already made two new additions to his squad this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai being brought in to bolster the midfield, and he is also eager to strengthen his defence.

Football Insider report the Reds are set to turn their attention to signing a centre-back, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio on the shortlist, and it has recently emerged they are one of the favourites to sign the 21-year-old, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven has also been named as a target for Klopp, however Tottenham Hotspur are now close to completing a deal for the 22-year-old, currently in the process of finalising an agreement over a £30m move.

As such, Liverpool may well go back in for Marc Guehi, with reports suggesting they are ready to battle Newcastle United for the Crystal Palace star, however he will not come cheap, with the Eagles now holding out for a fee of £60m.

Schuurs is another key target for the Reds, however their opening offer of €30m (£26m) for the Torino defender has been rebuffed by the Italian club, who are holding out for a fee of around €40m (£34m), according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness).

Despite Torino's refusal, FSG are set to return to the negotiating table with another offer, as Klopp has made it clear he wants them to sign the 23-year-old "at any cost" this summer.

There may be competition for the centre-back's signature, however, as Napoli have also made an offer amounting to €28m (£24m).

At the moment, the Dutchman is in no hurry to decide his future, despite the growing interest in his signature, but he may find it difficult to turn down a move to the Premier League.

Is Perr Schuurs going to Liverpool?

It is clear that Klopp is determined to sign the former Ajax man, with a new offer already in the works, but Torino are in a very strong negotiating position, as his contract is not set to expire until 2026, and they have the option for an extra year.

As such, Liverpool may have to match the Serie A club's asking price, but there are indications he could be worth it, given the level of his recent performances for Torino.

Over the past year, the 6 foot 3 defender ranks in the 81st percentile for tackles completed per 90, when compared to his positional peers, while he averaged 3.4 clearances per game last season, the highest figure of any Torino player.

Not only that, Schuurs could also make a positive influence in the dressing room, having been hailed as a "leader" by former Manchester City goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus, so his arrival would be a boost for the Reds both on an off the pitch.

There has been a further update in Liverpool's pursuit to sign Federico Chiesa, with reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, stating that the Reds will stump up the player's wage demands and are ready to step up their interest in the player.

How many goals has Federico Chiesa scored?

The forward has struggled with injuries over the last 12 months or so, and that has meant his form and his gametime has slightly tailed off for current club Juventus. He could manage only six league starts for the Turin outfit over the course of the 2022/23 season for example and whilst he did play in 21 games overall, he had to make do with largely substitute appearances. It meant that, in total, he had only 9.5 lots of 90 minutes over the course of the entire campaign – his worst ever amount in a season.

In spite of this, Chiesa still managed to score two goals and bag five assists. Whilst not quite hitting the heights of his peak Juventus days or his time at Fiorentina, it shows that he is still capable of hitting the back of the net and creating things offensively when he is match fit and able to get onto the field. Juve though have struggled this season and with the club slumping to seventh – and missing out on the Champions League – it appears he may now be sold on.

Are Liverpool signing Chiesa?

One of the teams most interested in snapping up the Italy international is Liverpool. The Premier League side are reportedly willing to offer up to £34m to try and bring the winger in this summer, although that comes well below the Serie A side's valuation of him.

Now, according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, this interest from the Reds is hotting up, with the side ready to not only stump up the player's huge wage demands of 8 million Euros (or £6.8m) a year but also preparing to make a "concrete" bid for his services next week.

It even adds that Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of the move, stating that he is a "great sponsor" for the deal being done. They've had "big manouveres" with the player's agent, so things are already happening behind the scenes it seems.

He's a player that is viewed as having a lot of talent in the eyes of media members. Football journalist Josh Bunting stated that Chiesa is a "real difference maker" and has been "one of the most exciting players around" for some time, while former Itlay striker Antonio Di Natale is a huge fan of the player, praising his unpredictability in posession and drive for improvement.

If Chiesa can get back to full fitness and play regularly again then, he could be a real asset to any club – and it appears that the club closest to signing him may just be Liverpool.

Manchester United will give Jadon Sancho "another season" of Premier League football to prove his worth after "ridiculous" suggestions of a £45m sale, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Jadon Sancho?

After over a year of back and forth with Borussia Dortmund, in the summer of 2021, United finally secured their long-term target Sancho in a monster move that cost the Red Devils an estimated £73m.

Since his arrival in the Premier League and putting pen to paper on his bumper £350,000-a-week contract, it's fair to say that things haven't gone entirely to plan for the dynamic winger.

Having made 79 appearances in all competitions for United, Sancho has scored just 12 goals and created even less, with only six assists to his name.

These poor performances have led to speculation that Erik ten Hag may be about to cut his losses with the player in an attempt to recuperate some of that initial £73m spent on him.

According to the Daily Mail, the price United would sell at is just £45m.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Sancho leaving Manchester United?

Jones was quick to label any notion of selling the 23-year-old for just £45m as an absurd idea, and from his information, he expects the winger to have one more chance under ten Hag.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Sancho at £45 million stands out to me to be ridiculous. You can't go basically half-price on Sancho and give up at this stage, and I'd find that very surprising if they were to do that."

However, he does go on to say: "My personal information is that Sancho will get another season at United, so I would expect that to be the case."

How good was Jadon Sancho in his final year at Borussia Dortmund?

While Sancho has undeniably struggled during his time in Manchester, he was simply electric during his time with the famous Black and Yellow, and so it seems only fair to judge him based on the ceiling he could once again reach should he get another chance.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a seriously impressive rating of 7.54 across his 26 Bundesliga matches in the 2020/21 season, scoring eight and assisting a further 11.

Even more impressive is that during his three full Bundesliga campaigns, the Camberwell-born gem never achieved a season rating of lower than 7.52, which is frankly ridiculous.

It's perhaps not surprising that only a few months into his first full season with the German giants, he was hailed as the "perfect player" by legendary German skipper Lothar Matthaus in his column for the Sun.

If Sancho can get back to even half his best, then ten Hag and United as a whole will be handsomely rewarded for their patience with the player.

Another day, another new left-back target for Newcastle United as they look to bring in a replacement for Dan Burn.

The defender was steady if not spectacular when moved out wide last season, but it is clear that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is looking to bring in a new player for that position ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

Having been linked with Arsenal's Kieran Trippier and more recently Federico Dimarco of Inter Milan, Newcastle may now switch their focus to a younger alternative.

NUFC Blog reports that Chelsea's Lewis Hall is on Newcastle's radar, and it could be an exciting transfer for the Magpies should they push ahead with their interest.

Is Lewis Hall good enough for Newcastle United?

After catching the eye at both U18 and U23 level, Hall was handed his Chelsea debut in January 2022 when becoming the youngest player to feature in an FA Cup tie for the club against Chesterfield.

The 18-year-old assisted Romelu Lukaku's goal in Chelsea's 5-1 win, but he had to wait until November to make his full senior debut against, of all teams, Newcastle in a 1-0 Premier League loss.

On that occasion, however, it was Miguel Almiron who came out on top, with the Paraguayan's two key passes and the 66% duels he won down Chelsea's left-hand side much better than the mere 43% won by Hall, as per Sofascore. Indeed, as remarked by 90min's Henry Burt, it was a 'tough' outing having been 'targeted' by the Magpies.

That said, with 12 senior appearances now to his name, the youngster is not quite established as such but is clearly on the right path to the top. Indeed, Frank Lampard blocked Hall from joining up with England for the U20 World Cup towards the end of last season as he felt he needed the youngster.

"He is a very good player, a really talented player," Lampard said. "He needs to come out of himself a bit more. I have been really impressed and he is in the running for the last four games."

Hall has played enough minutes to give a good indication of what he is all about. According to FBref's player comparison model, the teenager ranks very similarly to two of his Chelsea team-mates in Ben Chilwell and Reece James.

The Chelsea academy product is particularly alike Chilwell in terms of passes completed (47.1 per 90 minutes, compared to 48.5 for the latter), touches (73.2 v 72), carries (43.8 v 42.3) and aerial duels won (58.3% v 53.8%).

Chilwell does make his presence felt in the final third more, highlighted by his two goals and two assists last season, but it must be remembered he was a £50m signing for Chelsea three years ago, and indeed the final product tells.

Hall, by comparison, is a player on a weekly wage of £7k – as per Capology – and one who will only get better as he plays more regularly.

Even at such a young age, on the basis of the past 12 months he ranks in the top 4% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues for shots attempted per 90 minutes (1.51).

In fact, he finds the target from 53.8% of his attempts, which compares to just 18.2% for Chilwell, suggesting the goals will soon arrive.

While he may not necessarily be the highest-profile left-back Newcastle are linked with this summer, Hall has the hallmarks to become a huge name in his own right – whether at Chelsea or indeed at St James' Park.

With Ange Postecoglou now in the door at Tottenham Hotspur, one issue that the 57-year-old will need to resolve is the future of on-loan winger, Dejan Kulusevski, with it yet to be seen if the Sweden international will remain at N17 next season.

The Juventus ace – who made the move to north London on an 18-month loan deal back in January 2022 – is yet to be snapped on a permanent deal by the Lilywhites, with the obligation to buy the 23-year-old for a fee of around £30.2m having not been triggered following the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League.

While football.london has reported that it is expected that Spurs will still seek to tie up the one-time Parma ace this summer, there have been reports in Italy that the Premier League side are only keen to secure a deal for a discounted price, opening the possibility that the wide man could return to his parent club next season if an agreement cannot be reached.

Although it could come as something of a blow to lose the 29-cap speedster, Kulusevski did struggle for consistency in the most recent campaign after scoring just twice and laying on seven assists in 30 league outings, with it perhaps an opportunity for Postecoglou to find a new option on the flanks.

According to the Sunday Mirror (11/06/2023, page 70), one exciting talent who could potentially replace the Swede next term is FC Seoul starlet, Seong-jin Kang, with Tottenham ready to rival Celtic for the South Korean's signature…

Who is Seong-jin Kang?

The 20-year-old could potentially be a dream successor to Kulusevski on the right flank, with the sparkling youngster – who has spoken of his admiration for both Neymar and Mohamed Salah in the recent past – also typically operating in that role.

The left-footed trickster may well be rather inexperienced at first-team level having made just 57 senior appearances to date for his current side, although the 5 foot 11 ace has shown his quality in that time, registering seven assists and scoring three goals in all competitions.

While the precocious gem has also thus far been restricted to just two appearances for his country at senior level, the playmaker notably scored twice in a 3-0 win over Hong Kong back in July, having also been part of the Korean side that reached the semi-final of the U20 Asian Cup earlier this year.

That run to the last four saw the reported Spurs target curl home from range in exquisite fashion in the group stage win over Jordan, with journalist Jason Lee subsequently tipping him to be the "next Korean football superstar", while fellow journalist Sungmo Lee also lauded him as "one to watch" following that stellar effort.

Although it may be something of a gamble for Postecoglou to trust Kang as a regular option at N17 next season – if a deal is to go ahead – such hefty praise is a marker of the possible jewel that the Greek-Aussie could have on his hands.

As such, rather than potentially paying over the odds for the aforementioned Kulusevski, Spurs could ditch that transfer plan by putting faith in Seoul's dazzling young wizard.

Aston Villa are still reflecting on a hugely impressive campaign in which Unai Emery guided them from the threat of relegation and into Europe in his first five months at the helm.

The Villans cannot afford to stand still as they embark on a season of Premier League and Europa Conference League football, though, with strength in depth key if they are to compete on multiple fronts.

One attainable target Villa have been linked with is Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, with Football Insider reporting that Emery's side are in the mix to sign the American this summer, with a fee of around £35m having been mooted.

Leeds paid a reported £20m to land the United States midfielder from RB Leipzig last year, so a slightly higher offer from Villa – should it indeed arrive – may well be enough to prise him away from Elland Road on the back of the Whites' recent relegation to the Championship.

However, Villa are not alone in showing an interest in Adams after his impressive maiden campaign in English football, with Manchester United also said to retain an interest.

What can Tyler Adams provide Aston Villa?

Leeds may have suffered a disappointing campaign last time out, but Adams is one of those who came out of the season with some credit.

Adams was given a seasonal rating of 6.73 by WhoScored, which was the most of any Leeds player – Jack Harrison being the next highest with 6.72.

The 24-year-old also caught the eye at the World Cup midway through the season, earning praise from writer Wes Rucker for being a "machine" as the United States made it to the knockout rounds.

Indeed, Adams' numbers in the Premier League last season were similar to those of Declan Rice, who is wanted by a number of elite clubs this summer, Bayern Munich and Arsenal among them.

Adams completed 82.5 passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, as per FBref, whereas Rice completed 86.5. Adams averaged 67.8 touches per 90 minutes, meanwhile – an almost identical figure to Rice with 68.

There was also very little between the pair in terms of aerial duels won (1.04 for Adams and 1.02 for Rice) and carries (34.1 compared to 39.9 respectively).

With Rice potentially attracting a fee in excess of £90m, Adams should be considered a steal at that aforementioned figure in the region of £35m – though that is not to say Leeds will not play hardball.

Emery will no doubt be excited by the prospect of having Adams in his engine room next season, which would only get even more out of other talented players in his squad, not least the more advanced Jacob Ramsey.

Academy product Ramsey scored six goals and assisted seven more in 35 Premier League appearances last season – figures that could grow even higher with Adams in the side to provide greater defensive cover.

In what is an exciting summer for Villa supporters, Adams may just be the marquee signing ahead of what may well be a season to remember.

LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes could turn down Premier League interest in favour of a move to Glasgow Rangers, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Cifuentes and Rangers?

The Ecuador international is reportedly close to joining Rangers, as LAFC are willing to sell for a minimal fee with his contract coming to an end.

The 24-year-old could be one of many signings at Ibrox this summer as Michael Beale aims to revolutionise the Rangers squad, and this could represent something of a coup given the other interest in him.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano revealed that Beale's project at Rangers has appealed to Cifuentes, and that talks are progressing.

"I think this could be a smart move for Rangers because Premier League clubs also wanted him, but Rangers are offering an interesting project. So, the conversation is going well," he stated.

What next for Rangers?

It is certainly a good sign for Beale that players the club are targeting view his project as one worth joining, and he will be hoping that Rangers can land as many of his first-choice targets as possible.

Cifuentes will help bring a fresher, younger presence to the squad alongside Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell, who joined in January, and Beale seems keen to freshen up the squad with talent with potential and resale value.

The club are currently overseeing an exodus of players who have been instrumental to Rangers over the last few seasons, as Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are all departing on free transfers, and perhaps this has provided a lesson for the club when it comes to operating in the market.

The squad is in desperate need of a revamp following a disappointing campaign, and players have been hoarded for years, which allowed them to run down their contracts whilst their performance levels dipped.

Kent and Morelos for example, could have attracted significant transfer fees if they were sold earlier, but both are now leaving with Rangers failing to earn anything from their exits, and despite the excellent service both provided for years, neither performed well this season.

Targeting low cost signings like Cifuentes and Cantwell around the age of 24 is a smarter way to operate. They can arrive with points to prove, and if they perform well, then they can help bring success to Rangers whilst potentially attracting big transfer fees.

CIfuentes appeared for Ecuador at the World Cup, and has provided 33 goal and assist contributions in 111 games from central midfield in the MLS. His arrival can help pad the squad depth, and if he performs well, will be a good example of efficient scouting from Rangers.

Leeds United look likely to be unaffected in seeing the club being taken over by 49ers Enterprises despite their relegation from the Premier League, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving 49ers Enterprises and Leeds United?

According to Sky Sports News, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani is involved in 'advanced' talks to sell the club to 49ers Enterprises on a revised deal due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

The report states that Radrizzani is still expected to sanction the sale of Leeds United before being in place to oversee a 'transition' period alongside chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Leeds United will also see some movement in the dugout this summer as they look to find a replacement for Sam Allardyce, who has left the club following an unsuccessful four-match spell in charge, as per BBC Sport.

As per The Guardian, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter are internally admired by Whites' chiefs while West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberán and Lorient’s Regis Le Bris could also emerge as candidates to replace Allardyce.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that 49ers Enterprises will still want to complete a takeover despite Leeds United dropping into the second tier of the English pyramid.

Jacobs told FFC: "It is a little bit uncertain at this point. But the long-term game plan and roadmap has always been for 49ers Enterprises to come in and even with the prospect of relegation, they don't appear to be put off by taking over the football club."

What next for Leeds United?

Now, the long road to the start of next term begins for Leeds United and plenty of incomings and outgoings will be expected at the club across the duration of the transfer window.

Plenty of players will be expected to leave Leeds United in the off-season, with one of them being Wilfried Gnonto, who has attracted interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Roma, as per Calciomercato via The Daily Mail.

talkSPORT also claim that Jack Harrison is in the sights of West Ham United and Aston Villa this summer and could be available for a cut-price fee due to a relegation release clause inserted into his contract.

In terms of incomings, Manchester City starlet Shea Charles is a target at Elland Road, though Leeds United will face competition from the likes of Brentford and Borussia Dortmund for his signature, as per The Guardian.

Football Insider reported earlier this year that out-of-contract Rangers winger Ryan Kent is also someone Leeds United are monitoring; however, rumours are few and far between at present due to the club being in the middle of a takeover process and also hunting for a new manager.