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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke did not get his wish for more quality at the top end of the pitch in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

The former Norwich City tactician made it clear, after the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League, that his team needed reinforcements up front.

Farke said: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business. But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front.”

The board were unable to get any deals over the line after those comments from the German boss, although they did try to get a deal done for Harry Wilson on deadline day before Fulham pulled the plug at the last minute.

In the end, Leeds added three attacking players to their squad during the summer transfer window: Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor.

The Switzerland international, Okafor, was the only player they paid a fee for, as strikers Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin both arrived as free agents.

Why Leeds United signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin

It is easy to understand why the former England international was an attractive target for the club when they sat down and discussed who they wanted to target in the transfer market.

Calvert-Lewin left Everton at the end of June after his contract with the Premier League side expired, which meant that he was available on a free transfer and Leeds did not have to shell out millions on a transfer fee.

The 28-year-old marksman also had 249 appearances in the Premier League under his belt, per Transfermarkt, during his time with the Toffees, scoring 57 goals and providing 18 assists.

On paper, Calvert-Lewin’s availability and experience made him a very attractive target for a team that had just been promoted to the top-flight from the Championship.

However, the English forward was also available on a free transfer for a reason. His injury record in recent seasons with Everton did not make for great reading.

Calvert-Lewin’s recent injury record
Season	Injuries	Games missed
24/25	2	15
23/24	3	6
22/23	4	29
21/22	2	33
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has not been a reliable player over the last four years because he has suffered too many injuries, and missed too many matches.

On top of that, the former Sheffield United striker has underperformed his xG by 25.20 goals (57 goals from 82.20 xG) across his Premier League career, per UnderStat, which shows that the Leeds attacker is a wasteful finisher in front of goal.

Leeds supporters have already had a glimpse of his underwhelming finishing skills. Calvert-Lewin missed four ‘big chances’ in 32 minutes off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, before firing his penalty over the bar in the shootout, per Sofascore.

The concerns over the ex-Everton marksman’s injury record and goal return may explain why the club are now being linked with another centre-forward ahead of the next window.

Leeds preparing January offer for Premier League striker

According to CaughtOffside, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs already eyeing up a potential swoop for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on a deal to sign the French centre-forward and that they are preparing to make a formal offer for his services at the start of next year.

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It states that Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also in the race to sign the former Mainz number nine. All three clubs are said to have made Mateta a priority target heading into the next transfer window.

CaughtOffside adds that Crystal Palace are ready to demand a fee of around £40m for their star striker should any of those three teams attempt to snap him up in January.

It now remains to be seen whether or not any of the interested teams are willing to offer as much as £40m, but it the report does claim that Leeds are ‘determined’ to improve their attack with respect to their pursuit of the striker.

Why Leeds should sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

The Whites should pay the £40m that it could take to prise Mateta away from Selhurst Park in the January transfer window because he could come in as an instant replacement for Calvert-Lewin, just five months on from his arrival at the club.

As aforementioned, the concern with the former Everton man is that he will not deliver enough quality in front of goal, due to his injury record and his underwhelming finishing in the Premier League over the years.

Leeds may get to January and realise that they need a prolific centre-forward to lead them to safety in the top-flight, and Mateta could be just the man for the task.

The French attacker is a proven Premier League striker whose form in recent seasons suggests that he would arrive in West Yorkshire as a huge upgrade on Calvert-Lewin for Farke.

Mateta scored 16 goals from 10.94 xG in the top-flight in the 2023/24 campaign, per Sofascore, whilst Calvert-Lewin scored seven goals from 12.93 xG for Everton that term.

24/25 Premier League	Mateta	Calvert-Lewin
Appearances	37	26
xG	13.53	6.75
Shots on target per game	0.9	0.8
Goals	14	3
Big chances created	7	1
Assists	2	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Eagles frontman also outperformed the current Leeds striker in front of goal last season, scoring 11 more goals and outperforming his xG once again.

The Palace star, who was described as a “threat” by podcaster HLTCO, is a proven and clinical goalscorer who knows how to find the back of the net on a consistent basis in the division, something Calvert-Lewin has not shown in recent seasons.

Mateta has also only missed four Premier League games through injury in the last two seasons, per Transfermarkt, and could be far more reliable for Farke week-in-week-out.

Therefore, signing the £40m-rated striker in January could be a huge move by the club to improve the team and immediately replace Calvert-Lewin in the number nine position, given that the Frenchman appears to have far more to offer to the side.

Summerville really rates him: Leeds have their own O'Reilly in 19-year-old star

Leeds United may already have their own Nico O’Reilly in a young talent who is currently out on loan.

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Dan Emery

Sep 8, 2025

From their worst-ever Premier League finish, to managerial changes and a Europa League final defeat, it certainly was a year to forget for Manchester United in 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim was chosen as the man to try and save the sinking ship after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, aiming to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford during his tenure.

He alluded to their struggles when taking the reins, but promised that ‘better days are coming’ – still, as everyone knows, actions speak louder than words at the top-level of professional football.

Judgement on whether his ambitions come to fruition will be seen in due course, as England’s top-flight once again gears up for another year of promise, disappointment and expectations.

A mammoth reaction is needed from everyone associated with the Red Devils in the coming months, especially after the backing provided by the board during the off-season.

Man Utd’s hunt to land a new midfield star

Their failures on the pitch in recent times are there for all to see, but there’s no question the United board are showcasing their attempts to prevent such an embarrassing year from reoccurring down the line.

Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all been recruited to improve the frontline, resulting in a whopping £200m already being splashed in the summer window.

After such moves, reports of landing a new midfielder have intensified, with such a hunt leading them to Brighton star Carlos Baleba – albeit being a complex move given his £100m price tag.

The Cameroonian isn’t alone on their shortlist, as Amorim seemingly wants a reunion with Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand – leading to The Sun reporting a potential £50m bid is currently being lined up.

Within the piece, it’s claimed that the player himself would be open to switching to England, but any move could hinge on any development in the move for Baleba.

With the trasfer deadline now rapidly approaching in the rearview mirror, it’s vital the right move is made to allow the players currently on the books to thrive alongside any new addition.

How United’s £50m target would impact United’s midfield

United’s failures in recent times have largely been down to poor recruitment, forking out mammoth sums for talents who’ve been unable to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.

However, the same can’t be said for one man – Bruno Fernandes, who may well end his career at Old Trafford as one of their greatest ever purchases.

No supporter could’ve foreseen the impact he would make, after the board forked out an initial £47m to prise him away from Sporting in January 2020.

The Portuguese international – who’s since been made club captain – has amassed a staggering 98 goals from his deep-lying position, often being the club’s go-to in terms of goal contributions.

However, the arrival of the attacking trio will likely take such responsibility off his shoulders, able to form a partnership with Hjulmand – solving the massive issue which has been apparent at the heart of the side.

Like Fernandes, the Dane may be an unknown quantity to many at present, but any move to the Theatre of Dreams could catapult himself to stardom, whilst aiding Amorim’s ambitions of bringing the glory days back to the club.

According to FBref, Hjulmand ranked in the 99th percentile for passes completed (90%), offering a needed composed figure to the side – who sat sixth in average possession in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Games played

28

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

90%

Progressive passes

6.4

Take-on success

62%

Passes into final third

6.7

Tackles won

2.2

Interceptions made

1.1

Aerial success

56%

Being comfortable on the ball is always important in a system that demands intricate play, but the 26-year-old has also demonstrated his ability to break the lines in Portugal.

He made 6.7 passes into the final third per 90, ranking him in the top 8% of all players in Europe – ultimately leading to analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him a “complete midfielder”.

Such comments also take his ball-winning ability into account, notching 2.2 tackles won and 1.1 interceptions made per 90 – numbers which could put an end to the club’s hunt for a new midfielder.

Hjulmand’s all-round quality would allow him to operate slightly deeper, seeing Bruno take up a free role ahead of him, enabling him to continue his phenomenal levels of output in attacking areas.

Now, the question becomes whether Amorim pursues a move for his former player, or breaks the bank and makes a club-record move to prise Baleba away from the Seagulls’ clutches.

A move for Hjulmand would make perfect sense, already knowing the demands of the manager, but also offering a much cheaper alternative for the hierarchy.

The new additions are undoubtedly providing excitement within the fanbase, but it remains vital they don’t neutralise players like Bruno as a result – with the Sporting star able to aid the captain in taking the Red Devils up the table in 2025/26.

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Lionel Messi's former team-mate, Diego Gomez, scored a contender for the Puskas Award with an insane 35-yard goal for Brighton in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley. The Paraguayan midfielder ripped the Tykes to shreds in the Carabao Cup, smashing home four goals in a performance that will find a place in the Seagulls' folklore.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goal of the season shouts

  Gomez opened the scoring of a 6-0 win with a routine close-range finish, the kind you’d expect any midfielder worth his salt to tuck away. But the second was a belter, rifled in from the edge of the Barnsley box with venom that had supporters screaming 'goal of the season' across social media.

  That would’ve been enough to headline any highlight reel, but Gomez wasn’t finished. Just after the half-hour mark, he launched a half-volley from close to 40 yards out.

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• Watch the clip of Gomez's goal

• Gomez refused to stop at a hat-trick

  Most players would’ve walked off happy with a match ball and a hat-trick, but Gomez. On 68 minutes, the midfielder popped up again to tuck home his fourth, rubbing salt into Barnsley’s already gaping wounds.

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• Brighton kids pile on the misery

  Even when Gomez’s number went up in the 75th minute, Brighton didn’t take their foot off the gas. Academy prospect Harry Howell stepped onto the stage with his first-ever professional strike. Moments later, Yasin Ayari added the sixth to round off a 6-0 thrashing under the Oakwell floodlights.

Pant will join the Delhi squad in Rajkot ahead of their match against Saurashtra, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma said

PTI15-Jan-2025 • Updated on 16-Jan-2025Rishabh Pant has made himself available for Delhi’s next Ranji Trophy match, against Saurashtra, beginning in Rajkot on January 23, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma said on Tuesday. Pant last played a Ranji Trophy match back in the 2017-2018 season.Ravindra Jadeja will also make his first-class return. He last played represented Saurashtra in a first-class game in January 2023.However, there is no clarity over the participation of Virat Kohli, who last featured in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi back in 2012.Related

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Both the India players have been named in Delhi’s list of probables for the remainder of the season.”Yes, Pant has confirmed his availability for next Ranji game and will join the squad in Rajkot directly,” Sharma told PTI. “About Virat Kohli, we want him to play but we haven’t heard from him, while Harshit Rana is selected in the T20 squad [for the England games] and hence is unavailable.”Former India players Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri are among many who want the current crop of India Test players, especially the struggling Rohit Sharma and Kohli, to play red-ball cricket following the series loss in Australia.Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also expected to play for their respective state teams, Punjab and Mumbai.Will Virat Kohli return to the Ranji Trophy?•Getty ImagesRohit’s training with the Mumbai team on Tuesday led to plenty of interest but it remains to be seen if he makes himself available for the next round of Ranji Trophy matches.There has also been speculation around Kohli returning to the Ranji Trophy to regain red-ball form. The DDCA naming its star players in the list of probables is the norm, but their inclusion in the final squad is subject to their availability.While Rohit had stood down from the final Test in Australia due to poor form, Kohli’s struggles outside the off stump worsened as his tally of being caught behind swelled to eight over the course of the five Tests.Besides Kohli, Pant and Harshit, Delhi have named 38 probables for the remaining two games. In Group D, Delhi are fourth in the standings with 14 points from five games.

Chelsea icon Didier Drogba and ex-AC Milan star George Weah have been named among a host of former players on a newly-formed anti-racism panel by FIFA. The idea behind the panel of ex-players is to bolster FIFA's efforts to tackle racism in the game. The group will help in developing anti-racism strategies, participate in educational programmes and contribute to reforms across football.

• FIFA forms a new anti-racism panel
• Drogba and Weah are part of the panel
• 16-member panel of ex-players will advise FIFA to tackle racism

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  FIFA first announced the creation of a players' voice panel during its annual congress in Thailand in May last year. Both men's and women's footballers are part of this 16-member panel and Weah has been named as its 'honorary captain'.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT WEAH SAID

  Speaking to the , the Liberian legend said: "Football brings unity and development. It also enhances humanity. I will always exert all efforts, as I have done in the past and continue to do, to promote the sport because football is life. I am honoured to serve in this role."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  FIFA president Gianni Infantino further added: "They will further push for a shift in football culture, making sure measures to counter racism are not just talked about, but actioned, both on and off the pitch. Let's be clear on this: racism and discrimination are not simply wrong – they are crimes. All incidents of racism, whether in stadiums or online, must be fully punished both by football and across society."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Club football is on hold at the moment as the international break is on. National teams across the world are competiting in the 2026 World Cup qualifying games in their respective confederations.  

After flying out the blocks in the early weeks of the transfer window, Manchester City have now reportedly initiated contact to pick up where they left off by signing another impressive star.

Nypan "very proud" to join Man City

The most recent player through the door has of course been the young Sverre Nypan. The Norwegian midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, which has seen Pep Guardiola welcome one of the most exciting talents that Europe has to offer.

Speaking for the first time since arriving, Nypan told Man City’s official website: “I am incredibly happy and proud to have joined Manchester City. It’s a dream for any young footballer to become part of this Club and to join such a group of world class talent.

“I am still very young with a lot to learn but the chance to be coached by Pep Guardiola, the best manager in the world, will only help me to become a better player.

“There is already a special connection between Norway and Manchester City through Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb, and I am very proud to have become the latest Norwegian player to have joined the club.”

Nypan’s arrival makes it five fresh faces for Man City, who have rebuilt their side in the last six months following their worst period of form during Guardiola’s entire tenure last season.

Even after signing Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli, however, those at the Etihad still reportedly have unfinished business in the summer transfer window.

As they set their sights on reclaiming their Premier League crown next season, Man City have now reportedly initiated contact to sign an impressive star who Guardiola loves.

Man City initiate James Trafford contact

In a shock twist, the Citizens have now set their sights on compiling Newcastle’s misery in what has been a summer to forget for the Magpies. According to Fabrizio Romano, Man City have now initiated contact to sign James Trafford in a deal that would see them hijack a deal that Newcastle had otherwise been advancing towards.

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The Manchester club reportedly have a buyback clause worth £40m, but are now attempting to negotiate a lower price with Burnley, who are also reportedly set to receive a £40m bid from Saudi PIF-owned Newcastle for their shot-stopper.

City’s unexpected pursuit follows a difficult season for Ederson, which may have forced those at the Etihad to ask questions of the Brazilian for the first time.

Dubbed “world-class” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, whether Trafford’s arrival would see Ederson step aside or head for the exit door is the big question that City may yet have to answer.

The pitch for the India vs Pakistan game, where India won by six runs after scoring just 119, has been rated “satisfactory”

Shashank Kishore20-Aug-20242:03

Flower on New York pitch: “Bordering on dangerous”

The pitches for the first two matches at New York’s Nassau County Stadium – a modular venue that no longer exists – during the men’s T20 World Cup 2024, as well as the one for the semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, have been rated “unsatisfactory” by the ICC.The verdict comes nearly two months after the tournament, which India won by beating South Africa in the final.In those two games in New York, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 77 against South Africa and Ireland were shot out for 96 by India two days later.Related

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'That's not the pitch you want to have a World Cup semi-final on'

ICC working to improve quality of pitches at New York venue

In the India-Ireland game, a number of players copped body blows due to uneven bounce. Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt after being hit on the upper arm by Josh Little. Rishabh Pant, too, was struck on the body by Little, while Ireland’s Harry Tector was struck on the finger by a short ball from Jasprit Bumrah.At the time, Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe captain, had said the pitch in New York was “bordering on dangerous”, while former England captain Michael Vaughan called it “shocking”.The modular venue was readied in five months with Damian Hough, the Adelaide Oval chief curator, brought in by the ICC to prepare the drop-in pitches. But after criticism from various quarters, the ICC had acknowledged that the pitches there had been substandard and the short turnaround time between matches – New York hosted eight games in two weeks – didn’t help.4:14

Moody, Flower on Tarouba pitch: “Not good enough”

Remedial work was carried out, and ahead of the following game, between Canada and Ireland, areas where grass shoots were growing under the cracks were covered with topsoil and rolled in to make the surface much flatter. The surfaces used for the subsequent fixtures in New York, including India vs Pakistan, where 119 beat 113 for 7, have been rated as “satisfactory”.But the bigger point of scrutiny, perhaps more than New York, was on the surface for the semi-final, where Afghanistan were bowled out for 56. Some deliveries rolled along the ground, while a few reared up from a similar spot. At the time, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott was clear “that’s not a pitch you want to play a semi-final on”.In general, surfaces at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy were challenging. West Indies, who scored 149 there and defended it narrowly against New Zealand, were tottering at 30 for 5 at one stage.The ICC rates pitches, and outfields, for all international games on a scale of very good to unfit: very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unfit. The surface at Providence for the India vs England semi-final was rated “satisfactory”, while the Kensington Oval deck for the final between India and South Africa was rated “very good”.The ICC was largely happy with the state of the outfields, with only New York and Guyana receiving “satisfactory” ratings, while the others were “very good”.

Signing a replacement for Andre Onana has seemingly been one of Manchester United’s biggest priorities since the start of the summer. Now, chasing exactly that, the Red Devils have reportedly joined the race to sign a Club World Cup star.

Man Utd's goalkeeper search goes on

Although reports have suggested that Onana believes he’ll still be the No.1 at Manchester United next season and he’s keen to fight for his place, Ruben Amorim may not share that view. The Portuguese manager must be ruthless and showing the Cameroon international the door should be one of his first acts this summer.

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That said, the Red Devils must get their next move right after Onana. They cannot risk signing another liability. Whoever arrives, be it Emiliano Martinez, Andriy Lunin, Diogo Costa or another option, simply has to be a significant upgrade on the former Inter Milan man.

Whilst Martinez has been the most prominent name in recent rumours, the numbers indicate that the Aston Villa man would not be the much-needed upgrade that Amorim needs, as highlighted by Statman Dave.

Four errors leading to shots is far from an ideal record, but signing Martinez wouldn’t exactly solve that problem for United. Instead, their troubles may simply take the shape of a new No.1 if they sign the World Cup winner this summer.

Those at Old Trafford certainly have plenty to think about and that thinking has reportedly seen them turn towards the Club World Cup for a fresh option.

Man Utd plotting John Victor move

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Manchester United are now plotting a summer swoop to sign John Victor from Botafofo who has a release clause worth just $8m (£6m).

The impressive shot-stopper agreed to stay put at the Brazilian side to play at the Club World Cup in a decision which has resulted in a moment to remember against Paris Saint-Germain.

Joining Alisson Becker as the only goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against PSG this season, the Botafogo goalkeeper played a pivotal part as his side shocked the Champions League holders to win 1-0.

For just £6m, Manchester United could sign a goalkeeper who managed to keep Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia out and someone who is ready to step into European football.

Having reportedly sent scouts to watch the 29-year-old in action, United should be well aware of Victor’s talents and, more importantly, his ability to play at the very top level.

Rather than signing the likes of Martinez or Costa this summer, INEOS could yet turn towards an unexpected option in the Brazilian.

Already focused on the summer transfer window, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly leading their charge to sign a Serie A midfielder in the coming months.

Emery focused on Tottenham game

Whilst the Villans continue to build their summer plan around the action on the pitch, Unai Emery’s focus has not changed. Champions League qualification is still a possibility for his side, who have Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play as they wait for a potential slip up from those above them in the Premier League.

Emery will be well aware of just what’s at stake in the next couple weeks and reiterated the need for focus ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham game, telling reporters: “I am wishing to play. I don’t want holidays because we’re in a very good moment after a long season, but now we’re very, very motivated.

“Very excited to play at Villa Park tomorrow, for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. It’s not in our hands but we can have some options to play Champions League again. And focusing on Tottenham because I know the most difficult way we can have is our own way, playing against Tottenham tomorrow and how we can beat them.”

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Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…

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Aston Villa won’t need reminding what Champions League football can offer, either. They experienced moments that those at Villa Park will forever savour this season, with victory over Bayern Munich a particular standout. Now, however, they’ll be desperate to ensure that their place among Europe’s elite is not just a one off blip and, instead, a consistent feature of the competition.

Meanwhile, away from the action, Monchi is already thinking about the targets that could arrive with or without Champions League qualification.

Monchi leading Payero charge

According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now leading Aston Villa’s charge to sign Martin Payero from Udinese this summer. The sporting director is reportedly a huge admirer of the midfielder, which could yet see the Villans push on and secure his signature in the coming months. In terms of depth, there’s no doubt that the Argentine has plenty to offer.

Minutes

1,381

2,997

Progressive Passes

3.33

7.03

Progressive Carries

2.16

1.17

Ball Recoveries

4.90

4.35

When assessing the numbers, it’s clear that Payero wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality in possession as Tielemans, but he would be able to complete the legwork that the Belgian arguably struggles with. And that could create quite the midfield combination for Emery.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the midfielder enjoys a foray into English football, either, having previously been at Middlesbrough. It was there that he earned the praise of former manager Neil Warnock.

The former manager told reporters when he unveiled the midfielder in 2021: “Martin will be a great addition to the squad. I think he will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Arsenal have now asked Real Madrid about signing a highly-rated forward and his teammate, amid Los Blancos’ serious interest in star defender William Saliba, with a potential part-exchange deal mooted this week.

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Mikel Arteta made history this week with a stunning 5-1 Champions League aggregate victory over Real Madrid, cruising into the semi-finals after putting the final nail in Carlo Ancelotti’s coffin on Tuesday night.

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Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli cemented a 2-1 win for Arsenal at the Bernabeu during their return leg, and it was an impressive performance from the Gunners, who largely kept Real quiet on home turf.

Now, Arsenal take on Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semis, and there is every chance they can go on to win the competition. Clinching their first ever European Cup would be quite an end to 2024/2025, with Arteta hopeful that his side can go from challengers to victors.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

“It’s certainly another massive step,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s chances of winning the Champions League.

“Where we finished last year and the way we’re doing it this year, the teams with their eyes on us and the competition, it’s incredible. Big credit to [Madrid}, it was my first time as a coach in that dugout, and today I realised after three minutes in this stadium, anything is possible. They are specialists of creating such chaos and belief, and it’s very difficult to understand what is really going on in the game and have certain certainty about how we controlled it. I think they showed a lot of maturity.”

Off the field, business could be conducted between both sides this summer, as Real hold a strong interest in Saliba and have done for months.

The France international is an integral part of Arteta’s backline and arguably one of world football’s best central defenders, so new sporting director Andrea Berta and the Arsenal manager are highly unlikely to give him up without a serious fight.

Arsenal ask Real Madrid about signing Endrick in Saliba talks

According to reports out of Spain, Arsenal have floated the idea of a player-exchange if Real Madrid do want Saliba, otherwise they’d have to fork out a minimum of £86 million.

Indeed, it is believed Arsenal have asked Real Madrid about signing Endrick, not to mention Arda Güler, in exchange for Saliba’s services. However, as things stand, their president Florentino Perez is unwilling to part company with either player.

Endrick, who could end up costing Perez around £62 million in add-ons and other clauses after his 2022 transfer from Palmeiras, has struggled for game time under Ancelotti this season – bagging seven goals in 31 appearances but mainly as a substitute.

Despite signing for Real nearly three years ago, this is the “special” 18-year-old’s first full season at the Bernabeu, having made the transfer when he came of age last summer.