Arsenal Tipped To Make 3 "important" Transfers

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal could sign as many as three "important" players in what will be a "busy" transfer market this summer.

What is the latest Arsenal transfer news?

After a comprehensive 4-1 win on the weekend, the Gunners have maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

And with just nine games left to play, Mikel Arteta and co will be firmly focused on winning the club's first title since the 2003/04 season.

However, some figures behind the scenes – such as sporting director Edu Gaspar – will no doubt be making big plans for the future.

With that in mind, while talking about the club's future transfer business on the House of Champions: A CBS Soccer Podcast, Romano revealed some exciting information.

Indeed, the journalist explained (15:13): "I think it's going to be a busy summer for Arsenal, they will try to go to the next step of the project.

"So to bring in important players. They had kind of rebuilding in the last few years, but now they want to bring in maybe 1,2, 3 important players and so let's see what they're gonna plan.

"I'm sure midfielders, offensive players, maybe [a] fullback. This could be the market for Arsenal. But now the full focus is on the Premier League.”

Who are Arsenal trying to sign this summer

It remains to be seen who exactly the Gunners will target but one man heavily linked is West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice. While a big bid was launched in January to try and land Moises Caicedo.

Beyond those two, fullback Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid was also reportedly targeted in the winter window, so perhaps Arsenal will come back in for him – especially if Kieran Tierney leaves amid transfer exit talk.

Oleksandr Zinchenko in action for Ukraine.

Those are just a few names and that doesn't account for the potential "offensive" option Romano also references with his latest update.

Of course, the Gunners will likely already have a list of names drafted up as targets but their ability to land their number one options may well depend on whether or not they can win the title.

At the very least, they will almost certainly be able to offer Champions League football next season, which will come as a big draw for many players from across Europe.

And so, taking it all into account, it does seem as though Arteta will get a few new shiny toys to play with next season, on top of his already exciting squad.

Arsenal Eye Move For "Incredible" £22.3m Gem

Arsenal are eyeing a move for Brahim Diaz ahead of the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad for the Champions League next season.

What’s the latest on Brahim Diaz to Arsenal?

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), AC Milan, where Diaz has spent the last two seasons on loan, are looking to keep the player on a permanent basis.

His parent club, Real Madrid, are said to be demanding around €25m (£22.3m) for anyone to sign him – and Arsenal appear to have already made a move.

Arteta has reportedly ‘asked for information’ regarding Diaz, and he could well look to make a swoop for his compatriot when the transfer window opens.

Could Arsenal sign Brahim Diaz?

With the Gunners looking forward to appearing in the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons next term, this should allow them to attract higher-quality players, and Diaz is certainly a viable option.

The strongest area of this Arsenal side is their ability to score goals from wide areas, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli netting 27 goals between them so far this season, but it's clear that Arteta needs to add some depth to his squad – and Diaz could be perfect.

Even Pep Guardiola has lavished praise on the 23-year-old, dubbing him “incredible”, and we believe the Milan star is statistically similar to Raheem Sterling, which could be good news for Arteta.

Sterling has been a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League during his career, netting over 150 times, while his pace is a valuable asset. If the 41-year-old is able to sign someone like Sterling, he could further boost his squad there is no doubt about it.

Indeed, this season, the two players have registered similar statistics with regard to goals (five to four), shots per game (1.81 to 1.79), successful take-ons (29 to 27) and shot-creating actions per match (4.59 to 3.38), suggesting that Diaz would make for an excellent addition to the Arsenal squad.

Brahim Diaz for AC Milan

The 23-year-old has created nine big chances and averages 1.1 successful dribbles per game in Serie A, which demonstrates just how much of an attacking threat he poses, and although Arteta’s starting XI is extremely strong, a lack of strength in depth is arguably a weakness that needs resolving.

This summer could be an exciting time for the Emirates faithful, and if they win the league title, there could be a few high-profile additions come the start of next season.

41 y/o Not Leaving Arsenal Despite Rumours

Journalist Dean Jones has stated that Arsenal are confident Mikel Arteta will stay with the club despite recent exit talk.

What's the latest on Mikel Arteta and Arsenal?

It's certainly been a fantastic season for the Gunners so far as they enter the final stages of the Premier League sitting at the top of the table.

And regardless of how it all finishes, Arteta has certainly enhanced his reputation as one of the game's most exciting young managers.

With that being the case, there has been talk in foreign media that the Spaniard is wanted by Real Madrid, with Arsenal already considering Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as a possible replacement.

However, in an update on GiveMeSport, Jones revealed in his column that there are no real concerns about an exit internally.

He wrote: "Arsenal hold no fears over Arteta walking out on them at the end of this season, despite links with Real Madrid."

He added: "There are even suggestions that Roberto De Zerbi is seen by the board as an ideal replacement at Emirates Stadium.

"But sources are adamant they are not on that line of thinking right now at Arsenal and that there is total faith Arteta will be leading them into the Champions League next term."

Would Arteta join Real Madrid?

Seeing as Arteta is a former Arsenal player and has been given his first shot at management with the North London side, it would make sense for him to show loyalty and stay put.

What's more, the club are just starting to reach a new level under his management so it would be odd for the 41-year-old to abandon the project at this stage.

Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – March 4, 2023 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further detail

On top of that, Arteta came through at Barcelona as a youngster at the start of his career, so it remains unclear if he would be open to working for bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Interestingly enough, pundit Gabby Agbonlahor recently told Football Insider it would make more sense to stay with Arsenal for the time being.

He explained: “The talk of him going to Madrid, I don’t see why he would want to go right now.

“He’s built something special. Even if he doesn’t win the league this season, he’ll want to do it next season. He’s got Champions League football to look forward to.

“Arsenal is his club. Dream jobs like Real Madrid, or Spain – that can wait for the future. He’s got plenty of time.”

Tottenham news: "Crazy" manager would be a mistake

Tottenham Hotspur's next appointment is so incredibly important for many reasons, as Daniel Levy seeks to ensure he does not make it four failures from his last four managerial additions.

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte both fell flat despite their experience winning silverware, and Nuno Espirito Santo always seemed like a doomed appointment. His dismissal after just under five months was more an admittance of such failure from the hierarchy than anything else, and the football has hardly improved much since.

Now, the club find themselves back to square one, seeking the next top boss to grace their dugout, hopefully with more success than those that came before him. However, the worry remains the same; arguably it has even intensified.

Nobody wants to watch the slow turgid football that has been on offer, so a younger, more exciting coach should surely be prioritised this time. However, with the rumours linking the Lilywhites with a move for Reims' head coach Will Still, they cannot afford to go too dramatically in the other direction.

Given the toxicity that seemingly runs throughout the dressing room, there is little hope that the 30-year-old, who is enjoying his first year in management within a league of note, could turn them around. Levy will want a statement appointment of someone who can lead them into the future but should seek to ensure he does not go too aggressively towards one particular type of manager.

How does Will Still play?

Preferring a system that relies upon a 4-2-3-1 shape, the young Englishman shot to fame after becoming the youngest manager within Europe's top five leagues. However, despite such youth, what truly garnered praise was the remarkable run on which he had led his French outfit.

Reims enjoyed a 17-match unbeaten period in the league, which included two draws with league leaders Paris Saint-Germain too.

However, his 1.88 points per match average across his career is still hardly exceptional. This run might have been a fairytale story, but it does not merit a move to one of England's biggest clubs.

What should ward Levy even further away from this youngster is the fact that his philosophy is far from the champagne football fans would now demand, with a preference instead to go long from the centre-backs. He seeks to find space behind the full-backs and exploit the width, yet this often surrenders the ball.

Conte received scorn for often sitting back too often, against teams that on paper they should have dismantled. With Still, this would likely be exacerbated further. His team have averaged just 47% possession this season.

Although his last three appointments were big mistakes, to sign this unproven head coach would arguably be Levy's biggest yet given the lack of proof that suggests he would take to such a job. It is a monumental risk for the little reward proposed.

will-still-reims-tottenham-hotspur

When asked about a move to England, Still claimed:

"Why not? I've done some crazy things in the past; I was head coach at 24 and the same thing happened at 28 back in Belgium and now I'm 30 and people are saying this is crazy."

However, it would arguably be Levy who was the crazy one, should he take such a huge risk when their next appointment has to be right.

Manchester United Bid Incoming For £40m Centre Back

Manchester United are one of several teams expected to bid "at any moment" for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, according to reports in Portugal.

Who are Manchester United linked with?

The Red Devils will be hard at work this summer as they look to close the gap on Manchester City and Arsenal. Erik ten Hag's first season in charge will surely be seen as a success if they can wrap up top four along with a domestic cup – or potentially two – but the next task is to kick on and mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title.

Jude Bellingham is reportedly a target of potential new owner Sheikh Jassim, while a striker is surely top of the priority list, with links popping up to the likes of Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Tottenham's Harry Kane.

harry-kane-tottenham-manchester-united

The manager is clearly keen to bolster the spine of his team, as reports in Portugal now suggest he is also chasing a central defender. According to Record, via Sport Witness, Ten Hag "intends to sign" one new centre-back this year and Sporting's Inacio is "on the list".

The 21 year-old, who currently has a release clause of €45m (£40m), is "one of the most wanted defenders in Europe" due to his ability to play on either side despite being left-footed. Sporting are currently trying to increase his release clause in a new contract, as they fear "a proposal may arrive at any moment" from the Red Devils or another suitor.

Should Man United sign Inacio?

In Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane – despite both currently being out injured – Ten Hag has his first-choice pairing for the forseeable future. However, Varane is now in his thirties and the fact both players are struggling with fitness is a clear indicator of the need for improved squad depth when playing in four competitions.

Inacio, 21, could be the perfect candidate to come in as a back-up option at first, slowly maturing into Varane's replacement. Perhaps what stands out most about the youngster is his elite mentality, which was praised by his former coach Jose Lima:

"The psychological aspect is one of his great strengths, as he shows a lot of calm in any situation, in addition to his technical skills. He manages to show that he is completely calm playing and that is a great asset for him and for the team."

Ranking strongly in all of FBRef's ball-playing metrics for centre-backs, the Portugul international clearly has the coolness to keep a calm head under the bright lights of one of the biggest clubs in world football, and we think he would be an excellent signing for Ten Hag this summer.

PSG: Fans Gather In Anger Against Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has had a chaotic season on almost every level, with the highs of December’s World Cup win contrasting his current predicament at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentina superstar looks set to depart PSG in the summer and has been suspended by his club for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Although he has played well at times this season, providing 39 goals and assists in 37 games, the blame fell at his door following yet another Champions League disappointment for the Parisians, and the fans have seemingly had enough of PSG’s big-name recruitment policy.

In scenes which may have been unimaginable just mere months ago, fans gathered outside the Parc Des Princes and expressed their anger towards the 35-year-old following his suspension.

It has been a rocky few months for the club, with a home defeat to Lorient sparking waves of anger amongst a fanbase seemingly tired of superstars joining for a large paycheck.

Twitter has been quick to react to the astonishing scenes, with some calling the PSG fans ungrateful for the fact that some of football’s biggest ever names have chosen to play for them, whilst others have stuck the boot into Messi, even claiming that being pushed out of a club could affect his overall legacy.

The best of the reaction can be seen below. Where will Messi end up next?

Some laid the blame at Messi’s feet…

Whilst others were more sympathetic towards him…

Chelsea Set To Make Bid For £69m "Defensive Monster"

Chelsea are set to make a bid for Barcelona's Raphinha this summer, with the winger edging towards an exit from Camp Nou, according to recent reports from Spain.

What's the latest Raphinha transfer news?

Raphinha appears to be a subject of interest for a number of Premier League clubs, with it recently being reported Arsenal are pushing to sign him this summer, with sporting director Edu making constant calls to orchestrate a deal.

The same report outlines that the Brazilian may be pushed down the pecking order at the Camp Nou if Lionel Messi returns, although French media outlet AFP have recently claimed the Argentine will be playing his football in Saudi Arabia next season.

Either way, it seems as though there will be a number of teams in for the Barca winger this summer, with Newcastle United also being linked, and Chelsea could now be set to make the first move.

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), the Blues are going to bid for the 26-year-old, and formal talks are set to commence immediately, in order to secure his services ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The player's agent, Deco, is keen for his client to listen to offers from the Premier League, and the west London club are said to be keen, having previously came close to signing the former Leeds United man last summer.

However, the Brazil international will not come cheap, as the La Liga club are hoping to sell him for €80m (£69m) before June 30th, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea are willing to meet such a huge asking price.

Should Chelsea sign Raphinha?

Having amassed eight goals and nine assists for Barca this season, the second-highest number of goal contributions in the squad, it is fair to say the attacker has been a success in his first season at Camp Nou.

That is also indicated by the fact he is ranked as the Spanish club's joint-best performing player in La Liga by Sofascore, having averaged a match rating of 7.30, so it is surprising they are willing to let him leave.

While the Porto Alegre-born star has made his name due to the threat he poses on the front foot, journalist Muhammad Butt has also praised the work he does on the other side of the ball, describing him as a "defensive monster".

Raphinha would be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, but the only issue is the huge transfer fee being demanded by Barcelona, and they should not be held to ransom, given that a new striker must be the priority, due to their torrid record in front of goal.

Wolves: Fearless Forward Can Make Man Utd Pay

Wolverhampton Wanderers face a trip to Old Trafford next in the Premier League to face Manchester United, as Julen Lopetegui’s team look to end the season on a high in their final three fixtures.

Wolves will be full of confidence after reigning victorious over local rivals Aston Villa last weekend in a 1-0 win at Molineux.

Having just 38% of possession in the game, Toti Gomes’ goal in the opening ten minutes proved vital for the hosts, who have struggled to score all season.

While the victory was against Unai Emery’s in-form Villa side, the trip to Old Trafford will be a tougher challenge, with the hosts desperate for a win to remain as leaders of the pack in the race for the top four.

United have stumbled in their last two games, losing 1-0 to both Brighton & Hove Albon and West Ham United as their bid for Champions League football took a wobble. Despite still remaining in fourth place, Erik ten Hag’s side can’t afford to drop points again with a host of clubs fighting for the spot.

Loptegeui’s side will be reviewing the Red Devils’ weaknesses in recent fixtures, and aim to exploit them to get something from the game at Old Trafford.

One area for change has to be who leads the line for the visitors, with Diego Costa struggling to perform last time out.

Should Hee-Chan Hwang start ahead of Diego Costa against Manchester United?

United have suffered a significant double injury blow in central defence that has altered their performances towards the end of the season.

With no Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, Wolves should pry on ten Hag’s makeshift defence, which he can do by replacing Costa with Hwang Hee-chan in the starting lineup.

Hee-chan Hwang, Wolves, Wolverhampton Wanderers, WWFC, Premier League

The Spaniard scored a poor 6.2 rating, as per Sofascore, against Villa last time out, and was replaced late on having made little impact on the game.

Lopetegui will need to inflict pace and directness against United if Wolves are to snatch anything from the Theatre of Dreams to take back to Molineux, attributes that the club's £14m signing could offer the side instead.

Lauded by Ian Wright as having “everything”, the former Arsenal legend expressed his delight in watching the South Korean striker whilst analysing Wolves’ win over Newcastle United on Match of the Day last season.

“He’s got pace, skill, touch and awareness and he’s always driving to get into the box.”

Known as ‘The Bull” by former RB Leipzig teammates, the 27-year-old is a livewire both on and off the ball, having once admitted himself to be "fearless" and "aggressive" to Sky Sports.

Averaging 0.91 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, Hwang is direct on the ball, which is also shown through his high scoring in shot-creating actions, averaging 2.23 per 90, via FBref.

Costa ranks lower for both attributes, winning an average of 0.32 take-ons per 90, as well as making just 1.73 shot-creating actions – showing that Hee-Chan is the more direct threat out of the two.

Therefore, Lopetegui could punish United for their poor luck with defensive injuries, should he unleash Hee-chan from the off this afternoon.

£52m Star Could Become Chelsea’s Own Bruno Fernandes

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai this summer and the Hungarian could prove to be incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino's own version of Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes.

Could Chelsea sign Dominik Szoboszlai?

It was suggested back in March that Chelsea were close to completing a deal for the 22-year-old midfielder but transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano would later play down those rumours on his YouTube channel, although he did confirm then that the Blues are interested in signing him this summer.

The journalist stated: "It's true that Chelsea appreciates the player. Chelsea have sent their people to follow the player, to scout the player but at the moment we can't say that Chelsea are close to signing Dominik Szoboszlai."

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the Hungary international is valued at around £52m following an impressive campaign at the Red Bull Arena, which suggests that it would take another mammoth bid from Todd Boehly to bring him in.

What are Szoboszlai's statistics in 2022/23?

This campaign has seen the young midfielder contribute five goals and eight assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances, averaging a superb 7.33 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Germany's top flight, with journalist Bence Bocsak dubbing him a "complete player" as a result of his eye-catching displays.

For context, no Chelsea player has contributed more than nine goal contributions (Raheem Sterling with six goals and three assists) this season, while Reece James' 7.07 average rating sees him ranked as the top performer, which emphasises the quality that Szoboszlai could add at Stamford Bridge.

The regular absence of midfielders such as Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante, as well as the poor form of Conor Gallagher and Mateo Kovacic, which has seen them manage just four goals and three assists between them, has perhaps been one of the main factors in Chelsea's struggles in front of goal so far this term.

Does Szoboszlai play like Bruno Fernandes?

A creative outlet such as Szoboszlai could prove vital if Pochettino is going to succeed in west London, and he may well be keen to bring him in given his similarity to Fernandes, who he was desperate to sign during his time at Tottenham Hotspur.

According to FBref, the Portuguese maestro is the most similar player to Szoboszlai when compared to other midfielders across Europe's top leagues.

Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – February 15, 2022 Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact yo

This season has seen the two register remarkably similar statistics in attacking areas, notably with regard to goals per 90 minutes (0.19 vs 0.18), progressive carries across the season (74 vs 78) and goal-creating actions (both 17).

Given Fernandes' immense success at Old Trafford, which has seen him register an impressive 61 goals and 54 assists in 181 appearances, Pochettino would surely appreciate a similar player at Chelsea as he looks to kickstart a huge turnaround ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Therefore, Boehly should be doing everything he can to bring in Szoboszlai this summer, as he looks to continue the youthful revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Rangers Could Sign Goldson Heir In 6 ft 6 Titan

Michael Beale faces a crucial summer transfer window in charge of Glasgow Rangers as they look to wrestle back the Premiership title from their Old Firm rivals.

Beale’s two January signings, Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell, have enjoyed positive starts to life at Ibrox – having been "playing well" , according to their manager – and if there are a few more signings like this during the summer, the majority of the supporters will be happy heading into 2023/24.

There could be moves for players across all areas of the pitch and Danish centre-back Thomas Kristensen has been touted for a switch, according to Danish outlet BTSporten (via the Scottish Daily Express), as the Gers have ‘watched’ him in the hopes of luring the player to Scotland.

Aged just 21, he has plenty of years left in the tank and over time, he could certainly become the ideal heir to Connor Goldson at the heart of the defence.

Could Rangers sign Thomas Kristensen?

Goldson has been a mainstay in the first team since joining in 2018, missing only 14 games through injury or illness, although 11 of those have come this season and with the defender looking like he will miss the last few matches of this term with a hip injury, Beale may surely look to the market for a prospective heir for the Englishman.

He won't be going anywhere, anytime soon, especially with three more years on his contract, however, the niggling injuries this term may go on to have a detrimental effect over his next few years in the game.

Journalist Barry Anderson dubbed Kristensen as “one of several young players with potential on their radar” when the club were first linked with the defender, suggesting Beale is looking at building his team with an influx of young talent.

The 6 foot 6 colossus has enjoyed a solid campaign for Danish side AGF, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7/10 across 20 Superliga matches, while he has won 59% of his total duels (4.2 per game), made 3.5 clearances, 1.9 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game along with taking 64.7 touches each match, suggesting that he is extremely comfortable on the ball and is strong in the tackle, winning more duels than he has lost.

Rangers managerMichael Beale

The towering Dane ranks first in the squad for interceptions, second for clearances and seventh for tackles per game this season, underling how important he is to the side despite his tender age.

Moving to Scotland certainly wouldn’t faze him given his contributions for AGF this season and Beale could well uncover an ideal Goldson heir in the process.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus