da luck： Wrexham fans must have become used to their side languishing in the National League and being known as sleeping giants, with the Red Dragons stuck inside non-league’s top division for a mammoth 15 seasons, before a dramatic turnaround in fortunes came about during the 2022/23 campaign.

da leao： Now, Phil Parkinson’s team will be embarking on an unbelievable Championship adventure this coming season, with Wrexham just fresh off the wild feat of three promotions in a row to demand a seat at the esteemed second-tier table.

The ultra ambitious Welsh outfit will head into the Championship full of confidence, and rightly so, with this sky-high optimism only raised more by the potential arrival of a new striker who could go down as Wrexham’s next Paul Mullin.

Mullin has been there from the very start of the crazy journey up the leagues, with his growing collection of goals making him a firm fan favourite at the Racehorse Ground.

Mullin's remarkable journey at Wrexham

The 30-year-old joined the Wrexham ranks right as the club was about to be catapulted into stardom, with every season – bar his debut campaign – ending in the sweet glory of promotion.

Along the way, the prolific striker has bagged a jaw-dropping 105 strikes from 165 overall clashes, with the Liverpool-born centre-forward a definite member of the Red Dragons’ hall of fame.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an inevitable end, with Mullin’s waning output of just three league strikes last season meaning he could be moved on very shortly.

Wigan Athletic are allegedly interested in his services, but this potential dent to Wrexham’s squad would be immediately fixed by a brand-new goalscoring menace joining the club, someone who has displayed a similar deadliness in front of goal to Mullin during the high points of his up-and-down career.

Wrexham's "clinical" new Mullin

The much-loved 30-year-old might well be a potent hero in the lower reaches of the EFL, but it would be a tall order to expect him to light up the Championship, considering he has never plied his trade here across his extensive playing days.

On the contrary, Danny Ings has shone at the difficult level in the past, with Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph now boldly revealing that the newly promoted side are in talks with the 32-year-old over a statement deal taking place.

Before going on to be known as a Premier League-calibre striker for the likes of Southampton and West Ham United, Ings would get his first big break in the Championship with Burnley by scoring 27 of his 43 Clarets goals in the unpredictable division.

The well-travelled veteran would surely welcome a return to the level, therefore, to recapture his groove in front of goal, with the hope that he can go on to be as deadly as Mullin in his fresh location, even so deep into his career.

Ings’ G/A record by club

Club played for

Games

Goals

Assists

Burnley

130

43

14

Southampton

100

46

10

West Ham

69

5

5

Aston Villa

52

14

8

AFC Bournemouth

30

8

3

Liverpool

25

4

1

Overall number

406

120

41

Sourced by Transfermarkt

After all, the table above shows off Ings’ “clinical” nature – as he was once labelled glowingly by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott – across the myriad of clubs he has lined up for, with his weaker return of five strikes for West Ham mainly impacted by his recurring injury issues when on the books of Graham Potter’s men.

Ings going down as a success in Wales will all depend on whether the injury-prone forward can shake free of these constant trips to the treatment room.

If he can, he could become that same talismanic figure for Parkinson’s men that Mullin once was, with Wrexham already daring to dream about a Premier League stay one day.

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da pixbet： Chelsea have made a winning start to their Club World Cup campaign.

da cassino： On Monday night, Enzo Maresca’s team easily swatted aside MLS outfit Los Angeles FC 2-0 in Atlanta, with Pedro Neto breaking the deadlock on the cusp of half time, before Enzo Fernández, teed up by debutant Liam Delap, made the points secure.

The major talking point was all the empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with around 22,000 in attendance, but this is not a good look in a venue that holds up to 75,000; for context, Atlanta United average around 45,000 in Major League Soccer this season.

Nevertheless, Maresca won’t care about that one jot, as his team prepare to take on Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, after the Brazilian outfit were also 2-0 winners on Monday, beating Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Philadelphia.

Back at home, Chelsea continue to be busy in the transfer market, so are they about to land yet another wide-forward?

Chelsea's search for a new winger

Signing new forwards is clearly the order of the day for BlueCo this summer with Delap already in the door and Hugo Ekitike also touted with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Now, the Blues have another target in mind according to the latest reports.

As per David Ornstein of the Athletic, Chelsea ‘have made a verbal enquiry’ as they seek to sign Olympique Lyonnais winger Malick Fofana.

Meantime, French outlet L’Equipe add that Lyon value the forward at around £50m.

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The 20-year-old began his senior career at Gent, before joining les Gones for a reported fee of £14.5m in January 2024, making 62 appearances for Lyon to date, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “magnificent winger prospect”, so could he be set to swap France for West London?

Why Chelsea should sign Malick Fofana not Jamie Gittens

After deciding not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan from Manchester United permanent, paying a £5m penalty fee as a result, Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian reports that Chelsea are ‘prioritising’ signing a right-footed left-winger this summer.

Well, BBC Sport claimed last week that the Blues had seen a £42m rejected by Borussia Dortmund for 20-year-old Englishman Jamie Gittens, who they claim has already agreed personal terms.

But now, are the Blues turning their attention to Fofana, and who is actually the bigger prospect? Let’s find out.

Fofana vs Gittens 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Fofana

Gittens

Appearances

41

48

Minutes

2,280

2,790

Goals

11

12

Assists

6

5

Goals – xG

+5

+6.7

Expected assists

4.4

3.5

Shots on target %

54%

40.3%

Progressive carries

157

161

Attempted take-ons

83

232

Take-on success %

39.8%

44.8%

Shot-creating actions per 90

3.43

3.57

Goal-creating actions per 90

0.61

0.45

Average SofaScore rating

7.24

7.05

Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref, Sofascore.

As the table outlines, Gittens is much more of a prolific dribbler; in fact, across Europe’s top five leagues, only six players attempted more take-ons, according to FBref.com.

However, Fofana is a significantly more of a direct goal-threat, underlined by the fact he registered more assists and a higher amount of expected assists, as well as goal-creating actions per 90 and a better shots on target percentage.

​​​​​​​

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes the Belgian international possesses “enormous potential” and has a “big future ahead”, while Brandon Liss of Total Football Analysis outlines how Fofana likes to hold width on the left side, tasked with taking on opposition full-backs, “working tirelessly” and demonstrating “excellent work rate”.

Meantime, Astorre Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines asserts that Fofana ‘has huge potential’, describing him as an ‘explosive winger​​​​​​​’ who ‘combines well with teammates’ and is a threat in front of goal.

Lyon are currently under pressure to sell and fast because they have been provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities, a situation that remains up in the air.

Thus, if Chelsea are able to take advantage of Lyon’s predicament and get a deal done, Fofana is unquestionably a top-class talent.

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da betobet： The countdown to the start of Aston Villa’s pre-season schedule is very much on.

da bwin： The Villans’ will commence pre-season against neighbours Walsall at the Bescot on 16 July, taking on Hansa Rostock in Germany three days later, before a trio of friendlies stateside, meeting Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville and then a pair of MLS outfits, namely St. Louis City and Nashville.

The Claret and Blue Army’s campaign begins for real on 16 August, welcoming Newcastle United to Villa Park on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, with supporters also eagerly awaiting the Europa League draw, coming up at the end of that month.

However, before Villa are back in action, will fans have a new signing to be excited about?

Aston Villa looking to bolster their forward line

According to widespread reports, including by Jacob Tanswell of the Athletic, it is widely expected that Monchi and Co will need to sell a key player before Monday 30 June to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.

This was a key reason why Jhon Durán was sold to Al-Nassr for a reported £71m in January, but, as documented by Chris Weatherspoon of the Athletic, Villa’s finances remain precarious, given that they have the highest wages-to-revenue ratio in the division.

Nevertheless, despite the need for cost-cutting, Unai Emery still wants to bolster his attacking options, hence why TEAMtalk documents Villa’s interest in Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze, facing competition for his signature from Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and others.

They claim that Eze’s entourage are ‘working hard and are talking to numerous suitors’, with Spurs currently leading the race to sign him, as new manager Thomas Frank targets a statement signing, following his recent appointment.

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David Hytner of the Guardian notes that Eze’s contract contains a £68m release clause, suggesting he is unlikely to remain at Selhurst beyond this summer, with Adam Keys describing the England international as “phenomenal” and data analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “superstar”.

So, could Villa convince the 26 year old to move to the Midlands?

Why Eberechi Eze would be an upgrade on Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, very much reinvigorating his career, scoring four goals and registering six assists in 17 appearances.

He also started both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, underlining that he certainly got into Emery’s good books.

However, Rashford’s reported £40m price tag is putting off a lot of potential suitors, with Jamie Jackson of the Guardian claiming that Barcelona would only be open to a loan deal, something Manchester United certainly are not keen on.

Either way, it appears very unlikely that Rashford will be donning a claret and blue shirt at Villa Park next season, so would Eze be a significant upgrade?

Rashford vs Eze 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Rashford

Eze

Appearances

41

45

Minutes

2,428

3,322

Goals

11

15

Assists

8

11

Shots per 90

2.63

3.25

Chances created per 90

1.2

2

Take-on success %

31.58%

51.94%

Shot-creating actions per 90

3.63

4.69

Touches per 90

45

55

Touches in the box per 90

4.5

3.6

Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and Squawka

As the table outlines, Eze comes out on top for pretty much every attacking metric last season, namely when it comes to goals, assists, chances created, dribbling and touches.

Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines believes Eze is ‘thriving as the talisman’ at Crystal Palace, a mantle he could take up at Villa, while Daryl Gouilard of Total Football Analysis asserts that he is ready to take his game to the next level.

Thus, as outlined earlier, Aston Villa face plenty of competition for Eze’s signature this summer but, if they are able to sign him, it would certainly be a statement addition.

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da realsbet： What was feeling like a disappointingly quiet summer for Arsenal has now burst into life.

da imperador bet： Mikel Arteta’s side have now confirmed the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga, are close to announcing deals for Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi, and appear determined to do more business.

For example, the last few days have seen links to Eberechi Eze explode, and even Ollie Watkins seems to be back in contention.

However, while the Aston Villa star would be an exciting addition to the Gunners’ squad, reports have suggested that the club are getting closer to another, better option to lead the line next season.

Arsenal's striker search

Given Arsenal’s goalscoring struggles last season, it’s not been a surprise to see them linked with a host of dangerous strikers this summer.

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For a long time, it seemed that Benjamin Sesko would be the player to come in and solve that problem, but over the last week or so, reports emerged claiming that working out a deal to sign him has proven far more challenging than anticipated.

At the same time, Watkins’ name has also been thrown back into the ring, with reports from earlier this week claiming that talks had once again been held with his camp and that he would “love” to join the Gunners this summer.

However, while the Englishman is an incredibly talented footballer and goalscorer, it appears that the North Londoners have their eyes on another striker.

At least that’s according to a recent report from BBC Sport, which claims that Arsenal are still incredibly interested in goalscoring machine Viktor Gyokeres.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Gunners are now making real ‘headway with a potential move’ for the Swedish international ‘in recent days.’

While it’s not clear exactly how much the Sporting CP star would cost, the report claims that the final price will likely be in excess of £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but it’s one Arsenal should pursue as Gyokeres could be a real game-changer for them, and a better signing than Watkins.

Why Gyokeres would be a better signing than Watkins

Now, while it is somewhat simplistic, the most significant reason that Gyokeres would be a better signing for Arsenal than Watkins this summer is his exceptional level of output.

For example, it would be fair to say that the England star enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Villa last season, in which he scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists in 54 appearances, totalling 3578 minutes.

In other words, the former Exeter City gem averaged a goal involvement every 1.74 games, or every 115.41 minutes.

Gyokeres’ recent form

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, despite being an objectively great return, those numbers still pale in comparison to what the Sporting star was able to produce.

In his 52 appearances for the Lisbon outfit, totalling 4248 minutes, the Swedish “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a mammoth 54 goals and provided 13 assists for good measure.

That means the international poacher maintained an out-of-this-world average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

That sensational rate of return is so extraordinary that it makes it hard to recommend any striker other than the former Coventry City star, and the fact he’s two years younger than the Villa ace is just a bonus.

Ultimately, Watkins would be a great addition to Arsenal’s squad this summer, but Gyokeres would be an utterly game-changing one, and therefore, Andrea Berta and Co should be doing all they can to bring him in.

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da betobet： Newcastle United have endured a tough start to the summer transfer window, but the intent to bolster Eddie Howe’s first-team squad is very much there.

da leao： In fact, an actual breakthrough has been found in recent days, with Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga finally here-we-goed after more than a year of fruitless efforts to bring him over to St. James’ Park.

The electric-paced winger is set to sign for £55m, having played a vital role in driving Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest into Europe, notching 32 goal involvements across his two seasons at the City Ground.

Bringing in such a profile is good news indeed, but Newcastle are still hoping to sign a central striker, having missed out on Joao Pedro after the Brazilian opted to sign for Chelsea in a £60m deal.

Why Newcastle want a striker

Newcastle are confident that they will fend off interest in Alexander Isak, but even so, rumours of the Sweden striker’s potential departure aren’t going to go away over the coming weeks.

Liverpool, namely, are proving a thorn in Newcastle’s transfer committees’ side, but PIF are believed to have priced their talisman at £200m, and they are under no obligation to sell after United repinned their Champions League badge.

Still, with Callum Wilson having left Tyneside at the end of his contract, Howe wants competition. Pedro was supposed to provide more depth, but he’s now off the cards.

Thus, Newcastle have been linked once again with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. According to talkSPORT, the former Everton star has held talks with United as he looks for a new club, but this perhaps isn’t the move fans are hoping for.

‘DCL’, as he is known, has quite the shoddy injury record, and he only scored three times across 26 Premier League outings last season, missing 16 big chances, as per Sofascore.

He would be a cost-efficient signing, to be sure, but the Magpies are aiming high this summer and they have their sights on a far more exciting striker.

Newcastle line up Calvert-Lewin alternative

Newcastle have shown they are willing to spend the big bucks for a new number nine to complement Isak, and that’s why Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Howe’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The 23-year-old has attracted a wealth of interest over the past few months, but RMC Sport have now revealed that Newcastle are among the teams showing the greatest curiosity in the Frenchman.

Saudi duo Al-Qadsiah and especially Al-Hilal – who are believed to be readying an offer – are also keen, but suitors have thus far been kept at bay by the Bundesliga outfit’s €100m (£85m) valuation of their player, who is a great talent but an unpolished one at that.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle have one of the best strikers in world football, and thus some would consider interest in Ekitike as superfluous, but he’s a rising talent of the highest calibre, and came close to joining back in 2022 after a £33m deal with Reims was agreed, but for the player to pull the plug on proceedings.

And whoever said that having options was a bad thing? Newcastle will only reach the next level in their impressive development with an excess of options capable of pushing for a place at the top of the Premier League while competing across the campaign’s tournamental offshoots too.

If the finances check out – and the conjecture read from the past few months suggests that it’s not outside the realm of possibility for the Toon – then Ekitike is the forward to go for.

For sure, he’s miles better than Calvert-Lewin, who offers flimsy assurances of his ability to stay fit, let alone productive.

Hugo Ekitke vs Dominic Calvert-lewin (24/25)

Stats (per 90)

Ekitike

DCL

Goals scored

0.53

0.17

Assists

0.28

0.06

Shots taken

4.00

2.80

Shot-creating actions

3.55

1.45

Touches (att pen)

6.88

4.92

Progressive passes

1.86

1.12

Progressive carries

3.27

1.29

Successful take-ons

1.83

0.56

Ball recoveries

3.06

1.96

Aerial duels won

1.83

4.75

Tackles + interceptions

0.81

0.90

All data via FBref

Moreover, Ekitike is nearly five years his junior, with so much scope for growth. He might not have anywhere near the same aerial ability as his English counterpart, but he’s far more energetic, creative and effective in the majority of critical moments.

Newcastle completed 705 crosses in the Premier League last term, as per FBref, the sixth-highest tally in the division. There is a ring to United’s long-standing interest in Calvert-Lewin, but is it enough to suggest he deserves a place over Ekitike, someone who can elevate the frontline to a truly exceptional standard?

Ultimately, it will prove a matter of financial variables. And Ekitike’s decision with such a vast range of interest in his services will be crucial too.

But if it does check out, and Frankfurt are inclined to reduce their extortionate asking price at some point in the transfer window, Newcastle could hit the jackpot in signing him.

After all, he has the making of a complete player, with his athleticism and high-speed running leading journalist Graeme Bailey to dub him “the next Mbappe”.

And anyway, he might not have such an eye-catching aerial record as Calvert-Lewin, but the 6 foot 2 Ekitike did win 4.2 duels per Premier League game in 2024/25, as per Sofascore, winning a respectable 46% of his aerial battles.

The Premier League striker did average higher, but he only came out on top 51% of the time, so the difference isn’t exactly glaring, and is something that Howe will coach Ekitike on improving and, anyway, shouldn’t hold much sway in the grand scheme of the manager’s reckoning.

With Newcastle preparing for the new campaign as Carabao Cup champions and Champions League competitors, they have the sway to potentially pull off such a deal.

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Furthermore, their historic efforts to sign the France star could work in Howe’s favour, thus ending the interest in Calvert-Lewin.

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da dobrowin： Chelsea have now made contact with the agents of an “amazing” Premier League star, who is open to a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, journalist Simon Phillips has revealed.

Maresca looking to bolster his backline

da blaze casino： Enzo Maresca is proud of the strides his side have taken since last summer, having recently been crowned Club World Cup champions, with the manager saying: “For me, the biggest achievement this season is that exactly one year ago, no one was talking about Chelsea for football (reasons), but talking about the big squad, big money.

“Now, no one is talking about this, but they are talking about the way we play, and the way we win games. This is personally the biggest achievement of this season.”

The Blues silenced a lot of critics with their shock 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, but their squad arguably still needs to be trimmed down, with Nicolas Jackson now unhappy about potentially being behind Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in the pecking order.

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At the opposite end of the pitch, however, Maresca may still need some new recruits, given that Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah or Benoit Badiashile could be used as part of a swap deal for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers.

As such, according to Phillips, Chelsea have now made fresh contact with the agents of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is expected to cost around £40m, as he has now entered the final year of his contract and doesn’t plan to renew.

The journalist also added: “Guehi has a lot of interest and not just from Chelsea, and he is expected to depart his club this summer.

“Guehi is believed to be open to making a move back to Chelsea this summer but is also aware of other interest from big clubs in the Premier League.”

Guehi could be "amazing" signing for Chelsea

It could be difficult for the Palace defender to immediately force his way into Maresca’s starting XI, given that the Blues’ backline impressed considerably at the Club World Cup, keeping four clean sheets, including one against PSG in the final.

However, having proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, the 25-year-old clearly has the talent to be a success at Stamford Bridge, with international teammate Harry Maguire even dubbing him as “amazing”.

The England international made 44 appearances in all competitions last season, displaying his leadership abilities by captaining the Eagles, while also impressing manager Oliver Glasner.

Guehi could be a fantastic signing at just £40m, and Chelsea should have the funds to make a deal, considering their recent Club World Cup triumph.

da bwin： There is just over a month to go until the transfer window slams shut, and so far, Arsenal fans have had a lot to shout about.

da spicy bet： Mikel Arteta and Co have been quick to announce the signings of Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

They aren’t finished there, though, as Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera has already been pictured in the club’s training kit, and talks for Viktor Gyokeres appear to be in the final stages.

Moreover, the Premier League runners-up have also been linked with Eberechi Eze, although, based on reports, they may now be after another international who would be an even better signing.

Arsenal target Eze upgrade

This summer hasn’t been the first time Arsenal have been linked with Eze, as you only have to look back to last summer to see stories touting the Crystal Palace star for a move back to the club that released him as a child.

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However, it would be fair to say that the stories this year have felt more concrete, with some claiming that talks had been held with the player’s camp and personal terms had been agreed upon.

However, as things stand, the links appear to have quieted down somewhat, and as far as we can tell, no agreement was reached with the South Londoners, who still want the Englishman’s full £68m release clause to sell him.

Yet, fans shouldn’t worry about missing out on a talented midfielder, as it now looks like they could turn their attention to another, someone who’d be a better signing than Eze.

At least that is according to Arsenal insider Hand of Arsenal, who revealed that the club had been in contact with Xavi Simons’ agent, Ali Barat, who has offered them the chance to sign the Dutch talent.

This news aligns with reports from earlier this month, which claimed that the Gunners are interested in the RB Leipzig star, who could be available for around £52m.

While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, as Simons is already a brilliant player who could further improve, and someone who’d be a better acquisition than Eze.

Why Simons would be a better signing than Eze

So, the first reason Arsenal would be wise to sign Simons over Eze this summer is that, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, the Leipzig ace comes out on top.

It’s not even a close comparison, as in practically every relevant metric, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out on top, demonstrating exactly why some in the game think he’s “one of the best 10s in the world”.

These numbers show that not only is the Dutchman a more creative force for his team, but also someone capable of contributing more when it comes to the less glamorous defensive side of things, which we know is a trait loved by Arteta.

Simons vs Eze

Statistics per 90

Simons

Eze

Non-Penalty G+As

0.67

0.52

Progressive Passes

5.86

3.37

Progressive Carries

3.56

2.40

Shots

2.09

3.48

Shots on Target

0.96

0.94

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

74.2%

Key Passes

2.13

2.01

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.51

1.35

Passes into the Final Third

3.31

1.70

Tackles Won

0.88

0.76

Shot-Creating Actions

4.52

4.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.35

Successful Take-Ons

1.38

2.33

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The second reason the Premier League runners-up should sign the Amsterdam-born ace is that he’s even more positionally versatile than the Eagles star, being capable of playing across the entire frontline as well as in the ten.

Finally, “superstar”, as he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also five years the Englishman’s junior, which means he has far more upside and, according to research carried out by The Athletic, could get far better as he likely won’t reach the peak of his powers until he’s 26 years old.

Ultimately, Eze and Simons are both extraordinary players and would be unreal signings for Arsenal.

However, due to his versatility, superb underlying numbers, and age, Arteta and Co. should opt for the latter if they can only get one.

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da betcris： Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has a key decision to make about the future of a big-name player this summer, with Premier League rivals now looking at tempting him with a move away.

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da 888casino： Berta’s key priority right now, according to Fabrizio Romano, is sealing some outgoings to balance the books – having already spent over £200 million on new additions this window.

Gyokeres is their latest official capture after he sealed a long-awaited £64 million move from Sporting CP last weekend, joining Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

Eze would be a fine addition to this already-impressive crop of exceptional new talent, and Arsenal are believed to have already held initial talks with Crystal Palace. However, going by Romano’s update, exits will be necessary before they can formally bid.

Leandro Trossard faces a reported uncertain future at Arsenal given the Belgian has now entered the final 12 months of his contract. According to recent reports, Arsenal could sell Trossard this summer, rather than lose him for free in 2026.

The winger has offers to leave England with Borussia Dortmund keen (Florian Plettenberg), and Trossard isn’t the only forward who could quit before deadline day.

Reports earlier this month, specifically from talkSPORT, claimed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr hold a serious interest in Gabriel Martinelli and were considering a £73 million bid, which would double Arsenal’s club-record sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool in 2017.

£265,000-per-week striker Gabriel Jesus is another nominee for Berta’s chopping block, especially following Gyokeres’ arrival.

Arsenal poised to accept Gabriel Jesus offer as Premier League rivals line up

Jesus has attracted serious interest from Flamengo, according to recent reports from Brazil, with the 28-year-old also open to leaving the Emirates.

Right now, Jesus is in recovery from a crippling ACL rupture which ended his 2024/2025 season, and that potentially makes finding an outright buyer pretty difficult.

Nevertheless, according to well-connected former chief scout Mick Brown, who worked at Man United during their most successful period, top flight rivals are keen on signing Jesus from Arsenal.

“Arsenal are going to accept an offer for Jesus if their price is met.

“I think his best days are behind him, but he was still a reliable squad player at Arsenal until now. He hasn’t pulled up any trees, but he’s done alright. I think the thing for Arsenal has been that they need better than ‘alright’ and that’s why they’ve now gone out and spent all that money on Gyokeres.

“With him and Havertz there, it’s difficult to see where Jesus would fit in their plans.

“I hear there’s interest from a few teams in the Premier League, so that would be a good option. From his point of view, he’s going to want to go somewhere he can play at a high level but also play regular football, because he won’t get that at Arsenal.

“And from the club’s point of view, if they can make good money from him, they can spend it elsewhere. It’s the type of deal I think could work for all parties.”

The former Man City star signed for around £45 million on a long-term deal back in 2022, but has struggled to become that ’25 goal per season’ striker despite periods of excellent form.

Jesus enjoyed a real purple patch just last season, but that was immediately followed by his long-term injury in what was real bad luck for the ex-Palmeiras sensation. With just two years remaining on his deal, now could be the right time to sell Jesus if any suitor is prepared to take the plunge.

da pinnacle： This summer has been an exciting one for Arsenal fans to watch. Gone are the days of Edu dragging things out and missing out on key targets; Andrea Berta has come in and been aggressive in the window.

da supremo： The Gunners have only played two pre-season games but have already signed six players.

That being said, the saga that revolved around new centre-forward, Viktor Gyokeres, was certainly a tiring one. That wasn’t Berta’s fault, however.

Arsenal had predominantly earmarked two strikers this window; Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. However, despite approval from most at Arsenal, Sesko’s agent priced him out of a move and the Swede was pursued instead.

The Gunners are no doubt happy with their business. This is a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season. Even half of that tally in 2025/26 and this will have been a successful acquisition.

But, what’s next? Well, Berta is already hard at work.

What's next for Arsenal after Gyokeres

It’s likely that for a short while, Arsenal will focus on moving players out of the club. The arrival of Gyokeres took their spending to over £200m this summer, so sales may well be necessary.

Fulham are said to be in talks to sign Reiss Nelson but there’s also interest from Crystal Palace, and that’s where Arsenal’s next deal could take them.

It’s no secret that the north Londoners are keen on signing Eberechi Eze this summer and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, they are now in talks with Palace over a move.

Up to this point, there had only been an agreement between Eze and Arsenal on personal terms.

There have been plenty of developments over the weekend, however, with Football Transfers noting that Mikel Arteta’s side have agreed to pay an initial £30m for the England international and talks are now focused around the payment structure of the remaining £38m of his release clause.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reports that sources close to the player believe that he will become an Arsenal player in the next few weeks, confident that a deal will get done.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are said to be Eze’s top choice this summer, but Berta and Co hope to be able to agree a fee of around £60m for his services.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Tomas Rosicky

During the days of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, the team was filled with technical geniuses. Not forgetting the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, the later years of the Frenchman’s tenure saw players like Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez come to the fore.

There were others too. Think Andrey Arshavin, the scorer of four goals at Anfield, Alexander Hleb and a player cut from a similar cloth, Tomas Rosicky.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of just £6.8m, he arrived as one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders on the continent.

The Czech Republic international had a fierce ball strike on him, something we saw when he cracked home his first goal but he also possessed the ability to dazzle defenders, dribbling past them with ease and explosively driving forward.

As Wenger once said: “He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration and his passing. I think when he arrived here he was less of a tactical player and more the ‘Mozart’ from Prague – he was purely a creative, offensive player.”

Injuries really destroyed Rosicky’s career in London, ultimately meaning his numbers didn’t look particularly impressive, scoring 28 goals and supplying 23 assists. Yet, his qualities are still remembered fondly by supporters of a certain generation.

Take injuries out of the equation, and Eze has been built in a similar lab. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean says, the Palace sensation is a “magician” and the “exact sort of player Arsenal have been missing.”

It’s hard to dispute that claim. Like Rosicky, he’s creative, he’s a goalscorer and like Wenger noted, he’s a bit of a Mozart on the ball.

Eze’s first game of pre-season showcased exactly that, nearly scoring a remarkable solo goal. A little like Rosicky, he bursts forward in possession of the ball. What happened next was audacious, nearly chipping the goalkeeper.

£68m please, Berta, that’s all it’ll take to bring this creative genius to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Arsenal have plenty of players who put fun into football. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are chief among them. Yet, what Arteta has done since arriving at Arsenal is build a team of giants.

Mikel Merino suggested that “we [Arsenal] look like a basketball team” when he first moved to the Premier League and within that, some of the technical aesthetics have been lost.

Eze’s Crystal Palace career (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

43

14

11

2023/24

31

11

6

2022/23

40

10

4

2021/22

19

1

1

2020/21

36

3

6

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Eze, however, would bring that back to Arsenal. He was the scorer of 14 goals and the creator of 11 assists in 2024/25.

That wasn’t a one-off either. He’s hit double figures throughout the last three campaigns and is only getting better. Last season was his finest in the red and blue stripes of Palace to date.

He’s a Premier League-proven star and like Declan Rice, would surely settle into things at the club with ease.

Related He'd be better than Rodrygo: Arsenal "are looking" at signing £100m winger

Arsenal are ready to complete their summer transfer window with a big-money signing.

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da bet vitoria： Tottenham are in glaring need of a new number 10 and an alternative to James Maddison after the Englishman’s fresh injury nightmare, and Thomas Frank will be ruing their missed opportunities to bring one in this summer.

da esoccer bet： Spurs’ emotional Seoul farewell to club legend Son Heung‑min soured last Sunday when Maddison was forced off on a stretcher late into their 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The former Leicester City star – having just recovered from a knee injury which sidelined him at the end of 2024/2025 – came on in the 75th minute and lasted barely ten minutes before collapsing in agony, clutching that same knee. Frank didn’t sugarcoat it.

The Dane confirmed it was “bad” and the same knee that sidelined Maddison in May, ruling him out of Europa League final glory, with the 28-year-old now expected to face yet another lengthy lay-off in a major headache for Frank.

Maddison was poised to be the creative heartbeat of Frank’s new-look Spurs side this season – especially with Son waving goodbye to the club after 10 years and fellow chief creator, Dejan Kulusevski, also out injured.

Daniel Levy has already splashed £117 million on the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Kevin Danso and a loan deal for Joao Palhinha, but losing Maddison leaves the attack dangerously thin.

Tottenham were on the verge of signing Morgan Gibbs-White this time last month, which would’ve solved this problem.

They even scheduled a medical for the 25-year-old ahead of a £60 million move (BBC), but Nottingham Forest blocked the transfer, wrote a letter to Spurs threatening legal action and, to rub salt in the wound, tied Gibbs-White down with a club-record new deal.

Spurs are still in hot pursuit of a new playmaker, listing it as one of their chief priorities before deadline day on September 1 (Alasdair Gold), and there are a few Gibbs-White alternatives to keep aware of.

Despite RB Leipzig’s approach for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook suggests that the England Under-21 sensation could emerge as a target for Spurs, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has also been linked with a move to N17.

Tottenham favourites to sign Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid

Another outside-the-box option could be former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.

While more traditionally used as a defensive anchor, the Englishman can play further forward in a traditional centre-midfield role and, more importantly, as a CAM.

According to Football Espana, Tottenham are seen as the most likely destination for Gallagher this summer, following reports that Atlético Madrid will let him go for a fee of up to £44 million.

FE report that Levy is considering a bid for the 25-year-old, so this could be one to watch as Spurs ponder offering Gallagher a route back to London after just over 12 months in the Spanish capital.

“Conor Gallagher is a hardworking player, with quality, a good presence, recovers balls, and always gives his maximum in every situation,” said Atlético boss Diego Simeone.

“He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we need that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better.”

During his final season at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher averaged their second-highest average of key passes per 90 in the top flight behind Cole Palmer (WhoScored) – bagging nine assists in all competitions to boot.

Mauricio Pochettino used him in an attacking midfield role regularly during that time too, and Gallagher would also help to fill Spurs’ ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota.