All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has showered praise on a player who chairman Daniel Levy sold at Tottenham, calling him "one of the best" around.

Spurs race for top four as Ange plays down Champions League importance

Spurs are in the thick of a top four race as they go toe-to-toe with Aston Villa for the last Champions League qualification place.

Ange hands Tottenham employees transfer mission now star could leave

Postecoglou has gave clear instructions ahead of the summer window.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 11, 2024

The riches of European football, and pull that would have for star players in the transfer market, cannot be understated. Sealing a place in next season's Champions League group stage pot would be the cherry on top of a positive debut campaign for manager Ange Postecoglou, but that isn't the view of the man himself.

“I don’t think top four is the ambition," said Postecoglou on Spurs' European hopes.

I get that top four means Champions League football, so there is a reward there, and that’s a significant reward and something you should strive for. My position on it is not so much, particularly this year, where we finish, it’s what kind of team we are, because if we finish fourth and we’re 25 points off the top, I’m not sure that’s the kind of trajectory we want to be on.

Newcastle United (away)

April 13th

Arsenal (home)

April 28th

Chelsea (away)

May 2nd

Liverpool (home)

May 5th

Burnley (home)

May 11th

“It’s part of making sure that we’re all focussed on what the ultimate ambition is. If we finish fourth this year, what it does show is that we’re progressing and we’ve made improvements, but that’s not the end goal. That’s why, for me, it’s much more important how we play between now and the end of the year, and how we finish. Then, we assess things. If we finish fourth and I feel we’ve made some progress and we’re set up for next year, then I’ll be pleased with that.”

Nevertheless, the fact they're contending is very impressive when factoring in the loss of club-record goalscorer and all-round legend Harry Kane. Tottenham are planning to sign an A-list Kane replacement, but it's arguable nobody will ever truly replicate his influence.

The England star made a multi-million pound move to Bayern Munich last summer after Levy opted to sell, with Kane entering the final stages of his contract at the time. The 30-year-old has gone on to bag 39 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, but is unfortunate to be missing out on a Bundesliga title as Bayer Leverkusen take pole position by miles.

Gabriel Jesus praises Kane after Tottenham sale

Speaking to the press (via BBC), Arsenal striker Jesus says Kane is "one of the best" around after Tottenham opted to part company.

"Everyone here knows the quality of Harry Kane – for me, personally, he is the best finisher in the world," said Jesus.

"He can finish with head, left foot, right foot – the guy, since I arrived in Europe, is one of the best. It's great to play against this kind of player. Obviously we want to keep him quiet and then we try to win the game.

"But it is not just Harry Kane – they have players like my old friend Sane, Musiala, Coman, Muller, Gnabry. They have quality players there."

Manchester City are set to offer a former player an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Manchester City's summer plans

City are in the midst of another impressive campaign under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. The Sky Blues' treble hopes have been dashed after their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, but they are once again in the FA Cup final and sit one point off the Premier League summit with a game in hand on league leaders Arsenal.

As the 2023/24 season draws to a close, attention has begun to turn to the Manchester outfit's plans for the summer. Unsurprisingly, Man City have been linked with some big names on the pitch. Recent reports claimed the Citizens want to sign Lokomotiv Moscow forward Sergey Pinyaev in the summer window.

Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola and co. are said to be looking to sign Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes and have approached the player's camp over a move, although they are expected to face competition from title rivals Arsenal and PSG on that front.

Meanwhile, on the outings front, it emerged earlier this week that Manchester City could choose to sell Jack Grealish this summer, with a "shock sale a growing possibility" once the current campaign comes to an end.

But while Manchester City look set for a busy summer on the pitch, they are also seemingly lining up a potential move behind the scenes as well.

Manchester City to offer ex-player non-football role

According to the Daily Record, Manchester City are set to offer Joe Hart an emotional return to the Etihad this summer after he draws his playing career to a close.

The 37-year-old confirmed he will be retiring at the end of the current season, and as per the aforementioned report, City's offer to Hart will likely be for a non-footballing capacity or an ambassadorial role, with Hart not thought to be keen on going into coaching.

Hart will bring his playing career to a close at Scottish outfit Celtic, whom he joined in 2021, and currently earns £15,000 a week. Despite his age, Hart has maintained a starting berth for The Hoops, notching 32 league appearances this term as Celtic look to add yet another league title to their collection.

And while the Manchester faithful may love to see Joe Hart return to the club he made his name at, the former England international recently hinted a stay at Celtic Park could be on the cards once he hangs up his boots.

FA Cup

2010/11

Premier League

2011/12

League Cup

2013/14

Premier League

2013/14

League Cup

2015/16

Speaking at an event in his honour last week, he said: "I've not taken any coaching badges, that was quite a conscious decision. I know that coaching and management is ingrained in a lot of people. But for me, it doesn't necessarily do it for me. I want to help, I want to give back, but there's different ways that I can do it.

"I'll always be available to Celtic if they ever need to lean on me for anything, I've made the manager and the club aware of that. But coaching a specific team? That's not something that I'm looking to do."

Therefore, it appears Hart may have a decision to make as he mulls over a potential return to the club where he won two Premier League titles.

Arne Slot has cultivated a convincing reputation for his interpersonal and inventive qualities as a head coach, with such traits speaking highly of his faculty for success as the soon-to-arrive successor to Jurgen Klopp's position in the dugout at Liverpool.

The 45-year-old has enjoyed successive trophy-winning seasons at Feyenoord, winning the Dutch Eredivisie title last term and the KNVB Cup a few weeks ago, inculcating a booming thrash-metal style into his players. He's charismatic, disciplined, and fiery after his fashion – sound familiar?

Liverpool are, admittedly, taking a bit of a risk in offering Slot his first berth in a top-five European league, throwing him into the deep end as Klopp's heir, an unenviable position in many ways, but he fits the bill and might keep Liverpool competing at the front of domestic and continental football.

He will need to make some signings though, and while the defence will be the Dutchman's priority, a midfield target appears to have been identified.

Slot could sign Premier League midfielder for Liverpool

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are one of the top outfits interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, who only joined the Seagulls from Lille in a £23m transfer last summer.

Tough-tackling and dynamic, the 20-year-old has started to earn a regular spot in the starting line-up under Roberto De Zerbi and has all the qualities of a high-level star in the future.

With Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United also eyeing up the rising star, Brighton have slapped a £55m asking price on the Cameroon-born player.

Carlos Baleba's season in numbers

Appearances from the opening whistle have been intermittent for Baleba at Brighton but he's only just shaken off his teenage years and is very much in the fledgling phase of a lengthy career, pointers suggesting that this could be played at the summit of the Premier League.

Still, while De Zerbi's men have struggled for consistency in recent months, Baleba has been rewarded for his fast rise and robust athleticism with a role of heightened importance, starting seven of the south coast club's past eight Premier League matches, albeit winning just once.

As per Sofascore, the £12.5k-per-week midfielder has completed 92% of his passes across his 23 Premier League outings in 2023/24, averaging 1.6 tackles, 3.7 ball recoveries and 4.1 successful duels per match and succeeding with 69% of his dribbles.

Right from the start of his career, while plying his trade in France, the ace has been regarded as one of the most promising players of his age bracket, with former teammate Remy Cabella even hailing him as a "monster" with "incredible strength" – his raw muscle has been tempered with technical fine-tuning and drilling of diligence and composure.

Here, below, is Baleba running Liverpool's midfield ragged in the 2-2 draw at the AMEX Stadium back in October, with his natural prowess clear to any onlooker. On Merseyside, he could be sharpened into a first-rate machine.

As per FBref, Baleba ranks among the top 6% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for shots taken, the top 15% for tackles, the top 4% for blocks, the top 16% for clearances and the top 14% for aerial duels won per 90.

It's this array of attributes that has led the stats-led site to name Chelsea's Moises Caicedo as one of Baleba's most comparable Premier League players – which perhaps says it all vis-à-vis Liverpool's intrigue in his signature.

Why Liverpool are interested in Carlos Baleba

Let's hark back to last summer. It's August. The 2023/24 Premier League campaign is but a few weeks away. Liverpool manager Klopp has freed his engine room of a host of struggling stars and moved swiftly to tie up moves for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

But a specialist defensive midfielder was still needed and after the pursuit of Southampton prodigy Romeo Lavia turned protracted following a series of failed bids, Liverpool sought to swipe Brighton phenom Caicedo from under Chelsea's nose, only to fail after the Ecuadorian rejected their advance, soon followed to Stamford Bridge by Lavia.

Liverpool and stand-in sporting director Jorg Schmadtke were left hot under the collar, and a contingency then arrived in the form of Japan midfielder Wataru Endo, who signed from Stuttgart for £16m.

The 31-year-old has been a hard-working and dependable player but he's not the long-term solution to Liverpool's midfield-anchoring position, and Baleba could find that a move to Anfield works just find as he battles and learns from his experienced positional peer.

Matches played

26

Matches started

17

Goals

1

Pass completion

88%

Key passes per game

0.5

Ball recoveries per game

3.4

Dribbles per game

0.3 (67%)

Tackles per game

1.5

Interceptions per game

0.7

Clearances per game

1.0

Duels won per game

3.8 (44%)

While Endo can largely be forgiven for his foibles given the shift he has put in throughout the campaign, his overall statistics from the Premier League season speak of the need for a defensive midfielder of a higher class, in the long run.

Caicedo might not have enjoyed the greatest of debut campaigns with Chelsea but he remains one of the highest-profile and most talented midfielders that the Premier League offers, tagged with a British-record £115m market price and described as a "midfield machine" by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

The 22-year-old, like Baleba, is one of the crispest distributors on English shores with immense levels of energy and a tenacious defensive approach, completing 91% of his passes in the Premier League this season, averaging 2.5 tackles, 5.6 successful duels and 5/7 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

Some might fear that Baleba would falter with the increased pressure that comes with a transfer to Liverpool, but Endo can counterbalance the expectations and Baleba can grow into his skin at the dawn of an exciting new project.

It's a project that he might be the face of in the years to come.

Liverpool must drop 4/10 man to unleash "special" teen who Slot would love

The Reds midfielder did not enjoy his best afternoon against West Ham on Saturday.

ByDan Emery Apr 29, 2024

Crystal Palace are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the Oliver Glasner era as they look to land a free agent ahead of the new season.

Palace thriving under Oliver Glasner

The arrival of the Austrian manager at Selhurst Park has coincided with a major upturn in form and performances.

The Eagles have strung together four games without defeat for the first time since April 2023, and have pulled well clear of any potential relegation trouble in the Premier League, with 10 points gained in recent weeks taking Palace to 40 and mathematically safe for another season.

Palace to move for "extraordinary" 51k-p/w star Glasner worked with before

The new Eagles boss is said to be keen on a reunion.

ByBen Browning May 1, 2024

There is renewed hope at Selhurst Park after a stagnant period under Roy Hodgson, as detailed by BBC commentator John Southall.

"There is a lot to like about Crystal Palace at the moment," said Southall following Palace's 2-0 win against Newcastle United.

"Oliver Glasner's impact and ideas are starting to take shape and no more so than on Jean-Philippe Mateta."

"This is a player who scored just two goals last season and now has seven in seven games. He is transformed."

"It is three wins from three and there is a belief here now. You can feel it."

But the summer transfer window will have to back up the good work being done on the pitch, especially given the uncertainty around the likes of Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

Palace closing in on first signing

Now, according to reports from Scotland, Crystal Palace could be about to land their first signing of what could be an exciting summer.

That comes in the form of West Ham defender Ben Johnson, who is out of contract at the London Stadium this summer and has not been offered fresh terms in east London.

The 24-year-old has been a bit-part player for David Moyes this season, making just four Premier League starts.

Part of his problem is his versatility. Though ostensibly a right-back, across his career to date he has played at left-back, across the midfield and even at centre-back, making settling in a favoured position more difficult.

Position

Games played

Right-back

24

Left-back

7

Centre-back

4

Left-midfield

8

Right-midfield

5

Now set to leave West Ham this summer as part of wholesale changes at the London Stadium, the Daily Record reports that he is set to snub Scottish giants Rangers in favour of a move to south Londoners Palace.

It is also claimed that the defender is 'almost certainly' Selhurst Park-bound in what would be the first addition of Glasner's reign, with Johnson "on the verge of committing to Palace".

Johnson has been hailed by West Ham coach Stuart Pearce in the past, for his on and off-pitch demeanour.

"He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with. We're very proud to have him out of our academy system as well, which is a real plus for us, especially with the connection to this club with the academy," Pearce explained.

"I think he's just developing and getting better and better, and like with all young players, the more game time they have, the better they'll get, so I am delighted for the boy."

The Eagles have already added Daniel Munoz to their ranks in recent months, but remain light at full-back with Tyrick Mitchell the only recognised left-back and both Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne well into their 30s on the opposite flank.

The addition of Johnson could prove a savvy way to plug both gaps.

Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign a £17 million midfielder who former boss Mauricio Pochettino wanted to bring to North London in 2019.

Spurs planning to sign new midfielder for Postecoglou

Manager Ange Postecoglou and Spurs recruitment chiefs are reportedly planning to bring in a new central midfield ace, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of some squad members in that position.

Tottenham have now reached agreement to sign attacking starlet for Ange

They’ve beat “multiple” Premier League sides in the race for his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2024

Despite his fine form at the start of 2023/2024, it is believed Spurs are now open to suitable offers for Yves Bissouma, while the out-of-favour Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is looking pretty likely to quit Tottenham and has been for quite a while.

Concerns have surrounded the former's inconsistency lately, while the latter is entering the final 12 months of his contract – giving chairman Daniel Levy precious little time to make money back off his signing in 2020.

Brighton 4-2 Tottenham

7.27

Tottenham 2-0 Fulham

7.06

Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest

6.92

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea

6.90

Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

6.77

Postecoglou's midfield could look very different by the beginning of 2024/2025, and they've got a few key targets to potentially replace the likes of Bissouma and Hojbjerg.

Indeed, Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is still being eyed up by Spurs, so much so that an offer is expected in the coming weeks as the north Londoners believe they could strike a deal for as little as £35 million (TEAMtalk).

They do have alternatives to the Englishman, though, in case their intense rivalry with Chelsea becomes too much of a stumbling block in any proposed deal. Abroad, Atalanta star Ederson has been in excellent form under Gian Piero Gasperini throughout 23/24.

This has turned heads at N17, with Spurs thought to be targeting Ederson as another option to reinforce Postecoglou's midfield ahead of next season. However, it is believed Atalanta are seeking a minimum of £43 million to sell the Brazilian, with Spurs looking to bolster other areas of the squad as well.

Levy and the recruitment team will have to be clever in the way they navigate this summer window, as Postecoglou needs backing across the board.

Tottenham offered Carlos Soler deal

According to HITC, £17 million Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Carlos Soler has emerged as a potential opportunity.

The outlet claims Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Soler this summer, with the Lilywhites now made aware of his availability. The Spaniard, who's been likened to Man City legend David Silva, has struggled for consistent starting places under Luis Enrique this season – meaning he could depart the Parc des Princes.

Soler is a player who they are familiar with, as ESPN once shared that Pochettino and Spurs were planning an approach to sign Soler in 2019.

“He is the complete midfielder and can act as a (number) six, eight or 10,” former Valencia star Cuco Torres told AS (via HITC). “He has power, arrives in the box and can score.”

Tottenham have been handed a boost as a summer transfer target is said to prefer a move to Spurs over Newcastle United.

Tottenham transfer rumours

Tottenham ended 2023/24 fifth in the Premier League, missing out on a Champions League place to Aston Villa. While Ange Postecoglou is likely happy to have secured some form of European football following the departure of Harry Kane, he is no doubt keen to make the step up next term and push for a place in Europe's premier competition.

To do so, the Lilywhites will likely have to spend well this summer in order to match the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. So far, things are looking good for Tottenham fans as the north Londoners have been linked with a number of big names heading into the summer. Pundit John Wenham has shared his belief that Tottenham are "making it known" they want to sign Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite – but admits that there are a few roadblocks in Spurs' way of a potential deal.

BBC pundit gutted for Tottenham ace as Daniel Levy green-lights summer exit

He’s set to leave.

ByEmilio Galantini May 25, 2024

Spurs have been repeatedly linked with Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson, following the Icelandic's fine season of 14 goals and 4 assists across 35 Serie A appearances. Tottenham are also thought to be among the clubs eyeing a move for Lyon forward Rayan Cherki this summer, with all interested sides believing he's a "huge talent" – including Spurs.

Elsewhere, Chelsea's Conor Gallagher is reportedly edging closer to an exit this summer – alongside Trevoh Chalobah – following the departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino, and the all-action midfielder has been on Postecoglou's radar since his arrival at Tottenham, with a failed £40m bid last summer followed by further vested interest in January.

£60m star now prefers signing for Tottenham over Newcastle

Now, a fresh name has been tipped to make a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer. The player in question is RB Leipzig and France centre-back Mohamed Simakan. According to German outlet Bild (via London World), Tottenham are leading Newcastle in the race to sign the highly-rated stopper.

The report adds that Simakan would prefer a move to Spurs over a switch to Tyneside, with both clubs thought to be holding a firm interest. In terms of a fee for the defender, Bild claims he has a €70m (£60m) release clause.

Simakan joined Leipzig from Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg in 2021 and has since notched 120 outings for the German outfit. Strasbourg’s director of training, Francois Keller, previously compared Simakan to fellow French defender Raphael Varane due to their similar physical qualities.

"We quickly realised that we were dealing with a phenomenon," Keller said. "He tore the place up… I said to myself that we had the new Varane. He was athletic, powerful, assured and calm."

In the Leipzig team, only defensive partner Willi Orban (2.8) won more aerials than Simakan (1.9) in the Bundesliga last season, as part of a defence that only unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen conceded fewer goals than. At 24, Simakan is clearly a trusted member of the squad, having featured in 31 of 34 top-flight matches.

Therefore, Spurs could be onto a winner if they can beat Newcastle to his signature, even at a hefty cost.

On Friday, Spanish outlet Diario AS revealed that Liverpool had set their asking price for Barcelona-linked Luis Diaz at a hefty €75m (£68m). Rumours that the Colombian is headed for Catalonia persist, with little sign of slowing down.

Diaz was one of Liverpool's most dependable performers throughout the 2023/24 campaign but with Jurgen Klopp now gone and the 27-year-old only scoring 13 goals from 51 matches, turning down an offer that matches the above-mentioned figure might feel difficult for FSG and its footballing CEO Michael Edwards.

Mohamed Salah, on the alternate wing, looks set to star for Arne Slot's Liverpool next term, entering the final year of his £350k-per-week contract but remaining one of Europe's first-class forwards, scoring 25 goals and adding 14 assists as the Reds finished third in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup.

But Salah is nearly 32 years old and, regardless of what happens in the short term, is not going to be around forever.

Liverpool are in the market for a wide forward and while the situation on the left remains uncertain, Edwards and Co are seeking Salah's successor and might just have identified the perfect option.

Liverpool lining up Salah successor

As per The Telegraph, Newcastle United are scrambling to cross the line in relation to PSR and as such could turn to Yankuba Minteh as one of the most profitable assets at Eddie Howe's disposal.

The 19-year-old is a talented winger and enjoyed a successful breakout season on loan at Feyenoord but the Magpies' struggle is Liverpool's gain, with the report suggesting that Slot's side could take advantage and bolster their wide options by signing the Gambia international.

Newcastle do not want to sell but if an interested party were to lodge an offer of £40m, they may well have to consider accepting.

Yankuba Minteh's season in numbers

Signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub in July 2023 for about £6m, Minteh was swiftly sent away from St. James' Park to the Netherlands, tasked with fostering and honing his talent on loan with Eredivisie champions Feyenoord.

Odense's chief executive Steffen Nielsen hailed the wide forward's "magic" ability with the ball and that was certainly showcased throughout his time in Rotterdam, with Minteh plundering ten goals and six assists from 27 matches in the Dutch top flight as well as scoring against Celtic in the Champions League.

Principally a right winger, Liverpool will no doubt appreciate his goalscoring ability but the player's underlying numbers are certain to be the reason behind the data-driven Edwards' interest.

Combative, creative and lively, the 5 foot 11 starlet averaged one key pass, 2.2 dribbles, 1.7 tackles and 5.0 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, also creating nine big chances.

Non-penalty goals

0.62

Top 3%

Shots total

3.46

Top 7%

Assists

0.31

Top 13%

Shot-creating actions

5.81

Top 3%

Progressive carries

7.85

Top 2%

Successful take-ons

3.65

Top 2%

Touches (Att pen)

9.89

Top 1%

Tackles

2.84

Top 4%

One of the foremost in the division for goals per game, rate of assisting, and positive, forward action when carrying the ball himself, Minteh appears destined for the top of the European game if his prodigious beginning is anything to go by.

And given that he's already being compared to a Liverpool legend in Sadio Mane, surely it would be worth Slot pushing to get the deal over the line, having led him throughout the recently concluded campaign.

Why Liverpool should sign Yankuba Minteh

First, let's address the obvious point. Minteh has spent a year in the Netherlands sharpening his tools and, crucially, he's done so under Slot's guidance.

If reports are on the mark and Liverpool do have an interest in the teenage talent, there's little question that Slot has played a key part in pushing for his signature, having recognised the qualities that played a key role in finishing second in the league and winning the KNVB Cup, albeit getting sent off in the final.

One scout has noted that once it all clicks for Minteh, "he can reach Sadio Mane level", such is the quality of his gliding gait and the budding deadliness of his shooting.

Minteh, certainly, has the makings of a breezy finisher, demonstrating as much this season. He missed ten big chances in the Eredivisie but also converted ten strikes. Darwin Nunez, for comparison, scored 11 Premier League goals this season and missed 27 big chances.

Minteh's clinical edge definitely has something about the Senegalese sensation, who missed 13 big chances during his final Premier League term, scoring 16 goals. Moreover, Mane completed 2.3 dribbles and won 6.9 duels on average, underscoring his all-encompassing value that has sadly not been replicated to the max by Diaz.

Consistency will be key but Newcastle's talent has proven himself across the year, scoring three goals from four league outings in September before closing the campaign with seven goals and four assists across 11 appearances.

Whether Liverpool decide to give the young star a chance remains to be seen, with other targets being considered, but since Salah is set to stay for at least one more year, why not provide him with a prodigious understudy who could use the forthcoming year to assimilate some of the Egyptian's trademark qualities.

Then, unleashing his skill set as Liverpool's star man on the right flank of Slot's frontline.

Slot prioritising £60m "superstar" who’d be Liverpool's dream Salah heir

Arne Slot loves a winger and he might just find the perfect signing in this Premier League phenomenon.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 7, 2024

They might have come agonizingly close to winning the Premier League for a second successive season this year, but it was another season of improvements for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side picked up the most wins an Arsenal team have ever had in a Premier League season, scored the second-highest number of goals and boasted the best defence in the league.

However, while the majority of the Spaniard's stars took another step forward, a few didn't, or worse yet, took a step back.

Unfortunately, Gabriel Martinelli was one of them, and based on recent reports, his poor form could cost him his place in the team.

Gabriel Martinelli's season in numbers

The former Ituano gem came into 2023/24 off the back of his most impressive campaign to date, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists in 46 games for the Gunners as they sprung an unexpected and impressive title challenge for the first time in a very long time.

Appearances

46

Goals

15

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.45

However, while he was seen as practically undroppable for his serious output last year, Martinelli struggled to hold down a place in Arteta's side this season due in part to injuries, poor form, and Leandro Trossard's goalscoring prowess.

In 44 games this year, the Brazilian scored just eight goals and provided five assists, and while those aren't dreadful numbers by any stretch of the imagination, they are a step back from what he showed he was capable of in 2022/23.

In his defence, he missed eight games through injury compared to just three last season, but that is about all you can say for the 22-year-old when Trossard managed to score 17 goals and provide two assists in just two more appearances.

In all, it was a campaign to forget for the Guarulhos-born star, and with Arteta looking to improve the squad this summer, his place in the starting XI next season could be under threat.

The player who could replace Martinelli

There have already been several wingers linked to Arsenal over the last few months, such as Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pedro Neto and even Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. However, the latest name touted for a move to N5 is someone a lot less familiar to Premier League fans: Girona's Viktor Tsyhankov.

According to reports out of Spain, the Gunners are one of several sides interested in signing the winger this summer and stand a good chance of doing so as his contract includes a 'termination' clause worth €30m, which is around £26m.

Moreover, the player himself is said to view the Emirates as a great place for him to develop alongside the young and exciting squad.

Appearances

34

44

Goals

8

8

Assists

7

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.29

The Ukrainian international enjoyed a brilliant campaign with the Catalan club this season, racking up eight goals and seven assists in just 34 games, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.2 games – significantly better than Martinelli's average of a goal involvement every 3.3 games.

Described as a winger whose "left foot is a weapon" by Scouted, the Nahariya-born ace has primarily played on the right in recent seasons.

However, he's started 24 games on the left wing and four games on the left of midfield for his club and of his 52 national team appearances, 24 have come as a left-winger. So, while he hasn't started there this season, he's clearly someone who could thrive there and get the most out of his unreal left foot.

However, while his raw output was superior to the Brazilians this year, how does he stack up to the Arsenal man when looking at their underlying numbers?

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.53

0.58

Assists

0.31

0.18

Non-Penalty Goals

0.35

0.27

Progressive Passes

3.90

2.90

Progressive Carries

2.85

5.67

Shots

1.93

2.59

Goals per Shot

0.18

0.10

Passing Accuracy

78.9%

77.9%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.21

4.10

Goal-Creating Actions

0.57

0.49

Well, it's not a landslide victory, but the former Dynamo Kyiv ace comes out on top in most metrics, including assists, non-penalty goals, progressive passes, goals per shot, passing accuracy and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Martinelli is still an incredibly talented player, bringing in a player like Tsyhankov seems like an intelligent move, as the worst-case scenario for him is that he develops into the Brazilian's backup in a title-challenging team, and the best case is that he becomes the starting left-winger.

West Bromwich Albion will be somewhat cautious about their chances of putting together another promotion attempt next season, as uncertainty continues to hang over the Hawthorns involving some key first-team individuals.

It looks ever more likely by the day that Cedric Kipre – who starred last campaign for the Baggies from the heart of defence – will just be allowed to walk out of the building on a free transfer, whilst central midfield gem Alex Mowatt also still hasn't penned a new deal, to further ramp up the anxiety levels.

Carlos Corberan's men can attempt to lessen the worry about Kipre's ongoing situation by swooping for a new centre-back titan this summer, therefore, with reports suggesting they're setting their sights on a new Scandinavian recruit.

West Brom looking at St Pauli defender

According to Swedish football website SportBladet, the West Midlands outfit hold strong interest in 27-year-old St Pauli defender Eric Smith this summer, but aren't the only club from the Championship taking a look at the 6 foot 3 Swede.

Leeds United have also been noted as being interested in Smith, with a tussle potentially forming between the two clubs as a result, as Leeds aim to rectify their own worries at the back, with Joe Rodon now permanently back at Tottenham Hotspur.

What Smith can offer West Brom

West Brom will hope this new addition sees them gain a new warrior at the back from Sweden akin to Jonas Olsson in his prime at the Hawthorns, with the popular and imposing centre-back becoming a real fan's favourite during the Baggies' recent Premier League days, amassing 201 top-flight games across nine memorable seasons.

It's some pressure on the St. Pauli man's shoulders to be that influential entering into his new surroundings, but he will hope he can taste Premier League football with the Baggies if he joins, taking his first steps as their next Olsson in the process.

There's also many reasons as to why two clubs, who will be aiming to be near the top of the Championship table next season, are fervently interested in Smith, who has starred for St. Pauli in their own 2. Bundesliga promotion success.

The in-demand 27-year-old would pick up two goals and six assists playing out from the back for his current employers last campaign, taking his assists tally up to a mightily impressive 12 in total across 82 games in Germany, after relocating from his native Sweden in 2021.

Games played

30

48

Goals

2

3

Assists

6

1

Shots total*

1.29

0.42

Shot-creating actions*

2.17

0.61

Passes attempted*

66.92

58.34

Pass completion %

84.3%

86.7%

Progressive passes

5.83

3.20

As can be seen glancing at the table above, Smith is more of a calm and stylish operator with the ball at his feet compared to Kipre, who prides himself on doing the less glamorous defensive parts of his game well.

Yet, Smith has also show he can to battle for his side in the German second tier, showing off shades of Olsson's Baggies' game subsequently, who was notorious for being a no-nonsense, tough centre-back to face off against.

Olsson would close out his West Brom career in the top-flight during the 2016-17 season by still averaging 3.9 duels won per game, with Smith winning a very similar total of four on average in last season's 2. Bundesliga.

His final game potentially for the second-tier champions saw him put in an imperious display, winning five duels whilst amassing 85 accurate passes, proving himself to be a multifaceted defender, who even has an outrageous free-kick like the one below in his back pocket.

Leeds could well have the upper hand in this transfer scrap, but West Brom will keep their fingers crossed they come out on top, to win their next Olsson.

West Brom can repeat Mowatt steal by signing "magic" free agent

West Bromwich Albion could get in another excellent free agent like Alex Mowatt this summer.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 11, 2024

Chelsea chief Todd Boehly is willing to make a significant bid for one £85 million Paris-Saint Germain star this summer.

Chelsea pursuing new attacking signings for Maresca

Until very recently, Chelsea were thought to be the lead contenders to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, until the 22-year-old opted to join Bayern Munich instead.

Chelsea prepared to bid for new priority target in £50 million forward

The west Londoners are keen on bringing in a new attacker or two.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2024

Olise chose Bayern over Chelsea to play in the Champions League next season, dealing a setback to co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, who are attempting to back new manager Enzo Maresca with quality new additions.

They still want to bring in a new winger after missing out on Olise (Nizaar Kinsella), and are currently weighing up alternatives. Reports have since emerged that Chelsea could submit a bid for Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, who spearheaded his side to a surprise Europa League triumph at the expense of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and will cost around £50 million.

Cole Palmer

25

Nicolas Jackson

17

Raheem Sterling

10

Noni Madueke

8

Conor Gallagher

7

There are other star wide players who could be on the move this summer, like Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, and he's also been linked with a move to Chelsea this week. A more expensive but very highly-rated option, according to some reports, is PSG winger Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international started 32 Bundesliga games on loan at RB Leipzig last term, scoring eight goals and racking up 11 assists over a very productive season.

Chelsea willing to make significant bid for Simons

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are willing to make a significant bid for Simons, but it is unclear whether they're prepared to go as high as his £85 million asking price.

The 21-year-old is also being chased by Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal, while Luis Enrique could even decide to keep hold of the Dutchman for next campaign, so it won't be an easy deal by any stretch.

“It will be interesting to see if that’s what Enrique wants, but based on what he’s said publicly, he seems very keen on Simons’ profile," said Ligue 1 expert and CBS Sports correspondent Jonathan Johnson on Simons' future in the French capital (via CaughtOffside).

"There’s been talk of potential offers from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, but I think it would have to depend on the offer, because I don’t really see PSG doing business unless there’s an offer that’s deemed too good to turn down.

“I expect decisions to be made soon, and PSG’s preparations for next season can even start now, given that they’ve gone out of the Champions League. There’s still a cup final to win, but Ligue 1 has been confirmed, so Enrique can start discussing with the club which positions need reinforcing and how Simons might fit into his plans for next season.”