Liverpool are looking to complete the signing of an “incredible” player next year, potentially beating rivals Manchester United to his signature, among others.
Isak in Liverpool training ahead of debut
The Reds are back in Premier League action on Sunday action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Burnley in a game that many will expect to see the visitors win comfortably.
For Alexander Isak, it has the potential to be a special day, with the Swede in line to make his debut at some point, even if it is from the substitutes’ bench.
The 25-year-old took part in his first training session for Liverpool on Wednesday, with footage showing the elite finishing ability that he has in his locker, and why the Premier League champions were willing to pay Newcastle United a record-breaking £125m for his services.
Granted, Isak needs time to build up his match fitness, so as mentioned, Hugo Ekitike is likely to be preferred at Burnley this weekend, but a second-half cameo feels on the cards, in what is hopefully the first of many appearances in a Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool enter race to sign "incredible" ace
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now battling to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in 2026, whether that be in January or next summer.
Man Utd “face a fierce battle” with their biggest rivals, with FSG now entering the race, whereas Newcastle United and Chelsea are also mentioned as options for the £60m-rated England international.
Wharton is one of the most exciting young English players around currently, already becoming such an accomplished footballer at the age of just 21.
The Palace star is an elegant player with a lovely left foot, and he possesses the ability to both dictate play from a deep midfield role, but also shine out of possession, displaying good positional sense and a strong work ethic.
Wharton, who has won two of his three games against the Reds (66%), could be a brilliant squad addition for Liverpool, coming in as a replacement for Wataru Endo, before maturing into a key starter, having been lauded by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.
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“Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”
"Huge money" – Liverpool eye 2026 move for "magician" after Isak and Wirtz
What a signing this could be.
ByHenry Jackson
There was a time when United were clearly the more exciting proposition than Liverpool, but that has changed significantly in the modern game, and the hope is that Wharton sees the champions as his best future option, picking them over the Red Devils and other suitors.
And just like that, Arsenal’s season has come to a bitterly disappointing end.
Mikel Arteta’s side started like a house on fire against Paris Saint-Germain last night, but two goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi were enough to dash their hopes of only a second Champions League final in the club’s history.
Bukayo Saka managed to pull one back late on, but it all proved too much for the visitors, and once again, they came up short when it really mattered and looked utterly bereft of ideas for much of the game.
While it wasn’t a terrible performance from the North Londoners, a few players let themselves down, like Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and another who has to be axed this summer.
Arsenal's poorest performers vs PSG
Like the team overall, Odegaard and Martinelli started the game relatively well last night, with the former forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into an incredible save down low to his left and the latter getting past his markers several times.
However, as the game progressed, both starters began to fade into the background, with The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid claiming the captain put in a “completely anonymous display in the second half,” and the same could be said about the latter.
It might sound overly harsh, but we aren’t alone in this opinion, as Alex Turk of the Express was particularly scathing of the pair.
He awarded the Norwegian a 4/10 and the Brazilian a 3/10, writing that the former ‘goes missing in these crunch games far too often’ and the latter was both ‘invisible’ and ‘not near the level required.’
It’s a damming assessment of their performances, more than justified by some of their statistics, as, across his 95 minutes of action, the captain amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.22, while the former Ituano gem failed in 100% of his crosses and lost 50% of his ground duels.
However, while neither player looked anywhere near their best last night, there is still some clear upside in keeping them for next season, which cannot be said about another of the Gunners’ biggest disappointments from Pairs.
The Arsenal star who has to be axed
While William Saliba and even Mikel Merino looked off the pace last night, neither of them should be moved on in the summer, which cannot be said for Thomas Partey.
The former Atlético Madrid star was absent for the first leg of the tie due to a stupid incident off the ball against Real Madrid, but it would be hard to say he added much of anything to the team in the second leg, bar some rather underwhelming long throws.
For example, while he kept the ball moving fairly well in the first half, he slowly became more and more of a problem in possession, losing the ball at an increasing rate, including for Hakimi’s tie-ending goal late in the second half.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Again, while it sounds harsh, we aren’t alone in being disappointed with Turk awarding him a paltry 3/10 match rating at full-time, while Catterson-Reid simply described his showing as “so so bad.”
Partey’s game vs PSG
Minutes
95′
Touches
61
Completed Passes
31
Crosses (Accurate)
3 (1)
Long Balls (Accurate)
4 (2)
Shots
0
Ground Duels (Won)
7 (4)
Aerial Duels (Won)
2 (0)
Lost Possession
19
Dribbled Past
1
All Stats via Sofascore
Unsurprisingly, the 31-year-old’s statistics more than back up the scathing reviews of his display, as, in 95 minutes of action, he made just 31 passes, misplaced two of three crosses and 50% of his long balls, failed to have a single shot, lost 100% of his aerial duels, lost the ball a staggering 19 times and was dribbled past once.
It was the sort of showing that makes talk of him being offered a new contract seem utterly ridiculous, as with him turning 32 in the summer, there is no reason to believe he’ll improve, let alone maintain his form into next season.
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Ultimately, while the team clearly put in the effort at points last night, there were a few too many players who weren’t at the level, including Partey, who should be thanked for his service in the summer and sent on his way.
A dream for Saka: Arsenal submit bid to sign "monster" £30m striker
The free-scoring forward would be ideal for the Arsenal talisman.
Nottingham Forest are prepared to make a move for an “exceptional” £25m player if he becomes available this winter, according to a report.
Forest flying high
Forest’s first half of the Premier League season has surpassed all expectations, with the prospect of Champions League football slowly becoming a real possibility, if they are able to perform at a similar level in the second half of the campaign.
There is no telling when an opportunity like this will arise again, so it could be vital for Nuno Espirito Santo to seize the moment and strengthen his squad this January, to give his side the best possible chance of achieving the unthinkable.
With the transfer window set to open tomorrow, the Tricky Trees have a number of targets in mind, including Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz, with an offer of €20m (£16.6m) potentially on the way soon.
A new left midfielder is also of interest to Nuno, with Forest now racing to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague this winter, although there will be competition from Premier League rivals Brentford.
Nottingham Forest’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
January 6th
Liverpool (h)
January 14th
Southampton (h)
January 19th
AFC Bournemouth (a)
January 25th
Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
February 1st
There are now signs that Nuno may also be keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, with a report from The Daily Mail detailing that Nottingham Forest would be prepared to make a move for Manchester City’s James McAtee this January.
A number of clubs have taken a keen interest in McAtee, including Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, West Ham United and Crystal Palace, so there is set to be stiff competition for his signature if he becomes available. The £25m-rated midfielder’s future at the Etihad Stadium remains in doubt as he has found it difficult to get game time this season, despite Man City’s struggles.
It is believed that the 22-year-old has informed City he wants to leave the club, potentially opening the door for a move to the City Ground, should Pep Guardiola be willing to sanction his departure.
Man City want Nottingham Forest star as part of Guardiola’s January revamp
Manchester City have had a difficult season to say the least…
1 ByBarney Lane McAtee needs to move
The Englishman needs to move if he is to fulfill his lofty potential, as he has found minutes especially hard to come by this season, making just three appearances in the Premier League. During his time on loan at Sheffield United, the attacking midfielder was lauded by journalist Ryan Taylor.
However, the Salford-born ace has simply not been given the opportunity to show what he can do in a City shirt, so a January transfer may be necessary for the good of his career.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
A move to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest could therefore be a very attractive proposition for the City academy graduate, especially considering his current club are by no means guaranteed to be in the competition next season.
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McAtee already has some Premier League experience, picking up three goals and three assists in the competition for Sheffield United last season, and he could really kick on at the City Ground.
Arsenal have held talks with a £60 million striker via his agents, as sporting director Edu Gaspar and the club plot a deadline day bid.
Arsenal linked with new striker after Mikel Merino and Neto
The north Londoners have been very busy over these final few days of the window, sealing an official deal for midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad following weeks of speculation and talks.
Arsenal monitoring £179k-per-week Nketiah replacement with late bid possible
The Gunners have just sold him to Palace.
2 ByEmilio Galantini
The Spain international will wear Arsenal's number 23 shirt and could make his Premier League debut against Brighton, with manager Mikel Arteta expressing his delight at Merino's arrival.
“Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility," said Arteta on signing Merino.
"He has played at the top of the game at both club and international level for a number of seasons now. Mikel will make our squad significantly stronger, with his technical ability, together with his strong and positive character and personality.
“As we all saw in the summer, Mikel is also a winner, with his strong performances throughout the Euros helping Spain win the tournament. We are delighted to welcome Mikel and his family to the club and can’t wait to start working with him.”
Arsenal have also reached a verbal agreement to sign Neto from Bournemouth as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the move will only happen if they can't agree a deal for Joan Garcia of Espanyol.
The Gunners are showcasing real ambition in these final 24 hours of the summer window, with Arsenal also on the lookout for new late forward options after selling Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace for around £30 million.
Eddie Nketiah's all-time stats for Arsenal in all competitions
Appearances
168
Goals
38
Assists
7
Bookings
12
Red Cards
1
Minutes played
7,000
via Transfermarkt
A few interesting names have been linked, but a far more familiar face in Brentford striker Ivan Toney is apparently back on Edu's agenda this deadline day.
Arsenal hold talks with Toney as Edu plots deadline day bid
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal have held late talks with Toney via his agents, CAA Stellar, and they're seriously considering a bid to sign the 28-year-old – who is also attracting interest from Chelsea as Enzo Maresca's side search for a striker.
Ivan Toney for England
Edu and Arteta are apparently weighing up a £50 million bid to sign Toney, who represented England at Euro 2024 earlier this summer, but other reports suggest that the Bees could hold out for as much as £60 million.
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However, since then, it has been revealed that a deal has been agreed between Brentford and Al Ahli for Toney.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Toney today, as his contract situation could potentially force Thomas Frank and co to ponder a lower price tag.
West Bromwich Albion will still believe it's their season to clinch promotion to the Premier League, regardless of recent poor form seeing their solid grip on a Championship playoff spot become weaker.
The Baggies have only won one of their last six games in the division, with that 2-0 victory coming in fortunate fashion against Rotherham United with one of the goals a dubious penalty call.
However, Carlos Corberan's men won't let their spot in the top six slip completely and will want to return to the top flight for the first time since dropping out of the elite league at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Memories of playing against the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal regularly are soured somewhat by the numerous transfer blunders the Baggies fell victim to, this £15m buy in particular back in 2017 going down as one of the club's worst misfires.
Oliver Burke's transfer to West Brom
The world was expected of Oliver Burke when he entered the Hawthorns six years ago, joining for a bumper £15m fee after impressing at Nottingham Forest earlier in his career.
RB Leipzig would end up being the winners in this deal, however, offloading their lacklustre attacker for mega money who never really got going in his new German location after waving goodbye to the City Ground.
Burke would manage to only score one goal and pick two assists from 26 forgettable appearances at Leipzig, already a fall from grace for the winger expected to be a star after exiting Forest.
Leipzig didn't just go after Burke wildly in the hopes he would suddenly become a key performer overnight however, with the Scottish attacker bagging six goals for Forest from 31 games to catch the eye of higher-up suitors.
Yet, much like his time out in the Bundesliga, Burke would flop even on his return to English soil with the Baggies to make that £15m splashed out by the West Midlands club look like a colossal waste of money.
Oliver Burke's time at West Brom
The ex-Forest man would struggle in a West Brom strip throughout his three-season stay at the Hawthorns, amassing just 24 appearances over that time span with a meagre five of those managed over his last two campaigns.
Burke would be as goal-shy as he was out in Germany in the Midlands, only finding the back of the net once in action for the Baggies against Luton Town in the EFL Cup during his up-and-down debut season.
His pay packet whilst with West Brom would also have troubled the club's finances further, with Burke costing the Baggies £1.3m in wage costs alone during his disastrous stint on top of the transfer fee fee originally forked out.
Full West Brom lineup for Burke's Premier League debut
West Brom 1-1 Stoke City, August 2017
1. GK – Boaz Myhill
2. RB – Allan Nyom
3. CB – Ahmed Hegazy
4. CB – Craig Dawson
5. LB – Chris Brunt
6. CDM – Gareth Barry
7. LM – Matt Phillips
8. CM – Jake Livermore
9. CM – James Morrison
10. RM – Jay Rodriguez (Oliver Burke)
11. ST – Salomon Rondon
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Only given two minutes to shine in his first game off the bench, Burke would never bed himself into the West Brom first team effectively and would later be shipped out on loan to various different clubs as a result.
His time away at Celtic on loan would even see Burke criticised numerous times, branded a "disgrace" by former Hoops great Frank McAvennie after the Baggies dud put in an anonymous display in one Old Firm Derby.
There must have been a collective sigh in West Brom quarters when Burke was officially off the club roster for good in 2020 when Sheffield United snapped him up, with Callum Robinson joining the Hawthorns ranks in a swap deal as part of the transfer.
Burke has since struggled to make a name for himself for a whole host of clubs after departing West Brom on bad terms, the now 27-year-old lining up for Gary Rowett's Birmingham City in a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the second tier on loan from Werder Bremen.
His once extortionate £15m valuation has taken a significant dent as a result, with the nomadic winger now worth less than Josh Maja in the current Baggies camp even with the striker having an injury-disrupted season.
Oliver Burke's transfer value in 2024
Burke's value now comes in at a paltry £1.6m according to Football Transfers, with the one-time Forest starlet struggling at yet another new employer in the Blues.
Surprisingly picked to start Birmingham's last match against Rotherham United, which led to a social media storm about his inclusion, Burke would last just 45 minutes against the Millers before being hauled off.
Burke's numbers vs Rotherham
Minutes played
45
Touches
18
Accurate passes
7/12
Shots on goal
0
Duels won
2/7
Sourced by Sofascore
Looking at his numbers from the 0-0 draw at the New York Stadium above, it's not a great shock to see why Rowett substituted Burke for the second half in South Yorkshire.
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His continued woes on the pitch with whoever he lines up for have contributed in his transfer value falling off a cliff, with Maja worth just a bit more than Burke at £1.7m despite not playing a game in 2024 of yet.
Maja will hope he can fire in plenty of goals next season for Corberan's men when he's shrugged off his recurring injury problems, giving Brandon Thomas-Asante fierce competition up top in the process.
The ex-Sunderland striker had only fired in one Championship strike from the 11 games he managed before a season-ending injury in late December, but he can't be written off just yet.
Burke's future back at Bremen looks very much up in the air on the other hand, with the Bundesliga side not exactly head over heels for the 27-year-old anymore based on his torrid spell at St Andrew's to then give him another chance.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
If West Brom do end up returning to the top flight through the drama of the playoffs, they will have to be cautious about overspending so as not to have another expensive mistake on their hands.
West Brom could sign a "fantastic" replacement for Alex Mowatt
West Bromwich Albion could sign this young star to replace Alex Mowatt.
The chances of securing Europa League Football after Christmas for Rangers has diminished following their underwhelming 1-1 draw against Aris Limassol on Thursday evening.
The hosts had to come from behind to secure a point and while the Gers currently occupy second spot in the group, unless they beat Real Betis, they will require a favour from the Cypriot side in their tie against Sparta Prague to secure progress in Europe’s second-tier competition.
The Light Blues will be playing some sort of continental football after the festive season regardless, yet the performance last night was far from acceptable.
Philippe Clement got his team selection all wrong, starting Todd Cantwell on the right wing while persisting with Sam Lammers in an attacking midfield slot, and they lacked any sort of effectiveness in the final third.
Glasgow Rangers managerPhilippe Clement.
The Englishman was even substituted off after just 36 minutes after he failed to follow Clement’s instructions.
The Belgian is managing a squad that he inherited from Michael Beale, yet some of the players are far from good enough to be playing for the Light Blues.
Rangers' 4/10 star let Clement down vs Aris and was worse than Cantwell
Rangers struggled to a 1-1 draw against the Cypriot side last night
ByRoss Kilvington
With the January transfer window fast approaching, the 49-year-old has the chance to move on a few players who don’t fit into his tactical system, while also trying to bring in a fresh face or two in order to bolster the squad.
Rangers transfer news – Ahmed Hegazy
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers have been offered the opportunity to sign Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazy from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.
They aren’t the only club to be given the opportunity to secure a deal for the 32-year-old, however, as Old Firm rivals Celtic may also be keen, but there could be interest from south of the border which derails any potential plans.
The likes of Burnley, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Cardiff are all keen on bringing the veteran back to England after he ended his spell at West Bromwich Albion in 2020 to move to the Middle East.
It remains to be seen what budget Clement will be able to utilise in the winter window and this could be determined by player sales. If he manages to raise a few million, this could be spent on new arrivals.
Hegazy, however, might not cost a penny, with the report indicating that he could be allowed to depart on a free transfer.
Rangers' previous ten January signings
Year
Todd Cantwell
2023
Nico Raskin
2023
Aaron Ramsey
2022
James Sands
2022
Amad Diallo
2022
Mateusz Zukowski
2022
Scott Wright
2021
Jack Simpson
2021
Ianis Hagi
2020
Florian Kamberi
2020
Via Transfermarkt
Although the Light Blues have five central defenders in their first-team squad, adding the former West Brom gem could be a shrewd acquisition and his experience could lead to him being just like Leon Balogun.
Leon Balogun’s season in numbers
The 35-year-old returned to Rangers during the summer for a second spell having played for the Light Blues between 2020 and 2022.
During his first stint, the Nigerian won the Premiership and Scottish Cup while helping the Gers reach the Europa League final during his second season.
Overall, he played 65 times for the club and was released by Giovanni van Bronckhorst at the end of the 2021/22 season, yet it didn’t take long for him to arrive back north of the border.
Beale secured his signature on a one-year deal, and it looked as though he would provide cover for any injury issues, yet he has played more than first anticipated, with Clement utilising his experience.
Balogun actually ranks second across the whole squad with regard to overall Sofascore rating in the league this term (7.48/10), while also ranking sixth for accurate passes per game (56.5) and second for tackles per game (1.8), proving he has been useful when given a chance in the starting XI.
The centre-back has also won a staggering 11.8 total duels per game – a success rate of 75% – and his calming nature at the heart of the defence has been a huge asset to the Gers recently.
He is proving that age is just a number. Could this suggest that if Hegazy joins the club in January, he could follow suit?
Ahmed Hegazy’s career in numbers
Having started off his career in his homeland, the defender ended up joining Fiorentina back in 2012, yet made just four appearances for the Serie A side.
Spells at Perugia and El Ahly led to interest from the Premier League and West Brom subsequently secured his signature and he played in every single one of their matches in the top flight during 2017/18, scoring twice in the process.
Despite relegation, Hegazy stayed with the club, and it wasn’t until 2020 that he moved back to the Middle East, joining Al-Ittihad, while he has gone on to make 80 appearances for the club, winning a Saudi Pro League title and scoring ten times in the process – a solid return for a central defender.
The 6 foot 3 titan was praised by his Nacer Chadli during their time at West Brom together, with the winger saying: “He is very strong in the air, and he has good skills. He is intelligent and can be very dangerous and can score goals.”
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A goalscoring centre-back could offer a lot to Clement and, while he has missed 12 games for the club since suffering a cruciate ligament tear in June, he could well be fully recovered by the time the winter window opens in just a few weeks.
While he may not be an undisputed starter should the 32-year-old move to Glasgow, his experience could lead him to becoming a smart signing, similar to that of Balogun in the summer.
Former Rangers defender Leon Balogun.
The Light Blues also have their eye on young centre-back Nathaniel Adjei, who is currently playing for Swedish side Hammarby.
The 21-year-old may well be the better option due to his long-term potential and the fact he will continue to get better with age, thus meaning the club could perhaps sell him on in the future for a solid profit.
That being said, the Swedish outfit are demanding a fee of between £3m-£4m if any club wishes to sign him and this might not be attainable for the Light Blues in January.
This could suggest a move for Hegazy may be the smarter option, especially in the short term, and he could add some experience into the squad – as Balogun has done before him.
Following the exit of Riyad Mahrez this summer, Manchester City are reportedly targeting a right winger, as their Premier League title defence edges closer and closer.
Pep Guardiola has already welcomed Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol this summer, and the treble winners don't look to be done there in the summer transfer window.
What's the latest on Jeremy Doku to Manchester City?
Replacing Mahrez is no easy task, given his output of 15 goals and 13 assists last season, but Manchester City have reportedly identified their man.
According to Mike McGrath of The Daily Telegraph, the Champions League winners are eyeing a move for Stade Rennais winger Jeremy Doku this summer.
City are reportedly yet to make an offer for the winger this summer, who Rennes value at between €50m (£43m) and €60m (£52m) if they were to allow the sale in the coming weeks.
It looks set to be a busy end to the transfer window for Guardiola, given the Doku reports, combined with the fact that City have had a verbal approach of £70m rejected for West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta, as per Fabrizio Romano, who reported that the Brazilian wants a move to The Etihad.
Of course, it is key to point out that it does not seem to be the case of picking one of Paqueta and Doku, but instead a case of each player plugging holes in different areas of City's system.
Doku would come in as a Mahrez replacement, for example, whilst Paqueta would likely replace Ilkay Gundogan, who left on a free deal to Barcelona at the end of last season.
Both deals are certainly ones to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
How good is Jeremy Doku?
Jeremy Doku Aston Villa
Still only 21-years-old, bringing Doku to the club to work under Guardiola would represent solid business from Manchester City. We've seen the likes of Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, and Leroy Sane star under the guidance of the Spaniard, and now it could be Doku's turn.
Statisticially speaking, the Belgian even outperformed Mahrez in some aspects last season. According to FBref, Doku made more progressive passes, had more progressive carries, and had almost double the take-on success of Mahrez per 90 in astonishing stats for a player still so young.
Of course, the winger's general output can be improved, with just seven goals and four assists to his name last season, but in a side of City's calibre, those numbers should naturally rise, especially if assisting Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland.
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Doku has rightly earned plenty of praise during his time in France, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig Tweeting a number of stats, before saying back in February: "20 years of age. The Belgian Flash. Such a superb player when fit."
Lightening quick, his injury history, as pointed out by Kulig, may be a slight concern, after the winger missed 11 games through three injuries last season, but City may still decide to take the risk, given his clear ability.
As the end of the transfer window looms, City look set to be incredibly busy.
Journalist David Ornstein has warned that Arsenal could lose out on Declan Rice if they leave it too long to sort out a transfer.
When can Arsenal bid for Rice?
The Premier League season ended yesterday as the Gunners thumped Wolves 5-0 at home having already secured a second-place finish.
At the other end of the table, the West Ham United captain saw his side lose 2-1 to Leicester City who were still relegated.
Unlike Arsenal, the Hamers however are not done with football this term quite yet as they will play their Europa Conference League final against Florentina on June 7 – exactly a week before the summer market opens.
This likely means the Gunners won't be able to do much negotiating with Rice, who is expected to be sold this summer for around £120m.
This may be concerning for the north London outfit as they'll want to get a deal done before other teams come in with their own bids.
While talking on NBC Sports, Ornstein explained the latest on it all, saying (1:12): “Declan Rice could be on the move. I would expect West Ham to sell this summer.
"He's got a year to go with an option to extend. But I think Arsenal are really strong on him. He's a priority for them in this market.
"No agreement so far. And the longer they leave it, others could come into the party as well. But that is really one to watch as we go forward."
Who else wants to sign Declan Rice?
It's quite likely that negotiations for the £60k-per-week midfielder won't be easy with manager David Moyes already claiming: "He is probably the best English midfield player around and that is why he is going to be extremely expensive if anybody comes calling.”
With that in mind, the Gunners can't really afford to try and haggle too much or else a rival may come in and hijack the deal with a bigger bid.
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
Indeed, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are all also said to be interested in the England international and that could spell trouble for Arsenal.
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Perhaps Edu Gaspar and co have learned their lesson from the Mykhailo Mudryk deal in January when they failed to get a deal across the line, allowing Chelsea to snap him up for £88.5m.
Then again, seeing as that deal hasn't exactly gone well for the Blues with the former Shakhtar Donetsk star now struggling, Arsenal will have to carefully weigh up just how much they are prepared to offer for Rice and just how quickly they want to do so in order to beat their rivals to the signing.
Journalist Chris Waugh has insisted that people inside the Newcastle United dressing room recognise that the players are ‘jaded’.
The Lowdown: Newcastle now in a slump
Despite being on a 17-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, sitting in the top four and with a cup final on the horizon, it appears as though Newcastle are struggling to find form following the World Cup.
The Magpies have drawn five out of their last six games in the league, which has seen them drop points against relegation-threatened outfits Bournemouth, Leeds United and West Ham.
It appears that something mooted in recent weeks is how tired and jaded the Newcastle players now look after putting so much into their season to find themselves in this marvellous position.
The Latest: Players starting to look tired
Waugh has revealed on Pod on the Tyne that people from inside the Newcastle dressing room are now of the belief that the squad is looking jaded and tired heading into the cup final.
He said: “For the first time, I exchanged a few messages with people inside the dressing room, there was even an acceptance that they probably were jaded down there [Bournemouth] – and that was from people even inside the dressing room.
“So I think there is an acceptance they’ve reached a stage of the season both physically, in terms of just the number of players who’ve gone down and who they’re having to use over and over again; Eddie Howe has sort of 14 or 15 players he calls upon over and over again, which says a lot about squad depth.
“But then also psychologically, the fact that it probably has slipped towards Wembley that this cup final – for a lot of players, the majority of players in that dressing room haven’t won something before. There are some, the likes of Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn, who obviously have that emotional connection with the club and how huge a day out they realise that’s going to be.”
It is only natural that the Newcastle squad are starting to feel tired and leggy given how much that the core group of players have been playing thus far, but they shouldn’t be short of motivation.
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That is because they welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park on Saturday as they look to avenge the Reds – who are the only team to have beaten them in the league this season – while players will be looking to earn their place in the cup final next weekend.
If the players head into the Liverpool game with an eye on the cup final, they risk not being fully focused and potentially more at risk of picking up an injury by not going full-heartedly into tackles and challenges, while a poor performance could also see them fall out of favour with Howe at the worst possible time.
West Ham United insiders Claret & Hugh have dropped a fresh update regarding Kurt Zouma’s injury recovery.
The Lowdown: Zouma’s path to fitness
There was initially hope that Zouma could make a swift recovery from a knee issue which he noticed in the pre-match warm up before West Ham took on Leicester City in the last game before the World Cup, with the break ‘hopefully’ being considered enough time for him to recover, as per Claret & Hugh.
However, with the Frenchman recently undergoing knee surgery, the same source has indicated that he could be out for longer than initially expected.
The Latest: Claret & Hugh update
While there was initial optimism that the 28-year-old would not be on the treatment table for long, Claret & Hugh have recently been given more concerning news, with a source now saying:
“Sadly, I don’t think he can train on the knee at the moment.”
This, of course, casts doubt on when the £120k-per-week earner will return upon the resumption of the Premier League season, with the first game coming in the form of an away trip to Arsenal on Boxing Day.
The Verdict: Big blow
Once hailed as a “fantastic player” who is the “perfect fit” for West Ham by journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the centre-back has emerged as a key performer over the past year, averaging 5.58 clearances per 90 minutes, a figure that puts him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers.
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The titan’s importance to the team was underlined in a dominant display against AFC Bournemouth at the end of October, with WhoScored giving him an 8.1 rating, the highest of any player on the pitch, thanks in part to a goal, but also due to stellar defensive efforts, making two interceptions and four clearances across the 90 minutes.
With the Hammers facing such a tough test in their first top flight game after the World Cup, travelling to the league leaders, it is a big blow that one of their key players will likely be unavailable, and it could further disadvantage them in turning around their disappointing league form.