Arsenal are swiftly moving on to their next targets after striking a long-awaited deal for Viktor Gyokeres, who officially joined the Gunners from Sporting CP on Saturday in a deal worth up to £64 million.

Related Saka will love him: Arsenal reach agreement in principle to sign £68m star

Arsenal are ready to supply Viktor Gyokeres with an exciting new wideman.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2025

Gyokeres’ arrival comes as a major boost for Mikel Arteta as he seeks to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal drew more games than any other side in the top 10 last season, and their struggle for goals was a key reason for this. Arteta’s side managed just 69 in the league by the end of 2024/2025, paling in comparison to their tallies of 88 and 91 in the previous two seasons.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

A prolific frontman of Gyokeres’ ilk will certainly help Arteta’s side return to their clinical best, and Arsenal’s manager is thrilled to welcome a centre-forward who’s just bagged 54 goals in all competitions.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves,” said Arteta in an official statement.

“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.

“We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him. We welcome Viktor and his family to Arsenal.”

After Gyokeres, it is reliably reported that sporting director Andrea Berta is turning his attention towards Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

The England international is at the centre of Arsenal’s rumoured interest in signing a new creative number 10, and he reportedly has a £60 million release clause in his contract that could rise to £68m through bonuses (Sky Sports).

Crystal Palace identify Eberechi Eze replacement as Arsenal advance

According to multiple recent reports, there are suggestions that Eze has loosely agreed personal terms with Arsenal already, with Sports Zone even claiming that the 27-year-old has reached a “full agreement” over a proposed contract at the Emirates.

A north London switch for the player appears to be gaining serious traction, and according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Palace are moving to try and sign a replacement – providing a further indication that Arsenal could be closing in on Eze shortly.

Tavolieri, via X, claims Palace have identified Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss as a potential heir to Eze, but face competition from RB Leipzig.

Eze was released by Arsenal as a teenage academy prospect, but it appears the playmaker who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season could be facing his final summer at Selhurst Park.

Pakistan only have an outside chance of making the semis

Ekanth13-Oct-2024

New Zealand will look to seal a semi-final spot on Monday•ICC/Getty Images

New Zealand vs PakistanDubai, 6pm local timeNew Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.Pakistan squad: Fatima Sana (capt), Muneeba Ali (wk), Aliya Riaz, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Najiha Alvi.Tournament form guide: New Zealand recovered from a heavy defeat against Australia and registered an important eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka to remain strong contenders for the semi-final. As for Pakistan, they started their campaign with a win against Sri Lanka but slumped to defeats against India and then Australia.News brief: Thanks to Australia’s win over India, all New Zealand need to do is beat Pakistan to qualify for the semis. Their confidence will be boosted by Georgia Plimmer finding form as well as Amelia Kerr being among the runs and wickets. While the target of 116 they chased down against Sri Lanka was a modest one, it was a case of the batters bouncing back after being bundled out for 88 against Australia. They have resources to go in with six bowling options whether they persist with Fran Jonas or bring back Jess Kerr.Fatima Sana (in front) should return to the Pakistan XI•ICC/Getty Images

Pakistan will be buoyed by the return of their regular captain Fatima Sana, who returned to the UAE after going home upon her father passing away. However, Diana Baig, one of their strike bowlers, has been ruled out with a calf injury and Najiha Alvi, her replacement, could be in with a chance to play.Player to watch: Rosemary Mair, with six wickets in three games, is the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand going into the game. She went wicketless against Sri Lanka but bowled 14 dots and conceded at only 4.25 an over. She has dismissed key batters like Alyssa Healy, Harmanpreet Kaur and has been used both as a new-ball bowler and a first-change bowler. Sana was dearly missed in Pakistan’s game against Australia and is key for their prospects although they only have an outside chance of qualifying for the semis. Sana has scored at a strike rate of 153 and has taken four wickets with the ball, apart from leading the team competently.

Darwin Nunez is held in high regard at Liverpool. It’s perhaps the fanbase’s predilection toward their Uruguayan, once billed as a club-record man, that has kept him on the books for so long. Another personality to have followed his pathway might not receive the same warmth, encouragement.

Certainly, he flattered to deceive across his maiden term in the Premier League, only scoring nine goals after being entrusted with a starring role by Jurgen Klopp, who was enamoured by Nunez’s 2021/22 Champions League campaign with Benfica.

He improved the following year, notching 32 goal contributions across all competitions and lifting the Carabao Cup during a resurgent year for club and player. But there was still something missing.

The arrival of Arne Slot bespoke a new chapter, and it was something Nunez needed to harness. However, the 25-year-old is now for sale after his third term on Merseyside, having scored only seven goals last season, awarded just the one start in the league since Boxing Day.

At times unstoppable; always unpredictable. But Nunez is a maverick even to the inner workings of his own mind, and he’s proved a nut too tough to crack even for Slot.

Liverpool need a new striker. That’s clear.

Liverpool planning to sign a new striker

It was something of a surprise when news broke on Monday evening that Newcastle United are looking to close a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool fans might be excited by this, even though Ekitike has been among FSG’s top targets this summer, for it casts Alexander Isak’s future at St. James’ Park into some kind of doubt. Could the two truly cohabit at number nine for the Magpies?

But the Sweden star is valued at £200m, and the Reds might have been inclined to turn their attention to Viktor Gyokeres, who had scored 97 goals across two seasons for Sporting Lisbon.

Alas, Isak’s international teammate is bound for Arsenal.

However, Liverpool’s list of options at the front of the ship extends further than the aforementioned, with one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen on the radar.

Indeed, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, that list has Victor Osimhen’s name on it, with Napoli desperate to offload the Nigeria international this summer. A breakdown in his relationship with the Neapolitan outfit led to the forward’s departure on loan to Galatasaray last summer.

Osimhen is believed to have a price tag in the region of £60m, and while Galatasaray are pushing to seal the 26-year-old on a permanent deal, Liverpool’s financial and sporting advantages could hold sway, should sporting director Richard Hughes wish to take the interest up a gear.

Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen

Liverpool know that Luis Diaz could leave Anfield this summer, with Bayern Munich having seen an official proposal knocked back and the Colombian hoping to complete a move away.

If he goes, Liverpool will need to sign a high-cost replacement. That plays into the attractiveness of a deal for Osimhen, who is comparatively affordable.

Moreover, he’s proven across a number of years in Ligue 1 and the Italian top flight, actually winning the Serie A in 2022/23, crowned the Italian Players’ Player of the Year after his 26-goal campaign.

Last season, the 27-year-old Gyokeres, on paper, might have outstripped his African positional peer somewhat, but Osimhen still forged a stunning season for himself, and he’s proven at a higher level than Arsenal’s new recruit, who is older besides.

In fact, take Ekitike into the equation too, and you can see that Osimhen really might be the one to go for between the two.

Matches (starts)

29 (27)

33 (31)

33 (31)

Goals

26

15

39

Assists

5

8

7

Touches*

26.4

35.0

40.0

Shots (on target)*

4.7 (1.9)

3.5 (1.5)

4.2 (2.4)

Big chances missed

25

16

23

Accurate passes

7.9 (67%)

14.5 (76%)

15.0 (73%)

Big chances created

11

12

11

Key passes*

1.1

1.3

1.9

Dribbles*

0.8

1.6

1.8

Duels (won)*

5.7 (55%)

4.2 (41%)

5.5 (50%)

Liverpool might be frustrated by Newcastle’s ostensible advantage in the race for Ekitike, but the Frenchman is a raw and unfinished article, albeit one with plenty of blank script to write a glowing career for himself.

But Osimhen is proven, tried and tested. He’s one of the best in the business, with statistician Statman Dave even declaring him as “the best striker on the market” earlier in 2025.

Signing one of Ekitike or Isak is no doubt a tantalising thought for those of a Liverpool persuasion, but it’s one which may not come to fruition.

And even so, with sights set on Osimhen, who is without a doubt more complete and accomplished than Ekitike at this point in time and has the tools to rival Newcastle’s talisman on English shores.

It’s what Liverpool need to stay ahead of the curve. They’ve had high potential. They’ve invested in Nunez. And now, with the Uruguay international heading off for pastures new, the Reds need someone capable of leading the line with the conviction and quality of a world-class player, willing to throw down the gauntlet and challenge Gyokeres, Isak and Erling Haaland for that prized position.

He’s a “monster” in the final third, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, with a strong-sinew physicality and a deceptively mobile approach which denotes his suitability in Slot’s system, willing to interchange and create required, creating some layered and shifting frontline that will overwhelm opponents, keep defenders guessing.

It would be a mistake to enter the new season with Nunez still inserted as Liverpool’s leading striker. Oh, he’s well-liked and at times a chaotic bundle of energy, but Slot must be ruthless if he’s to defend his Premier League title, with rivals only strengthening this summer. Gyokeres is evidence of that.

Luckily, Liverpool’s head coach has had no problem making a tough call for the greater good of his team thus far.

Better than Wirtz: Liverpool preparing £113m bid to sign superstar winger

Liverpool could sign another marquee player this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

Hansi Flick has decided to rest Frenkie de Jong for the Valencia clash after the Netherlands international arrived at the club with Gluteal discomfort

• De Jong sidelined with gluteal discomfort
• Coach prioritises Champions League fixture
• Gavi's knee issue further complicates matters 

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Jong has returned to Barca after leaving the Netherlands national team camp with a gluteal injury. According to , the 28-year-old did not train with the squad and has been ruled out for the upcoming La Liga match against Valencia. The midfielder reportedly picked up the injury in Netherland's clash against Poland and the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has already sent a medical report to the club. Flick's decision to rest De Jong is a strategic one, aimed at having him in peak condition for the important Champions League match against Newcastle.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Flick's side are facing a midfield selection crisis early in the season. With De Jong's injury and the lingering issues surrounding Gavi, the Blaugrana's midfield depth are being tested. This situation has forced the coach to rely on other players, such as Marc Casado and Pedri, to form the crucial midfield partnership.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gavi has suffered a new injury blow with persistent discomfort in his right knee, the same one that was affected by a torn ACL in 2023. As a result, Barca's medical team have decided to give the midfielder a three-week period for conservative treatment to see if the pain subsides on its own. Otherwise, a surgical intervention might be necessary. 

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  With De Jong next set to feature against the Magpies and Gavi returning in October should he avoid surgery, Barca's midfield will have to rely on Casado and Pedri in their absence. Barca will be facing Valencia next in the league before travelling to St. James' Park to face Newcastle in their opening fixture of the Champions League on September 18.

Ajax wonderkid Aaron Bouwman is reportedly attracting interest from a host of Premier League sides and a European giant.

Bouwman next big hope for AjaxBarcelona interested in defenderPremier League sides in transfer raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to TEAMtalk, the 18-year-old is being tracked by Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City. The centre-back has already made his debut for Ajax and has been tipped for a bright future.

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The report adds that Bouwman is part of the next lineage of 'Dutch defensive gems destined for stardom'. If all these footballing giants are interested in signing the 6ft 2in defender, the Netherlands Under-18 international must be a prodigious talent.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Haarlem-born player joined Ajax in 2018 and made his debut for Jong Ajax, Ajax's second team, in the 2023-24 season. After making 15 appearances for them, the youngster, who has a Dutch father and a Jamaican-English mother, has graduated to the first team. 

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Transfer speculation aside, Bouwman will likely be focusing on getting as much game time with the Dutch giants this season. More first-team minutes could come his way on Saturday when Ajax host PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie.

Glasgow Rangers and Russell Martin made a move to sign an “immaculate” £2m player for nothing, as per Sky Sports.

Martin delighted with Rangers after 3-0 win vs Viktoria Plzen

The Gers took another step in the right direction towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday evening, beating Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Martin, who was left fuming with his Rangers side after a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Motherwell, rung the changes and left out captain James Tavernier and star midfielder Nicolas Raskin.

However, two goals from summer signing Djeidi Gassama and one from Cyriel Dessers puts the Gers in a strong position to progress to the next round. Talking after the Ibrox victory, Martin said via PA:

“I really enjoyed it. I’m proud of the guys. We had a really difficult evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly.

“The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We’re going to need everyone. You don’t get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh.”

Rangers summer signings

From

Fee

Oliver Antman

Go Ahead Eagles

£4m

Oscar Cortes

Lens

£4m

Thelo Aasgaard

Luton

£3.5m

Emmanuel Fernandez

Peterborough

£3.5m

Djeidi Gassama

Sheffield Wednesday

£2.2m

Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth

Undisclosed

Lyall Cameron

Dundee

Undisclosed

Mikey Moore

Tottenham

Loan

Nasser Djiga

Wolves

Loan

Max Aarins

Bournemouth

Loan

So far, 10 new additions have been made by Martin and the 49ers Enterprises, with more still potentially on the way before the September 1 deadline.

However, one player Rangers missed out on was Conor Coady, who swapped Leicester City for Wrexham in a £2m transfer.

Rangers moved to sign Coady for £0 – Sky Sports

As per Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, Rangers tried to sign Coady on a free transfer from Leicester, with the defender believing that he would be able to walk away from the King Power for nothing.

Instead, Leicester managed to secure a fee for the “immaculate” England international, who signed a two-year deal in Wales.

Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have been the centre-back additions so far, rivalling John Souttar, Clinton Nsiala, Leon King and Ben Davies, but with the latter linked with Birmingham City, another defensive arrival shouldn’t be ruled out.

This summer is shaping up to be one of Arsenal’s best in a very long time.

It might sound hyperbolic, but it’s really not, as, following a slow start to the transfer window, the club have already officially announced four signings, including Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke.

Add to that the renewed contracts of Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, plus the fact that Cristhian Mosquera is already reportedly out in Singapore, and it’s easy to see why some fans are getting very excited.

Moreover, while he’s not been announced yet, the club appear to have finally agreed a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres, and based on reports, they’re also keen on someone who’d be his dream winger.

Arsenal target dream winger for Gyokeres

The most significant transfer saga involving Arsenal this summer has undoubtedly been about Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

At first, it looked like Benjamin Sesko was the club’s first-choice option to lead the line next season, but once RB Leipzig priced him out of a move, the North Londoners turned their full attention to the Swedish international.

Finally, after what had felt like weeks of stalemate between Sporting CP and the Gunners over the add-ons in the deal, Fabrizio Romano gave the transfer the ‘here we go’ treatment yesterday afternoon.

It’s a potentially game-changing addition to a team that needed a clinical number nine last season, and better yet, the club are now being linked with someone who could be the striker’s dream winger.

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in Anthony Gordon.

The report claims that the Newcastle United star is a player the Premier League runners-up currently ‘admire’, but that the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard could determine whether that admiration develops.

In terms of how much the Englishman may cost, reports from earlier this summer claimed a fee of around £100m could be enough, and while that’s a lot of money, it might prove worth it to sign someone who could be Gyokeres’ dream winger.

Why Gordon would be a dream teammate for Gyokeres

So, to first determine which wingers would be dream teammates for Gyokeres, we need to take a moment to look at how the striker plays the game.

While Arteta and Co will surely be able to further develop the way in which the Swede plays, it’s crystal clear from both his heat map last season that he spends most of his time in and around the penalty area.

Moreover, when we take a look at his shot map in all competitions last season, it becomes even more apparent that he is a traditional number nine, a fox in the box, if you will.

So, to get the most out of him and maximise his strengths, the Gunners need a winger who is effective at getting the ball into dangerous areas, and based on some of his underlying numbers, Gordon fits the bill.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for crosses into the penalty area and the top 15% for passes into the penalty area.

Additionally, FBref ranked him in the top 1% for penalty kicks won and the top 3% for goal-creating actions the previous season, suggesting that the Englishman will create chances for his teammates, either through winning a foul or ingenious play.

Finally, you don’t just have to look at the underlying metrics to see the Liverpool-born “nightmare,” as he described himself, could be a real game-changer for the Gunners and Gyokeres, as his output also makes the case.

For example, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, he’s scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in 90 appearances, totalling 6815 minutes.

In other words, that means the 24-year-old ace has averaged a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 154.88 minutes.

Gordon’s recent form
Season	23/24	24/25
Appearances	48	42
Minutes	3869′	2946′
Goals	12	9
Assists	16	7
Goal Involvements per Match	0.58	0.38
Minutes per Goal Involvement	138.17′	184.12′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, Gyokeres looks like he’ll be an incredible addition to this Arsenal squad, but if Arteta and Co want to get even more out of him, they’d do well to bring in Gordon as well.

He'd be Nwaneri 2.0: Arsenal agree fee to sign "technically gifted" star

Arsenal could sign their new Ethan Nwaneri this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 23, 2025

Newcastle United supporters are starting to get excited ahead of next season.

On Friday, Anthony Elanga was unveiled as the Magpies’ first summer signing, arriving from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £55m.

Now, will Eddie Howe add more attacking firepower to his front line?

Newcastle's search for a new striker

Elanga’s arrival makes him the second-most expensive signing in Newcastle United history, behind only compatriot Alexander Isak.

Alexander Isak

2022

Real Sociedad

£63m

Anthony Elanga

2025

Nottingham Forest

£55m

Sandro Tonali

2023

AC Milan

£55m

Anthony Gordon

2023

Everton

£45m

Joelinton

2019

Hoffenheim

£40m

Harvey Banres

2023

Leicester City

£38m

Sven Botman

2022

LOSC Lille

£35m

Bruno Guimarães

2022

Olympique Lyonnais

£33.5m

Tino Livramento

2023

Southampton

£32m

Now though, the Toon Army could be about to spend big again because, as reported by Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle are exploring a move to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa.

The DR Congo international is also reportedly a target for Tottenham, with Sam Tabuteau and Dom Smith of the Evening Standard noting that the Bees value him at around £50m.

The other striker on the Magpies’ list is Hugo Ekitiké but, as documented by Luke Edwards of the Telegraph, Eintracht Frankfurt are only prepared to sell the Frenchman for his £86m release clause, so could Wissa become Newcastle’s primary target?

Why Yoane Wissa would improve Newcastle

Wissa joined Brentford from Lorient in the summer of 2021, following the Bees’ promotion to the Premier League, for a reported fee of £8.5m and, fair to say, this has proved to be money well spent.

He has scored 49 goals in 149 appearances for the West London-based club, bagging 19 in the Premier League last season, a tally only bettered by Mohamed Salah, Isak, Erling Haaland, Chris Wood and teammate Bryan Mbeumo.

Then-Brentford manager Thomas Frank described Wissa as a “super player”, adding “he’s got that nose for goals”.

Meantime, Mark Bruce of Breaking the Lines believes he is the most underrated forward in the Premier League, outlining his threat as a penalty box poacher.

So, let’s take a deeper dive into his statistics.

Minutes

2,919

53rd

Goals

19

6th

Non-penalty goals

19

=2nd

Expected goals

18.5

4th

Shots

90

10th

Shots on target

41

5th

Touches in the box

163

14th

As the table outlines, Wissa is a top-level penalty-box striker, ranked joint-second in the Premier League for non-penalty goals last season, despite being down in tenth in terms of shots, underlining his clinical edge.

This would make him a dream signing for new man Elanga, given his proficiency when it comes to chance-creation, as documented in the table below.

Assists

11

3rd

Completed crosses

8

52nd

Shot-creating actions

102

30th

Goal-creating actions

18

6th

Big chances created

9

38th

Progressive carries

102

25th

As emphasised by the numbers, only two players, namely Salah and new teammate Jacob Murphy, registered more assists than Elanga in the Premier League last season, while the Swede also ranked very highly when it comes to chances created and progressive carries.

He formed an exceptional partnership with a former Magpie, the aforementioned Wood, firing Nottingham Forest into Europe, so he could do the same with Wissa in the North East.

Thus, should Newcastle get a deal over the line to sign the DR Congo international striker, he and fellow new recruit Elanga could form an unstoppable partnership.

Agent of £70m+ striker contacts Newcastle, scored 50+ more goals than Ekitike

The Magpies could face an intriguing proposal.

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 13, 2025

Arsenal could be offered the chance to sign one Real Madrid star in a potential swap deal this summer, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining attentive to opportunities in the market.

Mikel Arteta has already splashed over £200 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the latter making his first ever start for Arsenal in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Former £72 million Gunners flop Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring for Marcelino’s side at the Emirates, and while Gyokeres couldn’t bag his first goal in Arsenal colours, fellow summer signing Norgaard did manage to get on the scoresheet.

“We already broke that line today because I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team,” said Arteta about Gyokeres’ performance.

“He’s been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces. So in general, for a lot of players that haven’t played many minutes, we have a lot now that they’re going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition.”

Arsenal face Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season game of the summer on Saturday before taking on Manchester United in their opening Premier League fixture of the new campaign, so time is running out for Berta to make any more new additions to the squad.

Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze and his representatives remain in contact with Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), and Berta is expected to lodge a formal bid for the England international fairly soon.

In recent weeks, it’s been reliably reported that Arsenal are still eyeing up a few wide options alongside Eze (talkSPORT).

One of their potential targets in this regard is £209,000-per-week Real star Rodrygo, who faces an uncertain future at the Bernabeu under Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid prepared to offer Rodrygo in Arsenal swap deal for Saliba

Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a move for the Brazil international earlier this summer and talks were held at one point (Florian Plettenberg), with that fondness for the player apparently remaining even after their deal for fellow winger Madueke.

According to Defensa Central, Alonso’s side are prepared to offer Arteta the chance to sign him in a late-window deal.

As per their information, Real are willing to exchange Rodrygo in a swap deal for Arsenal defender William Saliba, but it is very unclear whether the north Londoners would be open to that.

Saliba is one of their most important players, having formed an unbreakable partnership with Gabriel since the start of 2022/2023, and it is reliably reported that the France international is in talks over an extension.

Given Arsenal already boast a plethora of impressive attacking options and are actively pursuing Eze, losing Saliba for Rodrygo really doesn’t feel like it would be worth it – despite the 24-year-old’s obvious quality.

Finding a replacement for Saliba would be an almighty task at this stage of the window, so Berta is very unlikely to even entertain this one at best.

This time last summer, Manchester United fans were understandably excited after they clinched the signing of highly-rated striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.

The Dutchman joined the Red Devils in a £34m transfer, hoping to transform the club’s fortunes within the final third and subsequently take the club to the next level.

However, the club’s ambitions for a new talisman this window highlight the lack of impact the 24-year-old has achieved during his first year at Old Trafford.

He only managed seven goals in his 49 outings, but only three of his efforts came in the Premier League, ultimately failing to match the excitement generated by his arrival.

Numerous players have been linked throughout the ongoing window, which has seen Ruben Amorim personally making moves to land a new forward ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest in United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Ollie Watkins has been a name constantly mentioned with a summer switch to Old Trafford, but a move may be on the back burner, with other options currently being pursued.

The England international still remains as an option, but remains lower down the list, unsurprisingly so given his current £60m asking price.

Another name has subsequently been thrown into the mix, with Stuttgart talisman Nick Woltemade emerging as a potential option, according to The Sun’s latest update.

They claim that the Red Devils are currently facing a battle for the 23-year-old, who scored 17 goals across all competitions for the German outfit last summer.

The article also states that Newcastle United are also considering a move for the 6 foot 6 forward, who is valued at £40m, after his proposed transfer to Bayern Munich hit a stumbling block.

Why United’s latest target would be another Zirkzee

Benjamin Sesko is another player who’s been firmly in United’s sights this window, leading to reports claiming that the RB Leipzig striker is currently the hierarchy’s main target.

Such interest in his services is understandable given his record in the Bundesliga, with the youngster managing to score the most goals of any U21 striker in Europe last season.

His tally of 21 goals would undoubtedly hand Amorim the clinical option he’s been lacking since his appointment, but they may face an uphill battle for his signature.

Newcastle are another side constantly matching the Red Devils in the race for his signature, with both clubs trying to work out a deal for the forward who’s valued at around £78m.

Given the current asking price, other options may be pushed back up their current shortlist, leading to a potential deal for Woltemade, who is available at nearly half the price.

Interestingly, he possesses a very similar skill set to that of current first-team member Zirkzee. The pair are both towering assets at 6 foot 6 and 6 foot 4, respectively, while they are also very skilful, something which may come as a surprise given their towering frame.

Indeed, Zirkzee’s former Bologna boss Thiago Motta has previously likened him to Ronaldinho due to his prowess on the ball, while Woltemade has been compared to both Lionel Messi and Jamal Musiala for his dribbling ability.

The 23-year-old can also operate as a striker or in a slightly deeper role, whilst also having experience in Germany’s top division, just as the Dutchman possesses, given his previous spell at Bayern Munich.

However, there’s no denying that Sesko will remain the fanbase’s number one choice, but Woltemade would be just as exciting an addition, offering a cheaper alternative, but a just as impactful option based on the stats they produced last campaign.

The Stuttgart ace, who’s been labelled “unstoppable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted a higher goal per shot on target rate, whilst achieving a better goal and assist per 90 rate – undoubtedly offering more of a clinical edge to the United side.

Games played

28

33

Goals & assists

14

18

Goals & assists per 90

0.78

0.68

Shot-on-target accuracy

50%

43%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

71%

67%

Key passes made

2.1

0.7

Passes into the opposition box

1.3

0.3

Take-ons completed

1.7

1.4

Carries into the opposition box

1.2

0.5

Aerials won

2.7

2.6

He also completed more key passes per 90, more of which made their way into the opposition’s penalty area, subsequently handing Amorim’s side another creative option in their hunt for added success.

Woltemade’s talents are further highlighted in his higher tally of take-ons completed, whilst winning more aerial battles per 90, which would make him the perfect all-round outlet in the final third.

Given the interest from elsewhere, Amorim’s side will have to act quickly to avoid missing out on the talented youngster’s signature – especially to a divisional rival.

Despite the huge interest in Sesko, the hierarchy desperately need to put such a move on the back burner and prioritise a summer deal for the U21 Euro top scorer.

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