All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signings of both Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but there is another target who sporting director Andrea Berta is also making significant moves for.

£140m signings start alongside Zubimendi: AI predicts Arsenal's 2025/26 line-up

It could be a productive transfer market for the Gunners.

4 ByCharlie Smith Jun 28, 2025

Mikel Arteta, following Noni Madueke’s £50 million move from Chelsea, is reliably reported to be closing in on both Gyokeres and Mosquera too.

In what is a huge boost for the Gunners boss, Arsenal have reached a full agreement to sign Mosquera for a total package of around £17 million, including add-ons, and the versatile centre-back is due for a medical this week (Fabrizio Romano).

The Spaniard appears set to replace Takehiro Tomiyasu, after Arsenal mutually agreed to terminate the latter’s contract, with Arteta also believed to be closing in on Gyokeres.

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

£75m

A prolific striker has long been viewed by some as the final missing piece of Arsenal’s jigsaw which could transform them into Premier League title winners once again, following an agonising two-decade-long-plus wait.

After deciding not to pursue RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Gyokeres emerged as their priority centre-forward target following a stellar second season at Sporting – where he bagged an incredible 54 goals in all competitions and spearheaded Rui Borges’ side to a domestic double.

Arsenal have been in talks with Sporting over a deal for Gyokeres, and it’s taken some time to find middle ground over the final fee after agreeing personal terms with the Sweden international last week (David Ornstein).

However, according to some reliable media sources, like Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg and The Athletic, Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres is now considered a “done deal” – with an agreement in principle now reached on a total £64 million deal including add-ons.

After Gyokeres and Mosquera, Arsenal are reportedly turning their attention towards £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze – who’s been repeatedly linked in the last fortnight.

Eberechi Eze loosely agrees personal terms to join Arsenal

Eze’s representatives have apparently held positive talks with Arsenal, but formal club-to-club negotiations are yet to open with Palace over a potential deal for the England international.

Now, Football Transfers have an update on the situation, and the outlet states that a player-plus-cash bid isn’t off the table as Arsenal look to agree a deal beneath his release clause.

The news website estimates his clause could be as high as around £70 million, so the north Londoners have looked at offering certain players as makeweights to bring his price down – including Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.

Any player going the other way would be in a separate, ‘unofficial’ swap deal for accounting purposes – but Oliver Glasner’s side are said to be “open” to the prospect of accepting this as a potential solution in talks.

What’s more, Football Transfers has also reported that Eze has reached a “broad, informal agreement” on personal terms with Arsenal, so this story could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks as Berta continues making serious statements of intent.

The 27-year-old scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions last season, and Arsenal view Eze as a central playmaker to complement club captain Martin Odegaard.

Despite Hamza Igamane stealing plenty of headlines as of late, it could now reportedly be an alternative Glasgow Rangers player who leaves Ibrox in the coming days.

Latest on Hamza Igamane's potential Rangers exit

For a moment, it looked as though Igamane was destined to become a LOSC Lille player. The French side reportedly set their sights on the impressive Gers forward to replace Jonathan David and even held a decisive meeting to agree personal terms with the Rangers star. Yet, as things stand, talks between the Gers and Lille remain an obstacle in the way of any potential move this summer.

Igamane is now back in Rangers training and set to kick on with any pre-season plans under Russell Martin. Just how long that is the case is the big question. As Sacha Tavolieri reported, the 22-year-old wants to join the Ligue 1 club and has an agreement over personal terms in place. Lille simply must match Rangers’ demands, however.

It must be said that keeping hold of Igamane this summer would be seen as a major victory on the transfer front for all involved at Ibrox. The forward exceeded expectations last season by scoring as many as 16 goals in all competitions and would undoubtedly have a crucial role to play in a new era under Martin if he did stay put.

Meanwhile, as that transfer saga rumbles on, the Gers reportedly face the prospect of losing a different player this summer.

Jose Cifuentes close to leaving Rangers

According to Studio Futbol journalist Cesar Luis Melo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Jose Cifuentes is close to leaving Rangers and could even seal an exit with a new club in the coming days. The central midfielder spent last season on loan at Aris Saloniki, but has returned to Scotland after the Greek club decided against triggering their £4m clause for a permanent deal.

Now back at Ibrox, Cifuentes reportedly attracted the interest of Olympiacos, only for the Greek side to fail in their pursuit and for talks to break down earlier this summer. Just where the midfielder heads to next as a result of those talks breaking down remains to be seen.

Rangers agree deal to sign "fantastic" player as 49ers go into overdrive

The Gers are not messing about this summer…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 10, 2025

It’s been a difficult spell in Scotland for Cifuentes, who initially arrived hoping to make an immediate impact under Michael Beale. Ultimately, that impact never came, however, despite the former manager’s praise.

Beale told reporters when asked about his midfielder: “He is clearly a talented player and the more he plays, the more people will be aware of that. He is a player we brought in with high hopes for and this gives him an opportunity to have a run in the team now.”

Alas, a lot has, of course, changed since Beale was at the club and a new era under Martin is seemingly set to spell the end of Cifuentes’ Rangers career.

Celtic will have to fight hard to keep hold of their best players during the summer transfer window, as teams are already circling around some of their top talents.

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Italian side Como have made an approach to sign Nicolas Kuhn from the Scottish Premiership champions.

The journalist claims that the German winger is “in demand” and that German outfit RB Leipzig are also among the teams interested in a swoop to sign the 25-year-old star before the end of the summer transfer window.

Joseph adds, though, that the Hoops are in a strong position with the forward because he still has four years left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

Whilst losing Kuhn, who produced 13 goals and nine assists in the Premiership this season, would be a blow for the Scottish giants, Celtic must also be wary of losing their exciting young prospects.

The Hoops have been burned in the past by failing to keep hold of promising young players, and Ben Doak is one notable example of a starlet the club surely wished they had managed to keep.

Ben Doak's soaring market value since leaving Celtic

In the summer of 2022, the Scottish winger turned down a contract with the Bhoys and sealed a transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool on a ‘free transfer’.

The Reds had to pay a compensation fee of £600k for the young attacker, who had made two first-team appearances for the Hoops, and that deal has turned out to be a bargain for the English side.

Doak has only made ten appearances for Liverpool in three years, but played 24 games on loan at Middlesbrough this season and has been capped six times by Scotland.

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt values the 19-year-old winger at a whopping £12m, which is significantly more than the £600k that the Premier League team paid for him in 2022. This means that the Reds got a bargain deal and Celtic were left hard done by, as they did not get good value for his services.

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

xA

4.52

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the teenage talent caught the eye with his performances on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship this season, showing off his creativity on the right flank on a regular basis.

Overall, the Hoops will surely rue not being able to convince Doak to stay at Parkhead because he has thrived since leaving Scotland for a minimal fee, and they must now avoid a repeat of that with Johnny Kenny.

English club bid for Johnny Kenny

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, English League One side Bolton Wanderers have made an offer to sign the Irish centre-forward.

The reporter claims that Celtic have turned down a bid worth up to £500k from the third tier outfit for the young marksman, as they value him at more than that.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph adds that Bolton are expected to come back in with a second offer to land the former Shamrock Rovers number nine before the end of the summer transfer window.

However, the journalist reveals that the Premiership champions are not actively looking to cash in on the 22-year-old striker, although they could sanction a loan move later in the window if the right move comes up.

The Hoops must, now, maintain this stance because they could find themselves on the wrong end of another Doak repeat if they allow Kenny to leave the club for anywhere near the £500k bid that Bolton have made for him.

Why Celtic must not sell Johnny Kenny

The Scottish giants must keep hold of the Irish marksman and either keep him as part of the first-team squad or send him out on loan to a good level for the 2025/26 campaign, because he is a promising young talent.

Although he is a bit older than Doak was when he moved on from Glasgow, at the age of 22, he is still very young for a centre-forward and has shown plenty of promise already.

Kenny spent 2024 on loan at Shamrock Rovers in Ireland and caught the eye in his home country, scoring 13 goals in 29 Premier Division matches for the club.

The young attacker, who was dubbed “brilliant” by Brendan Rodgers, also impressed on the European stage with his contributions in front of goal in the Conference League in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.

xG

3.78

Top 8%

xG on target

5.56

Top 6%

Goals

5

Top 9%

Shots on target

10

Top 8%

Assists

1

Top 39%

Dribbles completed

7

Top 13%

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic loanee ranked highly among strikers in the competition when it came to scoring goals and testing goalkeepers with high-quality shots, firing in 5.56 xG worth of shots on target.

His form for Shamrock Rovers led to Rodgers making him a part of the Celtic squad for the second half of the season, and Kenny showed that he has something to offer to the team in his limited Premiership minutes.

Kenny only played 159 minutes across eight games in the division for the Hoops, but still managed to score one goal and provide one assist, with his goal coming in the form of a header against Aberdeen, as shown in the clip above.

His statistics for Shamrock Rovers and in limited game time for Celtic show that he has the potential to develop into an effective centre-forward option for Rodgers, because he has scored goals when called upon, which is why cashing in on him for a minimal fee this summer would be a big mistake.

Dream Kyogo replacement: Celtic confident of signing "phenomenal" striker

Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.

2 ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2025

Kenny could follow in Doak’s footsteps and soar in the value if he continues to improve and grow as a player if the club allow him to leave for a small fee, and that is why they must either keep him or loan him out this summer to ensure that they benefit from his development in the future.

Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker this summer has constantly led them back to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international firmly on their radar.

Ruben Amorim has previously managed the 27-year-old during his stint in Portugal, which has undoubtedly contributed to the rumours around his move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils would be getting themselves a clinical option if his current goal record is anything to go by, after he registered a total of 54 goals in his 52 club appearances in 2024/25.

However, despite holding talks with the striker’s representatives, he’s currently involved in a dispute with the Liga Portugal side that could scupper any potential reunion with Amorim this summer.

As a result, other targets have been considered, with the manager working tirelessly with the board to secure the additions he needs to turn the current situation around.

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

Whilst Matheus Cunha has already secured his move to join United, it’s expected that the Brazilian international is set to operate in a number 10 role behind the striker.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been considered for the role, but appear to be backup options given the moves made elsewhere.

In recent days, it’s emerged that the Red Devils have made contact with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential move for forward Hugo Ekitiké, according to Sky Germany.

They claim that the French star, who’s scored 22 times across all competitions this campaign, has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his current deal, with Chelsea and Arsenal also interested.

It also states that Amorim’s men have expressed concrete interest over a move for the 22-year-old, but doesn’t mention if they are willing to pay the clause in his current deal.

Why United’s £84m target could be their own Isak

The Premier League has become a brutal division over recent years, with many sides taking advantage of you if you fall below the required standard of England’s top flight.

Alexander Isak is a player who has been the thorn in many teams’ sides over recent seasons, netting a total of 54 Premier League goals in his last three seasons at Newcastle United.

Such form has led to him being one of the most sought-after talismen in Europe, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m price tag on him amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

If any side were to pay such a fee, it would make him the most expensive signing in the history of English football, but United could look to steer clear of any move in favour of a switch for Ekitike.

When comparing his stats to those of Isak from the 2024/25 campaign, the Frankfurt ace has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – making the £84m fee appear somewhat of a bargain.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to the Swede by FBref, managing to register more shots on target per 90 – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling the French star as “world-class”.

Ekitike also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

If he can transfer his form from the Bundesliga over to England in the coming months, it would be a deal that could be one of the best in the club’s history – allowing him to cement himself in the club’s history forever.

It may be a deal that will cost the club somewhat of a small fortune this summer, but the key is the limit for the youngster, with such a price tag being worth every penny if he can catapult them up the table in 2025/26.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Liverpool have now joined Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign an “excellent” £42 million player, according to a new report.

Liverpool chasing teenage defender as Joe Gomez future unclear

There are a number of areas of the team that Arne Slot will want to address this summer, but none may be more important than the defence. That is because Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk are not getting any younger despite their legendary status.

Milos Kerkez is edging closer to a move to Anfield, and he is likely to replace Robertson straight away, and now the Reds have their eyes on a young central defender who could one day succeed Van Dijk.

Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to make another huge move for a player during this summer’s transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 4, 2025

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made a concrete offer to sign Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal from Stade Rennais. It isn’t clear how much this offer is worth, but the Reds have obviously seen enough, despite the fact that the teenager hasn’t played for Stade Rennais’ first team, to make an offer. They are not alone in their pursuit, as Newcastle United have met with the player’s agent and are also interested in a deal.

This comes as Premier League bound Burnley are interested in signing Joe Gomez. Liverpool are said to be open to offers for the defender, and this has alerted the Clarets as well as teams such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, Leeds and Sunderland, who are all keeping a close eye on his situation. Gomez is valued at around £25 million by the Premier League champions.

Liverpool join PSG in transfer Zabarnyi race

The Reds’ decision to allow Gomez to leave may be because, according to TBR Football, Liverpool are interested in signing defender Illia Zabarnyi from AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Kerkez looks set to move to Anfield, but the departures may not stop there. Zabarnyi was another impressive individual for Bournemouth last season, and while the Cherries don’t want to lose him, that might be easier said than done.

L’Equipe have already reported that Zabarnyi has become a defensive priority for PSG, as Luis Enrique has been left impressed by his defensive capabilities. The French champions have made contact with Bournemouth over a move, as they want the defender in before the Club World Cup.

However, they are not alone, as now Liverpool and Chelsea have also joined the race to sign the defender, who will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth for anything less than €50 million, which is roughly £42 million.

Appearances

36

Clean sheets

8

Interceptions per game

1.1

Tackles per game

1.4

Balls recovered per game

4.4

Clearances per game

5.0

Errors leading to a goal

0

Liverpool are huge admirers of Zabarnyi, who has been dubbed “excellent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and they are keeping an eye on his situation. The Reds’ move for Zabarnyi may depend on what happens to Gomez, but either way they will have a smooth route to negotiations, as the 47-cap Ukraine star uses the same agency as midfielder Curtis Jones.

Looking to make quite the statement, Birmingham City have now reportedly made their first contact in an attempt to hijack Burnley’s move to sign a Dutch talent this summer.

Wagner ready to match Championship's best

After securing promotion back to the Championship in record-breaking fashion last season, Birmingham have their sights set on more than just surviving next season.

They’re keen to avoid the relegation battle altogether and perhaps even cause a great shock in the race for a playoff spot. That ambition isn’t without financial power, either.

The Blues famously splashed out as much as £20m to sign Jay Stansfield from Fulham last season in an unprecedented move in League One. Now, a year later, owner Tom Wagner has ensured fans that they will be doing everything to match the Championship’s very best.

The American recently told reporters: “Our goal is to generate as much revenue as (clubs with) parachute payments do but without having received parachute payments, so ultimately we want to be in a position where we don’t care how many parachute clubs there are because we’re generating the same level or more than they are.

“We look at ourselves and our own opportunity and not pay too much attention to others. If we do things right on our end it will work out just fine.”

Birmingham certainly don’t lack ambition these days and recent transfer rumours have reflected that. The Blues have been linked with Demarai Gray, who would be returning to the club for the first time since leaving as a young star, and could yet pull off a shock loan move to sign Louie Barry from Midlands rivals Aston Villa.

Birmingham could sign a big upgrade on Paik in "first-class" £2m sensation

Birmingham City could now win themselves a new midfield talent to upgrade on Paik Seung-Ho.

2 ByKelan Sarson Jun 6, 2025

They’re not the only names on their radar, either. Reports are now suggesting that those at St. Andrew’s have already made their first move in an attempt to hijack one of Burnley’s summer targets.

Birmingham express interest in Hansen

As reported by Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Birmingham have now expressed interest in signing Sontje Hansen from NEC Nijmegen this summer.

The Dutch winger has been the subject of interest from Burnley in recent weeks and the Clarets even reportedly saw a loan offer with an obligation to buy worth £3.5m knocked back by Nijmegen.

Allowing the Blues to move in, it remains to be seen whether they decide to lodge a more suitable offer to sign Hansen in the coming months and send a damming statement to clubs in Burnley’s position.

Since being described as “prolific” by scout Jacek Kulig at the start of his career, Hansen hasn’t quite hit the heights expected, but after scoring seven goals in all competitions last season, it’s clear that he’s still capable of providing a much-needed outlet. Dropping down from the Eredivisie to the Championship would certainly do him no harm in pursuit of his best form, either.

A £150k-a-week Liverpool player is now on the verge of sealing a move elsewhere, with the deal at a very advanced stage, according to a report.

Important summer ahead for the Reds

Few would have predicted Arne Slot securing the Premier League title in his first season as manager, but the Reds have defied all expectations to secure top spot, with captain Virgil van Dijk set to get his hands on the trophy on May 26th.

However, despite the success this season, Slot is set to have a big job on his hands this summer, as the manager will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract.

Clubs from across Europe are also queuing up for Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan falling short of expectations this season, meaning a replacement is likely to be needed at striker, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak believed to be the dream target.

More exciting than Frimpong: Liverpool make enquiry for "world-class" star

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a star who could be more exciting than Jeremie Frimpong.

ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

One of the only additions Slot has made to his squad is Federico Chiesa, with the winger being handed a £150k-a-week contract last summer, but it appears as though the Italian’s time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Chiesa’s prospective move to Napoli is now at a ‘very advanced’ stage, with the forward excited by the opportunity to return to his home country after a disappointing spell on Merseyside.

The Serie A side are now stepping up their pursuit of the forward, having already submitted an offer, and a deal is close to completion, with Napoli keen to bring him in on a loan deal initially, with the option for a permanent purchase.

Slot should cash-in on Chiesa this summer

Rather than agreeing to an initial loan deal, the Reds should look to get the 27-year-old off the books permanently if possible, given that he has failed to adapt to life in the Premier League since arriving from Juventus.

While injuries have not helped the Italy international, he has made just five appearances in the Premier League, featuring for just 41 minutes in total, having been unable to make a name for himself on Merseyside, despite his previous exploits for club and country.

The former Juventus man’s only notable moment in a Liverpool shirt came in the EFL Cup final, scoring a late goal against Newcastle United, but his side were unable to force their way back into the game.

Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph underlines the fact they do not need Chiesa, so it is good news they are looking to get him off the books this summer.

Leeds United left it late on the final day of the Championship season but Manor Solomon’s dramatic strike right at the death would secure Daniel Farke’s men the title.

Amazingly, both the Whites and their nearest competitors in Burnley would end their mightily impressive campaigns on 100 points each, but Leeds’ sturdy goal difference would hand the esteemed honours over to Farke and Co, instead of more party celebrations taking place at Turf Moor.

But, as much as the West Yorkshire titans have been able to blow teams away with ease in the second tier, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Therefore, some potential attacking recruits are now being linked with a switch to Elland Road to help navigate the tricky step-up in quality.

Leeds' list of attacking targets

Already, Leeds have been linked with a whole host of new faces up top, with reports suggesting that the newly crowned champions might look to snap up Omari Hutchinson from recently relegated Ipswich Town.

Moreover, other rumours indicate that Leeds are intrigued by the prospect of bringing AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott back to England, meaning the striker department would also be given a potential facelift.

Yet, there’s one name that sticks out as a top buy away from both Hutchinson and Parrott, with TBR Football revealing that Farke and Co are looking at a number of targets from Celtic, including Hoops attacking hotshot Nicolas Kuhn.

The Whites have had success when shopping from the Glasgow giants in the past, with Whites legend Mark Viduka once plying for his trade for the Scottish titans before becoming a fan’s favourite at Leeds. So, there’s clearly a proven recipe for success right here.

How Kuhn could be even better than James

If Kuhn can lift his game to be on the same level as Viduka’s – who would score a colossal 72 strikes for Leeds – he would further go down as a more impressive winger than Dan James over time, even with the Welshman fresh off just winning the Whites’ Player of the Year accolade.

James should be commended for how he’s managed to turn around his up-and-down stay at Elland Road, with the ex-Manchester United attacker undoubtedly a top-drawer talent in the EFL having previously struggled in the top-flight.

Indeed, the blistering number seven has tallied up a sizeable 41 goal contributions in league action over the last two seasons, but there will be a concern in the air lingering that the 56-time Wales international isn’t cut out for the bright lights of the Premier League.

Indeed, his best tally for a campaign up a division currently sits at a mere four goals and five assists.

On the flip side, Kuhn has proven again and again for Brendan Rodgers’ men – albeit in a far less strenuous top division in the Scottish Premiership – that he can dazzle defences under immense pressure. He’s even scored in the Champions League.

Staggeringly, across all competitions this campaign, including on Europe’s grandest stage, the German forward has amassed a bumper 34 goals and assists from 47 clashes, with a chance in the Premier League to come a deserved next step for the former RB Leipzig winger.

SPL

29

12

8

Champions League

10

3

1

SFA Cup

4

0

1

League Cup

4

5

4

In contrast, James accumulated a lesser 21 from ten fewer clashes, meaning he could take a back-seat now down the right flank for the “breathtaking” winger, as he’s been lauded in the past by pundit Marvin Bartley, to take over.

Obviously, it isn’t set in stone that Kuhn will be able to instantly acclimatise to the pressures of the Premier League, but history might well repeat itself here, especially if the Hoops number 10 can prove he belongs at the daunting level like Viduka before him.

Rio Ferdinand 2.0: Leeds want to sign "extraordinary" £20m defender

Leeds United are keen on signing a £20m star who could be the next Rio Ferdinand at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Since taking the job as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has made his fair share of dire signings.

The likes of Pablo Mari, Willian, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira are some examples of players who either failed to live up to expectations or were just poor when they played.

However, for all the bad, Arteta has also overseen plenty of sensational signings, with Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and David Raya and perhaps the best of the lot, Declan Rice, joining the club under his stewardship.

The former West Ham United captain has been sensational for the Gunners since his club-record move in the summer of 2023, and now it would probably be fair to say one of the manager’s signings from last summer has proven to be his best since the Englishman.

How Arsenal's summer signings are getting on

So, it would be fair to say that overall, the campaign has been a mixed one for the signings made last summer, so before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over how the others have fared, starting with the worst of the lot: Raheem Sterling.

The Kingston-born star joined the club on a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day, and while he told the fans they would “see the best” of him, the complete opposite has been true so far.

For example, in 24 appearances, the former Manchester City monster has scored just a single goal, which came against League One Bolton Wanderers, and provided five assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement every four games.

Appearances

13

6

1

4

Minutes

352′

297′

80′

270′

Goals

0

0

0

1

Assists

2

2

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.15

0.33

0.00

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

176′

148.5′

N/A

135′

It’s been a more positive year for fellow summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, who joined the club from Bologna for around £42m, as when he’s played, he’s looked good and has an impressive tally – for a defender – of three goals and two assists in 26 appearances so far.

However, there has been one significant problem, which is his fitness.

So far, the Roma-born international has missed a whopping 24 games for club and country thanks to three knee injuries, one muscle injury and one calf injury, allowing Myles Lewis-Skelly to come in and make the left-back position his own.

Aside from David Raya, who initially joined the club on loan in 2023, and Neto, who barely played, there was one more senior signing made in the summer, a signing that might be Arteta’s best since Rice.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's best signing since Rice

So, with all the other signings from last summer covered above, it should be no surprise that Mikel Merino is the addition in question.

The Spanish international joined Arsenal for around £31.6m in late August after what felt like a particularly protracted transfer saga, but things did not start out well.

In cosmically poor luck, the European champion fractured his shoulder in his first training session with the club and remained out of action until the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on the first of October.

Unfortunately, his luck didn’t improve much over the coming months as he struggled to assert himself in the team and, as a result, found himself constantly in and out of the starting lineup, which understandably made it hard for him to establish any sort of rhythm or consistency.

However, things took a turn for the unexpected in February, as injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the Gunners without a recognized number nine, so after a rather paltry first 70 minutes of goalless action away to Leicester City, the Spaniard was thrown on to lead the line.

Somehow, even though he had admitted to never playing there before, the former Real Sociedad ace looked right at home, scoring a brilliant header and then slotting home another to secure the North Londoners all three points.

Since then, the 28-year-old “mentality monster,” as dubbed by podcaster Matt Kendala, has scored another four goals to add to his two assists, and following his exceptional strike against Real Madrid, it’s hard to imagine that the club are still officially without a fit centre-forward in the team.

The Pamplona-born game-changer has been hearing his song sung by the fans more and more in recent weeks, and if he keeps on producing in the way he is, Kendala’s claim that he’s “approaching cult status” will undoubtedly be proven correct.

Ultimately, while he’s not on the same level as the Englishman, it would be hard to deny that, thanks to his performances of late, Merino is unquestionably Arteta’s best signing since Rice in 2023.

He's like Saka & Yamal: Arsenal in talks to sign "world-class" £39m star

The incredible winger would bring so much experience and quality to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2025

Taiwo Awoniyi is a player who could find himself with a move away from Nottingham Forest this summer, as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to take his side to the next level.

The Nigerian has been the man to lead the line in recent matches after Chris Wood’s injury setback, starting matches against Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United.

However, the 27-year-old missed the trip to face Aston Villa last weekend with a suspected hamstring injury, once again proving he can’t be relied upon given his own setbacks.

Awoniyi has also failed to deliver with the chances handed his way this campaign, only scoring twice in his 28 appearances across all competitions – with one of his efforts coming against League One Exeter City.

Such a record proves he’s not at the level required for the Reds, especially considering the superb Premier League season they are currently enduring, highlighting the need for one player to return to complete the job in the next few weeks.

Chris Wood’s stats for Forest in 2024/25

Stirker Wood has been Nuno’s main talisman in 2024/25, with his goals firing Forest to their top four standing with just a handful of league matches remaining.

The New Zealand international has netted 18 goals in his 30 matches to date, breaking the club’s record for the most goals scored by a player in the Premier League in the process.

His subsequent tally ranks him fourth in the division’s goalscoring charts, with only Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah scoring more goals than the 33-year-old this campaign.

Wood’s tally works out to him finding the net for 35% of the side’s goals in the league this season, showcasing how important he’s been to the success they’ve recently endured.

His absence has certainly been felt, showcasing the need for added attacking reinforcements this summer, but the club have already found their new version of the star throughout the last couple of months.

The player who’s become Forest’s new Wood

Over the years, Forest have made some questionable additions, many of which have failed to impress at the City Ground – wasting owner Evangelos Marinakis’ money in the process.

The huge summer of 2022 saw over 30 players move to the East Midlands, with such levels of signings undoubtedly going to lead to many of whom failing to deliver.

Emmanuel Dennis was undoubtedly the biggest waste, costing £20m from Watford, but making just 25 appearances, before being sent on three separate loan spells in recent seasons.

Elliot Anderson is another player who cost big-money in a different window, joining in a £35m deal from Newcastle – a club-record deal which was frowned upon by numerous supporters at the time.

Such a deal was similar to when Wood joined for £15m a year prior, both joining the Reds from fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United after struggling to gain minutes at St James’ Park.

However, like the New Zealand star, he’s exceeded beyond all expectations, starring at the heart of Nuno’s side and becoming a key player in their unexpected hunt for Champions League football.

Anderson, who’s been labelled “superb” by commentator Jamie Martin, has excelled defensively, winning 1.97 tackles per 90 and 6.8 duels per 90.

Games played

31

Goals & assists

7

Pass accuracy

82%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

1.97

Tackle success rate

64.5%

Duels won

7.8

Ball recoveries made

6.8

However, he’s also starred in possession, completing 1.3 dribbles per 90 and completing 82% of passes, making him the perfect box-to-box option in Nuno’s midfield.

The pair’s combined £50m transfer now appears to be an absolute bargain, especially given their respective impacts in pushing the club towards European football for the first time in a generation.

Anderson may be a completely different type of player and position to the Reds’ talisman, but their situations are very similar, both undeniably changing the opinion of the fanbase with their impact in 2024/25.

Dream Gyokeres alternative: Nottingham Forest plotting move for £40m star

Nottingham Forest could be set for a huge summer under Nuno Espirito Santo if they achieve Champions League football.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 9, 2025