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Aston Villa are planning talks to complete the signing of a “fantastic” player with a huge future, with Donyell Malen potentially part of the deal.

Aston Villa want Douglas Luiz reunion

The Villans continue to work hard on new signings ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, as they look to push on and get back into the Champions League.

Arguably the most intriguing current Villa-related transfer story has seen them linked with a move for former midfielder Douglas Luiz, with the Brazilian seemingly allowed to leave Juventus this summer.

Luiz was a popular figure during his first stint at Villa Park, bagging 46 goal contributions in 204 appearances from the middle of the park, and Unai Emery described him as a “very important” figure. For that reason, he could love the idea of bringing him back to the club this summer.

Elsewhere, Barcelona forward Ferran Torres has been linked with a move to Villa before next season gets started, with the Spaniard not a key man at the Camp Nou. He has Premier League experience from his time at Manchester City, and he could add much-needed firepower, potentially even replacing Ollie Watkins at the heart of Emery’s attack.

Aston Villa ready talks for "fantastic" £18m forward

According to a new report from Aksam [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa are interested in signing Besiktas star Semih Kilicsoy this summer, with talks planned over a possible move to the club. The likes of Newcastle United and Leeds United have also been mentioned as suitors for the 19-year-old recently, who could be on the move for around £18m.

It is also claimed that Malen could head in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal, with the Dutchman falling out of favour at Villa Park.

Kilicsoy is a player with a big future in the game, having already achieved plenty at the age of 19, becoming an important figure for Besiktas.

The young centre forward has 16 goals in 85 appearances at senior level for his current side – he netted an impressive 42 times in 64 outings for the Under-19s – and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “fantastic” in the past.

While Kilicsoy isn’t yet the finished article, given his tender years, he could be a great squad signing for Villa from the off, before maturing into more of a star figure as the years pass.

Big McGinn upgrade: Aston Villa make contact to sign £138k-p/w "engine"

Aston Villa are set to target a new midfielder this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 9, 2025

If the Villans were able to sign him and a more experienced striker this summer, it will stand them in good stead moving forward, especially if Watkins moves on to pastures new.

Arsenal’s pre-season is on the horizon, and technical director Andrea Berta is now pushing forward to complete Mikel Arteta’s squad well ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Smart signings have been made in central midfielder Christian Norgaard (pending the completion of his medical) and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who will be expected to play back-up to David Raya between the sticks.

Furthermore, Martin Zubimendi’s arrival will add genuine star quality to the middle of the park, the Real Sociedad maestro coveted by many of Europe’s top outfits in recent years due to his intelligent, deep-lying midfield performances.

However, we’re yet to see Arteta welcome some new forwards to the fold. Heading into the summer market, this would have unanimously have been agreed to be the Gunners’ chief objective.

It hasn’t happened yet, but expect a flurry of movement in the coming weeks.

Arsenal's offensive transfer plans

Arsenal’s centre-forwards shortlist is comprised of four parts: Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak.

The latter’s exorbitant price tag likely puts him out of reach, but the English giants desperately need a new number nine, and it’s likely one of the four will arrive at the Emirates soon.

Sesko and Gyokeres are the frontrunners, with it revealed by David Ornstein on Sunday that the Swede “only wants” Arsenal now that Sporting and the Gunners are locked in advanced talks concerning a move.

However, Arteta is set on signing more than just a new frontman as he looks to bring silverware back to Arsenal next season, five years on from the club’s last triumph.

Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has emerged as a top target for the club. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that contacts between the clubs are set to take place for the versatile winger, with personal terms having seemingly been agreed.

However, there’s another Premier League star on the cards in north London who’s been riding the crest of a wave of late.

Arsenal pushing to sign Premier League star

As per Football Transfers, Arsenal are internally weighing up an official bid for Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze, who scored the winning goal as his side defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May.

The Londoners are felt to have taken their curiosity up a notch after cooling their interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, and Eze has a £68m release clause that the Eagles expect to be met.

Kay has revealed that the 26-year-old “wants to join Arsenal”, his close friendship with Bukayo Saka factoring in. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the England international.

Why Arsenal want Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace have been a mainstay in the Premier League since achieving promotion in 2013. For over a decade, they have been regarded as an entertaining and stable club, but Eze turned them into something greater with his driven finish against City at Wembley.

Five years earlier, he joined from the Championship’s Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m. The maverick’s rise has been an incredible thing, having now bloomed into the “superstar” that analyst Ben Mattinson had crowned him as over a year ago.

An electric attacking midfielder with a tendency to drift over to the left, Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s own version of Florian Wirtz, with the German sensation joining Liverpool in a British-record £116m deal this summer.

Wirtz’s remarkable blend of vision, intelligence and technical quality make him a one-of-a-kind playmaker, and while he’s not a carbon copy, Eze has the skill set to mirror that of the Premier League champions’ new talisman.

The data certainly suggests the Three Lions man could bring his own firebrand style to the Emirates. As per FBref, Eze ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the 2024/25 English top-flight season for shots taken, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for ball recoveries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this way, we can observe that the Palace star, ever-improving, could be a “magician” – as he has been dubbed by pundit Micah Richards – of similar proportions for Arteta’s title-chasing side.

In a similar vein, Wirtz, 22, has been described as a “genius” in the past by his former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who had drawn notice to his Mesut Ozil-esque qualities.

But it’s not just the Liverpool star’s ability on the ball, his faculty for a fleet-footed surge or a thunderous strike, but his physicality too.

Luckily, Eze would bring similar athletic abilities to Arteta’s door, having averaged 4.8 successful duels, 1.1 tackles and four ball recoveries per Premier League match last term, as per Sofascore.

Given the existing options in Arsenal’s first team, it feels like Eze could be a game-changer, someone arriving with fresh ideas and a different style of quality to open up a dimension that was lacking last term.

It’s easy to blame the club’s issues across the 2024/25 campaign on the lack of a focal frontman, but the £100k-per-week Palace star could have made a world of difference too.

There’s an early sense that the Premier League title, sure to be tighter next year, will be determined, or at least influenced, by moments of magic, players of unique ability who can drive their side toward an extra three points here or a rousing draw at the most ominous enemy ground there.

In any case, Arsenal fans have plenty to look forward to next season. If Berta can oversee the signing of Eze along with a first-rate central striker and maybe another left winger too, there’s every chance Arteta could lead the Gunners to glory.

Arsenal's next Auba: Berta opens talks for "one of the best CFs in Europe"

Arsenal are interested in signing a new centre-forward this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 4, 2025

There is still well over a month left before the end of the summer transfer window and it remains to be seen whether or not Cyriel Dessers will still be a Glasgow Rangers player when it slams shut.

Russell Martin confirmed that the club rejected an offer from a club for the Nigeria international earlier this month, and he has been linked with a move to Greek side AEK Athens.

The 30-year-old striker has scored 34 goals in two seasons in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, but the experienced forward has also missed a whopping 47 ‘big chances’ in that time.

If Dessers moves on from Ibrox this summer, whether that is to AEK Athens or another club, Rangers will need a new striker to potentially lead the line.

Rangers considering move for free agent centre-forward

Despite the Nigerian forward still being at the club, as well as Danilo and Hamza Igamane, the Scottish giants are reportedly looking at another experienced number nine signing.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Football Insider, Rangers are considering a swoop to sign out-of-contract centre-forward Luuk De Jong, who moved on from PSV at the end of last month.

The report claims that the Gers are giving serious ‘consideration’ to the possibility of a deal for the 34-year-old attacker, as they weigh up the kind of contract that they would be willing to put on the table for the free agent.

Speaking to Football Insider, scout Mick Brown added that it would be an “ambitious” signing for the Light Blues, as they would be bringing in a “proven player”.

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Premiership side are going to press ahead with a deal for the striker, as they are currently only considering a move.

Why Rangers should sign Luuk De Jong

If Rangers have the opportunity to snap De Jong up on a one or two-year contract to bolster their centre-forward options, Martin and Kevin Thelwell must push for a move to go through because he would come in as an upgrade on Dessers.

De Jong’s experience in Europe could be particularly useful for Rangers if they make it through their second qualifying round against Panathinaikos, which he would not be eligible for were he to sign in the coming days, as he has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 16 Champions League qualifiers in his career.

Meanwhile, Dessers has scored three goals in eight Champions League qualifiers in his career, which suggests that the Dutchman may have a greater chance of helping Rangers to qualify for the league phase.

De Jong’s form for PSV in the Eredivisie over the past two seasons also suggests that he would offer more to Martin at the top end of the pitch at league level than the Nigerian forward.

As you can see in the table above, the 34-year-old scored nine more goals and delivered 17 more assists than Dessers, despite playing five fewer league games, which speaks to the kind of quality that he can offer in front of goal.

Former Dutch international and ex-PSV manager Mark Van Bommel described him as one of the best three players in Europe at scoring headers and claimed that the striker “always delivers”, which is hard to disagree with when you look at his output.

Overall, the potential is there for De Jong to be an upgrade on Dessers as a scorer and a creator of goals at league level, whilst also having more experience in the Champions League and in qualifiers, which could improve the club’s chances of making it through to the league phase.

Creates room for Rak-Sakyi: Rangers want to sell Dowell & "blistering" flop

Rangers can create space for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as they look to sell several first-team players.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 17, 2025

Therefore, Rangers should be pushing to get a deal for the former PSV star over the line because he could come in as a proven striker who has the quality to be an upgrade on Dessers, as a goalscorer, a creator, a Champions League performer, and an aerial presence in the number nine position.

Newcastle United are facing a pivotal summer as they brace for the potential departure of star striker Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international, who has rapidly become a fan favourite since arriving on Tyneside, has made it clear that he is open to a move away, and Liverpool are ready to test Newcastle’s resolve with what could be a British-record bid.

Isak’s absence from the club’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia, attributed to a “minor thigh issue”, has coincided with reports of a breakdown in contract talks.

Newcastle were keen to offer him improved terms, but Isak is believed to have asked for £300k per week, a demand that far exceeds the club’s current wage structure.

Though the Magpies maintain that Isak is not for sale, Liverpool’s growing interest, and Isak’s own openness to the move, has prompted Newcastle to begin preparations for life without him.

In that scenario, they would need a striker who not only shares some of Isak’s traits but also has the potential to grow into an elite Premier League forward.

Newcastle looking at Benjamin Sesko alternatives

According to GIVEMESPORT, one of the candidates to fill that role is Loïs Openda, the Belgian forward currently playing for RB Leipzig. The Magpies are believed to be ‘exploring’ a move for the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

While the club have also expressed interest in Leipzig teammate Benjamin Šeško, Openda offers a more attainable option. One who, despite operating in a struggling side last season, demonstrated the kind of raw output and energy that Newcastle value highly.

Former Club Brugge manager Philippe Clement, who worked with Openda during his development, labelled him “super-fast”, as well as “combative” during difficult spells – precisely the kind of character Newcastle’s recruitment department seeks.

His contract at Leipzig runs until 2028, and a deal won’t be cheap, especially given Club Brugge’s 12.5% sell-on clause.

However, with Leipzig likely to part with Xavi Simons, while Šeško has a much higher price tag, Openda may be the more available of the two.

How Openda compares to Isak

Openda’s playing style is defined by pace, aggression, and sharp movement. While he doesn’t match Isak’s height (1.77m vs. Isak’s 1.92m), he brings a directness that can stretch defences and a physicality that belies his frame.

He’s a centre-forward by trade but is comfortable drifting out wide. Ideal for Howe’s system, which demands positional flexibility in transition.

Statistically, there’s more overlap with Isak than one might expect, with the pair deemed to be similar players among their European peers, as per FBref. According to the data site, Openda averaged 2.82 shots per 90 minutes last season in the Bundesliga to Isak’s 3.10 in the Premier League.

His shots on target per 90 (1.14) and shot-on-target percentage (40.3%) closely mirror Isak’s (1.34 and 43.2% respectively). While Isak recorded more non-penalty goals (19 vs. 9) and expected goals (17.2 vs. 8.2), that comes in the context of Newcastle’s more cohesive attack compared to Leipzig’s disappointing season, which ended with a 7th-place finish and early Champions League exit.

Where Openda truly stands out is in his mentality and off-the-ball work – qualities Howe prizes.

While his defensive stats are modest, just 0.07 tackles in the final third per 90, his pressing intensity and recovery runs have drawn praise from Bundesliga observers. He’s also adept at attacking space in behind, a trait that fits Newcastle’s counter-attacking DNA under Howe.

That said, Openda is far from the finished product. His passing accuracy (63.8%) lags behind Isak’s (75.3%), and he averages fewer progressive passes, carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

With his flaws comes room for growth. Under Howe, a coach known for improving attacking players, those gaps could narrow quickly.

At 25, Openda is entering his prime, and with 27 caps for Belgium already under his belt, he has experience at the highest level.

The Premier League isn’t unfamiliar territory for clubs tracking him either. Aston Villa and Leicester City have previously monitored the Belgian, but neither made a formal approach.

Now, Newcastle appear to be in the strongest position – and in the most urgent need.

While Openda may not yet have Isak’s polish or reputation, he brings a skill set that could flourish under the right guidance. His pace, directness, and goal threat are real, and paired with the right supply line, he could be a devastating outlet in the Premier League.

He’s not an exact copy of Isak, but if they do lose their star striker to Liverpool, Loïs Openda represents a logical and exciting step forward.

More prolific than Wissa & Sesko: Newcastle plot move to sign £40m "menace"

Newcastle United target Ligue 1 striker after summer transfer setbacks

By
Will Miller

Jul 24, 2025

Barcelona received a boost ahead of their Champions League opener as Hansi Flick’s suspension was overturned, clearing him for the Newcastle game.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barca have received a major boost ahead of their Champions League opener against Newcastle after UEFA lifted the suspension of head coach Flick and his assistant Marcus Sorg. The pair had initially been handed one-match bans following last season’s controversial semi-final elimination to Inter, but Barca appealed the ruling. According to , UEFA has partially upheld the appeal, meaning Flick and Sorg will be on the bench at St. James’ Park. Both remain under a one-year “monitoring” period, during which any further violations could reactivate the suspended ban.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The decision is huge for Blaugrana, who begin their European campaign against a resurgent Newcastle side. Flick’s presence on the touchline is important for his tactical management in what promises to be a demanding league phase of the competition. 

  The German coach has been tasked with restoring Barca’s European pedigree after several painful eliminations in recent years. His availability ensures continuity in leadership at a time when Barcelona are eager to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 La Liga draw with Rayo Vallecano and maintain focus on reclaiming continental success.

• TELL ME MORE

  The ban stemmed from UEFA’s charge that Flick and Sorg had breached the governing body’s principles of conduct during last season’s semi-final tie against Inter, having angrily protested and criticised the referee's decisions. While the suspension has been lifted, both coaches remain under probation for 12 months, meaning any further incident could lead to reinstatement of the punishment alongside fresh sanctions. Barca will cover the costs of the appeal process, though this is seen as a small price to pay for having their manager on the sidelines.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?

  Barca must quickly shake off their domestic frustrations and turn their focus to Europe. With seven points from three La Liga fixtures, they trail Real Madrid by two points and cannot afford to let early-season slip-ups derail momentum. After the weekend's clash against Valencia in La Liga, the spotlight will shift to the visit to St. James’ Park.

Manchester United look set to complete their third big-money signing of the summer transfer window, after a deal was agreed with RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko.

The 22-year-old has been subject to a tug-of-war battle between Ruben Amorim’s side and Newcastle United over the last couple of weeks – leaving the player with a decision to make.

However, the Slovenian international has made the decision to make the move to Old Trafford, after the Red Devils had a £74m bid, including add-ons, accepted earlier this week.

He joins Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo at the Theatre of Dreams this window, taking the club’s spending during the off-season to a staggering £207.5m.

The board have certainly backed the manager in his quest for success at the club, potentially doing so once again on another key target before the market slams shut on September 1st.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo has emerged as a potential defensive reinforcement for United this summer, after scouting the Italian in recent months.

It’s reported that the Serie A side are currently demanding a fee in the region of £35m to sell the 20-year-old, who also has admirers from fellow Premier League sides Sunderland and Bournemouth.

However, he’s not the player who’s currently in their sights, with Brighton star Carlos Baleba another talent they’re considering, according to Fabrizio Romano.

He claimed in his latest update with GIVEMESPORT, the journalist claimed that the Red Devils have held talks with the player’s intermediaries over a potential move to the club.

The Italian also stated that the player himself would be keen on a deal to join Amorim’s side, but it would be a tricky deal to complete, given his current £100m asking price.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Cunha

As previously mentioned, Cunha is just one of the players to complete a huge move to join United this summer, costing a whopping £62.5m from divisional rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Brazilian will provide the added quality the club have greatly lacked in attacking areas, that’s if he can replicate his form from the previous campaign, which saw him net 15 league goals.

He’s likely to operate in the number ten position alongside Mbeumo and in behind Sesko, with the trio a real force to be reckoned with ahead of the 2025/26 season.

However, if Cunha is to reach his full potential under Amorim’s guidance, he will need support from players behind him to help him in his quest throughout his time at the club.

Baleba, who’s primarily a ball-winning midfielder, has also showcased his talents in possession for the Seagulls in recent seasons, arguably being the missing piece in the Red Devils’ puzzle.

The Cameroonian, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, won 2.7 tackles per 90 last season – enabling him to break up the play before playing into forward areas.

He registered 4.1 progressive passes per 90, 3.7 of which were into the final third, tallies which could provide Cunha with the tools he needs to create carnage in front of goal.

His superb ability with the ball at his feet is further showcased by his 87% pass completion rate in 2024/25, which has seen him break the lines and contribute to his aforementioned tallies in forward areas.

The Brighton star also ranked in the top 20% of all central defensive midfielders in England’s top-flight for successful take-ons – further affirming his ability to get the ball into the opposition’s territory at any given opportunity.

Should Baleba manage to replicate his figures from his recent year at the AMEX, he could make a huge difference in the Red Devils’ quest for success at both ends of the pitch.

His ability to link up with Cunha would certainly improve the club’s situation in the final third, allowing one of the other big-money additions to prove his worth throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

He's like Bellingham: Man Utd make £60m "genius" the top target after Sesko

Manchester United’s heavy spending looks set to continue after agreeing a deal for Benjamin Sesko.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 6, 2025

It’s well-known at this point that despite winning back-to-back European Championship titles and reaching a World Cup final in between, England’s Lionesses have a problem at left-back. There’s a real lack of options for Sarina Wiegman in the position and shoehorning players into it hasn’t helped much either – leaving many wondering just what Gabby George has to do to get her chance.

George was superb in that role for Manchester United last season, attracting Wiegman’s attention for England’s final camp of 2024, during which she started in a very experimental XI that beat Switzerland in Sheffield. However, that was her most recent appearance for the Lionesses, with her not making the cut for the squad that went on to retain their European title back in July.

Some players would be frustrated; some would use it as motivation. George, though, doesn’t see a reason to go down either avenue. After all, she’s not short of ambition and drive, and she was “over the moon” for her club-mates and close friends who enjoyed success this summer. “Everyone knows what it means,” she tells GOAL.

Instead, the goal for George is something much bigger. “I’ve lost a lot of time not playing football,” she explains. “My main focus is staying on the pitch, staying fit and enjoying my football. We’ll see where that takes me.”

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  'I couldn't come to terms with it'

  It was almost two years ago now that George was given the devastating news of her second ACL injury in less than four years. The first came in early 2020, while she was at Everton, robbing her of the chance to play in an FA Cup final later that year. The second, though, felt particularly cruel.

  The defender was just three games into her first season back at Man Utd, the club she spent the majority of her youth with until having to leave for Merseyside as a 17-year-old because of United’s lack of a women’s first team. To get the chance to return in 2023, then, was a full circle moment for someone who is also a lifelong fan of the club. She started brilliantly, too, until being forced off just minutes into a game against Leicester.

  When GOAL asks if it helped having been through the process before, or whether knowing the long road ahead of her made it worse, George grimaces. “It was definitely worse,” she replies. “I think the second one was probably one of the hardest times of my life so far, in terms of football. I couldn't come to terms with it.”

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  Coming through the other side

  Eleven long months of recovery lay ahead for George, plus the lingering impact of being sidelined for so long. “Research states that it can take up to 18 months after you do the ACL to get back to how you used to feel,” she notes.

  But as the 2024-25 season progressed, after her long-awaited return in United’s season opener, George looked more and more like herself, forming a key part of the second-best defence in England as the Red Devils secured a place in Champions League qualifying and reached a third successive FA Cup final. Now, she’s keen to build on that.

  “It was a tough season for me, physically and mentally,” she says. “The club were amazing in helping me look after myself and making sure that I lasted the full season. That was my aim last season, to get through. This season is to go above and beyond. I feel like I've got renewed energy and I'm ready to go. I'm on the other side now. I'm over it and we just keep moving.”

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  Fresh new faces

  It’s not been the start to the campaign that George would’ve wanted, with a small knock ruling her out of United’s first four games, the last of those a 1-0 defeat to Brann in the first leg of their final Champions League qualifier. But she made her return in the thumping 5-1 win over London City Lionesses at the weekend, a game which also brought about a club debut for Fridolina Rolfo, the Red Devils’ marquee summer signing.

  Rolfo won two Champions League titles at Barcelona, and played another final at Wolfsburg, so the club will hope she can provide a boost in their quest to beat Brann in Thursday’s return leg and secure a place in the competition’s new league phase. “She’s an amazing player with loads of experience,” beams George, who is likely to play behind the Swede on that left flank as the season progresses.

  Julia Zigiotti Olme, the midfielder from Bayern Munich who George describes as “a phenomenal footballer” and one she “admires watching”, has also joined the club, alongside England star Jess Park, whose deadline day switch concluded a transfer window with less activity than some might’ve expected from United.

  George, though, believes there are positives to that limited change. “Hopefully we can pick up where we left off in terms of the league and stuff, and hopefully we can keep pushing together,” she says. “We know each other a bit more and bringing in the new faces will obviously freshen that up still. We just want to keep pushing.”

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  Taking that next step

  United have come on plenty since reforming in 2018, firmly establishing themselves among the Women’s Super League’s best teams before winning a first major trophy at the end of the 2023-24 season, beating Tottenham in the FA Cup final. But there is still another step for them to take in order to seriously challenge for that WSL title and become a regular in the Champions League.

  “I think at a club like Manchester United, the ambition talks for itself,” George says. “We do want trophies and we're going to keep working hard together to try and bring them back to Manchester. Every year, we've got to keep pushing and pushing and hopefully we can get closer and closer every time.

  “We've obviously made a few signings but we already have a great base as well, so I think it's just about us as individuals continuing to improve and progress, and hopefully we can take the club to where it should be. That's the aim.”

Ruben Amorim could not hide his frustration after Manchester United succumbed to yet another defeat in the Premier League at the hands of Brentford on Saturday. The Red Devils' misery under Amorim continued as they are now winless in their last eight away games in the English top-flight and are currently struggling at the 13th position on the league table.

• United faced another loss in Premier League

  United conceded two early goals as Igor Thiago scored a brace within the first 20 minutes of the match, taking advantage of the Red Devils' sloppy defending. Benjamin Sesko then scored his maiden goal for the club in the 26th minute to keep United alive in the match. Unfortunately for the English giants, captain Bruno Fernandes missed yet another penalty in the second half as Mathias Jensen's 95th-minute goal sealed crucial three points for the Bees.      

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  Amorim opened up on conceding from a long ball

  Speaking to reporters after the match, a frustrated Amorim told : "The first ball was a long ball after a recovery. We work on that during the week. Set pieces we work on that also. We knew that the long balls and then first touch and they have the opportunity and the goals were like we were doing during the week. We need to do better." 

  He added: "The feeling is always the same. Of course, we want to win. I think we didn’t control the game. We played the game of Brentford. Really confused. Second balls, first balls, set pieces. And all the crucial moments, they were against us. Tough to lose again but we need to think about the next one." 

• Amorim jeered by Brentford fans

  The home fans at the Gtech Community Stadium were heard chanting, "You’re getting sacked in the morning!" to mock Amorim as the United boss looked dejected on the sidelines during the Premier League clash.  

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  Is Amorim's future at Old Trafford doubtful?

  Pressure is mounting on the Portuguese boss as United's poor form continues in the Premier League. While Amorim still has the support of the club management, his position might come under danger if things do not improve drastically. United, however, will have to fork out a staggering fee in compensation if they plan to sack the manager in the middle of the season.   

It’s been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year.

Andrea Berta and Co have been very active in the transfer market, bringing in six new faces for Mikel Arteta so far.

Undoubtedly, the most exciting addition has to be Viktor Gyokeres, who was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for Sporting CP last season, and looked good in the club’s final pre-season game.

However, while he was part of the team that picked up three points away to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, he didn’t look anything like the goal threat we saw last season.

While he’ll likely only get better as he gets used to the Premier League, Arsenal could help speed things along by signing another international ace they’ve been linked with this summer, an international who could potentially help Gyokeres hit Erling Haaland-esque numbers.

Gyokeres' underwhelming debut

While Gyokeres looked impressive against Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup, scoring a header and coming incredibly close to getting another, he didn’t make a great impression on his Premier League debut on Sunday.

Granted, it was a bad day at the office for most of the side, apart from David Raya and some of the defence, but with the eyes of the league watching him to see if he could translate his sensational goalscoring form from Portugal to England, the Swedish marksman failed.

For example, in his 60 minutes of action, the Stockholm-born international failed to take a single shot – the first time that has happened in a competitive game since his days at Coventry City – was unable to complete a single dribble, played no key passes, lost ten duels and took just 22 touches, which was 25 fewer than Raya between the sticks.

Now, in his defence, there were a couple of occasions when he drove out wide before firing a ball back towards the centre in reasonably dangerous positions only for nobody to get on the end of it, but by and large, it was a debut to forget.

However, given his form over the last few years, Gyokeres will surely find his shooting boots sooner or later, and for their part, Arsenal could bring in a particular player who might be able to help him reach Haaland-esque numbers: Rodrygo.

Why Rodrygo could help Gyokeres explode

Among all the attacking players Arsenal have been linked with this summer, Rodrygo has arguably been the most exciting, and while he is now being touted for a move to Manchester City, there is supposedly still a chance the Gunners can secure his services for around £78m.

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Now, on top of being an exceptional signing in his own right, why would the Real Madrid star be able to help Gyokeres’ goalscoring numbers explode this season?

Well, the first reason is that he’s already proven himself to be a reliable source of goals and assists with the Spanish giants over the last couple of years.

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For example, across the 23/24 to 24/25 seasons, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.

In other words, the often “unstoppable” dynamo, as dubbed by Madrid columist Kiyan Sobhani, was averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes in that period, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing everywhere but his preferred position of left-wing.

Just imagine the numbers the Swedish goal-machine would be able to put up with the 24-year-old to his left, instead of Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka to his right – they could be Haaland-esque if things click.

Moreover, when we take a look at the former Santos gem’s underlying numbers, it quickly becomes clear that he is elite at getting the ball into dangerous areas through carrying, which for a traditional number nine like Gyokeres could be perfect.

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in La Liga last season for carries into the final third, the top 3% for touches in the attacking third, the top 6% for total carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, with his record from the last two years being what it is, we know Gyokeres can score goals at a rate few can match, and to help him get close to those numbers again, Arsenal need to bring in a world-class left-winger like Rodrygo.

Arteta must axe 4/10 Arsenal star who was worse than Gyokeres vs Man Utd

Arsenal may have secured victory at Old Trafford but there were some negatives.

By
Matt Dawson

Aug 18, 2025

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick spoke about the praise Pedri received from former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, who revealed that the 22-year-old is his "new favourite footballer". Since Flick took charge of Barca, Pedri has shrugged off his fitness issues and was one of the best midfielders in the world last season, a trend that has carried over into the current season.

• Pedri continues midfield dominance

  Ahead of the 2023-24 season, there were concerns over Pedri's battle with frequent injuries that threatened to hinder his seemingly unlimited potential. However, Flick's arrival in the summer of 2024 revived Pedri. The Spaniard was perhaps the best midfielder in La Liga last season and was often hailed by fans as among the world's best. In fact, Pedri even got Ballon d'Or shouts due to his authoritarian displays and consistency in midfield. He has continued doing what he does best in the current season, earning high praise from former midfielder Scholes. The legendary player took to social media to call Pedri his "new favourite footballer" following his dominant performance in the 2-1 win over Newcastle in the Champions League at St. James' Park last week.

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  Flick says 'Pedri's at an incredible level'

  Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Flick said: "When you're an attacking player, you're more in the spotlight. What Scholes says means a lot; he was a great midfielder. Pedri is at an incredible level, as is Frenkie [de Jong]. I'm very happy with what I see in training, the quality with which we train… the mood is fantastic. You can see that. This mood helps us keep going."

• Pedri and De Jong untouchable in midfield

  Ever since De Jong returned to full fitness midway in the 2024-25 season, he has been undroppable, forming an incredible midfield partnership with Pedri. The duo maintain possession at will and are immaculate at ball circulation and progression. Such has been their reliability that the likes of Gavi, Marc Casado and Dani Olmo found regular minutes hard to come by.

  "I've never had that feeling that people hate him… I'm not on social media," Flick explained. "All the fans see how important he is. It's fantastic to have him on our team. What I see is that he enjoys it. He enjoys training. He helps us and has great quality. He's very important. I talk to him a lot, I want to know things about him and what he thinks. It's incredible."

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  Rest for Pedri and De Jong in Barca's next game?

  Barcelona will face Real Oviedo in their next game, which will be played on Thursday. Given the fixture congestion, Flick would have loved to rotate his side against a newly-promoted team. But Gavi has been sidelined for the next four to five months, while Marc Bernal will also not be forced into the starting lineup after he spent the entirety of the 2024-25 out injured.