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Enzo Maresca has opened up on Christopher Nkunku's future at Chelsea amid transfer interest from Manchester United.

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Maresca revealed his stance on Nkunku's futureFrenchman could exit Stamford Bridge this summerMan Utd have shown interestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Nkunku, who was on the fringes of Maresca's squad throughout the 2024-25 campaign, has been linked with a move away from the west London side, with reporting that Manchester United are keen on signing the Stamford Bridge outcast. The report added that the Red Devils have initiated initial talks with the player's representatives, although no concrete proposal has been submitted.

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Amid speculation over his future, Maresca has firmly claimed that the French forward is still a Chelsea player and believes Nkunku will stay at the club beyond this summer. The 27-year-old clocked just 910 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League last season. While he appeared in 33 league matches, the France international managed to start in only nine of them.

WHAT MARESCA SAID

Speaking to reporters, the Italian said: "Christo is with us. He's our player. He's doing very well in the last four, five days. For sure, tomorrow we are going to do rotation. We'll see if there is any chance for the ones that are not playing a lot."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

The Premier League giants are set to face ES Tunis in a must-win final group stage clash in the Club World Cup on Wednesday.

شهدت الساعات الماضية حالة من الجدل بعد ظهور أزمة جديدة بطلها الفلسطيني حامد حمدان، لاعب وسط فريق بتروجيت، في ظل تمسكه بالانتقال إلى نادي الزمالك، ورغبته في خوض تجربة جديدة مع القلعة البيضاء خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

وكانت مصادر مقربة من اللاعب، أكدت لـ “بطولات” في وقت سابق، أن حامد حمدان أبلغ إدارة ناديه برغبته في ارتداء قميص الزمالك، مطالبًا بتسهيل المفاوضات، وهو ما قابله النادي البترولي بالرفض التام، متمسكًا باستمرار اللاعب ضمن صفوفه في الموسم المقبل.

وتزايدت حالة الغضب من جماهير الزمالك وبعض المتابعين، الذين وجهوا انتقادات لإدارة بتروجيت بسبب موقفها من الصفقة، ما دفع النادي لإصدار بيان رسمي لتوضيح الصورة وكشف كواليس ما جرى في الفترة الأخيرة، خاصة ما يتعلق بالاتصالات غير الرسمية مع الزمالك. بيان نادي بتروجيت بشأن أزمة حامد حمدان

بيان هام

نظرا لما تردد من شائعات وبعض التفاصيل المغلوطة خلال الساعات الأخيرة على لاعبي الفريق الأول بالنادي ، يوضح النادي مايلي..

أولا: لم يصل أي عرض رسمي لإدارة النادي سوى عرض نادي قطر القطري للحصول على خدمات حامد حمدان وتم الرد بالاعتذار لهم.

ثانيا: تمت إتصالات شفهية فقط من إدارة نادي الزمالك حول اللاعب حامد حمدان واللاعب توفيق محمد وكان الرد بالتمسك باللاعبين نظرا لإحتياج النادي لخدماتهم مع الفريق خلال الفتره الحالية.. والنادي لم يتطرق لأي تفاصيل مالية تخص عقد شراء اللاعبين مع الزمالك.

ثالثا: إدارة النادي لن تفرط في أي لاعب خلال الانتقالات الصيفية نظرا للمنافسة الشديدة في الدوري الممتاز الموسم القادم.

رابعا: لاعبو الفريق مستمرون في خوض التدريبات بانتظام استعدادا للدوري والنادي يواصل تدعيم صفوفه بصفقات مميزة.

خامسا: إدارة النادي تستنكر الهجوم على مسؤوليها لعدم الاستغناء عن لاعبيها نظرا لأحقية الإدارة في الحفاظ على القوام الرئيسي للفريق.

ومجلس إدارة النادي بقياده اللواء جمال فوزي يؤكد حرصه على عدم المساس بالعناصر المتميزه في الفريق لتقديم أفضل النتائج في الموسم القادم للدوري الممتاز.

Glasgow Rangers secured another comeback victory in the Premiership as the Ibrox side netted a late winner against Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday evening.

To the neutral, it was an enthralling match. Dundee led 2-0 and 3-1, before conceding three goals in the final 20 minutes to somehow lose the clash.

Cyriel Dessers – who registered 12 total shots and missed five big chances – scored the game-winning goal and Barry Ferguson and his backroom staff will be laughing back to Glasgow.

Ferguson won’t get the job on a permanent basis, but he does seem to have installed a never-say-die attitude among the players.

Rangers best and worst performers against Dundee

A special mention must go to Dessers. The striker took some flak from the support and missed far too many chances, but his persistence paid off in the end for the Light Blues.

He looked lively enough alongside Hamza Igamane – who managed just a solitary shot on target – as the club came away with all three points.

James Tavernier also scored while making two key passes, creating a big chance and winning six of his nine contested duels throughout the 90 minutes.

Leon Balogun didn’t enjoy his finest match in a Rangers jersey. The centre-back won just two of his seven duels, lost the ball eight times and made zero tackles. He was duly subbed off at the interval.

Cyriel Dessers’ stats vs Dundee

Goals

1

Shots on target

9

Big chances missed

5

Key passes

1

Lost possession

13

Total duels (won)

8 (4)

Via Sofascore

Jack Butland made yet another mistake, while Ridvan Yilmaz failed to contribute anything meaningful going forward, registering zero key passes or successful dribbles.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment, however, was Connor Barron, who failed to demonstrate his true talents.

Connor Barron’s game in numbers against Dundee

Operating deep in a five-man midfield, Barron only managed to take 25 touches before he was hooked at half-time, 17 fewer than Butland in goal.

A pass success rate of 76% was also poor, with the midfielder losing possession five times while making zero interceptions or attempting any dribbles.

The former Aberdeen starlet was given a match rating of 5/10 by Football Insider for his performance. Admittedly, there were a few worse performers, but this was the sort of game that Barron should be grabbing by the horns.

Chalkboard

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

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Instead, he lacked the confidence to make a positive impact, with Ferguson making the tactical switch at halftime which saw the Scot replaced by Bailey Rice.

Next up for the Ibrox side is a clash against Hibs in the top flight next Saturday in what will be a warmup for their Europa League quarter-final first-leg match against Athletic Bilbao on April 10.

As such, will Ferguson drop Barron to the bench for the tie against the Easter Road side? Perhaps bringing Rice into the starting XI? Or even potentially changing his system.

Domestically, the season is over for Rangers. But if the club can deliver another excellent European performance against the La Liga side, they have a chance of further progression.

Barron must perform better to stand any chance of playing in that match.

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Sean Dyche’s house was derelict and tired at the end of his Everton tenure, but in David Moyes, it’s been renovated, refurnished.

The point of that metaphor is Moyes isn’t starkly different to his predecessor. Indeed, his philosophy is built on defensive – some may say pragmatic – foundations, but it’s deeper and richer.

At West Ham United, the Scotsman enjoyed three successive European campaigns, the middle of which saw him lift the Conference League trophy.

And having built a seven-match league unbeaten run since taking the head seat at Goodison Park in January, Moyes has rekindled the feel-good factor and belief that the Toffees have turned a page and taken the first steps toward recently unimaginable heights.

Everton’s ongoing purple patch has ended fears of relegation, but Moyes will need fresh troops ahead of next season’s debut at Bramley Moore. With that in mind, there just might be something in rumours of a return to Merseyside for none other than Richarlison.

Everton's interest in Richarlison

Injuries and struggles for form have laid waste to Richarlison’s big-career move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022. After years of menacing forward success on Merseyside, the Brazilian jumped ship in a deal worth £60m, but it hasn’t worked out.

Former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said shortly after Richy’s move to the capital that he’s “among the best forwards” football has to offer.

But that hasn’t been backed up under Ange Postecoglou. With Richarlison firmly on the fringe of a struggling Spurs squad, rumours have surfaced of late concerning a potential return to Everton.

GIVEMESPORT report Moyes is keen on bringing the 27-year-old back to the club, though Tottenham value him at £40m and this would take a sizeable chunk from the coffers.

Injuries have ravaged the consistency that characterised his Merseyside career. While nostalgic longing makes his return feel like an attractive thing, it may not prove the most prudent long-term planning.

Especially when other, sold-for-less former stars are significantly outperforming him.

Former Everton star is now better than Richarlison

Richarlison is remembered fondly on the blue half of Merseyside but new stars such as Iliman Ndiaye and Beto highlight the success that could be found in investing in fresh talent.

While Beto is the talk of the town at Everton right now, having led Moyes’ early charge on the Premier League with a five-goal return from six matches, there’s actually a former Blues man who’s outscoring him in the top flight this season.

When Everton sold Alex Iwobi to Fulham in a deal rising to £22m in 2023, it was poignant but necessary with financial issues spreading like creeper up the Goodison Park walls.

He made 140 appearances for Everton, scoring nine goals and supplying 15 assists. This is a modest return to be sure, but Iwobi grew in confidence after feeling the weight of an inflated price tag upon arrival.

The Merseysiders welcomed Iwobi, now 27, from Arsenal in 2019, paying a brow-raising £35m fee for the up-and-coming talent, whose game time at the Emirates was limited. Pundit Rio Ferdinand had dubbed him a “menace” of a winger, something that rings true to this day.

Iwobi might not have enjoyed much shooting success in Liverpool, but he did bow out confidently. Across the 2022/23 season, he hit eight assists from 41 matches, repurposed as a robust central midfielder.

But now, at Fulham, he’s proved that he can score goals at a productive rate.

With seven goals (and three assists) from 27 Premier League appearances this season – principally fielded on either attacking flank – Iwobi is indeed outscoring Beto this season.

He’s not just a marksman though. As per FBref, the Nigeria international ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 20% for shot-creating actions per 90.

A man of many parts. Iwobi’s multi-dimensional approach to his football could really be perfect for Moyes’ Everton project. He was even described as an “exceptional” player during his time at Everton by Statman Dave.

Conversely, Richarlison’s woes on the fitness front have reduced him to a lesser state than what was on show during his time at Everton. He might be more of an out-and-out scorer than his former teammate, but that doesn’t detract from the polarity in performances and success over the past few years.

Though Iwobi isn’t for sale, his goalscoring return at Craven Cottage does emphasise the fact Everton might be best steering away from re-signing their former talisman.

Moyes is back after more than a decade away, and with him a sense of excitement that could bloom into something special.

Iwobi has been deployed in myriad tactical roles during his time in the Premier League, and while Everton banked a pretty sum in selling him to Fulham, Farhad Moshiri didn’t exactly redirect the funds effectively.

They might just regret letting him go in the first place. Sure, it helped balance the books but Iwobi is proving himself to be a valuable asset – one who could have thrived under Moyes’ wily wing.

He’d be a major player in Moyes’ current squad, capable across a range of duties.

He might be a playmaker, energetic and versatile, but he’s got an eye for goal too – outscoring both Richarlison and Beto in the Premier League this season merely illustrates that point.

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Everton manager David Moyes made the decision not to sign a “top class” attacker in the January transfer window, according to a new claim from reliable journalist Alan Nixon.

Latest Everton news

After the 2-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, the Blues are preparing for one of their biggest games of the season on Wednesday night – a mouthwatering Merseyside derby clash with Liverpool.

It is a huge Premier League game, not least for the Reds in the title race, and Everton will know they can dent their rivals’ hopes of glory, in what is the last-ever meeting between the two clubs at Goodison Park.

When it comes to transfer stories affecting the Blues currently, a sensational reunion with Richarlison has not been completely ruled out, with The Friedkin Group reportedly liking the idea of bringing the Brazilian back to Merseyside after a good first spell there, making him their record signing.

Meanwhile, another report has suggested that Dominic Calvert-Lewin could now stay put at Everton beyond this summer, potentially signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.

Moyes opted not to sign Batshuayi for Everton

According to Nixon on Patreon [via Give Me Sport], Moyes opted not to bring Michy Batshuayi to Everton in the January window, not being convinced by him as a signing. The manager made ‘thorough’ background checks on the forward but changed his mind at the last minute.

The chance was there to sign the Belgian on loan from Galatasaray until the end of the season, but the 31-year-old ended up joining Eintracht Frankfurt on a permanent deal instead.

There were obvious merits to Everton snapping up Batshuayi, at a time when additional firepower is needed at Goodison, with Frank Lampard once heaping praise on him during their time together at Chelsea, saying:

“It was interesting to see not just the player – I kind of knew the quality Michy had and it’s always good to see that up close – but also the personality. Since early season, how he’s trained, his demeanour, his positivity, and quality when he’s come on, which is obviously the most important thing, have been top class.”

Batshuayi is a player with genuine pedigree, having scored a hugely impressive 27 goals in 56 caps for Belgium, as well as 25 in 77 appearances for Chelsea. One of those came at Goodison Park in a 1-1 draw back in 2020/21.

That said, the striker is now 31 years of age and potentially on the wane, and Everton need to become a club who are signing players before or during their prime, rather than taking a punt on ageing figures.

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Not only that, but Moyes has to be trusted by Dan Friedkin, in terms of the players he wants to bring in, and it seems clear that the Blues boss simply felt the attacker wasn’t the right fit for him and his side.

With a shot of holding the FA Cup aloft, on top of successfully finishing in the top eight of the refreshed Champions League structure, Aston Villa will now turn their attention to correcting their waning Premier League form for the rest of February.

Unai Emery’s Villans haven’t won in the bread and butter of the top-flight since mid-January away at Everton, with a couple of underwhelming draws coming their way since, alongside a damaging 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers knocking their confidence last time out.

Three home games on the bounce do give Emery and Co a healthy chance of picking up some much-needed wins, with the former Arsenal boss no doubt boosted by a superb winter transfer window too.

Aston Villa's sensational winter transfer window

Indeed, even with Jhon Duran’s departure to Al-Nassr hitting Villa hard in the striker department, the Premier League side still managed to exit the transfer window as strong winners.

The bumper window saw the statement trio of Axel Disasi, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio all enter the building on short-term deals, with the last two players named already impressing at Villa Park versus Spurs.

The former Real Madrid midfielder stood out in particular with his easy-on-the-eye approach which culminated in a number of tricks and flicks coming off, on top of a 100% pass accuracy also being registered.

Emery will hope these new loanees can help his side surge up the table back into top four contention, therefore, with his faltering team currently six points off Chelsea occupying that coveted fourth spot.

Whilst they have been able to flex their muscles this window with Rashford and Co, they haven’t always had such great luck when it comes to big incomings through the door, with one move for a future superstar back in 2021 going awry.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

The "outstanding" ace Aston Villa nearly signed

If you cast your mind back to the West Midlands outfit four years ago, Champions League football would have been viewed as somewhat of a distant pipedream.

Villa ended up finishing in a mediocre 11th spot come the end of the 2020/21 season, having only just survived the campaign before courtesy of homegrown star Jack Grealish’s heroics.

Villa would go into the summer market back in 2021 with the aim of forking out significant wads of cash to improve, with Emiliano Buendia joining for a bumper £38m from Norwich City one notable buy.

In another reality – alongside the purchase of Buendia – Villa could have welcomed his fellow compatriot Julian Alvarez, with reports at the time suggesting that the then River Plate attacker was the subject of an enquiry from Aston Villa with talk of an £8m move on the cards.

Unfortunately, no such move would take place, with Manchester City then gaining Alvarez’s services for £14m in the summer of 2022, which went down as an extremely savvy investment.

The “outstanding” South American – as he was labelled by Pep Guardiola – eventually bowed out from his time in Manchester by collecting a hefty 53 goals and assists across 103 appearances.

This led to his next employers in Atletico Madrid having to cough up a far steeper sum than £14m to land the 25-year-old.

He ended up becoming City’s record sale at a whopping £81m, with the Spanish giants already getting the best out of Alvarez to shrug off any flop tags that could have been put above his head on his extortionate arrival.

That £81m valuation amazingly means he is worth more than both Morgan Rogers – who has a Transfermarkt valuation of £33m – and Duran’s exit fee to Al-Nassr of £65m.

Villa definitely dropped the ball not going after the 25-year-old when they could have, but Emery will know his team now is already stocked with some top talents.

Aston Villa have already sold their answer to Rashford in "elite" £37m star

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By
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Sri Lanka dominated the first 14 overs with the bat, stumbled dramatically against legspinner Karthik Meiyappan, who bagged a hat-trick, and then recovered sufficiently to post 152 for 8. This was thanks largely to Pathum Nissanka’s 74 off 60 balls.Although Sri Lanka’s was merely a competitive rather than commanding total, their bowlers defended the total zealously, the quicks eviscerating UAE’s top order, before the spinners scythed through the middle. UAE never seemed to have the measure of the chase, going from 21 for 4 to 42 for 7, and eventually 73 all out.The victory gave Sri Lanka a major run-rate boost (they are now up to +0.6), which could become significant if three teams end up on four points, on Thursday. The loss all but put UAE out of contention for a place in the main draw, as they would need to beat Namibia by a substantial margin on Thursday to enter the main draw.Sri Lanka’s victory was soured, however, by an injury to fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, late in the game. Running in to bowl his final delivery of the match, Chameera pulled up lame, and immediately left the field, limping. From his reactions, it appeared as if the injury was more than a niggle.Karthik Meiyappan’s hat-trick
Karthik had been good in his first two overs, conceding just 14. But in the third, he upended Sri Lanka’s innings. To Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was desperate to find his first boundary, Karthik bowled it flat and wide, the batter reaching for the ball, hitting over extra cover, and finding the fielder in the deep.Then came two stunning googlies. The first was to left-hander Charith Asalanka, who prodded forward and sent an outside edge to the keeper. The second to Dasun Shanaka, who did not pick the variation at all, and in his attempt to block the hat-trick ball, left a gap between bat and pad, which Karthik’s delivery wriggled through, to hit the stumps.Having been 117 for 2, Sri Lanka dived to 117 for 5, then 120 for 6 when Wanindu Hasaranga holed out to long-off.Nissanka’s slow burn
Nissanka started steadily, hitting three fours to get to 25 off 17 in the powerplay. He was the only batter to hit a boundary off Karthik, in the middle overs, pounding him over cow corner for six (though he top-edged Karthik in the next over, only for the ball to fall in between three fielders).He reached his half century only off the 45th ball he faced, but was excellent through the late overs, when Sri Lanka desperately needed fireworks. His six over midwicket and four through long-off in the 19th over, off Junaid Siddique, helped inject some energy into a flagging innings. In the end, he holed out off the penultimate ball, having held Sri Lanka’s innings together with his 74 off 64 balls.UAE’s capitulation
It was essentially a rolling collapse that started in Chameera’s first over (the third of the innings), when he bowled Muhammad Waseem and Aryan Lakra, uprooting three stumps across those two dismissals. He then had captain CP Rizwan caught at mid-off, before Sri Lanka’s other seamer, Pramod Madushan, dismissed Chirag Suri – another stumps-flying dismissal.UAE were 30 for 4 after seven overs, when Hasaranga imposed himself on the game. He started with a maiden, then had Vriitya Aravind out lbw on review the next over. He claimed two more wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana took two for himself.Sri Lanka could have wrapped the match up earlier if they had held all their catches, but finished it off with the first ball of the 18th over nonetheless.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hopes a few January signings will revitalise his squad ahead of the next few months.

A deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush looks set to be completed sooner rather than later, bolstering City’s stagnating frontline in the process.

The 25-year-old has scored 20 goals in just 26 games for the German side, and his presence could give the Etihad side an edge in the final third.

Guardiola doesn’t appear to be stopping there, however, as a move to sign a player from Serie A is close to being agreed…

Man City transfer latest

According to Sky Sports Italy, City are close to lodging a bid for Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, with a fee in the region of €65m (£55m) having been mentioned.

Transfer Focus

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

Juventus are holding out for a slightly higher figure, but the report adds that there is a good chance the club will accept the proposal submitted by City, who are willing to offer Cambiaso a five-year contract.

Aged just 24, the defender has plenty of experience in Serie A and with the Italian national side, indicating that he could be a wise signing by the Spaniard.

Perhaps he could even rejuvenate Jack Grealish too, who has struggled of late.

Why Andrea Cambiaso could revive Jack Grealish

Grealish was a key member of the squad during the treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, registering 16 goal contributions in all competitions for City as they swept the board.

Since then, however, things have been much more difficult. Indeed, since the start of the 2023/24 season, the Englishman has scored only four goals in 56 appearances.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

5

3

0

Assists

7

1

1

Key passes per game

1.8

1.4

1.6

Big chances created

12

3

2

Successful dribbles per game

1.6

0.9

0.9

Furthermore, he ranks in the bottom 1% for non-penalty goals and in the bottom 72% for assists per 90 when compared to peers in the Premier League.

By signing Cambiaso, Guardiola might be able to get the former Aston Villa starlet back to his best, especially considering how good the Italian is going forward.

Amid links with City, one analyst stated that the defender could “become one of the best FBs in the world” upon moving to Manchester, while data analyst Ben Mattinson has also lauded just how “dangerous” he is down the flanks.

The 24-year-old has created three big chances in Serie A this season, along with succeeding with 63% of his dribble attempts, proving that he loves bursting forward from his own half to create opportunities deep in the final third.

Additionally, compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Cambiaso ranks in the top 8% for progressive carries (3.38), the top 7% for shot-creating actions (3.29), and the top 13% for key passes (1.54) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics are evidence of his forward-thinking abilities, which could see Grealish return to the player he was a couple of seasons ago, knowing that there is someone ready to link up with him down the left flank.

Having Grealish back firing might just be the catalyst for City to go on a solid run of form over the next few months.

One of the world's best: Man City could sign dream Marmoush alternative

Manchester City could land themselves another forward instead of Omar Marmoush this month.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 17, 2025

As we enter the second half of the Premier League season, Arsenal are still very much in the race for the title, but Mikel Arteta may feel he has to strengthen his squad this month if they are going to make up the ground on Liverpool.

With Bukayo Saka injured and question marks over Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners could look to strengthen in a number of different positions this winter. Let’s take a look at five players who would enhance the current squad.

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Arsenal appear to be targeting attacking reinforcements before the end of the January window.

By
Ethan Lamb

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1

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

Saka is set to be sidelined for more than two months due to a hamstring injury that required surgery, meaning the right-wing position is now a problem one for Arteta.

Ethan Nwaneri was impressive in Saka’s absence, scoring against Brighton & Hove Albion, but Arsenal may be keen to bring in a player already proven at the top level rather than sticking with a hot prospect, particularly in light of the youngster’s own recent injury.

Nico Williams played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph last summer, scoring against England in the final, and he was very impressive in La Liga during the 2023/24 campaign, picking up 14 assists.

The Gunners have reportedly already opened talks with the Spaniard’s agent, and they are ready to trigger his relatively affordable release clause of £48m should he give the green light, so it will be interesting to see if things advance over the next few weeks.

Arsenal's most expensive sales of all time

A look at the Gunners’ record departures in their history.

By
Charlie Smith

Dec 28, 2024

2

Randal Kolo Muani

PSG

Although Williams’ release clause should be within Arsenal’s budget, they may be hesitant to commit to such an outlay in the January transfer window, especially considering Saka will be back before the end of the season.

As such, the Gunners could look to bring in a short-term option until the end of the campaign, which makes Randal Kolo Muani an attractive proposition.

The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this month, potentially on loan, and a move to the Emirates Stadium is very much a possibility.

The 26-year-old is capable of playing on both wings and at centre-forward, making him a versatile option for Arteta in the final third, but signing him would undoubtedly be a gamble.

If the attacker is able to rediscover his form from the 2022/23 season, during which he amassed 29 goal contributions in 32 Bundesliga games for Eintracht Frankfurt, he could be a solid addition to the squad.

However, Kolo Muani has failed to record similar numbers with PSG, and the French club’s willingness to sanction his departure casts doubt over whether he would be a suitable signing this month.

5 players who could leave Arsenal this January

A number of players could be on the move this winter…

By
Dominic Lund

Jan 17, 2025

3

Matheus Cunha

Wolves

Gabriel Jesus has stepped up his game over the past few weeks, bagging five goals in two outings against Crystal Palace and then once more against Brentford, but he wasn’t at his best in Havertz’s absence against Brighton, as Arsenal dropped another two points in the title race.

With that in mind, Arteta may look at bringing in a new striker this month, and one forward who has certainly delivered in the Premier League this season is Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian’s goals keeping Wolverhampton Wanderers above water in the relegation battle.

TalkSport’s Rory Jennings has tipped Cunha to replace the injured Saka this month, having featured often on the wing throughout his career.

The 25-year-old has excelled in a centre-forward role this season, proving himself to be a more reliable goalscorer than his compatriot Jesus, so it would make sense for the Gunners to pursue a move.

The only issue is the deal could amount to as much as £90m based on previous reports, with Wolves unwilling to sell unless they receive an astronomical offer, and the striker is arguably yet to prove he is worthy of an outlay that high.

4

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray/Napoli

Cunha is yet to prove himself over a prolonged period at the top level, but Arsenal have another option in mind who has Champions League experience and played a vital role in Napoli’s Serie A title triumph in 2023.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored 26 league goals in the 2022/23 campaign, as well as five in the Champions League, but his time with the Serie A club came to a bitter end when he completed a loan move to Galatasaray in the summer.

During his time in Turkey, the forward has continued his fine goalscoring form, with former Besiktas man Sergen Yalçın describing him as “undoubtedly the best centre-forward” in the country.

Reports have suggested that the Gunners are plotting a “box-office” deal for the 26-year-old, which would mean paying his release clause of £66m – far less than the £90m it would apparently take to prise Cunha away from Wolves.

Given Osimhen’s experience in the Champions League and title races, he is likely to be a better option than the Wolves star, and his arrival could be a real boost to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.

Every set-piece goal Arsenal have scored under Mikel Arteta

Cue the Nicolas Jover celebrations…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 17, 2024

5

Jules Kounde

Barcelona

It appears as though Arteta’s main objective this month is to bolster his attacking options, but a move for a defender is not out of the question, with Arsenal thought to be preparing a £62m offer for Barcelona’s Jules Kounde.

The Frenchman is said to be interested in a move to the Premier League, and there is a feeling that Barca may be forced to cash in for a lower fee amid their financial issues, with a deal potentially possible for around just €40m (£33m).

The 26-year-old is capable of playing at centre-back and right-back, and given just how vital he has been to Barcelona this season, there is every sign that he could push Ben White for a starting spot.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously given an overview of the defender’s abilities, tipping him to be one of the world’s best in his position in the future.

While signing a new defender is not a necessity this January, Kounde could be a quality addition, particularly when considering he may be available for a relatively low fee.

Arsenal remain within arm’s length of Liverpool, but if they are to avoid finishing second for the third year on the spin, it could be wise to bring in some new options this January – and Arteta has a number of top players to choose from.

Leg-spinner’s 4 for 23 proves decisive after Ami Campbell’s fifty

ECB Reporters Network09-Jul-2022

Sarah Glenn played a starring role as Central Sparks inflicted a 22-run defeat upon Western Storm in a sun-drenched Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Chasing a target of 207, Storm came up short at 184 for 9, their cause fatally undermined by the 22-year-old leg-spinner from Derby, who took 4 for 23 from 10 overs. New ball bowler Grace Potts weighed in with 2 for 33 and seamer Elizabeth Russell took 2 for 48 as the top and middle order were blown away. Only tailenders Lauren Filer and Sophia Smale offered any kind of resistance, these two contributing 58 not out and 32 respectively, and staging a defiant ninth wicket stand of 73 by way of consolation.Ami Campbell proved the mainstay of Sparks’ innings, top-scoring with 50 from 75 balls, while captain Evelyn Jones and wicketkeeper Abi Freeborn grafted their way to 44 and 35 respectively in a total of 206 all out from 50 overs after the visitors had won the toss.Impressive with the new ball and again at the death, Lauren Filer claimed 3 for 36 from 10 overs and was ably supported by Niamh Holland, who took key wickets during the middle overs to return figures of 2 for 17.But Storm lacked the application required with the bat on a typically slow and low Bristol pitch to follow up last week’s opening win over Lightning, handing their opponents the opportunity to atone for defeat at the hands of Southern Vipers in their first game.The game was all but over as a contest when Storm lurched to 48 for 6 inside 14 overs, the victims of poor shot selection and some outstanding bowling.Potts set the tone, having Georgia Hennessy caught at the wicket without scoring and then inducing Alex Griffiths to hole out to mid-off as the hosts forfeited both openers inside seven overs with 17 runs on the board. Fran Wilson was next to go cheaply, bowled playing back to Elizabeth Russell and missing a straight one, at which point Storm were 31 for 3 in the tenth over.A difficult situation became positively parlous when Sophie Luff and big-hitting Dani Gibson succumbed to the first and sixth balls of Glenn’s opening over from the Ashley Down Road End. Caught in two minds, Luff was pinned lbw, while Gibson played across the line and was bowled. When Nat Wraith edged a catch behind off Russell in the next over, Storm were in dire straits.There followed 18 dot balls, a passage of austerity that culminated in Glenn having Holland held at slip. Katie George was then bowled by Glenn, terminating any fanciful notion Storm supporters might have harboured of an against-the-odds triumph.Understanding the risks associated with pushing too hard on a worn surface, Sparks’ top-order batters had earlier demonstrated a willingness to graft for their runs, a quality that set them apart from their opponents.Filer served early notice that this was far from a batting paradise, mustering impressive rhythm and pace from the Bristol Pavilion End to remove Davina Perrin and Thea Brookes while the fielding restrictions were still in place.Campbell rode her luck against Storm’s main strike bowler, cutting hard to backward point and being put down by Wilson before she had scored. She certainly made good her escape, the left-hander surviving a sticky start to match Jones blow for blow in a stand of 64 for the third wicket as the visitors reasserted themselves.Prepared to wait for the bad ball, these two were severe on anything short or wide, advancing the score to 109 for 2 at the halfway stage of the innings. Just when a half-century appeared to be hers for the asking, Jones blotted her copybook, playing across the line to a straight delivery from off spinner Chloe Skelton and departing bowled for 44.Skelton’s clever variations on pace and flight almost produced another wicket, but she was unable to hold onto a hard return catch offered up by the fortuitous Campbell, who went on to raise 50 from 74 balls, with eight fours.Dropped catches looked likely to cost Storm dear when George fumbled at deep square leg to allow Freeborn a life on three, much to the chagrin of the returning Filer. Yet partial salvation was at hand for the home side in the form of Holland, who claimed two wickets in the space of 13 deliveries after being introduced in the 34th over. Campbell clipped a swinging ball to Skelton at short fine leg, while Glenn was bowled for two as Sparks were reduced to 156 for 5. Ria Fackrell contributed 16 in a partnership of 32 in seven overs with Freeborn before being bowled by Gibson as Storm turned the screw.As Sparks attempted to accelerate, so Filer struck to remove Freeborn, caught at the wicket by Wraith having hewn 35 from 58 balls. Gibson ran out Georgia Davis and then bowled Potts, while Wraith ran out Hannah Baker off the final ball of the innings.Campbell’s demise in the 35th over proved a turning point, Sparks adding a mere 63 runs for the loss of six wickets in their final 15 overs thereafter. Yet once Glenn went to work, it proved more than enough.