Arsenal: Gunners Willing To Pay Fee For Star

Arsenal are among the sides willing to pay Fenerbache star Arda Guler's release clause and he wants a transfer away immediately, according to reports.

Who will join Arsenal this summer?

As widely reported, the Gunners have agreed a £105 million total fee for the transfer of West Ham United star Declan Rice, who is now expected to make the move to north London.

Arsenal, though, don't appear to be done there after also sealing a £65 million deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea. Indeed, Southampton's Romeo Lavia is firmly on manager Mikel Arteta's radar this summer, with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber coming as another who Arsenal are currently in talks for.

This could end up being one of Arsenal's busiest transfer windows in recent memory, with reports suggesting they may spend north of £200 million on fresh faces.

New targets are appearing on a consistent basis too, as Emirates transfer chief Edu is credited with an interest in signing Fenerbache's Guler.

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The in-demand Turkish wonderkid, who is already capped at international level, has attracted a plethora of suitors both abroad and domestically.

Spanish outlet Diario AS expand on this, claiming Guler is wanted by "half of Europe", with Newcastle United, Manchester United, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Milan, Sevilla, Barcelona and even Real Madrid chasing his signature.

It is believed that the 18-year-old wants to leave Fenerbache "right away", which is where Arsenal come in, as AS state that the north Londoners are "willing to pay" his €17.5million (£15m) alongside the aforementioned sides.

If Arsenal are to make a move for Guler, they will need to hurry, as both Barca and Real will soon make attempts to convince the player.

Who is Arda Guler?

Branded the "Turkish Messi", Guler is amassing quite the reputation, having stood out as one of Fenerbache's best-performing players per 90 as a teenager last campaign (WhoScored).

The talent racked up seven goal contributions in 20 league appearances over 22/23, all while averaging making more key passes per 90 than any Fenerbache player (WhoScored).

Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo, commenting on Guler recently, even said he has the potential to play anywhere in the world.

"Arda Guler is a very talented player,” Pirlo said.

“He has the potential to play anywhere in the world. He has quality, he can read the game well, and he has great technique. If he keeps developing his game, there is no limit to his potential.”

Arsenal: "Sensational" Signing Now "Most Likely"

Southampton star Romeo Lavia is seen as "most likely" to join Arsenal despite interest from three Premier League rivals, according to reliable journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The north Londoners are currently chasing a fair few deals after missing out on their first league title in nearly 20 years last season.

West Ham star Declan Rice, going by consistent press coverage, is the pick of the bunch as Arsenal have already had two bids rejected for the England international.

Rice has apparently already agreed personal terms over a move to the Emirates Stadium but a fee is yet to be agreed, with Arsenal apparently pushing the hardest for his signing.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Chelsea forward Kai Havertz is attracting Mikel Arteta's serious interest as talks advance over a move and could be done this week.

It appears Arsenal are making progress in pursuit of the aforementioned duo, and according to Delaney of The Independent, they could be joined by Southampton's Lavia.

Southampton central midfielder Romeo Lavia.

The Belgium international, who was relegated with his current club last season, could be on the move as Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool and the Gunners eye a move.

However, it appears Arteta's side are firm favourites as they look to make statements this summer, with Lavia "seen as most likely to join" Arsenal.

The Saints apparently want a minimum of £45 million for the teenage midfielder, while treble-winners Man City have a cheaper buy-back clause, they're not interested in exercising it.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

The 19-year-old, despite being a member of Southampton's relegated crop, performed pretty impressively overall despite his tender age.

As per WhoScored, Lavia was a composed and tidy figure in central midfield, averaging a higher pass accuracy (86.4%) than any current Saints regular.

Only Mohammed Salisu made more tackles per 90 than the former Man City starlet with journalists like Lewis Steele of The Mail calling Lavia a "sensational midfielder".

City boss Pep Guardiola also praised the youngster's impact at St. Mary's last season, sharing a real admiration for his ex-prodigy.

"I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing,” said Guardiola.“We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton.“(It’s a) good experience to go to the Premier League and play at this early age. So important.”

West Ham Eye ‘Dangerous’ £30m Star; He’s Clear Of Scamacca

Gianluca Scamacca’s move to West Ham has unravelled into disaster.

The Italian was signed from Sassuolo to become the Irons’ main man, but he has been spectacularly disappointing, unable to take the goal-scoring burden off Michail Antonio.

Danny Ings was also bought in January in an attempt to cover up the Scamacca mistake, however, the Englishman has also struggled to find form in East London.

This situation has left David Moyes in the hunt for a new striker and the club has been linked with Armando Broja.

What’s the latest on Armando Broja to Chelsea?

According to Romagiallorossa.it, Roma are closing on a loan with an obligation to buy deal for Scamacca, a move that would provide space for West Ham to enquire about the Chelsea man.

Indeed, it's alleged that the Hammers are supposedly “closing” in on the 21-year-old, who last year had an asking price of around £30m.

Can Armando Broja replace Gianluca Scamacca?

Broja is a player brimming with talent, effervescence, and potential, but has suffered hideous luck with injury.

The £40k-per-week striker has been restricted to just three starts for the Blues this season after he tore his cruciate ligament in a friendly against Aston Villa in December 2022.

Although, admittedly prior to this unfortunate event, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both reluctant to regularly utilise the forward. Nevertheless, he has shown in a previous loan spell his extraordinary talent.

During the 2020/21 season, the youngster was at Southampton, where has displayed the most promise in his short career, as in 38 appearances in all competitions, the Chelsea starlet scored nine times.

Frank Lampard, who gave Broja his full debut back in 2020, once said: “He is a very talented young boy.

“He came into us at the start of the Covid times, trained with us, and showed the attributes that I think you’re seeing now in the Premier League at Southampton.

“He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths.”

Gianluca Scamacca

Meanwhile, Scamacca has failed to hit the heights he had previously shown in his homeland. After netting 16 Serie goals in the 2020/21 season, he has only registered three Premier League strikes, failing to score since January 4th.

Moyes provided a rather damning indictment on Scamacca and said: "We know that his physical data has got to be much better than it is. Gianluca has got to get himself back.

“You want to put out the players who you think are going to win for you, so you are always looking to put your best team out. We just want the output to be bigger and more.”

Therefore, this has opened the pathway for Broja, who has already shown he can consistently perform at the top level.

Described as “dangerous” by Ralph Hasenhuttl, the 17-cap international is a more than adequate replacement for the out-of-favour Scamacca.

Newcastle Interest in Willock-Esque New Signing Is "Real"

Newcastle United are extremely interested in a deal for Rennes teenager Desire Doue, according to reports in France.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

The Magpies are expected to be busy in the summer transfer market as Eddie Howe prepares his squad to compete in four competitions for the first time in the northeast since a Europa League campaign back in 2012/13 which ended at the hands of Benfica.

Howe seems to be prioritising a central midfielder above all else, with the effects of playing such intense football week in week out clearly taking its toll towards the end of the season, with Joe Willock and Joelinton picking up injuries and Bruno Guimaraes looking lacklustre in the closing few weeks.

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

James Maddison has been strongly linked with a move, although they will face competition from Tottenham, and then there is Khephren Thuram, who is apparently also attracting interest from Liverpool.

Deals won’t come easy then, but it seems one player the Magpies are out in front for is rising Rennes sensation Doue.

According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Newcastle are the main club “particularly keen” on the young attacking midfielder and their “interest is real”. They say he is a “great prospect” and only a “substantial offer” will convince the Ligue 1 outfit to cash in.

Who is Desire Doue?

Delving into what makes Doue so special, it’s his versatility at such a young age that really stands out. According to Transfermarkt, despite being just 18, he played up front, as a number ten, on both wings and in his natural role as a central midfielder for Rennes this season, racking up 26 top flight appearances and seven in the Europa League too, scoring four times.

Going by FBRef’s advanced metrics, his dribbling ability looks incredible, sitting in the 99th percentile against other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, also ranking highly for goals per 90 minutes (97th percentile).

Such is his ability to drive forward and find goals by arriving late in the box, the website actually lists the Magpies’ own Joe Willock as a 'similar player', so fans at St. James’ Park should know what to expect if the youngster arrives on Tyneside.

Arsenal could upgrade with £70m swoop for "monster"

Arsenal are eyeing a Premier League gem ahead of the transfer window, as Mikel Arteta prepares for a busy summer in charge at the Emirates.

The Spaniard will hope to continue the Gunners’ status as title contenders next campaign – something he could ensure of by signing a name that has been linked to the club since January.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Arsenal?

As reported by London World earlier this week, Arsenal are ‘preparing’ a new bid for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The 21-year-old has been on the north Londoners' radar since January, where the Seagulls rejected multiple bids for the ace.

London World suspects that the Gunners will bid around £75m for the midfielder, a fee that was rejected by the club in January.

The report states that Brighton’s stance is ‘clear’, as they have an agreement to sell the player due to his wishes.

What could Moises Caicedo bring to Arsenal?

Hailed as a “machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old is sought by the Gunners for reasons that are extremely clear.

As per Sofascore, the midfielder has maintained an average match rating of 7.08, placing him among the club’s top five performers this campaign.

The Ecuadorian would be a valuable asset for Arteta to add to his midfield, especially with rumours surfacing placing Jorginho’s future at the Emirates in doubt.

The Italy international has won an average of 55% of his total duels this season with 4 per game – numbers that are less impressive in comparison to Caicedo, who averages 58% with 5.9 won per game, via Sofascore.

Despite rumours being premature regarding the 31-year-old’s future this summer, Arteta could replace and upgrade the former Chelsea ace with the Brighton gem, enforcing a new-found level of stability to his midfield.

The 21-year-old wins a huge average of 64% of his aerial duels per game compared to Jorginho’s 49%, suggesting that he would be a better option for Arsenal in terms of physicality alone.

Although identified for his passing abilities, the Gunners wouldn’t be missing the expertise of the Italian’s distribution as much as expected in replacing him with Caicedo.

As per FBref, the youngster has maintained a higher rate of pass completion than the experienced Jorginho this campaign, averaging a rate of 88.5% per 90, placing him in the top 6% of midfielders in the league in this area, with the Arsenal ace scoring 85.8%.

Arsenal have wanted the services of Caicedo for months, and with him due to become available this summer, Arteta must act fast to guarantee his involvement at the Emirates next season, with other clubs queuing to capture his signature.

Everton Could Form Deadly Duo With "Remarkable" £20m Gem

Everton ended the 22/23 campaign at Goodison Park, roaring in adulation, basking in a seasonal culmination that so easily could have written a different narrative.

The Toffees had defeated Bournemouth 1-0, Abdoulaye Doucoure the hero after unleashing a venomous volley during the second half, and needed to do so after Leicester City beat West Ham United – the Foxes would have secured survival themselves had Everton failed to win.

A shrewd move which could be taken to ensure the pit of the Premier League becomes a fugacious memory could be found in Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom, with the one-time Arsenal starlet enjoying a tremendous campaign in the Championship, and TEAMtalk state that the 27-year-old is of interest to Dyche and co, alongside a lengthy list of suitors.

Akpom has just one year left on his current deal, and Boro boss Michael Carrick is expecting several departures to fund the summer market.

Given Akpom is valued at roughly £20m, he seems to be the optimum choice for departure.

Should Everton sign Chuba Akpom?

Toffees boss Sean Dyche, who assumed the reins in January, will be delighted that his outfit crafted a successful end to the season but will be all too aware that the jubilance stands upon pillars of strife, with the club now seeking to avoid a third successive relegation dogfight.

To do so, signing a centre-forward is surely paramount; with just 34 goals scored in the top-flight this term, Wolverhampton Wanderers are the only club to have produced fewer net-bulging moments, and the crux of the club's malaise lies in the attacking potency – or lack of it.

Having signed for Middlesbrough for £3m from Greek outfit PAOK in 2020, Akpom scored just five goals in his maiden campaign and was subsequently loaned back to to PAOK.

Returning to the Riverside Stadium this summer, the 27-year-old whiz finally harnessed his prolific prowess and plundered 28 goals from 40 Championship appearances as his side reached the playoff semi-finals and has been hailed as "remarkable" by BBC contributor Oluwashina Okeleji for his exploits.

Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom.

At Goodison Park, however, he would bring an imposing threat and a ball-playing assurance to coincide with his goal-scoring aptitude, with FBref ranking him among the top 3% of forwards across Men's Next 8 divisions – preceding the established European top five – for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 4% for pass completion, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90.

He could form a deadly partnership with dynamic midfielder Alex Iwobi, who has been resurgent at Goodison Park this season, having found a home in a new, more central role, scoring twice and registering nine assists over the course of the season.

The £120k-per-week Nigerian ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, and could work very well alongside his former Gunners teammate, both players heaping emphasis on surging into the final third and instigating promising pieces of play.

Akpom clearly has a striker's instinct to succeed, on top of his progressive presence and knack at keeping things slick and secure in the offence, he could be just what Dyche needs heading into next season.

Leeds Set To Lose £45k-A-Week Attacker This Summer

Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson could seal a quickfire exit from Elland Road in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

How has Aaronson performed for Leeds?

The 22-year-old joined the Whites last summer, coming in from RB Salzburg and being considered an exciting signing, with Jesse Marsch knowing him well from their time together at the Austrian club.

As it turns out, Aaronson has endured a really tough first season in a Leeds shirt, though, never really coming close to matching to expectation levels of him. In 36 Premier League appearances, 28 of which were starts, he scored just one goal, with a further three assists coming his way.

The £45,000-a-week American has seemingly struggled with the pace of English football and he ended up being powerless to prevent the Whites from being relegated to the Championship last weekend, after the 4-1 loss at home to Tottenham.

While the deal he signed last year runs until the summer of 2027, the idea of playing second-tier football is unlikely to appeal to him ahead of next season, leading to serious doubts surrounding his future at Elland Road.

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Could Aaronson quit Whites this summer?

That certainly seems to be the case, with Football Insider reporting that Aaronson is "set to quit the club this summer", and that a "move to Germany could be an avenue available to the 22-year-old following his impressive spell at Red Bull Salzburg in neighbouring Austria."

He is thought to be "highly regarded" by a number of Bundesliga teams, with a return to the Premier League with a different club not looking likely, following just one year in the division.

It is hard to see Aaronson still being a Leeds player when the 2023/24 campaign gets underway in August, in what has ultimately been a hugely underwhelming transfer.

Despite being called "impressive" on his debut by Steve Nicol, he hasn't had anywhere close to the impact so many hoped he would, having registered 28 goal contributions (13 goals and 15 assists) in 66 appearances for Salzburg, and he should shoulder some of the blame for the Whites' relegation.

The key now is to ensure that Leeds earn as much as possible for the 29-cap USA international's signature – his contract situation does at least put them in a strong bargaining position – in order to use the funds for new signings in the summer, boosting their chances of returning to the top flight in the process.

Newcastle Could Surprise Everyone By Signing £3.4m p/w Star

Newcastle United owners Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) would be keen on bringing Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Tyneside this summer despite a potential move being 'against the principles', according to journalist Alex Crook.

What's the latest transfer news involving Cristiano Ronaldo?

Earlier this year, shortly after Ronaldo completed his historic move to Al Nassr, Marca via The Mirror reported that the Portugal international is said to have a clause in his contract at the Saudi club that would allow him to make a temporary loan move to Newcastle United if they qualified for the Champions League in 2022/23.

Of course, that feat has been achieved, as Eddie Howe's men secured a return to the competition for the first time in 20 years, finishing fourth in the Premier League having amassed 71 points from 38 fixtures, as per BBC Sport.

90min revealed earlier this month that PIF want to make a 'marquee' addition at St James' Park in the summer and the prospect of bringing Ronaldo to the North East 'has also been discussed', though Toon Army boss Howe is not keen on pursuing the £3.4 million-a-week ace.

Howe has spoken about links to Ronaldo and also Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar, as per, stating in an interview cited by The Independent: “We could not be able to come close to affording those players as they are the best players in the world. We are never going to be in a position currently to afford those transfer fees and wages, so we need to go underneath and find them young and develop them into the players they can be.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook has stated that PIF would be open to signing Ronaldo this summer; nevertheless, expects Howe to be allowed to conduct transfer business in his own way.

Crook said: “I think PIF are quite keen to bring in big names. They would like to bring in Ronaldo but that goes completely against the principles.

“I think Eddie Howe has enough credit in the bank to be allowed to do it his own way probably with the likes of Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Scott McTominay, I think, is a big target as well. He’s a James Ward-Prowse type manager rather than a Neymar.”

How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared since moving to Al Nassr?

Funchal-born football legend Ronaldo has been a typically potent goal threat since moving to Al Nassr following his controversial exit from Manchester United in 2022.

Since joining the Saudi outfit, the 38-year-old has featured 19 times in all competitions, racking up an impressive 14 goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Ardon Jashari competing with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nevertheless, the veteran forward was left disappointed as Al-Nassr's title bid to win the Saudi Pro League was ended last Saturday, as a 1-1 draw against Ettifaq enabled Al-Ittihad to win the league with a game to spare following a 3-0 victory over Al Feiha in a game he was substituted off in, as per The Sun.

As per talkSPORT, Ronaldo has went two seasons without winning a major trophy, which is something he will be desperate to rectify next term. However, it looks unlikely that he will have the chance to do that at Newcastle United in current circumstances, despite rumours swirling over a dream Premier League return.

Villa had a mare with Rudy Gestede

Aston Villa have endured some turbulent seasons of late with the football club being relegated from the Premier League in 2016 for the first time before making two consecutive play-off final appearances, winning the second and surviving relegation from the top-flight on the final day of the 2019/20 campaign.

However, now the West Midlands club is a stable outfit under Steven Gerrard and it appears as though exciting times are ahead with the Villans learning from past transfer errors.

One recent colossal error was the signing of Rudy Gestede from Blackburn Rovers in 2015.

The former Benin international swapped Ewood Park for Villa Park for £7.6m ahead of the season that would eventually see Villa relegated.

Christian Benteke, who scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for Villa, had joined Liverpool that summer for £32.5m with one of the striker’s replacements coming in the form of Gestede.

The then 27-year-old on £28k-per-week started his Villa tenure excellently, scoring a late winner on his debut against Bournemouth as well as a brace at Anfield against Liverpool that September.

However, the striker would go on to score just two more goals that season as the West Midlands outfit finished bottom of the league and was claimed to be “hiding” by Blackburn Rovers legend Alan Shearer.

Gestede went on to score four goals in the Championship the following season before returning to the Premier League when Middlesbrough signed him for £6m, 22% less than what Villa paid.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and the now 33-year-old’s career since leaving Villa Park suggests that it was a woeful decision to gamble on the Benininian.

Having been worth £6.3m when leaving Villa, the striker was worth just £2.7m within two years before being released by Middlesbrough in 2020 at a valuation of £720k.

Since November 2020, Gestede has played for three clubs abroad, Melbourne Victory in Australia, Panetolikos in Greece and is currently playing in Iran for Esteghlal.

Moreover, the veteran forward is now worth just £225k.

It could be argued that Aston Villa were right to cut their losses when they did before losing more money, however, Gestede’s downhill career proves that the Villans had a disaster when seeking new strikers following the departure of Benteke.

AND in other news: Imagine him & Ramsey: NSWE must complete Villa swoop for “dynamite” £125k-p/w gem

West Brom: Molumby proving his worth

West Bromwich Albion bowed out of their disappointing Championship season on a high at The Hawthorns, in an impressive team performance that will give fans new hope for next season.

The Baggies put on a four-goal show in the final game of the season in front of their home fans following a difficult campaign of highs and lows for the club, showing resilience and a taster of what is to be expected when they return to chase promotion back into the Premier League in August under new manager Steve Bruce.

West Brom dominated on all fronts throughout the game with 65% possession, five more shots on target, more big chances created and over twice as many accurate passes than their opponents on Saturday afternoon.

Karlan Grant found the back of the net twice to bag a brace, with Adam Reach and Matthew Clarke in an attacking display that Barnsley just couldn’t cope with and one player, in particular, gave an incredible all-round performance despite not getting on the scoresheet.

Jayson Molumby put on a phenomenal display after securing his future permanently at the club earlier this week in a three-year deal and certainly showed the West Brom faithful exactly what he is capable of offering over the time he has in the future.

The Baggies midfielder had an astonishing 104 touches of the ball against Barnsley, completing 76 passes, winning nine out of his 15 duels, making two interceptions and three tackles, proving that the 22-year-old was intent on making his presence known on the pitch and became a complete nuisance for his opponents.

Bruce spoke out this week about the former Brighton player’s new deal (via BBC Sport);

“We’re really pleased to have Jayson on board permanently.

“He’s managed to force himself into our XI recently and now his challenge is to stay there by continuing to show improvements in his game.”

Following the West Brom manager’s comments, Molumby clearly wanted to show his boss exactly why he deserves to be included in the team going forward and show that he can continue to improve at the club, which will surely put him in good stead to regularly feature next season.

Despite Bruce securing this masterclass signing, there is still a huge amount of work to do to ensure that West Brom doesn’t suffer another season of disappointment and can challenge throughout to secure Premier League promotion at the end of their next campaign.

AND in other news: West Brom eyeing summer swoop for “brilliant” 19 y/o “cheat code”, Bruce needs him

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