A 24-year-old Arsenal player has just reached an agreement to leave the Emirates Stadium, with a move to La Liga now beckoning for him, if a deal can be concluded between the clubs.

Players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer

There are many members of Mikel Arteta's squad who have been linked with the north London exit door in recent weeks, with sporting director Edu Gaspar and the wider Gunners recruitment team also looking to trim the team and bolster Arsenal's transfer kitty.

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Thomas Partey is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with PIF apparently planning to open talks and offer the Ghanaian a route out of Hale End. The 31-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his deal and played just 14 Premier League games last season, so now could be the time to sell.

Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been told they're free to leave Arsenal, according to some reports, as Arteta seemingly prefers Jakub Kiwior as his left-back option right now.

Arsenal's best-performing untouchables in the Premier League last season

Average match rating (WhoScored)

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.38

Martin Odegaard

7.37

Kai Havertz

7.16

Gabriel Magalhaes

6.99

Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Nuno Tavares are other players who've been linked with Arsenal exits in the last few weeks, so it will be interesting to see which members of the aforementioned crop attract the most suitors.

The future of young midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga appears written, though, as the Belgian himself has recently admitted that he'll likely be leaving this summer.

The 24-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Luton Town, racked up 17 Premier League appearances and registered three assists in that time under Rob Edwards – with this form doing enough to attract interest from Europe.

Sevilla reach agreement with Lokonga over joining from Arsenal

Indeed, according to Penalty on X, it is believed Lokonga has reached an agreement to join Sevilla from Arsenal on loan.

The La Liga giants will pay a £2.5 million loan fee upfront, but there is still yet to be a finalized club-to-club deal for one key reason. Arsenal apparently want to include a mandatory buyout clause in the contract, while Sevilla only want it to be optional.

Arteta has praised Lokonga for his quality before, despite not giving him a chance in Arsenal colours just yet.

"Albert is a very intelligent player who has shown great maturity," said the Arsenal manager (via The Mirror).

"He has been coached well by Vincent Kompany and his team at Anderlecht. I know Vincent very well and he talks so highly about Albert and the positive impact he had to Anderlecht in recent seasons.

"We're confident Albert's ready for the next stage in his development and we're looking forward to welcoming a new member to our squad with his quality and presence."

Whilst rumours have persisted over a potential deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, Manchester United have reportedly sent scouts to watch a potential alternative this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

It's no surprise that those at Old Trafford are looking at that defensive midfield role following Casemiro's disastrous campaign last time out. The Brazilian enjoyed an excellent debut season before showing signs that he's past his best at 32 years old last year. Now linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, United would be wise to find a replacement for the former Real Madrid star.

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Ugarte has been the main name on that front too, with the Red Devils reportedly in talks to sign the PSG midfielder this week. Ugarte's exit would bring an end to just one season at the Ligue 1 giants in a mixed season following such an impressive spell at Sporting CP. Still just 23 years old, there's no doubt that the Uruguay international is more than capable of replacing Casemiro in Erik ten Hag's side this summer.

The summer transfer window is an unpredictable place, however, and United are seemingly well aware of that after sending scouts to watch an Ugarte alternative in the event that their deal for the South American falls through.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Joao Gomes ahead of a potential move worth a reported £40m this summer. The Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder has reportedly attracted plenty of interest after an impressive debut season in the Premier League under Gary O'Neil.

Romano told GiveMeSport: "He’s one of many players being scouted, but not just by Manchester United. Many clubs have been scouting and following him, so let’s see who is going to really present a proposal or try to open negotiations with Wolves. At the moment, there is still nothing imminent."

"Fantastic" Gomes can replace Casemiro

Whilst a £40m price tag isn't exactly cheap, Gomes would instantly solve Manchester United's Casemiro problem and can guarantee his ability to slot straight into Premier League action over the likes of Ugarte. Like the PSG ace, Gomes is still just 23 years old and has plenty more to offer in the coming years, making United's potential investment a wise one.

Progressive Carries

28

12

Progressive Passes

101

112

Tackles Won

74

56

Ball Recoveries

183

133

A player who offers far more energy off the ball when compared to Casemiro, it's time for the latter to step aside for a fellow Brazilian if Manchester United decide to make their move in the coming months.

One man who won't want to see the move take place is O'Neil, who was full of praise for Gomes last season. The Wolves boss said via the Express and Star: “I’m delighted with the improvements he’s made this year and what he is as a kid, we love him here. He’s fantastic. He’s great to have around the place.

“He’s desperate to be successful but you never get the feeling it’s for himself, you get the feeling it’s for the group and for the club who he feels put a lot of faith in him by bringing him over to English football.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has hinted he could be tempted to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United in the future.

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Frank suggests he's open to joining Man UtdTen Hag's future is far from secureMan Utd beat Brentford last weekendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ten Hag's performance as United boss has come under scrutiny again after the team's nightmare start in the 2024-25 campaign, which has seen them drop to 12th in the Premier League. They were on a five-game winless run across all competitions until last weekend, when they came back from behind to beat Frank's Brentford 2-1.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Dutchman's future, however, is far from secure as United were linked with a move for ex-Barcelona head coach Xavi earlier this week. Frank has also been linked with the job and the Danish coach has now hinted that he could move to Old Trafford someday.

WHAT THOMAS FRANK SAID

Speaking about his future at Gtech Community Stadium on the Sports Agents podcast, Frank said: "I am probably at one of the best clubs in the world. End of discussion. In terms of alignment, leadership, culture, everything. Why should I ever leave this place? Things can happen and you can want new inspiration, maybe you find another inspiration at your club and you stay.

"For sure, if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better. I think we all know that. Maybe it is a challenge you need to try. It is not something I am thinking about."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Ten Hag's side are now gearing up for a reunion with former coach Jose Mourinho as United are all set to face Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce in a Europa League clash on Thursday.

Philippe Clement has acted swiftly since the end of the season, making two signings already for Glasgow Rangers as he seeks to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Jefte and Oscar Cortes are the two arrivals at Ibrox as Clement’s transfer strategy begins to emerge; signing talented youngsters who could develop into sellable assets further down the line.

This philosophy makes sense. Hopefully, the days of signing players in their late 20s/early 30s on bumper three or four-year contracts are long gone. Instead, a new model will be put in place from this summer onwards. One that could see Rangers close the financial gulf to Celtic.

Money might not always be spent on incomings, with several players who are out of contract targeted, including a young centre-back who is on the books at AC Milan…

Rangers transfer news

As revealed by the Gallant View podcast earlier this week, the Ibrox side are showing interest in Clinton Nsiala as they aim to secure his signature on a free transfer from Milan.

With Clement’s budget for the transfer window unknown, he may have to rely on exploring players who are out of contract, which means Nsiala could arrive in Glasgow for nothing.

While interest is there for the youngster, it remains to be seen whether he fancies making the move to Scotland, although it looks as though he may have a better chance at playing at Rangers.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Gers have signed a talented defender for nothing, as the likes of Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and John Souttar cost nothing in transfer fees.

French players to have made an appearance for Rangers
Player	Year joined	Games
Aaron Nemane	2017	6
Sebastien Faure	2012	65
Salim Kerkar	2010	`18
Jerome Rothen	2009	8
Lionel Letizi	2006	8
Jeremy Clement	2006	22
William Stanger	2006	1
Oliver Bernard	2005	14
Julien Rodriguez	2005	46
Gregory Vignal	2004	38
Jean-Alain Boumsong	2004	26
Jerome Bonnissel	2003	4
Fabrice Fernandes	2001	4
Stephanie Guivarc'h	1998	18
Lionel Charbonnier	1998	27
Basile Boli	1994	31
Via Transfermarkt

Should Nsiala sign for the Light Blues, he could potentially be an ideal partner for Souttar, especially with Connor Goldson’s future up in the air.

Why Rangers could sell Connor Goldson this summer

According to Saudi Arabian outlet Al-Riyadiya, former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard – who is now in charge of Al-Ettifaq – is keen on making a move for Goldson this summer.

Not only that, but James Tavernier is also being lined up for a reunion with his old boss. The duo are on the wrong side of 30 and, as the Ibrox faithful saw towards the end of last season, their performances dropped significantly as Celtic pipped the club to the Premiership and Scottish Cup.

Moving on Goldson could see Souttar return to his favoured slot as a right centre-back, which will allow Nsiala to play as the left-sided centre-back, and it could make for a solid partnership.

John Souttar's 2023/24 season in numbers

The former Hearts defender missed practically the entire 2022/23 season after suffering an ankle injury just 45 minutes into his league debut for the Light Blues.

The 2023/24 campaign was much more productive. Souttar showed resilience way beyond his 27 years in order to fully recover and make 41 appearances for Rangers in all competitions, even chipping in with two goals and two assists.

The Scot ranked third among his teammates for accurate passes per game (58.3) in the top flight, along with ranking second for interceptions (1) and for clearances (3.5) per game, showing how solid he was at the heart of the defence.

These performances came after he was regularly deployed alongside Goldson in the left centre-back slot.

If the Englishman does leave, it could leave a gap in which Souttar could fill, allowing Clement to bring in a left-sided defender who is comfortable on the ball and can build play from the back.

What Clinton Nsiala could offer Rangers

While he has shown plenty of promise, the former French U16 starlet has yet to make his first team debut for Milan, mainly playing at U19 level for the Italian giants.

Last season, the 20-year-old made 40 appearances for the U19 side in both the UEFA Youth League and in the Primavera 1, registering four goals and two assists.

This shows he could add a few goals into the side from the heart of the defence – similar to Souttar – but his abilities go way beyond that.

Throughout the 2023/24 season for Milan U19s, Nsiala finished with an impressive 87% pass success rate while also averaging 5.1 accurate long balls per game, evidence that his passing is among one of his finer attributes.

The youngster also averaged 3.2 interceptions per game along with averaging a staggering 10.8 ball recoveries per game while winning 6.8 total duels each match.

These statistics certainly indicate that the defender has plenty of promise, but they came during an U19 league season rather than a top flight league.

Earlier this year, scout Ruairi Criscuolo profiled Nsiala, saying that Nsiala was “another exciting French prospect” before also saying: “As well as short passing he has the vision and ability to spot runners and find them with his long passes.

“Tall and powerful enough to be a threat in the box.”

It would be a major gamble for Clement to bring him to Ibrox and deploy him in the starting XI straight away, yet he has clearly demonstrated plenty of potential during his spell with Milan and this is the type of profile in which the Belgian must sign this summer.

Experienced players will be required during the transfer window, but having a mix of old and young players could be the perfect recipe for success next season.

Souttar is coming into his peak years as a defender and if he can maintain his form from last season, there is no doubt he will be one of the first names on the team sheet for Clement.

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A change of mentality is needed ahead of next term, especially considering how badly the club stuttered when the pressure was on during the final few weeks of last season.

Perhaps making some bold calls in the transfer market could be a good thing for Clement and his backroom staff, going against the grain by luring talented youngsters who could make an impression if given a chance.

Zimbabwe need their experienced hands to show the way, while Pakistan might be tempted to experiment with their XI

Danyal Rasool09-Nov-2020

Mohammad Hasnain celebrates after dismissing Zimbabwe captain Chamu Chibhabha•AFP via Getty Images

Big picture
After all the promise of a competitive ODI series, the T20Is have been something of a damp squib. Pakistan brought their top form to both weekend games, and illustrated the chasm that evidently exists between a Pakistani side that’s rapidly improving and a Zimbabwean unit that needs improvement desperately. teams As you might expect, if these two teams simply go through the motions, Pakistan will nearly always emerge on top and do so with relative comfort.If anything, the hosts may be slightly disappointed they weren’t challenged further to be able to assess how well some of the youngsters afforded opportunities this series would fare in that scenario. Haider Ali and Usman Qadir have both excelled, but they could have been undergoing net sessions for all the intensity of the contest. Haris Rauf’s pace has been enough to get him a cluster of wickets, but he may have to demonstrate more nuanced skills against more competitive opponents. And while Babar Azam has scored two sumptuous half-centuries, you wouldn’t expect any less of him against the quality of bowling he has faced; if anything, his frustration must centre on a failure to remain at the crease to knock off the winning runs. Pakistan have just turned up and not more, and so far, it’s been more than enough.Much of that is down to Zimbabwe. The visitors haven’t come close to a level of performance they will believe they are capable of. In two of the three ODIs, Zimbabwe pushed themselves to the limit. But in the T20Is, even the in-form batsmen have floundered, while with the ball and in the field, Chamu Chibhabha’s side has been – at best – lacklustre.You could level more scathing criticism at Chibhabha himself, who arguably shouldn’t be anywhere near this side based on his numbers over the past several years. When a frontline batsman who averages 13.24 over the past four years leads the side out on a challenging tour, it is of little surprise if he returns just 34 runs in five innings. It’s a level of performance that’s unacceptable for any international side whatever the ranking, and when the middle order doesn’t bail Zimbabwe out – as on Sunday – they fall apart alarmingly quickly.Form guide

Pakistan WWWLW
Zimbabwe LLLLW
Wesley Madhevere looked good while he was out there•AFP via Getty Images

In the spotlightThese are uncertain times for Fakhar Zaman, for whom being the leading run-scorer in the recent National T20 Cup doesn’t seem to have brought international T20 runs. In the format he should be most useful at, at home and against a mediocre attack, Zaman’s lack of confidence has been laid bare by the manner of his dismissal on Sunday. A low-percentage, ill-timed drive straight to mid-on sent him back for 5, the 16th consecutive T20I innings in which he has failed to reach 40. In that time, he has crossed 25 only once, and for all his domestic form, Zaman wouldn’t be able to complain if the Pakistan selectors – who have shown uncharacteristic patience with him – get twitchy fingers after another failure on Tuesday.Despite being the highest run-getter for Zimbabwe in the ODI series, Brendan Taylor’s twin failures in the T20Is may signal a deeper malaise. He, too, has crossed 40 in T20I cricket just once in the past 16 innings, though he has continued to produce cameos fairly regularly. But against Pakistan, he will need to take more leadership at the top of the innings, especially with Chibhabha out of form. If anything, it may relieve some pressure off the young shoulders of Wesley Madhevere, and give his bowlers something to defend if Zimbabwe are to bat first again.Team newsPakistan maybe open to some experimentation in the bowling. Mohammad Musa will be itching to get a game, while even Rohail Nazir could get a call-up with the series sealed.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Haider Ali, 4 Mohammad Hafeez/Abdullah Shafique, 5 Mohammad Rizwan/Rohail Nazir (wk), 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Imad Wasim/Faheem Ashraf, 8 Haris Rauf, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Musa, 11 Mohammad HasnainZimbawe have been somewhat cautious, never quite ringing the changes this series. It would be a surprise to see that change, though with the series gone, they can afford to experiment.Zimbawe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha (capt), 2 Brendan Taylor (wk), 3 Sean Williams, 4 Wesley Madhevere, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Tendai Chisoro, 9 Carl Mumba, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing MuzarabaniPitch and conditions
The pitches prepared for this series have been dry and flat, and expect that to remain unchanged tomorrow. Rain should not be a factor.Stats and trivia
Sikandar Raza has batted 34 times in T20Is without being dismissed for a duck. The only active internationals with longer streaks are Kusal Perera (46), Faf du Plessis (47) and David Miller (68) Azam has scored six half-centuries in his last nine T20I innings Taylor needs 99 runs to become just the second Zimbabwe batsman after Hamilton Masakadza to tally 1000 runs in T20I cricket