Only five overs possible as Durham start strongly at Trent Bridge
ECB Reporters Network15-Jun-2024Torrential rain scuppered any chance of Notts Outlaws building on Friday’s first win of the season, forcing their North Group clash with Durham to be abandoned with just five overs possible at Trent Bridge.Wet weather early in the day meant the scheduled 2.30pm start was put back to 4pm, with the intention to stage a contest of 17 overs per side.Outlaws skipper Joe Clarke won the toss and elected to bowl first, after which Durham openers Alex Lees and Graham Clark enjoyed a flying start, putting on 58, of which 28 came in two overs from England paceman Olly Stone.Clark picked up two boundaries in Stone’s opening over and another two in his second, before pulling a huge six into the Fox Round stand.New Zealand left-armer Ben Lister completed the fifth over of the Durham innings – the minimum each side must face to constitute a match – but then rain returned with a vengeance, accompanied by thunder and lightning.It was a short-lived storm, barely lasting a quarter of an hour, but it deposited so much water on a playing area with little capacity to absorb more that umpires Paul Baldwin and James Middlebrook had no option but to call the game off, ironically during the sunniest weather of the day.The Outlaws, who had broken their duck for the season against Worcestershire on Friday night by exceeding their DLS target by one run in another rain-affected contest, take another point for a no-result.Bottom of the table with only three points at the halfway stage, the Outlaws would seem to have little chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages. Yet in an open group in which no team apart from leaders Lancashire Lightning has more than six points, a string of wins in the second half of the season could still see them go through.The same applies to Durham, third from bottom but on five points only one behind second-placed Yorkshire Vikings.
It’s all gone a bit quiet at Rangers recently, hasn’t it? Russell Martin was unveiled as the new manager a week ago but, since then, very little to report from Ibrox, with supporters eager to see a new signing or two through the door.
Southampton manager Russell Martin.
On Tuesday, Rangers will learn the identity of their first opponents of the Martin era, with a Champions League second round qualifier to come, a tie coming up as soon as 22/23 July.
Needing to act fast in the transfer market, could the Gers be about to make a big splash?
Rangers targeting a new midfielder
A range of youth and experience could be targeted by the new manager this summer. Jamie Vardy has already been touted with a move to Ibrox, but he’s not the only Premier League stalwart in the club’s crosshairs.
According to a report by Mick Brown of Football Insider, Rangers are ‘considering’ a move to sign midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer, believing he could ‘play an orchestrating role’.
The 33-year-old is a free agent, having left Manchester United following the expiration of his contract, but still showed his quality in a Denmark shirt this week, scoring against both Northern Ireland in Parken and then Lithuania in Odense during friendly victories for de Rød-Hvide.
So, despite his age, data analyst David O’Brien believes Eriksen is still a “world-class playmaker”, so signing him would represent a massive coup for Rangers, albeit salary could be a stumbling block, considering he was earning £150k-per-week at Manchester United, according to Capology.
Nevertheless, his arrival would get the Ibrox faithful excited, especially considering he would be reminiscent of a fans’ favourite from yesteryear.
How Eriksen could emulate Brian Laudrup at Rangers
A certain Brian Laudrup joined Rangers from Fiorentina for £2.3m in the summer of 1994, and this was certainly a solid investment, widely considered to be amongst Rangers’ greatest players of modern times, as well as one of their most ‘gifted and talented entertainers’.
Eriksen’s fellow countryman, who had won the European Championship against all odds two years earlier, played 150 times for the Light Blues, scoring 44 goals, winning three league titles, the Scottish Cup, a League Cup and was named SFWA Footballer of the Year twice, before being inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Derek Clark of the Rangers Review labels Laudrup the greatest ever player to grace Scottish football, while Craig Williams of Football Scotland outlines how the ‘special’ Denmark international is a bona fide club legend.
So, could Eriksen have a similar impact to that of his compatriot?
Well, at his best, Adam Smith of Sky Sports argued that Eriksen was the ‘Premier League’s best creative midfielder’, while Duncan Alexander of Opta’s the Analyst agrees, labelling him ‘one of the most effective attacking midfielders’ in Premier League history having racked up 81 assists in the competition’s history.
Premier League
310
55
81
Champions League
53
7
14
Europa League
55
10
14
FA & EFL Cups
41
11
12
Denmark national team
144
46
34
Having made 649 club appearances for Ajax, Tottenham, Inter, Brentford and Manchester United, Eriksen does boast serious pedigree, just as Laudrup did.
However, at 33 years old, there could be concerns that he is over the hill. Well, let’s assess his statistics from this season to find out if that is the case.
Minutes
1,737
16th
Goals
5
7th
Assists
5
5th
Goals – xG
+1
3rd
Goals per shot
0.15
4th
Progressive passes
77
9th
Key passes
47
4th
Shot-creating actions
84
6th
Goal-creating actions
12
4th
As the table outlines, despite only featuring in 31.6% of Manchester United’s total minutes this season, Eriksen was actually one of their most-impressive performers, ranking highly for goals and assists, as well as metrics relating to chance creation, passing and shooting accuracy.
Christian Eriksen
Following the Red Devils’ victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season, Eriksen said about his future “we’ll see”, adding “there’s options” but nothing has been decided just yet, possibly opening the door to a move to Glasgow.
It’s certainly ambitious, but Rangers do have a history when it comes to recruiting Great Danes, and Eriksen would certainly make an impact, should he choose to make the move to Govan.
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Arsenal are set for a very eventful first summer under Andrea Berta, with the north Londoners currently able to register players and take advantage of a mini-window which is open until June 10.
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Mikel Arteta has already confessed that the Gunners are set to undergo a “big” summer of recruitment, and one he is “excited” about.
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Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title to Liverpool by a seismic 10 points, and struggled to match their goalscoring exploits of previous seasons whilst drawing more games than any other side in the top half.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
A combination of injuries and a failure to break sides down often enough resulted in Arteta’s side surrendering any prospect of a domestic crown to their Merseyside rivals, with Arsenal set to invest heavily in transfers as they bid to mount a more successful challenge for honours next term.
Arsenal have registered a net-spend of around £487 million on new signings since Arteta took charge in 2019, but there are still significant gaps in the squad which need to be addressed, perhaps most notably the absence of a prolific striker.
“It’s going to be a big one (summer) and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s summer window, when asked back in April.
“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now that is necessary.
“But it’s a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.”
Arsenal already appear set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and the Spaniard could be followed by either Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko (Sky Sports).
As well as this, Arsenal are chasing a new winger and back-up goalkeeper to David Raya.
Arsenal pull out of race to sign Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia
However, despite his credentials as a “powerful” and “exciting” shot-stopper (Ben Mattinson), it appears Arsenal are resigned to losing out on Espanyol star Joan Garcia.
Garcia is believed to be closing in on a move to Barcelona, with Berta and co seemingly dropping out of the race for his signature as a result.
That is according to journalist Carlos Monfort, who says that Arsenal don’t want to pay Garcia’s £21 million release clause and believe they have the goalkeeping position “covered”.
He adds that the 24-year-old was “on the verge of signing” for them last year.
Garcia has seriously impressed for Espanyol over their first campaign back in La Liga after winning promotion in 2023/2024, but it appears Barca are now the overwhelming favourites for his signature.
Another busy summer transfer window is expected at Chelsea.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club three years ago, as outlined by Ollie Hopkins of Opta’s the Analyst, the Blues have signed over 40 senior players, costing in excess of £1bn, but are unlikely to slow down their spending any time soon.
On the pitch, ahead of the final day of the Premier League season, Enzo Mareca’s side could still end up in any of UEFA’s three club competitions, requiring a victory over Nottingham Forest to secure Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, in the background, are the Blues targeting one of the division’s best wide-forwards?
Chelsea targeting a big-money move
According to a report by Caught Offside, Chelsea are lining up a move to sign Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, who they claim is valued at around £75m by the Magpies.
The outlet claims that they are considering a move to reignite their interest in the forward, whilst Arsenal and Liverpool are among the other Premier League teams eyeing up the English whiz.
Wayne Veysey of Football Insider also notes the England international is once again on Liverpool’s ‘radar’, with Mark Douglas of the i Paper documenting Arsenal’s interest too.
Nevertheless, Chelsea hold a long-standing interest in Gordon, making a £40m bid in the summer of 2022, six months before he moved to Newcastle from Everton instead, so could they be back in for him?
How Gordon would improve Chelsea's selection of wingers
Despite having plenty of options in that position, winger is certainly a position Maresca will want to strengthen this summer.
So, let’s assess how Gordon compares to the Blues’ existing selection of wide-forwards.
Appearances
33
36
31
30
34
Minutes
2,401
3,110
1,961
1,703
2,191
Goals
6
15
7
3
4
Assists
6
9
4
5
5
Shots on target %
28.6%
35.8%
38%
33.3%
29.8%
Progressive carries
118
118
150
100
123
Progressive passes
95
212
68
88
60
Shot-creating actions
100
200
78
68
89
Goal-creating actions
12
15
8
10
8
Big chances created
6
23
6
6
10
Big chances missed
10
14
14
3
1
Touches per 90
47
52
43
50
46
Average Sofascore Rating
7.05
7.64
7.04
6.97
7.04
As the table outlines, pretty much across the board, Cole Palmer’s statistics are the most impressive out of the quintet, despite the fact he has scored just one goal in all competitions since mid-January.
Cole Palmer looks frustrated for Chelsea
Nevertheless, when compared to Chelsea’s other wide-forwards, Gordon’s numbers are more favourable, specifically in terms of goals and assists, as well as progressive carries and shot-creating actions.
In total, Gordon has nine goals to his name this season, scoring 22 times in 105 appearances for the Magpies to date, and the Toon Army’s love and appreciation for him was made abundantly clear by a gigantic tifo, which was on display prior to September’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, in which he scored the equaliser from the penalty spot.
Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst outlines how Gordon has become a ‘key player’ at Newcastle, praising ‘his work rate’ and tenacity alongside ‘his attacking output’, while Chris Waugh of the Athletic documents how his ‘versatility’ is a strength, while noting that ‘he is most effective playing as a left-sided forward’.
Meantime, Andreas Andersen describes him as a ‘direct winger’ who is ‘extremely quick and direct with… the ball’ at his feet.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
Like the aforementioned Palmer, who came before, Gordon would be a wide-forward joining from a Premier League rival with a big price-tag, but he, too, could live up to the hype and elevate the Blues to the next level.
At just 24 years old, there is certainly room for Gordon to get better and better, underlining that he would be an excellent addition for Chelsea, even if a very expensive one.
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It is fair to say that for Chelsea this season, there has been a distinct lack of individual reliability in front of goal.
The Blues have seen their goals spread out fairly thin across the pitch, and whilst it is good to see a range of players finding the back of the net, it could also be seen as cause for concern.
As the stats show, the Blues have only had two players his double-figure Premier League goals. One of them is Cole Palmer, who has scored 15 times, and Nicolas Jackson the other, with ten goals.
With the summer transfer window almost upon us, it seems likely that the Blues will look to sign an attacker capable of hitting double figures, too.
Chelsea's latest attacking target
There does not seem to be a shortage of forwards Chelsea are linked with this summer, as BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella explained recently. He listed the likes of Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, and Victor Osimhen as targets.
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However, a new report has broken from The Telegraph journalist Sam Dean, suggesting the Blues could move for Joao Pedro of Brighton and Hove Albion.
They are thought to be ‘showing interest’ in the Seagulls attacker and are one of the clubs ‘among the Brazilian’s admirers’.
The key phrase there is one of, because Chelsea will face competition for his signature. Dean reported that Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are also interested in a move for Pedro. TEAMtalk recently noted that those interested in signing Pedro could have to pay £100m.
Why Pedro could be Chelsea's answer to Morgan Rogers
After a strong debut season down on the South Coast for Brighton, it has been another impressive campaign for Pedro. He has helped his side put themselves in contention for a European spot, with the season drawing to a close.
This term, the 23-year-old, who joined the Seagulls from Championship side Watford, has managed ten goals and six assists in 27 Premier League games so far. His minutes per goal involvement ratio is excellent, too.
He’s featured for 1,953 minutes, and averages a goal or assist every 122 minutes. As football scout Antonio Mango has previously described him, the Brazilian is “top class”.
The attacker has put in several significant performances this season and has scored against some of the biggest clubs in the top flight. He bagged a late winner against Manchester United at the start of the season, scored away to Arsenal and grabbed a goal and assist in a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
As such, Pedro could make the perfect alternative signing to another Chelsea target, Morgan Rogers. According to a report from GIVEMESPORT last week, they are ‘set to make contact’ with Aston Villa over a potential £90m move for the England star.
Well, just like Pedro, the former Man City academy man largely plays as a second striker and has impressed greatly this season in a Villa shirt. He has 14 goals and 14 assists in 52 games this term in all competitions, which included a Champions League hat-trick over Celtic in the group stage.
Rogers may well be unattainable for the West Londoners this season. Given his importance to Villa, it remains to be seen if there is scope for him to depart the Midlands. If they sign Pedro as an alternative, he could surely be considered Chelsea’s own Rogers.
FBref suggest that the pair are both similar players and the numbers prove that. Indeed, having both registered eye-catching seasons for their respective clubs, Pedro averages 3.32 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, with Rogers slightly lower at 3.12 each game. As you can see, they are pretty neck and neck in other key attacking metrics.
Goals and assists
0.74
0.52
Goals per shot on target
0.33
0.42
Key passes
1.39
1.50
Shot-creating actions
3.32
3.12
Progressive carries
3.06
3.30
If Rogers does not make the move to Chelsea and they instead sign Pedro this summer, it would still be a fantastic addition. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer and could add more threat from a creative standpoint, too.
Brighton & Hove Albion'sJoaoPedroin action with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov
There is no doubt that £100m is a hefty investment, but Pedro certainly has the quality to live up to that price tag and help take Chelsea back to the top.
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Aston Villa now want to sign an “incredible” Barcelona player this summer, with Unai Emery believed to be a big fan, according to a report.
Villa eyeing new striker amid Watkins uncertainty
Ollie Watkins has been one of Villa’s key players for quite some time, with the England international reaching the 15-goal mark for the third campaign on the spin this season, underlining his importance to the side.
Season
Premier League appearances
Goals
2022-23
37
15
2024-24
37
19
2024-25
37
16
However, given the level of Watkins’ performances, the striker is attracting attention from some rival Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Chelsea and long-term admirers Arsenal being named as potential suitors.
The 29-year-old has also had issues with Emery at times this season, admitting he was furious about being largely uninvolved in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, saying: “I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing – I let him [Unai Emery] know that.”
Watkins has since returned to the team, suggesting the pair have settled their differences, but a new report has now revealed that Aston Villa still want to sign a striker this summer, emerging as potential suitors for Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
FC Barcelona'sFerranTorresin action
Emery is a big fan of Torres, who joined Barca for €55m (£46m) back in 2021, and there has been a long-standing belief that the forward would be a good fit for the Villans’ style of play.
That said, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has suggested the 25-year-old is unlikely to leave the La Liga champions this summer, having featured regularly throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
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ByBrett Worthington May 19, 2025 "Incredible" Torres impressing for Barcelona
It is no surprise the forward may be tempted to remain at the Camp Nou beyond this summer, fresh off the back of winning the La Liga title, as he was very impressive right the way through the 2024-25 season, during which he predominantly featured in the role of striker.
The former Manchester City man picked up 19 goals and seven assists across a total of 45 matches in all competitions, while placing in the top 1% for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other forwards.
The Spain international has also impressed at international level in the past, scoring 21 goals for his country, including one en-route to his side’s Euro 2024 triumph last summer.
Once lauded as “incredible” by former manager Pep Guardiola, Torres could be a top signing for almost any Premier League side, but it may be difficult for Villa to prise him away from Barcelona, given his importance to Hansi Flick’s side last season.
Glasgow Rangers are on the lookout for a permanent manager heading into the 2025/26 season.
With the 49ers Enterprises takeover edging towards completion, they will be keen on securing a high-profile name to take the club forward.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard is a name that has been linked with a return to Ibrox, but perhaps Marco Rose would be the best option for the Gers.
The German is among one of the favourites to land the coveted role. If he does move to Glasgow, there are at least four high-profile players that both the club and he must shift from the wage bill this summer.
A fresh start is needed all across the park, starting with Jack Butland in the sticks…
1 Jack Butland
Jack Butland
The Englishman’s mistake against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final last season has been the catalyst for a poor season at Ibrox.
The £25k-per-week goalkeeper has made a slew of mistakes throughout the season, while conceding 48 goals and keeping just 14 clean sheets across 42 matches in all competitions.
Rose could cash in on the player in the summer as he looks to recruit someone who is at their peak.
2 James Tavernier
The captain, who earns £30k-per-week, is currently heading into the final year of his contract at Ibrox.
That comes amid a poor individual season, which has seen Tavernier register only 17 goal involvements, a far cry from the 36 he recorded last term.
A new direction is needed at Ibrox, and with the Englishman turning 34 in October, surely now is the time for the club to sell him and move on.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2023/24
58
24
12
2022/23
55
18
10
2021/22
58
18
17
2020/21
46
19
16
2019/20
46
3
16
2018/19
57
17
20
2017/18
46
9
9
2016/17
44
2
7
2015/16
50
15
23
After yet another campaign that will end without a trophy, Tavernier’s influence is significantly on the wane. That much is certain.
3 Kieran Dowell
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Kieran Dowell.
Michael Beale signed Dowell in the summer of 2023 as his contract expired with Norwich City, but he made only 17 appearances for the club in his maiden season.
It became clear he wasn’t at the required level to take the Light Blues to the next level and after 16 games this term, the £16k-per-week midfielder joined Birmingham City on a loan deal.
Ten goal involvements across 22 matches proves Dowell has found his level and the Midlands side could look at signing the Englishman on a permanent basis this summer.
This is a move Rose will surely sanction, allowing him funds to strengthen his squad.
4 Ben Davies
Ben Davies
Davies is another player who spent time on loan with Birmingham City this season. After two fairly underwhelming seasons at Ibrox, Philippe Clement sent him on loan to League One last summer. The £27k-per-week defender, like Dowell, appears to have found his level during his temporary stay.
The centre-back has won 70% of his total duels in the third tier this season, along with averaging 6.2 clearances and making 1.1 tackles per game.
Following their promotion, the Blues might want to keep Davies at the club permanently and this is something Rangers must look at pushing through.
He doesn’t seem like a player who would thrive under Rose, and freeing up his massive wages would certainly help the German in the transfer window.
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Nottingham Forest strengthened their case to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Monday night.
The Tricky Trees picked up all three points to move up to third in the division, above the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, thanks to goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.
Whilst the usual stars were performing for Nuno Espirito Santo, including the two goalscorers, there was a surprise performance from the rarely-seen Harry Toffolo at left-back.
Harry Toffolo's surprise performance against Spurs
The English defender was named in the starting XI for the first time in the Premier League this season, having mainly been an unused substitute, and stepped up to produce a fantastic display in a huge match.
Harry Toffolo
Toffolo’s best moment of the game came in the second half when his mind-boggling clearance off the line prevented what looked like a certain goal for Dejan Kulusevski, which would have brought Spurs back in the game with plenty of time still to play.
The former Norwich full-back also made two blocks, three tackles, and one interception down the left flank to keep the home team at bay, and secure a big win for Forest.
He has seemingly revived his career at the City Ground, given his complete lack of starts prior to the game, and Nuno could repeat the blinder he just played with Toffolo by reviving Ramon Sosa’s career at the club.
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The forward played one minute off the bench against Spurs in his 16th cameo of the season, coming off the bench in 16 of his 17 appearances in the division.
Sosa, who Ross Wilson described as a “coveted” player last summer, could make a surprise impact in the final few games of the season, reviving his career at the club in the process, if the manager is willing to hit the jackpot by unleashing from the start in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old attacker joined from Talleres last year after a run of impressive performances in the Copa de la Liga Profesional during the first half of 2024.
Appearances (starts)
12 (12)
Goals
4
Big chances created
6
Key passes per game
2.3
Assists
4
Completed dribbles per game
3.1
As you can see in the table above, Sosa displayed his quality at the top end of the pitch with goals, assists, ‘big chances’ created, and by constantly dribbling past opposition players.
That quality was also on display in a rare start in the FA Cup against Luton, when the forward scored and produced an assist, creating one ‘big chance’, in a 2-1 win back in January, which shows that he does have the potential to translate his form over to English football.
It is now down to Nuno to provide Sosa with enough opportunities on the pitch in the coming weeks to make him his secret weapon in the push for the Champions League places, reviving the attacker’s career at the City Ground and hitting gold in the process.
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Aston Villa could win the race for an “incredible” £100m forward, whose club may now be willing to cash-in this summer, according to a report.
Villa's summer transfer plans
It was a valiant effort against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, with Villa overturning a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 on the night, but the result wasn’t enough for Unai Emery’s side to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
Having had their first taste of Champions League football in quite some time, however, Villa will be eager to have more special nights in Europe in the future, and they could go even deeper in the competition if they strengthen their squad this summer.
After selling Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr back in January, the Villans are keen on bringing in a new striker, and they are now ready to spend £75m on Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.
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Not only are Emery’s side pursuing an out-and-out striker, but they are also keen to bolster their wide options, and they remain in a strong position to complete the permanent signing of Marcus Rashford.
According to a report from GiveMeSport, Aston Villa could also win the race for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with Pep Guardiola’s side giving indications they could be willing to cash-in on the Englishman this summer.
The 29-year-old joined City in a £100m deal back in August 2021, but he has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, which could open the door for a return to Villa Park.
However, there is widespread interest in Grealish’s signature, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also in the picture, while Serie A giants AC Milan headline the interest from abroad.
"Incredible" Grealish may need to leave City
The former Villa man probably has no regrets about joining Man City, given that he played a major role in their treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, but there are signs he may need to leave this summer for the good of his career.
Theo Walcott has particularly scrutinised the impact Guardiola’s coaching methods have had on the “incredible” winger’s ability to express himself on the pitch.
The Birmingham-born forward has amassed just two goal contributions in the Premier League this season, although he has impressed on some other key metrics over the past year, most notably ranking in the top 1% for progressive carries, when compared to his positional peers.
Statistic
Average per 90
Progressive carries
8.08 (99th percentile)
Pass completion %
88.1% (99th percentile)
Progressive passes
5.75 (86th percentile)
A move back to Villa Park could be exactly what Grealish needs to reignite his career, and Emery should definitely consider making a move, should he be available for a suitable fee.
Director Andrea Berta has personally held talks over signing a high-earning player as one of his first actions at Arsenal, and it is believed the Gunners target could now be tempted to join Mikel Arteta’s side as a result.
Andrea Berta's list of forward targets at Arsenal
Rumours have surrounded the acquisition of a new striker for Arsenal this summer, with Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko all repeatedly linked.
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Following Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries, the need for another prolific option up top is made all the more prevalent, with midfielder Mikel Merino currently being used as an emergency makeshift striker.
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
TBD
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Arsenal are developing a strong interest in Gyokeres to fill the void from next season, according to David Ornstein, while fellow reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has tipped Berta to make an offer for Isak.
However, while a new striker is believed to be high on Berta’s agenda, the Italian also plans to upgrade Arteta’s wide options.
According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are targeting a left-winger this summer, and they’re even pondering the possibility of bringing in someone who can compete with Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.
Last summer, under ex-director Edu, Arsenal displayed a real interest in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams for the role.
It was reported at the time that Williams was a top target for Arteta, off the back of an impressive 2023/2024 campaign where he bagged 19 assists in all competitions, but the Spain international opted to remain at Bilbao for this season.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
The 22-year-old’s contract includes a £48 million release clause, and Arsenal’s interest hasn’t gone away. However, they face very stiff competition for his services, as Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also targeting Williams.
Andrea Berta holds Arsenal talks with Nico Williams targeted
That is according to The Guardian and journalist Ed Aarons, who states that Berta has personally held Arsenal transfer talks with Williams’ representatives in “one of his first acts” as director.
In his report for The Guardian, Aarons also reports Berta’s influence could tempt Williams to join Arsenal over elite clubs in the race for his signature – following two years of heavy scouting from the Gunners.
The £200,000-per-week forward is also expected to push for a summer exit, but while his £48m release clause will be enticing, the major obstacle will lie in his rumoured wage demands. Williams apparently wants as much as £300,000-per-week at his new club, which would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.
The question is, would he be worth it? Williams carries a reputation as one of La Liga’s most highly-rated young attacking stars, completing the fifth-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 in the entire division (WhoScored), and his exciting style would hand Arsenal another major weapon in the final third.
His return has lessened this season compared to last – scoring nine goals and assisting seven others in all competitions – but his form has picked up lately as we approach the summer window.