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Mikel Arteta has been in the Arsenal hot seat for over five years, but this summer’s transfer window might be his most important to date.

The former captain must finally bring in a new reliable number nine to make the most of the chances created by the team, but that’s not all.

On top of adding at least a couple more stars to the side, he and Andrea Berta will need to sort out the contract situations of a handful of players.

That means tying down the club’s most important players and beginning the process of shifting those deemed surplus to requirements, including one player who’s made an enormous amount of money.

Arsenal's contract decisions

So, the two players incoming sporting director Andrea Berta should be looking to sign onto new deals as soon as possible are their academy stars: Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The two Hale Enders have been sensational this season, with the former racking up a tally of nine goal involvements in just 29 appearances, while the latter has made 26 first-team appearances and scored on his debut for England on Friday night.

The good news is that it seems as if the club are making good progress on a new five-year deal for Nwaneri and that a new contract is also “close” for Lewis-Skelly.

Once their futures are secure, the Gunners will likely turn their full attention to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, whose deals expire in June 2027.

Fortunately, reports from earlier this year claimed that talks with the Brazilian wouldn’t be an issue, while a report from the BBC last week revealed that talks with Saka about a new deal were set to start soon.

Unfortunately, the Frenchman’s situation is less clear, as while he’s made public statements about wanting to remain with the club into next season, no talks have taken place yet regarding a new deal, and it’s unclear when they may begin.

Now, in terms of outgoings, it seems all but certain that Thomas Partey and Jorginho will leave the Emirates when their deals expire in the summer, but it would also make sense for the club to move on one of the squad’s big earners, who will have just a year left on his deal come the end of the season.

Arsenal's big earner must be sold

So, while the likes of Leandro Trossard and Takehiro Tomiyasu will also enter the final year of their contracts this summer, there is a real chance they will both play a significant role in the first team next season.

On the other hand, the same cannot be said for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukrainian international, who joined the club for around £32m in the summer of 2022, was once a key component of Arteta’s team and, alongside Gabriel Jesus, played a significant role in helping the team go from top four contenders to title challengers in the 22/23 campaign.

Unfortunately, a combination of injuries, new arrivals, the emergence of Lewis-Skelly and defensive fragilities have seen the 28-year-old fall from a nailed-on starter to an irregularly used substitute. Not even a goal against PSV a few weeks ago will be enough to save his bacon.

In fact, when everyone is fit, you could make the argument that the former Manchester City star would be the eighth choice at left-back, which might sound harsh, but when pundits like Gary Neville label him a “liability”, it’s not hard to understand why Arteta might be reluctant to play him.

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Worse yet, with a £150k-per-week wage, which has seen him amass just over £20m in wages thus far, the Radomyshl-born star is a financial drag on the team, and considering he’ll be able to agree to a pre-contract with a foreign side in January, the club have to do what they can to sell him in the summer.

Ultimately, Zinchenko remains an incredibly talented footballer, but Arsenal have moved beyond their need for him, so he should be sold.

Sold for more than Smith Rowe: Arsenal struck gold on "special" Hale Ender

The talented international earned Arsenal a massive pay-day.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 22, 2025

Ollie Price produces career-best innings on truncated day at Headingley

ECB Reporters Network27-Jun-2023Gloucestershire were rewarded with some brotherly love as Ollie Price and older brother Tom batted in entertaining fashion to take their team to almost certain safety in the ongoing LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Headingley.Gloucestershire started a weather-affected day three at 2.15pm on 232 for 5, replying to Yorkshire’s first-innings 550 for 9 declared, and closed on 421 for 8, with Ollie Price unbeaten on a career-best 97 off 140 balls.Ollie was one not out at the day’s beginning and Tom hadn’t even arrived at the crease, with Miles Hammond unbeaten on 84. When Hammond fell for 92, caught at long-on off Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin, leaving the score at 246 for 6, it paved the way for a Gloucestershire game of ‘The Price is Right’ during a day of only 38 overs.Ollie, aged 22, was ably supported by Tom – a year older – with 59. They shared a Gloucestershire seventh-wicket record partnership in matches versus Yorkshire, 162 inside 33 overs either side of tea.It was also the match’s highest partnership, and it remains possible the two brothers from Oxford will have posted their maiden first-team centuries in this season’s Championship by early morning tomorrow after Tom did it against Worcestershire in April.With Gloucestershire 129 runs behind, a contrived finish is the only realistic way a draw could be avoided.Hammond only added eight runs to his overnight 84, which had come in 95 balls with six sixes – the majority lofted down the ground off Moriarty. And he was trying to play in the same attacking manner on day three despite a few factors against him – a slate grey sky with the floodlights on and Gloucestershire still 169 runs away from avoiding the follow-on.Anyway, he hoisted the second ball of the day in the 58th over, from Surrey loanee Moriarty, over long-off for six before trying similar in the spinner’s next over but picking out Dom Leech at long-on.Moriarty had wicket number four, and Dom Bess’s replacement in Yorkshire’s team was doing a decent job. The only downer from his point of view was that, after a tidy start on day two with three maidens in his first four overs, he was starting to concede some boundaries.He conceded seven sixes in figures of 4 for 96 after 25 overs, while his 26th saw Ollie Price hit him for three successive boundaries as the visitors closed on 300. Moriarty finished the day with 4 for 131 from 33 overs amidst an otherwise off-colour home display.The light forced Yorkshire to employ spin from both ends pretty early into proceedings. There was a near 25-minute delay for bad light from just before 3.20pm, with 17 overs bowled beforehand. Fifteen of them were sent down by the spin of Moriarty and part-time offie Adam Lyth.Ollie Price played positively but differently to Hammond. He swept and reverse swept on the way to an 82-ball fifty after the resumption following bad light.The 10 overs upon the resumption through to tea proved game changing. The Prices took 69 runs to advance from 300 for 6, including 45 from four bowled by Australian debutant overseas seamer Mark Steketee and Matthew Fisher.Tom took on Fisher’s short stuff and then drove an arrow straight boundary off Steketee, with Ollie three times edging the latter wide of the slips to reach tea on 75 and the visitors 369 for 6 and only 32 short of the follow-on.Only 15 more runs were added before another 25-minute break for bad light. Tom then reached his fifty off 93 balls as Gloucestershire avoided the follow-on at 402 for 6. But he was bowled almost immediately by George Hill.When Zafar Gohar failed to evade a Leech short ball in the next over, Gloucestershire were 413 for 8 after 93 overs. Only two more overs were possible before a third bad light stoppage was the final one at 5.55pm.

Will Antwi's squad is packed with outstanding youngsters who will be keen to make their mark on this summer's tournament in Romania

England's senior men's team might be done until September, but the busy summer of youth tournaments continues apace through June. The Young Lions suffered a disappointing group-stage exit from the Under-17s European Championship, while the U21s will get the defence of their own Euros crown under way on Thursday.

Will Antwi's U19s, meanwhile, have made their way to Romania their continental championship, with the tournament set to get under way on Friday. England have been drawn into a tough-looking group alongside Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, though they will still be confident of challenging for the trophy given the amount of talent within their ranks.

But who are the players you should be looking out for as potential future stars of the senior side? GOAL breaks down six of the most eye-catching talents…

Getty ImagesSam Amo-Ameyaw (Strasbourg)

A former Tottenham and Southampton academy player, Sam Amo-Ameyaw had to move abroad to get a regular taste of first-team action, as he joined Strasbourg in January having been limited to only a handful of appearances since making his senior debut for the Saints in May 2023.

The move has certainly paid off for the 18-year-old winger a he made his mark on the French side's push for European football through the second half of the season. Amo-Ameyaw scored twice in nine league appearances for Liam Rosenior's side, and it is expected that he will play a greater role next season as he continues to develop under the tutelage of the English coach.

Amo-Ameyaw has played all across the forward line in his short career thus far, but is most comfortable when deployed on the right as it allows him to cut inside and threaten the goal with his stronger left foot.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesKiano Dyer (Chelsea)

England have been crying out for a central midfielder who can control the tempo of games and break the lines both with their passing and dribbling, and in Kiano Dyer, they may yet have found their man. That is a heavy burden to place on an 18-year-old with just four minutes of senior football to their name, but Dyer certainly has all the attributes to make it to the top.

Dyer joined Chelsea from West Brom in 2021, and though he is yet to earn regular first-team minutes in west London, he trains predominantly with the first-team squad while dominating for the Blues' U21s in Premier League 2. One of the most press-resistant players in the English academy ranks, he has also shown his eye for goal at times, which hints at him one day rounding into a world-class, all-round midfielder.

Getty ImagesShim Mheuka (Chelsea)

Though Chelsea did not make Tyrique George or Josh Acheampong available for selection for this tournament as they instead headed off to the Club World Cup with the Blues, this England squad is still packed with players who call Cobham their home, with Shim Mheuka joining Dyer and others in the travelling party.

The 17-year-old striker has already broken records at Stamford Bridge after becoming the youngest player to ever start a European match for Chelsea back in March, while he made his Premier League debut a few days earlier, and he really is the full package when it comes to being a modern No.9.

Mheuka is able to use his physical gifts to bully defenders at youth level, while he has also shown himself able to dribble past opposition players when given the chance to get the ball down on the floor. Factor in his unerring shooting, excellent heading ability and ice-cold penalties, and Mheuka could well grow into becoming England's starting striker of the future.

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Getty ImagesMikey Moore (Tottenham)

With Ethan Nwaneri having been promoted to the U21s since the turn of the year, the stage is clear for Mikey Moore to lead from the front for this England U19s side. The pair have run riot together throughout their youth international careers, and Tottenham forward Moore has the ability to show he is not the only teenager in north London who can become a future star of the game.

Certainly Moore showed during the first half of Spurs' season that he is ready for the big time, with team-mate James Maddison having likened the 17-year-old to Neymar after one particularly eye-catching display in the Europa League before injury stalled his progress. Certainly Moore's creativity and dribbling ability is somewhat similar to the Brazilians', with the youngster always keen to drive inside from his favoured position on the left.

Reports suggest Tottenham may loan Moore out next season to gain experience in the Championship, and giving him the chance to play a full season of senior football certainly wouldn't be a bad thing. For now, though, his focus is on showing just why there is so much hype around him at both club and international level in Romania this summer.

Crushing 81-run defeat all but ends visitors’ play-off hopes as Originals cement berth

ECB Reporters Network20-Aug-2023Manchester Originals 164 for 6 (Buttler 75) beat Northern Superchargers 83 (Harrison 5-11) by 81 runsCalvin Harrison took five wickets for 11 runs as the Manchester Originals bolstered their attempt to reach the knockout stages of the Men’s Hundred with a 81-run annihilation of the Northern Superchargers at Emirates Old Trafford.Needing 165 to exact some revenge for last week’s defeat at Headingley, the Superchargers’ batsmen had a dreadful day and were dismissed for 83, a performance in sharp contrast to that of the Originals, for whom Jos Buttler made a 47-ball 75 in their 164 for six.If London Spirit beat Welsh Fire this evening, the Leeds-based side are eliminated from this year’s competition but their chances are gossamer-thin in any case.After a relatively sedate start – only 29 runs coming from the first 20 balls – Buttler took 14 off Brydon Carse’s first set of five and the opening pair had taken their stand to 72 off 41 balls before Salt, who had been dropped by Wayne Parnell on 18, was caught at long-off by David Wiese off Adil Rashid for 28.Five balls later Wiese took a second catch when Laurie Evans slapped Callum Parkinson down the ground and departed for just seven but that was the signal for Buttler and Paul Walter to launch a selective onslaught on the Superchargers bowling.Both batters hit sixes off Matt Short’s second set and the Originals were well placed for further mayhem on 128 for two after 75 balls. That was initially prevented when Walter was stumped by Tom Banton off Rashid for 28, thus ending his 48-run stand for the third wicket with Buttler.The Originals’ skipper reached his fifty off 35 balls but having made 75 with six fours and three sixes, Buttler was eventually caught at deep midwicket by Harry Brook off Rashid, who almost immediately collected his fourth wicket when Jamie Overton was caught by Carse at long-off for two.The home side’s hundred balls ended with what seemed an eminently defendable total on the board given the turning pitch. Rashid finished with four for 18 from his 20 balls.The Superchargers’ pursuit began poorly when Adam Lyth, having made just one, drove Overton’s seventh ball of the innings straight to Paul Walter at mid-off.Tom Hartley then struck with his second ball when Tom Banton reverse-swept him to point, where Harrison took a superb two-handed catch above his head. Adam Hose was then caught down the leg side by Buttler off Josh Tongue for a six-ball 15 and the visitors’ problems deepened when Matt Short was stumped off Harrison for 11.Harry Brook was joined by his skipper Parnell with the score on 37 for four but things got worse when the Superchargers’ last specialist batsman, Harry Brook was bowled for two by a superb ball from Hartley which pitched on middle and leg and hit middle and off.Parnell was caught at backward point by Zaman off Harrison for 11 and the same bowler accounted for Wiese, Carse and Parkinson in the space of nine balls to finish with five for 11 from his 20 balls.

Napoli boss Antonio Conte is looking to revive yet another stalling Premier League career as the Italian side weigh up a move for Jack Grealish.

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Napoli chasing GrealishEnglishman could follow De Bruyne to ItalyConte to revive another Premier League star's careerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Italian boss has been speaking to Kevin De Bruyne about Grealish to consider whether it is worth bringing the Englishman to Italy, according to the . The Belgian midfielder joined the club this summer on a free transfer from City and may well be joined by his former team-mate as Napoli step up their initial interest. However, with the Italian club unable to spend overly lavishly, striking a deal with City could be made more complicated with Grealish's wage demands proving steep.

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Napoli are seeking a new option to play on the left-wing and have identified both Grealish and Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho as targets. Both players have been told to find new clubs and Conte could be the man to breathe life back into their careers – in the same way he has done with Scott McTominay. Grealish, axed from City's Club World Cup squad, will be desperate to find an escape this summer. However, given he has been criticised for his attitude and has a lack of suitors willing to match the price-tag set for him, an exit might not be so simple.

DID YOU KNOW?

Grealish became the most expensive British footballer of all time when he left Aston Villa to join City for £100 million ($139m) in the summer of 2021. With the weight of the transfer hanging over him, he initially struggled to find his place in the team. He then play a key role in helping City win the Champions League in 2023, but has since had his form and minutes drop off a cliff.

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Getty WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?

Despite his exile from the squad, Grealish remains a City player and could still force his way back into the fold. Yet, that appears unlikely and a move, potentially even on loan, is the best option to reignite the fire in a once supremely talented player. City will have to cut their losses with the chances of recouping their £100m outlay almost impossible.

Rico Lewis will be forced to serve a three-match Club World Cup suspension after Manchester City's appeal failed.

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Lewis' three-match suspension upheldMan City appealed against banCityzens face Juventus nextFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In City's Club World Cup opener against Wydad AC, Lewis was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute for a challenge on Samuel Obeng as his boot caught his opponent in the face, as the full-back swept the ball away. The player was handed a three-match suspension, which the Cityzens subsequently appealed, but it was unsuccessful as Lewis' ban was upheld, according to .

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Lewis's absence will hurt the former English champions as they face Juventus in their final group game on June 26. It's a must-win game for Pep Guardiola's men if they want to top their group and avoid facing Real Madrid in their round of 16 clash. Lewis has already served one match of his ban but will also miss the game against Juventus and their last-16 tie.

DID YOU KNOW?

Guardiola was left fuming with Lewis' sending off after the match as he felt that the player had his leg on the ground when he went for the tackle and as a result, a straight red card was completely unjustified.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

In Lewis' absence, the City boss tried a back three in their second game against Al Ain, with Matheus Nunes slotting in as a right wing-back. The Portuguese midfielder will once again play in a makeshift role against the Bianconeri on Thursday.

Seamer’s 4 for 16 closes out tense win over Originals, set up by Capsey-van Niekerk partnership

Matt Roller09-Aug-2023Ryana MacDonald-Gay gave Oval Invincibles, the two-time defending champions, their first win of the season, taking 4 for 16 to close out a tense five-run win over Manchester Originals on a balmy afternoon in South London.Originals needed 16 to win off 14 balls after Deandra Dottin hit the third six of her innings at The Kia Oval, taking her to 41 off 19. But she played out four consecutive dot balls to give Invincibles a cushion heading into the final 10.MacDonald-Gay, the 19-year-old seamer, backed her slower balls at the death and, after gathering Alice Capsey’s throw to run Fi Morris out, she had Dottin caught at short third and Kathryn Bryce mistiming to midwicket. That left 13 required off the final set of five balls, and Eva Gray closed out Invincibles’ win.The result was set up by Capsey and Dane van Niekerk, whose third-wicket partnership of 61 in 37 balls enabled Invincibles to post 128 for 7 – a much-improved showing on the 80 all out they managed in the first completed innings of their title defence in a three-wicket defeat to Welsh Fire on Sunday night.But it was MacDonald-Gay who clinched the points. She was an ever-present for Invincibles last season but was used sparingly with the ball in the latter half of the tournament and did not bowl in their last three games, including the final. This was the first time in her Hundred career she had bowled all of her permitted 20 deliveries.She struck with her third ball, hitting Laura Wolvaardt on the pad and having her lbw on review for 27, just as she was starting to move through the gears, and in her second set of five she had Ami Campbell caught at point, skying a slower ball to Marizanne Kapp.Dottin thumped her down the ground for four in her third set, but her last cost only three runs as she backed her variations to finish with the fourth-best bowling figures of the competition so far.”She’s been brilliant for us at South East Stars, coming in at the back end and bowling her slower balls,” Capsey said of her team-mate. “She bowls them brilliantly and that’s one of her strengths and one of the reasons she’s so valued in our team. Whenever she comes on, she impacts the game.”She was bowling at Deandra Dottin, one of the world’s best players. That shows her character, and what a great bowler she is. She really held her nerve and backed her strengths. That’s all you can ask for from a bowler. She kept us in the game.”Invincibles started slowly with the bat, with Mahika Gaur striking early. Gaur, the towering teenage left-arm seamer, bowled 15 of the first 20 balls and had Lauren Winfield-Hill lbw, with figures of 1 for 7 from her first three sets.Sophie Ecclestone had delayed her own entry before striking in her first set, having Suzie Bates stumped, and Capsey struggled for timing early on. She was dropped on 28 by Morris, then given out lbw one ball later only to successfully review the on-field decision.She largely played second fiddle to van Niekerk but powered Ecclestone back over her head for a straight six, and was stumped immediately after reaching a 40-ball half-century, her first in a competitive game since the end of May.Van Niekerk scored quickly against Originals’ spinners, who were held back until the end of the innings, crashing a six and a four off successive balls from Amanda-Jade Wellington as Invincibles eyed a late surge towards 140.Instead, they slid to 128 for 7 as van Niekerk’s dismissal – caught at long-on off Wellington – preceded a flurry of three run-outs in the final six balls. Much to Invincibles’ relief, the mini-collapse did not prove costly.

Half-century and three wickets set up bonus-point win over Stars as Georgia Adams adds 49

ECB Reporters Network13-Sep-2023Linsey Smith scored her best List A score and picked up three wickets to beat South East Stars by 58 runs – boosting Vipers’ Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy knockout ambitions.Former England spinner Smith bagged a no-thrills 51, her first half-century in 50-over cricket, before taking 3 for 34 to set up a bonus point victory.She was the lynchpin for Vipers’ 254 – which saw Ella McCaughan and Georgia Adams score 40s and Dani Gregory take a four-for.Aylish Cranstone cracked 69 but Vipers leap-frogged Stars into second and leave qualification for the Eliminator in their own hands, while Stars will progress if they beat Central Sparks in the last round of fixtures.Vipers chose to bat but found early going slow on a tacky pitch, with only 27 runs coming in the opening 10 overs – Alexa Stonehouse picking up Abi Norgrove’s wicket and Ryana Macdonald-Gay accurate from the other end.McCaughan and Adams accelerated with 54 coming from the following seven overs before the former swung to long on and Georgia Elwiss was run out for the second game in a row.Adams continued her fine form with seven boundaries in a glossy 49, barely missing out on a fifth straight 50 when she top-edged to square leg.Emily Windsor had drilled to cover as Vipers looked limply at an under-par total on 128 for 5 but Freya Kemp’s whacking and Smith’s belligerence put them right.Kemp’s two sixes headlined the 48-run stand before slogging to long on, with Gregory completing her 4 for 55 by pinning Alice Monaghan.Smith only scored three boundaries, two of coming from edges, in her maiden Vipers fifty, however it came in 56 balls to highlight her strong running.Rhianna Southby chipped away with 21 off 24 but Vipers were bowled out in 48.2 overs with Smith caught at long on, Southby bowled and Ava Lee well caught behind.In reply, Stars grappled through the powerplay, also scoring 27, but lost captain Bryony Smith and Kira Chathli as Linsey Smith continued her fine game.Jemima Spence and Cranstone built the foundations of the chase with a 58-run stand before the former pulled to deep square.Former Viper Paige Scholfield and Kalea Moore fell to the increasingly impressive teenager Lee, while on loan from Vipers Chloe Hill was plumb in front to Mary Taylor.Left-hander Cranstone completed her first half-century of the season in 48 deliveries after an innings filled with stylish off-side stroke play.But Adams bowled her after she had added 45 with Stonehouse, who perished soon after to Linsey Smith’s third.Bethan Miles was leg before to Adams – who took 2 for 41 – and after a 46-run 10th wicket stand, MacDonald-Gay was caught at deep midwicket.

Arsenal have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres, with a clause greasing the wheels of €60m deal.

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Arsenal handed Viktor Gyokeres boostClause in contract revealed

€60m deal to be struck

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A Bola in Portugal report that from July 1, any offer of €60m for Gyokeres that Sporting reject would see the club have to pay €6m to the player's agent. That stipulation could mean a deal moves fast if any club can hit that figure.

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The same report goes on to state that "Arsenal are willing to reach this value". The Gunners have been on the hunt for a new number nine all summer and this development could see the Swede move to the top of the queue.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mikel Arteta's side were previously said to be closing in on a deal for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, though negotiations have proved difficult. They are also reportedly back in the mix for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal will be keen to get a new striker in the door in time for the beginning of the new Premier League campaign, which they kick off against Manchester United on Sunday August 17.

Sarina Wiegman has refused to confirm if Lauren James will feature from the start of England's Euro 2025 opener against France on Saturday.

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James picked up hamstring injury in MarchStar played 30 minutes against JamaicaWiegman: "She is in a good place"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Chelsea star has been recovering from a hamstring injury she picked up in April. Previously a major doubt to feature in the tournament, her 30-minute cameo against Jamaica has provided Lionesses fans with hope she can rediscover her best form in Switzerland. James set up a goal for Alessia Russo in the 7-0 thrashing.

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Wiegman was understandably coy about her selection ahead of the game against France. The Dutch coach baulked at the notion she would name her team, but did nod towards more game time for James, who she said was "in a good place".

WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

Speaking at her pre-match press conference, Wiegman said: "She is in a good place. As you noticed, she came on the pitch against Jamaica last week and she is ready to get more minutes tomorrow."

When asked if James is in line to start the match, the England manager replied: "We are not going to give you the line-up. She played 30 minutes last week and she can play more than that."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR JAMES?

Wiegman's comments suggest the 23-year-old will feature in some capacity on Saturday, but whether that means a start for England's talismanic attacker remains to be seen. If the Lionesses are to defend their title, they will need James to be fit and firing for the entire tournament. Maybe a 'super sub' role is the best way to maximise James' immense talent during the group stage.