All posts by h716a5.icu

Last season, Arsenal couldn’t live without Martin Odegaard in the team.

Alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, he was the heartbeat of this side, most notably in forward areas.

Most notably, there was that magical assist against Porto in the Champions League, one of 12 assists and one of 23 goal involvements he registered in 2023/24.

Sadly, his form in 2024/25 has left so much to be desired. While Odegaard has actually registered 11 assists in all competitions, he’s only found the net on five occasions, the latest of which came against PSV back in March.

So, Arsenal could do with an upgrade, someone capable of scoring and assisting in equal measure.

Arsenal could sign Premier League assist king

Mikel Arteta has a number of areas he needs to strengthen the squad this summer, chiefly in attack where Arsenal lack an out-and-out number 9.

In that regard, the Gunners are pushing to sign Viktor Gyokeres and he could be the second signing of the summer behind midfielder Martin Zubimendi who the club are reportedly confident of signing.

Transfer Focus

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

Not just content with improving the base of their midfield, Andrea Berta could also go out and sign a more creative force with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki linked in the last week. Still, he’s not a fraction on Manchester City hero Kevin De Bruyne.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that the great Belgian would be leaving the Etihad Stadium in the summer on a free transfer at the conclusion of his contract.

Speaking following the news, Pep Guardiola stated: “[He is] one of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country, and I think with Man City there’s no doubt. Greatest or not the greatest, always you have to be careful with players that played at Maine Road, incredible players in the last 20, 30 years in this club.”

So, where could he end up? Well, one report over the weekend, which comes courtesy of journalist Graeme Bailey, suggests that Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa are all in the race for him.

Bayern Munich and clubs in Italy are also interested in the playmaker, but the three English sides have all been discussing De Bruyne behind the scenes, exploring whether they want to make a move for the 33-year-old.

How De Bruyne could be the new Bergkamp

Cast in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium, Dennis Bergkamp is one of the biggest legends in Arsenal history.

Signed in 1995 from Inter Milan, the Dutchman would later go down as one of the best players in Premier League history. He dazzled with his close control, terrified defenders with his dribbling, struck the fear of god into goalkeepers around the country and could unlock even the deepest of blocks.

What Arsenal would do for a player like that now, eh? Bergkamp played 422 times for the Gunners, scoring 120 goals and registering 116 assists. In the Premier League, he ranks sixth in history for assists with 64. One of the men ahead of him? De Bruyne.

1. Ryan Giggs

162

2. Kevin De Bruyne

119

3. Cesc Fabregas

111

4. Wayne Rooney

103

5. Frank Lampard

102

6. Dennis Bergkamp

94

7. David Silva

93

8. Steven Gerrard

92

Described as “one of the best midfielders of his generation” by Jamie Carragher, there is very little that the magical Belgium hasn’t achieved.

A six-time Premier League winner, the Manchester City icon has posted a ridiculous 261 assists in 647 club games. 177 of those assists have come in 418 City games. 119 of them have come in the English top-flight.

Like Bergkamp in his prime, De Bruyne is one of the best playmakers we’ve seen. Even at the ripe old age of 33, he can pick the lock of the sternest of defences, and he’s a pretty fine goalscorer too, finding the net 108 times in sky blue.

To further rubberstamp the comparisons between the two. only De Bruyne has registered more assists per 90 minutes in Premier League history than Bergkamp. The duo stand proud as two of the best attacking midfielders or shadow strikers we’ve seen in English football.

1. Kevin De Bruyne

0.49

2. Dennis Bergkamp

0.38

3. Cesc Fabregas

0.37

4. David Silva

0.34

5. David Beckham

0.33

6. Mo Salah

0.32

So jaw-dropping in fact, De Bruyne is actually quite far ahead of the legendary Bergkamp now for assists.

Let’s set the record straight, signing an ageing player on high wages might not be the best port of call but this is hardly another Willian or Raheem Sterling situation here. The City sensation is one of the finest to ever do it, and slapping his level of experience in this Arsenal team would surely go down a treat.

Arteta must axe £27m Arsenal dud who was worse than Odegaard v Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped yet more points, this time at home as they hosted Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

ByMatt Dawson May 4, 2025

Chelsea are big fans of a marquee Real Madrid star as BlueCo plan to sign an “elite” level player this summer, with Enzo Maresca’s side expected to undergo a seismic overhaul.

Chelsea's transfer plans amid Champions League race

The Blues are currently attempting to seal Champions League qualification for next season, which will have a key effect on their ability to attract and pay for their desired top transfer targets.

Chelsea convinced star will join amid "lucrative" 7-year contract offer

Enzo Maresca could soon welcome a “sensational” player.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

They’re currently level on points with Aston Villa and sit fifth by the skin of their teeth on goal difference, and things could look very different by the conclusion of the next Premier League matchweek.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Chelsea simply cannot afford any slip-ups in their final two matches against Man United and European spot rivals Nottingham Forest, especially considering Stamford Bridge officials are aiming to be ambitious when the summer window reopens for business.

They will be competing in the Club World Cup as well, a tournament which could yield a seismic financial windfall of around £97 million if they win it, so Chelsea are understandably taking it seriously.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, sharing another significant update on the club’s transfer plans, Chelsea ideally want to sign two of their top targets before the CWC commences, and they’ll have a brief window from June 1 to June 10 to do so.

Phillips also reports that Chelsea have “big plans” in the works, and one of their aims is to bring in an “elite” senior player.

Chelsea would love to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo

As per the reliable journalist, writing via his Substack, £202,000-per-week Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one man in this bracket who they seriously admire.

Albeit unlikely, Chelsea “would love” to sign Rodrygo, and he is among the men who they’d be willing to break their wage structure for, depending on if they seal their spot in the Champions League for next season.

“Chelsea would love to sign any of the above three [Harry Kane, Alexander Isak or Rodrygo], and are looking at potential opportunities around players like this,” wrote Phillips.

“Obviously all three will be seen as unrealistic and the reality is that they are very unrealistic, because we don’t want to pay over our wage structure for any players.

“However, if Chelsea get Champions League football then wage structures (with incentives) will go up at the club and players will be earning more on bonuses. This could make the overall wage package on offer a bit more appealing to players.

“We have also had it confirmed that Chelsea are prepared to break their wage structure for the right player, and the three mentioned above would fall into that category. I’m not saying we will sign any of them by the way, just that Chelsea are looking to bring ‘elite’ players I guess as well as youngsters.”

The Brazilian has starred for Real with 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances this season, all while featuring as a striker, left-winger and right-winger under Carlo Ancelotti.

There is little denying he’d be an immediate upgrade to Chelsea’s wide options and further forward, but this attempted move would be a big reach to say the least, given his importance to Real and suggestions he could cost up to £131 million.

A fresh report claims that Newcastle United have “as good a chance as anybody” of completing the signing of a player with a big future in the game.

Champions League vital to Newcastle's business

Eddie Howe’s men host Everton on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, looking to make sure they secure a return to the Champions League after failing to qualify last time around.

It would be the icing on the cake on a fantastic season for Newcastle, and while the EFL Cup triumph was an incredible moment in the club’s history, getting back into Europe’s top club competition is even more important in a financial sense, also allowing top-quality players to be signed.

Howe is likely to want to add more firepower to his squad, and Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo has been continually mentioned as a leading option on the right wing. The Cameroonian would come in as an upgrade on Jacob Murphy, who has been excellent all season long, but still has a limited ceiling.

Gabri Veiga is another attacking talent who has been linked with joining Newcastle at the end of the season, with the Spaniard potentially eyeing a return to European football instead of playing for Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli. Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding another impressive player in the final third.

Newcastle in great position to sign Dortmund star

According to a new update from Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle “have as good a chance as anyone” of signing Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens this summer. The Magpies are described as “strong contenders” to snap up the 20-year-old, who is valued at around £50m, as they look to pip Chelsea and Arsenal to his services.

This is a hugely exciting update, considering Gittens is one of the most gifted young players in the Bundesliga currently, scoring a combined 12 goals in the league and Champions League this season.

Newcastle make contact for Player of the Year winning goalkeeper worth less than £10m

Is he an ideal upgrade for a Magpies regular this summer?

ByHenry Jackson May 23, 2025

The Englishman has been lauded as a “difference-maker” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he has shone for England at youth level, representing the Three Lions across five different age groups, winning 25 caps in total.

Gittens is at his best on the left wing, meaning he could come in as a direct replacement if one of Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes leaves, as Howe looks to have as much competition for places as possible next season.

His versatility also allows him to shine both in the middle and on the right, too, even though he has only been used there sparingly, and Newcastle could see him as a statement signing for many years to come.

After another trophyless season for Mikel Arteta, there are several factors for those at Arsenal to blame.

The endless red cards and injuries halted their progress significantly but they have still been good enough for a second-placed finish in the Premier League and a Champions League semi-final.

Why didn’t they get over the line? Well, their recruitment in the last year or so hasn’t been great.

Last summer, Arsenal brought in David Raya permanently and also welcomed in Mikel Merino, somebody who’s become quite the cult hero of late for his performances as an emergency centre forward. No one will forget his goal against Real Madrid in a hurry.

There was also the addition of injury-prone Riccardo Calafiori and a loan move to bring in Raheem Sterling. The less said about him, the better.

Then, when it came to January, Arsenal clearly needed a new forward and did not sign one. Just days after the window slammed shut, Kai Havertz was ruled out for four months with a hamstring injury, only just returning in the recent 1-0 win over Newcastle at The Emirates.

For the most part, Arteta’s recruitment since being given the job has been strong, stronger than some of the business done in the later years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure, that’s for sure.

Arsenal's biggest mistakes in the transfer market

It’s safe to say that Arsenal have made a number of howlers in recent years; the biggest of which is the decision not to sign a central forward.

In that time, they’ve let America international Folarin Balogun leave while Mika Biereth, now teammates with Balogun at Monaco, has quickly become one of the most prolific forwards in Europe.

Following a successful loan spell at Sturm Graz last summer, the Austrian side signed him permanently for £4m, and after a goal-laden time of it in the Bundesliga, he headed off to Monaco.

Over the course of this campaign, the Dane has found the net on 27 occasions in 44 games. In 2025, he’s scored 13 times, making him the fourth highest scorer in Europe’s best leagues this calendar year.

1. Kylian Mbappe

19 (17)

2. Serhou Guirassy

15 (18)

3. Ousmane Dembele

13 (14)

4. Mika Biereth

13 (16)

5. Mateo Retegui

13 (18)

6. Patrik Schick

12 (19)

Cast your minds back further, and the disappointing exit of Serge Gnabry will most definitely sing

The German scored in the Champions League against the Gunners last season and while he’s not always been a regular starter this term, his numbers at Bayern Munich speak for themselves, registering 152 goal involvements across 280 outings.

Gnabry, who wasn’t good enough for Tony Pulis during a loan spell at West Brom, has only gone from strength to strength since then.

Now 29 years of age, the Arsenal academy graduate is a six-time league winner with Bayern, having also won a solitary Champions League and taking home a Club World Cup amid a plethora of domestic cup successes.

But, despite the sincere number of goals being outlined here, they arguably aren’t Arsenal’s biggest mistake; that remains Harry Kane.

Why Harry Kane left Arsenal

“Harry Kane, he’s one of our own.” That’s the song adoring Tottenham Hotspur fans used to sing in the direction of their beloved striker.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Yet, was this statement ever really true? Perhaps not.

While Kane grew up playing in the Spurs academy, Arsenal was his very first club. There’s a remarkable image of the attacker dressed in a red and white jersey as a child, but it never quite happened for him at the Gunners.

It was at the age of 12 that he left the red side of London behind, and the club’s former academy manager, Roy Massey, has since revealed why.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Massey noted: “To release Harry Kane [from Arsenal], we don’t have a crystal ball. If we did then we would be successful in every youngster that we take on.

“Harry was a lovely young player. He was quiet, shy, didn’t have what we thought it would take to become a professional footballer and so we were totally mistaken.

“Although I’ve got to say that when Harry was released when he was 11 or 12 years of age, he did go to play for his Sunday league club for the next three years so no other club picked him up in that age group.”

Well, he’s certainly proven Massey wrong during what has been a remarkable career at club and international level.

How Harry Kane compares to Thierry Henry

The biggest club legend of them all, as far as Arsenal are concerned, is the great Thierry Henry. Titi, as he was affectionately known, signed for the Gunners in a deal worth just £11m. Of course, that was over 20 years ago now but it remains one of the biggest bargains we’ve seen.

Signed as a left winger, Wenger crafted his fellow Frenchman into an elite centre forward, quickly breaking records and becoming one of, if not the best foreign import we’ve seen in the Premier League era.

Henry won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup three times, was a league Golden Boot winner on two occasions and eventually left Highbury and the Emirates behind having scored a phenomenal 228 goals in 377 games, making him the club’s record goalscorer.

Arsenal

377

228

101

AS Monaco

141

28

4

New York Red Bulls

135

52

40

Barcelona

121

49

27

Juventus

20

3

2

Over the course of his career, the World Cup winner bagged 411 goals for club and country, but Kane, as astonishing as Henry was, has now surpassed that figure.

We’re not for one minute suggesting the England captain is a better player but it speaks volumes of his remarkable progression in the senior game.

From that rejection at Arsenal as a 12-year-old, since making his senior bow, he has now found the net on a whopping 449 occasions for club and country. He is England’s top goal scorer in history and he’s now finally a trophy winner too.

Kane ended his hoodoo this term, lifting the Bundesliga title above his head a few weeks ago. He’s been nothing short of a sensation for Bayern Munich, scoring 82 goals in 91 appearances.

He is a true modern phenomenon, perhaps the best finisher in world football. Arsenal let that depart at the age of 12.

Their own Haaland: Arsenal set to make major move to sign £59m "monster"

The prolific international could be the difference between glory and disappointment for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 20, 2025

Manchester United now hold the strongest interest in a “sensational” goalkeeper target, having already made contact to discuss a deal, according to a report.

Man Utd looking to replace Andre Onana

It was yet another difficult campaign for Andre Onana at Old Trafford, with former United man Nemanja Matic particularly critical of the goalkeeper prior to the Europa League quarter-final clash against Lyon.

Of course, Ruben Amorim’s side went on to progress past the French club, but after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur last month, it appears as though the manager has now set out to replace his goalkeeper.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Man United are well-placed to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as a replacement for Onana, and there has since been a further update on their pursuit of the Argentina international.

According to a report from TyC Sports (via Sport Witness), United now hold the strongest interest in Martinez, having made contact to discuss a potential move several months ago, before ultimately deciding to stick with Onana.

Barcelona have also expressed an interest in the Villa shot-stopper, but the La Liga champions now appear to be going for Joan Garcia, which could open the door for a move to Old Trafford.

A deal could be on the expensive side, with the report revealing Unai Emery’s side are set to hold out for a large fee, although it is unclear how much they would be looking to receive.

"Sensational" Martinez could be huge Onana upgrade

Onana would’ve been hoping that a good showing in the Europa League final would give him a shot at redemption, but he ultimately put in a disappointing display, and it is clear that Amorim must bring in an upgrade this summer.

There are signs the Argentine could fit the bill, having outperformed the Cameroonian across a number of key metrics for goalkeepers per 90 minutes over the past year.

Statistic

Emiliano Martinez

Andre Onana

Goals against

1.20

1.32

Save %

72.1%

68.9%

Clean sheet %

28.3%

23.4%

Crosses stopped %

11.3%

5.5%

Jamie Smith has lauded the 32-year-old as “sensational” in the past, and he won the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award in both 2022 and 2024, once again indicating that he would be a real improvement on Onana between the sticks.

Man Utd hold secret talks to swap Sancho for "generational" £75m PL forward

The Red Devils have held discussions over a swap deal involving Jadon Sancho…

ByDominic Lund Jun 4, 2025

It remains to be seen whether the £150k-a-week goalkeeper would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, without European football of any description on offer, but he would be a real statement signing for Man United this summer.

It is practically indisputable that Arsenal are in the market for a new striker this summer, and Mikel Arteta’s side have now been handed the chance to get one over on arch rivals Tottenham by signing a key target of Thomas Frank’s side.

Arsenal make contact to sign trophy-laden £400k-per-week ex-Man City star

He’d be quite the addition to Arteta’s dressing room.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025

New sporting director Andrea Berta is currently busy attempting to negotiate agreeable terms on a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but find themselves some way off the Bundesliga side’s asking price of around £68-85 million, according to Sky Germany’s (Florian Plettenberg).

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

Arsenal negotiations for Sesko have been ongoing since late May, but if a deal cannot be struck for the Slovenia international, Berta does have other reported striker targets on his shortlist.

Arsenal have also worked on a deal for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who is currently keen on a move to north London and open to joining other high-profile Premier League suitors like Man United.

“Viktor Gyökeres prefers a move to the Premier League, and would welcome an Arsenal bid,” reported Ben Jacobs on X recently.

“Arsenal still deciding between Benjamin Sesko and Gyökeres. Andrea Berta simultaneously advancing both deals. Gyökeres would be open to Manchester United. There has been no formal rejection, but a deal to date has also never been at an advanced stage, despite suggestions.

“United have not made any formal approach to Sporting. Swedish striker one of several striker options discussed. Gyökeres believes he’ll still be allowed to leave Sporting for €70m. Arsenal have always been one to watch, but it will depend on Berta now because he is also in ongoing talks for Sesko at the same time, with a bid for one of the two targets expected soon.”

Either centre-forward would be an upgrade on Arteta’s current options. Sesko is fresh off a career-best Bundesliga campaign at Leipzig, while Gyokeres has just guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years after scoring 54 goals in all competitions.

However, Arsenal now also have a new left-field option.

Arsenal offered Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat

According to website Just Arsenal, Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat has been put forward to Arteta’s side.

Vanat scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, helping Kyiv to lift the Ukranian Premier League title whilst ending the season unbeaten. He also finished 2024/2025 as the division’s top scorer with 17, and this has attracted some attention from England.

It is now believed that Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Vanat, who has a reported £17 million release clause in his contract. Arteta doesn’t view the 23-year-old’s signing as an urgent need right now, but is fully aware of Vanat’s quality, so it’s apparently a situation they could revisit later in the window.

However, if they do decide they want him, Arsenal will need to be wary of rival interest. Manchester United, Leeds United, Everton, and Tottenham are all keen on Vanat, with the latter even viewing him as a “priority signing” for new manager Frank.

With the summer transfer window in full flow, Aston Villa have made just one signing so far – Yasin Ozcan.

The Turkish youngster might not be the most exciting of signings, but aged 19, he is certainly one for the future.

With Unai Emery keen on ending the club’s near 30-year wait for a major trophy next season, bringing in several high-profile players is a priority.

Players such as John McGinn and Morgan Rogers helped the club secure a place in the Europa League next season. Could Emery potentially sign someone who is a hybrid of the two this summer?

Aston Villa transfer news

Villa have been linked with their fair share of attacking players this summer. Indeed, the likes of Jack Grealish, Nicolas Jackson and even Malick Fofana have been targeted by Emery.

Transfer Focus

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

Much will depend on the funds Villa have to spend, especially as they seek to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations throughout the summer.

According to reports in Brazil, however, the club have made contact regarding a move for Porto winger Pepe, with it said they have opened talks for the 28-year-old.

The Portuguese giants are willing to sell him this summer in order to sign other targets, and a price tag of €25m (£21m) has been set. A more than affordable figure by Emery’s standards.

Both McGinn and Rogers enjoyed plenty of success last season and by signing Pepe in the coming weeks, Villa could be landing a player who is similar to both.

Why Aston Villa must sign Pepe

Last season, McGinn registered ten goal contributions for Villa, while Rogers recorded 29 goal involvements in all competitions for the club.

This highlights how vital the pair were. Both players excel at dribbling and playing through balls during matches, supporting Ollie Watkins incredibly well.

With McGinn staring on the left at times, with Rogers operating in a more central role, will Emery manage to sign a player like them for the right flank ahead of next season?

Pepe certainly fits the mould. According to FBref, Rogers is the ninth-most comparable player to the Porto winger, while McGinn is the seventh-most comparable when taking into account their statistics from the Champions League last term.

In this competition, he ranked in the top 16% for assists per 90 (0.31), while also ranking in the top 14% for tackles (1.86) per 90.

Goals

3

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.6

Shots per game

1

In comparison, McGinn recorded 0.25 assists and made 1.23 tackles per 90, while Rogers registered 0.18 assists and 0.79 tackles per 90 in the Champions League.

It is more the manner in which all three tend to have similar playing styles which could make a move for the winger an important one.

South American football expert Tim Vickery hailed the wideman a couple of years ago, saying: “I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”

For the sort of fee Porto are demanding, bringing Pepe to the Midlands might be an interesting piece of business indeed.

An eye for goal while being able to create chances indicates that he could shine alongside players such as McGinn and Rogers next season.

Rashford upgrade: Monchi looking to sign £68m "superstar" for Aston Villa

With Marcus Rashford seemingly unlikely to be returning to Aston Villa next season, has Unai Emery identified a “phenomenal” star as an alternative?

ByBen Gray Jun 26, 2025

Allrounder ends career with 54 T20Is and 15 ODIs to his name

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2024Namibia allrounder David Wiese said he is retiring from international cricket after their final T20 World Cup 2024 group stage match against England.After Wiese was dismissed by Jofra Archer in the final over of Namibia’s chase in a rain-curtailed match in North Sound, Archer and other England players walked over to shake his hand. He then raised his helmet and bat to the crowd as he walked off before being greeted by his team-mates, including captain Gerhard Erasmus, at the dugout.”I mean, [the next] T20 World Cup is still two years away, I’m 39 years old now, so , in terms of international cricket, I don’t know if there’s much left in me,” Wiese said in the post match press conference.Related

Never-say-die Wiese shows he has plenty of fight left in him

Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow rescue act keeps England alive

“Obviously, I [would] still like to play the game for a couple more years, I feel like I’ve still got a lot to contribute and a lot to play,” he said. “But I just feel like what better place to end a special career for me personally with Namibia. I’ve had a lot of good times with them and to play my last game for them possibly at a World Cup against a world-class team like England, it just seemed like the right time.”Wiese, who usually bats in the middle order, was promoted up the order to No. 3 with Namibia needing to chase 126 in 10 overs. He smashed 27 off 12 with two fours and two sixes before holing out at long-on, as England went on to register a comfortable victory.

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