All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Glasgow Rangers supporters still do not know who the club’s next head coach is going to be, as Ibrox chiefs continue to run the rule over a number of candidates.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that Andrew Cavenagh is set for face-to-face talks, alongside Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart at Rangers, with managers, including Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin.

The same report, though, added that Steven Gerrard, who won the Scottish Premiership with the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign, is still in the running for the job.

Part of what made the English manager’s team at Ibrox so successful was that they were able to successfully recruit domestic talent, including central midfielder Glen Kamara.

Why Glen Kamara was a key signing for Steven Gerrard

The Finland international, who came through the Arsenal academy, made his big breakthrough in senior football with Dundee in the Premiership, playing 64 games in 18 months at Dens Park.

Rangers swooped to sign him for £50k in the January window of 2019, as his deal was due to expire that summer, and it was a move that was later described as the “steal of the century” by Scott Arfield.

His 64 appearances for Dundee meant that Gerrard was bringing in a proven Premiership performer who could hit the ground running in the Premiership as an impact signing, rather than needing time as either a young player or as someone who was not used to Scottish football.

Kamara went on to play 193 games for Rangers, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists, before being sold to Leeds United for £5m in 2023.

He was a key signing for Gerrard, though, because his ability to hit the ground running allowed him to be a star from the get-go, and he went on to play a significant role in the title-winning side, starting 28 of the 38 league games and completing 91% of his attempted passes.

Rangers, and potentially Gerrard if he gets the job for a second time, could repeat that masterclass by swooping for another Dundee star this summer.

Rangers have held talks to sign Dundee star

According to Daily Record reporter Scott Burns, Rangers have held talks over a deal to sign Dundee right wing-back Josh Mulligan, who is out of contract, in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues have explored a move to land the 22-year-old ace, although they face competition from Charlton Athletic, but have put talks on hold for now until their managerial pursuit comes to an end.

Whilst talks are on hold for the defender, who was dubbed a future Scotland international by Kai Watson, the club should look to pursue this further as soon as possible because he could be Glen Kamara 2.0.

Why Josh Mulligan could be Glen Kamara 2.0

The versatile Scottish ace, who can play as a wing-back or as a central midfielder, as outlined by Watson, could be a repeat of the masterclass that Gerrard played with Kamara because he is a proven Premiership performer with time ahead of him to develop and improve.

Mulligan, who was described as a “Rolls-Royce” and as a “powerful” player by Simon Ferry, is only 22 but has already racked up 122 appearances for Dundee, 63 of which have come in the Premiership.

Appearances

34

Big chances created

9

Assists

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

Duels won per game

5.2

Error led to shot

0

Error led to goal

0

As you can see in the table above, the young defender offered solid defensive work, with zero errors that directly led to shots or goals, whilst also providing a creative outlet down the right flank.

These statistics show that Mulligan is a solid and reliable Premiership performer, despite his young age, in both his work in and out of possession, as he can step in to make vital tackles and interceptions without making many mistakes, and has an impact in the final third.

This means that the Ranger transfer target could follow in Kamara’s footsteps as a proven Premiership star coming to Ibrox directly from Dundee to hit the ground running in Glasgow.

Mulligan could make an instant impact on the pitch for the next manager, given his performances for Dundee in the division this season, and that is why he could be an excellent, and bargain on a free transfer, addition to the squad.

Ryan Kent 2.0: Rangers in strong position to sign "outstanding" star

Rangers are in a strong position to sign a star who could be their next Ryan Kent.

ByDan Emery May 28, 2025

With rumours continuing to surround Morgan Gibbs-White over his future at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly ready to take formal steps in the race to sign a potential replacement.

Man City plotting Gibbs-White swoop

Gibbs-White undoubtedly plays a huge role in everything positive Nuno Espirito Santo’s side do at the City Ground, meaning that clubs above them were always likely to keep a keen eye on his talents. Such is the ruthlessness of Premier League football, not even European football could stand in the way of Manchester City making their move successfully this summer.

The midfielder was once again at the centre of the action against West Ham United last time out, scoring a crucial opening goal to send Forest on their way to a crucial 2-1 victory at the London Stadium.

His seventh Premier League goal of the season to go alongside his eight assists, replacing Gibbs-White will be one of the toughest tasks that Nottingham Forest face this summer if he chooses to join Manchester City.

On that front, however, those at the City Ground have already reportedly been lining up a number of targets, including City’s own James McAtee. The young midfielder has struggled for game time at The Etihad and if Gibbs-White heads to Manchester, he could yet head in the opposite direction towards the Midlands this summer.

Unlike in recent years, it’s worth reiterating that Forest are now a European club again and should be in a far stronger position to attract top talent as a result. So, if it’s not McAtee who replaces Gibbs-White, it may well be a talented option from outside of English football.

Nottingham Forest readying Akliouche move

According to L’Equipe, Nottingham Forest are now ready to take formal steps in the race to sign Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco this summer in a deal worth as much as €60m (£51m). Battling against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain for the winger’s signature, Evangelos Marinakis should consider making his official move as soon as possible.

With the ability to play as both a winger and attacking midfielder, it should come as no surprise that Akliouche is on Forest’s shortlist to potentially replace Gibbs-White this summer. Even on the numbers front, the 23-year-old has almost mirrored the Forest star.

Starts

27

33

Goals

5

7

Assists

10

8

Key Passes

49

51

All signs point towards a player who’d be ready to step into the Premier League next season and step into European football with Nottingham Forest. Whether those at the City Ground win the competitive race to sign Akliouche remains to be seen, however.

Nottingham Forest ready bid for £70m England star with interest advanced

He produced a season-defining moment recently.

ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025

Described as “elegant” by Jacek Kulig, Akliouche is undeniably one to watch when the summer transfer window arrives. If Forest are looking to instantly ease their potential Gibbs-White problem, then the Frenchman should be a serious option.

With three matches left to play in the Premier League this season – on top of an FA Cup final in the middle of May – Manchester City still have a chance to cling onto some crumbs of pride from a sobering campaign.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men are now only three points off being on the same points total as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in second, whilst a FA Cup final victory at Wembley versus Crystal Palace would be an impressive hat-trick of successes for the Spaniard in the esteemed competition.

Restoring some pride now could also set City up for a Premier League title chase when the ball gets rolling for the eventual 2025/26 season, with the upcoming transfer window further giving the Citizens apt time to rebuild before going again.

Manchester City's midfield rebuild

Guardiola has already started to add new flavours to his regimented City side, seen in seven-goal hero Omar Marmoush immediately making an impression on the English game after a statement January move.

With Kevin De Bruyne exiting the building this summer, the midfield is in slight need of a revamp too, leading to City now being linked with players like Morgan Gibbs-White and now Barcelona ace Frenkie De Jong to bolster centrally.

Transfer Focus

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

As per reports from Spain, the Dutchman is an in-demand figure from a whole host of Premier League outfits, with Liverpool, Man CIty and Arsenal interested in signing the 27-year-old.

It’s further stated that a £34m bid could be made by Arne Slot’s title-winning Reds to try and tempt De Jong to Anfield, but City and the Gunners are still closely monitoring the Barca star’s situation to see if they can steal his services.

If De Jong can recapture the heights of his Ajax best at the Etihad, picking up such a talent for £34m will go down as a sterling bargain, with the 27-year-old also a potential upgrade on an ageing Gundogan if everything goes swimmingly.

Why De Jong could be a Gundogan upgrade

Before delving deeper into why the Dutchman might well be an inspired pick-up, it’s only right to look back at Gundogan when he was at his unbelievable peak in England.

After all, the German veteran hasn’t just fluked his sensational tally of 62 goals and 43 assists from 351 first-team appearances, but his numbers have been on an unfortunate slide this campaign.

Only five goal contributions have come his way in the Premier League this season, with De Jong amazingly only one off his ex-Borussia Dortmund’s counterpart’s total for the campaign back in La Liga.

This is a surprise considering the Barca number 21 has had many an injury setback to endure in the Camp Nou dressing room of late, but an impressive two goals and two assists have still managed to come his way, even as a mere seven league starts have been handed to him.

Games played

75

98

Games scored

6

13

Assists

6

18

Pass accuracy *

91.6%

87.3%

Progressive carries

3.37

2.20

Progressive passes

9.56

6.19

Passes into final 3rd

9.73

5.21

Tackles won

1.08

0.64

Aerials won

1.10

0.47

However, it’s over the last few seasons where we can really see the difference between the two players. Described by former Barca boss Xavi as “one of the best midfielders in the world”, he’s notably a more progressive passer and dribbler, with that no doubt a key attribute as Guardiola aims to refresh and rebuild his midfield.

Gundogan has, of course, displayed his class in the past for his current employers, but it does feel as if he’s reaching the end of his playing days now.

Whereas, De Jong – who has amassed 42 goal contributions and counting in Spain – has plenty of room to grow and impress, especially if he’s soon supplying the likes of Marmoush and Haaland with chances galore up top.

Rodri 2.0: Man City make "one of the best CMs in the world" a top target

Man City have earmarked potentially their next Rodri as a top target this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 2, 2025

Liverpool have won back the Premier League from Manchester City, five years after they last stoop atop the mountainous English pyramid.

Pep Guardiola’s side have broken records to win four in a row since Jurgen Klopp put Liverpool back on their perch, but City have fallen by the wayside this season and Arsenal have never managed to build the requisite consistency to end their recent runner-up reputation.

But consistency has been Arne Slot’s middle name this year, his first since replacing Klopp in the Anfield dugout and putting the Reds back in the ascendency.

It bears testament to FSG’s business model that already sporting director Richard Hughes is liaising with Michel Edwards ahead of the summer transfer window, with signings needed in defence and attack to protect this exciting new position at the summit.

Ryan Gravenberch, a revelation

Gravenberch is a Premier League-winning midfielder. The Dutchman has started every single match as Liverpool have capered toward the title, deeply set in the midfield soil, no way of being uprooted.

Who saw it coming? Many of a Liverpool persuasion will no doubt admit they had reservations after a stop-start 2023/24 campaign, his first in England after Klopp completed his midfield rebuild by signing the Bayern Munich prospect for a £34m fee at the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.

The Netherlands international, 22, has recently spoken of the adversity he has had to overcome after playing so infrequently last year, and while he’s looked a little sapped at times recently, Gravenberch has been “first-class all season” in the eyes of pundit Peter Crouch.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

34 (34)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

67.3

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.6

Duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (58%)

He’s effectively improved across every metric, turning from a meandering midfield prospect into a deep-lying general of surpassing quality.

However, Gravenberch has indeed alluded to the fact that he’s been overworked, and it’s something Slot and Hughes have considered, for Liverpool seem to be getting ready to sign a midfield rival this summer.

Liverpool ready to sign Premier League midfielder

According to reports, via Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing FA Cup hero Adam Wharton this summer and are preparing to lodge a £50m offer in the coming months.

Wharton, 21, has been a revelation at Crystal Palace and is not going to be short of suitors, with Arsenal and Manchester United also reported to be keen on doing a deal.

Though Liverpool’s title-winning midfield is probably the area of the pitch least in need of external assistance, Wharton might prove to complete the puzzle and maybe even leave Gravenberch sweating over the security of his starting berth.

Why Adam Wharton would be perfect for Liverpool

Crystal Palace produced a consummate performance against Aston Villa last weekend to set their place in next month’s FA Cup final. Wharton was among the standouts, with BBC pundit Shay Given even likening him to a rather well-respected midfielder of old.

Centre-midfielder Wharton left Blackburn Rovers in the Championship to sign for the Eagles for an initial £18m fee, leaving the club that had reared him.

He’s not going to have looked back, striking from the get-go a reputation for his slick passing and composed stride in the centre of the park.

His renown has burgeoned over the past 15 months, reaching its apotheosis (so far) after dismantling a Villa side at Wembley to move within touching distance of a first major trophy in Palace’s long history.

As per FBref, Wharton ranks among the top 5% of Premier League midfielders this season for progressive passes, the top 9% for ball recoveries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions made per 90, perfectly illustrating his elite passing game, crisp as you like while being creative too. He’s also a thoroughbred athlete, covering so much ground.

It’s a similar profile to that of Gravenberch. Although the argument that he’s performing such metrics to a lesser standard is there. It’s recorded that the Dutchman ranks among the top 31% of said midfielders for progressive passes, but also among the bottom 36% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Given that both players operate in positionally similar zones, it’s easy to ascertain that Wharton is the better man in distribution. Moreover, he doesn’t shirk from his defensive duties either, winning 1.8 tackles per Premier League game this season, as per Sofascore.

There’s nothing to say that these two players couldn’t work in conjunction within Slot’s Liverpool set-up, but there’s little question that Gravenberch lacks the natural-born seamlessness in possession. Not to say it’s a tactical deficiency of his, but rather, a glowing endorsement of Wharton’s talent.

The fact is, Gravenberch has lulled, and while he has areas that eclipse that of Palace’s man, the semblance between the two, which still manages to contrast and show off distinctive qualities, suggests that Liverpool would hit the jackpot in forging ahead with a deal for Selhurst Park’s midfield star.

Slot’s finely-wrought system hasn’t seen too much tinkering this term, but Wharton would be able to ply his work effectively at number six, fitting in for Gravenberch and given the opportunity to make the role his own.

He’s demonstrated his capacity on the big occasion, with esteemed journalist Henry Winter describing Wharton as a “passing machine” and the “best player on the pitch” during the FA Cup semi-final.

You could even make the strong claim that the one-cap England international has the superior ball-playing game to Gravenberch and may well be a more fitting number six in Slot’s flowing system.

In any case, having both in the mix would hardly be a bad thing; indeed, this is exactly the type of move that Liverpool need to make so as to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League.

Bad news for Diaz: Liverpool have firm interest in £70m "game-changer"

Liverpool’s reported interest in this Premier League star could be bad news for Luis Diaz.

ByDan Emery Apr 26, 2025

Manchester United’s dismal season in the Premier League continued to hit new lows after a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Vitor Pereira’s side, who have been battling relegation all season, are now level on points with the Red Devils on 58 points, only behind them on goal difference.

A stunning free-kick from Pablo Sarabia was the difference between the two sides in Manchester, as a moment of quality decided the match in a stadium where that has often been the case for the home team in the Premier League era.

A lack of quality sums up where United are at this moment in time – sat 14th in the league table – and their selection of strikers is a damning indictment on the recruitment work done behind the scenes in recent years.

Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta in a £72m deal in 2023, started against Wolves and failed to score, which means that he has scored three goals in 28 Premier League matches.

Joshua Zirkzee was unavailable and is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, but he has rarely provided the quality that United need in the final third.

Why Man Utd could move on from Joshua Zirkzee

The Red Devils reportedly paid a fee of £36.5m to sign the Netherlands international from Serie A side Bologna last summer to compete with Hojlund for a spot in the starting line-up.

Unfortunately, neither of them have performed well enough to nail down the position of Manchester United’s first-choice number nine, instead taking turns at struggling at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League.

Zirkzee has started 14 of his 32 appearances in the division, which shows that he has failed to perform well enough to be a consistent starter, and scored three goals from 4.82 xG in that time.

Non-penalty xG

0.31

Bottom 36%

Non-penalty goals

0.19

Bottom 16%

Shots

1.89

Bottom 9%

Assists

0.06

Bottom 19%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.10

Bottom 41%

Shot-creating actions

1.99

Bottom 31%

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch centre-forward ranks incredibly lowly among strikers in the Premier League in a host of key goalscoring metrics.

These statistics show that Zirkzee does not get into high-quality goalscoring positions on a regular basis and that he fails to make the most of his opportunities when they do come his way.

The former Bayern Munich gem turns 24 next month, almost two years older than Hojlund, and could be moved on this summer to make room for a new striker. He cost more than £30m less than the Danish prospect, which could make it more appealing to sell to limit any losses on their initial outlay.

Man Utd reach agreement with £30m striker

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Manchester United have already reached an agreement with Victor Osimhen and his representatives ahead of a possible transfer.

The report claims that the Red Devils have struck a deal with the Nigeria international ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

It reveals that Osimhen wants to move to the Premier League to take the next step in his career, and he has now given the green light to a transfer to Old Trafford.

The outlet adds that a permanent exit from Napoli is on the cards for the striker this summer, despite his contract not ending until 2026, and that a fee of up to £30m could be enough to secure his services.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst an agreement may have been reached with Osimhen and his representatives, Manchester United still need to agree a deal with the Italian club to ensure that the forward is part of Ruben Amorim’s squad for the 2025/26 campaign.

The agreement with the player does suggest that they are closing in on the Galatasaray loanee, though, and that may not be good news for Zirkzee and his future in Manchester.

Why Manchester United should sign Victor Osimhen

The Red Devils must continue on their path to signing Osimhen from Napoli this summer because he could come in to solve the problems that they have had in the striker position this season.

The 26-year-old marksman is a prolific and reliable goalscorer who has proven his quality at the top end of the pitch in recent seasons, in Italy, France, and Turkey, whilst the United front two have struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign in the Premier League.

24/25

Galatasaray

33

29

23/24

Napoli

32

17

22/23

Napoli

39

31

21/22

Napoli

32

18

20/21

Napoli

30

10

19/20

Lille

35

17

As you can see in the table above, Osimhen has scored 17 goals or more in five of the last six seasons for Lille, Napoli, and Galatasaray, with a staggering 29 goals in 33 matches in the current campaign.

The Napoli forward, who was once described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, was particularly impressive in the 2022/23 Serie A season, scoring 26 goals to guide his side to the title.

Zirkzee, meanwhile, has only scored seven goals in 48 matches in all competitions in his debut year in England, which would be Osimhen’s lowest tally in any of his last six years.

This suggests that Osimhen, who currently ranks within the top 1% of forwards in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.98), would come in as a significant upgrade on both Zirkzee and Hojlund due to his ability to consistently and reliably find the back of the net, adapting to new countries and leagues with ease.

In terms of what that would mean for the current United strikers, Zirkzee being older and less expensive than Hojlund could result in him being the one to be sent packing to make room for the Nigerian striker ahead of next season.

Therefore, the news that United have reached an agreement with Osimhen should come as bad news to the Dutch attacker, whose days at Old Trafford may already be numbered.

He's "like Palmer": Man Utd keen to step up move for £100m Semenyo rival

Man Utd could be ready to break the bank for a standout Premier League sensation

ByRobbie Walls Apr 19, 2025

It is now down to the board to ensure that they can reach an agreement with Napoli, whether that is for a fee of £30m or not, to bolster Amorim’s attacking options.

Liverpool have reportedly “identified” a “fantastic” replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, with the player in question excelling in the Premier League this season.

Trent's Liverpool future still unknown

With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk tied down to their respective new two-year deals in recent weeks, Reds supporters have been able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

That said, there are still huge doubts surrounding the future of Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, with the vice-captain heavily linked with a move from his boyhood club to Real Madrid.

The fact that the 26-year-old has done little to play down the rumours at any point suggests that his head may well have been turned by a high-profile summer switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, in a decision that would have the potential to harm his legacy at Anfield.

If Alexander-Arnold does leave Liverpool this summer, it is vital that a top-quality replacement comes in, with SC Freiburg’s Kiliann Sildillia mentioned as a target. Bayer Leverkusen ace Jeremie Frimpong has also been backed to join the Reds, having shone under Xabi Alonso for the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Liverpool eyeing "fantastic" Trent replacement

According to an update from Caught Offside on Sunday, Liverpool have “identified” Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina as a new target and option to replace Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season, assuming he leaves.

The 28-year-old has shone for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side throughout the 2024/25 campaign, proving to be a key player in their push for unlikely Champions League qualification.

The £40,000-a-week Aina is a strong option for Liverpool alongside the likes of Sildillia and Frimpong this summer, with his performances for Forest showing what an asset he could be.

The Nigerian has averaged 2.9 clearances and 0.4 aerial duel wins per game in the Premier League across 30 appearances, which is superior to Alexander-Arnold’s tallies in that area, as the table below illustrates.

Appearances

30

28

Starts

30

26

Minutes played

2575

2158

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

6

Clearances per game

2.9

1.6

Aerial duel wins per game

0.4

0.1

Interceptions per game

1.0

1.1

Aina has also been lauded for one attacking moment of quality earlier this season, with Glenn Murray full of praise for his goal against Aston Villa:

“Sometimes when you come on to a shot like that the temptation can be to leather the ball with your laces. But, it’s a side foot, it’s controlled and it’s a fantastic finish, it really is.”

At 28, Aina is two years older than Alexander-Arnold, however, and wouldn’t necessarily represent a long-term option for Liverpool, which is arguably the biggest negative against them signing him.

Nunez upgrade: Liverpool likely to see £50m bid accepted for "mini-Salah"

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Darwin Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 20, 2025

The Reds would arguably be wiser to look at younger targets, such as those mentioned above, allowing them to sign someone with more scope to improve as the years pass.

Arsenal might be second in the Premier League and in a Champions League quarter-final, but their biggest weakness, aside from injuries, is evident: scoring goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side produced the best defence in the league last season and look set to do the same this year, but as things stand, they have scored 15 goals fewer than Liverpool and as many as Tottenham Hotspur, which is not good enough for a team who want to win it all.

So, it’s no surprise then, that since Andrea Berta was announced as the club’s new Sporting Director last week, the rumours coming out of the Emirates have all been around signing a new striker, with Viktor Gyokeres the most prominent link of the lot.

The Swedish international would be an incredible addition to the side, but one that might not have been necessary had Arteta and Co not sold their own promising forward in the past.

The strikers sold by Arteta

So, before we get to the striker in question, it’s worth going over a few of the others sold or let go during Arteta’s tenure, starting with Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun.

Now, to give the manager credit, the sale of both Hale Enders now looks like excellent business, as since his £30m departure last summer, Nketiah has only scored five goals and provided two assists in 28 appearances for Crystal Palace, which is not what they would have been hoping for considering his price tag.

Likewise, while Balogun started life with AS Monaco well enough, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 32 appearances last season, he has since added just three goals in 12 games this year, which, again, is not the sort of output the club would have wanted from a £34m purchase.

Now, a striker who has thrived since his departure from the Emirates in the summer of 2022 is Alexandre Lacazette.

In his first season back at Lyon, the Frenchman racked up a sensational haul of 37 goal involvements in 39 games, then managed 26 in 35 last season and has so far amassed 16 goal involvements in 35 games this year.

However, while having the Lyon-born poacher in the squad over the last few seasons would have been useful, he came to the end of his contract when he left, and it was clear he wanted to return to his former club.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to see any logical reason why the striker, who could have been the Gunners’ own Gyokeres, was sold last summer.

The striker who could have been Arsenal's Gyokeres

While the most notable sale of a forward from Arsenal last summer was that of Nketiah, Arteta and Co also sanctioned the sale of Mika Biereth to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz for just £4m plus a 25% sell-on clause.

Now, there is an argument to be made that considering the Dane had never even made a competitive appearance for the club, getting a fee like that for him was good business.

However, the counter to that was the fact that he had just come off a season in which he scored 15 goals and provided nine assists across loan spells with Motherwell and Sturm Graz, suggesting he was a promising goalscoring talent.

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.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, it appears as if the fee they got wasn’t great as in the first half of this season, the “crazy” talent, as dubbed by former GOAL reporter Robin Bairner, reached another level and scored 14 goals and provided five assists in just 25 appearances.

This incredible run of form was enough to turn heads in Ligue 1, and AS Monaco decided to sign him for just £10.8m plus £1.75m in add-ons in the winter window.

Appearances

25

14

Minutes

1971′

1026′

Goals

14

12

Assists

5

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.76

1.07

Minutes per Goal Involvements

103.73′

68.4′

Since moving to a top-five league, the Danish marksman has gotten better and has so far scored 12 goals and provided three assists in just 14 appearances.

That means the 22-year-old phenomenon has managed to rack up a sensational haul of 26 goals and eight assists in 39 appearances, totalling 2997 minutes.

In other words, he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.14 games, or even more impressively, every 88.14 minutes.

It’s this obscene rate of return, plus the fact they are both 6 foot 2 and Scandinavian, that makes the former Arsenal ace so similar to the Sporting CP star.

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Gyokeres may well be just what Arsenal need in the summer.

However, had they not sold Biereth for such a small fee last year, signing a new striker might not even be a necessity.

His agents will be in London: Arsenal step up move for £58m Sesko upgrade

The “complete” striker would be incredible for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 7, 2025

After the weekend defeat in the Premier League, what Arsenal really needed in the Champions League on Wednesday evening was a straightforward victory.

Thankfully for Mikel Arteta’s men, that’s exactly what they got, swatting aside Belgian side Club Brugge 3-0 with relative ease.

The Gunners were at their free-flowing best in the final third, notably scoring two outstanding goals courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke.

It was a much-changed side as Arteta chose to rotate and many in red and white in midweek staked their claim for more regular opportunities.

Arsenal's standout performers against Club Brugge

This was a fantastic night for Arsenal’s wingers. With Leandro Trossard injured and Bukayo Saka part of the rested crew on the bench, it meant that Martinelli and Madueke started on the left and right flanks respectively.

Both players have struggled with injuries this season but Martinelli, in particular, has made an impact nearly every time he’s played.

The Brazilian scored the away side’s third and final goal on Wednesday, a beauty from the edge of the area.

That happened to be his fifth goal in his last five Champions League ties, the first player in Arsenal history to record such a statistic.

That said, his colleague on the opposite wing was even better. This was his finest day in Arsenal colours yet.

Signed from Chelsea in the summer, every man and his dog seemed to question why on earth Andrea Berta and Co had brought Madueke to the Emirates Stadium. Well, safe to say he’s proved everyone wrong.

The Englishman bagged his first goal for the club against Bayern Munich a few weeks ago and added two more to his tally this week.

His first was a scorcher from distance. The Arsenal winger burst away from his marker, headed towards the box and then unleashed a fierce effort which crashed off the bar and found the net.

By contrast, his second goal was about as simple as they come. Martin Zubimendi’s cross from the left found Madueke who headed home from a matter of yards out.

There were a number of real positives for Arsenal. It was great to see Gabriel Jesus back on the pitch for the first time after suffering an ACL injury back in January.

Emergency centre-half, Christian Norgaard, also stood out at the back, part of a backline that kept a clean sheet.

With Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber all missing through injury, it meant a rare opportunity for the Dane and he took it with aplomb, even if he was playing out of position.

That being said, it wasn’t the finest of nights for another of Arsenal’s summer signings.

Arsenal's worst performer against Club Brugge

This was an evening for those on the fringes to stake their claim. Madueke, Martinelli and Norgaard all took their chances.

Viktor Gyokeres, on the other hand, did not. The question that was raised after this game was, when do we start to worry about the Swede?

When Berta first arrived in north London, his priority task was to find a new striker and one capable of scoring goals.

Well, it looked as though he’d acquired one of Europe’s finest. This is a player who bagged 54 times in 52 games last term for Sporting CP but he has so far failed to translate that form in English football.

To be fair to him, he has largely been starved of service. Arsenal struggle to create clear-cut opportunities for him to score from and that was the same story against Brugge this week.

Chalkboard

The only chance of note that Gyokeres had came in the first half but it was a half-chance at best, heading the ball straight into the arms of the goalkeeper with a few bodies challenging for the same ball.

Gyokeres did leave the field with three shots to his name but none of them were that noteworthy, which seems to be a familiar trend from his time in north London to date.

That said, the Sweden international does need to be doing more. Even if he has just returned from injury, his 45-minute cameo against Aston Villa at the weekend, combined with his 60-odd minutes on Wednesday, were not good enough.

Minutes played

62

Touches

12

Accurate passes

5/6 (83%)

Key passes

1

Crosses

0

Shots

3

Shots on target

1

Successful dribbles

0

Ground duels won

0/3

Aerial duels won

2/3

He had just 12 touches of the ball in Belgium, 25 fewer than goalkeeper David Raya. Furthermore, he also managed just five passes.

There is a sense that Gyokeres has vastly improved his hold-up play and ability to link things together at the top of this Arsenal team since signing from Sporting. However, he was brought to London to score goals and he’s simply not doing that with any regularity right now.

It is only December. We must not completely write off the big-money attacker before he’s had a full season. For now, however, it doesn’t look great.

Arsenal have looked a much better team with Mikel Merino as the number 9 and you’d expect him to start against Wolves in that role on Saturday night ahead of Gyokeres.

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Arsenal have identified a marquee Nottingham Forest star as one of their top transfer targets heading into 2026, according to a report this week.

Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta splashed nearly £270 million on new recruits last summer, and the Italian’s investments have paid dividends thus far.

This was evident in the North London derby last weekend, when Arsenal put arch rivals Tottenham to the sword in a 4-1 win, piling pressure on Thomas Frank and cementing Mikel Arteta’s side as the overwhelming Premier League title favourites.

A hat-trick from summer signing Eberechi Eze, who was once on the verge of joining Spurs before Berta hijacked the deal, and Leandro Trossard’s strike saw Arsenal claim all the bragging rights on Sunday while extending their lead at the top of the table to six points.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Another new recruit, Piero Hincapie, was also handed his first Premier League start by Arteta with star defender Gabriel Magalhaes sidelined due to a thigh injury.

The Ecuadorian shone in Gabriel’s stead, with Arteta hailing his exceptional display against Spurs on the eve of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Arsenal’s water-tight backline is one of the major reasons why they’re top of the pile and unbeaten in all competitions since August, with Arteta very well-stocked in defence after both Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera’s arrivals in the summer.

Both men have performed exceptionally when called upon, but according to Spanish media sources, Berta and co are still planning to reinforce their backline in future windows.

Arsenal identify Nottingham Forest star Murillo as top target

Indeed, it is now believed that Arsenal have identified Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo as a priority transfer target, entering a three-way battle with Chelsea and Barcelona for the Brazilian’s signature.

Arteta has apparently earmarked the young defender as crucial to strengthening his backline for the long term.

The Spanish tactician particularly values Murillo’s ball-playing prowess, ability to break defensive lines and his left-footed profile, which Arteta believes would bring even more balance to Arsenal’s central defence.

However, Forest have set a large price tag for their defensive jewel, and Evangelos Marinakis could charge up to £79 million for Murillo to ward off potential suitors like Arsenal.

Since arriving from Brazil, Murillo has become a cornerstone of Forest’s backline.

The 23-year-old’s links with a move away are nothing new, and Arsenal have been named as suitors for Murillo even before now. Despite their many options at the back, Berta’s admiration for the South American hasn’t gone away, and it is clear to see why.

Murillo ended 2024/2025 as Forest’s best-performer by average match rating in the Premier League last season, according to WhoScored, with only Matz Sels and Nikola Milenkovic playing more minutes than the ex-Corinthians sensation.

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is now open to leaving the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window, with the Premier League giants setting his price tag.

The Dutchman has been a fantastic servant for the Citizens since arriving from Bournemouth back in 2020, winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies.

That said, the 30-year-old has seen his playing time become more limited under Pep Guardiola this season, making only one start in the league, as well as making four substitute appearances in the competition.

Ake is now into the final two years of his current deal at City, with his contract running until the summer of 2027, so there are decisions to be made by both him and the club.

The Sky Blues may want to cash in on him while they still have time, assuming they don’t see a long-term future for him, and the player himself will no doubt like the idea of enjoying more regular playing time.

Ake wants to leave as Man City set £31m price tag

According to Caught Offside, the battle to sign Manchester City ace Ake is hotting up ahead of the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus and Crystal Palace all mentioned as options.

It is claimed that the Citizens are open to a deal and want as much as £31m for the Netherlands international. Ake wants to be earning more minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is looking to leave the club in January.

It does feel as though Ake’s time at City is reaching its natural conclusion, during a period in which so many members of the club’s title-winning sides have moved on, not least Kevin De Bruyne earlier this year.

The centre-back is understandably open to the idea of a fresh challenge, given Guardiola’s current stance on him, even though the Spaniard has lauded him as “incredible” in the past.

If Ake does leave City, he will be remembered as a great servant who has done so much for the cause in the past five years, with his ability to thrive at both centre-back and left-back proving to be priceless.

Whoever does potentially sign will be getting an excellent player who still has plenty to offer in his career, with Guardiola also saying of him: “I don’t think you can ever find a single teammate of his who has anything bad to say about him. Both at his clubs and with the Dutch national team. He’s very competitive and I wish he could play a season without injuries, but sometimes you run into those kinds of things. I adore him as a person and as a player.”

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