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In what would cause Mikel Arteta the ultimate blow this summer, Real Madrid are now reportedly planning to go all out in pursuit of one Arsenal star in a record-breaking deal.
Out of the Carabao Cup after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United across two legs and forced to watch on as Liverpool potentially turn a six-point gap into nine with their game in hand against Everton next week, Arsenal will be in no mood for Madrid to come knocking. But knocking they may well come to deal the Gunners their biggest blow yet this summer.
It was also a disappointing month or so for the Gunners on the transfer front, having failed to welcome a single reinforcement. It did look as though they would bite the bullet and pursue a striker late in the window when they shocked Aston Villa with a last-gasp bid for Ollie Watkins, but the Villans were offended rather than tempted by their bid.
Whether their mood changes when the summer arrives remains to be seen, but those in North London may well be tasked with keeping hold of their own star man first and foremost.
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According to RMC Sport, Real Madrid are now willing to go all out to sign William Saliba from Arsenal this summer in a deal that would cost the Spaniards a record fee for a defender – eclipsing Harry Maguire’s £80m move from Leicester City to Manchester United in 2019.
Should Madrid come calling, Arsenal may face a familiar fight to keep hold of the Frenchman. It’s a battle up against Spanish opposition that they’ve lost in the past, of course, when the likes of Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas both failed to resist the temptation of Barcelona.
To lose Saliba now, just when doubt is beginning to creep into Arteta’s project, would be an undeniable blow for Arsenal and one which could bring them crashing back down out of the Premier League title picture altogether.
At 23 years old, the Frenchman is the heir to Virgil van Dijk’s Premier League throne and has all the ability in the world to lead Arsenal to glory at last, but turning Real Madrid down would certainly take some strength – especially if the Gunners fail to strengthen around him.
Arteta has been well aware of Saliba’s prowess since his Premier League debut, telling reporters in 2022 after he made his first start against Brentford: “Saliba was superb. For his age, he is built really well. You need the right balance. Physicality in this league is something where you can’t come up short. If you do, you will be exposed.”
Since then, the only way has been up for the Frenchman who could yet be offered the chance to follow in Henry and Fabregas’ footsteps by swapping Arsenal for one of La Liga’s big-hitters. When the summer arrives, Saliba could have the ultimate choice to make.
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Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table on Monday night after a dramatic 2-1 win over fellow promotion-chasers Sunderland at Elland Road.
The Whites found themselves 1-0 down heading into the half-time break after Wilson Isidor got the better of Ethan Ampadu inside the box and rifled an effort in off the far post.
Before the match, Football FanCast suggested that Pascal Struijk should have been brought in to silence the French forward, but Daniel Farke stuck by his captain in the centre-back position and it was a call that did not pay off in the opening 45 minutes.
The Dutch central defender eventually got onto the pitch in the second half, but it was his play at the other end of the pitch that ultimately made the difference.
Struijk, who recently returned from injury, was not selected to start alongside Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence, as Ampadu was preferred in the left-sided centre-back position.
Performance in Numbers
The left-footed titan won his only aerial battle from a defensive perspective but did not have to make any tackles, interceptions, clearances, or blocks, as his team were in the ascendancy towards the end of the match.
Instead, Struijk was needed at the other end of the pitch and it was his deft flick of the head to divert a set-piece into the back of the net, as Luke O’Nien failed to make a clearance on the line.
As you can see in the clip above, the former Ajax defender then sent the stadium into pandemonium with another header to win the match for the Whites in stoppage time.
Whilst, understandably, Struijk will take the headlines after coming off the bench to turn the game around with two goals as a centre-back, it was Joe Rothwell who was the real hero for Daniel Farke on the night.
The Bournemouth loanee came on at the same time as Struijk when the German head coach made the bold call to withdraw Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka from the match, placing Rothwell and Ampadu in the middle of the park.
It was a masterstroke of a move by the former Norwich City head coach as it allowed the English midfield maestro to get on the ball and dictate the play.
Rothwell only had 23 touches of the ball, fewer than Illan Meslier’s 33, but that was still an average of more than one per minute due to the lateness of his introduction.
|
Vs Sunderland |
Joe Rothwell |
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
19 |
|
Pass accuracy |
100% (19/19) |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Cross accuracy |
100% (3/3) |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder was incredibly efficient with his play in possession, completing 100% of his passes and crosses, and was integral to both goals.
It was a beautiful delivery from a free-kick for the equaliser, but his assist for the second was even better. Most players may have taken the first opportunity to cross the ball in on their strong foot but Rothwell had the presence of mind to sell the defender and move into the box before whipping the ball towards goal to create more danger.
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That intelligent piece of play turned what may have been a speculative outswinging cross into a huge chance for Struijk to head into an empty net from a couple of feet out.
Therefore, Rothwell was the real hero on the night for Farke because it was his sensational creative play that, ultimately, provided the centre-back with the chances to be the match-winner.
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Leeds United are in a promising position for promotion even despite Saturday’s draw with West Brom, but there is a collective realisation that squad surgery this summer could be required in a couple of positions.
Daniel Farke could only watch as his side were held in a somewhat frustrating Saturday lunch time encounter with West Brom, as they racked up 15 shots but only put two on target, settling for a point courtesy of Darnell Furlong cancelling out Junior Firpo’s opener.
Still, the German will be delighted with Leeds’ position in the hunt for a return to the Premier League, and there is plenty to be done in Yorkshire to ensure his squad possesses sufficient depth to handle the rigours of next season.
Irrespective of what league his side ply their trade in later down the line, the Whites have been linked with several statement moves for high-calibre stars that could revolutionise Farke’s project at Elland Road.
Recently, Leeds United’s interest in Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn has become public knowledge. Capable of playing on either flank, the former Bayern Munich man has been an impressive force north of the border with 18 goals to his name this campaign.
Continuing the theme of exciting potential arrivals, AC Milan loanee Tammy Abraham is an ambitious target for the Whites after a spell at San Siro where he has struggled to fire with regularity.
His previous experience in the Premier League and homegrown status would appeal should promotion come to fruition. Over the last few years, the tale of new top-flight sides being unable to retain their place in the division has been all too common, so you need to be equipped for the challenge that may lie ahead.
|
Leeds United’s last five league finishes |
|
|
2023/24 – Championship |
3rd |
|
2022/23 – Premier League |
19th |
|
2021/22 – Premier League |
17th |
|
2020/21 – Premier League |
9th |
|
2019/20 – Championship |
1st |
Farke will be aware of this having experienced a similar fate at Norwich City, where he was dismissed with his side sitting adrift in the hunt for survival after 11 matches in 2021/22. Undoubtedly, he is keen to avoid a prospective repeat scenario, and Paul Robinson has urged the Leeds United boss to act in the market by securing the services of an England international.
Speaking to Football Insider, Paul Robinson has urged Leeds United to sign Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer, with the outlet confirming the Whites leadership are “planning” to replace Illan Meslier with a new signing.
He explained: “The big one Leeds should look at is Aaron Ramsdale. If Leeds are in the Premier League next year, keen an eye on Aaron Ramsdale’s situation. You’ve got to admire his attitude, the way he’s gone to Southampton and played a lot of this season injured, playing in a team that’s struggled.
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“He’s not wanted to be part of a title-challenging team or Champions League side as a cup goalkeeper, he’s gone to Southampton to play week in, week out. I think he’s a top-class goalkeeper and would be a huge addition for Leeds. That’s going to be a key position for Leeds next year.”
Despite Southampton’s struggles in the Premier League, Ramsdale has made 86 saves this season and the former Arsenal man, who joined the Saints for £25 million, has also recorded a pass completion rate of 87% in his own half.
Keeping two clean sheets in 19 top-flight appearances, the England international looks primed for a new challenge to keep his hopes alive of featuring in the Three Lions’ World Cup squad in 2026. Leeds may be the ideal environment for him to keep developing, but they will likely need to secure promotion before the possibility can advance to becoming a feasible pursuit.
Liverpool’s Champions League exit makes a firm comment on the importance of the summer ahead.
Ultimately, Paris Saint-Germain were better than Arne Slot’s side, deserving winners over the course of the two legs. But some fans will no doubt feel aggrieved by rather uninspiring attacking play. Effort and ability abounded in red in the home fixture, but a 1-0 defeat led to an agonising exit in the shootout, Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missing.
To follow a hackneyed saying: penalties are a lottery. However, there was something emblematic about Nunez’s strike, not poor, per se, but confidently saved by Gigi Donnarumma to raise an already confident French side and see them finish the job.
This time next week, Liverpool may have retained their Carabao Cup throne, sitting as runaway Premier League leaders besides. But the pain was clear after losing their place among Europe’s elite until we go again, as football invariably does, next season.
Mohamed Salah is known to wear his heart on his Red sleeve, and indeed he cut a disconsolate figure as the Parisens rejoiced under the Anfield lights. Perhaps it’s futile to read into it, but you can’t help but wonder if this was his final foray on the European stage for the Merseysiders.
Out of contract at the end of the season, 32-year-old Salah is approaching the final phase of his prime. He joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017 and has since lifted almost every major honour, leading the charge toward his and Anfield’s second Premier League title in its contemporary branding.
With 243 goals and 110 assists across 393 appearances, there’s no question Salah’s one of the finest forwards of his generation, and FSG are intent on tying him down for the next few years, within reason, of course.
Therein lies the problem. Salah is already Liverpool’s highest-paid player in history on £350k per week, and while he’s a supreme athlete and matchless goalscorer from the right flank, there’s no certainty that he will still be firing at full throttle for the next two seasons.
|
Mohamed Salah vs PSG (24/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
1st leg (A) |
2nd leg (H) |
|
Minutes played |
86′ |
120′ |
|
Goals |
0 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
0 |
|
Touches |
41 |
85 |
|
Shots (on target) |
0 (0) |
4 (1) |
|
Accurate passes |
19/22 (86%) |
40/53 (75%) |
|
Key passes |
0 |
2 |
|
Possession lost |
16x |
31x |
|
Dribbles |
0/4 |
3/7 |
|
Duels won |
0/8 |
6/16 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
He will be dismayed that he couldn’t do more in the last 16 of the Champions League, hungering for a second bite at the incomparable cherry, but Salah is about to dethrone four-in-a-row Premier League champions Manchester City, posting 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions.
To replace him would take something special, someone proven to have enough to breach Slot’s backline. So then, who do the Reds have in mind?
Not the most popular name on Liverpool territory right now, but Ousmane Dembele, 27, has been one of the best players in Europe this season and is rivalling Salah for the Ballon d’Or title.
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And according to Spanish reports, the France international has been earmarked as a potential Salah replacement, having followed him for a long time.
It’s noted that the Anfield board are admirers of his ‘speed, and his effectiveness in front of goal’.
As a result, they are now willing to submit an offer of around €100m (£84m) to PSG. Such a lofty price tag would make this a difficult deal to navigate, but the allure of Premier League football after hitting his prime might hold sway in a potential summer saga.
It’s becoming clear that Dembele’s incredible form has stretched beyond that of a ‘purple patch.’ Indeed, having scored 21 goals since the start of 2025 (29 from 36 since the start of the season), he is turning into one of the finest in the business. In actual fact, he’s been even more prolific than that man Salah this season, scoring every 1.2 games to the Egyptian’s 1.3.
As such, the Times’ Peter Rutzler has even proclaimed that PSG boss Luis Enrique has “transformed Dembele into Europe’s most prolific forward.” Is there any reason to doubt this right now?
Absolutely not. Dembele ranks among the top 1% of forwards across the whole of Europe for goals scored (1.00), the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% again for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
Moreover, he has proved that he can throw down with the best of them on the continental stage, bagging eight goal involvements from ten Champions League fixtures and indeed scoring at Anfield en route to besting Slot’s Reds.
Over those two-legged ties, it’s safe to say he got the better of the great Virgil van Dijk and his defensive colleagues, amassing seven dribbles, three key passes and five shots on target.
Development in football is not linear. Kylian Mbappé and Yamine Lamal, for example, might have achieved superstardom at a prodigious age but Salah did not hit staggering heights until he signed for Liverpool in a £34m deal aged 25.
Dembele’s career progression line has been a curious thing. A rip-roaring start to the senior stage saw him earn a transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, rising to £135.5m, when he was merely 20 years old. It’s probably fair to say it didn’t quite work out at Camp Nou.
And at PSG, for a long while, the Les Bleus star has struggled to break from the shadow of iconic figures such as Mbappé, Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi, but now, as the main man, he has finally hit full bloom.
With only six assists across all competitions this term, Dembele does not possess Salah’s creative ingenuity, though he is imbued with a new-found level of confidence and prolificness of a player belatedly coming into their own.
While it would cost FSG a pretty penny, Dembele is one of the hottest properties on the market right now, interchangeable and effective from all three prongs of the attacking trident. Slot would relish the addition of such a player, with pace, potency and power combined.
Should Salah leave, Liverpool would do very well to find a more suitable forward.
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Manchester United are eyeing a move for a Championship player in the summer with Ruben Amorim keen to add strength in numbers to his team, according to a new report.
United extended their unbeaten run in the top flight to three games on Sunday as they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, edging themselves further away from the Premier League’s bottom three and all but ending their rivals’ title hopes.
Amorim’s side took the lead on the day through a superb Bruno Fernandes free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and they had chances to extend their lead in the second period, but were punished for their wastefulness in the 74th minute when Declan Rice stroked home the equaliser from the edge of box.
Nevertheless, the result was a huge scalp for United, who have been desperately struggling this season, and Amorim was full of praise for his side afterwards.
One man who couldn’t escape critcism, however, was goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was slammed by former United defender Gary Neville for a save he made late on, which saw him parry the ball straight into the path of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli to present the Brazilian with a clear chance at goal, which luckily, he spurned.
“Gabriel Martinelli hangs his head but he will be happy the offside flag went up. But that was really poor goalkeeping from Andre Onana,” said Neville on Sky Sports.
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This isn’t the first time Onana has been criticised this season, with the former Ajax and Inter Milan having faced the wrath of both the media and the United fans on a number of occasions following several mishaps between the sticks.
Currently, there is only Turkey international Altay Bayindir to provide him with competition for the number one jersey, but according to journalist Alan Nixon, Amorim is keen on bringing in more competition for him in the summer in the form of Blackburn shot stopper Aynsley Pears.
According to Nixon, United want “a home grown keeper to join their squad” for 2025/26, and Pears is currently on their shortlist. The Red Devils have already sent former goalkeeper and specialist scout Tony Coton to watch Pears in action, as they hope to identify a “seasoned professional” who can “compete for the number one slot” at Old Trafford.
Pears, whose father, Stephen Pears, played for United between 1979 and 1985, has started all but one of Blackburn’s 36 Championship games this season, keeping 13 clean sheets.
For United fans hoping that Pears will be less error-prone than Onana if he completes a move to Old Trafford, however, they may want to think again. Back in April of last year, the Englishman scored a quite comical own goal in a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, slicing a clearance into the back of his own net.