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The Arsenal squad is having a "laugh" at Erling Haaland's ominous form, with Jorginho insisting that they don't fear the Manchester City terminator.

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• Haaland unleashing terror in Premier League
• Has scored nine in four games
• Yet Jorginho remains unfazed by the striker's form

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After setting the Premier League alight with a record-breaking 36 goals in his debut campaign and another 27 in 2023-24, theNorwegian forward has shown no signs of slowing down. His brace in City’s recent 2-1 victory over Brentford saw him break Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goals scored in the first four Premier League games of a season, further cementing his status as the most deadly striker in the English top-flight.

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  WHAT JORGINHO SAID

  Despite the City striker’s astonishing nine goals scored so far, Gunners midfielder Jorginho is more amused than alarmed by Haaland's relentless scoring.

  "Erling scoring again is starting to make us laugh! We laugh because we look at all the games and we love football," he said.

  Jorginho was quick to emphasise that rather than dwelling on Haaland's feats, Arsenal are focusing on their strengths.

  “It doesn’t get to our head. We need to focus on us and that is what we are trying to do," he said.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With every passing game, Haaland continues to rewrite the Premier League record books. His 71st goal in just 70 appearances puts him ahead of iconic strikers such as Eric Cantona and Luis Suarez in the all-time scoring charts.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

  While Haaland's goal-scoring form dominates the headlines, Arsenal’s players are keen to highlight that Sunday’s potentially pivotal Premier League clash is about more than just one player. Mikel Arteta’s men know that they will need to execute their game plan perfectly to secure a result at the Etihad if they want to dethrone City come May and clinch their first title since 2003-04.

Real Madrid ace Endrick reportedly accepts he should have been sent off for fouling an Alaves player and has vowed to apologise to his team-mates.

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• Endrick escapes red card against Alaves
• Booked for kneeing opponent in the groin
• Teen to apologise to Madrid team-mates

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 18-year-old was fortunate not to see red on Tuesday in Madrid's 3-2 win over Alaves after kneeing Santiago Mourino in the groin. Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza was furious the Brazilian was not sent off and that VAR did not intervene. Now, Marca claims Endrick is aware he was lucky not to be red-carded and that he will hold his hands up and assure it won't happen again to his teammates and manager Ancelotti.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Endrick came off the bench with 20 minutes to go, when Madrid were 3-0 up. If he had been sent off, he could have cost his side the victory; as Alaves scored two late goals to reduce their arrears. However, the teenager has scored two goals for the club so far in an otherwise bright start for Los Blancos.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Kylian Mbappe out of Sunday's trip to local rivals Atletico Madrid with a thigh injury, Endrick could play a more prominent role against Diego Simeone's men. After multiple substitute appearances, this may be his chance to shine in the starting XI.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After facing off against Atletico on Sunday night, Endrick's Madrid travel to Lille in their second Champions League match of the new campaign on Wednesday night, before hosting Villarreal in La Liga just three days later.

Nottingham Forest have had their fair share of stars at the City Ground in recent times, with a new generation of supporters able to witness some brilliant players on a weekly basis.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo have excelled beyond all expectations for the Reds, subsequently resulting in huge links with big-money moves away from the Reds ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, not all of the players the club have recruited have been a hit, with Harry Arter the main example, still pocketing a huge weekly wage despite not featuring for the club since 2021 under Chris Hughton.

Another player has also struggled since his move to the East Midlands during the Championship days, resulting in numerous temporary stints away from the City Ground, suffering a huge drop in his market value as a result.

Loic Mbe Soh’s stats during his time at Nottingham Forest

During the summer of 2020, Forest spent big in the hope of building on the seventh-placed finish in the season prior, but unfortunately, a number of the deals proved to be a disaster.

In particular, the deal to sign centre-back Loic Mbe Soh, which was confirmed as an undisclosed fee. The move appeared a significant one at the time after luring him away from French giants Paris Saint-Germain, the emerging talent having been named as a nominee for FIFA's Golden Boy award in 2020.

He arrived with huge potential to take the Reds’ defence to the next level, but unfortunately for both parties, the deal never worked out.

In his near four years at Forest, the Frenchman has only managed to feature a total of 13 times, scoring one goal in the 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in January 2021.

However, he’s since been sent on various loan moves to sides such as Guingamp and Almere City, with Mbe Soh struggling to prove any value for the fee paid for him by the Forest hierarchy.

With his contract set to expire at the end of June, the 22-year-old will undoubtedly depart on a free – an unsurprising decision given his rapid decline in form and value.

Loic Mbe Soh’s market value in 2024

Nearly four years on from his move to the Reds, the defender has seen his market value drop from £4.2m to now just £1.7m, as per Transfermarkt – a decrease of 60%, around 20% per year spent in the East Midlands.

As a result of his drop, he’s now worth less than 33-year-old centre-back Willy Boly, who has a value of £2.1m – despite his brilliant end-of-season form that has seen him be rewarded with a new one-year contract extension.

Whilst it’s a disappointment that Mbe Soh has never kicked on at Forest, it’s clear that the club’s rapid success under Steve Cooper has seen them outgrow the defender’s current ability, with an exit needed for the youngster in order for him to reach the potential shown during his time at the Parc des Princes.

However, despite the woeful dealing to sign the French talent must be an example for the club to deal with caution in the summer to avoid anymore repeats of unsuccessful business that could plunge the Reds into yet more financial problems.

Nottingham Forest must sell Cooper signing who's now worth less than Turner

He’s been dreadful for the Reds in recent weeks.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 18, 2024

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a £51 million player targeted by Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich, and it is believed the Gunners want to act fast to win the race.

Edu could sign new world-class striker for Arsenal this summer

Mikel Arteta's side were praised for their excellent attacking form last season, despite just losing out on the Premier League title to eventual champions Man City, who won a national record fourth league crown in a row.

European club set for talks to sign "prolific" ace from Arsenal this week

It could be a summer of change at the Emirates Stadium.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 29, 2024

The north Londoners scored over 90 goals in the league alone, with the majority of their strikes coming courtesy of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. Their attacking contributions came from across the forward line in the absence of a world-class natural number nine, which is testament to the fluidity of Arsenal's side going forward.

However, it has been widely reported that sporting director Edu could soon put that to an end, as Arsenal are actively seeking a new striker this summer. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are Arteta's only senior options in that position right now, but both are facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium.

A guaranteed 25-plus-goals-per-season front man has long been thought of as the missing piece of the jigsaw, with Arsenal chiefs eager to source it before the start of next season.

"Arsenal are seeking to sign a prime striker before their pre-season tour," wrote reliable journalist Miguel Delaney for The Independent recently.

"Mikel Arteta has already long started work on plans for next season, and wants to bring in three first-team level players while moving out three or four.

They did already considered purchasing a striker in January, with that long seen as the final main piece missing. A move for Ivan Toney was considered then, but Brentford’s £100m price put Arsenal off, and he has since fallen way down the list of targets.

"Arteta wants to get all business done early, so the squad is immediately ready to work on a campaign where they are aiming to hit over 90 points. The plans have already seen in the market as reminiscent of Liverpool around 2018."

A forward who Arsenal have been regularly linked with is Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, coming after the Dutchman's excellent Serie A campaign.

Arsenal preparing bid for Joshua Zirkzee

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, as relayed by Spanish media, Arsenal are preparing an official bid for Zirkzee, but Bundesliga giants Bayern also have the striker on their list of potential targets and are "involved" in the race.

The Bavarians, who will now be lead by new manager Kompany (Fabrizio Romano), possess a buy-back clause regarding Zirkzee – which hands them an advantage. However, if they decide not to formalise their interest, Arsenal would be handed a fairly clear run.

Arsenal chiefs apparently want to move quickly for Zirkzee as they seek to end their long search for a natural striker of real quality. Stefano Pioli, commenting on the £51 million Zirkzee last season, claimed he is a striker who "has everything".

Manchester United star Harry Maguire has confirmed that he will be sidelined for "a few weeks" after picking up an injury against Aston Villa.

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• Maguire out for weeks
• Went off at half-time against Aston Villa
• Man Utd on a five-game winless run

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international started alongside Jonny Evans in United's crunch Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on Sunday, however, his time on the pitch was cut short. Maguire had to be helped off the pitch at half-time and did not return for the second 45 minutes.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 31-year-old has confirmed on social media that he is facing a lengthy spell out due to the injury. The news comes as a huge blow for a struggling Red Devils side who already have new signing Leny Yoro on the treatment table.

• WHAT HARRY MAGUIRE SAID

  Maguire took to Instagram to share an update on his present condition as he wrote in his story: "Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend, will be a few weeks on the sideline for me but I'll come back stronger."

  Harry Maguire Instagram

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  On Tuesday, the INEOS group and the United top brass conducted an emergency meeting to discuss the club's series of poor performances and the future of manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. United's next game will be after the international break against Brentford on October 19.

Jurgen Klopp invoked the fury of German fans after his move to Red Bull, but he has been told these critics will forget about it soon enough.

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• Klopp joins Red Bull as Head of Football
• Fans upset with Borussia Dortmund legend
• Falk believes fans will forget it in a month

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following his departure from Liverpool at the end of last season, the German coach has been enjoying a well-earned break from football. But Klopp has now accepted a new position and will return to work as the new Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Klopp, who is widely adored by football lovers, especially in his native Germany, invoked the fury of fans for joining forces with Red Bull. As part of their ventures into sports, the Austrian energy drinks company infamously took over German fifth-division side SSV Markranstadt and turned it into RB Leipzig in 2009. Leipzig have regularly been referred to as the "most hated club in Germany" and have faced regular protests by opposition fans for transgressing a number of German Football Association (DFB) laws. While Klopp's decision has generated controversy, Christian Falk, the head of football at German tabloid BILD, believes fans will eventually forget it all.

• WHAT FALK SAID

  Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Falk said: "I have been working on the story since May but Jurgen always hesitated – he wasn't sure he wanted to make that step. He won't have to work so hard as he did at Liverpool. He won't have to watch football every day.

  "It is true it is controversial. There is a big discussion in Germany at the moment about 'has he sold his soul?'

  "I would say no, because Leipzig is a big club. Of course it is hard in particular for Dortmund fans because there were big fights and they have always said it is a tinpot club – it is not traditional.

  "But, by the end, after say a month or so, it will die down. The love for Jurgen Klopp in this country means he can almost do anything."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KLOPP?

  Klopp will officially start his new role on January 1, 2025, meaning he will still have some more down time to enjoy his hiatus from the sport after spending nearly nine years at Liverpool.

Arsenal chiefs view an Olympic gold medalist as a possible out-and-out successor for midfielder Thomas Partey, with the Ghanaian expected to depart.

Arsenal tipped to sell Partey and sign a replacement this summer

As per reliable media sources, Partey looks set to leave Arsenal this summer window, coming four years after his £45 million arrival from Atletico Madrid.

£319,000-per-week Bayern Munich star would be keen on joining Arsenal

He’s been “left hanging” over a new deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 5, 2024

The midfielder's game time has greatly reduced over the last 12 months, with Partey making just 14 Premier League appearances last season due to a combination of injury problems and falling down the pecking order.

Partey has also entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, meaning sporting director Edu Gaspar could want to make some money back off his sale while he still can. It's been reported that Partey has held pre-summer talks over joining Fenerbahce as he attracts interest from the Turkish Super Lig, while other rumours surfaced recently of a potential move to the Middle East.

Saudi sides have apparently been considering a lucrative contract offer for Partey, so the 30-year-old isn't exactly short of suitors heading into the summer window's opening.

If Arsenal do secure a buyer for their exit-bound ace, there are many options they're considering to replace him, including the likes of Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Amadou Onana (Everton) and even Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz.

"Arsenal will be busy. I think it’s going to be an exciting summer," said Fabrizio Romano to GiveMeSport on Arsenal's search for a new midfielder.

"Arsenal will be there because they need a player in the defensive positions, probably left-back. Then a midfielder, I see Arsenal signing an important midfielder in this summer transfer window. For example, Zubimendi is a player they like.

"The advantage for Arsenal is they already have the manager with an important project, so they know the players they like and Zubimendi is one of them. Onana at Everton is one of them. Also Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, they are some players that they really appreciate."

Sticking with Unai Emery's Brazilian star, who bagged an incredible 10 goals and 10 assists from midfield in all competitions last term, an update has emerged from Spain on his future and Arsenal's interest.

Arsenal see Douglas Luiz as possible Thomas Partey heir

Indeed, a Spanish report has claimed that Arsenal chiefs view Luiz as a potentially ideal replacement for Partey, and it is believed he could cost around £60 million to prise away from the Midlands.

The South American's contract expires in 2026, and it was last extended in 2022. As time goes on, Villa lose more leeway regarding the price they can demand for one of Emery's star players, so they could be eager to agree another new deal.

An Olympic gold medalist with Brazil, Luiz possesses proven top-flight experience, and his creative dynamism is undoubtedly a big draw for Arteta.

Real Madrid have been dealt a huge double injury blow, with Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo both set to miss this weekend's Clasico against Barcelona.

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• Real lose two key players
• Courtois & Rodrygo to miss El Clasico
• Los Blancos meet Barcelona on Saturday

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Courtois and Rodrygo have been ruled out of the all-important Clasico clash. Per The Athletic, Belgian goalkeeper Courtois is set to be sidelined for at least two weeks with a groin injury, while Rodrygo suffered a right leg injury during the club’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The Brazilian winger will undergo an MRI scan on Thursday, after which the club will get a clear picture of the extent of his injury.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With Courtois out of the team, Andriy Lunin is expected to take his place in the starting lineup. The Ukrainian goalkeeper appeared in 31 matches in the 2023-24 season and was instrumental in the club winning La Liga and the Champions League titles. Jude Bellingham, on the other hand, could be pushed up front in a more advanced role in Rodrygo’s absence.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rodrygo’s absence will surely prove to be a setback for Carlo Ancelotti, however, Vinicius Jr’s fiery form will provide the manager some assurance ahead of the Clasico. The Brazilian is fresh from scoring an incredible hat-trick in Real’s phenomenal comeback win over the Germans on Tuesday.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  After the all-important Clasico on Saturday night, Ancelotti's Real side are set to face Valencia and Osasuna in La Liga respectively, and will also take on AC Milan in a Champions League fixture before the November international break.

It's set to be a massive summer for Arsenal this year as the North Londoners try to close the gap on Manchester City in the Premier League and improve their chances in the Champions League.

Overall, Mikel Arteta's squad took a step forward this season and kept the title race alive until the final day, but a few players, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, seem to have fallen down the pecking order somewhat.

So, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N5 could finally see the left-back banished from the Gunners squad altogether.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal are interested in Bournemouth's exciting left-back Milos Kerkez and have already held internal discussions over the player.

However, Jacobs also reveals that both Chelsea and Manchester United have shown more concrete interest in the 20-year-old and that the Cherries value him at around £35m and would rather not sell him this summer.

These two factors would certainly make it harder for the Gunners to complete the deal, but with Zinchenko only starting 24 games this season and the excitement around the Hungarian defender's potential, it seems like a deal well worth pursuing.

How Kerkez compares to Zinchenko

Now, the first thing to note is that Kerkez is seven years Zinchenko's junior, so while he would be able to come right into the first team and not appear too out of place, some areas of his game are just not as developed as the Ukrainian at this point.

However, with Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jurrien Timber in the squad, he'd have plenty of time to develop and hopefully surpass the former City ace in all aspects.

With that said, how do the pair compare when looking at their underlying numbers?

Well, despite playing for an inferior side and the aforementioned age gap, the "unbelievable" Hungarian, as dubbed by journalist Bence Bocsák, stacks up well.

For example, while he comes out second best in certain metrics like ball recoveries, aerial duels won, tackles, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, non-penalty expected goals and assists, and passing accuracy per 90, he comes out ahead in just as many, including blocks, clearances, errors, the number of times he's dispossessed, shots on target, progressive passes received, and progressive carries, also per 90.

However, one area in which the "insane talent," as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, comfortably beats the Gunners star is availability.

Since making his debut for AZ Alkmaar in the 2021/22 season, he has not missed a single game through injury.

In comparison, the Radomyshl-born full-back has missed 40 games in the same period and a whopping 118 matches since the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

Ultimately, in spite of his age and relative inexperience in a top-five league, Kerkez already looks to be as good, if not better than Zinchenko, in a number of metrics and could well improve in those he isn't.

This, combined with his spotless injury record, makes him a target Edu and Co cannot afford to miss out on, even if it signals the end of the Ukrainian's time in North London.

Arsenal make contact to sign "world-class" £113m star who's like Haaland

The Gunners could end their striker search in emphatic fashion.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 13, 2024

Liverpool have made a fresh proposal for a highly-rated player hailed for being a "quick learner", according to an exciting new Reds transfer update.

Liverpool transfer news

The Arne Slot era at Anfield is slowly kicking into gear, with the Dutchman now officially in charge and looking to fill the enormous void left by the departed Jurgen Klopp. While Liverpool are yet to make any new signings this summer, with Euro 2024 getting in the way at the moment, they have still been linked with plenty of potential additions.

Jamal Musiala is currently shining for Germany at the Euros, outlining his reputation as one of Europe's most prodigiously gifted young players, and the Reds are reportedly eyeing an audacious swoop for him. They would have to break their transfer record, however, with Bayern Munich likely to want around £100m for his signature.

Speaking of enormous talents with big futures in the game, Lille central defender Leny Yoro has been backed to seal a switch to Anfield in the near future, amid a battle for his services.

Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is another superb attacking talent whose name has emerged on the list of mooted additions for Liverpool, being seen as a player who could get the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role.

Liverpool send fresh proposal to "quick learner"

According to AS [via Empire of the Kop], Liverpool have sent a new "proposal" for Lille star Yoro, as they look to secure the services of the highly-rated centre-back in the summer window. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on striking a deal for the 18-year-old, who is arguably one of world football's most exciting players in his position.

A £42m bid from the Reds has already been rejected last week, and Lille want £59m for one of their most important individuals, though it is not clear how far off that number the new bid sits.

This is a hugely encouraging claim from abroad, with Yoro such a special talent who has all the tools to become a true great at the heart of Liverpool's defence over time. Finding a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk has to be seen as important in the near future, ensuring the legendary Dutchman's eventual exit is as bearable as possible, and the Frenchman could be an ideal successor, being hailed by former coach Jean-Michel Vandamme.

This outlines what a massive talent Yoro is, as does the fact that he started 30 out of a possible 38 Ligue 1 games last season, already being trusted as one of the first names on Lille's team sheet despite still being a teenager.

Liverpool must do all they can to bring him in, beating other huge clubs in the process, with few defenders possessing such a high ceiling moving forward. It would be an enormous coup for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, heralding an exciting early signing under Slot.