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Celebrity ticket requests to watch Lionel Messi have gone “crazy”, says Inter Miami’s general director, with A-list stars flocking to MLS fixtures.

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Argentine icon illuminating the StatesFans desperate to catch a glimpse of gamesAll-time great is not disappointingGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The likes of Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Will Smith and Serena Williams are among those to have caught the live Messi show – in Florida and across the United States – with there the promise of more iconic guests to come.

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Messi is the biggest draw in American soccer, by some distance, and Xavier Asensi admits that famous faces are falling over themselves to take advantage of an opportunity to watch sporting greatness. He has told the news agency when asked about interest shown by celebrities from outside of the soccer world: “The level of requests that come in is really crazy. Usain Bolt has come more than once, it was impressive. From LeBron James to everything that has happened here. He is fascinating and, at the same time, a source of pride. It is wonderful to be able to experience it first hand again.”

Getty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He added on why Messi is so appealing: “We are talking about the best player of all time. It's like being able to say you've seen Tiger Woods play, or Michael Phelps swim, or Usain Bolt run, or watch Michael Jordan or Tom Brady. We are contemporaries of something that is happening here and now. Every weekend the United States has him playing in their professional league. We are talking about the greatest of all time who is active and playing.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Messi’s magical performances this season have helped Inter Miami to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, with six goal contributions recorded in his latest outing against the New York Red Bulls – with the history books being rewritten by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“The decision will now be sent the DDCA Apex Council to be ratified,” president Rajat Sharma said and expected it to be enforced in full overnight

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2019A life ban has been recommended for Anuj Dedha, the Delhi cricketer who assaulted Amit Bhandari, the former India bowler and now chairman of selectors for Delhi’s senior and Under-23 teams.The recommendation to ban Dedha was taken on Wednesday at a Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) meeting attended by its president Rajat Sharma, members of the senior selection panel, the head coach and the team manager. The decision also found support from former Delhi and India opening batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.Sharma said Dedha would not be allowed to carry out or be part of Delhi’s cricketing activities. “The decision will now be sent the DDCA Apex Council to be ratified,” he told ESPNcricinfo and expected it to be enforced in full overnight.ALSO READ: Mumbai teen gets three-year ban for flashing in dressing room
Bhandari, 40, was attacked by men wielding hockey sticks and iron rods during a cricket match at Delhi’s St Stephen’s Cricket Ground on Monday. Bhandari, who suffered head and ear injuries, was watching a selection trial game with two other selectors at the time. He was taken to a city hospital immediately, and Dedha, whose actions were reportedly in retaliation for not being selected in the Delhi Under-23 team, as well as one of his accomplices were arrested.”Dedha will also not be allowed to play in any club match or any tournament affiliated with the DDCA,” Sharma told . “It was Gautam [Gambhir], who mooted the idea of a life ban and also suggested that from now on, no parents, relatives or friends will be allowed to watch the trials. Only the players whether U-14 or U-16 will get entry inside the stadium premises.”The attack took place when the first match of the day was about to end, with one more match scheduled. According to eyewitness accounts, when players and DDCA officials tried to intervene, they were threatened with dire consequences.A player present at the game told that Bhandari was lucky he was able to run away and maintain distance with the attackers otherwise the injuries could have been much worse.Sharma also confirmed that selectors would be provided with more security going forward. “Wherever any trials take place in any ground and selectors are present, security will be provided,” he said. “No parent or friends of the cricketers will be allowed to enter the field while the selection procedure will take place.”

He will spend this week working with players, especially the batsmen, ahead of their next month’s tri-series in Ireland and the World Cup later on

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-2019Former West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan will mentor the West Indies side ahead of their next month’s tri-nation ODI series against Bangladesh and hosts Ireland, and the World Cup following it.Sarwan, who retired in 2016 after a 13-year long international career, has already joined the ongoing week-long training camp in Barbados ahead of next month’s trip to Ireland.Incidentally, Sarwan was not part of the support staff announced by Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Monday for the Ireland tour and the World Cup. However, Sarwan has been roped in specifically to work with the batsmen. It is not yet clear whether he will travel to the UK for the World Cup.Sarwan said the offer had come from former West Indies wicketkeeper Jimmy Adams, who is CWI’s director of cricket. Although it’s a short stint, Sarwan said he was “overwhelmed” by the assignment.”I am very excited to be here,” Sarwan said. “When I received the call from Jimmy, I was very overwhelmed at being asked to assist West Indies cricket again.”I have come here to act as kind of a mentor to the players and try my best to assist them in any technical ways and with any shortcomings where I think they can improve, and to offer as much help to the head coach, Floyd Reifer, and his coaching staff.”Following retirement, Sarwan has been residing in Florida. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo in 2016, Sarwan said the biggest thing in West Indies cricket was the absence of a good cricketing structure that would help the young talent grow.Now, Sarwan has been given the opportunity to do exactly that and he has already identified areas where he can contribute. He spent time with batsmen Darren Bravo and Shai Hope in the nets on the second day of the team’s training camp, currently underway at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies, on Tuesday.ALSO READ: Gabriel, Carter, Dowrich picked for ODI tri-series in IrelandSarwan pointed out that one of the key areas he wanted the batsmen to focus on was strike rotation and stated that it would take them time to improve it.”I know our batsmen have struggled in the past with rotating the strike, so I am trying to see how best we can get them to improve in this area,” he said. “It’s not an overnight fix, but it’s important to share ideas with them, so that they have something to build on.”Reifer, who was recently appointed as the interim coach following a review of West Indies’ coaching and selection policies led by newly-elected president Ricky Skerritt, outlined the importance of having someone like Sarwan around the team ahead of the big tournament.”It was very important to have him here,” Reifer said. “Sarwan was a player that was outstanding for West Indies. A very good batsman. A very good ‘finisher’ in limited-overs matches. We thought that a guy like Sarwan, coming into the camp with us whilst planning for the World Cup, would bring a wealth of knowledge.”We are hoping he can help the batsmen get a better understanding of how to finish games, the mindset, how to approach batting first, how to approach batting last, so we thought that kind of knowledge was very important to share. He fitted in very well. He did a lot of talking and a lot of work with the batsmen.”

The England international has led these rankings for most of the season, and thoroughly deserves to win the prize

Arsenal pushed Manchester City hard in the Premier League title race last season, before Pep Guardiola's side's superior resources and elite mentality allowed them to pull away and eventually secure a famous treble. This time around, the Gunners have done the same again, with Mikel Arteta's side still in with a shot of ending their trophy drought going into the final day.

To keep pace with Guardiola's charges, Arsenal have had to get even better this season, with their recent victory over Manchester United making sure they have now improved their previous seasons' points tally in each of Arteta's full campaigns at the helm. As well as getting stronger as a collective, the players have also undergone a process of rapid, individual development.

And over the last few months, GOAL has been tracking all of the runners and riders for Arsenal's Player of the Season award. Now, it's finally time to assess who most deserves to receive the prestigious honour at the end of the campaign – and it's very tight at the top…

Getty Images22Jurrien Timber (N/A) ↔️

Timber looked like being an ideal addition to Mikel Arteta's backline when he arrived from Ajax for £40 million ($49.5m) this summer. He performed well in the Community Shield, but an ACL injury sustained in the Gunners' Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest condemned him to a season on the sidelines.

AdvertisementGetty Images21Aaron Ramsdale (2/10) ↔️

Ramsdale would have been sweating when David Raya was signed in the summer, and his fears were justified. Following a sketchy display against Fulham, Raya replaced him against Everton and the Spaniard hasn't relinquished the gloves since.

Publicly, Arteta outlined a utopian vision where the pair would rotate – sometimes even during a game. However, it's pretty clear who the No.1 is and it's not Ramsdale. The situation initially created plenty of debate, and the England international had his supporters, but now almost everyone has accepted that Raya represents a significant upgrade. It's time for Ramsdale to move on.

Getty Images20Reiss Nelson (2.5/10) ↔️

The Arsenal youth-team graduate continues to struggle to break into the senior side. Nelson has earned a handful of starts, notably setting up Eddie Nketiah's goal in a Champions League dead rubber against PSV, but generally this season has represented a step backwards after a 2022-23 campaign which included some iconic moments.

The winger is rarely a detriment to the side when he does come on, but he's hardly set the world alight either. Now 24, you'd imagine he'll be looking to depart in the summer, even though he has signed a new contract fairly recently.

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Getty Images19Fabio Vieira (3/10) ⬇️

After a pretty uninspiring debut season at the Emirates, Vieira seemingly came out with a point to prove this campaign. Establishing his reputation as one of Arteta's second-half 'finishers' early on, he provided assists in successive Premier League matches against Fulham and Manchester United.

However, he could not maintain that momentum. Vieira soon dropped out of the starting XI and was then dealt a double blow, seeing red against Burnley in November before picking up a serious groin injury. Those issues essentially ended his season, with the midfielder scarcely being seen again.

Manchester United are interested in making a move for a "special" World Cup-winning star who could be available for a bargain price, according to a fresh report.

Man Utd's January targets

It would be a major surprise if the January transfer window drifted by without United conducting any business, given the need for new signings within Erik ten Hag's ailing squad. The Red Devils look short of genuinely top-class options all over the pitch, with Lisandro Martinez a big loss at the back, not enough creativity in midfield and too few goals coming from the attacking players.

With regards to the latter, VfB Stuttgart hero Serhou Guirassy has emerged as a possible transfer target for United, with the 27-year-old scoring a remarkable 17 goals in just 12 Bundesliga starts so far this season.

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana has also emerged as a potential replacement option for Casemiro, should the Brazilian veteran move on in the near future, while Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has been backed to come in and bolster the defensive options on show at Old Trafford.

Paulo Dybala release clause revealed

United's interest in bringing in new players doesn't stop there, however, and according to a report from Spain, Manchester United are one of the Premier League clubs keen on Roma ace Paulo Dybala.

Not only that, but the update also claims that the 30-year-old would be available for only €13m (£11m), due to a release clause that exists in his current deal for January. United may not have an easy path to sign him, however, with both Newcastle United and Chelsea interested in acquiring his signature, too.

There is no question Dybala's talent and proven quality as a footballer down the years, considering he has represented some of Europe's biggest clubs and won the World Cup, also being hailed by Francesco Totti, who has said of him:

"I am happy that he joined Roma because he deserves it and because the city must have a player of his value. You can understand when players are special, he’s proving so with great performances. We are happy to have it at Roma, we are enjoying his performance."

That being said, the idea of United signing Dybala would feel like them falling into the same trap they have done so often in the recent past, in terms of bringing in world-renowned players who have drifted slightly past their peak. Such accusations could be aimed at the likes of Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Christian Eriksen and Cristiano Ronaldo (the second time), for example, and the Roma ace would be similar.

It is time for the Red Devils to change their approach to signings, bringing in promising players in their early to mid-20s, rather than quick fixes who end up not being worth the gamble in no time at all, or teenagers on the complete opposite side of the spectrum, such as Amad Diallo.

The £26m signing Man Utd could make to end Casemiro's stay at Old Trafford

Erik ten Hag will look to strengthen United’s midfield this January.

ByTom Lever Jan 1, 2024

Dybala is a brilliant footballer who can still enjoy a number of years at a high level, but United need to be looking at the 25-year-old version of him across Europe instead.

The festive period was not a very joyful one for Arsenal this season, as the Gunners followed up their draw away at Anfield with three losses on the bounce to leave themselves down in fourth in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup.

At present, the Gunners look miles from their best, but with the January transfer window comes the opportunity for Edu and Co to improve the squad, and the latest player touted for a move to N5 would do precisely that, Everton's Amadou Onana.

Arsenal's £195k-p/w star was as bad as Havertz v Liverpool

Arsenal were torrid in attack as they limped out of the FA Cup to Liverpool.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 7, 2024

The Belgian would improve Arsenal's already impressive midfield and could become the perfect partner for Declan Rice.

Arsenal transfer news – Amadou Onana

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are looking for a new midfielder this winter and are currently 'exploring' a marquee deal for Everton star Onana.

The Toffees are understandably reluctant to sell one of their best players amid a relegation-threatened season, but according to the report, offers of around £60m – almost twice the £33m they paid for him in 2022 – could be enough to tempt them into selling.

Other reports on Monday have stated that talks are ongoing between the two parties over a respective move this winter.

Amadou Onana's season in numbers

The former LOSC Lille man has played 16 league games for the Toffees this season, scoring one goal, maintaining a passing accuracy of 84.8%, winning 2.3 aerial duels per game, winning one Man-of-the-Match award and averaging a match rating of 6.82, per WhoScored.

While the fee is certainly high, the prospect of seeing a player that talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a "one-man army in midfield" alongside Rice should be all the convincing Arsenal need to get it done.

That said, if they do need more convincing, they need not look further than the highlights of their game at Goodison Park last season.

Why Onana is a perfect partner for Declan Rice

If Arteta were to pick his strongest XI, you can be pretty sure that Rice and Martin Odegaard would be in the midfield three, which means that the only spot up for grabs is the role alongside the former West Ham captain, be that as a left eight or number six.

Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny have proven themselves useful as temporary solutions in that role. Still, their age means that they cannot be the long-term solution, and while Partey isn't necessarily too old yet, his injury record has become a genuine concern.

Finally, while Kai Havertz has looked better in recent weeks – scoring four goals in the run up to Christmas – he has yet to convince many that he should be a starter in this team.

Therefore, there is a spot for Onana to come in and make his own, but how do his underlying numbers stack up alongside Partey, given that the Ghanaian would probably lose out with his arrival?

Well, when comparing their numbers from last season – when Partey was fit – it's the Toffees ace that comes out ahead in most essential metrics.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.20

0.14

Shots on Target

0.22

0.14

Passing Accuracy

83.3%

87.2%

Tackles Won

1.56

1.45

Interceptions

1.34

1.01

Aerial Duels Won

2.17

1.34

Dispossessed

0.62

0.69

In fact, the only area in which the 30-year-old comes out on top is his passing accuracy. In all areas relevant to an all-action defensive midfielder, such as tackles won, interceptions, and aerial duels won, the Belgian comes out on top, very much living up to the "complete package" label that Jacek Kulig gave him in December.

Ultimately, playing Onana in the six role could allow Rice to move into the left-eight position permanently, which in turn could lead to Arsenal's midfield becoming one of the most formidable units to break down in European football.

The £105m summer signing has been exquisite playing further back but his explosive ball-carrying abilities mean he could well be suited to playing further forward.

Agreeing a move for another holding midfielder, be it Onana or someone else, could well allow this to happen. Therefore, the club should be pushing to get this deal over the line in the coming weeks.

MS Dhoni lauds his bowling unit for bouncing back to keep Kings XI on the field for long enough to ensure a top-two finish for Super Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-20193:00

‘We were off on a number of fronts’ – Fleming

KL Rahul’s assault up front and Nicholas Pooran’s slam-banging later on in Kings XI Punjab’s successful chase of Chennai Super Kings’ 170 for 5 was difficult on their “nerves and anxieties”, Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming admitted after the game.They were the first of the teams to qualify for the IPL 2019 playoffs, and a win in Mohali on Sunday afternoon would have ensured a top-of-the-table finish for Super Kings. But, after being pegged back at the close of their innings – they added just 16 runs in the last two overs – and Rahul’s 19-ball half-century made them rework their priorities. If not a straight win, Kings XI had to be kept on the field for 14.3 overs or more – that would ensure a top-two finish for sure, and two bites of the cherry as far as qualification for the tournament final was concerned. They managed that, Kings XI finally getting to the target in 18 overs.”Overall, it was a very good batting effort from their side, but still, we did whatever we could, we tried to manoeuvre our bowlers, it didn’t work a lot. (But) if you can’t really win a game, the next thing you try to do is to make sure the opposition get the number of runs in the most number of overs,” MS Dhoni, the Super Kings captain, said on the official broadcast. “We were able to do that, and quite happy with the way we bowled. Yes, we went for runs, but still we bowled well.

It’s not like you go into a game thinking 14.2 overs is what we are looking at. You want to win the game but, at the same time, if the opposition gets the kind of start it got in this particular game, it’s very important to quickly reassessMS DHONI

“That’s something as a leader you have to keep in mind,” he went on, when asked about the 14.2-over factor. “It’s not like you go into a game thinking 14.2 overs is what we are looking at. You want to win the game but, at the same time, if the opposition gets the kind of start it got in this particular game, it’s very important to quickly reassess and adapt as to what’s the next best thing that we need to do.”I think the bowlers did well. I think the first seven overs we were down quite a bit, but after that also it needed some hard work from the bowlers to make sure they don’t get the number of runs in 14 or 14.2 overs, and at that point of time, it seemed as if they will be able to if they push hard. So I think credit needs to go to the bowlers to bowl the last eight or nine overs how they did.”For a while, when Faf du Plessis (96 in 55 balls) and Suresh Raina (53 in 38) looked like they would take Super Kings to a total in excess of 180. Sam Curran, however, sent Raina back in the 17th over and, after R Ashwin bowled a four-run over, Curran came back to concede just 11 runs in the 19th, while also bowling du Plessis. Mohammed Shami finished an impressive spell by giving away just five runs and picking up two wickets in the last over.Super Kings ensured a top-two finish despite the loss•BCCIThat gave Kings XI the momentum going into the break, and once Rahul – partnered by an unusually sedate Chris Gayle – scored 68 in the Powerplay, Super Kings were well and truly under the cosh. The fours and sixes were flowing, but Harbhajan Singh, after conceding 41 runs in his first two overs, came back to pick up three wickets to calm the Super Kings nerves, and ensured the victory charge was delayed for long enough.”It’s a difficult day, because on the one hand you have an eye on the equations that you need. We ran as well as we could in the last four overs, they bowled well, and it stopped our momentum for 185-190. And when we fielded, we were aware that we had 14.2 overs to defend,” Fleming reflected. “We’ve played a number of these games, and they are difficult, they do mess with your mind, and we were off on a number of fronts. But we hung tight and the first job for us today was to secure one of two spots, and we’ve done that.”But all’s well that ends well – as far as the league stage is concerned at least – and it’s over to tougher battles ahead, starting with the first qualifier in the home comforts of Chepauk.”Their batting in the first six to eight-ten overs was great, and it was difficult on our nerves and anxieties. But we hung tough and did enough towards the end to just sneak through. It’s job done, but it was a performance we’ll just flush away. I don’t think we’ll over-analyse this one,” Fleming said. “We did what we had to do and now we look forward to going back to Chennai. It’s familiar. Regroup. And, like I said, we won’t over-emphasise on our performance here, although Faf was great with the bat.”But we go back to Chennai now and our concentration will be on recovering from a day’s cricket and a long flight tomorrow.”Fleming also suggested that, apart from finding a replacement for the injured Kedar Jadhav, the XI will largely be the same.”It ebbs and flow throughout the tournament. We can still get better on all facets. Bowling-wise, it’s been our strength, somewhat surprisingly, throughout the tournament,” he said. “We’re now getting into one-off games, and we’re going to back these players right through to the end.”So it’s about recovery and just making sure the options and executive are as good as can be. We have drifted a bit in the last couple of games with a little bit of fatigue and a little bit of being near the top of the table. But that’s over now, and we can focus on the one-off game in Chennai and go wherever we need to go after that.”

Lionel Messi has been letting his hair down while visiting a nightclub with wife Antonela Roccuzzo during a break in Inter Miami fixtures.

Argentine star shining in AmericaMaking the most of breaks between gamesPartying in Florida with friends & familyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine superstar has paid another visit to the Bresh venue in Florida as he makes the most of downtime between MLS outings. The 36-year-old has been starring at club level this season, helping Miami pick up a dramatic 1-0 win over D.C. United last time out, while ensuring that he relaxes fully away from the field.

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@desdeelback

Por fin tuvo plata para verla @Siempre en el Back. Lo vieron a 🙌 Lionel Messi 🙌 bailando con @Maria Becerra en la @BRESH de Miami? 🔥🔥🔥 #lionelmessi #messi #messi_king #messi10 #messifans #messigoat #messirve

♬ El Amor de Mi Vida – Los Ángeles Azúles & Maria Becerra

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Messi and his partner, along with a number of close friends, have taken the opportunity to catch a live performance from Argentine singer and former YouTube star Maria Becerra. They mingled with other revellers during an intimate show that saw Becerra walking through the crowd.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Messi was in high spirits, as he waved his arms around and danced to the music, with the 36-year-old prepared to let his guard down despite plenty of people videoing his performance – alongside that of Becerra – on their phones.

Barcelona could go on to win a quadruple after thrashing Real Sociedad in Copa de la Reina final on Saturday.

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Barcelona chasing quadrupleBeat Sociedad 8-0 in Copa finalHave completed domestic trebleWHAT HAPPENED?

The Catalan giants completed a domestic treble as they bagged the Copa de la Reina trophy, thrashing Real Sociedad 8-0 in the final on Saturday. Earlier in the season, the club claimed the Supercopa de Espana Femenina and the Liga F title for the fourth consecutive season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After conquering every single competition in Spain, Jonatan Giraldez's side will now shift their focus to defending their Women's Champions League crown as they face Lyon on May 25. They reached the final by beating newly crowned Women's Super League champions Chelsea 2-1 on aggregate in the last-four stage.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Catalan club have a golden opportunity to qualify for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Club World Cup which will kick off in 2026 by beating the French giants next weekend in the Women's Champions League final.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

After facing Lyon, the club will play their final two league games of the season against Real Betis and Valencia on June 10 and June 16 respectively.

An "exciting" World Cup player has his eyes on a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window as sporting director Edu and co reportedly take action.

Arsenal operating under financial restrictions

According to reliable news outlets, manager Mikel Arteta wants winter signings, but Arsenal will be forced to operate with a slightly limited budget due to FFP restrictions (The Independent).

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Indeed, after spending north of £200 million in the summer window, with over half of that going on club-record signing Declan Rice, it appears Arsenal will have to carefully hand-pick which players to move for this month. Fabrizio Romano, commenting on the Gunners' transfer activity last week, said he thinks that Arsenal are most likely to sign a new right-back in January.

“A new full-back for Arsenal? Yes it is a possibility, it is a possibility for Arsenal to bring in a new full-back in January," said Romano on Kick.

"They have to see what opportunity they can find, if it’s a loan deal, but Arsenal are exploring options in that position, they are in the full-backs market, I can confirm that, there is a possibility, there is a chance, we will have to see, but I think it’s a possibility."

They had been linked with the possible signing of a midfielder, as Thomas Partey has barely played so far this season due to injury problems.

The Ghanaian, who missed out on a place in his country's AFCON squad due to a reoccurring hamstring problem, has also been tipped to leave Arsenal in recent months.

While Arsenal are slightly shackled by FFP, and will be limited regarding what they can do, a new report this week by Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri suggests they could still bring in a midfielder.

Edu opens Arsenal talks for Onana who is "keen"

Indeed, according to the reporter, that man could well be Everton star Amadou Onana. The Belgium international, who played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is a player of real interest as Arsenal open talks to sign Onana.

Tavolieri adds that the 22-year-old is also "keen" on a move to the Emirates Stadium before January 31.

Onana has been a mainstay under Sean Dyche this season, playing 16 league games, with former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez once calling him a "really exciting footballer".

Burnley 0-2 Everton

8.52

Everton 3-0 Bournemouth

7.69

Brentford 1-3 Everton

7.42

Everton 1-2 Luton

7.33

West Ham 0-1 Everton

7.30

“Really exciting footballer,” said Martinez to Sky Sports.

“I know that sometimes when we speak about players, it’s very difficult to measure their potential. I think we are talking about a 20-year-old boy, who is probably one of the most talented at that age in European football, and that’s how excited we are in Belgium."