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Liverpool have now shortlisted a “fantastic” right-back who plays for a fellow top English club as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to a report.

Alexander Arnold's uncertain future

There has been some positive news on the contract front in the past few days, with various rumours suggesting Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have now signed new deals to extend their stay on Merseyside beyond the end of the season.

It remains to be seen whether those reports are true, but there is a feeling the Reds may find it easier to keep hold of Van Dijk and Salah, rather than Alexander-Arnold, despite the right-back’s long-standing affiliation with the club.

Former scout Mick Brown has recently suggested a move to Real Madrid is still the most likely outcome this summer, saying: “I think, at the moment, the odds are in favour of him going to Real Madrid. They’ve been talking about a potential move for a while now and it’s definitely an option.

“From what I hear, he’s leaning towards that move because players find it notoriously difficult to turn down Real Madrid when they come calling.”

As such, it is important Arne Slot identifies potential replacements for the defender, and he is now eyeing a player who is currently at a rival Premier League club.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool have now shortlisted Chelsea’s Malo Gusto as a replacement for Trent, although they are still trying to convince the England international to sign a new deal. Gusto has recently changed agents, which often suggests a move could be in the offing, and the timing is intriguing given the situation surrounding Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool eye "phenomenal" £29m star who Slot admires to replace Robertson

The Reds are looking at signing a new left-back.

By
Dominic Lund

Feb 5, 2025

The Chelsea ace is said to tick a lot of boxes for Slot, but it may take a big offer to tempt Chelsea, as he is contracted until 2030 with no release clause, which places the Blues in a strong negotiating position.

Gusto could be the ideal Trent heir

The hope will be that Trent commits to a new deal over the next few months, but at the moment it looks like the 26-year-old is heading for the exit. As such, it is good news that Liverpool are being proactive by looking for replacements, and Gusto could be an ideal heir, given his skill-set.

The Reds’ current right-back is well-known for his attacking contributions, and the Frenchman is also impressive going forward, ranking in the 83rd percentile for assists per 90 over the past year. Enzo Maresca has also praised the £45k-per-week youngster for his ability to play further forward this season.

Gusto could be a superb signing for Liverpool, but Chelsea may be unwilling to sell to a rival club, which could be a major stumbling block.

Everything you need to know about Alisson's salary at Liverpool

Alisson Becker signed for Liverpool from AS Roma in 2018, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in football history at the time. However, the Brazilian has more than lived up to his price tag, playing a key role in his debut season as Liverpool clinched the Champions League by defeating Tottenham in the final.

In the very next season, Alisson was instrumental in Liverpool's historic Premier League title win, ending a 30-year drought. He has since cemented his legacy at Anfield, even scoring a dramatic late winner during the 2020-21 season, becoming the first goalkeeper in the club’s history to do so.

Adored by the Anfield faithful, Alisson was rewarded with a six-year contract extension in 2021, along with a substantial pay raise. Despite playing as a goalkeeper, he ranks among the highest-paid players in the current Liverpool squad.

So, exactly how much does he earn?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Alisson's wages at Liverpool in numbers

  Alisson's current contract at Anfield provides him with a weekly salary of £150,000 ($201,135), matching the wages of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Federico Chiesa, making him Liverpool’s fifth-highest earner. His annual salary totals £7.8 million ($10.4 million).

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Alisson	Brazilian	£150,000	$201,135	£7,800,000	$10,459,041

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  Top earners at Liverpool

  Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian forward, is the highest-paid player at Liverpool, followed by Virgil van Dijk, the club captain.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, both fullbacks, rank third and fourth, with Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in fifth place.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Mohamed Salah	Egyptian	£400,000	$536,361	£20,800,000	$27,890,776
  Virgil van Dijk	Dutch	£350,000	$469,316	£18,200,000	$24,404,429
  Trent Alexander-Arnold	English	£180,000	$241,362	£9,360,000	$12,550,849
  Andrew Robertson	Scottish	£160,000	$214,544	£8,320,000	$11,156,310
  Alexis Mac Allister	Argentine	£150,000	$201,135	£7,800,000	$10,459,041

• Top 5 earners in the Premier League

  Erling Haaland is the Premier League's top-paid player, with a contract at Manchester City until 2034. Kevin De Bruyne is second, followed by Mohamed Salah in third.

  Casemiro is Manchester United's sole entry at fourth, and Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk is fifth.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Erling Haaland	Manchester City	£525,000	$703,974	£27,300,000	$36,606,644
  Kevin De Bruyne	Manchester City	£400,000	$536,361	£20,800,000	$27,890,776
  Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	£400,000	$536,361	£20,800,000	$27,890,776
  Casemiro	Manchester United	£350,000	$469,316	£18,200,000	$24,404,429
  Virgil Van Dijk	Liverpool	£350,000	$469,316	£18,200,000	$24,404,429

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Premier League salaries are high, but these players are not the top earners globally.

  Cristiano Ronaldo, the leading scorer in Champions League history, is the highest earner with Al Nassr. His former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, follows.

  Riyad Mahrez, previously with Manchester City, ranks third, while Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly from Senegal are fourth and fifth.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,270,519	$4,385,050	£170,066,890	$228,022,620
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,635,259	$2,192,525	£85,033,490	$114,011,310
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£853,605	$1,144,498	£44,387,482	$59,513,904
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£654,104	$877,010	£34,013,396	$45,604,524
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£567,435	$760,806	£29,506,621	$39,561,925

Manchester United are now eyeing a surprise move for a “sensational” former Manchester City player, who is seen as an ideal target, according to a report.

Ruben Amorim planning major overhaul

Given his side’s extremely disappointing season, Ruben Amorim is planning a major overhaul of his squad this summer, with the manager searching for a deep-lying midfielder, centre-back, wing-back and striker.

Liam Delap has been identified as a major target to strengthen the attack, while Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde could be brought in to bolster Amorim’s options at wing-back, despite the arrival of Patrick Dorgu in January.

A new centre-back has been deemed a necessity due to the recent injury setback Lisandro Martinez has suffered, having been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury suffered in the recent 2-0 Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace.

Man Utd preparing £33m bid to sign "gem" who is seen as a Luke Shaw upgrade

Luke Shaw’s future at Old Trafford is under serious doubt, as Ruben Amorim eyes reinforcements.

By
Brett Worthington

Feb 12, 2025

There are also indications Amorim could look at bringing in a versatile full-back in the summer, with reports from Spain revealing the United boss is keen on signing Al-Hilal’s Joao Cancelo, who is viewed as the ideal option to strengthen the right-back area.

The former Man City man has impressed since moving to the Saudi Pro League, meaning a move back to a top European club could now be on the cards, with the likes of AC Milan and Aston Villa also being named as potential suitors.

That said, the £247k-per-week full-back is contracted until the summer of 2027, so Al-Hilal will be in a strong negotiating position.

Cancelo was "sensational" for United's rivals

Should the 30-year-old be willing to move to the rivals of his former club, he could be an excellent addition to Amorim’s squad, considering the level of his performances during his previous stint in the Premier League.

Ex-teammate Phil Foden lauded the Portuguese defender during his time at the Etihad Stadium, saying: “Joao is one of the best if not the best attacking full backs in world football right now, he is always adding goals and assists.

“If one of the attackers is having an off day we need someone coming up with the goals and assists and he is always there in the big moments in the big games. We know he has got that quality in front of goal and he is sensational.”

The full-back has continued to display his attacking prowess, as well as his defensive ability, since signing for Al-Hilal, ranking highly across a number of key metrics over the past year.

Cancelo’s ability going forward suggests he would be a fantastic signing for United, given that Amorim plays a system utilising wing-backs, but his affiliation to their rivals could prove to be a stumbling block.

Jurgen Klopp has branded speculation of a return to management as "BS" as he remains focused on his Red Bull job.

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• Klopp has been linked to Real Madrid & Roma
• The manager shut down all rumours
• Insisted that there is no chance "in the next few years"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following his stint at Anfield, Klopp transitioned into a strategic role with Red Bull, where he now serves as the Head of Global Soccer. In this capacity, the German tactician oversees the football philosophy and direction of Red Bull’s multi-club portfolio, including teams like RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg. However, reports have suggested that he may not be fully satisfied in his current post, leading to links with several managerial vacancies across Europe.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  One of the most persistent stories placed Klopp in the frame to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. However, those rumours have died down with Xabi Alonso heading to the Spanish capital. Recently, Klopp was associated with a surprise move to AS Roma. Italian media floated the possibility of Klopp succeeding Claudio Ranieri, who is set to take up a new position in the club’s hierarchy this summer. However, the German was quick to mock the rumours during a recent appearance in Liverpool.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  While speaking at an event hosted by Liverpool’s charitable arm, the LFC Foundation, Klopp made his stance crystal clear.

  “I don’t miss the job, to be 100 percent honest,” he said. “Whatever you read in the newspapers for the next, at least, two to three years if there’s any football link to a coaching job you can be the first to say, ‘That’s bulls***!’ I’m not going to Rome. I got messages in the morning, ‘Roma is a nice city’, and I thought, ‘Yeah? But I heard that before’.”

  When asked to elaborate on his timeline away from active coaching, Klopp didn’t mince words.

  “The plan is forever. I’m not changing my mind now, now and now," he insisted. “What I’m doing now I really like. I create again a relationship with the people I work with and I want to build that, it’s cool. We kind of have a new life. It’s not three games a week, 12 press conferences and an interview every five minutes.

  “Making a lineup is really difficult, telling this player he will not play, the doctor calls you and tells you he is injured, the doctor never calls and says, ‘By the way, just want to tell you they are all fit’. I don’t miss that, I had it long enough. I love the game, I still work in football and I do what I’m quite OK at and I want to do that and not just chasing the next thing. Maybe that grows in me, I don’t know. When I’m 70 and I say let’s go back, but I can’t see that.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KLOPP?

  Klopp’s career has been characterized by passion, commitment, and intensity — traits he brought to every club he managed, from Mainz to Borussia Dortmund, and then to Liverpool. But now, he seems content to step away from the grind. He’s trading the dugout for the boardroom — and if his latest statements are anything to go by, he’s not looking back. Klopp is currently in Merseyside to celebrate Liverpool's 20th Premier League win and will be present at Anfield on Sunday when Virgil van Dijk is handed the trophy.

Manchester City have become a real powerhouse of European football over the past 15 years or so. They have invested heavily in the best players, and have dominated European football as a result, led by the legendary Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard has guided the Citizens to 18 major trophies throughout his time at the club, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, which came in the 2022/23 campaign. Of course, that season, City won their first treble, beating Inter in the Champions League final to seal it.

Over the years, some excellent players have represented the club and helped them achieve their glory. Not all of them still represent City, and there have been some surprising sales under Guardiola.

City’s worst sales under Guardiola

Undoubtedly one of the biggest mistakes City have made under legendary manager Guardiola when it comes to outgoings was to sell Cole Palmer. He joined Chelsea in 2023 for £42.5m and has gone on to become “the best player in the Premier League” according to Jamie Carragher, at least if he continues his form.

During his Chelsea career so far, Palmer has played 73 games, scoring 39 times and grabbing 21 assists. He has been a goal machine, scoring four times in a single match twice, including all goals in a 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion earlier in the season.

Another player who City arguably should have kept at the club was Brahim Diaz. The Moroccan attacking midfielder played 15 times for the club but moved to Real Madrid in 2019 for a reported £15m.

He has since gone on to play 98 times for Los Blancos, scoring and assisting on 36 occasions. He recently broke City’s heart by scoring against them in the Champions League playoff round first leg at the Etihad Stadium, a tie the Spanish giants went on to win.

However, as bad as these sales were, they arguably do not come close to a departure last summer.

City’s bad sale from the 2024 summer window

Finding a replacement for Sergio Aguero was never going to be easy for the Citizens. However, in Julian Alvarez, they found someone who could have eventually become just as effective in front of goal. He was a player Aguero previously spoke highly of; Jolean Lescott said the former City star told him Alvarez is a “top talent”.

The East Mancunian side brought Alvarez to the club for just £14.1m in January 2022 from River Plate. However, he did not make the move to England until the summer, remaining at the Argentine giants on loan until the end of the season.

When he eventually did move to the Citizens, he was superb. Alvarez played 103 times for the club, scoring 36 goals and grabbing 17 assists. However, given he was competing with Erling Haaland for a spot in the team, he was not a guaranteed starter. His 6007 minutes for the club were the equivalent of just 66 full 90-minute games.

The striker, who was once described as a “clinical” player by Statman Dave, was incredibly versatile during his City days. He played in several positions, each to a great degree of success, showing his quality across the pitch.

In the summer, City sold their former striker to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. He cost Diego Simeone’s side £81.5m including add-ons, and has been impressive in that time. Alvarez has scored 17 times and grabbed four assists in 37 appearances so far, playing almost entirely as a centre-forward.

Given his impressive record for the Madrid outfit, it might not come as a surprise that his value has risen from the fee City sold him for. Alvarez is now worth up to €127m (£105m) according to CIES Football Observatory.

Looking back on it, perhaps selling Alvarez was a mistake from City. Not only was he clinical during his time at the Etihad Stadium, but he has continued that form away from the club. Given his value now, it might have been better for City to keep him and move him on for £100m or more, or just utilise his impressive skillset themselves.

Leeds United’s lead at the top of the Championship table was cut down to three points on Saturday as they failed to secure a win against West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road.

The West Yorkshire outfit did, however, take the lead in the game when Junior Firpo rose to score his second header in as many league games for the club to make it 1-0.

West Brom found their equaliser before the break, though, as Darnell Furlong got the jump on Jayden Bogle and Illan Meslier appeared flatfooted as the ball looped over him and into the back of the net.

Unfortunately, Daniel Farke’s side were unable to break down a stubborn Baggies defence and they did not create another ‘big chance’ in the game after Firpo’s goal.

One of the reasons why Leeds struggled to create many high-quality opportunities against Tony Mowbray’s team was that the attacking players failed to step up and show their quality in the final third.

Brenden Aaronson was one of those players and the American attacking midfielder must, now, be dropped to the bench by Farke for the next league clash with Portsmouth next Sunday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The former RB Salzburg star has been a firm favourite of Farke’s throughout the Championship season, starting 33 of his 35 appearances in the division, but now could be the time for him to be taken out of the side.

Chalkboard

Aaronson, as the attacking midfielder, should be in the team to make things happen at the top of the end of the pitch, contributing with goals and assists, as well as his excellent pressing and off-the-ball work.

However, Leeds have not been getting as much of the former as they have the latter. In fact, the 24-year-old dud has now failed to score or assist in any of his ten matches against the current top six in the Championship.

As you can see in the table above, the American midfielder has offered very little in front of goal against the best teams in the division, which was the case yet again against West Brom on Saturday.

Aaronson ended the match against the Baggies with zero shots on target and zero ‘big chances’ created for his teammates, which is why he should be dropped from the team to see if another player can outperform him in the number ten role.

He is not the only poor performer from the draw with West Brom who should be dropped down to the bench, though, as Farke should also ruthlessly bin Manor Solomon from the line-up after his struggles.

Manor Solomon's performance against West Brom

The Israel international started on the left flank, with Aaronson in the middle and Dan James on the right, and failed to make much of an impact in the final third.

James was the only one of the front four to be directly involved in the team’s only goal, with his cross for Junior Firpo’s header, whilst Aaronson, Solomon, and Joel Piroe all blanked at the top end of the pitch.

Solomon, like the American lightweight, has also struggled against the top teams in the league. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has as many errors leading to goals (one) as goal contributions (one) in his seven appearances against the current top six.

In the draw with West Brom, the Leeds flop was handed a dismal rating of 4/10 by Football Insider, who wrote that the Premier League loanee did not trouble the opposition’s goal.

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old attacker lost 83% of his duels, as the West Brom defenders found it too easy to get the better of him, and he failed to offer much in front of goal with zero shots on target and no ‘big chances’ created.

Therefore, Farke must also ruthlessly ditch Solomon from the XI, with Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani waiting in the wings, after his dismal showing against the Baggies.

Leeds United's Manor Solomon dilemma

The winger is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road and TEAMtalk recently reported that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign the forward on a permanent basis.

It was claimed that the Whites are preparing to approach Spurs to negotiate a permanent deal to sign the attacker when the summer transfer window opens for business, if they secure promotion to the Premier League this season.

The outlet added that Tottenham are expected to value Solomon at a fee of up to £20m, amid interest from top-flight side Everton as well, and Leeds must decide whether or not that is good value.

He has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 28 appearances in the second tier, which is a very respectable return, but his aforementioned form against the top six is a concern.

Crysencio Summerville scored 19 goals and assisted a further nine in the Championship last season and has only managed one goal and one assist in 19 games in the Premier League for West Ham United.

The Hammers reportedly paid a fee of more than £25m for the Dutch winger and he has been unable to translate his second tier form over to the Premier League as of yet, which illustrates how big of a gap it is between the two divisions.

Summerville and Solomon are also both similar players, as they are small and nimble wingers – standing at 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 7 respectively – who have thrived in the Championship thanks to their quick feet and lethal finishing.

However, the Dutch attacker has found it difficult to make an impact in the Premier League against quicker and stronger defenders, which could be the same issue that Solomon will face – particularly when you take into account his existing struggles against the best Championship teams.

Leeds may have unearthed the Championship's new Gyokeres in "dangerous" ace

Leeds United have hit the jackpot with this impressive Championship star.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 28, 2025

Therefore, Leeds have a difficult decision to make as they could end up wasting £20m on a player who cannot make the step up to the top-flight, which is why they have to be absolutely sure that he will be a success at a higher level next season.

Manchester United could have an advantage over Arsenal in the transfer race for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko this summer.

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• Man Utd could beat Arsenal in Sesko transfer pursuit
• Arsenal eyeing moves for Gyokeres and Sesko
• Arteta looking to rebuild squad after title disappointment

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal are determined to sign a new striker in the summer transfer window and have narrowed down their shortlist to Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's star forward Sesko. In the case of Sesko, though, the Gunners could face stiff competition from United, who are also keen on strengthening their attack.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  According to BILD's Christian Falk, the Red Devils could hold an advantage over the north London side in the race for the Slovenian due to the club's director of recruitment, Christian Vivell, who joined the club from Chelsea in February this year. Vivell, who formerly worked at RB Salzburg, discovered Sesko at the age of 16 and brought him to the Austrian club in 2019.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Speaking to , Falk said: "Arsenal have ceased their recruitment drive and have declared Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) as their favourite targets. RB Leipzig are willing to talk for upwards of €70m, and ideally Sesko should fetch up to €100m.

  "Despite his young age, the Slovenian is almost complete, has a clear head and is a real team player. He would be an asset to any club. There are already talks with Arsenal. From the Premier League, beside Arsenal also Manchester United are particularly interested. Christopher Vivell (United’s director of recruitment) was there to watch Sesko at the game in Wolfsburg in mid-April. He once helped discover him and brought the footballer to Salzburg as a 16-year-old in 2019."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  After falling short in the Premier League title race for the third year in a row in 2025, Mikel Arteta now intends to build a roadmap for success next season, which he will work on with the Gunners' key staff, with an end-of-season performance review scheduled.

Edu is gone, so is Arsenal’s title bid. However, amid the Gunners’ 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven last week and the arrival of new sporting director, Andrea Berta, the future looks brighter again.

It’s safe to say that the Londoners haven’t got things right in recent transfer windows but they will hope that Berta, aged 53, can take their recruitment to the next level with Mikel Arteta in tow.

First on the agenda for the Italian will be fixing Arsenal’s problems in the final third with the addition of a fancy new centre-forward.

Alexander Isak, valued at a ridiculous £150m by Newcastle, seems out of reach, so they may have to settle for Benjamin Sesko instead.

Andrea Berta's dream XI at Arsenal: New Haaland signs & Partey gets the axe

Andrea Berta is on the verge of linking up with Arsenal as their new sporting director.

2

By
Matt Dawson

Mar 10, 2025

We say settle, but Sesko would be a mighty fine acquisition too having scored 17 goals in 35 outings for RB Leipzig this season.

Still, Berta shouldn’t just have his eye on a new centre forward…

Arsenal's dream first signings under Berta

It goes without saying that Isak would tick every box imaginable. Sesko would be a solid alternative while reports have emerged this week that Berta holds a similar admiration for Wolves’ Matheus Cunha as Arsenal do.

The Premier League’s second-placed side sniffed around the Brazilian in January but he went on to pen new terms at Molineux instead, just as Sesko did last summer.

A striker is the number one priority but the club should also be looking to strengthen out wide. According to new reports, they could do just that over the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, as per Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a number of English clubs lining up a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha and are said to be closely monitoring his progress in the final months of the campaign.

The Brazilian has long been a target for Arteta with Arsenal coming close to luring him away from Leeds back in June 2022 with a bid being submitted. Instead, his dream club in Barcelona came calling and he has been there ever since.

Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United are also looking at the wide man with the league leaders notably on the lookout for a Mohamed Salah heir.

Why Arsenal must do everything to sign Raphinha

In the words of Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, Raphinha has “been Europe’s best player in 24/25”. It’s incredibly hard to dispute that fact.

Capable of playing off Bukayo Saka’s favoured right-hand side, behind the striker and off the left, it’s in that role where the 28-year-old has thrived for Barca this term.

Throughout 40 matches in all competitions, the dazzling winger has scored 25 goals and supplied a staggering 18 assists. He’s averaged a goal involvement every 75 minutes of football.

In LaLiga, he has scored 13 times, making him the 21st highest-scoring player in Europe’s top five leagues, while his league assist count of nine is bettered by only five other forwards; Salah, Saka, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal and Omar Marmoush. He’s certainly in fine company.

Meanwhile, throughout those top five divisions on the continent, only Villarreal’s Alex Baena (77) has registered more key passes than Raphinha (74).

So, having actually trounced Isak for goal contributions this term – the Swede has 22 goals and five assists – there is an argument to suggest he would be a better signing.

Why? Well, you can make a case to suggest that Arsenal’s lack of goals this term is a creativity problem. Only Saka – who has spent the last three months out injured – has posted more than eight assists and he has 13.

Assessing the numbers behind Arsenal’s creation and specifically, Martin Odegaard’s output this term, it’s evident someone like Raphinha could be the extra spice Arteta needs to win the title next season.

Comparing last season to this, the difference is incredibly concerning. Arsenal do have a problem with finding the net but it’s largely because they’re not providing as many key passes to their forwards and subsequently, not producing as many goal-creating actions.

Isak wouldn’t help that part but Raphinha certainly would. He’d give Arteta’s side an abundance of creativity from either flank while boasting the ability to score goals too.

It would cost a pretty penny, of course, but it would be less than Isak and they’d be signing someone with better overall numbers in 2024/25. It’s a win-win for new director, Berta.

Big Merino upgrade: Arsenal plot £101m offer for "the best 9 in the world"

The exceptional goalscorer could fire Arsenal to title glory.

By
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Mar 10, 2025

Jack Grealish is set to leave Manchester City this summer and Newcastle are interested in a transfer, but will only consider it on one condition.

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• Grealish expected to leave City this summer
• England winger left out of Club World Cup squad
• Newcastle only interested in loan move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Newcastle are keen to pursue a transfer for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish but will only consider a loan move this summer, according to . The 29-year-old scarcely featured towards the end of the 2024-25 season, finishing the campaign with one goal and one assist in the Premier League while he was left as an unused substitute for the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Grealish recently fired back at criticism from fans but looks set for a new challenge anyway. Newcastle can offer the former Aston Villa captain Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign but the Magpies aren't keen on doing a permanent deal given he still has two more years left to run on his deal and City would demand a hefty fee. A loan may end up being the most realistic exit route for Grealish, but City would likely have to sponsor the deal in some capacity, most likely by paying a significant portion of his £300,000-a-week wages.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While City haven't officially announced their squad for the Club World Cup, Grealish is not expected to be part of the group that will jet over to the United States. The England international, who has been told by head coach Thomas Tuchel to start playing regularly again, could be an option for Newcastle if Anthony Gordon ends up leaving St James' Park.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH AND CITY?

  Grealish will have to summer to weigh up offers and try to find a new club, while City will attempt to finish a disappointing season with glory in the Club World Cup.

In November 2024 the shock news emerged that Edu was to leave Arsenal behind after a number of successful years as the club’s sporting director.

The Brazilian’s track record was not flawless but he was still the man who helped the Gunners bring £105m man Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium.

Since his exit, the club’s transfer policy has been questioned with interim director Jason Ayto failing to use the winter window to strengthen.

Arsenal needed a new forward but sadly that wasn’t forthcoming. They will now have to look at the summer market instead.

Their recruitment in the coming months will now be driven by Andrea Berta. Once of Atletico Madrid, the north Londoners are reportedly closing in on hiring the Italian, aged 53.

His recruitment is eye-catching, with Atleti notably signing the likes of Rodri and Julian Alvarez under his wing.

So, what could Arteta’s starting lineup look like once Berta has finished his summer recruitment? Well, we’re predicting it to look pretty exciting…

1

Goalkeeper – David Raya

The number one spot is no surprise. Since replacing Aaron Ramsdale as the club’s stopper, he has gone from strength to strength.

Despite some questionable positioning for Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick up at Old Trafford on Sunday, he was in imperious form, keeping the Portuguese and Noussair Mazraoui at bay with some late goalkeeping heroics.

2

Right back – Ben White

Heading into the 2025/26 season, the right-back spot is rather unclear. With Ben White out through injury, Jurrien Timber has done a fantastic job, scoring twice and assisting three goals.

That said, White is a firm fan favourite and his link-up play with Bukayo Saka is game-changing. It’s likely he’ll get his place back once fit.

3

Centre-back – William Saliba

Who else? Arsenal will have a number of options in the centre of defence next term with Riccardo Calafiori vying for a role and Timber likely to be freed up again to play in a few defensive positions.

Saliba, however, is one of the best around. He’s only missed two Premier League games all term and that was due to injury and suspension.

4

Centre-back – Gabriel Magalhaes

Arsenal’s trusty defensive duo will no doubt be key as the Gunners go in search of ending their league title drought.

It’s now over 20 years since they last won England’s top prize but in Gabriel and Saliba, they arguably have the finest defensive partnership around.

5

Left-back – Myles Lewis-Skelly

There are a few contenders for this position but we expect the 18-year-old to make it his own next term after a rollercoaster time of it in the first-team to date.

From that memorable goal against Manchester City, his discipline has also been called into question, receiving two red cards in 2025 so far.

That said, he’s one of the finest young players in the country and we expect that to continue in 2025/26.

6

The number 6 role – Martin Zubimendi

The first of three new signings in this new-look side built by Berta. Reports emerged in January that Martin Zubimendi was set to move to the Emirates over the summer and nothing has emerged to suggest he won’t since then.

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Hailed as one of the “best central midfielders in the world” by Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, he could be the perfect replacement for Thomas Partey and Jorginho. He can break up the play, dictate a match and has a fine passing range.

7

The left 8 role – Declan Rice

Rather strangely, Arsenal’s club-record buy has had his critics this term but he is one of the first names on the team sheet right now and some would claim he deserves to be Arsenal captain over Martin Odegaard.

This term, we’ve seen less of Rice as a holding player with Arteta trusting him to be more forward-thinking.

As a result, he’s played a hand with four goals and eight assists, the latest of which came against United on Sunday.

8

The number 10 role – Ethan Nwaneri

Perhaps the most controversial decision Arteta could make next season is to leave Odegaard out of his best team. That’s not due to a new signing, it’s due to the generational talent that 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri possesses.

The teenager has dazzled defences across England and Europe this term, netting eight goals in 28 matches and could star in a more central role behind the striker.

The Hale Ender has predominantly featured off the right since becoming a regular starter but that spot will be taken by the club’s star man.

9

Right wing – Bukayo Saka

How big a shame was it to lose Saka at the tail end of the year? The number 7 was on course for the best campaign of his career to date, bagging nine goals and posting 13 assists across 24 matches, before a hamstring injury has now kept him out for several months.

The first name on the team sheet and a future legend, there is no chance of Saka being moved from this XI by anyone, not even Nwaneri.

10

Left wing – Nico Williams

At long, long last, will Berta be the man to bring Nico Williams to N5? Supporters will certainly hope so.

Arsenal have long been admirers with reports noting that Arteta ‘would love’ the Spanish winger at the club and they could certainly do with his services at left wing.

Before injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, the left wing was the biggest problem position with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli failing to really hit top form, scoring only 13 times between them through all competitions in 2024/25 to date.

Williams, who is full of pace and trickery, would be the perfect player to take this Arsenal attack to the next level. Still, there’s one missing piece of the puzzle to come…