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Chelsea have now submitted an offer for an “exceptional” Tottenham Hotspur player, who is keen to remain in the Premier League.

Caicedo impresses despite Brentford slip-up

If the Blues have serious ambitions of mounting a Premier League title charge this season, they need to be able to close out games against teams like Brentford, which is why it will be disappointing they were unable to pick up all three points on Saturday.

Fabio Carvalho’s late goal meant Enzo Maresca’s side had to settle for a draw on the road, and missed the opportunity to go top of the Premier League table at this early stage of the campaign.

While Maresca will no doubt be disappointed by the result, the Italian is likely to be happy with Moises Caicedo’s performance, with the Ecuadorian bagging the goal that put the west Londoners 2-1 up late in the second half, and impressing from a defensive point of view.

Statistic

Number completed

Tackles

4

Interceptions

4

Duels won

7

Accurate passes

62/64 (97%)

As such, there are doubts over whether Chelsea need to bring in another defensive midfielder, but according to a report from Africa Foot, they have now made an offer for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma.

Bissouma has recently suffered a knee injury, which means he will have to wait until January to leave the Blues’ bitter rivals, amid widespread interest in his signature, with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace also lodging proposals.

Tottenham are open to sanctioning a departure, given that the Malian midfielder is well-known to have fallen out with Thomas Frank, which means a January departure could be on the cards, although they would prefer to sell him to a foreign club.

The 29-year-old, on the other hand, has made it clear that he wants to remain in the Premier League, rather than joining the likes of Chicago Fire, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe or Lyon.

"Exceptional" Bissouma would be strange signing for Chelsea

In truth, it would be strange for the Blues to launch a formal move for the Tottenham midfielder, not least because Maresca is already well-stocked in the engine room, with the likes of Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos at the manager’s disposal.

Moreover, there are also issues surrounding the Mali international’s discipline, with Frank leaving him out for the Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain and saying: “Bissouma isn’t here because of disciplinary reasons. He has been late several times, the latest one too many.”

Chelsea now ready to launch £85m+ move to sign "rare" superstar in 2026

He’d be the perfect Simons alternative…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 14, 2025

That’s not to say the Spurs ace isn’t a talented player on his day, with Gary Lineker once describing him as “exceptional” after putting in an impressive performance against Everton.

However, there is little point in Chelsea potentially shelling out £14m on a player who would be likely to receive little game time, given Caicedo and Fernandez’s emergence as key players, with both starting all four Premier League games up to this point.

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor revealed an outrageous question she has been forced to answer that other clubs would "never ask" a man. Despite steering the Blues to a historic domestic treble last season, the Frenchwoman says people still question whether she can balance being a mother of four with leading one of the biggest clubs in women's football.

Survey paints grim picture for women in football

A damning new Women in Football report has exposed the scale of discrimination across the sport. The findings, released on Wednesday, showed that 78% of women working in football have faced discrimination, while nearly two-thirds admitted to experiencing sexist ‘banter’ or degrading jokes in the workplace. Perhaps even more alarming, 56% of those who reported gender-based discrimination said no action was ever taken.

AdvertisementBombastor hit out at sexist double standards

For Bompastor, none of it comes as a shock. "Guess what was almost the first question everyone is asking me when I want to become a head coach or a manager?" the 45-year-old said. "So I'm going to tell you – 'do you think it's possible to be a mum of four kids and being a manager for a high club?' I think if you have a man in front of the same people, they will never ask that question."

Getty Images SportChelsea have been different

Bompastor was quick to stress that Chelsea themselves have not been guilty of such attitudes. "It wasn't the case in Chelsea," she added with a laugh.

Still, the fact she continues to be asked whether she can juggle motherhood and management highlights how far football has to go. "We still have room for improvement in that area, and I'm glad the people are honest and they are brave enough to raise that," she said.

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Arsenal boss agrees that fight is far from over

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers also weighed in, agreeing that football has taken steps forward but warning against complacency.

"There is still a lot of work that needs to be done," Slegers said. "I think we need to stay critical, although there's been a lot of progress in that sense. It's not always in the big things; it can be in the small things as well. It's good to be aware of it."

How strong will Wolverhampton Wanderers be this season?

Last time round, Wolves were rooted in the relegation zone when Gary O’Neil was sacked, only for Vítor Pereira to come in and save them, most notably enjoying a six-match winning streak in the Premier League, the club’s best sequence since 1970.

However, as the Old Gold prepare for an eighth consecutive campaign in the top-flight, arguably their two best players have been sold, namely Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester City, so reinforcements will be required.

Thus, are Wolves about to sign one of the most exciting young players in British football?

Wolves seeking attacking reinforcements

So far this summer, as they seek to replace Cunha, Fer López has joined from Celta Vigo for a reported fee of £19m, while the signing supporters are really excited about is Jhon Arias’ arrival, joining from Fluminense for around £15m.

The Colombian international scored his first goal in old goal on Saturday, netting during Wolves’ 2-1 friendly defeat to Girona at Montilivi.

Now though, could he be joined by an even more exciting winger?

Well, according to a report by journalist David Lynch, Wolves are interested in signing Ben Doak from Liverpool this summer, with West Ham also noted to be “keen”.

Transfer Focus

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

Lynch also states that Liverpool rejected bids from both Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, worth up to £20m, for Doak in January, with Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph claiming that he is valued at £30m, amid interest from Merseyside rivals Everton in May.

Wolves have only ever spent more on three players, namely the aforementioned Cunha, Matheus Nunes and the enigma that is Fábio Silva, but could Doak soon swap Anfield for Molineux?

What Ben Doak would bring to Wolves

Doak, who is still only 19 years old, joined Liverpool from Celtic for just £600k worth of compensation in 2022 and, even though he’s made just ten senior appearances for the Reds, he’s certainly one to watch.

Following his senior Scotland debut against Croatia in Zagreb last October, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound, former Scotland midfielder James McFadden was gushing with praise for the teenager.

He labelled Doak “rapid”, while noting he possesses the “technical ability” to go with his raw speed, concluding that he “gets himself in really good positions to cause problems”.

Doak spent last season on loan at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, making 24 appearances for Boro, before his campaign was curtailed in January by a hamstring injury.

Nevertheless, he certainly produced enough on Teeside to capture attention, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout praising his “on-the-ball bravery and unpredictability”, asserting that “he’s on track to becoming a top Premier League winger”.

Meantime, his then-manager at Liverpool Jürgen Klopp stated that Doak is a “good dribbler” who is capable of using both feet, while Léo Aschi of Give Me Sport adds that he is an “aggressive and powerful player” who is “blessed with physical attributes”.

So, let’s see how he compares to possible future teammate Arias.

Appearances

24

35

Minutes

1,789

3,118

Goals

3

4

Assists

7

13

Shots

1.2

1.3

Shots on target

0.8

0.6

Shots on target %

63.64%

43.06%

Chances Created

2.3

2.8

Take-ons completed

1.8

2

Take-on success %

39.33%

48.34%

Touches

50.8

74.4

As the table documents, while many of Arias’ statistics are more impressive than those of Doak, he did so in significantly more minutes, and the Scotland international is often more of a goal threat, with an exponentially higher proportion of his shots finding the target.

Also, worth noting that the duo were plying their trade at a similar level; Global Football Rankings believe the EFL Championship to be the 11th strongest league in the world, with the Brasileirão only five places higher.

Thus, while the Colombian might be more impactful straight away, he is 27 years old, so the fact that Doak’s numbers are, pretty much across the board, on par if not better, at just 19 years old surely makes him the bigger talent.

Put succinctly, Arias will prove to be a useful addition this season, but Doak could be a transformational signing in both the short and long term.

Wolves agree £14.8m deal to sign new player compared to Morgan Gibbs-White

He can play in a range of positions.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 3, 2025

Test will be hosted at the MCG where the first and Centenary Test were played

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Nov-2024The one-off Test between Australia and England to celebrate 150 years of Test cricket will be played from March 11 to 15 in 2027.The dates were mentioned by IPL in an email to franchises on Thursday informing them about the window for the tournament for the next three seasons (2025-27) along with the availability of overseas players each year.The fixture, which was announced by Cricket Australia (CA) earlier this August, will replicate the Centenary Test of 1977 which Australia won by 45 runs, matching the margin of victory in the first Test played in 1877, which was also won by Australia.Related

Australia-England 150th anniversary Test in 2027 will be a pink-ball day-night match

MCG to host one-off Australia-England Test in 2027 to mark 150 years of Test cricket

IPL 2025 to begin on March 14; dates for next three seasons revealed

The Test will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which also hosted the other two milestone Tests in 1877 and 1977.This 2027 Test will clash with the start of the IPL season with the tournament window earmarked between March 14 to May 30 that year. In the email to franchises, the IPL said that players from Australia and England would join their teams post the one-off Test.Before this, these two teams will also take part in the Ashes which begin next year on November 21 in Perth with the final Test in Sydney on January 4, 2026. England will host the 2027 Ashes.

Tottenham Hotspur are still planning to sign a new number 10 for Thomas Frank before the transfer deadline on September 1, and they’re now turning to alternatives after missing out on a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White.

Related £166k-a-week star's U-turn over joining Tottenham revealed as deal agreed

Details have emerged about a change of heart.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2025

Spurs put the finishing touches on a loan-to-buy deal for Joao Palhinha this week, ending their pursuit of a tenacious holding midfielder, but chairman Daniel Levy and the recruitment team have a few other key areas to reinforce.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Sky Sports report that a new left-back is on the agenda, and their eagerness to sign a playmaker hasn’t waned despite the truly bizarre saga surrounding Gibbs-White.

Frank was set to welcome the England international in a £60 million move, with the Lilywhites scheduling a medical to take place on July 11. Gibbs-White was about to join Mohammed Kudus in a statement £115 million double-deal, sending a clear message to the warning to the rest of the Premier League that Spurs mean business.

However, this dream was quashed by controversial Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who put a grinding halt to the transfer.

Marinakis’ threat of legal action against Spurs for an alleged ‘illegal approach’ prompted the move to stall for weeks, before Forest made the surprise announcement that Gibbs-White had committed his future to the City Ground.

The 25-year-old put pen to paper on a brand-new £150,000-per-week contract, becoming the highest-paid player in their history and ending Tottenham’s hopes of signing him, for this summer at least.

“As long as I’m in charge of all of these actions, approaches should take place, I repeat, in an appropriate manner,” said Marinakis, in a scathing dig at Spurs after the new contract was confirmed.

“I would never let anyone from any other team get a player from us or make something we don’t agree with. And especially, as I said, with some guys that they belong to our family.

“Therefore, with Morgan, it didn’t take long to come to an agreement. It was a very short conversation, full of passion and love for the club.”

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham are working on alternatives to Gibbs-White, with Spanish news outlet Estadio Deportivo now claiming they are real admirers of Stuttgart star Enzo Millot.

Tottenham prepared to hijack Atlético Madrid deal for Enzo Millot

According to Estadio and journalist Pablo Casas, Spurs have “entered the bidding” and are “very serious” about competing for Millot’s signature.

Atlético Madrid have been in talks for the 23-year-old, and Diego Simeone’s side could sign him in a matter of “hours” if they just trigger his £17 million release clause and agree personal terms.

However, the delay in negotiations has alerted Frank’s side, and Tottenham are now apparently prepared to hijack Atletico’s talks for Millot.

Stuttgart, for their part, are surprised by Atlético’s slowness in moving the deal forward, but Simeone’s loss could be Frank’s gain as the north Londoners pose a real threat.

It is worth noting that the clause increases as we get closer to the start of the Bundesliga campaign, so it is in both Spurs and Atlético’s best interest to strike a quick deal, and Stuttgart don’t intend to accept any offer below.

The Frenchman bagged 12 goals and eight assists in all competitions last season, and could be an option absolutely worth considering.

Celtic will return from their pre-season camp in Portugal and could now be set to announce an imminent signing to strengthen their forward line amid recent developments.

Celtic's hunt for a striker to challenge existing options goes on

Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny are currently Celtic’s senior options to lead the line for the coming season, while Callum Osmand’s arrival on a free transfer from Fulham has introduced another competitor for minutes at Parkhead.

Despite Brendan Rodgers potentially sending Irish striker Kenny out on loan, the former Shamrock Rovers striker has given his manager food for thought after laying on an assist and winning a penalty in the Bhoys’ 2-0 victory over Sporting Clube de Portugal on Wednesday evening.

Nevertheless, Rodgers urged Adam Idah to ‘come alive’ when chances fall his way after he missed two gilt-edged opportunities in the Algarve, which could’ve put his side in a more comfortable position.

He stated: “He needs to come alive. You can’t be caught thinking at this level. You have to anticipate and move and then have authority in the box. I know he can score goals and it’s also the time of pre-season.”

The Bhoys’ search for a new number nine has been well-documented this window, and reports continue to suggest Odsonne Edouard could be on Celtic’s radar despite Rodgers pouring cold water on the scenario for now.

Balikwisha will love him: Celtic exploring deal to sign "exciting" star

Celtic could land a dream signing alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha by landing this star.

ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025

Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino could also secure a move to Parkhead on loan, albeit it remains to be seen if the Hoops can win the race for the Italy Under-21 international.

Plates are starting to spin in Celtic’s hunt for a forward, and they now look to be on the verge of confirming a striker signing in the next couple of days.

Celtic set to sign Shin Yamada with medical booked

Speaking last night, Rodgers also confirmed that Shin Yamada is set for a medical at Celtic ahead of his £1.3 million move from J League outfit Kawasaki Frontale.

He stated: “He’ll have a medical over the next couple of days and we’ll have a look at him. We’ve lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.

Shin Yamada’s goalscoring record at Kawasaki Frontale

Appearances

121

Goals

32

Assists

9

“He’s got intensity and workrate. It’s something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he’s a bit older, he’s probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure.

“I need to look and see him when he comes in and hopefully he can do well. The idea was to bring him in and assess him. He’s a strong boy, but we’d want to add to our front line also.”

Dubbed “impressive” by Hudl Wyscout, he earned his maiden cap for the Japan national team against Hong Kong as a group of domestic-based players took part in the East Asian Football Championship, claiming glory in the mini-tournament.

Barring any last-minute hitches, Rodgers will have the striker he is looking for after Kawasaki Frontale announced his departure to an ‘overseas’ club, but his comments suggest there could be further movement to strengthen his forward line.

It is set to be a very busy summer for Arsenal.

After three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team are determined to finally take the next step.

With that objective in mind, could they be about to make yet another statement signing from Spain?

Arsenal's incoming transfer business

By early next week, with Tuesday being the start of July, expect a few of Arsenal’s transfer targets to be unveiled.

Transfer Focus

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

Kepa Arrizabalaga will arrive from Chelsea for a reported fee of £5m, to be the back-up to David Raya, while, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Arsenal are ‘finalising’ a deal to sign Brentford captain Christian Nørgaard for £9.3m.

The Dane, however, is not the only central midfielder heading to North London, given that Martín Zubimendi is set to be unveiled next week, after the Gunners paid his £51m Real Sociedad release clause.

Nevertheless, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both departing on free transfers, this is an area of the team they do require multiple reinforcements, so are seemingly not done yet.

That’s because, according to reports in Spain, the Gunners are ‘preparing an offer’ of around £35m to Barcelona, as they attempt to sign Marc Casadó.

They also claim that Arteta believes the 21-year-old ‘fits his style of play’ perfectly, hence why the la Másia graduate ‘has become a priority’ for Arsenal.

Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial crisis, they have not ruled out sanctioning a departure, especially one that facilitates Nico Williams’ arrival from Athletic Club which, as Pol Ballús of the Athletic outlines, still faces financial obstacles.

How Marc Casadó would improve Arsenal

As alluded to earlier, Casadó joined Barcelona’s academy as a 13-year-old, making his senior debut for the first team during a Champions League dead rubber against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022.

Since then, he has accumulated 41 appearances for Barça, but only establishing himself as a key figure this season, a regular starter before suffering a ligament injury in March, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

36

16th

Starts

29

10th

Minutes

2,447

11th

Completed passes

1,682

7th

Progressive passes

154

8th

Passes into the final third

182

6th

Shot-creating actions

64

9th

Tackles

77

2nd

Interceptions

25

8th

Touches

2,122

8th

Ball recoveries

120

8th

Average SofaScore rating

7.03

10th

As the table outlines, Casadó ranked very highly for every metric included at Barcelona this season, including both passing, as well as defensive statistics, namely tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, underlining that he is an all-rounder.

Following his international debut against Denmark in Copenhagen, in which he came off the bench to replace Zubimendi, teammate Bryan Zaragoza described the midfielder as “barbaric”, adding “I don’t even know what to say about how he played​​​​​​​…. he’s an animal”.

Meantime, Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis believes he is the heir to Sergio Busquets’ throne, stating that Casadó is ‘mostly a ball-recycler’, praising his ‘crisp close control and great decision-making in possession’.

Meantime, Price of Breaking the Lines outlines how the youngster ‘always wants to make progressive passes’, noting that he is almost never dispossessed​​​​​​​ and has the ability to ‘dominate’ any midfield battle he is involved in.

So, we all already know what Zubimendi is all about, with Ogunniyi Abayomi of Breaking the Lines stating that he too is ‘capable of making line-breaking passes​​​​​​​’ as well as dictating the tempo from the base of midfield.

Thus, together, the Spanish duo – both potentially arriving from LaLiga – could form an unstoppable partnership, finally ending Arsenal’s interminable 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

£70m star wants to join Arsenal after Norgaard and Mosquera, talks ongoing

The north Londoners mean business this summer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Manchester United have a huge summer ahead of them to try and transform their fortunes on the pitch next season and subsequently avoid a repeat of this campaign.

The Red Devils finished in a measly 15th place in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to transform their fortunes after taking the reins in November following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

However, it appears as though the 40-year-old will have some serious money to spend throughout the summer in a bid to improve the current players at his disposal.

He’s already splashed over £60m to complete the signing of Brazilian international Matheus Cunha, with a deal also heading in the right direction for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

It’s likely that the summer activity won’t end there, which could lead to various big-money additions making the switch to Old Trafford ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, under the watchful eye of sporting director, Jason Wilcox.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions

Warren Zaire-Emery is one of the latest names on their radar this window, with the Red Devils entering talks with PSG over an £85m move for the teenage midfielder.

He’s not the only name mentioned in recent days, as West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus has been of interest after an enquiry was made for the 24-year-old’s signature.

However, another new name has entered the mix over the last few hours, with Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak appearing on their radar, according to Italian outlet Tutto Juve.

They claim that United have been closely monitoring the Swedish international, potentially plotting a move after he scored 23 times in his 34 league appearances this campaign.

It also states that Chelsea and Arsenal are in the race to land the 25-year-old, but the Magpies are preparing a new contract for the forward, who’s currently valued at around £150m.

Why United’s £150m target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has been a player in their sights over recent seasons, but their interest has skyrocketed after Amorim’s arrival – understandably so given his time with the striker at Sporting CP.

The Swede has registered a staggering 54 goals in his 52 outings in 2024/25, leading to a whole host of English sides being linked with a move for his signature.

Arsenal appeared to be leading the race this window, but it appears as though the Gunners have moved on to different targets, subsequently bringing Amorim’s side back into the picture.

His rumoured £68m fee would undoubtedly tempt the hierarchy given his staggering goalscoring record, but they should look past a move for Gyokeres and put their attention on a deal for Isak.

Whilst the Sporting talisman has registered more goals this season, the Newcastle star has consistently thrived in England’s top flight – having the skillset that would make him an immediate success at Old Trafford.

When comparing their underlying stats from the current season, Isak has dominated, further showcasing why he would be the better option ahead of 2025/26.

The Magpies attacker, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Thomas Hammond, may have been outscored, but has posted a higher goal per shot on target rate – showcasing his clinical edge in front of goal.

How Isak compares to Gyokeres throughout the 2024/25 campaign

Statistics (per 90)

Isak

Gyokeres

Games played

34

33

Goals scored

23

39

Goals per shot on target

0.5

0.4

Pass accuracy

75%

71%

Progressive passes

2.9

2.1

Passes into final third

1.2

0.5

Take-on success

46%

45%

Carries into final third

1.4

1.3

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more passes and more passes into the final third, having the tools to provide the players around him at Old Trafford with the opportunities to thrive.

Isak has also completed more take-ons and made a higher tally of carries into the final third per 90, having the skillset to create his own opportunities rather than be dependent on other options around him.

The £150m price tag would be a club and English record, but the deal could prove to be worth every penny, especially if he can carry his form from St James’ with him to Old Trafford.

Gyokeres may still be some supporters’ first choice this window, but it’s evident that Isak would be the better option for the Red Devils and Wilcox in their pursuit of rising up the table in 2025/26.

Related Bellingham 2.0: Man Utd open talks for "one of the best CMs in the world"

Manchester United appear to be laying the foundations over a move for a sensational young talent.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 27, 2025

Arsenal want to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s squad across the board, not just up front, with sporting director Andrea Berta now setting his sights on a Chelsea high-earner.

Arsenal transfer plans beyond talks for Benjamin Sesko

As things stand, when it comes to their striker search, the Gunners appear to be prioritising a deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Arsenal pull U-turn over selling £265k-per-week star after "shock twist"

The Gunners are prepared to do something “surprising”.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 7, 2025

Arsenal are advancing in talks with the Slovenian over personal terms, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, even if his price tag is proving complex due to a variable release clause, and there is even a possibility that Berta could end up having to pay around £84 million for him.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

That being said, while the 22-year-old appears to be one of Berta’s main items on the to-do list this summer, Arsenal will have to tread carefully with regard to how much they end up splashing out on Sesko.

Alongside the Leipzig sensation, Arsenal are attempting to finally wrap up a £51 million deal for Martin Zubimendi, which is proving far more complicated than initially thought this time last week.

Despite reliable reports of a medical (BBC), and even Fabrizio Romano’s famous ‘here we go’ to the deal, Zubimendi himself has attempted to pour cold water over the transfer’s advancement with confusing quotes.

“My future? It will be a long summer. I don’t know how it will end,” said Zubimendi to Radio Nacional.

“If Xabi Alonso calls me to join Real Madrid? I’ve always said Xabi is my idol, and it was a privilege to have him as my coach at La Real B. If he called me now? I don’t want to talk about that hypothesis, I’d rather talk about the present. It would be disrespectful to talk about that while I’m on national team duty. I posted pics on a Spanish beach while rumors said I’m in London doing medical exams for Arsenal? Yes, I did that to make it clear those rumors were not true.”

As well as a new midfielder, which supporters are hopeful will be Zubimendi, Arsenal are in the market for a second-choice keeper.

Arsenal hold explorative talks over deal for Kepa Arrizabalaga

After missing out on Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia to Barcelona, £150,000-per-week Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga has emerged as an alternative.

Berta could actually snap up a proven understudy to David Raya for just £5 million, due to a release clause in his contract, which must have been written in when Kepa signed a one-year extension last year.

Sky Sports reporter Luca Bendoni now claims that Arsenal have held explorative talks over a deal for Kepa as they pursue another keeper, and due to his meagre exit clause, you can argue that this would be a snip.

The Spaniard, called “amazing” for some of his performances on loan at Bournemouth last season, would arguably need to take a pay-cut, but this is a move certainly worth considering from Berta’s perspective.

Setting their sights on summer spending, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined a hectic Premier League race to trigger one player’s £25m release clause.

Nottingham Forest already eyeing summer targets

Whilst they’ve earned plenty of deserved praise throughout what has been the story of the season, Nottingham Forest got a timely reminder that there’s still work to be done against Aston Villa – suffering a 2-1 defeat.

Forced into a number of changes thanks to the injury concerns of Ola Aina, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, Nuno Espirito Santo was left frustrated by his side’s defeat at full-time, telling reporters: “We tried to find solutions. The boys showed a better game. It was one of the matches that we created the most in but didn’t take anything from the game.

“When you lose, you don’t recover so well. The miles come to your mind. It’s always easy when you are in a good moment. Now it is not so good and it requires a bit of patience.”

Adriano 2.0: Nottingham Forest join hectic race to sign "gifted" wonderkid

He’s a future star.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

Arguably for the first time this season, Forest had their depth exposed in what may just be a preview of what’s to come if they qualify for the Champions League in the coming weeks.

A place amongst Europe’s elite has seen both Aston Villa and Newcastle United struggle to repeat their magic in the last two seasons and Forest must ensure that they avoid the same fate.

Perhaps in pursuit of that, those at the City Ground have already been linked with a number of impressive moves for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Ademola Lookman. Of course, the former would be particularly interesting, given how he has struggled to make his mark at Liverpool.

If Forest were to land a cut-price deal and then get the best out of the forward, it would be seen as a major coup. Nunez isn’t the only Premier League player that Forest have set their sights on, however.

"Superb" Ramsdale could replace Sels

Like Chris Wood, Matz Sels has enjoyed an excellent season between the sticks at Nottingham Forest but that doesn’t take away from the need for those at the City Ground to find a replacement. They’ve already turned towards a number of options to potentially replace Wood and could now turn towards the heir to Sels’ role now that he’s 33 years old.

According to The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest have now joined a hectic Premier League race to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who has a release clause worth £25m at St Mary’s. Despite only arriving last year, the goalkeeper looks destined to depart this summer with the Saints heading back down to the Championship.

Starts

22

31

Saves P90

4.14

3.19

Save Percentage

66.9%

74.3%

Pass Completion

64.7%

50.9%

With Newcastle United, Forest, Bournemouth and Leeds United all queuing up for the England international’s signature, he will be spoilt for choice when the summer transfer window arrives.

Praised for a “superb” save against Bournemouth by Manchester City icon Joe Hart earlier this season, Southampton’s season – for all of how disappointing it has been – may have somehow been worse without Ramsdale.