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Aston Villa have now submitted an offer for an “elusive” forward, with his current club open to a sale at the right price, according to a report.

Villa keen on new forward amid Man Utd's Watkins interest

Villa may have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of Ollie Watkins this summer, given that the England international has attracted widespread interest from elsewhere, and Manchester United are becoming increasingly keen on a deal.

Ruben Amorim’s side have whittled their striker search down to just two targets, and Watkins is one of them, with the Red Devils of the belief they could be able to get a deal over the line for a relatively low sum.

Having also lost Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, there will be a serious need to bring in a new centre-forward if Watkins moves on this summer, and Unai Emery also remains keen on bringing in a new winger.

According to a report, Aston Villa have now submitted a €20m (£17m) offer for Galatasaray forward Baris Alper Yilmaz, and they have since been slowly increasing their proposal in increments of €1m to €2m.

However, Villa may have to increase their bid significantly if they are to tempt the Turkish club into a sale, as they are thought to be holding out for a fee of €40m (£35m).

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ByDominic Lund Jul 29, 2025

Should an offer in that region arrive, Galatasaray could be tempted to cash-in, but the Villans are not the only Premier League club in the race for his signature, with Nottingham Forest also named as potential suitors.

"Elusive" Yilmaz could be exciting signing for Villa

If Watkins departs, Emery may have to bring in multiple forwards to make up for the Englishman’s attacking contributions, and the Galatasaray star was regularly among the goals last season, picking up 12 goals and three assists in the Turkish Super Lig.

Not only is the 25-year-old a real threat going forward, but he is clearly a very well-rounded player, having performed well from a defensive point of view over the past year, while proving himself as an aerial threat.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.97 (90th percentile)

Clearances

1.04 (84th percentile)

Aerials won

2.89 (98th percentile)

Virgil Van Dijk has also made it clear how difficult he has found it to defend against the Turk in the past, saying: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us.”

As a result, Yilmaz could be an exciting acquistion for Villa, but they may need to increase their offer significantly to tempt Galatasaray into a sale.

The future of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak continues to dominate headlines as he hopes to sign for Liverpool within the month.

Arne Slot has welcomed a range of high-quality signings to his fold since winning the Premier League in his first season in charge, but the cream of the summer crop perhaps lies yet ahead.

Isak was described as “the best striker in the world, bar none” by analyst Raj Chohan for his performances across the recent season, scoring 27 goals across all competitions as United qualified for the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup (against Liverpool in the final).

Liverpool have seen a £120m bid knocked back by the Magpies, and may yet return depending on developments over the coming weeks, with Isak determined to join the Premier League champions.

But this isn’t the only area that sporting director Richard Hughes will need to look at, for Slot needs another central defender if he is to succeed in attacking the many different fronts of the 2025/26 campaign.

And Hughes has a few different options in mind.

Liverpool scouting new defender

Having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, Liverpool are light on their feet in central defence, with Joe Gomez’s minor Achille injury exacerbating the situation.

That’s why FSG have shown a vested interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who has just one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.

Guehi would be the perfect fully-formed addition to join Virgil van Dijk and the rest, but Liverpool will not overpay.

However, previous interest in Dean Huijsen this year emphasises the need for more quality and depth at the rearguard, and Liverpool may turn to an up-and-coming talent who has performed highly on scouting tests.

Indeed, according to Liverpool correspondent Lewis Steele, the Reds have been monitoring the situation of 21-year-old defender Konstantinos Koulierakis, who plays for the German club Wolfsburg.

Koulierakis might not be ready for a starting role, week on week, for Slot’s Merseysiders, but he’s making steady progress and is highly rated.

The Greek talent has also been chased by Aston Villa and Real Madrid in 2025 and has a price tag of €50m (£42m).

Why Liverpool should sign Konstantinos Koulierakis

Described as a “mature and complete centre-back” who belies his youth and inexperience by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Koulierakis is a dynamic defender with the perfect style of play for the Premier League scene, having been likened to Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol.

As per Sofascore, the up-and-comer won 59% of his duels in the German top-flight last year and averaged 4.6 clearances per game, and his fundamental early career development in the Bundesliga could even lead him to become Van Dijk’s next version of Joel Matip.

A cult hero and a crucial part of the Jurgen Klopp era, Matip was forced into an agonising early retirement in December 2023 after injuring his knee against Fulham in the Premier League.

The towering defender joined Liverpool on a free transfer after his contract with Schalke had expired in 2016. What a signing. That assist for Divock Origi in the Champions League final stands out as the apotheosis of his illustrious career, but he provided steely support across eight seasons in total.

23/24

14

–

–

22/23

21

2

–

21/22

43

3

3

20/21

12

1

2

19/20

13

2

–

18/19

31

1

1

17/18

35

1

–

16/17

32

1

–

Known for his mazy, physique-belying runs upfield and his slick partnership with Van Dijk, the Cameroonian contributed greatly at Anfield, all the more impressive given that he was signed on a free transfer, Klopp’s second signing after replacing Brendan Rodgers.

Van Dijk once said, “I wish I had Matip’s quality!” That, surely, emphasises the level of ability that Liverpool once had in their defensive ranks, and given that Koulierakis has been considered tactically comparable to Gvardiol, it might be the perfect move to land a new partner for the Dutch skipper in Slot’s side.

The 6 foot 1 Koulierakis gained a wealth of experience in his homeland with PAOK before making the leap over to the German scene one year ago, and he actually has 106 senior appearances to his name across the two outfits, with 14 caps for Greece besides.

Ranked among the top 2% of centre-backs in the Bundesliga last season for switches too, as per FBref, Koulierakis likes to promote expansive passing play and make an impact both with crunching challenges and attacking inspiration.

In that way, he has an offensive side to his game as a central defender that offers slight shades to Matip.

Liverpool would surely prefer to sign Guehi this summer, given his experience and reputation as one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs, but Palace’s stance will make the final comment on that one.

Ibrahima Konate is believed to be hopeful that he and Liverpool might reach an agreement over a new contract, and that he would remain on Merseyside over the coming years, signing this Wolfsburg gem might prove the perfect swoop for the Reds.

Konate and Van Dijk will continue to star as Slot’s recognised defensive partnership over the next few years, but Koulierakis has proven himself to have the potential to thrive at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

And with Real Madrid yet again registering their interest in a player somehow tied to Liverpool, FSG would be wise to forge ahead and get this one over the line as soon as possible, should the pursuit of Guehi prove fruitless.

Shades of Suarez: Liverpool can forget Isak by signing 'world's best CF'

Liverpool saw an official bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle on Friday.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Aug 2, 2025

Newcastle United are now believed to have made contact over the signing of an “efficient” attacking player, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Newcastle continue to eye attacking signings

Eddie Howe knows the importance of adding attacking firepower to his squad this summer after a move for winger Anthony Elanga, regardless of whether star striker Alexander Isak stays put at the club or not.

One rumoured option for Newcastle is Nice attacker Evann Guessand, with club scouts reportedly sent to watch him in action during the past year or so. He is capable of shining in both a central and wide attacking role, which could appeal.

Meanwhile, the Magpies are said to be preparing to make a move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, which would be a major statement of intent. The former Manchester City star would surely only arrive if Isak leaves, though, with Howe likely to find it hard to fit both players into the same team on a regular basis.

Newcastle’s interest in Brentford ace Yoane Wissa is also reportedly strong, with one update even claiming that they have agreed personal terms with him over a switch to St James’ Park.

Newcastle make contact over signing Spurs target Guessand

Now, according to a new report from Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Newcastle have made contact with Guessand over a summer move to the club.

They haven’t yet opened formal talks with the 24-year-old’s representatives over a transfer, but it looks as though the wheels are in motion. The next few days are said to be key, though, with Tottenham and Villarreal also in the race, however, Spurs’ talks are slowing down which could allow the Magpies to swoop in.

Guessand is a player with so much to offer, so it is no surprise to see Newcastle targeting him, with his versatility in attack an immediate bonus.

The 10-cap Ivory Coast international has 21 goals in 109 appearances for Nice, which is a solid return, but he could be an even more potent player alongside superior players at St James’, having been described as both “electric” and “efficient” by journalist Antonio Mango.

Guessand could come in as ideal cover for Isak, who Newcastle simply must keep hold of, not necessarily always starting matches but proving to be an excellent squad option.

The Magpies are competing in four different competitions in 2025/26, following their return to the Champions League, so added depth is vital, and the Nice attacker has the potential to grow into a brilliant player for Howe.

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The fact that he can shine on either flank makes him a great option to have, at a time when a new right-sided signing is vitally important for Newcastle.

A huge few weeks are ahead for Rangers.

After the Gers endured a miserable campaign last time round, new manager Russell Martin has a lot of work to do if he is going to dethrone Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Martin’s first competitive game in charge is little over four weeks away, welcoming Panathinaikos to Ibrox in the Champions League second qualifying round, while the Light Blues will commence their Premiership campaign against Motherwell at Fir Park on 2 August.

Before then, the club are expected to make countless new signings, so are they about to bolster their back-line?

Rangers targeting a new centre-back

According to a report by Hrvoje Tironi in Croatian outlet 24 Sata, Rangers are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Osijek defender Luka Jelenić, facing competition from Portuguese outfit Vitória de Guimarães.

They add that Jelenić only joined Osijek from Varaždin for €800,000 (around £685k) a year ago, but the ‘reliable centre-back’ is likely to be sold for ‘serious money’, following many ‘quality’ performances, despite the fact his team finished down in seventh in last year’s Prva HNL.

Rangers require central defensive reinforcements, especially after it was confirmed on Friday that Leon Balogun had left the club on a free agent for Aris Limassol, where he could partner a familiar face, namely Connor Goldson, in Cyprus next season.

So, could Jelenić prove to be a shrewd addition?

How Jelenić would improve Rangers

As was widely reported, Rangers were strongly interested in signing Harry Darling on a free transfer this summer, given that the Englishman had worked with Martin at both MK Dons and Swansea, but he opted to join Norwich City and Liam Manning instead in the Championship,

This has seemingly seen them step-up their interest in Jelenić, thereby returning to a familiar source of talent, after they failed to convince the now-Canaries star to move to Ibrox.

Back in July 2018, Steven Gerrard’s side dumped NK Osijek out of Europa League qualifying, with Alfredo Morelos the only scorer at Stadion Gradski Vrt, before a 1-1 draw in Glasgow a week later saw them progress.

Gerrard was so impressed with the White and Blues that he swiftly signed two of their players.

The less said about Eros Grezda the better, but the reported £2.2m paid to secure the signature of Borna Barišić proved to be an absolute bargain, considering he would go onto make 236 appearances in a light blue jersey, winning all three domestic trophies, as well as being a key figure in the side that reached the Europa League Final of 2022.

So, could Jelenić have a similar impact?

Well, let’s assess his statistics from this season’s Prva HNL.

As the table outlines, despite somewhat limited minutes, Jelenić ranked highly for every defensive metric, as well as passing accuracy too, underlining that he is a well-rounded defender, who is particularly great at reading the game to make interceptions.

For comparison, Darling ranked 233rd in the EFL Championship for tackles (31) and 130th for interceptions (25), while registering a passing accuracy of 87.8%, only marginally higher than Jelenić’s figure, which suggests that the Croatian star could offer considerably more to the team from a defensive perspective.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “crazy talent”, while writer Kai Watson outlines how, at 6 ft 2 in tall, Jelenić is physically imposing and boasts ‘strong’ defensive abilities, while also being good in possession.

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Molero highlights how he is ‘tough to beat’ in defensive duels, and rarely puts a foot wrong.

So, while top target Darling, who has gone elsewhere, is more of a known quantity, Jelenić is certainly a young defender on the up with enormous potential, so it would be an excellent piece of business if Rangers are able to add him to their squad.

He'd be better than Darling: Rangers open talks to sign "immaculate" star

Having missed out on signing Harry Darling, Rangers have made an approach to land a new defender.

By
Ben Gray

Jun 19, 2025

Glamorgan looked set to win before three dropped catches in last three overs came back to haunt them

ECB Reporters Network20-Jun-2024

Gloucestershire 142 for 8 (J Taylor 70, van der Gugten 2-8) beat Glamorgan 140 for 6 (Northeast 46*, M Taylor 3-21) by two wicketsGloucestershire completed a superb win over Glamorgan with Jack Taylor’s 70 setting up a remarkable comeback from 45 for 5 to secure a two-wicket victory.Glamorgan looked certain to claim the win before three dropped catches in the last three overs came back to haunt them as Josh Shaw hit the last ball for six to take the visitors past their target.Runs for Sam Northeast and an excellent spell from Timm van der Gugten had put Glamorgan into a winning position before Taylor’s 70 from 48 balls set up the victory for Gloucestershire.Gloucestershire looked to be heading for a large defeat before Taylor’s innings allowed them snatch the win from the very last ball.The Glamorgan innings was characterised more by touch than by power with their top three looking to work the ball around in very bowling friendly conditions. Kiran Carlson tried some early innovation and was dismissed as a result. He attempted to scoop a ball from Shaw over the keeper and was caught at backward point by Matt Taylor.With the early wickets of Carlson and Labuschagne, Northeast was happy to soak up the pressure that the Gloucestershire seamers applied, and he was going at under a run a run a ball for much of his innings. Northeast finished on 46 not out from 42 balls, the lowest not out score by an opener in a full 20-over innings in the competition’s history. Colin Ingram looked to be more aggressive and fell when he attempted to on drive down the ground off the bowling of Matt Taylor for 25. When Chris Cooke fell to the next ball Glamorgan were 76 for 4. When Ben Kellaway was caught at deep square leg in the next over off Marchant De Lange that became 81 for 5.Dan Douthwaite and Northeast put on the biggest stand of the Glamorgan innings but that was broken after the pair had added 37. Northeast added 22 in the final overs with van der Gugten to get Glamorgan to 140 for 6 from their 20 overs.The Gloucestershire innings got off to a poor start with the new ball once again causing serious difficulties for the batting side. They were 29 for 3 at the end of the powerplay and really struggling to get going.Van der Gugten bowled four consecutive overs from the Cathedral Road end to finish with figures of 2 for 8 in a spell that included a maiden and just one boundary.The introduction of the very first over of spin in this match brought immediate rewards for Glamorgan when Marnus Labuschagne took a spectacular one-handed catch while diving full length off the bowling of Mason Crane to dismiss Ben Charlesworth as Gloucestershire stumbled to 53 for 5 after 10 overs.Jack Taylor batted brilliantly throughout but benefited from some sloppy fielding after he had passed fifty with both Carlson and McIlroy putting him down off the bowling of Crane.Taylor was run out in the last over to seemingly end Gloucestershire’s hopes but Northeast dropped Shaw off the penultimate ball to give him the chance to win the game with his six off the final delivery.

Arsenal need a striker. Andrea Berta knows it, Mikel Arteta knows it, the fanbase knows it, the whole world knows it.

So, who will that man be? Well, with dream target Alexander Isak out of the running, it looks like it has come down to two candidates.

The first of which is Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede ended the 2024/25 campaign as the most goal-laden striker in Europe but there are doubts. Strange doubts at that considering how many goals he’s scored.

He is a beast, a physical player who can throw a defender to the floor and most importantly, he certainly knows where the back of the net.

Gyokeres is the finished article but clearly, Arsenal are thinking about the bigger picture too. That’s where Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesko comes into the equation.

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko

A year ago, Arsenal were incredibly interested in bringing the RB Leipzig centre forward to the Emirates Stadium.

However, the striker decided to pen a new contract in the Bundesliga, which has seen him stay for another year.

Now, it would appear as though he’s ready to move on. Reports revealed nearly a week and a half ago that initial talks had begun and a deal has begun to accelerate in recent days.

Indeed, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the player is now ‘keen’ on signing for Arsenal this summer with advanced talks concerning personal terms in motion.

Transfer Focus

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

That said, actually agreeing on a transfer fee is where the deal could get challenging. Plettenberg reveals that Sesko has a €80m (£67m) release clause but the Gunners cannot ‘simply trigger’ it.

That’s because the structure of a deal is said to be ‘complicated’, meaning a fee is now being negotiated freely.

Why Sesko would be a dream signing for Martin Odegaard

The 2024/25 campaign was undoubtedly the nadir of the club captain’s time at the Emirates to date.

After suffering an ankle injury early in the season, Martin Odegaard missed the best part of two months and simply wasn’t the same since.

Odegaard scored just six times in 45 games and only three of those goals came in the Premier League. It’s a far cry from the 15-goal term he enjoyed in 2022/23, where no midfielder scored more top-flight goals in England than him.

While the Norwegian still provided 12 assists, that number could soar to dizzy heights with a proper out-and-out centre-forward leading the line, not a Mikel Merino or Kai Havertz.

With Sesko described as “the new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, perhaps Odegaard could strike up a relationship akin to the one he enjoys with his fellow countryman at international level.

Indeed, it was only this weekend that we got to see the very best of the Arsenal playmaker, who enjoyed a fabulous game for Norway as they beat Italy 3-0.

Odegaard was the one who supplied Haaland’s goal in the tie, sliding a lovely ball in behind for the Manchester City forward to run onto.

It’s safe to say we’ve not seen enough of this in an Arsenal shirt. Why? Two reasons, really. Odegaard’s injury has undoubtedly hampered him but the biggest reason is that Arteta’s system hasn’t relied on a striker getting in behind.

Havertz and Merino are cut from a similar cloth in this regard. They come short to bring others into the game and it largely works. Yet, the Gunners need someone playing on the shoulder of the last man.

Matches

36

Wins

21

Draws

5

Defeats

10

Times Odegaard assisted Haaland

6

Minutes played

2,831

That’s where Sesko comes into the equation. Possessing a similar build to Haaland, the Slovenia international combines pace with brute force to burst past defenders.

He’s far from the finished article, scoring 21 goals last season, but that’s a great deal better than anyone at Arsenal; no one in red and white even found the net in double figures this season.

Odegaard is one of the most creative players in the division, ranking in the top 5% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for assists per 90 minutes and the best 4% for progressive passes. Thus, he needs someone he can actually feed.

As the captain showcased with Haaland in front of him just a few days ago, he can thrive when he’s got someone willing to make runs beyond the defence. Sesko is definitely that man. This could be a match made in heaven for Arsenal.

Saka & Nwaneri hybrid: Arsenal make contact for "generational" £120m PL ace

The international ace would be incredible for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a new striker this summer. According to recent reports from Italy, the Old Gold are keen on signing Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.

Any move could cost the Molineux side a fee of around £29m. Unless Vitor Pereira sells a few players to raise funds, this might prove problematic.

It isn’t just a centre-forward that they need ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Another midfielder would go a long way to seeing them finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

Wolves eye move for Premier League midfielder

The Old Gold have shown interest in Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of late, but they are also keen on bringing Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott to the Midlands this summer.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Wolves are set to accelerate talks over securing the services of £50m-rated Elliott. The £40k-per-week midfielder has two years left on his current contract at Anfield, but having failed to establish himself in the starting XI this season, the door is ajar for Wolves.

He has plenty of experience in the top flight and would certainly give Pereira’s side something extra in the final third, as he could either operate on the right wing or as a number ten.

With the Portuguese manager eyeing a swoop for Castellanos to bolster his attacking department, the pair could form a dream duo next season.

Why Wolves must sign Harvey Elliott this summer

The Englishman made his debut for Liverpool during the 2019/20 season, just months after joining from Fulham.

Since then, he has amassed nearly 150 competitive appearances for the Reds, scoring 14 times and registering 19 assists.

This season, however, he has struggled for gametime. He has started only five times for the club, but has scored against PSG and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

In the Premier League last season, he showcased his attacking qualities, creating five big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes, and averaging 1.4 shots per game.

Goals

3

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

0.8

Goal conversion percentage

75%

Balls recovered per game

2.6

Via Sofascore

Adept at either finding the back of the net or generating chances, deploying him on the wing could see him shine with Castellanos.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Elliott ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (9.41), in the top 9% for shot-creating actions (5.3), and in the top 12% for assists (0.34) over the previous 365 days.

These statistics indicate just how much of a threat he could be in the final third. Castellanos has netted 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for Lazio this term.

Should he move to England, Pereira will need players behind him who are capable of providing plenty of opportunities for the Argentinian striker.

By signing someone like Elliott, the club would be getting a solid, homegrown midfielder who can operate across several positions.

Much will depend on the sort of fee Liverpool are after, but if it is within their budget, Wolves must do all they can to bring him to the Midlands.

Ideal for Dewsbury-Hall: Wolves chasing move for "extraordinary" gem

Wolves look keen on signing a striker from Serie A.

1 ByRoss Kilvington May 17, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is expected by some sources to sign an “exciting” 23-year-old this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta admitting that his first transfer window at the club is set to be a “big” one.

Excitement surrounds Andrea Berta appointment at Arsenal

With Liverpool seizing a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, and Arsenal now putting the majority of their focus into a good Champions League run, attention is already turning to the summer transfer window.

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It is a significant loss for the Spaniard.

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Barring a miracle, Arsenal won’t be winning their first domestic league crown in 21 years after all, which has arguably been down to consistent injury problems suffered throughout the Gunners’ squad, including some pretty key names.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Bukayo Saka made a stunning return to the fold on Tuesday night after recovering from a hamstring injury, scoring in a 2-1 win over Fulham, but star defender Gabriel Magalahaes was hauled off in the early stages after picking up a fresh injury problem.

Arsenal’s need for strength in depth is prevalent, as Arteta suggested this week in his pre-match press conference, and the Spaniard is fully anticipating a busy first summer window following Berta’s arrival.

“We want to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s summer transfer plans.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it.”

Some reports suggest that Berta could spend up to £300 million on seven new Arsenal signings (GiveMeSport), with co-chair Josh Kroenke expressing real excitement over the 53-year-old’s appointment.

“He understands our values and what we stand for, and we have no doubt he will help us push on and take the next steps in our bid to win major trophies,” said Kroenke.

“We undertook a thorough recruitment process, and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea’s experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out. We are really looking forward to working together and welcoming him into the Arsenal family.”

Arsenal expected to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol

One of Berta’s goals this summer is to sign a new second-choice keeper behind David Raya, with Bournemouth loanee Neto currently a temporary solution.

Espanyol starlet Joan Garcia was heavily linked with a move to the club last summer, and Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the 23-year-old even agreed personal terms over a move to Arsenal at the time.

Garcia’s current release clause stands at £21 million, but this could rise to £25 million or even drop to as low as £12.5 million, depending on Espanyol’s La Liga status.

In any case, as per Sky Sports journalist David Garrido, speaking to the outlet’s ‘Back Pages’ podcast, Spanish sources fully expect Garcia to join Arsenal from Espanyol this summer after a deal fell through in 2024.

“They’re also looking at a goalkeeper,” Garrido said.

“I think people in Spain are very much expecting Joan Garcia from Espanyol to go to Arsenal too. So there’s plenty of work to be done.”

The Spaniard has been called an “exciting” young goalkeeper by members of the press, and he played a major role in Espanyol’s promotion to La Liga last season. Their persistence in targeting Garcia also highlights how Arteta must seriously rate the player.

Not qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup was no doubt a downer, but Zimbabwe, at least for now, seem to have put the doom and gloom behind them

Deivarayan Muthu06-Jul-2024Castle Corner, the epicentre of home support at the Harare Sports Club, was buzzing. Sikandar Raza had just pumped Avesh Khan for a straight six. India’s spinners silenced the crowd for a while, before they found their voice again when Raza, the bowler, was front and centre of Zimbabwe’s successful defence of 115.After the fast bowlers had made early inroads, India’s new T20I captain Shubman Gill stood between Zimbabwe and a famous win. Raza had delayed his introduction into the attack until India had a left-hander in Washington Sundar at the crease in the 11th over. But he had to deal with Gill first. Gill lined up Raza’s first ball and short-arm pulled it away in signature style to the square-leg boundary. Raza responded with a fizzing carrom ball that burst through the defences of Gill and knocked back the off stump.Gill and India were stunned. Raza roared. The Harare Sports Club roared with him. They knew that their captain was onto something, and that something was Zimbabwe beating India for the first time across formats in over eight years.ESPNcricinfo LtdRaza was part of the team that had toppled MS Dhoni and Co. at this very venue back in 2016, but he had no memories of that T20I. Tino Mawoyo, the former Zimbabwe opener, had to remind Raza about it after announcing him as the Player of the Match.Raza had bowled only three overs in that game eight years ago. At the time, he was a regular offspinner who would turn the ball into right-handers and away from left-handers. But with T20 cricket becoming an increasingly hostile environment to regular offspinners, Raza, like R Ashwin, has expanded his repertoire to become an all-sorts spinner. Raza 2.0 can bowl offbreaks, legbreaks, carrom balls and swinging arm balls.

Appreciation post:

To our fans , chevrons appreciate you all #VisitZimbabwe #Alhamdulillah #ZIMvsIND pic.twitter.com/YTnmGcEA05

— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) July 6, 2024