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Sofyan Amrabat has turned down offers from Saudi Arabia as his priority is a switch to Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano

The Moroccan midfielder looks set to depart Fiorentina this summer.

What is the latest Sofyan Amrabat news?

It seems the midfielder has made his decision on his future.

According to a report from L'Equipe, the Fiorentina player was a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, who wanted to add him to their squad which includes new signings Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Allan Saint-Maximin. The report also stated that the Moroccan was set to make his decision on his preferred destination in the following days, and that his current club had resigned themselves to the fact that he was to depart this summer.

United have been long time admirers of Amrabat, having tried to bring in the midfielder back in the January window following his impressive performances during the World Cup that saw him get named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament.

The deal never happened and Amrabat remained with Fiorentina for the rest of the season, which was a campaign that saw him lose out in both the Coppa Italia final and the Europa Conference League final. Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag previously worked with the defensive midfielder at Utrecht, and is pushing for the club to complete the transfer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Amrabat had turned down the offer from Saudi Arabia, as he is focused on completing a switch to the Red Devils. The Italian journalist also stated that United are waiting on the sales for Fred and Van de Beek to fund the transfer.

"Sofyan Amrabat, rumoured as potential target for Al Ahli last week, from what I understand, he does not want to negotiate with Al Ahli, but also all Saudi clubs as his priority now is Europe. Sofyan Amrabat wants to go to Man United, so he rejected very important financial approaches from Saudi because he wants to wait for Man United.

"As I always told you, there is no official bid to Fiorentina as they have to sell Fred, and it’s not going to be to Galatasaray from what I’m told, so other clubs are keen on Fred. But also, Donny Van de Beek, the conversation with Real Sociedad is ongoing, so Man United wait to sell one between Van de Beek and Fred before proceeding, but both will leave guys by the end of the summer, and then they will proceed with a bid for Amrabat, that is the plan at the moment."

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Who do Man United have to sell for Amrabat?

There are two midfielders who could depart Old Trafford this summer to create the space for Amrabat.

One name Romano mentioned was Fred. The 30-year-old has seen his role reduced at United under ten Hag, and with the arrival of Mason Mount as well as the potential signing of Amrabat, opportunities would be even further limited for the Brazilian.

According to a report from 90min, Galatasaray have seen an offer rejected that fell below the asking price of £20m set by Man United, and have since pulled away according to Fabrizio Romano. Saudi clubs remain interested in the midfielder, and Fulham could reignite the interest they showed earlier on in the summer.

The other name mentioned by Romano was Van de Beek. The Dutch international has had a disappointing career at Old Trafford following his £39m switch from Ajax in 2020, having only made 60 appearances for the club during a three-year spell blighted by injury problems that have forced him to miss 52 games.

According to reports, Real Sociedad have opened talks regarding the midfielder despite concerns about the player's injury problems, with the asking price set to be £25m.

Leeds United are on the verge of signing Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu in the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalists Nizaar Kinsella and Graham Smyth.

Who is Ethan Ampadu?

The 22-year-old is already a very experienced football at this early point in his career, having enjoyed various loan spells away from the Blues, including at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and most recently Spezia. Not only that, but he has won 43 caps for Wales, starting all three of his country's matches at the 2022 World Cup, prior to their group stage exit.

Ampadu has rarely managed to break into any manager's plans at Chelsea, however – he has only made 12 appearances overall – and with his current deal at Stamford Bridge expiring next year, this summer is their last opportunity to receive a fee for his signature, prior to him leaving for free in 2024.

With Leeds preparing for life back in the Championship and looking to make some important signings before their opening fixture at home to Cardiff City on August 6th, the Blues youngster looks like he could be an option to come in.

Could Leeds sign Ethan Ampadu?

According to The Evening Standard's Kinsella, Leeds are considering a making a move for Ampadu imminently, and appear to be the only club currently in the race to sign him:

"Chelsea are weighing up an offer from Leeds United for Ethan Ampadu. The 22-year-old has been included in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the pre-season tour of the USA, but could now stay behind to wrap up a move.

Smyth then followed that with his own update: "Leeds United in advanced talks with Chelsea for Ethan Ampadu, as reported by Nizaar Kinsella. Permanent deal. Likely to be first senior signing of the summer."

This could be a really shrewd piece of business by Leeds if they can entice Ampadu to the club in the near future, with Chelsea seemingly willing to sell him at this point in his contract.

The Welshman has some great experience, including in the Bundesliga, and his proven pedigree at international level only adds to his all-round reputation as a footballer.

He has been hailed as "versatile" by Wales manager Robert Page, given his ability to play as either as centre-back or central midfielder – 24 appearances came in the former for Spezia in Serie A last season, with 13 in the latter – and at 22, he still has so much improving to do as a player.

Ampadu may not be the most spectacular footballer around, often doing a solid, understated job instead of making headlines with match-winning displays, but Leeds needs someone of this ilk moving forward – a player who can be reliable week in, week out and help them make a quick return to the Premier League.

Some Sheffield United fans described him as "unbelievable" during his spell on loan at Bramall Lane, which suggests Whites supporters could also love him if he makes the switch to Elland Road.

Manchester United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, as the striker has now promised he'll move to Old Trafford, and he is currently waiting for the two clubs to strike an agreement, according to a report

Who are Man United signing this summer?

As reported by CaughtOffside, Man United are now firming up plans to solve their striker issues, with fresh approaches expected for Hojlund and Goncalo Ramos in the near future, as moves for Tottenham's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen now deemed unrealistic.

Kane's clear preference is to complete a move to Bayern Munich, with Tottenham never keen on selling their star player to a Premier League rival, while Napoli are not willing to accept offers of less than €150m (£128m) for Osimhen, making him too expensive for the Red Devils.

Ramos and Hojlund are now United's priority targets in attack, with Atalanta said to be holding out for a fee of £50m to sanction the striker's departure, and personal terms have already been agreed with the 20-year-old, who is keen on moving to Old Trafford.

According to a report from Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the young forward has now "promised himself" to Man United, and he is currently waiting to see whether the two clubs are able to strike an agreement.

After arriving in the Serie A from Sturm Graz in a €17.2m (£14.7m) move last summer, the starlet has done enough to impress Old Trafford chiefs, and it now appears as though the deal is there to be done, if they are willing to meet Atalanta's asking price.

How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored?

Despite regularly being compared to Manchester City star Erling Haaland, the Atalanta ace has not been quite as clinical in front of goal as the Norwegian throughout his career so far, netting nine goals in 32 Serie A games last season.

Similar to Haaland, the youngster also spent some time in the Austrian Bundesliga, where his attacking record was impressive, recording 12 goals and four assists in 21 appearances for Sturm Graz, and he has already scored six goals for Denmark.

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini was impressed by the former Sturm Graz man during his first season in Italy, saying:

"Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable. He still has so much margin for improvement, too. He has very similar characteristics to Haaland, not just his face".

Before also adding:

"Hojlund's so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m & that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity & can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day".

Although Erik ten Hag will no doubt be disappointed if he is unable to make a marquee signing, such as Kane or Osimhen, Hojlund has great potential, and given his age, he could lead the line for Man United for the next decade, and by the looks of things, we could see him in a United shirt next season.

They are on a four-match losing streak, but Mohali has often been helpful to fast bowling and Delhi Daredevils have a roster full of them

The Preview by Annesha Ghosh29-Apr-2017Match factsKings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils
Mohali, April 30, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)Head-to-headThis season: Delhi Daredevils handed Kings XI Punjab a 51-run drubbing in their first home game at Feroz Shah Kotla.Overall: In 19 games between these two teams, Kings XI have won 10 times. There are some caveats, however. Kings XI have lost to Daredevils four times in their last five matches but, in Mohali, they have lost only once in four games.Form guide

Kings XI Punjab (sixth) : lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 26 runs, defeated Gujarat Lions by 26 runs, lost to Mumbai Indians by eight wickets
Delhi Daredevils (eighth): lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets, lost to Mumbai Indians by 14 runs, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs

In the newsHashim Amla, who missed Kings XI’s last game with a hamstring injury, attended an optional training on Saturday and has “a chance to play on Sunday”, according to team-mate Shaun Marsh.Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan had to leave the field on Friday, clutching his hamstring, but at the post-match presentation, he said it didn’t “look that bad”.Marlon Samuels, Daredevils’ replacement for Quinton de Kock, has landed in the country but is yet to join the squad.West Indies allrounder Darren Sammy, who missed the first three weeks of this IPL due to injury, has joined the Kings XI squad and “is ready to play” the IPL again, having gone unsold at the auction last season.The likely XIsKings XI Punjab: 1 Martin Guptill/Hashim Amla, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 4 Manan Vohra, 5 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Matt Henry 8 KC Cariappa, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 T Natarajan/ Ishant SharmaDelhi Daredevils: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Karun Nair, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Chris Morris, 6 Corey Anderson/ Carlos Brathwaite 7 Ankit Bawne, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Zaheer Khan (capt), 11 Amit MishraStrategy puntKings XI could include New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry instead of Eoin Morgan or David Miller to beef up their bowling attack which has only taken 36 wickets in their eight games.Glenn Maxwell has made 55 runs in 29 balls against Amit Mishra, but the legspinner has dismissed him more than any other bowler in the IPL – four times. Expect this rivalry to take center stage early.Stats that matter Kings XI have registered the worst economy rate – 11.43 – among all teams in the last five overs this season. Daredevils, on the contrary, have been the most economical at the death, having conceded at 8.15 runs per over. Daredevils’ inexperienced batting line-up have not been able to handle the pressure of a chase, losing all of their three matches batting second. Their classy fast bowlers are capable of handling pressure better; both their wins in the tournament have come while defending totals. Shaun Marsh has scored only 41 runs off the 36 balls he has faced from Zaheer Khan and has been dismissed twice by the Daredevils captain. Marlon Samuels, who has played only ten innings in the IPL till date – the last of them in 2013 for the defunct Pune Warriors franchise – has a highest score of 46. In the Pakistan Super League, he scored 81 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 121, but did better in the Bangladesh Premier League, scoring 334 in eight innings at an average of 66.80. All the three Kings XI bowlers who have bowled three or more overs in the last five – Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma and Axar Patel – have leaked runs at 10 or more per over. Their combined returns: 6 for 250 off the 21.3 overs they sent down. Pace has been the preferred weapon of choice in Mohali, yielding 358 wickets at an average of 26.29. Spin, on the other hand, has accounted for 139 wickets at an average of 30.80. In the first IPL match at the PCA Stadium this season, fast bowlers scalped nine wickets while spinners bagged three.

Several newspapers and websites published the Madhya Pradesh’s batsman’s name and photograph erroneously stating he had been detained by police in Mumbai

Arun Venugopal23-Feb-2017On February 20, the day of the IPL auction, Harpreet Singh Bhatia was preparing for the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the Madhya Pradesh team in Indore when news reports emerged that the police had detained him for driving his car on to the platform of the Andheri railway station in Mumbai. It later emerged that the player in question was not Harpreet, but Harmeet Singh, the left-arm spinner who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning side in 2012.According to the , multiple news agencies and websites had mixed up the names and published Harpreet’s photograph with the erroneous story. Some websites, the said, had not corrected the mistakes until late on Wednesday. By the time the amended reports clarified that Harpreet wasn’t involved, he had already spent a harrowing few days responding to calls and messages on his supposed detention.The incident, however, coincided with Harpreet, 25, not being picked in the IPL auction. Harpreet said he wasn’t upset about not being picked at the auction, but that he was “confused” about the circumstances leading to the outcome. He had finished as the leading run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali inter-zonal T20 tournament earlier this month, with 211 runs in four games, including a 51-ball 92 for Central Zone against South Zone.”It happens at times that you don’t get selected; I have no problems with that. This happened on auction day, so there was more confusion,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “But I will feel good if I get some clarity one way or the other. Did I go unsold in the normal course of things or was it because of this incident? This incident happened two hours before the auction and the reports were on social media in no time. Such reports would have sent a wrong message to any franchise.”The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association has supported Harpreet and pointed out that the “erroneous reporting has tarnished the name of this upcoming player beyond repairs. It has caused ‎mental trauma to the player and his goodwill.””The player also expresses that since this ‎report was widely circulated on the very same day of the IPL auction i.e. 20 February 2017, he harbours this reasonable apprehension that the IPL franchisee could have disregarded his candidature for selection, which otherwise was greatly supported by his consistent performance in BCCI domestic season and particularly the recently concluded T-20 Tournament for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” MPCA secretary Milind Kanmadikar said in the release.”‎MPCA supports the player in this matter and requests BCCI/IPL to consider if this incidence has erased opportunity of his selection for IPL and in the event if any remedial action can be adopted to protect the future of the player.”He felt that the inevitable fall-out of the incident was a damaged reputation. “I felt bad not because of not being picked in the auction, but that whatever name I had earned due to my hard work has been spoilt for no fault of mine. I was disturbed, but my family was more disturbed than me. I have now come out of it because you have to be strong as a sportsman if you have to do well.”Harpreet also sympathised with Harmeet, his former team-mate at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, over the mix-up.”There is no fault of his in what has happened to me. Even he wouldn’t know what’s been happening – he must be as confused as I am,” he said. “I hope he is safe and there is no major issue. It isn’t nice when such an incident happens to someone you have played with.”Harpreet has played four IPL matches till date, turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders in one match in 2010 and three matches for the Pune Warriors between 2011 and 2012.

Tottenham Hotspur remain focused on their top summer target, with an update suggesting steady progress continues to be made…

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham Hotspur?

Taking to his Twitter, it was once again transfer guru Fabrizio Romano who offered the latest update on Ange Postecoglou's pursuit of James Maddison.

The Leicester City maestro remains embroiled in this transfer tussle between Spurs and Newcastle United, but with the latter having moved on to other targets, it leaves the former in the driving seat for the man valued at over £50m by his club.

The Italian journalist wrote on Saturday afternoon: "Tottenham will push again for James Maddison next week — he remains the priority target for Postecoglou in that position."

Could James Maddison take Heung-min Son's place?

One of the few feel-good stories that have surrounded the Lilywhites in recent years has been the partnership struck up between Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

As a quality creator and finisher, and an often-unstoppable speedy winger, the two struck up a bond that captured the imagination, even surpassing Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba for goals exchanged between the pair.

The South Korean has recorded 225 goal contributions across his 372 games in north London, yet saw a notable downturn last term that will leave Postecoglou with cause for concern.

Having notched 23 goals and a further 17 in the two respective seasons before the last, he would only muster ten league strikes most recently, leaving the England captain to shoulder most of the burden. His 30 goals marked an immense feat, as he took this weak side on his back.

However, he cannot be allowed to continue as the sole offensive threat.

The acquisition of Maddison could supplement his compatriot once again, especially given the 26-year-old managed 19 goal contributions in a Foxes side that fell to the drop. He too has shown his quality in a struggling outfit.

His ability to score and supplement from deep could see him ignite a new partnership in north London, where instead of speed being the main asset, a focus on technical excellence is preferred.

Either of these two creative stars could drop deep to pick out their advancing teammate, with whoever finds themself on the finishing end of the move likely to record an easy goal.

The former Norwich City star would likely prefer the former role, given Statman Dave's suggestion that he is a "magician". With 2.3 key passes and 1.7 successful dribbles per game last term too, a record better than Son's 1.8 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per match, this is a notion only emphasised further.

As the South Korean reaches the twilight years of his career, poised to turn 31 next month, Maddison is instead only just entering his prime years. He and Kane could replace one already legendary partnership with a new, fresh dynamic, to lay the foundations for Postecoglou's hopeful tenure.

Unai Emery kickstarted Aston Villa's summer transfer business over the weekend with a swoop for Youri Tielemans on a free transfer.

The Belgian will officially join the group at the start of next month, upon the expiry of his contract at Leicester City, to bolster the club's options in the middle of the park.

He could be joined by Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is also set to be a free agent at the end of June. talkSPORT have claimed that Villa have held talks with the former England international over a possible move to be their second addition.

The Villans are also reportedly eyeing up West Ham United ace Manuel Lanzini, who is another Premier League player who is on the verge of being available on a free transfer.

How did Manuel Lanzini perform this season?

The Argentine attacking midfielder only played 19 times in the Premier League and the Europa Conference League combined but produced impressive progressing passing numbers that suggest he could be a bargain signing for Villa.

Over the last 365 days, Lanzini ranks in the top 12% or higher of players in his position in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

This means that the West Ham ace has been one of the best midfielders in that group of players at moving his team up the pitch and opening up space to either create a chance or allow one of his teammates to provide the creativity.

The Hammers wizard, who was once hailed as "magical" by West Ham Fan TV co-founder Nicky Hawkins, excels at breaking lines and dribbling past the opposition to make things happen in the final third, suggesting that Lanzini could be an excellent option for Villa when they are trying to break down a low block.

Emery could call upon the 30-year-old in tight matches where his side will need to find ways of progressing the ball up the pitch quickly and effectively, which the Argentine gem is seemingly superb at doing.

Lanzini, who has scored 27 goals in 179 Premier League appearances, is a proven top-flight performer in England and could be a shrewd addition to Villa's squad as they would be getting someone who can hit the ground running and instantly perform.

This is also the case with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has featured in 235 games in the division throughout his career, and Tielemans, who played 151 times in the league during his time with the Foxes.

Such a dynamic and fluid midfield trio would no doubt boost Emery's ranks next term and to get three hugely experienced Premier League players for £0 would be remarkable business.

Indeed, this has the potential to be a masterclass from Emery if he can get these three deals over the line and, hopefully, the Spaniard will be able to do just that in the coming weeks.

Neymar would be Manchester United's best player if he was to join the club in the summer transfer window, presenter Terry Flewers has claimed.

What's the latest on Neymar and Man United?

The Brazil superstar looks set to depart Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and the 31-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Newcastle and Man United two possible destinations.

Neymar has suffered with a lot of injury problems over the years, but has still provided 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 outings across all competitions this season.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Flewers claimed that Neymar would be the best player at United as soon as he walked through the door, in terms of ability and status, but injuries may be of some concern.

"Ability, yes. Output, yes. The name, the man, the magic the skills, I want Neymar at Manchester United for all of these reasons," he stated.

"He would be the best player at the club by a country mile as soon as he arrives, whether he plays on the left instead of Rashford, whether he plays in a kind of 10, off the striker role instead of Bruno Fernandes, if he plays on the right instead of Antony or Sancho, this guy is better than all of them."

"The injury problems though, that's my worry. The injury situation surrounding Neymar is my only concern around him."

Should United pursue Neymar?

United are in the market for a forward, and have reportedly made Harry Kane their top target.

Neymar is a wide attacker rather than a central striker, but should he arrive, Rashford could move to a striker role to accommodate the 31-year-old.

His injury problems, combined with his £941k-per-week wages, means that Neymar looks more like he could follow the route of other big names who arrived and failed at Old Trafford, such as Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Bastian Schweinsteiger, but if he can stay fit, he could help raise United's level.

Erik ten Hag's side have made good progress this season, winning the Carabao Cup and securing a third-placed finish, but someone with Neymar's quality and experience could help turn them into title challengers.

Wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho have scored a combined 15 goals in all competitions, less than Neymar alone, and the Brazilian would be a significant upgrade on both in terms of end product.

If the finances on any deal for Neymar are reasonable, then the Red Devils could benefit in the short term, by having an attacker with Neymar's quality in the squad, even if he isn't available for the whole season.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking ahead to the summer transfer window, with a Brazilian full-back linked in the bid to improve Julen Lopetegui’s defence.

Despite being linked with a host of players, the dominant narrative of Wolves’ expected transfer activity is the pressures surrounding issues of FFP.

It’s expected that Lopetegui will be forced to recruit on a budget this summer, as the difficulties of the Premier League season begin to spill into the break.

What’s the latest on Dodo to Wolves?

As reported by Torcedores, relayed by Sport Witness last week, Wolves are in the picture to sign Fiorentina ace Dodo this summer.

There has since been an update regarding the player’s availability, with his club placing a price tag between €30m and €35m (£26m – £30m) on the defender.

Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb relayed the update of the Brazilian’s price tag with reference to Juventus’ interest in the defender.

What could Dodo bring to Wolves?

While Wolves are expected to face financial shortages this summer, the club are also expected to make a number of sales, which could still allow signings to happen.

One player that has been linked with a move away from the club is Rayan Ait-Nouri, who was rumoured to be “ready to leave” Molineux in December.

The Algerian’s potential departure could assist in freeing up finances and leave a vacancy in defence that could be perfectly filled with Dodo, who despite predominantly being a right-back has featured on the left-hand side in his career before.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb’s report, the Brazilian is 'one of the best' defenders on the flanks in Serie A, making him a worthy investment should Wolves have the ability to spend.

While the full-back’s defensive abilities are praised, the 24-year-old is extremely competent going forward, in qualities that are required to be a recognised full-back in the English game.

As per FBref, Dodo betters Ait-Nouri in a range of attributes going forward from defence, averaging 2.83 progressive carries to the 21-year-old’s 2.51 per 90, showing his strength on the ball and going forward.

A similar pattern is evident in the duo’s impact on goal, most obviously through the Serie A defender’s four goal contributions (one goal and three assists) this season to the Wolves defenders’ single goal.

As highlighted by FBref, the Molineux target averages 2.55 shot-creating actions per 90 in comparison to Ait-Nouri’s 1.92, showcasing his desire to get amongst the goals whether it be through assisting or scoring.

The future of the “sublime” Wolves defender, as praised by analyst Jack Fawcett, remains in doubt, however, the club may not need to fret over his departure should they capture the signing of Dodo.

There is little doubt that the Brazilian wouldn’t fit smoothly into Lopetegui’s plans in the Algerian’s expected absence, however with Italian giants Juventus also eyeing the star, Wolves will need to act quickly.

Arsenal's midfield has taken many by surprise this season, with their imperious displays in the engine room proving vital in their unlikely charge for the Premier League title.

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey both stepped up massively for Mikel Arteta, but still crumbled at the key moments when they were needed most. The last five fixtures have seen their Ghanaian general only surpass his average Sofascore rating on one occasion, whilst the former inches ever closer to an Emirates exit.

It is a sad way to break up this fine pairing but offers opportunities for fresh and hungry alternatives to step up.

Given the vacancy they are set to endure in the heart of midfield, it makes the Gunners' failed attempt to sign Bruno Guimaraes all the more frustrating, given how he is thriving of late for Newcastle United.

A calm and combative presence just in front of the back four, the Brazilian has been instrumental in Eddie Howe's side mounting an unprecedented push for Champions League football.

However, with Youri Tielemans' contract dwindling, and Leicester City seemingly set to succumb to the drop, perhaps Arteta could compound the Foxes' misery by plucking the metronomic Belgian to thrive in his new-look midfield, given their interest in the past.

How good is Youri Tielemans?

With the 26-year-old's £35k-per-week deal set for expiry this summer, and Arsenal's longstanding interest in the former AS Monaco star, Edu will be delighted that such an opportunity has presented itself at their moment of need.

Without having to spend a penny the Brazilian could now secure an alternative to Guimaraes, as someone willing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and create from deep.

After all, he has showcased his class in England across multiple seasons, the apex of which arguably came during his debut campaign. His 7.25 rating was underpinned by three goals, four assists and 1.3 key passes per game.

However, even during this relegation-threatened season, the quality of the experienced gem has shone through. His 7.03 average rating is only bettered by James Maddison amongst his teammates, which also includes 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Given his humble beginnings, as a terrific teenager at Anderlecht, a former player expected big things from their midfield maestro – Par Zetterberg branded Tielemans "a phenomenon," noting that "there are not many players better than him."

However, is it the "magic" that CBS Sports' Aaron West noted that would truly make him an exceptional asset for Arteta to have, given that Guimaraes has too been lauded for his magical qualities by his home support.

His 1.3 key passes and 2.3 tackles per 90 this season are similarly indicative of a front-foot and workmanlike midfielder, with the comparison only strengthened by his presence on Tieleman's FBref similar players model.

Edu might have accidentally masterminded a truly outstanding transfer coup here, by missing out on one target only to claim another just like him for free.