100% dribbles, 9 duels won: Spurs' 9/10 titan is as undroppable as Solanke

Well, it would be fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur surpassed most people’s expectations last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side went into the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final away to Eintracht Frankfurt off the back of a dire 4-2 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, so plenty of fans and pundits alike feared the worst.

However, the North Londoners put in a superb performance on the night, demonstrating that, when near their best, they can be a real force to be reckoned with.

In fact, there were brilliant displays across the pitch from the visitors, but a couple really stood out and are now undroppable, including Dominic Solanke.

Solanke's game vs Frankfurt

It’s been a challenging couple of months for Spurs’ record-signing, as, since returning from his knee injury towards the end of February, he failed to score in eight games across the league and Europa League until his ninth appearance last night, that is.

After James Maddison won the Lilywhites a penalty in the 38th minute, it was up to the former Bournemouth star to put it away, and with a well-placed shot down the middle, he did just that.

However, it wasn’t just the goal that made his performance such an impressive one, as the Englishman ran himself into the ground all game, be that to help craft chances for his teammates or to pressure the hosts’ backline and stop them from gaining any sort of foothold in the game.

Unsurprisingly, the watching press was equally impressed, with Alasdair Gold awarding the poacher an 8/10 match rating at full-time and writing that he ‘gave everything’ and that Frankfurt ‘never had a moment of quiet with him.’

In short, it was the sort of display that makes him undroppable for the semi-finals, which could also be said for one of his fellow starters.

The Spurs star who is now undroppable

So, there were a few other starters from last night that put in a solid showing, from Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur to Mathys Tel and Destiny Udogie, but when it comes to the other star of the night, it has to be Cristian Romero.

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As one of the club’s co-vice-captains, the World Cup winner led by example last night, and while he may have had one of his trademark moments of madness towards the end of the match, he was simply superb for the rest of the game.

Alongside centre-back partner Micky van de Ven, the Argentine restricted the hosts from gaining any serious chances at goal and then, on top of that, he also played the ball into Maddison, which won the side their game-winning penalty.

Like Solanke, the former Juventus gem left quite the impression on Gold, who awarded him a 9/10 match rating and wrote that he ‘defended well’ and put in ‘one of his best displays of the season’.

It might sound like hyperbole, but it’s really not, and the defender’s statistics help further illustrate how good he was.

For example, in his 97 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.44, made ten clearances, blocked one shot, made four interceptions and two tackles, won nine of 12 duels, lost the ball just seven times, took 71 touches, played one key pass, created one big chance and completed 100% of his dribbles.

Romero’s game in numbers

Minutes

97′

Expected Goals

0.15

Expected Assists

0.29

Clearances

10

Blocked Shots

1

Interceptions

4

Tackles

2

Dribbled Past

0

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (5)

Aerial Duels (Won)

6 (4)

Lost Possession

7

Touches

71

Fouls Won

1

Key Passes

1

Big Chances Created

1

Dribbles (Successful)

2 (2)

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, it was a brilliant performance by Spurs last night and an even better individual performance by Romero, which makes him simply undroppable for the rest of the campaign.

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Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Brewster included: Sheffield United must axe £88k-p/w quartet if they go up

Sheffield United now find themselves in pole position to land an instant promotion back to the promised lands of Premier League with the Blades two points clear of a faltering Leeds United at the summit of the Championship.

Of course, nothing is set in stone until the 46-game marathon is over and done with, but Chris Wilder’s men will be quietly confident of their chances after a recent 3-1 victory over playoff-chasing Coventry City.

On top of that, Wilder also has the know-how as a manager to guide his team over the line, having clinched two promotions already in the Bramall Lane hot seat over two distinguished spells.

But, not everything is potentially rosy on the horizon with the step back up to the Premier League meaning alterations will have to be made.

Unfortunately, top-flight football might not be on the menu for everyone next season with an £88k-per-week quartet potentially not looking at much game time. Here are four players who could be given the boot if promotion is sealed.

1 Jack Robinson

Whilst Jack Robinson has been a mainstay of Wilder’s XI so far this season – with 28 Championship appearances under his belt – the Blades boss could opt for a fresher body in the centre-back department if top-flight football returns to South Yorkshire.

After all, it was heavily reported during the January transfer window that United were chasing Queens Park Rangers enforcer Jimmy Dunne, among other targets, meaning these options could be explored again very soon.

Moreover, the 31-year-old might still hold visible scars from the last time his side fell from the tricky division, resulting in the ex-Liverpool centre-back tallying up just one clean sheet from a miserable 35 outings.

2 Sydie Peck

Whilst Robinson is undoubtedly an experienced head in Wilder’s camp, homegrown product Sydie Peck is very much on the opposite end of the spectrum, with the rising midfielder only 20 years of age.

Therefore, it would be unreasonable to expect Peck to be able to acclimatise to the bright lights of the Premier League instantly, with his 35 league clashes and counting this season bumped up by injury troubles centrally.

The academy prodigy won’t be axed completely next season, but it would be fair to assume Peck might take more of a background role as tougher and more physical opponents wait in the wings.

3 Rhian Brewster

Rhian Brewster is another face who might have to become used to taking a back seat more often, with the former Anfield wonderkid looking out of his depth previously in the Premier League.

Indeed, the hot-and-cold attacker has actually never bagged a top-flight strike from 40 appearances, which will worry Wilder and Co tremendously.

He is deep in a purple patch of form at the moment, with four strikes and three assists accumulated in second-tier action.

However, it would be an almighty risk on the end of the newly-promoted side to solely put their trust in Brewster to come up trumps, especially if his inconsistencies rear their ugly head again.

4 Kieffer Moore

Lastly, another attacker that might find his minutes are limited in the top-flight is Kieffer Moore, with the Welshman a regular in the Bramall Lane treatment room.

Snapping up the ex-Cardiff City marksman on a free transfer last summer would have been deemed smart business, considering the seasoned attacker has a hefty 59 strikes next to his name in the Championship.

Games played

22

Goals scored

5

Games missed through injury

17

Days missed through injury

82

Five of those have come in his new surroundings, but his recurring injury problems will have irked Wilder, leading to figures such as Tyrese Campbell and Tom Cannon presumably gaining more starts in the top-flight away from the often injury-hit striker.

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Simon Jordan tips Jurgen Klopp to join Real Madrid & deal with "pest" Mbappe

With Real Madrid’s season in danger of completely derailing, the powers that be at the club could opt to rip everything up and fire Carlo Ancelotti.

Los Blancos are about to head into their crunch second leg against Arsenal in the Champions League requiring a three-goal win, while their La Liga title challenge is no longer in their hands at this late stage, trailing Barcelona by four points.

As a result, reports in Spain have suggested that former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could be considered by the Madrid hierarchy to replace the Italian.

Pundit Simon Jordan has had his say on the rumours, with the businessman backing the German to control the likes of Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 15, 2025 What did Simon Jordan say about Klopp?

Following reports from Spanish outlet Sport that Klopp could emerge as an option for Los Blancos, Jordan backed the Premier League and Champions League winner to be a success in the Real dugout.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

He told TalkSport: “I think it would be a perfect fit. He’s the perfect character to manage a club like Real Madrid in the style of football he plays, the character that he brings, how he embraces the culture of the club he moves into.

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Klopp has only recently taken over at Red Bull as their Head of Global Football. While there is thought to be a clause that would allow him to take the Germany job, there doesn’t appear to be a clear path to a huge club like Real Madrid.

Klopp had also previously stated that he was finished as a coach, having run out of energy at the end of his time at Liverpool.

Therefore, a return to the dugout so soon after beginning his new role in the new year would be a surprise, though clubs don’t come much bigger than Real Madrid, so could he be tempted?

He was worse than Disasi: Emery must drop 4/10 Aston Villa dud after PSG

The brutal reality of the latter stages of the Champions League hit Aston Villa like a brick when they travelled to Paris to take on PSG on Wednesday night.

Villa, who did take the lead through Morgan Rogers, were beaten 3-1 by a dominant Paris Saint-Germain side, managed by Luis Enrique, who had some terrific individuals on display at the top end of the pitch.

The effervescent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembele put on a masterclass in front of their home supporters, with all three of them involved in at least one of the three goals.

Because of the quality of the PSG attackers, several Aston Villa players endured a rough evening in France. One of those was Axel Disasi, after he was brought on at half-time.

Axel Disasi's awful performance against PSG

The versatile defender, who is a centre-back by trade, came on to replace Matty Cash at the break at right-back and was almost immediately sent to the shops for PSG’s second goal in the 49th minute.

Kvaratskhelia, who is a test for any full-back, showed unbelievable footwork to jink past the Frenchman before blasting a finish into the top corner of Emi Martinez’s near post.

In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Disasi managed two tackles, one interception, one block, and one key pass, whilst he also won half (2/4) of his ground duels, in what was a solid display outside of being brilliantly beaten by the Georgian magician.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

The 27-year-old defender, who is on loan from Chelsea, was far from the worst player on the pitch for Unai Emery, though…

Aston Villa's worst player against PSG

While Disasi struggled, it was Matty Cash who was even worse than him in the first half.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Poland international was actually selected ahead of the Chelsea loanee to start at right-back against Kvaratskhelia and had to be withdrawn from the action at half-time after a dismal opening 45 minutes in Paris.

GOAL awarded him a player rating of just 4/10 and wrote that he was a ‘red card waiting to happen’, after his early yellow card for a foul on the former Napoli forward.

The English-born defender must be brutally binned from the starting XI by Emery after his poor showing in the opening 45 minutes, as Disasi outperformed him off the bench – despite his part in the second PSG goal.

Aston Villa’s right-back battle

Vs PSG

Matty Cash

Axel Disasi

Minutes

45

45

Pass accuracy

50%

69%

Key passes

0

1

Tackles + interceptions

3

3

Duels won

3/8

2/5

Possession lost

9x

5x

Fouls committed

4

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 4/10 full-back was incredibly wasteful with the ball at his feet and offered nothing at the top end of the pitch, whilst Disasi – at least – created one chance for the team in the second half.

As mentioned by GOAL, Cash was also walking a disciplinary tightrope with four fouls committed and a yellow card to his name in the first 45 minutes, as he was forced to foul Kvaratskhelia, who got the better of him, on several occasions.

With their respective performances in mind, Emery must drop the former Nottingham Forest star from the starting line-up to bring Disasi in at right-back from the start next time out.

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Revealed: The "exciting" 9-goal winger Liverpool chiefs have enquired about

Fresh from their Premier League title celebrations following a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, it seems as though Liverpool have already turned their attention towards the summer and one particular winger.

Liverpool crowned Premier League champions

When Jurgen Klopp bellowed Arne Slot’s name in front of an emotional Anfield this time last year, not even those in attendance would have believed that his Liverpool side were champions in waiting. One year on, however, the Reds have done what Manchester United failed to do and Slot has done what David Moyes failed to do by keeping what is now officially England’s most successful club on their perch.

Whilst there’s plenty to celebrate, however, there’s also still plenty of work to do at Anfield this summer. And that should only excite those around the club. Slot’s champions, who rarely looked unlikely to take their crown, still have clear levels to reach which could see them endure a busy transfer window.

The likes of Alexander Isak and Jonathan David have been names mentioned in recent months, which should indicate the attacking overhaul that the Reds are looking to complete this summer.

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Isak, given his outstanding Premier League record at Newcastle United, should be the dream move for Slot. Amid the Swede’s hefty £100m+ valuation though, David wouldn’t be a bad second choice. The LOSC Lille forward is set to become a free agent when the summer arrives, allowing his next club to land one of the bargains of the window.

Lille'sJonathanDavidshoots at goal

Strikers aside, meanwhile, it looks as though Michael Edwards is also looking to sign another winger when the summer arrives, reportedly turning towards Ligue 1 and a frustrated player.

Liverpool make first Seghir enquiry

According to L’Equipe, Liverpool have made their first enquiry over signing Eliesse Ben Seghir from AS Monaco this summer. The winger is reportedly valued at just €30m (£25m) and is becoming frustrated by his game time in France, where he has started just 18 of 31 Ligue 1 games.

At 20 years old, Monaco’s caution would be seen as understandable if it wasn’t for Ben Seghir’s impressive form throughout the current campaign, which has seen him score nine goals and assist a further four in all competitions despite those limited starts.

Dubbed an “exciting” player by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, Liverpool’s interest should come as no surprise and their status as champions may yet go a long way towards beating Manchester City to Ben Seghir’s signature, with the Blues also showing some interest.

A young talent frustrated by his game time at Monaco, the 20-year-old is certainly one to watch as the summer transfer window approaches, having already drawn in a sponsorship deal with Adidas, who are soon to return as Liverpool’s chief kit manufacturer.

£77m striker now gives Arsenal move green light after talks with Berta

A “lethal” £77m striker has now said yes to joining Arsenal in the summer, with new sporting director Andrea Berta playing a key role in convincing him about the move, according to a report.

Gunners stepping up striker pursuit after Berta appointment

One of Berta’s main tasks in the upcoming window will be to sign a top striker, with the Gunners currently severely lacking options in that area of the pitch, and a number of Europe’s most well-known forwards have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is believed to be Mikel Arteta’s dream signing, and there have been suggestions the Swedish striker would be keen on a move to north London this summer, although it could be very difficult to prise him away from the Magpies.

As such, Arteta may be forced to move on to other targets, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is another name on the shortlist, with the Slovenia international also interested in making a move to the Emirates Stadium.

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However, according to a report from Portugal (via Sport Witness), a move for a different striker is now looking increasingly likely, with Berta playing a key role in convincing Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres to move to Arsenal this summer.

Gyokeres is the preferred option at striker, and Berta has chosen to pursue a deal for the Sweden international instead of Sesko and Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match

With the 26-year-old giving the move the green light, the Gunners must now negotiate an agreement with Sporting, and the Portuguese club could look to hold out for a fee of around €80m – €90m (£68m – £77m).

FootballTransfers have also dropped an update on developments, stating the forward’s agents will be in attendance for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday night, with a move seemingly becoming increasingly likely.

"Lethal" Gyokeres could be final piece of Arsenal jigsaw

After yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Everton, the Premier League title race is almost certainly over, and one thing that has been missing all season is a reliable goalscorer, with the Gunners’ top scorer, Kai Havertz, netting just nine league goals.

If Gyokeres’ performances in Portugal are anything to go by, he could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arteta, having amassed 43 goals and 11 assists in 43 outings in all competitions, which is a phenomenal record by any measure.

The former Coventry City man has been lauded as “lethal” by some members of the media in the past, and his goalscoring record indicates he could make an instant impact for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Isak may be Arteta’s dream target, but a deal for Gyokeres seems like more of a realistic possibility, and he has proven he could be a fantastic alternative option.

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Arsenal's main transfer plans for this summer

Buoyed by the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta, Arteta has already admitted that Arsenal are set for a “big” summer transfer window after the Italian’s appointment.

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A host of incomings across multiple areas of the squad are anticipated ahead of what is expected to be a busy debut window for Berta, with GiveMeSport recently reporting that £300 million could be spent on seven major signings.

As per GMS, Arsenal are believed to be prioritising a new second-choice goalkeeper to replace Neto, a full-back, new midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker. Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to be sold after falling down Arteta’s pecking order.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

While Thomas Partey is in talks to extend his Arsenal contract, Jorginho remains likely to depart when his contract expires, meaning the addition of a centre-midfielder is still pretty imperative before 2025/2026.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard’s long-term future is uncertain, as his contract expires in 2026, with Arsenal arguably in need of another winger who can provide Arteta with a quality alternative to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries have also emphasised the need for Arsenal to finally sign a prolific striker, so there is plenty to do for Berta. Indeed, Arteta confirmed last week that he wants Arsenal to bring more strength and depth into the squad, sending a subtle message to his director.

“Squad quality and availability. Without those two, we cannot compete in four competitions,” said Arteta on his Arsenal transfer wish.

“At this level, especially in this country, it’s impossible. The higher the quality, the higher the availability, the more chances, probability you have. After you have to do it. But the probability goes high.”

Arsenal "internally" behaving like Martin Zubimendi deal is "done"

One top target for Arsenal, as per multiple reports, is Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

They’ve been in negotiations over the Spain international’s acquisition for quite some time, with The Mail first reporting advanced pre-summer talks in January. Since then, the consensus has been that Arsenal are confident they can sign Zubimendi before June, while Marca journalist Juan Castro reported this week that an agreement appears to be struck already.

Now, the reliable David Ornstein has somewhat backed up Castro’s claim, stating that Arsenal are “internally” behaving like Zubimendi is a “done deal”.

This interesting update from a very credible source should fill supporters with confidence, as the feeling within N5 appears to be that it is inevitable the 26-year-old will finally make his long-awaited move to England, just a year after he publicly rejected Liverpool’s advances.

Called a “world-class” player by Tierney, during their time together at Sociedad, Zubimendi has been likened to Balon d’Or winner Rodri and played a key role for Spain in their Euro 2024 final triumph against England.

The La Liga mainstay is indispensable for his boyhood club, but it appears he’ll soon be waving goodbye if all goes to plan.

Better than Rose: Rangers considering move for "amazing" 4-3-3 manager

Glasgow Rangers will be on the lookout for a new manager this summer after Barry Ferguson’s time as the interim head coach comes to an end.

The Scottish boss came in to replace Philippe Clement on a short-term basis and has the job until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, when a decision will be made on the holder of the position on a long-term basis.

Ferguson has not done too much to further his claim to take the job on permanently after a fairly unimpressive collection of results in the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership so far.

His side failed to score in three of their four Europa League outings, eventually getting knocked out by Athletic Bilbao, and the Scottish manager has only won three of his seven top-flight games in charge, most recently drawing 2-2 with St Mirren.

The Light Blues may, therefore, have to look further afield to find their manager for next season and beyond, because Ferguson does not look up to the task of returning Rangers to their former glory on the evidence of his interim period in charge.

In fact, a fresh report on the club’s search for a new head coach suggests that the club are looking at other options to come in and replace the former Scotland international in the Ibrox dugout.

Rangers considering moves for two managerial candidates

According to TEAMtalk, the Scottish giants have whittled their shortlist of managerial candidates down to two in their search for a new tactician.

The report claims that former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has emerged as a contender for the job, as the Gers hierarchy are said to be thinking about him for the job.

It states that the pending takeover will put the club in a better financial situation, and that they are looking for an exciting managerial appointment to take the team in the right direction.

Rose is said to have been sounded out about the job and that he is open to taking on a new role next season, having left his position at RB Leipzig in March.

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The German head coach, however, is not the only manager on the shortlist. TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues are seriously considering a swoop for former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

It states that the English manager, who left Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq in January, would be interested in a return to Glasgow to manage the team for a second time.

Steven Gerrard

In fact, TEAMtalk reports that many managers see the job as an attractive prospect because of the potential to win domestic trophies, as well as the prospect of Champions League or Europa League football, which Gerrard has not had since his first spell in Scotland.

With all of this in mind, the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell, who is set to take up the position of sporting director this summer, must move to bring the Liverpool legend back to Ibrox ahead of a swoop for Rose.

Why Steven Gerrard would be better for Rangers than Marco Rose

The German boss is, certainly, a strong candidate for the job because he has achieved relative success in both Austria with RB Salzburg and Germany with RB Leipzig.

Rose won two titles in two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga before making his way to his home country with Borussia Monchengladbach, with whom he finished fourth and eighth before joining Borussia Dortmund and finishing second in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 48-year-old boss then joined Leipzig and finished third and fourth in his first two seasons, before leaving the club in sixth place in the division this season.

This suggests that Rose, despite winning the German Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, regressed during his time at Monchengladbach and Leipzig, as their respective league positions dropped the longer he stayed.

Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard

Rangers must, now, swoop for Gerrard instead because he would be an even better appointment than the German head coach, as he is a proven quantity at Ibrox and in Scottish football.

The 4-3-3 boss joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2018 and led the club to second-placed finishes in the Premiership in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, before winning the league title in his third year in Glasgow.

Gerrard’s team, incredibly, went unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign in the top-flight, winning 32 matches and drawing six, to beat Celtic to the title.

It was a remarkable accomplishment by the manager, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, who won the league title for Rangers for the first time in ten years.

Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, and Philippe Clement have all attempted to replicate the success that Gerrard had at Ibrox, but failed and were all relieved of their duties without winning the league title.

The former Liverpool midfielder’s experience and success at Ibrox are exactly why he would be an even better appointment than Rose, because he knows what it takes to win the Premiership and has proven that he can put together a team to do exactly that.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard only lost one of his last 50 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, leaving the club at the top of the table after 12 matches in the 2021/22 campaign when he left to join Aston Villa.

The Gers have lost seven of their 34 games in the league in the current season, which illustrates just how impressive that record across 50 outings was, and they clearly need a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Glasgow.

Steven Gerrard

Therefore, bringing Gerrard back to Ibrox in the hope that he can recapture the spark that he had in his first spell at the club could be a brilliant move for the 49ers and Thelwell to make.

The out-of-work tactician could bring the feel-good factor back to Ibrox, more so than Rose, who has no experience in Scotland or prior connection with the fanbase, and it is a move that seems to make a lot of sense on paper.

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Another Raheem Sterling: Arsenal make enquiry for £85m Premier League flop

Arsenal are second in the Premier League and a game away from a Champions League final. It’s been a good season, right? Right…? Think again.

You may well read this thinking that Arsenal fans are entitled, but the fact of the matter is this has actually been a particularly arduous season.

The club failed to sign anyone in January and as a result, are now paying the price. Injuries have been their downfall at various points in the season, as too have some bizarre levels of officiating. The latest saw Evanilson score with his arm on Saturday. VAR didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

Then, there has been a remarkable level of underperformance in the Premier League ever since January. To sum up Mikel Arteta’s woes, the club have dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this term, their joint-most ever in a single season, level with 2019/20.

Meanwhile, for all of the praise set-piece coach Nicolas Jover gets for their attacking set-plays, Arsenal have conceded 38.7% of their league goals from set-pieces this season, the biggest proportion of all Premier League clubs.

So, how do Arsenal go about improving their poor track record? Hard work, of course, but the transfer window must be better optimised than it was over the winter.

Arsenal's plans to sign a new forward

There are plenty of attacking players on the club’s shortlist with Sky in Germany reporting over recent days that new sporting director, Andrea Berta, is pushing for the signing of Sporing striker Viktor Gyokeres.

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The Gunners are still keen admirers of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak but it feels like that deal will be a particularly tough one to get over the line given the Toon’s alleged £150m asking price.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are keen to strengthen in wide areas with the likes of Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams still on their radar and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz the subject of interest.

Any player they do sign, Arteta will certainly hope he’ll be a great deal better than Raheem Sterling. Sadly, that might not be the case.

Indeed, according to reports in Brazil over recent days, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are two clubs that have made enquiries to sign Antony.

Yes, that’s the Manchester United Antony, the winger Erik ten Hag and Co famously signed from Ajax for £85m.

The Brazilian is on loan at Real Betis in Spain at the moment, and they are also interested in signing him on a permanent basis in the summer.

Another Raheem Sterling for Arsenal

It’s safe to say that the addition of Sterling, arriving on loan from Chelsea on deadline day in the summer transfer window, has been a bit of a disaster.

As the England international penned terms at the Emirates Stadium, the winger suggested that “you will see the best of me.” Sadly, that hasn’t been the case.

It’s been a remarkable fall from grace for the 30-year-old who has made 27 appearances in 2024/25, only scoring once.

Everything Sterling seems to do is done with a lack of confidence and that was apparent when he missed a penalty in the Champions League against Girona a few weeks ago.

Even with Bukayo Saka out injured, the forward struggled to get into the side and has actually only started six times in the league all season.

Antony, unfortunately, would be a repeat of this situation. Notably described as ‘the worst value-for-money signing in Premier League history’ by the Guardian, the flashy winger hasn’t done a lot right since moving to Old Trafford.

2022/23

47

10

5

38

9

4

2023/24

38

3

2

43

10

11

2024/25

33

7

4

27

1

5

Also dubbed as “one of the worst wingers in the league” by one content creator, that’s a statement that his alarmingly poor numbers can back up in recent years.

While Antony has found form at Betis, scoring six goals and registering four assists in 19 games, his record at United has been nothing short of dismal.

Before heading to Betis, the 25-year-old had only scored once this season in a League Cup tie with Barnsley, while last campaign, he scored three goals in 38 outings, only finding the net once in 29 Premier League fixtures. He also ended the league season with the worst conversion rate (2.3%) of any player to score. Need we say any more here?

Antony has shown at Betis that there’s a player in there, but he simply isn’t cut out for English football. Arsenal need to stay well away this summer.

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ByMatt Dawson May 4, 2025

Celtic now in talks to keep "brilliant" Parkhead player after offer tabled

Celtic fans will be on cloud nine as their side stride towards a potential domestic treble and could now be getting closer to securing the future of one of their senior stars, per a report.

Celtic look to claim a domestic treble to round off the campaign

Once again, Celtic are in the running to win all three trophies on offer in Scotland and could take one step closer to a domestic clean sweep by defeating St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers’ side stand one point away from claiming a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title, even if they have to wait until next Saturday for a chance to rubber-stamp their achievement away to Dundee United.

Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup

Realistically, Celtic’s dominance has paid off once again across a campaign in which they have faced a feeble challenge from trophyless Rangers in the Scottish top-flight. Nevertheless, reflection processes are already underway ahead of 2025/26.

Looking to strengthen for next term, Rodgers has Stoke City winger Million Manhoef on his wishlist at Parkhead. Departures could pave the way for new additions to commence the evolution of a new squad cycle, so don’t be surprised if there are one or two surprise exits.

Internally, Greg Taylor’s Celtic future remains uncertain following months of deadlock surrounding his contract situation. The Scotland international is set to become a free agent in a few weeks after six years in Glasgow.

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Celtic once lost an “amazing” talent for nothing, now he is worth millions more than some of their best players.

ByDan Emery Apr 17, 2025

Despite a common understanding that the Greenock-born man could be set to bid an emotional farewell, could there now be an unexpected twist in the tale?

Celtic in talks over new contract for Greg Taylor

According to The Daily Record, Celtic are tabling a new and improved three-year contract to Taylor as they seek to retain his services on a deal that would tie him to the club until 2028.

The outlet claims he is set for a significant wage increase, but he is still concerned that Kieran Tierney’s impending arrival at Parkhead could limit his playing time.

Greg Taylor’s trophy-laden spell at Celtic

Appearances

210

Goals

9

Assists

33

Trophies

10

Dinamo Zagreb are still in the hunt for Taylor’s signature, even if their pursuit could be complicated by Fabio Cannavaro’s recent departure from the dugout. MLS sides and clubs from England and Italy are also weighing up a move.

Labelled “brilliant” by Celtic icon Tierney, the 27-year-old must decide whether he wants to become one of the elder statesmen in the Bhoys dressing room.

Continuity in football is essential, especially at a club where established figures are needed to drive a culture of success. Taylor has certainly contributed to that front in recent times. Given his age, this will likely be the most lucrative contract of his career, so it is now up to the left-back whether to sign on for another three years.

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