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This has been a testing first window as Arsenal Sporting Director for Andrea Berta so far. Then again, it was never going to be easy was it?

The Gunners desperately need a new striker and the footballing world knows that. RB Leipzig and Sporting are trying to milk Arsenal for all Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are worth.

The Londoners have reportedly held talks to sign both players but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t look too forthcoming.

Still, Arsenal are active and Berta is working his socks off to ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side are ready for that opening weekend’s encounter against Manchester United.

The arrival of Martin Zubimendi will certainly help.

Arsenal’s pursuit of new midfielders

The Gunners are set to confirm the arrival of Zubimendi from Real Sociedad any day now.

The Spaniard was first linked with the club back in January when it was revealed that Arsenal were ready to trigger the midfielder’s release clause.

Fast forward several months and a deal is now on the verge of completion with it reported that he was in London over the weekend to tie up the formalities of his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Zubimendi isn’t the only midfielder Arsenal have been tracking.

Indeed, according to TBR Football, they are ‘trying’ to sign PSG’s highly talented teenager, Warren Zaire-Emery.

Transfer Focus

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

They understand that the Gunners started talks with the Champions League winners last week regarding a move.

However, any deal looks incredibly unlikely with the Ligue 1 side informing Arsenal that the 19-year-old is not for sale.

They note that if a switch did happen, Berta and Co would need to come armed with a ‘significant’ offer.

What makes Zaire-Emery so special

With Jorginho having exited the Emirates on a free transfer and Thomas Partey’s Arsenal adventure potentially set to come to a conclusion, Arteta needs more midfielders.

Zubimendi certainly ticks one box. European football expert, Sid Lowe, has previously noted that the 26-year-old “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri”.

So, wouldn’t it be rather special if he were partnered alongside Zaire-Emery?

The PSG sensation may be young but the fact of the matter is that he’s rather special. The teenager’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while data analyst Ben Mattinson notes that he is an “Mbappe at Monaco level of talent”, largely thanks to his blend of skills.

Arsenal have enjoyed the talents of some of the best young players in Europe throughout the years, none more so in the current day than Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Yet, Zaire-Emery reminds us of a certain Cesc Fabregas.

The Spaniard was younger than the French superstar when he moved to London, just 16, but his impact in the Premier League quickly helped him to showcase why he was one of the best young players in world football.

He eventually left Arsenal behind having scored 57 and assisted 95 in 303 outings. Named captain of the club when he was just 21, making him the youngest skipper in their history, there have been few better midfielders to grace Highbury and the Emirates over the last 20 years.

In short, he was a generational talent, an assist machine, someone who oozed class and could pass through the lines like very players on the planet.

Zaire-Emery, a player generating the same level of hype Fabregas was as a teenager, is cut from a similar cloth. He notably made his Champions League debut at the age of just 17, and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.

Compared to midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top 3% for pass success rate, the top 9% for passes made and the best 10% for switches, a ball that travels more than 40 yards the width of the pitch.

What those numbers rubberstamp is the comparison to Fabregas, one of the best passers of the modern era.

While PSG’s teen superstar doesn’t quite possess the same rate of assists just yet – producing just two last season – his ability as a deep-lying playmaker certainly evokes memories of Fabregas in the latter stages of his career.

As for his development as a youngster, it certainly has hallmarks of the way the Spaniard burst onto the scene all those years ago.

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The incredible Champions League winner would be a Rodrygo upgrade for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 23, 2025

Chelsea’s second signing of the summer is through the door. Last week, the Blues completed a deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, activating his relegation release clause and bringing him to Stamford Bridge, beating the likes of Manchester United in the race for his signature.

Now, signing number two is also in the building for Enzo Maresca and his squad. Centre-back Mamadou Sarr has made the move to West London from their sister club, Strasbourg, who were one of the standout clubs in Ligue 1 last summer. The defender has signed with the club for eight years and could be in line to play in the Club World Cup.

Sarr might not be the only defender Chelsea sign this summer. They are already linked with another centre-back.

Chelsea’s next centre-back target

So, it seems clear that Maresca is intent on strengthening at the back this summer. After the addition of Sarr, the Blues seem likely to pursue another defender, although they might not be in before the pre-Club World Cup deadline on Tuesday.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are set to make a move for Ajax and Netherlands international Jorrel Hato. They have reportedly ‘had contacts with Ajax in the last few days’ regarding a potential move for the Dutch talent.

Despite the contact and willingness to get a deal done, they will face stiff competition from Premier League rivals. Hato has ‘long been on the radars of both Arsenal and Liverpool’, with Newcastle United also showing interest.

They have all ‘asked for information on the player’ ahead of a potential summer move, which could cost as much as £42.3m.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Football scout Antonio Mango summed up just how good Hato is by describing him as “one of the best young talents in football”. Indeed, that is the kind of impression the 19-year-old has made during his short career so far.

Last season was a strong campaign by the talented young defender. He amassed 50 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, mainly playing as a left-back, but also slotting in at centre-back, a position in which he equally excels. He managed three goals and six assists in total.

To put into perspective the kind of player Chelsea are looking to sign, Hato was Ajax’s youngest ever captain back in November 2023, at the age of just 17. He has now skippered his boyhood club three times, showing incredible leadership at such a young age.

Hato might even be a better signing for Chelsea than their new defender Sarr. The 19-year-old France under-20 international is certainly an exciting addition, and impressed for Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior last season.

The youngster played 28 games in all competitions, with all but one of those appearances coming in Ligue 1. It was certainly a successful season for the new Blues defender, who helped keep ten clean sheets in the top flight of France as his side qualified for the Conference League.

However, Hato managed to keep more clean sheets in an Ajax shirt than Sarr managed for Strasbourg under Rosenior. The Dutchman played his part in 14 clean sheets in the Eredivisie last term.

When looking at the underlying data on FBref from Hato and Sarr’s campaigns in 2024/25, there are further numbers which suggest the Ajax star is a better player than the new Chelsea man. For example, Hato averaged 2.78 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.39 each game for Sarr.

Progressive passes

4.17

1.98

Tackles and interceptions

2.78

2.36

Blocks

1.22

0.99

Ball recoveries

4.51

3.73

Aerial duels won

1.77

1.14

It seems as though, for a talent perhaps better than Sarr, £42.3m is a steal for Hato. He has all the tools needed to make it to the very top, and the fact that he has already captained Ajax at such a young age is even more of a reason to sign him.

With the Blues looking to bolster at the back, this is a fantastic option for Maresca’s side, which can definitely add quality and potential to their defensive options.

Chelsea contact £80m ex-Man City starlet who'd join with Jamie Gittens

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ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

Have you ever seen a Premier League season end in quite such fashion? After Liverpool dispatched Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of the month, they were crowned champions, romping home to the title at a canter. No one was ever going to stop them, not even Ibiza. They partied hard between games, deservedly so, too.

They had to wait what felt like an age to actually get their hands on the trophy, though, but they lifted it aloft last Sunday in front of their own supporters for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Reds may well have won the Premier League in 2019/20, but that ill-fated Covid-19 season meant that no fans were actually inside the ground to see Jordan Henderson get his mits on English football’s biggest piece of silverware.

So, there was understandably quite the party at Anfield over the weekend as Virgil van Dijk, leader supreme, danced for joy as he threw the red-ribonned trophy into the air.

Such an astonishing season, Arne Slot’s first at the helm, lest we forget, begs a question. Where do these Liverpool players stand among the pantheon of Merseyside greats?

Which Liverpool players have become legends of Anfield

A year ago, Jurgen Klopp waved farewell to Anfield a bonafide Liverpool legend. Yet, is legacy may well now be surpassed by Slot who has managed the unthinkable in his first campaign in England.

For winning the league alone, the Dutchman will now stand among the greatest Liverpool managers of all time.

He’s also helped to successfully cement Mo Salah’s legacy as an icon, a player surely worthy of a statue in Liverpool once his playing days come to an end.

Across a simply staggering campaign, the rampant Egyptian scored 34 goals in 52 games, posting 23 assists as well.

In the league, he netted 29 in 38 and also supplied 18 assists. He was two of Thierry Henry’s assist record but he did tie the record for the highest number of goals and assists in a single Premier League campaign.

1. Mo Salah (2024/25)

38

29

18

2. Andy Cole (1993/94)

40

34

23

3. Alan Shearer (1994/95)

42

34

13

4. Erling Haaland (2022/23)

35

36

8

5. Thierry Henry (2002/03)

37

24

20

6. Mo Salah (2017/18)

36

32

10

7. Luis Suarez (2013/14)

33

31

11

He is a certified legend, as too is captain Van Dijk. The pair of them signed new contracts a few months ago to cement their status as legends. Trent Alexander-Arnold may well have been up there too had he rejected advances from Real Madrid. Sadly, we all know how that story ended.

Is there anyone else up there? Well, Alisson is certainly a modern-day great, now up to 298 appearances for Liverpool and hailed as “the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history alongside Peter Schmeichel,” by Jamie Carragher.

That trio of players will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry, but whether they’ve matched the legacy of a certain Steven Gerrard remains to be seen.

How Liverpool struck gold on Steven Gerrard

The term ‘generational’ is often thrown about a bit too regularly in modern football but it’s safe to say that Gerrard, as far as English talents go, was generational.

He’s one of the best we’ve ever seen in the Premier League but how did he get there?

Well, it all started in November 1998, when aged 18 years, five months and 30 days, he made his Premier League debut for the Reds in a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Managed by Gerard Houllier at the time, it was rather poetic that perhaps the best player he ever managed shared a name.

It was the Frenchman who saw Gerrard’s obvious talent, notably handing him the Liverpool captaincy just five years later in 2003.

The rest, as they say, is history. Gerrard, capped a remarkable 114 times for England, would go on to feature 710 times for Liverpool. That places him third on the club’s all-time record appearance makers behind Carragher (737) and Ian Callaghan (855).

He never lifted the Premier League like Salah and Co, but he did win the Champions League on two occasions and among many other domestic honours, lifted the FA Cup twice. Who could forget that screamer in the final against West Ham? It was a bullet of a strike, something the midfielder became famed for during his illustrious career.

However, it could have been different for the now 44-year-old. Remember when Chelsea came calling? How could we forget?

In 2004, during the European Championships, Gerrard was distracted by transfer speculation. “Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson talked me up before the tournament, so I knew they fancied signing me,” he once noted.

It was Mourinho and Chelsea who followed up on that interest, reportedly tabling a British record bid for the iconic England international. Gerrard even allegedly handed in a transfer request.

Unlike Trent, a move to another of Europe’s biggest clubs never happened. The Liverpool academy graduate stayed at Anfield and became a legend, one of the greatest we’ve seen in this country.

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He was heralded left, right and centre, but perhaps most notably by the great Brazilian, Pele.

Speaking just months after the 2006 FA Cup final win over the Hammers, Pele said: “The fans, they look only for forwards, always a forward. Somebody who scores. Sometimes you have a player like Gerrard. For me, for the last five years Gerrard has been the best player in the world. He is a midfielder, he plays very good. People didn’t mention Gerrard, now they mention Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi because they are forwards.”

Fine words indeed from perhaps the greatest of all time. It’s safe to say Liverpool struck gold on Gerrard. They must be forever thankful that he didn’t head to Chelsea all those years ago.

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ByAngus Sinclair May 27, 2025

Glasgow Rangers face arguably their most important summer in recent memory. Barry Ferguson’s interim spell will finish at the end of the season, which means that the Ibrox side will be looking for a permanent manager.

The news story which has dominated the previous few weeks was whether or not the 49ers Enterprises would finalise their proposed takeover of the club heading into the summer.

The latest on Rangers' prospective takeover by the 49ers

An update given by the Scottish Sun a few days ago stated that Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers have secured the required shares to complete their takeover at Rangers.

The American consortium has acquired 51% of the Gers and is expected to complete the multimillion-pound deal by the end of next month.

Firstly, they will have to bring in a new manager to the club, especially with pre-season looming on the horizon.

After several poor managerial decisions, this next one has to be spot on, otherwise the Gers will continue to see Celtic motor away, hoovering up all the Champions League cash and winning title after title.

A couple of names have been linked with a move to Glasgow, but one stands out among the others, especially with his history…

Will Rangers really appoint Jose Mourinho?

Three Premier Leagues, two Champions Leagues, a La Liga title, two UEFA Cups/Europa League crowns. The list of Jose Mourinho’s achievements in the game are second to very few.

The truth is, he has won just a single trophy since the start of the 2017/18 campaign, and that was the Conference League with AS Roma in May 2022.

He showed plenty of respect when Rangers knocked Fenerbahçe out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage in March, even coming into the dressing room to offer congratulations and wish the squad well going forwards.

Mourinho has always preferred a defensive style of play, and given what the Ibrox support have been witness to in recent years, this won’t exactly be music to their ears, that’s for sure.

Of course, it may lead to more success domestically, but going for a manager who is keen on attacking football and has a proper philosophy would be the ideal appointment for the long-term future.

Mourinho rarely hangs around longer than three seasons, but this team requires a manager who is in it for the long haul. Someone who can build a dynasty that will challenge Celtic over the coming years.

Could Gerrard do it again?

Steven Gerrard now open to a Rangers return

According to TEAMtalk, the Light Blues are after a high-profile manager to take the reins ahead of the 2025/26 season, which means a return for Gerrard is on the cards.

The report goes on to state that the former manager of the Gers would be very open to a return to the club that he managed between 2018 and 2021, winning a single Premiership title during that spell.

His departure in November 2021 was arguably due to the fact that he wasn’t properly backed that summer, having led Rangers to their first domestic title in a decade, yet things would be better this time around.

Gerrard isn’t the only big name that has been mentioned with regard to the job, either. TEAMtalk understands that the aforementioned Mourinho is another manager who would be open to a move to Glasgow, although this would be more difficult to get over the line.

2021/22

22

41

1.86

2020/21

56

141

2.52

2019/20

54

110

2.17

2018/19

60

115

1.9

He has a contract with Fener until 2026, which means the Ibrox side would have to pay substantial compensation to lure him away. His wages would also be an issue.

Mourinho may be the headline name, but his style and combustible nature might not go down too well with the Gers faithful.

Why Rangers return for Gerrard makes sense

Gerrard may have failed at his previous two jobs with Al-Ettifaq and Aston Villa since leaving Glasgow in 2021, but his appointment could mirror that of Celtic bringing Brendan Rodgers back to the club.

The former Liverpool captain may have taken a few years to achieve success at Rangers, but those were spent building a team which could go toe-to-toe with their domestic rivals.

Throughout his three-year spell with the club, Gerrard won seven of his 12 games against Celtic, losing just four. Two of those came during his first season when his squad was arguably at its weakest.

A lack of success against the Parkhead outfit is why the fans turned on managers such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and finally Phillipe Clement. Gerrard certainly wouldn’t be fazed by Rodgers’ side, that much is certain.

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His preferred system is a 4-3-3, which worked wonders for him, especially during the title-winning 2020/21 campaign.

Alfredo Morelos was often flanked by Ryan Kent on the left and Joe Aribo or Ianis Hagi on the right. Steven Davis and Glen Kamara operated at the heart of the midfield and provided superb defensive support.

Add in the likes of Connor Goldson and Filip Helander at the centre of the defence and Allan McGregor in goal, it was perhaps no wonder the club conceded just 13 goals throughout the entire campaign in the league.

This sort of formation would work wonders with the current squad, especially as Gerrard would hopefully get free rein in the transfer market to bring in his own transfer targets ahead of next season.

Much will depend on other managers who may become linked and show interest in the role over the next few weeks, but at this moment in time, Gerrard is the one who stands out.

He knows the club, knows how to beat Celtic on a regular basis and more importantly, knows how to win a league championship.

These three factors could prove to be a massive advantage when it comes to staking his claim for a return to the Glasgow side. Will it happen? Only time will tell.

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Steven Smith has the highest batting average for anyone who has played 99 Tests

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