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Despite continuing their excellent form, Birmingham City have been handed yet another frustrating injury blow, with one winger now expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.

Birmingham injury news

The Blues have been almost untouchable in League One this season, losing just once in 11 games to sit top of the league. Matching the high expectations placed on them when they splashed the cash in the summer transfer window to welcome the likes of Jay Stansfield, Birmingham picked up yet another victory over Bolton on Tuesday.

That’s not to say they’ve been completely without their troubles, however. Manager Chris Davies watched on as Emil Hansson limped off against Bolton before the game could even reach 20 minutes. In the end, the winger’s knock didn’t stop Birmingham from picking up all three points once again, but as the fixtures start to come thick and fast, their injuries are certainly beginning to pile up.

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Davies confirmed that, alongside Hansson, his side have another injury to contend with ahead of this weekend’s trip to face Mansfield Town. As relayed by the Birmingham Mail, Davies confirmed that Scott Wright is now set to miss multiple games after he missed victory against Lincoln City last weekend. Left with two wingers sidelined, the Blues must find a solution.

The Birmingham boss told reporters: “Scott Wright isn’t close. He’s picked something up and it looks like he might be a few weeks.”

Also mentioning Hansson’s injury, Davies said: “I think it was a slightly different one. He felt something in his leg so we’ll have to see how he is. He’s made a massive contribution this season and has played a lot of football, he’s a really reliable player, but he just had a niggle and I’m not sure what we’re looking at.”

Birmingham games "quick" Wright could now miss

Having already missed the last two games against Lincoln and Birmingham, the news that Wright will still be missing for a few more weeks will hardly be music to Birmingham ears. This means that the winger, who only arrived in the summer, could be forced to make his return to action against Stevenage on November 16, missing four more games as a result.

Mansfield Town vs Birmingham City

26/10/2024

League One

Birmingham vs Fulham U21s

29/10/2024

Football League Trophy

Sutton United vs Birmingham

03/11/2024

FA Cup

Birmingham vs Northampton Town

09/11/2024

League One

Wright, himself, will be desperate to get back and return to his best whilst doing so in the type of form that once earned the praise of former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, who said via The Scotsman: “I thought he was a right bright spark, full of energy, he sees a pass and is always looking forward to penetrate. He’s quick and got his reward from another strong performance, so he is really in my thinking for Tuesday night.”

Chelsea travel to Anfield in the Premier League this weekend, looking to cause an upset and continue their promising start to life under Enzo Maresca.

Much was made of the Blues’ transfer spending throughout the summer – on that note, the Chelsea fanbase would love to silence Jamie Carragher on Sunday – but it’s all coming together and plenty of excess weight was trimmed.

Despite the influx of attacking talent, Noni Madueke will be delighted with his progress over the past few months, having established himself as a regular starter in the top flight.

Noni Madueke's rise under Maresca

Chelsea signed Madueke, a Tottenham Hotspur youth product, from PSV Eindhoven back in January 2023 for a fee of £29m, and while he initially struggled, it’s important to remember that the dynamic winger was thrust into a realm of severe turbulence.

The 22-year-old made headway last term, starting 13 times in the Premier League – ten of which arrived across the final 11 matches. This season, Madueke has already scored six goals across all competitions, having featured eight times.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 9% for pass completion and the top 5% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising not only his developing goalscoring quality but his natural athleticism and technical skill too.

He’s on the rise, but there’s actually a piece of deadwood sold only last year, also a winger, who has since enjoyed a huge resurgence and seen his market value surpass that of the newly-blooded England international.

Chelsea may regret Christian Pulisic sale

Chelsea forked out quite the pretty penny for Pulisic back in January 2019 for a fee of around £58m. The USMNT international moved back to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign before linking up with Chelsea in the summer.

The winger started with great promise at Stamford Bridge but fizzled out across the duration of his stay, only scoring one goal during his final season in 20222/23.

Injuries and a loss of confidence superseded a very talented skillset, but AC Milan offered £20m to end his frustrating stint in England and he hasn’t looked back.

2022/23

30 (10)

1

2

0.10

2021/22

38 (21)

8

5

0.34

2020/21

43 (25)

6

4

0.23

2019/20

34 (27)

11

8

0.55

Still only 24, he’s been reborn in Italy, scoring six goals and adding two assists across his opening nine matches for the club. The American captain was once hailed as a “magician” by sports writer Al Butler, and he’s proving his merit once again after a testing period.

This is reflected in his raised market value. As per Football Transfers, he is currently marked with a £37m worth, whereas Madueke is only at £25m, with a lack of growth a by-product of Chelsea’s issues in recent years.

Of course, Chelsea’s overload of talent across their frontline suggests that Pulisic’s absence isn’t going to hamper the sharpness that Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Jadon Sancho, Madueke and a whole host more of a Blues persuasion bring to the table.

But it could have eased the scattergun nature of Chelsea’s transfer dealings in recent years, keeping him on the books.

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ByConnor Holden Oct 15, 2024

As Tottenham Hotspur head into another international break, there remain more questions than answers for manager Ange Postecoglou, with the former Celtic boss having seen his side wilt in the second half on Sunday evening.

Having looked at their scintillating best away to Manchester United last week, the Lilywhites appeared set for more of the same after racing into a 2-0 lead at the Amex, with Brennan Johnson and James Maddison powering the visitors into a deserved lead.

As they were under Roberto De Zerbi, however, this Brighton and Hove Albion side are no pushovers, with former Newcastle United asset Yankuba Minteh kick-starting a stunning fightback to leave Spurs languishing in ninth in the Premier League table following that eventual 3-2 defeat.

Of course, much will be made of that second-half collapse and the north Londoners’ wretched individual mistakes, yet if Postecoglou does wish to look on the brighter side, he will be impressed that his attacking unit is beginning to click into gear – including summer signing, Dominic Solanke.

Solanke's start to life at Spurs

The former Bournemouth talisman – who arrived on a club-record £65m deal this summer – may not be the new Harry Kane (we’ll come onto that), but he has slotted in smoothly to Postecoglou’s ranks, having notably chalked up an assist for Johnson against the Seagulls.

It had been an initial slow start to life in North London for the 26-year-old due to injury – while he also notably spurned a handful of chances in the draw to Leicester City – but he has since gone on to register five goal involvements in just eight games in all competitions thus far.

That includes the final goal in the richly-deserved win over the Red Devils last weekend, with the Englishman showcasing his predatory instincts to poke home from Pape Matar Sarr’s flick on at the near post.

While the one-time Chelsea and Liverpool striker does have a long way to go to pay off that sizeable price tag, Postecoglou will no doubt be pleased that his patience in the new man has been vindicated.

The same can also be said of one of Solanke’s attacking teammates, with it looking as if Spurs have found an unlikely successor to Kane if the early knockings of this season are anything to go by.

Spurs' new Harry Kane

Trying to emulate a man who chalked up 280 goals for the club is no mean feat, with the north Londoners having perhaps struggled to fill the England skipper’s void last season, as number nine Richarlison scored just 11 league goals.

While Solanke – who recorded 19 top-flight efforts for the Cherries in 2023/24 – arguably represents a notable upgrade on the stricken Brazilian, it is actually that man Johnson who has surprisingly taken on the goalscoring burden of late.

Signed on deadline day back in the summer of 2023, the former Nottingham Forest man enjoyed an encouraging debut campaign at N17, having registered 15 goals and assists in the league under Postecoglou’s watch.

With a hefty £47.5m price tag looming above him, however, much has been expected of the Wales international, with criticism toward him reaching boiling point in the early stage of the season, as he subsequently deactivated his social media accounts after suffering abuse from ‘supporters’ following the derby defeat to Arsenal.

Rather than wilting under the scrutiny, however, the 23-year-old has clapped back – and them some – since then, having netted in six successive games in all competitions, after proving the rescue man away to Coventry City in the EFL Cup.

90 minutes

1 goal

1 shot on target

2 shots off target

1/1 successful dribbles

34 touches

80% pass accuracy

2 key passes

4/5 ground duels won

0/1 aerial duels won

7x possession lost

1 clearance

3 tackles

The flying winger has shown a remarkable composure in front of goal that even the aforementioned Kane would be proud of, with his latest strike away on the south coast having led journalist Dean Jones to dub him an unlikely “Harry Kane replacement”.

In all, the £70k-per-week star now boasts 21 goals and assists in just 44 games for Spurs, indicating the real attacking weapon that he has become down the right flank.

As such, while it may be Solanke knitting things together in that central role, Postecoglou may have unearthed a clinical, ‘Kane-like’ presence in front of goal in the form of Johnson.

Long may it continue.

3/10 Spurs ace just had one of his worst games for the club vs Brighton

It was a night to forget for Spurs at the AMEX.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 7, 2024

Leeds United recorded their second successive win without conceding a goal in the Championship at the weekend as they beat Coventry City 3-0 at Elland Road.

The Whites had beaten Cardiff City 2-0 in the previous match and are now sitting fifth in the table after seven matches, having only lost once so far.

Daniel Farke is plotting a promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking after his side lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final in May, after they had finished third in the Championship during the regular season.

The German head coach was dealt a number of blows during the summer transfer window, though, as Georginio Rutter, Rennes, Archie Gray, and Crysencio Summerville were all sold, to Brighton & Hove Albion, Rennes, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United respectively.

Their exits did open the door for Leeds to make signings of their own, however, and the likes of Largie Ramazani, Jayden Bogle, Manor Solomon, and Ao Tanaka, among others, came through the door.

Farke’s squad was also bolstered, in an attacking sense, by the return of Brenden Aaronson, who had spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Union Berlin.

Brenden Aaronson's strong start to the season

The USA international is looking to redeem himself at Elland Road, after scoring one goal in 36 games as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in his first season at the club, and has plenty of work left to do.

The Whites reportedly splashed out a fee of £24.7m to sign the attacking midfielder from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2022 and is currently valued at just £9.2m by Transfermarkt, after difficult seasons with Leeds and Union.

This shows that Aaronson still needs to do more to raise his value and prove that it was not a huge mistake from the West Yorkshire outfit to bring him to England.

Appearances

7

Starts

5

Goals

2

Big chances created

3

Key passes

7

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the American dynamo has enjoyed a strong start to the Championship season since his return to the club this summer.

The 23-year-old talent, who still has plenty of time left to develop and improve at his young age, has contributed with five goals and ‘big chances’ created in five starts in the division so far.

This suggests that he is on the right track to redeeming himself at Leeds and, hopefully, there will be many more top-quality performances from the midfielder to eventually justify his huge price tag.

However, things could have been so different for the Whites if they had landed one of their top targets in one of the transfer windows before they signed Aaronson – Rodrigo de Paul.

Leeds United's interest in Rodrigo de Paul

In the summer of 2020, after Marcelo Bielsa had just led the club to the Championship title, it was reported that Leeds were interested in signing the attacking midfielder from Udinese.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

The Guardian claimed that Bielsa was very keen to bring the Argentina international over to Elland Road and that it would have cost the Whites a fee of around £31m to snap him up from the Serie A side.

Fabrizio Romano went on to report that Leeds were in talks with Udinese to secure an agreement for the central midfielder’s signature at the start of September, at the time that they were trying to sign Josko Gvardiol – now of Manchester City.

The Argentine wizard had produced seven goals, six assists, and 17 ‘big chances’ created in 34 appearances in the Serie A for Udinese during the 2019/20 campaign, which is why his club demanded a fee of £31m.

Ultimately, no club opted to move for de Paul that summer and former Leeds sporting director Victor Orta later revealed that the financial demands from the Italian side were too much for a team that had just been promoted from the Championship.

The Whites may feel like he is one that got away from them in the end as he has gone on to enjoy a great career in recent years and is now worth more than Aaronson in the present day.

Rodrigo de Paul's current market value

At the time of writing (1/10/2024), Transfermarkt currently has his market value at €30m (£25m) and that is around £16m more than Aaronson is currently worth.

De Paul produced an outstanding nine goals and ten assists in 36 Serie A appearances during the 2020/21 campaign, after Leeds opted against a £31m move for him, and earned himself a move to Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish giants swooped in to secure his services for a fee of around £30m in the summer of 2021 and he has been a key operator for Diego Simeone in recent seasons.

He has racked up 11 goals and 17 assists in 142 appearances in all competitions for Atletico over the last three seasons or so, and has played at least 30 matches in LaLiga in all three of his full campaigns with the club.

During his time in Spain, de Paul also became a World Cup winner with Argentina in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and was a key player for his country.

Starts

7

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

Duel success rate

53%

Touches per game

93.3

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder started seven times for Argentina in the finals and played 102 minutes in the final against France, as his side went on to win on penalties.

He has also won two Copa America trophies with his country, either side of winning the World Cup, and this means that the midfielder has won three major trophies for Argentina since Leeds opted against a deal for him.

De Paul has proven himself on the highest stage at international level and proven himself to be a reliable player for a huge European team, in Atletico, which is why the Whites may regret not pushing the boat out to sign him in 2020.

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ByDan Emery Sep 29, 2024

Rangers have been given a fresh update over Auston Trusty's future, with the youngster stating via the Daily Record that he is only focused on the present and his current pre-season tour with Arsenal.

Who is Auston Trusty?

The 24-year-old currently plays for Arsenal, having been poached by the Gunners only last year. Despite the Premier League side snapping him up, he has yet to make his top flight debut for the side and has instead been shipped out on loan in order to get minutes. That meant spending the 2022/23 season on loan with Birmingham in the Championship.

The youngster ended up being an integral part of the Blues' first-team squad and missed only two second tier outings all campaign. He featured on 44 occasions in total and fired in four goals with two assists along the way, despite his position on the field.

Prior to joining Birmingham though, Trusty had no experience of English or Scottish football. His entire playing time came in his native USA, having been given his league debut by Bethlehem in the USL at the age of 17. He then joined up with Philadelphia in the MLS, before switching to Colorado Rapids, which resulted in his most outstanding time as a player to date.

He managed 57 league appearances during his time there, with two goal contributions, and also helped drag them up to second in the standings in one campaign.

Are Rangers signing Auston Trusty?

It was these showings that led to Trusty heading to England for Arsenal. Now, it looks as though he could be cast aside by the club this summer, with talks of a permanent switch away on the cards. Rangers are one of the sides mentioned in terms of the interest in the American, with a price tag of £2m mentioned as potentially enough to seal a deal to send him to the Scottish Premiership outfit.

However, they do face competition from England, with Ipswich also linked with the player – his experience in the second tier could prove invaluable to the newly-promoted Tractor Boys.

Now, according to the 24-year-old himself via the Daily Record, he has spoken out about his current situation and future. He hasn't spoken of any interest in his signature and has instead insisted he is only thinking about things on a "day-to-day" basis. He has, of course, been taken on Arsenal's pre-season tour in his homeland. That means he is currently "focused" on that – so any potential deal for the ace may have to wait until he is home and able to think about a potential deal.

"My mindset has been here since the beginning. So I'm not focused on anything else. I'm focused on day by day. You can ask anybody how I approach things. my mindset has always been focused on day by day. You never can control the future but I'm focusing on myself."

Rangers then could have to play the waiting game over Trusty. The central defender will likely showcase his stuff for the Gunners over the summer, and then his future could be decided upon his return to England.

If the Gers did manage to sign the 24-year-old though, it could be a shrewd move. He's proven to be a reliable option at a decent level in the Championship and was a regular in the MLS to boot. His age and his current skillset means he has all the capabilities of being a very solid part of the Scottish side's backline if they sign him this transfer window.

Liverpool are having "concrete" talks to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to a key update from reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

How much does Romeo Lavia earn?

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most talked-about young player in the country at the moment, having caught the eye with his performances for Saints last season, despite their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, finishing bottom of the table in the process.

Lavia, who currently earns £38,000 per week at St Mary's Stadium, was a commanding presence in front of the defence, starting 26 league games and averaging 2.1 tackles per match, outperforming almost everyone around him, despite his tender years.

It seems clear that the Belgian will not be a Southampton player once the 2023/24 season gets underway, however, with a move to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League clubs seemingly on the cards. Liverpool have emerged as one of the front-runners to snap up the teenager, but they are far from alone in expressing an interest, with rivals such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle all thought to be in the mix.

The Reds are perhaps still in need of signing one more midfielder this summer, despite Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already arriving at Anfield, and it does look as though Lavia is now their primary target to add to the squad.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Reports over the weekend suggested talks had started between the Reds and Southampton, and now taking to Twitter, Sky Germany's Plettenberg has revealed the manager's personal desire to sign the player, confirming there are "ongoing" negotiations:

"Talks between Liverpool & Lavia are concrete and ongoing. Understand there is no agreement in terms of salary conditions yet.

"As reported: His price tag is around £50m. Klopp wants him! Very press resistant player – even in high pressure situations, he loses the ball only once out of 10 times."

This is a hugely encouraging update regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Lavia, with the player himself seemingly keen on the idea of moving to Merseyside, despite them missing out on Champions League qualification last season. The lure of working with Jurgen Klopp is certainly a massive positive for the Reds, given the German's reputation as one of the outstanding managers of his generation, and he seems keen on signing the Saints ace.

The one-time capped Belgium international is someone who could be viewed as Fabinho's long-term successor in the No.6 role, with the Brazilian turning 30 later this year and arguably being past his very best, so he could arrive at Anfield as a squad player, before eventually becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

Pep Guardiola has called Lavia "incredible" in the recent past, with the midfielder leaving Manchester City last summer in order to enjoy regular football elsewhere, and he could give Liverpool's long-term midfield a perfect balance, sitting behind the likes of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, and combining a potent mix of tackling excellent and quality on the ball in defensive midfield to perfection, especially as he matures as a player.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in RB Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs, as Mikel Arteta and Edu set their sights on bolstering the squad this summer.

The Gunners have already penned a deal with Kai Havertz, and with Declan Rice set to be announced imminently, the clubs’ two former players could be planning something special at the Emirates.

Arteta’s side battled well last campaign, surpassing expectations by taking the title race to the wire, however, a lack of squad depth signalled a time for refurbishment this summer.

Signing Henrichs could be a leap in the right direction in terms of boosting the depth of the squad, in a player that shows shades of a fellow Premier League gem.

Journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed earlier this week that ‘talks’ between the German’s management and the north Londoners had taken place.

Plettenberg added that Arsenal are ‘considering’ the versatile full-back as a ‘backup target’ this summer.

Valued by Football Transfers at €9.2m (£8m), the 26-year-old could be a solid option for the Gunners to consider.

Where could Benjamin Henrichs play at Arsenal?

Hailed as a “talented” player by former Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, the 26-year-old has played at the top level for the majority of his career, working his way through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen.

The versatile defender departed his boyhood club for Monaco in 2018, before returning to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, where he has cemented himself as a valued member of the squad.

In signing Henrichs, Arsenal could get their hands on a widely versatile defence-minded player, with capabilities of playing both on the right side of defence and in central midfield.

The German international has contributed to 66 career goal contributions over 327 appearances, having an eye for a pass as well as being a sturdy figure at the back.

Averaging three tackles and 1.44 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga last campaign, Henrichs has excelled defensively, as well as showing his abilities on the ball, averaging 4.48 progressive passes per 90 at right-back, via FBref.

Having a versatile full-back is something that the Premier League has become accustomed to, with Arteta reaping the benefits of having both Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko capable of contributing to offensive play.

Despite arriving as a side to watch last term, Arsenal still saw a gap between themselves and champions Manchester City, however, the Gunners could provide an answer to one of City’s sensations by signing Henrichs.

Lauded as a “versatile and tactical genius” by members of the media, John Stones has been a revelation under Pep Guardiola, emerging last season as having the talent to be deployed as a deep midfielder.

Averaging 1.12 tackles and 4.92 progressive passes per 90, via FBref, the Englishman showcased just how far the depth of his versatility goes, acting as the complete player for City.

Like Stones, Henrichs has the ability to venture into midfield, described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being a player that ‘dictates tempo’ in central areas.

Averaging 3.78 passes per 90 into the final third, the 26-year-old has room to grow and flourish around the field, displaying strengths in his distribution and reading of the game.

Arteta could take another page from Guardiola’s book by signing a defensively equipped versatile player, replicating past notes that have seen the revolution of how the Spaniard orchestrates his back line.

Manchester City are now eyeing a stunning move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Which midfielder are Man City signing?

With club captain Ilkay Gundogan putting pen to paper on a move to Barcelona, there is a huge gap in Man City's midfield that needs to be filled, and Declan Rice emerged as a major target, with a £90m bid being tabled earlier this week.

However, the Citizens have now pulled out of the race as they were unwilling to match Arsenal's offer of £105m, and they have now started to run the rule over other targets, including Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Veiga is not the only La Liga central midfielder that City have shown an interest in, as The Sun reports they are now mulling over a stunning £90m move for De Jong, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for quite some time.

Rivals Manchester United considered the Dutchman a major target a year ago, but he opted to remain at Camp Nou, and the report details that he is still in no major rush to leave Spain.

However, Barca want the central midfielder off the wage books, and they know that City have the money to sign a top-class midfielder, following their pursuit of Rice.

Guardiola tried to sign the 26-year-old in 2019, and the Man City manager remains a fan.

How much does Frenkie de Jong earn?

According to Capology, the former Ajax man rakes in a massive £620k-per-week at Barcelona, so it is no wonder the La Liga club are keen to get him off the wage bill, particularly considering the recent arrival of Gundogan.

Despite Barca's willingness to sanction the departure of the Netherlands international, he is thought of in high regard by manager Xavi, who described him as "spectacular" last season.

The Arkel-born midfielder certainly played his part in Barca's title-winning 2022/23 campaign, making 33 appearances in La Liga, during which time he picked up two goals and four assists.

Over the past year, the maestro has averaged an 89.5% pass-completion rate per 90, which ranks him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating he would be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system.

However, De Jong's attacking output probably does not justify a £90m outlay, particularly if he is seen as a Gundogan replacement, so Man City should initially test the waters with a much lower offer.

Thomas Partey is happy to stay at Arsenal this summer, amid reports linking him with a move away, journalist Charles Watts has claimed.

What's the latest on Thomas Partey?

The Ghanian midfielder was one of Arsenal's key performers this season, although his form dropped off towards the end of the campaign, and he has been linked with Juventus as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.

The 30-year-old's fitness record has been inconsistent since arriving at Arsenal in 2020, and with just two years left on his deal, as well as links to Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia, there have been suggestions that Mikel Arteta could cash in on the £200k-per-week star.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts revealed that despite rumours linking him with a move away, Partey would be happy to stay at the club if no transfer materialises and Arsenal want to keep him.

"I've heard Partey is very happy at Arsenal, he wants to stay, is happy to stay and play in the Champions League," he stated.

"The whole reason he signed for Arsenal was to get the club back in the Champions League. Now they're there, he wants to play in that, but instead that if you've got a bunch of Saudi clubs offering you unbelievable wages and you're a 30-year-old, then that is a highly tempting offer, so you know that might well turn his head.

"From a footballing point of view, my understanding is that Partey is absolutely happy to stay at Arsenal, and wants to play in the Champions League with Arsenal.

"Money talks at the end of the day, if someone's offering unbelievable money which will set you up for life and your family up for life, that might change your thinking as a player. So we'll wait and see on that."

Should Arsenal cash in on Partey?

Although the midfielder was a crucial figure as Arsenal surged to the top of the table in the first half of the season, his form dipped in the second half of the campaign, which even resulted in him losing his starting spot to Jorginho.

Arsenal have struggled when Partey has been absent, with their first three losses this season coming when he failed to appear for 90 minutes.

His injury record and age means he may no longer be reliable enough to count on, but given that Granit Xhaka looks set to depart, Arsenal could struggle to replace two starting midfielders in one transfer window.

Leeds United are on the hunt for the right manager who can lead the club in their Championship campaign next season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential candidate.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Scott Parker?

According to The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay, the club's hierarchy are now entering the stage of face-to-face interviews this week and has named Scott Parker as one of those interviewees.

As per an article for the publication, Hay revealed that alongside Daniel Farke, Parker will be one of the candidates spoken to about the role, with the club expected to make a decision imminently due to pre-season coming up fast.

Is Scott Parker a good fit for Leeds?

Time is running out for the West Yorkshire club to bring in a manager who can get up to speed with the unfolding situation at Elland Road and build connections with players, whilst also utilising the summer transfer window to bring in new additions that possess the profile to succeed in the style of play deployed.

The 49ers have a big decision to make on whether they bring in a manager who can guarantee quick but short-term success in terms of promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League or somebody who can be part of the long-term project for the new owners, with Parker the perfect option for the former.

The 42-year-old coach – hailed "outstanding" by Jurgen Klopp – has twice masterminded automatic promotion to the Premier League from the second tier with Bournemouth and Fulham, making him the ultimate expert to give Leeds their best chance at following in the footsteps of Burnley next season and bouncing straight back up.

However, his 0.77 points per game record in the Premier League is much less inspiring than his 1.84 points per game in the Championship and could be a cause for concern should he be appointed and promote the Whites next term.

Over 52 top-flight fixtures in charge of both Bournemouth and Fulham, the English coach has tallied up just nine wins and 30 defeats, which ultimately saw Parker sacked in both appointments after leading them as far as he could take them.

That means that even if this just a short-term gig for the former midfielder, it could pay dividends. Indeed, in the second tier he has lost just 19 times while winning over 50% of his matches in charge.

With that being said, Parker would be the perfect appointment if Leeds are looking for a sure-fire way to get promoted next season.