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Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Eddie Nketiah.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist dropped the news that, despite the centre-forward previously being expected to leave Arsenal upon the expiry of his contract this summer – with Leeds rumoured to be keen on the signing of the former England U21 international – the 22-year-old will now put pen to paper on a new deal at The Emirates.

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In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “Eddie Nketiah will stay at Arsenal… the decision has been made – nothing signed yet. Nketiah will pen a new long-term deal – Eddie has decided to turn down Bundesliga and PL club proposals to stay at Arsenal.”

Supporters will be gutted

While Romano does not specifically mention Leeds as one of the Premier League clubs to have made an approach for Nketiah, considering the fact that the Whites were linked with a £20m move for the forward last summer, in addition to the recent rumours of their reignited interest this year, it would be extremely surprising if Jesse Marsch’s side were not one of the teams to approach the 22-year-old regarding a move.

Indeed, despite being a bit-part player under Mikel Arteta for the majority of the season, the £9m-rated talent still managed to return impressive numbers over his 21 Premier League outings – only eight of which came as starts – scoring five goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.4 shots and making 0.6 key passes per game.

The £45k-per-week striker also impressed in the Carabao Cup, bagging five goals over five appearances in the competition – taking his total haul for the 2021/22 campaign to ten goals and one assist over 27 appearances, with the 22-year-old boasting an average of a direct goal involvement every 103 minutes of football played.

As such, with the signing of a Premier League proven forward reported to be one of Victor Orta’s priorities in the summer transfer window, the news that Nketiah will now be remaining at Arsenal will more than likely come as a gutting blow to the Spaniard and supporters of the club alike – as the Whites’ former loanee would undoubtedly have made an exceptional addition to Marsch’s current attacking options, especially as he wouldn’t have cost a penny.

AND in other news: Orta could unearth the next £50m talent as Leeds plot offer for “highly-rated” target

The future of exciting young Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White rests with the player himself this summer after the club made a new contract offer.

The Lowdown: Gibbs-White superb on loan

The 22-year-old was loaned out to Sheffield United at the start of the season, with Bruno Lage unable to promise him regular time at Molineux.

Gibbs-White enjoyed a fantastic year at Bramall Lane, helping the Blades reach the Championship playoff semi-finals and scoring 12 goals from midfield along the way.

It is unknown what will happen next with the youngster, with AC Milan reportedly keen on signing him but Wolves also potentially wanting him to sign a new deal.

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The Latest: Offer made

Taking to Twitter on Monday, The Athletic‘s Spiers confirmed that the decision rests with the player himself, with Wanderers trying to extend his stay at the club:

“Wolves want Morgan Gibbs-White to play a big role next season and are believed to have offered him a new contract to help convince him to stay. Decision now rests with the player.”

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The Verdict: Must keep hold of him

Gibbs-White is a prodigiously talented footballer – he has been hailed as ‘instrumental’ by Blades legend Billy Sharp – and for that reason, Wolves must do their best to keep hold of him.

With Ruben Neves looking likely to leave this summer, a midfield spot could open up for the Englishman – at 22, this could be his moment to shine in the Premier League.

While Wolves would receive good money for Gibbs-White if he was sold, his potential means he surely has to stay put and become a key player under Lage.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly closing in on a new signing. Find out who it is here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look set to miss out on a permanent deal for Barcelona-loanee Francisco Trincao this summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to a journalist in Portugal, who claims that the 22-year-old winger has already decided his next move.

Taking to Twitter, the following statement was issued: “Sporting’s priority target, Trincão has already given the “yes” to being directed again by Rúben Amorim, with whom he worked at SC Braga. It is the ideal replacement for Sarabia. Talks for a 1-year loan are moving in a positive way – salary issues with Barcelona still need to be settled.”

The latest report echos the word ‘rebuild’ even louder around the Molineux, with Trincao yet another name who will leave at the end of the summer. Another face constantly linked with the exit door is Ruben Neves and it’s still uncertain whether he’ll be in the Midlands next term.

Wolves had an option to buy Trincao for around £25m, though Lage has not executed this and now it looks as though Sporting CP will seal a reunion between former Braga duo Ruben Amorim and Trincao.

Lage surely fuming

Having managed just three returns in the form of goals and assist across 27 Premier League games, Trincao has endured a rocky time at Wolves for the most part, but in fairness has shown glimpses of the quality that we saw in his final season at Braga, where he bagged goals and assists in 27 games.

His recent goal against Chelsea was one of these positive displays, though they have been few and far between for a player previously described as “magic.”

With the latest news around Trincao’s loan spell faltering to become permanent, Lage has a rebuild on his hands and this departure could add yet further complication.

In an ideal world, the Old Gold boss may have hoped for a straight swap deal between Adama and the £19.8m-rated Trincao, though, just like the option to buy, this is now not viable.

In this case, Lage will surely be kicking himself for his indecisiveness around a player who could have flourished next season, after taking this season to settle into what is such a fast-paced and physical league.

Tactically, it weakens the side, with a lack of inverted options at the right wing position, leaving just Pedro Neto as the only left-footed winger in the side. That’s a piece of news that will surely be gutting to Lage and his coaching staff.

In other news: Wolves now plot bid for “flourishing” £20m gem, he’s better than Moutinho 

Leeds United could already have their next Liam Cooper within their youth ranks.

The Whites’ U23 setup were unfortunately relegated from Premier League 2 this season but in their most recent outing, a 2-2 draw against Arsenal’s academy, there was one youngster who impressed in Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen.

‘Some brilliant tackles and blocks as the last man or in the penalty box during a goalmouth scramble or two. Could have won it with some dancing feet of his own in the latter stages,’ wrote LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, who also graded him an 8/10 in his post-match ratings.

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No player was rated higher and it was even better than first-teamer Jamie Shackleton and the likes of Leo Hjelde and Nohan Kenneh.

The 17-year-old, who turns 18 in June, signed his first professional contract at Elland Road back in the summer, penning a deal until 2023. Despite being in his late teens, Mullen will be part of the U23s squad permanently going forward.

Indeed, he has made 11 appearances at centre-back in Premier League 2. His form and potential has caught the eye at the international level too, as he has seemingly emerged as a regular for Scotland U19s.

“I’m a player who reads the game quite well and I like to defend on the front foot, I want to keep learning under the coaching staff and become a better player in general,” the talented youngster revealed to Leeds’ official website.

Meanwhile, ex-defender Ben Parker has been left impressed by the teenager, telling the LS11 podcast in January 2021: “Young Mullen came in at centre-half. He’s a player who we snapped up from Liverpool, predominantly he’s been with the under-18s. Only a young lad. I thought he did ever so well with Cresswell.”

Also lauded as “really strong” by his former youth coach turned first-team assistant Mark Jackson, Mullen could well become the true heir to Cooper’s throne at Elland Road.

Considering the veteran has missed time with injury and will be 31 by the time next season starts, it could be wise to develop the 17-year-old with this in mind going forward.

The young Scot could well replace the 13-cap international in the coming years.

AND in other news, Forget Rodrigo: Orta must ruthlessly axe “inexcusable” £55k-p/w Leeds flop this summer…

According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester City are among the clubs interested in signing AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer. 

The lowdown: Hot property

The 22-year-old has rapidly become one of the most sought after young talents in European football with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all vying for his signature.

Despite his tender years, Tchouameni has already made 130 senior professional outings in France having made the switch from Bordeaux to Monaco in 2020.

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As a move to one of the continent’s elite clubs looms large, title rivals Liverpool have been the furthest ahead for the player, with some members of the French media even believing a deal to Anfield is close.

City could now be in contention having already secured the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund though, according to a new update.

The latest: Transfer ‘boost’

As per a recruitment source at FI, both Man City and Liverpool have been handed a ‘boost’ in their pursuit of the eight-cap France ace.

It’s claimed that Monaco are already preparing for life after the powerful midfielder as the Ligue 1 outfit ‘prepare to cash in’ this summer.

The report also claims that Chelsea have shown an interest in the youngster, who was hailed as ‘top quality’ by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano as the Italian journalist cited a €70millon (£59.6million) asking price.

The verdict: Fernandinho successor?

Following the apparent surprise revelation that Fernandinho will leave the Etihad at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola will be seeking a replacement for the Brazilian defensive midfielder.

So far this season, Tchouameni has scored five times and provided a further two assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, earning an outstanding 7.33 Sofascore rating, completing 51.3 passes, 2.9 interceptions and 2.5 tackles on average per game in the process.

Those statistics – plus a stylistic likeness to players such as Liverpool star Thiago and Real Madrid’s midfield spoiler Casemiro (Fbref) – highlight the Frenchman’s well-rounded game and make Tchouameni a superb candidate to bolster the Cityzens squad.

In other news: Guardiola could also join race to sign £354,000-per-week superstar! Find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn has hinted that he could look to leave the Premier League giants this summer following frustration at his lack of game time.  

The Lowdown: Constant setbacks

The Dutchman first joined the Lilywhites in a £27m move from PSV Eindhoven in 2020 but has suffered from multiple injuries during that time, which have kept him out on the sidelines for long spells.

Even when fully fit, he has generally been overlooked by successive managers, despite Antonio Conte seemingly holding great affection for the man he called an ‘important’ part of the squad.

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This season, the 24-year-old has only started four Premier League games, and despite not being out of contract in the capital until 2025, Bergwijn has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United once Erik ten Hag takes over.

The Latest: Bergwijn hints at summer exit

In an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (via TEAMtalk), the 18-cap international said:

“A place in the starting line up? Here? I honestly don’t think so. The attack works well, but I don’t get to play much.

“It’s important to me that I’m going to get to play now.”

When asked if making a return to his homeland of Holland would be a possibility, he added:

“It certainly would be. A return to the Netherlands would certainly be an option for me. The World Cup is coming. Mr Van Gaal, the national coach, brought me into the selection last time, even though I didn’t play much.

“Then you come back to the club and you barely play. It is a shame, of course. In the summer we really have to look for a solution.”

The Verdict: More minutes needed

Bergwijn has made a total of 80 appearances since arriving in north London, scoring eight goals and providing ten assists in that time, as per Transfermarkt, but this season he has been nothing more than a part-time player.

The forward has been brought off the bench on 24 occasions across all competitions throughout this current campaign and is a great impact player, but if he wants a chance at reviving his career, then looking for a move elsewhere is probably the best option.

Once dubbed as an “excellent” player by Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold, the £16.2m-rated ace – a valuation which is plummeting all the time – no doubt still has some of his prime years ahead of him and will surely want to spend them as a feature in someone’s first-choice XI.

In other news… Tottenham look set for a huge boost in their attempts to land the signing of a new ‘aggressive’ summer target.

Manchester United’s recent showing against Nottingham Forest may have ended their three-game winning run, but their 2-2 draw did extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim’s side are now over a month unbeaten and finally starting to show glimpses of a side who are capable of battling at the top end of the table once again.

The 40-year-old’s 3-4-2-1 system is finally starting to come good, with the Red Devils fanbase finally having a reason to be excited after numerous months of disappointment on the pitch.

The £200m investment during the summer transfer window shows the hierarchy’s backing of the manager, with the additions making an immediate impact at Old Trafford.

One of whom managed to impress once again at the City Ground, subsequently matching the levels produced by one of his compatriots, who also caught the eye against Sean Dyche’s men.

Casemiro & Cunha’s impressive displays against Forest

Matheus Cunha was just one of United’s big-money additions during the summer window, arriving in a £62.5m deal from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He’s since made himself a regular starter, once again impressing for the Red Devils, as seen by his underlying stats in the draw against Forest yesterday afternoon.

The Brazilian completed three dribbles, won five fouls and came out on top in 11 duels – with all three of the aforementioned tallies the highest of any player on the pitch.

Cunha was unable to get on the scoresheet, but the same can’t be said for compatriot Casemiro, who once again managed to impress during his revival at Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old scored his third league goal of the campaign, leaping highest from Bruno Fernandes’ corner to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead against Dyche’s men.

Despite his defensive midfield role, he created three chances for his teammates, also making 11 passes into the final third whilst completing 100% of his dribbles – in what was an all-round phenomenal showing.

Out of possession, the experienced star was just as impressive, winning three tackles and making eight recoveries – tallies which have made him a key man under Amorim once again.

Despite the showing from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team member once again managed to catch the eye, with such a display cementing himself as one of the world’s best.

The United star who’s becoming one of the best in the world

As previously mentioned, central midfielder Fernandes once again managed to pop up with a key assist – taking his tally to four goal contributions across all competitions in 2025/26.

The Portuguese international still posed a huge threat going forward despite operating in a deeper role – creating four chances in the first half, the most of any player on the pitch.

However, as a result of dropping deeper, he’s now able to dictate the play more, as seen by his tally of 65 passes completed yesterday – also the highest tally of any player in Nottingham yesterday.

Over recent weeks, Amorim has been able to build an established starting eleven – even being unchanged in the last two outings – which has no doubt aided the recent upturn in form.

His formation has allowed for numerous players to become first-team regulars and take their careers to the next level in recent months – as seen by Amad Diallo’s upturn in form in Manchester over the last 12 months.

The Ivorian often struggled to nail down a consistent starting role under Erik ten Hag, but he’s now arguably one of the first names on Amorim’s teamsheet.

He’s had to feature in a somewhat unfamiliar right-wing-back role in the last 12 months, but the 23-year-old has since taken to the position like a duck to water.

Amad has notched 22 combined goals and assists in the last year under Amorim, with his latest strike coming late on in Saturday’s 2-2 draw in the East Midlands.

He found himself unmarked on the edge of the 18-yard box after a clearance from a corner, before nailing a powerful effort past Matz Sels into the bottom left-hand corner.

The attacker also completed 100% of the crosses he attempted, whilst maintaining five passes into the final third – backing up one analyst’s claim that he’s now one of the “best in the world”.

Other figures, such as 100% tackles won, six recoveries and four shots registered, further showcase his incredible all-round showing against the Reds.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Crosses completed

100%

Tackles won

100%

Recoveries made

6

Shots taken

4

Shots on target

3

Passes completed

39

As a result, there’s no denying that Amad is rapidly cementing his place at RWB in Amorim’s system, with his ability at both ends of the pitch making him a phenomenal talent.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t help the side achieve new heights in the years ahead under Amorim’s guidance.

Fewer passes than Lammens: 3/10 Man Utd flop has now got to be dropped

Man Utd drew 2-2 away to Forest, and this star struggled

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 2, 2025

The last couple of years have seen Tottenham Hotspur start to spend some serious cash to aid their pursuit of being competitive in the Premier League and Europe.

Such spending has already seen success being brought to North London, with Ange Postecoglou the beneficiary last campaign – subsequently leading the club to Europa League glory.

However, Thomas Frank will be the next boss to try and take the Lilywhites to the next level after taking the reins in the summer following the Aussie’s dismissal.

The Dane was handed an immediate £110m to make the changes he desired to the first-team to enable him to take the club to the next level under his guidance.

Despite the spending, throwing money left, right and centre doesn’t equal success, with numerous of the club’s former additions failing to live up to the hype they arrived with.

Ranking Spurs’ worst signings in the last five years

As part of the Spurs hierarchy’s big-spending in recent years, they broke their transfer record last summer, after forking out a staggering £65m for the signature of striker Dominic Solanke.

Such a move generated huge excitement, as the Englishman was seen as the replacement for Harry Kane after his own move to Bayern Munich 12 months prior.

However, the deal now appears to be somewhat of a waste, with the 28-year-old massively struggling with injuries – subsequently only featuring for 31 minutes of league action this campaign.

Sergio Reguilon is another player who cost a pretty penny in recent years, with the board paying £30m for his signature to prise him away from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020.

The left-back was seen as a long-term solution to the woes in such an area, but the move was a disaster, with the Spaniard only featuring a total of 73 times over his five years at the club.

He was released during the summer transfer just gone, further highlighting how disappointing his spell in the Premier League was – which firmly places him as one of the Lilywhites’ worst additions.

However, Brazilian striker Richarlison is arguably one of their worst signings in recent years, especially considering he was bought for an eye-watering £60m.

He’s been Frank’s starting number nine this season, but he’s failed to reflect the faith shown in him – subsequently scoring just once in the last 12 outings.

The biggest sign of his failure is his goalscoring tally, with the 28-year-old netting just 23 goals for the Lilywhites – a tally five times lower than that of former fan-favourite Kane.

The Spurs talent who can end Richarlison’s time in North London

As previously mentioned, Richarlison has massively struggled with the expectations placed upon him by the Spurs fanbase after his transfer to the club back in 2022.

His recent outings for the Lilywhites highlight his lack of positive impact within the final third, with his struggles going way beyond his lack of goals at present.

The former Everton man has only achieved a total of 58 touches of the ball in the last five outings across all competitions – with former striker Kane achieving a tally of 69 alone in his last Bundesliga outing.

Richarlison will certainly be on borrowed time in North London over the next couple of months, especially when Solanke inevitably returns from his recent injury setback.

However, the pair could have added competition for places from January onwards, as teenage striker Mason Melia joins the club from Irish outfit St Patrick’s Athletic.

The 18-year-old agreed to join the Lilywhites back in February, but has to wait another couple of months to link up with Frank’s men, given the rules around U18 additions.

His £1.6m transfer, a record for a player from the Irish top division, could well prove to be a bargain if he continues his impressive development during his time in North London.

Melia made his debut for his boyhood club back in 2023 at the age of just 16 and has since cemented his place within the first-team ranks – subsequently amassing a total of 93 appearances.

He’s also racked up a total of 22 goals within that period, a record that has led to one youth analyst labelling the Irish teenager as “a star in the making”.

Padraig Amond (37)

13

Mason Melia (18)

12

Michael Duffy (31)

11

Owen Elding (19)

10

Moses Dyer (28)

10

Tom Lonergan (21)

9

Liam Boyce (34)

8

Rory Gaffney (35)

8

Ademipo Odubeko (22)

8

This season has been the youngster’s best to date, scoring 12 times and registering three assists in his 33 appearances – with the former of the two stats putting him second in the goalscoring charts.

There’s no disputing the staff at Spurs will have to manage his progress in the years ahead, whilst Frank has to manage his minutes to help aid the progress he’s made in his homeland.

However, one thing that is certain is that Melia is a star who possesses a huge heap of potential and could play a vital role in the Lilywhites’ chance of success in the future.

His arrival could spell the end for Richarlison in North London, which could see the hierarchy cash in on his services and hand Melia the first-team action he needs to continue his development.

Spurs star was as big a problem as Richarlison, now he looks undroppable

Tottenham Hotspur have found a new top-level talent despite drawing 0-0 with Monaco in the Champions League.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

The transfer window is really heating up at Rangers.

On Wednesday, the Light Blues signed not one but two new players, with Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez both arriving, the latter for a reported fee of £3.5m.

So, with the start of Champions League qualifying now less than three weeks away, Russell Martin’s mass overhaul of the squad he has inherited continues, with more new signings seemingly set to follow soon.

Rangers looking to bolster their back line

This Rangers squad requires a lot of surgery this summer, and this is no more so the case than in defence.

Transfer Focus

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

Leon Balogun has departed, joining Aris Limassol on a free transfer, while Robin Pröpper appears set to return to FC Twente too.

Meanwhile, Max Aarons has arrived on loan from Bournemouth, with Fernandez now signing too, but Martin is certainly still seeking to improve his defensive options.

Well, as reported by Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Rangers are “in talks” with Wolverhampton Wanderers as they aim to sign Nasser Djiga on a season-long loan.

This would be a straight loan, with no option or obligation to buy, for the Burkina Faso international, who only joined Wolves from Crvena zvezda for a reported fee of £10m as recently as February.

The 22 year old made just six appearances in old gold following his arrival, his sole Premier League start coming at Crystal Palace in May, when Vítor Pereira made wholesale changes, with David Irvine of the Glasgow Times noting that Wolves are keen on this loan move to Ibrox so that he can ‘gain experience’ of British football.

Thus, could Djiga be a transformational addition for Rangers?

How Nasser Djiga will improve Rangers

The young defender is certainly highly-rated, described by Serbian Football Scout as a “duel monster” who reads the game well, but is also capable of a “last-ditch tackle” when required.

Meantime, writer Kai Watson believes he is the “ideal” centre-back for Martin’s possession-oriented style, labelling him a “strong passer” who possesses a “good understanding” of defensive play.

Before moving to Wolves, he caught the eye representing Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, helping them dump out Bodø/Glimt in the play-off round, before also enjoying league phase victories over Stuttgart and Young Boys, so let’s take a look at his statistics.

Minutes

720

1st

Completed passes

322

1st

Progressive passes

33

4th

Pass completion %

89.4%

3rd

Tackles

10

5th

% of dribblers tackled

100%

1st

Interceptions

4

5th

Blocks

7

4th

Clearances

27

2nd

Ball recoveries

28

4th

Touches

433

3rd

As the table outlines, Djiga ranks very highly in the Champions League for all statistics included, when compared to his former teammates, doing so at a very high level, considering Crvena zvezda came up against Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Benfica, PSV, Monaco and others during the league phase.

The centre-back’s defensive metrics are universally impressive but, more notably, so are his in-possession statistics, which will make him the perfect fit for a Martin team.

So, why will he be a more impactful signing than Aarons?

Well, in short, it’s due to what Rangers really need.

Aarons has presumably joined Rangers to play regularly, having seen just 338 minutes of action last season at Bournemouth and then Valencia, which raises serious question marks over current right-back and captain James Tavernier’s future.

Meantime, the Light Blues are desperate for central defensive reinforcements, with John Souttar and new arrival Fernandez currently the only options available to face Panathinaikos in a pivotal Champions League qualifier in just 19 days’ time.

So, while Djiga is clearly a high-potential player, he is also one that Rangers desperately require, making him a welcome and much-needed addition for Martin.

Ibrox's dream Igamane replacement: Rangers working to sign £5m striker

Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Hamza Igamane.

ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

It only closed last week, but the transfer window is open for the second time this week, and it looks like it’ll be a hectic one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are undoubtedly one of the best in the country, but with a third second-placed finish in the Premier League in as many years this season, it’s clear that they are lacking something their competition are not: goals.

The North Londoners produced the best defence in the league last season, but Liverpool and Manchester City scored more goals than them.

So, while some new wide talent wouldn’t go amiss, it’s evident that Arsenal need a new goalscoring number nine, and while Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with the club, another striker now reportedly wants the move.

Arsenal's striker search

Gyokeres has been touted for a move to Arsenal for some time now, with the first reports linking the Swede to the club emerging as far back as last summer and then reappearing here and there during the winter window.

Transfer Focus

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

Yet, the reports seemed to gather momentum once more over the last few weeks, with stories even suggesting that the North Londoners were set to launch a bid for the former Coventry City gem.

However, with it now clear that Sporting CP do not intend to let him leave for £59m, as he and his agent believed they would, the Gunners could turn their attention to more attainable alternatives, such as Ollie Watkins.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Mirror, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa superstar from earlier this year.

The report claims that the former Exeter City gem remains on their list of targets and that the player himself is incredibly keen on joining his boyhood team.

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the story, but according to other reports from late last week, the Englishman could cost up to £40m, which may well be a bargain and help make the case for him being a brilliant alternative to Gyokeres.

Why Watkins would be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres

Now, while the potential price differential is already one massive reason why Watkins would be a great alternative to Gyokeres, there are others, such as their respective experience.

For example, while the Swedish international has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine this season and has been able to rack up a staggering tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, he has almost no experience of playing in a top-level competition.

In fact, while he has played eight games in the Champions League and nine in the Europa League, the former Coventry City star has never played in a traditional top-five league, and currently, according to research from Opta Analyst, the Portuguese top-flight is only the 11th strongest in the world, behind the likes of the Belgian Pro League and Championship.

Moreover, if that wasn’t enough to cast some judgment over the 27-year-old’s numbers, then perhaps the fact that 11 of the 18 teams in that competition are considered to be of a League One level will.

In contrast, the “world-class” Englishman, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has been plying his trade in the toughest competition in world football for five years now and has consistently been a dangerous outlet for the Claret and Blue.

Appearances

53

54

Minutes

4323′

3578′

Goals

27

17

Assists

15

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.79

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

102.92′

115.41′

For example, the Torquay-born monster was able to rack up a tally of 42 goal involvements in 53 games last season and then was able to amass 31 in 54 games this year, which is the sort of output that could fire the Gunners to glory.

Furthermore, while the 29-year-old’s record in the Premier League means that fans know what to expect from him, it also means that there should be little to no adaptation period for him, meaning he could come in, hit the ground running and supercharge the North Londoners attack, whereas the Sporting star could take months to get used to playing in the league.

Ultimately, a combination of his price, track record, and experience playing in the Premier League all make Watkins an ideal alternative to Gyokeres this summer.

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