All posts by n8rngtd.top

Arsenal duo Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino are not in Arsenal's squad for their Premier League clash at West Ham.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• West Ham host Arsenal
• Partey & Merino not in squad
• Arteta explains their absence

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  When the Gunners' matchday squad for the Hammers clash was announced on Saturday afternoon, neither Partey nor Merino were in the 20-man group. The important duo would have certainly been included but now manager Mikel Arteta has explained their absence.

Advertisement

• THE EXPLANATION

  Arteta revealed that the two midfielders have been ruled out through injury but didn't reveal what those injuries are or the severity.

  He told Sky Sports: "Unfortunately, they both picked up an injury and the game too early and they couldn't be part of the squad."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal keenly felt the injury absence of captain Martin Odegaard and their results suffered during his time on the sidelines. Before the West Ham encounter at London Stadium, they were nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, and having more players out injured will not help in their title bid.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen how long both Partey, who has been playing at right-back of late in the absence of the injured Ben White, and Merino will be sidelined for. After this match, Arsenal host Manchester United in the league on Wednesday.

Jude Bellingham is looking forward to staying at Real Madrid for the next "10-15 years" as he effectively ruled out a future Liverpool transfer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Bellingham joined Real in the summer of 2023
• Liverpool were also in the race for his signature
• Real star talked about his future before Anfield showdown

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English midfielder made the highly anticipated switch from Borussia Dortmund to the Spanish giants in July 2023 and spearheaded an immensely successful campaign for the capital side winning the Champions League and La Liga titles. However, he was linked to a move to Liverpool as well, with the prospect of joining the Merseyside club, home to his "hero" Steven Gerrard, generating significant interest. However, Bellingham revealed that the negotiations were not as advanced as media reports suggested.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  “I think it wasn’t as close as people made out in the media, I think maybe they led people on a little bit,” Bellingham told in an interview with

  “When Madrid came knocking, I felt like that was the perfect club for me, but Steven Gerrard is a massive hero of mine. It would be nice to have a Steven Gerrard-esque performance, but it will be very difficult so we’ll see.”

  Despite his respect for Gerrard and Liverpool, the 20-year-old midfielder made it clear that his focus remains firmly on succeeding with Real Madrid. He added: “I’m very happy at Madrid. I think the next 10, 15 years will be in white for me.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool have been in scintillating form, winning all four of their Champions League matches so far. Victories over AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, and Bayer Leverkusen have propelled them to the top of the league phase table, reaffirming their credentials as serious contenders for the title. In stark contrast, defending champions Real Madrid have struggled to find their footing in Europe. Los Blancos have already suffered two defeats in the group stage, leaving them in a precarious 18th place in the table.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  Wednesday’s encounter at Anfield presents Bellingham with an opportunity to showcase his talents against the club that once courted him. For Real Madrid, the stakes are high as a positive result is crucial to bolstering their chances of securing an automatic place in the Champions League round of 16. And Bellingham must play his part against Arne Slot's high-flying troops.

Newcastle United were a day late and a dollar short in the fight to secure a second successive season on the continent, having lost their Conference League spot after Manchester United won the FA Cup in May.

Eddie Howe's outfit had been ravaged by injuries last season and still managed to impress in spells, finishing seventh in the Premier League and unluckily finishing bottom of their Champions League group despite impressing and facing some contentious calls.

The squad really was threadbare at some stages, but Howe and Co have moved to mitigate that issue this summer by enforcing several exciting deals, tieing up last year's loanee Lewis Hall on a permanent transfer and signing Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer after his contract with Bournemouth expired.

There is more to come, with sales of Elliott Anderson and Yankuba Minteh placating PSR and freeing up space to make more emphatic ventures.

The signings completed thus far have addressed the issue of depth but clear upgrades are required to the first team. The wide flanks have been much discussed at St. James' Park and United's new sporting director Paul Mitchell might be honing on the perfect addition.

Newcastle transfer news

As per Football Insider, Newcastle have opened talks with Chelsea to discuss the transfer of Noni Madueke, who has been shortlisted on Tyneside as Howe looks to improve his right flank.

Chelsea signed the England U21 international from PSV Eindhoven in a £29m transfer in January 2023 and he rose in importance under Mauricio Pochettino last term.

Aged 22, Madueke would be a terrific signing for the Magpies – though Chelsea would undoubtedly look to make a profit, should positive movements be made over the coming days and weeks.

Noni Madueke's Chelsea career so far

Miguel Almiron has been a stalwart for Newcastle, signing from Major League Soccer side Atlanta United for a club-record £21m fee in January 2019.

The 30-year-old has his strengths but he's simply not prolific enough, and if Newcastle hope to enter the ascendancy once again he must be sold this summer – or at least, relegated to a second-rate position on the right wing, allowing a player like Madueke to strut their stuff.

Hailed as a "crazy talent" by football scout Jacek Kulig, Madueke arrived at Stamford Bridge in tough conditions but has indeed started to showcase his considerable talents, scoring eight goals and supplying three assists across 34 matches in all competitions last term – despite receiving only 19 starting berths.

Electric and enterprising, the £50k-per-week wide forward ranked among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 5% for pass completion, the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 4% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

This is a marvellous representation of the rooted skills that suggest that Madueke could become one of the leading forwards in English football down the line, and Newcastle must act quickly to secure his services before his market value mushrooms.

Why Noni Madueke could thrive with Alexander Isak

Madueke might not be a superstar – yet – but he is a highly talented young winger who has all the skills needed to carve out success on Tyneside. Placed on Alexander Isak's flank, he might just skyrocket into a position as one of Newcastle's sharpest signings in recent years.

Isak is, without a doubt, one of the finest strikers in Europe. Last season, the Sweden international scored 25 goals from 40 appearances and was praised for his striking ability to "manipulate defenders" – as noted by Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, who was drawing comparisons between Isak and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry.

Newcastle created 97 big chances in the Premier League last season, alongside Manchester City and behind only Liverpool (102). Isak is a formidable sharpshooter but he was supplemented by a cohesive and dynamic squad that fed him through ample opportunity.

Madueke would only enhance that, utilising his pace and ability to stretch backlines and creating more space for Isak to wreak havoc from.

And considering that Isak is that clinical, missing only 21 big chances in the Premier League despite scoring 21 goals, Chelsea's fleet-footed star could indeed find himself forming the perfect partnership – especially after playing alongside Nicolas Jackson last term, who is a talented forward but missed 24 big chances in the English top flight, scoring only 14 times.

Isak is also more than just a marksman, ranking among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and progressive carries, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

He's fast and he's crisp, suggesting that he could bond fluidly with Madueke's style. That's without even mentioning Anthony Gordon on the alternate flank…

Described as a "mentality monster" by his former coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, Madueke has already demonstrated as such after impressing throughout a turbulent time at Chelsea, but at Newcastle, he truly could emerge as a leading figure on English shores.

There's hope at Chelsea and a belief at Newcastle, since they are hoping to sign the winger, that Madueke has "enormous potential" – as has also been said by Kulig – and while he's starting to find his feet in west London, Howe can offer the promise of a real chance to grow into his skin and become one of the Premier League's finest.

The end for Almiron: Newcastle offered deal to sign £50m "magician"

The Magpies are looking to improve their forward line this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 20, 2024

A big development has emerged regarding Manchester United's pursuit of a "complete" player alongside fellow target Joshua Zirkzee this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Man United closing in on Zirkzee signing

As things stand, it looks highly likely that Zirkzee will be the Red Devils' first signing of the summer transfer window, with the Dutchman expected to arrive from Bologna in the near future. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have been working hard on getting a deal over the line, with a deal agreed for the 23-year-old, who is expected to arrive on a long-term deal.

Assuming the move is completed this summer, Zirkzee has the potential to be a hugely exciting signing for United, considering he has impressed in a Bologna shirt, scoring 14 goals and registering nine assists in 58 appearances for the Serie A.

The hope is that those numbers only increase at Old Trafford, once he is playing alongside superior players, from Bruno Fernandes to Rasmus Hojlund, and former Bayern Munich teammate David Alaba has said of him in the past: "Joshua has integrated well into the team from day one. He picks things up quickly and he always wants to learn. It is very nice that he is being rewarded. He is a boy with a lot of potential. He has a talent that not everyone has."

Now, it looks as though United have decided who they potentially want to come in alongside Zirkzee this summer, with a significant development emerging regarding another Dutch target.

Man Utd make offer for "complete" player

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Man Utd News], Manchester United have tabled a huge offer for PSG midfielder Xavi Simons, having been linked with a double deal for Simons to pair with Zirkzee in recent days.

The Red Devils have now "stepped up" their efforts to acquire the £25,000-a-week Dutchman's signature in the "last few hours", although the money that has been offered isn't mentioned.

Simons could be a fantastic signing for United ahead of next season and beyond, with the 21-year-old's ability outlined by his stunning opening strike in the Netherlands' eventual 2-1 defeat to England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

The attacking midfielder has showcased his talent on a regular basis on loan at RB Leipzig, too, registering 19 goal contributions (eight goals and 11 assists) in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, and teammate Dani Olmo has called him a "complete" footballer who "has an amazing dribbling technique, finishing as well".

Still only 21 years of age, there is so much more to come from Simons in the coming years, and he could add so much in attacking midfield areas at United, as well as being able to shine out wide, too. Signing him as well as Zirkzee feels like a no-brainer, and it is encouraging to see this fresh bid tabled.

A Manchester United flop reportedly has 'no intention' of leaving the club – potentially posing new boss Ruben Amorim a squad headache.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Amorim takes over at Man Utd
• Red Devils flop linked with exit
• He has 'no intention' of leaving

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to journalist Jorge Nicole, United winger Antony does not want to leave the Premier League side anytime soon and talk of a potential swap deal involving Flamengo's 19-year-old attacking midfielder Lorran are wide of the mark. He added that with Amorim just coming on board, the Brazilian is hopeful of getting more minutes in the Red Devils' first-team than he did under former boss Erik ten Hag this season.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Antony swapped Ajax for United for £85 million ($99m) in 2022 but since then he has scored just 12 goals and bagged five assists in 87 appearances. GOAL understands the Red Devils were open to the 24-year-old heading out on loan in January but whether the winger does that remains to be seen. It may be best for both parties to go their separate ways, however.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Antony, whose contract at Old Trafford runs until 2027, hinted earlier this season that he sees his future at United.

  "I definitely need more goal participations and to score more goals. It's something I demand from myself. Rest assured, you'll hear the name Antony in relation to goals and assists," he said.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Amorim's first game in charge as United boss is away to lowly Ipswich Town on November 24. Antony will hope for some minutes in that game after making just five appearances this season. The Portuguese may need to give it some thought about what to do with the Brazilian going forward.

With the transfer window now in full swing, Everton are set to enter the race for a highly rated teenager with interest from another Premier League side.

Everton act fast in summer transfer window

After staving off relegation from the Premier League last season, the Toffees are in the market to bolster Sean Dyche's squad and ensure that next season sees them stay well clear of the drop zone.

Everton must sell big-money talent who's worth more than Broja & Ndiaye

The club are still looking to strengthen despite the recent incomings.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 3, 2024

One name floated as a potential target for the Toffees is Benfica's Florentino Luis. The Portuguese midfielder also has interest from Leicester City with the player's current club having already turned down a £25million bid from an unnamed English side.

Everton are also set to compete with a Premier League newcomers Southampton for Celtic's Matt O'Riley. The 23-year-old has been a long term target of the Saints, however a recent report has suggested that Everton are one of several Premier League clubs to have have held talks with the Scottish champions over the Dane.

Both of these midfield targets are seen as possible replacements for current Toffees' star Amadou Onana, who has been most recently linked with a move to Manchester United.

Whilst part of the recruitment team at Goodison Park eyes up established stars, it appears that some at the club are looking towards the next generation of talents with the Toffees competing for a European wonderkid.

Toffees set to compete for Irish teenage sensation

As first reported by TeamTalk, Everton are battling it out to sign Irish striker Mason Melia. The outlet claims that the Toffees are set to go toe-to-toe with fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion to secure the services of the teenage forward.

The 16-year-old is already playing senior football for St Patrick’s in the League of Ireland Premier Division, where Melia has three goals to his name in 23 appearances in the Irish top flight.

Melia made his debut for the Irish outfit aged just 15, becoming St Patrick’s youngest ever player and the third youngest in league history. Speaking after the teenager's debut, St Patrick’s former interim manager Jon Daly praised the striker: "He’s been exceptional for Sean (O’Connor's) team at U-19s.

“When you are thinking ‘I need a goal’, I saw him score numerous goals for the U-19s, I saw him score against Wexford in the Leinster Senior Cup. I know he can finish and I know his movement is good."

Whilst Melia is no stranger to senior football, it will be some time before we see him lacing up in the Premier League. Owing to new player registration rules post Brexit, the striker cannot move to the UK until he turns 18.

Despite this, Everton will still be able to agree a deal for Melia this summer with the club agreeing for the player to move to Merseyside as soon as he turns 18.

Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been told his successful philosophy at Sporting Lisbon cannot be "copy and pasted" at Old Trafford.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Amorim set to take over at Man Utd
• Told to change his Sporting philosophy
• Squad's lack of "athleticism" criticised

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Just days after Erik ten Hag's United sacking, Sporting boss Amorim was confirmed as his successor. The 39-year-old has impressed during his time with the Portuguese giants but former Liverpool player Danny Murphy feels he must abandon his approach that has served him so well at the Liga Portugal team when he switches to the Red Devils. He also called out United's lack of athleticism across the squad.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT DANNY MURPHY SAID

  In a column for the Daily Mail, he said: "I'm sure Ruben Amorim is intelligent enough to realise he can’t just copy and paste what he did at Sporting Lisbon in order to create immediate success at Manchester United. To ask a squad which lacks athleticism and confidence to replicate his preferred 3-4-3 with high energy and flying wing backs carries big risks in the Premier League.

  "The best managers adapt to personnel. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City tweaked things when Erling Haaland arrived. Jurgen Klopp opted for three midfield runners only after Philippe Coutinho had left. Initially, if Amorim demands this set of United players be progressive with the press and play a higher line, it would invite trouble.

  "The central defenders don’t have the pace to compensate for a lack of numbers in midfield, particularly when Leny Yoro is injured. In Portugal, Sporting have the best players so it makes sense to be braver with philosophy and formation. United are a different case. Against better teams, they lack legs at this level."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amorim will take charge of a side languishing down in 13th in the Premier League later this month, with the Portuguese facing a mammoth task on his hands. This will, no doubt, be the toughest test of his managerial career and it could prove to be a baptism of fire for him.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Amorim will begin his United tenure on November 11 and his first game in charge will be away to lowly Ipswich Town in the Premier League on November 24. Before then, the Red Devils host Chelsea on Sunday, where interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in the dugout again.

Arsenal have come a long way over the last few years, and while they're yet to lift the Premier League title, it's starting to feel more like a matter of when rather than if.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have rejuvenated the Gunners squad and created a genuinely impressive team full of stars like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Despite the strides made, the departure of Granit Xhaka last summer, the positional shift of Kai Havertz, and the potential exit of Thomas Partey this summer have left a void in Arsenal's midfield that needs to be addressed.

So, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N5 could be the perfect person to complete Arteta's midfield trio.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are keen on signing Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino this summer.

Juanmarti claims that Arteta has a strong desire to bring the Spanish international to the Emirates and that, following conversations, the player has become "seduced" by the Gunners' proposals.

The journalist goes on to reveal in an article for Sport that the Basque side would be tempted into selling if the North Londoners make an offer in the region of €25m, which is around £21m.

He might not be a name overly familiar to Premier League fans, but given how keen Arteta is to land the player, the reasonable fee, and the potential to solidify the team's midfield, this seems like a transfer too good to pass up.

How Merino could complete Arsenal's midfield

So, at the moment, Arsenal have two midfielders who are nailed on for a place in the starting lineup practically every week: Rice and Odegaard.

The former captained West Ham United to a European trophy from a defensive midfield position and then, upon moving to N5, swapped between sometimes playing as a six and sometimes an eight.

However, he did start as the former 30 times for the Gunners last season, and when speaking to TNT Sport (via talkSPORT), he claimed it was his "best position" on the pitch, so it makes sense to keep him there.

On the other hand, the club captain has firmly established himself at the tip of the midfield trio for Arteta, racking up an impressive haul of 44 goals and assists over the last two campaigns.

Therefore, the final position that needs to be sorted out is central midfield, or the left eight, which is where the "underrated" Merino, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, comes in.

The Sociedad star made 45 appearances last season – 38 of which were starts in central midfield – in which he scored eight goals and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.81 games.

However, while this is undeniably impressive for a deeper player, the other side of his game that probably caught the Arsenal manager's attention more is the number of duels he won last season.

According to Squawka, the 23-capped international was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues to win over 300 duels, coming in at a final number of 326 – staggering.

You can practically see him helping Rice break up play in the middle of the park before driving forward and helping Odegaard craft another exquisite chance, proving Mattinson's claim that the Spaniard is "effective in all 3 phases" right.

Arsenal struck gold on Arteta signing who's now worth more than Gyokeres

The “magnificent” talent is one of the club’s most important players.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 25, 2024

Ultimately, Arsenal look like they are going to need a new all-action number eight this summer, and considering his performances last season and his price tag, signing Merino is a no-brainer.

Lamine Yamal was named the world's best young player of the year as he won the 2024 Kopa Trophy due to his excellent displays for Barcelona and Spain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Yamal announced as Kopa Trophy winner
• Named best young player in the world
• Teen starring for Spain and Barcelona

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 17-year-old winger was handed the award on Monday after a year in which he established himself as a first-team star at Barcelona and played a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 success.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal has been handed the trophy for best player under the age of 21, taking the award from last year's winner and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. He follows his current Barcelona team-mates Gavi and Pedri in claiming the prize, while Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs de Ligt are the other previous winners.

• THE FULL KOPA TROPHY RANKINGS

  Yamal finished top of the rankings with Real Madrid and Turkey youngster Arda Guler coming in second, while Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo was third. Manchester City's new signing Savinho was fourth, while Yamal's Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi was fifth. Joao Neves, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain after an excellent year at Benfica, was joint-sixth, tied with United's Alejandro Garnacho. Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel, Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain and Red Bull Salzburg and Ivory Coast forward Karim Konate were all tied for eighth place.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Yamal won the prize just two days after he helped Barcelona to an incredible 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga. He will hope the prize gives him a boost as Barca, who have won their last five games, come up against Catalan rivals Espanyol in their next match.

Wrexham have offered an update on their "masterplan" for the SToK Cae Ras stadium as they plan to redesign the Kop stand.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wrexham unveil plans for stadium
• 5,500-seater Kop to be redesigned
• Populous appointed as architects

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham have confirmed they have appointed an architect to "create a masterplan" for the SToK Cae Ras stadium, focusing initially on the redesign of the famous Kop stand. It currently holds 5,500 fans, but will be modified to feature safe standing, hospitality and accessible seating.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham have confirmed that the new build will comply with UEFA stadium requirements and will be completed by 2026, when it will play host to fixtures from the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Wales. The stadium has been operating with a slightly reduced capacity while the club await the construction of the new stand.

• WHAT WREXHAM SAID

  Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson said: “We are determined to ensure the new Kop stand and the future vision of the SToK Cae Ras satisfies the needs and expectations of our fans and the local community, and the appointment of Populous as architect for the redesign reflects that.

  “We appreciate the efforts of those who have worked on this project to date, allowing us to now focus our attention on the activation of areas within the new stand, while remaining consistent with the capacity and volume that was previously presented.

  “We look forward to engaging with fans and the local community as plans and designs for the stand take shape, along with other stakeholders and strategic partners including Wrexham County Borough Council, our Wrexham Gateway partners, Wrexham University, the Welsh Government, and the FA of Wales. This is an exciting time for the Club, our supporters and the City as we continue our upward momentum.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham are next in action against Charlton in the league this weekend before taking on Harrogate Town in the first round of the FA Cup.