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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is set to have a real role to play in potentially helping to tempt a £100,000-per-week midfielder into joining them this summer.

Arsenal search for new midfielder amid Partey uncertainty

This could well be Thomas Partey's last season in north London, four years after his £45 million move from Atletico Madrid.

£43m attacker prioritising Arsenal move as Arteta tells board to sign him

He wants to make the move to north London.

ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2024

A combination of fitness issues and the stellar form of his midfield teammates appear to have reduced his role in Arteta's first team, with the Ghanaian seeing his game time cut by more than 50 per cent in comparison to last campaign.

Making 33 appearances over 2022/2023, Partey has only been selected 13 times this term, and this has raised serious doubts over his future in north London. Partey is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia as well, with Pro League sides considering a lucrative contract offer to tempt him towards the Middle East (GiveMeSport).

Match

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal

7.59

Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea

7.48

Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth

7.44

Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth

7.06

Arsenal 2-2 Fulham

6.96

The 30-year-old's contract expires next year as well, giving Arsenal little time to make any money from his 2020 transfer. Sporting director Edu is said to be eyeing up new midfielders to both potentially replace Partey and reinforce Arteta's engine room.

The Brazilian has a number of targets, many of whom are regularly linked via the press. Reports have even suggested that Arsenal have made a formal offer for Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi already, while Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes is attracting Edu's interest as well.

Zubimendi has a £52 million release clause in his Sociedad contract. Guimaraes will have a £100 million exit clause in his Newcastle deal as well, but only temporarily, as Fabrizio Romano revealed it will only be active from the end of May to the final week of June.

They do have cheaper alternatives, like PSG midfielder Carlos Soler, who has apparently been offered to the Gunners pre-summer (Graeme Bailey). Another more astute option, according to Juve Live this week, could be Italy international Manuel Locatelli.

Arteta could tempt Locatelli into joining Arsenal

As per the news website, he's a historic target they've held an interest in before, and the growing competition for Guimaraes in particular could see Arsenal turn back towards the Juventus midfielder.

On a reported £100,000 per week in Turin, the 26-year-old is a mainstay for Juve, racking up 35 Serie A appearances this season with 33 of them being full starts. Juve Live also reports that Locatelli could be tempted to join Arsenal thanks to the appeal of playing for Arteta, with the Spaniard set for a significant say.

“He had a great game, not only from the technical standpoint, but also from the human one," said Massimiliano Allegri on Locatelli.

"For his mentality and heart, he’s becoming exemplary for everybody in the way he approaches matches. He never gives up and has the clubs’ DNA in him."

Brazil head coach Dorival Junior has backed Endrick to perform for his country despite not getting many minutes with Real Madrid so far this season.

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Endrick recalled to Brazil squadStruggling for minutes at Real MadridExpected to play in World Cup qualifiersWHAT HAPPENED?

Endrick has only played a total of nine minutes for Real Madrid this season, although he did net his first Los Blancos goal in a four-minute cameo during the recent 3-0 win against Real Valladolid. Despite his lack of time on the pitch, Brazil boss Dorival Junior had no problems recalling the 18-year-old to the international squad and offered him some words of encouragement as well.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT DORIVAL JUNIOR SAID

Speaking to the media ahead of Brazil's match against Ecuador, Dorival Junior said: "Endrick, despite not being a starter in one of the best teams in world football, has the credentials to be in the squad and play 90 minutes. He has tremendous potential and a lot is expected from him. We need to remain calm. The players come from their clubs and arrive at the national team with a great responsibility due to the current situation in the standings."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The young Brazilian may be unhappy spending most matchdays on the bench, but his time will come. At 18, he is doing well to even be in the same crop as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. He has already proven his worth by netting off the bench and if he can continue proving himself for his country, Carlo Ancelotti will have no choice but to force him into the team.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK AND BRAZIL?

Endrick is expected to line-up alongside Real Madrid team-mates Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in the World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. Following that match, the Selecao will travel to Paraguay for their next match on September 11.

The development follows a public outcry following clashes at the India-China border in June

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Aug-2020IPL title rights holders Vivo have pulled out of this year’s tournament, ESPNcricinfo understands. The development follows a public outcry over the tournament’s association with Vivo, a Chinese company, following clashes at the India-China border in June.Neither the BCCI nor Vivo were available for comment on the issue.In June, the BCCI had said it would “review” the sponsorship deals concerning the IPL, but did not name any brand. “Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals,” BCCI said in a tweet posted on June 19.According to Vivo would return as IPL’s title sponsor for the 2022 and 2023 editions. It also has reported that the BCCI will issue a tender in the coming days to find a title sponsor for the 2020 IPL season.Two days ago, the BCCI’s formal announcement – signed by secretary Jay Shah – of the IPL being played in the UAE between September 15 and November 10 mentioned Vivo as the title sponsor.The decision is not likely to significantly affect the franchises financially. ESPNcricinfo spoke with several franchises, each of whom said that while the IPL was yet to inform them of the development, they were not fussed at the news. It is understood each franchise gets approximately Rs 20 crore per year from the Vivo contract. As far they are concerned, as long as the BCCI can rope in a replacement for Vivo, this development will not have any impact on them.Vivo had bagged the title sponsorship for two years initially in 2015, and retained the rights signing a five-year contract (2017-22), paying about USD 341 million.

It’s fair to say that without Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United would be completely lost.

The captain is truly the heartbeat of the team, displaying leadership through encouragement and setting an example with his performances.

He’s without doubt been the best signing by the Red Devils since the days of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and this season, he’s continued to impress with 15 goals and 13 assists.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already potentially looking to repeat United’s Fernandes masterclass this summer.

Man Utd’s search for a new defender

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Man United are eyeing a deal to sign Goncalo Inacio.

The Portuguese defender is of interest to plenty of clubs this summer, with both the Red Devils and Liverpool monitoring him.

A centre-back is a position that will see new faces this summer at Old Trafford as they bid to sign at least one.

However, if they’re to acquire the signature of Inacio, it will cost them £51m to activate his release clause.

How Man Utd could repeat their Fernandes masterclass

Man Utd’s relationship with Sporting over the years has enabled them to sign some absolute superstars, including the likes of Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, and, of course, Fernandes.

Just like United’s number eight, if Inacio were to join the Manchester club, he’d be arriving from Sporting, which is a breeding ground for unbelievable talent.

One of the latest gems to have developed at the Portuguese club is Inacio, who’s been excellent since being introduced into the first team.

The 22-year-old was particularly immense last season, making 49 appearances across all competitions and helping Sporting to 13 Liga Portugal clean sheets.

Goals*

3

0

1

Touches

84.7

47

43.5

Passes completed

66.6

37.4

31.4

Pass accuracy

90%

93%

89%

Tackles

1.2

1.1

0.8

Interceptions

1

0.5

0.7

Balls recovered

4.7

3

3

Duels won

4.4

1.9

2

As you can see, Inacio would be a huge addition to the Man United backline, boasting far superior stats to the first-choice pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

It’s clear that the Portugal international is an extremely technical ace who’s comfortable playing out from the back, even under pressure.

He’s also incredibly strong defensively due to his athleticism and ability to read the game, which ensures that his side sustains control for long spells throughout a game, which United weren't able to do last season, as shown by their 50.5% possession on average – the tenth best in the division.

Furthermore, he’s only missed three matches this season because of injury, which proves that he’s a far more reliable option than most of the United backline, who’ve been hit by an injury crisis.

With the number 25 being a left-footed centre-half – a position filled by Martinez – it would be interesting to see how the pair could combine.

Nonetheless, due to his ability to dominate from both an in-possession and out-of-possession perspective, and even in the final third via set pieces, he could potentially have a similar impact on United as Fernandes had four years ago.

Indeed, the signing of Inacio would, without doubt, elevate the United backline. The "complete" defender, as per football scout Jacek Kulig, possesses immense quality already at 22 years of age, and has the potential to develop into an icon at Old Trafford.

Man Utd eyeing "one of the best LBs" to help revive Rashford's career

The Man Utd target has impressed in the Premier League this season.

ByTom Lever Jun 3, 2024

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold says he wants to win trophies and that will be a guiding factor in deciding his future.

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Alexander-Arnold issues warning to LiverpoolContract expires next summerLinked with a move to Real MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Alexander-Arnold will become free to sign a pre-contract with an overseas club on January 1, 2025, as his current deal at Anfield expires next summer. The English full-back has been closely linked with a move to Real Madrid next season as Los Blancos have reportedly come up with a grand plan to bolster their backline.

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Amid speculation over his future, Alexander-Arnold issued something of a warning to Liverpool as he claimed that his desire to win trophies will become an important factor while deciding on his future. The 25-year-old, however, clarified that he does not want to exert any pressure on his boyhood club, where he has spent the last 20 years of his life.

WHAT TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

Speaking to reporters after Liverpool's win over Bournemouth on Saturday, the defender said: "The most important thing is trophies if I’m honest. I want to win trophies. I’m a player who is highly motivated by winning things and being elite. That’s probably the main factor of anything. If you have a personality that’s elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win then that’s what drives them."

He added: "Look, I have been at the club for 20 years now. I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public. This one won’t be either. I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

After a setback against Nottingham Forest, Arne Slot's side came back strongly in the Premier League this weekend as they thrashed Bournemouth 3-0. They will be back in action in midweek as they take on West Ham in a League Cup third-round fixture on Wednesday night.

Sarwan, the assistant coach of the franchise, was granted personal leave to travel home to Guyana

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2020Ramnaresh Sarwan, assistant coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs, has decided to exit the CPL bio-secure bubble in Trinidad ahead of the upcoming season due to personal reasons, as per reports. Vinod Maharaj and Ryan Austin have been named assistants to head coach Floyd Reifer.Michael Hall, CPL Director of Operations, confirmed to that Sarwan was granted personal leave to travel home to Guyana.”Yes, it’s a big loss,” Tallawahs CEO Jeff Miller told . “Sars (Sarwan) brings a lot to the game – his knowledge, his experience and the way he has dealt with the players over the years, so it is a great loss.”We are going to look to move forward. This is a rebuilding year for us, [but] I don’t just want to say rebuilding. We are here to win the tournament. I think we have a great team and the guys are keen and ready to go, and let’s see at the end what happens, but we are definitely looking forward to having a great tournament this year.”Sarwan’s exit comes three months after an acrimonious public feud with former captain Chris Gayle, who alleged Sarwan had played a part in his dismissal from the franchise. Sarwan hit back at Gayle, calling the allegations scandalous. Gayle then moved to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots before eventually pulling out of the season due to personal reasons.”That [dispute] is behind us,” Miller said. “We have 12 new players on our franchise this year from last year, so there is no baggage from last year. We are focused this year and the guys are focused on CPL, not what happened in the past.”

Real Madrid youngster Endrick has hit back at his team's critics after their shock defeat to Lille in the Champions League.

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Endrick made first start vs LilleTeenager underwhelmed in Champions LeagueSays he doesn't care about criticismFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A first-half penalty from Jonathan David saw the French side seal a 1-0 victory against the reigning European champions on Wednesday. The likes of Endrick, making his first start for Madrid, and Vinicius Junior disappointed in their first defeat in all competitions this season.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 18-year-old, who was booked in the game, has already caught some criticism since making the move to Madrid from Palmeiras due to some of his on-field decisions, but he is not concerned about the reaction his team's latest performance attracts.

WHAT ENDRICK SAID

He told in Brazil: "To be honest, I don't see anything. That's what football is; you can score a goal today, and everyone is excited, but when you lose, they throw you down. This happened to me, a long time ago, when I was at Palmeiras. I learned not to see. I press that little 'it doesn't matter' button. I only follow the advice of my coach and my team-mates. That's what's important. What comes from outside, I don't care at all."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

After drawing with Atletico Madrid and losing to Lille, Carlo Ancelotti's side will take on Villarreal on Saturday, and Endrick will hope to be given another place in the starting XI.

Manchester City are ready to cash in on one of their stars this summer as they look to rebuild ahead of the new Premier League season, it has been claimed.

Change incoming at the Etihad

Perhaps spearheaded by the news that this season could be Pep Guardiola's last at the club, it appears there could be significantly more change at Manchester City this summer than in previous years.

Kevin de Bruyne continues to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as he enters the final year of his contract at the club, and has recently claimed that "you have to be open to everything" at his age.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland refused to commit long-term to Manchester City when asked about his own future, explaining that "I've had two fantastic years, and have three years left. That's really all I can say” when asked about a contract extension.

On top of that, recent reports have even linked backup striker Julian Alvarez with a move away from Manchester, with the Argentine looking to become a first-choice option somewhere and the Etihad unlikely to be that place amid interest from Atletico Madrid and PSG.

Man City chase "extraordinary" £205k-p/w star as potential Grealish upgrade

The Cityzens are keen to strengthen their ranks this summer.

ByBen Browning May 31, 2024

There is also the yearly will-they, won't they over Bernardo Silva and Barcelona, with the former having a £50m release clause and the latter having no money with which to activate it as things stand. On the bench, there have been reports of Jack Grealish and John Stones both being unhappy, while Kalvin Phillips may well be sold. But the concerns don't stop there.

Man City will accept £40m+ bid for Ederson

Now, it has emerged that City are braced for bids for goalkeeper Ederson, and will even accept offers if the price is right. The Brazilian cut a frustrated figure when substituted with a head injury against Tottenham, forcing him to miss the FA Cup final and the final game of the Premier League season.

He has since been linked with a shock move to Saudi Arabia this summer. Ederson is entering the final two years of his £100,000 a week deal at the Etihad, and though he has been an excellent servant to the club they will not want to risk losing him for free.

Guardiola likely won't want to lose him at all, dubbing him "exceptional" en route to the Champions League win in 2023.

"In this type of game in this type of competition – semi-finals and finals – you need your best players. Ederson and Kyle Walker were exceptional. In general, everyone was really good", Guardiola explained.

Ederson's save percentage and goals prevented (last five seasons)

Save %

Goals prevented

2019-20

73.7%

2.6

2020-21

77.4%

1.6

2021-22

69.9%

-0.3

2022-23

62.3%

-4.8

2023-24

70.7%

1.2

Meanwhile, Joleon Lescott claimed he will go down as an all-time great who offers a 'unique' take on goalkeeping.

"I don't think the number of Premier League titles alone determines whether you are the best but when all is said and done, I think he will go down as a great", the former Man City defender claimed.

"The way the modern game is played, I think he is unique in his ability, in possession and his calmness."

As per Football Insider, City are "seriously considering selling" the goalkeeper, and "would accept a bid in excess of £40million" should it arrive, which would represent a profit for the Brazilian. Should a bid of that size arrive, it could be from Saudi Arabia, which may see Ederson play out the final years of his career alongside former teammates Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte.

Reserve day in place, but weather no better on Sunday as damp squib unfolds at Edgbaston

Matt Roller03-Oct-2020How the day (didn’t) unfold – live drip-by-drip commentary from EdgbastonThe ECB have added an additional reserve day for T20 Blast Finals Day, after a washout on Saturday and with the weather forecast threatening to force a bowl-out in the Edgbaston indoor school on Sunday.After persistent rain in Birmingham, umpires Mike Burns and Alex Wharf pulled the plug at 6pm with all four semi-finalists practising for bowl-outs at the end of indoor training sessions on Saturday. But after a meeting between the four teams, the ECB board, Edgbaston and broadcasters, it was decided that Wednesday, October 7 would be earmarked as an additional reserve day.The weather forecast for Sunday suggests that it may be possible to play all three games in the afternoon – admittedly with a significant reduction in the number of overs – and the reserve day will only be used if it is impossible to complete the first semi-final. If the first semi-final is completed, then the threat of a bowl-out in the second semi and the final will continue to loom, with the ECB still hoping to finish the competition on one day.”We will do everything possible to play three matches tomorrow, each of a minimum of five overs per innings, to complete the competition,” an ECB statement read. “We are committed to trying to ensure that the competition is completed on-field. As such, if we are unable to complete the first semi-final, Finals Day will be re-scheduled for October 7 at Edgbaston for which there will be no reserve day.”This is the first time that Finals Day has been a total washout, and there is some consolation in the fact it happened in the first year that this day has been staged without fans. Once a mid-summer frolic, Finals Day has been pushed further and further back in the calendar in the last four years, with last year’s staged in the final week of September.The ECB rightly pushed the date into October in the hope that fans would be able to attend, but with Covid-19 cases on the rise and the government’s return-to-stadia plans scrapped, the result of a well-intentioned decision was this: the dampest of squibs, without so much as a beer snake or a conga to liven things up.ESPNcricinfo LtdThere had been a genuine fear that the semi-finals and final would all be decided indoors via three bowl-outs, and the prospect is still on the table if the rain returns soon after Surrey’s game against Gloucestershire tomorrow.The format is relatively simple: five players are nominated from each side, with any player registered by their county eligible to compete (unless the match has already started). They each take two turns at hitting a set of stumps, with the team that does so more being declared winners, with sudden death to follow in the event of a tie.Two bowl-outs have been staged previously in the Blast – or the Twenty20 Cup, as it was then – with both coming at the quarter-final stage: in 2005, Tim Murtagh famously wheeled away whirling his shirt round his head as Surrey shaded Warwickshire after a tie in the days before Super Overs, and four years later Somerset beat Lancashire 5-1 following two days of rain.It is a relief that the competition is likely to be played to its conclusion on the field, even if games are reduced by rain. For Gloucestershire, who last reached this stage in 2007 and whose squad are all Finals Day debutants, it would have been a particularly cruel exit to lose by virtue of hitting the stumps fewer times than their opponents, and while there is an element of randomness in shortened games, they at least resemble a proper match in a way that bowl-outs do not.ALSO READ: Futility rains as Edgbaston prepares for the Longest Weekend”We’re hopeful to get something in,” said Jack Taylor, Gloucestershire’s captain. “We’ve been pretty chilled out, watching the IPL and playing cards. We’re going to be ready whether it’s for 20 overs, 10, 5 or a bowl-out. Hopefully we’ll get as long a game in as possible. We haven’t been here for 13 years so it would have been nice to get a full day in but you can’t control the weather.”Saturday was a long, drab day in which there was never any realistic prospect of cricket being played. There were vague signs of promise when the mascots – wearing facemasks over their novelty heads – declared it dry enough to sit out in the stands, and when the rain briefly relented at lunchtime a smattering of groundstaff came out to start the most daunting of clean-up operations. But there was almost no activity on the covers from then onwards as the rain persisted, and it was an act of mercy when play was eventually abandoned.

Chelsea are now open to selling a 2023 summer signing just under one year after he put pen to paper on a move to Stamford Bridge, as the west Londoners look to trim their bloated squad as well as acquire upgrades.

Players who could be sold by Chelsea this summer

Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher, Malang Sarr, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson and Conor Gallagher have all been linked with the Chelsea exit door already, with Enzo Maresca looking to make room for key new additions.

Chelsea express desire to sign £102 million forward as exit wish confirmed

His agent’s comments have caused a firestorm.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2024

Gallagher is set to be the most headline-grabbing name of the aforementioned group, especially given his importance under Mauricio Pochettino last season. The 24-year-old, who was rewarded for his fine form with a place in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 England squad, became a Chelsea mainstay and supporters are keen not to see the boyhood supporter depart.

His contract expires next year, though, and with no extension in sight, Chelsea may have to make the ruthless business decision of finding a buyer for him this summer – or risk seeing him leave for nothing in 2025.

The likes of Lukaku, Broja, Maatsen, Sarr and Arrizabalaga appear out of favour at the club, so decisions on their futures will be much easier, but there are reports that Chelsea are open to offers for Chalobah despite the Englishman's re-emergence at the end of last season.

Pretty soon, a few of these players could join Thiago Silva in leaving Chelsea in the coming weeks, and it is believed that 2023 arrivals are not excluded from the chopping block. There have been suggestions that Chelsea want to attract bids for David Datro Fofana, who only joined last January from Molde.

Chelsea apparently don't need to sell players by June 30 of this year to avoid PSR sanctions, but they do need to sell in preparation for the June 30 deadline next year.

Moises Caicedo

£115 million

Enzo Fernandez

£107 million

Mykhalo Mudryk

£88 million

Wesley Fofana

£72 million

Marc Cucurella

£58 million

“We’re likely to see departures at Chelsea this summer, particularly with the players who are currently out on loan," said Fabrizio Romano to GiveMeSport.

“As previously reported, the plan is for Armando Broja to be sold once he comes back from his loan at Fulham, and Hakim Ziyech can already be considered to have played his last game for Chelsea.

“I also expect Romelu Lukaku and Ian Maatsen to leave Chelsea, but for the others, we have to wait and see what happens.”

Chelsea open to selling Lesley Ugochukwu

Now, alongside the likes of Fofana, it is believed midfielder Lesley Ugochuwku is being nominated for the transfer list.

The 20-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Rennes last summer and signed a seven-year contract, made 12 Premier League appearances last term. The Blues could send him out on a temporary deal to accumulate more game time, but journalist Simon Phillips also claims Chelsea are open to completely selling Ugochukwu for the right offer.

Less than 12 months into his long-term deal, it would be an unceremonious end for the Frenchman, especially after praise from Chelsea chiefs last year. Pochettino called Ugochukwu a "talented" player, while co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley called him "impressive" (via The Metro).