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Ghosh struck a quick 86 as India declared their first innings on 603 for 6

Srinidhi Ramanujam29-Jun-2024

Marizanne Kapp scored a fighting half-century•BCCI

South Africa showed great fight to reach 236 for 4 on the second day of the one-off Test in Chennai after India declared their first innings at a record 603 for 6. At stumps, the visitors were still 367 runs behind. But on a pitch where Indians bowlers were able to extract sharp turn and bounce from the second session of the day, Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, with their half-centuries and a 93-run stand for the third wicket, displayed commendable resilience and technique.After a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series and conceding 525 on the first day of the Test, South Africa did not let India dent their confidence on Saturday.Related

Stats – India become first team to breach 600 mark in women's Tests

After India declared their innings in the morning, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch looked composed in the six overs before lunch, with the captain punishing a half-tracker from Sneh Rana and an overpitched delivery from Pooja Vastrakar for four. This was before Wolvaardt struck a confident drive through mid-off in the first over of the innings by Renuka Singh.However, Rana – who got the ball to spin more than any other spinner – got the first breakthrough in the eighth over when she bowled one rare short ball. But it kept low and Wolvaardt completely missed her pull to be trapped lbw. Bosch and Luus stayed on for the next 23 overs, stitching 63 runs. However, Bosch, who hit four fours and a six, fell a few overs before tea. Rana was at it once again. After the previous ball spun sharply, Rana bowled one full outside off. Anticipating the turn, Bosch leaned forward and nicked it to Deepti Sharma at slip.Richa Ghosh took just 54 balls to bring up her half-century•BCCI

At 96 for 2, South Africa found stability via Kapp and Luus who blended caution with aggression. Luus respected the good deliveries, scoring almost equally on the off and leg side. In all, she scored 65 off 164 balls that included six fours and one six over long-on against Rana.The duo put on 93 before Deepti broke the stand when she beat Luus’ inside edge and trapped her lbw. Luus reviewed the on-field decision but it was in vain. Delmi Tucker became Rana’s third victim when Richa Ghosh took a sharp catch to dismiss her for an eight-ball duck.Kapp, like Luus, played more off the back foot and scored predominantly on the off side, with seven of her eight fours coming in that area. She reached 50 off 87 balls and remained unbeaten on 69 off 125 at stumps. She fought cramps and a stiff back towards the end of the final session, but didn’t throw her wicket away.Once Tucker departed, Nadine de Klerk joined Kapp with the pair stitching an unbroken 38-run stand off 56 balls. De Klerk showed good intent in the final hour and hit five fours in her unbeaten 27 off 28 balls.Earlier, Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur started sedately but soon converted their starts into half-centuries. The pair stretched their stand to 143 runs. Harmanpreet made 69 off 115 balls before being dismissed in the 15th over of the day when fast bowler Tumi Sekhukhune trapped her in front to leave India at 593 for 5.Ghosh hit seven more boundaries on Saturday, 16 in all, her 90-ball innings, using her strong wrists to good use to play powerful cut shots. She fell for her career-best 86 when she missed a sweep off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and was lbw.

We’re now just a week away from the start of Celtic’s pre-season fixtures.

Next Friday night, Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops will make the short three-mile journey to Glasgow’s south side to take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden, having demolished the Spiders 6-4 in a friendly almost exactly 12 months ago.

After that, Celtic to Cork, Lisbon, the north of England and then face Ajax and either Al-Ahli or the hosts at the Como Cup.

So, just how many new signings will the Parkhead masses have the opportunity to cast their gaze at during these fixtures?

Celtic's star attacker set to depart

Both returning hero Kieran Tierney and new third-choice goalkeeper Ross Doohan have already signed for Celtic this summer, with deals for Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren close to being finalised too.

However, due to Celtic’s position in the global football food chain, they’re always in danger of losing a star player, and this summer is no different.

As has been widely reported by Josh McCafferty of the National and elsewhere, RB Leipzig have ‘intensified their interest’ in Nicolas Kühn, who is supposedly available for around £15m.

Well, now, according to Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Como have ‘made an approach’ as they target a move for Kühn.

I Lariani finished tenth in Serie A last season under Cesc Fàbregas, their first top-flight campaign since 2002/03, but are not your ordinary newly-promoted club, given that they are owned by the Djarum Group, making them the wealthiest club in Italy, as noted by James Horncastle of the Athletic.

So, potentially creating a bidding war could be good news for Celtic, as they seek to drive up the price for, what is set to be, one of their biggest sales of all-time.

Regardless, it appears very likely that Kühn will be sold in the coming weeks, so has Rodgers identified a potential replacement?

Who Celtic should sign to replace Kühn

As reported by Glasgow World, Aston Villa are open to selling youngster Louie Barry, to ease their ongoing concerns about breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.

Thus, they add that Celtic are ‘weighing up a potential offer’ for the 22-year-old, given their long-standing interest in Barry, who they have been ‘keeping close tabs on’. Previous reports have suggested he could be available in and around the £12m mark.

Barry first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy in 2019, before returning to England a year later, signing for Aston Villa for a reported £880,000.

He’s since been loaned out no less than seven times, making the biggest impression at Stockport County, scoring 24 goals in 43 league appearances for the club, with Sam Byrne of the Manchester Evening News describing his performances for the Hatters as “absolutely electric”, adding he “captured the imagination” of all supporters.

So, let’s assess his senior career statistics so far.

Louie Barry season-by-season statistics

Season

Tier

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25*

Championship

4

0

0

2024/25*

League One

24

16

3

2023/24

League Two

22

9

4

2022/23**

League Two

21

2

1

2022/23**

League One

32

1

3

2021/22

League Two

16

6

1

*moved to Hull City in January 2025.

**moved to Salford City in January 2023.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, Barry very much burst onto the scene at Stockport this season, scoring 16 goals in just half a campaign, before moving to Hull in the EFL Championship, featuring just four times for the Tigers before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘highly-rated prospect’, while Mick Brown of Football Insider believes that Barry is ready to take the next step in his career and make a permanent move away from Villa.

Barry can be deployed centrally or on either flank, a position that Celtic might have vacancy to fill in the coming weeks, thus making him an ideal replacement for Kuhn.

The young attacker is certainly an extremely talented player, so the Hoops should do all they can to secure his signature, especially if they can do so at a reduced rate, with Villa needing to raise funds and fast.

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Posts ByBen Gray Jun 26, 2025

Manchester United will quickly want to forget the 2024/25 campaign with the club registering their worst ever Premier League finish and points tally – ending the year on a measly 42 points.

Ruben Amorim took the reins back in November, but he was unable to transform their fortunes, with this summer vital if he is to be a success at Old Trafford.

The January window was his first opportunity to make the changes he desired to the squad, but ultimately it wasn’t long enough to make the wholesale transfers needed.

However, work has already commenced this summer to make key additions, with attacker Matheus Cunha the first player to make the move, joining in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If they are to push up the table and return to any form of European football at the end of 2025/26, more signings are needed across the board, with work already being conducted behind the scenes.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new striker

Over recent days, United have been pushing hard to try and land the signature of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, looking to secure a reunion between the forward and the Red Devils boss.

However, it was confirmed that the Swede is only interested in a move to Arsenal this summer, with the hierarchy desperately needing to pursue other options before the end of the summer.

It appears as though Jason Wilcox has wasted no time, already making a move to land Eintracht Frankfurt’s talisman, Hugo Ekitiké, according to Foot Mercato.

The report claims that United are leading the race for the 22-year-old striker, who also has interest from Liverpool and Chelsea after netting 22 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that they have commenced talks, overtaking the other English sides in the race for his signature, but any deal could set the hierarchy back €100m (£84m) during the off-season.

Why Ekitike could be United’s answer to Kane

Harry Kane has been a striker who has been a thorn in United’s side over the years, often producing the goods against them and stopping them from success.

The England international has scored 213 goals in England’s top flight throughout his career, before making the switch to Bayern Munich back in the summer of 2023.

Despite departing for Germany, the 31-year-old has still managed to haunt the Red Devils, scoring against them in the Champions League, registering 11 combined goals and assists in his 21 outings against the club.

It’s safe to say United have been lacking such a goalscoring presence over the last couple of seasons, but that could be about to change with the signing of Ekitike this summer.

The Frenchman has been labelled as a similar player to Kane by FBref, with the Frankfurt star matching or bettering him in numerous key areas – showcasing why he would be an excellent addition despite the mammoth price tag.

Ekitike, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but he’s managed to post a higher goal per shot on target rate – subsequently demonstrating his edge in front of goal.

He’s also managed to complete more take-ons and carries into the final third, highlighting the threat he poses when getting at the opposition with the ball at his feet.

Most combined goals & assists in the Bundesliga (2024/25)

Player

Team

Games

G&A

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

31

34

Michael Olise

Bayern Munich

34

27

Omar Marmoush

Eintracht Frankfurt

17

24

Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt

33

23

Serhou Guirassy

Borussia Dortmund

30

23

Tim Kleindienst

Borussia Mönchengladbach

31

23

Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen

31

22

Stats via FotMob

The former PSG star has also come out on top in more aerial battles this campaign, offering Amorim the focal point that he’s craved since taking the reins back in the winter.

Whilst £84m may appear to be a small fortune for a player who’s never played in the Premier League, it presents a fresh opportunity to land a star that could take them to the next level.

Should he get close to the levels produced by Kane in England’s top flight, it would be an excellent pick-up, with his skillset certainly pushing the club back in the right direction.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls Jun 15, 2025

Leeds United are tooling up for a return to the Premier League and could now be closer to making their first signing of the summer window, according to reports.

Leeds United look towards Premier League comeback

Following playoff heartbreak against Southampton, Daniel Farke finally led his side to the Championship title this time around and will now focus on navigating the challenges top-flight football has to offer.

The Whites could have a transfer budget of over £100 million to play with this summer, which may go a long way to securing the survival that the 48-year-old craves in charge at Elland Road.

Ipswich Town act as an example that capital spent doesn’t necessarily guarantee a sustained place among England’s footballing elite, but there are valuable lessons to learn from promoted sides’ ill-fortune over the past few years.

Looking to buck that trend, Leeds are eyeing a statement move for former star Kalvin Phillips and have held internal talks to hatch a plan that could tempt him back to Yorkshire from Manchester City.

Evan Ferguson is another potential Whites signing with Premier League credentials that could thrive in the correct surroundings. Admittedly, he has stalled since his injury troubles, though his age may work in his favour if a deal were to be agreed.

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Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson Jun 1, 2025

Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy have been mentioned as free agent options to bolster Farke’s frontline. Again, any possibility of a swoop would depend on whether they would fit the wage bracket at Elland Road.

Focusing on the foil behind the main men, Leeds and the 49ers have now stepped up their pursuit of a talented attacking midfielder to support their pool of centre-forward options.

Leeds United hold talks over Emiliano Buendia move

According to TBR’s Graeme Bailey, Leeds have now held talks to sign Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia. Having spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, the former Norwich City man is “open” to a move to Yorkshire and is someone who Farke trusts as his side look to retain their Premier League status.

Five most similar players to Emiliano Buendia (FBRef)

Eliesse Ben Seghir

Monaco

Enzo Millot

Stuttgart

Facundo Buonanotte

Leicester City

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Xavi Simons

RB Leipzig

Labelled “delightful” by Dean Smith, Buendia registered five goals in 34 appearances across all competitions at his parent club and in Germany, though it is clear he needs to find a platform to gain regular minutes after a series of injury troubles.

Now, it remains to be seen if Leeds can pull off what would be regarded as a bit of a coup should they come to an agreement on a deal with the 28-year-old.

Buendia was regarded as one of the Premier League’s most talented stars outside the ‘Big Six’ not too long ago, so there is every chance Farke could reignite the Mar del Plata-born man.

Earlier this week, the Whites were said to be preparing a £16.8 million offer for the man in question, indicating there could be something in the water.

Manchester United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight in the Premier League, entering the penultimate game of what has been a dismal year in England’s top-flight.

Ruben Amorim’s side will want to end the campaign on a high after their disappointment across the board, but all focus will undoubtedly be on the Europa League final.

The Red Devils face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday evening, with players wanting to save themselves and prevent injury ahead of the vital clash.

However, players will still want to impress against Enzo Maresca’s side, potentially landing themselves a start against Spurs and having the opportunity to make themselves a hero and end the season on a high.

It will hand the boss a chance to assess his squad, but he should drop one player for the clash in West London tonight, after what has been a below-par year at Old Trafford.

Why Amorim needs to drop Hojlund against Chelsea

Striker Rasmus Hojlund had huge hopes of being a success at United following his £72m move from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023 – but it’s safe to say his time at the club has been a disaster.

The Danish international has often been the Red Devils’ main talisman this campaign, but has failed to deliver, netting just four league goals in his 30 appearances.

The 22-year-old even went 21 games without a goal across all competitions earlier this campaign, highlighting his lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

His all-round play has been just as disappointing, completing an average of just 11 passes per game, unable to offer the side the link-up play needed for success within the final third.

Such a record has led to numerous links to other attackers all across Europe, with the manager needing to experiment with multiple other options against Chelsea to evaluate his side further ahead of the summer.

The United star who Amorim should start in a new role

Over the course of 2024/25, Amorim has experimented with multiple options at the top end of the pitch in an attempt to combat their issues in the final third.

Centre-back Harry Maguire has often been called upon to operate as a makeshift centre-forward this campaign, most notably against Nottingham Forest, where he had an effort cleared off the line.

He’s not been the only player to operate out of position, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo operating in such a role during the defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

However, he could continue in such vein, by utilising Amad Diallo as a centre-forward, adding yet another position to his resume this season after switching since Amorim’s appointment.

The Ivorian has operated at wing-back and attacking midfield, starring in both positions and being one of the club’s most effective players, given his tally of 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

However, his ankle injury has derailed his progress, needing vital minutes before the Europa League final to hand himself the best chance of swinging the game in their favour.

Amad, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former teammate Scott Arfield, has registered 2.3 shots per 90 – undoubtedly aiding his excellent tallies, making him a superb option at the top end.

Amad Diallo’s stats for United in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

24

Goals & assists

13

Pass accuracy

86%

Shots taken

2.6

Chances created

2.4

Successful dribbles

2.1

Touches in opposition box

7.2

Stats via FotMob

He’s also completed 86% of the passes he’s attempted, and whilst creating 2.4 chances per 90 – handing the other players around him the opportunity to thrive at the Bridge.

It may seem a bold call to utilise the 22-year-old in such a role, but given the lack of impact from other players in the department this campaign, it could be another masterstroke from the boss.

Ultimately, attention will be fully on next week’s European final, but it presents another chance for the youngster to get minutes under his belt, possibly registering a positive end to what’s been a year to forget for the Red Devils.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025

Arsenal have now identified an “unbelievable” player as their number one target on the left-wing, and there is a belief he would be the ideal addition to the squad, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new winger

Gabriel Martinelli has shown some promising signs in the second half of the campaign, most recently scoring in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but the Gunners appear to be increasingly keen on bringing in competition for the Brazilian.

Most recently, the north Londoners started work on a move for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, with sporting director Andrea Berta personally identifying the Portugal international as a transfer target, although the £85m asking price could be an obstacle.

Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, who is yet to sign a new contract to extend his stay in the Bundesliga, has also emerged as an option for Mikel Arteta’s side, with the German’s agent keen for his client to move to the Emirates Stadium.

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Posts ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025

However, according to a report from The Daily Mail, a different winger is Arsenal’s number one target for the summer transfer window, namely Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, with the Spaniard viewed as the ideal option to compete for Martinelli’s starting spot.

Leandro Trossard is currently exploring a move to the Saudi Pro League, which may exacerbate the need for the Gunners to bring in a new winger, and Williams is their top target to provide competition for Martinelli, who has been inconsistent this season.

Chelsea are also interested in the left-winger, however, which could complicate a deal, with Leao and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens being identified as potential alternative targets for Arteta’s side, should they miss out on the Athletic Club star.

"Unbelievable" Williams could be "ideal" for Arteta

Amid previous links with the Spain international, Arsenal-supporting scout Ben Mattinson claimed the forward could be “ideal” for Arteta, given his ability to play on both flanks and drive at opposition defences.

The left-winger also caught the eye during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, with BBC broadcaster John Bennett singling him out for high praise.

Having impressed for his national side last summer, the 22-year-old is currently enjoying an impressive campaign in La Liga, with five goals and five assists to his name, while also providing seven goal contributions in the Europa League.

It is clear that Arteta needs to bring in competition for Martinelli this summer, and Williams’ performances this season more than justify an outlay of £48m.

Arsenal are ready to fork out the asking price for a star transfer target after loosely agreeing contract terms with him, according to reports, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta now set to put full focus into the summer window after the Gunners’ Champions League defeat.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a comfortable 3-0 lead on aggregate last night, comfortably ending the semi-final tie before Arsenal star Bukayo Saka grabbed a consolation, even if the Englishman gave Arteta’s side brief hope of an unlikely comeback.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

The north Londoners’ dismantling of Real Madrid in the last round gave many supporters real optimism Arsenal could win their first ever Champions League title, but they are now set to end 2024/2025 trophyless after Liverpool also cruised to the Premier League title.

Some questions are even being asked of Arteta, with Arsenal boasting just one trophy since the Spaniard took charge, despite registering a net spend of around £500 million on transfers in that period.

In any case, Pep Guardiola’s former understudy has also guided them from the fringes of a top six place to genuine title contenders, and they were desperately unlucky not to win the Premier League last season after accumulating nearly 90 points.

It is now back to the drawing board for Arteta, who has a fresh weapon at his disposal in the form of new sporting director Berta, who is set to back the Arsenal boss this summer in an anticipated summer rebuild.

Arsenal are expected to finally sign a proven goalscorer when the window reopens, and they’ve been repeatedly linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

A report from Football Transfers earlier this week claimed that Arsenal are “edging closer to finalising a deal” for Gyokeres, with both the Swede and Arteta’s side “aligned” on the contract package he would receive.

With personal terms said to be loosely agreed, the main obstacle between Arsenal and the 26-year-old’s signature is Sporting.

Arsenal "ready to pay Sporting's asking price" for Viktor Gyokeres

While further meetings and talks are required to shake hands on a club-to-club deal, Football Transfers have now shared another update on Arsenal’s ambitions for the ex-Coventry City star.

The outlet reports that Arsenal are “ready to pay Sporting’s asking price” for Gyokeres, but they don’t state exactly what the Primeira Liga side would demand.

Other media sources, like Fabrizio Romano, claim the package could be somewhere in and around £60 million, while Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that the demand for Gyokeres’ signature may skyrocket his price to near the £85 million release clause in his contract.

While discrepancies surround the requirements to sign Gyokeres this summer, Arsenal appear very serious about striking a deal for the striker who’s scored a truly exceptional 52 goals in 49 appearances this season.

Described as a “phenomenon” by Sporting boss Rui Borges, it appears inevitable the forward will depart Portugal very soon.

Sheffield United’s automatic promotion dream is now over with Burnley and Leeds United confirmed as Premier League-bound on a disappointing Easter Monday for the Blades.

Earlier in the day, before United’s pivotal showdown with the Clarets, Leeds resoundingly thumped Stoke City 6-0 in the Championship, with Daniel Farke and Co then needing Chris Wilder’s men to slip up and lose to seal a return to the top-flight.

Their wish would come true to the dismay of the away side at Turf Moor, with their pain only intensified when you consider the hosts also clinched a dramatic passage back up to the top-flight when beating the visitors 2-1.

Anel Ahmedhodzic suffered from a rare off-day in Lancashire, with his clumsiness right before the half-time whistle gifting Josh Brownhill the decisive spot-kick that sent the Clarets up a league.

Ahmedhodzic's off-day at Turf Moor

Ultimately, United’s dismal run of four losses from their last five Championship outings has cost them the glory of automatic promotion, but the Bosnian brute certainly didn’t help matters when putting in a rare bad performance.

The number 15 was definitely fired up for the crunch contest, but it resulted in his overall game looking rash and hot-headed rather than focused, culminating in him clattering into Hannibal Mejbri to gift the home side a golden penalty.

Brownhill would calmly tuck away the opportunity to juxtapose Ahmedhodzic’s reckless approach, with the out-of-sorts 26-year-old going on to commit four fouls in total, on top of uncharacteristically winning just 33% of his duels.

Wilder will need his usually reliable colossus to be more switched on ahead of some huge playoff clashes to come, but whilst Ahmedhodzic did cost his team dear, there was one underperformer for the Blades who was just as bad as the defender in offering very little throughout.

The Blades dud who was just as bad as Ahmedhodzic

It was always going to be a tough ask for the Blades to get the better of a dogged Burnley side, considering the stern hosts have only shipped 15 strikes all season long.

Tom Cannon did manage to break his goalscoring duck at Turf Moor to raise a smile, but it was the efforts of Ben Brereton Diaz down the right wing that would have worried away spectators, irrespective of the ex-Leicester City man managing to salvage some personal pride.

Brereton Diaz’s performance in numbers

Stat

Ben Brereton Diaz

Minutes played

60

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

16

Shots on target

0

Accurate passes

5/9 (56%)

Total duels won

0/4

Stats by Sofascore

The numbers from the table above do make for some dire reading, with the Chilean only managing a meagre 15 touches of the ball from his forgettable 60-minute stint.

On top of that, Brereton Diaz also failed to register a single on-target effort at James Trafford’s formidable goal, alongside only managing to muster up a weak five passes of the ball that found their intended target.

Whilst Ahmedhodzic was notably poor, he did manage to at least win three of his duels during the contest, with Brereton Diaz then unsurprisingly hooked off by Wilder for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to gain a run-out.

After all, Rak-Sakyi had at least bagged in United’s last away contest before this miserable outing to Lancashire, with his late efforts at Turf Moor seeing him conjure up one successful dribble among other promising moments.

If the Blades are to bounce back from this agonising promotion near-miss, Wilder could now have to axe Brereton Diaz from his forthcoming lineups, knowing full well that lethal displays are needed in the lottery of the playoffs.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have built a talented first-team squad, with many of the stars being young stars who have the chance to develop at the Emirates.

In their 3-0 triumph over European giants Real Madrid last week, the Gunners’ starting eleven had an average age of just 25, with the hierarchy placing a real impetus on developing young stars.

Bukayo Saka is arguably the club’s most high-profile talent, but even the England international is still classed as a youngster at the tender age of just 23.

The winger has already racked up over 250 appearances for his boyhood side, highlighting the rapid progress the academy graduate has made since emerging through the ranks in North London.

He could be joined by several other young talents this summer, as Arteta looks to strengthen his side ahead of a Premier League title challenge once again in 2025/26.

Arsenal’s pursuit to land young stars this summer

Over the last few weeks, new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted no time in targeting reinforcements to bolster the Arsenal squad next season.

He’s immediately sought-after Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, with the Spaniard reemerging on the club’s shortlist after being a prime target in previous transfer windows.

The 22-year-old has a £50m release clause in his current deal with the LaLiga outfit, but could face stiff competition from Barcelona for his signature in the coming months.

Other young talents such as Benjamin Sesko and Jules Koundé have also been largely linked with a transfer to the Emirates, but another name has emerged on the club’s shortlist over the last few days.

Brazilian journalist Lucas Tanaka confirmed that the Gunners are preparing an offer in the region of £12m for Atlético Mineiro’s 15-year-old star Gabriel Veneno ahead of the summer window.

He reported that Arteta’s side have been monitoring his progress in recent months and are interested in landing the gem who could become a bigger star than two youngsters already plying their trade in North London.

Why Veneno could become a bigger talent than MLS & Nwaneri

Whilst the injury situation at Arsenal has derailed their title ambitions in 2024/25, it has allowed for the emergence of youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in recent months.

The former has managed to notch 30 appearances across all competitions during his breakthrough year, scoring his only effort against rivals Manchester City back in February.

His subsequent form led to a maiden England call-up during the last international break, scoring on his debut against Albania, topping off his remarkable rise since his senior debut.

As for Nwaneri, he’s made 32 appearances for Arteta’s side, scoring eight times and registering two assists – a truly incredible feat for an 18-year-old during his first full season as a professional.

Both have worked their way into the manager’s plans, undoubtedly having a huge part to play in any future success in the years ahead at the Emirates.

They could be joined in such a quest by right-winger Veneno, who’s managed to capture huge attention in his homeland, being a regular in the Brazil U16 setup in recent months.

Many analysts have delivered their opinion on the talented teenager, with Ben Mattinson singing his praises, comparing the star to Manchester City’s Savinho.

Over the years, countless Brazilian stars have succeeded, none more so than Neymar and Vinícius Júnior – who have both won everything in Europe with Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.

If the “skilful” Veneno – as noted above – gets anywhere close to the levels produced by the aforementioned pair, he would be an absolute bargain, having a huge part to play in any success at the Emirates for many years to come.

Who is Arsenal target Gabriel Veneno?

Category

Stats

Full name:

John Gabriel Castro Santos

Date of Birth:

16/07/2009 (15)

Nationality:

Brazilian

Position:

RW/CAM

Preferred foot:

Left

Professional appearances:

1

Minutes played:

35

Current club:

Atlético Mineiro

Stats via ZeroZero

He’s caught the eye back in South America with his 1v1 ability, leading to Matttinson claiming he “plays like it’s FIFA Street”, having the pace and agility to glide past the opposition, adding another dimension to the club’s already star-studded attack.

Veneno will need time to develop and reach his full potential given his tender age, but should he move, he could learn from Saka – arguably one of the best right-wingers in Europe – which could see him surpass the levels achieved by Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.

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Chelsea have now made contact to ask for information about a “world-class” player, ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, according to a report.

Blues pushing for Champions League

Despite the drab 0-0 draw against Brentford at the weekend, the Blues remain in a strong position to end their two-year hiatus from the Champions League, sitting fourth in the Premier League table with just seven games left to play.

Should Enzo Maresca achieve his aim of Champions League qualification, the campaign will probably go down as a success, but there are still issues the manager will need to address in the summer transfer window.

One problem position has been goalkeeper, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen being used interchangeably, and there have been suggestions Maresca could bring Djordje Petrovic back into the fold next season.

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Petrovic has impressed on loan at Strasbourg, meaning he could also be given another chance at Stamford Bridge. Nonetheless, the option of bringing in a new goalkeeper from elsewhere remains on the table.

According to a report from Italy (via Chelsea Chronicle), Chelsea have now asked for information about AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.

Aston Villa and Manchester United have also been named as potential suitors for Maignan, whose future at the San Siro remains up in the air, given that he is yet to sign a new deal to extend his stay with the Italian club.

Reports have valued the goalkeeper at £67m, but there is a feeling he could be available for half that price, should he refuse to put pen to paper on a new deal, with his contract currently set to expire in 2026.

"World-class" Maignan could be real upgrade on Sanchez

Sanchez has been extremely error-prone for the Blues this season, making five mistakes which have directly led to goals in the Premier League, the joint-highest number of any player in the top flight.

As such, it is little wonder Chelsea are thinking about signing a replacement in the summer window, and there are indications Maignan could be a real upgrade on the Spaniard, considering he has been lauded as “world-class” by members of the Italian media.

Not only that, but the Frenchman could be well-suited to Maresca’s passing style of play, given that he has expressed a willingness to get on the ball over the past year, ranking in the 80th percentile for touches, when compared to his positional peers.

It is clear that Sanchez will need to be replaced this summer, and Maignan has proven he could be a solid replacement, although it may make more financial sense to give the nod to Petrovic, who has put in some very impressive displays in Ligue 1 this season.