Man City Leading Transfer Chase For Arsenal’s English Talent

Man City are leading Chelsea in the race to sign Ethan Nwaneri on a deal from Arsenal according to Football Insider.

What is the latest on Ethan Nwaneri to Man City?

Pep Guardiola's side already have a talented squad, as proven by the side once again leading the division. If City can top the table this season and claim the title, it will be their seventh Premier League crown.

Part of the reason for their success is their manager's ability to bring through his side's younger talents and to coach more established players to be even better. Phil Foden is the most notable example at the Etihad Stadium, with the England international managing 16 goal contributions in just 18 starts this campaign – his best ever total. In fact, the forward has made gradual improvement ever since being brought into the first-team fold by Guardiola back in 2017/18.

Guardiola has also given gametime to the likes of Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer this campaign, as he looks to bring the next crop of talent through. Now though, the manager has his sights set on another gem that he wants to bring to City.

That man is Ethan Nwaneri, who has already broken records by becoming the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League. At 15 years and 181 days old, his Arsenal debut as a substitute against Brentford gave him that honour. He is seen as a real talent by City according to Football Insider, and with the team desperate to add some of the brightest young players to their squad, the report adds that they are set to make an offer for him this summer.

Arsenal-Ethan-Nwaneri-Premier-League

Chelsea are also keen to sign Nwaneri but it is City who appear to be leading the chase in "pole position" and they think a deal can be completed.

Should Man City sign Ethan Nwaneri?

There is little to go off in terms of data around the 16-year-old as of yet, purely because of his age and his lack of playing time in a first-team squad.

However, the signs are that he could become an exceptionally good player when you consider how young he was when awarded his debut. Mikel Arteta would not have given the player minutes if he didn't rate the midfielder highly and it suggests the Spaniard sees big things in Nwaneri.

For the Gunners' reserves though, he has certainly shone. In ten appearances for the club's Under-18s, he has produced four goals and three assists. That's despite his youth and his position on the field. In addition, he's already been selected for both the England U16 and U17 sides – and has bagged eight goals in 18 games.

Nwaneri then does look a really bright prospect and if City can poach him, it could be a real coup for the side.

Wolves: Lopetegui Must Now Unleash £30k-p/w Dynamo Vs Villa

Wolverhampton Wanderers host rivals Aston Villa at the Molineux Stadium this afternoon as they attempt to move further clear of the relegation zone.

Julen Lopetegui's side are seven points clear of the bottom three in the Premier League as it stands but are coming into this match off the back of a thumping 6-0 defeat to Brighton last time out.

Wolves had won three of their last four games in the top-flight prior to facing the Seagulls but were demolished at the AMEX and the head coach will surely be looking for a strong reaction from his team.

He may also decide to make a number of alterations to the starting XI after those who played against Brighton let themselves and the club down with their performances on the pitch and one player who could be ditched is Diego Costa.

Who could start ahead of Diego Costa for Wolves?

Lopetegui could ditch the 6 foot 1 Spanish centre-forward by dropping him to the bench in favour of South Korea international Hwang Hee-chan.

Costa was taken off at half-time in the defeat to Roberto De Zerbi's side after enduring a rough 45 minutes. As per Sofascore, the experienced campaigner lost all four of his individual duels and failed to create any chances, complete any dribbles, or register a shot on goal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hee-Chan Hwang.

He was a liability to the team in and out of possession and Hwang impressed after coming on to replace the former Chelsea marksman.

As per Sofascore, the ex-Leipzig dynamo completed one dribble, got off three shots, and won all four of his duels on the pitch, which shows that he had a bigger impact on the game in his 45 minutes of action.

The 27-year-old has scored twice in his last six Premier League outings, compared to the Spaniard's one strike in 20 appearances, and recent form indicates that the dynamo has the potential to offer more than the 34-year-old in and out of possession.

Costa has lost 27 of his 36 duels over the last three matches and Hwang has won 17 of his 30 battles in that time, which suggests that the South Korean gem would provide more physicality against opposition defenders whilst also offering more of an attacking threat with their aforementioned form in front of the goal.

Therefore, Lopetegui must unleash the £30k-per-week gem, who was previously hailed for his "aggressive" play by ex-teammate Conor Coady, from the start to lead the line against the Villans this afternoon.

Lumb and Wessels lead a record run glut

A match replete with English records saw Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels share an opening stand of 342, Nottinghamshire rattle up 445 for 8 and Northants’ chase fall only 20 runs short on a day of 35 sixes

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2016
ScorecardMichael Lumb and Riki Wessels took toll of a flagging Northamptonshire attack at Trent Bridge to set a new record stand for a List A game in England on a staggering day of batting domination.Lumb and Wessels logged an opening stand of 342 in 39.2 overs for Nottinghamshire under cloudless blue skies in a Royal London One-Day Cup group match before the partnership was finally broken when Wessels fell to Stephen Crook for 146, lifting him to short third man.Their stand beat the previous record in England – 318 amassed by Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly against Sri Lanka in Taunton in the 1999 World Cup. The India pair left of a slew of records in their wake – at the time the stand was the highest in any limited-overs international.Nottinghamshire went on to make 445 for 8 in their 50 overs. It was the second highest total in List A matches worldwide, beaten only by Surrey’s 496 for 4 against Gloucestershire at The Oval in 2007.At a glance

342 Highest partnership in List A matches in England; 3rd worldwide

445 Second highest List A score worldwide

870 Highest List A aggregate runs in England; two short of world record

Astonishingly, despite being stricken by injuries, Northants got within 20 runs under the Trent Bridge floodlights in a match that included an aggregate of 870 runs – another domestic record and only two runs short of the world record – and a barely credible 35 sixes.Lumb said: “It was an incredible match and hats off to Northants, they came out and pushed us to the wire. What a great game of cricket for everyone who rocked up to Trent Bridge today.”It was one of those days when you walk out there and the stars are all aligned and you have a day out. It was a bit like that for me and Riki and we were able to put on a great partnership. That’s all we were trying to do, get the team off to a good start, and today we kept on going and going.”Lumb and Wessels did not quite manage to overhaul the highest List A stand of all time, finishing third on the all-time worldwide list.The record was set in February last year when Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels took 372 off the Zimbabwe attack at Manuka Oval in the 2015 World Cup.Lumb scored 184, making his runs from 150 deliveries, with 21 fours and six sixes, and Wessels hit 146 from 97 balls, with 14 fours and eight maximums, with both players reaching their highest one-day scores.Lumb’s fifth one-day ton was his first since scoring 106 on his England ODI debut in Antigua in 2014 and his first in domestic cricket since 2009. His 184 is also a county record, bettering the unbeaten 167 made by Paul Johnson in 1993. He also left to a standing ovation after being bowled by Sanderson, trying to deflect the bowler down to fine leg.Neither opener offered a clear chance, although one or two mishits fell harmlessly into the outfield and a couple of run out opportunities went begging. That said, both batsmen deserved any good fortune that was going, due to their cleanness of their ball striking.Nottinghamshire, easily surpassing their previous highest total of 368 for 2 made against Middlesex two years ago, predictably emerged victorious but Northants regained some kudos by amassing 425 in reply to lose by a much smaller margin than most would have assumed would be the case.Northants’ spirited retort was all the more remarkable considering that they were handicapped by a shoulder injury to Richard Levi, which meant he didn’t bat until No 11. Veteran South African Rory Kleinveldt, nursing a calf injury, also batted with a runner and almost helped the visitors pull of a stunning run chase.He hit 128 from only 63 balls, smashing 10 fours and nine sixes to put Notts under real pressure, all after Adam Rossington had made 97 at the top of the order.Kleinveldt’s incredible innings came to an end when he was superbly caught in the deep by sub fielder Anuj Dal, who had spent the day playing for Nottinghamshire’s Second XI at Hinckley, against Leicestershire.Dal also caught Graeme White for 40, leaving 21 required from the final two overs but Harry Gurney kept his nerve to bowl Levi in the penultimate over.David Ripley, Northants’ head coach, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. Obviously it wasn’t a game for the bowlers – on both sides. It was a great run chase from us, I don’t think I’ve ever come across such a dangerous score that’s been put in front of us and come so close. We’re very disappointed, but we are very proud of the way we chased.”

Arsenal Following "Excellent" £8.3k-p/w Starlet

Arsenal are "following" Valencia's Yunus Musah, with the midfielder now expected to leave the La Liga side in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Will Arsenal sign a central midfielder this summer?

With it recently being reported the Gunners are willing to listen to offers for Granit Xhaka in the upcoming window, there are indications Mikel Arteta is planning to revamp his midfield this summer.

Of course, West Ham United captain Declan Rice remains a major target, and Arteta is now becoming increasingly confident he can convince the England international to move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, despite their faltering title bid.

Other options in midfield include Lovro Majer, with the Daily Mail reporting Arsenal have taken a strong interest in the Rennes maestro, while journalist Ben Jacobs believes Moises Caicedo "could still end up" making the switch to north London.

The Gunners have reportedly had a bid turned down for Musah in the past, as detailed by FC Inter News back in December, but they are still considering a move for the midfielder this summer, as per a new update from Romano.

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the transfer guru said: “I’ve mentioned Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest in Yunus Musah and it is the case that they are following Musah since January; Inter as well,”

“At the moment it’s just scouting and not advanced yet, but Musah has good chances to move this summer.”

Should Arsenal sign Yunus Musah?

Football scout Jacek Kulig praised the American for his "excellent" performance with his national side against England at the World Cup, which indicates he would be mature enough to immediately challenge for a place in the starting XI, despite his age.

Kulig also claims the youngster has a "huge future ahead", and he is already making a name for himself at Valencia, having made 32 appearances in all competitions this season, during which time he has picked up two assists.

Valencia's Yunus Musah in action with Real Madrid's Luka Modric

The 20-year-old's attacking output has not been overly impressive, but he is a threat going forward, ranking in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year, and in the 97th for progressive carries, indicating he is capable of working the ball into more promising areas of the pitch.

The £8.3k-per-week starlet would be a fantastic addition for Arsenal, considering the vast potential he possesses, however they still need to make sure they bring in a more proven option in midfield ahead of the Champions League next season, and Rice should be the priority target.

Man United "In Talks" With "Incredible" £375k-p/w Star

Manchester United are "in talks" with David de Gea about a new contract, and he may remain the club's number-one goalkeeper next season, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest Man United goalkeeper news?

Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has recently confirmed Man United are interested in signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer, although he will not come cheap, with the Serie A side set to demand at least €50m (£44m).

Football Insider have previously reported the Red Devils hold an interest in Leeds United's Illan Meslier, and they may have received a boost in the race for his signature, as journalist Pete O'Rourke claims he "might want to leave" this summer.

However, Meslier has been subject to criticism from the media for his recent performances, so Erik ten Hag could look at other potential options, having also held talks with the agent of Borussia Dortmund shot-stopper Gregor Kobel.

That said, there is seemingly every chance De Gea remains United's first choice next season, with Sheth recently giving GiveMeSport an update on his contract situation, saying:

"If David de Gea signs that new deal – they're in talks, there are also some reports that they are close to that new deal – then I would expect de Gea to remain as the number-one goalkeeper at United next season."

Should De Gea remain Man United's number one?

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Leicester City man Kasper Schmeichel recently heaped praise on the Spaniard, describing him as an "incredible goalkeeper", while also adding that he's "playing at a really high level with his feet" so far this season.

However, Ten Hag has been critical of the 32-year-old at times, claiming he "can't ignore" his poor distribution, and although the manager does believe he is "improving" in that aspect of the game, the statistics tell a different story.

David de Gea of Man United

The £375k-per-week earner has averaged just 33.15 touches per 90 over the past year, ranking in the 23rd percentile, which indicates his teammates are unwilling to give him the ball, due to his tendency to make mistakes when playing it out from the back.

In the Red Devils' 3-0 loss against Sevilla in the Europa League, the former Atletico Madrid man made an error leading to a goal, with Ben Foster claiming he "has to know better" than to give the ball to Harry Maguire in that area of the pitch.

As such, De Gea may not be a good fit for Ten Hag's style of play, and it is probably best if Man United sign a more suitable replacement in the summer.

"Phenomenal" £32k-p/w Celtic Captain Praised

Presenter and columnist Dominik Diamond has praised Celtic captain Callum McGregor for his superb display in the club's most recent game.

What's the latest on Callum McGregor and Celtic?

The Bhoys were held to a 1-1 draw at home this Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell with goals from McGregor and Kevin van Veen settling the affair.

This was, in fact, just the first time Ange Postecoglou's side have dropped points in a home league game in almost an entire year.

Despite that poor result in front of their own fans, Celtic still sit safely at the top of the table and look in no danger of losing their lead as they chase back-to-back titles under their Australian manager.

What's more, one player can end the day with his head still held high. Indeed, goalscoring captain McGregor managed to earn plenty of plaudits for his efforts.

For instance, Diamond took to Twitter to express his astonishment at just how good the 29-year-old has been as club captain.

He wrote on Twitter: "I never imagined CalMac would be such a great skipper. Thought he’d be too quiet. Something about that role has made him an even better player too.

"Maybe being captain makes him want to get involved more and lead by example? But he is a phenomenal player these days."

How good was McGregor against Motherwell?

It seems Diamond wasn't the only one to notice how well the Scotland international was playing. In the Glasgow Live player ratings, Alan Galindo gave McGregor a team-high 7/10.

He also wrote: "Skipper brings such a calmness to the team. Always looking for next pass and keeping ball moving. Cracking strike for the opener at Parkhead."

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Rangers vs Celtic – Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – January 2, 2023 Celtic’s Callum McGregor reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

And when you look at the stats, you can see just how remarkable the £32k-per-week midfielder was on the day.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, he finished the full 90 with 125 touches, completing 105/110 passes (a 95% success rate) and pulling off 3/3 attempted dribbles – showing just how tidy he was on the ball.

What's more, he was a creative force too, not only scoring his team's only goal, but he was also unlucky not to get an assist with two key passes, and one big chance created.

All in all, it's safe to say the club captain stepped up for the team when they needed him and perhaps Celtic would have suffered a shock defeat without McGregor's leadership.

Leeds Can Silence Liverpool By Unleashing £40k-p/w Leader

Leeds United face a tough test tonight in the Premier League, but will be well aware if they can find a way to quell Mohamed Salah then their chances of beating Liverpool will multiply tenfold.

The Reds have suffered a poor season by their standards, but still remain firmly in the fight for European places; a position they would likely be nowhere near without the goals of their Egyptian marksman.

Despite what many would claim to have been a tough year for the 30-year-old, he has still recorded 13 goals and seven assists in the league. It is understandably hard to maintain such unprecedented numbers from years gone by, especially when the team around is underperforming.

With 44 points to their name after 29 games, this stage of last season saw them just a point behind the leaders Manchester City, on a mouth-watering 69 points. That same year saw the former Chelsea winger score 23 and assist 14.

Having once been lauded as a "huge threat" for his partnership with Sadio Mane by journalist David Maddock, he now remains the sole source of consistent attacking impetus for his side. Javi Gracia will have to enact a cunning plan to silence him, which will likely see Luke Ayling play no part. As such, Rasmus Kristensen should earn a recall.

Will Rasmus Kristensen play vs Liverpool?

Although the Denmark international has endured a trying first campaign at Elland Road, he still represents far greater physical assets than the ageing Luke Ayling.

Last time out, the 31-year-old was terrorised by the speed and trickery of Crystal Palace's Michael Olise and Ebere Eze, resulting in their 5-1 loss where he was handed an abysmal 5.3 Sofascore rating.

Against Salah, the same is sure to happen if Gracia persists with his captain.

Instead, the leadership qualities of a younger, more defensively sound option could be prioritised. After all, Kristensen does see himself as someone willing to take control, as he spoke about the struggles of acclimatising: "I was a leader in terms of physique & intensity in Austria. It's on a completely different level now. It has also been a challenge for me. I'm finding my place."

With a 6.86 average rating, this is certainly the case; it paints the picture of an unrelenting defender who might be caught culpable but is just as likely to pocket his opposite man. This figure is likely upheld by his 2.4 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game, further exacerbating his fine defensive presence, via Sofascore.

mohammed-salah-liverpool-manchester-united

Having been lauded as the answer to fix their issues at right back, with Alan Hutton suggesting his signing solved a "huge problem", tonight could mark the perfect opportunity to prove the Scotsman right.

In front of an electric Elland Road atmosphere, tasked with quelling one of the league's top players, now marks ample opportunity for the £40k-per-week stalwart to silence any critics.

71 y/o Was Considered For Shock Leicester Job

Journalist Ben Jacobs has stated that Martin O'Neill may have potentially been considered for the Leicester City manager job.

What's the latest manager news at Leicester?

The Foxes have had a simply dreadful season so far. Indeed, the team who won the Premier League in 2016 could soon be relegated from that same division.

With just eight games left to save themselves, Leicester are second bottom, only 25 points and two points from safety.

A 1-0 home loss to relegation rivals Bournemouth last time out summed up the club's recent form and they went into that game without a manager having just sacked Brendan Rodgers.

It has since been announced that former Aston Villa and Norwich City boss Dean Smith will take charge until the end of the season, with Craig Shakespeare as his assistant.

Before the club landed on that decision, however, it seems as though they considered a shock option for the job.

Indeed, while talking on NUFC Matters, Jacobs said (51:23): "I heard on the grapevine through a few sources that even a sort of Martin O'Neill was being looked at in the short term.

"How much substance to that there is, I'm not entirely sure."

Would Martin O'Neill have been a good appointment for Leicester?

It's a bit of a shock to see O'Neill's name come up as he has not been a Premier League manager since his spell with Sunderland between 2011 and 2013.

In fact, he has not been the head coach at any club for a few years now, with his last job being a 19-game stint with Nottingham Forest in 2019.

Of course, time with Leicester City in the past – he took charge of 178 games between 1995 and 2000 – means he is well-known to the club, but an awful lot of time has passed since then.

With that in mind, it certainly would have been a huge risk to throw the 71-year-old in at the deep end and help keep the Foxes from relegation.

Football – Scotland v Republic of Ireland – UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group D – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland – 14/11/14 Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Still, there are some who have doubts about the club's ability to come through this destabilising period regardless of who is in charge.

For instance, before Smith was announced as interim, pundit Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live (via LeicestershireLive): "The owner has made such a mess of this. It is staggering what has happened.

"They sacked an experienced manager with a good track record. Things haven't gone well this season, but I do not understand how this situation has come about.

"We had the international break where, if they were not happy with Rodgers then, they should have sacked him and brought a replacement in.

"I thought in this multi-billion dollar industry that clubs plan for all circumstances, so if a manager has to go they would have a list of ready-made replacements – Leicester haven't. They have made it up as they have gone along and it is absolute panic."

Mourinho Plotting Move For £120k-p/w Star At Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is attracting interest from AS Roma ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

What's the latest on Loftus-Cheek's future?

The Blues academy graduate has worked his way up through the youth ranks in the capital to become a regular feature of the senior first-team squad, but with his contract set to expire next summer, has already been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge. Premier League rivals Newcastle were reportedly planning an approach for the 27-year-old in January but Graham Potter wouldn’t allow him to leave due to the injury crisis his squad were facing at the start of the New Year.

Football Insider have since claimed that the SW6 outfit are expected to make their homegrown talent available for transfer with the board not keen to activate the option to extend his stay for a further 12 months, and should he depart, he won’t be short of any potential suitors.

According to Football Insider once again, Chelsea’s former manager Jose Mourinho “wants to bring” Loftus-Cheek to AS Roma in a move that would reunite him with his ex-player. Serie A giants Inter Milan are “incredibly keen” with several unnamed clubs in the top-flight also “interested”. The Blues are “likely” to put the midfielder on the market despite his recent return to the team and having made nine appearances under the 60-year-old during his time at the club, could be on his way to Italy.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Should Chelsea keep or sell Loftus-Cheek?

Loftus-Cheek’s fellow academy graduate Mason Mount has recently been linked with a move to Bayern Munich where the newly appointed Thomas Tuchel is keen to take him on board, but neither of them should be let go.

England’s former international has recorded 17 assists and scored 13 goals since making his breakthrough into the senior fold and adds a freshness to the centre of the park with his positive attitude and desire to perform well for his team (Transfermarkt).

The 6 foot 3 colossus currently ranks in the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 96th for successful dribbles, as per FBRef, showing that he’s always looking to take on his man and make the magic happen in the final third. The £120k-p/w talent also provides the boss with excellent versatility having operated in an outstanding nine different positions since the start of his career which is a useful attribute to have should any unexpected injuries occur.

Finally, Loftus-Cheek has been hailed a “dangerous” player by journalist Josh Bunting so the Blues should think twice about cashing in because he could prove to be a key player for the side in years to come.

Newcastle handed possible Marcus Thuram transfer boost

Newcastle United have reportedly been boosted in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram after he turned down a move to Inter Milan.

Thuram on the move this summer?

The 25-year-old is enjoying an excellent season for the Bundesliga side, standing out as one of their most important players throughout the campaign. He has scored 12 goals in 22 league starts, as well as chipping in with three assists, not to mention averaging 3.2 shots per game.

Thuram's form has seen him linked with a move away from Monchengladbach during the summer transfer window, with a number of clubs believed to be eyeing him up. Newcastle are reportedly one of them, with the Magpies seeing him as someone who could add more firepower to a team that hasn't always been prolific this season, scoring 39 times in 26 league games.

Serie A giants Inter are also thought to be in the mix when it comes to trying to snap up the Frenchman at the end of the season, but a key update has now emerged regarding their pursuit of him.

Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram in action.

Will striker pick Newcastle?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Thuram has "refused an offer" from Inter, acting as a clear boost for Newcastle in the process. He is out of contract at Monchengladbach this summer, meaning he will be able to leave on a free transfer if he doesn't extend his stay in Germany.

This update is certainly encouraging from a Magpies perspective, with Inter seemingly not appealing enough for Thuram to want to move there, potentially paving the way for a switch to St James' Park. He could be an outstanding signing if they manage to get a transfer over the line, with Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer calling him a "world-class striker".

Not only has he scored 43 goals in 128 appearances for Monchengladbach, but he has also won 10 caps for France, featuring five times for them as a substitute during the 2022 World Cup. He has proven pedigree and could be a significant and long-term upgrade on Callum Wilson, who is now 31 years of age and arguably not quite the force he once was.

Whether or not Thuram ends up picking Newcastle remains to be seen – Champions League qualification could ultimately prove pivotal – but this update can only be considered a positive, ahead of what could be a marquee piece of summer transfer business.

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