Premier League
Lokonga and Pepe start, Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Chelsea – The Mind Series
Arsenal host Chelsea in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. The game is being played as part of The Mind Series to support better mental health. Tottenham Hotspur are also involved in the mini-tournament. They will be involved against Chelsea and Arsenal on August 4 & 8 respectively. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Bernd Leno played his first pre-season game against Watford in midweek. The German is likely to start between the sticks for the London derby. Calum Chambers jumped ahead of Hector Bellerin in the pecking order for the right-back role towards the end of the previous campaign. He is likely to get the nod with Kieran Tierney starting in the opposite end. Ben White has had just one training session since his arrival. The centre-back could be restricted to a cameo role. With ...
Brighton keen on signing £38.4m-rated star with 26 goal contributions last season – report
Brighton & Hove Albion have revived their interest in signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, The Athletic’s Andy Naylor claims. The Seagulls were keen on landing the Uruguayan last year, but Benfica won the race to sign him from Almeria for £20 million. The 22-year-old had a productive season for the Portuguese giants, registering 14 goals and 12 assists from 44 appearances. It is now reported that the Seagulls are back in the hunt for the marksman, who is still under rehabilitation after a knee surgery. Sportslens view: Brighton are searching for a new striker this summer, and they have been heavily linked with Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard in the past few weeks. However, it appears that they are prioritising a move for Nunez. Portuguese outlet O Jogo (page 12) claims that the club hav...
Report: Everton keen to sign midfielder who was released by Liverpool in 2018
Everton are one of a handful of Premier League clubs keen on signing Preston North End youngster Lewis Leigh, according to a report from football.london. Toffees boss Rafa Benitez has a lot of work to do at Goodison Park this summer. Aside from signing top-class players, Benitez will be keen to bring in some young talented starlets with potential. Everton have an ageing squad, and that is something that needs addressing. And the Preston teenager could very well be an exciting signing for the future for the Merseyside outfit. Everton chasing Lewis Leigh Benitez wants to bring the 17-year-old to Goodison Park from Preston this summer. West Ham United, Arsenal and Leicester City also reportedly want to sign the central midfielder. Leigh was released by Everton’s fierce rivals Liverpool a...
Journalist claims Tottenham have agreed a £43m deal, player to sign contract until 2026
Tottenham Hotspur have finally agreed a deal to sign Cristian Romero, according to Argentinian football journalist Cesar Luis Merlo. What a brilliant signing the 23-year-old will be for Tottenham. €55 million (£47 million) is outstanding value for someone who will surely go on to become one of the very best centre-backs in the game. Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo was desperate to bolster his central defensive ranks with Toby Alderweireld leaving the club. Cristian Romero a sensational addition for Tottenham In 31 Serie A outings during a loan spell with Atalanta last season, Romero averaged two tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 2.2 clearances per game. He also won an average of 3.6 aerial duels per match during those appearances. The South American is also very comfortable with the b...
‘Improved massively’: Some Wolves fans react to 24-year-old’s heroics on international duty
A selection of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans reacted on Twitter after Rafa Mir’s heroics for Spain in the Olympic Games quarter-final against Ivory Coast. La Roja trailed after just 10 minutes into their last-eight clash after Eric Bailly bundled the ball into the back of the net from a corner. Dani Olmo brought them level at the half-an-hour mark. The scores remained the same at the interval after some top-class saves from Unai Simon. In the second half, Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a lovely volley, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up play. In stoppage time, Max Gradel appeared to have bagged the winner for Ivory Coast, but La Roja made a sensational comeback. Rafa Mir scored within minutes of coming off the bench after a defensive misunderstanding between Kouad...
Report names Liverpool as ‘unnamed’ club who now want to sign £35m ‘midfield sensation’
Liverpool are now in the race to sign Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (print edition, July 30th, page 28). It was suggested earlier in the week that an ‘unnamed English club’ had joined Juventus and Arsenal in the race to sign the 23-year-old ace. And Gazzetta dello Sport now seem to think that Liverpool are that unnamed club. What an incredible signing Locatelli would be for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp desperately needs to bring in some central midfield reinforcements after Gini Wijnaldum left Anfield to link up with PSG on a free transfer. Liverpool could be lining up a move to sign Locatelli from Sassuolo – Copyright: xImago-Images/Emmefotox Liverpool moving in for Locatelli? GDS reckon that the Merseyside outfit are the latest club t...
European club set to sign long-term Arsenal target for just €6m upfront – report
Lyon are on the cusp of landing the signature of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, French publication L’Equipe claims. The Cameroon international is currently under a FIFA-imposed ban after mistakenly taking a medical drug that was deemed illegal. His suspension was recently reduced from 12 to nine months, but he can’t return to competitive action until November 4. However, he can be involved in team training two months earlier, and it appears that Lyon are set to win the race for his services. Premier League club Arsenal have been long-term admirers, and it appeared last month that they were favourites to sign him. Bernd Leno’s presence has probably proved a roadblock, and Onana is now on the verge of joining Les Gones on a cut-price deal. Ajax were looking for €8 million for Onana, who has en...
Arsenal should avoid £42.5m playmaker and sign 24-year-old star
Arsenal will head into the upcoming Premier League season eager to prove they can still mix it with the big boys. Four FA Cup successes in the last eight years have failed to mask the fact that the Gunners have slipped off the pace in the league. They won their last title in 2003/04 and haven’t finished higher than fifth in the table over the past five seasons. Two successive eighth-place finishes have left the fans feeling frustrated, and the pressure is on manager Mikel Arteta to turn things around. Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares are a promising start to this summer’s transfer business, while Ben White’s addition should help to shore up the defence. The news that Granit Xhaka may be offered a new contract is not as daft as it seems, particularly given the improvement he showed las...
Man Utd must ditch 28-yr-old – £35m target gives them better balance
Manchester United’s summer transfer business has raised hopes that the club can mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season. Jadon Sancho’s arrival resolves United’s lack of balance on the right flank, while Raphael Varane is the top-class defender the team has been crying out for. The potential addition of Kieran Trippier would fill another hole in United’s squad, leaving just one problem area to address – central midfield. The Red Devils generally used a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, with Scott McTominay and Fred the go-to duo in front of the back four. Compared with some of United’s title-winning midfield line-ups, it is a pairing that leaves a lot to be desired. In fairness, McTominay is a better player than many people give him credit for, and he hasn’t been he...
West Ham United agree fee for 56-cap international, personal terms being negotiated – report
West Ham United have finalised a transfer fee with Barcelona for the potential signing of Martin Braithwaite, Spanish publication Sport reports. The Denmark international has been heavily linked with the Hammers this summer, and they have eventually agreed a €15 million sum with the Catalan giants. A deal is still far from complete as they need to negotiate personal terms with the forward. The 30-year-old is reportedly dissatisfied with the salary proposal. The Hammers are likely to secure an agreement if they make an improved contract offer. Several clubs are keeping tabs to pounce on an uncertainty. Sportslens view: Braithwaite has not been a regular goalscorer throughout his career, but he has impressed with his strong aerial presence and tireless work rate. He has been restricted ...
Arsenal and West Ham United target makes £130,000-a-week salary demand – report
Tammy Abraham wants around £130,000-a-week if he leaves Chelsea during the ongoing transfer window, Football Insider reports. The England international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Blues with links from West Ham United, Arsenal and Aston Villa. The interest from Villa has faded in recent weeks, and it appears that the Hammers and Gunners could compete for his signature this summer. Abraham is currently on a weekly salary of £50,000. He is set to demand a significant increase of £80,000 if he secures a move elsewhere. The Blues value the striker at £40 million, but reports suggest that a fee of around £35m could be sufficient to seal the player’s transfer. Sportslens view: Abraham played just 16 minutes for the Blues between March and May as Tim...
Report: Tottenham now have a great chance to sign £26m man mountain
Fiorentina are waiting for Tottenham to make an offer for Nikola Milenkovic according to a report from TuttoJuve. Central defence is clearly an area where Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants to strengthen this summer. The north London outfit have been heavily linked with a move to sign Juventus centre-back Cristian Romero (CalcioMercato.it). Tottenham’s leaky back-line cost them a chance to finish inside the top four in the Premier League table last season. Milenkovic is an alleged transfer target for Tottenham – Copyright: xGiuseppexMaffiax It seems as though there is a far cheaper option out there for Nuno, however. Fiorentina waiting for Tottenham to bid for Milenkovic Tutto Juve claims that the Serie A club are now awaiting a concrete offer from Spurs after the north London...
