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Liverpool Plot Swoop For £69m Ligue 1 Star

Liverpool are continuing their midfield rebuild at Anfield this summer following the imminent exit of more players, and now a fresh update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's next transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Marco Verratti?

According to Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol, Liverpool have been linked with the signing of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

Kaveh revealed on Sky Sports News: "We’ve also been told that two Premier League clubs are interested in signing him.

"We’ve been told that those clubs were Liverpool and Chelsea.

"We haven’t been able to confirm that, it could just be a case of he’s a player that has been offered to Liverpool and Chelsea by intermediaries, by agents, by representatives who are trying to make some money from the deal, and they know that Chelsea and Liverpool are potentially looking for midfielders this summer."

How good is Marco Verratti?

Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke have had to change their strategy for the remainder of the summer transfer window due to the unexpected departures of two of his most experienced midfielders in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed yesterday that a full agreement was in place for the Liverpool captain to join Al-Ettifaq, whilst a move to the Saudi Pro League was also in the works for his Brazilian teammate.

As a result, there is now a real opportunity for Klopp to finish what he has started in his midfield refresh ahead of next season, by snapping up the services of Verratti to add even more fresh quality and talent into the centre of the pitch without compromising experience.

The PSG star has the much-needed winning mentality that has driven the success at Anfield over the last half a decade – collecting nine Ligue 1 titles, six Coupe de France trophies and the European Championship back in 2021 with Italy when they beat England in the final at Wembley.

Verratti – hailed "extraordinary" by Thomas Tuchel – is one of the most highly rated midfielders in Europe, ranking in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the past year for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes and tackles per 90, as per FBref.

marco-verratti-psg-premier-league-chelsea-transfers

Not only that, but FBref considers the Italian machine's most comparable player over the last 12 months to be none other than Liverpool whiz Thiago Alcantara, with the pair sharing many similarities in their strengths and style of play.

In fact, the 30-year-old outperformed the Spaniard in a number of key attributes last season, including pass completion (92.6% v 86.2%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.41 v 2.94), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.37 v 0.14) and aerial duels won (45.8% v 36.8%).

Unfortunately, their similarities don't end at their output, as Verratti is also extremely injury-prone – something that has also been a nightmare for Klopp when it comes to Thiago's availability over the last two seasons.

Since September 2021, the 32-year-old has had seven separate instances of injury amounting to 45 fixtures missed, whilst the Italy international has also had seven injury issues in the same period, though he has missed just 14 fixtures for the Ligue 1 champions.

It has been claimed that PSG will command a fee of €80m (£69m) to part ways with their midfield dynamo this summer – an expensive price tag that will require careful consideration from the powerbrokers at Anfield, taking into account both his age and injury record.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Verratti would bring huge quality to the Liverpool squad if a deal can be done with the French giants, however, it would be a huge investment on a player who doesn't offer reliability in fitness.

West Ham: £120k-p/w Target Could Be Moyes’ Next Fellaini

West Ham United have so far been unable to build on their Europa Conference League success, with their supporters growing more and more concerned ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign.

The Irons are about to lose skipper Declan Rice to Arsenal and have yet to make any new signings, but a new possible target has now emerged for David Moyes' side.

What is the latest West Ham transfer news?

Rice's £105m exit should at long last be finalised in the coming days, which is expected to spark a frenzy of sorts in terms of incoming activity at the London Stadium.

Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria is widely expected to be first through the door, while Real Betis centre-back Luiz Felipe and Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse are two others that have been strongly linked.

According to FootballTransfers, West Ham have shown an interest in signing Alex Iwobi from Premier League rivals Everton, with the Toffees aware that they have to sell players before they can bring in new signings of their own.

What is Alex Iwobi's weekly salary?

Iwobi has just a year to run on his contract, which Capology reports is worth £120k-per-week, meaning he should be available for a fairly reasonable transfer fee this summer.

However, that is a large salary for a player who many will feel has yet to fulfil the potential he showed early on in his Arsenal career across four seasons at Goodison Park.

Iwobi impressed when moved into a central role last season, though, and led the way among Everton players in terms of Premier League assists with seven – more than double that of any of his team-mates.

David Moyes West Ham

Iwobi also chipped in with a couple of goals and was top of the charts for key passes per game (1.7), as per WhoScored, while he was bettered only by winger Dwight McNeil (1.5) in terms of dribbles per game with 1.4.

The Nigeria international certainly played his part in Everton's escape from relegation, and he may now be on his way back to London if West Ham's interest becomes anything more concrete.

That would mean Moyes raiding the club he spent more than a decade managing, but he has history when it comes to that, not least when taking Marouane Fellaini with him to Manchester United in 2013.

Fellaini's time at Old Trafford will forever be associated with a hugely underwhelming period for the club, but he was Moyes' man and he did exactly what was asked of him in midfield.

As Moyes said at the time, Fellaini "can play higher up, behind the striker or as a defensive or holding midfielder. In any position in the middle of the field, he's comfortable."

That sounds very familiar to Iwobi, who effectively played in as many as six different positions across midfield last season.

Whether on the right, left, through the middle, in an attacking position or defensive, he was able to fill in as and when.

It was while playing in central midfield against Liverpool last season that Iwobi earned huge praise from former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf for his "absolutely exceptional" performance.

Their paths may not have crossed on Merseyside, but it may well be that Moyes gets to manage his Fellaini 2.0 of sorts in east London next season.

Everton: £100k-p/w Signing Could Revive DCL At Goodison

After securing survival on the final day of the last Premier League season, Everton will be looking to endure a slightly more stable campaign in Sean Dyche's first full year in charge at Goodison Park. And goals may be the answer to that.

The Toffees scored just 35 goals, only more than Wolverhampton Wanderers, as main man Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled with injuries once again, missing a total of 14 games. When he was available, too, the Englishman managed to find the back of the net on just two occasions.

With that said, another forward arriving could benefit Calvert-Lewin and Everton as a whole, and, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, they have put in an offer for Leeds United forward Rodrigo this summer.

The 32-year-old didn't do enough to save Leeds last season, but he did, at least, manage to get his name on the score sheet 13 times in the Premier League, which would have made him Everton's top goalscorer last season in what could have saved them the stress of final day safety.

Transfer insider Dean Jones certainly believes that the Toffees would benefit by signing Rodrigo this summer, who could form a partnership with Calvert-Lewin. Jones told Football FanCast:

"I actually quite like the idea of a Rodrigo and Calvert-Lewin partnership. I think they could quite positively help each other.

"I know he couldn’t keep Leeds in the Premier League last season, but, ultimately, he’s a very good player. When he first came into the Premier League initially, I thought he’d do really well. And if you use him properly and not as an out-and-out nine, I think that Rodrigo could really give Everton a lot."

What role would Rodrigo play at Everton?

Rodrigo's main role at Leeds should have been supplying the goals for Patrick Bamford. But injury issues and a lack of form meant that the Englishman endured a season to forget. This is something that the Spaniard will be hoping to avoid a repeat of with Calvert-Lewin should he complete a move to Goodison Park this summer.

That may not be the case, however. At Everton, Rodrigo could be the man to finally get Calvert-Lewin back on form, who has previously thrived with a strike partner. When playing together with Richarlison in the 20/21 season, the forward scored 16 Premier League goals – his highest-ever total.

rodrigo-leeds-united-premier-league-everton-transfers

Since the Brazilian's departure to Tottenham Hotspur last summer, however, the academy graduate has found the back of the net just twice, albeit with injuries contributing to this.

Rodrigo can replicate that Richarlison impact, however, helping to revive Calvert-Lewin.

When compared to the 20/21 version of the forward, the Leeds United man made more progressive passes per 90, and, like the current Spurs man, made over two shot-creating actions per game, according to FBref. So, the evidence is there that Dyche can form a solid offensive partnership next season.

The £100k-per-week Rodrigo has certainly earned a lot of praise, too, with Sky Sports' Aaron McLean saying during Leeds' victory over Norwich in 2022: "Rodrigo was a livewire in that first half.”

We've seen in the past that strike partnerships can become the key to success for a Dyche side, with a Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes duo helping Burnley to unexpected heights.

Rodrigo and Calvert-Lewin can become the next great duo under Dyche, should the former make the move this summer.

Declan Rice Medical Imminent Amid Arsenal Rumours

Online rumours suggesting that Arsenal or West Ham United have walked away from the protracted Declan Rice deal are "not correct", claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal transfer news – What's the latest on Declan Rice?

The Gunners have been perhaps the biggest shock of the transfer window so far this year, with the Premier League runners-up coming out swinging in the market and displaying a willingness to spend not often associated with the north Londoners.

declan-rice-west-ham

A £65m deal to secure the services of German international Kai Havertz was completed last month, with a £40m deal for Ajax's Jurrien Timber incredibly close to being finalised as well.

However, the big one, and the first proper transfer saga of the summer so far, has been the deal to sign West Ham's captain Rice for a reported fee of £105m, a new transfer record for a British player.

While the deal is said to be almost complete, the lack of movement over the last few days may have left Arsenal fans a little nervous, especially given the club's recent record with securing the signature of their first-choice targets.

However, fans of the north London club shouldn't be too worried as online rumours suggesting that talks have broken down and the clubs have walked away are false, per Fabrizio Romano.

declan-rice-arsenal-west-ham

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

“What I can say guys is this is really close. Trust me, really, really close for Declan Rice to Arsenal."

"Arsenal and West Ham are speaking about the payment terms, so the rumours circulating today on social media about Arsenal or West Ham walking away from the deal at the moment I am told this is not correct while I am speaking.

"But the negotiation is very advanced it's really at the final bits they are discussing the final points of this story, the medical has not been booked yet, but it will happen in the days if everything goes to plan."

How do players cope with such significant price tags?

With the immense amount of money in the modern game and transfer records broken seemingly on a yearly basis, it can be easy to forget that these players being bought and sold for astronomical sums are still human and are sometimes deeply affected by their own perceived value.

It can be an awful lot of pressure to be worth tens of millions and even more so if you're responsible for breaking a club's longstanding transfer record, so much so that players in the past have described the negative impact such expectation had on their careers, with Arsenal new-boy Havertz telling the Guardian how it impacted him at Chelsea:

Kai Havertz

"For me, the price was a big thing. I was Chelsea's most expensive player. That brings pressure because people think you are Messi.

"I was still 20, 21. People don't see that; they see the price, so you have to be great from day one. You can feel it, the tension. You read it, hear it."

That said, where some players seem unable to cope with the added expectations and pressure that come with the tag of 'most expensive x', others relish that added pressure.

Jack Grealish became the most expensive British footballer of all time when he made his move to Manchester City in 2021 after the club paid his £100m release clause to get him out of Aston Villa, but that didn't seem to bother the then 25-year-old as he told the Guardian:

Man City's Jack Grealish

"I take it as a compliment. I actually like it [being Britain's most expensive signing], I think it is a good tag to have.

"I think when you see a club paying that much for a player it means they trust and value you highly and see so much potential there to work with. I see it as a good thing."

With Rice set to cost £5m more than his England teammate, it remains to be seen which camp he finds himself in, loving or hating the new record he'll hold.

"Daniel Levy all over" – Reporter not happy after Spurs development

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sign Guglielmo Vicario over Brentford's David Raya has "Daniel Levy all over", claims journalist Paul Brown.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – what's the latest on Guglielmo Vicario?

Before there were any developments regarding the 26-year-old Italian, Spurs were heavily linked to Brentford's Spanish shot-stopper David Raya, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reporting on June 17th that personal terms between the player and Spurs had been "agreed."

david-raya-tottenham-transfer-premier-league

However, on June 22nd, Sky Sports reported that the North London club had verbally agreed a £17.2m fee with Serie A side Empoli for their highly-rated keeper, Vicario.

The Italian international's price is substantially lower than the Bee's asking price for Raya of £40m, which the Lilywhites were 'reluctant' to pay.

The 6 foot 4 titan has spent the last two seasons with Empoli, making 71 appearances for the club after initially joining on loan from Cagliari in 2021.

The West London club might've driven too hard of a bargain for their player, as with just a year left on his contract and no substantial interest from a side other than Tottenham, they risk losing him for free next year.

What has journalist Paul Brown said about Tottenham Hotspur signing Guglielmo Vicario over David Raya?

Brown was honest in his assessment that, for many Spurs fans, this is probably somewhat of a disappointment considering the heavy links to David Raya over the last few weeks.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "To go for someone a little bit more untested in terms of the Premier League and to go for someone who is not going to command such a high transfer fee is a little disappointing I guess, but it is Daniel levy all over."

Brown was quick to point, however, that it could be down to the club having plans to spend big elsewhere on the team, adding: "So I think wherever that ends up being a good thing will depend where else they spend their money this summer and if fans can see the club being ambitious, and if more importantly Harry Kane can see the club being ambitious in other areas. It might not matter so much so let's see."

Will Guglielmo Vicario be a good signing?

The 26-year-old has come off a good season for Empoli, playing 31 times for the side and averaging a match rating in Serie A of 6.85, just slightly lower than Raya's rating of 6.97, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers, however, don't make for great reading.

guglielmo-vicario-tottenham-transfer-news-premier-league

According to FBref, who compare players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the one area he stands out is touches, where he sits in the top 9% amongst keepers, which under Ange Postecoglou's attacking brand of football will be essential.

However, he is only in the top 31% of keepers for save percentage, top 41% for goals against and only the top 58% for crosses stopped, all per 90.

However, it can be hard to judge a goalkeeper using statistics alone, so what have people said about him in Italy?

Well, he has got perhaps the best endorsement a keeper could ask for in Italy, the approval of Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy's most famous and beloved shot-stopper of all time hailed Vicario as "extraordinary" in an interview with Radio Sport Anch'io (via Gianluca Dimarzio).

So if he has the backing of Buffon, maybe he'll prove to be an even better signing than Raya ever would've been.

Spurs £110k p/w Target Won’t Find It "Easy" At Hotspur Way

Tottenham Hotspur target James Maddison wouldn't find it 'easy' to succeed in north London and may need to 'adapt' his game if he was to join the Lilywhites, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

According to The Northern Echo, Tottenham are now 'strong favourites' to sign Maddison from Leicester City this summer as Ange Postecoglou gets to work in N17.

Newcastle United are also keen on the £110k-a-week ace; however, his preference is believed to be moving to London, which has put Spurs in pole position to wrap up a deal for the England international.

The Daily Mail report along similar lines and state that Maddison would be more open to joining Tottenham than their divisional rivals Newcastle United in the off-season.

Leicester City star Harvey Barnes is another name on their radar. At the same time, Arsenal and West Ham United also retain an attraction towards the 25-year-old amid news that Spurs submitted a joint bid of £50 million to try and acquire the Foxes' duo.

Football Insider detail that Leicester City want to recoup £50 million for Maddison, while Spurs want to secure his services on a 'cut-price deal', something which may drag their pursuit on for a while to come in the transfer window.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Maddison could succeed at Hotspur Way; nevertheless, he doesn't believe it would be easy for him to transition from Leicester City to Tottenham.

Brown told FFC: "There's also the fact that Harry Kane, over the years, has gradually become a striker who likes to drop a lot deeper and occupy a lot of those areas on the pitch. I don't think it would be an easy transition for Maddison there, he can certainly do it and could be a success there if he finds a way to adapt, but I don't think it would be easy for him."

Would James Maddison be a success at Tottenham Hotspur?

Maddison absolutely has the ability to be a success at Spurs should he pitch up in north London this summer, though, as always, it remains to be seen with regards to how a player settles into a new environment.

In 2022/23, the England international featured 32 times for Leicester City across all competitions, registering ten goals and nine assists, as per Transfermarkt.

james-maddison-leicester-city-transfer-gossip-tottenham-hotspur-postecoglou-bruno-fernandes

As per FBRef, Maddison was an inventive presence in midfield for Leicester City from the middle of the park and successfully completed 138 shot-creating actions in the Premier League during the season.

Capable of providing a goal threat either directly or by supplying his teammates, Maddison also recorded around 2.8 shots and 2.3 key passes per match in the English top flight, according to WhoScored.

Getting used to new surroundings would present its own challenges; however, Maddison has the ability and conviction to take these factors into his stride and would be an excellent addition to Spurs' midfield if they manage to secure him this summer.

Chelsea Keen To Bring £61m Sensation to Stamford Bridge

The Romelu Lukaku situation has become laughable. His £97.5m transfer to Stamford Bridge has evolved as arguably one of the worst signings in not just Chelsea history, but Premier League history.

The Belgian has reportedly ruled out a return to the Blues and has his heart set on another season at Inter Milan.

The Blues must find a way to navigate this deal and permanently free themselves from Lukaku.

The best possible outcome for Chelsea is they can secure an exchange deal involving Nicolo Barella.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Barella to Chelsea?

According to Corriere dello Sport, the West Londoners have enquired about bringing Barella to the capital in a package deal that would see Lukaku move in the opposite direction.

Last month, it was revealed that Liverpool are also interested in the 26-year-old, who has been valued at around £61m by his parent club.

How can Chelsea line up next season?

The Italian has been in imperious form for the Nerazzurri this term, as he made 52 appearances and recorded 19 goal involvements in all competitions.

He was a crucial component of a side that made the Champions League, secured top four, and won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

The Euro 2020 winner has developed a formidable reputation for his impudent dribbling ability, intricate feet, close control and his athleticism to glide across the pitch.

This is showcased by the fact that he ranks within the highest 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the best 19% for progressive passes and carries per 90, according to FBref.

His addition could be especially crucial for Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea’s midfield only contributed a measly 12 goals between them in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Barella sits within the top 8% for non-penalty goals per 90, to emphatically display his threat in attack.

If Chelsea secured this outlandish coup, then Pochettino could potentially form a dream midfield, if the signing of Moises Caicedo was also completed, with the Londoners currently leading the race.

Moises Caicedo Chelsea

Brighton are set to demand £120m for the 21-year-old, who ranks within the best 13% for tackles and interceptions per 90.

His former manager Graham Potter described the Ecuadorian sensation as “fantastic” having “all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”

The prospect of Caicedo’s wondrous defensive acumen, combined with Barella’s magnificent attacking class is frightening and instantly places Chelsea in a far superior position.

As the 2021 Champions League winners begin the long journey to return to Europe’s most elite competition, Barella, who has been labelled as “top-class” by Jurgen Klopp, could be a key addition to the club’s ambitions.

Liverpool Eyeing Gini Heir In ‘Majestic’ £35m Machine

Liverpool have turned their attention to a range of midfield targets after completing the astute purchase of Alexis Mac Allister, with Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone said to be among the contenders.

What's the latest on Manu Kone to Liverpool?

That's according to The Athletic's James Pearce, who recently outlined Liverpool's projected plans heading into the summer transfer window and listed Kone on a shortlist of central options for the Merseyside outfit.

Valued at around £35m, the Frenchman has attracted Reds sporting director Jorg Schmadtke's attention since arriving from Wolfsburg in May, and it's no surprise that the German might delve back into the market he is so well versed in.

With Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers now joining the race for the 22-year-old, manager Jurgen Klopp must decide whether to forge ahead with a move, unlikely to acquiesce to a bidding war for the midfielder.

Should Liverpool sign Manu Kone?

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all leaving Anfield this summer after the culmination of their contracts, opening the door for exciting new talents such as Kone to enter the fold and impress.

And Kone, who made 30 appearances in the German Bundesliga this term and earned himself an average rating of 6.86, as per Sofascore, notably completing 87% of his passes, making 2.5 tackles per match and succeeding with 60% of his dribbles, could reinstate such exuberance.

Described as "majestic" by talent scout Antonio Mango, Kone is a tenacious midfielder and could instil some robustness on Merseyside following a campaign that has underscored the sapped vitality that was once an ever-present under Klopp's tutelage.

As per FBref, the ace ranks among the top 4% for successful take-ons, the top 25% for tackles and the top 20% for interceptions per 90, which illustrates his defensive acumen and aptitude at beating his man with the ball at his feet.

kouadio-kone-liverpool-transfer-news

He is a fearsome and burgeoning force, hailed as a "one-man army" by Jacek Kulig, and he could yet flourish in the Premier League and forge a prominent role in Klopp's system, diligent and unflinching as he serves as the chugging engine, much like former phenom Gini Wijnaldum.

The Dutchman made 237 appearances for the Reds after signing from Newcastle United for £25m and was heralded as a "legend" and "sensational" by his former boss after his impact at Anfield, unrelenting and plying the trade beneath the front-page headlines to ensure the team worked at full throttle.

Now 32-years-old, Wijnaldum himself ranks among only in the top 28% of midfielders for successful take-ons and the top 9% for touches in the attacking area, indicating that he is reverting back to the more forward-thinking approach he plied prior to his Liverpool days, and also with his national team.

And given that he only averages 0.9 tackles and 0.6 interceptions across the entirety of his career, as per WhoScored, Kone could actually transcend his role at Liverpool by implementing a semblance of energy while providing a more refined, high-octane approach with his tackling and recycling of possession.

Also said to be the "complete package" by Kulig, Kone appears to offer the dynamism and bouncing pitch personality to emulate Wijnaldum, embodying the relentless midfield work that is paramount to ensure Klopp's outfit steers towards success.

Man Utd In Sheikh Jassim Exclusivity Takeover Talks

Manchester United are reportedly in talks to grant exclusivity to the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.

What’s the latest Man United takeover news?

The takeover saga has continued to drag on into the summer transfer window, with Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe seemingly the frontrunners when it comes to a potential deal with the Glazers. Jassim made a fifth and final bid earlier this month but is still none the wiser to learn if it has been approved.

There was recent speculation from Qatar claiming that Jassim was going to be successful in his bid to take full control from the Glazers. Sky Sports clarified that it wasn’t true and that there were no further updates, but there seems to have been a new development since then.

According to Reuters on Friday morning, United are negotiating to grant exclusivity to Jassim’s consortium in a deal worth more than $6 billion, which would be a world-record figure for a football team.

The report adds that a deal remains uncertain, however, they describe the news as a "development" and a "major milestone". Jassim’s offer is thought to be seen as the more favourable offer than Ratcliffe’s at this moment in time.

Should United grant Jassim exclusivity, the club would not be allowed to talk with any other bidder.

What does Sheikh Jassim have planned for Man United?

Jassim seems to have big plans both on and off the pitch at Old Trafford, with his offer for 100% of the club and would see all of the club’s debt cleared.

He also plans to have separate funds for the club and local community, and when it comes to possible signings, his first could be one that gets supporters fully on board.

Reports have suggested that Jassim is planning a move for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, with the potential new owner feeling the France forward “belongs at Man United”.

PSG value their star man at £170m and could cash in over the coming months, should Mbappe refuse to extend his stay with the club.

First though, Jassim will need to make a major breakthrough when it comes to a takeover, and with Mike Keegan claiming it could take eight to 12 weeks for an approval process, meaning that the Glazers may remain in control at the start of next season, so it still could prove to be a frustrating summer despite this latest positive development.

Arsenal: Journalist Thrilled By Game-Changing Edu Target

Journalist Paul Brown has been left thrilled by reports that Arsenal are targeting Man City captain and treble-chasing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.

Who are Arsenal looking to sign this summer?

The Premier League giants narrowly missed out on their first title in nearly 20 years last season, with Mikel Arteta being beaten to the punch by his mentor Pep Guardiola.

Despite Arsenal's position at the front of the queue for much of 2022/2023, they fell short at the final hurdle, and it's now the task of Arteta to shore up key positions of his squad for a fresh challenge next campaign.

The north Londoners are looking to sign central midfielders above all with reports suggesting they could make two key signings in that area of the pitch. West Ham's Declan Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo, among others, are apparently on their radar.

Sporting director Edu has also apparently earmarked the signing of a central defender to back up stars like William Saliba, with the Frenchman succumbing to injury at the back end of last season.

Going back to midfield, Man City star Gundogan is another target for Arsenal, according to reports, with the German really coming into a hot streak of form lately.

Ilkay Gundogan with the FA Cup.

His latest heroics, a brace in the FA Cup final against Man United on Saturday, saw City clinch a domestic double with the Blues still well and truly on for an historic treble.

Journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GiveMeSport, says he could be a game-changing signing for Arsenal if they get it done.

"If Arsenal were to get Gundogan, I think that would be a great signing for them," said Brown in response to the links.

"He’s a really versatile player who can play in a number of different roles. He switches systems very easily in game and could be a game-changer for them really. And one that is quite fascinating to see.”

Who is Ilkay Gundogan?

The 32-year-old was Guardiola's first ever signing as City manager and hasn't looked back since – having played a key role over his seven-year stint.

This season, Gundogan has contributed with a number of important goals in sky blue, and he etched himself into club folklore with final day title-winning heroics against Aston Villa in 21/22.

However, City are in danger of losing him on a free at the end of this month, putting Arsenal and Arteta on serious alert.

His experience and quality could prove to be a major asset for the Gunners, especially at zero cost, and we believe he couild be an exceptional signing for them.

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