Chelsea transfer chiefs are believed to be making some recruitment plans ahead of 2026, amid reports that Enzo Maresca personally wants to strengthen certain weak areas of his squad.

Chelsea's transfer plans for January amid Enzo Maresca "tension"

Reports in the build up to their dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool last weekend claimed that Maresca is unhappy with his current options at Chelsea, and there’s been some tension between the Italian and Chelsea’s hierarchy.

This has apparently been made worse by Chelsea’s summer window, despite finishing the transfer market as the Premier League’s second-biggest spenders behind English champions Liverpool.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

Maresca’s alleged discontent could stem from Chelsea’s lack of centre-back signings, which they’ve definitely paid for so far this season, with Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill all forced to miss Liverpool through injury or suspension.

Maresca publicly suggested that he wanted another centre-back at Chelsea before deadline day on September 1, but despite internal talks after Colwill’s ACL problem, and trying for Dean Huijsen in May, they couldn’t get one over the line.

Chelsea now want to sign a new defender as a priority for the January window instead, and some media sources report they could even bring in another striker despite completing deals for Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in the summer.

The latter is viewed more as a 10 than a number nine, while Delap is out injured and will take some time to get back up to speed once he returns from a hamstring problem — which has prompted Chelsea to consider another centre-forward (Simon Phillips).

Any new striker would likely be a cheap option, brought in on loan or a player who’s already owned by BlueCo (Simon Phillips), and you can make a case that Juventus star Dušan Vlahović could fall into the ‘bargain’ category.

Chelsea offered Dušan Vlahović as talks held with representatives

The Serbia international is out of contract at the end of this season, meaning Juve could be tempted into selling him for a cheap fee in January as opposed to losing Vlahovic for nothing next summer.

Vlahovic, who’s bagged four goals in eight appearances so far this season, is already planning for life after Turin, with his representatives speaking to a host of sides ahead of his looming exit.

That is according to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, who report that Chelsea have been offered Vlahovic as the Blues hold talks with his camp.

The 25-year-old, called a “real superstar” by members of the media during his Fiorentina days, earns a whopping £370,000-per-week at Juve, and any Chelsea terms near that amount would shatter their wage structure.

Unless Vlahovic takes a dramatic pay cut, Saudi looks like the best bet for him. That being said, Stamford Bridge could be an excellent move for Vlahovic’s career prospects.

His ability to score with both feet and dominate aerial duels would seriously complement Chelsea, offering a reliable focal point for Maresca’s attack. Additionally, Vlahovic’s top European experience shows he can handle pressure and deliver in big moments, having scored 11 goals across his Europa League and Champions League cameos since 2021/2022.

At Chelsea, he’d have the platform and service to flourish even more — feeding off Maresca’s plethora of creative wingers and midfielders to potentially devastating effect.

استقر الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف، على قرار مهم بشأن المحترف البرازيلي خوان بيزيرا، بعد تعرضه لإصابة خلال مواجهة طلائع الجيش في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وكان بيزيرا قد تعرض لإصابة في العضلة الخلفية خلال المباراة التي أقيمت على استاد القاهرة الدولي، والتي انتهت بفوز الزمالك بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشرة من الدوري.

ويستعد الزمالك للمشاركة في بطولة كأس السوبر المصري المقرر انطلاقها يوم الخميس المقبل، الموافق 6 نوفمبر، حيث يواجه فريق بيراميدز في الدور نصف النهائي من البطولة.

طالع أيضًا | صدمة لجماهير الزمالك.. مدة غياب بيزيرا وموقف صبحي وفتوح من السوبر المصري

وعلم موقع بطولات أن الجهاز الفني قرر ضم خوان بيزيرا إلى قائمة الفريق المسافرة إلى الإمارات في السابعة من مساء اليوم الإثنين، رغم الإصابة التي تعرض لها اللاعب أمام طلائع الجيش، وذلك في محاولة لتجهيزه من خلال برنامج تأهيلي مكثف قبل مواجهة بيراميدز المرتقبة.

ويأتي هذا القرار رغبة من الجهاز الفني في الإبقاء على فرصة مشاركة اللاعب، في حال تجاوزه الفحوصات الطبية بنجاح خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة.

يُذكر أن الفائز من مواجهة الزمالك وبيراميدز سيلتقي مع الفائز من مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

They share a fifth-wicket stand of 151 and Rob Yates scores 93 before home side fight back to parity at the close

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jun-2025

Sam Hain plays to the leg side•Getty Images

Warwickshire 372 for 7 (Yates 93, Hain 87, Barnard 66, Crocombe 3-73) vs SussexSam Hain and Ed Barnard, with a fifth wicket stand of 151 in 32 overs, gave Warwickshire the advantage on the opening day of their championship match against Sussex at Hove, before the home side fought back to achieve parity at the close.Hain played a particularly exhilarating innings, using his feet and wrists to play a medley of inventive strokes to unsettle the Sussex bowlers. He reached his half-century for the fifth time in as many Championship innings and went on to make 87 from 118 deliveries, with three sixes and seven fours. Barnard, impressive in a support role, made 66.It would have been worse for Sussex but for Henry Crocombe, their fastest and best bowler in only his second game of the season. Crocombe missed the start of the summer with injury but took six wickets in the win over Hampshire in May. Here, he took three wickets for 73, bending his back and achieving some pace.Sussex and Warwickshire started the match without the respective services of Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, but with the shared hope that both players might be available for the last two days of the game if not selected by England for the second Test against India at Edgbaston; Crocombe replaced Archer from the side that drew with Durham last week, while Zen Malik came in for Bethell in the side that had a similar stalemate with Somerset. Chris Rushworth also came in for Che Simmons.The warm weather and the Kookaburra ball helped persuade Warwickshire to bat first. But the cloud cover and the grassy pitch still offered encouragement to the Sussex seamers.The first session went Warwickshire’s way, their batters exploiting the short boundary on the pavilion side of the ground as Sussex struggled for penetration.Rob Yates, who has suffered indifferent form since his century in the opening match of the season, looked in particularly good form as he shared an opening stand of 79 with his captain, Alex Davies.Davies gifted Sussex their first wicket in the 18th over, looking in two minds as he uppercut a short delivery from Crocombe to Fynn Hudson-Prentice on the deep point boundary. But Warwickshire lunched on a comfortable 113 for 1.The second session, when the sun came out and the ball turned soft, promised further riches for the batting side. But Sussex, protecting their seven bowlers from the heat with short spells, and backing them up with spirited fielding, fought their way back onto level terms.Warwickshire lost their second wicket on 174 when Tom Latham edged one down the leg side from Crocombe, ending a second-wicket stand of 95. And one run later, in Crocombe’s next over, Hudson-Prentice produced an excellent reflex catch, hands above his head at backward square-leg, to dismiss Yates, who had struck 15 fours in his impressive 93 from 142 deliveries.Six overs later, the challenging Gurinder Sandhu moved one away from Malik, for John Simpson to take the regulation catch behind the stumps, and Sussex were on top, with Warwickshire 189 for 4, though they recovered to 242 for 4 at tea.Sussex took the new ball at 308 for 4 and took three further wickets. Crocombe (who will make way if Archer joins the game) almost had Haine caught at mid-on by Ollie Robinson, who finally had the batter well caught at leg gully by Tom Haines. Then Barnard and Corey Rocchiccioli fell near the end.

Arsenal have made plenty of brilliant additions to the club this year.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, and Eberechi Eze, for example, have all significantly strengthened Mikel Arteta’s first team.

However, the powers that be have also made some excellent off-the-pitch additions, most notably new Sporting Director Andera Berta.

The Italian helped oversee the impressive summer transfer window and has done incredibly well on the contract front, and now he appears to be ensuring a first-team star is getting a deal reflective of his importance, a star who Gary Neville once lambasted.

Berta's contract magic at Arsenal

The first bit of business Berta got done after being appointed Arsenal’s new Sporting Director was tying the monstrous Gabriel Magalhães down to a new long-term contract.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

The Brazilian titan put pen to paper on a new four-year deal in early June that saw his weekly wage increase to £150k, and while that is an enormous sum of money, he’s more than worth it, having helped the club produce the best defence for two seasons running, and potentially a third this year.

Not long after the former LOSC Lille ace agreed to new terms, Hale End gem Myles Lewis-Skelly was putting pen to paper a long-term deal of his own, one that runs until 2030, and is fully deserved after a breakout season that saw him make 39 first-team appearances, including ten in the Champions League, and two against Real Madrid.

The next renewal came a couple of months later, when, after plenty of speculation, most of which seems to have been unfounded, Ethan Nwaneri followed his fellow academy graduate by agreeing a five-year deal with the club.

The 18-year-old didn’t play as many minutes as the full-back last season, but he still made 37 appearances, and more importantly, scored nine goals and provided two assists, which for a teenager is incredibly impressive.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

Finally, the most recent contract extension Berta has overseen is that of William Saliba.

Arguably the most important of the lot, the French centre-back is regarded by many as one of the best in the world and has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid over the last couple of years.

With him and Gabriel at the back, there is no reason the Gunners can’t aim to win every competition they take part in.

Interestingly, while there have been four contract extensions, two players have simply seen their pay increase; Leandro Trossard and someone who’s gone from a potential problem to world-class.

The Arsenal ace who is now "the best in the world"

Like Trossard in the summer, David Raya has reportedly been handed a pay rise by Arsenal, and based on his performances over the last two years, it would be hard to say he doesn’t deserve it.

However, while he is now practically undroppable and one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad, that hasn’t always been the case.

For example, when he was initially signed on loan from Brentford in the summer of 2023, pundits and fans alike were somewhat bewildered by the move, if not outright dismissive, as Aaron Ramsdale was the club’s number one at that point.

Former keeper turned pundit Shay Given didn’t hold back in his assessment of the move, claiming the manager was “signing a problem.”

However, it soon became clear that the Spaniard would be the club’s new number one going forward, but that didn’t stop the criticism whenever he made a mistake or looked a little shaky.

For example, in the home game against Manchester City that October, Neville slammed the Barcelona-born shot-stopper, claiming, “I can spot a goalkeeper a mile off who is a nervous wreck, and David Raya is that at the moment.”

Fortunately, Arteta took little notice of the outside noise, and eventually the Bees’ former keeper settled into life at the Emirates and went from a possible problem to someone who has kept the North Londoners in a number of games over the years.

Moreover, he won the Golden Glove in his first season and repeated the feat last season, and he looks likely to do the same again this year, as in seven games, he has conceded just three goals.

On top of that, FBref rank the 30-year-old in the top 3% of keepers in the Premier League for save percentage per 90, so his excellent clean sheet record is not just down to the players in front of him.

With all that in mind, it is pretty difficult to disagree with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley that the Gunners’ unreal number one is now “in the conversation for the best in the world.”

Ultimately, while an extra year or two would have been perfect, Raya fully deserves his pay rise, and so long as he keeps playing the way he is, he may have a Premier League title to go along with a third set of golden gloves come May.

Big-money Berta signing could already be on borrowed time at Arsenal

Kai Havertz’s impending return is bad news for one player at Arsenal.

ByBen Gray Oct 8, 2025

We've been on a roll with our plus-money props.

Let's see if we can keep it going with a pair of striekout props today that look like good value on Monday night.

MLB Best Bets for Monday, June 17Paul Skenes over 8.5 strikeouts (+130) at DraftKings

It's Paul Skenes Day again!

Last week, we took the over for plus money on his 7.5 K prop, and we cashed. Skenes ended the day with eight strikeouts vs. the Cardinals, and he pitched into the seventh inning. Today's prop is even higher, and it's a lot harder to get to nine strikeouts than eight, but here are a few reasons why we are going for it.

First, true MLB fans are obligated to always take the over when Paul Skenes pitches.  

I'm kidding (sort of).

Second, the Reds have the third-highest strikeout rate in the league when facing right-handed pitching (26.3%),  and this is the first time they will have seen Skenes. The advantage goes to the pitcher in that scenario. 

Remember: Skenes' fastball is 

Third, Skenes is striking batters out at a 34.5% clip, for an average of 12.42 batters per nine innings.  If Skenes can make it into the seventh again, he has an excellent chance to exceed this prop.   

Skenes has exceeded this prop in only two of six starts; however, he did it vs. the Tigers and the Cubs, who have the sixth and seventh highest K-rates vs. right-handed pitching, respectively. The Reds are even more strikeout-prone, as mentioned above. 

For a juicy +130 payout, I'm willing to pull a ticket. 

James Paxton under 3.5 strikeouts (+125) at DraftKings

Paxton has been punching out batters at a mere 5.28 per nine innings this season. 

No, that is not a typo. 

The Rockies hit better and strike out less against left-handed pitchers and at home. Paxton has not logged more than three strikeouts since May 24th, and he's only reached four or more strikeouts in five of 12 starts this season.  

Paxton's FIP is 5.27, and things could get away from him at Coors. I don't see him going deep into this game, so for plus money, I'll bet on the under. 

Manchester United’s 15th-placed finish in the Premier League was their worst since the division’s formation back in 1992, with Ruben Amorim massively struggling in the role.

The 40-year-old was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins early on in the season following the sacking of Erik ten Hag – with the board backing him in the summer window.

INEOS handed the manager £200m worth of funds to improve his first-team squad, subsequently making additions and reinforcements to his attacking department.

However, to date, the signings have been to no avail, with the Red Devils once again being sat in 15th place after losing three of their first six Premier League outings in 2025/26.

It’s been reported that the hierarchy aren’t currently looking to make a change of manager, but given the dismal form, it would be no surprise to see action being taken in the coming weeks.

Alternative options are already being drawn up by the board to replace Amorim, with numerous managers appearing on their shortlist over the last couple of days.

The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement

Over the last couple of days, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has emerged as one of United’s primary targets for the managerial role at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard has led the Cherries to new heights, finishing ninth in England’s top-flight last year, but he could be on the move given he has less than a year remaining on his contract.

However, he’s not the only Premier League manager in their sights, with Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Hürzeler another under consideration, according to Football Insider.

They claim that the German is emerging as a top option for INEOS, with the hierarchy impressed by his work at the AMEX after his appointment in the summer of 2024.

The report also states that the 32-year-old could be tempted to jump ship should the Red Devils make a move for his signature, with his English top-flight experience another factor for the board.

Why United’s latest target could be Klopp 2.0

Whilst he’s no longer managing in the Premier League, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was a man that brought character to the division – but also endless pain to the United fan base.

The German only suffered five defeats in his 21 outings against the Red Devils, even claiming a historic 7-0 victory at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he may have managed their bitter rivals, there’s no denying the former Reds boss is a serial winner – claiming a Premier League title at Anfield, a feat the Red Devils have failed to do in 12 long years.

The prospect of landing the 58-year-old is an unrealistic one, but they could be about to land their own version of the German with a move for Hurzeler.

The 32-year-old may be relatively inexperienced given his one-year spell in England’s top-flight, but he’s already massively impressed, winning 25 of his 53 outings in charge.

Hurzeler, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Eddie Howe, has received huge praise from current Seagulls player James Milner, with the experienced man comparing him to former boss Klopp.

Such praise is a huge compliment to the German, subsequently highlighting the quality he possesses as a manager despite his tender age – whilst still having bags of time to improve further in the years ahead.

Fabian Hurzeler – stats at Brighton
Statistics	Tally
Games managed	53
Wins	25
Draws	15
Losses	13
Goals per game	2.02
Goals conceded per game	1.5
Points per game	1.7
Win percentage	47.1%
Stats via Transfermarkt

The underlying numbers further highlight how impressive the young boss has been on the South Coast, undoubtedly being an excellent option to replace Amorim should he be sacked.

His side have averaged over two goals scored per game during his tenure, whilst also conceding just 1.5 goals per game – with the German possessing an exciting brand of attacking football.

They’ve also achieved an average of 1.7 points per game, subsequently helping the Seagulls finish in the top half of England’s top-flight last season – with the Red Devils needing to take a risk in appointing the youngster.

It’s unclear how much it would cost to get him out of his current contract at the AMEX, but United desperately need a young and ambitious manager to inject a needed sense of optimism back into the squad.

If he can reach the levels achieved by Klopp during his own time in England, it would be a magnificent appointment, with the Red Devils needing to make a move quickly to prevent another embarrassing campaign.

Their own Pep: "Incredible" manager favourite to replace Amorim at Man Utd

Manchester United look set to turn to one other manager in their hunt to replace Ruben Amorim.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 1, 2025

While they are still in the relegation zone, things are starting to look up for West Ham United.

In his first game in the dugout, Nuno Espírito Santo oversaw a spirited fightback that saw the Hammers pick up a point away to Everton.

Moreover, while they lost against Arsenal, they were not blown away as they probably would’ve been under Graham Potter.

However, there is still more to come from the side, and while Jarrod Bowen continues to impress whenever he is on the pitch, another West Ham player could get back to his best and in the process become Nuno’s new Morgan Gibbs-White.

Changes Nuno can make for the next game

While it will take some time for Nuno’s tactical changes and philosophy to really sink into the side, there are a few changes he could make ahead of the next game that may lead to some instant results.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For example, while at his best, he can be a fulcrum for the attack, it might be time for Niclas Füllkrug to be taken out of the team, as he offered no threat whatsoever in the last two games.

Moreover, against the Toffees, he managed to lose ten of his 14 aerial duels, so on top of not worrying opposition defences, he’s also not holding the ball up enough.

Appearances

20

7

Minutes

877′

385′

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.4′

N/A

In place of the German, Callum Wilson could be given a start, or if the manager wants to be bold, he might go for an academy player like Callum Marshall or maybe even Josh Landers.

Another change that might be worth making is in the six position, as while Soungoutou Magassa is undoubtedly talented, he is clearly still adapting to the pace and power of the league.

The Frenchman only completed ten passes against the Gunners, lost Declan Rice for the opener, and lost three of four duels.

So, with a home game against Brentford after the international break coming up, it might be the perfect opportunity to hand Freddie Potts his first start for the club, as in his half an hour at the Emirates, he looked reasonably impressive.

However, while these changes might have a moderate impact in the short term, Nuno could see a more significant impact should one of West Ham’s best players rediscover his best form, someone who could become his new Gibbs-White.

The West Ham star who could be Nuno's new Gibbs-White

While Bowen will undoubtedly continue to be the superstar of this team, the player who could end up being a Gibbs-White style star for Nuno is Lucas Paqueta.

The former Lyon gem hasn’t been at his best in every game this season, but when he’s on track and things are going his way, it’s easy to see how he could have a similar impact on the team that the Englishman did at Nottingham Forest.

At his best under his former manager, the Tricky Trees’ talisman was a silky attacking midfielder who was as capable of scoring a sensational goal as he was of creating them for his teammates.

For example, in 38 games last season, totalling 3142 minutes, he racked up a tally of seven goals and ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.23 games, or every 184.82 minutes.

Now, while the Irons’ Brazilian “magician,” as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, hasn’t quite hit numbers like that since moving to East London, he has gotten reasonably close before.

For example, in 23/24, he chalked up an impressive tally of eight goals and seven assists in 43 games, totalling 3478 minutes.

That came out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.86 games, or every 231.86 minutes.

Now, if the 28-year-old was able to put up numbers like that in the past, there is no reason he can’t do so again, especially with Nuno in charge, who has a track record of getting more out of his attackers.

​​​​​​​

Finally, the last reason Paqueta could become West Ham’s own Gibbs-White is that, when confident, he is, as talent scout Jacke Kulig puts it, a “pure joy to watch,” and that is how many a Forest fan would likely describe their talismanic midfielder.

Ultimately, this could be a long season for West Ham as they look to get back to their best. However, if the manager can utilise his star midfielder in the same way as his last one, it might not be so bad.

Nuno can drop Fullkrug & Wilson for West Ham's 20-year-old "goalscorer"

The promising youngster could be Nuno’s answer to his Füllkrug & Wilson problem at West Ham.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 9, 2025

Following Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over Nashville SC in Game 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul – Messi’s longtime national team teammate – praised the captain’s influence and form. He added that Messi’s decision to remain with the Herons beyond this season has given the squad an extra spark heading into the postseason.

Getty Images Sport'We just have to keep enjoying him'

With Messi's future secured, Inter Miami now carry momentum – and confidence – and aim to make noise in the playoffs. De Paul underscored the importance of Messi’s contract renewal for the locker room’s morale.

“Knowing we’ll be together for a few more years gives us extra motivation,” De Paul said. “We just have to keep enjoying him.”

“It makes me really happy to see what he’s doing…There will never be another like him. Having him on my team every week is an advantage.”

AdvertisementMessi overcomes back concerns

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano also praised Messi’s impact after his two-goal showing in the playoff opener against Nashville SC. While concerns arose over a possible back injury, Mascherano downplayed them, saying too much was made of Messi’s brief absence from training. Messi showed no signs of slowing down on the pitch, guiding Miami to a crucial home win that places them on the brink of advancing to the second round.

“Everything that happens around Leo always takes on a bigger scale,” Mascherano said postmatch. “Sometimes there’s a lot of noise around him, so we preferred to protect him. At this stage of the season, less can be more – it’s about making sure he doesn’t take unnecessary risks and that any discomfort doesn’t get worse.”

Getty Images Sport'It was already agreed'

Mascherano also confirmed that Messi’s contract extension had been agreed upon for some time, even if it hadn’t been made official until recently.

“The club and Leo decided to make it formal before the playoffs to focus fully on the sporting side,” he said. “We were calm, because even if it wasn’t announced, it was already agreed.”

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Getty Images SportSlow start

The coach acknowledged that Miami struggled early in the match, especially with their high pressing, but praised his team for adapting quickly.

“It took us a bit to get our pressing right, but as the minutes went by, the boys adjusted really well,” he said. “In fact, the first goal comes from pressure, with Tadeo [Allende] winning the ball and allowing us to break quickly.”

Arsenal are now willing to make a £39m offer for an “amazing” star who’s been likened to Lionel Messi, and they are looking to get the deal done in the January transfer window.

Gunners vying to sign another winger despite Madueke's impact

It would be fair to say there was probably an overreaction to Noni Madueke arriving from Chelsea in the summer, with a number of fans making it clear they were unhappy, even going as far as to make a petition and start a #NoToMadueke campaign on X.

However, the 23-year-old has already started to silence the doubters, with Gary Neville saying: “Madueke is a lot better than I imagined and thought he would be. And certainly a lot better than Arsenal fans thought he would be.

“A couple of runs that he made for England on Tuesday night were a different level, they’re runs I thought, ‘ooh’. They’re runs… Arjen Robben used to make those runs against me.”

Arsenal set Real Madrid price tag after blunt William Saliba reply to new contract offer

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ByEmilio Galantini Sep 20, 2025

The winger was particularly impressive in the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest earlier this month, staking a claim to be a regular starter by winning 10 duels and completing five dribbles throughout the match.

Given that Mikel Arteta also has Bukayo Saka at his disposal on the right wing, it arguably makes little sense to bring in another option on that side, but that is exactly what the Gunners are planning to do.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now preparing a move for Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo, with the north Londoners looking to get a deal done in the January transfer window.

The Gunners are willing to make a €45m (£39m) bid for Kubo, with the report stating the winger could look to force an exit, given that he is unhappy with the Spanish club failing to reinforce the squad in the summer.

"Amazing" Kubo has been likened to Messi

Once lauded as “amazing” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Japanese winger has come on leaps and bounds since joining Real Sociedad in 2022, chipping in with 24 goals and 18 assists in 142 games for the La Liga side.

Not only that, but the 24-year-old has also been dubbed the ‘Japanese Messi’, which is perhaps the greatest compliment any player could receive, so there are signs he could be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

That said, there are some doubts over the Kawasaki-born star, given that he didn’t exactly set the world alight in La Liga last season, chipping in with five goals and zero assists across the campaign.

With that in mind, it would probably be best to avoid signing Kubo, particularly considering Arsenal really don’t need to sign another right-winger, having brought in Madueke as a back-up for Saka during the summer transfer window.

Tottenham striker Richarlison could leave the club in 2026, and it is believed that Thomas Frank has already been offered a replacement for the Brazilian.

Richarlison targeted by Orlando City with talks held

The 28-year-old started this season in electric fashion, scoring an early goal of the season contender with a bicycle kick against Burnley on the opening day, but doubts have surrounded Richarlison’s ability to lead the line on a consistent basis.

Signed for £60 million from Everton, the striker’s flashes of brilliance have been undercut by stretches of inconsistent form and bad luck with injuries.

Thomas Frank’s managerial record at Tottenham so far

Stats

Matches

11

Wins

6

Draws

3

Losses

2

Points

18

Points per game

1.91

Frank dropped Richarlison in favour of Mathys Tel against Leeds, with the Frenchman responding by scoring their opening goal of the game and helping Tottenham to a gritty 2-1 win at Elland Road.

With his contract expiring in 2027, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and the new-look Spurs board must make a decision on the striker’s long-term future soon.

Crystal Palace have been named as a potential destination for Richarlison, as have MLS side Orlando City, who’ve moved with the most serious intent so far.

Oscar Pareja’s side held a meeting with the forward’s representatives in London ahead of a potential 2026 move, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, with an exit for Richarlison next summer viewed as possible, even if he’s a “key player” for Frank at this moment in time.

Dominic Solanke’s injury woes, with the striker still out of action after minor ankle surgery, also highlights the potential need for Spurs to consider new striker options heading into next year.

Frank is said to have personally contacted Ivan Toney about the possibility of joining Tottenham on loan in January, according to some reports, and now Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović has emerged as an option too.

Tottenham offered Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović by agents

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and TBR Football, Vlahovic’s camp are reaching out to potential suitors, and they’ve held talks with Spurs.

The Serbia international’s contract expires in 2026, meaning he could be available either for free next summer or for a small fee in January. He’s started the campaign in fine form — scoring four goals in eight appearances so far — including a brace against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

That being said, he’d almost certainly have to take a dramatic pay cut on his rumoured £370,000-per-week wages if a move to N17 is to become possible.

As Tottenham are offered the chance to sign Vlahovic, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich also weighing up free transfer offers next summer, Frank’s side could potentially sneak ahead of the European heavyweights by agreeing a low-cost winter deal.

Money won’t be an obstacle, especially since the Lewis family have just pumped £100 million into Spurs via ENIC.

What’s more, Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé has already called Vlahovic “one of the best of his generation”.