Wrexham are reportedly targeting Tottenham Hotspur star Ben Davies for a summer move as his contract runs down.

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• Wrexham want to sign Ben Davies
• Davies set to leave Spurs this summer
• Wrexham want to reach Premier League soon

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham are preparing for their season in the Championship on the back of three straight promotions from the fifth tier of English football. The Red Dragons have been on the charge since their majority takeover by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and they now aim to create more history by making their way to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham have already been in contact with Fulham star Tom Cairney, and Football League World has now reported that the Red Dragons are now dreaming of making a move for Tottenham's Davies this summer as a free agent, with his contract set to run out in June.

• TELL ME MORE…

  Davies is set to leave Tottenham after an 11-year stint with the Lilywhites, and the 32-year-old is believed to be the perfect player for Wrexham. Their blueprint has to be to introduce experienced players in the fray to help them over the last few years.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  The Red Dragons are keen on doing what Ipswich Town managed last season: promotion to the back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. However, a lot of work will have to be undertaken this summer if they are to do that.

Essex 289 for 1 (Westley 138*, Browne 105*) vs KentTom Westley and Nick Browne both hit centuries as Essex advanced to 289 for one on day two of their LV= Insurance County Championship game with Kent at Canterbury.Westley scored a swashbuckling, unbeaten 138, which contrasted with Browne’s more measured 105 not out, but for the second day running conditions halted Essex’s progress, with just 32 overs possible.Kent’s bowlers toiled again and Westley and Browne have now put on an unbeaten 246 for the second wicket.Almost incessant overnight rain left the St. Lawrence outfield saturated, wiping out the entire morning session, but conditions slowly improved.Essex were on 164 for one when play finally got started at 3.15 pm and they carried on where they’d left off on day one, scoring at four an over, with only the occasional alarm.Westley reached three figures, from 129 balls, with a violent straight drive off Conor McKerr that flew to the Pavilion End boundary and it was 245 for one at tea, the duo having added 81 without loss in 22 overs.Browne took almost twice as long to pass three figures, hitting his 236th delivery, from Hamid Qadri, for two through the covers. Browne’s form had dipped since his epic 234 not out against Somerset last July and this was the first time he’d made even a half-century in 14 innings. His relief on making his century was transparent and Westley gave him a bear hug to celebrate the landmark.The leaden skies encouraged him to accelerate and he smacked a four off Evison before bad light forced the players off at 5:40 pm.With the rain falling once again play was subsequently abandoned for the day and just 74 overs have been bowled over days one and two.

Whilst Eddie Howe and his side have their sights firmly fixed on the Carabao Cup final, those away from the pitch at Newcastle United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star this summer.

Newcastle battling to sign 'the next Aguero'

The Magpies have endured a mixed season in the Premier League, with their battle to secure a Champions League place in danger of coming up just short as things stand. In all usual circumstances, their campaign could be destined to end in frustration. This time, however, Wembley and the chance to salvage a moment to savour against Liverpool awaits.

Howe deserves great credit for putting the Magpies in contention to finally end their wait for silverware. The former Bournemouth boss has been forced to make do with his current squad in the last two transfer windows, occasionally forming makeshift sides as a result. However, that could finally change when this summer arrives.

The Magpies have already been linked with moves for the likes of Tammy Abraham and could yet also turn towards a rising star in an attempt to boost Howe’s squad once and for all.

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According to Sabah, as relayed by Sports Witness, Newcastle are now battling to sign Semih Kilicsoy from Besiktas, who value their 19-year-old at just €15m (£12m) ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Magpies aren’t alone in their interest though, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa reportedly set to submit a third bid in pursuit of his signature. Sparking a race between two sides fighting for European qualification this season, those at St James’ Park should be desperate to get one over on those in the Midlands.

Meanwhile, such a battle for Kilicsoy’s signature should come as no surprise. The teenager is a rising star who looks destined to reach the very top, having been dubbed ‘the next Sergio Aguero’ by former EFL scout Jake McGhee.

"Fantastic" Kilicsoy is one to watch

Of course, if Kilicsoy is anything close to the level that Aguero reached throughout an illustrious career then Newcastle could be in for a treat if they make their move this summer. The Besiktas gem has once again been a standout in Turkey, scoring four goals and assisting a further six in all competitions to follow up an excellent campaign last time out.

Praised for a “fantastic first professional season” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kilicsoy is only just getting started. What is also worth noting is that in Aguero’s first season at Atletico Madrid, he managed six goals and two assists in La Liga compared to the 11 goals and two assists that Kilicsoy managed at 18 years old in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

So, whilst he has already been dubbed the next Aguero, the Besiktas star could yet become even better than the Premier League legend.

It’s safe to say that England and Manchester United go together like tea and biscuits.

The only Three Lions side to ever win the World Cup boasted three Red Devils, namely Nobby Stiles, Sir Bobby Charlton and John Connelly.

Of the modern-era, David Beckham became perhaps the most marketable English footballer we’ve ever seen while Wayne Rooney was his country’s record goalscorer before Harry Kane became their leading light.

It’s perhaps a sign of the times, therefore, that Thomas Tuchel’s England squad only consisted of one United player and technically he’s not even at the club moment. That’s Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford.

Sadly, he didn’t have the best of starts under the new management.

Marcus Rashford’s England return in numbers

It wasn’t long before new Man United manager Ruben Amorim decided he didn’t want to use Rashford.

As a result, he was excluded from match-day squads and sent out on loan to Villa in the winter transfer window.

While the 27-year-old has only started two Premier League games since moving on a temporary basis to Villa Park, Tuchel named him in his first England squad since taking over from Gareth Southgate.

Explaining why Rashford was recalled, Tuchel said last week: “I had the feeling that we need to reward him now, we need to feel him, he needs to be close to me, that he does not fall back into old routines. He stepped up his game impressively [at Villa] against the ball. This is the most important point for him – the intensity after ball loss.”

Anthony Gordon was probably the favourite to start on the left wing against Albania on Friday but it was Rashford who was handed the place instead.

Unfortunately, he didn’t exactly stake his claim for a prominent role moving forward with the manager slating both he and Phil Foden after the game: “Both of our wingers were not as impactful as normally they can be,” the boss stated.

Indeed, the Villa loanee left the pitch in the 74th minute having made just one key pass, not offered a shot and lost eight of his 12 duels.

It was certainly a talking point to recall Rashford to the squad but there are better options the manager must call upon, chiefly Gordon.

Rashford vs Albania

Minutes played

74

Touches

55

Accurate passes

35/41 (85%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

0/1

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

3/5

Ground duels won

4/12

Possession lost

13x

Fouls

3

Tackles

1

Stats via Sofascore.

So, Rashford might find it a struggle to start again but he’s not the only United player who should be fearful.

A bad night for Man United’s English contingent

At the European Championships, Southgate actually ignored Rashford for his squad but there was a place for both Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw.

Mainoo ultimately ended up becoming a key player through the tournament while Shaw spent most of the competition injured, not appearing until the quarter-final win over Switzerland.

Well, since that moment, the left-back has been injured again and it would be a surprise if he’s named in an England squad again.

The left side of defence has been a problem for England but it’s a position that’s beginning to sort itself. Had he not been injured then Newcastle’s Lewis Hall was primed and ready for a start. Instead, it was Myles Lewis-Skelly who earned his debut.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable rise this season, not making his senior bow until September last year. His England call was well deserved and his performance against Albania in the 2-0 win was fitting of the hype.

He won the Player of the Match award having scored the opener, darting in behind the defence and latching onto the end of a sublime Jude Bellingham pass to find the back of the net.

Such a fine performance from the teenager, along with Hall waiting in the background means that Shaw’s England days may now be over.

The same could be said for Harry Maguire who wasn’t in this squad due to injury. That said, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tuchel ignored him when he was fit.

That’s because England now have better options. Marc Guehi and John Stones were the first choice pairing at the Euros and are likely to be key under the new regime again, even if it was Ezri Konsa and debutant Dan Burn who started at Wembley on Friday night.

While Albania didn’t cause many issues, both more than looked the part and crucially for how Tuchel wants to play, they were good on the ball, carrying it forward into midfield areas with purpose.

Burn was notably impressive, boasting a whopping 153 touches and completing a sizeable 135 passes. He also very nearly scored, hitting the bar from a corner.

Konsa, on the other hand, was equally good, amassing 125 touches, 111 passes and winning all four of his ground duels.

With Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah also in the squad, Maguire is only slipping further down the pecking order, just as Shaw is.

While Tuchel isn’t completely obtuse to the idea of including experienced players – Jordan Henderson being a case in point – he must now look beyond the £340k-per-week duo.

Lewis-Skelly and Burn, in particular, have shown there’s value elsewhere. They’d be lucky to add to their current haul of England caps.

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Everton may finally be looking forward after a strong run of results under David Moyes, but the Scot will know he has plenty of work to do between now and the summer transfer window.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's uncertain Everton future

Due to injury, Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has vanished into the background since the early moments of David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park. The future couldn’t be more uncertain for the England international with three months left to run on his contract.

Finding himself among the Toffees’ top earners on £100,000 per week, the Sheffield-born man has contributed three goals in 22 appearances this campaign. While he offers a reference point in attack, there is an argument to say that now may be the time for all parties to go their seperate ways.

Over the last year, Calvert-Lewin has snubbed several offers to extend his Everton contract. His fitness problems have allowed Beto to take the mantle as the main centre-forward, registering five goals in his last five Premier League outings.

Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti have barely featured under Moyes or Dyche, spending prolonged spells on the sidelines that have left the Blues short of offensive firepower. Reading between the lines, they simply have to address the striker position during the summer window.

Everton’s strikers in 2024/25
Beto	6 goals in 19 appearances
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	3 goals in 22 appearances
Youssef Chermiti	N/A
Armando Broja	No goals in 6 appearances

Calvert-Lewin may be the one to make way given his high wages. However, his presence in attack will be difficult to replace, given the fact he is only 11 strikes behind Romelu Lukaku’s return of 68 goals during the Premier League era.

Looking to the future, Everton are now readying an enquiry about the availability of a top-flight star who is revered among supporters at Goodison Park.

Everton ready enquiry for Tottenham star Richarlison

According to GIVEMESPORT, Everton are set to enquire about the possibility of a sensational reunion with Richarlison this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur said to be looking for a fee of £40 million to sanction the Brazil international’s departure.

Despite arriving in North London for £60 million in 2022, Spurs are prepared to take a hit to get him off the books as he enters the final two years of his deal, leading to The Friedkin Group preparing an approach.

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Moyes is unlikely to wait around and wants to ascertain whether it would be possible to come to an agreement early in the summer transfer window. If not, the Scot will swiftly move on to alternative targets.

Richarlison has become a peripheral figure at Tottenham this campaign, notching three goals in 14 matches. Consistent niggles have prevented the 27-year-old from having a greater impact under Ange Postecoglou, though his scoring frequency in the Premier League this term stands at every 143 minutes.

While the former Watford star’s love for Everton is universally known, it remains to be seen whether Moyes will be given the financial backing to complete a statement deal once his side bed into their new home at Bramley Moore Dock.

It’s no secret that Arsenal’s primary objective this summer will be to sign a new striker.

Despite being a distant second in the Premier League and all but out of the title race, Mikel Arteta’s side still have the best defensive record in the competition, but when it comes to the other side of the coin, they are only the joint-third highest scorers.

Worst yet, the Gunners have scored just 53 goals, whereas Liverpool have put the ball in the back of the net 69 times in just 29 games, which might help explain the chasm in points between the two teams.

Fortunately, it appears as if the club are going to address this problem in the coming months, especially as the striker heavily touted for a move to Arsenal has been compared to none other than goalscoring extraordinaire Harry Kane.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

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In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Gunners’ have made the Slovenian striker their ‘number one target for the summer’ and are planning to double his current £91k-per-week salary at the Emirates.

However, while the North Londoners would like to complete the deal for around €60m, which is about £50m, the 21-year-old has a release clause worth €70m – £58m – in his contract, which could reach up to €80m by the end of the season, which comes out to £67m.

It would be a costly and potentially complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given his ability and potential, it is one well worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to Kane in the past.

How Sesko compares to Kane

There are several reasons why Arsenal should be going all out to sign Sesko this summer, but before getting to them, it’s worth examining this comparison to Kane and where it has come from.

In this case, it has primarily stemmed from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in last season’s Champions League, then created a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and came to the conclusion that the Englishman was the tenth most similar forward to the Slovenian.

The best way to see how they came to this conclusion is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they ranked closely, including but not limited to expected goals plus assists, non-penalty goals, goals per shot, attempted passes, shot-creating actions, clearances and more, all per 90.

Expected Goals Plus Assists

0.64

0.69

Non-Penalty Goals

0.44

0.42

Goals per Shot

0.13

0.15

Attempted Passes

19.6

19.1

Shot-Creating Actions

2.67

2.54

Clearances

0.67

0.59

Ball Recoveries

2.44

2.54

However, while being statistically similar to one of the very best strikers on the planet is certainly one reason why the Gunners should sign the former RB Salzburg ace, it’s not the only one.

For example, away from comparisons to the England captain, the Radeče-born dangerman has been a serious attacking threat this season and, in just 36 appearances, totalling 2655 minutes, has been able to score 17 goals and provide six assists.

That means the Leipzig star is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.56 games, or every 115.43 minutes, which for someone who is still just 21 and playing in a top-five league week in, week out is seriously impressive.

Finally, coming in at a height of 6 foot 5, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, would make an already tall and intimidating Arsenal team even more so, which sounds like something that would very much appeal to Arteta.

Ultimately, it might cost the club a pretty penny, but the Gunners should be doing all they can to sign Sesko this summer, not just because he’s been compared to Kane but because he looks like one of the most promising strikers on the market.

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Afghanistan were dealt a big blow late in the day when their captain Shahidi had to retire hurt after a blow to the helmet

Mohammad Isam16-Jun-2023

Najmul Hossain Shanto is chuffed with his second century of the match•BCB

After another near-perfect day in Dhaka, where Najmul Hossain Shanto scored his second century of the Test match, Bangladesh have set themselves up for victory. Afghanistan have an improbable target ahead of them – 662 – and in their battle to stay alive they suffered an injury to their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi who was hit on the helmet by a Taskin Ahmed bouncer and had to retire hurt.Bangladesh dominated proceedings with the bat as Shanto helped himself to 124 in 151 balls and Mominul Haque also raised a hundred of his own, finishing unbeaten on 121 off 145. The target they set – 662 – is the highest they have ever done in Test cricket but it came as no surprise. Head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe declared their intention before the start of play on Friday. He said that they wanted to bat all the way through. Some expected Bangladesh to declare after Mominul reached his hundred, but the team preferred to grind Afghanistan down.It seemed to pay immediate dividends considering the first 11 balls of the chase produced two key wickets. Shoriful Islam trapped Ibrahim Zadran lbw for a golden duck and even DRS couldn’t save the batter. The ball pitched on leg stump and was projected to hit it. Taskin Ahmed then had Abdul Malik caught behind for 5, when he went chasing after the fast bowler’s away swinger.Things got worse when Shahidi, on 13 off 14, was struck on the head, as he ducked into Taskin’s bouncer. The Bangladesh slip cordon and fielders, and the Afghanistan physio ran towards Shahidi, who stayed mostly on the floor after the hit. He walked off the ground after several minutes of on-field checks, although a stretcher was also brought out for him.Hashmatullah Shahidi was hit by a bouncer and Litton Das checks on him•Walton

Earlier, Shanto, Mominul, Zakir Hasan (71) and Litton Das (66*) propelled Bangladesh’s second innings to 425 for 4. It was a day of mostly waiting for milestones and the declaration. Bangladesh’s 661-run lead is their biggest after batting two innings – the previous best was 476 against Zimbabwe in 2021.Shanto and Zakir added 173 runs for the second wicket, the first instance that Bangladesh had two 100-plus second-wicket stands in a Test match. In the first innings, Shanto and Joy added 212 runs.Zakir fell on 71 when a relayed throw from Nasir Jamal to Ibrahim, found him well short of the striker’s end. He struck eight fours in his 95-ball knock. Shanto and Mominul added 83 runs for the third wicket. Shanto reached his century in the second innings during this partnership. He took 115 balls to reach the landmark, his primary areas of scoring through the covers and midwicket.Shanto’s end came when he tipped a simple catch to midwicket off left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan, who took out Mushfiqur Rahim in the same over as well. Mushfiqur had mistimed a reverse sweep which ballooned to Ibrahim at slip.Mominul and Litton took up the baton to keep the Bangladesh innings going, with Mominul reaching his century in the third session. It came off 123 balls, when he ramped Yamin Ahmadzai for four over the slip cordon. Mominul scored most of his fours through third man and midwicket. His only six came down the ground off Hamza Hotak. Litton remained unbeaten on 66 off 81 balls with eight fours.Zahir took two wickets on the third day, while Hotak had taken one wicket in the second evening.

With less than two months left in the 2024/25 season, it would be a surprise to know that Leeds United will have one eye on the summer transfer window with numerous big calls needing to be made.

Daniel Farke has led the Whites to the top spot in the table with just eight games remaining, but it’s unclear how many of his most recent starting eleven will remain at Elland Road next season.

Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell are both currently spending the season on loan in Yorkshire, with it currently unclear whether either player will return on a permanent basis next season.

Junior Firpo, Sam Bryan and Joshua Guilavogui’s deals all expire at the end of June, with decisions needing to be made if they are to be offered an extension on their current contracts.

One thing is for sure, with Farke needing to finally cash in on one player who’s been well below the levels expected of him over the last couple of months in the Championship.

Why Leeds must sell Aaronson this summer

Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson moved to Leeds in the summer of 2022 from Austrian side RB Salzburg, costing a mammoth £25m, but was unable to prevent the side being relegated from the Premier League.

As a result of the drop back into the second tier, he would leave on loan, joining Union Berlin, before returning to Elland Road for the ongoing season, looking to be a key player in the early stages of the season.

The American notched nine of his ten goal contributions by the end of December, only managing one in the last four months, struggling to match the early-season heights he set for himself.

He’s often come under fire for his lack of impact, costing the side two points in the last clash with QPR, by giving the ball away in his own area before Koki Saito fired home for the hosts.

Given his recent form, it’s clear he’s not at the level required, with Farke needing to cut his losses, offloading him alongside another player to allow for fresh blood in the squad.

The Leeds player who’s bled the club of £22m

Regardless of what division Leeds find themselves in next season, additions are needed across the board to hand Farke with the added strength in depth he needs.

However, outgoings could be used to fund such additions, with Aaronson just one of those who could command a decent transfer fee given the money paid for him a few years ago.

Striker Patrick Bamford originally joined the club back in the summer of 2018, looking to provide the goods in front of goal after his £7m transfer from Middlesbrough.

Whilst he notched 10 goals in his debut year, it wasn’t enough to secure promotion, losing to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals during Marcelo Bielsa’s first year at the helm.

However, he would play a key role in the promotion-winning season the year after, notching 16 goals and maintaining his place at the top end of the pitch under the Argentine – having his best-ever season in 2020/21.

The 31-year-old scored 17 Premier League goals and subsequently earned an England call-up, but he’s massively struggled to replicate such form since, only registering 17 goals over the last four seasons combined.

This year alone, he’s been plagued by injuries, featuring just 11 matches and unable to find the back of the net once, with the club desperately needing to offload him given his £80k-per-week wages.

Patrick Bamford’s time at Leeds United (2018-2025)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2018/19

25

10

2

2019/20

47

16

4

2020/21

38

17

7

2021/22

10

2

3

2022/23

31

6

4

2023/24

36

9

2

2024/25

11

0

0

Total:

198

60

22

Stats via Transfermarkt

Bamford has since earned over £15m in wages during his time at the club, which, when combined with his transfer fee, has seen him bleed the club dry of around £22m.

Whilst he made himself a fan-favourite during his early years in Yorkshire, he’s rapidly declined over the last few years, with Bamford not proving value for money given his staggering wages.

He’s entering the back end of his career, with the 49ers needing to cut ties to provide Farke with the budget to make his own stamp on the forward line ahead of the 2025/26 season.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Mar 27, 2025

Rayan Cherki received tremendous praise from Didier Deschamps after Manchester City-bound star's first start for the France national team.

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• Cherki's debut start in Nations League playoff
• Deschamps praises creativity and on-ball flair
• City move looms after Lyon bid rejected

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Cherki earned his first start for the French senior team in a 2-0 win over Germany in the Nations League third-place play-off on Sunday. Though he wasn’t decisive like in his stunning cameo against Spain, his flair and confidence were on display. In the post-game press conference French Coach Deschamps praised the attacking midfielder's potential, saying: "He needs to be at the heart of the game."According to reports, a move to City is nearing completion, with a five-year deal reportedly agreed and negotiations progressing quickly.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As the Les Bleus eyes the 2026 World Cup, Deschamps is clearly investing in youth with big potential and hopes to see Cherki take on a pivotal role in every game he plays for the national team. Meanwhile, a switch to the Etihad outfit could further accelerate his development in elite footballing environments.

• AFP
  

  WHAT DESCHAMPS SAID

  The 21-year-old Lyon talent, who had dazzled when he came off the bench for his debut against La Roja in the semi-final, did enough to earn the praise of head coach. He told reporters: "He did what he knows how to do. Today, he did some good things, others less so. He lost the ball a few times. He needs to be at the heart of the game, even if it happened to him with his club to play on one side. He exudes a lot of joy, he is happy to be here. He has this ability to eliminate, make accurate passes. If all the players on their first call-up to the national team did the same thing… I don't know where he will be in September, certainly not in the same place, it will require confirmation and continuity."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR RAYAN CHERKI?

  Cherki is reported to have a £25 million ($34m) release clause in his Lyon contract, which runs until 2026. With City and Lyon now in talks, his move to the Etihad could be confirmed soon. If the transfer goes through, he will join a squad stacked with attacking talent, raising the stakes for a young player eager to prove he belongs at the very top.

It’s been a testing season for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side might still be in the Champions League, but their hopes of finally winning the Premier League are all but over.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as it’s unlikely that they’ll have to deal with as many major injuries next season, and it now looks as if former Atlético Madrid Sporting Director Andrea Berta will be joining the club to help get some big-money moves over the line in the summer.

In fact, recent reports have identified one of the most exciting attackers in England as the Italian’s primary target, someone who could be the Gunners’ own Antoine Griezmann.

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By
Matt Dawson

Mar 10, 2025

Berta wants to bring big-money forward to Arsenal

Arsenal have been linked with a plethora of strikers in recent windows. Last summer it was Benjamin Sesko but he decided to remain at RB Leipzig, penning a new contract.

Then, in January, there were regular rumours involving Newcastle forward Alexander Isak but his £150m asking price is a major deterrent. So, who will they turn to next?

Well, according to a recent report from Spain, Berta has already identified his primary target for the summer transfer window: Matheus Cunha.

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The report has revealed that while the Brazilian star remains a name on the radar for plenty of Premier League clubs, Arsenal are favourites for his signature given that the Italian has a prior relationship with him, forged when he signed for Atlético.

The story does not mention a potential transfer fee, but according to Sky Sports, the Wolverhampton Wanderers ace has a release clause of around £62m in his new contract.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Cunha’s immense ability, one well worth pursuing, especially as he could be Arsenal’s Griezmann.

Why Cunha would be Arsenal's own Griezmann

So, before we get into why Cunha would be a great signing in his own right, let’s examine why he could also be seen as Arsenal’s own Griezmann.

The comparison primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Frenchman is the most similar forward to the Brazilian.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected goals plus assists, goals per shot, key passes, crosses into the penalty area, clearances, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Cunha & Griezmann
Statistics per 90	Cunha	Griezmann
Expected G+As	0.56	0.53
Goals per Shot	0.15	0.21
Key Passes	1.81	1.77
Crosses into the Penalty Area	0.38	0.37
Goal-Creating Actions	0.38	0.47
Switches	0.46	0.42
Clearances	0.92	0.88
Carries	30.0	32.7
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

However, it’s not just the statistical similarities or the fact that they have both been signed by Berta before that would make the “unbelievable” ace, as dubbed by journalist Alex Richards, the Gunners version of the Frenchman.

The other key characteristic he shares with the Atleti star is his positional versatility.

For example, since moving to Wolves, the 25-year-old has played 39 games as a centre-forward, 21 in attacking midfield, 12 as a second striker, three at left wing and one at right wing.

Moreover, as he’s shown in games against Manchester United, Fulham and Liverpool this season, he’s more than capable of making things happen all on his own.

Finally, away from any comparisons to the elite of European football, the Old Gold’s talisman has also been able to rack up a healthy tally of 15 goals and four assists in just 29 appearances.

That means the former Hertha Berlin star is averaging a goal involvement every 1.52 games for a relegation-threatened side.

Cunha’s 24/25
Appearances	29
Minutes	2376′
Goals	15
Assists	4
Goal Involvements per Match	0.65
Minutes per Goal Involvement	125.05′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, it might cost them a pretty penny, but Arsenal should do what they can to bring Cunha to the Emirates this summer.

Not only would they be getting a Greizmann-esque star, but also a Premier League-proven game-changer to boot.

Better than Zubimendi: Arsenal must regret "losing" incredible star in 2021

Arsenal may have made a mistake in not keeping hold lf the star after his time away from the Emirates.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 11, 2025