Barcelona have no intention of executing the option to buy clause in Adama Traore’s contract loan contract from Wolves.
What’s the word?
That is according to the latest report from the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that the Catalan-based side do not intend to pay the €30m (£25.5m) fee that was negotiated when the player signed on loan from Wolves.
Taking to Twitter, Romano stated: “The only way to keep him [at Barcelona] has always been a swap deal, with no money included in the negotiation with Wolves.
“As of today, there are chances for Adama to come back at Wolves and then leave again.”
Wolves fans left confused
The latest update from Romano will leave the Old Gold faithful confused as to how they should be feeling.
On one hand, his return to the Molineux could serve as a major boost for both the club and the player, with the Spaniard-of-Malian-descent surely out to prove Xavi wrong.
On the other hand, Lage’s side have drastically struggled to create chances this season, having created just 35 chances this season – the third worst in the league – and Adama’s direct approach can shake up the Old Gold’s frontline once more.
Traore played around half of the season for Wolves before leaving to join Barcelona on-loan and registered an average of seven successful dribbles per 90, which to this day is still the highest metric amongst the entirety of the Premier League – with Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin’s average of 4.9 dribbles per game the nearest threat.
Raul Jimenez has certainly looked like a shadow of his former self without his partner Adama pinging crosses into the box. So if Adama was to stay, you could certainly expect a boost in creative numbers at the Molineux next season.
Though as Romano stated in his latest update, “there are chances for Adama to come back at Wolves and then leave again.”
After suffering for game time for the Blaugrana recently, Adama has been affected, with a report from Spanish outlet, Sport, claiming that the 26-year-old was “very upset after not even warming up against Mallorca.”
With Wolves’ reported desire to sign Ez Abde from Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele out of contract at the end of the season, La Masia youth product may just get a second opportunity to show Xavi exactly what he is made of in what would be a second consecutive loan spell for the forward.
In other news: Agent links: Wolves eyeing move for sensational “discovery”, Imagine him and Jimenez
Manchester City are back in Premier League action this evening after their exhilarating 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
This time, Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Elland Road to take on Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United, with the visitors looking to add as many points as they can to their tally and potentially retain the league title.
The previous meeting between the two teams saw City put seven goals past the Yorkshire club back in December, when the Whites still had Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.
Heading into today’s clash, it seems as though the away side will have to take on Leeds without two of their key players.
What’s the news?
Speaking in his latest press conference, Guardiola revealed that Kyle Walker and John Stones will not be fit enough to play against the Yorkshire club.
Walker picked up an issue during the second leg of City’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid last month, whereas Stones was forced off in the first half against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in midweek.
At such a crucial stage of the season where every point matters and the games are coming thick and fast, having two defensive options unavailable is undeniably a big blow for the team and terrible news for Guardiola.
Throughout the current league campaign, the duo have racked up a combined total of 38 interceptions, 20 tackles, 234 recoveries and 69 aerial duels won.
This highlights just how important the England pair are for City at the back and why they will be a big loss for today.
Leeds are currently unbeaten in their last five league games, scoring nine goals in the process, so it could be a tricky day for the visitors, especially given that they will be without Stones and Walker.
Moving forward, Guardiola and every City fan will be hoping that the other defensive options who will be fit enough to play this evening will do their bit in helping the Premier League champions to emerge victorious from Elland Road.
Looking beyond today’s showdown, the City manager will surely have his fingers crossed that the injured defensive pair will be able to feature at some point before the season ends and potentially secure the Premier League and/or Champions League titles.
In other news: In talks: Behind-scenes development emerges, it’s great news for Man City supporters
A previously undiagnosed injury is now set to leave one Newcastle United star sidelined for the majority of December in a frustrating blow for Eddie Howe.
Howe demands fresh "consistency" ahead of Tottenham clash
It’s been one step forward and two steps back for Newcastle all season, but their convincing victory over Everton may yet be the turning point for their campaign. The Magpies brushed the Toffees’ aside to bounce back from Champions League defeat, but Howe is now demanding more “consistency” from his side.
Any change in fortunes would certainly be well-timed ahead of the January transfer window, too. Those at St James’ Park endured a chaotic summer window, before eventually adding reinforcements to Howe’s squad, but are still targeting a number of fresh faces to end unfinished business.
That could yet include a move for James Trafford. The England international chose Manchester City in the summer, but has since been forced to watch on from the bench following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival. Now, he’s reportedly been allowed to leave the club in January, with Newcastle among his admirers.
The goalkeeper position has been a hot topic of debate in Tyneside as of late and the availability of Trafford, plus Pope’s recent injury may yet see Newcastle make their move.
Newcastle learn extent of Nick Pope injury
As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Newcastle are now set to be without Pope until Boxing Day at the earliest after a specialist diagnosed his groin injury.
It’s frustrating news for Howe, who told reporters in the build-up to his side’s game against Tottenham that Newcastle were still trying to get a “proper diagnosis”.
Without the towering goalkeeper, Newcastle will turn towards summer signing Aaron Ramsdale. Whether he can make a claim to become their No.1 on a permanent basis remains to be seen, however.
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Despite Pope’s recent mistakes, Howe was quick to describe the 33-year-old as “outstanding” after the Marseille game, but will now be forced to kick on without him.
As the fixtures come thick and fast, and Newcastle seek consistency, the absence of one of their most experienced men couldn’t have been timed much worse.
Better than Anderson: £70m "monster" is now open to joining Newcastle
Crystal Palace are now considering a move for an “incredible” defender as a replacement for Marc Guehi, with the England international expected to leave on a free transfer.
Palace looking to sign Guehi replacement
Guehi came very close to signing for Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window, but the move fell through at the last minute, with talkSPORT’s Alex Crook revealing that Oliver Glasner played a major role in preventing the deal going ahead.
Despite the centre-back’s move to the reigning Premier League champions breaking down, he hasn’t kicked up a fuss, which led to high praise from England manager Thomas Tuchel, who said: “He looks absolutely fine and impressive on the field. He has had a good couple of weeks behind him on the performance side.
“He has continued like that in camp and he handles it [the transfer situation] with respect and with a brilliant attitude.”
More recently, the 25-year-old once again underlined his importance to the Three Lions by putting in a very impressive performance against Wales, keeping a clean sheet and assisting his side’s opening two goals, which helped secure a 8.2 SofaScore match rating.
The Palace captain, who is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, continues to attract interest ahead of next summer, with Real Madrid recently being named as potential suitors.
According to a report from We Are Palace, Guehi is expected to leave on a free next summer, with Crystal Palace not even attempting to convince him to stay anymore, and a Ligue 1 defender has been identified as a potential replacement.
Indeed, Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell is now being considered as an option, having impressed Palace scouts with his performances in Ligue 1 last season, making 31 appearances as his side went on to secure a 10th-placed finish.
Cresswell is accustomed to playing in a three-at-the-back formation, which means he could be an ideal fit in Glasner’s system, and he is thought to have significant potential.
"Incredible" Cresswell could be solid Guehi replacement
At just 23-years-old, the Toulouse defender is at a good age to be a long-term replacement for Guehi, and he evidently has the talent to be a success at Selhurst Park, having put in some very impressive performances for Toulouse over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Blocks
1.72 (88th percentile)
Clearances
6.88 (89th percentile)
Aerials won
3.50 (96th percentile)
Once lauded as “incredible” by football scout Jacek Kulig, the Englishman was also a key player for the Three Lions as they went on to win the Under 21 European Championships in the summer, starting all six games.
Crystal Palace in touch with "unsettled" England international as January deal possible
The Eagles could seal a winter transfer.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 10, 2025
Cresswell could be a fantastic signing for Palace, with it looking almost certain that Guehi will leave on a free transfer, but he is not the only exciting option on the shortlist, with West Ham United’s Max Kilman also recently being identified as a target.
Despite having to settle for a 0-0 draw last time out in the Premier League, the vibes are still at an all-time high at Everton.
After all, on another day, the Toffees would have picked up another victory in that unfortunate stalemate versus Aston Villa, with David Moyes and Co. somehow squandering 20 efforts in total across the course of the frustrating clash.
With Everton sitting in a pretty sixth position at the moment, Moyes will be hopeful that the glory days of his previous long reign as boss are back to stay, with the much-loved Scotsman once consistently steering the Merseyside outfit to top-half finishes.
No relegation worries seem to be seeping in, with the former West Ham United boss-turned-returning Toffees manager even possessing his next Wayne Rooney now, arguably, to ramp up the nostalgia even more.
Rooney's heroics at Everton
Much like Moyes, Rooney would also return to Merseyside in 2017.
The celebrated attacker had gone on to Manchester United in 2004 and won trophies galore, with a sublime tally of 253 goals and 142 assists coming his way. Safe to say, Rooney was correct to originally leave his hometown club behind, even if it was so early into his fledgling career.
He still showed he could turn on the style on his return, too, with this memorable effort against West Ham United, sending the Goodison Park masses into raptures.
Across the full 40 games on his return, there were no signs that his legs had gone, which might well have been a worry so deep into his esteemed playing days, with 13 goal contributions notched up in total, making it a special reunion for the magical forward.
Amazingly, despite Rooney being such an enigmatic, one-off presence on the pitch, Moyes might well feel he has his next coming of the entertaining great at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, even so early into life in their brand-new home.
Everton's new "game changer"
Everton fans will be far happier going to watch their team now than the gloom and doom tenure of Sean Dyche, with the attractive football being served up.
Indeed, away from firing blanks against the Villans last time out and Leeds United on the opening day, the Toffees have managed to bag an electric five goals from their other clashes this season, with Jack Grealish often at the heart of a vibrant attacking move working out.
Many would have surely anticipated that this move for Grealish to leave Manchester City for pastures new on Merseyside would pay off, with the former Villa midfielder a star on the same level as Rooney’s excellence when on top form.
But, nobody would have quite expected how easy the 30-year-old would find it to instantly hit the ground running in the manner he has.
From just five games under Moyes’ wing, Grealish already has a blistering four assists next to his name, with his split-second ability to carve out an opening or excite the Toffees contingent with an effort of his own making him a Rooney-like presence already.
Aston Villa
96
15 + 22
Manchester City
94
12 + 11
Everton
4
0 + 4
To further validate the comparison point, it’s clear that Grealish – much like his revered counterpart – needed a switch like the one he sealed to Everton to get his waning career back on track, with the three-time Premier League winner losing his way somewhat in Manchester.
Similarly, it was clear from Rooney’s final few seasons at Old Trafford that he wasn’t the spritely star he once was, with rampant injuries often getting the better of him.
But, as is clear now with the two mavericks in question, form might be temporary, but class is permanent.
Grealish’s class has been so prominent so far at Everton that he has even been hailed as a “game changer” for his standout efforts by analyst Matt Smith.
Amazingly, this resurrection of the skilful Englishman might well stand him in good stead to be remembered as an all-time great in the Premier League, alongside Rooney, with the Toffees faithful already heralding him as an icon in the here and now, that’s for sure.
An Isak-esque signing: Moyes has struck gold on "incredible" Everton star
Everton’s promising summer transfer window has sparked a positive start to the league season.
We are only three games into the season, and there are already so many things to talk about around Arsenal.
One of the more positive developments has been the emergence of Max Dowman, who, after being talked about for almost a year, finally made his Premier League debut against Leeds United in gameweek two.
He looked right at home in senior football, won a penalty and impressed Mikel Arteta enough to earn a substitute appearance away to Liverpool the following week.
It certainly feels like the youngster is destined to reach the top of the game, and it appears that Hale End has another gem on their hands in a 16-year-old who could be the perfect replacement for William Saliba.
William Saliba's Arsenal career
Arsenal signed Saliba from Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2019 – under Unai Emery – but as we all know, he wouldn’t get his chance to play for the club until three years after that.
Instead, the young Frenchman was sent on three season-long loans, to his former club, OGC Nice and then finally Marseille, who even tried to sign him permanently due to his hugely impressive performances.
However, Arteta and Co. very wisely made it clear the Bondy-born monster was not for sale, and as he was named the Man of the Match in just his first game for the Gunners, it was instantly apparent to English fans why he was so highly rated in France.
Since then, the 24-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has amassed 137 appearances for the North Londoners, in which he’s scored seven goals and provided two assists.
He has also been named in the PFA Team of the Year for three seasons on the bounce, which just goes to show the level of player Arteta has in his squad.
Appearances
137
Starts
135
Minutes
11968
Goals
7
Assists
2
Points per Game
2.06
However, while a new contract is reportedly in the works, his current deal expires in two years, and Real Madrid have constantly been linked with him over the last couple of transfer windows.
While Arsenal will be hoping Saliba remains at the club for years to come, if that’s not the case, they might already have the perfect replacement brewing in a Hale End talent who could be a bit like Dowman.
Hale End's perfect Saliba replacement
It should go without saying that, at this very moment in time, Arsenal fans shouldn’t expect an academy gem to come in and perfectly replace Saliba.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but we promise you it’s not, as there is an enormous amount of excitement around the youngster from those in the know.
For example, Hale End expert Will Balsam has described him as the academy’s “best defensive prospect in recent memory,” which is almost as bold as respected analyst Ben Mattinson, who’s claimed the 16-year-old is the “best CB Hale End has produced.”
Moreover, he shares plenty of the same characteristics as the French international, with Balsam pointing out his “composure under pressure and ability to read the game”, which pair brilliantly with his “mix of control and aggression.”
It’s not just outsiders who have high hopes for the youngster, either, as the club has already moved him up the U21s and Arteta gave him a run-out against Newcastle United and AC Milan in pre-season.
Finally, on top of everything we’ve already talked about, one of the biggest strengths of the Gunners’ number two is his passing range, and according to Rising Stars XI, the Hale Ender is also more than accomplished at that.
Ultimately, Arsenal should do whatever they can to keep Saliba on the books for as long as possible, but they can rest assured that in Salmon, they’ll have an ideal replacement a few years from now.
Their homegrown Isak: Arsenal may regret selling "special" Hale Ender
The talented goalscorer could have become something really special at Arsenal.
Celtic have been incredibly busy in the early weeks of the summer transfer window as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan have already been unveiled as new additions to the team, with both players set to officially join as free agents at the start of next month.
As you can see in the graphic above, the Scotland international is returning for a second spell at Parkhead, having left the Hoops to join Arsenal in the Premier League in the summer of 2019.
Celtic are also set to complete the signing of FC Nordsjælland winger Benjamin Nygren, who is due to put pen to paper on a contract that could last five years.
Brendan Rodgers is also in the market to land a senior number nine, after a deal for young Fulham forward Callum Osmand, having been left with just Adam Idah since Kyogo Furuhashi left the club in January.
Celtic sold the Japan international to Rennes for a reported fee of £10m at the start of the year, ending what was a very successful time for him in Glasgow.
Celtic hit gold with Kyogo Furuhashi
The Scottish Premiership giants paid a fee of £4.3m to sign the attacker from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021, with Ange Postecoglou at the helm, and it is fair to say that they got their money’s worth.
Kyogo went on to rack up 85 goals and 19 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops in three-and-a-half years at Parkhead before his move to France in January.
That included a stunning return of 34 goals in the 2022/23 season, as you can see in the clips above, and these statistics show that the club hit gold by snapping him up for a fee of just £4.3m.
Kyogo also stepped up for the Light Blues in big moments during his time in Glasgow, as evidenced by his haul of eight goals in 17 games against Rangers.
Hearts
14
11
Rangers
17
8
St Johnstone
11
8
Aberdeen
13
7
St Mirren
13
6
Dundee
8
6
As you can see in the table above, Hearts are the only team the Japanese striker scored more goals against for Celtic than Rangers in his time at the club.
Taking all of this into consideration, and the £10m fee they got for him in January, it is clear to see that the Hoops hit the jackpot by signing Kyogo in 2021.
The Scottish giants did not sign another striker to take his place in the January window, but they are now reportedly eyeing a star who would be a dream replacement for the Japan international.
Celtic confident of deal for Premier League striker
According to Football Insider, Celtic are confident that they will be able to win the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson this summer.
The report claims that they believe that they can strike a deal to land him on a season-long loan ahead of Premier League teams Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It adds that Rodgers is pushing for the club to sign the Ireland international to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch for the 2025/26 campaign.
Former scout Mick Brown explained why the Hoops are a good option for the striker, telling Football Insider:
“Celtic can offer attractive opportunities to players like Ferguson. They’re going to be playing in the Champions League and competing for trophies, which would be valuable experience for a player of his age.”
Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson.
It is now down to the club to agree a deal with Brighton before convincing the striker that a move to Parkhead is the best next step in his young career.
Why Celtic should sign Evan Ferguson
The Hoops should sign the Premier League youngster this summer because he is a talented number nine who is more valuable than his 2024/25 campaign suggests.
On the face of it, signing a striker who just scored one goal in 23 games for Brighton and West Ham combined is not too appealing. However, it is worth keeping in mind that a knee injury kept him out from April to August last year, which meant that he missed all of pre-season and played catch-up all season.
Ferguson’s form in the previous two Premier League seasons for Brighton, with a pre-season under his belt, suggest that he has the potential to be a dream replacement for Kyogo at Parkhead.
Possibly the biggest problem Kyogo had at the end of his Celtic career was his finishing, as he missed 46 ‘big chances’ in his last 18 months, scoring 27 goals in that time.
The Brighton youngster, whose finishing was hailed as “phenomenal” by James Milner, has shown that he has the quality to be very efficient in front of goal at Premier League level in recent years.
22/23
5.67
6
+0.33
23/24
3.97
6
+2.03
24/25
1.36
1
-0.36
Total
10.29
13
+1.89
As you can see in the table above, Ferguson outperformed his xG in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns for the Seagulls, which speaks to his ability to find the back of the net effectively at the very top level.
These statistics show that the potential is there for him to come in as an upgrade on what they had with Kyogo in the number nine position, because he is a clinical finisher who may not miss as many ‘big chances’ as the Japan international.
The Premier League forward would also bring more physicality to the table than Kyogo, as he has won 44% of his aerial duels in the 2023/24 campaign – when he last played regularly.
Whereas, the former Hoops marksman won 33% of his aerial battles this season in the Premiership, and 26% of them in the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that Ferguson would be more effective as a target man for the team to hit when they need to play a longer pass to break a press or clear the ball from danger.
Worth more than Kyogo: Celtic have hit the jackpot on "incredible" star
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Overall, the 20-year-old attacker’s finishing quality and physical attributes could make him a dream replacement for Kyogo, as well as being an upgrade on him. The largest sticking point could well be a price tag, however, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £21m.
Sheffield United are now keen on signing an “excellent” forward who is soon to be a free agent, according to Sky Sports.
Blades weigh up Chris Wilder’s future
Before a ball was kicked in the 2024/25 campaign, the Blades were expected to be one of the three sides to gain promotion to the Premier League, despite the fact they suffered a points deduction. The Yorkshire side lived up to those expectations to a degree, but the brutal reality is the season will be looked at as a failure.
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The last-minute defeat to Sunderland in the play-off final not only means the Blades remain in the Championship, but questions are now being asked of Chris Wilder. Football Insider reported at the end of last week that United are going to decide in the next week whether to sack Wilder or not.
Club chiefs are said to be assessing his position as manager, and the club’s new owners, American-based consortium COH Sports, are considering letting Wilder leave, despite his current deal running until the summer of 2028.
Sheffield United keen on Emil Riis
Despite Wilder’s future at Bramall Lane being up in the air, the club are still actively looking at ways of improving the team for next season. According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Sheffield United are interested in signing Preston North End striker Emil Riis Jakobsen on a free transfer.
The 26-year-old is coming to the end of his contract at Deepdale, and it looks as though he could be on the move this summer. The Blades are not the only team chasing the forward, as Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are also keen on the Dane. Joseph reports that Riis Jakobsen wants to join a team with ambitions to gain promotion to the Premier League, which both of these clubs will be looking to do.
Riis Jakobsen, who was once dubbed “excellent” by former Preston boss Ryan Lowe, has been at Deepdale since October 2020. During that time, the forward has been a regular contributor in front of goal, netting 12 goals in 45 Championship games last season.
Apps
172
Goals
41
Assists
11
That tally has only been beaten once since moving to England, and that was in the 2021/22 season, when he scored 16 goals. The Blades do already have Kieffer Moore, Rhian Brewster, Tyrese Campbell, and Tom Cannon up top, so there will be plenty of competition for a starting spot.
And the uncertainty over Wilder’s future could disrupt their pursuit of the forward, as Riis Jakobsen is going to want some guarantees about playing time before he makes his decision on where to play next.
Newcastle United are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a summer deal for an “unbelievable” forward this week, according to a report.
Magpies eyeing new forwards with Wilson heading for exit
It would be fair to say Callum Wilson has been a fantastic servant to Newcastle, with the striker making 129 appearances for the club, but it looks as though his time at St. James’ Park is now set to come to an end when his contract expires this summer.
The Englishman has suffered with injuries throughout the campaign, while often being limited to appearances as a substitute, and he is now starting to attract attention from elsewhere, with Leeds United believed to be leading the race for his signature.
As such, Eddie Howe’s side have now started to run the rule over potential replacements, with the manager particularly keen on signing versatile Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is among the Premier League’s top scorers this season.
Player
Premier League goals
Mohamed Salah
28
Alexander Isak
23
Erling Haaland
21
Chris Wood
19
Bryan Mbeumo
19
Mbeumo is not the only Premier League forward of interest, however, with a report from talkSPORT revealing Newcastle are now planning to hold face-to-face talks over a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this week.
Delap is planning to hold in-person discussions with all his potential suitors ahead of the summer window, and the Magpies are the latest English side to express an interest in triggering the £30m release clause in his contract.
Howe is keen on bringing in another striker to ease the goalscoring burden on Alexander Isak, with the manager looking to strengthen his squad in a number of different areas this summer.
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ByJoe Nuttall May 20, 2025 "Unbelievable" Delap could push for Isak's starting spot
Understandably, Wilson’s game time has been very limited this season, given that Isak has enjoyed his best season to date in a Newcastle shirt, leading his side to EFL Cup glory and scoring 27 goals in all competitions.
However, the Ipswich star has also started to make a name for himself this season, finding the back of the net 12 times in the Premier League, with teammate Luke Woolfenden lauding him as “unbelievable”.
Howe has also been impressed by the start the 22-year-old has made to life in the Premier League, saying: “He’s a pivotal player for [Ipswich], there’s no denying that. I think he’s had a very good season. “He’s got big strengths, very strong, powerful runner.”
The only concern for Newcastle will be that Delap may not be tempted to move to St. James’ Park this summer if he doesn’t have guarantees of being a regular starter, and that is unlikely to be the case unless Isak decides to move on.
After crashing out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, it looked like Arsenal were set to end the week with a humbling at the hands of Liverpool at half-time on Sunday afternoon.
Fortunately, Mikel Arteta’s team talk seemed to do the trick, and his side came out, fought back to parity and ensured the travelling fans at least had something to celebrate.
While a fair few of the Gunners’ starters put in a good showing in the second 45, Gabriel Martinelli was the most impressive, and thanks to his goal and general centre-forward play, he was awarded the man of the match award.
However, even though the 23-year-old looked bright, his time in the starting lineup could be coming to an end, as recent reports have linked the club with another Premier League star who’d be a significant upgrade on the Brazilian.
Arsenal's winger search
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide players who have been linked with moves to Arsenal this summer, such as Nico Williams and Rodrygo.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is set to be available for just £48m thanks to a release clause in his contract, and, just like last year, has enjoyed a stellar campaign in which he’s scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 44 games.
Likewise, Rodrygo has been relatively effective for Real Madrid this season, scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in 50 appearances, although with a reported price tag of £85m, he might be a little out of range if Andrea Berta and Co also plan to invest heavily in a striker.
Moreover, the Gunners might want a Premier League-proven winger to come in and bolster the team, which is where Antoine Semenyo comes in.
According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bournemouth star.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that due to growing problems in the North Londoners’ attack, their pursuit of the 25-year-old, who is valued at €50m – £42m – has now gained momentum.
While he might not be the big name some fans are after, Semenyo is a sensational footballer and one Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign, even if his arrival could spell trouble for Martinelli.
How Semenyo compares to Martinelli
Now, one of the really significant advantages of signing Semenyo is that, thanks to him being so strong with both feet, he’s able to play in a multitude of positions on both sides of the pitch.
However, while this would certainly allow Arteta to rest Bukayo Saka more often, there is no way that the Bournemouth star would replace the Englishman on the right on a permanent basis.
Therefore, to get regular game time, the Ghanaian international would have to start on the left, putting him in direct competition with Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?
Well, when it comes to the most important metric of all, raw output, it’s the Cherries ace who comes out ahead.
For example, in 40 appearances this season, totalling 3382 minutes, he’s scored 11 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.22 games, or every 187.88 minutes.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
In contrast, the former Ituano gem has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 49 appearances, totalling 3403 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.06 games or every 212.68 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Gunners’ ace, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Non-Penalty G+As
0.43
0.40
Progressive Passes
3.18
1.88
Progressive Carries
4.08
4.71
Shots
3.60
2.07
Shots on Target
1.15
0.93
Passing Accuracy
73.1%
71.0%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.78
2.82
Goal-Creating Actions
0.39
0.23
Tackles Won
0.99
0.53
Successful Take-Ons
1.99
1.53
Ball Recoveries
4.52
3.15
Aerial Duels Won
1.85
0.65
For example, in almost every relevant metric, the “unplayable” 25-year-old, as dubbed by journalist Ed Aarons, comes out top; metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, aerial duels won, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while Martinelli could certainly still be an incredibly valuable squad player next season, it’s evident that Semenyo is the superior winger in practically every way. Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him this summer.
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