Arsenal: "Exceptional" Star Really Wants To Join Arteta

Brighton and Hove Albion starlet Moises Caicedo is “very interested” in joining Arsenal this summer, according to journalist Charles Watts.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

Of the plethora of targets linked with a move to north London recently, Caicedo features among the most prominent, with reports suggesting that central midfield additions are of top priority.

Arsenal missed out on a first league title in nearly 20 years to Man City last season, despite being in pole position for much of the campaign, and it is the task of transfer chief Edu to back Mikel Arteta with fresh faces.

There is a case to be made that injuries to the likes of William Saliba hampered their momentum towards the back end of 2022/2023 – emphasizing the need to strengthen in key areas.

Premier League stars are attracting serious interest from Arsenal, namely West Ham’s Declan Rice and City captain Ilkay Gundogan, with Caicedo also regularly mentioned by the press.

moises-caicedo-liverpool-opinion-player-analysis-premier-league

As well as the aforementioned names, the Gunners could look abroad for right-back signings, as Galatasary’s Sacha Boey and Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda enter the forefront of Arsenal’s thinking.

Going back to Caicedo, reliable reporter Watts, formerly of GOAL and football.london, has shared an update on Arsenal’s links to the 21-year-old.

Ecuador’s star, who has dazzled for Brighton last season under Roberto De Zerbi, is apparently “very interested” in joining Arsenal.

However, while he is open to a north London move, Arteta and co may have to act quickly as Chelsea are also very much in the frame to sign him.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

The South American ace, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, has been called one of Brighton’s “exceptional” players by members of the press.

As per WhoScored, this certainly holds up, with Caicedo standing out as a key defensive player last season.

The midfield enforcer averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton star over 2022/2023, backing his real quality and imperiousness in front of a back four.

If Arsenal are indeed keen to provide some cover in that position, Caicedo may well stand out as a real potential asset, though reports suggest the Gunners may have to spend around £70 million.

NSW lose seven in nervy chase of 96


ScorecardA career-best match haul from Ashton Agar was not enough to save Western Australia from defeat at the SCG, where New South Wales wobbled but reached their target of 96 with seven wickets down. The Blues started the morning at 0 for 3, but on a dry pitch offering plenty for the spinners, they lost enough wickets throughout the day to send some jitters through the camp before the task was completed.They did not lose their first wicket until the total had reached 36, when opener-nightwatchman William Somerville was run out for 23, but his opening partner Daniel Hughes fell to Agar for 13 just three balls later. Ed Cowan made 25 and Kurtis Patterson scored 13, but no other batsman reached double figures as Agar and his bowling colleagues gave the Warriors a sniff.However, in the end New South Wales did enough to secure their second win of the season, despite Agar’s 4 for 31. He finished with match figures of 10 for 141, the second ten-wicket haul of his first-class career, and it completed a match that was dominated by the spinners, with Somerville having taken nine for New South Wales and Steve O’Keefe eight.

£50m Gem Already Spoke To Trippier Over Newcastle Transfer

James Maddison is thought to be interested in joining Newcastle United this season with Leicester City on the verge of being relegated.

The 2016 Premier League champions need Everton to drop points on Sunday otherwise they will be relegated from the top flight for the first time since returning in 2015. If they are relegated this weekend, it may make it simpler for Maddison to secure a summer switch to St. James' Park.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

According to the Shields Gazette, Leicester value Maddison at £50million, although the midfielder only has just over one year remaining on his contract.

Newcastle have had two bids for Maddison rejected in the past, but if the Foxes are unable to remain in the top flight, he may be available at a discounted price point.

Maddison is reportedly interested in a move to Newcastle and has already spoken to Kieran Trippier on international duty about playing for the Magpies. Callum Wilson also discussed the club with Maddison while they were at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has been open about his admiration for the Leicester playmaker, saying:

“I have full respect for him and his abilities. I have seen him grow from a Football League player to a Premier League player. He’s been brilliant.

"He has been a great advert for the Premier League, but he’s a Leicester City player – and I fully respect that. I’d never talk about another contracted player coming here. But he’s a player I do respect."

How many goals and assists has Maddison got this season?

It's no surprise clubs are interested in Maddison. Despite the lack of quality around him at the King Power Stadium this season, Maddison has still managed ten goals and nine assists, an extremely impressive return for a team in the relegation zone this late in the season.

With the quality already at Newcastle in the final third such as Wilson and Alexander Isak, who have netted combined 28 goals in the league this season, Maddison could thrive if he made the switch to St. James' Park, where he would play for a Champions League side and at 26, you could say he is reaching his prime as a midfielder.

The England international is one of the best creators in the Premier League, ranking eighth for chances created this season, so appears ready for a big move, and it looks as if that could be north to turn out for the Magpies.

Tottenham: Spurs Hold "Positive" Talks For "Genius" Boss

Tottenham Hotspur have held 'positive' talks with the agents of former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, and he is now happy to sit down with them.

Who could Spurs replace Conte with?

The north Londoners, over a month after parting ways with former boss Antonio Conte, are still very much on the look out for his permanent replacement. Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason have taken interim charge of the Premier League top four hopefuls in the meantime, with the aim of securing Champions League qualification.

The Lilywhites have reportedly drawn up their shortlist of managerial candidates to succeed Conte with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann and Enrique among their most high profile options as free agents.

Those in-work are also attracting attention from Tottenham, with perhaps most notably Arne Slot of Feyenoord and Oliver Glasner of Eintracht Frankfurt being the most heavily tipped to potentially join. Whoever chairman Daniel Levy chooses to appoint will be a crucial, crucial decision – especially as voices in the stands grow ever more restless with the ownership of ENIC.

Spain's former boss Luis Enrique.

Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter have also been sporadically mentioned by members of the media, though the British duo don't appear to be as regularly talked about as the likes of Enrique. Going back to the Spaniard, after reports of Spurs planning to open talks with him, an update has come to light courtesy of 90min.

The outlet claims that Tottenham have held 'positive' talks Enrique's entourage, and after these optimistic discussions, Spurs are set to sit down with the 52-year-old. He is now apparently happy to talk with Spurs over their vacancy as both sides prepare for 'face-to-face' negotiations.

Should Spurs go for Enrique?

One big obstacle in Tottenham's way will be rivals Chelsea, who could surely be stepping up their pursuit of a new manager after they crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

They're apparently targeting Enrique as well, but if Spurs can somehow convince the tactician to move to their side of London, he could be an exciting appointment. Boasting multiple La Liga titles and a Champions League winner's medal on his CV, Enrique encourages an attack-minded 4-4-3 formation (Transfermarkt) – being called a 'genius' by members of the press.

Of course, his lack of Premier League experience could be seen as something which may count against him, but Enrique's status as a free agent opens the door for clubs like Spurs to make a risk-free move financially.

We believe he should, at the very least, be up there on Levy's list of serious options.

Injury Concerns For £240k-p/w Man United Star

Journalist Dean Jones has warned that Manchester United should not rush Bruno Fernandes back from injury too early after hearing how the player wants to play "through the pain".

What's the latest Man United injury news?

The Red Devils battled hard on the weekend to confirm their spot in the FA Cup final after beating Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless action.

However, it seems as though that victory did not come without some cost. Indeed, key midfielder Fernandes picked up a knock in the match and has since been spotted in a protective boot.

As a result, the player is now a major doubt ahead of the Premier League fixture away at top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night.

While speaking about the injury on Chasing Green Arrows, insider Jones explained that he'd heard that Fernandes was trying to play on through the pain.

The journalist suggested that could have further aggravated the issue and Man Utd must be careful not to rush him back with an FA Cup final on the horizon to consider as well.

Jones said: "He was actually injured during the game and carried on for, I think, longer than he probably should have.

"I don't know if that's aggravated it or not, but I was speaking to someone who seemed to think that he was just determined not to let the injury get the better of him.

"He doesn't miss games through injury, he plays through the pain.

"And while [Erik] ten Hag will be desperate to give him the benefit of the doubt – like, he needs him as much as he can get him out there – you don't want to make the problem worse.

"You don't want Bruno missing the back end of this season, especially now they've got an FA Cup final to look out for as well."

Will Bruno Fernandes play against Spurs?

The £240k-per-week star is obviously a vital part of the United team having played 49 games in all competitions this term, scoring 10 goals and providing 13 assists.

In the Premier League and the Europa League, in fact, the only time he's missed a game this season is due to suspension – showing just how impressive his fitness record is.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford andBrunoFernandes

With that being the case, Fernandes will no doubt be desperate to push himself to get back into the starting team against Spurs.

However, as Jones points out, should he come back too soon having not properly recovered, any further aggravation could force him to spend a longer spell on the sidelines.

And with a spot in the top four still on the line, as well as that FA Cup final to come, it may be best if the Red Devils err on a side of caution for now.

Man Utd: Solskjaer Had A Mare On £90k-p/w “Liability”

With the end of the season fast approaching, Manchester United's focus will soon be turning toward the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag's side seemingly in need of further recruits in order bolster their hopes of mounting a sustained title charge.

While a new centre-forward and midfielder are seemingly among the priorities for the Red Devils ahead of next season, The Athletic have also reported that a new right-back could be on the agenda this summer, with the club looking for a more 'attacking' option to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Although the latter man has enjoyed something of a resurgence of late after starting nine Premier League games since the World Cup break, the report suggests that the club will 'listen to offers' for the right-back, provided that there is interest in his services.

The 25-year-old had previously been tipped for a move away from the club at the end of last season, as well as heading into the January transfer window, having made just a solitary, four-minute appearance in the opening 16 league games of the campaign.

It does appear that despite the former Crystal Palace man's recent resurgence – having been "brilliant" against Everton last time out, according to journalist Liam Canning – the Englishman is still not totally trusted by Ten Hag, hence the suggestion that he could depart in the coming months.

If the top-four hopefuls are to part ways with the London-born machine, however, they are unlikely to get anywhere close to the £50m that was paid by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co to bring the full-back to Manchester back in 2019, such is the player's plummeting valuation.

How much is Wan-Bissaka worth now?

While perhaps influenced by the fact that the £90k-per-week man has just over a year to run on his existing deal at the Theatre of Dreams, Wan-Bissaka is now said to be worth as little as £13m, according to CIES Football Observatory, representing a £37m decrease in relation to his initial cost.

That drop off has no doubt been justified as the former Selhurst Park starlet has proven himself something of a "liability" in recent times, as per journalist Andrew McDonnell, having also been branded "useless" on the ball back in 2021 by club legend Paul Scholes.

The defender's woes in the final third are seemingly part of the reasoning behind Ten Hag's search for a more attacking option, with Wan-Bissaka having scored just twice and registered only 11 assists in 149 games for the club to date across all fronts.

Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Those shortcomings were exposed during the latest triumph over the Toffees, with the 6 foot menace having inexplicably fired wide with the goal at his mercy, having reacted quickest to Antony's rebounded effort.

For all the improvements that the right-back has made of late – having notably been "monstrous" in the Carabao Cup final triumph, according to journalist Alex Turk – that latest horror miss was seemingly an indication that an upgrade will be needed in the long-term.

As stated above, however, it is yet to be seen just what United will be able to recoup for the £50m man, with it looking as if the club may have to swallow their pride and accept a sizeable reduction on that hefty transfer fee if they are cash in this summer.

Daniel Levy’s Experiencing Major Off-Field Issues At Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is struggling behind the scenes as a result of recent changes to key figures in the club's board over the last two years.

Is it time for ENIC to sell?

Spurs are certainly enduring some major struggles both on and off the field in north London with their hopes of Champions League football taking a significant hit over recent weeks.

Adding to their issues has been the recent parting of ways with Antonio Conte and more recently the stepping down of their director of football, Fabio Paratici.

Frustrations among sections of the Spurs fanbase are seemingly growing with their chairman as some chant for him to leave the club along with Joe Lewis.

And speaking on Matt Hayes' YouTube channel, journalist Matt Law has suggested he's heard Levy is stretched across different issues behind the scenes with less experienced figures now in high-ranking positions:

(14:00) "Look, in terms of him isolating himself. There's been a massive change of heads of department over the last two years and going back from that, and it feels like he has less and less experienced people to lean on in these situations and to take charge of different departments and things.

"And I've had it said to me, that his he's stretched all over the place because of this and he's listening to so many different voices and the decision-making has become muddled. Now that's just what's been said to me."

Where do Spurs go from here?

There have been reports suggesting ENIC could look to sell with a number of potential investors – including one from Qatar – believed to have shown an interest in recent months.

However, there have also been claims that if a potential takeover was to happen, Levy could look to remain involved with the club.

And it seems the uncertainty has trickled through the club with Tottenham currently having no permanent manager in charge of the men's nor the women's team.

Tottenham Hotspur's Daniel Levy welcomesShahid Khan to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Fulham face the Lilywhites in the Premier League.

The club are also now without a director of football after Paratici stepped down on the back of his upgrade worldwide ban from football.

And now four years on from being opened to the Spurs faithful, the club have not been able to secure a sponsorship deal for the naming right of their state-of-the-art stadium.

Their issues do not end there with the future of their all-time record goalscorer, Harry Kane, also in doubt going into the summer transfer window.

Perhaps what is also an issue for Spurs fans is their chairman is very rarely heard from apart from the occasional written club statements.

And at a time when the club is facing many uncertainties, perhaps it could settle some concerns if the chairman was to speak about the steps he is putting in place to rectify the issues.

There is a big game at Goodison Park for Spurs on Monday night and there is certainly potential for the travelling Spurs fans to voice their frustrations with the current issues at the club.

Newcastle must unleash Allan Saint-Maximin

Newcastle United will host Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park in their Premier League clash this afternoon and Eddie Howe will be hoping that his team can make a comeback in front of the home support after a string of poor performances.

The Magpies have suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City over the last few weeks and a confident response against Wolves today is just what the team needs to keep their European dreams alive for next season.

Howe’s side could take advantage of Liverpool’s defeat to Bournemouth yesterday by snatching all three points and replacing them in fifth today, closing the gap on fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur going just four points behind them with two games in hand.

As a result, the Newcastle boss could be set to shake up his starting eleven after a struggle to compete with their opponents over the last few outings and Allan Saint-Maximin could be the man to cause chaos for Wolves’ defenders.

Will Allan Saint-Maximin start vs Wolves?

There is no doubt that the Frenchman has offered moments of magic for Newcastle since joining the club back in 2019 and this season has again proved why he is a popular player with the St James’ Park faithful.

Over 16 Premier League appearances, the £70k-per-week Newcastle winger – who celebrates his 26th birthday today – has scored one goal, registered three assists and created three big chances, as well as averaging 1.3 shots on goal, 2.3 successful dribbles and winning 3.3 duels per game so far.

Not only that, Saint-Maximin – hailed “breathtaking” by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville – has a great record in the six meetings he has had with Wolves during his time in the North East – tallying up one victory, four draws, one goal and only one defeat.

Howe could really benefit from the talented forward’s experience and unpredictability on the left flank later today as Wolves have significantly improved under the management of Julen Lopetegui and will be full of confidence following their victory over Spurs last weekend.

With that being said, it is an absolute no-brainer for Saint-Maximin to reprise his role in the attacking threat this afternoon having been dropped versus Man City.

Indeed, he could well cause chaos for the Wolves defence as the Toon seek their first league win since the 15th of January.

Rangers: Bailey Rice could be Jack heir

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has a number of significant decisions to make heading into the summer transfer window as a collection of players are set to be out of contract.

The Gers have a host of first-team squad members whose deals expire at the end of the season and the Light Blues boss, working alongside Ross Wilson, needs to decide who he does, and does not, want to keep.

One player who could be worthy of an extension is Scotland international midfielder Ryan Jack, who has been heavily involved so far this season.

The 30-year-old has played 17 times, starting 11 of those matches, in the Premiership this term and has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 in that time.

Jack, who started nine games in the run to the Europa League final in 2021/22, has been a reliable performer for Beale in the middle of the park and it could be worth handing him an extra couple of years, given that he only turns 31 this year.

However, Beale must also start to think about what life may look like at Ibrox after the Scottish battler departs and that is where B Team gem Bailey Rice comes into play.

The Light Blues head coach could find the long-term successor to Jack by developing the young academy talent to a point where he can take the experienced technician’s place in a few seasons’ time.

Extending the current first-team star’s contract for another two or three campaigns would allow the club to work with Rice to ensure that the youngster is fully ready to make the step up to first-team football.

The 16-year-old, who was dubbed a “prospect” by journalist Mark Hendry, joined the club from Motherwell in January of last year and has been a regular for the youth side this season.

Despite only turning 16 in October of 2022, the enforcer has played 14 matches for the B team, alongside some players who are three or four years older than him, and six times for the U19s.

The midfielder, who has scored two goals and provided one assist in 13 Lowland League outings, is seemingly showing maturity and quality beyond his years to be regularly selected for the B Team at his age, which is a promising sign for the future.

Premier League champions Manchester City were also interested in signing the gem last year, which shows how highly his performances in Motherwell’s youth set-up were rated, and Rice has also been capped 15 times by Scotland at youth level.

His accomplishments and the transfer interest he garnered before the age of 17 suggest that the gem, who has vowed to “keep improving”, has immense potential and could be a future star of the Gers first team if he can continue to develop and grow as a player.

Therefore, Rice could be the long-term successor to Jack in the middle of the park and extending the latter’s contract to coincide with when the B Team star will be nearing his 20s could be a smart move by the club.

Arsenal have Saka 2.0 in Cozier-Duberry

Arsenal tasted defeat for just the second time in the Premier League, losing 1-0 to Everton at the weekend but in the midst of the disappointment, some eagle-eyed supporters would have seen the no.85 listed on the bench.

Indeed, it’s also the second time that academy starlet Amario Cozier-Duberry has featured amongst the first-team substitutes for a top-flight clash, with the other coming on Boxing Day, where the Gunners enjoyed a better time by beating West Ham United 3-1.

Mikel Arteta is certainly light on attacking options, given the continued troubles of fellow Hale End gem Emile Smith Rowe and the long-term absence of leading striker Gabriel Jesus but the 17-year-old prospect is there on merit, having impressed the Spaniard during the World Cup break.

The teenager is arguably the current jewel of the youth setup, with scout Jacek Kulig lauding him as “Hale End’s finest”, and has been likened to another graduate in the form of Bukayo Saka – both combining pace and agility with an eye for goal, amongst other things.

Cozier-Duberry earned minutes against both AC Milan, Juventus and Lyon during the enforced mid-season break and now he could continue to rise up the ranks at the Emirates Stadium, just as the England regular has done ever since his emergence in 2019.

Capable of playing on either flank – also like Saka – the wide man has already delivered seven goals and six assists across the Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and the FA Youth Cup, which adds to his eight goal contributions last season, via Transfermarkt.

The England U18 international signed his professional contract during the summer, so it’s evident that he’s well thought of by the club and in particular, Arteta, who hasn’t been afraid to throw the youngsters into the deep end despite a potential Premier League title being at stake.

Fellow teen, Ethan Nwaneri, 15, became the club’s youngest-ever debutant back in September and Cozier-Duberry could be the next name to make his senior bow in the coming weeks, particularly when the Europa League returns and the Spaniard looks to rotate his fairly threadbare attack.

Also able to play at left-back and in attacking midfield, the versatile teenager has been described as “very direct” and “skilful” by Arsenal youth writer Jeorge Bird, who more recently hailed him as “excellent” in the young Gunners’ 4-2 win over Watford in the FA Youth Cup this week.

Meanwhile, as a player that can cause “lots of problems” – in the words of football.london writer Kaya Kaynak – it’s easy to see why Arteta has been taken aback by such a talent.

As such, he could well unearth Saka 2.0 should he choose to deploy him in their coming matches, if not a little later down the line.

AND in other news, Edu could land Arsenal a dream Caicedo alternative in move for £36m-rated “dominator”…