عبد الواحد السيد يكشف كارثة في عقد زيزو: لو حُكم لصالحه أكثر من لاعب سيطالب بملايين

كشف عبد الواحد السيد، مدير الكرة السابق بنادي الزمالك، عن مفاجآت مُدوية بشأن أزمة مستحقات اللاعب أحمد سيد زيزو بعد رحيله عن القلعة البيضاء، مؤكدًا أن الأرقام المتداولة حول حصول اللاعب على 82 مليون جنيه غير صحيحة تمامًا، وأن ما يُثار في هذا الشأن يفتقر إلى الدقة.

وقال عبد الواحد السيد في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة MBC مصر: “هل بالفعل كان لـ زيزو مستحقات تُقدر بـ82 مليون جنيه؟ هذا الكلام بالطبع غير صحيح. وأنا أوجه نصيحة لزيزو نفسه؛ فهو قضى سبع سنوات داخل نادي الزمالك، وكان محبوبًا من الجماهير، ولكن أن ينهي مسيرته بهذا الشكل، حتى وإن انتقل إلى النادي الأهلي أو أي منافس آخر، فهذا قراره وربنا يوفقه”.

وأضاف: “لكن أن يدخل في خلاف مع الناس بهذه الطريقة فهذا أمر غير جيد، أرى أنه يُضخم الموضوع أكثر من اللازم، من الممكن أن يُنسى الأمر بعد شهرين أو ثلاثة، ولكن طالما هو مستمر في إثارة الأزمة ويدّعي أن له حقوق ليست له، فالأمر سيزداد تعقيدًا”.

وتابع: “ليس من المنطقي أن تكون مستحقاته أربعة ملايين فقط بعد الخصومات، ثم يطالب بـ80 مليونًا! حتى الأربعة ملايين قد تُخصم منها مبالغ أخرى، دعني أشرح العقد: العقد مكتوب فيه 23 مليون جنيه شاملة الضرائب، في تلك الفترة كانت نسبة الضرائب تتغير من 20% إلى 22% ثم 25% و28%، ولذلك تم تثبيت المبلغ الصافي له عند 20 مليون جنيه، فكتب له في البند الثامن أن مستحقاته عن موسم 2022-2023 هي 20 مليون جنيه صافيًا”.

وأضاف: “القيمة الأساسية للعقد هي 23 مليونًا و923 ألفًا و76 جنيهًا، وقد زادت القيمة بسبب احتساب الضرائب حتى لا يتحملها اللاعب، أي أنه في حال زادت نسبة الضرائب بنسبة 2.5% أو 3%، يتحملها النادي وليس اللاعب”.

وأوضح: “إذًا الصافي الفعلي هو 20 مليون جنيه، وإذا حسبت النسبة، ستجد أن الـ23 مليونًا تساوي 20 مليونًا صافيًا، كان يحصل على 20 مليونًا في الموسم الأول، و20 مليونًا في الموسم الثاني، وكذلك في الموسم الثالث، بالإضافة إلى أنه حصل على 20 مليونًا أخرى خارج العقد في موسمين متتاليين، هذا هو عقده الذي تمت محاسبته عليه، أما الأمور الأخرى فمرتبطة ببنود إضافية كثيرة”.

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وتابع: “زيزو كان يحصل على 20 مليون جنيه في كل موسم، والمبلغ الذي طالب به جاء نتيجة جمعه بين المبلغ الصافي والمبلغ الشامل بالضرائب، أي أنه يريد أن يحصل على قيمة عقده مرتين، ويجب أن تعلم أن هذا النوع من العقود لا يخص زيزو وحده؛ فهناك أربعة أو خمسة لاعبين تم توقيع عقود مشابهة لهم في الفترة التي سبقت توليّ مسؤوليتي”.

وعن سبب مطالبة زيزو بمبلغ 82 مليون جنيه، أوضح عبد الواحد السيد: “هذا أمر يتعين على محامي نادي الزمالك إثباته. من وجهة نظري، زيزو كان له ما يقارب 9 ملايين جنيه فقط، تُخصم منها نسبة المشاركة وبعض العقوبات المالية، أي أنه في الأصل لا يحق له المطالبة بشيء”.

وشدد: “ولو صدر حكم لصالحه، فسيكون بمبلغ 3 أو 4 ملايين جنيه فقط، وهذا في حال حدوثه أصلًا، أما الحديث عن 82 مليونًا فهو أمر غير منطقي، وإن حدث بالفعل فستكون هناك مشكلة كبيرة في الإدارة القانونية بنادي الزمالك، لأن العقود واضحة، ولدينا أكثر من نسخة منها”.

وتابع: “كلّمني زيزو منذ عام وقال لي: (أنا ليّ مستحقات)، فقلت له: لا، هذا الكلام غير صحيح. وظل عامًا كاملًا دون أن يطالب بها، فلماذا بدأ بالمطالبة بعد رحيله؟ لقد أوضحت له الأمر بالتفصيل وقلت له إن ما يقوله غير دقيق”.

وعند سؤاله إن كان مستعدًا لتوضيح ذلك أمام اتحاد الكرة، أجاب عبد الواحد السيد: “نعم، يمكنني قول ذلك في أي مكان، وأنا مسؤول عن كلامي، فالأمور واضحة تمامًا”.

واستطرد قائلًا: “المشكلة أنني لست من كتب هذه العقود، بل كُتبت قبل أن أتولى المهمة، لدي أربعة أو خمسة عقود للاعبين بنفس التفاصيل، وهذه في الأصل حيلة قانونية من بعض المحامين لتضخيم المبالغ حتى يظهر اللاعب أمام جماهير الزمالك وكأنه مظلوم أو ضحّى من أجل النادي، وهذا غير صحيح، زيزو كان اللاعب الوحيد الذي يحصل على عقده كاملًا دون نقصان”.

وأكمل: “كان هناك لاعب أو اثنان فقط يتكفل بهما الأستاذ ممدوح عباس، وهذا الأمر بالنسبة لي كان مريحًا، لأنه يخفف العبء المالي عن النادي، رغم أنه من الناحية الإدارية لم يكن أمرًا صحيحًا، فقد كان زيزو يحصل على جزء من أمواله من النادي وجزء آخر من ممدوح عباس، وفي العام الذي كنت فيه مسؤولًا، وكذلك في العام التالي، كان يحصل على مستحقاته مباشرة من الأستاذ ممدوح الذي كان يُحوّل له الأموال بشكل مباشر”.

وعند سؤاله إن كانت تلك التحويلات تُحسب ضمن مستحقاته، أجاب عبد الواحد: “بالطبع تُحسب، فالعقد لا يكذب، كل تحويل موثّق بالأرقام والتواريخ، الأموال كانت تدخل حساب النادي ثم تُحوّل له، وهذا موثق بشكل رسمي”.

وأضاف: “العقد لم أكن أنا من وقّعه، فقد تم توقيعه قبل مجيئي، مع أكثر من لاعب، هناك خمس أو ستة عقود على نفس النمط، وهذه القضية ستكون مشكلة كبيرة، لأنه إن صدر حكم بالمبلغ الذي يطالب به زيزو، فسيطالب باقي اللاعبين بالأمر ذاته”.

واختتم عبد الواحد السيد حديثه، قائلًا: “أي أمر يخص نادي الزمالك يجب أن يكون هناك دفاع قوي ومستميت عنه، لا يصح أن يطالب لاعب بمبلغ 82 أو 83 مليون جنيه بينما لا تتجاوز مستحقاته الفعلية 9 ملايين قبل الخصومات! هذا أمر كارثي، كما أن النادي لم يحصل على أي نسبة من إعلانات اللاعب، ما يحدث كارثة حقيقية، لأن الحكم إن صدر بهذه القيمة سيفتح الباب أمام لاعبين آخرين لتكرار نفس الأزمة”.

£25m sensation greenlights Arsenal transfer with Eze after "early" talks

Arsenal are still chasing a deal for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, as has been the case for weeks, but the Premier League star could be joined by a fairly new summer target.

Arsenal respond as "impressive" player plans to leave against Arteta's wishes

His future remains open…

3

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 4, 2025

Andrea Berta is pushing ahead with the club’s attempts to land Eze, already holding positive talks with his representatives and confirmation that the England attacker is very keen on donning the red and white again – 14 years after he was released from the academy set up (Fabrizio Romano).

Some media sources believe that Eze’s £60 million release clause, rising to about £68 million with add-ons, expired last Friday at 11:59pm – although other reliable outlets, like Standard Sport, now claim that the clause is actually active until August 15.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

As discrepancies linger over the buyout, Palace are set to demand £30 million-plus up front before letting him negotiate – which could make or break the deal (The Guardian).

Arsenal haven’t made a formal bid yet, either. Right now, Berta and Mikel Arteta are believed to be prioritising outgoings, having spent over £200 million already this summer on Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star new number nine Viktor Gyokeres.

Eze has apparently held direct talks with both Arteta and Berta, according to talkSPORT, with Arsenal aiming to do business at around the £55 million mark.

The 27-year-old’s eagerness to make the move to north London could be key to striking a deal with Palace, but the Eagles won’t make it easy, and they’ll need to replace the talismanic creator, who bagged eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League alone last season.

While Arsenal continue to express their serious interest in signing Eze before deadline day on September 1, a new target has also emerged in recent days – Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet.

This is backed up by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, who says that Arsenal could bring in the 20-year-old this window.

According to TEAMtalk, their interest is now developing.

Jeremy Jacquet wants to join Arsenal after "early" talks

As per the outlet, Jacquet is now very enthusiastic about joining Arsenal, and “early talks” have been held over a move which could set the Gunners back around £25 million – as the Ligue 1 side demand a premium for their exciting talent.

TT write that the France Under-21 international has been a “standout” performer across the channel, and Arsenal have extensively scouted Jacquet who’s become a top target for Arteta’s side.

Despite already signing Mosquera, who plays a similar role, Arteta is keen to add more depth defensively – which may even suggest that Jakub Kiwior’s future is uncertain amid rumoured interest from Europe.

“Jacquet is one of the best defensive prospects in France,” said football writer Phil Costa on X.

“Quite leggy, very agile, mobile and defends well in wide areas. Feels more White than Saliba (physically). He looked very promising on the ball at Clermont last season; took a lot of responsibility in their build-up.”

Jacquet only recently signed a new deal at Rennes, committing him to the club until 2029, so his side are in a very strong position to hold out for their desired £25m.

Rangers in the mix to sign £7m striker who's wanted Ibrox move in the past

Glasgow Rangers are still in the mix to complete the signing of an impressive attacking player this summer, according to a fresh Ibrox transfer claim.

Rangers preparing for Champions League clash

The Gers face an important game on Wednesday evening, taking on Panathinaikos in their Champions League qualifier, taking a 2-0 lead with them to Greece from the first leg at Ibrox.

The importance of Rangers making it into the Champions League group stage cannot be understated, with playing in Europe’s biggest club competition increasing their chances of signing top-quality players this summer.

Southampton managerRussellMartinreacts

Gers manager Russell Martin will know what a huge boost reaching the competition would be so early on in his tenure, but he has demanded more from his players after the 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly.

“It can’t be a problem for us that, whenever you step on the pitch for this club and this team, you have to be all in, you have to be. There were some good moments in the first half, but you know, I think the thing to take is, when you’re not playing or not in the starting 11 right now – and, by the way, at the start of a very, very long season – we are gonna need everyone.”

It will be intriguing to see who Rangers sign between now and the end of the transfer window, but with Hamza Igamane potentially moving on, a new striker may be at the top of the list, with young Tottenham winger Mikey Moore set to come in on loan and a deal agreed with Go Ahead Eagles to sign winger Oliver Antman.

Rangers eyeing move for £7m ace

According to Germanijak [via Sport Witness], Rangers are still in the race to sign Westerlo forward Matija Frigan this summer, having been linked with him in the past, with one report claiming he is keen on moving to Ibrox.

While Spanish side Elche CF are confident of signing the 22-year-old for £5m, the report states that Westerlo are holding out for £7m instead, which they may not be able to afford. That could allow the Gers to jump and swoop for him.

Frigan stands out as a good option for Rangers, not least because he is still only 22 years of age, with his best years very much ahead of him.

Deal close: Rangers target who plays like Neymar chooses Ibrox

The Gers are now in pole position…

ByHenry Jackson Jul 28, 2025

He has been capped 15 times by Croatia at Under-21 level, scoring twice for them, as well as netting a combined seven times for the Under-18s and Under-19s.

For Westerlo, Frigan has scored 20 goals in 73 outings, which is a strong return, and while he is a centre forward by trade, he can also do a job out wide and in an attacking midfield role.

Croatia Under-21s

15

2

Croatia Under-19s

8

4

Croatia Under-18s

2

3

It remains to be seen if Rangers will table an offer for him this summer, but if they see him as a strong Igamane replacement, they should stump up the £7m and potentially pip Elche to his signature.

Amid the drama, new coach Simmons wants Bangladesh to 'focus on the cricket'

Simmons hopes the players can “leave out the confusion” as they prep for the upcoming Tests against South Africa

Mohammad Isam19-Oct-2024A lot is happening in Bangladesh cricket at the moment, but new head coach Phil Simmons wants the focus to be firmly on the upcoming Test series against South Africa.Things are messy. Simmons took over as Bangladesh’s head coach on Tuesday, replacing Chandika Hathurusinghe, who was sacked earlier this week and has since hit back at the BCB. Shakib Al Hasan, who hasn’t returned to Dhaka because of protests against him (for political reasons), has withdrawn from the Test side.When Simmons attended Bangladesh’s training session at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, protests for and against Shakib were on. All this, two days out from the first Test.Related

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“[Keeping distractions away from the players] is a big part of our job over the next few days, to make sure the focus is on the cricket, and not on the outside of cricket,” Simmons said. “We can control how we prepare for Monday, that’s how we are trying to get the team to focus.”The good thing is we have a very important Test match to prepare for. We win the next few Tests, and we are in contention for the [WTC] final. My first port of call is cricket and about getting the squad ready for Monday. The last two days [of training] have been brilliant. We have tried to leave out the confusion that’s around the cricket, and concentrate on preparing for Monday.”Simmons comes in with vast coaching experience, having worked with Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies, Afghanistan and PNG as well as several T20 franchises in the last 20 years. He was one of the candidates interviewed for the Bangladesh job in 2017 – to fill the role left vacant by Hathurusinghe – but was not selected.”All these experiences [with other teams] will help me in the next few days to get me ready for Monday,” Simmons said. “Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier sometimes. Ireland helped me with developing young players. It all comes in [handy] at the end of the day. I have to use all those experiences in this assignment.”Conversation with the captain [Najmul Hossain Shanto] has been about his thoughts on players and direction he wants to take the team. It was also about what we do before Monday. It is generally about how we go into the first Test match. As we get to know each other, there will be more discussions about ODIs etc. Now it is about Test cricket, and what we are going to do in these two matches.”Shakib Al Hasan’s fans show their support for the cricketer outside the Shere Bangla Stadium•ESPNcricinfo LtdSimmons said he took more interest in the role after Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series win against Pakistan and was particularly impressed by the youngsters in the side.”The interest comes from seeing the quality of the young players. They handled themselves well against Pakistan,” he said. “They didn’t do well in the T20Is against India but they played against the best T20 team in the world, so you have things to take out of there. It all added up to an assignment, which I enjoyed. One, [there are] young players to develop. Two, there’s Tests and ODIs involved. It wasn’t a hard decision [to take the job].”He believes Bangladesh have a good chance to beat South Africa, who haven’t won a Test series in the subcontinent in the last ten years, but was wary of taking them lightly.”It is definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good opportunity for us to win the Test series,” Simmons said. “South Africa has that [record in the subcontinent] hanging over their head but they are a resilient team. They will work hard to change that.”

Man City hold talks to hijack £78m Real Madrid star from joining Arsenal

Manchester City have now held talks with a £78 million Real Madrid “superstar” as Arsenal continue to work on a transfer of their own, according to a new report.

City hold talks to sign Denzel Dumfries after Walker departure

On Saturday, City announced defender Kyle Walker had left the club to join Burnley, which puts an end to his eight-year stay at the Etihad. The England international has linked up with Scott Parker, who he played with at Tottenham Hotspur, on a two-year deal at Turf Moor. Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan.

Pep's new Cancelo: Man City accelerating move to sign £60m "superstar"

Pep Guardiola might be about to win his next João Cancelo by snapping up this £60m superstar for Manchester City.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 2, 2025

As the 35-year-old moves on from City, the Blues are now set to enter the market to find his replacement. Newcastle United’s Timo Livramento has been linked with a move to the Etihad for a few months now, and Football Insider’s Mick Brown believes City will accelerate a move to sign Livramento now Walker has left.

Denzel Dumfries in action at the Club World Cup.

However, he is not their only option, as according to Football Transfers, City have held talks to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter. The Dutch international has been a key player for the Serie A giants over a number of seasons, but it is believed he could be available this summer for just £21.5 million due to a release clause in his contract that expires next week.

Man City hold talks to sign Rodrygo

While the Blues work on a deal for Dumfries, they are also busy working on another one that could blow the transfer market wide open. According to TBR Football, Man City have held discussions with the representatives of Rodrygo.

Real Madrid's Rodrygo

Rodrygo looks set to leave Real Madrid, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Xabi Alonso, and he’s now held talks with City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and others, as his availability has been made clear.

This news comes after it was reported that Arsenal are not only leading the charge to sign the Brazilian international in this transfer window but are even prepared to make an offer worth £78 million to bring him to the Emirates, a switch that Rodrygo is said to be open to making.

The 24-year-old, who has been dubbed a “superstar” by teammate Luka Modrić, scored six goals and recorded six assists in 30 La Liga games last season, as he was an important member of Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Rodrygo’s Real Madrid stats

Apps

270

Goals

68

Assists

51

However, Rodrygo, who is under contract until 2028, looks to have failed to make an impression on Alonso, as the winger has played just three games in the Club World Cup, failing to appear in games against Pachuca and Juventus. Should he arrive at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola may see him as an upgrade on Jeremy Doku, who has shown flashes of his talent but struggled for consistency.

Arsenal talks could advance in "next few days" as Berta eyes £59m signing

Arsenal continue to be busy planning their next moves, with five days remaining to register new players early doors before the first mini-window shuts on June 10.

Arsenal striker search ongoing with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko targeted

The consensus among reliable media outlets is that Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are Arsenal’s two priority striker targets – amid some whispers the club are still debating Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as well (The Athletic).

Arsenal discuss signing £80m Sesko and Gyokeres alternative who'd love to join

The Gunners’ striker search is an ongoing fascination.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

As per the BBC and journalist Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are discussing the frameworks of deals for both Gyokeres and Sesko, before sporting Andrea Berta, Mikel Arteta and the Gunners’ recruitment team formally decide which number nine to go for.

What is absolutely non-negotiable, though, is the club’s glaring for a prolific striker.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal scored just 69 goals in the Premier League last season – a far cry from the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two campaigns – and their struggle to break sides down resulted in them drawing more games than any other side in the top half.

The stats never lie, and these numbers tell a story that Arteta is in dire need of a vocal point up front.

One of Arsenal’s options, Sesko, is fresh off the back of 21 goals in all competitions, and “concrete talks” have been held. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, they’re the “only” side to go this far, despite Man United’s interest.

Arsenal could advance Benjamin Sesko deal in "next few days"

Speaking on The Football Terrace this week, reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has shared an update on the north Londoners’ complex pursuit.

Arsenal could advance on a deal for Sesko in the next few days, but it would require Leipzig to be flexible on his asking price. The Gunners ideally want to strike an agreement for around £59 million, whereas his release clause is currently nearer the £70m mark.

“They’ve made contact with Leipzig in the last three days,” said Jacobs.

“They have discussed whether or not there is flexibility beneath the variable release clause, set at the moment around €80 million. That’s why that one’s taking time, because Arsenal want to do Sesko for €70 million, or within that ballpark.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal

“I think, if Leipzig show flexibility, there is a concrete possibility that one advances in the next few days. The earlier contact with Leipzig in January is very key to this, because they were respectful of the player wanting to see out the season, and of Leipzig not wanting to sell mid-season.

“That strengthens Arsenal’s position in Sesko negotiations, because now Leipzig have a good relationship with Arsenal.”

The Slovenia international is gaining a reputation as a very “underrated” option in the market, and while his goal record is modest, Sesko’s speed, power and height arguably make him tailor-made for Premier League football.

Could be their new Dele: Spurs start talks to sign "unbelievable" £43m star

When it comes to great Tottenham Hotspur players of the last 15 years or so, you have plenty to choose from.

The likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen might not have won anything at the club, but they more than made their mark on English football and the Premier League for the North Londoners.

One star from that era who was arguably one of the best players in the country at his peak was Dele Alli.

The Englishman was a tour de force at points, racking up 35 goal involvements in the 16/17 season, so fans should be excited about reports linking the team to a player who was compared to Dele in the past.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it is worth looking at some of the other talented stars linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks and months, like Leroy Sané and Angel Gomes.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With his contract ending this month, the former would be a shrewd free signing, as in just 2376 minutes across 45 games this season, the Bayern Munich ace has scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

Interestingly, Gomes would also be a free addition to the North Londoners squad, and based on reports from earlier this week, they’ve already submitted a proposal to the Englishman, who has made four senior appearances for the Three Lions and 134 for LOSC Lille.

However, neither of these players have been compared to Dele in the past, unlike Jack Grealish.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs are now interested in the Manchester City star.

The report has revealed that the Lilywhites have begun talks with the Englishman’s representatives as they ‘explore the possibility’ of bringing him to North London this summer.

The good news is that the report claims the player is, in fact, open to the idea of moving to N17 now that the club will be in the Champions League next year, but the bad news is that City would want an offer of up to £43m to let him go.

Manchester City's JackGrealishduring the warm up before the match

It would be a somewhat costly transfer to get done, but Grealish could be the sort of maverick player Ange Postecoglou needs in his attack next season, and the fact he was compared to Dele in the past is a great bonus.

Why Spurs might want Grealish

So, before we get to some of the other reasons why Spurs might want to sign Grealish this summer, let’s examine these comparisons to Dele, with the first coming from Lee Hendrie all the way back in 2018.

At the time, the young talent was just making a name for himself at Aston Villa, and Hendrie was seriously impressed with his ability to get “past players with ease” and was full of praise for “creative” abilities, which he claimed were similar to “the Dele Alli’s of the world.”

Just a couple of years later, Dean Smith was making the comparison between the Englishmen, claiming that the then-Villa gem shared the same goalscoring “star quality” that the former MK Dons gem had in the early years of his Tottenham career.

Aside from what players and pundits have said, both players have represented the Three Lions at major tournaments, and both, at one point in their careers, had that ability to make something happen out of absolutely nothing.

In fact, it’s the chance to resurrect this skill in the “unbelievable” City star, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, that is surely driving the Lilywhites’ interest in him.

Even though he played a bit-part role in the Cityzens’ campaign this season, he was still able to amass a decent tally of three goals and five assists in 1521 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 190.12 minutes, and his underlying numbers are even better.

For example, FBref places the 29-year-old in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries, pass completion, shot-creating actions from live passes, progressive and total carrying distance, carries into the penalty area, the top 2% for goal-creating actions from defensive actions, fouls drawn, the top 8% for key passes and more.

Grealish’s FBref scout report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Progressive Carries

7.71

Top 1%

Pass Completion

87.7%

Top 1%

SCA (Live-ball Passes)

4.69

Top 1%

Total Carrying Distance

335.61

Top 1%

Progressive Carrying Distance

200.53

Top 1%

Carries into the Penalty Area

4.61

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.08

Top 2%

Fouls Drawn

3.10

Top 2%

Passes Completed

44.33

Top 6%

Carries

43.91

Top 6%

Key Passes

2.60

Top 8%

Shot-Creating Actions

5.45

Top 8%

Shots Blocked

0.17

Top 9%

All Stats via FBref

In short, while the Champions League winner’s raw output hasn’t been great for several years, his incredible underlying numbers indicate that he could flourish in the right system, which could be Postecoglou’s.

Ultimately, it would be something of a gamble, but in Grealish, Spurs could have themselves a genuine maverick who can make something out of nothing – akin to Dele in his prime.

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Arsenal "closer to finalising" deal for £85m star with contract semi-agreed

Arsenal are reportedly nearing a potential agreement for one marquee transfer target this summer, with all parties on the same page when it comes to personal terms.

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Eyes are already cast on new sporting director Andrea Berta as the highly-rated chief gears up for his debut transfer window at N5.

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Emilio Galantini

May 6, 2025

Mikel Arteta and the Gunners lost out on the Premier League title to Liverpool by some distance this season, and a few critics have blamed their failed challenge on Arsenal’s lack of a potent centre-forward.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Gabriel Jesus enjoyed a real purple patch of form before his season-ending ACL injury, and Kai Havertz has put in some excellent displays in a makeshift striker role. However, neither man is seen as a guaranteed 20-plus goals-per-season style of forward for the long-term, with pundit Ally McCoist claiming Arteta is crying out for a prolific number nine up top.

“I think it’s a crying shame, actually,” McCoist said to talkSPORT earlier this year.

“The amount of games I’ve been at, particularly at the Emirates, and I see that ball flashing across the six-yard box. I think Havertz is an excellent footballer, I really do. But I think Havertz would score the same amount of goals whether he plays centre forward, number ten or comes off the side.

“I think he’ll get 10 goals, whereas a centre forward playing in that position gets you 20, 25 (goals).”

The signing of a striker is one of Arsenal’s top priorities for the summer, according to various reports, and a succession of high-profile names have already been linked with moves to the Emirates.

One of them is Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who is widely expected to depart the Primeira Liga after yet another exceptional campaign. The Sweden international has scored 52 goals across 49 appearances in all competitions this term, and regardless of what league you play in, numbers like that are guaranteed to turn many heads.

Arsenal "edging closer to finalising" deal for Viktor Gyokeres

Gyokeres is a top target for Arsenal heading into the summer, with some reports claiming Berta is personally driving a move for the ex-Coventry City star (GiveMeSport).

Now, Football Transfers claim good progress is being made on a potential swoop, and Arsenal have scheduled fresh talks with Sporting, which will take place after the Portuguese Cup final later this month.

What’s more, it is believed Arsenal are “edging closer to finalising an agreement” for Gyokeres, with the Gunners and his camp “already aligned” on personal terms and the contract package he would receive in north London.

However, they’re yet to reach any agreement with Sporting themselves, prompting the imminent negotiations in late May. Rui Borges’ side are expected to demand a large chunk of Gyokeres’ transfer fee up front, though, or even the full amount.

The 26-year-old’s contract includes an £85 million release clause, and Portuguese news outlet A Bola recently reported that the presence of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and English rivals in the race for Gyokeres’ means Sporting could demand close to that figure.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick

Arsenal may have to make Gyokeres one of their most expensive ever signings as a result, but he could well be worth the investment.

“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games,” said Borges about Gyokeres.

“The collective effort also plays a role, as no one can succeed alone. Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”

Man Utd submit offer to sign £150k-p/w Premier League star alongside Cunha

Manchester United have now submitted an offer to sign a £150,000-a-week Premier League player alongside their widely reported deal for Matheus Cunha, according to a recent report.

Man Utd closing in on Matheus Cunha signing

The Premier League season is not yet over, and the transfer window has yet to open, but already the Red Devils are closing in on their first signing of the summer. Given how the season has gone for United, it is no surprise to see that they are already working on plans for the summer, and the hope is that winning the Europa League, which will grant them entry into the Champions League, can help them secure some of the best players across Europe.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates scoring their first goal

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha emerged as a target for United a few weeks ago, and the fact that he has a £62.5 million release clause means a deal is straightforward to complete. It was reported last week that United were in advanced talks to sign Cunha after it emerged that Arsenal hadn’t given up on signing the Brazilian.

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It now looks as though the Red Devils have all but won the race for Cunha, as according to Fabrizio Romano, United are close to signing Cunha after the Brazilian agreed personal terms, with just the small details left to finalise.

Man Utd submit offer to sign Emi Martinez

INEOS are seemingly not messing around and have already made an offer for another Premier League player. According to Argentine TV channel DSports, relayed by TEAMtalk, Man United have submitted an offer to Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, as he looks set to leave Villa Park – the Argentina shot-stopper was emotional waving to the Villa crowd after their final home game on Friday evening.

The 32-year-old is under contract until 2029, but this report states that he has an offer from United to leave the Midlands and move to Manchester. It doesn’t state how much the offer is and whether it’s a contract offer or a bid to his club, but either way United have made contact.

However, United are not the only team to make an move for Martinez, as Spanish giants Barcelona have also made an offer, as well as there being interest from the Saudi Pro League. It is reported, though, that Martinez wants to continue playing in the Champions League, which at the minute puts United at a disadvantage unless they win the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Apps

195

Goals conceded

241

Clean sheets

62

Martinez, who is on a weekly wage of £150,000 at Villa Park, has played 36 of Villa’s 37 Premier League games this season, keeping eight clean sheets. His potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him replace Andre Onana, who has struggled for form this season and, like Martinez, has also been linked with a move away.

Newcastle now targeting ex-Arsenal player who Howe has big admiration for

Newcastle United are now targeting a move to sign a former Arsenal defensive midfielder who manager Eddie Howe personally admires, according to a recent report.

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The Magpies suffered a bitter blow in the race to finish in the Champions League places over the weekend, so fans will be delighted to hear that Howe has now officially returned to work at the club’s training ground.

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The Newcastle boss missed games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa while he was in hospital with pneumonia, and while the Magpies took to X to announce that Howe has returned to his duties, it remains unclear if he will be in the dugout for their upcoming game against Ipswich Town at the weekend.

Newcastle have four games remaining in the Premier League, and they know that work is still needed to be done if they are to finish in the top five at the end of the campaign, after which they will hope to use their Champions League status to lure in top transfer targets.

Newcastle now targeting Matteo Guendouzi

As the Magpies welcome Howe’s return, club chiefs are already looking ahead to the summer despite not knowing if they are going to be in with Europe’s elite or not. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, relayed by The Hard Tackle, Newcastle are interested in signing midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio.

The report states that the Magpies remain interested in signing Guendouzi, as they looked at signing him during last summer’s transfer window. It is claimed that Newcastle could look to sign the former Arsenal midfielder if Sandro Tonali leaves St James’ Park, as he’s recently been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Newcastle are unlikely to prioritise signing a new midfielder in the summer, but if Tonali leaves, then it will become a priority, as Howe is a big admirer of the Frenchman.

It isn’t stated how much Lazio would demand for the tough tackling midfielder, but given he is under contract until 2028, the Italian side could be asking for a hefty fee, especially if they know Newcastle have money to spend.

Apps

32

Starts

32

Goals

1

Assists

3

Touches per game

67.3

Tackles per game

1.0

Clearances per game

1.3

The 26-year-old, who has been dubbed a “monster in the making” by analysts, joined Lazio on a permanent basis in July 2024. He has been a key player for them in Serie A and in the Europa League, but if Newcastle do qualify for the Champions League, the offer of that competition and to return to the Premier League may be too hard to turn down for Guendouzi.

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