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Arsenal are reportedly in ‘pole position’ to sign Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer.

The Lowdown: January interest

Arsenal were reportedly interested in a move for Zubimendi in the January transfer window, but he did not want to leave Sociedad mid-season, even though the Gunners were willing to pay his £52.5m release clause.

They have recently been linked with a big-money move for West Ham United and England star Declan Rice this summer, who could cost nearly double that of Zubimendi, while they had two bids rejected for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo in January, the second thought to be worth £70m.

Nonetheless, Mikel Arteta clearly wants a new central midfielder this summer, and it will be interesting to see who he goes for.

The Latest: Arsenal in ‘pole position’

Speaking to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, DosisFutbolera.com journalist Eugenio Mateo Serrano says that the North Londoners are in ‘pole position’ to sign Zubimendi this summer, although he is also the number one target for FC Barcelona:

“I don’t think so. Xavi needs another player to replace Busquets. The No. 1 pick is Martin Zubimendi, of Real Sociedad. But it’s also difficult because Zubimendi wants to play in the Premier League, and for me Arsenal are in pole position.”

The Verdict: Cheaper alternative

Zubimendi would likely be a cheaper and ideal alternative to the likes of Rice and Caicedo should deals for them fall through this summer.

Hailed as a ‘special’ midfielder by journalist Sid Lowe, who likens him to midfield legend Xabi Alonso, he has also been labelled as the ‘new Sergio Busquets’ in comparison to Barca’s midfield dynamo.

Compared with all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Zubimendi ranks in the 91st percentile for aerials won per game, as well as in the 90th for clearances and 84th for interceptions (FBRef).

At 24 years of age, the Spaniard still has so much potential, and could elevate his game even more under his fellow countryman and former midfielder Arteta.

Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from a poor week of results as they let their lead slip in the Premier League title race…

Who could be dropped against Aston Villa?

Mikel Arteta’s men were defeated by Everton last weekend before losing 3-1 to defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening, meaning they dropped off the top spot, surrendering it to the Citizens.

The Spaniard will now be sweating over how he regains momentum ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Aston Villa. He and his side are in need of a response in what is an absolute must-win encounter.

One player likely to face the axe is Takehiro Tomiyasu after Arteta singled out his catastrophic blunder at the back, though he shouldn’t be the only star to drop to the bench as Gabriel Martinelli’s struggles in the final third have surely contributed to the Gunners’ struggles in 2023.

How has Gabriel Martinelli been performing?

The 21-year-old speedster started the season like a house on fire, registering seven goals and two assists in 18 matches, leaving him amongst the top-six performers in the squad.

However, in his last six outings, the Brazil international has failed to register a single goal contribution despite starting each of those matches. His average WhoScored rating across those games is just 6.48, which is well below his seasonal average of 7.15.

In each of his last five appearances, the “isolated” Martinelli – as recently described by journalist Jason Soutar – has been hooked well in advance of full-time, meaning he has only been on the pitch for an average of 74 minutes per game, so clearly Arteta is seeing that his influence has waned recently – the only other attacker to have played more minutes this term is Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal bolstered Arteta’s squad during the January window, adding Brighton and Hove Albion dynamo Leandro Trossard into the mix for around £27m, this – if anything – should have elevated Martinelli’s game even more as it’s genuine competition for places but instead, it seems to have had an adverse effect.

As a result, Arteta must look to take the £35m-rated gem – who was hailed as a “real diamond” by teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko – out of the firing line until he regains some confidence at London Colney.

With Trossard waiting in the wings, it should be an easy switch for the Gunners boss to make and whilst Martinelli is a big part of why Arsenal are challenging for their first title in nearly a decade, such blind faith could ultimately cost Arteta a chance at making history.

AND in other news, Arteta could sign own Mane in £48m-rated “monster”, he’d be “unstoppable” at Arsenal…

Manchester United won their first trophy in six years in Sunday’s League Cup final, defeating Newcastle United 2-0 and it looks like Erik ten Hag could finally be about to bring the good times back to Old Trafford.

Recent results have been excellent and the Dutchman’s shrewd business during the transfer window last summer has been integral to the club’s recent resurgence.

In came Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia as the Red Devils strengthened heavily, however, it was a deal for midfielder Christian Eriksen – the Dane who missed last weekend’s final – which has perhaps been one of Ten Hag’s finest, especially considering his performances this term while costing the club nothing.

How much is Christian Eriksen worth now?

The Danish star had only recently begun to play first-team football again having joined Brentford in January 2022 following his life-threatening collapse during a Euro 2020 match against Finland, where the player suffered a cardiac arrest.

His revival back into a top-level player has been nothing short of remarkable and following the end of his short-term contract at Brentford, United snapped him up on a free transfer in the summer and it has proven to be a wonderful piece of business.

The £150k-per-week star has impressed in the Premier League this term, registering seven assists, creating five big chances, and making 1.3 passes on average per match and his addition to this United squad has given them a genuine chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Statman Dave has previously dubbed the Dane as a “genius” and while he played no part in United’s cup win due to injury, his performances in the early stages of the competition went a long way to the club making the latter stages.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.22/10 across four matches, scoring once, taking 52 touches on average per game, and making an impressive 2.2 key passes each game, proving how great an attacking threat he was.

Indeed, Football Transfers now value the player at €16.9m (£15m), with that a mark of how much Ten Hag has hit the jackpot with the player. His performances have been a joy yo behold and as such, his value is surely only going to rise once get gets back into the starting XI following his injury.

Ten Hag could even make a major profit on Eriksen should he decide to sell, although that seems unlikely. The Dutchman is proving to be extremely diligent in the transfer window and the United faithful will be looking for that to long continue.

Southampton’s youth system is not to be sniffed at, and over the years a multitude of top-class talents have been churned through Staplewood and unleashed onto the major stage, and once again, the south coast club might just have a new prodigy.

Indeed, there has been an abundance of talent dripping through the youth ranks over modern times, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ben White all earning their stripes with Saints before going on to forge successful careers – and, of course, James Ward-Prowse serves as Southampton’s main man to this day.

Who is Southampton’s next academy star?

One other star that burst onto the scene at full throttle was prodigious defender Luke Shaw, who impressed during the maiden stage of his career and chalked up 67 appearances with his boyhood club, before signing for Manchester United at just 18-years-old in a deal worth in excess of £30m in 2014.

While Southampton never got to fully utilise his talents, the left-back became the world’s most expensive teenager following his transfer and given his former outfit’s adroit nature when it comes to their expansive pool of talent, nurturing starlets for their own set-up or benefitting from lucrative fees, the powers that be at the outfit must be watching the development of the prodigious Jayden Meghoma like a hawk.

Last summer, the 16-year-old full-back was signed from Tottenham Hotspur’s development squad on an initial scholarship deal, with Saints’ head of youth development, Dan Rice, saying:

“Jayden is a modern-day left-back, who possesses a confident ball-playing manner combined with an energetic capacity to his game.”

Could Jayden Meghoma really be the next Luke Shaw?

According to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Meghoma is one “of the best talents” in the country for his age group, and given the platform that Southampton offer youth players to grow into their skin, there is no reason why this progress cannot continue to make increments over the coming seasons.

The teenager has forged ten outings for Saints’ youth team, having also made two appearances for Spurs’ U18 group, and with the likes of the Daily Echo’s Alfie House waxing lyrical and proclaiming him to be a “highly regarded” ace, he might only be inches away from earning a shot at Ruben Selles’ senior system over the forthcoming years.

Should he continue to dazzle and impress with his mentality, indeed naming the likes of former Saints stars Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk as inspirations, his chances of emulating the world-class phenom could increase by the month.

Given the aforementioned Rice’s comments about his ‘modern-day’ abilities and ball-playing aptitude, there is certainly no reason why he cannot adopt Shaw’s mantle, with the 27-year-old now capped 243 times by the Red Devils and on 28 occasions by England, ranking among the top 7% of full-backs for attempted passes and the top 18% for progressive passes per 90, also maintaining a career pass success rate of 83.2%.

Given the high fee garnered for the established pro, the Southampton hierarchy need only remember just how beneficial investing into a precocious talent can be, and even if Meghoma does not forge a lengthy career on the south coast, he can be sold for, perhaps, an exorbitant sum.

Despite still perching safely within the formative stage of his footballing development, Meghoma is offering every bit the promise that he will blossom into a formidable force over the coming years, and when this happens, Saints might just have the next Shaw within their clutches.

Everton want to bring Flamengo striker Pedro to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

The Merseyside outfit failed to add a single fresh face to their ranks in January so attacking reinforcements will definitely be needed in the upcoming window regardless of which division they might find themselves in.

The Brazilian’s contract at the Maracana Stadium isn’t set to expire until 2027, but being Vitor Pereira’s second top-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of Sean Dyche at Goodison Park.

The Latest: Everton eyeing Pedro

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Everton, alongside West Ham and Aston Villa, are ‘keen on signing’ Pedro ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

It’s stated that the 25-year-old ‘could be tempted’ by a move to the English top-flight to show what he’s really capable of, so this may be one to watch in the months ahead.

The Verdict: Perfect for Dyche

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Neal Maupay and the recently returning Ellis Simms haven’t made a significant enough impact at Everton this season so Pedro would be the perfect centre-forward to come in and change Dyche’s fortunes.

The Adidas-sponsored talisman has clocked up 90 goal contributions in 159 appearances for Flamengo, where he’s currently averaging 2.2 shots per league game.

The 6 foot 1 attacker additionally ranks in the 99th percentile for four different statistics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assisted goals (FBRef).

Finally, Pedro has been hailed an ‘excellent finisher’ by BBC commentator Guy Mowbray, making him the ideal candidate to put pen to paper this summer.

Newcastle United no doubt have a lot to play for in the remainder of the campaign with Champions League qualification still very much in their grasp, although the Magpies hierarchy are likely to be already plotting ways to strengthen this summer, ahead of another top-four push next season.

For all the desire for immediate success, the recent capture of 22-year-old, Anthony Gordon on a £45m deal from Everton appears to showcase that manager Eddie Howe is also looking to invest for the future, with the Englishman keen to bolster his ranks with promising young talent.

Recent reports have suggested that the Tynesiders could well be about to continue that trend by snapping up another exciting gem, with The Mirror reporting at the end of last month that the northeast side are keeping tabs on Bristol City starlet, Alex Scott.

The report outlined that the 19-year-old playmaker is attracting interest from across the Premier League as a result of his standout displays in the second tier of late, with the St James’ Park outfit ready to ‘enter the race’ to sign the teenager as he ‘fits the profile’ of the type of player that Howe and co are targeting.

The up-and-coming star – who has been branded the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ due to his likeness to the Manchester City man – was previously the subject of interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, albeit with the Robins’ £25m asking price seemingly putting paid to the move.

That collapse has opened the door for Newcastle to pounce this summer, with the hope being that the youngster can emulate the success of another man to have traded Bristol for the northeast – Andy Cole.

Who could be Newcastle’s next Andy Cole?

Having been plucked from Aston Gate on a £1.75m deal back in March 1993 – after beginning his career on the books at Arsenal – Cole went on to prove an instant hit during his relatively brief stint on Tyneside.

The prolific Englishman set the tone for what was to follow after scoring on debut in a 4-0 win over Notts County, before going on to bag 12 goals in total in the tail end of the 1992/93 campaign to help fire the club back into the top-flight.

That step up was ultimately no problem for the Nottingham-born hotshot as he rifled home 41 goals in all competitions in his first – and only – full season at St James’ Park, with his haul of 34 Premier League goals still the joint-highest tally in a single campaign in the competition’s history – alongside Alan Shearer.

That fine form – which saw the ruthless marksman score nine league goals at the start of the 1994/95 season – subsequently led to Cole being snapped up by rivals Manchester United in January 1995, going on to win a plethora of major honours during his glittering stint at Old Trafford.

Although young Scott operates in a slightly deeper role to that of the now-retired ace, the belief will be that he can prove just as influential if a deal can be agreed in the coming months, with the England U20 international already having shown his class in the Championship this season.

The highly-coveted asset has provided a respectable tally of four assists in his 34 league starts from his playmaking, midfield berth this season, while also showcasing his ability to put in the hard yards defensively as he has averaged 2.2 tackles per game in that time.

It was the teen’s display in the recent FA Cup defeat at home to Man City that truly announced himself to a wider audience, however, having been branded a “top, top talent” by his idol Jack Grealish as a result of his breathtaking performance.

Scott truly ‘didn’t look out of place’ against Pep Guardiola’s heavyweight outfit – as per Bristol Live’s Richard Forrester – having completed five of his six attempted dribbles on the night, while also recording 11 total duels after showing no signs of nerves against such elite opposition.

That remarkable outing has showcased that, like Cole, the Bristol sensation should be able to comfortably make the step up to the top tier if he is to join Howe’s side in the near future.

West Ham United are battling to sign Norwich City’s Gabriel Sara after the midfielder left scouts seriously impressed during recent scouting missions, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: West Ham targeting midfielder

West Ham look almost certain to part with captain Declan Rice in the summer window, with it recently emerging that Arsenal are leading the race, and are willing to pay £80m to secure his signature for next season.

The central midfielder has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, while Manchester City have also been named as potential suitors, and David Moyes has now started to look at replacements.

The Irons have scouted Lille’s Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential summer move, and they are well in the mix for Bristol City’s Alex Scott, who is being targeted by a whole host of Premier League clubs.

The Latest: Impressed by Sara

According to a report from Football Insider, the Hammers are set to race RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid for Sara, after conducting regular scouting missions assessing the midfielder so far this season.

Moyes is believed to be keen on bringing in a new option in the engine room, amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Rice and Tomas Soucek.

If they were to move for the Norwich City ace, it is believed that a fee of around £25m – £30m would be enough to prise him away from his current club, but any deal will hinge on West Ham retaining their Premier League status.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Members of the media have hailed the 23-year-old for the way he has ‘kicked on’ since the departure of Norwich manager Dean Smith, describing his performances as ‘exceptional’.

The Brazilian is now on a tally of five goals and four assists in the second tier so far this season, having recorded a total of five goal contributions in his last six outings, including two in his side’s recent 3-2 victory away at Millwall.

Sara would not be a like-for-like replacement for Rice, given that the maestro specialises in the attacking side of the game, rarely contributing with tackles and interceptions, while the West Ham captain flourishes in his defensive duties.

However, he would still be an excellent addition to Moyes’ squad, as a result of what he offers going forward, and West Ham should continue to monitor his performances in the Championship for the remainder of the season.

Sky Sports’ Jason Savundra has claimed some Tottenham Hotspur players accept responsibility for Saturday, but also believe Antonio Conte crossed the line with his comments.

The Lowdown: Conte goes on a stunning rant

A lot of Spurs and neutral football fans will have been left astonished by Conte’s stunning post-match in which he slammed Tottenham as a club, their mentality and also the character of his players.

While many may have expected him to be relieved of his duties almost immediately for his comments, Daniel Levy appears to have taken a more sensible approach and is weighing up all his options heading into the final 10 games of the season.

Conte being angry after seeing his side squander a two-goal lead against Southampton was understandable and the players certainly accept the role they played in that catastrophe, although some of his words may have gone too far.

The Latest: Spurs players believe Conte went too far

Savundra has admitted that while the Spurs players know they must step up and stop making mistakes as they did against Southampton, they don’t agree with everything Conte had to say after their damning draw and now expect him to leave the club.

He said: (0:55) “This morning, we understand that the Tottenham players expect that Antonio Conte will be leaving the football club sooner rather than later, they expect it’s only a matter of time until he leaves Tottenham.

“The players accept responsibility for poor performances and poor results, but there was a feeling that Conte overstepped the line with some of his comments after that draw against Southampton.”

The Verdict: Tottenham’s dressing may have turned

It’s only natural that a lot of the Spurs players will feel aggrieved and angered by what Conte had to say because he almost questioned their integrity and willingness to play for the club, one which a lot of them have spent far longer at compared to Conte.

Even prior to his outburst from Conte, it seemed as though his future was pretty much decided and that the one-year option to extend his stay on Spurs’ side wouldn’t be triggered, but this may well be the final nail in the coffin.

Over the past few days and weeks, it has been rumoured that several people inside Tottenham would be very keen and are almost desperate for former manager Mauricio Pochettino to return to the club, although there would seemingly be little benefit from his point of view of joining the club in this perilous position.

Chelsea are eyeing a summer move for Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Chelsea struggling in attack

It is no secret that the Blues are struggling on the front foot, with Jamie Carragher recently criticising their inability to score goals in the wake of the 1-0 defeat away at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

In order to ail their woes in attack, it is looking likely that Chelsea will target a new striker this summer, with reliable reporter Florian Plettenberg confirming they are still in the hunt for Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

However, Graham Potter may also be keen to bring in a creative option to provide for the new striker, with former Manchester City attacking midfielder Diaz now being named as a potential target.

The Latest: Diaz targeted

According to a report from the print edition of The Sunday Mirror (19/03, p77), via The Express, Chelsea are plotting a potential £25m approach for the Real Madrid man this summer, having been impressed with his performances in a loan spell at AC Milan.

Milan have the option to make the Spaniard’s stay permanent for a fee of around £19m at the end of the season, however Madrid are looking to recoup the £23.5m they initially spent, potentially opening the door for a move to west London.

Any deal could hinge upon how the situation involving Carlo Ancelotti develops. The Madrid boss deems Diaz surplus to requirements, however, if the manager decides to leave at the end of the season, the player could have be given another chance at the Bernabeu.

Newcastle United have also made their interest clear, so the Blues may have to fend off competition for his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘sensational’ by members of the media, the 23-year-old has been solid, if not spectacular, in the Serie A this season, weighing in with four goals and two assists in 23 appearances.

After a promising start, the maestro has now gone nine games without a goal or an assist in the Italian top flight, casting doubt on whether he would be a worthwhile addition for the Blues.

Diaz is still young, and has plenty of time to develop his game further, however judging by his current output, he would not be a significant upgrade on Potter’s current options.

Instead, Chelsea should focus on signing Joao Felix permanently, with the Atletico Madrid loanee putting in another very impressive performance against Everton on Saturday, scoring his second goal for the club.

Everton simply must tie down influential midfielder Alex Iwobi to a new contract this summer, according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus.

The Lowdown: Iwobi an important player

The Blues are battling for their Premier League survival, currently sitting 15th in the table with 10 matches remaining, although those around them have a game in hand.

There are going to be some vital performers for Everton in the coming weeks and Iwobi is one of them, having become an increasingly important figure as time has passed.

The Nigerian has started all 28 of his side’s league matches in 2022/23 to date, proving to be a favourite under both Frank Lampard and now Sean Dyche.

Iwobi has thrived as more of a central midfielder rather than a wide attacker, scoring once and registering six assists, not to mention averaging two tackles per game.

The 26-year-old’s current Blues deal expires at the end of next season, however, meaning they would risk losing him on a free transfer at that point if he doesn’t put pen to paper on a new contract.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

Speaking to Football Insider, McManus said it was a ‘no-brainer’ to hand Iwobi a contract extension at Goodison Park:

“I’ve been impressed by Iwobi this season, although I was disappointed by him when he first arrived under Frank Lampard. He has played every game this season for Everton.

“Started all 28 league games, so he’s obviously a critical player for the club. He needs to score more goals, that’s where he has to improve.

“Iwobi has only scored one this season and Everton will need more output from him. But it seems that Sean Dyche likes him and he’s entering the last year of his contract.

“He’s playing every week and he’s becoming a fan favourite at Goodison Park so it’s a no-brainer that they should tie him down to a long-term deal.”

The Verdict: Makes complete sense

There are some expendable players at Everton who haven’t proved their worth – Neal Maupay, for example, who has netted just once in 20 appearances this season – but Iwobi is a key player and someone whose services need to be retained moving forward.

Frank Leboeuf has hailed the 58-cap and 10-goal Nigeria international as ‘exceptional’ and his quality and energy are priceless in the middle of the park.

Iwobi also showed last season that he can deliver in huge moments, scoring a massive last-gasp winner at home to Newcastle United – the latest goal in Premier League history, in fact – and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him do similar this time around.