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According to journalist Paul Brown, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has an 'outside chance' of leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer as rumours continue to swirl over his future.

What's the latest transfer news involving Granit Xhaka?

As per Sky Sports, Bayer Leverkusen are keen on signing Xhaka from Arsenal, though any deal is more likely to take place in the summer of 2024 when his £120k-a-week contract in north London expires.

The report states that Bayer Leverkusen see the Switzerland international as an 'aggressive leader' who can marshal their midfield and the player is also said to be open to completing a transfer.

Intriguingly, The Sun have claimed that Xhaka could actually look to depart the Emirates in the upcoming off-season and Mikel Arteta won't stand in his way if he desires a new challenge.

Arsenal are in the market for midfield reinforcements, with West Ham United man Declan Rice being one name on their radar, which could prompt Xhaka to seek an exit to avoid being on the periphery in his last year at the Gunners.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that there is a slim possibility that Xhaka could leave Arsenal in the forthcoming transfer window.

Brown said: "I think there's an outside chance that Granit Xhaka might leave. The thing that people don't realise about him is that while he has a lot of critics for what he does on the pitch sometimes, he is actually quite an important part of that squad behind the scenes. He's always been one of the loudest voices in the dressing room, the younger players do really respect him and look up to him."

Should Arsenal let go of Granit Xhaka this summer?

Xhaka has been a pivotal player for Arsenal this campaign in their Premier League title challenge and it would be a shame if his time in north London was to end this summer.

In 2022/23, the 30-year-old has made 44 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, registering seven goals and seven assists, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Xhaka has obtained an average rating of 6.99/10 for his exploits on the field, making him Arsenal's sixth-most consistent performer this term behind Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

Nevertheless, Xhaka only has a year left on his deal and is 31 in September, making him an outlier in a youthful Gunners squad, which could mean that a mutual parting of ways in 2024 is the best option for everyone involved.

Manchester United are reportedly leading the way in the battle to sign Benfica hotshot, Goncalo Ramos, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to strengthen his centre-forward ranks this summer.

What's the latest on Ramos to Man United?

According to Portuguese outlet, Record – via Sports Witness – the Red Devils are said to be 'at the head' of the list of suitors for the 21-year-old, with the promising striker attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

The piece adds that the Portugal international is looking increasingly likely to leave the Lisbon outfit at the end of the season, despite still having three years left to run on his existing deal.

If United are to prise the seven-cap gem from the Estadio da Luz this summer, Football Insider has previously claimed that a deal could be struck for a fee of around £70m.

Should Man United sign Goncalo Ramos?

Much of the talk at present is centred on the Old Trafford outfit's apparent interest in England captain Harry Kane in order to solve their centre-forward woes, albeit with the Carabao Cup winners seemingly wary of engaging in protracted negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy.

With rumours also suggesting that Kane – who is set to turn 30 in July – could have an asking price of around £100m, Ten Hag and co could well find a more affordable and youthful alternative in the form of Ramos.

The latter man has certainly warranted the interest in his services after bagging 26 goals and 12 assists in 45 games in all competitions so far this season, having also hit the headlines after netting a hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup back in December.

Evidently a man in form, the 6 foot 1 ace has been tipped to go on to make a big impact in the game over the coming years, having even been hailed as the "next [Karim] Benzema" by former youth coach, Joao Fonseca.

That comparison has come amid reports that Ramos could also be of interest to Benzema's current side, Real Madrid, with the La Liga giants lining him up as a successor to the veteran icon.

As the Benfica man's form in his homeland has shown this season he is able to offer a clinical and creative threat when leading the line, with that mirrored by the experienced Frenchman who boasts a haul of 29 goals and six assists across all fronts this term.

The two men seemingly come alive in the opposing 18-yard box, as Ramos has averaged 6.54 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 over the last 365 days, while Benzema has averaged only slightly more at 7.31 touches per 90 for the same metric.

The Madrid sensation – who also offers a real focal point due to his 6 foot 1 frame – is undoubtedly a stellar name to be likened to, with the five-time Champions League winner having been recognised as one of the finest in Europe after claiming the Ballon d'Or last year.

To think that United could find the 35-year-old's heir apparent in the form of Ramos is certainly an exciting prospect.

Fines and stadium closures may not solve the root causes behind racism directed at Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, The Football Terrace presenter JJ has claimed.

What happened to Vinicius Junior?

The Brazilian winger was the subject of racist abuse by fans as Real Madrid fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Valencia, and he was later shown a red card in the game following an altercation with some of the opposition players.

The 22-year-old has taken to social media to speak out against racism within La Liga, leading to rumours that he could be ready to depart Real Madrid, and action is beginning to be taken against the perpetrators of the abuse.

Valencia have been ordered to close part of their ground and have been issued with a fine, but The Football Terrace presenter JJ has claimed that this is unlikely to solve the wider problem of racism within the league.

“The biggest problem is, I don’t feel these fines or anything necessarily sort the issue out because they don’t tackle the root cause, they mask go over what’s happening,” he stated.

“By removing fans from the stadiums, clubs will obviously be affected revenue-wise, atmospheres will be rubbish. But we’ve seen that happening in Italy. We’ve seen it happen in Russia. We’ve seen it happen in other parts of the world, where clubs have been fined.

“It doesn’t change what then happens online, it doesn’t change what happens on a day to day, it doesn’t change what happens to certain demographics when they go to work, when they go to school. And that’s the biggest issue here.”

What has happened since the incident?

Valencia have announced that they have banned a few of the alleged perpetrators of the racist abuse, whilst arrests have been made for previous incidents of attacks directed towards the winger this season.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has denied Vinicius’ claims that there is widespread racism within the league, and there has been widespread support for the Brazil international from other players and former stars including Rio Ferdinand.

Vinicius has also had his red card rescinded but also has a knee injury which may keep him out for the final few games of this season.

It remains to be seen what impact the fines and stadium bans have going forward, but given the possibility of La Liga losing one of it’s biggest stars, it is well within the interests of the Spanish football authorities to clamp down heavily on racism and support the Real Madrid star.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Manchester City will offer influential midfielder Ilkay Gundogan a contract extension, according to a major update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Gundogan having a good season?

The German is in the midst of an imperious run of form this season, playing a massive role in Pep Guardiola's side pushing for a legendary treble. The £140,000-a-week star has scored eight goals and registered four assists in the Premier League in 2022/23 to date, including two brilliant strikes in last weekend's 3-0 win away to Everton.

Gundogan's future has been a key talking point, however, with his current contract expiring at the end of the current campaign, and Barcelona showing an interest in snapping him up on a free transfer. He is yet to agree an extension at the Etihad, as he weighs up his options.

Will Gundogan sign new Man City deal?

Writing on Twitter on Saturday, Romano said that a new deal will be offered to Gundogan, with the potential for it to last until 2025:

"Understand Manchester City will offer Ilkay Gundogan a new deal valid until June 2024 with an option for further season, potentially June 2025.

"Talks will continue in the next days — Barça proposal remains valid on the table. NO decision made by Gundogan yet."

This is simply a no-brainer for City, with Gundogan such a superb footballer, combining tactical intelligence with end product in the final third. Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has described him as "outstanding" which is high praise from someone who isn't easy to please, and he has been one of his side's best players in what could be a legendary season.

At 32, there is an argument to say that his brilliance could begin to dwindle, and that allowing his contract to run down is the right decision, but he still has so much to offer and giving him a one or two-year extension makes complete sense. The potential issue could be if Guardiola is unable to guarantee him regular starts moving forward – something Barca may be able to do – but if he is still happy at the Etihad, extending his stay would be brilliant news.

For years, Gundogan has arguably felt underrated, but he is now receiving the credit he has always deserved, and he could even be a City legend at this point, especially if this current team goes on to complete the treble with wins against Inter Milan and United.

Celtic can complete the domestic treble at the start of next month if they are able to overcome Inverness in the final of the Scottish Cup.

It would cap off an excellent second season for Ange Postecoglou at Parkhead but that may not stop the Australian from aiming to upgrade his squad in the summer.

The head coach may want to improve his side in the hope of making more of a dent in Europe, after being knocked out in the group stages of the Champions League, and he could also snap up some younger prospects who could be future stars for the club.

According to the Scottish Daily Mail (26/05/2023, print edition, back page), the Hoops have reportedly been keeping tabs on English left-back Archie Brown, who is available for a fee in the region of £2m, with a view to a possible swoop for the defender ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Archie Brown?

He is a 21-year-old full-back who is currently playing for FC Lausanne in Switzerland and the youngster could come in as the eventual heir to Greg Taylor's position in the side.

In the Scottish Premiership this season, the current Celtic whiz enjoyed a terrific campaign as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 31 appearances, which placed him tenth in the squad.

The £15k-per-week ace, who ex-Hoops star Mark Wilson branded a "leader", made his presence felt at left-back by constantly bombing on to make an impact in the final third. He ended the league season with three goals and four assists to go along with his 1.3 key passes per match for the club.

Of the players still at Celtic, only four players created more chances per game than Taylor and this suggests that whoever ends up replacing the Scotsman in the future needs to be able to produce attacking quality from left-back.

Brown, who is over four years younger than the Hoops ace, fits that profile as the youngster has been in fine form for Lausanne this season and has experience playing as a winger in his academy days at Derby County.

The Englishman has scored five goals and provided four assists in 34 league appearances for the Swiss side from left-back this term and managed 15 goals and nine assists in 40 outings for the Rams at U18 level as a forward prior to his move across Europe.

He has also shown signs of being a defensive presence at the back. In the Super League in 21/22, Brown made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game across four appearances, which is 0.3 more per outing than Taylor made in the Premiership in 22/23.

These statistics suggest that the ex-Derby prodigy has the potential to be Postecoglou's dream heir to Taylor's position in the side at left-back as the dynamo has the scope to develop into an attack-minded defender who can also win possession back on a regular basis.

Liverpool's new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke could be eyeing a move for Napoli ace Eljif Elmas as he looks to reconstruct the Reds' midfield this summer…

What's the latest on Eljif Elmas to Liverpool?

That's following a discussion between transfer guru Fabrizio Romano and the player's agent George Gardi, who, when asked by the Italian journalist if there was anything "concrete with Liverpool and Newcastle", stated that "there is interest" in Elmas from the Premier League, as well as Germany and Spain.

Turkish journalist Ahmet Ercanlar (as relayed by football365) claimed in December that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp had a 'private call' with Elmas as he attempted to lure him to Anfield, with Football Transfers valuing the 23-year-old at £26m.

Napoli signed the North Macedonia international for €16m (£14m) from Fenerbahce in 2019 and he has since been a reliable and dynamic midfielder for I Partenopei, starring as his outfit won the Scudetto this season.

How good is Eljif Elmas?

While Elmas starred during Napoli's triumphant Serie A campaign this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists from 35 league matches, he started on only 13 occasions in the division and may now be searching for new pastures.

Despite playing a peripheral role this term, the dynamic midfielder boasts impressive metrics across a wealth of areas, with FBref ranking him among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 21% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 21% for successful take-ons per 90.

The £32k-per-week star has been lauded as a "jewel" by Gardi, and while he can play confidently across the whole gamut of midfield and wide positions, excels as a creative number ten, which sets him in good stead to emulate someone such as Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.

Silva has been scintillating under Pep Guardiola since signing for the Citizens for £43m in 2017, scoring 55 goals and providing 59 assists from 305 appearances and winning five Premier League titles and two FA Cup trophies among many major honours, on course for a historic treble this season.

The 28-year-old Portuguese star ranks among the top 10% of midfielders for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90, and, like Elmas, can be deployed across a melange of positions, dynamism of the highest calibre.

Still just 23, Elmas is displaying all the promise of a future gem on the European scene, having already achieved illustrious success in Naples, and given the opportunity, he could thrive at the heart of Klopp's team on Merseyside for years to come.

Arsenal are set to make an offer for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, having held positive talks, according to a report from Football Transfers.

Is Joao Cancelo leaving Man City?

Cancelo left Man City to join Bayern Munich on loan during the January transfer window, with Pep Guardiola confirming his departure was due to a lack of game time, after the manager changed his side's play-style following the World Cup.

There were also reports the defender had a training ground bust-up with his manager, which led to his shock move to Bayern, however the German champions are set to reject the chance to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.

City proved they are more than capable of succeeding without the Portugal international, finally winning the Champions League on Saturday night, and he could be on the move this summer, having already held talks about a move to Arsenal.

According to a report from Football Transfers, those talks are progressing positively, so much so that Mikel Arteta is set to launch an opening bid of around £35m in the coming days, although that may not be enough to secure 29-year-old's signature.

Man City are asking for around £45m for the defender, £10m more than the Gunners are set to offer, but the indication is that they could table a higher bid, should their opening offer be rejected.

The report details that the £250k-per-week earner would become the starting right-back at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Arteta to use Ben White as cover in that area of the pitch.

Will Joao Cancelo sign for Arsenal?

The aforementioned report claims that Guardiola wants to get rid of the Portuguese full-back, and he does have a previous history of selling players to rival Premier League clubs, with Raheem Sterling joining Chelsea for £47.5m last summer.

As such, it would by no means be a surprise if Arsenal sign the Man City ace, and he could be a quality addition to the squad, having been hailed as "sensational" by Bayern Munich director Hasan Salihamidzic.

For a full-back, the Barreiro-born star is very impressive on the front foot, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, and in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, when compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, the former Benfica man is also solid defensively, ranking first in the Man City squad for average interceptions per game in the Premier League last season.

Cancelo could be a great signing for Arsenal, and it is fantastic news that Arteta is ready to test the waters with an opening bid.

Liverpool's sporting director is interested in raiding his former club in Wolfsburg and snatching dynamic defender Micky van de Ven this summer.

Indeed, the Dutch centre-half has reportedly been on Liverpool’s radar this year, according to Christian Falk, and could be available for £34m as manager Jurgen Klopp seeks assurances over the strength of his defence.

The 22-year-old is a dynamic and versatile defender that the Merseyside outfit have been eyeing of late, according to Fabrizio Romano – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who said: "Van de Ven is a player they've been following for a long time. Let's see if they decide to enter into it or not. But it's just about following the player nothing else at the moment honestly."

Speaking to ESPN, the 23-year-old claimed that he is "open" to a departure from the Bundesliga this summer amid interest in his services, and given that Romano recently confirmed Jurgen Klopp is after left-footed centre-back to bolster his ranks, this saga is one to keep an eye on.

How would Micky van de Ven perform at Liverpool?

Given that Van de Ven favours his left foot, he could provide the perfect cover for compatriot Virgil van Dijk, who occupies that role in Klopp's team but finds assistance from no teammates who could call the deployment natural.

Van de Ven is a towering titan with remarkable pace, described by reporter Ronan Murphy as "a giant on the pitch, he’s flourishing under head coach Niko Kovac."

Should Liverpool secure his signature this summer, he could be the perfect defender to bolster the centre of the park, which was discernibly lacking in its usual intensity and vigour and was arguably the crux of the club's seasonal demise this year.

This is indeed down to his dynamic defensive attributes and his blistering speed, having captained the Netherlands U21 outfit and racking up a speed of 35.87 km/h; for reference, Mohamed Salah's top speed is recorded at 33.9km/h.

But his prowess is not built solely on his athleticism.

As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 10% of centre-halfs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% of successful take-ons per 90; and while there is an argument that his pace is the reason for prowess across such metrics, it only illustrates his intelligence in applying his tools aptly.

He could prove to provide Fabinho with the perfect assurance to get back to his resounding best following a dismal campaign that left Jamie Carragher branding the Brazilian anchor as "awful" after one notable horrorshow.

Coinciding with his club's late-season purple patch, the 29-year-old rekindled some of his former mettle towards the culminating phase of the year, but he was victim of a squad that failed to gel together and protect the defence time and time again, and the Dutchman's lightning gait and success in dispersing danger – averaging 1.4 tackles and 3.1 clearances, as per Sofascore, and winning 64% of his ground duels – would only enhance Fabinho's efforts.

He could channel his energy into holding the centre together and rest assured knowing such a unique defender perches behind him, and it is a move that Klopp has to make to craft an illustrious new chapter into the club's distinguished history.

Nottingham Forest have reignited a target from the January window, if reports are to be believed as we head into the madness of the summer transfer period.

Steve Cooper will hope to strengthen his side during the break ahead of another busy Premier League season, in the hope to push on from near survivors to an established club in the top-division once more.

The latest talent linked with a move to the City Ground is a familiar face to England, and one that could form a strong partnership in the Welshman’s plans.

What’s the latest on Romain Saiss to Nottingham Forest?

As reported by Turkish outlet Sabah Spor this week, Forest are interested in Besiktas defender Romain Saiss.

The report claims that the Premier League outfit are getting closer to reaching the club’s €4m (£3.4m) price tag of the centre-back, with the Moroccan having his ‘mind set’ on a return to England.

Forest were in contact with the Turkish side in January over the availability of the 33-year-old, according to reports.

What could Romain Saiss offer to Nottingham Forest?

Having been lauded as “incredible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers commander could bring talent as well as a host of experience to Forest’s back line.

The 33-year-old titan made 206 total appearances for Wolves, gaining a heap of Premier League experience and impressing during his stay in England.

Last season, the Morocco star was monstrous at Molineux before making the move to the Super Lig where the colossus has continued to show his worth in central defence.

Despite finding his form towards the end of the season in Istanbul, the Morocco captain is reportedly eyeing a move back to the comforts of the Premier League, where he could prove to be a powerful introduction at the City Ground.

Predominantly lining his central defenders in a back three, Cooper could bolster his defensive ranks by securing the signature of Saiss, who could form a fearsome partnership alongside the talents of Joe Worrall.

The 26-year-old made 21 starts this campaign for the Tricky Trees and could cement himself as one of Cooper’s untouchable defenders in accommodating the arrival of Saiss.

When comparing the duo via FBref, the numbers suggest that due to their opposing strengths in playing at centre-back, the pair could form a strong in-play bond that could higher the level of performance in defence.

The Englishman comes out on top in terms of typical defensive attributes such as tackling and duel winning, averaging 2.14 tackles per 90 to the 33-year-old’s 1.33 in the Premier League last season, as well as winning 61% of his total duels this campaign to Saiss’ 57%, with an average of 3.8 won per game.

However, the experienced defender could provide Worrall with a composed outlet to induce progressive play in the back line, as hinted by his 4.56 progressive passes per 90 to the Nottingham-born gem’s 2.71, via FBref, meaning he could provide a fresh approach at the back.

Having a ball-playing defender is essential in the Premier League, with a lot praised by teams playing out from the back to build wave after wave of attack.

Cooper could, therefore, add another dimension to his defence by placing an colossal individual as savvy on the ball as Saiss to play alongside Worrall.

Chelsea remain keen to get a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo over the line as quickly as possible.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, Caicedo has verbally agreed terms with the Stamford Bridge side and an official bid is expected to now be on the way from the club as Mauricio Pochettino aims to wrap up a deal.

The report claims that Chelsea are now the only club in discussions with the 21-year-old due to Arsenal withdrawing their interest – a deal is set to be in excess of £80m.

The Argentinian will be hoping to clear out some of the deadwood in the squad, as a move will go through once several more outgoings are confirmed, with the likes of Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech looking set to move to Saudi Arabia.

Will Moises Caicedo be Pochettino’s first Chelsea signing?

With the new manager looking to quickly assert his authority on the squad, getting a deal over the line for the Ecuadorian is surely a priority ahead of next term.

It would also signal a major statement of intent by showing the rest of the Premier League that last season was merely a blip and they could well make a challenge for silverware next season.

Caicedo was outstanding for Brighton during 2022/23, ranking fourth in the overall squad for average rating (7.08/10) and accurate passes per game (53), while also exuding his defensive qualities by ranking first for tackles (2.7) and interceptions per game (1.5), showcasing his tenacious attributes.

He didn’t just impress across the Brighton squad, with these statistics turning the player into one of the finest midfielders on the continent. Indeed, across the big five European leagues, Caicedo ranks in the top 13% for interceptions and tackles per game, while his passing ability is one of his biggest strengths. With his record of 88.5% pass success rate, he ranks within the top 6%, and there is no doubt he could be a major asset for Chelsea.

Ecuadorian footballing historian Enrico Castro-Montes has waxed lyrical about the young talent, who could turn out to be one of Ecuador’s finest-ever players, as he lauded Caicedo as being a “crown jewel of a new generation” – high praise indeed.

His success, not only across the Brighton team, but also in comparison to his positional peers in Europe, suggests that Caicedo could be a dream signing for Pochettino, who may well give him a starring role in the Chelsea midfield that could help supercharge his game to the next level.