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A £50 million Premier League player could now join Arsenal in January, with his club potentially willing to sell cash-in on him at the turn of the year amid his growing market value.

Arsenal targeting new striker and midfielder for 2025

Whether it be in the winter or next summer, recent reports have suggested that a new striker and midfielder is firmly on the agenda for sporting director Edu Gaspar.

Related Arsenal could now consider "monster offer" for £190k-per-week Gunners star

It would take big money.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 11, 2024

Kai Havertz’s fine form last season seemingly prompted manager Mikel Arteta and Edu to eventually keep faith with the German and not bring in a new number nine towards the end of the summer window, but it is believed Arsenal could look to sign a partner for Havertz next year instead.

Arsenal had an offer rejected for RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko, with the Gunners making a proposal to sign the Slovenian alongside both Man United and Chelsea, but he snubbed their advances and put pen to paper on a contract extension instead.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

Arsenal are considering a 2025 approach for Sesko, though, considering the player has a “gentleman’s agreement” that he can leave Leipzig within the next two years.

Sesko isn’t their only rumoured striker target, but Edu’s widespread reported attempts to tempt him to the Emirates earlier this year hints he must be pretty high on their agenda.

Meanwhile, the prospect of adding another defensive midfielder is also on the cards. Versatile Italy international starlet Samuele Ricci is being targeted by Arsenal for January, according to some media sources, with the Torino ace turning heads at Man City too, amid their search for a Rodri alternative.

Both Thomas Partey and Jorginho could be leaving for free in 2025, as their contracts expire next summer, so Arsenal need to think about long-term solutions for their midfield as well.

There are reports that Arsenal could reward Partey with a new deal after his fine start to 2024/2025, but until the Ghanaian puts pen to paper, Arteta will still be in need of more options next year.

Jacob Ramsey could join Arsenal in January

Now, as per Spanish media reports, Aston Villa starlet Jacob Ramsey is a target for the Gunners.

Unai Emery’s side are potentially open to offers for the 23-year-old, either next summer or in the winter window, so the prospect of him leaving in January is a real possibility.

It is believed Arsenal are eyeing a move to sign Ramsey from Villa, alongside both north London rivals Tottenham and Newcastle United in England, while Serie A champions Inter Milan also take a firm interest in the Englishman.

His growing market value is making NSWE and Emery consider a sale in the near future, with a £50 million price tag on his head if Villa do decide to sell their “all-round” homegrown midfield ace (Gabriel Agbonlahor).

Vinicius Junior can still play in Real Madrid's next match in the Copa del Rey despite seeing red for shoving Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

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• Vinicius shoved Dimitrievski after being provoked
• The Brazilian forward was sent off for his actions
• Yet he could still be available in the Copa del Rey

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The red card came after a heated altercation in which the Brazilian winger shoved Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski in the head, leaving his team with 10 men while trailing 1-0. However, Luka Modric’s equaliser and Jude Bellingham’s dramatic 95th-minute winner ensured the team walked away with all three points from Mestalla on Friday evening.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the timing of the committee meeting to deliberate on Vinicius’ punishment is the key factor which would decide his participation in the Copa del Rey clash against Deportiva Minera on Monday. It has been reported that the body might convene on Tuesday allowing the player to remain eligible for Monday’s match. Until the disciplinary body rules on the incident, Vinícius remains free to play.

  Clubs are granted until 2:00 p.m. on the second business day following the match to submit their appeals. Since the match occurred on Friday and the following Monday marks the Epiphany holiday, Real Madrid have more time to state their case.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  reports that Real Madrid hopes to limit Vinicius' suspension to two matches, covering La Liga fixtures against Las Palmas and Valladolid. However, the Brazilian risks a potential four-game ban, which could include the Supercopa de Espana if the punishment is severe.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  Following the heated altercation at Mestalla, Vinicius took to social media to apologise for his actions, acknowledging the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure moments. The 24-year-old has been a standout performer for Real Madrid this season, contributing eight goals and seven assists in La Liga and his presence in the upcoming Spanish Super Cup will be crucial for his team's silverware ambitions.

He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi who is unavailable due to international duty

George Dobell02-Jul-2021Adam Milne has signed to appear in the Hundred as an overseas player at Birmingham Phoenix.Milne, the New Zealand fast bowler, is currently playing for Kent in the T20 Blast. He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi at Birmingham. Afridi is unavailable due to international duty.Related

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With experience in international and franchise cricket – he’s played in the IPL and BBL – Milne is a high-quality player. But like other replacements drafted into the tournament in recent days – the likes of Finn Allen, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Inglis and Lockie Ferguson – he is not quite as big a draw card as those who have withdrawn. They include Kagiso Rabada, Kane Williamson, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell.The Hundred’s wildcard draft takes place later on Friday, with each of the men’s teams picking one unsigned domestic player on the back of their performances in the Blast so far this season.

Wayne Rooney has been told his Plymouth Argyle side need to improve fast if they are to stave off relegation to League One.

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Plymouth struggling under manager RooneySent Championship relegation warningTold "biggest disappointment" this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Having lost nine and drawn two of their 11 away Championship games this season, ex-Wolves striker Don Goodman has criticised the job Rooney is doing at Plymouth. He believes the Pilgrims' inability to win on the road will be the 39-year-old's "biggest disappointment" so far and they are in real danger of getting relegated.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT DON GOODMAN SAID

He told Coin Poker: "For Wayne Rooney, or anybody else, managing Plymouth Argyle was always going to be a tough gig. The fact their budget is one of the lowest in the division is reflected by the recruitment and some of the players that they brought in. You must remember this is a squad that only survived on the final day of last season. That's what Wayne Rooney walked into. Wayne has always backed himself, no matter if that was going to Birmingham City, Derby County or DC United.

"I think the biggest disappointment for him will be the performances away from home, where they have capitulated at times. That's what I think we can criticise Wayne Rooney for. They need to be harder to beat away from home and have only scored three goals while conceding 29. How on earth are you meant to pick up points by doing that? Plymouth have a big scrap on their hands. In the Championship and under these circumstances, it will always be a question if Argyle can do enough to keep themselves above that dreaded relegation zone. They managed to do it last season but if they're going to do it this season things will have to improve pretty soon."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Rooney took over at Plymouth in the summer but currently they sit second from bottom in the Championship. The Manchester United legend is yet to prove he is cut out for management after being sacked by Birmingham City and failing to post a win percentage above 30 at Derby County and DC United. If results don't improve soon, Rooney will be looking for a new club.

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Plymouth are much stronger at Home Park, however, and will hope to beat sixth-placed Middlesbrough on Saturday in the Championship.

The three-time IPL champions will start training in Mumbai on March 26

Nagraj Gollapudi26-Mar-2021

They had their worst IPL season – finishing seventh – in 2020, and as the Chennai Super Kings look to bounce back and add to their three titles, they have received a shot in the arm in the form of Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja joining their bio-secure bubble in Mumbai this week. While Jadeja linked up on Friday, Raina had joined on Wednesday. Both of them will undergo a week-long quarantine before joining the team’s training, which takes off on Saturday.For Jadeja, the IPL will mark a return to cricket since he dislocated his left thumb while batting in the Sydney Test against Australia in early January. Jadeja underwent surgery in Sydney before heading to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to complete his rehabilitation. The injury had ruled Jadeja out of the all-format home series against England.Earlier this week, Jadeja posted a video from the NCA, showing him holding the bat and bowling for the first time since the Australia tour. The franchise had originally expected Jadeja to join in the first week of April, but his early release from the NCA has ensured that he gets at least a week of training before the Super Kings play their first match of the season, against the Delhi Capitals in Mumbai on April 10.Related

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‘Tell them, I have come back’- Raina
While Jadeja would be expected to settle in quickly, the focus is bound to remain on Raina, who entered the Super Kings hotel quietly on Wednesday. This, in a way, is Raina’s re-entry to the Super Kings ranks following a controversial exit on the eve of the 2020 IPL.The Super Kings tweeted a picture of Raina in his hotel room with a title saying: “Vandhutennu Sollu! From namma Chinna Thala!” That translates to: “Tell them, I have come back”, a line from , the popular Tamil film.While there were questions about Raina’s future with the franchise following stern comments from franchise owner N Srinivasan after the developments last season, Raina was retained ahead of the 2021 auction. Raina, who retired from international cricket along with MS Dhoni on August 15 last year, has kept himself fit by turning out for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.Raina’s return restores the balance in the batting department for the Super Kings, who struggled to find momentum until the latter stages of the league phase in 2020 IPL. Dhoni & Co to begin training at Brabourne
It was also a particularly bad season for Dhoni the batsman, as he struggled to get into any sort of rhythm, scoring just 200 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 116. As he signed the yellow No. 7 jersey for players for rival teams, speculation grew whether he would be retiring after the season.”Definitely not,” he said after the Super Kings’ final match last season, to put an end to the speculation.Dhoni reached Chennai to be part of the preliminary training camp, which comprised a small group of mainly uncapped Indian domestic players. That camp was also conducted in a bio-secure environment with everyone involved adhering by the mandatory quarantine protocols set by the BCCI.Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings’ chief executive officer, told ESPNcricinfo that the players and coaching staff who were part of that bubble wouldn’t need to undergo the seven-day quarantine in Mumbai. “Our first day of practice will be tomorrow (Saturday),” Viswanathan confirmed, revealing that the first two training sessions would be at Brabourne Stadium.Ngidi to arrive on April 5
Head coach Stephen Fleming and assistant coach Michael Hussey are among the overseas members of the set-up to have reached Mumbai already.Viswanathan confirmed that Faf du Plessis would arrive on March 26, and it is understood that Lungi Ngidi would be released from the ODI squad – along with other IPL-bound players – for the series against Pakistan on April 4, the day of the second of three games.The Super Kings are one of the four teams – along with the Capitals, the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals – who will play the initial part of the league phase in Mumbai.

West Ham have made a player-plus-cash offer to sign a 23-year-old international this summer, according to a new transfer claim that has emerged.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers have had a good summer transfer window to date, bringing in the likes of Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme, among others, but their business is unlikely to end there.

One report has suggested that Noussair Mazraoui has emerged as a key target for West Ham and that an agreement has now been reached, with the 26-year-old full-back currently plying his trade at Bayern Munich. However, since then, it has been added that a transfer is now off with an agreement not reached with the defender's agent.

He was seen as an additional signing on top of Aston Villa attacker Jhon Duran, who appears to be closing in on a move to the London Stadium. A verbal £35m agreement is rumoured to be in place.

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has also been linked with a summer move to West Ham, being seen as a potentially ideal centre-back partner for Kilman at the heart of Julen Lopetegui's defence. The Englishman isn't out of contract at Stamford Bridge until 2028 but could secure a move away sooner rather than later.

Should a move for Duran fail to materialise, Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth has emerged as a strong target for the Hammers, too, having shone for the La Liga side last season, netting 23 times in just 30 starts in the league.

West Ham make offer for 23-year-old ace

According to a new report from HITC, West Ham have made a bid for Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams, but have been unsuccessful in their efforts to date, seeing an offer rejected.

The Wales international was "seen as an ideal fit for Lopetegui’s system and it is understood a ‘player plus cash’ offer was made", but Forest have no intention of allowing the right-back to leave ahead of next season, with the report not mentioning the Hammers player offered.

Williams, 23, could have been a great option for West Ham this summer, considering he is a young player who has already proven himself at a high level, shining in the Premier League. He has made 70 appearances in the competition in total, not to mention winning 39 caps for Wales already, despite his tender years.

The former Liverpool defender is also rated by ex-teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who once said of him: "Neco is an amazing talent, he is someone who we all look to as being someone who can play for the club for a long amount of time and will have a bright future no matter what."

The hope could be that Forest's stance on Williams changes, considering what an excellent long-term signing he could be for West Ham moving forward, but at this point, it would be a surprise if he was suddenly allowed to leave the City Ground.

West Ham hit gold on star who's worth more than Duran & Mazraoui combined

The Hammers would field enquiries for his sale, but only if a record fee is thrown his way.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 26, 2024

At 31, Vladimir Coufal will need to be replaced at some point, and the Welshman could be an ideal figure to come in and provide competition, but it looks as if the search will go on.

Tottenham are pushing to land an exciting new signing for Ange Postecoglou ahead of the new Premier League season, it has been revealed.

Spurs continue transfer trend

Recent transfer windows have seen Spurs shy away from big money moves for the most part and instead look to find future gems, as they did with the signing of Udinese defender Destiny Udogie and Metz midfielder Pape Sarr.

They have continued in that vein this summer, signing Archie Gray from Leeds United in a deal worth up to £40m to bolster their midfield, while they have blended that with experience by renewing Timo Werner's loan in north London.

Spurs confident of landing £20k-p/w "monster" who's like Watkins

The impressive striker has made it to the Euros final.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 12, 2024

However, targetting young players is a trend that shows no signs of stopping.

Spurs pushing for winger

Now, it has emerged that Tottenham are the side currently pushing the hardest to land Stade Rennais winger Desire Doue amid interest from across Europe. Though just 19, he has already made a lasting impression in France.

Last season, the versatile winger grabbed four goals and five assists in 31 Ligue 1 appearances to help Rennes safely into midtable and out of relegation trouble.

Desire Doue all competitions 2023-24

Appearances

43

Goals

4

Assists

6

Yellow Cards

5

Asked about Doue, teammate Baptiste Santamaria was full of praise for the teenager, and revealed that he had never seen such a gifted player.

"He's a very talented player with a great sense of football. But he's still young. But he's a player who aspires to go to the biggest clubs. He's one of a kind: he likes to hit the ball but he's solid on his feet. Desire's technical, percussive and physical qualities are quite incredible. When he becomes more consistent, he'll be unplayable. For his age, he's the most gifted youngster I've seen in my career", he explained.

And Postecoglou is understood to be a big fan of the teenager and wants to bring him to Tottenham this summer, with Rennes understood to be holding out for around £35m to let him leave, a fee that would make him second only to Jeremy Doku in their list of most expensive departures.

With that in mind, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the Lilywhites are pushing to get a deal done, stealing a march on other interested parties in the process.

“Links for Desire Doue, but I’m told it’s not Chelsea at the moment who are the club to watch, it is Tottenham who are pushing”, he explained.

“Desire Doue, PSG are one of the suitors, Bayern and Spurs, and Spurs are the ones who are really starting to move now. PSG are there but I’m told that Spurs are the ones who are really starting to circle at this stage.”

Luis Enrique's side are looking to replace Kylian Mbappe this summer, but can already boast both Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele in the wide areas, while Bayern Munich have just added Michael Olise to ranks that already include Serge Gnabry, Kinglsey Coman and Leroy Sane.

As a result, a move to north London and the Premier League may prove surprisingly enticing for Doue, who would be likely to see plenty of first team football, even if Postecoglou's side are not in the Champions League for the 2024-25 campaign.

However, he still has two years left to run on his £8.5k per week deal with Rennes, which means that he could well opt for another season in France before making the next step in his career.

Should Spurs manage to persuade him otherwise and get the deal over the line, it would represent a massive coup for the Lilywhites.

Aston Villa have made some solid signings this summer so far as Unai Emery aims to replicate their stunning fourth place finish in the Premier League from last term.

With Champions League football gracing Villa Park next season, it is clear that the Spaniard is trying to build a squad who are capable of fighting on all fronts, as there were certain areas which lacked depth throughout 2023/24, notably his attacking department.

Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran were the only two recognised senior strikers that Emery had in his first-team squad, but it looks as though the Colombian is set for a move away this summer.

West Ham United have reportedly not lost hope with a move for the attacker and could make another offer for Duran, who is keen on leaving Villa this summer.

Might this tempt Emery into a move for another centre-forward in the next few weeks?

Aston Villa could sign former Man City striker this summer

In May, Football Insider reported that Monchi was eyeing a swoop for then Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who was due to leave the club when his contract expired at the end of the season.

Fast-forward a couple of months and the Nigerian is now a free agent, which could perhaps tempt Emery into making a move for the former Manchester City striker.

According to reports, links to the player have resurfaced in recent days as the manager seeks to further bolster his squad ahead of the new campaign.

It would be a logical signing, especially considering he would cost the club nothing with regard to a transfer fee, plus he could form a wonderful partnership with another player who has been linked of late – Nico Williams.

The latest on Nico Williams to Aston Villa

According to TEAMtalk last week, Villa have reportedly held talks with his representatives over a potential move to the Premier League, but the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona are also showing plenty of interest in signing the Euro 2024 sensation.

If he were to join, Villa would have to trigger his release clause, which currently stands at €55m (£46m), a fee that the club could afford, but may have to sell a few players.

If the 52-year-old could convince his compatriot to swap Bilbao for the bright lights of the Midlands, Villa would be signing a player who still has plenty of developing to do but has shown he can make a difference if given regular game time.

Lewis Dobbin

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

Cameron Archer

Sheffield United

Jadon Philogene

Hull City

Samuel Iling-Junior

Juventus

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Combining his talents plus Iheanacho’s skill in front of goal could be a winning partnership for Emery next season, reducing the pressure placed on Watkins in front of goal.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s season in numbers

The Nigerian striker certainly endured a rather Jekyll and Hyde 2023/24 campaign for the Foxes. Between August and January, he scored five Championship goals, plus registering an effort in the EFL Cup, chipping in with two assists also.

Hardly prolific, but his five goals in six second-tier matches showed exactly how dangerous he can be when given opportunities in the starting XI.

He was called up to the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in January, featuring twice as the Super Eagles lost the final to the Ivory Coast, but his return to club football proved to be a nightmare.

Indeed, he made only five appearances upon his return until the end of the season, scoring zero goals and grabbing just one assist, looking like a shadow of his former self.

Despite starting only ten league matches last term, the 27-year-old averaged a goal every 187 minutes, created three big chances, succeeded with 0.6 dribbles per game – a success rate of 58% – and finished the season with an 87% pass success rate.

These are decent statistics considering how few chances he was given in the starting XI, and they would no doubt have been higher if Enzo Maresca had placed his trust in the striker once he returned from international duty.

Gary Lineker previously dubbed the player as “clinical”, something he has certainly been in years gone by.

Imagine Williams and Iheanacho at Aston Villa

Williams enjoyed a wonderful season for Athletic Bilbao, helping the club win their first major honour since 1984 as they claimed the Copa del Rey.

Across 31 La Liga matches, the Spaniard registered 11 assists, created ten big chances and averaged 1.5 key passes per game.

The winger also succeeded with 2.8 dribbles per game in the top flight last term, proving how dangerous he can be on the left wing.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe's top five leagues, Williams ranks in the top 7% for progressive carries (5.69), the top 6% for successful take-ons (3.42) and the top 2% for assists (0.44) per 90, yet more evidence of how good he is in the final third.

These attributes could be a dream for Iheanacho, who would thrive alongside the Euro 2024 winner should they both make the move to Villa Park this summer.

The 6 foot 1 centre-forward might not have had the best season of his career last term, but considering he is still only 27, there is still a few good years left in him at the very top level.

Adding some depth to his forward area is surely one of Emery’s main priorities this summer, especially if Duran does leave the club.

On a free transfer, there might not be any more realistic signings than Iheanacho. Given his experience in the Premier League, plus the fact he will be available for nothing. The Spaniard must make this signing sooner rather than later, otherwise another club could swoop in.

Emery can forget Diaby with Aston Villa move for £26m sensation

Villa could move on from Diaby by signing a La Liga winger…

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 20, 2024

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is now very close to sealing his first signing of the summer, in a forward who could reportedly leave for half of his release clause.

Edu and Arteta seek midfield and forward upgrades at Arsenal

Sporting director Edu wants to shore up a variety of key areas for Arteta, as the Gunners look to mount a third-successive Premier League title challenge and thwart long-time champions Man City.

Ex-CEO says £60m player is in talks to join Arsenal from his former club

He’s exactly the kind of player “Arteta likes”.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 21, 2024

Midfield and further forward are two areas that the north Londoners are keen to address this summer, with engine room ace Thomas Partey looking likely to depart Arsenal amid rumoured talks with Saudi Arabia.

They'll need a midfield replacement for the Ghana international, as Arsenal look to bring in both his heir and an alternative to star man Declan Rice in the midfield. Arteta could also sign a new attacker or two to bolster their forward line, despite Arsenal scoring over 90 goals in the Premier League alone last season.

Kai Havertz dazzled in a makeshift centre-forward role under the Spaniard last season, with Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka also leading the way in terms of goals scored. However, it is believed Arteta personally wants a young striker to partner Havertz going forward.

Arsenal were in the race to sign RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko for the role, and made a proposal to sign the Slovenia international before he opted to sign a new deal at his current club instead.

Now, they're targeting alternative strikers they could do a deal for, and one is believed to be Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede, who bagged a head-turning 43 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season, averaging one every 97 minutes, is attracting attention across Europe as a result.

There's an £86 million release clause in his contract, but respected Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport recently claimed that Sporting could actually sell Gyokeres for in and around £42 million – as there is a belief the player will be very tempted if some of the continent's biggest clubs come calling.

Arsenal "very close" to signing Viktor Gyokeres

As per Portuguese news outlet Leonino, Arteta's side are doing "everything they can" to seal a move for the striker. They add that Arsenal are actually "very close" to signing Gyokeres, with the deal only being held up by financial details as things stand.

If the 26-year-old does put pen to paper, it could be one of the coups of the summer, with Tony Mowbray having also highlighted Gyokeres' physical attributes as another plus point: “(He) is too fast, too strong and too big."

"You would suggest Haaland is like that and Gyokeres in this league looks a yard faster and stronger than the players he plays against in the Championship. The way he buys himself space to shoot is pretty impressive and Coventry did well to hold onto him, he looks a really talented boy.”

Any anxiety or worry about Kieran McKenna's future at Portman Road has been well and truly put to bed, with the Ipswich Town manager's new contract now being signed.

That means the rumour mill will go into overdrive now not over potential managerial replacements for the former Manchester United face, but instead, in terms of incomings that could sign for Ipswich to help them during their maiden Premier League season.

Ipswich looking at "unique" Hutchinson alternative

The Tractor Boys will reportedly aim to press on and get a permanent deal done for their past sublime loanee Omari Hutchinson, who notched up 11 goals in all competitions last campaign during Ipswich's promotion heroics, but they could be tempted to steer in the direction of signing this attacker instead if such a move for the Chelsea youngster doesn't get off the ground.

A report from TEAMTalk at the end of last month indicated that Ipswich were preparing a swoop for Newcastle United gem Miguel Almiron, with a fee in the region of £21m needed to try and get this ambitious deal done.

How Almiron compares to Hutchinson

With Eddie Howe's men looking to sell on a number of players this off-season to get rid of the more seasoned professionals in the squad, it's no shock to see Almiron's name in and amongst those rumoured to be off, with the Paraguayan midfielder tallying up an impressive 209 appearances for the Toon since joining with much fanfare attached to his name in 2019.

The former club record buy failed to set the world alight this season for the Magpies, however, with his FBRef numbers compared to Hutchinson struggling in certain areas over the last year, alongside the fact the ex-Atalanta United man managed just three Premier League strikes in total.

Non-penalty goals

0.15

0.40

Non-penalty xG

0.23

0.21

Total shots

2.03

2.71

Assists

0.08

0.16

Shot-creating actions

2.64

3.81

Passes attempted

36.69

35.18

Pass completion %

82.0%

71.8%

Still, with his wealth of experience at a top-flight level no doubt coming in very handy for Ipswich, Almiron could prove to be a dream Hutchinson alternative.

His prowess in the division – even during a poor campaign in terms of output this season – resulted in in Howe calling him "unique" after a blistering display against Burnley saw him score the blinding strike below.

As much as Hutchinson did prove to be a very effective loan last season for McKenna's overachievers, the 20-year-old has only ever tasted Premier League action once for the Blues.

With the rest of the Ipswich ranks equally inexperienced with what it takes to cut your teeth making the step-up, having battled in the EFL the majority of their careers over playing in the bright lights of the Premier League, Almiron could be the experienced head they need in order to traverse the potentially choppy waters smoothly.

177 of Almiron's 209 Newcastle appearances have fallen in the top flight, with the South American midfielder bagging 23 of his 30 Magpies strikes in the division.

It's not as if the winger has dramatically seen his powers diminish on Tyneside either, picking up 11 Premier League goals during the 2022/23 campaign.

That matched Hutchinson's numbers from the league below before the tricky 5 foot 9 Toon attacker ended up struggling this season in contrast with just three strikes registered.

Regardless, Ipswich wouldn't turn their noses up at the South American entering through the door this summer to add more nous and experience, with Hutchinson also another possible incoming to really bolster their squad ahead of their entry into the great unknown.

Ipswich eyeing swoop for £40k-p/w "animal" to instantly replace Moore

Ipswich Town will look to replicate their fantastic Omari Hutchinson deal with this potential incoming.

ByKelan Sarson May 29, 2024