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Tottenham Hotspur are done with their incomings for 2025 after the UK summer transfer deadline passed on Friday, but they could still offload certain squad members with windows open elsewhere.

It was a highly eventful summer for Spurs, full of highs, lows and definite drama.

The club’s recruitment contingent of Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and unofficial advisor Fabio Paratici led the Lilywhites through a solid window where they reinforced much-needed areas of the squad, but it wasn’t exactly plain sailing.

Tottenham’s summer signings

Price tag

Mohammed Kudus

£55 million

Kota Takai

£5 million

Mathys Tel

£30 million

Joao Palhinha

Loan

Kevin Danso

£21 million

Xavi Simons

£52 million

Randal Kolo Muani

Loan

Tottenham saw high-profile deals for England international playmakers Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze collapse in the most humbling manner imaginable, with the former U-turning on his agreement to join Spurs by signing a new long-term contract at the City Ground.

With Eze, Spurs thought they had an agreement in place on both personal terms and the finances of a deal with Palace, but the boyhood Arsenal supporter ultimately chose N5 once the Gunners came knocking for his signature.

Fortunately for Thomas Frank, Tottenham landed a £52 million deal for Xavi Simons to spare their blushes, mounting a hijack of their own on London rivals Chelsea in the process.

On deadline day, an ‘un-Spurs like’ straight loan deal for Randal Kolo Muani concluded their business for the calendar year, amid some reports that Dominic Solanke may now require surgery after his fresh injury blow.

However, with outgoings still a possibility, the future of Yves Bissouma is a hot topic around N17 right now.

Frank has already penalised the Mali international for turning up late to training on multiple occasions, and some reports last month claimed Tottenham offered Bissouma out in swap deal talks for transfer targets.

The 29-year-old is a player with bags of ability on his day, with James Maddison calling him “ridiculous” and presenter Adam Smith dubbing him “world-class”, but his attitude and application have often been questioned lately.

Bissouma was repeatedly linked with a switch to Turkey over the summer, and this remains a distinct possibility as the Süper Lig window remains open, as does a potential move to the Middle East.

Yves Bissouma expected to leave Tottenham in the "coming days"

That is according to GiveMeSport, who write that Bissouma is expected to leave Tottenham “in the coming days” after failing to convince Frank he’s deserving of more game time.

While the midfield technician holds hope that he could still fight his way back in, it is apparently more likely that he’ll receive proposals from Saudi and Turkey, and the likelihood of Bissouma leaving imminently is pretty good.

The former Brighton star actually played a key role during Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final, where Ange Postecoglou’s men ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy, but he is not at the forefront of Frank’s plans by comparison.

If Bissouma does secure a move away, he’ll join both Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil out of the exit door in dramatic late fashion, despite having all summer to source a move away.

Given he is yet to feature in a single competitive minute for Tottenham this season, partly down to injury and partly down to discplinary issues, Bissouma may well have already played his last game for the club.

Chelsea are set to make many more summer sales before the transfer deadline on September 1.

BlueCo have already raised around £220 million through transfer income this summer, after agreeing deals to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Armando Broja, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season	Average match rating
Cole Palmer	7.33
Moises Caicedo	7.02
Enzo Fernández	6.95
Nicolas Jackson	6.88
Noni Madueke	6.82
via WhoScored

This has allowed Chelsea to balance the books and free up space for potential new signings, specifically Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, with Enzo Maresca’s side believed to be in talks for both (Sky Sports).

Not counting their possible fees for Garnacho and Simons, Chelsea have already spent £277 million (including their pre-agreed summer deals), so they’re likely to go well over the £300 million mark by deadline day.

This means that the west Londoners are actively looking to trim the squad further, with midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka expected to return to the Bundesliga on a permanent deal with Borussia Dortmund.

As well as Chukwuemeka, both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson could be among Chelsea’s next high-profile departures.

The duo were left out of the squad for Chelsea’s 2-0 pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Friday, watching on as summer signing Joao Pedro and exciting new teenager Estevao Willian got on the scoresheet.

Now, an update has emerged on Jackson, with his own stance on leaving made crystal clear.

Nicolas Jackson tells Chelsea he's ready to leave

The Senegalese, barring his goal in the Conference League final against Real Betis, endured a torrid end to 2024/2025 – scoring just one Premier League goal since the turn of the year.

He was also sent off in the Club World Cup against Flamengo, and with both Pedro and Liam Delap arriving, he’s now fallen down Maresca’s pecking order.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, Jackson has told Chelsea he’s ready to leave, with the forward’s agents informing Maresca’s side that a new challenge is desired on his end.

“I am told that Jackson’s camp have made it clear to Chelsea that he is looking at a move this month,” Bailey said.

“He was concerned when Liam Delap came in, and since the arrival of Joao Pedro the situation has only got worse. Jackson is looking at his options, but I am told that Newcastle do appeal to him, and likewise he has a huge amount of respect for Unai Emery at Villa.

“Given the cost involved, there is a good chance he moves within England.”

The former Villarreal sensation, according to Bailey, commands a lofty price tag of around £70 million, with Newcastle specifically ready to bid £60m.

While the Magpies are about £10m off, Chelsea are said to be open to negotiations, so a move from Eddie Howe’s side could be one to watch.

Fakhar Zaman misses out on a central contract for the first time in eight years, left out of PCB’s list of 25 released on Sunday

Danyal Rasool27-Oct-2024The revised central contracts for the Pakistan men’s cricket team have been announced, nearly four months after they were due.Shan Masood, who captained Pakistan’s Test side to their first series win since July 2023 this week, keeps his spot in Category B. Whether he lasts the full year in that position, though, is uncertain, with a media release from the PCB stating his retention in the category was “subject to captaincy”. There has been fevered speculation over how long he would keep the Test reins when Pakistan lost his first six Tests in charge. But the PCB going public in spelling out the contingency in his central contract a day after Pakistan’s comeback series win over England is unlikely to have a stabilising effect.Babar Azam retains his position in the highest category despite missing the last two Test matches against England after a run of poor form, while Shaheen Afridi drops down to the second tier, leaving Mohammad Rizwan as the only other A category player.Fakhar Zaman, meanwhile, misses out on a central contract for the first time in eight years. There were reported to be concerns over his fitness, though his relationship with the PCB has deteriorated of late.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe board issued him a show-cause notice after a tweet he put out two weeks ago where he criticised the decision to drop Babar Azam. The post remains up, and Fakhar has not apologised, with the matter understood to be with his legal team. Last month, when chairman Mohsin Naqvi organised a “connection camp” to speak to get senior players to air their views, Fakhar was among the most outspoken, singling out a senior official for particularly trenchant criticism.His long-time ODI opening partner Imam-ul-Haq also misses out on a central contract while there’s been category deflation across the board. Just five players of 25 are in the A or B categories as opposed to 11 last year. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who didn’t feature last year, have made a comeback off the back of their recent heroics against England, both placed in the C category, with Noman’s inclusion subject to fitness. Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Usman Khan and Irfan Khan have all been given their maiden central contracts, all finding a spot in the D category.Last year the PCB agreed landmark three-year deals on central contracts, giving players their highest pay raises in history, and, more notably, a fixed share of revenue from the PCB’s earnings at the ICC. The board has stuck to the same arrangement this time, only tweaking which categories particular players are placed in, as was previously agreed. The contracts will be backdated to cover the period starting July 1, 2024, running for another 12 months before a revision can be made.Category A (2): Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan
Category B (3): Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood
Category C (9): Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan
Category D (11): Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Usman Khan

It’s hard to imagine this summer getting any better for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s men demolished the Champions League champions in the final of the Club World Cup last week and look like they’ll be a serious threat in the Premier League next season.

Off the pitch, the West Londoners have been just as effective, securing the likes of Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, while also making a massive profit on Noni Madueke.

Moreover, they aren’t done there, as the Blues have also been linked with the brilliant Eberechi Eze this week, although if reports are to be believed, they are also looking at another international who’s even better.

Chelsea target Eze upgrade

Earlier this week, mere days after becoming world champions, Chelsea were reported as being interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze.

Transfer Focus

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

The stories claimed that alongside their London rivals Arsenal, the Blues have made the England international a key target for the rest of the summer, and that while no club-to-club contact has been made, they have spoken to his camp.

It wouldn’t be a cheap deal to get done due to the 27-year-old’s well-published £68m release clause, but it’s not hard to see why they might be keen to bring the Premier League-proven ace to Stamford Bridge.

With that said, it now appears that the West Londoners have identified another option, someone who has also proven themselves in the league and would be a better addition: Morgan Rogers.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, the Pensioners are very much interested in signing the Aston Villa star this summer.

Unfortunately, Jacobs reveals that the Claret and Blue consider their dynamic star to be “untouchable.”

However, everyone has their price, and according to The Sun, they value him at £80m, amid their claims on Thursday that he is now the Blues’ number one target for the remainder of the window.

It’d be an extremely costly and complicated transfer to complete, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it’d be one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Eze.

Why Rogers would be a better signing than Eze

While Chelsea will want Rogers for his overall play and impact on the team, they’d also want some serious output from him for his reported price tag, and that is the first advantage he has over Eze.

In 37 league appearances last season, the Villa dynamo managed to score eight goals and provide 11 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games.

In contrast, the former QPR gem scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 34 appearances, which comes out as a still good, but less impressive, average of 2.12 goal involvements per game.

Appearances

37

34

Goals

8

8

Assists

11

8

Goal Involvements per Game

0.51

0.47

Points per Game

1.70

1.50

On top of that, the Claret and Blue’s output “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, is more versatile than the former QPR gem.

For example, he has proven himself capable of delivering top performances in the ten, on both wings, and has even played up top on more than a few occasions, which would give Maresca numerous tactical options.

In contrast, the Eagles star is still versatile, but he’s only really comfortable in the ten or off the left, and even then, he spent almost all of last season in the former.

Finally, and this is an important one, the former Middlesbrough ace is five years younger.

This is important because it means he’ll align with the club’s ethos of buying younger talents, and he should develop and reach his peak alongside the likes of Cole Palmer, which, according to research carried out by The Athletic, typically occurs around 26 years old for attacking midfielders.

Ultimately, Eze is an excellent footballer who would certainly bring something to Chelsea this summer, but from their output in the league last season to their upside a few years down the line, Rogers would be the far better signing.

Bad news for Pedro & Delap: Chelsea in the race to sign "the next Mbappe"

The sensational attacker would make Chelsea far more dangerous next season.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 17, 2025

Those of a Liverpool persuasion appear to have come down with a nasty case of Alexander Isak fever, and well, who can blame them?

The bombshell news emerged on Tuesday that, after months of whispers and speculation, the Premier League champions are finally ready to firm up their interest in the Newcastle United man, amid the prospect of a potential £120m bid for the Swede.

That mammoth offer – which would eclipse the Reds’ recent club-record capture of Florian Wirtz – could put the icing on the cake for the Anfield side’s summer business, with Isak fresh off the back of a season that saw him score 23 top-flight goals.

Unsurprisingly, the Magpies are hell-bent on keeping hold of their star man for a little while longer, albeit with Richard Hughes playing the trump card after rivalling Eddie Howe and co in the pursuit of Isak’s heir apparent, Hugo Ekitike. Checkmate?

Either way, it would appear that the Merseysiders are in a strong bargaining position, with optimism growing that the division’s “best striker” – as described by Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson – could be lining up alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah next season.

Isak, as stated, might well be the delicious icing, but Hughes could also sprinkle a little cherry on top by sealing yet another high-profile deal in the coming weeks…

Latest on Liverpool's transfer pursuit

Wirtz. Jeremie Frimpong. Milos Kerkez. Isak next?

It may now be a waiting game to see if the Newcastle marksman will agitate for a move, albeit with Liverpool no doubt keen to pounce on the 25-year-old’s contract uncertainty, with the Daily Mail’s Dominic King outlining that talks have ‘stalled’ over a new deal at St James’ Park.

According to King, Hughes and his recruitment team will officially move for the former Real Sociedad striker if they ‘receive encouragement’, with this game of cat and mouse likely to have a few twists and turns to come.

Transfer Focus

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

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Elsewhere, meanwhile, Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are expected to soon seal a deal for Crystal Palace skipper, Marc Guehi, with that move looking ‘increasingly likely’ amid developments at Selhurst Park.

Indeed, the report outlines that with the Eagles seemingly closing in on the £45m signing of Sporting CP centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, it would pave the way for Guehi to depart.

The suggestion is that with the England international having just a year left to run on his Palace contract, the south Londoners are keen to cash in this summer, rather than lose him on a free in 12 months’ time.

Why Liverpool could be set to seal another Isak-esque signing

It’s fair to say that after sitting out the recent friendly win over Preston North End, excitement is brewing over finally seeing the aforementioned Wirtz in action in a Liverpool shirt, with the 22-year-old German signing off his time at Bayer Leverkusen with 122 goals and assists in 97 games in all competitions.

That capture is a statement deal, no doubt, but if Isak were to arrive, it would truly take the biscuit, with the 6 foot 4 sensation a Premier League-proven talent, having scored 44 league goals across the last two seasons combined.

The man who helped steer Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory over Arne Slot’s side earlier this year, the £63m goal machine could now be the figurehead of a new era at Anfield, with the rest of the division likely to already be quaking in their boots.

As for Guehi, while such a deal would almost go under the radar amid the current circumstances, there would be shades of Isak about that acquisition, with Liverpool in line to poach another key figure from a fellow Premier League outfit.

Currently captain at Selhurst Park, the 25-year-old has already made 132 appearances in England’s top tier to date, having notably skippered his side to shock FA Cup glory in 2024/25.

Marc Guehi – FA Cup final stats

Stat

Record

Minutes played

61

Touches

17

Pass accuracy

75%

Key passes

1

Possession lost

2

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

1/4

Tackles

1

Clearances

4

Stats via Sofascore

Like Isak, the in-demand defender – who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer – has more than proven himself against Premier League opposition, with both men also seemingly at the perfect point of their careers. Indeed, with both men still only 25, they have gained notable experience at the top level, but may not yet have entered their peak.

Described as a “monster” of a centre-back by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi – like Isak – is also “one of the best in the country” in his position, as per scout Mick Brown, with Liverpool able to acquire a player who would slot straight into their starting lineup.

Much like with Isak, there would be no period of transition or adaptation, this is a player who could well hit the ground running on Merseyside.

This is a man who ranks in the top 10% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for key passes per 90, as well as in the top 10% for through balls, as per FBref. In essence, he is a master at playing out from the back.

Having romped to the title at a canter last season, Liverpool are at a point now where they can poach the very best that the Premier League has to offer. In their respective positions, Isak and Guehi would be just that.

Related Romano: Liverpool plan to submit record-breaking bid to sign Alexander Isak

The Reds could spend big once again…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jul 15, 2025

Thomas Frank hasn’t been short of talented attackers during his time as a manager, hoping to attract similar talent during his stint as Tottenham Hotspur boss.

The Dane has overseen the development of the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, with the trio sitting at the top for most Premier League goals scored in the Bees’ history.

Toney left in a big-money deal to move to Saudi Arabia last summer, but Mbeumo is also expected to follow suit, as a £70m deal to join Manchester United appears to be edging closer.

Frank even tried to convince the Cameroonian international to move to North London with him, but the winger stated his desire to move to Ruben Amorim’s side instead.

Such a decision has left the new Lilywhites’ boss with the challenge of landing a new star forward, already making huge waves in the transfer market to potentially land his next big talent in the final third.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent this summer

Antoine Semenyo was seen as one of Spurs’ biggest targets in this transfer window a couple of weeks ago, with real belief they could land the Ghanaian if they offered £65m for his signature.

However, it looks as though they are set to miss out on a deal to land the Bournemouth star, after he put pen to paper on a new five-year deal, which will see him remain at the Vitality until 2030.

Such a decision has seen other targets being considered, with West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus someone who’s been mentioned nonstop in recent days.

However, CaughtOffside’s latest update has stated the Hammers star has emerged as the Lilywhites’ number one target this summer, despite having a £85m release clause in his current deal.

It also states that the hierarchy are willing to back the manager in his quest within the market, seeing the 24-year-old as a statement signing ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, potentially able to negotiate a deal at around the £70m mark.

Why Spurs’s number one target could be Frank’s answer to Bale

Gareth Bale was a player who was responsible for countless moments of magic during his spell as a Spurs player, reaching levels that no supporter could ever have imagined.

The Welshman joined the club from Southampton back in 2007, originally as a left-back, before making the shift up the field into a winger – a decision that would transform his career tenfold.

In his three years at the Lilywhites, operating in a more attacking role, he registered 50 goals and 26 assists, resulting in an £85m transfer to join Spanish giants Real Madrid back in the summer of 2013.

12 years on from his departure, the club have lacked a real elite-level right-sided attacker, but that could be about to change this summer with a move for Kudus, who possesses some similar traits to the Welshman.

The biggest one is his ability to cut inside onto his stronger left foot, subsequently being able to fire the ball into the back of the net – having the ability to hand the fanbase the chance to get off their seats when he’s on the ball.

His underlying stats in 2024/25 are just as impressive, with such figures certainly helping him reach his tally of five goals and four assists across all competitions.

Kudus, who’s been labelled “generational” by journalist Gary Al-Smith, completed 3.2 take-ons per 90 in the Premier League last season, showcasing his ability to drive inside past the opposition.

Kudus’ stats for West Ham in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

32

Goals & assists

8

Shot on target accuracy

28%

Pass accuracy

84%

Take-ons completed

3.2

Carries into final third

2.1

Carries into opposition box

1.5

Fouls won

2.2

Stats via FBref

He also registered 1.5 carries into the opposition box per 90, subsequently able to go round the outside of the full-back before cutting the ball back to a teammate and providing them with the tools for success too.

The Ghanaian’s talents don’t stop there, managing to get 28% of his shots on target, whilst also winning 2.2 fouls per 90, highlighting how much of a threat he poses to the opposition.

If the club can land the West Ham star this summer, it would be a tremendous piece of business, having the opportunity to develop further given the fact he’s just 24 years of age.

Should Kudus manage to get anywhere near the levels produced by Bale in North London, it would be a bargain transfer, subsequently allowing Frank to have his next attacking star in 2025/26.

Related Upgrade on Kudus & Eze: Spurs in contact to sign "world-class" £43m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be plotting moves for various attackers during this summer window.

Posts 5 ByEthan Lamb Jul 1, 2025

The Australia batter pulled off an incredible piece of fielding in the T20 Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2024Marnus Labuschagne pulled off an outrageous catch while playing for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in the T20 Blast on Thursday.Fielding at long-on, he sprinted to his right and dived full-length, low to the ground to hold Ben Charlesworth’s lofted drive off legspinner Mason Crane.Labuschagne himself could barely believe he had taken the catch and sprinted off in celebration with his team-mates trying to catch him.The game itself turned into a thriller as well with Gloucestershire’s Josh Shaw hitting the last ball for six to clinch victory.

Another angle of THAT Marnus Labuschagne screamer https://t.co/5noIZtYwu7 pic.twitter.com/SjfeYbIuWN

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 20, 2024

Back in Australia, Labuschagne’s moment recalled memories of one that is part of cricket folklore: Adam Dale’s incredible catch in the deep during a one-day game against New South Wales at the Gabba in 1997.Related

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“I remember diving, and I still remember the stick [of the ball],” Dale recalled to on the 25-year anniversary of his catch. “It was a nice moment, but I do think I was out of position.”Labuschagne is known as an excellent fielder and has pulled off some superb run outs in both red and white-ball cricket.Earlier this week it was announced he would be Queensland captain next season, taking over from Usman Khawaja.

Manchester United have opened talks over the signing of a “fantastic” player, who is now a prime target, and they are making significant moves to get a deal done, according to a report.

Man Utd's summer rebuild now underway

The Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to have a mass clear-out this summer, and the manager’s rebuild has now commenced, with Matheus Cunha becoming the first player to sign on the dotted line.

However, in order to re-shape his squad more significantly, Amorim may have to sanction some departures, and the manager was seen visibly laughing when questioned about Alejandro Garnacho’s future, amid widespread links to other clubs.

Andre Onana is another player who could be in the firing line, having failed to adapt to life in the Premier League, with Lyon’s Nemanja Matic famously dubbing him “one of the worst keepers in Manchester United history” back in April.

As such, United have been looking at replacements for Onana, and they are now stepping up their pursuit of AS Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, opening talks over a deal for the 25-year-old in the past week.

Related £60m star "wants to join Man Utd" instead of Arsenal as INEOS set to open talks

The Red Devils are looking to seal a deal for an “incredible” player…

Posts 1 ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Red Devils are now making significant moves to sign Svilar, who could be a low-cost replacement for Onana, with Roma likely to hold out for a fee of around £21m – £25m.

The Serbian would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United and AS Monaco all monitoring the goalkeeper’s situation in Italy.

"Fantastic" Svilar now prime target for Man Utd

The Belgium-born shot-stopper is said to have been identified as a prime target for Man United this summer, and it is clear to see why, having averaged a very impressive save percentage and clean sheet percentage over the past year, when compared to other goalkeepers.

Mile Svilar Statistics

Average per 90

Save percentage

77.9% (94th percentile)

Goals against

0.96 (92nd percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

38% (86th percentile)

Not only that, but former manager Claudio Ranieri lauded the Serbia international for his performances during the 2024-25 campaign, saying: “Mile is having a fantastic season.

​​​​​​

“When a goalkeeper is not very busy and is suddenly called into action, showing readiness at all times like Mile does, then it means that he is truly a great goalkeeper.”

It is clear that Onana will need to be replaced this summer, having performed very poorly over the past year, and Svilar could be a savvy signing at just £21m, freeing up funds to strengthen other areas of the squad.

Well, that is about as deflating a night as Arsenal fans are going to experience this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night, and instead of repeating the heroics of their game against Real Madrid, they seemed to just shrink.

It took all of three minutes for the visitors to take the lead through Ousmane Dembélé, and while the Gunners had a few chances of their own, the French side was undoubtedly the better team overall, taking a 1-0 lead back to Paris next week.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against PSG

It would be fair to say that, apart from David Raya, none of the starters really stood out for the right reasons, but there were undoubtedly a few who stood out for all the wrong ones.

Indeed, with Thomas Partey forced to sit out through suspension after his daft yellow card in Madrid, Arteta’s side were forced to make some changes.

The most notable of which saw Mikel Merino play in midfield with Leandro Trossard playing as the centre-forward.

While it was Merino who saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside, Trossard had a poor night at the office and didn’t give Arsenal the out-ball his Spanish colleague has provided so well since becoming a makeshift striker.

Not only did the Belgian struggle to hold up the play but he was also missed a gilt-edged chance in the second half. Sent through on goal, the winger came close to equalising from close range but was denied fabulously by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG net.

Gabriel Martinelli was another who missed a fine opportunity to score on what was a frustrating night for the Brazilian.

Following on from his winning goal at the Bernabeu earlier this month, there was hope, if not an expectation, that Martinelli would once again rewind the clock to his 22/23 form against PSG last night, but that just didn’t happen.

While he still fulfilled his defensive duties, the Brazilian wideman was a frustrating watch in attack, failing to make the most of the few chances created for him.

Moreover, with how often Hakimi got forward, there was certainly space for him to exploit, but he just couldn’t, and then, with almost the final kick of the game, he blazed the ball into row Z.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, who awarded the winger a 5/10 at full-time, and one backed up by his statistics.

For example, in his 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old failed to find the back of the net with an expected goals figure of 1.08, took two shots off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed two big chances, made just six passes, misplaced two of three crosses and was offside once.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

1.08

Expected Assists

0.03

Passing Accuracy

6/10 (60%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Shots On Target

1

Shots off Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (2)

Lost Possession

8

Big Chances Missed

2

Offside

1

However, as bad as Martinelli was, one of his teammates was even worse.

Arsenal's worst performer vs PSG

So, while a few other starters let themselves down somewhat last night, one quick glance at social media will reveal to you just who the worst offender was: Martin Odegaard.

It was a night that demanded a captain’s display, but instead of that, the Norwegian international put in what content creator Connor Humm described as a “hall of shame” performance.

The man who should be unlocking defences for the Gunners was instead completely ineffective for the vast majority of the game, and even when he did do something right on occasion, he’d only go and lose the ball or make the wrong pass right after.

It was possibly his most disappointing showing of the campaign yet, which is odd for someone who has undoubtedly been one of Arsenal’s best players of the Arteta era. However, since his ankle injury earlier in the campaign, he’s been way off it, scoring just five times in 2024/25.

While that sounds unfair, it is once again an opinion shared by the aforementioned Braidwood, who gave the 26-year-old a 4/10 match rating, while Humm further laid into him, saying that he was so anonymous at times that he may as well have just “sat in the stands.”

Unsurprisingly, such damning indictments of the captain are more than justified by his statistics, as in 89 uninspiring minutes, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.08 and no expected goals figure, he misplaced 100% of his crosses, didn’t take a single shot, failed in five of six dribbles and only won 25% of his duels.

Minutes

89′

Touches

42

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.08

Assists

0

Passing Accuracy

24/27 (89%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (0)

Shots

0

Dribbles (Successful)

6 (1)

Duels (Won)

8 (2)

Lost Possession

14

Ultimately, last night was a massive disappointment for Arsenal, and if they are to overturn PSG’s one-goal advantage next week, then Odegaard is going to have to either put in a substantially improved display or be dropped entirely.

Indeed, his performance meant the team were practically playing with ten men at the Emirates and in truth, he may not be good enough to be a regular starter anymore.

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Newcastle United are now racing their Premier League rivals for the signature of a “powerful” striker who’s been likened to Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, according to a report.

Newcastle eyeing striker amid Isak uncertainty

Newcastle should be in a strong position to retain the services of Alexander Isak beyond the end of the season, with the striker contracted until the summer of 2028, but a number of top clubs have now expressed an interest in the Sweden international.

Premier League champions Liverpool are keen on the 25-year-old, alongside Arsenal, with one report even suggesting the forward has expressed a desire to move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer transfer window.

As such, it could make sense for the Magpies to bring in a new striker capable of replacing Isak on a long-term basis, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo recently emerging as an ideal target, while they are also interested in signing Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.

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Having proven themselves in the Premier League, Mbeumo and Delap could be exciting options for Eddie Howe’s side, but there has also been a suggestion they could be willing to take a risk on a lesser-known forward.

According to a report from Fotomac (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are now in a race to sign Besiktas striker Semih Kilicsoy, alongside Aston Villa, who submitted a €15m (£13m) offer last summer, and soon-to-be Premier League rivals Leeds United.

Besiktas may have turned down Villa’s approach last year, but the Turkish club could now be willing to sanction a departure this summer, although they would be looking to receive a percentage of a future sale.

It is unclear what sort of fee Besiktas would be looking to receive for Kilicsoy, but £13m was deemed too low last summer, so it may take a bigger offer to tempt them into a sale.

"Powerful" Kilicsoy likened to Aguero

Football scout Ben Mattinson is a big fan of the 19-year-old, having lauded him as a “very powerful” striker in the past, while also lauding him for his shooting ability.

The teenager has also been tipped for future success by Brad Friedel, who said: “I don’t want to put pressure on him [but] he has a structure like Sergio Aguero. I think he will be very good in the future.”

Kilicsoy’s return of three goals and four assists in the Turkish Super Lig this season isn’t exactly eye-catching, with the starlet often being limited to appearances as a substitute, but he clearly has the potential to develop into a top striker.