da wazamba： Leeds United know that they could have achieved promotion to the Premier League by Monday night if results go their way over the Easter period.

da fezbet： The Whites are currently five points clear of Sheffield United in third place and will officially be promoted if they win both of their matches and the Blades drop any points in their two games.

Daniel Farke’s side beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road last time out to ensure that they had a healthy gap to third place, and they can now get the job done, with a bit of luck from others, in the next few days.

The Whites would still have plenty of work to do to win the title, as they are currently level on points with Burnley, but the main aim of promotion would have been secured.

Farke and his staff could, then, start to think about plans for the 2025/26 campaign and how they will build a squad that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.

How they set up their midfield in the top-flight, should they get there, will be particularly interesting, given that they currently play with a traditional number ten in Brenden Aaronson.

How Leeds United's midfield could look in the Premier League

The USA international has not done enough this season to suggest that he will be good enough for Leeds to play with an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system at Premier League level.

Aaronson has consistently failed to offer enough quality at the top end of the pitch against the other teams in the current top six in the Championship, as shown in the table below.

Form against the Championship top six

Brenden Aaronson vs

Goals

Assists

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

Given that the script will flip for Leeds next season, fighting at the bottom end of the table instead of the top, Farke could rework his midfield set-up to play with Ao Tanaka in front of two holding midfielders.

The Japan international has scored four goals and provided two assists in a deep-lying midfield role this season, which suggests that he could offer a threat in the final third, but he has also made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match, meaning that the midfield star could provide an added layer of defensive protection for the Whites.

This would, then, allow Ethan Ampadu to play as a defensive midfielder alongside another physical enforcer, with Tanaka ahead of them, and showcase his defensive skills, having won 61% of his duels in the Championship this term.

The Wales international can provide a solid presence at the base of the midfield, and Leeds are reportedly interested in a star who could complete the midfield set-up alongside Ampadu and Tanaka.

Leeds eyeing Premier League colossus

According to Claret and Hugh, Leeds are eyeing up a summer swoop to sign West Ham United defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek ahead of the summer transfer window.

Farke is said to be a fan of the Czechia international and has identified him as a possible target for his Premier League squad for next season, if the Whites are promoted.

Claret and Hugh quote a ‘transfer insider’ as revealing that Leeds are looking at both Soucek and Irish forward Evan Ferguson, who is on loan at the London Stadium from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The insider said: “Leeds are planning for next season — Daniel Farke has already started preparations for the summer window. He likes Souček, but there’s already a Premier League offer in for him. I think Leeds like Ferguson too, and he’d get games there.”

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The claim that there is already another Premier League offer in for the former Slavia Prague midfielder suggests that it will not be an easy deal for the 49ers to get over the line, but they should push to bring him in because he could be an excellent addition to the squad to complement Ampadu in midfield.

Why Leeds should sign Tomas Soucek

Soucek provides a mix of physicality, experience, and quality in the middle of the park, having been a regular in the Premier League for the Hammers since his move to London in the summer of 2020.

Despite being a defensive midfielder, the towering colossus has scored 39 goals in 239 appearances in all competitions for West Ham, including 34 goals in 188 Premier League outings.

This means that he has scored even more goals in the Premier League than former Leeds star and current Barcelona superstar Raphinha, who scored 17 goals in 65 top-flight games in England.

Whilst Soucek has played more matches in the division than the Brazil international, his output at the top end of the pitch, compared to the position he plays, makes him a big threat.

This could make him the perfect partner for Ampadu, who has only scored two goals in 82 games for Leeds, to make up for the Welshman’s lack of quality as a goalscorer from midfield.

Soucek, whose defensive determination was described as “magnificent” by Trevor Sinclair, is also a proven Premier League midfielder when it comes do doing the dirty work out of possession.

24/25 Premier League

Per 90

Percentile rank vs midfielders

Clearances

3.01

Top 5%

Aerial duels won

3.98

Top 2%

Percentage of dribblers tackled

50%

Top 40%

Shots blocked

0.67

Top 7%

Blocks

1.38

Top 32%

Challenges lost

0.71

Top 23%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Czechia international ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in the division in a host of key defensive metrics.

He rarely loses challenges or allows players to dribble past him and is dominant in the box, making clearances and winning aerial duels on a regular basis.

Therefore, Soucek could be the perfect signing for Leeds to make in the summer because of his experience in the division, with the best part of 200 appearances in the league, the goal threat he can provide from midfield, and the defensive quality to keep opposition teams at bay.

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Farke would then be able to field a midfield including Soucek and Ampadu at the base with Tanaka ahead of them linking the midfield and the frontline.

da lvbet： Celtic travel away from Parkhead to take on Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, knowing that a point will be enough to seal the title.

da supremo： The Hoops simply have to avoid defeat to clinch their fourth league title in succession, which means that this could be the weekend that they are crowned champions once again.

Brendan Rodgers’ side beat St. Johnstone 5-0 in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup last time out at Hampden Park, but the Northern Irish boss could make some changes to his side, starting with dropping James Forrest to the bench.

Why James Forrest should be dropped

The long-serving Celtic winger was selected to start on the right side of the attack against the Saints last weekend and, once again, failed to contribute much at the top end of the pitch.

Forrest has started the last two matches and has not been involved, with a goal or an assist, in any of the ten goals scored by the team, which has been the story of his season.

The Scottish forward has played 27 matches in all competitions this season without scoring a single goal for the Hoops, which illustrates his lack of impact in the final third.

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With this in mind, Rodgers must take the ineffective winger out of the starting XI for this trip to Dundee United, who are not an easy team to play against. They have only conceded 40 goals in 33 matches, which suggests that Celtic need their best attackers on the pitch, including Nicolas Kuhn.

Why Nicolas Kuhn could win Celtic the title

Dundee United, as shown by their defensive record this season, will be tough to break down and that is why the German attacker must be unleashed to win the title for the Hoops.

Forrest has shown, with zero goals in 26 games, that he is unlikely to make much of an impact as a starter on Saturday. Whereas, Kuhn has been in excellent form this season at the top end of the pitch.

The left-footed forward has racked up 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the Scottish giants this term, including two assists in his last four league starts.

24/25 Premiership

Nicolas Kuhn

Appearances

28

Goals

10

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

1.7

Assists

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has delivered 18 goals and assists combined in the Premiership so far this term, which shows that he can get on the end of passes to score, or he can be the player who makes the killer pass to split open a defence.

The former Rapid Vienna star, once hailed as “magical” by Rodgers, could provide the cutting edge in front of goal that is seemingly going to be required to break down the Dundee United backline, whilst Forrest’s form this season suggests that he is not the man for that job.

Therefore, Rodgers could increase his team’s chances of winning the title on Saturday by dropping the Scottish forward in favour of Kuhn on the right flank.

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da bet vitoria： Fulham are still in the hunt for continental qualification under Marco Silva and could look to swat aside some of their Premier League competitors to land a talented defender, per reports.

Fulham keep their European hopes alive at Southampton

da bwin： The race for European football in the English top-flight is gripping, if not complicated, but Fulham still find themselves in the hunt for some form of reward for another fine season at Craven Cottage.

Indeed, they left it late at Southampton, courtesy of Ryan Sessegnon’s last-minute effort, which sealed a 2-1 victory on the South Coast to condemn the home side to another unfortunate defeat.

Four matches remain for the Cottagers, who may still gain a place in the Europa League or Europa Conference League, subject to many complex permutations that supporters will be spending their spare hours breaking down.

Either way, Fulham are a club on the up under Silva and could be set for another exciting summer in West London with arrivals on the horizon.

Setting a marker of their ambition, Joao Palhinha could be on his way back to Craven Cottage from Bayern Munich after struggling to break into the first-team picture in Germany under Vincent Kompany.

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Kyle Walker-Peters could arrive at Fulham on a free transfer when his contract expires at Southampton at the end of this campaign, which would be another smart piece of business at Craven Cottage to add further squad depth ahead of 2025/26.

Now, Silva’s men are in a position to challenge their Premier League competitors for the signature of an Italy international, per recent developments.

Fulham position themselves to sign Juventus defender Nicolo Savona

According to TBR, Fulham have made contact with Juventus regarding Nicola Savona as they look to strike a deal to bring the versatile defender to Craven Cottage.

Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham United are also in the mix to sign the Italian, who can play at right-back, centre-back, left-back and further up on the flank if needed.

Nicolo Savona statistics in 2024/25 – Serie A

Chances created

15

Successful crosses

11

Tackles won

13

Duels won

49

Recoveries

61

Dribbled past

11

Called up by Italy but so far not capped, Savona has registered two goals and a solitary assist in 33 appearances this campaign as Juventus look to cement Champions League qualification.

Manchester City made advances over a move for the defender in January in their attempts to replace long-serving star Kyle Walker, though nothing came to fruition and he is now back on the market.

Juventus made the mistake of parting ways with Dean Huijsen last summer, and the Spain international has since gone on to be a revelation at Bournemouth.

Unsurprisingly, Fulham are now a fixture in the race to sign Savona and there is optimism he could follow a similar path should he swap Serie A for the Premier League.

da dobrowin： While it could still end in an incredible crescendo of Champions League glory, it wouldn’t be amiss to describe this season as something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

da realsbet： Mikel Arteta’s side were terrible in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and are now at risk of losing their grasp on second place in the Premier League.

Moreover, while the team has underwhelmed as a collective, there have been several players who’ve simply not reached the standards set in the last couple of years, such as Martin Odegaard.

So, with this in mind, it’s not all that surprising to read recent reports linking the club to someone who could be an upgrade on the Gunners captain.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other midfield stars linked with Arsenal in recent months, such as Frenkie de Jong and Kevin De Bruyne.

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The former has been enjoying a stellar campaign with Barcelona and remains on track for a historic treble-winning season with the Catalan club, so while he’d be an exceptional addition to the club, we imagine he’d cost a king’s ransom, even with reports coming out about his contract talks stalling.

In contrast, we now know Kevin de Bruyne will be leaving Manchester City in the summer, so if Arteta can work his magic, he might just be able to convince the mercurial Belgian to join his former title rivals, and with 14 goal involvements in 36 games this season, he’d still be a useful player to have in the squad.

However, knowing the North Londoners might want to make sure they keep the team young and hungry, which could explain the recent links to Brahim Diaz.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have identified the Moroccan international as a ‘top priority’ ahead of the summer and that Arteta really wants the club to sign the player he worked with at Manchester City.

The story claims that Real Madrid are willing to let the player leave for a convincing offer, while stories from earlier this year suggest that they’d be after a fee in the region of €60m, which is about £51m.

It would be a costly deal to get over the line, but one worth pursuing, as he could be a perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Diaz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal get their man this summer, and he comes in to play more of a midfield role, he’d be in direct competition with Odegaard for that creative number ten role.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them?

From a pure output perspective, it is the “incredible” Real ace, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, who emerges victorious, but only when we look at the minutes-to-goal involvement ratios.

For example, in 49 appearances, totalling 2058 minutes, the Moroccan international has scored six goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.76 games, or far more consequently, every 158.30 minutes.

In contrast, the Norwegian maestro has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, but more importantly, every 197.62 minutes.

What about when we take a look under the hood and at their underlying numbers, then? Is it another minor victory for the Champions League winner?

Well, it’s actually a relatively comfortable one for the 25-year-old, as he comes out ahead in most relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Diaz vs Odegaard

Statistic

Diaz

Odegaard

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.57

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.42

0.34

Progressive Passes

4.62

10.1

Progressive Passes Received

6.99

6.08

Progressive Carries

2.66

3.46

Shots

1.89

1.82

Shots on Target

1.05

0.55

Passing Accuracy

86.7%

82.9%

Key Passes

1.40

2.41

Shot-Creating Actions

3.57

4.86

Goal-Creating Actions

0.84

0.59

Tackles Won

1.26

0.46

Interceptions

0.28

0.17

Blocks

1.12

0.21

Successful Take-Ons

1.54

0.97

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Ultimately, while Odegaard remains a talented player, Diaz has outperformed him in just about every metric this season, and if Arsenal can sign him in the summer, they should.

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da stake casino： Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign a “very quick” defender who’s among the “world’s best”, according to a report.

Newcastle's summer transfer plans taking shape

da poker： Should Newcastle manage to secure Champions League qualification by finishing in the Premier League’s top five, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a resounding success, having also ended their 70-year trophy drought by lifting the EFL Cup.

However, the PIF have grand plans for the Magpies, and having enjoyed their first taste of success, they are likely to be even more inspired to compete for more major honours, which means some new additions to the squad could be required this summer.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be a key target in attack, with the right-winger recently being identified as the ideal option to bolster Eddie Howe’s frontline, while the PIF are now racing to sign Girona’s Yangel Herrera to reinforce the midfield.

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A new centre-back has also been of interest for quite some time, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi a long-standing target, and there has now been a new update on the Tynesiders’ pursuit of a defender.

According to a report from The Sun, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, having announced his intention to leave the German club when his contract expires.

Guehi remains the Magpies’ top target, with the Palace captain set to leave Selhurst Park this summer, but Tah has now been identified as an alternative option, with Howe desperate to bring in a new defender this summer.

There could be stiff competition for the 29-year-old’s signature, however, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also keen, in light of his impressive performances for Bayer Leverkusen…

"Very quick" Tah among "world's best" defenders

Leverkusen were unable to retain the Bundesliga title this season, but they did an incredible job to pip Bayern to top spot in the 2023-24 campaign, going the entire season undefeated, and it would be fair to say the German defender impressed Xabi Alonso.

Alonso said: “Jonha is performing at the highest level and I am really happy for him because he deserves all the praise and all the good moments he’s living – that he keeps playing for us and happily for the national team as well. I think he is one of the world’s best defenders.”

Former Germany boss Joachim Low once described the 29-year-old as “very quick”, while he is also very impressive in possession of the ball.

Tah’s availability on a free transfer makes signing him an even more attractive proposition for potential suitors this summer, and it is promising news that Newcastle have now joined the race.

da doce： Glasgow Rangers are still on the hunt for a permanent first-team manager. With each day passing, the Ibrox faithful will become more anxious about who it might be.

da bwin： Pre-season will likely start in late June, which doesn’t give the board much time to find the right candidate for the job.

The takeover by the 49ers Enterprises is showing plenty of progress, but will it be completed by the time preparation begins for the 2025/26 campaign?

That much remains to be seen. There have already been a few names linked with a move to Rangers. José Mourinho was reportedly keen on a move to Glasgow, according to TEAMtalk last month, but his massive wages, plus the fact that a compensation fee would have to be paid to Fenerbahçe, surely rule him out.

Elsewhere, former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose is another potential candidate, especially due to his connections with the Red Bull football group.

Again, his wage demands might prove to be out of reach, although things may change once the 49ers complete their takeover deal. One man who may or may not be returning to the club is Steven Gerrard.

Latest on Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers

The Englishman, who led the Light Blues to their last Premiership title in 2021, has been one of the favourites to become the next permanent manager.

On the surface, the move makes perfect sense. He is out of a job, knows what makes Rangers tick and most importantly, knows how to get the better of Celtic domestically.

There are differing claims over whether Gerrard is in the running to make an incredible return to Ibrox, however, with Chris Jack of the Rangers Review outlining: “It is understood that the appointment will be a manager with no previous involvement with Rangers. The new era will be a new beginning.”

That said, journalist Mike McGrath has suggested that Gerrard’s name is among the lengthy list of candidates being considered. In any case, with Athletic Club being knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, the Gers will now enter the Champions League at the second qualifying stage.

Steven Gerrard’s stats in charge of Rangers

Season

Games

Wins

Points per game

2021/22

22

12

1.86

2020/21

56

44

2.52

2019/20

54

36

2.17

2018/19

60

32

1.9

Via Transfermarkt

Those ties begin towards the end of July, indicating how urgent it is to bring a new manager in as soon as possible.

Could Danny Rohl be an ideal fit for the role?

Rangers could turn to Danny Rohl as their new manager

German manager Rohl could be the man that the 49ers are targeting as the new head coach, if recent whispers are to be believed.

It was reported by talkSPORT that the manager has left Sheffield Wednesday just days after the end of the 2024/25 Championship season.

It was believed that he had a release clause of £5m in his contract with the Owls – a figure which surely would have ruled out a move by Rangers – but now it appears as though he is without a club.

Regarding his future, Rohl has always seen himself aiming higher than the English Championship, saying: “I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further.

“And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.”

If Rohl is indeed a free agent ready to be snapped up, then the 49ers could do no worse than take a look at the 35-year-old.

Why Danny Rohl could be more exciting than Steven Gerrard

Gerrard’s spell at Ibrox will live long in the memory of the supporters, especially after ending a barren decade-long wait for a league title. There were difficult times, too, however. The first couple of seasons saw the Gers struggle, especially after Christmas.

After winning the Premiership crown, Gerrard wasn’t backed sufficiently and thus failed to kick on from that moment, allowing Celtic to return to the summit of Scottish football.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows under the former Liverpool captain, and his exit still rankles with a few of the fans, that’s for sure.

In Rohl, what exactly would the Ibrox side be getting? He doesn’t have much experience managing at the highest level. Indeed, his only senior role was the Sheffield Wednesday job, where he took charge for 89 matches across all competitions, winning 34 games.

He tends to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would work out well with the players he could inherit at Rangers, no doubt about that.

Although his lack of managerial experience will be held against him, Rohl has won plenty as an assistant. Between August 2019 and June 2021, he was second in command to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich.

Of course, the Bavarian side won the treble during the 2019/20 campaign and Rohl played a key role in this success as arguably the brains behind the trophy-laden season.

He followed Flick to the German national team, spending time as an assistant between August 2021 and September 2023. Germany failed to get out of the group stages at the 2022 World Cup, however.

Dubbed as “unbelievable” and the “best head coach” he played under by Josh Windass, it is clear Rohl has plenty to offer as a manager.

Under difficult circumstances at the Owls, he avoided relegation in 2023/24 and led them to 12th in the most recent season, missing out on a playoff spot by just ten points.

He might not be perfect, but the fact that he offers something fresh could be exactly what the 49ers group are after, instead of going over old ground with regard to Gerrard.

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By moving in a different direction, the Light Blues will look towards entering a new era this summer as they look to finally end years of hurt by challenging Celtic for the domestic title.

Will Rohl be in the dugout come July? Only time will tell.

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da roleta： An “excellent” Newcastle United player is thought to be a priority target for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.

Newcastle players who could leave this summer

da betsul： While the Magpies are expecting a busy summer transfer window in terms of new signings, especially if Champions League football is secured this weekend, there are plenty of current star names being linked with exits before next season gets underway.

Alexander Isak is the player that Newcastle will be most desperate to retain, but the Swede is believed to be the subject of interest from some huge clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, the Reds could reportedly be back in for Anthony Gordon this summer, having shown a willingness to snap him up last year. They see him as a potential replacement for Luis Diaz, although signing Florian Wirtz would surely put paid to their interest in the Magpies ace.

There are others who Newcastle want to ensure are still at the club in 2025/26, like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. However, another exit claim regarding another individual has emerged.

"Excellent" Newcastle player wanted by Man City

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Manchester City are targeting a move for Newcastle defender Tino Livramento as their primary right-back target, with the 22-year-old potentially becoming the first player to leave St James’ Park this summer despite the rumours elsewhere:

Losing Livramento would be a setback for the Magpies, considering he has proven to be the natural heir to Kieran Trippier in his position, and still has his best years ahead of him.

The £50,000-a-week Englishman has enjoyed an impressive season for Newcastle, starting 31 of his side’s 37 Premier League matches and being lauded by Eddie Howe:

“Athletically, Tino’s excellent and we know that, and we’ve seen that since he’s come to the football club, but to have that responsibility of playing left-back on the opposite side to his natural foot and play the way he has and also build the relationship with Harvey [Barnes] that he has done.”

If Livramento ultimately decides that he would rather join City than stay at Newcastle, Paul Mitchell must do all he can to ensure that the club receives huge money for him in order to sign a top-quality replacement.

Tino Livramento’s 2024/25 Premier League stats

Total

Appearances

36

Starts

31

Minutes played

2752

Goals

0

Assists

1

Clearances per game

2.5

Tackles per game

1.5

Pass completion rate

87.2%

The 22-year-old isn’t out of contract at St James’ until the summer of 2028, putting the Magpies in a strong bargaining position, but hopefully, he will feel that his future belongs with his current team, seeing plenty more success coming their way.

da betobet： If Arsenal needed any more motivation to get over the finishing line next season, Tottenham Hotspur have just provided them with it.

da bet nacional： With second place in the Premier League now practically secured, the board and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta can turn their attention to the summer transfer window and the hunt for a new striker.

Two of the strikers most heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the last few months have been Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, although, with the former lacking experience in a top-five league and the latter potentially costing upwards of £150m, other options have also been floated.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co are now interested in an ideal Gyokeres alternative who has won comparisons to the Toon star.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other strikers who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.

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The former has enjoyed another impressive season with RB Leipzig, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games, although such a rate of return has reportedly seen his release clause increase to around £75m.

Delap, on the other hand, has a release clause worth just £30m in his current contract, although, with 12 goals and two assists to his name in 36 Premier League games this season, he’d represent more of a gamble.

Moreover, if Arteta and Co really want someone who’d be a genuine alternative to Gyokeres, they’d have to be a proven goalscorer, such as Julián Alvarez.

According to a recent report from journalist Matías Palacios via the Spanish football program El Chiringuito, Arsenal are one of several teams very interested in the Atletico Madrid star.

In fact, the journalist claims that the Gunners, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all “want” the Argentine this summer and that “meetings with the interested clubs will begin” next week.

A potential price tag for the striker is not mentioned, but as he cost the La Liga giants around £82m only last summer, we wouldn’t be surprised to see his valuation hit nine figures, especially as the CIES Football Observatory price him at €125m, which is about £105m.

With that said, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Alvarez, as not only could he be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres, but he’s also won comparisons to Isak.

How Alvarez compares Isak

So, before we look at some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Alvarez this summer, we should examine this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and concluded that the Swede is the tenth most similar forward to the Argentine across the last 365 days.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assisted goals, progressive carries, shots on target and goals per shot, key passes, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Alvarez & Isak

Statistics per 90

Alvarez

Isak

Expected Assisted Goals

0.17

0.15

Progressive Carries

2.79

2.77

Shots on Target

1.23

1.32

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.21

Passing Accuracy

74.6%

74.7%

Key Passes

1.45

1.39

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.47

All Stats via FBref for 24/25

On top of the clear statistical similarities, the former Manchester City star has also scored a similar number of goals as the Newcastle ace this season.

For example, in 53 appearances, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided six assists.

In comparison, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 games for the Magpies this term.

Finally, on top of the goals and similarities to one of the best strikers in the world, the Gunners should seriously consider signing Alveraz because he’s a proven winner, having won the treble with City in the 22/23 season.

Therefore, whatever it costs, Arsenal should look to bring the World Cup winner to N5 this summer, even if that means not signing Gyokeres.

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da premier bet： While this season might have felt like one big disappointment for Arsenal fans, their team is still brilliant.

da betobet： In spite of injuries, suspensions and a lack of cutting edge at points, Mikel Arteta’s side still managed to finish second in the Premier League and make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League and League Cup.

However, that lack of cutting-edge options up top and out wide was likely what ultimately prevented the North Londoners from getting over the line in any of their competitions this season and also explains the abundance of links to superstar attackers that have started popping up in recent weeks.

One of the links in question is particularly interesting, as it concerns an incredibly exciting English talent who has won comparisons to someone else touted for a move to the club: Rodrygo.

Arsenal's winger search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like the aforementioned Rodryo and Kaoru Mitoma.

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The latter is reportedly available for around £80m, and while that is a lot of money, he might be worth it, as not only did he score 11 goals and provide four assists in 41 games this season, but he’s also Premier League-proven.

Yet, the Real Madrid star would undoubtedly be the more exhilarating addition to the team, as on top of producing a better tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 51 games this season, he’s simply the bigger name and would be joining the club from arguably the biggest team in the world.

However, at a reported £85m, not to mention the interest from other parties and the chance he might not even want to leave Los Blancos with Xabi Alonso at the helm, Artete a Co may have to look elsewhere, at a player who’s won comparisons to the Brazilian, such as Jamie Gittens.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in the Borussia Dortmund star, but they are in a race against time if they are serious about signing him.

This is because the report has revealed that Premier League rivals Chelsea have already submitted a £55m offer for the young Englishman and are already in talks over a potential deal.

It’s unclear whether that fee will be enough, but if it’s close, then the Gunners should be doing all they can to get ahead of the Blues, as the 20-year-old’s ability and potential are undeniable, and the comparisons to Rodrygo a big bonus.

How Gittens compares to Rodrygo

Before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be signing Gittens this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Rodygo and where it has come from.

In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Real Madrid star is the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Dortmund ace across the last 365 days.

Gittens & Rodrygo

Statistic per 90

Gittens

Rodrygo

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.31

0.32

Non-Penalty G+As

0.56

0.51

Shots

2.64

2.52

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.22

1.21

Goal-Creating Actions

0.51

0.42

Successful Take-Ons %

45.0%

44.1%

Ball Recoveries

3.20

3.32

Aerial Duels Won

0.25

0.33

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, passes into the penalty area, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

However, this flattering and encouraging comparison to one of Europe’s most exciting wingers isn’t the only reason the Gunners should be after the 20-year-old.

Another is that, despite still being so young, the dynamic outlet, whom Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley dubbed “England’s best LW,” managed to score 12 goals and provide five assists in 48 appearances, totalling 2790 minutes this season.

That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.82 games, or mre crucially, every 164.11 minutes of action.

Finally, per FBref, the Reading-born gem sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, at 3.57, which is just the sort of aggressively direct winger the Gunners could use to help them terrify teams next year.

Ultimately, while it might be hard to get ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal have to try, as Gittens looks destined to reach the very top of the game, at least based on the calibre of player he’s currently being compared to.

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da gbg bet： It’s all gone a bit quiet at Rangers recently, hasn’t it? Russell Martin was unveiled as the new manager a week ago but, since then, very little to report from Ibrox, with supporters eager to see a new signing or two through the door.

da supremo： On Tuesday, Rangers will learn the identity of their first opponents of the Martin era, with a Champions League second round qualifier to come, a tie coming up as soon as 22/23 July.

Needing to act fast in the transfer market, could the Gers be about to make a big splash?

Rangers targeting a new midfielder

A range of youth and experience could be targeted by the new manager this summer. Jamie Vardy has already been touted with a move to Ibrox, but he’s not the only Premier League stalwart in the club’s crosshairs.

According to a report by Mick Brown of Football Insider, Rangers are ‘considering’ a move to sign midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer, believing he could ‘play an orchestrating role’.

The 33-year-old is a free agent, having left Manchester United following the expiration of his contract, but still showed his quality in a Denmark shirt this week, scoring against both Northern Ireland in Parken and then Lithuania in Odense during friendly victories for de Rød-Hvide.

So, despite his age, data analyst David O’Brien believes Eriksen is still a “world-class playmaker”, so signing him would represent a massive coup for Rangers, albeit salary could be a stumbling block, considering he was earning £150k-per-week at Manchester United, according to Capology.

Nevertheless, his arrival would get the Ibrox faithful excited, especially considering he would be reminiscent of a fans’ favourite from yesteryear.

How Eriksen could emulate Brian Laudrup at Rangers

A certain Brian Laudrup joined Rangers from Fiorentina for £2.3m in the summer of 1994, and this was certainly a solid investment, widely considered to be amongst Rangers’ greatest players of modern times, as well as one of their most ‘gifted and talented entertainers’.

Eriksen’s fellow countryman, who had won the European Championship against all odds two years earlier, played 150 times for the Light Blues, scoring 44 goals, winning three league titles, the Scottish Cup, a League Cup and was named SFWA Footballer of the Year twice, before being inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Derek Clark of the Rangers Review labels Laudrup the greatest ever player to grace Scottish football, while Craig Williams of Football Scotland outlines how the ‘special’ Denmark international is a bona fide club legend.

So, could Eriksen have a similar impact to that of his compatriot?

Well, at his best, Adam Smith of Sky Sports argued that Eriksen was the ‘Premier League’s best creative midfielder’, while Duncan Alexander of Opta’s the Analyst agrees, labelling him ‘one of the most effective attacking midfielders’ in Premier League history having racked up 81 assists in the competition’s history.

Eriksen’s career statistics by competition

Competitions

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

310

55

81

Champions League

53

7

14

Europa League

55

10

14

FA & EFL Cups

41

11

12

Denmark national team

144

46

34

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Having made 649 club appearances for Ajax, Tottenham, Inter, Brentford and Manchester United, Eriksen does boast serious pedigree, just as Laudrup did.

However, at 33 years old, there could be concerns that he is over the hill. Well, let’s assess his statistics from this season to find out if that is the case.

Eriksen’s 2024/25 season statistics

Statistics

Eriksen

Man Utd rank

Minutes

1,737

16th

Goals

5

7th

Assists

5

5th

Goals – xG

+1

3rd

Goals per shot

0.15

4th

Progressive passes

77

9th

Key passes

47

4th

Shot-creating actions

84

6th

Goal-creating actions

12

4th

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, despite only featuring in 31.6% of Manchester United’s total minutes this season, Eriksen was actually one of their most-impressive performers, ranking highly for goals and assists, as well as metrics relating to chance creation, passing and shooting accuracy.

Following the Red Devils’ victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season, Eriksen said about his future “we’ll see”, adding “there’s options” but nothing has been decided just yet, possibly opening the door to a move to Glasgow.

It’s certainly ambitious, but Rangers do have a history when it comes to recruiting Great Danes, and Eriksen would certainly make an impact, should he choose to make the move to Govan.

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