Arsenal Register Interest In Signing "Incredible" £21k-p/w Ace

Arsenal have registered their interest in signing Ajax right-back Devyne Rensch this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners are keen on bringing in a new right-back in the summer, with it recently being reported they are poised to make a bid for Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda, having missed out on the 18-year-old in the January transfer window.

Ben Jacobs has also linked the north London club with a move for Southampton's Tino Livramento, if the youngster is able to put his injury problems behind him, although Fresneda remains the priority.

However, given that Borussia Dortmund are now leading the race for the Valladolid ace, Mikel Arteta may have to consider other options, and Football Insider report they have registered their interest in signing Rensch from Ajax.

The Gunners are excited by the potential possessed by the 20-year-old, however the indication is he will only be targeted as a back-up option, if they miss out on Fresneda, which is now looking more likely.

It is also detailed that a new right-back is being targeted to replace Ben White, as Arteta plans to play the Englishman in a central role next season.

Should Arsenal sign Rensch or Fresneda?

There is some evidence Fresneda is more solid defensively, given that he ranks higher than Rensch for blocks and clearances completed per 90 over the course of the past year, however he does play in a weaker side, meaning he has more defensive duties.

Furthermore, the Ajax man seems to be more of a threat on the front foot, averaging more non-penalty goals and assists during the same time period, which is a crucial part of the game for modern-day full-backs, that White has flourished at this season.

Devyne Rensch

The 25-year-old has amassed two goals and five assists in the Premier League this season, so if he is going to be utilised in a more central role, Arteta needs to make sure he brings in a player who is capable of replicating similar numbers going forward.

As such, while Fresneda is undoubtedly a top talent, being dubbed "superb" by football scout Jacek Kulig, Rensch should be the Gunners' priority signing this summer.

Hailed as "incredible" by Kulig, the £21k-per-week 20-year-old has already been capped by the Netherlands, and he is more than capable of holding down the right-back position at Arsenal for years to come.

Chelsea Handed Huge Boost Regarding £80k-A-Week Ace

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount could now a sign a new contract at the club in the near future, according to a promising new update.

Is Mount set to leave Chelsea?

The 24-year-old is yet to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, and with his current deal expiring at the end of next season, there has been concern that he would leave this summer. Various reports have linked with him a move to Liverpool, with the Reds seeing him as someone who can bolster their squad after a disappointing season.

While Mount hasn't enjoyed his best season in a Chelsea shirt, losing him at this stage in his career would still be a blow, with so much still to come from him as the years pass. He has scored 33 goals and registered 37 assists for the Blues, also winning the Champions League back in 2021.

Now, a positive update has emerged from a Chelsea perspective when it comes to the Englishman's future.

Chelsea's Mason Mount looks dejected after the match

Could Mount now stay put?

According to Football Insider, "confidence is growing" at Chelsea regarding Mount's future, with belief that he will now sign a new deal and commit to the club. The "imminent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino has given hope to those inside Stamford Bridge that Mount will stay put at Chelsea", with a top new manager potentially persuading him to stay on.

The report goes on to add that the Blues have "promised Mount more first-team action and a key role in the side as part of his contract negotiations", as they do all they can to keep hold of one their most prized assets.

This is big news for Chelsea, with Mount someone the club simply have to retain this summer, considering his long-term worth and the love and passion he has for the club. He has been at Stamford Bridge since he was a youngster and having him around is vital, in terms of knowing the club inside out and educating new signings on its traditions.

Most importantly, the £80,000-a-week England international is a top-quality footballer – Joe Cole has described him as "outstanding" in the past – and he could excel under Mauricio Pochettino, growing into even more of a leader and key man as the years pass.

Mount can be divisive at times, with some supporters wanting more from him, but the positives easily outweigh the negatives, so him signing an extension should be met with great optimism, if it happens.

Newcastle Have Had Transfer Nightmare With £100k-p/w Flop

Newcastle United have enjoyed great success in the transfer market since PIF completed their takeover of the club and were able to invest in the squad over the last three windows.

The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, and Sven Botman are just a few of the roaring successes to come from the owners' investment, which has led to the club sitting third in the Premier League as it stands.

However, maintaining a perfect transfer record is difficult for any club, no matter the finances involved, and the Magpies have had a few underwhelming signings in the PIF era.

How has Matt Targett performed for Newcastle?

One player who has not kicked on as some may have expected him to has been left-back Matt Targett after his £15m move to the club from Aston Villa last summer.

The English defender enjoyed an excellent spell on loan at St. James' Park in the second half of last season as he averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.99 across 16 appearances in the Premier League.

His form was rewarded with a permanent transfer and four-year contract with the Magpies but the ex-Southampton man's displays have been less than convincing since then.

Earlier this year, Eddie Howe described the defender as being "unfortunate" and a "victim" of the success of the team but, put simply, the left-back's performances when he has been given a chance to impress have left him with little chance of breaking into the team.

The 27-year-old has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.40 across 14 outings in the top-flight for Newcastle this season, with Dan Burn – who has started 31 times – being preferred ahead of him from the start for the majority of the campaign.

Newcastle United'sDanBurn

Targett has gone from creating 1.2 chances per game in 2021/22 to 0.6 in the current term, along with his 4.2 tackles and interceptions dropping to 1.5.

How much is Matt Targett worth?

The full-back's disappointing showings in the Premier League in 2022/23 have led to his market value dropping significantly.

CIES Football Observatory value him at around €5m (£4m) with that indicating the Magpies have a depreciating asset on their hands, rather than one that is rising in value with the potential to make them a profit in the future.

They invested £15m to sign the defender from Aston Villa and his plummeting valuation coupled with a worrying lack of quality performances on the pitch suggest that they are unlikely to see much of that initial investment back if they decide to part ways with him in the near future.

Therefore, Newcastle dropped a clanger with their deal to sign the £100k-per-week enforcer, given the lack of return – from a footballing and financial perspective – on the signing so far. Indeed, the owners will want to focus on bringing in more players like Guimaraes and Isak, rather than repeating their apparent error with Targett.

الزمالك يوضح لـ"بطولات" حقيقة المفاوضات مع لاعب الرجاء السابق

أوضح مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، حقيقة وجود مفاوضات من جانب إدارة القلعة البيضاء مع الإيفواري روجر أهولو لاعب فريق الرجاء المغربي السابق، لضمه.

الإيفواري روجو أهولو كان قد فسخ تعاقده مع نادي الرجاء في الأيام الماضية، وأصبح لاعبًا حرًا يحق له الانتقال إلى ناد في يناير المقبل.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “الإيفواري روجر أهولو لاعب وسط الرجاء المغربي السابق تم طرح اسمه بعد ترشيحات لاسم اللاعب، لكن الأمر لم يرتقي لوجود اتفاق رسمي مع اللاعب”.

طالع | عبد المنصف: طلبت انضمام مصطفى شوبير لـ الزمالك وهذا كان رد والده

وأضاف: “تم الاستفسار من الجهاز الفني بشأن احتياجه للاعب، والجهاز الفني منح أولوية في ملف اللاعب الأجنبي لمركز آخر”.

ومن جانب آخر، يستعد الزمالك في الفترة الحالية، لخوض معسكرين وديين في الإمارات، الأول من 18 إلى 24 يناير، بمشاركة أندية الوحدة الإماراتي والاتفاق السعودي وأم صلال القطري.

كما سيشارك الزمالك في المعسكر الثاني، مع أندية الرجاء المغربي والأهلي السعودي ووهان ثري تاونز الصيني، خلال الفترة من 26 إلى 28 يناير.

Spurs: Kane ‘already looking’ for new club

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is ‘already looking’ for a new club beyond Spurs, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Kane future uncertain…

The 29-year-old is set to be one of the hottest topics discussed in north London this summer, especially with his contract set to expire in 2024.

Kane could leave Spurs on a Bosman deal next year as things stand with Premier League rivals Man United among the sides showing an interest in the player.

The England international, who become the Three Lions’ all time top goal scorer after his penalty against Italy on Thursday evening, is a key asset for Antonio Conte and whoever replaces him thereafter.

Reports have previously suggested that new deal talks have been opened with Kane, but according to a new report, the forward is now seriously considering his options.

The Latest: Kane ‘already looking’ for new club…

According to Spanish news outlet Libertad Digital, and journalist David Lacruz, Kane is ‘already looking for a destination’ beyond Tottenham.

The Lilywhites are apparently worrying about his ‘no-renewal’ as the attacker himself has now ‘gotten tired’ with the situation at Spurs.

Kane is believed to be ‘fed up’ with chairman Daniel Levy’s ‘broken promises’ and the ‘endless projects’ that have been failing.

He apparently doesn’t plan to extend his deal, coming after he nearly joined league champions Man City in the summer of 2021.

The Verdict: Blow for Spurs…

The homegrown ace has starred for Tottenham yet again, scoring a brilliant 21 goals and two assists in 28 league starts this campaign.

He also become Spurs’ all-time top scorer this season, surpassing the legendary Jimmy Greaves and proving to the world that he is one of England’s best ever centre-forwards.

Gareth Southgate, speaking after Kane also broke Wayne Rooney’s international goalscoring record this week, stated:

“He is a brilliant professional and to do it as quickly as he has with still a lot of his career to come is an incredible achievement.

“Huge credit to him. The players gave him a brilliant reception afterwards and I think that was a response to both the record and what he’s just had to recover from as well.”

Losing such a player would come as a major, major blow to Spurs and supporters will be hoping this report isn’t backed up by more mainstream media outlets.

Spurs return to action against Everton on April 3 and Kane will be set to showcase just how important he is yet again.

Liverpool could land their next Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool have struggled to maintain their high expectations this season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential summer transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Micky van de Ven?

According to BILD's head of football Christian Falk (via Caught Offside), Liverpool are one of the many European clubs interested in signing VfL Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven.

As per the report, the Reds are joined by Manchester City, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona in their interest in the Bundesliga ace with Wolfsburg expecting offers of around €30m (£26.5m) in the summer.

Could Van de Ven be Van Dijk's rightful heir?

There is no doubt that a refresh is desperately needed at Anfield as the once-successful squad has started to turn stale with several players reaching the latter stages of their careers.

Jordan Henderson, Mohammed Salah, James Milner, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk are all well into their 30s at this point and are not likely to be part of the long-term future at Anfield.

As a result, the signing of Van de Ven could be a great opportunity to bring in a left-sided centre-back who can become the natural successor to his fellow Dutchman.

Over 25 Bundesliga appearances, the 21-year-old "giant" – who journalist Ronan Murphy claimed is "flourishing" – has excelled offensively and defensively.

Indeed, the youngster has scored one goal, delivered one assist and successfully completed 68% of his dribbles, proving himself to be a forward-thinking centre-back.

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Furthermore, he has registered 3.4 clearances, 1.4 tackles and won 3.5 duels per game.

With the Netherlands U21's ace in the back line, it is no wonder that Wolfsburg have the fourth-best defensive record in the German top-flight with only seven league games lost and ten clean sheets so far when the youngster has featured.

Not only that, Van de Ven has outperformed the Liverpool titan, van Dijk, in several attributes this season including tackles and interceptions (54 v 39), clearances (90 v 87), blocks (8 v 6), ball recoveries (139 v 114), shot-creating actions per 90 (0.72 v 0.60) and dribblers tackled (74.2% v 50%), proving that he could be a valuable asset and great prospect for the future.

With that being said, the signing of Van de Ven could be a great opportunity for Klopp to add quality depth to the defence in his squad and ultimately develop a worthy successor to one of his most important players in the squad.

Leeds: Aaronson "didn’t lay a glove" vs CFC

Leeds United fell to a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, with Chelsea claiming only their third victory in 16 matches as Javi Gracia’s side were unable to build upon the victory they claimed against bottom club Southampton last time out.

The Whites were good value against Chelsea, and produced a stoic display in west London, largely dampening the home side’s fire after weathering the early storm, with Graham Potter’s outfit charging like a ferocious bull in the early stages.

The Yorkshire outfit’s new boss will be pleased with how his side grew into the game, before being unravelled by £75m defender Wesley Fofana, who rose highest to find Ben Chilwell’s delivery and condemn Leeds to a 13th league defeat of the campaign.

Just one place and one point above the bottom three, Leeds will lament the missed opportunity to exacerbate their opponents’ woes and claim an invaluable victory to calm the boiling waters of their own perils.

And while it was a tricky afternoon for all involved, American midfielder Brenden Aaronson will be particularly disgruntled after an ineffective display at the heart of the pitch.

Was Aaronson out of sorts vs Chelsea?

The midfield trio of Aaronson alongside compatriots, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams was supposed to industriously counter the efforts of the home side, but Gracia’s strategy fell short and the hosts were, by-and-large, able to exert their authority in the centre of the park.

Aaronson was praised for how he “worked hard” by journalist Joe Donnohue, but ultimately, he came up short against the Blues, with another sports journalist stating that the USA ace needed more “guile”.

Leeds writer Beren Cross was candid in his assessment of the 22-year-old’s afternoon, remarking that the 28-cap star simply “didn’t lay a glove” on the opposition, having been withdrawn on the 68-minute mark following an ineffectual display.

As per Sofascore, Aaronson’s 6.3 rating bettered no other man on the field for either outfit, and he will hope for far more fruitful endeavours as the season approaches the business end.

The “stand-out” gem – as previously hailed by Noel Whelan – only completed 15 passes, while also making fewer touches than Illan Meslier between the sticks (42) and failing with both his attempted crosses, being dribbled past once and losing possession ten times.

Also winning just two of his seven total duels, Aaronson was not the robust and assiduous force Gracia would have hoped him to be against the west Londoners, and had the collective central efforts been a bit more robust, the result might have swayed in the Whites’ favour.

With the danger of the relegation zone troublingly a mere point away, Leeds will need to claim a few more victories to breathe easy.

And while the result held positives – United were compact and combative – the security of perching a few places ahead in the Premier League table remains outside the clutches of Gracia and co.

O’Keeffe slams Pickford for decision-making during Everton win

Journalist Greg O’Keeffe has criticised Jordan Pickford for kicking it long during Everton’s win at the weekend while speaking on the All Together Now podcast.

The Lowdown: Goodison Park will be a fortress

It was a highly significant win for Everton last weekend, not just for the three points that they picked up but because of the other results on Saturday, with teams around them also winning.

Everton managed to leapfrog opponents Leeds United and put them into the bottom three in the process as the Toffees recorded their second successive home win and clean sheet under Sean Dyche.

Dyche decided to mix things up on Saturday and afforded Neal Maupay his first start since Frank Lampard was sacked, but he failed to impress with just 29 touches during the game – although the tactics employed didn’t necessarily help his game.

The Latest: Pickford needs to keep his composure

Standing at just 5 foot 8, it will have left many people – perhaps even Maupay himself – baffled as England and Everton No 1 Pickford was pinging long balls to the lone French striker – something that O’Keeffe didn’t understand.

He said: “I just couldn’t believe when Jordan Pickford got the ball and just kicked it long – as he does sometimes early in the game, he’s a bit nervous. He just hit a long ball straight up to Maupay and watching him trying to win a header, against even their [poor] back four, I was just like, ‘really, Jordan? Think about it’.”

The Verdict: Everton must play to their player’s strengths

While picking up two wins from three matches will be ideal for Dyche, he will indeed still be worried by his attacking players, as the two goals that have been scored under him have come from defenders in the form of James Tarkowski and Seamus Coleman.

This worrying form in the final third hasn’t been helped by Dominic Calvert-Lewin picking up yet another injury, with the striker playing just 62 minutes under Dyche, but the former Burnley manager must now look to get the most out of the squad he’s got.

Everton currently have the young and inexperienced Ellis Simms or Maupay, with the latter being a smaller forward – something that Dyche didn’t use all too often during his time at Turf Moor. But he must now adapt his tactics and style of play to get the very best results from the Frenchman as the Toffees continue to fight against the drop.

Caulkin claims Saint-Maximin may start for Newcastle

The Athletic’s George Caulkin believes that Joelinton could move into midfield and Allan Saint-Maximin be handed a start for Newcastle United to replace Bruno Guimaraes.

The Lowdown: Howe left with a selection headache

The hearts of many Newcastle fans and Eddie Howe himself will have sunk when Paul Tierney brandished a red card in the direction of Bruno Guimaraes, although the Magpies have three league games before their cup final, which will at least see him be able to turn up at Wembley.

Guimaraes will now miss the next three league games which will be a major blow for Howe as they look to maintain their push for the Champions League, although he will be delighted to get the midfielder back in time for the Carabao Cup final.

The suspension to Guimaraes will now force Eddie Howe into a tweak in his system and personnel on Saturday against West Ham United, which may see Saint-Maximin handed his first league start since August.

The Latest: Saint-Maximin may be in line to start

Caulkin has been speaking on Pod on the Tyne about what Howe could change on Saturday as he also questioned whether another midfielder in January could have been useful.

He said: “When the Bruno thing happens – maybe we all have an opinion on that – does that mean that’s [not signing a midfielder] a mistake? I don’t know, it’s tricky.

“They do have options, obviously. They can bring Joelinton back into midfield; they can put Saint-Maximin into the team; Isak, depending on how he is fitness-wise; but they don’t have a lot of options. I think it’s a fascinating conversation.”

The Verdict: Joelinton could be key

The fact that Joelinton – who was signed as a £40m striker – has been able to thrive as both a central midfielder and a left-winger that offers a lot of help at both ends of the pitch has been massive for Newcastle’s success.

We think Joelinton will now likely be asked to drop back into a No 8 role alongside Joe Willock in Guimaraes’ absence, but if Saint-Maixmin is picked to start on Saturday, the Brazilian will have to do a lot of work.

This is because Saint-Maximin doesn’t offer the best defensive numbers, having won just 19 tackles in his own defensive third (FBref) since joining the club, so Joelinton will have to work his socks off in the middle and out wide to provide Dan Burn with sufficient help and cover.

And having been forced into this selection dilemma through Guimaraes’ red card, it does indeed beg the question over Newcastle’s failure to bring in another midfield option last month – particularly in light of Jonjo Shelvey’s departure and with a Champions League place at stake.

However, Joelinton’s performances have suggested he is capable of filling in, and it is more a case of whether Newcastle can maintain their form ahead of their trip to Wembley.

Liverpool can sign Jota 2.0 in Nunes

Liverpool have had a successful, almost, seven years under the reign of Jurgen Klopp, winning multiple trophies and competing closely with Manchester City every season for the Premier League title.

However, the Reds look a shadow of their success over their current campaign with the side falling into ninth in the top-flight table due to a run of poor and inconsistent performance that has seen them collect just 29 points from a possible 57 over their 19 league outings so far and knocked out of the League Cup, a competition they won last season.

Indeed, the powers at Anfield have competently reinvested in their forward line adding Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez to the attacking threat on Merseyside, however, in the centre of the pitch the same cannot be said.

The last time Liverpool refreshed the centre of the pitch was in September 2020 when they completed the permanent signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich and since have only acquired the services of a loanee in Arthur Melo, however, the Juventus midfielder has failed to make more than a cameo due to injury issues.

As a result, the concern has focused on the midfield personnel with a number of players either coming to the end of their contracts this summer or reaching the latter stages of their career, prompting increasing pressure for Liverpool to spark a rebuild in 2023.

One player who has had a move to Merseyside mooted ahead of this summer is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes and Julian Ward could repeat Liverpool’s Diogo Jota transfer masterclass if they could acquire the player’s services from the Midlands club in the months ahead.

Jota joined the six-time Champions League winners back in 2020 from the Molineux outfit and made an instant impact on the famous forward line forcing his presence to compete with Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino for a starting spot and has since scored 34 goals in 93 appearances.

Fast forward to 2023 and the club could repeat their successful Wolves swoop with the signing of Nunes and if he could emulate Jota’s impact on the team in midfield, it would be just what Klopp needs.

Over 17 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old has delivered one assist, created two big chances and tallied up a 92% pass completion rate in his own half, as well as averaging 1.7 tackles, 42.4 touches and winning 4.3 duels per game.

The former Sporting CP star has been lavished with praise over his career so far with former team-mate Goncalo Santos hailing Nunes “unbelievable” when reflecting on his time spent with the player:

“In one game, he went on a run which was about 60 metres, it was amazing! People went crazy and everybody was talking about it.

“It’s unbelievable when he has the ball at his feet. Nobody can catch him; it’s impossible because he’s too fast.”

It is reported that Liverpool will need to invest £44m in order to complete the signing of the Portuguese talent this summer which shouldn’t trouble FSG too much compared to the £130m the club will need to shell out for Jude Bellingham.

With that being said, the signing of Nunes would be a great piece of business for Liverpool in their pursuit to improve the performances at Anfield and compete for multiple trophies once again.

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