It might not even be halfway through the Premier League season, but it already feels like Arsenal have endured a campaign worth of setbacks.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had to cope with silly suspensions, an injury to club captain Martin Odegaard, a drop in form and then, on Saturday evening, things took another turn as Bukayo Saka was forced off with a hamstring injury.

According to the manager, the Gunners are set to be without their talismanic academy gem for “many weeks,” so January reinforcements are desperately needed.

Fortunately, it was only last week that the club were linked with someone who could be the perfect addition, a player who’s like a hybrid of Saka and Odegaard.

Saka & Odegaard's seasons so far

Before suffering his hamstring injury on the weekend, this season was shaping up to be Saka’s best yet.

For example, in just 16 Premier League appearances, he’s scored five goals and provided ten assists; in five Champions League games, he’s scored four goals and two assists and even provided an assist in his three League Cup cameos.

It’s fair to say that prior to going down on Saturday, it felt more like a matter of when and not if he would break the league’s assist record.

On the other hand, Odegaard’s season hasn’t been quite as spectacular just yet, although he’s already missed 12 games through an ankle injury.

In the 14 appearances he has made this season, the Drammen-born maestro has still produced six goal involvements.

Overall, Saka and Odegaard are incredibly important to Arteta’s project, so reports suggesting the club could land a hybrid of the pair for nothing next month should excite fans.

The Saka & Odegaard hybrid Arsenal should sign

So, to get right to the point, the player in question is Barcelona star Dani Olmo, who, according to reports from Spain last week, is someone Arsenal are interested in signing.

According to the report, the Catalan club is struggling to register the Spaniard ahead of the deadline on the 31st of this month.

If missed, the £52m signing could leave for free in January, and the Gunners are one of several clubs who have already ‘put very attractive financial offers on the table.’

Reports from Sky in recent days also suggest that talks have been going on behind the scenes between Arsenal and the player’s agents.

With that said, what makes the attacking dynamo a hybrid of Saka and Odegaard and someone worth signing next month?

Well, the comparison to the Gunners’ injured number seven primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals+Assists

0.60

0.65

Shots

3.47

3.19

Shots on Target

1.16

1.21

Passing Accuracy

76.1%

74.4%

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.03

1.99

Tackles

1.45

1.56

Tackles Won

1.01

0.92

Successful Take-Ons

2.17

2.34

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passes into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Okay, so with his similarities to the Hale Ender being apparent, how is he also like the North Londoners’ captain?

This comparison essentially comes down to the fact that, like the former Real Madrid gem, the Barça ace has the ability and sometimes does play out wide, but more often than not, tends to start in central areas and drift in and out of space.

For example, so far this season, 13 of his 15 appearances have come from attacking midfield, with the other two coming off the left.

Lastly, like the two Arsenal stars, the former RB Leipzig “genius,” as dubbed by journalist Josh Buntng, is an effective attacker, and has a haul of six goals and one assist to his name already this season.

Ultimatley, even if he still costs £52m, signing Olmo would be an excellent idea for Arsenal, but the fact that he could be available for nothing next month makes this potential transfer a no-brainer.

Arsenal target incredible £115m "nightmare" who's a bit like Mbappe & Kane

The sensational striker would supercharge Arsenal’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 20, 2024

Liverpool are said to be ready to accept a £60m offer for a player who has been hailed as “world-class”, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds suffered a frustrating afternoon on Sunday, being held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield by rivals Manchester United. It was two valuable points dropped in the Premier League title race, with Arne Slot’s side failing to take advantage of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw away to Brighton on Saturday.

Away from the on-pitch action, Liverpool continue to be linked with new signings, with VfB Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot backed to seal a move to Anfield. The 22-year-old is a highly-rated prospect who has two goals and three assists in six Champions League appearances this season.

Meanwhile, Lille striker Jonathan David has also emerged as a target for the Reds, with the Canadian being looked at as an upgrade on Darwin Nunez, who continues to flatter to deceive in his third season at the club. The 24-year-old is one of Ligue 1’s best players, but a move to the Premier League could appeal.

A new left-back needs to be looked at by Liverpool in the summer, with Andy Robertson looking past his best, and Fulham ace Antonee Robinson is seen as a leading contender to come in. The American recently bagged two assists in the 2-2 draw at Anfield in the league.

Liverpool willing to accept £60m offer for Nunez

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Liverpool and FSG are now “open” to accepting an offer of as much as £60m for Nunez in 2025.

The Uruguayan is struggling to be a regular starter under Slot, and it looks as though his time at Anfield could end in the near future, especially if strong interest emerges.

It does increasingly feel as though selling Nunez at the end of the season is the best outcome for Liverpool, with the 25-year-old simply not improving enough since arriving from Benfica in the summer of 2022.

His finishing still leaves a lot to be desired, but his all-round play and decision-making are also arguably lacking, not to mention a penchant for risking getting into trouble by clashing with opposition players. Nunez has undoubted qualities, however, which is why some would like to see him stay on, with Guillem Balague even calling him “world-class”, saying:

“People have focused on a supposed lack of quality in his finishing, but his mentality was ignored and that is what has taken him to where he is. He is not the Benfica player, he is becoming a world-class player.”

Despite this, Slot seemingly doesn’t consider Nunez a huge player, considering the lack of starts coming his way, and he doesn’t seem to have adjusted to the Dutchman’s style of play as well as others, from Cody Gakpo to Luis Diaz.

As bad as Alexander-Arnold: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Man Utd

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He has had long enough to prove his worth, and while he may be a popular figure among supporters, often having his name sung, 2025 may be time for Liverpool to move him on and sign an upgrade, making this one to watch.

Newcastle United have lofty ambitions this season. Missing out on qualification for the Champions League this term will have hurt Eddie Howe and his men, especially as they tasted the highs of the competition following a fourth place finish during 2022/23.

As such, the Magpies will need to strengthen their squad this month to reach Europe’s premier club competition, especially with so many good teams in the Premier League battling it out for the top four.

Howe can take solace in the fact he has perhaps two of the finest attacking talents in the top flight, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon performing wonderfully this season.

The duo have arguably kept the Toon in with a fighting chance of securing a Champions League spot for next term, plus with a shout of ending their 70-year major trophy drought.

The 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final will have the supporters dreaming of another Wembley appearance.

If they manage to keep Isak fit for the next six months, Newcastle will have every chance of achieving everything Howe set out to do this season.

Alexander Isak’s amazing season in numbers

Last season, the Swedish sensation scored 25 goals in all competitions for the club. It might not have been enough to secure them European football, but if it wasn’t for his ability in front of goal, Newcastle may have finished outside the top half of the table.

After a slow start – registering just one goal until the end of October in the Premier League – Isak has been on fire recently. Indeed, he has netted a goal in every one of the club’s previous seven league games, with the highlight being a hat-trick against Ipswich Town.

Across his 18 league matches, the former Borussia Dortmund striker scores a goal every 113 minutes, averages 3.1 shots per game and currently has a goal conversion rate of 24%.

Furthermore, when compared to his fellow peers in the Premier League, Isak truly shows how good he is.

This term, the striker ranks in the top 5% of strikers for non-penalty goals (0.8), the top 8% for total shots (3.38) and shot-creating actions (3.69) and in the top 18% for touches in the opposition penalty area (6.34) per 90 minutes, which is yet more evidence of his talents, establishing himself as one of the best strikers in the top flight.

With Gordon so often acting as a provider, imagine the club having another player who could supply Isak the way the former Everton starlet does.

Alexander Isak’s PL stats for Newcastle United

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

10

21

13

Shots per game

2.3

2.8

3.1

Scoring frequency (minutes)

152

108

113

Goal conversion percentage

20%

27%

24%

Big chances created

2

5

7

Via Sofascore

There are still a few weeks left in the transfer window. Could the Magpies secure the signature of a player who was arguably among one of Europe’s finest just two seasons ago?

Newcastle eye move for Serie A sensation

According to French publication L’Equipe, Newcastle have emerged as a surprise name in the race for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratkskhelia during the winter window, yet PSG are the firm favourite to sign him.

While the French giants lead the race, they currently have some reservations with regard to the finances of the deal, which may just open the door slightly for the Magpies to pounce.

If Howe wanted to add some star quality to his first-team squad, it would cost the club around €80m (£68m) to make it happen. For this sort of money, however, they would be bringing in a player who is at the very peak of his powers and could sparkle in the Premier League.

Still only 23, the Georgian has plenty of scope to improve further. Is Newcastle the ideal club for him?

Why Kvaratkskhelia could be a dream signing for Isak

Kvaratkskhelia became a household name during his maiden season in Serie A for Napoli. Having joined the club from Dinamo Batuni in the summer of 2022, the winger was outstanding as the Naples side captured their first league title since the days of Diego Maradona.

In 34 league games, the 23-year-old netted 12 goals while recording ten assists. Additionally, he averaged 1.6 key passes and succeeded with 2.2 dribbles per game along with creating 14 big chances in what was a stunning way to announce his arrival in a top-five league.

During that campaign, football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the player as “unstoppable” and it is hard to argue against that.

Another 20 goal contributions followed last season, although Napoli couldn’t make it back-to-back Scudetto triumphs, falling down to tenth place in what was a disappointing campaign.

He might not have been as productive during the current season, scoring just five goals in Serie A, but his side are occupying the top spot in the league at the time of writing.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Kvaratkskhelia currently ranks in the top 1% for total shots (3.95), the top 18% for successful take-ons (2.67) and in the top 9% for progressive carries (5.78) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics could allow the winger to shine in the Premier League, while Isak can hit new heights if he plays ahead of the Georgian, that’s for sure.

His ability to move the ball into the final third will give Isak more chances in front of goal and this will only improve Newcastle’s league standing.

At this moment in time, bringing in the Napoli star may seem like a pipe dream, but if they can provide a decent pitch to the player and his agent of the direction that Howe wants to take the club, they may just have a chance of signing him.

If they do secure his signature, it would signal a massive statement of intent by sporting director Paul Mitchell and could be the catalyst which helps the Magpies make a return to the Champions League next season.

Related Their own Kane: Newcastle could sign "superstar" Isak replacement for £0

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jan 13, 2025

Dockrell’s highest ODI score, Adair’s double-strike at the start of the chase in vain for Ireland

Deivarayan Muthu12-Jul-2022
A dominant bowling performance from New Zealand pinned down Ireland to 216 and helped the visitors sew up the three-match ODI series, with one game to go. Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips shared the spoils for New Zealand. That Ireland passed 200, on a Malahide track that favoured both the seamers and spinners, was largely down to George Dockrell’s counterattacking 61-ball 74 – his highest score in ODI cricket – and Mark Adair’s unbeaten 27 off 15 balls.Adair then let it rip with the ball, castling Martin Guptill and Will Young for ducks with his first two deliveries. Guptill was yorked first ball and then Young was bowled by a full nip-backer. Finn Allen and Tom Latham then settled the chase with half-centuries, but New Zealand still needed a cameo from Bracewell (42* off 40 balls) to finish it off. He did so in grand style once again, launching a six over mid-on.Related

Bracewell turns on Beast mode to script Malahide miracle

With Adair and co. also zipping the new ball around, Allen, who usually loves bat on ball, had to rein himself in. He was on 6 off 18 balls at one point but found the release when he fetched a hip-high short ball from outside off and pulled Craig Young to the square-leg boundary. And when Adair erred too full, Allen pumped him for four successive boundaries, including a six over mid-off, in the ninth over. Allen powered to his maiden ODI fifty, in his second game, off 47 balls. However, when he looked good for more, he toe-ended Curtis Campher to mid-on for 60 off 58 balls. His dismissal snapped a 101-run third-wicket partnership with Latham.Latham was the more circumspect of the two, often cautiously hiding his bat inside the line when Ireland moved the ball away from him and hitting through the line when the ball was in his arc. Andy McBrine and Simi Singh both tested Latham and it was Simi who trapped him lbw for 55 off 71 balls. Phillips then chopped on for a run-a-ball 16, but Bracewell coolly closed it out for New Zealand after having set it up for them with the ball.Bracewell and Santner bowled 20 overs between them in the afternoon, claiming 4 for 58. Bracewell, in particular, made the most of the grip, turn and bounce that was on offer, ending with 10-1-26-2 – the most-economical ten-over spell by a New Zealand spinner since Daniel Vettori’s 4 for 18 against Afghanistan in Napier in the 2015 World Cup.After overnight and early-morning rains delayed the start by half an hour, it was Henry who had set the tone for New Zealand by swinging and seaming the new ball. The mandatory powerplay, in which Ireland managed only 19 for 2, was straight out of a passage of play from Test cricket. Henry relentlessly plugged away in the channel outside off, as did Duffy, who was making his ODI debut at the expense of Lockie Ferguson, threatening both the outside and inside edges.Believe it or not, Henry’s powerplay analysis read 5-3-4-2. He struck in the very first over when he swung a full ball into a crease-bound Paul Stirling’s back pad in a wicket-maiden. Andy Balbirnie misjudged a similar inswinger and watched it thud into the bails after he offered no shot. Much like Henry, Duffy began his shift with a maiden but unlike Henry he extracted significant extra bounce.Ireland needed 21 balls to get off the mark and 57 balls to find the fence. It was McBrine who ended the boundary drought when he belted Duffy through the covers. In the next over, bowled by Henry, McBrine hit two more fours to briefly repair the innings.McBrine scored 28 off 48 balls before Bracewell pushed an offbreak well wide of off stump and had him stumped. It was Bracewell’s second wicket of the day. He had stuck in his first over, too, when he had an advancing Harry Tector slicing a catch to long-on.George Dockrell stood out for Ireland with his ODI best of 74•Sportsfile/Getty ImagesBracewell, who was introduced into the attack in the 13th over ahead of Santner, showed control with his lengths and lines, something that was missing in the Test series in England and also in the first ODI against Ireland.Santner, who was brought into the attack in the 20th over, marked his return from a bout of Covid-19 with a beauty that drifted in and turned sharply past the outside edge of Campher. After turning another stock ball past Campher’s bat, he found the outside edge by shifting wide on the crease in the 28th over. When part-time offspinner Phillips removed Loran Tucker for 19, Ireland were 126 for 6 in the 37th over.Dockrell and Simi got together at this point and struck up a 59-run seventh-wicket stand off 48 balls. After seeing off threatening spells from Bracewell and Santner, Dockrell lined up the seamers by regularly manufacturing swinging room and lifting the ball over the off-side infield. That the ball had now stopped swinging for Henry, Duffy and Blair Tickner also aided Dockrell. He notched up his third ODI fifty off 48 balls and celebrated it with a sequence of 4,4,4, 6 in six balls; the highlight being the straight six off Santner in the 44th over.In the next over, however, Dockrell holed out to long-on to give Duffy his first ODI scalp. Simi rode his luck – he survived a tight stumping on 11 – and miscued a brace of reverse-sweeps before he was run-out for 16. Santner capped his spell by having Craig Young nicking behind to Latham for a duck.Ireland, ultimately, folded in 48 overs and there would be no way back for them, despite Adair’s two-in-two at the start of their defence.

Rangers are looking to strengthen their team in what remains of this transfer window, but they could also be prepared to sell a £27,000-a-week first team player in the process, according to a recent report.

Rangers transfer news

It’s been an up-and-down start to 2025 for the Gers, as they started the year off with an excellent performance and victory over arch-rivals Celtic, but followed that game up by dropping points on the road at Hibernian and Dundee. That has resulted in pressure building on Philippe Clement, but the club are remaining behind their manager for now.

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Rangers’ CEO Patrick Stewart has come out and backed Clement in public and, in the process, has also revealed that the club wants to sign a new centre-back in this transfer window: “The January window generally isn’t a particularly fruitful window. Most selling clubs do not want to sell their best players. We have no intention of selling the players that are performing on the park at the moment, and why would we expect any other club that’s challenging for trophies to do so.

“All of that said… I think there are a couple of scenarios where it can be really effective. Firstly, where a club has suffered injuries such as we have – particularly a centre-back – it is an opportunity to make a reactive signing. This is a position we’ve been looking at since December, and so we have been active in discussions.”

One defender they have their eye on is Burnley’s Hjalmar Ekdal, as Rangers have made an approach to the centre-back. The Clarets are expected to loan out the player this month, but the Gers are not the only team interested, as Stoke City, QPR and Middlesbrough have also made approaches for Ekdal.

Rangers could now sell frustrating forward this month

While the Gers look to add a new defender to their squad, a departure could occur from Ibrox this month, as Football Insider reports that Rangers could look to sell striker Cyriel Dessers amid interest in his services.

Dessers, who earns £27,000 a week at Ibrox, joined Rangers in July 2023 from Italian side Cremonese. The 30-year-old made a very good impact in his first season in Scotland, as he scored 16 goals in 35 Scottish Premiership games, and he scored two goals in Europe.

The Nigeria international has been among the goals once again this season, but he has been in and out of the side under Clement, starting 11 games in the league so far. The forward has found himself on the bench in recent games, and now Football Insider are reporting that Rangers could “sacrifice” Dessers this month.

Apps

85

Goals

34

Assists

13

It states that the Rangers man is wanted by Italian club Cagliari after his previous success in Italian football. Dessers has become a frustration to Rangers supporters with his performances, and there is now a “real possibility” he is sold before the close of this transfer window. Hamza Igamane is seen as the first-choice striker at Ibrox, and this means Dessers has slipped down the pecking order and therefore could be free to leave.

If India were playing their first T20 World Cup match – against Pakistan – next week, Ricky Ponting would play Virat Kohli at his usual No. 3 position despite his current form. Ponting, the former Australia captain and current Delhi Capitals coach, told that any opposition will be relieved if India decide to drop Kohli.”I think if I was an opposition captain or an opposition player, I will be fearing playing an Indian team that has Virat Kohli in it, more than I would be one that doesn’t have him in it,” Ponting said. “I know there have been some challenges for him, it’s been a difficult time. But every great player that I have seen in this game has been through it at some stage, whether that’s a batsman or a bowler, they have all been through it. And somehow, the best find a way to rebound and respond, and it’s only a matter of time before Virat does that.”Related

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Kohli has not scored an international century since November 2019, but it is his T20 returns that are the most concerning for India. In the last IPL, Kohli tried various things but ended up with a strike-rate of just 116, the lowest among batters who played at least 250 balls in the tournament. Ponting still felt the payoff, if it came off, would be bigger than any other replacement having a “reasonable” tournament.”The other thing you risk as well is, if you leave Virat out on the eve of a T20 World Cup, and someone comes in and has a reasonable tournament, it will be hard for Virat to get back in it,” Ponting said. “If I was India, I would keep pushing with him, because I know the upside. If they actually get him back confident and playing as well as he can, that upside is better than most. So I think if I was a captain or a coach around the Indian setup, I’d be making life as easy as possible for him to feel as comfortable as possible, and just wait for him to flick the switch and start scoring runs again.”Ponting said he would put all the eggs in the Kohli basket as opposed to trying someone else and bringing Kohli in only if his replacement fails.”Early in the tournament, for a first-round game, get him in nice and early, among the runs, and then hopefully by the end of the tournament you’ll have Virat Kohli back at his best,” Ponting said. “That’s the way I would look at it. I wouldn’t think about holding him back at the start of the tournament, with the thought that you might be able to bring him back towards the back end and have him peak. Tournament play isn’t like that. You need to work your way into the tournament, get some runs under your belt, and get some confidence and then be playing your best cricket at the back end.”However, Ponting did say pushing Kohli to open just so he finds his ideal conditions can be counterproductive. “You still got to find the best balance for the team,” he said. “You can’t just make the team all about one person.”They probably should be trying to find new ways to get him back into the form and help him out but that [giving him the opening spot] quite often comes at the expense of someone else as well. You are moving someone else around trying to find a spot for Virat. He has opened the batting, he’s batted at No.3 in the IPL in the last couple of years and done the same for India.”Moving him around, to me, will make him feel that people are worried about him, and he will be more unsettled. I will be going the other way. I’ll be telling him, ‘This is your spot, this is where you’re batting, it’s not going to change. Keep believing in yourself, keep putting in the hard work, keep understanding what made you the best player in the world for a number of years. Get back to those thoughts and the runs will come.'”

MatériaMais Notícias

Demitido do Internacional após a eliminação do clube na Copa do Brasil para o Globo-RN, quando o Colorado foi derrotado pelo placar de 2 a 0, o executivo Paulo Bracks não poupou críticas a direção do Inter duranteentrevista à Rádio Guaíba. O ex-funcionário do Coloradoreclamou do imediatismo em relação ao momento de instabilidade vivido pelo time no período.

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Além do questionamento aos dirigentes, Bracks também falou sobre o técnico Cacique Medina, demitido em abril. Para o executivo, o uruguaio vingaria no clube gaúcho.

– Tinha total convicção no trabalho do Medina. Ia encaixar, ia dar certo. Mas a gente esbarra no imediatismo. Lembro sempre do Abel Ferreira, que podia ter sido demitido depois de ser eliminado pelo CRB. A única pessoa que eu contratei para o Internacional foi o Cauan de Almeida. Tenho certeza que o Mano Menezes vai dar certo – disse Bracks, que ainda afirmouter sido vítima de injustiça ao ser demitido.

– Minha mágoa foi muito pela personificação. Se você paga o pato sozinho, o culpado era você. A mágoa passou. Mas houve injustiça ali. A gente até pode permitir que o torcedor tenha esses devaneios de que todo mundo tenha que cair. De dentro do clube isso não é admissível. Se toda derrota tiver que virar tudo de cabeça para baixo é enxugar gelo – questionou.

Para Bracks, a eliminação para o Globo-RN foi uma falha coletiva.

– Todo mundo fracassou ali (contra o Globo). Quando você faz um link disso com a diretoria executiva parece que só o resultado interessava. Sem contar com a parte administrativa, minha mágoa é que esse link não é lógico. Não é técnico – finalizou.

Atualmente, o executivo de futebol do Internacional é Willian Thomas, que foi contratado recentemente junto ao Avaí.

Arsenal chiefs are reportedly considering a potential January agreement for a big-name forward, with Mikel Arteta’s side appearing in need of fresh attacking options as they bid to keep chase with Premier League title favourites Liverpool.

Arsenal beat Ipswich Town with Bukayo Saka set for two-month absence

Kai Havertz’s goal handed Arsenal a crucial three points against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium, but unfortunately for Arteta, some bad news on Bukayo Saka lingered in the background.

Agent travels to England as Arsenal eye January move for £50m Barcelona ace

His departure from the Camp Nou is a distinct possibility next month.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 27, 2024

Arteta confirmed on Friday that Saka will now be out for more than two months after undergoing surgery on his hamstring, which comes as a seismic blow for Arsenal, who must now cope without their superstar player.

“He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” said Arteta on Saka’s condition.

“It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and the mobility of that. It is very difficult to say.

Brentford (away)

January 1

Brighton (away)

January 4

Tottenham (home)

January 15

Aston Villa (home)

January 18

Wolves (away)

January 25

“The replacement of Bukayo is going to be the team. There were moments where it flowed well tonight and moments where you could see there is still work to do. But I am certain that we are going to do that. We have to rely on the team and not the individual.”

Of course, following this development, reports of Arsenal potentially signing a Saka alternative in January will only intensify.

Barcelona star Dani Olmo is of interest to Arsenal heading into next month, and it is believed that they’re in “positive contacts” with the Spaniard’s representatives (Sacha Tavolieri).

Interestingly, The Athletic has reported that Arsenal are also open to signing a new striker in January, but they also acknowledge that any noteworthy name will come at a premium.

Arsenal are admirers of Wolves striker Matheus Cunha heading into the winter window, though Vitor Pereira’s star isn’t their only target.

Arsenal consider marquee January move for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is still in Arsenal’s thinking for the start of 2025.

The Nigeria marksman is currently on a season-long loan from Napoli, but there is a rumoured break clause in Osimhen’s contract which would allow certain interested clubs, including Arsenal, to strike a move for him next month.

This would be dependent on the Gunners matching his Napoli release clause of around £66 million – something they’re apparently considering.

Indeed, O’Rourke writes that Arsenal are plotting a “box-office deal” for Osimhen in January, but a host of big sides will also be contemplating the same thing and could have to “break the bank” for his signature.

The 25-year-old, as many predicted, has continued to impress in the Süper Lig after leaving Napoli on a temporary deal in the summer – with an anonymous Nigerian journalist telling Foot Boom that Osimhen is among the world’s “elite” strikers.

“No matter what critiques one might have of Osimhen, you cannot question his tireless energy and commitment,” said the reporter.

“This singular quality sets him apart in the modern game, placing him among the elite strikers. He remains your asset even in goal droughts.”

Newcastle United are believed to have sent a proposal for an “extraordinary” former Premier League title winner, as they look to sign him during the January transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with plenty of potential new signings with January looming, with Barcelona defender Eric Garcia one player who has been mentioned as an option. The Spaniard is struggling for playing time at the Camp Nou this season, only managing four starts in La Liga under Hansi Flick.

In goal, Newcastle may be looking for a long-term replacement for Nick Pope between the sticks, and James Trafford continues to be backed to seal a switch to St James’ Park. The Englishman was seen as a target throughout the summer window, but a move failed to materialise.

Meanwhile, Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling has also been linked with joining the Magpies, with the 18-year-old one of the few positives to emerge from a dismal campaign for Saints so far. Seen as similar to England stars like Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish in style, he could add much-needed quality in attacking midfield, proving to be a good option on the right-hand side.

In what would be a controversial piece of business, Newcastle are also said to be eyeing a move for Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard, which would not go down well with Black Cats supporters.

Newcastle send proposal to sign "extraordinary" player

According to a new update from Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are pushing to sign Barcelona centre-back Garcia in January, now taking the first major step in a move by sending a proposal to Barca. The details of the offer are unknown, but the Magpies are looking to entice the 23-year-old away from the Catalan giants.

Garcia could be a really astute signing by Newcastle, even though his lack of game time at Barca may put some supporters off the idea of bringing him in. Centre-back reinforcements are imperative for the Magpies, with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn both ageing players, and the former Manchester City player has one Premier League title to his name, making 19 appearances in the competition.

He has been hailed by Xavi, who has said of him: “Eric is extraordinary. I value him a lot, he is important to us. He plays in a very complicated position because, at Barca, a centre-back is always exposed. But he is a role model in the dressing room and we value him a lot.”

Granted, Garcia hasn’t necessarily kicked on as much as some expected during his younger years at City, but he is still only 23 years of age, meaning his peak may still be some time away.

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Leaving his £95k-a-week deal at Barca doesn’t appear to be an option in his own head currently, but if Newcastle were able to lure him to the club with a great offer, he could be a mainstay at the back for a long time.

Newcastle United are in the midst of an excellent run of form which has not only seen them rise to fifth in the Premier League table but also secure an impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg.

Eddie Howe won’t want to stop there, especially with another cup final in sight. Powered by the talents of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, Newcastle could be on the verge of greatness this season.

Gordon, in particular, has been wonderful since the start of 2024/25, taking his game to new heights.

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While Isak has been the Toon’s main source of comfort this term, we cannot forget about Gordon and Jacob Murphy.

The latter is perhaps in the form of his life right now, registering four assists and three goals in his last six Premier League outings.

He’s gone under the radar though compared to Gordon. Comparatively, the winger has registered 12 goal contributions – seven goals and five assists – across 25 games this season, including a goal in the win over Arsenal recently.

Gordon has also created seven big chances in the top flight, along with averaging 2.3 key passes and succeeding with 1.2 dribbles per game, showcasing his vast attacking talents in the final third.

These are impressive statistics, no doubt about that. Unsurprisingly, his impressive performances saw the Englishman rewarded with a bumper new contract this term, one that made him the second-highest-paid player in the squad

To highlight the winger’s rise, only Brazilian star Bruno Guimaraes (£160k-per-week) earns more than Gordon’s £150k-per-week.

Neither of those players will be leaving in a hurry but because of the form of Isak, that man Gordon and Murphy, it leaves little room for Miggy Almiron who must be given the boot.

Why Miguel Almiron should be sold by Newcastle

The Paraguayan may well be taking home a great deal less than Gordon, but he is earning £25k-per-week more than Murphy and yet failing to offer anything near an adequate contribution to the team this term.

Indeed, across 12 appearances in all competitions, the 30-year-old has failed to score or even grab an assist, starting just four times.

2023/24

45

5

3

2022/23

41

11

4

2021/22

32

1

0

2020/21

39

5

3

2019/20

42

8

2

2018/19

10

0

0

In the Premier League, Almiron has created zero big chances, succeeded with 0% of his dribble attempts and averages a lowly 0.1 key passes per game. These statistics certainly prove that perhaps his spell at the Magpies is coming to an end and he won’t be missed that much on this basis.

According to Telegraph Sport, the winger is close to leaving Newcastle, with clubs in America, Brazil and Europe all looking to sign him this month.

Howe is demanding a fee of around £12m, which would give him a boost as he seeks a couple of signings.

Previously hailed as “absolutely unbelievable” by pundit Tam McManus in 2022, Almiron’s stature at the club has diminished of late, which has led to Howe looking to move him on.

Since his arrival six years ago, the South American has gone on to play 221 games for the Toon in that time, scoring 30 goals while grabbing 12 assists.

It’s fair to say that the £21m they spent on signing him from Atlanta United was money well spent. With just 18 months left on his contract, this is the last chance PIF will be able to secure a decent fee for the player.

Earning £60k-per-week but failing to produce the goods this season suggests a sale could be the best outcome for all parties.

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