Arsenal intend to remain active in the summer transfer window, even after their statement signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

He was stunning: Arsenal found their very own Eberechi Eze vs Newcastle

Do Arsenal already have their answer to Eberechi Eze?

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 27, 2025

After a near-two-month-long saga, sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the prolific centre-forward, with Arsenal finally agreeing an initial £55m deal which could be worth up to £64 million if add-ons are met.

Gyokeres was unveiled as a new Gunners player to a delighted Singapore crowd just before Arsenal’s 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle, and there is a possibility of him debuting against Tottenham on Thursday.

“We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club,” said Berta in an official statement.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.

“We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room. Welcome, Viktor!”

Gyokeres’ arrival perhaps comes as Arsenal’s most significant bit of transfer business in the last few years, with a proven goalscorer long viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s potential title-winning jigsaw.

The 27-year-old scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, and their president Frederico Varandas seriously dug his heels in over letting Gyokeres leave the Portuguese champions.

Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, was even forced to waive his commission fee to help facilitate the transfer, and following weeks of talks, Arsenal at long last reached a full agreement last week (Fabrizio Romano).

After Gyokeres, Arsenal are believed to be targeting a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly on Berta’s radar as a key option.

Arsenal offered Arda Güler and Raul Asencio in Real Madrid part-exchange deal

Now, according to reports from Spain, Arteta and co have been offered a different playmaker in Turkey international Arda Güler.

Indeed, it is now believed Real Madrid are proposing Guler and defender Raul Asencio, plus £78 million, in exchange for star Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

In what is an audacious claim from Europe, Berta is said to be “seriously considering” this part-exchange bid from Real, even if Arsenal and Saliba are currently locked in talks over a contract extension.

Guler has struggled for consistent game time at the Bernabeu overall, but did manage six goals and 11 assists by the end of 2024/2025 whilst playing every game of Real’s Club World Cup campaign under Xabi Alonso.

However, while Guler has displayed flashes of real brilliance since bursting on to the scene at Fenerbahçe, even being dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’, losing Saliba would be far too big of a price to pay, even if Asencio would also immediately come in his stead.

Arsenal have splashed the cash this summer in a bid to win their first Premier League title in over 20 years, and Mikel Arteta may not even be done there.

While a move for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze grows more and more unlikely by the day, amid stiff competition from Tottenham, who are now in talks for the England international, Andrea Berta could still go after a left-winger.

This would be dependent on one of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli leaving in the next two weeks, or perhaps both, but Arteta has already confirmed that Arsenal are still looking at opportunities after signing Kepa, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres.

“Let’s see,” Arteta said when asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans for the rest of the window.

“Let’s see what happens, in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks.

“But, we are actively looking at options. As well, there are a few players, maybe, that they have to leave as well. So, we will be open to see what happens.”

It’s important to note that a move for Eze still hasn’t been entirely ruled out by credible media sources, but Tottenham appear to be taking pole position for him right now amid their glaring need for a playmaker to replace the injured James Maddison.

Arsenal’s hesitation is a result of their already-stocked central attacking midfield (talkSPORT), with club captain Martin Odegaard set for another key role going forward and Ethan Nwaneri tipped for more minutes after committing his future to the Emirates Stadium.

In truth, Arteta is very well reinforced in midfield, having also welcomed the arrivals of Zubimendi and Norgaard to replace Jorginho and Thomas Partey – who both left N5 after their contracts expired.

Norgaard in particular already boasts considerable Premier League experience from his time at Brentford, where he captained the Bees and stood out as perhaps one of their more underappreciated key players.

Mikkel Damsgaard says Arsenal have made a "surprising" signing in Norgaard

His former teammate at the Gtech Community Stadium, Mikkel Damsgaard, is convinced that Norgaard will be a quality signing for Arteta – albeit a “surprising” one.

Speaking to Danish news outlet Tipsbladet, via Sport Witness, Damsgaard says his fellow Dane is a hard-working player and backs him to succeed in north London.

Interestingly, former Tottenham director Frank Arnesen echoes this sentiment – calling Norgaard the “whole package”.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract with Arsenal, who spent an initial £10 million, plus £5m in add-ons, to secure his signature.

“I had a lot of luck didn’t I? Jesus.” Harry Brook was under no illusions that his seventh Test century was riddled with fortune.But having been gifted five lives by New Zealand, Brook did not waste them with a hearty 171 that lifted England to 499. A score which, at this stage, puts them in the box seat, with New Zealand closing day three just four runs ahead and with only four second innings wickets remaining.Brook resumed day three on 132 not out – having bagged the accolade of being England’s second fastest batter to two thousand Test runs, in his 36th innings – adding 39 from 34 deliveries. A sixth-wicket stand with Ben Stokes (who finished with 80) took England past New Zealand’s first innings score of 348.Related

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That partnership would eventually be broken on 159, when Brook feathered an edge through to Tom Blundell off Matt Henry. The relief in the field was palpable, and not just because Brook had begun to free his arms, which included planting Tim Southee onto the roof of the Pavilion for his third six.New Zealand, who shelled eight chances in all, had dropped Brook four times on Friday (on 18, 41, 70 and 106) before another on 147 on Saturday morning. Brook looked to the heavens, as he did when he reached three figures, though he was laughing to himself this time.The last was the easiest of the lot; straight to Glenn Phillips at gully, who was also culpable for the costliest miss on 18. The Yorkshire batter did cede not all of his chances were straightforward – not least because of how hard he strikes the ball, as evidenced by most of his 18 boundaries.”That first drop, especially, I’m not sure many people are catching that to be honest,” Brook said. “I hit that very hard.”I do throw my hands at it quite hard sometimes and it is going to be a good catch if you catch one at gully there, especially with the viewing. Just go out there and watch the ball and try and hit it really.”Phillips had redeemed himself somewhat on Friday with a stunning effort diving full-length to his right to remove Ollie Pope for 77. Brook, who had been given three lives at that point, went over and apologised to Pope as he was walking off.Harry Brook went past 150 for the fourth time in Tests•Joe Allison/Getty Images

Nevertheless, it was still an innings of substance from Brook, his second of the winter after the blockbuster 317 against Pakistan at the start of October. He was out in the middle at the Hagley Oval for five hours 23 minutes, having arrived at the start of the second session of day two with his side reeling on 45 for 3.A charging lofted cover drive off Southee – from his 186th ball – took him past 150 for the fourth time. The career average is now a shade above 60, the average against New Zealand a crisp 100.00.Brook now has two centuries and two fifties in five innings against New Zealand – with the only failure a duck when he was run out without facing in the fourth innings of 2023’s famous Wellington Test.”I just think I’ve gone out there and just tried to play the ball, really,” Brook said, at a loss to explain why he found the hosts such amenable foes.”The pitches have been fairly good with a bit of pace and bounce, and if you get it past the infield most of the time it’s four. I’ve tried to use the pace, ride the bounce and had quite a bit of luck in there this week.”

Southampton are looking to earn promotion from the EFL Championship this campaign and now appear to be advancing in pursuit of an international playmaker, according to a report.

Southampton look to kick on after dramatic victory over Wrexham

Will Still looked to be heading towards defeat on matchday one of the league campaign, but Ryan Manning’s free-kick and Jack Stephens’ late winner put the seal on a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wrexham at St Mary’s Stadium last weekend.

Speaking after the match, the former RC Lens boss praised his side for their ‘grit’ shown against the Welsh outfit as they turned the tide in stunning fashion.

He explained: “We were a bit unsure of where the game was going but we got back in control of it, created a few big opportunities, then in the second half, I thought we just took control.

“Playing against a really well organised low block is probably the most difficult thing to do. Credit to everyone for sticking at it, and it’s good to show a bit of grit and determination.”

Moving forward, Southampton could replace seemingly Everton-bound Tyler Dibling with Tom Fellows if they can meet West Bromwich Albion’s £10 million price-tag for the exciting winger before the close of play.

Dibling could be set to net Saints a fee in the region of £40 million, signifying that plenty of money will be left over to be ploughed back into the playing squad.

Southampton’s next five fixtures in all competitions

Northampton Town (A)

EFL Cup

Ipswich Town (A)

EFL Championship

Stoke City (H)

EFL Championship

Watford (A)

EFL Championship

Portsmouth (H)

EFL Championship

Volendam defender Xavier Mbuyamba is also wanted by Southampton, even if the likes of Genk and Rangers are also sniffing around due to his cheap asking price of £434,000.

Now, details have emerged suggesting that Still could be close to tempting a talented star to join his quest to restore Saints as a top-flight club on the South Coast.

Southampton offer preliminary contract to Eduard Spertsyan

According to Telecomasia.net, Southampton have offered a preliminary contract to Krasnodar star Eduard Spertsyan and negotiations are advanced over the Armenia star potentially moving to St Mary’s.

Still wants him to be a key figure in his side, though the 24-year-old is yet to give a final answer on coming to England a year after the ex-RC Lens boss tried to recruit him in France.

Sunderland concern over "excellent" star has Southampton considering move

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Deemed similar to Barcelona star Dani Olmo by scout Jacek Kulig, Spertsyan is a Krasnodar academy product and has made 149 appearances for the Russian top-flight outfit, registering 45 goals and 35 assists.

Potentially, the Stavropol-born man could be an alternative to Fellows as a Dibling replacement, given he can operate either as an attacking midfielder or on either flank.

With one year left on his contract, there is potential for Southampton to bring in Spertsyan for an affordable fee if all parties can come to an agreement in the coming weeks.

Fixtures announced for fifth season of competition as ECB brace for equity sale in coming days

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2025The fixtures for the fifth season of the Hundred have been announced by the ECB, with the tournament set to open with a double-header between London rivals London Spirit and Oval Invincibles at Lord’s on August 5.Invincibles, the defending men’s champions, and Spirit, the defending women’s champions, are also expected to be the most sought-after franchises in the Hundred equity sale, which gets underway on Thursday, when Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix are the first teams to go under the hammer.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, this year’s tournament avoids a clash with Major League Cricket, the US-based tournament that will be entering its own third season in 2025. The Hundred final is set to take place on August 31, also at Lord’s, with the Eliminator slated for The Oval on August 30.For the first time this season, direct signings have been permitted in both the men’s and women’s competitions, with Laura Wolvaardt and Amelia Kerr the first to have been recruited in that fashion, as they join Southern Brave and Manchester Originals respectively.Charlie Dean, who has been retained by London Spirit after her role in last year’s title win, said: “August is fast becoming one of the best months of the summer. The Hundred has developed into an excellent competition, we play in front of fantastic crowds and even from the middle you get a sense of how the crowd is so full of families and young people.”The cricket itself is high quality, the format is accessible and quick, and we’re all really looking forward to getting back to it and hopefully defending our title.”Oval Invincibles’ captain, Sam Billings, who is also seeking to defend the title, added: “It will be great to kick off The Hundred with a sold-out derby at Lord’s. From our point of view, we’re looking to start strongly as we have done the last couple of years to set the tone for another positive year. No doubt it will be a brilliant atmosphere at Lord’s.”It was another fantastic tournament last year, we’ve worked hard at the Invincibles to build a really strong core and there’s no reason why we can’t have another great year. The Kia Oval is undoubtedly one of the best places in world cricket to play, our home support is special. We all hope we can build on the last couple of years and keep the trophy in South London.”Season tickets for previous holders will be on sale from today, while an exclusive window for previous attendees will be open from March 4-18. Priority sales will be from April 1-15, before tickets go on general release from April 17.Click here for Men’s Hundred fixtures
Click here for Women’s Hundred fixtures

Arsenal's perfect start to the new Women's Super League season came to an end on Sunday at Manchester United as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw in a game they had the better of. Olivia Smith hit the crossbar, Caitlin Foord whistled an effort just wide and Alessia Russo had a decent opportunity through on goal saved as Renee Slegers' side turned the screw in a hard-fought encounter, but the visitors had to settle for a point on the road in the end.

It was United who started brightest, with Melvine Malard the recipient of a good chance inside the opening minute, but Arsenal would grow into the game, and as their pressing started to trouble the Red Devils, opportunities arose. That said, there was a lack of clear-cut opportunites throughout the 90 minutes and the Gunners didn't test opposing goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce enough, with it often from the edge of the box or an unfavourable angle that the looks at goal came.

Even those half-chances dried up in the second period, despite Slegers being able to throw on the likes of Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead from a star-studded bench. There were positives at the other end of the pitch, though, with United themselves limited to few big moments as 18-year-old Katie Reid continued to look incredibly promising in the heart of defence alongside the experienced Steph Catley, whose fantastic block to deny Malard proved crucial in the end as the Gunners were at least able to keep their first clean sheet of the new campaign.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Leigh Sports Village…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (5/10):

  Had a few iffy moments, most notably spilling a cross from Bizet. Recovered well to block Park's follow-up, though.

  Emily Fox (5/10):

  Got up and down her wing well and beefed up the midfield when needed, too, though lacked her usual cutting edge.

  Katie Reid (7/10):

  Another wonderfully composed and assured performance from the 18-year-old. Showed great awareness throughout and always positioned herself well.

  Steph Catley (6/10):

  Worked in tandem with Reid well and mopped up where needed.

  Katie McCabe (5/10):

  Wasn't as sharp as usual here, with a few loose touches and passes throughout the first half.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Kim Little (7/10):

  Battled brilliantly in the middle to recover plenty of loose balls and win most of her duels. Tidy as ever in possession, too.

  Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

  A little sloppy at times to start but her influence on the game grew and she was soon able to pull strings a little more, albeit not as much as usual.

  Alessia Russo (5/10):

  Linked well play and had one decent look at goal in the first half, but was otherwise unable to really cause problems.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Olivia Smith (6/10):

  A lively performer down the right in the first half especially, striking the crossbar early in the game with a great effort.

  Stina Blackstenius (5/10):

  Didn't give United as much trouble as she often can, with the hosts quite comfortably dealing with her threat. 

  Caitlin Foord (6/10):

  Always willing to run at her marker and that created some of Arsenal's best openings, be they for others and herself. Went very close with a strike at the end of the first half.

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• Subs & Manager

  Frida Maanum (5/10):

  Was loose in possession, though threatening when she could get on the ball and drive at the United defence.

  Chloe Kelly (5/10):

  Struggled to make a significant impact, with runs at the United back line rarely fruitful.

  Taylor Hinds (6/10):

  Looked assured and confident on the ball after replacing McCabe with half an hour to play.

  Beth Mead (N/A):

  Only on for the final 10 minutes or so.

  Renee Slegers (7/10):

  Gave United a different look by deploying Russo behind Blackstenius but it didn't have the effect it so often does, with neither getting much of a look at goal other than a one-on-one for Russo from an angle. Half-time came at the wrong time for her side, who were having real success with their pressing as it approached, and while she made subs with half an hour to go, they couldn't quite find a breakthrough either.

MatériaMais Notícias

Autor do gol tricolor no empate do São Paulo por 1 a 1 com o Corinthians, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, Michel Araujo aproveitou a ocasião e já projetou suas expectativas para o próximo desafio da equipe, agora pelas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.

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No caso, o clube do Morumbi encara o Sport nesta quarta-feira (17). O primeiro jogo acontecerá na Ilha do Retiro. Michel Araujo afirmou não haver distinção entre uma equipe de Série A ou de Série B, sendo que todas apresentam o mesmo grau de dificuldade. Aliás, destacou que encarar o Leão da Ilha será uma tarefa complicada.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Rafinha faz pênalti infeliz e compromete ótimo trabalho defensivo do São Paulo em Itaquera

– Vamos jogar contra um grande time, que vem jogando muito bem, que nem um time da série A. Vai ser um jogo muito difícil, primeiro será na casa deles – destacou.

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão
+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Campeonato Brasileiro na tabela do LANCE!

Porém, o uruguaio afirmou: por se tratar do São Paulo, a responsabilidade é de ganhar sempre, independente de qual equipe enfrentar. No dia primeiro de junho, os times se reencontram, desta vez no estádio do Morumbi – já para decidir o futuro no campeonato.

– Somos o São Paulo, temos responsabilidade de ganhar sempre, então acredito 100% nessa nova fase – completou.

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has urged the fans to stop "throwing stones" at goalkeeper Yann Sommer after his disastrous performance did little to prevent his side from losing to Juventus over the weekend. Chivu remains confident in the Swiss international's experience and abilities, adding that Sommer will retain his place in the starting lineup against Ajax in the Champions League opener.

Inter experience heartbreaking Derby d'Italia defeat

Inter's below-par start to life under new head coach Chivu continued over the weekend, as last season's Serie A runners-up succumbed to a 4-3 defeat at the Allianz Stadium against Juventus. Igor Tudor's men were trailing 3-2 as the clock went past the 80th-minute mark. However, a Khephren Thuram strike in the 82nd minute and a stoppage time winner from youngster Vasilije Adzic helped Juve stage a sensational come-from-behind victory in the Derby d'Italia.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Nerazzurri struggling in Serie A

The loss against Juventus further compounded Inter's misery. The Nerazzurri are currently languishing in 11th position on the Serie A table, despite scoring nine goals in their opening three league games. After beginning the season with an emphatic 5-0 win over Torino, they slumped to a shock 2-1 loss to Udinese at the San Siro. The defence has been far too penetrative as they have shipped six goals, with Sommer especially becoming the target of the fans' fury following his disastrous display in the defeat to Juve. 

Sommer receives backing from head coach

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Ajax clash in the Champions League, Chivu said: "It’s not fair to put him out in the open and throw stones at him from all sides. He’s important to us, he showed that last year, and from a human perspective, I don’t feel comfortable doing something like that. I respect [Josep] Martinez, and sooner or later he will get his chance, but I won’t change Sommer just because the fans ask for it. I don’t want to go against the grain. A player with his experience needs support. It’s only right that he stays in goal."

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AFPAjax clash the perfect springboard for a turnaround in fortunes

Inter commence their Champions League campaign against Ajax on Wednesday. A win could go a long way in lifting the spirits of an Inter side seemingly struggling to avoid defeats. However, defender Denzel Dumfries remains confident of his team's chances. "We've often talked about it among ourselves," the Dutchman said. "We played a good game against Juve, but then things went the way they did. It's true, we've recognized this moment and we have a lot to learn. When you play in the Champions League, you play to win. We have a strong team."

India clinched a comfortable eight-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the Super Six stage of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. With the win, India along with Australia from Group 1 and South Africa from Group 2 are assured of semi-final spots. England and Nigeria, who are placed second and third respectively, in Group 2, will be fighting for the remaining spot after Sri Lanka‘s match against Scotland was abandoned due to the rain and both teams shared the points.For India, left-arm spinner Vaishanvi Sharma starred with 3 for 15 to restrict Bangladesh to just 64 for 8. India chased down the target in 7.1 overs.Bangladesh were asked to bat first after rain delayed the clash and they were put under pressure immediately as they lost the opener Mosammat Eva to the third ball of the innings. India kept a lid on Bangladesh throughout as they were left reeling at 23 for 5 by the end of tenth over. Bangladesh’s top score came from their captain Sumaiya Akter, who made a 29-ball 21 at No.7. Vaishnavi took two of her three wickets in the 17th over while G Trisha, Shabnam Shakil and VJ Joshitha accounted for a wicket each. With this performance, Vaishanvi is now the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with nine scalps.In the chase, Trisha smashed a quickfire 40, laced with eight boundaries, before getting dismissed in the seventh over. Captain Niki Prasad and Sanika Chalke took India home with 77 balls remaining.

Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy have been sent a warning by intermediaries behind-the-scenes that one of their targets is now close to joining another club, according to a new report.

As we now enter the last three weeks of this summer’s transfer window, the pressure is on Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team to shore up weakened areas of Thomas Frank’s squad.

Tottenham are already set to take on Ligue 1 and European champions PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday with an arguably weaker squad than last season, having lost club legend Son Heung-min to LAFC and James Maddison to a long-term ACL injury.

The need to strengthen is absolutely paramount, especially since fellow creative force Dejan Kulusevski will remain sidelined with his own knee problem for a “long time”, according to Frank.

Spurs have already signed Mathys Tel, Mohammed Kudus, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha on loan this window, as well as triggering the obligation to buy in Kevin Danso’s deal from January, but the north Londoners are aiming to bring in more new additions before the deadline on September 1.

As widely reported, Tottenham are in talks with Man City over signing Brazilian winger Savinho after losing Son, with the former Girona star increasingly open to joining after Frank personally pinpointed him as the ideal signing.

A deal for the 21-year-old is likely to cost in excess of £45 million (Ben Jacobs), which could still be seen as excellent value considering Savinho’s age and performances in all competitions last season.

Meanwhile, to cope without Maddison for a large portion of 2025/2026, it is also believed that Spurs have emerged as serious contenders to sign Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze and could hijack Arsenal’s long-winded pursuit.

Levy and Lange were after a number 10 even before Maddison’s injury, having failed with a high-profile move for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White earlier in the window, but the need for a new attacking midfield maestro has now intensified.

According to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold recently, Tottenham are also keen on signing another centre-back.

Tottenham sent Joel Ordonez warning as Marseille close in on deal

As per TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez has been on their radar for around 12 months and the club have stayed in regular contact.

However, intermediaries have now warned Tottenham that Marseille are closing in on a deal for Ordonez, so if Levy is serious about signing the Ecuadorian, he’ll have to act very quickly.

Both Frank and Liverpool boss Arne Slot are said to be monitoring developments when it comes to the 21-year-old’s potential move to France, with Bailey reporting that Ordonez is viewed as a “standout” performer for Brugge and a “huge talent”.

“Ordonez is a huge talent, I am told by numerous Premier League clubs that this boy is held in huge regard,” said Bailey.

“He is one of those players that not just shows up analytically but when you watch him, he really is a standout performer.”