All posts by z3u9t.icu

When Nicolas Pepe ghosted past what was a fairly immortal-looking Virgil van Dijk at the time on his Arsenal debut, fans were sold the fantasy that their £72m man was set to hit the greatest heights.

Four years later, however, and that same £72m man that arrived with so much promise has just endured a failed loan move to OGC Nice, and goes down as one of Edu Gaspar's biggest mistakes as Arsenal sporting director.

In many ways, it shows how far Arsenal have come on and off the pitch, the fact that their arrivals since Pepe have shown a clear plan. They've gone from the failed winger to signing successes such as Gabriel Jesus, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

It won't be long before the £72m fee is displaced as the club's record deal, either, with Declan Rice reportedly set to arrive for £105m from West Ham United this summer.

The North London club still face a significant loss on Pepe, however, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who told Football FanCast:

“I’m not sure anyone’s gonna give them more than £20m for Nicolas Pepe anymore. Let’s be honest, Arsenal, when they bought him, they way overpaid.

"There was no need for them to ever go as high as they did in that moment. And they got a bit carried away, and it really epitomised the phase that Arsenal were in at that moment in time. They’ve come back from there, they’ve overcome it.”

What is the transfer market value of Nicolas Pepe?

Having joined Arsenal for £72m in 2019, Pepe is now worth just £15.34m (€18m), according to Transfermarkt in what is a drop-off of £56.66m over the course of four dismal years for the Ivory Coast winger.

With that, the question comes to the fore of, what went wrong?

Prior to his Premier League arrival, the 28-year-old scored 23 goals, and assisted a further 12 in all competition for Lille to attract such high interest from the Gunners. Things went downhill from there, however.

In his debut season for Arsenal, he put up, in fairness, some respectable numbers, at least, with 18 goal involvements in all competitions. Though, this was still a major drop-off from the player those in North London believed they had signed in the summer.

21 goal involvements in Pepe's second season in England showed potential, but any promise came to a crashing halt in the following campaign as one goal in 20 Premier League appearances, combined with the emergence of Bukayo Saka, spelt the beginning of the end for his Arsenal career.

A loan move can reignite a career for some, but the former Lille man failed to find his feet in Ligue 1 the second time around, making just 19 appearances with seven goal involvements.

Leaving Nice and returning to his parent club Arsenal, it remains to be seen where the £140k-per-week Pepe ends up next. One certainty is that the Gunners will be forced to settle on a significant loss on one of their biggest-ever transfer regrets.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag is keen to sanction deals for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Onana, Vlahovic and Hojlund?

As per La Gazzetta Dello Sport via Sport Witness, Manchester United remain keen on signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Onana this summer as Ten Hag looks to draft in a new man between the sticks, though he is valued at £51 million.

The report states that no official bid has been made to try and acquire the £63k-a-week ace; however, ‘contacts are constant’ between the Red Devils and the Cameroon international.

Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund has also emerged as a target for Manchester United, with talks continuing over a potential transfer, which could reach a fee of £86 million, as per The Daily Mail.

Manchester United were previously keen on both Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, though they were priced out of a move for the pair, leaving £10.5k-a-week earner Hojlund in their sights.

Calciomercato claim that Juventus striker Vlahovic, who is valued at £70m, may be on the move this summer and his agent has held talks with Manchester United over a move to Old Trafford. Capology report that the Serbia international earns €249,231 (£214,242) per week on a contract that runs until June 2026.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has stated that all three players are potential targets for Manchester United this summer.

Jones said: "There is a Serie A exodus on the cards this summer and Man United are well-placed to take advantage of it. Onana is the prime target in this moment, but Vlahovic and Hojlund are in their sights too and this is a market whereby Italian clubs are finding it extremely hard to fend off bids for their top talent.

"We have seen [Sandro] Tonali nabbed by Newcastle and Kim [Min-jae] being picked up by Bayern Munich — the feeling is that much more is to come and United are looking at that situation right now to see how it can force further deals."

Who else has been linked with a move to Manchester United this window?

As per The Daily Mail, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is undergoing his medical at Manchester United before being officially unveiled as their first summer signing.

The report states that Mount could make his debut as soon as next week, with Manchester United pencilled in to take on rivals Leeds United in a friendly at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.

Mundo Deportivo via 90min claim that the Red Devils have made a late offer to try and sign Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque, who is being heavily courted by Barcelona.

According to The Mirror, Eintracht Frankfurt stopper Kevin Trapp has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford, signifying that a busy transfer window may be on the way for Manchester United.

Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney would be an astute signing by Newcastle United this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

Do Newcastle want to sign Tierney?

The Magpies are set to embark upon a busy summer transfer window, with the funds available to sign top players, especially after qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Tierney is one of a host of individuals who has been linked with a move to St James' Park, with the £110,000-a-week Scot's Arsenal future up in the air. He struggled to enjoy regular football for the Gunners in 2022/23, being limited to only six starts in the Premier League, and it is hard to see that changing with Oleksandr Zinchenko such a key man.

For that reason, the 26-year-old could feel that he needs to move on before the beginning of the new campaign, and it could be that Newcastle are a perfect fit.

Could Tierney be the ideal fit for Magpies?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Tierney in a Magpies shirt, saying he is a signing that makes complete sense compared to other targets, namely Marc Cucurella:

"My hunch would be Kieran Tierney. I think that's probably the player that better fits that Newcastle team. If you combine all of his traits and then look at what you would be looking at in the makeup of that Newcastle starting 11, I think Tierney would be a really nice fit.

"If you've got the old version of Cucurella then maybe you can start to bring that back, but you don't know how long it's going to take for him to return."

Tierney, who has been hailed as a "top-level" player by Stan Cullymoore, could be a fantastic option for Newcastle to snap up this summer, coming in as a completely different player to Dan Burn at left-back. While the latter has done superbly in that role, the Arsenal man would provide natural width from left-back, arguably giving the side a better balance in the process.

A tally of five goals and 14 assists for the Gunners shows that he can be effective in the attacking third, but he is also a good defender, averaging 1.8 clearances and 1.3 tackles per game for Scotland across four European Championship qualifiers.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Tierney as "fantastic" in the recent past, and he is a player who looks tailor-made to thrive for Newcastle, enhancing the squad depth greatly but possibly coming in as part of the strongest possible starting XI at the same time.

Burnley have made an offer to sign Anderlecht defender Noah Sadiki, with contacts advancing with the player’s agent, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?

The Clarets and Vincent Kompany have wasted no time in adding to their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

Centre-back Jordan Beyer has arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach, whereas full-back Dara O’Shea has come in from West Brom at a combined cost of €22m. There could be more defensive additions over the coming weeks, though, with Sadiki on the club’s radar.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to provide a transfer update from Turf Moor regarding Burnley and Sadiki. The transfer expert revealed that an offer worth around €1m has been made, with talks advancing with the player’s agent.

“Burnley have submitted an official bid for Belgian fullback Noah Sadiki — deal being negotiated with Anderlecht around €1m.

“Contacts advancing with player’s agent Christopher Mandiangu.”

Who is Noah Sadiki?

Sadiki is just 18 years of age and is primarily a right-back who can also play on the left or even in a holding midfield role if required.

The Belgian has come through Anderlecht’s academy, so Kompany may have been keeping an eye on him during his time as manager of the Jupiler Pro League side.

Hailed as one of Anderlecht’s “highly talented” teenagers by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sadiki has made 19 senior appearances for his current employers, turning out in numerous positions.

He’s valued at a career-high €2m by Transfermarkt and is out of contract in just over 12 months time, so Burnley could be making a shrewd signing, if their €1m bid is accepted.

The Belgium U20 international could come in and rival the likes of O’Shea, Connor Roberts and Vitinho at right-back, or he could be initially sent out on loan with a view to breaking through into the first team in the future, but it looks as if a transfer is one to watch over the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur announced their first signing of the Ange Postecoglou era last week, as they made Dejan Kulusevski's loan move a permanent one.

Although the second season of his stint in north London had not impressed as much as his first, scoring just twice, he remained an important cog of this side, and a fine option to have within the squad.

However, the Australian will be far from content to allow that to be his sole purchase of the summer, given the vast scale of the revolution that is required in north London.

He will likely look to other teams around him, akin to Manchester United and Arsenal, and hope to replicate how they have improved to steadily climb the Premier League table. This means that his transfer dealings must be shrewd and focused on a brighter future, likely relinquishing any chance of instant success to get to that level.

Investment in a younger type of player is a must, rather than those just entering their prime.

Whilst a war wages on with Newcastle United to sign James Maddison from Leicester City, another star resides within the King Power Stadium which they also seem to be working on tempting. That man is Harvey Barnes.

In acquiring this wide man, Postecoglou could copy Erik ten Hag even more than he could have imagined, by securing his very own version of Marcus Rashford to terrorise full-backs down the wing.

Would Harvey Barnes be able to emulate Marcus Rashford?

Whilst both Barnes and the England international are right-footed left-wingers, their direct play style and decisive pace and power further draw comparisons. Pundit Alan Hutton even suggested that the former was a true "livewire", to emphasise these claims.

FBref seeks to outline these similarities too, as the 25-year-old is included in the former's similar players model.

It is not just their play style that is shared though, as both boast a penchant for goalscoring from the flank.

It is likely just the comparative quality of their respective squads that led to the gulf in actual goals, as Barnes' tally of 13 is not a far cry from the 17 league goals Rashford notched, whilst one finished third and the other got relegated.

The 24-year-old shone in a lacklustre Leicester side that fell to the drop, just like Maddison, and it seems like Postecoglou has developed an interest in these downtrodden stars who have already overcome hardship in their short careers.

The £35m-rated speedster has seen both the highs and lows of English football, having been lauded in the past by Jurgen Klopp whilst his side was in form: "Barnes is probably one of the biggest talents, I’m not sure if he is respected or appreciated as much as he should be, he is an unbelievable player to be honest, a proper Leicester product."

Opta's analyst tool serves to showcase the foremost assets of such a star, with a clear emphasis on his outstanding figures for dribbles completed, shots taken and all-around goalscoring. He is a constant threat, never afraid to shoot or take on his man. Defenders will never feel comfortable around this sparkling gem, just as they never do around a certain Rashford.

With the Manchester club having finished third in their most recent term, it seems the platform is there for future success of which Rashford will be an imperative cog.

Postecoglou will hope that he too can make steady progress with each year he is in charge, using Barnes as his dynamic left-sided star to emulate an already-successful formula.

Newcastle United may be aided in their ambitious pursuit of Nicolo Barella due to Inter Milan's financial situation, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Nicolo Barella?

According to Telegraph Sport, Newcastle United are 'pushing hard' in their attempts to bring Barella to Tyneside this summer from Italian giants Inter Milan.

The report states that the proposed deal could be worth around £50 million and Leicester City playmaker James Maddison is said to be their other key target this window.

Football Insider contradict these claims and state that it may take as much as £70 million to entice Barella away from San Siro ahead of next term.

This would mean that the Magpies would have to smash through their transfer record to capture Barella, overtaking Alexander Isak as the most expensive signing in club history following the Sweden international's move from Real Sociedad last year for £63 million.

Capology understand that Barella earns around €178,077 (£152,922) per week at the Italian giants on a contract that runs until June 2026.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that although Inter Milan will be reluctant to sell star players such as Barella and Alessandro Bastoni, who has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, something may have to give due to their financial reality.

Jacobs told FFC: "Barella is another one that Inter are adamant they're going to keep on to; Bastoni, Tottenham have looked at in the past as another player that Inter swear until they're black and blue in the face if you like because that's their club colours, that they're adamant he won't go anywhere, but something's got to give because their financial situation."

Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Barella would be a very bold statement signing from Newcastle United as they prepare to host Champions League football at St James' Park next term.

In 2022/23, the Italy international made 52 appearances in all competitions for Inter Milan, registering nine goals and ten assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per WhoScored, the 26-year-old was an inventive presence during the campaign and managed an average of 1.6 key passes per match in Serie A.

Barella was also a driving force in Inter Milan's midfield and successfully performed 146 shot-creating actions in total across the season, as per FBRef.

Newcastle United are in an exciting moment as a club and bringing in someone like Barella would be a major coup for the Magpies as they look forward to 2023/24.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in strengthening their options at right-back this summer, with Erik ten Hag said to be showing an interest in Inter Milan star, Denzel Dumfries.

What's the latest on Dumfries to Man United?

According to journalist Laurie Whitwell – writing for The Athletic – the Red Devils seemingly feel that they are in need of an 'upgrade' on Aaron Wan-Bissaka if they are to truly challenge for major honours moving forward, having only recently handed a new five-year deal to teammate, Diogo Dalot.

With that in mind, the report adds that among those who are being considered by United is the aforementioned Dumfries, with the club's scouting reports said to 'rate his intelligence and athleticism highly'.

The respected insider goes on to add that with the Netherlands international having just two years left to run on his existing deal at San Siro, the 27-year-old could command a fee of around £35m.

Should Man United sign Dumfries?

If it is an upgrade on Wan-Bissaka that United are looking for, then Dumfries could prove to be the perfect solution, with the "breathless" talent – as lauded by pundit Micah Richards at last year's World Cup – having dazzled for club and country of late.

The former PSV Eindhoven machine notably racked up one goal and two assists in just five outings for Oranje in Qatar, taking his total tally to six goals and 11 assists in 43 senior games at international level.

On the domestic front, the Rotterdam native has also impressed after bagging one goal and seven assists in 34 Serie A games this season, having also played his part in Inter's surge to the Champions League final, after featuring in 11 of his side's 12 games in the competition so far.

That ability to provide an attacking threat from his right-sided berth is in stark contrast to that of Wan-Bissaka, with the Englishman – who is yet to feature for his country – having contributed just one assist and no goals in all competitions in 2022/23.

Equally, while the latter man created just one big chance in the Premier League this season, Dumfries was able to offer a far greater creative outlet in Serie A, after registering 11 big chances in total.

That is not to suggest that the 6 foot 2 machine neglects his defensive duties as he notably ranks in the top 7% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won, while the current United man ranks in just the bottom 40% in that regard.

Although Wan-Bissaka 'enjoyed a resurgent second half to the campaign' – according to Whitwell – and started in the weekend's FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City, the former Crystal Palace man has regularly come under fire for his woes in possession, having been branded "useless" on the ball by club legend, Paul Scholes.

With Dumfries evidently far more comfortable at making an impact in the final third, it is easy to see why the one-time Heerenveen man would be an upgrade for Ten Hag next season.

Arsenal have now "agreed personal terms" with Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, according to a recent report from Ecuadorian outlet Teradeportes.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are searching for a new central midfielder, with Granit Xhaka set to depart, and they have identified Declan Rice as a key target, having recently agreed personal terms with the West Ham United captain.

With Mikel Arteta keen on bringing in three new midfielders this summer, Mason Mount has also been identified as a potential target, although the Chelsea midfielder now appears to be poised to complete a move to Manchester United.

As such, Arsenal may have to turn their attentions elsewhere, and they could look at signing Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, who will be available on a free transfer later this month, upon the expiration of his contract.

Another midfielder the Gunners have been linked with is Caicedo, and according to Terdapatores, they have now "agreed personal terms" with the Brighton star, who has made a move to the Emirates Stadium his "priority."

However, there will be competition for the Ecuadorian's signature from some other Premier League clubs, with Chelsea "willing to pay a higher figure" than Arsenal, although they will not be able to offer him European football of any description next season.

Liverpool are also name checked as potential suitors, however the Reds have not made the £15k-per-week youngster a priority signing, as they do not want to meet Brighton's asking price.

Who will Caicedo sign for?

Given that Arsenal have Champions League football to offer the 21-year-old, and the report claims he favours a move to north London, they should be well-placed to win the race for his signature this summer.

If the Gunners do sign the central midfielder, he could be an excellent addition to the squad, given his stellar defensive abilities, making 100 tackles in the Premier League last season, the second-highest amount of any player in the top flight.

Hailed as "incredible" by members of the media, the Ecuador international also excels in his distribution of the ball, ranking in the 94th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.

With Arsenal set to return to the Champions League next season, Arteta needs to bolster his squad with players who can make his side competitive in Europe's elite competition, and Caicedo has proven he is capable of making the step up.

As per West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh, there has been an exciting update regarding on-loan Southampton striker Armando Broja. 

The lowdown: Breakthrough campaign

Since joining Southampton from Chelsea at the start of the 2021/22 season, Broja has caught the eye on the south coast, scoring nine times for the Saints.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for the 20-year-old Albania international as his parent club go through a protracted off the field takeover turmoil.

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Having previously been tentatively credited with an interest in the powerful youngster, it now appears that the admiration from east London could be turned into something more tangible…

The latest: C&H make a big claim

Reputable Irons insider C&H have claimed that West Ham are ‘considering a potential loan swoop’ for Broja this summer.

The report states that the Hammers have a ‘very real interest’ in the 12-cap ace and will look to put together a package that includes the option to buy at the end of a temporary spell.

Furthermore, it’s suggested that Chelsea ‘might be willing’ to allow the man dubbed ‘dangerous’ by Ralph Hasenhuttl following a goalscoring display against Brentford to leave on loan once again.

The verdict: Make it happen

David Moyes, alongside recruitment chief Rob Newman, desperately need to address the current lack of a natural understudy for Michail Antonio at the London Stadium during the upcoming window.

Whilst on loan at Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem in 2020/21, Broja netted 11 times and registered three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, so he has now shown in multiple leagues he knows where the back of the net is.

Goals aside, the 6 foot 2 powerhouse has won 4.8 duels and taken 1.5 shots on average per game this term whilst earning a 6.69 rating (Sofascore), highlighting a willingness to complete against defenders and attacking prowess that would make him ideally suited to bolster Moyes’ attacking options.

In other news: Talks held: West Ham meet with club chief as he offers chance to sign five players! Find out more here.

Liverpool have made contact with AS Monaco regarding the possible transfer of Aurelien Tchouameni, according to a report from 90min. 

The lowdown: Hot property

The 22-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom in France having graduated from the FC Girondins Bordeaux academy before making the switch to Monaco in 2020.

Tchouameni has already made 128 senior outings in France and has recently become a regular for Didier Deschamps’ national side following a debut against Bosnia during World Cup qualification.

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Now, seemingly almost the finished article having honed his skills in Ligue 1, the powerful French youngster could be ready for the step in his promising career, with Paul Joyce of The Times confirming interest from Anfield last week.

The latest: Reds make contact

As per 90min, Liverpool and UEFA Champions League final opponents Real Madrid have both ‘spoken with Monaco’ regarding the eight-cap ace.

The report also claims that Chelsea are ‘keen to agree a deal’ but that move would be hard to foresee given their off-field issues at present.

That leaves the path clear for the European giants who will face off in Paris to battle it out for the midfielder who has been dubbed as an ‘octopus’ for his ability to dictate a game from a holding midfield role.

The verdict: Win this race

Not only will Jurgen Klopp be vying to beat Real to European glory, but also the capture of the £36million valued starlet who is regarded as one of the hottest talents on the continent.

So far this season, Tchouameni has scored three times and provided two assists in 46 appearances across all competitions, earning an impressive 7.27 Sofascore rating whilst making 2.8 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and winning a staggering 7.6 duels on average per game in the French top flight.

Those statistics are born out by the Frenchman’s very strong aerial and tackling ability (WhoScored), as well as a stylistic likeness to Real Madrid ace Casemiro and Anfield’s own Thiago, when using FBref’s player comparison tool.

With calibre and performances such as this despite his tender years, new Reds transfer chief Julian Ward would be instantly heralded should he deliver the Frenchman into Klopp’s squad following the remarkable signing of Luis Diaz in January.

In other news: Liverpool interested in Bundesliga sensation, find out more here.