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Arsenal have been linked to Serie A hitman Dusan Vlahovic, however, the Gunners could miss a potential disaster by avoiding signing the striker.

Mikel Arteta’s side were the second-highest-scoring side in the Premier League last season, however, links to the big-money forward could reinforce that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Are Arsenal linked to Dusan Vlahovic?

Sources in Italy mentioned earlier this year the north Londoners in relation to the potential destiny of Vlahovic, claiming that the Gunners have ‘never given up’ on the prospect of signing the 23-year-old.

The report comes from the angle that the forward is ‘no longer’ considered to be ‘untouchable’ in terms of Juventus’ value of the goalscorer, making Arsenal’s rumoured interest a subject to be cautious over.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored?

A 23-year-old with 95 domestic career goals is never going to be short of attention in the transfer window, however, the Serbian has struggled with a dip in form since trading Fiorentina for Juve, signalling a risk for potential Premier League suitors.

In his first two seasons in Turin, Vlahovic has hardly been the "monster" that Carlo Garganese bestowed on him, netting 17 goals in Serie A in a decline compared to his form at Fiorentina in where he scored 38 goals in his final two Serie A campaigns.

While it takes time to adapt to new surroundings, the striker made the move to a side with more attacking prowess around him while remaining in the same league that he dominated just one season prior.

It has been a recurring narrative for prolific players from fellow top leagues in Europe are unable to hit former heights in the Premier League, a trait that Arsenal know too well.

The Gunners’ current record signing Nicolas Pepe signed for the club back in 2019 from Lille, where he caught the eye of Unai Emery after registering a monstrous 33 goal contributions in 38 Ligue 1 games in 2018/19.

Four years down the line and the winger is set to return to the club after a season-long loan at Nice after a poor opening three years in north London.

In three campaigns, the £72m forward scored 16 Premier League goals before falling down the pecking order and being replaced rightly by Bukayo Saka.

The Ivory Coast international has shown little promise of living up to his lucrative price tag since trading Ligue 1 for the Premier League, in a risk that has not paid off for Arsenal. Indeed, in his final season before being loaned back to France, he found the net on just three occasions for the Londoners.

Signing high-cost players from abroad is an area that the Gunners should tread carefully around, with warning signs flagging around the interest in £70m Vlahovic, who has already shown frailties to his consistency in Serie A.

The 'unsettled' striker should be a player for Arsenal to steer clear of, with Arteta having the foundations to bolster his side without having to risk spending sensational money on players that aren’t guaranteed to perform.

Edu should revise the past mistakes made in the transfer of Pepe when considering the clubs’ interest in the Serbian, who has averaged fewer non-penalty goals per 90 to Gabriel Jesus over the past year, with 0.35 to the Brazilian’s 0.39, via FBref.

A club abroad are reportedly plotting to snatch away a Tottenham summer signing in the January transfer window.

Spurs players who could leave next year

While some Spurs squad members have absolutely thrived under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou, other Lilywhites players are enduring real contrasting fortunes.

Before injuries to Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Eric Dier were barely getting a look-in and don't appear to be a part of Postecoglou's plans moving forward. Dier is out of contract at the end of this Premier League season and reports suggest he could even leave as soon as January, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich apparently plotting a surprise move for him.

Meanwhile, despite the mounting injury issues for Postecoglou, it is believed Hojbjerg could still potentially leave in January as the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus take a real interest.

Richarlison has also been linked with a move away to Saudi Arabia in the new year, but it's been reported that Spurs aren't particularly keen on losing the Brazilian and want him to justify his £60 million price tag. Surprisingly, another player to be mentioned is summer signing Alejo Veliz.

Bologna "working" on Veliz move

According to a report by Italian news outlet Corriere di Bologna, the Serie A are side are "working" on a loan deal for Veliz with the obligation to buy him next summer. The Uruguayan has seen precious few opportunities since joining from Rosario Central, with Bologna now making him a top transfer target for the winter window.

Veliz is apparently the "hottest name" on their shopping list for 2024, with the South American seen as a player who can really bolster their attacking options for the second of this season. The notion they wish to attach a right to sign him permanently later in the year is an indication of just how highly they rate Veliz, but given he's only just joined, Spurs plan to take a very high ground in negotiations.

The 20-year-old has been tipped for more game time in the second half of the season, but it will be interesting to see if Spurs do let Veliz go out on loan and further his development. The striker's physical prowess and strength in the air could be useful in a league such as Serie A, with Veliz recently admitting that it is one of his main assets going forward.

"The first thing I'll be doing is to check in with them to help me to get established here and feel fully settled in," said Veliz upon signing for Spurs (via LiveScore).

"The good thing is I am a pretty open and friendly type of character and I always like to get on well with everyone, so I think I will settle in very well here.

"I run for everything and I never give up any pass as a lost cause. I'm going to give everything I can for this shirt."

West Ham United have opened talks regarding a deal to sign Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports.

Is Viktor Gyokeres leaving Coventry?

The Sky Blues talisman’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing window is likely to be the club's final big opportunity to cash in, and after establishing himself as Coventry's top-performing offensive player last season, he won’t be short of potential suitors should he depart.

Back in November 2022, Football League World first credited the Irons with an interest in the 25-year-old alongside Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, Everton and formerly Southampton, but despite a deal failing to materialise in January, David Moyes appears to be taking a second bite of the cherry.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that whilst the Sweden international is yet to make a decision regarding his future beyond the summer, the E20 outfit are “ready to push” to bring him to the capital, and their efforts behind the scenes may have already begun.

Are West Ham signing Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese newspaper Record (via West Ham Zone), West Ham have “entered the negotiating table” for Gyokeres ahead of the 2023/24 term. The London Stadium side are firmly “part of” the English top-flight clubs looking to strike a deal and on Sunday, opened discussions with Coventry to see whether they can reach an agreement for the in-demand centre-forward.

Could Gyokeres be a strong recruit for Moyes?

West Ham are likely to have a big budget to play with, should they sell Declan Rice, and it’s been reported that Gyokeres could cost £25m so he’d be more than affordable having been dubbed “unplayable” by his former teammate Maxime Biamou and a "very strong striker" by Slaven Bilic.

The Building Society Arena attacker posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (21 goals and ten assists) in 46 Championship appearances last season, form which not only saw him collect ten man-of-the-match awards, but he was also named the second-highest goalscorer in the second-tier and currently holds a career-high €13m Transfermarkt valuation, showing he appears to be at the top of his game.

The Irons target is additionally a constant threat even when the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net having recorded 191 shot-creating actions and 133 shots over the course of the previous campaign which was more than any other of his fellow peers, as per FBRef.

Finally, Gyokeres is a versatile operator having been deployed in six various positions over the grass since first bursting into the scene, mainline across the frontline, so he could be a massive addition to Moyes' attacking ranks, should he sign on the dotted line.

Liverpool are set for a transformative summer following a disappointing campaign this season and now a new update has emerged on the club's potential targets.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Orkun Kokcu?

According to Football Transfers, Feyenoord captain Orkun Kocku remains high on the agenda in Liverpool's midfield rebuild this summer.

As per the report, it is claimed that Jurgen Klopp and the club's new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will be relied upon to work on a deal to secure the signature of the talented midfielder, whilst also aiming to bring in Kephren Thuram and Manu Kone too.

Who would Kokcu replace in the Liverpool squad?

Despite being only 22 years old, the Turkish sensation has already demonstrated his clear ability to lead his team to victory with a monumental Eredivisie title win this season, which is only the second time in a century that the Dutch club have earned the accolade.

Now Liverpool could capitalise on Kokcu's winning mentality and leadership skills by bringing him to Merseyside where he could eventually replace the role of Jordan Henderson, with the Liverpool captain now 32 years old and reaching the latter stages of his career.

Over 32 league appearances, the Feyenoord skipper – hailed a "true leader" by scout Jacek Kulig – has scored eight goals, delivered two assists and created nine big chances, as well as averaging a whopping 91.8 touches, 2.8 key passes and one shot on target per game, proving he is a huge all-round presence on the pitch.

According to Sofascore, Kokcu boasts strengths in play-making, high pressing and long shots which makes him the perfect versatile midfielder that would fit like a glove in Klopp's tactical philosophy.

As such, he would likely be best suited to playing in a box-to-box role for maximum impact, similar to Henderson, but providing more energy and injecting much-needed youth.

Feyenoord will reportedly command a transfer fee of just €40m (£35m) this summer which will suit the strict and tight budgets that are uncompromising in FSG's recruitment strategy, making the chances of a deal getting done even more achievable for the Merseysiders as they set out to sign multiple additions to bolster the squad.

That said, Kokcu could be an incredible signing for Liverpool if he can continue to thrive in the Premier League next season and at such a young age he could become a high-quality asset to the club for years to come.

Crystal Palace have been the home to a host of fine talent over the years, with the club making valuable purchases in the transfer window throughout their time in the Premier League.

Roy Hodgson continued the fashion of bringing in young talent this summer, welcoming 19-year-old Matheus Franca for a fee of £26m, making him the Eagles’ fifth most expensive addition of all time.

Selhurst Park has seen some great success stories and disappointing transfer playouts in new signings, with the club showing the rest of the Premier League that cost doesn’t always define the quality of the talent that comes with the price tag.

A prime example of such is arguably the current poster boy of the club, Eberechi Eze, who cost just £20m in 2020 after making the move from Queens Park Rangers.

The winger was quoted to be valued around £70m this summer by Palace by Manchester Evening News, who suggested that treble winners Manchester City were interested in signing the 25-year-old.

Eze wasn’t the only talent that was eyed by other Premier League sides in the window, with the south Londoner’s potential for future profit an interesting topic of conversation with reference to the quality they have in their squad at present.

How much did Crystal Palace sign Michael Olise for?

Last month, Palace were worried by the news that Chelsea had activated the £35m release clause of Michael Olise, a move that the 21-year-old snubbed in favour of staying at Selhurst.

The Frenchman penned a new four-year deal with the Eagles in response to the Blues’ attempt to capture his signature, prompting the club to reconsider the value of his current release clause.

As reported by the Evening Standard this week, Olise’s release clause is now ‘significantly higher’ than it was at the point of Chelsea’s activation.

Signed for just £8m from Reading in 2021, the youngster’s value has rocketed thanks to his strong performances in red and blue, leaving Palace in an inevitably profitable situation should another side come knocking in the future.

What is Michael Olise worth now?

Now that a clause higher than £35m has been added to his contract, as well as additional years on his new deal, the Eagles can heavily increase their asking price for the exciting young talent, perhaps more in line with the £50m asking price that was set when PSG were interested.

That is quite the price hike, one that represents a staggering 525% increase on their initial investment.

When Brighton learned of the interest in Moises Caicedo in January, the Seagulls agreed an extended deal with the Ecuadorian in the bid to bolster his value in the summer, a move that paid off as the south coast side earned a record £115m for his services.

Considering this, imagining just how much Olise is worth to his club is near impossible, with the versatile attacker being at the heart of most things impressive in the current side.

Last term, the £100k-per-week France U21 international scored two goals and registered an impressive 11 assists in 37 Premier League appearances for Palace, showcasing his talents to those admiring his work in the side.

What makes Olise so attractive to other clubs is his versatility in the front line, with the ability to play central as a striker or attacking midfielder, as well on either flank as a direct winger, with his style identified as “dangerous” by scout Antonio Mango.

Mango also hailed as a “wonderful technician” for his creative ability, telling of the calibre of player Palace have on their hands and the levels he is yet to hit in the Premier League.

The Eagles struck gold in bringing the Frenchman to south London, in an £8m dip that will almost certainly equate to far more in the future.

Wolverhampton Wanderers target El Bilal Toure is a potential 'upgrade' on the likes of Diego Costa at Molineux as the Old Gold look to add some firepower in attack, says journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving El Bilal Toure?

According to Football Insider, Toure has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs this summer, including Wolves, Everton, West Ham United and Burnley.

The report states that Almeria have put a £34 million price tag on the head of the Mali international, who has also drawn admiration from the likes of Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen.

As per The Daily Mail, Wolves have a good working relationship with Almeria, which could come in handy in their efforts to try and land the 21-year-old.

Toure is a physical striker that is said to have been likened to former Chelsea icon Didier Drogba and looks odds on to seek a new challenge this window.

Diario De Almeria via Sport Witness claim that ‘the first approaches are already taking place’ between Everton, Wolves as the race to sign the youngster gathers pace.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Toure would add a new flavour to the Wolves attack at Molineux if he were to join the Premier League outfit.

Jones told FFC: "There's obviously an agent hard at work here to try and get him a move, but he's a fast and awkward player to handle.

"I think at Wolves he would add an edge to their attack. He also could be quite frustrating at times, to be honest, but he's definitely a very different option from Diego Costa. If they want someone who's more mobile, then this is an upgrade."

How did El Bilal Toure fare in 2022/23 with Almeria?

Toure enjoyed a commendable campaign with Almeria and showed flashes of his undoubted potential, which has, in turn, attracted interest from the Premier League.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 22 appearances for Almeria, encompassing all competitions, registering seven goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Toure carried a keen goal threat during the season and averaged around 1.4 shots per match in the Spanish top flight.

As per FBRef, Toure also carried out 2.36 shot-creating actions per match for Almeria, showing his ability to fashion chances for himself and his teammates.

Wolves could do with some fresh blood in attack ahead of next term and Toure could be an exciting arrival with lots of potential at Molineux.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is "desperate to prove himself" to Spurs' new manager Ange Postecoglou but having just a year left on his deal could be a problem, claims journalist Alasdair Gold.

Is Eric Dier leaving Tottenham Hotspur?

The Lilywhites have been doing some good business so far this summer.

Not only have they managed to keep hold of their superstar striker Harry Kane – for now – but they have also added strength and depth to the squad as a whole.

The big-name signing so far has undoubtedly been James Maddison, who joined the north London outfit for a relatively reasonable fee of £40m from relegated Leicester City, but the signings of Manor Solomon and Guglielmo Vicario also represent good business.

The one area the club are yet to improve upon – and one they really need to – is in central defence, where the personnel has remained the same, other than the absence of Clement Lenglet, who has been linked with a return.

According to The Telegraph, one of those defenders – who does not want to leave the club – is former England international Dier.

The 29-year-old is one of the players Daniel Levy would be willing to sell this summer, but despite having just a year remaining on his current deal, he wants to stay and fight for a place under Postecoglou, per Alasdair Gold.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"It's an interesting situation with Eric Dier, really. He's desperate to prove himself to Postecoglou as a fully fit player and he is excited about playing under Postecoglou. But then, the other side to it, of course, is that he's only got a year left on his contract.

"So it's whether they tie him down to a new contract, which I'm sure would not go down well with some Spurs fans."

Should Tottenham Hotspur sell Eric Dier?

With just a single year left on his deal and his desire to remain in north London, the Lilywhites have a decision to make. Should they stick by the player and see if he earns himself a new deal, or should they do what they can to force him out?

The first thing to say is that last season, as disastrous as the Tottenham team was – especially the backline – he wasn't any worse than his teammates. In fact, he was probably one of the better defenders in the side.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 6.66 across his 33 Premier League games last season, which on its own is a reasonably decent campaign, while it was the second-highest rating for a central defender in the squad, only behind Christian Romero.

Again, his underlying numbers are nothing spectacular but solid across the board and suggest that he would be a great squad player to keep around.

According to FBref, which compares players across Europe's top five leagues, the Cheltenham-born defender sits in the top 19% for attempted passes, the top 21% for total shots, the top 23% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 24% for aerials duels won, and the top 27% for progressive passes received per 90.

He was also a player that former boss Antonio Conte was a big fan of, with the Italian once saying:

"We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop. He is providing great continuity in his role and playing every game.

"I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve. He knows he has space for improvement and I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, to become a top defender."

Dier probably isn't quite of the level to make it as a starting centre-back for a title-chasing team anymore, but that isn't what Spurs are at the moment, and keeping him around, at least as a squad player, seems like the best option.

Newcastle United are preparing a big-money offer for an "excellent" attacking player currently on the books of a European giant, according to a new transfer rumour.

Newcastle transfer news

The start of the January transfer window isn't far away now, and Eddie Howe could be desperate to make some new signings to add to his injury-hit squad.

Newcastle have been so unfortunate in the fitness department this season, having to make do without many important players at different times, while Sandro Tonali's 10-month suspension has also been a big blow that has only added to the woes.

The Magpies have certainly been linked with plenty of players in recent times, with individuals in various areas of the pitch potentially being targeted next month.

In defence, the likes of Goncalo Inacio and Piero Hincapie have been backed to join Newcastle, with the pair currently shining for Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

Kalvin Phillips continues to look like the Magpies' primary midfield target in January, as he aims to bring an end to a disappointing spell at Manchester City, while VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is seen as someone who could boost Howe's attacking options moving forward.

Newcastle readying Matias Soule offer

According to Tuttosport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are also readying a big offer for Juventus youngster Matias Soule, who is currently on loan at Frosinone.

The update states that the Magpies are "ready to put €25m (£21.6m) on the table" and make a move for the 20-year-old, with a recent report suggesting Newcastle are the frontrunners to snap him up.

Juventus are willing to wait until the end of the season to part ways with Soule, however, due to him currently enjoying his loan spell.

He could be a strong signing by Newcastle if they strike a deal in one of the upcoming transfer windows, though, with Frosinone manager Eusebio Di Francesco hailing him last month, saying:

"In certain aspects, he resembles Berardi, but he must learn to shoot on goal more often. He doesn’t lack qualities and has excellent dribbling, but in the game, he needs to be more lucid when making his choices. My thought is that his talent should not be limited; with time and experience, he will improve in many aspects."

This season, Soule has scored goals six in 14 Serie A appearances, which is a good return for a side who are currently sitting 13th in the table, and he is a player who should only get better the more he matures in the coming years.

Whether Newcastle can strike a deal in January looks debatable given the player's loan situation, but even if they decide to wait until the summer, it is a move they should certainly consider.

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Soule also has a combined tally of 10 caps for Argentina at youth level – seven for the Under-20s and three for the Under-16s – further showing what an exciting young prospect he is.

Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz is being eyed up by Real Madrid for a shock summer transfer, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

What's going on with Havertz?

The German international has had another disappointing season, scoring nine goals in 47 games across all competitions, and the 23-year-old could be sacrificed in order to bring another forward in.

The versatile attacker scored the winner as Chelsea won the Champions League two years ago, but has been underwhelming during his time at Stamford Bridge beyond that moment, and his three season spell could now come to an end as Carlo Ancelotti takes aim at the £150k-per-week star.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that Los Blancos are interested in Havertz to add depth to their attack, with Marco Asensio set to depart.

"There have been many rumours about Kai Havertz in the last 24 hours, and I'm told that it's true, Real Madrid really appreciate him. He was one of the names they mentioned in their internal meeting they had with Carlo Ancelotti, and with people on the board who report to Florentino Perez," he stated.

"So it's true that they really appreciate Kai Havertz. They believe that Havertz is the kind of creative player with skills that Real Madrid don't have in the current team, let's remind that Marco Asensio will leave the club.

"The situation on the Chelsea side, from what I'm told, Chelsea are open to negotiating for Kai Havertz. So Havertz is not an untouchable player at Chelsea, but some of the reports coming from Spain were mentioning maybe a loan with a buy option clause or these kind of things, no. Chelsea want important money for their important players."

Should Chelsea sell Havertz?

Depending on the size of the offer that comes in from Real Madrid, a sale of Havertz could solve a number of problems at Chelsea.

The club need to sell players in order to comply with financial fair play rules, and Havertz could be a player sacrificed given his underwhelming contributions on the pitch.

Havertz joined for an astonishing £75m in 2020, and whilst it seems highly unlikely that Chelsea will recover a lot of this, cutting their losses now whilst his value is high could help Mauricio Pochettino buy a new striker, and Havertz's departure would make space in the squad.

Victor Osimhen has been targeted, and if Havertz making way can generate space and funds to sign the Napoli striker, then it is a deal that Chelsea should look to complete.

Can Celtic get back to winning ways in Old Firm derbies?

Despite clinching the Premiership title last weekend at Tannadice, and being 17 points clear at the top, the Hoops have actually lost the last two Glasgow derbies, demolished 3-0 at Ibrox in January, before Rangers were last-gasp 3-2 victors at Parkhead in March.

So, even though the title race is done and dusted, the Celts will be determined to pick up three points in Govan on Sunday and, if they are to achieve this, Brendan Rodgers should unleash the player he himself has described as the club’s “best winger”.

Celtic injury latest ahead of Old Firm

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Rodgers confirmed that Jota will be sidelined for up to nine months due to a knee injury suffered at Tannadice, which is a heartbreaking blow for the Portuguese winger, who’s only just returned to the club.

Meantime, Alistair Johnston “won’t be available” either, Rodgers confirmed, with the Canadian set to be protected over the coming weeks to make sure he is ready for the Scottish Cup Final later this month against Aberdeen.

This is certainly a blow because, as outlined by Scott Bradley of Breaking the Lines, Johnston has been ‘pivotal’ to Celtic’s success this season, but he does have an obvious deputy in Anthony Ralston, who will therefore get a run in the side.

In attack, however, Rodgers has a decision to make, so we believe he should start the club’s most decorated player.

Who Rodgers should start in Celtic's attack vs Rangers

Daizen Maeda has absolutely been on fire this season, scoring 33 goals across all competitions, requiring seven more from the remaining five fixtures to become only the second player since Henrik Larsson to reach 40 goals in a single campaign, matching the achievement of Leigh Griffiths.

However, especially since his compatriot Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais in January, Maeda has played much of his best football as a central striker, starting four of the last six Premiership matches in that position.

So, if Rodgers does not want to move Maeda, who are his wide options?

Nicolas Kühn

47

3,075

20

14

Yang Hyun-jun

30

1,126

5

6

James Forrest

28

982

Zero

6

Nicolas Kühn’s double against Dundee United will surely earn him a start at Ibrox, while, on the other side, with Yang Hyun-jun still nursing an elbow injury, could James Forrest be handed a rare start?

When he gets his hands on the Premiership trophy in a few weeks, Forrest will become Celtic’s most-decorated player of all time, with this set to be his 26th major honour, hoping to add an eighth Scottish Cup later this month.

Appearances

523

Minutes

32,578

Goals

109

Assists

109

Premiership titles

13

Scottish Cups

7

League Cups

6

Forrest’s Celtic career is truly incredible, running out of time if he is to score in a 16th successive Premiership season, so what better time to do it than at Ibrox, having never previously scored away to Rangers in ten previous attempts?

Rodgers described Forrest as Celtic’s “best winger”, adding that he “injects quality” whenever he is called upon, so it could be time for the Scotland international to start and make a big impact on Sunday.

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