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The Uruguayan relishes a battle and can beef up the Red Devils' lightweight midfield as he looks set to leave Paris-Saint Germain for Old Trafford

Manchester United had more problems than Jay-Z last season, but midfield was undoubtedly their biggest one. Casemiro had a turbulent campaign marked by injury problems, Sofyan Amrabat could not adapt to the frenetic pace of the Premier League, while Mason Mount missed almost the whole season due to injuries.

As a result, Bruno Fernandes was forced to take on everyone else's work, which blunted his usual attacking edge. These problems were eased somewhat by the rise of Kobbie Mainoo, but the teenager's remarkable emergence did not fix a chronic lack of energy and dynamism in the middle.

Early on in the summer, United identified their ideal solution to this problem and set about trying to sign Manuel Ugarte. And after nearly three months of negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain, they finally got a £51 million ($60m) deal over the line in the last few days of the transfer window.

Ugarte was still in high school when he made his professional debut in Uruguay, but he quickly grew into a man, and a combative one at that. The midfielder relishes going after the ball and last season he made the second-highest amount of tackles in Europe's top five leagues, only trailing Joao Palhinha, a former team-mate.

The 23-year-old also has energy to burn. His former coach Juan Ramon Carrasco said Ugarte has "seven lungs" and "owns one half of the pitch". It is little wonder, then, that Erik ten Hag believes Ugarte can transform United's midfield.

United once had the best tough-tackling midfielder in the world in Roy Keane, but their attempts to replace him have only ever worked in the short-term. Owen Hargreaves had some success in his debut campaign, but his career was soon after destroyed by injuries; Nemanja Matic greatly strengthened Jose Mourinho's midfield, but he was already 29 by the time he arrived and his powers soon faded; Casemiro also looked to be an excellent short-term signing in 2022, but his error-strewn second campaign showed his limitations.

Ugarte, however, has his best years ahead of him. He might have had his confidence knocked by his short and unsuccessful spell at PSG, but if United play to his strengths, they can look forward to an exciting future, with the Uruguayan shutting down opposition attacks while Mainoo and Fernandes focus on supplying the front line.

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  Where it all began

  Ugarte was born in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo to a humble, hard-working family. His mother was a school teacher, his father a manual labourer, but the family fell on hard times after the economic crisis of 2008 and were forced to sell their home. Things soon improved, though, and now they are reaping the awards of their son's footballing talent.

  The midfielder was never afraid to get his hands dirty, breaking a finger when he was repairing a bike at the age of just three years old. He began his footballing journey with local side City Park and then joined Fenix, a historic yet humble club who have forever been in the shadow of local giants Penarol and Nacional.

  Ugarte was an attacking midfielder as a youth and was well ahead of his peers, playing in age groups one or even three years older than him. And the biggest surprise came when, at the age of 15, he was catapulted from Fenix's reserve side into the first team.

  At first, his father Miguel was unsure about the move when he was informed, telling academy coordinator Marcelo Mas: "But he's only a kid, they're going to destroy him!" Soon after he became the youngest Uruguayan league debutant in the 21st century when he was brought on during a 4-1 win over Danubio.

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  The big break

  Ugarte did not play for the first team again for another two year, but in the meantime he reinvented himself as a defensive midfielder and became a key figure in the 2019 'Apertura' season, helping Fenix finish second and qualify for the Copa Sudamericana, the South American equivalent of the Europa League.

  He was soon named club captain at the age of 18, and both Penarol and Nacional were keen to snap him up. But by then he had alerted European clubs to his talents and Portuguese side Famalicao were the first to bite, signing the teenager for €3m(£2.6/$3.2m) in December 2020.

  Ugarte had to play in front of empty stadiums for the first few months in Portugal, but he impressed onlookers before newly-crowned champions Sporting CP signed him for €10.5m (£9m/$12m). The Uruguayan was originally a back-up to Palhinha in Lisbon and made only 10 league starts in his first campaign, but when Palhinha joined Fulham, Ugarte became the club's main holding midfielder.

  Sporting had a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, finishing fourth and missing out on qualifying for the Champions League, having exited in the group stage that season. Ugarte's star kept rising, though, and he became the subject of a fierce transfer battle between PSG and Chelsea. PSG eventually won the tug of war, signing him for €60m (£50m/$66m).

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  How it's going

  Ugarte got off to a strong start at PSG and was one of the standout players in a thumping 4-0 win over rivals Marseille in Le Classique back in September. His thirst for tackling made fans warm to him, but his rather one-dimensional style and lack of ability for progressive passing seemed to frustrate coach Luis Enrique, who had the pleasure of working with Sergio Busquets at Barcelona and Rodri with the Spain national team.

  Luis Enrique did not hide his feelings about the Uruguayan's limitations, describing him as "a surprise and a revelation to many supporters" but also stressing that "he has so much room for improvement going forward and in defence".

  Ugarte subsequently struggled in PSG's Champions League group-stage defeats to Newcastle and AC Milan. He was particularly disappointing in the loss at San Siro, being hauled off after an hour in which he had won just three of 15 attempted duels and been booked.

  Having started the first five Champions League games, he began on the bench for the decisive group match against Borussia Dortmund. He then played just 26 minutes out of PSG's six knockout games, remaining on the bench for both legs of the semi-final tie with Dortmund. He also started just three of PSG's final eight games in Ligue 1.

  As early as July it became clear that Ugarte would not be remaining at PSG. His agent Jorge Chijane told : "There are many options on the table. It's almost certain he won't stay at PSG, it's certain he'll leave." His experience at PSG has not seriously affected his reputation or his market value, though, as United are set to pay almost the same amount for the Uruguayan as PSG did one year ago.

  Ugarte did recover some of his confidence at the Copa America this past summer, starting every game as Uruguay reached the semi-finals. He also scored the winning penalty as Marcelo Bielsa's side knocked Brazil out in the quarter-finals. They were eventually eliminated by Colombia in the semis, but claimed third place ahead of Canada.

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  Biggest strengths

  Ugarte is a ball hunter. "When I win the ball back I'm happy," he told PSG's website last year. "When we have the ball, it’s a game. When we don’t, it’s a fight."

  In analysis by for , Ugarte was given a mark of 99 percent for disrupting opposition moves, 92% for ball recoveries and interceptions, plus 78% for defending intensity.

  Ugarte also has an excellent injury record, which is likely to be valued highly by Ten Hag given United's propensity for losing players for long periods due to fitness problems. He also has the stamina and energy to get up and down the pitch, something that Casemiro certainly lacked last season.

  The Uruguayan's energy and defensive awareness should help United plug the holes that kept appearing in midfield last season, which led to them conceding more shots than any other Premier League side aside from relegated Sheffield United.

Liverpool have been linked with a sensational move for a Premier League manager according to reports on Thursday morning.

Liverpool see opening offer for Slot rejected

News broke on Wednesday that Feyenoord boss Arne Slot had become the front-runner to replace Jürgen Klopp in the Anfield technical area, after the German revealed that he would be stepping down at the end of the Premier League season.

It could yet be a season that fizzles out, with Wednesday's defeat in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park leaving the Reds three points behind Arsenal and potentially five points behind Manchester City, who they currently lead by a point but have played two games more than.

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Though they lifted the Carabao Cup at Chelsea's expense, it has been far from the ideal swansong season for Klopp, with three defeats in two weeks seeing them crash out of Europe in shock fashion to Atalanta and throw away their advantage atop the Premier League.

Worse still, they have been rebuffed in their initial approach for Klopp's replacement. After both Ruben Amorim and Xabi Alonso ruled themselves out of contention for the role, they appear to have landed on Slot as the next man in on Merseyside.

But, as per The Athletic, the Reds have seen their opening offer for the Feyenoord boss turned down. Liverpool were willing to stump up 9m euros for his services, but the Eredivisie side are thought to be holding out for 15m euros to let their manager leave.

New Liverpool target emerges

Now, in a shock twist it appears that Liverpool may not have all of their eggs in the Slot basket. That is according to Danish media outlet Tipsbladet, who claim that the Reds have held recent talks with Danish Brentford boss Thomas Frank over the imminent vacancy at Anfield.

Frank has long been linked with a move away from Brentford, and the report claims that he is also on Manchester United's shortlist should Erik ten Hag not be in the Old Trafford hotseat next season.

He was also tipped by ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney to join Tottenham back in 2023, with the forward urging the Lilywhites to make a move before they ultimately landed Ange Postecoglou.

"Frank is an outstanding, ambitious and hungry manager", he said. "I know some will say that his Brentford side play a lot of route one football but when they were promoted from the Championship under the Dane they were an excellent footballing side."

Of course, a move for Frank appears unlikely unless a deal for Slot falls through, which is also unlikely to happen over the sake of a few million in compensation. However, as Tottenham showed in their hunt for a manager back in 2021, nothing can be ruled out until the new boss is taking charge of his first training session.

A few Liverpool supporters might have subscribed to the thought of Jurgen Klopp leaving after Anfield was dismantled in shocking fashion by an Atalanta side sat in sixth place in the Serie A.

If Liverpool's chance of progression in the Europa League hangs in the balance, it is dangling by a tenuous thread, with a 3-0 home loss littered with individual errors, an absence of discipline, and, frankly, a mess of organisation – creating a new, gnawing sense of unease.

Liverpool were breezing at Old Trafford on Sunday, a goal ahead at the break and in breathtaking command, only for a mistake from Jarell Quansah to allow Bruno Fernandes to score a remarkable lob.

Mohamed Salah rescued a draw late on after Kobbie Mainoo's sumptuous strike, but Liverpool have ceded first place in the Premier League and desperately needed a reaction that did not come against Atalanta.

Caoimhin Kelleher and Ibrahima Konate will hang their heads following detrimental errors, while the motley, mishmash nature of the squad's performance is ultimately the central point of the defeat, but Darwin Nunez's third-rate striking performance cannot go without rebuke.

Darwin Nunez's performance vs Atalanta

A dismayed Klopp railed at his club-record, £85m striker, a man who had a host of detractors last season with some remaining this term, though 18 goals and 13 assists in all competitions speaks of the 24-year-old's growing importance and influence.

He has earned the moniker of "agent of chaos" – as has been relayed by BBC Sport's Phil McNulty – during his time on Merseyside but this is not always attributed with affection. Nunez is wild, wily, wonderful, but also perplexing, and profligate.

Against Atalanta, the Uruguayan rifled three off-target shots, striking on goal timidly on one further occasion, failing with both of his dribbles, winning one of his eight contested duels, and taking just 25 touches before being hooked on the hour mark, as per Sofascore.

Kelleher, the goalkeeper, touched the ball 81 times, painting a clear picture regarding the location of Liverpool's creative hub.

The chastening nature of the collective effort is alarming heading into the final stretch of the campaign; Liverpool have been out of sorts for a while, candidly, and face juggernauts in Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

That said, if Nunez had rallied a modicum of his goalscoring prowess, Liverpool might find an altogether different narrative, one fitting for the swansong of Klopp's illustrious tenure.

But he's not only to blame, far from it. Liverpool have been slow starters for much of the season and, in fact, for much of Klopp's reign. Dominik Szoboszlai should have instilled energy and confidence, one nil down, after half-time. He did not.

Dominik Szoboszlai must now be dropped

Szoboszlai joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in a £60m package last summer and hit the ground running, revitalising a sapped midfield and leading correspondent Neil Jones to name him Klopp's "dream signing".

But his powers have waned over recent months and potentially suffered the nadir of his Liverpool career so far against Gian Piero Gasperini's side on Thursday night, listless and error-strewn after his introduction after the interval.

Despite being in the thick of the action, the Hungarian flattered to deceive as he contributed with not a single key pass, failing to make a tackle or win a duel, languidly losing the ball to Gianluca Scamacca in the build-up to Atalanta's third.

Szoboszlai's arrival on the field was supposed to signal a fresh burst of energy and enthusiasm but he trudged off at full-time as arguably the worst, bluntest performer of the occasion, epitomising the summary of the Athletic's James Pearce.

The reporter said: "What a mess of a performance. The worst of the season by some distance. So much wrong. So many errors. 14-month unbeaten run at home is ended."

As you can see in the table above, the former Bundesliga star was completely ineffective in and out of possession throughout his time on the pitch, which shows that the substitute had a horrorshow on Thursday night.

He was so poor that the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle branded him with a 3/10 match rating, writing: 'Had one shot blocked early on but looked way off the pace and lost ball for third. Not his best night.'

The error aside, Szoboszlai was simply ineffective at a time that begged for his finest attributes, attributes that have proved demonstrably game-changing during his time at Liverpool so far.

But the thing is, Alexis Mac Allister is probably the first name on the team sheet right now, he's that good. It doesn't matter where he plays in the centre of the park, but he's certainly more threatening in a more attacking role, thus demanding the inclusion of Wataru Endo, who's been largely brilliant since a surprise £16m signing from Stuttgart last August.

Szoboszlai simply hasn't produced the level of his early-season performances by half over these recent months. Marred by injury and setbacks, yes, but this is kitchen sink time and Liverpool can ill afford another slip-up.

Curtis Jones is back and Harvey Elliott is invariably creative and impactful when unleashed. Moreover, Stefan Bajcetic is back and could make a world of difference if he picks up where he left off in the Premier League, albeit over one year ago.

Liverpool may have to drop 4/10 star after Atalanta horror show

It was a frustrating night for Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour.

By
Joe Nuttall

Apr 12, 2024

Szoboszlai was the most expensive of the lot last summer and is clearly an immensely talented player, having produced six goals, eight assists, and 14 'big chances' created in the Bundesliga for Leipzig during the 2022/23 campaign for the German side.

However, he should now be dropped, having started the last Premier League match against United, lest Liverpool give Klopp a send-off inappropriate for one so vital, so extraordinary in their impact since arriving in 2015 and lifting the city back toward greatness.

It will then be down to the Hungary international to make the most of his opportunities off the bench in future matches to earn his way back into the starting XI.

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has taken drastic action after missing a sitter in the team's opening Premier League game against Fulham.

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• Garnacho misses clear goal chance
• Man Utd beat Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford
• Winger putting in extra work after miss

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Erik ten Hag's side enjoyed a winning start to the new 2024-25 Premier League season, beating Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford courtesy of a debut strike from Joshua Zirkzee. Garnacho did have the chance to make it 2-0 to the hosts late on but somehow conspired to miss an open-goal sitter from a matter of yards.

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  Garnacho, who returned early to Manchester United after the Copa America, has opted to put in some extra hard work following his miss, according to the Daily Mail. The Argentina international has been working at the NAS Elite Sports Performance Centre in a bid to get himself into prime shape and burn off some frustration. The facility is a favourite of Premier League stars and gives players access to a range of services including physiotherapy, IV Drip Therapy, nutritional support and many other wellness treatments.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Garnacho may not have scored but he did provide the assist for Zirkzee's winner as the new signing became the fourth Dutch player to score on his Manchester United debut.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD

  Garnacho will be hoping to make amends on Saturday when Manchester United return to action. The Red Devils head to the south coast to face a Brighton to side who opened up with a 3-0 win over Everton.

Celtic are fighting it out to secure the Scottish Premiership title for a third season in succession as they currently sit one point clear at the top of the table.

The Hoops travel away from Parkhead to take on their closest rivals in the division, who also have a game in hand over Brendan Rodgers' side, on Sunday, and could either move four points clear or drop down to second.

Having been knocked out of the League Cup and all European competitions during the first half of the season, Celtic only have two more chances – the Premiership and the SFA Cup – to lift silverware before the end of the campaign.

The Scottish giants have not been at their best in the league this term, with five draws and three defeats already, and they reportedly already have one eye on the summer transfer window with a view to improving the quality within the current playing squad.

Celtic interest in English Championship star

It was recently reported by Football Insider that the Hoops are interested in a possible deal to sign Blackburn Rovers sensation Sammie Szmodics.

At the end of last month, the outlet claimed that Celtic and Premier League side Brentford are both set to battle it out to land the Republic of Ireland international ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The report also stated that other teams from the bottom half of the top division of English football could be in the race to land his signature in the upcoming transfer window.

Football Insider then posted an update at the start of April that claimed that Celtic will find it incredibly difficult to get a deal done for the forward, due to the financial advantage the teams in the Premier League have over them in regards to a transfer fee and wages.

The update added that Blackburn will find it hard to keep hold of their star forward, due to the interest in his services, but did not reveal how much it would take to get a move over the line in the summer.

There is, however, no guarantee that the interested teams from the Premier League make a concrete move for him, and this means that there is still a chance that the Hoops could swoop in to get a deal done if an opportunity arises over the coming months.

Rodgers could, if Celtic do snap up the Rovers star, land a dream upgrade on faltering forward Kyogo Furuhashi, who has struggled at times this season.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles this season

The Japan international came into the current campaign off the back of a sensational return of 27 goals in 31 Premiership starts under Ange Postecoglou last term.

He earned the PFA Scotland Men's Player of the Year award for his efforts throughout the season, which speaks to how impressive the former Vissel Kobe gem was for the Hoops.

Celtic may have hoped that his prolific scoring would have carried over into Rodgers' second tenure at Parkhead, but that has not been the case.

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo's form in front of goal has dropped off a cliff as the Japanese forward has been far more wasteful with the chances that have come his way – with four more 'big chances' missed in five fewer appearances so far.

In fact, the 29-year-old striker has scored ten goals from an Expected Goals (xG) of 14.21. No player within the Hoops squad has underperformed their xG by as much as Kyogo (-4.21), with Daizen Maeda's underperformance of -3.69 the second worst.

This shows that the experienced number nine has received plenty of service in the box this season but has not done enough with the quality chances that have been created for him by the likes of Luis Palma, Matt O'Riley, Alistair Johnston, and others.

Along with his wasteful finishing, the 5 foot 7 forward does not offer much in the way of a physical presence as he has lost 61% of his duels and only won 1.5 per game on average, which means that the attacker does not make up for his attacking struggles with strong hold-up play.

Why Sammie Szmodics could be a Kyogo Furuhashi upgrade

Like the Japan international, Szmodics, who stands at 5 foot 6, is not a traditional – tall and strong – number nine who is going to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

The 28-year-old star is a versatile forward, who has been deployed as a striker and as an attacking midfielder at times this season, who could either lead the line or play behind 6 foot 3 Adam Idah, should he also sign for Celtic on a permanent basis, as Kyogo has this year.

This would make him a dream signing to take the former Premiership Player of the Year's place, as he can be deployed in multiple positions across the frontline.

Blackburn's star attacker has lost 58% of his duels and only won 2.5 per match on average, which shows that he is similar to the current Hoops marksman in that respect, as they both struggle with the physical side of the game.

When it comes to scoring goals and finishing chances, however, there is one clear winner between the two throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far, which shows why Celtic could land an upgrade on their current marksman.

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics has been on fire in front of goal as a scorer in the English Championship for Rovers this season, with 13 more goals and six fewer big chances missed in comparison to Kyogo.

The Irish sensation, who has scored 29 goals in all competitions for his club this season, has found the back of the net 23 times from xG of 17.9 in the second tier.

This means that the 28-year-old star, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is "dangerous" at finding space in the box, has outperformed his xG by 5.1, whilst no Celtic player has outperformed their xG by more than 1.74 so far this season in the Premiership.

These statistics suggest that Szmodics, whilst being a huge upgrade on Kyogo, would also come in as the most lethal and efficient finisher in Rodgers' squad.

Therefore, the Northern Irish boss must push to secure a deal for his services, if a Premier League team does not snap him up first, in the summer to improve his attacking options.

Manchester United target Matthijs De Ligt has reportedly had his car seized by police for an alleged hit-and-run incident.

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• Man United trying to sign De Ligt
• Bayern ace reportedly has car seized
• Defender allegedly in hit-and-run incident

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to German publication Bild, Munich police are investigating the 24-year-old on suspicion of hit-and-run. The report claims the centre-back rammed into a parked car near Bayern's training ground on Sabener Strasse on Wednesday, before driving off.

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  Bild alleges that a witness is said to have observed the incident in Grodner Strasse at around 10am, with De Ligt reportedly on his way to training in an Audi Q8 e-tron. The report adds the Dutchman's car was allegedly towed away, seized and now police officers are investigating the damage to the vehicle.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bild also claims that De Ligt is about to leave Bayern for Manchester United. They state the German giants want approximately £42.8 million ($54.5m) for the 6ft 2in defender, but the Red Devils are reluctant to pay that much for his services.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen what will happen to De Ligt, both with this police investigation and whether or not he will swap Bayern for United this summer – with the ex-Juventus man keen to reunite with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both joined the race for an exciting French young talent, it has been reported, as both sides look to the future.

Gunners looking to the future

Arsenal are enjoying a fantastic season and currently sit atop the Premier League table as they look to go one better than last season's second-place finish.

Even more impressively, Mikel Arteta and co. have built their side largely on young talent, ensuring that their presence at the top of English football is only set to continue for years to come.

The likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are all likely to have their best years still ahead of them should they manage to avoid serious injuries, while Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira are among those who could still make the step up.

It is not just their first team that is making waves though, and the Gunners have begun to place an increased importance on their academy talents, both in recruiting from other sides and developing their own prospects.

Charlie Patino, Mika Biereth and Brooke Norton-Cuffy are all enjoying loan spells away from the club to varying degrees of success. Meanwhile, the Gunners have made tying down young talent their priority, and announced a professional contract for Ethan Nwaneri on Thursday after making him the youngest-ever Premier League player last season.

In securing his signature, they fought off competition from Chelsea and Manchester City, and their focus on youth is only set to continue into the summer.

Arsenal and Manchester United chase youngster

With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to hear that Arsenal are one of several clubs chasing talented youngster Joachim Kayi Sanda.

Sanda currently captains the France U18 side and was part of the U17 side that lost the World Cup final on penalties to Germany last December.

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His performances have attracted the attention of several massive clubs, with Manchester United, Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain all alongside Arsenal in showing interest in the talented teen, according to transfer journalist Graeme Bailey.

Sanda was among four players at French side Valenciennes dubbed a "fantastic talent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and is expected to have a big future ahead of him.

However, those European giants may all be foiled by Championship outfit Southampton, whose owners also own Valenciennes. There is hope from the Saints that the promise of regular first-team football could see the youngster opt for the south coast outfit over big-name sides, though the latest report claims that 'their hopes could rest on whether promotion back to the Premier League can be achieved.'

Under contract with his current side until 2026, Sanda is expected to leave this summer nonetheless, with the club's youngest-ever player looking to take the next step in his career.

Arsenal have intensified their pursuit of Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino, with sporting director Edu Gaspar flying to Spain for negotiations.

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• Merino is a priority target for Arsenal
• Player keen on a Premier League switch
• Has turned down an extension offer from Sociedad

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 28-year-old midfielder has been on Arsenal's radar for several transfer windows, and it seems the club is now ready to make a concerted effort to sign him. According to sporting director Edu's visit to Spain this week reflects Arsenal’s determination to finalise the deal, with Merino reportedly eager to work under Arteta. Personal terms between the player and Arsenal are not expected to be a stumbling block.

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  Real Sociedad, meanwhile, are reluctantly coming to terms with the possibility of losing Merino. The midfielder has just 12 months left on his current contract, and despite the club’s efforts to extend his stay in San Sebastian, it appears Merino's mind is set on a move to England. His representatives have reportedly informed La Real of his intention to join Arsenal, making it increasingly difficult for the Spanish club to retain him. With his contract ticking down, they may be forced to sell the player this summer rather than risk losing him for free next year.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Arsenal's transfer strategy this summer has been marked by calculated moves, ensuring that new signings are often contingent on player sales. A similar approach is expected in the Merino negotiations, where the club will likely want to secure a significant departure before proceeding with the final stages of the deal. In Merino's case, the player most likely to make way is Eddie Nketiah. Although a proposed transfer to Marseille fell through, there remains strong interest in the 25-year-old striker from Bournemouth.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Merino’s journey in professional football has been marked by a series of impressive stints across Europe. After coming through the youth ranks at Osasuna, he made a move to Borussia Dortmund before joining Newcastle United in 2017. His time in the Premier League was brief but valuable, as it gave him exposure to English football, which could prove beneficial should he return with Arsenal.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to receive an injury boost as news emerges on their "unbelievable" attacking star.

Spurs battle Aston Villa for top four finish

Spurs are currently locked in a fierce battle with Unai Emery's Aston Villa for the last coveted Champions League qualification place.

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Postecoglou's men also hold all the cards after a sensational 4-0 win in Villa's backyard last weekend, with goals from James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Timo Werner rounding off one of Tottenham's most impressive displays of the season.

Spurs are now just two points behind Villa, who still occupy fourth, but the north Londoners could soon usurp them as they hold a game in hand over Emery.

Sealing a place in next season's Champions League group stage pot will go a long way in determining the success of Postecoglou's debut campaign in the Spurs dugout, though the Australian has still proved very popular with his exciting, high-press brand of football.

"It was a big game with plenty of significance," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's win over Villa. "For us to perform like that was a big credit to everyone.

"Get excited? Why not. The supporters, if they don't get excited by a performance and result like that, in what was a significant game…you've got to enjoy that. It means we're one game closer, with just 11 games to go. Everyone was billing this as a do-or-die for us. I assume we're not dead yet."

What Spurs will desperately want to avoid, though, is injuries and absences for key players. Indeed, since the beginning of 2023/2024, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Brennan Johnson, Giovani Lo Celso, Ashley Phillips, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Bentancur have all spent a month or more on the sidelines (Dan Kilpatrick).

Long-term injuries to van de Ven and Maddison mid-way through the season were particularly detrimental, with Postecoglou also forced to play a makeshift centre-back pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies around the winter time when Romero was out as well.

The signing of Radu Dragusin has reinforced Spurs' backline, but supporters are anxiously awaiting the results of van de Ven's hamstring assessment after he was forced off against Villa. Luckily, though, there's been a positive update on star striker Richarlison.

Richarlison expected back for Tottenham after international break

Indeed, according to reliable journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph, Richarlison is expected to return for Spurs after the international break.

The Brazilian has bagged nine goals in his last 10 league appearances for Spurs, with Dejan Kulusevski calling Richarlison "unbelievable". His comeback from a knee injury will be an undoubted boost for the club in their race for a top four finish, especially with some tough games ahead.

Serie A side Fiorentina are determined to sign former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea this summer.

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• Fiorentina confident about signing De Gea
• Hoping to reach an agreement over his wages
• Spaniard was earlier linked with a move to Genoa

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Spanish goalkeeper has not appeared in a competitive game for over 12 months and continues to remain a free agent despite multiple offers from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer. He was recently linked with a move to Genoa, however, the transfer collapsed due to his 'unrealistic wage demands'.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, La Nazione now reports that another Italian club Fiorentina are reportedly determined to rope in the custodian with manager Raffaele Palladino keen on working with the experienced star. La Viola are expected to approach the Spaniard soon and hope to reach an agreement over his wages.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 33-year-old was once regarded as one of the world's best keepers. However, despite winning the Golden Glove in his last season at Old Trafford, he had to leave the club as the Red Devils signed Andre Onana.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FIORENTINA?

  The Italian club will play their final pre-season friendly on Monday against Grosseto before kicking off the new season on August 17 as they take on Parma in their season opener.