Ipswich Town have now made a breakthrough after agreeing a deal to sign a player Kieran McKenna rates highly, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Ipswich Town rejected by Hayden Hackney

The Tractor Boys rounded off their pre-season with a 3-0 win over Auxerre on Saturday, as McKenna prepares his side for a Championship opener against Birmingham City on Friday evening. However, despite a positive display against the Ligue 1 side, Ipswich were handed a transfer blow over the weekend.

A deal worth a total package of £20m was agreed for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney in recent days, however, the midfielder has now turned down a move to Portman Road.

In the week, Boro manager Rob Edwards admitted that it was a win-win situation for those at the Riverside, and it looks as if Ipswich will miss out on their marquee target.

“The ball, so to speak, is in H’s court now, and that’s where we stand. I think it’s a win-win, and I’m happy to reassure fans of that and to be calm about the situation. If H stays here, he’s a brilliant player and he’s ours which is great. If he’s not, there will be funds available.”

Ipswich Town make contact to sign in-demand Sadio Mane-esque £17m forward

The Tractor Boys have made an approach for a centre-forward, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 27, 2025

However, Ipswich and McKenna have been working on alternative midfield targets alongside Hackney, with 2024/25 loanee Jens Cajuste of interest once again.

Ipswich made an offer to Napoli in recent days to re-sign Cajuste, and there has now been a breakthrough in those talks.

Ipswich Town reach agreement to sign Jens Cajuste

Romano took to X on Saturday afternoon to share a development regarding the Tractor Boys’ pursuit of Cajuste. He revealed an agreement has been reached in a deal worth more than £8m when you factor in a loan fee and the option or mandatory purchase clause next summer.

Cajuste, primarily a holding midfielder, made 33 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich last season, scoring one goal and providing a single assist.

The Sweden international couldn’t prevent the club’s relegation, however, he impressed McKenna, who called Cajuste “quality”.

“He’s been one of the top performers this season and to do that in a team that’s found it a big challenge, with some injury issues that he’s been carrying, and in a new league and new country – I think it’s testament to his quality. He’s a player that we like a lot, but he’s a Napoli player. Any conversations won’t take place until the end of the season.”

Chelsea returned home from the Club World Cup as resounding champions, having downed the might of Paris St. Germain 3-0 in an unexpected demolition job in the final.

Already, brand new faces are settling in swimmingly, as seen in Joao Pedro firing home yet another goal in the pre-season tournament against Luis Enrique’s challengers to take his total out in America to a lethal three strikes from three games.

He could soon be joined by even more exciting talents in attack, as other targets up top are chased following on from the instant success of the ex-Brighton striker’s arrival.

Chelsea enter talks with £52m star

These attacking additions are unlikely to be more strikers, however, with £30m also splashed on Liam Delap to move from Ipswich Town to Chelsea, away from Pedro costing a far heftier £60m.

Instead, the big bucks might well be reserved for a fresh number ten presence, with the Blues allegedly now preparing to bid a wild £78m for Aston Villa superstar Morgan Rogers, who they deem as a number one priority.

After such a standout campaign in the Premier League with the Villans, which culminated in him collecting a mammoth 14 goals and 15 assists, this could well be viewed as a costly expense worth pursuing.

Yet, there are other options out there, away from boldly chasing the England international, who might be more viable, with a report from CaughtOffside revealing that the agents of RB Leipzig ace Xavi Simons are deep in discussion with Chelsea, alongside Arsenal and Tottenham, over a major £52m switch this summer.

For £26m less, Chelsea could well be about to land a talent that’s even more exciting than Rogers entering Enzo Maresca’s camp, with the Dutchman at the top of his game for some time now, away from offering up similarly electric numbers last season for his Bundesliga employers.

How Simons could be even more exciting than Rogers

The former Manchester City youngster might well have a slight upper hand over his Leipzig counterpart when solely viewing their side-by-side numbers from 2024/25, considering Simons lags behind with ten fewer goal contributions for Ole Werner’s men.

Yet, Rogers only really exploded into life last campaign at the very top after having to work his way up to the Premier League, with only four goal contributions tallied up in total for Villa during the 2023/24 season as he grew used to his challenging surroundings.

On the contrary, the Blues’ new £52m target has been a sublime performer in both the Bundesliga and the Eredivisie over many a season now, leading to outlandish shouts from one analyst that he is “one of the best number 10s in the world,”

The numbers don’t lie, either, with Simons tallying up a monumental 77 goals and assists across 124 appearances in both Germany and the Netherlands, with Rogers only on 23 goal contributions himself in the Premier League.

Staggeringly, he has also created 37 big chances off the back of the silky playmaker’s magic in these tough leagues, which will be music to the ears of the aforementioned Pedro.

Total shots

2.17

1.76

Shot-creating actions

4.71

3.05

Attempted passes

49.80

27.07

Pass completion %

78.1%

72.8%

Progressive passes

5.79

3.59

Progressive carries

3.51

3.20

Their respective FBref numbers over the last year also further validate the argument that the 22-year-old would be a far more thrilling talent to obtain than his English counterpart, as seen in Simons averaging more shots, more shot-creating actions, more progressive passes, and lots more over the last year per game.

Of course, Rogers does have the boost of knowing the Premier League’s rhythms on his side, but Simons has excelled in two taxing European environments already, meaning he shouldn’t be daunted by the step up to the English top-flight.

If anything, the “exceptional” Dutchman – as he’s been labelled in the past by Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund – should be able to take this next step in his stride, as Maresca prays another sublime capture is soon to be clinched.

Better signing than Pedro: Chelsea make contact to land "gifted" £68m star

João Pedro certainly made quite the impression after arriving at Chelsea, scoring 3 goals in 2 games, but could the Blues sign an even better PL star?

2 Jul 20, 2025

The uncapped pair of Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan are also set to be retained by the franchise

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Oct-2024Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi along with the uncapped pair of Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni are set to be retained by Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025.With KL Rahul, who has led the franchise since its inception in 2022, unlikely to be retained barring any last-minute change of mind from both parties, LSG will have one right-to-match (RTM) card at the auction.The exact amount the five players have been signed up for is not yet known, but based on the retention slabs put in place by IPL, INR 51 crore will be deducted from LSG’s purse. In case aggregate sum paid to the five exceeds 51 crore, then the higher number will be deducted from the INR 120 crore purse each franchise has been given to build their squads for IPL 2025.Related

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It is understood that Pooran will be the top retention followed by Mayank and Bishnoi. In 2024, Pooran was just behind Rahul on the run-charts and he also was the interim captain-cum-wicketkeeper during the first half after Rahul sat out due to a niggle.Considered one of the best power-hitters in the game, Pooran, 29, was bought by LSG ahead of the 2023 season for INR 16 crore (USD 1.927 million approx). Pooran’s price tag has continued to soar since his maiden IPL season in 2017 when Mumbai Indians bought him for INR 30 lakhs. Two years later, Punjab Kings bought him for INR 4.2 crore ($575,000 approx). At the 2022 mega auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad paid INR 10.75 crore ($1.433 million approx then) before releasing him a season later.Mayank picked up two Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two IPL matches clocking 150-plus kph deliveries in 2024. While a side strain restricted him to play just four matches, the national selectors quickly added him to the list of quicks handed fast-bowling contracts. Bought by LSG for INR 20 lakhs in the 2024 auction, Mayank has only played seven matches, all T20s: four in the IPL followed by his international debut in the T20 series against Bangladesh recently. Mayank is currently at the BCCI’s newly opened Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Bishnoi was one of the three players LSG picked ahead of the mega auction before IPL 2022 for INR 4 crore, as he was then an uncapped player. In 2022, when LSG made the playoffs, Bishnoi picked up 13 wickets at 8.44. A year later, now an international, Bishnoi was 13th on the list of leading wicket-takers, with 16 wickets at 7.74 and played a role in LSG reaching the playoffs once again. Last season, though, he picked up only 10 wickets in 14 matches at 8.77.Mayank Yadav’s maiden IPL season was disrupted by injury•AFP/Getty ImagesBadoni and Mohsin, both uncapped and bought for INR 20 lakhs each in the 2022 auction, have been integral to LSG’s success. An aggressive middle-order batter, Badoni’s best season came in 2023 when he made 238 runs at a strike rate of 138 in 12 innings. He recently also played in the Emerging Series for India A.Mohsin, the 6’3″ left-arm fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh, impressed straightaway in his maiden IPL season in 2022. He picked up 14 wickets at a sub-6 economy in just nine matches which made him one of the potential candidates for the T20 World Cup later that year. He was not considered due to a career-threatening injury where he nearly lost an arm. Mohsin, however, bounced back playing in the second half of the 2023 season and finished 2024 with 10 wickets in 10 matches.

It could be the end of his Test career as the Dhaka Test against South Africa was supposed to be his farewell game

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2024

In what could be the end of an illustrious Test career for Shakib Al Hasan, the allrounder has had to make himself unavailable for the first home Test against South Africa. He was unable to make it to Dhaka while traveling from New York earlier this week. Shakib has been replaced by uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad for the first Test starting October 21 in Dhaka, which was supposed to be his farewell Test.Shakib, who was traveling from New York to Dhaka was asked to wait while in transit in Dubai on Wednesday, had expressed uncertainty around returning home because of protests against him in Dhaka amid political unrest. Shakib was initially included in the Test squad and it was supposed to be his farewell game at home, he had said on the tour of India last month.Shakib has not been able to return home in Bangladesh ever since the Awami League’s government resigned after 15 years in early August. Shakib, an MP with the Awami League, was already in Canada at the time for the Global T20 Canada and has not been to his home country since then. He flew to Pakistan for the two-Test series Bangladesh won, he went to the UK to play one first-class game for Surrey in the County Championship in September, before going to India for the two Tests. Unable to return home because of ongoing safety issues, he went to New York where he currently stays. Shakib has been named among 147 people in an FIR for an alleged murder during the unrest.Related

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Murad, 23, has taken 136 wickets in 30 first-class matches since his debut in 2021, and has already played two T20Is, in the Asian Games last year.”We have been informed that Shakib is unavailable for the first Test,” chairman of BCB’s national selection panel Gazi Ashraf Hossain said in a press release. “He is at the end of his Test career but along with his experience, we still do not have someone of that calibre with both bat and the ball to replace him.”However, Hasan Murad has performed consistently in first-class cricket and has been in our system. He will lend balance to our bowling, especially in home conditions. We believe he has the potential to deliver at this level.”The second Test between Bangladesh and South Africa will be played in Chattogram from October 29.

Heat couldn’t lift their net run-rate enough to take top spot which means they will stage the Challenger final

AAP24-Nov-2024

Brisbane Heat downed Sydney Sixers by five wickets but failed to steal WBBL final hosting rights from Melbourne Renegades.Heat, chasing the Sixers’ 140 all out, reached their target from 17 overs for victory at Allan Border Field. But they to chase down their target in 13.3 overs to eclipse Renegades on net run rate and secure hosting rights for the final.Renegades will host the WBBL decider at the MCG next Sunday night after topping the table from the second-placed Heat.Related

Matthews and Molineux star to send Renegades top

Kathryn Bryce carries Hurricanes to brink of finals, ends Scorchers' season

Heat will host the Challenger on Friday night at Allan Border Field against the winner of Wednesday night’s Knockout final between the third-placed Sydney Thunder and fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney.Heat on Sunday night made a dash for top spot in the last game of the tournament’s regular season. Jemimah Rodrigues smacked five fours and a six in making 39 from 22 balls but her rapid-fire knock ended when caught from Amelia Kerr’s bowling and Sixers spinner bowled Charli Knott next ball.The quick wickets left the Heat 58 for 3 after seven overs and, met with some miserly Sixers bowling, they changed tack to focus winning the game, rather than chasing the net run rate target.Georgia Redmayne made 25 from 29 balls and the outcome remained tight when Heat required 46 runs from the last 42 balls.Captain Jess Jonassen then called the power surge and capitalised on the field restrictions by cracking three fours and a six as Caoimhe Bray conceded 20 runs from her over. The burst from Jonassen and a late flurry from Laura Harris sealed victory.Earlier, Sixers couldn’t cash in on a bright start from their opening batters Kerr and Ellyse Perry. The pair put on 63 runs before Perry was dismissed in the 10th over.Ash Gardner became Lucy Hamilton’s first victim some two overs later and when Kerr’s 37 ball innings ended in the 14th over, Sixers had slipped from 63 for 0 to 90 for 3.From then, only Sarah Bryce, who smashed a six and four fours in making 28 from 19 balls, reached double figures.Heat’s emerging 18-year-old star Hamilton was again superb – she now has taken 10 wickets in her past three games – while skipper Jonassen claimed 3 for 26.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri heaped praise on midfield maestro Luka Modric after his decisive goal secured the win over Bologna. Allegri believes Modric’s exceptional game intelligence keeps him a step ahead of both opponents and teammates, making him an "extraordinary" player.

Modric's game winning goal

In a match where Milan kept a perfect defensive record by not allowing Bologna a single shot on target, Modric’s solitary goal made all the difference. Starting a counterattack from deep inside Milan’s half in the 60th minute, Modric surged into Bologna’s penalty area to meet Alexis Saelemaekers's perfectly-timed pass with a calm finish to the goalkeeper’s right.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat Allegri said about Modric and Milan's performance yesterday

Allegri was pleased with Modric's performance and heaped praise on him afterwards, telling reporters: "Luka is an extraordinary player, it's a pleasure to watch him play, and above all, he's a truly humble guy, just like the champion he is. He's wonderful, he knows where the ball is going one minute before, and then he's extraordinary."

Allegri was also pleased with the team effort from the players, saying: "It was important to win at home without conceding a goal. In difficult moments, the team remained united: in those moments, it's important not to disintegrate and let them pass."

The controversial penatly decision and Allegri's red card

In a controversial moment late in the game, on-field referee Matteo Marcenaro initially awarded a penalty after Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler was judged to have fouled Christian Nkunku in the box. However, the decision was overturned due to insufficient contact following a VAR review. The decision sparked the ire of Allegri, who was sent off for dissent.

Allegri downplayed the incident later, adding: "Nothing special, there was the penalty incident and at that moment I had something to say to the fourth official and luckily the jacket saved me."

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Getty Images SportMilan and Allegri's challenges up ahead

Despite starting the campaign with a loss to Cremonese at home, Allegri will be happy to have two wins in two games. He will hope that Modric will be able to reproduce his form from Bologna when Milan will travel next to Stadio Friuli to take on Udinese.

Teen sensation Sam Konstas says he is up for the challenge of playing Test cricket this summer, believing he is in the right headspace to debut for Australia.Konstas catapulted back into the public spotlight on Sunday when he smashed a 90-ball century against a Test-level Indian attack for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.The runs showed the 19-year-old is clearly a step above, with only one other batsman in the PM’s XI top or middle order passing five runs.Related

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Konstas has been the talk of the summer since October, when he became the youngest player to score twin tons in a Sheffield Shield match since Ricky Ponting.His runs dried up somewhat after that, before he hit an unbeaten 73 for Australia A against India A at the MCG last month. Nathan McSweeney ultimately won the race to start the Test summer as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner, but Australia’s side is far from set in stone.Konstas will face his next toughest test in the Shield this week, against a Western Australian attack expected to feature Lance Morris, Joel Paris and Corey Rocchiccioli.Teenage debutants are rare for Australia, with Ashton Agar the last male to do so in 2013. Asked if he felt he needed more time scoring runs in domestic cricket rather than getting an immediate call up, Konstas said it was a case of the latter.”I really want the chance, I love being challenged and hopefully that can happen soon,” Konstas said. “I feel like I’m in a good headspace. It’s been the best few months I’ve had, and hopefully one day I can represent my country.”For me, it’s focusing about Friday and then trying to score runs to put myself forward. It would be a huge honour to represent my country one day.”Konstas has already earned plenty of plaudits on his rise this summer. His mentor Shane Watson, potential Sydney Thunder opening partner David Warner and Steven Smith are among those to congratulate him on his runs.But blocking out the hype has been easy for Konstas. The Under-19 World Cup winner spent most of his teens without social media, only signing up to it in recent months in order to promote sponsors.He is also a keen meditator before games, and moves quickly to the wicket in a statement of intent at the start of his innings.”I don’t get too fazed about [the hype],” Konstas said. “It’s about being in the present and being the best version of myself, and then hopefully let the result take care of itself.”Likewise, Konstas said he had not been too down about missing out on Test selection for the start of the summer.”I feel like it’s all part of the journey,” he said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get the runs that I would have liked. But I’ve been reflecting on how I could have done better and challenging how they got me out and tactics they used.”

Arsenal are closing in on their next major signing of the summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta sealing a huge transfer coup.

Earlier this week, the Gunners officially announced Cristhian Mosquera’s arrival from Valencia – nearly a fortnight after news emerged that they reached an agreement to sign the defender for a potential £17 million.

Player gets green-light to join Arsenal, medical scheduled in next 24 hours

He could play a part in their pre-season tour.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 24, 2025

Arsenal have paid Valencia an initial £13 million for the 21-year-old, but it could rise by a further £4 million with add-ons. According to Fabrizio Romano, Mosquera “only” wanted to join Mikel Arteta’s side, and Berta thinks he’s a very exciting new addition to the squad.

“We’re very happy and excited to have signed a hugely talented young player in Cristhian Mosquera,” said Berta in an official statement.

“We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future.

“Cristhian is a versatile defender who will strengthen our squad. We cannot wait to see him playing for us. Together with everyone at the club, we warmly welcome Cristhian and his family to Arsenal.”

After Mosquera, it is widely reported that Arsenal are about to end their long-winded pursuit of a prolific number nine with the signing of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

Berta and co actually reached an agreement in principle to sign Gyokeres at around the same time as they made a breakthrough for Mosquera (The Athletic), but negotiations dragged out due to issues surrounding bonuses and add-ons in the deal.

However, a breakthrough has since been made, and Gyokeres is set for an imminent Arsenal medical ahead of his potential £64 million move (Fabrizio Romano).

Viktor Gyokeres agrees £135,000-per-week Arsenal contract

Now, A Bola have also lifted the lid on some key contract details.

According to the Portuguese newspaper, via The Daily Cannon, Gyokeres has agreed a £135,000-per-week contract to join Arsenal, which will run for five years, and they back up that the 27-year-old will soon be announced as Berta’s next new incoming in a major boost for Arteta.

One of this summer’s most drawn-out transfer sagas is now coming to an end, and barring a last-second catastrophe, supporters can look forward to having a proven goalscorer lead their line next season.

According to journalist Duncan Castles this week, Gyokeres and his camp even had to navigate a legal row with Sporting before sealing his move to N5.

“Sporting wrote to Gyokeres to inform him he was in breach of contract, to which his lawyers replied, saying they didn’t feel he was in breach of contract because Gyokeres had promises from the club that they would allow him to leave this summer if his agents brought a certain fee and the club had reneged on those promises,” said Castles on The Transfers Podcast.

“There’s now a legal dispute between player and club in the background, and a general sense that I’m getting from Portugal is that Sporting want to make this as difficult for Gyokeres as possible.”

GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI

The first round of matches after an international break always feel a bit weird. Most players have been away for a couple of weeks. Their brains are still whirring back into gear. Some tactical ideas are filed away, while new ones are brought back to the fore. Not everything clicks. It's all a little disoriented. 

The good news is that it usually leads to one of two things: either, the games are really good and entirely silly. Or, they're frightfully boring, 22 guys just playing it safe. This weekend yielded a bit of both.

Serie A (usually bad) was good. Liverpool (usually very good) were bad – but got away with it, anyway. Arsenal (usually boring) were very exciting. And Erling Haaland scored two very good goals. It all offered quite a bit of content – which is ultimately what this sport is for.

GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  1Liverpool and immaculate plot armor

  The cool kids call it "plot armor." Basically, it means that a certain character or team in any given story will be able to survive whatever adversity is thrown their way in order to uphold a narrative. They are, in effect, immune to the kind of thing that would derail others.

  And the Liverpool plot armor is strong these days. They beat Newcastle late a couple of weeks ago, with a 16-year-old (!) burying the winner in stoppage time thanks to a wonderfully crafted move. Last weekend was perhaps even more fortunate – and absurd. The Reds were, well, a bit rubbish against Burnley – who defended wonderfully for 93 minutes. 

  A 0-0 draw seemed a fair result. But then a foolish handball in stoppage time gifted Liverpool a penalty. Mo Salah stepped up and smashed it home. It was absurd and somehow predictable at the same time. The plot armor is immaculate.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  2Erling Haaland is still a really good goalscorer

  It was fun to make fun of Erling Haaland for a while. It's easy to see why. He's a big, plodding goalscoring robot who just kicks the ball into the net really hard. There are nuances to being a professional footballer at the elite level – dribbling, passing, defensive work rate.

  Haaland strips all of that nonsense away and kicks the ball hard. It led to some criticizing the striker last season. Such were City's struggles that we forgot he was basically scoring a goal per game.

  Well, if there were any doubts about his quality, they are gone. Haaland scored twice and could've had at least two more as Man City battered Man United 3-0 in a frighteningly comprehensive derby win. Turns out the robot is really good at one thing, and that's just fine. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  3Arsenal have depth now

  It was every Arsenal fan's favorite excuse last year, the old "We don't have enough depth to win the league" adage. And sure, that might have been true. But they also finished well off a Liverpool side that were spending the last month of the season in Ibiza after they wrapped up the league.

  Depth be damned, they perhaps just weren't good enough? Well, there's an excuse gone, as Arsenal showed they can call on some guys off the bench. With Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli all out, they turned to Nono Madueke, Victor Gyokeres and Ebere Eze against Nottingham Forest. The result? A 3-0 win. 

  Complain about depth now.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  4Brentford, the most charming club in soccer

  Brentford really should get relegated every year, but they especially should be relegated this year. Here's a club that operates on pretty much no budget, using players you've never heard of, relying on a mixture of lumbering veterans and unknown gems to stay alive in th emost unforgiving league in the world. It sounds a bit unfair, really.

  And after losing manager Thomas Frank, it seemed that they might be heading that way. But there is fight in the Bees yet, something they proved with a glorious last-minute equalizer to earn a draw with Chelsea on Saturday. They will need every single point they can get this season, and that was truly a lovely one. 

It’s safe to say that Arsenal’s pre-season of 2025 hasn’t been the best. Attacking fluency has been lacking and the same old patterns in the final third have been evident.

As Myles Lewis-Skelly acknowledged on Saturday, the Gunners needed to make a “statement” ahead of the Premier League’s return next weekend and did just that in their final pre-season game.

At last, Mikel Arteta’s men looked fluent, they looked in the groove and they looked like title challengers again.

During a 3-0 win over Athletic Club, Bukayo Saka bagged his second of pre-season but the biggest noise was reserved for new star striker, Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede didn’t score a single league goal with his head last term but his first goal in Arsenal colours came as a header. Martin Zubimendi’s teasing cross from the right found Gyokeres who darted across his marker and found the back of the net.

The Swede is up and running but Arteta needs more attacking reinforcements before the window slams shut.

Arsenal's remaining transfer activity

There is a sense that Arsenal need to sell before they can dive back into the market again but time is running out and the north Londoners need some more spice in their forward line.

Gyokeres is done and sealed, as too is Noni Madueke, but another winger would certainly go down a treat.

Eberechi Eze remains the number one target for the remaining weeks of the window but Arsenal have not been forthcoming with a bid yet despite talks with the player’s representatives behind the scenes.

It’s been widely reported that Andrea Berta and Co will need to meet his £68m release clause in order to prise him away from Selhurst Park but a cheaper alternative may well be emerging.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, according to reports in Spain, Arsenal are very much interested in Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman with it suggested that they are preparing a bid of £39m.

Lookman has attracted the interest of Inter Milan this summer and the Italian giants are in the driving seat to secure the Nigerian’s signature.

Inter have already seen a bid rejected and Arsenal could now pounce on the situation, with the report noting that Lookman’s name is ‘being mentioned strongly’ in north London as a possible option.

No formal negotiations have taken place yet but the player wants out of Atalanta so things could accelerate swiftly if Berta coughed up the necessary funds.

Why Lookman could be Arsenal's new Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal may have Saka in their ranks but it’s been a long old while since the Gunners had a truly prolific wide forward in their ranks.

Indeed, after the arrival of Gyokeres, signing another winger has been the biggest demand from supporters.

The likes of Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have both been linked but Lookman, a player possessing experience of English football already, is more of a goalscorer than both of those players.

Possessing the ability to play off the left or as a central striker, he certainly boasts positional similarities to Alexis who began his Arsenal career off the left but became a devastating centre forward at the Emirates.

During his debut campaign in England, the Chilean superstar scored 25 goals in all competitions, 18 of which came in 30 appearances from the left wing.

2014/15 (Arsenal)

52

25

12

2015/16 (AFC)

41

17

10

2016/17 (AFC)

51

30

18

2017/18 (AFC & MUFC)

40

11

9

2018/19 (Man Utd)

27

2

4

A 17-goal campaign followed in 2015/16 and then in 2016/17, his best in London, Sanchez scored 30 times, 17 of which came in 24 outings as a centre-forward.

Not just a goalscorer, Alexis was dazzling with the ball at his feet. During that 2016/17 campaign, only four players – Eden Hazard (143), Wilfried Zaha (142) and Adama Traore (136) – completed more dribbles in the Premier League than the Chile international (109).

Well, Lookman is certainly cut from a similar cloth. Hailed as “one of the best forwards in Europe” by journalist Oma Akatugba, he has certainly shown that since moving to Italy.

Last season, the former Everton man found the net on 20 occasions in 40 games. During the 2023/24 term, he scored 17, seven of which came on the left wing and a further seven came as a centre-forward.

Like Sanchez, he’s versatile. Like Sanchez, he’s also an incredible dribbler. Indeed, no Serie A player attempted more dribbles (186), or had more touches in box (170) last season.

It’s safe to say that the 27-year-old has come a long way since his days at Charlton, Everton and Fulham. He’s now an elite forward who could transform Arsenal’s threat from the left-hand side of the pitch.

Arteta's next Rice: Arsenal hoping to sign "phenomenal" £104m talent

Arsenal may yet add another central midfielder to their ranks.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 9, 2025