Arteta building for the next five years
Arsenal are in talks with a Spanish club, Valencia to sign Cristhian Mosquera as Mikel Arteta works on improving his backline. The 20-year-old has represented his country as a youth international and appeared 90 times for Valencia, missing only three games in the last two years. Mosquera is an imposing centre back, plays mainly with […]
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal are in talks with a Spanish club, Valencia to sign Cristhian Mosquera as Mikel Arteta works on improving his backline. The 20-year-old has represented his country as a youth international and appeared 90 times for Valencia, missing only three games in the last two years. Mosquera is an imposing centre back, plays mainly with his right foot, and Arteta sees him as a cover for his first team partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel.
This latest move leaves a question mark over Jakub Kiwior following the Poland international’s possible move early last season. The 25-year-old almost had his bags packed but stepped in for Gabriel when he tore a hamstring and did an impressive job, which changed the manager’s opinion.
Arsenal did look at Vitor Reis, but the Brazilian teenager moved to Manchester City and they were in the race for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, but he chose Real Madrid over the Gunners.
News of Mosquera, who is admired by sporting director, Andrea Berta, follows Arsenal’s agreed deal to bring in Brentford captain, Christian Norgaard.
Mikel Arteta is attempting to create a legacy by creating a solid team capable of taking the Gunner’s to the greatest heights in football until 2030, and has signed a new 5-year contract with 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has doubled his pay packet.
Arsenal are also going head-to-head with north London rivals, Tottenham to sign £68 million rated Crystal Palace star, Eberechi Eze. Andrea Berta has held talks with his representatives, and the 27-year-old could join Viktor Gyokeres if he arrives; however, the hierarchy at the Emirates Stadium are against signing two players aged 27 because when their contracts expire the club could be left exposed losing two key performers at the same time.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga signed on Tuesday for £5 million from Chelsea. He will provide competition for his Spanish compatriot, David Raya, who retains his No.1 role.
United wants to replace Hojlund with Watkins
Following the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and attempting to secure a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United are still searching for a more traditional centre striker. Both Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but negotiations are proving difficult with little progress and Gyokeres wants to play for Arsenal.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has now been added to United’s wish list, and the clubs have made contact to discuss possibly moving forward.
Guardiola worried about player exhaustion
I am asking questions following Manchester City’s loss to Al Hilal in the Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola had previously spoken privately about his fears that reaching the final stages of the competition could damage City’s ambitions of winning back the league title next season.
He used words, such as “disaster” and “destroy” because league rivals not involved in the latter stages would have the advantage of starting pre-season preparations next week. Following their elimination, Guardiola can begin work with his squad earlier than he expected. Did he push his team hard enough? He certainly seemed relaxed after the game.
His first task is to rebuild Rodri’s midfield form. Against Al Hilal, he was brought onto the field in the 53rd minute played poorly, was beaten twice when players ran around him and he made no tackles at all. Eventually, he was taken off looking unhappy with his performance, but it is early days and he has only just returned to full training after such a prolonged injury absence.
Onana wants to stay at United
Andre Onana said from his holiday base in Cameroon that he wants to stay at Old Trafford to regain the trust the club showed in him during their disastrous season. As he coached local children on the streets of the capital city of Yaounde, he spoke of his loyalty to the Reds and said he was not worried about reports that Aston Villa’s World Cup winning keeper, Emi Martinez is pushing for a move to United.
Casemiro and Ederson reject big Saudi money
Brazilian midfielder, Casemiro has told Manchester United that he wants to stay with them and will reject a late career move to the Saudi Pro League. Because he was playing regularly for United at the end of last season, Brazil’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti has included him in his first team squad for the national side.
United, however, want to reduce their massive wage bill and the 33-year-old is earning £350k a week. Casemiro’s reason for staying is primarily to put him in a good position to make the World Cup finals next year, which are being held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Casemiro is close friends with Cristiano Ronaldo after spending years together at Real Madrid and has even promoted health products made by companies partly owned by Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s Saudi team, Al-Nassr want Casemiro to join him, and they are renowned for spending huge sums to acquire players, but at the moment, Casemiro says “no deal.”
Relax Manchester City fans…goalkeeper Ederson is staying at the Etihad Stadium as he enters the final year of his contract amid talk of a move to the Saudi Pro League. His family has shown interest in moving to the middle east, but Ederson himself said this week, “My future is here.”
Palace enter the transfer merry-go-round
My Crystal Palace contacts tell me that central defender, Ousemane Diomande, to Selhurst Park from Sporting Lisbon, is likely to happen for £55 million. That would allow Marc Guehi to be sold to Liverpool, which also seems to be on the cards, along with a cash bid, plus Ben Doak, who is a Scottish winger valued at £20 million and played on loan at Middlesbrough last season. He would be Palace’s second signing of the summer after 33-year-old goalkeeper, Walter Benitiz joined on a free.
For sale: Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish
Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish share the same problem as none is wanted by their clubs. Sancho’s agents are exploring options after he was told by Manchester United coach, Ruben Amorim that he no longer plays a part in plans for next season. The player, with a £73 million price tag on his back, spent the second-half of the 2023/4 season back with his former club, Borussia Dortmund and then moved to Chelsea on a season long deal, which came with an obligation to buy for £25 million. Coach Enzo Maresca decided Jadon was not playing to his true potential and the Blues paid a £5 million penalty fee and sent him back to Old Trafford. Dortmund cannot pay the asking price of £21.3 million and his weekly £300k a week wages and have declined to buy him back for a third time. Napoli have shown interest but nothing is concrete.
Jack Grealish is in the same position and the former £100 million Aston Villa star, who helped Manchester City win the treble, is no longer in Pep Guardiola’s starting 11. Jack earns the same amount weekly as Sancho and City might have to pay half his wages to secure a sale. Guardiola confirmed this week that the winger would have to move if he wants regular game time.
Liverpool striker, Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, have been killed in a motor accident in Spain. His car apparently burst a tyre when overtaking and caught fire, killing the two brothers.
The tragedy occurred only one week after he married his long time partner, Rute Carduso. He also leaves behind three young children.
Diogo was a very popular member of Liverpool’s first team. He won 50 caps for his native Portugal and was an important member of Liverpool’s forward line under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot throughout his five years at the club. Last season, he scored six goals during the Red’s title winning season.
Diogo was a very popular, uplifting, dressing room presence where he was always involved in joking and having fun, but he was also very respected by his teammates for his foot-balling qualities.
He originally played for Atletico Madrid, joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and eventually moved to Anfield in 2020.