Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan has been offered a longer contract to join Barcelona, as the La Liga giants attempt to lure the midfielder to the Camp Nou this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
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What's going on with Gundogan and Man City?
The German midfielder has been in sensational form for Pep Guardiola's side, with his stunning brace away at Everton taking his total goal tally to nine this season.
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and it is currently unclear whether he will extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.
Barcelona are heavily interested in a move for the veteran, following the departure of Sergio Busquets, and have reportedly offered him a longer deal than City have.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Gundogan has received proposals from both clubs, with a decision to be made at the end of the season.
"For Ilkay Gundogan, we know he's only focusing on Manchester City now. Gundogan wants to win all the titles with Man City, and then to make a decision. So we have to wait on Gundogan," he stated.
"The proposal of Barcelona is there and what Barcelona are doing to tempt Gundogan, is to offer a longer contract. Manchester City are prepared to offer a contract extension to Gundogan, but Barcelona are offering a longer contract.
"So this is the strategy of Barcelona to convince Gundogan, let's see what the player will decide at the end of the season."
Should City keep Gundogan?
Even at his older age, Gundogan has proven to be invaluable for Guardiola's side again this season. He has previously been described as "incredible" by his manager, and he would likely be a big loss if he were to depart this summer.
If City win the Champions League this season, then Gundogan may feel he has accomplished all he can in Manchester and may elect to leave. Although City may not stand in his way out of respect for the midfielder, who would depart as a club legend, they would need to replace the £140k-per-week star.
Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic has been linked, and finances would likely not be an issue for Man City as they seek a top-class replacement.
Guardiola recently praised Gundogan's leadership qualities, and given his experience, there may only be a handful of players who could come in and bring what the Germany international does to the team.
Chelsea could decide to sell midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who is valued at around £40m (as per Transfermarkt), during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Paul Brown.
What are the stats and facts behind Kovacic's season?
The Blues' struggles this season have been well-documented, with a top-half finish in the Premier League genuinely looking in doubt with three matches remaining. Players have struggled over all the pitch, whether it be Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack.
Kovacic is another who has had a disappointing campaign by his high standards, with injuries limiting the £100,000-a-week midfielder to just 17 league starts. When he has played, though, his performances have often not been up to scratch and there are now question marks over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
The Croatian's current Chelsea deal expires in the summer of 2024, so the upcoming transfer window will be the last opportunity to earn good money for his services.
Will Pochettino decide to let Kovacic leave Chelsea this summer?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown claimed that Chelsea could opt to sell Kovacic at the end of the season, seeing it as the right time to move him on:
"I don't think that would be a terribly bad thing, really, if Kovacic is one of the ones sacrificed or who maybe wants to leave, because he's one of the older players and may not have three, four or five years left at the top at Chelsea. I don't think that would be a huge problem for either party. It might even be the right thing to do."
Kovacic has been a great servant for Chelsea, having made 220 appearances for the club in total, not to mention being hailed as "outstanding" by former manager Thomas Tuchel, as well as this he was also described as a "dream" player by the German.
His technical quality in the middle of the park has been a joy to watch at times, having enjoyed a 86% pass completion rate in the league this season, as well as 90.8% for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup. His eye for the spectacular can also stand out, with a perfect example of it a stunning volley at home to Liverpool last season.
At 29, however, and with his contract expiring next year, this summer could be the most logical time to move him on, ensuring Chelsea receive some money in the process, allowing them to buy a younger replacement.
There is an argument to say that Kovacic's very best days could potentially be behind him, but ultimately, it depends on whether Mauricio Pochettino believes he is a key man moving forward – the new manager needs to be trusted in his decision-making – and if he possibly warrants being handed an extension in the near future.
Manchester United will make the trip to the south coast this evening for their Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion and Erik ten Hag will be hoping that his team can extend their unbeaten run in the top flight.
The Red Devils are four points ahead of their bitter rivals Liverpool in the race for the top four and a victory over the Seagulls will be essential as they bid to secure Champions League status with just six fixtures remaining.
Brighton have been victorious in their last two Premier League meetings with Man United, so the visit to the Amex Stadium will be challenging for Ten Hag's side as the pressure mounts at the business end of the season.
In terms of injuries, the Dutch manager has a number of key players unavailable for selection, with Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane and Alejandro Garnacho all sidelined with issues.
Despite the mounting injury concerns, Ten Hag did reveal in his pre-match press conference that Garnacho could be back sooner rather than later: "I think we have one training [session], but I think it's too soon to be available.
"I think he is short [of full fitness]. I think he needs some training and then, at short notice, he will be available."
How could Man United line up vs Brighton?
Ten Hag could make three changes to his team that beat Aston Villa 1-0 at the weekend, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The first change we expect to see is in the defensive set-up, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka joining Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia in an otherwise unchanged back four.
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The £90k-per-week ace – who has been dubbed as "monstrous" for his displays by journalist Alex Turk – is renowned for his ability to take on opponents successfully in one-on-one situations and could repeat his defensive masterclass seen last month in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Indeed, after a feisty battle with Kaoru Mitoma in London, the winger described Wan-Bissaka as a "strong opponent".
The second and third changes we predict Ten Hag will make are in the attacking third, with Antony and Wout Weghorst returning to the starting XI alongside Marcus Rashford, replacing Jadon Sancho and Marcel Sabitizer to freshen up the threat in front of goal.
The Man United boss will surely want to implement some rotation due to congested fixtures and will be hoping that his selections can inspire a positive result away from home.
Arsenal fell to yet another collapse yesterday, cruising into a 2-0 lead only to let it slip. Against Liverpool at Anfield, this could be excused, but when clashing with relegation-threatened West Ham United, a 2-2 draw on the road could prove costly.
It has truly opened the door for Manchester City to come bursting through, for if Pep Guardiola's side win their game in hand, the title will likely come down to their meeting at the Etihad in just over a week. Given they were dismantled at the Emirates by them earlier this year, it does not bode well.
Mikel Arteta was forced into some frustrating changes for their trip to the London Stadium, but it was felt like there remained more than enough quality within the squad to achieve a vital victory. When they had scored twice within ten minutes, this thought process was vindicated.
However, conceding a clumsy penalty before the break allowed the deficit to be halved, and after Jarrod Bowen's volley squirmed past Aaron Ramsdale on 54 minutes, the visitors were rumbled.
Few have come under fire for their performances, with Thomas Partey's 6.1 Sofascore rating the worst of anyone on the field drawing particular scorn.
The Ghanaian was especially bad in the middle of the park, perhaps dropping one of his worst performances of the campaign to date. Caught trying to play an audacious flick by Declan Rice, it was Partey who was dispossessed in the build-up to Lucas Paqueta earning a first-half penalty that started the comeback.
Despite this, it was clear where their main deficiencies truly lay. In the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney simply did not step up to the levels required of him. As such, the whole team suffered.
How did Kieran Tierney play vs West Ham?
Starting in his first Premier League game since December, the Scotsman was drafted in due to the Ukrainian's minor injury sustained in their last game. The 26-year-old has been integral to the way the Gunners have played this season, with his knowledge of the inverted full-back role key in their fine form.
However, it quickly became clear that the former Celtic man was without such capabilities, and as such his performance suffered.
Earning a 6.6 rating courtesy of Sofascore, of which only three players on the pitch earned lower, the lack of creative impetus from the £110k-per-week defender proved criminal in their lack of potency.
It seemed that once the Hammers had equalised, Arsenal had lost all control of the game. Had Zinchenko been playing, the experienced maestro would likely have proved to be a cool head to calm down a shell-shocked side.
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However, his absence was instead exacerbated, as his replacement recorded 67 touches, an 81% pass accuracy and offered no key passes. Whilst his defensive numbers might have been impressive, with two tackles and two clearances, via Sofascore, this is arguably indicative of how on the back foot the visitors were compared to their usual dominant displays.
To further outline just how much pressure they were under against a side that started the day three points above the relegation zone, journalist Tom Victor highlighted one "desperate block" that Tierney made to deny Bowen a second. That was likely the Scot's best moment of a game in which he looked well out of sorts.
This struggle was supported by another journalist in Tan Copsey, who wrote: "Tierney and Holding don't have the passing range and it all starts to get so messy in the build-up."
He understood the sheer gulf in quality between the 25-year-old featuring as opposed to when Zinchenko starts. Arteta will now seek to rush back the former Cityzens star, to avoid another miserable result like yesterday's that further hands the title to their rivals.
Leeds United boast a wealth of youth talent, many of whom have been handed their big break in the first team in recent years.
Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch and now Javi Gracia all have employed academy graduates, whilst acquired talent like Wilfried Gnonto also have earned acclaim for their sensational performances that belie their youth.
However, amongst all this academy production, one name has been somewhat pushed to the wayside despite his immense potential.
Cody Drameh was widely seen as one of the shining lights of the Whites' youth setup, with the expectance being that he would soon hold down their right-back spot for the foreseeable future.
However, having been shipped out on numerous loans and seemingly replaced in the market, his hype has died somewhat.
Given his sparkling displays during his current spell away from the club, he is surely playing his way back into contention, especially given the underperformance of his rivals in his role.
How is Cody Drameh playing at Luton Town?
The 21-year-old joined Luton Town in January as one of many questionable decisions made by Marsch, however, the young defender is currently proving why he boasts more than enough talent for a starting spot in a Premier League team.
This came almost exactly a year after he was handed his first loan, as he was sent to Cardiff City where he too was a big hit. Drameh would even win the young player and player of the season awards after just six months in the Welsh capital, an outstanding feat.
His boss at the time, Steve Morison, reserved special praise for the relentless dynamo, as he noted: "He is like a Duracell Bunny, isn't he? He just keeps going and going."
Meanwhile, this season Ayling has endured an average rating of 6.71, a slight depreciation from his supposed successor in Rasmus Kristensen. The Denmark international has only mustered a slightly improved 6.87 rating himself, marking both out as disappointments.
To compare this with their young counterpart, who has marked himself out as both an outstanding creative and defensive threat in the Championship, they will surely be fearing for their positions in the squad.
Drameh is earning a 7.11 average rating for the Hatters, where he is recoding 1.8 key passes alongside 3.3 tackles and 2.0 clearances per 90, via Sofascore.
He is the standout with regard to form, and his youth makes him a thrilling prospect that would surely get fans excited too. Should Gracia keep the Yorkshire outfit up and retain his place in the dugout, his first port of call next season must be to ditch Ayling for the sensational youngster who has earned his big chance.
Arsenal are approaching the business end of their 22/23 campaign, having exceeded expectations and surged into title-chasing contention, indeed five points clear of current champions Manchester City having played 27 Premier League matches.
Having failed to qualify for the Champions League in any of the past six campaigns, the Gunners have indeed blitzed into prominence this season, casting aside the cobwebs of the preceding term after narrowly missing out on top-four in the dying embers.
Manager Mikel Arteta cannot be given enough credit, with the once overarching pessimism seeping into every corner of the Emirates Stadium dissipating and now replaced with a golden, luminous energy that looks promising in remaining intact for years to come.
The established frontline, consisting of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, has been as effective as it has been emphatic, with fluidity and style now staple points of Arsenal's play, but given trips to face Liverpool at Anfield and Pep Guardiola's City at the Etihad Stadium loom, the squad will need to be firing on all cylinders to ensure that ground is not conceded with the business end of the campaign imminently ahead.
With this in mind, Arteta must look to utilise every available option with a secret weapon, that of Reiss Nelson, chomping at the bit for regular game time.
Why should Reiss Nelson start?
It has passed the hour mark in north London. Arsenal are playing their 26th Premier League match of the season and incredulously find lowly Bournemouth have just established a two-goal lead; with Man City defeating Newcastle United earlier in the day, Arteta's advantage over his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, could fall to just two points.
A strike from anchoring midfielder Thomas Partey shortly after halved the deficit, but it was their secret weapon, Nelson, who had played just 64 minutes of prior Premier League action, who stole the limelight after replacing Emile Smith Rowe, himself replacing the injured Leandro Trossard, just before 70 minutes on the clock, and what unfurled was remarkable.
Mere moments after coming on, the £15k-per-week Nelson whipped in a deep cross that was aptly met by right-back Ben White, restoring parity to thunderous applause, but with the clock ticking and the seven minutes of added time, Arsenal looked set to cede ground in the race against the imperious Citizens.
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With practically the final kick of the match, Nelson stepped up to unleash a thumping effort into the back of the net after a desperate set-piece, sending the Emirates faithful into rapture, heralded as “unreal” by BBC's Gavin Ramjaun.
The 23-year–old has only played four top-flight matches all season, yet to start, but his three goals and two assists reaffirm to the world that he is a deadly utility option to boast, and as such, Arteta must entrust him with greater importance to the title-chasing marathon as the final stages loom.
Indeed, those numbers ensure that so far this term, he has a better minutes-to-goal and assist ratio than none other than man of the moment, Erling Haaland.
As per Sofascore, the lethal "threat" Nelson has an average league rating of 8.03, and his 1.5 shots and 1.5 key passes per outing could be imperative, with such a prolific and dynamic offensive approach indeed evidenced already thus far.
Man City are lurking behind like a tiger awaiting a hint of weakness, but with such stellar versatility at Arteta's disposal with Nelson going through the richest of purple patches on the pitch, the tantalising thought of lifting the glinted Premier League trophy might yet crystallise.
Everton failed to bring in some new additions to strengthen their squad at Goodison Park over the January transfer window despite the shock departure of Anthony Gordon.
New manager Sean Dyche was only confirmed the day before Deadline Day which left minimal time for the former Burnley boss to put in place some transfer targets for the Everton recruitment team to work on, however, the powerbrokers at the club had plenty of time to do so ahead of his appointment.
The Toffees are currently one point deep in the relegation zone after 22 outings with the worst goal tally in the entire Premier League with just 12 scored, proving that the signing of a prolific goal-scorer to bolster the attacking threat could have been a huge boost in their relegation battle over the remainder of the season.
One player who was linked with a move to Merseyside last month was former Aston Villa striker Danny Ings, who eventually made a £15m move to West Ham United after Everton failed to meet the asking price.
Everton needed Ings badly
The 30-year-old’s Premier League experience and consistent goal-scoring record would have been massively advantageous to Everton in their pursuit to improve performances at Goodison and there is no doubt that Farhad Moshiri has had a howler by not pressing for a move.
Over his 353 career appearances to date, Ings – who was hailed a “goal machine” by CBS Sports writer Joe Prince-Wright – has scored 120 goals and registered 37 assists with a goal contribution every 154 minutes, an output that would have been extremely valuable to Dyche.
The Merseysiders’ desperation for more goal contributions and creativity in the final third has been even more concerning following the latest hamstring injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the Toffees striker picking up yet another fitness issue leaving the manager with even fewer options and less experienced forwards to lean on until he recovers.
The signing of Ings would have prevented Everton from falling into a situation where they needed to recall a young academy graduate from loan with Ellis Simms brought back to the club after flourishing at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland in the Championship over the first half of the season.
With that being said, it is without question Dyche has been left with little resources and a difficult challenge to get Everton back on track and if the club do find themselves relegated at the end of the season it would’ve been a preventable disaster that will haunt Moshiri.
Leeds United are interested in signing Torino defender Ola Aina in a potential free transfer.
The Lowdown: Manager search
The club’s current focus is on appointing a new manager, with Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo taking fixtures against Manchester United in recent days.
The Whites haven’t had much luck in their search for a new boss, though, with Alfred Schreuder the latest to be linked and not appointed in Yorkshire.
However, Aina, who has been on Leeds’ radar for some time, still appears to be of interest at Elland Road as the club look to possible summer signings even without a boss in the dugout.
The Latest: Transfer update
Inter Live shared a story where they provided an update on Aina, claiming Torino could find it difficult to renew his contract, which expires in the summer.
They add that ‘sources point him towards a possible return to the Premier League, with Leeds in particular interested in his performances, even more so for free.’
Although the Adidas-sponsored Aina has been hailed as “Mr Versatile” by Fulham podcaster Sammy James, it doesn’t look as if his services are required at Elland Road at this moment in time.
Primarily a right-back who can also play on the left or further forward, Leeds appear fairly well-stocked at right-back with Luke Ayling potentially in line for a new deal after impressing in recent weeks. They also have summer signing Rasmus Kristensen to call upon and exciting youngster Cody Drameh out on loan with Luton Town.
Therefore, it doesn’t look as if Leeds are in desperate need of Aina, who has started just eight Serie A games this season, although it could be one to monitor following this update.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano says that any deal for Arsenal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion central midfielder Moises Caicedo is now ‘completely off’.
The Lowdown: Jorginho in…
Romano reported this afternoon that Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has signed for Arsenal until 2024, with the option of a further year, and has even been pictured with his agent in a Gunners home shirt.
This comes after it was reported that another one of their targets Caicedo was ‘in London’ today ahead of a potential move to the Emirates Stadium.
The Latest: Caicedo ‘completely off’
Taking to Twitter, Romano says that any deal to take Caicedo to North London is now ‘completely off’ after two bids were rejected, with Mikel Arteta’s team set to announce the arrival of Jorginho instead ‘soon’:
“Understand Moises Caicedo deal with Arsenal is now completely off. No further talks will follow. Brighton never changed their stance: no intention to accept £60m or £70m proposals. Plan has always been to keep Caicedo. Arsenal will announce Jorginho soon.”
The Verdict: Midfielder was needed
Following Arsenal’s statement earlier today that Mohamed Elneny has suffered a ‘significant’ knee injury, and has been ruled out for an ‘extended period’, Arsenal needed to bring in a midfielder before the deadline.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is also closing in on a loan move to Crystal Palace, leaving Arteta short in terms of options in the middle of the park.
Jorginho may be overlooked by some supporters given the fact that he is 31 and coming from a London rival in Chelsea, but former Gunner Paul Merson has given a glowing assessment of the Italian, claiming that it is ‘outstanding’ business given his experience and what he has won in the game, and called his reported £12m fee a ‘cup of tea’.
It is a shame to miss out on Caicedo, who has been described as a ‘terrific athlete‘ by South American football expert Tim Vickery, but at least the Gunners look to have got a body through the door, and Jorginho will be motivated to impress given that they are going for the Premier League title.