Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on the backing of Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte in the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
In a recent post on Twitter, the football.london journalist revealed that the Tottenham owners, ENIC, have now made an extra £150m available this summer, in order for the 52-year-old manager and Fabio Paratici to pursue a number of their top targets in the transfer market.
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In his tweet, Gold said: “Big news at Spurs as ENIC pumps £150m into the club to help ‘further invest on and off the pitch’. There’s that Antonio Conte backing I was talking about.”
Supporters will be buzzing
With it being widely reported that Conte’s future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium heading into 2022/23 very much depended on whether or not Daniel Levy and the Spurs board would match his ambition in the transfer market, Gold’s update revealing that the club have made it abundantly clear that they will be financing the Italian is sure to have left supporters buzzing.
Indeed, not only does this news mean that Tottenham will more than likely be one of the serious players in the summer window, with Paratici now looking to have free reign to go after some of Conte’s biggest transfer targets, but it would also appear to suggest that the 52-year-old will remain in charge of the club next season.
And, when considering the quite astonishing job the former Inter Milan boss has done at Tottenham thus far – taking the Lilywhites from ninth to fourth in the Premier League standings, picking up a remarkable 56 points from a possible 84 – it is clear for all to see that Conte remaining in north London next season greatly increases Spurs’ chances of success in 2022/23 – a prospect that will undoubtedly delight the club’s supporters.
AND in other news: Conte now plotting offer for “frightening” £50m Spurs target, he’s Salah 2.0
The signing of James Tarkowski is reportedly a priority for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe this summer.
The lowdown
The 29-year-old is available on a free transfer having reached the end of his contract at Burnley, who suffered relegation to the Championship after their 2-1 defeat to the Magpies on the final day. Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas said that the defender’s post-match lap of honour at Turf Moor looked ‘suspiciously like a farewell’.
Newcastle did sign a centre-back in January, paying Brighton £13m to acquire Dan Burn.
While the Magpies finished 11th in the Premier League table, they were in the bottom six for both expected goals against (62.71) and actual goals against (62).
Football Insider reported that Newcastle have made Tarkowski a ‘top target’ ahead of the summer transfer window, although they do face competition for his signature.
Sources have told the publication that Everton have already gone as far as submitting an offer worth £120,000 per week as they look to win the race for the 29-year-old.
Meanwhile, West Ham United are also said to be watching developments ‘closely’.
The verdict
You can see why Newcastle view this as a big opportunity.
Tarkowski, who has made nearly 200 Premier League appearances and earned two caps for England, is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt but is available on a Bosman deal.
Journalist Jonny Bentley has described him as ‘gritty’ and ‘physical’ and expressed confidence that the Mancunian could deliver ‘for most clubs in the Premier League’.
The Magpies may have to match Everton’s £120,000-a-week offer, though, and that could make the 29-year-old their highest-paid player – ahead of £100,000-per-week duo Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier, plus another January arrival in £90,000-a-week Bruno Guimaraes.
In other news, Paddy Kenny has been left stunned by these Newcastle developments
Steven Gerrard has the chance to lead Aston Villa to a top-half finish in the Premier League if they can end the season strongly.
With matches against Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Manchester City remaining, six points out of nine should be their realistic target from that trio of fixtures.
It has been a mixed season for Gerrard at Villa Park since his arrival from Rangers in mid-November. They started brightly under his tenure but have been inconsistent in 2022, winning 10 matches under the 41-year-old so far but also losing 11.
What’s the news?
With the manager perhaps looking to rejig the playing squad and bring his own players in, there will likely be plenty of outgoings during the summer transfer window, and Gerrard has been discussing what will happen with his fringe players.
As per Birmingham Live on Friday, he said: “If it’s better to go and play elsewhere because they’re guaranteed more game time, then we’re certainly open to conversations with one or two of them. In terms of naming names, I don’t think that’s professional.”
He could be referring to numerous players with this message, and supporters may well be glad to see the back of some fringe members of the Villa squad who have been eating up the wage bill.
One player who looks set to leave is Morgan Sanson, while wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet have been sent out on loan to Everton and İstanbul Başakşehir respectively, so it seems unlikely that they will feature at all for Villa next season.
The 41-year-old landed his top target in Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal this week in a bargain £17m deal until 2026, and these are the types of players Gerrard needs to be signing in order to take the next step with the club and lead them into the European places.
Getting rid of the deadwood is a tough task, but the former Rangers boss seems to be handling it with the utmost professionalism so far, particularly with his refusal to namecheck any players he may be considering for an exit.
AND in other news, Gerrard can land his own Pogba as Villa plot bid for “impressive” £107k-p/w machine
Leeds United are in a great position to bring Brennan Johnson to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to Dean Jones, with the transfer insider and journalist revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, should Leeds go on to secure their status as a Premier League side this season, coupled with Nottingham Forest failing to secure promotion to the top flight in the Championship play-offs, Victor Orta will be in a fantastic position to land his reported £20m transfer target this summer.
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Regarding the Whites’ interest in the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, Jones said: “They should make him their number one target, 100%. They are in a great position to sign Brennan Johnson if they do stay up and Forest don’t manage to get promoted.”
Supporters will be buzzing
While it is undeniable that Leeds’ place in the Premier League next season appears extremely uncertain following the weekend’s results, should the Whites go on to secure survival, the prospect of landing a player as talented as Johnson is undoubtedly something that will leave the Elland Road faithful buzzing.
Indeed, over his 46 Championship appearances this season, the £900k-rated forward has been a revelation in Steve Cooper’s attack, scoring 16 goals, registering ten assists and creating 15 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.3 key passes and completing 1.2 dribbles per game.
These metrics have seen the £2.5k-per-week Wales international average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Nottingham Forest’s fourth-best outfielder in the second tier – with the 20-year-old playing a starring role in the Reds’ widely unexpected securing of a top-six finish in the league.
As such, the suggestion that – as long as Leeds stay up and Forest remain in the Championship – Orta is in a great position to secure the signing of Johnson this summer is undoubtedly incredibly exciting for everyone involved with the Whites.
However, with Jesse Marsch’s side currently sitting 18th in the Premier League standings, it would appear a wise move for Leeds to hold off on printing shirts donning the attacking midfielder’s name just yet.
AND in other news: “Very possible…”: Phil Hay drops big Leeds injury update, supporters will be buzzing
Newcastle United have successfully been able to turn their latest Premier League season around after being in and around the relegation zone for the first half of the campaign.
Since January, the Magpies have only lost four games in the league, winning 10 and drawing two.
The January transfer window has turned out to have been a crucial period for the Toon as they brought in a number of new players to help get their campaign back on track.
Now that the summer transfer window is on the horizon, this could give the Tyneside club the opportunity to once again make some changes to their squad that they deem necessary ahead of their first full season with PIF in charge.
One figure with whom the Toon have been linked and who could be a vast upgrade on one of their current squad members is Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
According to a recent report from The Mirror, the Mali international is on a list of potential summer transfer targets for the Toon.
In terms of what he could offer Howe’s side in comparison to current Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, the Brighton monster would be a big upgrade in terms of his defensive talents.
With the pair both playing more than 30 games for their respective clubs in the current league campaign, Bissouma has more tackles, pressures, interceptions, blocks and clearances than the Newcastle man.
On the ball, the 25-year-old has made more passes and racked up a higher pass completion percentage (89.7%) than Shelvey (80.2%).
To further highlight the Brighton star’s capabilities on the ball, he has successfully completed 29 dribbles compared to Shelvey’s nine.
Back in September, Bissouma earned hefty praise from Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, who said of the midfield maestro: “I think he is a top player he does a great job defensively, he can press the game, he is aggressive, he intercepts, he blocks, he tries to get them on the front foot.
“Physically he has good physicality, he gets around the pitch, he is mobile, agile and tactically he looks strong around the game.
“He utilises empty space and technically he is very good, he touches the ball, he passes it, and has good awareness of space.”
Taking all this into account, securing a deal for the £29k-per-week Brighton ace should be at the top of Newcastle’s priorities for the summer transfer window.
In other news: Newcastle eyeing swoop for “cold” £60m machine, he’d be “fabulous” for Howe
James Ward-Prowse is currently a target for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag looks to get some transfer business done early.
What’s the word?
That’s according to the Sun, who report that both Man Utd and Manchester City have made the 27 year a target ahead of next season.
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The Southampton midfielder won’t come cheap, however, with the report stating he could cost a whopping £75m while his current contract does not expire until 2026.
Man United’s next Beckham?
Man Utd are having yet another difficult season and with the news of Erik ten Hag’s appointment giving some hope to the supporters ahead of next season, the side needs a major overhaul.
Targeting proven English talent could well be a good start for the incoming boss and Ward-Prowse certainly has established himself in the Premier League.
The midfielder has made 302 appearances for the Saints and scored 43 goals, with an incredible 14 of them being direct free kicks, proving how good he is from dead-ball situations. Theo Walcott described his free-kick ability as a “good weapon to have” and few would argue against him.
He is currently only second behind United legend David Beckham in the Premier League all-time free kicks scored and there is no doubt that he could almost be a Beckham 2.0 for United and eventually overtake the former England captain in the record books.
The player offers more than just a goalscoring threat at free-kicks however, he has grabbed five assists during the campaign so far.
With Man Utd suffering from numerous injuries during the season, Ward-Prowse has featured for a total of 93.5% of Southampton’s 33 matches this season, and in all of the team’s Premier League fixtures for the previous two seasons. The new manager will want to have players who can be fit for every match and the 27-year-old certainly fits the bill.
With current teammate Oriol Romeu labelling the player as “unbelievable” recently, then ten Hag could be onto a winner by signing him as Man Utd aim to end their five-year trophy drought.
AND in other news, Ten Hag could unearth new Berbatov for MUFC by signing 152-goal “hero”
Could it be understandable that Newcastle United have lost some of their fluency and sharpness after a summer of such steep upheaval?
Understandable, sure, but it’s Eddie Howe’s job to find a solution and restore United to a level of competency that will see them challenge for silverware and qualify for European competition once again.
Eight matches into the Premier League season, the Magpies languish in 14th place, though it’s early days yet, and we need only flick back to the previous season of this gripping Toon show to note that Newcastle found form across the wintry months and set themselves up for their trophy-winning success.
While losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool was a bitter pill to swallow, Nick Woltemade has started his Tyneside career in fine fettle indeed, bagging five goals across his first eight matches in all competitions.
The German striker stands beneath a high ceiling, but not all of his attacking peers have caught the eye thus far, with Anthony Elanga yet to hit his stride following his big-money arrival this summer.
Elanga's start to life at Newcastle
Newcastle have work to do this season, and Elanga is a representation of that. Having joined St. James’ Park from Nottingham Forest for £55m this summer, the 23-year-old arrived with a weight of expectation.
The Manchester United academy graduate made a name for himself at the City Ground, merging his blistering pace with a natural ease on the ball and creativity.
He has yet to register a goal contribution for Newcastle, but Elanga ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe for assists per 90, as per FBref, which emphasises the calibre of player yet untapped under Howe’s wing.
Matches (starts)
38 (31)
8 (4)
Goals
6
0
Assists
11
0
Touches*
32.0
24.4
Shots (on target)*
1.2 (0.6)
0.4 (0.1)
Pass completion
78%
77%
Key passes*
1.3
0.6
Dribbles*
0.7
0.3
Recoveries*
2.3
0.9
Tackles + interceptions*
0.7
0.3
Duels won*
3.0
1.9
The data pool is shallow, no doubt about that. And there is plenty of time for the Sweden international to click into gear and start performing at the top of his game this term, but there’s no question that improvements are needed.
Howe has been admirable in his defence of the summer recruit, but he will tacitly harbour frustrations over his start to life in Newcastle, and will be working tirelessly toward unlocking latent qualities that have not yet surfaced.
A bedding-in period is understandable, and it’s worth remembering. Elanga could quite easily be scapegoated for the club’s current struggles, but there’s another, more senior member of Howe’s team whose displays this term have left much to be desired.
New technical director Ross Wilson will be keeping a close eye on the winger, in any case, with a preliminary list of wide forwards no doubt considered ahead of the next year of transfer markets.
And, unlike Elanga, time might be running out for this mainstay.
Newcastle must upgrade on Howe favourite
Newcastle have had a strong spine throughout the span of Howe’s tenure, but that has started to flake away this year. Isak has gone, and now, Joelinton may well have entered the final stretch of his career in England’s north east.
A lack of creativity has been the bane of Newcastle’s season so far, and while more is expected from Elanga, Joelinton has struggled to perform in his central midfield berth, and the time may be approaching for the Brazilian to close the door on this journey, with United blogger Thomas Hammond even suggesting it’s the “start of the end” for the 29-year-old, who has been “honking” for some time.
Newcastle World branded Joelinton with a 4/10 match rating after the defeat on the south coast against Brighton, hooked at half-time after a weak display, with Sofascore recording that he failed to create a chance or even attempt a dribble, also ceding possession and allowing Georginio Rutter through on goal.
He might be one of Newcastle’s most recognisable stars, a staple of the Howe era, but all good things come to an end, and there’s a sense that an upgrade could be struck in the centre of the park.
1
Bruno Guimaraes
164
2
Fabian Schar
160
3
Dan Burn
159
4
Jacob Murphy
145
5
Joelinton
139
As Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali’s central partnership continues to blossom, so does Joelinton’s importance under the St. James’ Park lights diminish.
His six Premier League starts this year have left much to be desired, and there’s no question that a more overtly creative midfielder could be a welcome addition in the coming months, nestling into the frontal point of the engine room, buttressed and supplied by the elegant deeper midfielders.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali
With Jacob Ramsey returning to full fitness, it would not be a huge surprise to see the 6 foot 3 powerhouse start from the bench on more than a few occasions across the coming months. FBref show that he ranks only among the top 48% of midfielders for shot-creating actions and the top 67% for progressive passes per 90.
Joelinton’s incredible resurgence in the Premier League will see him remembered as a hero for many years to come at Newcastle. The Carabao Cup champion and Champions League competitor has embodied the spirit of Howe’s reign.
But Newcastle are evolving, and his usage may well have dried up as we enter this new era. Elanga has time to turn things around, but Joelinton’s best days likely lie behind him.
Howe can make Woltemade even better by unleashing Newcastle's "unsung hero"
Eddie Howe could now be tempted to unleash this Newcastle United unsung hero.
Celtic lost a huge talent in the recent summer transfer window when they decided to cash in on Nicolas Kuhn by selling him to Italian side Como for a fee of £16.5m.
The German winger has endured a difficult start to life in the Serie, failing to score or assist a goal in any of his first five matches in the division, but his time at Parkhead suggests that the best is yet to come.
Celtic signed the left-footed star from Rapid Vienna in the January transfer window at the start of 2024, and his best form for the club came after a difficult start to life in Glasgow.
How Nicolas Kuhn saved his Celtic career
The former Bayern Munich and Ajax trainee produced three goals and three assists in 18 appearances in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, including one goal and one assist in the cup, per Transfermarkt.
Kuhn needed time to adapt and adjust to the intensity of Scottish football and the pressure of playing for Celtic, though, and his best performances for the club came after that initial period of adaptation.
In his full season at Parkhead, the 25-year-old star racked up an eye-catching return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he found his feet in Scotland to deliver consistent performances.
Kuhn is, therefore, the poster boy for why supporters and pundits alike should perhaps give some players more time to adapt to life at Celtic if they do not hit the ground running.
With this in mind, the Scottish Premiership champions may be brewing their next version of the German superstar, and it is not Sebastian Tounekti.
The Celtic player who is the next Nicolas Kuhn in the making
Unlike Kuhn, Tounekti has enjoyed a fairly strong start to his career at Parkhead and all but nailed down a place in the starting XI on the left flank, thanks to his exciting wing play after his deadline day move from Hammarby.
The Tunisia international has completed 14 dribbles in five matches in all competitions, per Sofascore, and scored against Partick Thistle in the League Cup.
Meanwhile, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who joined from Royal Antwerp in the summer, has not had as much success in winning the fanbase over since his move to the club.
After the 3-2 win over Motherwell, Brendan Rodgers explained that it has “all been a wee bit of a blur” for the Belgian forward since he moved to Parkhead, which suggests that he may be suffering from the same adaptation issues that Kuhn had at first.
Appearances
16
4
Shots per game
1.1
0.0
Goals
4
0
Key passes per game
1.6
0.5
Big chances created
7
1
Assists
3
1
Successful dribbles per game
0.4
0.0
As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha’s statistics for Royal Antwerp in the Pro League last season suggest that he has more gears to find in Glasgow, as he has struggled at the top end of the pitch for Celtic so far.
The young forward did deliver a fantastic assist for Daizen Maeda’s winner against Motherwell in the Premiership last weekend, his first goal contribution for the club, and that could be the moment that he needs to kick on and make a name for himself at Parkhead.
Balikwisha, who was described as an “exciting” player by Rodgers, has been a bit too timid in his early outings for the Hoops, as evidenced by no shots and 0.5 key passes per game across four matches.
The Belgian attacker needs to show more conviction and drive in his performances on the wing, as he did in the Pro League with his former club, and not worry about making a mistake or the crowd getting on his back.
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If he can step up to produce fearless performances, then his form from Belgium may translate to Scotland. He could follow in Kuhn’s footsteps by hitting his stride in front of goal after a difficult start to life in Glasgow.
Glasgow Rangers chiefs Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell must work alongside the owners to find a new head coach to lead the Ibrox giants into a new era.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and Vice-Chairman Paraag Marathe penned an open letter to supporters on Monday that explained that they will be heavily involved in finding the next manager, which shows that they are not hiding away and allowing others to be solely responsible for it.
A change was made in the dugout at Ibrox after the previous manager only won five of his 17 matches in charge of the Glasgow-based outfit, conceding 24 goals in that time.
German manager is keen on taking the Rangers job
The Light Blues bosses have two weeks to identify their new head coach because of the October international break, with their next game coming against Dundee United the Saturday after next.
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According to the Daily Record, Steven Gerrard has doubts about a return to Ibrox because of the quality of the squad and his desire to take some time away from management.
The same report, though, adds that former Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl would be keen on taking the Rangers job if offered the chance to get back into management.
It states that the German tactician and former Everton boss Sean Dyche would both be interested in landing the role, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers are keen on either of them.
Why Danny Rohl could be the next Steven Gerrard
Rangers took a big gamble when they appointed Gerrard in 2018 because he had only coached at youth team level, with Liverpool, and had not won anything as a senior manager.
However, he had a plethora of experience at the very top level of the game, as a player for Liverpool and then in an elite coaching environment at Liverpool’s academy, which helped him to instill a winning mentality that led to winning the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership title.
Rohl, whose work with Sheffield Wednesday was hailed as “outstanding” by reporter Phil Buckingham, could follow in Gerrard’s footsteps as another relatively unproven manager who has plenty of experience in elite environments.
The 36-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation (Transfermarkt), steered the Owls clear of relegation in both of his seasons at the helm in Yorkshire, but it is his posts before becoming a first-team manager that may attract Rangers to him.
Sheffield Wednesday
Manager
89
Germany national team
Assistant manager
25
Bayern Munich
Assistant manager
101
Southampton
Assistant manager
24
RB Leipzig
Assistant manager
83
RB Leipzig
Video analyst
15
RB Leipzig U17s
Assistant manager
29
As you can see in the table above, Rohl has worked for Bayern Munich, Germany, and RB Leipzig, which means that he has worked at some top clubs and one of the best footballing nations in the world.
Like Gerrard, he would arrive at Ibrox with a knowledge of how to win at an elite level, having been at Bayern, a winning machine, for over 100 matches as an assistant.
Rohl’s exceptional experiences as a coach in multiple elite environments have prepared him for management, as illustrated by Jack Hunt’s insight into his fantastic coaching ability during his time with Sheffield Wednesday.
The German head coach may not be a flashy or big-name appointment that is likely to excite supporters, given his lack of experience in senior management, but his overall career in the game and his impressive stint with the Owls suggest that he could be an excellent option.
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Gerrard is, inarguably, the best Rangers manager in modern history, the only one to win a title since they returned to the Premiership, and Rohl could follow in his footsteps when you consider his coaching career.
Arsenal are set for one of their most imperative transfer windows in recent years, with sporting director Andrea Berta working to reinforce the squad whilst backing manager Mikel Arteta with sufficient squad upgrades.
Arsenal laying groundwork for key summer deals
Recently, two players in particular have dominated the headlines around N5.
He's a Sesko upgrade: Arsenal stepping up pursuit of £84m "powerhouse"
The incredible goalscorer would be a serious threat at Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 9, 2025
Given the club’s obvious need for a new striker, Arsenal’s talks for RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko are attracting due attention, with the Gunners looking to make it third-time-lucky and finally seal a deal for the Slovenian.
Sesko rejected a switch to the Emirates last summer, instead penning a contract extension with Leipzig and coming to a gentlemen’s agreement that he could leave either this year or in 2026 (Fabrizio Romano).
Arsenal also reached out over a deal for Sesko in January, but were respectful of Leipzig not wanting to sell mid-season, not to mention the player’s wishes to see out the Bundesliga campaign (Ben Jacobs).
Now, they could finally land their man if they come to an amicable agreement with Leipzig, with Standard Sport reporter Simon Collings sharing that the Bundesliga side want around £70 million to part company after fresh talks.
Beyond Sesko, there is also the ongoing saga revolving around Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Fabrizio Romano shares Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal update
It is a very complex situation, with the BBC reporting that a medical had been scheduled for the “perfect” 26-year-old, which was later rebuffed by the player himself in an interview with Radio Nacional.
Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay also poured cold water over how advanced this deal is, but members of the media are still adamant that Arsenal have signed Zubimendi and the agreement is sealed.
Reports in Spain are now also beginning to claim that Real Madrid could hijack Arsenal’s move for Zubimendi, so the uncertainty remains, but trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has moved to provide a fairly comforting update.
Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Romano said that a deal is agreed for Zubimendi to join Arsenal, and Arteta’s side remain convinced that he’s about to finalise his transfer to the Premier League.
“We have many questions, we have many stories, and I respect all the sources on this story, because obviously until the deals are official, you can try until the very end,” said Romano.
“From Spain, that is what they guarantee Real Madrid are trying to do.
“Until the deals are signed, clubs can try to enter and hijack until the very final moments. But my understanding on this story is that Martin Zubimendi has agreed on absolutely everything to become a new Arsenal player.
“There is an agreement with the club since a long time ago. I already said a few months ago the ‘here we go’, because from what I heard, Zubimendi accepted everything Arsenal offered. He already spoke to Mikel Arteta, he wanted to wait until the formal steps to respect Real Sociedad until the end of the season.
“The deal is agreed. They’ve already exchanged everything, in terms of documents. It’s just about the medical, put pen to paper, take the pictures, and then Zubimendi will become an Arsenal player.”
Sharing a cautionary word, the journalist doesn’t entirely rule out Real, but Arsenal appear more than confident they’ll get him over the line.
“If Real Madrid or any other clubs will be able to change this story while the documents are ready, in football like so many things… never say never,” continued Romano.
“But Arsenal are convinced he will be their player this summer.”