West Ham United were planning to sign an “outrageous” player, before he ended up signing for Aston Villa in a deadline-busting move.

West Ham miss out on "outrageous" star to Aston Villa

Ultimately, West Ham did what they needed to do on deadline day, bringing in Igor Julio on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion to provide cover in defence, but there are question marks over whether it was a successful window on the whole.

Former player Dean Ashton has been left unconvinced by the recruitment team’s summer transfer strategy, saying: “The recruitment’s been so shoddy, especially when you change managers and style of football.

“You have to be so aligned at board level to make sure that recruitment is absolutely spot-on for the manager that you’ve got in place.”

Things picked up in the latter stages of the window, bringing in 21-year-old midfielder Soungouto Magassa from AS Monaco, while Mateus Fernandes also arrived from Southampton.

However, there are arguably some doubts over the signing of Fernandes, given that the attacking midfielder is yet to really prove himself at Premier League level, having been part of the Southampton side that picked up just 12 points last season.

Instead, West Ham may have been better off signing a more established Premier League midfielder, and that is exactly what they tried to do, having planned to push for the signing of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott in August.

However, Elliott ultimately ended up completing a deadline-busting move to Aston Villa, with the 22-year-old joining on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, which includes an obligation to buy for £35m.

"Outstanding" manager is "leading" West Ham candidate to replace Potter

The Hammers have set their sights on a Graham Potter replacement.

ByDominic Lund Aug 31, 2025 Elliott could have been "outrageous" signing for West Ham

It is perhaps unsurprising the Hammers missed out on the England U21 international, given that the option to join a club competing in the Europa League was on the table, but it is still disappointing they were unable to get a deal done.

The former Fulham man has been lauded as “outrageous” by scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and he is much more established than Fernandes at the top level, most notably scoring a late winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season.

That’s not to say Fernandes isn’t a strong addition to Potter’s squad, however, with the Portuguese youngster impressing after being thrown straight in on the left-wing against Nottingham Forest last time out.

The starlet won six duels, the joint-second highest number of any West Ham player on the pitch, while he has also received high praise for his attitude from former Saints man Jo Tessem in the past, who said: “Every week he plays his heart out, he is by far the best player on the football pitch from a Saints perspective.”

Manchester United’s rebuild under Ruben Amorim has been nothing short of turbulent.

A disastrous 2024/25 campaign saw the club slump to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League and lose the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

The result was their worst league showing in decades and left them without any European football this season, stripping away both revenue and prestige.

In response, the Old Trafford hierarchy have moved aggressively in the transfer market this summer.

More than £200 million has already been spent to bring in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, signings that point to a focus on youthful energy and attacking firepower.

Yet even with those additions, one glaring issue remains: the defence.

Man United step up chase for Premier League captain

United’s backline was repeatedly exposed last term, and now the club are looking to secure the services of another commanding centre-half.

One who not only mirrors Harry Maguire in style and presence but could also represent the long-term successor.

Liverpool and Tottenham are also in the mix, but United appear particularly determined. Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, the man in question is Brentford’s Nathan Collins, with the Red Devils targeting a ‘shock’ swoop.

Tipped by journalist Mario Marra as “one of the best defenders in the Premier League,” the 24-year-old has grown rapidly into one of the most reliable centre-backs in English football.

Brentford, however, are deeply reluctant to sell.

Collins only joined the club in 2023 for a record £23m from Wolves and has since been elevated to captaincy, succeeding Christian Nørgaard.

His leadership qualities have been highlighted by new Bees boss Keith Andrews, who labelled him a “natural leader” and central to the side’s identity.

Transfer Focus

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

Standing at 1.93m, Collins is both a physical presence and a composed figure in possession – traits that have made him a target for the Premier League’s elite.

The Republic of Ireland international, who already has 30 senior caps and two international goals to his name, featured in Brentford’s opening day 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

With his contract running until 2029, the west London club have no financial pressure to cash in, particularly after sanctioning Bryan Mbeumo’s £71m move to Manchester United earlier this window.

Collins and Maguire: parallels and comparisons

The comparisons with Harry Maguire are inevitable.

When United signed Maguire from Leicester in 2019 for £80m, he was widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in England, having starred for England at the 2018 World Cup.

His aerial strength and ability to step out with the ball drew widespread acclaim.

Collins now carries a similar profile at a younger age.

Both are physically imposing defenders, capable of dealing with long balls into the box, and comfortable leading from the back.

Importantly, both have also attracted interest from rival Premier League clubs at a relatively early stage in their careers, underlining their perceived value at the highest level.

Statistically, Collins has begun to surpass Maguire’s output.

Last season, the Brentford defender played 38 league games, contributing two goals and five assists, a notable tally for a centre-half.

His defensive metrics stand out: he ranks in the 97th percentile for blocks per 90 (1.97), the 79th percentile for clearances per 90 (5.90), and the 85th percentile for aerials won per 90 (3.03).

These numbers highlight both his defensive instinct and his reliability when Brentford are under pressure.

By comparison, Maguire, now 32, remains a steady figure but no longer operates at the same statistical level.

Last season he played 27 league matches and his influence has diminished. A look at their direct numbers paints the picture clearly:

The data illustrates that while Maguire still excels in certain defensive actions, particularly when stepping up to tackle dribblers, Collins provides a superior shield in terms of blocking shots and disrupting attacking moves.

His knack for timely interventions reflects why so many top clubs have circled.

It’s also worth considering the trajectory. Maguire’s market value, once as high as that £80m price tag, has now fallen to just £11m, via Transfermarkt.

Collins, at 24 and with a long-term contract, represents the kind of profile United increasingly covet: players yet to hit their prime, with potential resale value.

The symbolism of this chase should not be underestimated. Manchester United were once defined by their defensive stalwarts – from Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand to Steve Bruce and Jaap Stam.

Collins may not yet be at that level, but the attributes he has displayed at Brentford and for Ireland suggest he has the potential to grow into such a role.

For Brentford, keeping hold of him is about more than just finances; it is about identity and ambition.

For United, though, the question is whether they are willing to test that resolve – and potentially break the bank again – to secure the man who could be Maguire’s successor.

His best display for Man Utd: £60m star is as undroppable as Mbeumo & Cunha

Manchester United suffered defeat in their first game of the new season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 17, 2025

Melbourne Renegades have further bolstered their pace stocks after landing free agent Brendan Doggett, while the club’s shake-up is set to continue with Hobart Hurricanes’ title-winning opener Caleb Jewell poised to sign with them before the BBL’s new player movement window ends on Thursday.Doggett, who was part of Australia’s squad during part of the recent India Test series, has played the past two seasons with Adelaide Strikers, but only claimed three wickets in six matches in BBL 14. He had previously played four seasons with Sydney Thunder after having started his career at Brisbane Heat.His signing comes on the back of Renegades securing left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff on a three-year deal after Perth Scorchers were not able to guarantee him a contract.Related

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“Brendan is an exciting addition to our squad, he’s a skilful fast bowler with ability to execute under pressure and take important wickets,” Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said. “We believe Brendan will play an important role for us. To pair him up with Tom [Rogers], Jason, Adam [Zampa] and Will [Sutherland], we believe we have a powerful bowling unit that boasts variety and the very highest-end talent.”After missing out on the finals for the fifth time in the past six seasons, Renegades have also looked at shoring up their top-order batting. ESPNcricinfo understands that Jewell is set to be released from his Hurricanes contract and take up a deal with Renegades. He played a key role in Hurricanes’ championship campaign, complementing breakout opener Mitchell Owen in an anchoring role.Owen extended his contract with Hurricanes through to BBL 17, while free agent Tim David is expected to re-sign after significant interest from Melbourne Stars. Hurricanes, however, are believed to not have offered a contract to legspinner Peter Hatzoglou. He only took one wicket from six matches this season, but was relatively economical and did play through their finals campaign.ESPNcricinfo understands left-arm seam-bowling allrounder Hayden Kerr is set to re-sign with Sydney Sixers on a two-year deal having had considerable interest from several teams, including Stars.Kerr started his BBL career with Sixers in 2019-20 and has been a mainstay of the side since his breakout in BBL 11, highlighted by clubbing 98 not out as an opener against Strikers in the Challenger final. He took nine wickets from ten matches this season.Free agent D’Arcy Short is expected to re-sign with Strikers, but the club is believed to be still weighing up their batting options. The veteran averaged 23.50 with a strike rate of 135 from nine matches in various roles in Strikers’ batting-order.Caleb Jewell is set to leave Hurricanes for Renegades•Getty Images

Meanwhile, left-arm quick Joel Paris has returned to Scorchers, his original BBL club, after signing a one-year deal. Paris was Scorchers’ primary target to replace Behrendorff and he will rejoin the club he played for from BBL 5 through to BBL 10. He finished the latest BBL season strongly and helped Stars make an unlikely finals appearance.”We identified the need for another new-ball bowler and saw this as a great opportunity to bring Joel back to Perth,” Scorchers high-performance boss Kade Harvey said. “Joel had a strong BBL14 season for the Stars, bowling a lot of his overs during the powerplay. We also like having a left-arm pace bowler in the squad.”He’s an excellent leader and has been an enormous contributor for WA over many years, so we’re looking forward to having him throughout the whole summer.”Scorchers’ former captain Mitchell Marsh is still out of contract but appears likely to remain with the team despite interest from both Melbourne clubs.In another development, Stars general manager Blair Crouch has stood down after four seasons in the role. Stars appear set to reshape the general manager role to remove the cricket high-performance and list-management element from the job having hired former Australia fast bowler Clint McKay as T20 high-performance manager last year.

Serge Gnabry looks rejuvenated under head coach Vincent Kompany's tutelage, as the Bayern Munich superstar has become an integral player for the club just weeks after he was linked with an exit. The German international has explained the reasons behind his and Bayern's blistering start to the season and revealed two key aspects Kompany is "obsessed" over.

Bayern unstoppable at the start of the 2025-26 season

The reigning Bundesliga champions have started the new season on fire, capturing the DFL-Supercup by beating Stuttgart in August before going on a rampage in the German top-flight. In four league games, Bayern have recorded four wins, maintaining a perfect start to the season and scoring a whopping 18 goals in the process. The 3-1 win over Chelsea in their opening game of the Champions League was a huge confidence boost, too, as Kompany's side look favourites to retain their domestic crown and become a serious contender for the 'Big Ears' after a quarter-final elimination last season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGnabry growing in influence

The trust shown by Kompany in Gnabry, thanks in part due to the long-term injury to Jamal Musiala, has paid huge dividends. The 30-year-old has formed a phenomenal attacking partnership with Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz by featuring as an attacking midfielder, resulting in three goals and two assists in four Bundesliga appearances. The ex-Arsenal man looks revitalised, having shrugged off his injury woes, and is on course to beat the combined tally of goals scored by him in the past two seasons.

Gnabry reveals Kompany's recipe to early success

Speaking to on Tuesday, Gnabry praised the methods of his head coach and revealed the two things he's "obsessed" with. "It's very strong how he relies on the players he has," said Gnabry. 

"I think that's the case for all of us: we feel comfortable under him and feel the trust, even last year. He does that really well. The longer you work together, the better you know each other, the better you know what the coach wants and what the guidelines are. He's obsessed with repetition and detail, which helps us enormously in that we simply know how we play, and it gives us players confidence, and that's nice, of course."

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Getty ImagesGnabry to be rewarded with a new contract?

Sporting director Christoph Freund admitted that Gnabry was "still a candidate for sale a few weeks ago, but now his contract is set to be extended." It's a significant step towards Gnabry's hopes of remaining at the Allianz Arena beyond next summer, when his current deal expires. 

"I'm not worried at all right now. I'm very relaxed. I'm just happy that things are going so well, that we're playing so well. And we'll see about everything else when the time comes," the Bayern star added in the same interview when asked about a contract extension.

Barcelona have been told to get rid of Hansi Flick due to his methods with Robert Lewandowski. Legendary goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski did not mince his words, declaring that a squad the veteran striker “should have won everything", including the Champions League, last season as he blamed the German coach for their failure.

• Lewandowski saved the day off the bench

  Thrown on in the second half of Barcelona's midweek clash against Real Oviedo with the game tied at 1-1, the veteran needed just five minutes to turn the tide. Frenkie de Jong rose to nod down a perfect header, and the Polish hitman met it with a delicate flick that nestled past the keeper to give Barcelona the lead. Barca went on to complete a 3-1 turnaround, but the headlines focused less on the three points and more on the fact that their No.9 is being used as a super-sub rather than the spearhead.

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  From main man to bench weapon

  For a player who built his career as the ultimate talisman, Lewandowski’s new reality under Flick is striking. Instead of leading the line week in, week out, he has been eased back into action after a preseason setback. So far, that has meant brief cameos rather than 90-minute stints, but the 37-year-old has performed well in his new role. He bagged a brace against Valencia earlier in the campaign and has now scored three times off the bench. Few strikers in Europe can boast such efficiency. But to Tomaszewski, treating Lewandowski like a ‘Plan B’ borders on criminal.

• Tomaszewski tore into Barca boss

  The outspoken Poland legend did not hold back when quizzed on Lewandowski's situation, telling : "Barcelona have a squad for the Club World Cup, which they didn't even participate in in America. They definitely have a squad for the Champions League, the most important trophy. Unfortunately, the coaching staff should stick it out until the end, and I hope their contract isn't extended, because 'Mr. German' isn't performing very well.  With such a footballing 'gun' he should have won everything in Europe, and they lost to Inter, a good team, but the subsequent 5-0 final against PSG exposed them."

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• Lewandowski remains patient

  After the Ovideo win, Lewandowski insisted that he is unfazed by the new role and remains "patient" as he awaits further opportunities to prove his worth to Flick this season. 

  “I’m patient," he claimed. "The most important thing is that if I play, I want to score a goal to help the team. Physically, I feel very good.” 

Having already commenced talks to sign Tolu Arokodare, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly eyeing a late swoop to sign another impressive striker.

Latest on Wolves' Arokodare move

With Fabio Silva set to join Borussia Dortmund, Wolves have instantly shifted their focus towards Arokodare. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Midlands club have commenced talks to sign the KRC Genk forward, who could hand Vitor Pereira’s frontline the added depth in quality that it’s been lacking since Matheus Cunha’s departure earlier this summer.

After scoring 23 goals in all competitions last season, the Nigerian forward could be the perfect partner to Jorgen Strand Larsen this season instead of becoming the Norwegian’s replacement.

Whilst Newcastle United have submitted two bids to sign the Wolves forward, both have been rejected and fresh reports have indicated that Strand Larsen will not be allowed to leave Molineux this summer.

The line from Wolves so far has been that Arokodare would simply be replacing Silva rather than anything else. Pereira also recently had his say on Strand Larsen’s future after he scored two goals in a dramatic Carabao Cup win against West Ham United.

Romano: £26m star now set for medical with deal sealed ahead of Wolves move

The Old Gold are set to land their man…

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 26, 2025

He told reporters: “If it’s my decision, of course [Strand-Larsen stays]. Of course. Because he’s a very important player. It’s not only about the technical and tactical, it’s about the character. He’s a player with character.”

However, the manager did also admit that every player has a price and recent rumours that Wolves have set their sights on a second striker alongside Arokodare would suggest that this saga is far from over.

Wolves now eyeing late Alberto swoop

According to Molineux News, Wolves are now eyeing a late swoop to sign Yuri Alberto, who Pereira is a huge admirer of. The pair worked together during Pereira’s time at Corinthians and could now reunite as those in the Midlands set their sights on a late move alongside Arokodare.

The talented striker struck 31 goals in all competitions for Corinthians last season and would be more than capable of firing Wolves to safety. But the rumours of his potential arrival should spark some concern about Strand Larsen’s future.

Whilst Arokodare is a target to replace Silva, a move for a second striker would indicate that Strand Larsen could be heading for the exit door with Alberto lined up as his immediate replacement. Of course, there’s still plenty of dominoes to fall for this to be the case, but Wolves will be bracing themselves for a frantic few days.

Dubbed “superb” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes last November, Alberto would at least be the calibre of forward good enough to replace a talent of Strand Larsen’s level.

It’s been a rollercoaster couple of weeks to be a Crystal Palace supporter.

Eagles fans did manage to see their beloved team win at Wembley again in the Community Shield final, having witnessed their never-say-die side fight back from 2-0 down to surprise Arne Slot’s Liverpool to lift the early-season honours.

However, all this ecstasy so early into the campaign hasn’t been enough to tempt Eberechi Eze to stay put at Selhurst Park, with his disallowed free-kick effort against Chelsea on the opening day in the Premier League all she wrote on a stunning Palace career, as he now edges ever closer to a £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Marc Guehi could be the next high-profile name to ditch Oliver Glasner’s men, too, leaving the South London side with plenty to do in the transfer window before September’s abrupt cut-off.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign £14m star

It had been an extremely low-key window so far from a Palace perspective up until this boiling point.

The only notable addition to the building for the Eagles this summer has been ex-Ajax full-back Borna Sosa joining for £3m, but with Guehi and Eze both looking to be heading out the exit door, expect their activity to ramp up.

Jakub Kiwior looks to be on their list of centre-back targets if the forceful Englishman does seal a move away to Liverpool, while Bilal El Khannouss is also on the Palace radar to try and soften the blow of the former Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder leaving.

There are also striker targets on Palace’s mind, too, if reports are to be believed, with a loan move allegedly in the works for hit-and-miss Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-Chan to move to Selhurst Park, away from Molineux.

The Athletic has revealed that talks have taken place over a move that will help Glasner and Co. fill the void left by Eddie Nketiah’s notable injury absence, with no deal in place just yet.

While he will be viewed as a temporary sprinkle of quality, the £14m man does possess shades of Palace fan favourite Jean Phillippe-Mateta’s game at the peak of his powers, which will hopefully be on full view in South London shortly.

Why Hwang possesses shades of Mateta

After all, even if those named do desert Selhurst Park this summer, Glasner will know he can rely on Mateta to deliver more moments of magic like this chipped effort against Arsenal for the Eagles across the 2025/26 season.

In total, the towering, but skilful, Frenchman has a lethal 47 strikes next to his name from 154 appearances for Palace, which included him bagging his side’s opener at Wembley to kickstart the Community Shield comeback.

However, he hasn’t always found his time at Selhurst Park to be a smooth sailing experience, with only 13 goals coming his way across his first three seasons at the Premier League outfit, before everything impressively clicked into gear.

Hwang has faced a similar reality at Wolves, but while Mateta has come into his own donning Palace’s distinct claret and blue over the past few seasons, his Asian counterpart has found that his own goalscoring prowess has somewhat fizzled out.

24/25

26

2 + 1

23/24

31

13 + 3

22/23

32

4 + 1

21/22

31

5 + 1

Indeed, last season saw Hwang only fire home a meagre two goals across 26 competitions, while Mateta reached 17 across all his games, on the contrary.

Yet, just the season before Mateta’s explosion, the former RB Leipzig attacker had managed to collect an impressive 13 strikes for the Old Gold, leading to former Arsenal goal machine Ian Wright declaring that the 29-year-old has “got everything” you want in a desirable striker.

His standout efforts during the 2023/24 campaign did see him fall short of the FA Cup-winning attacker again – with Mateta trumping his tally by six goals – but the pair were deemed as statistically similar across this season, as per FBref, as Hwang attempts to be another unsung hero-style figure for the Eagles up top.

After all, both strikers in question joined the English game from Germany with points to prove, as they now prepare to potentially link up with each other in attack at Selhurst Park, while Glasner’s men also look for a positive future on the horizon, likely without Guehi and Eze.

Crystal Palace receive reply to £27.6m bid for 21-goal star

He would be a big-money signing at Selhurst Park.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 19, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

As voltas com mais um problema financeiro para quitar pendências com seu elenco, como aconteceu no ano passado, o São Paulo culpa, pelo menos internamente, como responsável pela dificuldade de caixa o atraso de Vasco e Atlético-MG em pagar por parcelas acordadas no início do ano para as contratações do zagueiro Léo e o atacante Patrick, respectivamente.

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O clube do Morumbi estaria próximo de completar três meses de atraso no pagamento do direito de imagem de parte do plantel. Insatisfeitos, os jogadores acordaram com os dirigentes que uma fatia das rendas de bilheteria dos jogos no Morumbi será repassada a eles.

+ Lance! estreia nova marca e se reposiciona no mercado de mídia esportiva

Conforme o LANCE! apurou, a situação interna foi o principal motivo dos dirigentes são-paulinos para desistirem de contratar o ponta Marinho junto ao Flamengo. Havia um entendimento claro entre os líderes do elenco: como poderia haver contratações a ‘peso de ouro’ se há pendências com o elenco.

E em análises internas, o Tricolor culpa os ‘calotes’ recebidos como os principais causadores dos transtornos relacionados a dinheiro.

Léo foi anunciado como reforço do Vasco no final de dezembro do ano passado, após uma negociação de aproximadamente R$ 16 milhões. Segundo fontes do São Paulo, a promessa da 777, administradora da SAF cruz-maltina, era de um pagamento integral em até três meses. Não foi o que aconteceu.

No início de maio, quando as dificuldades financeiras já se anunciavam nos corredores do Morumbi, cartolas tricolores tornaram o caso público.

O L! apurou que o São Paulo teria aceitado parcelar o montante em uma reunião com os cariocas. Os paulistas pediram US$ 900 mil (cerca de R$ 4,3 milhões) até o início deste mês. Mas novamente não houve quitação do valor.

Situação idêntica a de Patrick. O atacante, titular absoluto do Tricolor na última temporada, acabou se transferindo para o Atlético-MG no fim de janeiro por R$ 8 milhões. O acordo seria de pelo menos uma parcela de R$ 1 milhão até o fim do primeiro trimestre. O que também não teria sido cumprido.

Fontes da cúpula são-paulina falaram ao L! que a postura do Tricolor seguirá sendo a do diálogo para tentar resolver a situação. Apelam ao bom senso. Mas existe alas internas do Morumbi que já querem judicializar as questões.

Procurado pela reportagem, o Vasco não quis se posicionar. Alega que ‘não comenta esse tipo de assunto’.

Ao L!, fontes do Atlético-MG reconheceram a dívida com o São Paulo e revelaram que querem uma reunião em breve com os paulistas para tratar sobre o assunto.

Vale lembrar que o próprio São Paulo já passou por isso esta temporada. No início de março, o Tricolor atrasou parte dos pagamentos da primeira parcela dos R$ 5 milhões que terá que desembolsar ao Atlético-GO por 80% dos direitos federativos do ponta Wellington Rato.

A situação dos atrasos ao elenco são-paulino foi motivo de fala até do coordenador técnico Muricy Ramalho, que ao canal ‘Arnaldo e Tirone’ mostrou apoio à insatisfação dos jogadores, mas vê a diretoria ‘atuante em resolver a questão’.

– É muito ruim, você trabalhar e não receber, é a pior coisa do mundo. Os jogadores estão entendendo. A gente não sossega enquanto não consegue pagar. O presidente foi atrás hoje mesmo disso. Você paga um aqui, dois ali. É uma loucura o que o Casares passa. Nós mostramos a dificuldade e que estamos indo atrás. Não estamos com má vontade. Temos que pagar muitas dívidas. Semana passada foi pago alguma coisa, essa semana vai ser de novo.

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

The last seven days or so have been nothing short of a roller coaster for Arsenal fans.

It all started with the news that Kai Havertz had suffered another injury setback on Wednesday morning, which, after last season, felt like a real hammer blow.

However, by the end of the day, the fanbase was in dreamland, as the club were back in for the extraordinarily talented Eberechi Eze, and within a few days, he was being unveiled in front of a packed-out Emirates.

Yet, as if the Englishman wasn’t enough, the Gunners are now back in the market and appear to be closing in on another signing who could be looked at as a bit of an Eze repeat.

Arsenal target Eze repeat

With all the understandable excitement Eze’s arrival has whipped up over the last few days, it’s easy to forget that even before his arrival, Arsenal were having a great window.

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The additions of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi could well be transformational for the starting lineup, and the likes of Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera have added some much-needed depth.

Yet, even with the seven signings made under Andrea Berta’s watch this window, the Gunners appear keen to add at least one more name to that list, someone who could be looked at as another Eze-type signing.

At least that is according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who has claimed Arsenal are very interested in Piero Hincapie.

The respected journalist has revealed that the Bayer Leverkusen defender wants to leave the German outfit this month and that he is prioritising a move to the Emirates.

Interestingly, while the Ecuadorian international has a €60m release clause in his current deal – around £52m – the North Londoners are making efforts to reduce that fee to something “more realistic.”

Even then, this will likely be a costly deal, but personal terms are not expected to be any issue with reports on the continent noting that Hincapie and the Gunners have agreed a contract up until 2030.

Hincapie has proven he’d be more than worth it in recent seasons, especially as this would be another Eze-esque deal.

Why Hincapie would be another Eze

Now, don’t worry, it is not lost on us that Hincapie and Eze operate in very different areas of the pitch, and play the game in very different ways because of this.

However, their positions have little to do with why this deal could be another Eze-esque situation.

Instead, one of the main reasons why their arrivals would be somewhat similar is the fact that Tottenham Hotspur have been interested in both players this summer.

In fact, according to some reports, the Gunners’ bitter rivals have already been in contact with the Leverkusen star, and had him reasonably high up on their list of targets this summer.

So, if this is to be believed, then it would be another case of Berta and his team once again usurping the Lilywhites and moving in on someone they wanted to sign.

However, there are a few other similarities between the two players and their situations as well.

For example, like the former Palace star, the “Ecuadorian football legend in the making,” as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, is a regular member of his national team, and while he often plays at centre-back, he’s versatile enough that he can excel at left-back as well.

Moreover, he’s currently a guaranteed starter in Germany, and, like the Greenwich-born star, played a key role in helping his team do something for the first time in their history when they won the league a couple of seasons ago.

Ultimately, even though it has somewhat come out of nowhere, Hincapie looks like he could be an excellent signing for Arsenal, and one that mirrors Eze’s arrival last week.

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Arsenal reach agreement to sign "explosive" attacking gem after Eze deal

The Gunners are set to sign another attacker…

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 24, 2025

Let’s be clear: Liverpool have not looked that good this season. Four times have Arne Slot’s side had to dig deep in the Premier League and find something within the dying embers to secure all three points.

And yet, Liverpool have only played four matches in the Premier League this season, and have indeed won all four, and have started their title defence flawlessly, the only side to have done so.

Now, domestic action takes a breather, and the Champions League campaign begins. The Reds host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening, kicking off their eight-part group phase.

Defeated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain last season in the round of 16, Liverpool know they need to start strongly. Even so, their stunning top place finish in the group phase last year still pitted them against PSG, who had been subpar early on.

Liverpool have won every game in the Premier League this season, but they have also lacked their usual fluency and fizz in the final third.

Florian Wirtz joined for £116m in the summer, but the German has left plenty to be desired so far, and the question will be posed as to whether he should be dropped.

Wirtz's start to life at Liverpool

Wirtz, 22, left his German homeland cherished as one of the country’s modern greats. Indeed, journalist Chris Stonadge hailed him as a “generational talent” after playing an instrumental role in Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible championship of 2023/24.

But there’s no denying he’s struggled to get going for Slot’s Liverpool so far, assisting Hugo Ekitike in the Community Shield but blanking across his first four appearances in England’s top flight.

Might Liverpool be ready to place their midfield maestro on the bench? Wirtz, to be sure, has been somewhat below his best since joining the Premier League champions, but he’s still a world-class player and will soon crack the nut.

And anyway, he has demonstrated an incredible level of ability on the continental stage, starring for Leverkusen in the Champions League last season and picking up five Man of the Match awards, more than any other player.

It was his first foray into the competition.

It would be bold for Slot to drop Wirtz ahead of the opening night of the Champions League season, but the Dutch coach could make an even more contentious call by withdrawing one of Liverpool’s most instrumental figures from the starting line-up on Wednesday evening.

Slot could boldly axe Liverpool's talisman

It’s not been the smoothest start to the season for Mohamed Salah, and yet he has scored twice and assisted one goal across four games in the Premier League. This is Salah. This is what he does.

However, Slot is catering to a new system, which carries all the vagaries of fresh faces and how they fit together and how this affects the existing crop on the field. For the 33-year-old Salah, one of Europe’s deadliest attacking players, it has been a late-career learning curve, with the newfound quality at number nine hemming him in on the right flank.

Last year, the Egyptian icon was immense, the leading light who led Liverpool to the Premier League title. Across all competitions, he scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists. In the Premier League, his 47 goal involvements broke the record for a 38-game season. Sky Sports’ Gary Neville described him as a “superstar”, and who could argue against it?

Most Goal Contributions in PL (24/25)

Player

Goals (assists)

G/A

1 – Mohamed Salah

29 (18)

47

2 – Alexander Isak

23 (6)

29

3 – Bryan Mbeumo

20 (8)

28

4 – Erling Haaland

22 (3)

25

5 – Yoane Wissa

19 (5)

24

5 – Ollie Watkins

16 (8)

24

5 – Cole Palmer

15 (9)

24

Stats via Transfermarkt

And yet, he’s struggling, spending most of his time outside the flow of the match so far. To suggest that he should be dropped would be to accept bewilderment from many, but here it is anyway.

The season is young, and so make what you will of the data below, but with Sofascore recording Salah’s heatmap to have been pulled somewhat closer to the touchline, it’s clear that a new role has been handed to him, a subtle shift.

Salah might benefit from a pause from the action, allowed to enter the fray after the interval and prey on tired legs.

This would not be a regular occurrence, not at all, but with Jeremie Frimpong waiting in the wings and having impressed off the bench against Burnley, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, adding some energy and pace into the game against an Atletico side who will enjoy nothing more than negating the Reds’ attacking threat.

Liverpool might not have hit the ground running this season, but they have claimed 12 points from 12 in the Premier League. Salah has played a big part in achieving that.

The Merseyside derby awaits on Saturday, and though the right winger’s athleticism and fitness are remarkable things, he might benefit from taking to the dugout for this one, still primed to enter the fray and make things happen after the break.

For 99% of Salah’s Liverpool career, dropping him on a big occasion has felt incomprehensible. Maybe it still does. But the 33-year-old veteran finds a new wealth of attacking talent to ease his burden, and his opening performances this term have left a lot to be desired, even with his trademark prolificness still intact.

Atletico will employ a rigid defensive structure, and they will seek to neutralise Salah and cut off that lane of creativity from the right.

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And, after all, Salah would still be ready for a big role throughout the second half, and given Liverpool’s current predilection for late goals, would a fresh Egyptian King in the closing stages not be a good thing, should Slot’s side need a goal?

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