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Arsenal are believed to be the main contenders to sign a former Manchester City star, with sporting director Andrea Berta now identifying him as one of his major summer priorities.

Arsenal urged to make "statement" striker signing amid Rodrygo talks

Kai Havertz is now back on the grass after what was thought to be a season-ending hamstring injury, but Gabriel Jesus’ severe ACL problem could still have him out until 2026.

Arsenal: Berta now targeting £80m Premier League star as Rodrygo talks stall

They’re having problems in pursuit of the Brazilian.

ByEmilio Galantini May 26, 2025

Over the second half of 2024/2025, Mikel Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role due to Arsenal’s shortage of options, and the Gunners often struggled to put teams away over a disappointing top flight campaign.

Arsenal drew more games than any other side in the Premier League top ten, with their lack of ruthlessness in the final third proving a very considerable worry. Berta has reportedly set his sights on a prolific striker for Arsenal this summer as a result.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are in concrete talks to sign Benjamin Sesko, with keen interest in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres remaining as the club weigh up their best options.

Arsenal have also held talks over a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, as they attempt to add more goals and assists to Arteta’s squad. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to Football Insider recently, explained why the signing of a centre-forward and Rodrygo would be a “statement”.

“[Rodrygo] is a wide player – they need a number nine, but if you sign him and a number nine, that’s a real statement”, said the pundit.

“What it would cost you to get Rodrygo, and would he want to go to Arsenal, is two different things. The need for a number nine is pressing. Saka will play on the right-hand side, Rodrygo can play on the left – if you have those two as a wide pairing, that’s one hell of a pairing to fit in behind a world-class number nine.”

Arsenal now "strongest bidder" to sign Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez

The consensus has been that Arsenal’s statement striker signing this summer is likely to be one of Sesko or Gyokeres – but it is now believed that Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez is near the top of Berta’s transfer list as well.

The Argentine is a relatively new target for Berta, just one year after his £82 million switch to Atlético from Eastlands, with Alvarez going on to enjoy a very impressive debut season for the Spanish heavyweights.

The 25-year-old World Cup winner, whose contract reportedly includes a £126 million release clause, couldn’t get in ahead of Erling Haaland in the City pecking order, but he’s since showcased his real quality with 29 goals and seven assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25.

He was a big-game player in his debut season at Atlético as well, scoring against the likes of Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, not to mention Barcelona in the top flight.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca and journalist David Medina, this has attracted Berta’s serious attention, who is now believed to be prioritising a deal for the South American. Arsenal have also emerged as the “strongest bidder” for Alvarez this summer, with Berta also playing a pivotal role in signing him for Atlético last summer, so he’s a player that the Gunners transfer chief already knows very well.

A serial winner who’s lifted nearly every major trophy just midway through his 20s, Alvarez is a very enticing target, with pundit Owen Hargreaves heaping praise on the centre-forward during his time at City.

“The thing about Alvarez, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a bad game,” Hargreaves said on TNT Sports in late 2023.

“He’s probably a natural centre forward but because of Haaland, you can play him up with him there, you can play him as the number 10. Obviously, with [Kevin] De Bruyne out injured.

“I think the thing that has stood out for me most is his set pieces. The quality on his corners and his crosses, and obviously his free-kick at the weekend.

“It is quite exceptional really.”

According to broadcast giant ESPN, Arsenal are demanding a major concession from Thomas Partey as talks continue over a new contract for the midfielder.

Thomas Partey could now stay at Arsenal with talks ongoing

The £200,000-per-week star has stayed relatively injury-free throughout an impressive 2024/2025 campaign which has seen him dazzle in multiple roles under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal deal "done" as Berta awaits Kroenkes green-light for £51m signing

The Gunners owners are currently holding up a move.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

Utilised at right-back during the absences of key players, as well as partnering the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield to great effect, Partey’s been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers throughout the season.

Last term, the Ghana international could barely get a look-in due to fitness issues and falling down Arteta’s pecking order, and was widely tipped to leave the club four years after his £45 million transfer from Atlético Madrid.

However, this campaign, Partey has made more appearances than in any of his previous seasons at the Emirates Stadium, now proving indispensable to Arteta.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Partey’s resurgence has now sparked the club into action, with Arsenal opening talks to extend the 31-year-old’s contract as his current terms are due to expire this summer.

Arteta has confirmed to the press that he wants to keep Partey at the club for next season, with sporting director Andrea Berta now handed the task of agreeing an extension.

“Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to decide and to talk about,” said Arteta when asked if there has been progress over a new deal for Partey.

“The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”

If contract talks go south, Barcelona are among the clubs eyeing a Bosman deal for Partey, so the African won’t be short of prestigious options.

Arsenal demand major concession from Thomas Partey in contract talks

As per ESPN, it is now believed that Arsenal will demand one major concession from Partey in “any” deal for a new contract, despite his exceptional form.

The suggestion is its pretty non-negotiable, with the concession being that the midfielder will need to take a pay cut to remain in north London.

This comes as Arsenal attempt to finalise a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Berta is widely rumoured to also be negotiating fresh terms with the likes of Bukayo Saka, so it appears the club wish to trim their wage bill where possible.

Partey is keen to remain at Arsenal, according to credible news outlets like The Telegraph, but it remains to be seen whether he’s willing to be paid less than his illustrious teammates – especially considering he’s put in consistently outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

It was a night of conflicting emotions for Arsenal last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side finally returned to Premier League football after two weeks off for the international break, and while they looked a little rusty, they picked up all three points, winning 2-1.

However, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhães both came off injured and while the former didn’t look too bad, the latter appeared to be holding his hamstring, which could be terrible news ahead of next week’s Champions League game against Real Madrid.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Furthermore, while they ultimately won, the home side’s performances were mixed. Some players really stepped up, while others looked poor, including one Arteta signing who has to be dropped ahead of the next two games.

Arsenal's stand-out performers vs Fulham

So, before we get to the disappointing player in question, it’s worth looking at those who played well last night; the team did win, after all.

While Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have received much of the praise following last night, deservedly so, other starters stepped up to the plate, such as Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain had a good international break, starting both games for Thomas Tuchel, and carried that form back into the match against Fulham as he was seemingly here, there, and everywhere throughout the 90 minutes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Granted, he did miss a chance towards the end of the game, firing well over the bar, but in all, it was a composed and dominant performance, as fans have come to expect, and enough to earn a 7/10 match rating from football.london’s Tom Canton.

Two players who did one better than the Englishman were Timber and Merino who received 8/10 match ratings from the journalist.

Before coming off, the former put in a brilliant showing, getting forward to help out in attack and making several impressive defensive contributions, including a vital tackle on Antonee Robinson in the second half.

Merino scored yet another goal for his efforts, and while it was a little scrappy, he continues to deliver for his manager and teammates.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all great last night, as there was one Arsenal ace who underwhelmed and once again showed that the club should probably be looking to move him on as soon as possible.

The Arsenal star who must be axed after Fulham

It is a cruel irony that Arteta got Saka back from injury last night and then lost Timber and Gabriel. What makes it worse is that Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are also injured.

So, with few options, the manager turned to Jakub Kiwior to replace the Brazilian titan.

While he’s shown glimpses of quality in the past, this performance further reinforced the idea that Arsenal need another centre-back in the summer and that, as podcaster Phil Costa claims, he just “isn’t good enough” to regularly feature for the Gunners.

As he was against Fulham earlier in the season, the Polish international looked uneasy at the back, unconvincing on the ball and was a significant step down in quality on the man he replaced and the star he was playing alongside.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by Canton, who awarded him just a 6/10 on the night and laid part of the blame for the Cottagers’ goal at his feet for his ‘tussle’ with the rapid Adama Traore.

Interestingly, his statistics for the game are rather mixed, with the positive being the fact he won four of five ground duels, made five clearances and completed 93% of his passes.

Minutes

74′

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

Dribbled past

1

Errors Leading to a Shot

1

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (0)

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Lost Possession

4

Passing Accuracy

41/44 (93%)

However, on the other hand, he lost 100% of his aerial duels, made an error that led directly to a shot and was dribbled past, which, if it happens against Fulham, could be a serious problem against Real next week.

Therefore, if there is any chance that White, Timber, or even Rice can fill in at centre-back in the next two games, Arteta must drop Kiwior from the starting lineup, as he’s just not good enough to start for a team like Arsenal.

Better than Saka: 8/10 Arsenal star just dropped his best game in years

Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal team as they beat Fulham 2-1.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 2, 2025

Up-and-coming seamer is in the running to replace Anderson in England’s Test team

Vithushan Ehantharajah23-May-2024They say moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in life. One imagines replacing James Anderson might rival that.Dillon Pennington has taken the former in his stride. A switch from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire has been seamless with 21 wickets across five Division One matches so far. It is a start that puts him on course for his most productive County Championship season.The latter opportunity, however, has not presented itself just yet. But the manner of Pennington’s performances as a six-foot-four quick operating in the mid-eighties has had gums flapping.Men’s managing director Rob Key, having put the word out that England are looking for pace over dismissals from would-be Test quicks, mentioned Pennington when discussing possible debutants this summer in a recent interview with the BBC. Anderson’s impending retirement after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s puts a little bit more on Key’s namecheck, particularly given that Pennington does not have a central contract.”My main aim was to get into the Notts team and perform well there,” Pennington tells ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve started okay, but I’ve got a long way to go. I mean, I’m only five games in.”It’s an exciting time in English cricket. There are opportunities, but there are some fantastic bowlers out there, and I think I’ve got a long way to go before anything like that happens, and that’s completely fair.”One of those “fantastic bowlers” is Josh Tongue, who, along with batter Jack Haynes, joined Pennington in swapping New Road for Trent Bridge. Tongue’s setback in his recovery from a pectoral injury has opened the door further for Pennington. As has a recurrence of a lower back stress fracture for Surrey’s Jamie Overton.Pennington’s emergence has been steady. His talents have always been earmarked for higher honours, reflected in U19 caps for England, notably at the 2018 World Cup. His cohort contained the likes of Harry Brook, Will Jacks and fellow opening bowler Ethan Bamber, who he calls a mate. “We have a bit of a sounding board after games,” he says of their friendship. “If ever either of us are struggling, we pick up the phone and have a chat about it.”Dillon Pennington was Worcestershire’s spearhead prior to his move to Trent Bridge•Getty ImagesProfessional debuts across all three formats arrived that summer, as did glowing early reviews from the likes of Morne Morkel and Kane Williamson, who were playing for Surrey and Yorkshire, respectively. But it speaks to where Pennington is at the age of 25 that such flattery does not mean all that much now.”Those sorts of comments were a long time ago, in 2018,” he says. “A lot has gone past. One of the reasons for the move was I almost needed a jump-start. I needed something a little bit different to play higher honours at some point in my career.”I think I was progressing nicely at Worcestershire. But since those comments and since the Under-19s, I just hadn’t kicked on enough for what I wanted and what maybe was projected on me.”That being said, 2022 was a breakthrough season, with Pennington taking 44 of his eventual 140 dismissals at Worcestershire. Work, primarily on lengths, with former head coach Alex Gidman and Alan Richardson (bowling coach at the time before replacing Gidman in 2022) paid dividends. It was the result of their guidance, Pennington’s hard work and the opportunities to learn while doing.”I had so many playing opportunities at Worcestershire, which was amazing, and it makes you learn very quick about how you need to perform. I’ve gradually got better just by playing and learning against different batters and different counties.”Over the years, that’s got better and better. I think I’ve just got more acclimatised to first-class cricket, really. There are some great people there. Playing under Leachy (Joe Leach) and Dolly (Brett D’Oliveira) was really good – they gave me a lot of confidence.”

One of the reasons for the move was I almost needed a jump-start. I needed something a little bit different to play higher honours at some point in my career.

The switch to Peter Moores’ Nottinghamshire was by no means a straightforward decision. “Of course, it’s daunting,” Pennington says. “There are loads of things in your mind that are pros and cons about doing it.”But I think when your ambitions are to play international cricket, you are going to face difficult times and decisions anyway.”The sweetener was Kevin Shine’s presence on the Nottinghamshire staff. Pennington had some dealings previously with him through the pathway during Shine’s time as the ECB’s lead bowling coach, a role that involved Shine travelling the counties to keep tabs on the next crop of quicks.As such, Pennington decided to spend the winter at home, as much to get to know his new teammates as begin working with Shine. The pair sat down in October and devised a plan to build on Pennington’s work at Worcestershire and evolve him as a bowler to make the step up to international cricket. “Any changes he (Shine) wanted to make, I just opened up to him and allowed him to crack on.”Related

Key, McCullum, Stokes told Anderson: It's time to move on

Anderson to retire after Lord's Test against West Indies

Top of the list were increasing pace and improving stamina to maintain that pace throughout a day’s play and over the course of the match. To achieve that, Pennington worked on getting more flow into his action by changing his gather, ensuring he held onto the ball for longer. That, in turn, buys him more time to assume a stronger position and ensure better alignment at the crease, at the point of delivery.It was a tweak Stuart Broad made, under Shine’s guidance, that allowed him to sign off a glittering career in style. Having workshopped a new gather over the 2022-23 winter and start of the 2023 County summer – even boasting about a new outswinger – Broad finished the Ashes as England’s leading wicket-taker with 22.”It’s more with my action – just try and create a bit more flow. I’ve changed my load-up a tiny bit, but it’s actually going back to when I was 18 – I had a similar thing. So we’ve basically gone back in time, but with the strength work I’ve done and the bits I’ve done at Worcester, all that has combined.”It’s helped with my engine – I’m able to go for a bit longer and the consistency of pace has got better.”The results, so far, are clear for all to see. Batters have been undone by combinations of pace and bounce, all while Pennington continues to seek improvements on the whole.He returns to where it all began this week as New Road hosts its first match of the summer. The awkwardness of coming up against former teammates was taken care of in the second round of the season in Nottingham. Pennington took 3 for 76 with the Kookaburra ball in a rain-affected affair.He’ll no doubt be given a warm reception and have more attention on his performance in this final round of Championship cricket before the Vitality Blast takes over. By the time it returns at the end of June, Pennington may have a better gauge of whether he is in the mix for that first Test on July 10. He has had no contact with the ECB about it just yet – which is fine by him.”There’s no point for me putting pressure on myself. I need to cement myself in a team that’s really good, I’ve got a new coaching staff to impress. The hope is that all of that will result in a better me.”

Former cricketers showered praise on Joe Root after he scored his 26th Test century and went past 10,000 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jun-2022Joe Root walked off to a standing ovation at Lord’s after guiding England to a five-wicket win, not before reaching his 26th Test century and crossing 10,000 Test runs with the same shot. Here is how the cricket fraternity reacted to his achievements on social media.

ROOOOOT! Unbelievable

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) June 5, 2022