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Kylian Mbappe, who needs just six goals to become his country's all-time top scorer, believes he "can score against anyone" ahead of France's World Cup qualifying clash against Azerbaijan on Friday. His participation in the game, however, remains uncertain, with the Frenchman picking up a minor ankle sprain in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga last weekend.

Mbappe eyeing Giroud's throne as France's all-time top scorer

Giroud retired from international football in 2024 after making 137 appearances and a record 57 goals for Les Bleus. Mbappe currently sits in second position, having scored 52 goals in 92 games. The Frenchman, who has been in breathtaking form at the start of the season, will be aiming to eclipse Giroud in France's next two games – two relatively easy fixtures against Azerbaijan on Friday and Iceland next Monday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGiroud record not on Mbappe's mind at the moment

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the France captain said: "I'm not breaking any taboos when I say I can score goals against anyone. Every match has its own reality. [Azerbaijan] is a team that held Ukraine to a draw, where we didn't have it easy. The stakes are higher than just scoring goals, even if we're not going to deprive ourselves of that.

"I think I'll beat [Giroud], but when, I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, who knows? Maybe later. It's something that will come naturally and I'll move on from there."

Mbappe finally the player Real Madrid thought they signed in 2024

A record-breaking individual season was overshadowed by Real Madrid's failure to secure major silverware. The Frenchman often struggled, especially during the first half of the 2024-25 season, before finding his feet and finishing the season with the Pichichi and European Golden Shoe awards. 

This season, though, Mbappe has been in transcendental form, scoring 14 goals in 10 games for Los Blancos and finally giving the impression that the version of Mbappe Madrid thought they signed in the summer of 2024 has arrived.

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GettyWill Mbappe feature for France on Friday?

In Madrid's most recent outing, a 3-1 win over Villarreal last weekend, Mbappe came off in the 82nd minute, just moments after he scored a goal. After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that the 26-year-old had only suffered a minor ankle sprain. 

Regardless, he was called up by France boss Didier Deschamps in hopes that he would recover from his knock in time for Friday's clash against Azerbaijan. The former Paris Saint-Germain player missed team training this week, but Mbappe confirmed he would participate in training with the rest of his squad on Thursday.

"I want to play, the coach wants me to play, I don't think there will be any problems," Mbappe said. "I feel good, we're talking to the coach. I'm going to train today, it's the last test but I'm not particularly worried."

Newcastle United will now be hoping, with a depressing transfer window thankfully out of the way, that they can kick into gear in the Premier League when the international break is over.

The expected departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool was, unfortunately, confirmed at the final hour of an action-packed deadline day.

Yet, it’s not all doom and gloom at St James’ Park, as the Magpies did manage to finally welcome in Yoane Wissa from Brentford to bolster up top, away from also securing the services of Nick Woltemade for a whopping £64m.

On top of that, they did at least manage to get £125m out of Arne Slot’s Reds to part ways with their prized Swede, with Newcastle not always driving the hardest bargain when it comes to the many twists and turns of incomings and outgoings…

Newcastle's disastrous sale of Elliot Anderson

It’s hard to picture Elliot Anderson back in the famous black and white stripes of Newcastle, with the 22-year-old midfield engine now synonymous with Nottingham Forest, ever since clinching a move to the City Ground last year.

In another reality, the Toon would have surely kept a firmer grip on their homegrown gem, but to appropriately balance the books amid PSR concerns, the Tyneside outfit had to surrender and gift Forest the 5-foot-10 star for what looks like now to be a very cheap £35m.

He has since gone on to be a rip-roaring success for the Tricky Trees after lining up for 55 senior games for his boyhood employers, with two goals and seven assists falling into his lap from 45 clashes for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, leading to an England call-up under Thomas Tuchel for the very first time.

It’s safe to say Anderson shone on debut against Andorra on Saturday evening, taking home the Man of the Match award.

Once dubbed a “phenomenal” talent by ex-Bristol Rovers teammate Alex Rodman when first making waves in the senior game, it’s safe to say the well-rounded midfielder has soared to some unbelievable heights ever since waving goodbye to Tyneside.

He isn’t the only exit from the Newcastle midfield ranks that feels premature with hindsight on side, with the previous regime guilty of selling their original version of Anderson for just £10m all the way back in 2018.

Newcastle's original Anderson sold too early

Thankfully, Howe does have a lot of quality brimming in his midfield department, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Sandro Tonali the first names on the 47-year-old’s teamsheet.

Still, for even more depth and competition, having Anderson around would be a luxury he wouldn’t turn down, alongside the prospect of having Mikel Merino back on the Magpies’ books for a second chance at the club.

Before becoming a well-known goal threat back on English shores with Arsenal, Merino was a one-season flop at St James’ Park, with only 14 league starts handed to the adaptable Spaniard before he was shipped back off to La Liga with Real Sociedad for £10m.

This has proven to be a costly mistake in the same realm as Anderson’s disastrous departure, with the “exceptional” midfielder – as he has been previously labelled by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente – going on to prove himself as a Premier League-calibre talent under Mikel Arteta.

Merino vs Anderson in 24/25 PL

Stat (* = per 90 mins)

Merino

Anderson

Games played

28

37

Goals scored

7

2

Assists

2

6

Touches*

30.2

54.2

Accurate passes*

15.9 (80%)

28.7 (82%)

Ball recoveries*

3.1

5.6

Total duels won*

4.9

6.5

Stats by Sofascore

Away from his standout nine-goal contributions last season in the hustle and bustle of league action, Merino also stood out as a combative and energetic option for Arteta, much like Anderson at Forest, with 4.9 duels won per game, not too far off his counterpart’s heftier total.

To further add to the anguish, Merino has also managed to excel for his nation to bring more similarities into view, with a goal picked up for Spain on the same international break Anderson won his first Three Lions cap.

With the Pamplona-born warrior now worth around the £30m mark, according to Transfermarkt, this feels like another major blunder on Newcastle’s end, away from focusing on just the much-talked-about disappointment of Anderson leaving.

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Mohammad Rizwan has accepted that Pakistan are all but out of their own Champions Trophy after a chastening six-wicket loss to India in Dubai to follow their 60-run loss in the opening game against New Zealand.The defending champions only have a game against Bangladesh left and are left relying on other results in the group to sneak them through to the last four. That is a situation Pakistan have found themselves in regularly in recent tournaments – though this one looks less likely to happen – and it is one Rizwan does not much care for.”We can say for now that it is over – that is the truth,” Rizwan said after the game. “We’ll see what Bangladesh does with New Zealand, then New Zealand with India, and then what we do. It’s a long road and it depends on other teams.Related

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“As a captain, I don’t like depending on others. If you are good enough, you show it by winning and keeping things in your hands. Waiting on other teams, I don’t like worrying about their results. What matters is that India and New Zealand beat us. They played strong cricket and we didn’t play well. If we get a chance [to sneak through] then so be it.”Rizwan acknowledged the side would have to face difficult questions about their performances here. Their exit is confirmed if New Zealand beat Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday and, if so, will mark the third ICC white-ball tournament in a row in which Pakistan have exited before the knockouts.Rizwan, who took over as the white-ball captain late last year and led the side to bilateral ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa, was frustrated by his side making the same mistakes they have made in their recent losses – in a tri-series involving New Zealand and South Africa and then their opening game here.His own innings today – a 77-ball 46 – will come under scrutiny much in the way that Babar Azam’s innings in the opening loss did. It was far more inert until a late acceleration, but his dismissal was one of three quick wickets in the middle which robbed Pakistan of whatever momentum they had built.”When you lose, you’re obviously disappointed and it’s a difficult time, difficult questions come up,” he said. “We made mistakes in all three departments, that is why we lost today.”In our team meeting yesterday, we had said we’ll target 270-280 on this, given the outfield was slow, the pitch was slow. If we’d got 280, the result might have been different. Saud [Shakeel] and I started building up a partnership, over which we took some time, but after that our shot selection was poor. That gave them a chance to take wickets and put pressure on our middle order. They built on it, and we couldn’t stabilise ourselves.”We made mistakes we’ve been making in the last few matches. These aren’t new mistakes. We’ve been making them in the last four games. We work on them, but we are humans, our players are humans, these mistakes happen. We’re trying to work on those, we’re trying to put the effort in to resolve those. What I believe is that India’s effort was greater than us, they were braver than us. That is why they got the result. We made mistakes, maybe because when we had to show bravery in some moments we didn’t show enough. In our fielding we needed to show more energy, but maybe we were lacking in that, and so made mistakes.”Mohammad Rizwan: ‘We made mistakes in all three departments, that is why we lost today’•ICC/Getty Images

In one sense, the limitations of Pakistan’s batting had been impacted twice over before the tournament had even begun in earnest. Saim Ayub’s fractured ankle robbed them of a young, modern and in-form opener and then, two balls into their opening game, they effectively lost Fakhar Zaman, their other opener capable of quick starts.Rizwan lamented the loss of both, especially Ayub who provided a spin-bowling option as well. It left Pakistan reliant on Imam-ul-Haq in this game, an opener with a vastly different skillset.Similarly, the presence of only one specialist spinner in the squad – Abrar Ahmed – has been questioned through the tri-series and this tournament’s two games. Rizwan said, however, that they couldn’t have brought in another specialist, despite Abrar being their best bowler across the two games.”In ODIs you can’t have five genuine bowlers. Naseem [Shah], Shaheen [Afridi], Haris [Rauf], Abrar. The fifth, you see New Zealand have [Mitchell] Santner and [Michael] Bracewell, India have [Ravindra] Jadeja and [Axar] Patel. The best we had, the selectors picked them – Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah. If we go with two genuine spinners, that means we are going with five bowlers and six batters and we can’t make a combo of that. So yeah, there will be questions about having another spinner, but you can’t go in with five genuine bowlers in an ODI. Maybe in a T20.”

Tottenham Hotspur have added some shrewd signings to Thomas Frank’s fledgling project this summer, Mohammed Kudus adding flair to the widths and Joao Palhinha bringing some steely mettle to the engine room.

However, Heung-min Son has completed a £20m transfer to LAFC in the United States, and James Maddison has ruptured his ACL and will be sidelined for the lion’s share of the season.

Spurs have issues in midfield and attack, but Daniel Levy might be convinced to add another signing to his team’s backline, even though Cristian Romero looks set to stay amid interest from Atletico Madrid.

Spurs eyeing Serie A raid

Tottenham have had a lot of success in raiding the Italain top flight for talented up-and-comers in recent years, with the likes of Romero and Destiny Udogie springing to mind.

However, Dejan Kulusevski might be the cream of that crop, having hit his stride last season and made good on praise from football scout Jacek Kulig that he is a “world-class talent”.

Now, Tottenham are ready to repeat their trick by raiding one of the Serie A superpowers for another elite player, with sights set on AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw.

According to Caught Offside, Spurs and Arsenal have joined the race for the German centre-back, with Newcastle United already displaying a vested interest this month.

Thiaw, 24, has been the subject of a new €40m (£34m) offer from Newcastle, and while negotiations are understood to be advancing quickly, the Magpies have failed to sign a litany of targets this summer, and Tottenham could be primed to complete a hijack.

Why Spurs want Malick Thiaw

Having joined Milan from Schalke three years ago, Thiaw has made 85 appearances for his Italian side, bringing a dynamic defensive skill set to the squad.

Both crisp and enterprising with his passing, Thiaw ranks among the top 6% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, and the top 14% for progressive passes played per 90, as per FBref.

He’s also been hailed as a “monster in the air” by journalist Martino Puccio, so would bring some substance to the team, ensuring some defensive solidity is found where such went lacking last year.

Given that Micky van de Ven and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate are considered two of his most comparable players, it feels like Frank could hit the jackpot with this one, emulating the deal for Kulusevski and allowing him to grow into one of the Premier League’s superstars.

Tottenham signed Kulusevski from Juventus on an initial loan in January 2022, wrapping a move up 18 months later for a shrewd £25m fee (a similar ballpark to Thiaw now).

Dejan Kulusevski – Tottenham Career by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	50	10	11
23/24	39	8	3
22/23	37	2	8
21/22	19	5	8
Data via Transfermarkt

Last season, the 25-year-old Kulusevski finally struck a balance between his output, with Ange Postecoglou shifting him into a central attacking midfield berth to an emphatic effect.

Not just a potent attacking threat, the Sweden international’s energy and tenacity fed the belief of his teammates, and he was often a shining light throughout a challenging, albeit ultimately rewarding, season.

He averaged 4.1 successful duels and 1.4 tackles per league match, as per Sofascore, and added much to the Ange system when it needed him most.

In Thiaw, Spurs could repeat the trick, signing a rising talent who has more than his position demands of him. It’s one that Tottenham need to get over the line as they head back onto the Champions League stage.

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Ethan Lamb

Aug 9, 2025

Ricardo Carvalho has lifted the lid on his Chelsea memories under Jose Mourinho, recalling how two teammates defined his time at Stamford Bridge: John Terry and Didier Drogba. He shared how Terry, already a home-grown icon when he arrived, became a leader and “warrior” beside him in defence, while Drogba – once considered an unknown quantity – proved to be a revelation in attack.

Carvalho reminisces about Chelsea days and label's Terry "a warrior"

Carvalho arrived at Chelsea in 2004, following Mourinho to Stamford Bridge after they won the Champions League at Porto together, a year after claiming the UEFA Cup trophy. In a six-year spell with the Blues, he won three Premier League titles, Four FA Cups and two League Cups before heading to Real Madrid in 2011.

In an interview with , Carvalho reflected on his days in London and was asked for the best centre-back he played alongside in his illustrious career, naming club legend and former captain Terry.

"When I arrived, he grew up in England. And he was someone I admired for his spirit," he said. "He was a leader, a bit like Jorge Costa or Fernando Couto. A warrior on the field, with great quality."

AdvertisementAFPCarvalho picks Didier Drogba as the team's unstoppable force

If Terry was the wall, Drogba was the battering ram who demolished opposition defences. Carvalho first encountered him as an opponent with Porto against Marseille and admitted he was stunned.

"What surprised me most was Drogba. I played against [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, who had a lot of talent and quality, but Drogba was unknown when I was at Porto and we played against Marseille. His strength, explosiveness, and power were incredible. It was difficult to stop him. Later, as teammates, we became great friends. We played for six years at Chelsea, and it was incredible to share a dressing room with him."

At Chelsea he scored 164 goals in 381 appearances, but his greatest legacy came in Europe. In the 2012 Champions League final, Drogba scored the dramatic late equaliser against Bayern Munich before stepping up to convert the decisive penalty in the shootout – delivering Chelsea their first ever European crown. Internationally, he tallied 65 goals in 105 caps for Ivory Coast, becoming their all-time top scorer.

Mourinho’s demands and Carvalho’s growth under the coach

While Terry and Drogba defined his teammates, Carvalho insists Mourinho shaped his career. When asked who had the biggest impact on him, the former Portuguese international swiftly replied, "Mourinho, for all the reasons and more.

"I'm the player who played the most games under him. He was a coach who paid close attention to detail, who demanded a lot. And I handled that demand well."

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AFPA legacy of warriors and a culture that endured

Carvalho’s reflections underline why Chelsea’s mid-2000s side remains so iconic. With Mourinho’s tactical brilliance, Terry’s resilience, and Drogba’s firepower, the team had balance, discipline, and star power in equal measure. Importantly, the attitude and culture Mourinho instilled during his time at Chelsea helped the club win accolades even after he departed, as the mentality of never accepting defeat until the final moment continued to resonate for as long as those legendary icons remained at the club.

Manchester Originals have handed Simon Katich a one-year contract extension after a season in which his men’s team won only once, but Stephen Parry has been let go after two years in charge of their women’s side.The decisions over the two coaches’ futures were made by the Originals board, which has been restructured to reflect their closer ties with Lancashire from 2025. The county will become majority shareholders in Originals next season, when they are handed a 51% stake by the ECB, with the other 49% set to be sold to a private investor.Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket, has been given responsibility to lead the recruitment process for Parry’s successor as women’s head coach as a result. James Sheridan, who is on the Lancashire board, has also taken over from the broadcaster Mark Chapman as Originals’ chair, though Chapman will remain on the board.Related

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Katich, the former Australia batter, has coached Originals men since the Hundred’s inaugural season in 2021, and said he had “unfinished business” after agreeing to return in 2025. “I have absolutely loved my time leading the Manchester Originals over the last three years and I’m already looking forward to next year,” Katich said.Originals were runners-up in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of the men’s Hundred, losing tight finals against Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles. But they failed to overcome the absence of the injured Jos Buttler this year, finishing seventh after winning only one of their eight matches with Phil Salt deputising as captain.”We were all disappointed with how this season went, particularly after coming as close as we did in 2022 and 2023,” Katich said. “I feel we have unfinished business given the events of the last three editions of the Hundred and all of us at the Originals will ensure that we get back on track next year… We are determined to win it for Manchester.”Parry, meanwhile, has been replaced after his side finished sixth in the women’s Hundred this season. Originals are the only women’s team who have not reached the knockout stages in any of the tournament’s first four editions, and are hoping to appoint “a world-leading women’s short-format head coach” for 2025 and beyond.”Stephen leaves us with our thanks and best wishes,” Sheridan said. “He joined us with our women’s team under-strength and still finding its feet at this level of cricket… We are in a much better place following two years with Stephen at the helm.”The recruitment process for Parry’s successor, which Chilton will oversee, will start immediately. “Our aim now is to recruit a world-leading women’s short-format head coach, and we are very excited where this group of players can take Manchester Originals next year and beyond,” Chilton said.The announcements come shortly before Friday’s deadline for first-round bids in the ECB’s sale process of the Hundred, with Lancashire actively seeking a “sporting partner” to become co-owners of Originals. Daniel Gidney, the county’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo in August: “We’d love to work with an IPL team.”The ongoing introduction of private investment is expected to make 2025 a season of transition in the Hundred, with the timeframe likely too tight for new owners to make sweeping changes to playing or coaching staff. The ECB has told prospective owners to expect significant wage hikes, though these could be delayed until 2026.

Despite plenty of speculation over their futures at Ibrox, Nicolas Raskina and Mohamed Diomande both lined up for Glasgow Rangers in their first game of the season on Tuesday.

The duo both started and both registered assists in a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the first leg of the club’s second round Champions League qualifier.

It remains to be seen if Diomande, who assisted Djeidi Gassama’s goal, will still be in Glasgow at the end of the summer transfer window, though, amid interest from Besiktas.

The Turkish giants have already had one offer turned down for the central midfielder, and are reportedly expected to go back in with a second bid for the Ivorian star.

Why Mohamed Diomande is important to Rangers

Russell Martin may not want to lose the left-footed star, though, because he is an important player who provides quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Diomande scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and registered seven assists in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, which shows that he offered a strong threat at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old talent also showcased his defensive talent in the Europa League, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 54% of his duels overall.

These statistics show that Diomande is important to Rangers as a midfielder who can impact games at both ends of the pitch, but the Gers could forget all about him with a move for Salvatore Esposito.

Why Rangers should sign Salvatore Esposito

It was reported earlier this month that the Light Blues are one of the clubs in the race to sign the Spezia central midfielder, who is valued at around £5m by his club.

The 24-year-old midfield star is the kind of signing that could make supporters forget all about Diomande, if the Ivorian whiz moves on to Besiktas, or elsewhere, this summer.

That is not a disservice to Diomande, of course, who has been a fantastic player for Rangers, but it speaks to the kind of quality that the Italian ace could offer in the middle of the park.

Appearances

36

34

Goals

4

7

Big chances created

11

18

Assists

7

9

Duels won per game

4.4

7.3

Ground duel success rate

57%

68%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

51%

As you can see in the table above, Esposito significantly outperformed the Rangers star at league level last season, offering more to his team in possession and defensively.

Whilst he is unproven in the Scottish Premiership, the Spezia star appears to have the potential to provide more quality, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, in the final third, whilst also being stronger and more efficient in his duels off the ball.

The Italy international was described as a “tenacious” midfield “controller” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics from the 2024/25 Serie B campaign back those comments up, as he excelled in duels and offered quality on the ball.

Esposito is the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Rangers will desperately need if they lose Diomande this summer, which is why this is a signing that could make a lot of sense for Martin in the coming weeks if it becomes clear that the Ivorian gem is going to be on his way out of Ibrox.

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Whilst the Gers would like to keep their current number ten, the Spezia star is a player who has the quality and pedigree, as an Italian international, to make the Light Blues forget all about Diomande.

England’s players will pay tribute to the late Graham Thorpe before the start of their Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts in Manchester on Wednesday.Thorpe took his own life at the age of 55 on August 4, after suffering from what his widow Amanda described as “major depression and anxiety”. He was one of England’s greatest batters, averaging 44.66 in a 100-match Test career, and was later their batting coach and an assistant coach until leaving that role after the 2021-22 Ashes tour.He worked with most of England’s squad for the Sri Lanka series in that role and was particularly influential in the careers of Joe Root and Ben Stokes. In his first Test as England’s full-time captain, Stokes wore a shirt bearing Thorpe’s name to the toss following a previous attempt on his own life which left him seriously ill in hospital.”We’ll have our black armbands on throughout the course of the game and there’ll be a tribute to him before,” Ollie Pope, who is standing in for Stokes as captain, said on Tuesday. “It’s hurt a lot of people in that changing-room. He was a great man. I probably had two or three years playing with him as a batting coach. I really admired him.”I remember him saying one thing to me, which was: ‘Never let the runs you’re scoring define you as a person’. In a bit of a rut when you’re young, that was exactly what I needed to hear. It shows, for me, what a people’s person he was. He was loved in the changing-room. He’s such a sad loss to everyone: to the country, his family and the boys as well. He’s missed, and we’ll honour him this week.”Related

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The teams will line up for a moment of applause before the national anthems at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday morning, with a tribute video played on the big screens. Sky Sports will also pay tribute to Thorpe in their coverage, with many of their commentators counting him as a long-time team-mate and a close friend.The opening of an inquest into Thorpe’s death heard last week that he died from “traumatic injuries” after being struck by a train at Esher railway station in Surrey on the morning of August 4.Lancashire will also recognise James Anderson’s career throughout the Test, with Anderson due to ring the bell before the start of play, at the pavilion end of the ground which was named after him in 2017. They will celebrate his achievements as an England player on the outfield during the lunch interval, with Michael Atherton scheduled to make a presentation to him.The club have sold around 14,500 advance tickets for the first two days of the Test, with Friday sold out.

Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have built a talented first-team squad, with many of the stars being young stars who have the chance to develop at the Emirates.

In their 3-0 triumph over European giants Real Madrid last week, the Gunners’ starting eleven had an average age of just 25, with the hierarchy placing a real impetus on developing young stars.

Bukayo Saka is arguably the club’s most high-profile talent, but even the England international is still classed as a youngster at the tender age of just 23.

The winger has already racked up over 250 appearances for his boyhood side, highlighting the rapid progress the academy graduate has made since emerging through the ranks in North London.

He could be joined by several other young talents this summer, as Arteta looks to strengthen his side ahead of a Premier League title challenge once again in 2025/26.

Arsenal’s pursuit to land young stars this summer

Over the last few weeks, new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted no time in targeting reinforcements to bolster the Arsenal squad next season.

He’s immediately sought-after Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, with the Spaniard reemerging on the club’s shortlist after being a prime target in previous transfer windows.

The 22-year-old has a £50m release clause in his current deal with the LaLiga outfit, but could face stiff competition from Barcelona for his signature in the coming months.

Other young talents such as Benjamin Sesko and Jules Koundé have also been largely linked with a transfer to the Emirates, but another name has emerged on the club’s shortlist over the last few days.

Brazilian journalist Lucas Tanaka confirmed that the Gunners are preparing an offer in the region of £12m for Atlético Mineiro’s 15-year-old star Gabriel Veneno ahead of the summer window.

He reported that Arteta’s side have been monitoring his progress in recent months and are interested in landing the gem who could become a bigger star than two youngsters already plying their trade in North London.

Why Veneno could become a bigger talent than MLS & Nwaneri

Whilst the injury situation at Arsenal has derailed their title ambitions in 2024/25, it has allowed for the emergence of youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in recent months.

The former has managed to notch 30 appearances across all competitions during his breakthrough year, scoring his only effort against rivals Manchester City back in February.

His subsequent form led to a maiden England call-up during the last international break, scoring on his debut against Albania, topping off his remarkable rise since his senior debut.

As for Nwaneri, he’s made 32 appearances for Arteta’s side, scoring eight times and registering two assists – a truly incredible feat for an 18-year-old during his first full season as a professional.

Both have worked their way into the manager’s plans, undoubtedly having a huge part to play in any future success in the years ahead at the Emirates.

They could be joined in such a quest by right-winger Veneno, who’s managed to capture huge attention in his homeland, being a regular in the Brazil U16 setup in recent months.

Many analysts have delivered their opinion on the talented teenager, with Ben Mattinson singing his praises, comparing the star to Manchester City’s Savinho.

Over the years, countless Brazilian stars have succeeded, none more so than Neymar and Vinícius Júnior – who have both won everything in Europe with Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.

If the “skilful” Veneno – as noted above – gets anywhere close to the levels produced by the aforementioned pair, he would be an absolute bargain, having a huge part to play in any success at the Emirates for many years to come.

Full name:

John Gabriel Castro Santos

Date of Birth:

16/07/2009 (15)

Nationality:

Brazilian

Position:

RW/CAM

Preferred foot:

Left

Professional appearances:

1

Minutes played:

35

Current club:

Atlético Mineiro

He’s caught the eye back in South America with his 1v1 ability, leading to Matttinson claiming he “plays like it’s FIFA Street”, having the pace and agility to glide past the opposition, adding another dimension to the club’s already star-studded attack.

Veneno will need time to develop and reach his full potential given his tender age, but should he move, he could learn from Saka – arguably one of the best right-wingers in Europe – which could see him surpass the levels achieved by Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.

Better signing than Isak: Arsenal in talks for 'one of the world's best'

Arsenal could be about to pull off a deal that could see them forget about Alexander Isak.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 16, 2025

West Ham United have now “come knocking” to sign a £44m midfielder, and they stand a good chance of tempting him into a move to the Premier League, according to journalist Christian Falk.

West Ham in need of summer rebuild

The three promoted Championship teams have been way off the pace in the Premier League, which means West Ham are in no danger of relegation, but performances this season indicate a big rebuild could be needed in the summer.

The latest poor display came against already-relegated Southampton on Saturday afternoon, with Niclas Füllkrug launching a scathing attack on his teammates in the wake of the 1-1 draw, and Graham Potter has since admitted he sympathises with the striker.

It remains to be seen whether Potter is given a chance to turn things around next season, but the manager may need to oversee some major changes in the summer transfer window, if his side are going to be competitive.

One area in which the Hammers are looking to strengthen is central midfield, according to BILD reporter Falk, who has recently revealed that Joao Palhinha is of interest, amid doubts over the Portugal international’s Bayern Munich future.

Falk said: “Fulham are among the interested parties. They know what they have, but according to our information, West Ham has also come knocking.

“He (Palhinha) says he’s giving his all for the club, but he doesn’t know what will happen. And, uh, if Bayern say he won’t have better playing time next season, I think he would consider, if an offer comes in, whether it makes sense for him to perhaps return to the British Isles.”

"Iron man" Palhinha could be statement signing

Since arriving at the Allianz Arena for a fee of £44m, the former Fulham man hasn’t exactly set the world alight, having often been benched or utilised as a late substitute, but his previous exploits in the Premier League indicate he could be a top signing for West Ham.

During his time with the Cottagers, the 6 foot 3 maestro was extremely impressive in the defensive side of the game, as underlined by his tackling and intercepting ability.

The Lisbon-born midfielder has always been solid defensively, having been hailed as an “Iron Man who never turned his back on a fight” by former youth coach Luis Nunes, and he ranks in the 97th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year.

The move to Bayern may not have worked out, but Palhinha is clearly a top defensive midfielder, and it is exciting news that West Ham could lure him back to the Premier League this summer.