A procuradoria do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva irá denunciar o dono da SAF do Botafogo, John Textor, por não ter entregue supostas provas de corrupção no futebol brasileiro ao tribunal. Na última sexta-feira (8), a instituição determinou que o empresário deveria apresentar o material que diz possuir e comprovaria casos de propina envolvendo árbitros do país.
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Em um primeiro momento, Textor chegou a ter sua suspensão automática decretada pelo relator do inquérito que investiga o caso, Mauro Marcelo. No entanto, o auditor recuou após a decisão não ser referendada por seus colegas e levará a denúncia ao pleno do STJD. A informação foi primeiramente publicada pelo Jornal O Globo e confirmada em apuração do Lance!.
John Textor ignorou o prazo de três dias dado pelo tribunal e não apresentou as provas que afirmou ter no dia 6 de março. A defesa do empresário norte-americano respondeu ao STJD argumentando que o órgão não tem competência para atuar no caso, e que as provassó serão apresentadas ao Ministério Público do Rio de Janeiro e de Brasília.
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Desta forma, o dono da SAF do Botafogo pode ser denunciado no artigo 223 do Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva (CBJD), que estabelece pena para quem deixar de cumprir ou retardar o cumprimento de decisão. Assim, Textor pode ser suspenso entre 90 a 360 dias, além ter de pagar multa de R$ 100 mil, caso seja julgado culpado.
Glasgow Rangers are all but out of the Europa League for the 2025/26 campaign after they lost for the sixth time in seven games against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.
The Gers, who took the lead through a brilliant Bojan Miovski goal, are six points adrift of the play-off places with two games left to play, which means that it would take a remarkable run of results throughout the league phase for them to remain in the tournament.
Too many of the club’s summer signings have failed to deliver on the European stage for any of their managers this season, including Djeidi Gassama.
Why Djeidi Gassama must be dropped
The summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday looked visibly upset at being taken off in the 59th minute by Danny Rohl against Ferencvaros, but it was a decision that was completely justified.
Gassama, who started on the left flank, had zero shots on goal and did not create a single chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in almost an hour on the park before being substituted by the German boss.
Findlay Curtis came on seven minutes later and produced one shot on target and one ‘big chance’ created, per Sofascore, which suggests that he may have more to offer the team at the top end of the pitch at this moment in time.
That is why Gassama should be dropped from the starting line-up, after his poor display, to provide Curtis with an opportunity to start on the left wing.
The Frenchman is not the only Rangers flop who should be dropped from the team, though, as Emmanuel Fernandez should drop out after his dismal showing.
Why Rangers must drop Emmanuel Fernandez
The summer signing from Peterborough United has been given a run of games due to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius’ injuries, starting the last six games in all competitions.
However, Dujon Sterling made his long-awaited comeback off the bench against Ferencvaros, which means that Rohl now has a senior centre-back option to replace him with.
With Sterling available to come in, Fernandez should be dropped from the team after his poor performance against Ferencvaros, which left pundit Ally McCoist speechless.
As you can hear in the clip above, McCoist did not know what to say after the English-born defender was caught facing the wrong way for the home side’s winning goal.
Remarkably, Fernandez did not seem to react at all to Varga making the run straight at him until it was far too late, which is why he was even worse than Gassama on Thursday, as his error ultimately cost Rangers the game, whilst the winger merely had a quiet night.
Vs Ferencvaros
Fernandez
Minutes
90
Tackles won
0/3
Interceptions
1
Clearances
6
Fouls
2
Ground duels won
5/10
Aerial duels won
4/9
Stats via Sofascore
The Rangers flop, as shown in the statistics above, lost half of his ground duels and the majority of his aerial duels on the night, which shows that his error for the second goal was not the only thing not to like about his performance.
Unfortunately, the former League One star’s struggles against Ferencvaros on Thursday night were not an isolated incident, as he also struggled against Dundee United earlier this month.
In the 2-2 draw with Dundee United, per Sofascore, the centre-back lost five of his 11 aerial duels and three of his eight ground duels, whilst he also got caught out for the opening goal in that game.
Fernandez got sucked in on the half-way line and was never able to recover to prevent Zac Sapsford from putting Dundee United 1-0 up in the match, as his lack of mobility cost him.
Among other things, it was also a lack of mobility that cost the defender against Ferencvaros as he was far too slow to turn and react to the danger of Varga’s run, which meant that he did not even compete for the header that eventually won the game for the hosts.
With his recent errors in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Fernandez from the starting line-up against Hibernian at Ibrox on Monday night, and bring Sterling in for his first start of the campaign.
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Chelsea are beginning to reap the rewards of their ambitious spending since Todd Boehly and his private equity firm Clearlake Capital replaced Roman Abramovich in 2022.
It’s been a twisting road for the Blues over the past several years, but Enzo Maresca has advanced after a promising, trophy-winning 2024/25 campaign to establish his side as budding Premier League title contenders.
Maresca leads a young squad. A hungry group of talented players yet to reach the top of the game.
Chelsea
2nd
24.0
Brentford
13th
24.7
Man City
3rd
25.0
Bournemouth
8th
25.0
Sunderland
7th
25.2
There are ostensible drawbacks to employing such a strategy, but it’s bearing dividends, and the success will only grow over the coming years, with more set to follow in Estevao Willian’s footsteps.
Estevao's start to life at Chelsea
In May 2024, Chelsea finalised a deal for Brazilian youngster Estevao, an initial £29m deal which could eventually rise to £52m with performance-related add-ons.
18 years old, Estevao has enjoyed a dream start to his Chelsea career, having notched five goals from his first 17 senior outings for the Londoners.
With three goals in his past three Champions League outings, the hype is growing around his skilful and dynamic youngster, who outshone Lamine Yamal in the Blues’ romping 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.
So intense is the hype around Estevao’s potential that Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson has labelled the Brazil international a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, and that’s definitely not out of the equation.
Estevao has what it takes to become London’s most talented wide forward, for sure, perhaps taking that crown from Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.
But the fact that Chelsea have landed themselves another Estevao-esque talent who could rival these cream-of-crop players is a perfect illustration of Chelsea’s burgeoning strategy.
Chelsea have a talent "just like Estevao"
Arsenal have the lead in the Premier League title race, and there’s no question that Mikel Arteta is deeper into his project than Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea are building something special, and they would welcome another poster boy to further strengthen Maresca’s system. Well, that player could have already been signed in Geovany Quenda, with a £40m deal in principle agreed at the end of last season to welcome the Portugal U21 international in 2026.
Hailed as “one of the most exciting teenage prospects in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quenda has “been on fire” for Sporting Lisbon this season, coming into his own on the right wing.
The 18-year-old’s energy, pace and skill on the ball have seen him hailed as having a mentality “just like Estevao” – as per Alex Goldberg – that will see him succeed in the Premier League, endowed with an athletic underbelly to complement his blistering pace and skill on the ball.
Goals scored
0.09
0.43
Assists
0.35
0.16
Shots taken
1.72
2.92
Shot-creating actions
4.62
4.69
Touches (att pen)
3.39
6.74
Pass completion (%)
72.9
73.8
Progressive passes
5.11
2.45
Progressive carries
3.30
4.34
Successful take-ons
1.58
1.85
Ball recoveries
4.75
3.90
Tackles + interceptions
1.54
2.05
His sharp-minded approach and combativeness on the ball could indeed see him emulate Saka. Sofascore record that Bissau Guinean-born Quenda has won 52% of his ground duels in Liga Portugal this term, and for one so young, this bodes well for a future in the harsh climate of the Premier League.
Furthermore, he is developing a ball-playing game that suggests he has the natural talent on the ball to emulate someone like Saka, having also followed in the Englishman’s footsteps by shining at both full-back and wing-back, prior to cementing an attacking role on the flanks.
Whether the Portuguese talent would hit the ground running in the same way that Estevao has is uncertain, of course, but there’s no denying he has the potential to rival his soon-to-be teammate.
A big factor in a winger like Saka’s success (and Estevao’s) is that he is able to merge the many elements together, forming something complete.
Quenda is already proving that he has similar qualities in the locker, and it is for this reason that there is such excitement brewing around his signature.
Chelsea, truly, are rebuilding themselves toward superstar status.
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Sunderland aren’t going to rest on their laurels now that they’ve tasted success in the Premier League.
The hope will be that the Black Cats continue to punch above their weight and secure safety effortlessly, even if the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham last time out saw Regis Le Bris’ men return to league action, after the international break, looking rusty.
Still, with five impressive league wins already under their belt, the Wearside outfit have more than shown that they belong at the very top of English football.
To get over the line, though, and remain in a comfortable mid-table position, Sunderland could be prepared to flex their spending powers once more, as the January transfer window becomes the talk of the town.
The main incoming being hyped up at the moment is Matteo Guendouzi coming to the Stadium of Light, with Le Bris yet to rule out a statement deal.
Why Guendouzi would be a perfect signing
Once upon a time, Guendouzi worked under Le Bris at Lorient, before the French battler would seal a move to England with Arsenal.
While he wasn’t always showered with praise at the Gunners, he did bow out from his final Premier League season in North London with 4.9 duels won on average across 24 league outings, with more grit centrally perhaps what is required, alongside the likes of Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.
Guendouzi has also matured now into a regular in Serie A with Lazio, away from his previous 57 Premier League appearances at the Emirates, with inviting deliveries such as this one last season, perfect for a commanding Daniel Ballard to latch onto.
In total, the Lazio number eight has six goals and ten assists for the Italian giants.
With an 89% pass accuracy also averaged this season in league action, on top of a high 4.3 ball recoveries being averaged, it’s clear that he won’t move back to England for cheap, as reports suggest that a fee around the £26m mark could do the job.
Sunderland won’t be put off too much, if their excessive summer spending is anything to go by, but a deal in the works for a new star-man might ultimately shove this fan favourite closer to the exit door.
Sunderland's "proper leader" could be on borrowed time
The strange side-effect of winning promotion is that several of the players who clinched Sunderland’s unbelievable return to the Premier League now aren’t quite cut out for the pressures of the big time.
Dan Neil has definitely experienced this first-hand this season so far, with the mega-money arrivals of the aforementioned Xhaka and Sadiki plummeting him down the pecking order, so much so that he has only managed a mere two minutes of action in the bright lights of the Premier League to date.
Staggeringly, if you turn the calendar just back to May, Neil was the memorable captain figure who lifted Sunderland’s jubilant playoff honours at Wembley.
In the regular season, too, the Stadium of Light prodigy also lined up for the Black Cats 44 times, with two goals and three assists coming his way.
Sunderland youngster Harrison Jones would even herald him as a “proper leader” for the club, with Neil rising the ranks to become his boyhood club’s captain figure.
On top of that, he also had admirers in the form of Everton in the bumper summer window, which might be a move he now regrets not accelerating into motion, as he begins to stare the exit door in the face more through lack of gametime than inspired performances.
Journalist James Copley summed it up well when he called him a “bit part” player recently, which is a far cry from his Wembley heroics.
Neil’s last minutes for his hometown club actually came for the U21s as he continues to be frozen out by Le Bris, and with his contract expiring next summer, it’s not a good omen at all for his long-term future at the Premier League newcomers.
Neil’s Sunderland numbers
Stat
Neil
Games played
200
Goals scored
12
Assists
20
Promotions
1x
Contract expiry date
June 2026
Sourced by Transfermarkt
To make matters worse, if Guendouzi were to arrive, Neil would find himself even further down the Frenchman’s selection list, with the 23-year-old simply unable to compete with the wealth of top-flight experience the Lazio man has under his belt.
It will be intriguing to see if any club gambles on Neil’s services in January, with a cut-price deal potentially on the table for a Championship-experienced promotion winner, who is currently valued at around £7m by Transfermarkt.
If no one does come in for him, expect Sunderland to just run his contract down, particularly if Guendouzi is added to the ever-rising wage bill.
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Boston Red Sox legend Luis Tiant, one of MLB's best and most recognizable pitchers, died Tuesday, the league announced.
Another giant of the game, MLB Hall of Famer and longtime Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench, took to X (formerly Twitter) later Tuesday to pay his respects to Tiant with a heartfelt message.
"We may have taken the World Series in 1975 but Luis Tiant shut us out in Game 1 and threw another complete game victory in Game 4," Bench wrote. "He meant so much to the Red Sox organization, baseball certainly lost another icon. My condolences to his family and the Boston fans."
Bench, a two-time MVP and World Series champion, twice faced the then-34-year-old Tiant in the thrilling 1975 World Series that went a full seven games. And twice the Red Sox ace baffled Cincinnati's Great Eight, a lineup that featured three Hall of Famers in Bench, Joe. Morgan and Tony Perez, and another in the late Pete Rose, who surely would have been elected if not for his lifetime ban from baseball due to gambling.
Tiant started three games in the '75 World Series, winning a pair while allowing 10 earned runs in 25 innings pitched. And Bench, despite being the victor in the series, didn't want people to forget just how good "El Tiante" was on the game's biggest stage.
O Santos está pronto e preparado para encarar o Vasco pela 25ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na busca pela vitória, o Peixe opta por repetir a escalação que teve sucesso contra o Bahia.
+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui
Portanto, o time de Marcelo Fernandes vai ao jogo com: João Paulo; Joaquim, João Basso e Dodô; Lucas Braga, Tomás Rincón, Lucas Lima, Jean Lucas e Kevyson; Soteldo e Marcos Leonardo.
+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!
O 5-3-2 que trouxe a vitória longe de contra será testado novamente. O treinador interino repete a escalação após muito tempo. O único desfalque para a partida é o de Mendoza, que se recupera de estiramento na panturrilha.
Para frear o ímpeto santista, o Vasco está alinhado com: Léo Jardim; Puma Rodríguez, Léo, Zé Gabriel e Lucas Piton; Medel, Marlon Gomes e Praxedes; Paulinho, Gabriel Pec e Vegetti. O treinador do clube Cruz-maltino é o Ramón Diaz.
A bola começará a rolar na Vila Belmiro, às 16 horas (de Brasília), neste domingo (1º).
James Rodríguez is reportedly set to leave Club León at the end of the Apertura 2025, as his contract expires in December and neither side intends to renew. With only six months remaining before the 2026 World Cup, the former Real Madrid star will have to find a new destination and could either stay in Liga MX or make the move to MLS.
Getty Images SportAn imminent goodbye
According to Mediotiempo, Rodríguez’s time with Club León will come to an end once the Apertura 2025 concludes. The Colombian joined La Fiera last semester on a one-year deal, originally drawn by the chance to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, León’s participation was canceled after FIFA disqualified them for violating ownership regulations, leaving James without that international showcase.
Since then, things haven’t gone as expected. León were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Clausura 2025, and in the current Apertura campaign, they sit second-to-last (17th place) in the table. Rodríguez has gradually lost prominence within the team, scoring just three goals in 12 matches this season and five across 32 total appearances with the club.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAmbriz won’t stand in James’ way
While the arrival of head coach Ignacio Ambriz briefly raised hopes, results failed to improve, with defeats to Toluca, Santos, and Atlas, and only a draw against Pumas in recent weeks. The report suggests that both the club and the player see separation as the best solution moving forward.
Getty Images SportMLS clubs keeping an eye on the Colombian
The same outlet reported that several major Liga MX teams are monitoring the 33-year-old’s situation, while MLS sides have also expressed interest in signing the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner once his contract expires in December.
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, Rodríguez now faces a pivotal decision about the next chapter of his career – one that could determine his final act in top-level football.
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Club León?
León will close the Apertura 2025 regular season with two challenging fixtures – first visiting América on Matchday 16 and then hosting Puebla on Matchday 17 – as the club looks to finish the campaign on a positive note.
Vice-captain brushes off speculation about his place in the side and Jacob Bethell’s return
Vithushan Ehantharajah25-May-20251:10
Stokes on Bashir: ‘Impossible for him to not get even better’
“I’m in the media talking about the media,” said Ollie Pope, rolling his eyes as he broke the fourth wall on the outfield at Trent Bridge, not long after England’s victory over Zimbabwe.The first Test of the summer had a bit of the ouroboros about it, and not because Shoaib Bashir made light work of the tourist’s tail on Saturday to confirm a simple innings victory inside three days.Ben Stokes’ pre-match quotes when asked about the reintroduction of Jacob Bethell after his IPL stint seemed to suggest Pope – and, by association, Zak Crawley – might be at risk when it came to turning 12 into an XI. Stokes bristled at the subsequent coverage, believing he had made it clear he meant Bethell’s return to the was a no-brainer, and went a step further in his post-match briefings, suggesting the misunderstanding was wilful as part of an agenda against Pope.Related
Stokes blames media 'agenda' for pre-match pressure on Pope
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Pressure on Pope and Crawley with Bethell in line for role against India
In between, Stokes also spoke to Pope about those circulating comments, though the man himself did the best job of quelling any awkwardness by strumming a breezy 171 to all but cement his usual spot at No. 3 for next month’s India series, having selflessly vacated the position in New Zealand to take the wicketkeeping gloves, allowing Bethell to state such a compelling case.”Whenever I do media now I get asked if I’m reading what’s in the media,” Pope said. “So I try not to read what’s in the media and focus on scoring my runs.”[I’m] just trying to ignore it and try to become a better player. Whenever I’ve stood still, that’s when I’ve not become a better player. It’s trying to block it out, trying not to let it affect me in the Test match week. Every time I go into a series, trying to make sure I’m a better player than I was before, and hopefully cash in when it counts.”It’s all noise to us, we have a tight-knit unit, we will keep chatting amongst ourselves.”He even grasped the nettle on Bethell’s return, with something of a smile: “It’ll be good to have him back in the squad and the selectors can make their decision, and I will try to score my runs.”Ollie Pope notched his eighth Test hundred•Getty ImagesThat bolshiness is nothing new, particularly given how much of Pope’s career recently has been underpinned by external uncertainty as to what his best role may be, and even whether he is in England’s strongest team outright.Right now, the answer to both those questions seems to be No. 3 – where he averages 43.06 – and an unequivocal yes from Stokes. “He’s my vice-captain, and he’s been incredible for me at number three and the team,” Stokes said.Nevertheless, Pope acknowledges the variety of roles undertaken means much of his work behind the scenes has been geared towards being more adaptable. In the last year alone, he has batted at first drop, at No. 6 with the gloves and even captained four Tests.”I’ve been trying to work on my all-round game and everything that will make me successful in Test cricket,” Pope said, accepting his future may well be as a high-calibre utility pick. “I’ve done a lot of different roles. I’ve kept, I’ve captained, batted six, batted three. It’s focusing on my main job at No. 3 and making sure my game is in as good an order as it can be.”That immediate focus will come to the fore against India at Headingley on June 20, the first of 10 huge, legacy-defining Tests, finishing off with the Ashes in Australia. Barring a stunning 196 in Hyderabad at the start of 2024, Pope has a poor record against both of England’s biggest rivals. His average against India, against whom he debuted in 2018, is a lowly 24.60, but almost 10 runs higher than his 15.70 against Australia. He accepts the next engagements are as much a defining period for himself as the team.”Yeah absolutely,” he said, when asked if he had something to prove over the next two series. “But I also feel I am a much better player now than I was [four years ago] when we last played India at home and Australia away.”I completely own that my numbers aren’t good enough against those guys, and I accept that. But I think I am a better player to deal with the competition ahead this summer. Hopefully over the next year I can prove that. I did that a little bit in India last year, but look forward to doing it this summer and winter.”
Will Aston Villa be busy in the final few days of the transfer window?
So far this summer, due to constraints relating to the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules, the Villans have made just one noteworthy signing, with Evann Guessand arriving from Nice for £26m.
However, following the sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £39m, plus £4m in potential add-ons, there is optimism this will allow the Claret and Blue Army to spend before the transfer window slams shut.
So, could Aston Villa make a move to sign an “explosive” attacking midfielder from within the Premier League?
Aston Villa's search for an attacking midfielder
After arriving in January, Marco Asensio made quite the impression at Villa Park, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, three of which came in the Champions League, averaging a goal every 139 minutes.
Marco Asensio celebrates for Aston Villa
Unai Emery would reportedly love to be reunited with his compatriot on a more permanent basis, with claims made that an agreement on personal terms has already been reached. While it is yet to be seen if a similar agreement can be struck with PSG, he is completely out of Luis Enrique’s plans.
Regardless of what occurs on that front, is there another target emerging who may prove to be an even better signing?
Aston Villa's MarcoAsensioin action with Ipswich Town's Luke Woolfenden
Well, according to Brazilian outlet Globo, Aston Villa have made contact with West Ham United over the possibility of signing Lucas Paquetá, with the Midlands side said to be planning a move for the playmaker.
They add that Tottenham and Everton are also interested, with the Hammers valuing their creator in chief at £50m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Talks remain ‘ongoing’, and Aston Villa currently lead the race to sign him, so could Paquetá swap one claret and blue club for another?
Why Lucas Paquetá should excite Aston Villa supporters
Last month, Paquetá was cleared by the Football Association of all charges related to alleged spot-fixing allegations.
If found guilty, the Brazilian would likely have received a lifetime ban, and this prospect had been hanging over him for two years, scuppering his proposed £80m move to Manchester City back in the summer of 2023.
Having now had his name cleared, it is widely expected that Paquetá would push for a move away from the sinking ship that is West Ham this month, so could a move to the Midlands be on the cards?
Speaking on Sky Sports following a 1-1 draw between Aston Villa and West Ham in January, Jamie Redknapp labelled the Brazilian “explosive”, asserting that he possesses an immense amount of talent.
Redknapp adds that Paquetá has lacked consistency recently, with many putting this down to the looming allegations, and the table below documents his dip in form.
2025/26
3
2 & zero
2024/25
36
5 & zero
2023/24
43
8 & 7
2022/23
43
5 & 7
As the table documents, Paquetá endured a miserable campaign last time round, as did West Ham as a team to be fair, having accumulated 27 goals and assists across the previous two campaigns.
Also, now an innocent man, he’s started this season excellently, scoring two goals in three games, on target against Wolves in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, having scored this absolute rocket against Chelsea last Friday.
So why would he be a better signing than Asensio?
Well, prior to joining Aston Villa, the Spanish international had scored just seven goals and registered 11 assists in 47 appearances for PSG, this spread across 18 months.
Marco Asensio & Marcus Rashford for Aston Villa
Asensio has not been a consistent, high-level contributor since his Real Madrid days, scoring 12 goals in all competitions in 2022/23, suggesting he might just be a fading force.
Paquetá, on the other hand, could be an elite-level player at Villa, having continued to show his quality in an otherwise dismal West Ham side, so the Villans should go all in on the Brazilian, while confining Asensio’s career in the Midlands to history.
Emery's own Grealish: Aston Villa agree terms for "magical" late signing
Aston Villa are ready to welcome one or two late signings to their squad as the transfer window draws to a close.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is still actively looking at late-window opportunities, as recently confirmed by Mikel Arteta.
Last week, Arteta admitted that Arsenal could still make another addition, despite the Gunners already spending north of £200 million on six major signings, but reports suggest they’ll have to sell players first.
Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have been mentioned as nominees for the Emirates Stadium exit door, and an exit for one of either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard hasn’t been completely ruled out either.
Trossard, in particular, has entered the final year of his contract, and Arsenal will likely want to make money off his sale rather than lose him for free in 2026.
If that happens, Arsenal could look to target another left-winger instead of Eberechi Eze, who’s in talks to join north London rivals Tottenham.
In his latest press conference, Arteta suggested Arsenal do still need to strengthen after an already-productive summer.
Chances to add the right player could still emerge over this final fortnight of the window, and Arteta is known to seriously value versatility as a key trait when identifying most transfer targets.
Taking this into account, it isn’t surprising to see them being linked with a last-gasp swoop for £140,000-per-week PSG utility man Lee Kang-in.
Lee Kang-in really tempted to leave PSG as Arsenal make direct contact
The South Korea international can operate as an attacking midfielder, on the right, on the left and even as a striker when required – with Lee even playing as a right-back during PSG early-season 3-1 win over Lille last term.
The 24-year-old was a regular under Luis Enrique in 2024/2025, but didn’t make a single appearance in the Champions League from the quarter-finals onwards – with Lee starting just 19 Ligue 1 games.
PSG's Kang-in Lee lifts the Super Cup.
He’s now “seriously considering” a Parc des Princes exit, according to CaughtOffside, and the outlet reports that Arsenal have made “direct contact” over signing Lee as we slowly approach the summer deadline.
Despite not being a firm starter week in, week out, Enrique has tipped the former Real Mallorca ace for a bright future.