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Mikel Arteta has hit back at Pep Guardiola after Manchester City boss urged the Arsenal manager to clarify his inside 'information' comment.

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Arteta responds to Guardiola's criticismArsenal boss claimed he loves City managerEarlier said he has information on English championsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After the blockbuster Premier League clash between Arsenal and City last Sunday, personnel from both teams got involved in a war of words. John Stones was the first one to launch an attack as he claimed Arsenal used 'dark arts' as he slammed them for 'parking the bus' in the second half.

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Arteta in turn, issued a warning towards the reigning champions as he claimed that he has all the information about his former club, where he spent three and a half seasons as assistant coach to Guardiola. Earlier on Saturday, Guardiola hit back at the Gunners boss as he urged his former assistant to clarify his inside 'information' comment.

WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

Now explaining his earlier statement, Arteta once again issued a fiery response as he told reporters: "OK, I can repeat it. I love Pep. I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly. I’m so grateful for everything he does and see him as a friend. When I say I know them it means I know how hard they work.

"The reason they are there is because they maintain that hunger. I cannot be any more clear than that. If someone wants to damage that relationship I cannot control it. For me sport is about that will to win. They have it even though, they’ve won more than everybody else. Hopefully, that’s clear."

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With City dropping points against Newcastle on Saturday, the north London outfit equalled them on points with a 4-2 win over Leicester at Emirates Stadium. They will next face Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the Champions League.

After missing out on Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea, Newcastle United could now reportedly turn their attention to a similar deal for Eddie Howe this summer.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies looked on course to land both Adarabioyo and Kelly, but it is now just the latter who is all but announced after Chelsea swooped in to turn the former's head in frustrating fashion for those at St James' Park. Nonetheless, Newcastle should at least remain on course to welcome Kelly in their second deal of the summer after Lewis Hall's obligation to turn his loan deal permanent was triggered throughout the season.

Both arrivals should help ease Howe's defensive depth problem, with Kelly's ability to play both left-back and centre-back a particularly welcome trait, given long-term injuries to both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles. But, that's not to say the former Bournemouth player will be the only player helping to ease those injury blows this summer.

Newcastle eyeing Bellingham 2.0 who's "destined for elite football"

He’s been touted to reach the very top despite his tender age.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 4, 2024

According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Newcastle could make a move to sign Mario Hermoso on a free deal upon the expiry of his Atletico Madrid contract this summer, but face significant competition from Aston Villa, who are confident of winning the race to sign the defender in the coming months.

Seemingly facing an uphill battle to secure Hermoso's signature, Newcastle may need to act fast to present the Spaniard with a suitable offer to match his reported £138k-a-week salary at Atletico Madrid, especially given their need for a central defender.

"Revelation" Hermoso can step up alongside Kelly

Replacing Botman, in particular, will be no easy task at St James' Park next season, but a player of Hermoso's calibre and experience could certainly be well-placed to do exactly that if Newcastle managed to win the race for his signature. The Atletico Madrid man enjoyed another solid campaign in La Liga, but with his contract up, a new challenge awaits.

Starts

29

15

Progressive Carries

1.37

0

Progressive Passes

6.23

2.29

Ball Recoveries

5.92

4.58

Aerial Duels Won

1.62

2.22

Hermoso's ability on the ball is particularly impressive and could even leave Botman or Fabian Schar in danger of losing their starting place when all three are available if he chooses St James' Park this summer. Competition for places would only benefit the Magpies, who will be desperate to make a return to European action next season.

The Premier League interest in Hermoso comes as no shock and is something that Zach Lowy may have seen coming when he lavished the defender during his Porto days. Dubbing the Spaniard a "revelation", Lowy could now see Hermoso taking his biggest step yet by moving to either Aston Villa or Newcastle this summer.

Some of the most gifted and influential football players in history have come from Serbia. These players have made a lasting impression on the international scene, either with the Serbian national team as we know it today or during Yugoslavia’s heyday.

While Yugoslavia were two-time runners-up at the European Championship, the famous nation has never won a trophy since declaring independence in 2006, despite being blessed with a real array of talent.

Here is the list of who we believe are the ten greatest Serbian footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…

1

Dejan Stanković

1995-2013

2

Blagoje Marjanović

1920-1951

3

Dragan Stojković

1981-2001

4

Nemanja Vidić

2000-2016

5

Predrag Mijatović

1987-2003

6

Branislav Ivanović

2002-2021

7

Aleksandar Mitrović

2011-present

8

Rajko Mitić

1940-1958

9

Nemanja Matić

2006-present

10

Dušan Tadić

2006-present

Euro 2024 Group C: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Everything you need to know about Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia and England ahead of Euro 2024.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 9, 2024 10 Dušan Tadić 2006-present

Dušan Tadić has excelled at club and international level. When Tadić joined Southampton in 2014, his club career took a major turn, as his goalscoring and inventiveness immediately made an impression. He played in 162 games over his four seasons at Southampton, tallying 24 goals and dishing out 35 assists.

After moving to Ajax in 2018, he helped them win multiple Eredivisie titles and reach in the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, only to be edged out by Tottenham Hotspur. His stats in Amsterdam were quite remarkable, having bagged 105 goals and 112 assists in just 241 appearances.

Tadić has also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, winning 111 caps and captaining the side.

International caps

111

International goals

23

Clubs played for

Vojvodina, FC Groningen, FC Twente, Southampton, Ajax, Fenerbahce

9 Nemanja Matić 2006-present

Nemanja Matić has established himself as a formidable midfield player for his clubs and the Serbian national team. The 35-year-old, who is well-known for his strength, tactical acumen, and remarkable game-reading skills, has made a big impact on European football.

During his time playing for Chelsea in England, Matić experienced a great deal of success. His contributions to Chelsea becoming Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17 were crucial, becoming one of the league’s best defensive midfielders as a result.

He then moved to Manchester United in 2017, where he kept showcasing his midfield abilities and helped the Red Devils reach the Europa League final in 2021, as well as finish second in the 2017/18 Premier League season.

Matić had been a vital member of Serbia’s national team, featuring at the 2018 World Cup, which contributed towards his 48 caps, before his retirement from the international stage in 2019.

International caps

48

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Chelsea, Man Utd, Roma, Lyon, +5 others

8 Rajko Mitić 1940-1958

Rajko Mitić is a highly regarded figure in the history of football in Serbia and Yugoslavia. Prominent for his commitment, aptitude and guidance, Mitić’s professional life is mainly linked to Red Star Belgrade, where he made a lasting impression as a manager and player.

As a player, Mitić had an incredible career at Red Star Belgrade, winning multiple national cups and Yugoslav First League championships in the 1940s and 1950s. His efforts were crucial in making Red Star the undisputed power in Yugoslavian football.

Mitić was acknowledged for his leadership on the pitch when he was appointed as the first captain of the Yugoslavian national team, amassing 58 caps, scoring 32 goals and competing in two FIFA World Cups (1950 and 1954).

If that wasn’t enough, Red Star Belgrade opened the Rajko Mitić Stadium in his honour in 1963.

International caps

58

International goals

32

Clubs played for

BSK Beograd, Red Star

7 Aleksandar Mitrović 2011-present

Aleksandar Mitrović has made a name for himself as a strong striker who possesses aerial skill, physical strength and an innate talent to score goals.

Throughout his career, Mitrović has gone from being a potential talent at Partizan Belgrade to being an important player for clubs all across Europe and a crucial member of the Serbian national team.

The 29-year-old moved to Newcastle United in the Premier League after having a breakout season at Anderlecht, when he finished as the Belgian league’s top scorer. Although he had inconsistent results during his time in England, he proved that he was a strong forward with the ability to play at the highest level.

A move to Fulham triggered a completely new Mitrović, as he bagged 111 goals and assisted 21 during his time in west London, before securing a move to Saudi Arabia, in order to join Al-Hilal

He’s also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, making big contributions in European Championship and World Cup qualifying, including scoring the goal that took them to the 2022 World Cup. This has led to him being the nation’s top scorer of all time with 59 goals to his name in 98 caps.

International caps

98

International goals

59

Clubs played for

Teleoptik, Partizan, Anderlecht, Newcastle, Fulham, Al-Hilal

6 Branislav Ivanović 2002-2021

Branislav Ivanović’s career has been distinguished by notable successes with Serbia and Chelsea in the Premier League. After joining the Blues in January 2008, he developed into one of the league’s most dependable and well-respected defenders over the course of the following nine years.

His versatility as a centre-back and full-back allowed him to positively impact Chelsea’s offensive set-pieces and defensive stability, which helped the west London club win numerous Premier League crowns, FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.

With 105 caps for Serbia, Ivanović is the second-most-capped player for his country. He was a real leader on the international stage, competing in the 2010 World Cup and multiple European Championship qualification campaigns.

International caps

105

International goals

13

Clubs played for

Srem, OFK Beograd, Lokomotiv Moscow, Chelsea, Zenit, West Brom

5 Predrag Mijatović 1987-2003

Predrag Mijatović gained widespread recognition for his ability as a forward, due to his substantial contributions for club and country. His time at club sides Valencia, Real Madrid and Fiorentina, together with his accomplishments with the national teams of Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro, are particularly noteworthy.

The most memorable moment of Mijatović’s Real Madrid career was his game-winning goal against Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final, which sealed Real Madrid’s first European Cup in 32 years and cemented his place in the club’s history. This high point came from a career in which he was successful in both Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga, scoring 115 goals in total.

As a forward, Mijatović further cemented his position as one of the best in Europe by representing Yugoslavia in important international competitions such as the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He was always a menace to defenders because of his technical prowess and penchant for being in the right place at the right time.

International caps

77

International goals

28

Clubs played for

Buducnost Titograd, Partizan, Valencia, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante

4 Nemanja Vidić 2000-2016

There’s no doubting that Nemanja Vidić is regarded as one of the most formidable defenders of his time. His tenure at Manchester United, where he and Rio Ferdinand created a renowned defensive partnership, is what most defines his career.

Vidić joined Manchester United in January 2006, and his aerial skill, aggressive defending, and leadership abilities helped him become an instant mainstay. His talents were essential to Manchester United winning the Champions League in 2008 and several Premier League titles, notably three in a row from 2007 to 2009. Vidić’s excellence was acknowledged on an individual basis with other honours, such as being awarded the Premier League Player of the Season two times.

In the global arena, Vidić amassed 56 international caps, which included 19 for Serbia & Montenegro and a friendly appearance for Yugoslavia. He was a key member of his nation’s sides, as they qualified for two World Cups in 2006 and 2010.

International caps

56

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Red Star, Spartak Subotica, Spartak Moscow, Man Utd, Inter

3 Dragan Stojković 1981-2001

Dragan Stojković is considered one of the most gifted football players to come out of Yugoslavia and a key player in the history of Serbian football. Throughout his brilliant career, Stojković, who was renowned for his exceptional technical abilities, vision and inventiveness, flourished as a midfield player.

At Red Star Belgrade, where he won national championships and demonstrated his extraordinary potential, his club career took off, leading to a transfer to Europe’s more competitive leagues. His time at Marseille in France was especially noteworthy as he helped his side win the French league title and go to the UEFA Champions League final in 1991, ironically against Red Star.

He later secured a move to Japan, where he made 225 appearances for Nagoya Grampus, scoring 68 goals before retiring.

He played for Yugoslavia in a number of major international competitions, such as the World Cup in 1990, where he was a standout performer that helped his side advance to the quarter-finals.

International caps

84

International goals

15

Clubs played for

Radnicki Nis, Red Star, Marseille, Hellas Verona, Nagoya Grampus Eight

2 Blagoje Marjanović 1920-1951

Blagoje Marjanović was a notable Yugoslavian football player who was known for his extraordinary goalscoring ability. As one of the most productive forwards of his day in Yugoslavia and throughout Europe, he spent the majority of his career at BSK Belgrade (now OFK Belgrade).

BSK Belgrade won multiple Yugoslav First League titles while he was a member of the squad from 1926 to 1941, with Marjanović leading the league in scoring for multiple seasons. His goal total is still among the highest in the team’s and the league’s history, and it’s easy to understand why, as he played 566 matches for BSK, scoring 575 goals.

The striker was also one of the greatest goalscorers in Yugoslavia’s history, achieving 58 caps and scoring 37 goals. His participation in the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay allowed him to demonstrate his talent away from home and solidified his reputation as one of the greatest football players of all time.

International caps

58

International goals

37

Clubs played for

SK Jugoslavija, SK Olimpija, BSK Beograd, Cukaricki, Dinamo Pancevo

1 Dejan Stanković 1995-2013

Dejan Stanković is regarded as one of the best midfield players of his time because of his variety, strength of shot, and outstanding leadership. Throughout his brilliant career, which saw him play in some of Europe’s top leagues, Stanković made a big impact for the Serbian national team, as well as the likes of Lazio and Inter.

He started his professional career at Red Star Belgrade, where he became a vital member of the squad and helped them win several domestic titles. His achievements in Serbia led to him joining Lazio in Serie A, where he continued to show off his skills, helping the team to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Super Cup.

Still, it was at Inter that he solidified his legacy. He became a crucial part of Inter’s heyday after joining the team in 2004, helping his side win multiple league titles and domestic cups. His most notable accomplishment was in 2010, when he assisted Inter in winning the Champions League, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A title.

On the international stage, he participated in three World Cups (1998, 2006, 2010), becoming noted for doing so for three different countries. Also a participant at Euro 2000, Stankovic earned over 100 caps across his glittering international career.

International caps

103

International goals

15

Clubs played for

Red Star, Lazio, Inter

Hardik Pandya’s stunning 60 not out off 21 went in vain

Hemant Brar25-Oct-20203:15

Chopra: ‘Players like Stokes know how to swim in the deep end’

Ben Stokes finally came to the party with an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls as the Rajasthan Royals chased down Mumbai Indians’ 195 for 5 with relative ease in the end in Abu Dhabi. The win not only kept the Royals in the race for the playoffs – they are now sixth on the points table with ten points from 12 games – but also brought the curtain down on the Chennai Super Kings’ campaign.Earlier, Hardik Pandya’s 60 not out off 21 balls, studded with seven sixes and two fours, had lit up the evening. But that didn’t prove enough as Stokes and Sanju Samson added 152 off 82 balls in an unbroken third-wicket partnership to take the Royals home with ten balls to spare.Archer snares in-form de Kock earlyQuinton de Kock had scores of 53, 78*, 53 and 46* coming into this game. He looked primed for another good knock when he pulled a 149.6kph Jofra Archer delivery for a six to get off the mark. Archer, however, pitched the next ball a little fuller and a bit wider, and de Kock chopped on with an angled bat.From the other end, Ankit Rajpoot was a bit wayward and Ishan Kishan, opening once again in the absence of Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav took full advantage of that. In the sixth over, both of them hit Rajpoot for a six each to take the side to 59 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Gopal double-strike pulls Mumbai backThe Royals turned to their two legspinners – Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia – after that and the move worked straightaway as the next two overs produced only eight runs. Yadav then tried to take Gopal on by going inside-out but ended up slicing it over point for four. He attempted the same shot on the next ball and this time ended up hitting it in the air towards deep cover. Tewatia charged towards the ball, put in the dive, got his fingers underneath the ball but couldn’t hold on to it.Kishan, who was struggling to score beyond a run a ball, then slashed at Kartik Tyagi. The ball flew towards third man where Archer misjudged it before plucking it one-handed over his head to leave his team-mates gasping. A couple of overs later, Gopal dented Mumbai further by removing Yadav and Kieron Pollard in the same over. While Yadav holed out to long-off, Pollard failed to read a googly and was bowled through the gate. That was the first time Pollard was dismissed since the opening game of the tournament.Hardik blitz gives Mumbai powerful finish3:07

Chopra: Such a Hardik Pandya innings was brewing for a while

Mumbai were 120 for 4 when Tewatia dropped Hardik on the last ball of the 16th over. This was a bit easier than the one he grassed earlier, the only difference being he was fielding at deep midwicket this time. Hardik made full use of the opportunity and smashed Rajpoot for four sixes in the 18th over, three of them off full tosses. Archer conceded only three in the 19th over but Hardik wasn’t done yet. After Krunal Pandya took a single off the first ball of the final over, Hardik unleashed himself on Tyagi. Standing deep inside his crease, he hit the next five balls for 6, 4, 4, 6 and 6 to take Mumbai to a daunting total, with 74 runs coming off the last four overs.Royals off to quick start despite Pattinson double-strikeBefore this game, Stokes had scored only 110 runs off 103 balls in IPL 2020. Questions were being raised if opening with him was the right thing to do, and if the Royals should move him down the order and open with Jos Buttler instead.The Royals needed a quick start to chase down 196 and losing Robin Uthappa in the second over, who mistimed James Pattinson to mid-on, didn’t help. With the Royals 13 for 1 at the end of two overs, Stokes was yet to face a ball. But he soon hit his stride with four fours off Trent Boult in the third over. Steven Smith, who promoted himself to No. 3, then struck a four and six off Jasprit Bumrah in the next over before Pattinson bowled him with an inducker. But Stokes hit the last two balls of the sixth over for fours, bowled by Krunal, to ensure the Royals didn’t bog down.The Stokes and Samson showStokes was now growing in confidence. In the eighth over, he slog-swept Rahul Chahar over deep midwicket for his first six of the season. The next ball was sent past backward point courtesy a reverse sweep. That allowed Samson to settle down as well. While the Royals reached 99 for 2 at the end of ten overs, they still needed another 97.A couple of quiet overs made it 89 required from 48 balls. It was then Samson who took the pressure off Stokes with some timely blows. On 19 off 18 at the end of the 12th over, Samson hit two sixes and two fours in the next two overs to bring it down to 52 needed from the last six overs. With both batsmen in top gear by now, that wasn’t a big ask. With Bumrah straying down the leg side, Samson took him for two successive fours and then brought up his half-century, off 27 balls, with a brace.A couple of streaky fours further ate away from the target. With ten required, Stokes was three short of his hundred. He reached the landmark in style by hitting Pattinson for a six over midwicket and then sealed the game with a four on the next ball.

Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley is reportedly thinking about parting ways with Ange Postecoglou, if she takes over at Tottenham.

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Staveley interested in Tottenham takeoverReportedly wants to remove Postecoglou Impressed by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tottenham Hotspur have caught Amanda Staveley’s attention as she and her team seek to reinvest the £500 million gained from selling their shares in Newcastle United in July. Staveley, who played a pivotal role in the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund's acquisition of Newcastle, stepped away from the Magpies this summer. She is now reportedly eyeing a potential co-ownership at Tottenham, marking her next major venture in football.

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Tottenham have had a disappointing start to the season under Ange Postecoglou, managing only three victories in their first seven Premier League games. The Sun reports that should Staveley succeed in acquiring a stake at the club, she may look to bring in Newcastle United's Eddie Howe as a potential replacement, impressed by the stellar job he’s done at St. James' Park.

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If Tottenham do plan to make a move for Howe, they are highly likely to face a bunch of competition for his signature. The England national team have also shown a lot of interest in the 46-year-old as they look to find their Gareth Southgate successor.

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WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

Staveley's potential stake purchase is still some ways away as per reports and it is highly likely that despite her interest in bringing in Howe, Staveley may be stuck with Postecoglou at least until the end of the season.

Scorchers could not recover sufficiently from King’s strikes to post a target large enough to test the Stars

Andrew McGlashan25-Nov-2020The Melbourne Stars put in a performance worthy of their table-topping status to book a place in the WBBL final. Legspinner Alana King continued her outstanding tournament with three scalps, including the imposing opening duo of Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney, from which the Perth Scorchers could not recover sufficiently to post a target large enough to test the Stars.Having been put in to bat, the Scorchers struggled to impose themselves on the match and the first half of their innings included just a single boundary. Nicole Bolton managed to haul them over 120, but Meg Lanning was rarely under pressure as the fielding captain.Briefly, when Devine struck her first delivery there was the possibility that the extra pressure of a semi-final could come into play and make the target more daunting than it really was. However, there was a crispness and confidence about the strokeplay even when they shipped three wickets inside seven overs before an unbroken stand of 67 between Nat Sciver and Annabel Sutherland sealed the result. Now the Stars wait to see whether they will face the Brisbane Heat or Sydney Thunder in Saturday’s finalDealing in singlesThe pressure was applied early to Devine, who was unusually tentative, and Mooney as their scoring in the first three overs of the Powerplay was solely in singles. The first ball of the fourth over finally brought a boundary – albeit an outside edge from Mooney – and by the end of the six overs they had given themselves a base at 0 for 32, albeit a sluggish one, and the boundary count remained at one. It would be a while until that changed. And it was about as good as the Scorchers’ position got.King crownedKing has been one of the revelations of the season for the Stars – both with bat and ball – after not making the starting XI for the first two matches. With her first delivery she struck the huge blow, trapping Devine lbw when she missed a sweep, and across her next three overs would all-but win the match. Amy Jones, whose tournament has never got going due to injury, chipped a catch to mid-off and when Mooney did the same, with a touch more force, the Scorchers were 4 for 51 in the 11th. Between the mayhem caused by King, Chloe Piparo had been run out by Erin Osborne from her follow through after responding to Mooney’s call. King finished with 3 for 16 and her four overs included 15 dot balls.Scrambling a scoreThrough a combination of Bolton, Heather Graham and Sarah Glenn the Scorchers did manage to rally in the second half of the innings. Their boundary count was finally doubled in the 13th over when Graham sent King over mid-off, repeating the dose next ball as King conceded half her final tally in those two deliveries which emphasised the overall control she had. Left-arm spinner Sophie Day was given the responsibility of the 19th over and conceded just five while Nicole Faltum produced a smart piece of glovework to remove the dangerous Sarah Glenn.Natalie Sciver plays one fine•Getty ImagesTrading blowsThe Stars did not hold back during the powerplay. Elyse Villani took 14 off the opening over – although her first boundary was a top edge that nearly found deep square leg – and then Mignon du Preez, who has been the glue of the batting, was bowled off her boot by Devine’s first delivery. Would 2 for 20 prompt a period of watchfulness? Nope. Lanning and Sciver took 14 off Glenn’s second over, quickly eating into the small target, and after six overs the Stars were 2 for 54. Then came one of the deliveries of the season as Graham nipped one off the seam to take Lanning’s off stump. Another quick wicket and anything was possible but the experience of Sciver and the coolness of the ever-improving Sutherland – who produced one of the shots of the night with a lofted drive for six – ensured no further alarms. They will take some beating in the final.

West Ham United could sign a new “top striker” for just £17m this summer, according to a new update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

West Ham moving for more attackers after Guilherme

The Hammers made their first move of the window earlier this month, with Luis Guilherme officially becoming the first signing under new manager Julen Lopetegui, signing from Palmeiras in a deal thought to be worth more than £25m.

Technical director Tim Steidten pushed a transfer and was delighted at securing the Brazilian teenager’s services, saying: “We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player. He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.”

West Ham preparing new offer for "mature" player; Lopetegui wants him

He could be a massive signing for the Hammers.

ByBen Browning Jun 26, 2024

Meanwhile, Guilherme said: “I’m very happy to be signing with West Ham United, a Club that trusted in my work. I also want to thank everyone at West Ham, particularly Tim and his team who came to Brazil, and not only talked with me, but also with my family.

“They presented the project, and both my family and I liked it. So, I'm very happy to be signing with this Club and hope to contribute as much as possible. If things go well, we have a beautiful journey ahead.”

West Ham aren’t planning on stopping there, though with bids made for former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, now at Galatasaray, and Colombian forward Jhon Arias who is at Fluminense.

Talks have also been held for Jonathan David at Lille, with HITC reporting last week that a deal could be worth up to £30m, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham also having discussions over a transfer. Now, this has been backed up by reliable reporter Plettenberg, although the price could be much lower.

Jonathan David to West Ham latest

According to Plettenberg, a move to the Premier League for David, who he labelled a “top striker”, is the most likely at this stage and West Ham have “gathered information” over a deal.

Chelsea are also named by the Sky Sports reporter, who added that a fee could be as low as €20m (£17m), with David having just 12 months remaining on his contract.

The Canada international, who is currently away with his country at the Copa America, has been with Lille since 2020, but it looks as if a move away is on the cards over the coming months.

Should a move to the London Stadium materialise, David could instantly become first choice under Lopetegui when it comes to leading the line, with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings the only other senior centre-forward options for the Irons at this moment in time.

The Hammers pair scored just eight times combined last season compared to David’s tally of 26 goals and nine assists in 47 appearances.

Ryan Barnett may be generating transfer talk, but there’s "not a cat in hell’s chance" he leaves as a "why would you leave Wrexham" question is asked.

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Hollywood co-owners built strong squadFlying high in the League One tableBarnett attracting Championship interestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have worked hard assembling a squad at SToK Racecourse that can build on the back-to-back promotions which have already been enjoyed. The Red Dragons are up into League One and flying high in the third-tier table.

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Barnett, who was snapped up in February 2023, has been impressing this season – posting a number of assists – and is said to be attracting admiring glances from Championship sides Stoke and Preston ahead of the January window. He is, however, already part of an ambitious project in North Wales.

WHAT PALMER SAID

With that in mind, former EFL player and coach Carlton Palmer has told : "Ryan Barnett has started life in League One absolutely on fire and that has caused the likes of Stoke City and Preston North End to be looking at Wrexham's right wing-back. He's been in exhilarating form, with five assists so far this season. That includes a hat-trick of assists against Northampton Town. He's been outstanding in giving them, in the 3-5-2, width and pushing on. It's physically so demanding what is being asked of him up and down, but he's done what's asked of him and his quality of delivery into the box when he gets there is outstanding.

"That's why the likes of Championship clubs are looking at him. Listen, Wrexham with back-to-back promotions and will be very, very close to getting promotion again this season. I am sure the owners will go again in January, and there is not a cat in hell's chance that Wrexham will sell a player who is very integral to the way they play and the way they look to set up."

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Palmer added on the exit talk that Reynolds, McElhenney and Phil Parkinson will be hoping to fend off: "There's not a chance they let him go. And, of course, why would you want to leave Wrexham? They are on the up with progressive owners. They have money and it's the place to be, so I don't think this will be entertained. Of course, people are going to be looking at Wrexham's players, given what they have done in the past few seasons, but that just goes with the territory."

Arsenal's Premier League rivals are reportedly no longer buying Mikel Arteta's squad updates and have 'cottoned onto his tricky methods'.

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Arteta sometimes coy on Arsenal injury updatesStems from dedication to 'marginal gains'Premier League rivals no longer believe his commentsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report in the , Gunners manager Arteta is walking a fine line between seeking an advantage and 'stretching the truth' when it comes to injury information. The report adds that stems from his dedication to 'marginal gains' but other top-flight teams have allegedly told the newspaper that they don't pay attention to the Spaniard's squad updates as they don't believe him anymore.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT'S BEEN SAID?

In the article, it is claimed that 'Arteta’s tendency to be economical with injury information' is not out of a desire to mislead, but rather to boost his own team's chances. Ultimately, this has caused other Premier League clubs to simply disregard his comments altogether and plan for games without taking notice of his injury updates. Liverpool head to the Emirates Stadium this weekend, with Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber all supposedly injury doubts for the hosts.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Gunners sit fourth in the table and can close the gap to the Reds to one point but defeat will leave them seven points adrift of Arne Slot's men – who will leapfrog Manchester City into first if they claim all three points.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

After this crucial encounter against Liverpool in the Premier League, Arsenal travel to Championship side Preston North End on Wednesday in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are yet to conclude any business since Arne Slot took over as manager but fear not, we are still a while yet from the Premier League recommending in August.

Tears were shed when Jurgen Klopp departed Anfield in May, but this is a great chance for a reset in Merseyside.

Manchester City and Arsenal have been the dominant sides in the top-flight over the last two years but it's time that Slot put the Reds back in the conversation.

They fell away towards the end of last term but with some more firepower and more defensive solidity, they should be right back up there.

So, who could they sign? Well, they've already turned down Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, although there is a belief according to reports that they could go back in for him.

Another player happens to be his England colleague Marc Guehi.

The latest on Marc Guehi's future

Next summer could see three vital players leave Anfield behind. All of Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract. Of the three, you sense that Salah could be the first to jump ship.

However, if the latter takes his leave, they will need reinforcements. They may even need them before he departs.

One option could be Crystal Palace's Guehi. Slapped with an asking price of £65m, he has been the subject of interest from Liverpool in recent weeks, although considering his performances at Euro 2024, his signature could now be harder to obtain.

There also appears to be interest from Tottenham so if Richard Hughes and Co do make a move, it won't be straightforward to get over the line.

What Heskey has said about Marc Guehi

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of 888sport, Emile Heskey chatted to us about Liverpool's recruitment for this summer.

Asked about Guehi's displays, he was left incredibly impressed with the centre-back's level of performance in Germany this summer.

Although suspended for the quarter-final clash with Switzerland, he has been a rock at the heart of England's backline, taking Harry Maguire's left-centre back role and making it his own.

"He has looked so composed and assured," Heskey began. "I’ve been very impressed with him and he’s been one of England’s best players of the tournament so far. He has been solid in every game and formed an excellent partnership with John Stones at centre-back."

Games played

4

Clean sheets

2

Touches *

91.8

Pass accuracy

93%

Interceptions *

0.5

Tackles *

0.5

Ball recoveries *

5

Duels won *

4

Yellow cards

2

The defender has only been a bit part of England squads in recent international breaks but he has now become a mainstay, something that has left the former Liverpool striker gushing.

Heskey continued: "Not playing a competitive game for England before at a major tournament, you have to say Guehi has been mightily impressive with the calmness he has shown throughout each game so far in the competition."

So, would he be a good signing for Slot? Heskey – who played for the Three Lions on 62 occasions – concluded: "He would be superb alongside Van Dijk. There is no better centre-back to learn from than him and it would take his game to the next level.

"Guehi has been so comfortable bringing the ball out from defence, he has good pace as well, so this would work well at Liverpool should it happen."

The Palace star did struggle with injury last term but featured on 25 occasions in the league, also captaining the club at times.

Emile Heskey backs Liverpool to sign "exciting" £70m PL star

Emile Heskey was speaking to Football FanCast this week.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 7, 2024