Arsenal have their sights on some money-spinning summer deals this summer and Fabrizio Romano has now delivered an update on Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Mikel Arteta looks to take Arsenal squad to the next level

Very few Premier League fans would argue against the notion that Mikel Arteta has a strong squad to pick from at the Emirates Stadium, but injury issues have put paid to their title challenge.

Mainly, the forward line has been the area prone to the most disruption. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have been notable casualties, though Ricardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu have also spent time away from the backline.

Either way, Arteta faces a decisive summer if Arsenal are to pull themselves into direct contention for domestic silverware in 2025/26. Reports earlier this week claim the Gunners are in pole position to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club.

His mooted £10.4 million annual wages aren’t said to be a problem, though it remains to be seen if the Spain international fancies a move to North London over other potential destinations such as Chelsea and Barcelona.

Following the same trail as many of their competitors, Arsenal are also in the hunt to sign Jonathan David from Lille on a free transfer and active talks are underway between the club and his representatives.

Arsenal’s season under Mikel Arteta by competition

Premier League

Trailing Liverpool by 12 points with 9 matches to play

Champions League

Arsenal face Real Madrid in the quarter-final

EFL Cup

Eliminated by Newcastle United at the semi-final stage

FA Cup

Eliminated by Manchester United in the Third Round

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have put their own case forward to the Canada international, making for an intriguing spectacle as his contract in France nears expiration.

Rumours are rapidly circulating surrounding potential reinforcements at Arsenal and Fabrizio Romano has now taken the liberty of addressing speculation surrounding one of the Premier League’s most established midfield operators.

Fabrizio Romano addresses Bruno Guimaraes' links with Arsenal

Speaking on his YouTube channel, renowned transfer guru Romano, as per Caught Offside, shared an update on Newcastle star Guimaraes and a move to Arsenal.

There were reports that Newcastle received a £58m bid from Arsenal for Guimaraes, whereas there have been claims that if Newcastle don’t qualify for the Champions League, they could sell the midfielder for £60m.

However, as per Romano, there has been no ‘direct contact’ between any party relating to the Brazil international swapping Tyneside for London this summer.

He explained: “We are having many reports on Bruno Guimaraes, reports about Arsenal and other clubs interested in Bruno Guimaraes. What I am able to tell you today is that despite all of the stories involving Arsenal, I’m not aware of any concrete negotiation or concrete contact between Arsenal or Bruno Guimaraes.”

Better than Sesko: Arsenal in talks to sign "one of the best in the world"

Arsenal could sign one of the best forwards in the world on a free transfer.

2 ByMatt Dawson Mar 23, 2025

Later, he added: “He was on the list when the director was Edu Gaspar, they’re Brazilians, so the connection is there. Now the new director is Andrea Berta, and at the moment I’m not aware of any direct contact for Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal.”

This campaign, the former Lyon man has excelled when breaking the lines, registering three goals and eight assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.

Walking away from the season with an EFL Cup winners’ medal, now may be the perfect time to seek a new challenge. However, any notion of a possible move to Arsenal may be slightly more complicated than first anticipated, giving Berta work to do upon his arrival.

Mario Balotelli was handed a taste of his own medicine as Eman SV2 taunted him with his iconic 'Why Always Me?' celebration at the Baller League.

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Legends beat the Creators 7-6Balotelli was among the scorersSaw the celebration belted out on his faceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

The Baller League witnessed a thrilling showdown between football royalty and internet fame as a star-studded Legends vs Influencers match brought together icons of the game and fan-favourite creators in an action-packed match, which ended in a 7-6 victory for the former pros. Among the biggest names to lace up their boots were Balotelli, Ravel Morrison, and John Arne Riise, while the influencer lineup included KSI, Chunkz, and George Clarkey, with Niko Omilana playing a pivotal role.

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While the game itself was a spectacle filled with goals, laughs, and nostalgia, it was a cheeky celebration from influencer Eman SV2 that stole the headlines, and perhaps even upstaged one of football's most eccentric stars. After scoring, Eman turned to the crowd and revealed a shirt that read “Why Always Me?” – the very phrase Balotelli had famously displayed under his Manchester City jersey during their historic 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2011.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Now winding down his career at Genoa, Balotelli’s time in professional football may be nearing its final chapters. His contract with the Serie A side is set to expire this summer, and with no renewal on the cards yet, the striker may soon be contemplating his next steps.

Everton have been a day late and a dollar short far too often in recent memory, but things are beginning to look up. David Moyes brings with him a sort of confidence, exuding a winning mentality that has been absorbed by players desperate for something more.

While the summer transfer window will bring Everton, who are all but certain to be plying their trade in the Premier League next year, a sense of clarity, fans will hope that incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear can ship out the deadwood and ensure the signings made hit the ground running.

He’ll do his best, no doubt. However, the Toffees may also need to cash in on one or two of their prized possessions in order to make the sweeping changes anticipated. Sadly, one such player might be Jarrad Branthwaite.

Jarrad Branthwaite's Everton future

Branthwaite is probably Everton’s best player; certainly, he’s the most valuable in the present market. Interest in his signature was rife last season, Manchester United launching a succession of bids but failing to even brush the £75m ballpark that Farhad Moshiri and Kevin Thelwell deemed just for the centre-back’s sale.

Everton are within their rights to demand a king’s ransom for Branthwaite’s departure. After all, the 22-year-old has been described as “pretty special” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

And rightly so. In the Premier League last season, Branthwaite won 67% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore. This year, that success rate has risen to a staggering 74% average. At 6 foot 5, he’s commanding and imperious in his defending, bearing the mark of a future superstar.

He’s one of the very best and Everton’s most valuable player right now, but there’s actually another rising star in the English top flight worth more than Branthwaite.

That man is Anthony Gordon, not the flavour of the month on either half of Merseyside right now.

The ex-Everton star now worth more than Branthwaite

Part of the Newcastle United squad (albeit not featuring at Wembley due to suspension) that defeated Liverpool in this month’s Carabao Cup final, Gordon has gone from strength to strength since leaving Everton.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

But while Toffees will have allowed a smirk at Gordon-involved celebrations, seeing the Reds in ruin, the England international is not very well liked at Goodison after forcing his way out in January 2023.

Frank Lampard had been dismissed and Sean Dyche appointed in his stead, with the upheaval and overall turbulence at Everton seemingly convincing Gordon that he needed to jump ship. And so, having handed in a transfer request, he signed for the Magpies in a deal worth £45m.

Anthony Gordon – Senior Stats by Club
Club/level	Apps	Goals	Assists
Newcastle	98	22	17
Everton	78	7	8
Preston	11	0	0
England	9	1	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, Gordon came close to moving back to Merseyside before the current campaign kicked off. Indeed, Liverpool were perusing the market for a left-sided forward and the Toon needed to raise money due to PSR complications.

They circumvented through other means, largely because Newcastle chiefs placed an incredible £100m price tag on the Three Lions winger, which would have seen him become one of the most expensive players in Premier League history if acted upon from Anfield, very much above Branthwaite in that regard.

Iliman Ndiaye’s success this season after joining from Marseille last summer has put Gordon’s frustrations firmly to bed, but it’s still disappointing to think he was so quick to flee after spending a decade at the club, joining from Liverpool’s academy aged 11.

Gordon is a “special” player, as said by producer Andrew Musgrove, and losing his quality remains a bitter pill to swallow.

Given that his performances have led to claims of a potential £100m transfer fee, it’s one Everton will rue for a while. It could have been so much more.

Moyes can forget Branthwaite by unleashing Everton's "special" academy gem

Everton might need a replacement for Branthwaite if he leaves

2

By
Joe Nuttall

Mar 26, 2025

Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner spun Australia to victory – and retention of the Ashes – with a thrilling three-run win over England in the second ODI in Southampton.A century to Nat Sciver-Brunt, her third in four ODIs against Australia, brought the hosts to the brink of a win that would keep the series alive but, with five runs needed off the final ball, she managed only a single off the left-arm spin of experienced death bowler Jess Jonassen before a crowd of 12,380. Australia have eight points to England’s six with one more match to play at Taunton on Tuesday, where the best England can hope for is to secure a win which would draw the series.Ellyse Perry had set Australia up nicely with 91, helped by Annabel Sutherland’s half-century and a thrilling cameo of 37 off just 14 balls from No. 8 Georgia Wareham. Perry’s 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Sutherland, in addition fifty stands with Beth Mooney and Gardner, provided the backbone of Australia’s total of 282 for 7 which asked England to produce their most successful run chase in ODIs for the second match in a row after their pursuit of 264 in Bristol.But King, who hadn’t played since the Test match, which opened the series, replaced quick Darcie Brown as Australia went for a spin-heavy attack and broke the game open with three wickets for 15 in the space of 23 balls while Gardner claimed 3 for 54 and conceded just six runs off the penultimate over, leaving England chasing 15 off the last. Sciver-Brunt marshalled the closing stages almost to perfection with No. 9 Sarah Glenn, who remained unbeaten on 22 from 35 balls. But, in scenes reminiscent of the 2022 World Cup where Sciver-Brunt scored fighting centuries in losing causes to Australia during the group stage and in the final, her 111 not out fell agonisingly short.In-form opener Tammy Beaumont set England’s response off in fine fashion, her back-to-back fours off King past mid-off gave her 20 runs in boundaries by the end of the sixth over and after the 10-over powerplay England were 62 without loss.Legspinner Wareham came on in the 12th over and struck with her third ball as Sophia Dunkley tried to paddle but instead had the top of her off stump rattled to depart for a laboured 13 off 30.King then rapped Heather Knight on the front knee-roll in line with middle stump in the 18th over and, although Knight reviewed immediately, her dismissal was upheld convincingly. Sciver-Brunt managed to overturn her lbw decision to Tahlia McGrath in the next over when replays showed the ball was missing down the leg side. But then King produced a stunning legbreak to beat Beaumont’s forward defence and ping the top of off stump and had Alice Capesy out cheaply, picking out Gardner just inside the rope at deep midwicket to leave England 123 for 4.Nat Sciver-Brunt played another valiant knock but was unable to get her side over the line•Getty Images

England were still looking good at the halfway point of their innings, at 132 for 4 compared to Australia’s 119 for 4 but then Danni Wyatt sent a Gardner delivery high to Sutherland at long-on and it fell to Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones to make running repairs to the innings.Consecutive fours to Jones off Megan Schutt in the 33rd over eased the pressure and Sutherland missed a difficult chance running back at mid-on when Jones was on 34 but then Jones’ attempted reverse-sweep off Gardner found Schutt at backward point and her 57-run stand with Sciver-Brunt ended. Sophie Ecclestone followed lbw to Gardner three balls later and Australia needed 73 from the last ten overs.With England needing 38 off last five, King conceded just three runs off her last over, the 46th, while Jonassen conceded eight off the 48th. Sciver-Brunt was dropped by Wareham at deep midwicket off the second ball of the penultimate over but England couldn’t quite make Australia pay, despite Sciver-Brunt’s slog-sweep for four followed by two mad dashes for two.Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield unleashed a sumptuous cover drive for four off Lauren Bell, but was pinned back by one that angled in from just outside off stump on the next ball and Bell had her second wicket when Alyssa Healy spooned tamely to Capsey at short third so that Australia were 27 for 2 inside six overs.They stretched that to 59 for 2 by the end of the powerplay as Mooney and Perry settled into a 61-run stand. The Australian duo upped the tempo in the 16th and 17th overs as Mooney crashed a one-bounce four off Sciver-Brunt down the ground and swept Ecclestone to the boundary. But it was Mooney’s attempted sweep off Ecclestone in the 19th over which was her undoing, Bell snaffling the edge at short fine leg and Australia were 88 for 3.Legspinner Glenn struck with the first ball of her second over when had Tahlia McGrath caught behind attempting to cut. Gardner received a life on 4 when she sent a Capsey delivery looping towards short third, Ecclestone running across and getting her left had to the ball but failing to hold on. Gardner capitalised by sending Glenn over long on-for six and moments later Perry brought up her fifty with a pull to square leg for two.Fans flocked to Southampton to watch the second ODI•PA Photos/Getty Images

Glenn had an lbw appeal turned down in her next over, Perry surviving England’s review on umpires call, missing a tough caught-and-bowled chance in an eventful 28th over.Ecclestone made up for her earlier blunder with an excellent catch at mid-off from Bell, who had just returned to the attack to remove Gardner and break a 56-run partnership with Perry.Kate Cross had already bowled her ten-over allocation when she went off with what was later diagnosed as persistent cramp after putting down Perry on 63 at mid-off from Ecclestone.Sutherland contributed an impressive 50 from 47 balls, including three fours off one Bell over, down the ground, over wide mid-on an through fine leg. She and Perry were busy in the 43rd over, Glenn conceding 17 from it.But then England’s bowlers regained control with Ecclestone bowling a tight 45th over, which went for just five runs, and Bell conceding only four from the next. Sutherland brought up her fifty with a single cut just short of point off Ecclestone’s next over but then Ecclestone snared the wickets of Perry and Sutherland, holing out to long-off and long-on respectively in the space of four balls.Sciver-Brunt conceded just five runs off the penultimate over but then Wareham helped herself to 26 runs from the last. As Bell kept putting the ball in the slot, Wareham launched back-to-back sixes over deep square leg and deep midwicket, followed by fours over mid-off and extra cover which bookended another maximum over mid-on.

Seamer had no doubts about pushing through the final Ashes Test despite damaged shoulder

Andrew McGlashan27-Jul-2023Mitchell Starc had no interest in finding out the full extent of his shoulder injury before the final Test at the Kia Oval. Instead he was fully focused on seeing out an Ashes series which has now become his most successful away from home.Starc landed heavily on his shoulder on the second day at Emirates Old Trafford but was able to bowl through the pain there and has now done the same again as Australia look to open up a 3-1 margin.”I’m not interested in getting scanned or anything like that,” Starc said. “We’ll worry about that at the end of the week. Just a bit of discomfort there, something going on there in the AC [joint]. Nothing major and I’m still able to bowl and do what I need to do.”Related

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He needed to go off the field on the opening day at The Oval for some extra strapping but returned to produce a stunning delivery to remove Ben Stokes – “it swung a little bit late and managed to hit the stumps,” Starc said – before inducing England’s top-scorer, Harry Brook, to edge to slip.It’s the second time in less than a year that Starc has defied an injury, after bowling with a badly damaged tendon in his finger against South Africa at the MCG. That problem would rule him out of Australia’s next three Tests. After this series there is at least three weeks off for the multi-format players, while Starc may also be rested from the T20Is in South Africa before the build-up to the ODI World Cup begins.”I’ve played for over ten years and been through a few niggles and injuries over the time,” he said. “There’s been times when I’ve left the team a man down or other people have. We all push through niggles and whatnot. No difference this week, it’s just a little bit of discomfort and away we go.”This tour had already been a marked contrast from the 2019 series in which Starc played just once, in the Ashes-retaining victory at Old Trafford, but was surprisingly overlooked for the next Test at The Oval where Australia stumbled and ended up sharing the series 2-2.On this trip he was left out at Edgbaston, where a fit-again Josh Hazlewood was preferred, before being called up for Lord’s in place of Scott Boland. He claimed six wickets in that Test where Australia took a 2-0 lead then claimed another seven at Headingley, but was not able to help his team across the line. The four-wicket haul on the opening day at The Oval has taken him to 19 for the series, the most for any bowler, one ahead of his 2015 tally.”It’s not the most comfortable thing,” he added of the shoulder problem. “But I don’t think any bowler [in] international cricket is going to say it’s something that’s comfortable for the body. So just push on. We’ve got a big week ahead of us to try and win this Ashes series and then a few weeks off so there’s no reason not to get up for this week.”

Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz hailed Trent Alexander-Arnold's Spanish speaking skills as he hinted at future link-up with the defender.

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Alcaraz praised Alexander-Arnold's Spanish skillsSpoke Spanish after being unveiled as Madrid player Real Madrid take on Al-Hilal on Wednesday Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Alexander-Arnold was formally unveiled as a Los Blancos player last week in a ceremony at Real Madrid City, the club’s state-of-the-art training facility. At the ceremony, the English full-back showed off his Spanish skills as he delivered his entire speech in polished Spanish, instantly winning over Madrid fans.

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Now, five-time grand slam winner and newly crowned French Open champion Alcaraz has shared his verdict on Alexander-Arnold's Spanish skills. The Tennis star also backed the England international to become the best right-back in the world as he hinted at a future link-up with the defender.

WHAT ALCARAZ SAID

Speaking to BBC Sport, Alcaraz said: "If I meet him one day I'm going to speak with him in Spanish. His Spanish is pretty, pretty good. It surprised me when I heard it. It's not easy when you're standing in front of a new club, new president, new teammates, new everyone. Speaking another language, and being able to do it like this, respect to him. But he's so serious!"

The Spaniard added, "It's great having him at Real Madrid. I'm pretty sure he's going to be the best (right back in the world)!"

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

The 24-year-old is expected to make his Madrid debut this Wednesday as Xabi Alonso's side take on Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener.

Ben Stokes believes that the 2023 Ashes was “what Test cricket needed” and hopes that it has “inspired a new generation” of cricketers in the same way that the 2005 series did for him.England’s players and management have consistently referred to their desire to keep the format alive since Stokes’ appointment as captain and Brendon McCullum’s as coach last year, and viewing and listening figures have been high throughout the last six weeks.And while they have not matched those recorded 18 years ago, when the series was available live on free-to-air TV in the UK, Stokes believes that his England team have “managed to drag a new audience towards cricket” through their ultra-attacking style with the bat.”The series is generally what Test cricket needed: two high-quality teams going toe-to-toe for six or seven weeks,” Stokes said, after his side won a compelling fifth Test by 49 runs on the final day at The Oval. “The cricket that’s been played has been something that you really couldn’t take your eyes off.Related

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• 'If Stokesy messages me again, I'm going to delete it' – Moeen Ali bows out of Tests on a high

“We’ve been in control, then Australia have been in control in different ways, and I think everyone who has turned up to the game has really enjoyed their day of cricket. I guess that’s all you can really ask for, as someone who pays money to come and watch international sport.”Stokes was 14 years old during the 2005 Ashes, considered by many to be the greatest modern Test series, and said that he hoped the 2023 edition has had a similar effect on young sportspeople across the country.”I really hope that we’ve inspired a new generation,” he said. “I look back to 2005 and what that series did for me as a young person. I really hope there’s someone who is at my age in 2005 that’s looked at this series and just said, ‘That’s what I want to be doing when I’m 21 or 22.”Pat Cummins, Stokes’ counterpart, echoed his comparison with the 2005 series, saying that he had noticed a surge in interest in the sport. “That’s been one of the best things about the last eight weeks,” Cummins said. “Just walking around the streets, even.”You always expect one idiot every now and then but there honestly hasn’t been any. Everyone has been amazing and just taking about the cricket and how much they’ve loved it, and I know it’s the same back in Australia.”Big viewers, lots of people interested in cricket. How good’s that? It doesn’t get any better. I was a bit young for 2005, but that series gets talked about a lot. It feels like this one might be the same.”Stokes said that he thought the series scoreline was apt. “I think two-all is genuinely a fair reflection of two very, very good teams going at it over a five-match series,” he said. “Australia being World Test Champions leading into this Ashes, the cricket that’s been on show has been of the highest quality.”Being two-nil down is a very hard task to come back from, being sat here able to say that we’ve levelled the series, knowing we had to win the last three… the game in Manchester was obviously affected by the rain but it is what it is. Coming here and playing the way we did, I couldn’t be any more proud of the team.”England scored at a significantly faster rate than Australia across the series, racing along at 4.74 runs per over compared to Australia’s 3.35. “We continued everything in the style of play we have over the last 15 months and it’s been everything I could have asked for – minus getting the urn back,” Stokes said.Asked if the result vindicated England’s attacking style, he said: “If you look at the success over the amount of games we’ve played, the style obviously works. We’ve been very successful. Criticism is part and parcel of everything you do but the most important views and opinions that I view as a leader are the ones around me.”But he stopped short of saying that Bazball should be adopted by the rest of the world. “It’s unfair for me to sit here and say, ‘This is how other teams should play,'” Stokes said. “If other teams take that upon themselves to take inspiration from the way we’re playing to benefit them, then great.”But I don’t think I’d ever say that every other nation should be playing in the way we do, because every team is full of different individuals. Different styles of play bring out the best in individuals and teams, but the way we play brings the best out of our individuals – and us as a whole team collectively.”

Everton’s Jordan Pickford started in front of the netting as England defeated Albania on Friday evening.

Thomas Tuchel’s at the wheel, his era has begun. Pickford is England’s first-choice goalkeeper and rightly so, having spent so many years between the sticks, starring across the Three Lions’ last four major tournaments.

The decision to start the 31-year-old insinuated Pickford has retained his top status after Sir Gareth Southgate’s era concluded and Lee Carsley led on an interim basis for a while.

He’s one of Everton’s standout players, a leader and a dependable force of good, through the best and worst times the Toffees have seen since he was signed from Sunderland for a club-record £30m fee in 2017.

It’s brilliant his services have been retained for so many years, but how many more?

Jordan Pickford's Everton future

Pickford is contracted to Everton until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, but if his form remains at a satisfactory level, Moyes will be sure to urge incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear to tie him down for a longer period.

Pickford’s time at Everton has been peppered with rumours of interest from other clubs. Only last summer, Chelsea had their sights set on the shot-stopper.

Against Albania, Pickford didn’t need to make a single save but still barked at his defenders, taking 30 touches and completing three of his six attempted long balls, as per Sofascore.

Premier League 24/25 – Clean Sheets
#	Player	Club	Clean Sheets
1	Matz Sels	Nott’m Forest	12
2	David Raya	Arsenal	11
3	Alisson	Liverpool	9
4	Dean Henderson	Palace	9
5	Jordan Pickford	Everton	9
Stats via Transfermarkt

All of an Everton persuasion will hope he remains at the club for many more seasons, and while he’s a “real leader” – as said by Everton writer Ell Bretland – it may be another member of Moyes’ squad who takes the captaincy in the future.

Moyes' next Everton captain

Pickford might seem like the obvious choice to take the armband when the time to make changes comes, but there’s a younger and more malleable option who deserves a shot.

Chalkboard

Seamus Coleman is the current club captain, but the 36-year-old stalwart has only started two matches in the Premier League this season has injuries take him in a suffocating vice.

Thus, James Tarkowski, 32, has deputised throughout the lion’s share of the campaign, starting as he has across each of Everton’s 29 top-flight fixtures this term. In fact, he hasn’t missed a minute.

However, the £100k-per-week Tarkowski’s getting on himself and is out of a deal at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Will his deal be renewed as Moyes looks to inject new avidity into the team, taking them to new places and with a fresh look about them?

You may have an inkling who it might be. Indeed, having gone from strength to strength over the past several seasons, Jarrad Branthwaite is the perfect man to succeed the current on-field hegemony when the time comes.

The 22-year-old has been at Everton since January 2020, when he left Carlisle United in League Two to join the Toffees for a £1m fee.

After a fringe role and a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven in Holland, Branthwaite has become a staple of the backline over the last two Premier League seasons, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even hailing him as an “absolute monster” at the back.

Crowned Everton’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24, the England international is on the fast-track toward becoming one of his nation’s pre-eminent defensive forces, endowed with the powerful physicality and athletic grace to start in Tuchel’s England set-up for many years.

He’s a focal part of the backline and a leader by example. He exemplifies the football Moyes wishes to play, and it’s for this reason he should be handed the captaincy as well as the baton when Tarkowski does end his time at the club.

Jarrad Branthwaite in the Premier League (24/25)
Match Stats	#
Matches (starts)	22 (20)
Goals	0
Assists	1
Clean sheets	7
Touches*	50.5
Pass completion	82%
Ball recoveries*	3.1
Tackles + interceptions*	2.4
Clearances*	6.3
Duels won*	3.5 (63%)
Stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

As you can see from the rising star’s collected data across the campaign, he’s a crisp and committed defender, also bearing an impressive success rate in the pass despite Everton’s ostensible odds with ball-playing football.

He’s also a left-footer, an evergreen super-strength for central defenders, instilling a backline with balance and fluency that not all can boast.

Branthwaite actually ranks among the top 2% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for clearances made per 90, as per FBref, further underscoring his athletic ability and alertness to danger.

He doesn’t shy away from danger. The 6 foot 5 colossus takes responsibility and merges wonderfully with Tarkowski in the rearguard, providing Pickford with the perfect defensive line to mitigate his responsibility between the sticks.

Given Branthwaite is set to star as a defensive force for many years, likely plying his trade at the highest level well beyond Tarkowski and Pickford, it makes perfect sense for him to be given the armband, incentivising him to stay at Bramley Moore and reject potential interest from the likes of Manchester United in the future.

Tarkowski has been described as the “perfect leader and mentor for Jarrad Branthwaite” by journalist Zach Lowy. When he finishes up on Merseyside in the coming years, Branthwaite can surely step straight into his boots, taking his partner’s armband too.

Moyes' new Branthwaite: Everton want to sign £25m star from European giants

Everton are gearing up for a summer of spending with David Moyes back at the helm.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 21, 2025

حقق باريس سان جيرمان فوزًا كاسحًا على ريال مدريد برباعية نظيفة خلال اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما على ملعب ميتلايف في نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية.

وجاءت أهداف باريس سان جيرمان عن طريق لاعب خط الوسط الإسباني فابيان رويز الذي سجل ثنائية بينما سجل عثمان ديمبلي وجونزالو راموس هدف لكل منهما.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | راموس يسجل هدف باريس سان جيرمان الرابع أمام ريال مدريد ويحتفل على طريقة جوتا

وبهذا الفوز يضرب باريس سان جيرمان موعداً ضد تشيلسي الذي تأهل لنهائي المسابقة بعد فوزه على فلومينيسي البرازيلي بهدفين نظيفين.

وشكلت مباراة اليوم نهاية مشوار لاعب خط الوسط الكرواتي المخضرم لوكا مودريتش مع ريال مدريد بعد أن دخل بديلًا في الشوط الثاني.

وحاول لوكا مودريتش أن يساعد ريال مدريد في الشوط الثاني ولكنه دخل متأخرًا بعد أن تقدم باريس سان جيرمان بالنتيجة بثلاثية نظيفة مع نهاية الشوط الأول.

وكان ميلان الإيطالي قد أعلن عن تعاقده مع لوكا مودريتش في وقت سابق، ليكون كأس العالم للأندية بمثابة إسدال الستار على مسيرة الكرواتي مع ريال مدريد والتي استمرت لـ12 عامًا.

وكان لوكا مودريتش قد انضم إلى ريال مدريد في 2012 قادمًا من صفوف توتنهام هوتسبير الإنجليزي.

وحقق لوكا مودريتش 28 لقبًا مع ريال مدريد خلال هذه الفترة، أبرزهًا لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا بواقع 6 مرات وآخرهما موسم 2023-2024.

There could be a huge summer on the cards for Michael Edwards and Arne Slot at Liverpool due to potential player movement in and out of Anfield.

Firstly, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at the end of this season, and it remains to be seen if any of them will put pen to paper on extensions on Merseyside.

Losing any of them would be a significant blow for Liverpool, as they are all regular starters, but Salah could be the biggest loss as he has scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions this season.

Rather than finding a one-for-one replacement, which would be incredibly difficult to do, the Reds could sign players in several positions in hope that they all step up to make up for the goals and assists lost.

For example, Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Atletico Madrid centre-forward Julian Alvarez, who they reportedly ‘appreciate’ and hold a long-term interest in.

Why Liverpool need to sign a player like Julian Alvarez

Salah has been Liverpool’s main source of goals from a right wing position and that has papered over the cracks in the front three, as Slot has had a problem in the centre-forward position this season.

Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have both had attempts at being the main number nine for the Reds, but they have both failed to provide a reliable presence in front of goal. The former has scored five goals from 7.21 xG and the latter has scored five times from 5.28 xG in the Premier League.

These statistics show that Liverpool do not possess a ruthless number nine who can make the most of the chances that come their way in the box, which is why they need to go out and sign a player like Alvarez.

The former Manchester City man joined Atletico Madrid last summer to bolster Diego Simeone’s squad, and has proven to be a big hit in Spain with his performances at the top end of the pitch.

Starts

22

10

xG

8.86

2.38

Goals

11

7

Minutes per goal

166

113

Big chances missed

5

1

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, Alvarez has outperformed his xG in both LaLiga and the Champions League this term, which shows that he can be ruthless in front of goal.

In fact, the Argentina international has only missed 26 ‘big chances’ in all competitions for Atletico and Man City combined since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Nunez, for comparison, has missed a staggering 81 ‘big chances’ in all competitions for Liverpool in that time, having joined from Benfica in 2022, which illustrates the stark difference in quality between the two centre-forwards.

The Reds, though, are also interested in signing a defender who could be as important of a signing as Alvarez in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool have held talks to sign Premier League star

According to journalist Bence Bocsak, Liverpool “have held talks” with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez over a potential move to Anfield next season.

The reporter claims that the club “like” the Hungary international but that a transfer to Merseyside is not advanced at this moment in time, with nothing beyond those initial talks.

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Bocsak’s article for Anfield Watch expands on the news, adding that Liverpool wanted to sign Kerkez from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2023, but the player decided to move to Bournemouth instead to play regular football.

The report reveals that Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the Hungarian dynamo, which suggests that there will be plenty of competition for his services this summer.

Michael Edwards, though, must push to sign the left-back, who is reportedly valued at £40m by the Cherries, because he could be as important of a signing as Alvarez.

Why Liverpool need to sign Milos Kerkez

Liverpool are reportedly in the market to sign a replacement for veteran left-back Andy Robertson this summer, and Kerkez would be a dream signing to take the Scottish star’s place.

The Scotland international has been a terrific servant for the Reds over the years, racking up 66 assists in 336 appearances in all competitions for the club, as a consistent creative threat down the left flank.

However, Robertson’s powers appear to be waning. The 31-year-old star has failed to register a single goal or assist in his 27 appearances in the Premier League this season, along with just one assist in his eight outings in the Champions League.

He is heading towards the latter stage of his career and has not been as influential as in previous seasons, as shown by his lack of production in the final third, and that is why a new long-term left-back option should be a priority this summer.

Kerkez, at the age of 21, is ten years younger than Robertson and could, therefore, be the new left-back for the club for the next decade, if all goes to plan, which is one of the reasons why he would be such an important addition this summer.

The Hungarian star’s performances in the Premier League for Bournemouth this season also suggest that he would come in as an immediate upgrade on the current Liverpool defender.

Appearances

29

27

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

2.0

Clearances per game

2.7

1.3

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

0.6x

Ground duel success rate

58%

51%

Aerial duel success rate

33%

27%

As you can see in the table above, Kerkez has vastly outperformed Robertson with his play in and out of possession in the top-flight, as he has made a bigger impact at the top end of the pitch whilst being far more active and reliable defensively.

Wingers find it harder to get past the Bournemouth star, as he makes more tackles and interceptions whilst being dribbled past less, and opposition defenders find it harder to deal with him, as he has scored more goals and provided more assists.

Therefore, Kerkez could come in as a big upgrade on Robertson at left-back this summer, which is why Liverpool must push hard to get a deal done for him this summer.

As important as Alvarez and the addition of his finishing quality would be for the Reds, signing a Premier League proven left-back with the potential to be a key player for the next decade is equally as important.

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