Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is personally pushing to bring a Brazil international to the Etihad this summer, according to a new transfer claim.
A big summer ahead at Man City
By their incredible standards, City have been a big disappointment this season, not coming close to defending their Premier League title, as well as failing to reach the Champions League knockout rounds.
This summer is a massive one for the club, with Kevin De Bruyne among those moving on and some elite signings needed, in order to be favourites for the title in 2025/26. Plenty of top-quality players are being linked with switches to the Etihad, ahead of what could be a prolific window.
Man City
Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo has been backed to come in as a huge statement signing for City, with the Brazilian potentially eyeing a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. That remains to be seen, but he could be a sensational signing for Guardiola, standing out as one of the best attacking players in Europe.
The Citizens are also rumoured to have opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, who is one of the most exciting strikers around. The 22-year-old has scored 15 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances this season.
Guardiola wants Man City to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley
According to the Flamengo YouTube channel Paparazzo Rubo-Negro [via Sport Witness], Guardiola is pushing for Manchester City to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca ahead of next season. The 21-year-old has been scouted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe and City are planning to make a move for him, seeing him as the long-term replacement for club legend Kyle Walker.
Internacional'sWesleyin action with Flamengo'sWesleyFranca and Luiz Araujo
Wesley could be a brilliant option for City, solving their right-back issue for many years to come and arriving as a young player with a huge amount of promise.
The Flamengo ace is a two-cap Brazil international, and will hope to be a part of their squad at the 2026 World Cup, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as an “interesting” defender.
Admittedly, Wesley has never tested himself in Europe, so he may take some time to adjust to the pace and power of the Premier League, but his age means that there is no rush in throwing him straight into the team from the off next season.
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The fact that Guardiola himself is reportedly so keen on getting a deal over the line for the right-back is telling, highlighting what an impressive footballer he is – he has even been compared to Dani Alves – and he has the pace and Brazilian flair to be a big asset for City.
Enzo Maresca has made it desperately obvious that he wants a new striker at Chelsea this summer, constantly targeting a new talisman after taking the reins 12 months ago.
The Italian has been working tirelessly to land a new forward, potentially having the chance to end his hunt during the upcoming transfer window – aiding their Premier League title ambitions.
Nicolas Jackson has been the Blues’ main option at the top end of the pitch in 2024/25, but has struggled with injuries as of late, massively restricting his progress in the final third.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
The Senegalese international has scored 10 league goals to date, but could’ve certainly had more had he not missed six games through injury between February and April.
Despite his impressive goalscoring record, it’s evident that the boss wants another option ahead of 2025/26, leading to countless attackers being touted with a switch to Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker
Victor Osimhen was a player firmly on Chelsea’s radar last summer, but the club were unable to secure a deal to land him from Napoli – subsequently joining Galatasaray on loan for the current season.
However, with such a deal coming to an end, the Blues have once again been touted with a switch for the Nigerian, with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest also in the race for his signature.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
It would be a hefty sum if they were to sign the 26-year-old, potentially leading to a move for another striker target in the form of Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha, according to TBR.
The report claims that the Dutchman, who plies his trade for the Blues’ sister club, has been on their radar and has impressed the staff behind the scenes at the Bridge.
It also goes on to state that he would provide an added body to Maresca in the final third, potentially nailing a regular role in the side given his record of 14 goals in 28 games this season.
Why Chelsea’s latest target would be better than Delap
Another player who’s been firmly on their radar to bolster the striker department is Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, who appears to be a man in demand this summer.
The 22-year-old, who’s scored 12 goals in the Premier League this year, has a £30m relegation release clause in his contract – coming into effect after the Tractor Boys dropped back into the Championship.
The Blues aren’t the only side in the race for his signature, with Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and Liverpool also credited with an interest in recent days.
However, despite the interest in Delap ahead of the upcoming window, they may be better off pursuing a deal for Emegha, with the sister club potentially playing a key role in their pursuit.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, the Strasbourg star has managed to dominate the Ipswich forward in numerous key areas – showing why the Blues must prioritise a deal for his services.
Games played
26
33
Goals scored
14
12
Shot-on-target accuracy
57%
43%
Pass accuracy
81%
61%
Shots on target
1.4
1
Carries into penalty area
1.3
1
Aerials won
44%
43%
Emegha, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored more goals to date, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.
He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial battles he’s entered – handing Maresca that focal point which he’s craved since arriving at the club.
Given the fact that he currently plays for Strasbourg, a cost-effective deal could likely be agreed, offering a cheaper alternative to Delap – but one that would be a better fit for the team, as seen by the stats produced.
If the club are to keep progressing next season, a new talisman desperately needs to be their priority on any shortlist, with Emegha the man who could take responsibility and thrive at the top end of the pitch.
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Chelsea are hoping to add another young star to their squad, following the capture of Estevao
It’s fair to say Chelsea are underperforming in Enzo Maresca’s system at the moment, but having reached the Conference League semi-finals while sitting inside the Premier League’s top qualification zone, it’s all to fight for over the business weeks of the campaign.
Finishing inside the top five should provide a route into next year’s Champions League, and with the Blues sat in seventh place, four points behind Manchester City, it’s crucial that Fulham are beaten at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The problem, of course, is that Chelsea haven’t won any of their past nine domestic matches on the road, with the Cottagers losing only four of their 16 matches at home in the top flight this term.
20/04/25
Fulham (A)
9th
04/05/25
Liverpool (H)
1st
11/05/25
Newcastle (A)
3rd
16/05/25
Man United (H)
14th
25/05/25
Nott’m Forest (H)
4th
Maresca fielded a surprisingly strong line-up against Legia Warsaw on Thursday, losing 2-1 on the evening but prevailing on aggregate.
It won’t be easy, but the Blues simply have to see themselves over the line in this one.
Chelsea team news
Maresca confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Romeo Lavia is available for selection after returning from injury and should be involved.
Wesley Fofana, Marc Guiu and Omari Kellyman remain long-term absentees, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is still unavailable.
Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke were benched for the quarter-final tie, but Jadon Sancho did pick up an assist for Marc Cucurella’s goal and may fancy another shot at the wide flank against a stable Fulham defence.
Jadon Sancho for Chelsea
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were both excluded from the matchday squad on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s fixture, and with both ready and raring, Maresca may want to make a bold move and drop Cole Palmer for the second time in four Premier League matches.
Why Maresca could drop Palmer
It’s been 15 matches across all competitions since Palmer last found the back of the net. Unquestionably, he’s one of Europe’s superlative attacking midfielders, but equally, he’s well below his best at the moment.
Last season, the 22-year-old was untouchable, matchless in his breezy, Midas touch style in front of goal. Now, he cuts a frustrated figure as chances go begging and fluency looks absent.
The sun will shine again on the England international, who Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher declared “the best player in the Premier League” back in October, having started the term with such panache. Still, he’s got 14 goals and nine assists across 31 appearances, hardly a tally to be sniffed at.
Palmer has maintained an impressive creative level in the Premier League, still showcasing those arresting attributes that have earned him such lofty acclaim.
As per Sofascore, the rangy midfielder averages 2.5 key passes per league game (more than last year’s 2.1 averages per game), winning 56% of his ground duels and creating 20 big chances besides.
However, there’s another playmaking gem who could be unleashed in a fresh role later today. With Lavia combining so well with Caicedo in the early knockings of the season, Maresca may well look to shake things up here.
How Maresca could replace Palmer
It could do Palmer some good to take a seat against Marco Silva’s Fulham, fuelling him to make a positive impact when introduced in the second half.
Chelsea don’t have an abundance of central attacking midfielders, and while Neto could play the role well off Jackson’s back, it’s Fernandez who should be allowed to shift forwards into Palmer’s realm.
Fernandez has been through the emotions since becoming English football’s most expensive player of all time in February 2023, leaving Benfica in a deal worth £107m. He was regarded as a “superstar” by journalist Roy Nemer, and is beginning to prove such praise despite his team’s struggles.
The 24-year-old has come on leaps and bounds with his timing and movement in the danger area, bounding into space and using his feet or head to fire home.
Principally from a deeper-lying role, this is quite impressive, especially when doubling that with the fact that he’s one of the Premier League’s most creative players right now.
To add context to this: during March, no player across England’s top division created more big chances than Fernandez’s eight, the Argentine thriving in his influential central berth.
As per FBref, the 5 foot 10 midfielder ranks among the top 14% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for goal involvements, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for passes attempted and the top 11% for progressive passes per 90.
Clearly, he has the properties to play a more advanced role, and Maresca’s not afraid to give him a shot. Four times already in 2024/25, Fernandez has featured as the number ten, scoring one goal and registering one assist.
He’s not one to shirk away from defensive responsibilities either, winning 4.4 duels and recovering 4.3 balls per game so far. Fielding him ahead of Caicedo and Lavia might compact Chelsea’s midfield while retaining the playmaking spark that Palmer provides with such aplomb, even when things aren’t going his way.
It bears testament to Chelsea’s strength in depth that such a scenario is even a possibility, and it might just be one that Maresca wants to enforce to keep his players on their toes and take Palmer out of the firing line.
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Chelsea can forget about Marc Guehi, with a move seemingly heading in the right direction for one star.
Tottenham Hotspur are now closely monitoring an “exceptional” attacking midfielder, who is also a target for Champions League semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report.
Spurs set sights on new midfielder
Tottenham have fallen way short of expectations in the Premier League this season, but they took a huge step towards Champions League qualification by progressing past Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League earlier this week.
With Ange Postecoglou’s side set to take on Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final, they should, on paper, stand a very good chance of going all the way in the competition, which would allow them to compete for some top players in the summer transfer window.
A new midfielder is of particular interest to Spurs, and they have recently been handed a boost in their pursuit of Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, with it being revealed the 20-year-old is privately considering a move to north London, despite interest from Manchester City.
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There appears to be a focus on youth ahead of the summer window, with it being revealed Tottenham are also keen on signing Sunderland starlet Jobe Bellingham, who could be available for around £20m.
A move for Bellingham wouldn’t break the bank, but there is another target on the shortlist who could also be available for a relatively low fee, with a report from Spain revealing Spurs are interested in signing FC Como’s Nico Paz.
Como'sNicoPazin action with Juventus' Manuel Locatelli
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also in the race for Paz, while Real Madrid hold a buy-back clause, which allows them to snap up their former player for just €9m (£8m), giving them an advantage over the other interested clubs.
That said, the Lilywhites are doing everything they can to win the race for the 20-year-old, whose market value could increase considerably, should he maintain his current levels of performance.
"Exceptional" Paz flourishing in the Serie A
The former Real Madrid man was unable to make the grade in La Liga, but he has flourished since making the move to Como last summer, picking up six goals and seven assists in 30 Serie A appearances.
It should be little surprise that the Spanish-born midfielder is performing very well in Italy, however, given that former Real Madrid man Toni Kroos spoke very highly of him during his time at the Bernabeu, saying: “This lad (Nico Paz) should be training with us every day because he’s exceptional.”
Not only that, but manager and fellow legendary midfielder Cesc Fabregas has also praised the Como star this season, saying: “Nico enjoys playing, he can play different roles and he is a very complete player.”
“I see a very, very big potential in him.”
As such, Paz could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer, but it could be difficult to compete with Real Madrid, should the Spanish side formalise their interest.
With other Premier League sides emerging in the race to sign James Trafford this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their attention towards an impressive Ligue 1 alternative.
Interest growing in Trafford as Newcastle consider other options
Whilst the Magpies have reportedly had personal terms agreed with Trafford since last year, they’re yet to get a deal over the line with Burnley and may lose out amid the fresh interest of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Suddenly, Newcastle could be left scrambling to find another top target to replace the ageing and struggling Nick Pope.
James Trafford for Burnley.
The Newcastle No.1 has had plenty of injury struggles in the last year or so and is yet to provide convincing form since returning to full fitness. Now, for the first time in his time at St James’ Park, the shot-stopper’s place is in doubt.
Trafford would arguably be an instant upgrade on Pope too, having enjoyed an excellent season in the Championship with Burnley, who have been one of the best defensive side’s in the division’s history.
Starts
41
21
Clean Sheets
28
5
Saves P90
1.78
3.14
Save Percentage
85.2%
71%
More clean sheets than Pope has managed Premier League starts this season, Trafford is one that Newcastle will not want to miss out on in the coming months.
On that note, however, it seems as though those in Tyneside are at least planning for the worst, having identified a number of alternative options. The likes of Aaron Ramsdale, for example, have been among the headlines as of late and reportedly finds himself on Newcastle’s radar despite suffering relegation at Southampton.
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What’s more, the Magpies have also reportedly turned their attention towards an option outside of English football and one who has attracted plenty of attention from the Premier League.
Newcastle make first checks on "incredible" Fofana
According to The Boot Room, Newcastle have now made their first checks in the race to sign Yahia Fofana from Angers this summer. They’re not alone in their interest, however, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City all reportedly sending scouts to watch the goalkeeper secure a clean sheet in a recent 2-0 victory over Montpellier.
So, just like in the race to sign Trafford, Newcastle must battle their way past a growing line to get themselves front of the queue for Fofana, who has already earned plenty of praise this season.
Praised for an “incredible breakout season” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in the last campaign, Fofana has only improved since then and now rightly finds himself on the radar of the Premier League. If Newcastle miss out on Trafford this summer, then turning towards the 24-year-old would certainly be a good idea.
A new Southampton manager update has been shared from St Mary’s regarding a full-time move for interim boss Tonda Eckert.
Eckert responds to permanent Southampton job rumours
The Saints made the perfect start to life without Will Still in the week, defeating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road.
Eckert was the man in charge of Southampton following Still’s exit, with second half goals from Jay Robinson and Leo Scienza lifting them above rivals Portsmouth.
The 3-4-2-1 caretaker is once again set to be on the touchline this weekend prior to the international break as St Mary’s play host to bottom side Sheffield Wednesday. Talking ahead of the game, Eckert was asked if he fancied the Southampton job on a permanent basis, to which he said:
“Look, the answer is very easy on this one. My job is to prepare the game today in the best way possible. My job is to prepare the game on Saturday (8th November) in the best way possible. That’s what all my focus is on. It’s going to be three very important days until Saturday. Then we can all take a breath.
“I think the only thing I can do is give energy and give a structure, and prepare them in the best way possible. We’re going to do the same thing for Saturday and hopefully confirm [the improvement] and then we’ll go into a break and go again.”
Now, a new update has emerged regarding Southampton’s position over Eckert.
How Southampton feel about full-time Tonda Eckert move
According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, Southampton now “consider Eckert a potential candidate for the full-time job” following his winning start in temporary charge.
The 32-year-old’s coaching career has mainly been as an assistant, helping some iconic names such as Patrick Vieira at Genoa and Miroslav Klose at Bayern Munich’s U17 side.
His experience in England came during 18 months as an assistant at Barnsley, with Eckert taking charge of Southampton’s U21s in the summer.
1.FC Koln U17
Assistant manager
2013-2016
RB Salzburg YL
Assistant manager
2016-2017
RB Leipzig YL
Assistant manager
2017-2019
FC Bayern U17
Assistant manager
2019-2020
Barnsley
Assistant manager
2020-2022
Genoa
Assistant manager
2022-2025
Saints gem Moses Sesay has been impressed under Eckert, saying he is an “experienced” coach who “demands a lot” in training and is “big on detail”.
“I’ve enjoyed working with him. I took some time to get a good connection with him, because he was new, but I really like him. He’s a good coach. He’s very experienced. He demands a lot from us in training, but I like that as a player. He knows what he wants, which is good.
“Comparing Calum McFarlane (former under-21s boss) with Tonda, I think Cal was maybe a little bit more technical, but there hasn’t been much of a difference.
“Tonda is big on detail. He’s a very good coach. We’ve had good results since he came in and went a few games unbeaten. It’s been good under him.”
Positive words indeed, and if Eckert makes it two from two on Saturday, his stock could continue to rise.
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Glasgow Rangers are back in action once again in the Scottish Premiership this evening as they prepare to take on Kilmarnock away from Ibrox.
The Light Blues are looking to finally get back to winning ways after frustrating draws with Falkirk and Dundee United in their last outings in the league under Danny Rohl.
A 98th-minute penalty from Nedim Bajrami salvaged a point against Dundee United, and the Gers head coach may want to make several changes to the team after that disappointing showing, including dropping Bojan Miovski from the side.
Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped
The Macedonia international has been a regular starter in the Premiership, starting nine of his 11 appearances in the league (Sofascore), and led the line on Wednesday night.
Miovski lost three of his five ground duels and four of his five aerial duels, per Sofascore, against Dundee United, whilst he also missed his only ‘big chance’ in front of goal, which sort of sums up his season so far.
The former Aberdeen marksman has lost 69% of his duels and missed five ‘big chances’ to go along with his one goal in his 11 league outings, per Sofascore, which shows that he has struggled physically and in front of goal in a Gers shirt.
These statistics show that the 26-year-old striker has not delivered enough quality on the pitch, in or out of possession, which is why Rohl should drop the forward from the starting line-up for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening, to give Danilo or Youssef Chermiti a chance to lead the line.
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Miovski is not the only player who should be dropped from the side that started against Dundee United, though, as Connor Barron should also be ruthlessly ditched.
Why Connor Barron should be dropped
Rohl should drop the Scotland international from the starting line-up because his performances in the last two league games have not been at a high level.
Barron started against Falkirk and Dundee United alongside Nicolas Raskin in the middle of the park, ahead of Mohamed Diomande, but failed to offer enough quality on or off the ball.
Minutes
76
90
Pass accuracy
90%
83%
Big chances created
0
0
Tackles made
0
1
Fouls committed
2
1
Ground duels won
3/6
1/5
Aerial duels won
0/1
0/2
As you can see in the table above, the former Aberdeen star lost the majority of his physical duels across both games, including 86% against Dundee United, whilst he did not create any ‘big chances’ for the team.
This shows that Barron has been a lightweight in his duels in recent games, as opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him, which has made the Rangers midfield too easy to play against.
On top of struggling out of possession, the 23-year-old central midfielder has no goals, no assists, and no ‘big chances’ created in 12 appearances and seven starts in the Premiership this season, per Sofascore.
He does not offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch and that has played a part in Rangers scoring just one non-penalty goal in 180 minutes against Falkirk and Dundee United.
Rohl has Diomande, who scored in his last league start against Livingston, available for selection and should bring him into the team to replace Barron for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening.
The Ivorian talent, who is off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, produced five goals and nine assists in midfield for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third when he is at his best.
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It is down to Rohl, though, to unleash him alongside Raskin against Kilmarnock tonight to provide him with another chance to remind the supporters of his quality before his absence due to international duty, because Barron has not done enough in his place.
Glasgow Rangers have officially confirmed that they have parted company with both CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, less than 12 months on from both of their arrivals at Ibrox.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh reveals that the Light Blues ownership made the decision to move Stewart and Thelwell on as they believe that they need different people running the project moving forward.
This decision comes after Thelwell arrived from Everton in April and made numerous less-than-well-received decisions, including the appointment of Russell Martin and the signing of Youssef Chermiti for £8m from Everton.
Fraser Thornton has been made the acting CEO and it will be interesting to see what the club do with the sporting director position, given that the January transfer window is on the horizon.
Rangers submit offer to sign exciting winger
Despite the decision to part ways with Stewart and Thelwell, it appears as though there has been work going on behind the scenes to bolster Danny Rohl’s squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to a report from Kazakhstan, via Scouts in Eurasia, Rangers have submitted an offer to sign 22-year-old Yelimay Semey left winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, ahead of the January transfer window.
It claims that the Scottish giants have made the most attractive offer to the young starlet, and that has made them the frontrunners in the race for his signature.
Dundee United and Olympiacos are also said to be interested in a deal to land the Kazakhstan international in the winter window, but they are yet to make an offer that is more attractive than the one that Rangers have put down.
Whoever has the final say on transfers in January, which remains to be seen after Monday’s events, could make a better signing than any move Thelwell made in the summer by getting a deal over the line for Kenzhebek.
Why Rangers should sign Galymzhan Kenzhebek
The Gers should push to bring the 22-year-old winger to Ibrox because his form for club and country this season suggests that he could be an exciting addition to the squad.
With 12 Scottish Premiership matches played, none of the summer signings made by Thelwell have delivered more than two goals or one assist in the league, per WhoScored, which illustrates how ineffective his additions have been.
Kenzhebek is a forward who could come in and light up Ibrox in the second half of the season if he can adapt to Scottish football, which would make him a better addition than any of the signings that Thelwell made.
Appearances
11
8
Goals
6
2
Big chances missed
N/A
0
Key passes per game
1.7
1.0
Big chances created
N/A
1
Assists
4
1
Dribbles completed per game
8.6
1.4
As you can see in the table above, the young forward has been on fire domestically with ten goals and assists in 11 appearances, whilst also showing his class on the international stage with three goal involvements in eight outings.
Rangers-supporting writer Kai Watson described his dribbling numbers as “incredible”, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that no Rangers player has completed more than 2.0 dribbles per game in the Premiership, per WhoScored.
Whilst supporters may question the level of the Kazakhstan Premier League, it is worth pointing out that Hearts signed Claudio Braga from the second division in Norway and Alexandros Kyziridis from the Slovakian top-flight, and they have combined for 14 goals and assists in the league, per WhoScored.
Perhaps dipping into a lesser-known market to sign Kenzhebek, instead of signing experienced Championship players and Premier League flops, could serve them better.
If the 22-year-old attacker can arrive at Ibrox and deliver the kind of attacking quality he has shown for his current club, he would be an even better and more effective signing than any of the moves that Thelwell made during his short stint in Glasgow.
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Aside from the continuous number of injuries they’ve had to deal with, it’s starting to feel like everything is falling into place for Arsenal this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have pretty much perfected the art of set-pieces, have become near enough impossible to score against, and as a result, are sitting atop the Premier League table.
Moreover, while there is still a level to go for many of the attacking players, many of those who underwhelmed last year are starting to look back to their best.
This includes one of Arteta’s signings, who has even been compared to the iconic Santi Cazorla – and no, it’s not Martin Zubimendi.
Santi Cazorla's Arsenal career
Cazorla joined Arsenal for a fee of just £16m from Spanish outfit Malaga in the summer of 2012, and it did not take him long at all to make an impact at the club.
The mercurial midfielder put in a man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland in what was his debut for the North Londoners, and ended up finishing that first campaign with a tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 49 games.
By the time he left the Gunners in August 2018, he did so with an impressive haul of 29 goals and 45 assists in just 180 appearances, but it wasn’t the output that made him such a firm fan favourite, but the way in which he played the game.
When fit, the 40-year-old magician was seemingly able to do it all, from playing outrageous balls from one side of the pitch to the other, to driving with the ball and beating opposition defenders with ease.
At times, the two-footed wizard was the embodiment of what Wenger wanted his teams to do on the pitch, someone who was capable of winning games with some incredible skill, but doing so while also entertaining the paying fans.
There are really countless examples of the Spaniard doing something remarkable in the famous red and white, but perhaps the most iconic and impactful was his free-kick in the 2014 FA Cup final, which kick-started the club’s comeback.
Had he managed to keep fit, there is no telling what Cazorla could have accomplished at Arsenal, and while the club have not quite had a player like him since, there is someone in the current squad who has been compared to the Emirates icon.
The Arsenal star compared to Cazorla
Now, the first player many of you might think of here is Zubimendi. After all, he is a Spanish midfielder with a great range of passing and the ability to use both feet when needed.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, in this instance, the comparison to the former Arsenal star comes from another former Gunners’ great, Kevin Campbell, and concerns Leandro Trossard.
Yes, when speaking back in 2023, Campbell was full of praise for the Belgian, saying that while “they don’t play in the same spot”, he could “see the comparison because he has such quick feet like Santi did.”
He went on to compare the way in which the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem is also able to “see things quickly and Santi saw things quickly.”
Another similarity the 30-year-old shares with the Spaniard, aside from wearing the number 19, is his impressive ability to use both feet without much trouble at all.
You can see this during games, and then on top of that, his former coach at Genk once told Sky Sports that the dynamic left-winger is indeed “right-footed and left-footed.”
Finally, while there are still plenty of other differences between the pair, one more key point of overlap is the Maasmechelen-born gem’s ability to make something happen, generally by finishing a chance most would consider too difficult.
After all, that is why Arteta has referred to him as a “little magician” and Ian Wright made the bold claim that he’s the Gunners’ “best finisher.”
Ultimately, Trossard is not the same player Cazorla was at Arsenal, but from his two-footedness to his technical class and ability to make things happen, he certainly shares a great deal in common with the Spaniard.
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