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Arsenal are now working on a move for Eric Garcia, with Mikel Arteta keen on a new centre-back, and a new report has revealed whether Barcelona would be willing to let him leave…

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

With Jurrien Timber set to be sidelined for a lengthy period, after suffering a knee injury against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season, journalist Ryan Taylor expects Arsenal to dip back into the market to bring in a replacement, telling GiveMeSport:

“I do expect them to have a look. It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say they're guaranteed to make a signing just because I don't quite know what kind of finances they're operating with now.

“They've spent just over £200m on David Raya, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Timber. So, based on FFP, I would probably say they've been stretched to the max. They've not made many substantial outgoings.

“However, they’ve seen Timber as an important player, and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s fitness record is somewhat questionable. So, I would say they are looking at opportunities.”

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba are named as potential options for the Gunners by The Express, while they are also mulling over a deal for Torino defender Perr Schuurs, according to a report from Torino Granata.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also linked Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard with a move to the Emirates Stadium, but the Frenchman is now poised to move to Inter Milan, meaning Arteta could move on to a new target.

One such player is Garcia, with Football Transfers reporting Arsenal are now working to sign the Barcelona defender on loan, in light of Timber's ACL injury, which the Dutchman is having to undergo surgery to sort out.

Arteta is keen on signing a mobile centre-back, who is capable of playing in more than one position, and the Spaniard fits the bill, with Barca willing to let him leave if their move for Joao Cancelo goes through.

An enquiry has already been made by the Gunners, with Arteta said to know the 22-year-old well from their time working together at Manchester City.

Read The Latest Arsenal Transfer News HERE

How good is Eric Garcia?

The £99k-per-week defender has received fairly regular game time for Barcelona over the past two seasons, making a combined 50 La Liga appearances, but it is clear he is not rated particularly highly by Xavi, as the manager is willing to let him leave.

However, as a short-term replacement for Timber, the centre-back could be a great signing, particularly considering Arsenal are targeting a loan move, which means a deal would not cause any problems with FFP.

It is not too long ago football talent Jacek Kulig lauded the former Man City man as "one of the best teenagers in world football", while also branding him "excellent on the ball with great anticipation", and he is still just 22 years of age, so still has plenty of time to fulfill his potential.

Garcia could be an astute signing for Arsenal on loan, as at the very least he seems capable of holding down Timber's place in the side until he comes back from injury, making this one to watch.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has been backed in the market this summer as the club have brought in six new signings during the transfer window.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops boss brought in Norwegian maestro Odin Thiago Holm and Australia international Marco Tilio as his first two additions of his second stint in charge.

He has since been able to sign Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, and Maik Nawrocki to bolster his options in midfield and in defence.

The Bhoys then completed their sixth piece of incoming business as Swedish ace Gustaf Lagerbielke was officially confirmed on Wednesday night, but there could be more to come from the Scottish giants after the Swedish defender's deal is completed.

Celtic were recently touted with an interest in Nantes left-back Quentin Merlin and this comes after links to former Parkhead star Kieran Tierney earlier this summer.

How good is Quentin Merlin?

The French defender, who has been valued at a minimum fee of €8m (£6.8m), is an excellent attacking full-back who could be a dream alternative to the Arsenal battler.

Whilst signing the Hoops academy graduate, who won 11 domestic trophies with the club, would be an exciting and sentimental piece of business, Tierney would be an expensive addition on loan due to his £120k-per-week wages.

Whereas, Merlin is reportedly on £7.7k-per-week at Nantes and would come in on a permanent basis, which means that Celtic would have a player with long-term potential – at the age of 21 – instead of only having him for one year, as would have been the case with the Scotsman.

Football FanCast recently published an article that explained why the France U21 international could be an upgrade on current Hoops left-back Greg Taylor, but would he be a better option than Tierney?

Their respective form for Nantes and Arsenal last season suggests that the talented youngster would offer more at both ends of the pitch.

Merlin averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.92 across 24 Ligue 1 outings and caught the eye with seven 'big chances' created and 2.3 tackles and interceptions per match.

Tierney, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.65 over 27 Premier League games for the Gunners as he made 1.1 tackles and interceptions per clash and failed to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates.

The Scotland international also lost 75% of his aerial duels and only made 0.1 key passes per match for the English giants, whereas Merlin came out on top in 52% of his headed contests and created 1.5 chances per appearance.

These statistics suggest that the Nantes star, who was once described as a "serious talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, could provide more creativity than Tierney from left-back by bombing on to produce passes and crosses into the box for the attackers to work with.

Merlin could also offer more defensive nous with his ability to consistently win possession back for his side with interventions to cut out opposition attacks, to go along with his superior aerial prowess, which is why he could be a dream alternative to Tierney for Rodgers.

Crystal Palace could do with signing another centre-back this summer as questions continue to surround the futures of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen.

Siamo la Roma reports that Roger Ibanez is being eyed up by Roy Hodgson's side, but they will have to match Roma's high valuation of €35m (£30m) for the two-cap Brazil international.

Who are Crystal Palace trying to buy?

The Eagles have so far brought in only Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer following the midfielder's exit from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth last month.

Wilfried Zaha's future is dominating the headlines at Selhurst Park, with the winger still weighing up whether to sign a new deal, while central-defensive duo Guehi and Andersen have both been linked with moves away.

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be interested in signing Andersen, while Guehi has been touted as a target for Newcastle and Liverpool.

However, Palace are reluctant to sell Guehi and will only do so if a club offers £60m, as per Football Insider.

Should the Eagles fend off all suitors and keep hold of the Englishman, they could potentially partner him with fellow highly-rated defender Ibanez this coming campaign.

Who is Roger Ibanez?

Ibanez has made 30 or more appearances for Roma in each of the past three Serie A campaigns and was described as "untouchable" by head coach Jose Mourinho last season.

The 24-year-old is a defender who also knows how to find the net, highlighted by his three goals last season. Indeed, as per The Analyst, Ibanez ranks in the top 12% of all defenders for goals scored across Europe's top five leagues last season, and in the top 9% for shots taken.

Keeping out the opposition is the number one priority of any centre-back, of course, and Ibanez is more than capable in that side of the game, ranked as he is in the top 5% of defenders for possession won.

Ibanez is also strong in the air, which is an area Guehi perhaps lacks. The latter is in the bottom 45% of defenders for aerial duels won last season, whereas Ibanez is in the top 36%.

Former Fluminense ace Ibanez also ranks higher than Guehi in terms of defensive actions – tackles, fouls and blocks – as he is in the top 62%, compared to the bottom 19% for his possible future team-mate.

That is not to say Guehi is a bad player – his transfer valuation says as much – but more that Ibanez's strengths compensate for the former Chelsea academy player's perceived weaknesses.

The opposite is also true, in fact, as Guehi is more comfortable on the ball – he ranks in the top 23% of defenders for touches of the ball per game, whereas Ibanez is in the top 31%.

It means that Palace would have two capable centre-backs; one who specialises in the aerial side of things, and another who can help begin attacks from deep.

For all the talk of Palace potentially losing Guehi this summer, they could in fact begin the 2023-24 campaign stronger in that department in what would be a huge boost for Hodgson.

A BCCI official confirmed that the board would approach the court “very soon”

Arun Venugopal11-Aug-2017

The BCCI is set to appeal against the Kerala High Court judgement that had ordered the board to lift the life ban on fast bowler Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in the 2013 spot- fixing scandal in the IPL. Confirming the development, a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo that the board would approach the court “very soon”.In its judgement on Monday, the Kerala High Court had, according to media reports, observed that the BCCI’s refusal to lift the ban was a violation of natural justice. After Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals bowlers – Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila – were arrested for alleged fulfilling of promises made to bookmakers in May 2013, they were banned for life by the BCCI.The court’s observations factored that in 2015 Sreesanth had been exonerated of spot-fixing charges by a Delhi trial court due to insufficient evidence under the MCOCA act, a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism.The BCCI, however, has consistently detached its decisions from the outcome of any legal proceedings. Following the board’s investigation in 2013, conducted by the BCCI’s then anti-corruption unit chief Ravi Sawani, the BCCI maintained that its decisions “independent to any criminal proceeding” and “based on its independent disciplinary action, shall remain unaltered.”Consequently, Sreesanth’s request for a no-objection certificate to play league cricket for Glenrothes CC in Scotland was shot down in January. However, soon after his ban was lifted by the court, the Kerala Cricket Association, Sreesanth’s home body, wrote to the BCCI requesting the board to allow his return to active cricket in the forthcoming domestic season. Sreesanth last played official cricket during IPL 2013.”Sreesanth had met me a day after the judgement and communicated his availability for Kerala,” KCA secretary Jayesh George told ESPNcricinfo. “So, we wrote to the board asking it to consider the matter favourably and allow him to play domestic matches this year. The BCCI hasn’t replied to the letter yet.”For his part, Sreesanth said he was overwhelmed by the support from the cricketing community. “Since 2015, once I got the clean chit a lot of support has been coming, especially from the cricketers, first-class as well as international, but then especially from yesterday they have been bit more public and I am very happy that people are coming out in open and supporting me,” he told . “Everybody is looking up to me to perform and get back to the squad. That’s a great sign. All the first-class cricketers especially in Kerala and some international cricketers too have messaged me and motivated me saying ‘We always had faith in you and it’s just a matter of time, hope you have not put on weight.'”

Sri Lanka Cricket have covered the outer periphery of the Galle Stadium with corrugated iron sheets and SLC branding, much to the resentment of the local spectators

Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Jul-2017Sri Lanka Cricket has covered the periphery of the Galle Stadium for the first time since 2012, sparking resentment among local spectators, some of whom would ordinarily watch portions of the game from outside the wire fence.Corrugated iron sheets and SLC branding now obscure the view into the ground from the road outside. The vantage points from the fort ramparts, however, remain unobscured, though that is largely because of their height.”The reason is that when you’re playing the match, everyone can see the movement of vehicles going past, and the players get disturbed,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. “So we thought the best thing is to cover it up.” De Silva also confirmed the board had not fielded any complaints from either players or paying spectators, but that “people need not make any complaints for us to take action.”In addition to those reasons, SLC has also said “new transmission technology” could be affected by sonic and visual disturbances from the road that surrounds the venue. A technician from series broadcaster Ten Sony has refuted that claim, however. There is no known reason why the noise from passing vehicles should interfere with broadcast technology.The covering of the venue has also sparked particular consternation among some Galle residents, because the ground had been a free-to-use public park before the stadium was built. Non-paying spectators have grown accustomed to congregating beneath the trees on the ground’s perimeter to catch passages of play. Those spectators would now either have to go to the fort ramparts for a more distant view of the match, or buy a day ticket, the cheapest of which sells for 200 Sri Lankan rupees ($1.30 approximately).De Silva said sale of tickets was not SLC’s motivation in blocking off the view.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves was unsure whether or not to move to Saudi Arabia, according to Dean Jones.

What's the latest on Ruben Neves?

After years of speculation linking Neves with a move away from Molineux, the time has finally come for the 26-year-old to make his long-awaited switch.

However, his dreams of playing for Barcelona or Manchester United have been put firmly to rest, with the Portuguese instead swapping Wolves for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder became one of the younger players to make the move to Asia this summer, finalising a transfer worth £47m, and subsequently giving up on his dream to play under Xavi at Camp Nou.

According to journalist Dean Jones, Neves was sceptical over a move to the Saudi Pro League, and the 41-cap international would have much preferred a destination closer to home.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: "I know that Ruben Neves was really umming and ahing over whether to actually go through with that [move to Al Hilal]. Like, it's not an easy decision to make on a personal level.

"Financially, it's obviously tough to turn down. But I think in a dream world, Ruben Neves would have gone to Barcelona or another even club in the Premier League. The problem with Ruben Neves is he was never anyone's absolute priority to get through the door, and that's why he's ended up there."

Neves was wanted by Barcelona, but the Spanish side's financial situation would have made a transfer problematic, while their priority target Ilkay Gundogan has since joined on a free transfer.

Julen Lopetegui will have to fill the hole left behind by Neves next season and how the manager reinvests the £47m will be pivotal in how Wanderers perform.

What's the latest Saudi Arabia transfer news?

Cristiano Ronaldo's high-profile move to Al-Nassr started the ball rolling, but few expected what was to come in terms of the sheer volume of players arriving in the country.

Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have all made the switch, while dozens of others from Europe's top leagues are expected to follow.

Some of the latest links involve Marcelo Brozovic, who could be joining Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, while former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino appears to be on his way to Al-Ahli.

Celtic's 24-year-old winger Jota also appears to be on his way to Al-Ittihad, showing, much like Neves, that it isn't just more senior players making the switch.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, as Unai Emery aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The Spaniard, along with compatriot Monchi has it in his sights to bring the glory days back to the Midlands, as Villa bid to sufficiently equip the squad in preparation for their European adventure.

With the likes of Pau Torres and Aymeric Laporte linked as central defenders that could head to Villa Park, Bremer has joined the list of potential targets with news in Italy naming the Villans as a club interested in the Juventus centre-back.

Last weekend, La Gazetta dello Sport, relayed by Calcio Mercato, reported that both Aston Villa and Tottenham are ‘ready to move’ for the 26-year-old with ‘official bids’ expected.

The report states that a fee exceeding the €50m (£43m) mark could force Juve to ‘seriously think’ about letting the Brazilian depart, after signing from Torino only last summer.

What could Gleison Bremer offer to Aston Villa?

This transfer window, Emery is expected to clear the deadwood at the club to allow for an efficient upgrade ahead of his first full campaign at the helm of Villa Park.

A thrilling first term at the club has opened doors for the Spaniard to compete in the market, with the four-time Europa League winner reportedly having a transfer kitty of £150m to spend, as per Football Insider.

As reported today by David Ornstein, the Villans have reached an agreement to sign Emery’s former player Pau Torres from Villarreal, and with Bremer also linked, it could signal a complete revamp of the back line ahead of next season.

With a host of talent speculated to be Villa bound, one name that could be ushered away from the Midlands is Calum Chambers, who has made just 25 league appearances since signing for the club from Arsenal in the 2022 January window.

Recording just two starts all season, the Englishman could be replaced in the squad by a talent as highly regarded as Bremer, who could add serious firepower to Emery’s back line in his place.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Maxi Angelo, the Brazilian ranked as Juve’s third-highest performer last campaign, with an average Sofascore match rating of 7.11 in 30 Serie A appearances.

The 26-year-old won 56% of his total duels, as well as averaging 1.4 interceptions, 3.8 clearances and 2.6 aerial wins per game, while contributing to 12 clean sheets in the league, via Sofascore.

On an average based on his appearances this term, Chambers fell far short in comparison to the commanding Itapitanga-born machine, winning just 47% of his total duels and being expelled down the pecking order at Villa Park.

Described as “poor” by journalist Josh Bunting during his time in north London, Emery could free up £52k-per-week by letting the Englishman go, making room for talents at a level to compete in Europe.

Aston Villa have started to make early moves in an attempt to bring Juventus star Federico Chiesa to the Premier League, according to reports.

What happened to Federico Chiesa?

Chiesa is a left-sided winger who currently plays his football at the Allianz Stadium, having permanently moved there last summer following a successful loan from Fiorentina.

Across both spells, he’s been a regular feature of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad when fit, making 94 appearances to date but missing large parts of the last 18 months due to a nasty ACL injury suffered mid-way through last season.

The Italy international’s contract with the Serie A outfit isn’t set to expire for another two years, but the level of his performances have attracted the attention of a couple of clubs in England, one of those being Unai Emery's side in the Midlands.

Speaking to Steve Wraith, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs name-checked the Villans as the “ones to watch” in the race for the 25-year-old despite also crediting Newcastle United with an interest, and NSWE already appear to be trying to convince him to join.

Are Aston Villa signing Chiesa?

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have made "concrete steps" for Chiesa and are, at present, the most interested suitor in the forward even though he's being targeted by Liverpool and the Magpies.

However, Juventus' star has assessed the project and has decided that it "does not convince" him, nor is he "enthusiastic" to complete the switch, so it doesn't sound like he will be putting pen to paper unless Monchi can do some serious convincing.

Aston Villa and indeed new President of Football Operations Monchi are showing plenty of ambition by targeting a player whose calibre is as high as Chiesa's, having been hailed as "one of the most exciting players around” by journalist Josh Bunting.

And despite the fact he’s not open to the move at this stage, he could be a fantastic recruit should he have a change of heart.

The Italy star, who pockets £153k-per-week, racked up seven goal contributions (five assists and two goals) in 21 Serie A outings last season and was averaging 4.34 shot-creating actions per 90, which was the third-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef.

The 2022/23 Champions League participant is also an extremely versatile operator having been deployed in seven various positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so all in all, he would be a great option for Emery to have at his disposal.

Arsenal look set to undergo a summer overhaul ahead of next season as Mikel Arteta aims to add some much-needed quality to his first-team squad.

Not only are the likes of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice being strongly linked with potential moves but there are also some players who could be saying goodbye to the club in the coming weeks.

Granit Xhaka looks set to leave Arsenal this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen interested in luring him back to the Bundesliga, while fellow midfielder Thomas Partey could also be departing the Emirates, with Fabrizio Romano stating: “Understand there’s concrete chance for Thomas Partey to leave Arsenal this summer. Clubs are interested and there are discussions about his exit.”

With two key players from last term looking like they won’t play again for the Gunners, it will now be up to Arteta to replace them properly. Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia could be the ideal replacement for the Ghanaian, with Romano claiming that “talks already took place” in regard to a potential move for the youngster.

Could Arsenal sign Romeo Lavia this summer?

Bolstering his midfield has to be the Spaniard’s priority this summer, especially with Xhaka and Partey potentially leaving, and a move for Lavia could certainly numb the blow of losing those two.

Despite the Saints being relegated from the Premier League, ending their ten-year spell in the top flight, Lavia was arguably one of their only bright sparks during a woeful season.

The former Manchester City starlet particularly showcased his defensive abilities, ranking second for tackles per game (2.1) and seventh for interceptions per game (1.1) across the Southampton squad, while also achieving an overall Sofascore rating of 6.8/10, enough to place him eighth in the first team, a solid enough showing considering he only turned 19 in January.

The teen also features alongside some fairly illustrious company in terms of winning possession in the midfield third across Europe’s top five leagues, finishing second behind Moises Caicedo, while ahead of Jude Bellingham having won possession 114 times in that area of the pitch, showcasing his ball-winning qualities.

Having this defensive solidity in the heart of the midfield could be key for Arsenal next term, and would allow the likes of Martin Odegaard to flourish, giving them more freedom going forward, knowing that Lavia will be there sweeping everything up and screening the defence.

The midfielder is valued at £45m by the south coast side, yet having been lauded as someone who is “always calm on the ball” by Jean Kindermans, the head of the Anderlecht academy, and dubbed an “absolute monster” by journalist Benjy Nurick, it’s evident Arteta should be making his move sooner rather than later.

Newcastle United are considering a swoop for Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips, with the Tyneside club looking to bolster the ranks after qualifying for the Champions League.

What's the latest on Kalvin Phillips to Newcastle?

According to the Telegraph, Toon technical director Dan Ashworth is pursuing a move for the England international but has been left frustrated by the player's desire to stay at the Etihad Stadium and fight for his place next season.

Recently touted at £35m, the 27-year-old has only started for Pep Guardiola's outfit four times across all competitions this term after completing a £45m transfer from Leeds United last summer.

Despite the midfielder's public desire to remain in Manchester, the Magpies' offer of a starring role could be too enticing to resist as the transfer window takes centre-stage, especially if Guardiola is unable to provide Phillips with assurances over the number of minutes he will be provided next year.

Should Newcastle sign Kalvin Phillips?

Despite flattering to deceive with the Premier League champions – though his impact at the club was hampered by detrimental early injury issues that sidelined him for much of the first phase of the season – Phillips is a proven midfield titan on top-flight soil.

Instrumental for Leeds in reclaiming a spot among England's elite and starring during a resounding 20/21 term where the entertaining Whites clinched ninth place – just three points away from European qualification – the £160k-per-week ace cemented himself as one of the most robust midfielders in the division.

Indeed, across those two campaigns, Phillips completed 82% and 84.5% of his passes, 2.6 and 2.7 tackles per game and 1.2 and 0.5 key passes per outing, as per WhoScored.

Former teammate Barry Douglas said, "as a defensive midfielder with an array of passing skills, Kalvin Phillips is probably the best I’ve played with", while former Whites boss Neil Redfearn remarked, "Bielsa has made Kalvin an expert deep-lying midfielder but he could do both roles.”

With Magpies boss Eddie Howe seeking to bolster his midfield this summer, Phillips could be a shrewd alternative to touted West Ham United star Declan Rice, with the £100m-valued man attracting attention from a plethora of top European outfits, including Newcastle, ahead of the forthcoming transfer window.

Rice has been lauded as an "absolute monster" by ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge and ranks among the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 15% for progressive carries, the top 5% for interceptions and the top 17% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

Phillips is capable of replicating such metrics, evidenced in the Premier League with Leeds, notably ranking in the top 8% of midfielders in the division throughout 2021/22 for tackles and interceptions combined.

Provided license to cement a prominent role at St. James' Park, he might just harness the full might of his skill set.