Mikel Arteta dropped a "really bad news" on Ethan Nwaneri's injury concerns after the young star had to be taken off at half-time against Brighton.
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Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by BrightonNwaneri scored the opener for the GunnersMuscle injury forced him to be hooked offFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 17-year-old, fresh off his first Premier League start, made his mark yet again by scoring his second top-flight goal just 16 minutes into the match. The strike was his fifth across all competitions this season and set a club milestone: Nwaneri became Arsenal’s first player to score multiple Premier League goals before turning 18, surpassing a record previously held by Cesc Fabregas.
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However, Nwaneri’s evening ended prematurely as he was forced off due to what Arteta later described as a muscular issue. Speaking to Arteta said: "It’s really bad news because I think we’ve lost him. We had to take him off at half-time with some muscular problems."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With Bukayo Saka sidelined until March after undergoing hamstring surgery, Nwaneri has stepped up as a vital component of Arsenal’s attacking lineup. Despite his youth, the teenager has displayed maturity and composure, becoming a key part of Arteta’s first-team plans.
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Arteta’s tactical ingenuity and squad depth will be put to the test as Arsenal seek to maintain momentum in their pursuit of silverware in cup competitions. The Gunners are set to face Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday, followed by a high-stakes FA Cup third-round clash against Manchester United.
One of the biggest, and arguably more surprising transfers of the summer window in 2024 was that of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine World Cup winner departed the Etihad Stadium after just two seasons in an £81m move.
His short time at the eight-time Premier League champions was hugely successful. The 24-year-old pulled on the sky blue shirt 103 times, scoring 36 times and grabbing 18 assists. That included a very impressive 11 goals and nine assists in 36 games last season.
He also has quite an outstanding trophy cabinet to show for his efforts during his time under Pep Guardiola, winning seven. As part of those seven trophies, he won the treble at the Etihad Stadium in 2022/23, which included the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.
There has been plenty of noise surrounding his replacement this summer, and City did not end up bringing anyone in. However, they may well have had his dream replacement right under their noses but sold him a few years ago. That player is Ferran Torres.
Torres’ record at Barcelona
The Spain international made the move back to his native country in December of 2021, ahead of the 2022 January transfer window. It was a deal that represented a brilliant piece of business for the Cityzens.
They paid the Euro 2024 winner’s former club Valencia just £20.87m to acquire his services in August 2020 and received superb profit. Specifically, that was £46.7m from Barcelona up front and £8.5m in add-ons.
His time at Barca, has, on a personal note, been successful so far. He has played 117 games for the La Liga giants, scoring 26 goals and registering 14 assists. That includes a particularly successful 2023/24 campaign, his best yet in that famous blue and red shirt.
Had the winger still been at the Etihad Stadium nowadays, he could have been a perfect replacement for Alvarez while also providing some fierce competition to one of City’s current stars, Jack Grealish, whom he has begun to outperform.
Jack Grealish’s record at Man City
Since joining City in 2021 for a then-British record £100m, Grealish has certainly struggled to fully settle into a hugely successful side. The Cityzens have dominated English, and for a time, European football whilst the Englishman has been at the club, but he has never really looked like the same player he was at Aston Villa.
In 127 games for Guardiola’s side, the 28-year-old has scored just 14 goals and registered just 18 assists. His most productive campaign so far was in 2022/23, where Grealish scored five goals and assisted seven in 28 Premier League games.
He has certainly struggled to recapture the form he showed as a Villan, which earned him his big move to Manchester. His best season in England’s top flight for his boyhood club brought him six goals and ten assists.
The City number 10 has been outscored by Torres since he departed the club in the winter of 2021/22. This certainly could suggest a miscalculation on City’s part to sell the Spaniard to Barcelona, and he could have given the Englishman some stern competition for his place in the team.
Torres & Grealish record for Barca and Man City
Stat
Torres for Barca
Grealish for Man City
Games
117
127
Minutes
6,172
8,422
Goals
26
14
Assists
14
18
Stats from Transfermarkt
Interestingly, the duo have played six times with each other, and have featured in the same team for a combined 385 minutes. Had Torres stayed at the Etihad Stadium, City fans could well have seen this duo play together more often, and even compete for a direct place in the lineup.
Either way the “special” Torres, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, could have been their ideal replacement for Alvarez this summer, not least due to his flexibility to feature through the middle or on the flanks.
As it is, the versatile star is now shining away from Manchester, with there a question to be asked as to whether he was moved on too soon.
Man City messed up with £300k sale who's now worth more than Lewis
The Cityzens allowed the talented young defender to move on before his career flourished.
Cole Palmer has been compared to Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola after he inspired the Blues' comeback win over Spurs.
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Palmer compared to Zola
Scored a brace in Chelsea's win over Spurs
Move up to third in Premier League top scorer's list
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Palmer converted two penalties in the second half including one a cheeky Panenka as Chelsea came from behind to beat Tottenham 4-3 in a fiery London derby on Sunday. With his brace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the England international climbed up on the Premier League top goalscorers list to third position with 11 strikes to his name in the 2024/25 campaign.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pundit and former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher showered the 22-year-old with praise after yet another outstanding performance in a big game as he went on to draw comparisons between Palmer and Blues icon Gianfranco Zola. The Italian forward, who spent seven years at Stamford Bridge and won several trophies with the West London outfit, is widely considered one of the greatest players to have donned the blue shirt, however, Carragher claimed that Palmer might have surpassed Zola's legacy at the club.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Speaking on , Carragher said, "He gets the penalties and he is involved in the Enzo Fernandez goal as well. People fear when he has the ball. He hasn't been playing for the best team. When you look at Chelsea over the years, you look at flair players you look at Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard.
"He has probably done more than Zola already in his 18 months at the club. He is going to go down as one of the biggest players for Chelsea if he keeps doing what he is doing. He is a very special player, and that's not just in the Premier League it is in Europe and world football as well."
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
Enzo Maresca's side, who have now won five matches in a row, will next face Astana in a Europa Conference League clash on Thursday.
Having already scheduled a medical to complete their deal for Aaron Anselmino, Chelsea have reportedly instantly turned their attention towards welcoming another fresh face.
Chelsea transfer news
The Blues have once again enjoyed a busy summer, which started with a managerial change as Todd Boehly swapped Mauricio Pochettino for former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca. Since the Italian's arrival, there's been plenty of incomings. The likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Omari Kellyman and Renato Veiga have all arrived – and are set to be joined by Anselmino.
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By
Ethan Lamb
Jul 27, 2024
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Boca Juniors centre-back is set to travel and complete a medical before returning to the Argentinian giants on loan to pick up where he left off for the rest of the second phase of the Primera Division season.
Following the defender's arrival, the Blues may well be about to present a new shot-stopper too. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Filip Jorgensen in a deal worth an initial £20m this summer and have already scheduled a medical for the Villarreal No 1.
Filip Jorgensen for Villarreal.
Jorgensen looks set to arrive in a move that will see those at Stamford Bridge beat London rivals Arsenal to his signature. Standing at a staggering 6ft 3in, the Dane will compete with Robert Sanchez to become Maresca's out-and-out No 1 in what will be a highly contested battle between two talented goalkeepers. Having only arrived last summer, Sanchez could be set to lose his place just a year later.
"Great" Jorgensen could take Sanchez's place
At 22 years old, the future is certainly bright for Jorgensen, who could now emerge to become Chelsea's new first-choice option between the sticks. Meanwhile, Sanchez could be left fighting for his place once again after facing a similar battle against Djordje Petrovic after his injury last season. This time around, however, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star may not stand in good stead to reclaim his starting spot.
League stats 23/24 (via FBref)
Filip Jorgensen
Robert Sanchez
Clean sheets
6
3
Save percentage
72.2%
70.5%
Pass success rate
80.7%
82.1%
Saves per 90
3.97
3.27
Aside from slightly bettering the Dane in pass accuracy, Sanchez struggled to match Jorgensen in all the important areas last season. The numbers suggest that for just £20m, Chelsea are about to land an impressive upgrade.
Former Villarreal boss Quique Setien praised Jorgensen in January 2023, saying after losing Geronimo Rulli to Ajax (via Relevo): "In sports, we lose a great goalkeeper but we also gain another. Filip is going to be there and will accompany [Pepe] Reina throughout the season. We will try not to make it too noticeable."
SA were bowled out for 117, but Abhishek Sharma’s blazing knock ensured India won despite a wobble
Sidharth Monga14-Dec-2025India reclaimed the series lead by bowling South Africa out for 117 in seam-friendly conditions in Dharamsala. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, the latter playing in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was on leave for personal reasons, set the tone with three early wickets, and the support bowlers never let up. Aiden Markram kept South Africa in the fight with a half-century, but they were at least 20 runs short of what could have been a fighting total, keeping in mind their strong seam attack. Once Abhishek Sharma scored 35 off 18 balls, India could afford a wobble in the rest of the chase.Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube cashed in on the conditions with a wicket each in their first overs, but it was Varun Chakravarthy’s four overs for 11 runs and two wickets that denied South Africa any chance of creeping back into the match. One of his victims was Donovon Ferreira, the only other recognised batter to reach double digits.Arshdeep, Rana lead carnageArshdeep went for 0 for 54 in the last match, bowled an unending over, and was now without Bumrah. His first over was an example of how to bowl if you get that rare pitch that helps you in T20 cricket. He bowled three balls to Reeza Hendricks, all on a similar good length on middle and leg. Two of them seamed away to beat his outside edge, and the third nipped back in to trap him in front.Rana swung the ball late, got some seam movement as well, but his wickets were slightly inexplicable. Quinton de Kock missed a straight and full delivery, and Dewald Brevis dragged on a long wide half volley, making it 7 for 3 in 3.1 overs.Markram and Tristan Stubbs saw through the rest of the powerplay, but Stubbs never looked at home. In his first over, Pandya drew just enough nibble to take Stubbs’ outside edge to make it 30 for 4. Corbin Bosch, one of the three batters dropped in the field, missed the first ball from Dube by a long way: a 124kph length ball that nipped back to hit the top of middle.Varun quells first resurgenceIn the 12th over of the innings, Ferreira hit a Kuldeep wrong’un for a no-look six, the first boundary of the innings by a batter not named Markram. This was the first time India had to deal with two threatening batters. The sixth wicket added 25 runs, but Varun got rid of Ferreira with a wrong’un that he missed by a mile. Varun repeated that dismissal in his next over, this time to a defensive push from Marco Jansen.Aiden Markram’s 61 held South Africa’s crumbling innings together•CREIMASArshdeep limits Markram damageDube had two catches missed off his bowling. While Ferreira couldn’t cause much damage, Markram went on to punish Rana in the 18th over, thus bringing up his fifty and taking South Africa past 100. It was all on Markram’s bat now to take South Africa to 140, a total they could have been competitive with. However, he ended up edging a slot ball from Arshdeep in the 19th over, leaving Kuldeep two tailend wickets to feast on in the last over.Abhishek kills the chaseSwivelling inside the line of the first ball and pulling Lungi Ngidi over fine leg for a six, Abhishek set the tone for the chase. He charged at Ngidi for a four in the same over, and went one better with a six off Jansen in the next. When Abhishek hit Ottneil Baartman for a six in the fifth over, he brought up India’s fifty and went to 44 sixes in the first six overs of T20I innings, level with KL Rahul, who did so in more than twice than the matches. Rohit Sharma is the only Indian with more sixes in the first six overs.The low target allowed Abhishek’s opening partner Shubman Gill time to play himself in, but neither he nor Tilak Varma ever looked set with plenty of seam movement available. Suryakumar Yadav hit two fours, but managed only 12 off 11 balls. When Abhishek was at the wicket, 60 runs came in 5.2 overs; the rest of the match featured 177 in 30.3 overs. Twenty more runs for South Africa, and/or an early departure for Abhishek could have made this a much closer affair.
“We never gave up. We always said in the dressing room that we need to keep fighting.”
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Feb-2021
Kyle Mayers raises his bat after getting to the 150-run mark•BCB
When West Indies stepped out for the fifth day of the Chattogram Test, every conceivable odd was against them. They had been thoroughly outplayed by Bangladesh for the first four days, and having already lost three wickets in the second innings, they needed another 285 runs for an improbable victory. Taking guard in the middle were two debutants in Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner, who had made just 57 runs combined in the first innings.Related
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At no point did I think we would lose the game – Mominul Haque
'One of the most significant achievements in the history of West Indies cricket'
Much like they had done in the 2018-19 home series, Bangladesh would have looked to wrap up a comfortable win, but this time, Mayers (210*) and Bonner (86) had other plans, stitching together a heroic 216-run partnership to help West Indies complete the fifth-highest chase in Test cricket, as well as the highest by any team in Asia.Mayers, who took the Man-of-the-Match honours for his stunning double-century, later said he had always backed himself and his team-mates to get the job done.”I am always a positive person. I always believe in my abilities and the team, and I always was positive [to finish the chase],” he said. “We never gave up. We always said in the dressing room that we need to keep fighting. The captain and coach told the bowlers as well that you need to keep fighting on a pitch like this. Shannon [Gabriel] put in great effort to lead the way.”It’s a great feeling to be playing Test cricket. Then to go on and score a century, and then to make it a double, and then going on to win this Test. I would like to be thankful to my team-mates, my coaches and family back home. A guy making his debut and making a double should inspire all youngsters to work hard and reach this level.”Centurion Kyle Mayers gets a hug from Nkrumah Bonner after reaching his maiden international ton•BCB
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who himself had led the way in the first innings by top-scoring with 76, said that his team had been fueled by the losses in the 2018 tour of Bangladesh, when they were defeated in both Tests in under three days. He also denied suggestions that he had been dealt a short hand with a “depleted” squad.”I won’t say it was a depleted side. I was very confident when leaving with this side. We were outplayed in 2018, and we were confident we would do better this time,” Brathwaite said.”I have believed in this team from day one. It’s just about believing in ourselves and backing our plans, and that’s what we have done till day five. We lost some momentum with three wickets in the evening yesterday, but the pitch was playing well. We knew it was an open game. We trusted our plans, and Bonner and Mayers showed that they can stick to the plans, and make it work.”Bangladesh’s captain Mominul Haque conceded that his bowlers “didn’t create enough chances” or consistently “bowl in the right areas”, but was encouraged with the level of play his team had shown for the first four days.”All credit goes to Bonner and Mayers who batted really well. On the last day, if the wicket was a bit more helpful for spinners, we could have created more chances, but we didn’t grab those chances,” Haque said.”We lost, but we got some positives. We played the first innings as a team, and we dominated first four days. Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] played really well, and he bowled very well too. Fitness-wise, it was very difficult, especially in the first innings, to play a Test match after no four-day cricket for a year.”
Liverpool have been busy since Arne Slot first walked through the Anfield door several weeks ago, but there remains a yearning from the fanbase for some activity on the transfer front.
There have yet to be any incomings on the red half of Merseyside but sporting director Richard Hughes has suggested that deals are in the pipeline, with Slot presently familiarising himself with the club and working on implementing his brand before turning to the market.
Feyenoord manager Arne Slot
This is a prudent move; a fresh face might inject a frisson of excitement into the support but there are over seven weeks of spending still to occur. Time is on FSG's side.
Nonetheless, targets are still being considered, with Liverpool named among the contenders for an exciting new forward.
Liverpool transfer news
According to Sky Germany's Patrick Berger, a range of top European outfits – including the Reds – have been put on alert after Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi dumped his agent several weeks ago.
Dortmund would be willing to sell the Germany international for the right price, and Liverpool are indeed named among the suitors.
The Yellow Wall would consider offers in excess of €30m (£25m), and given Adeyemi's dynamic and positionally versatile qualities, he could be the perfect man to strengthen the Reds' frontline.
What Adeyemi would bring to Liverpool
He might not have had the most consistent of campaigns with Dortmund but the 22-year-old Adeyemi has been hailed for his "electric" pace by analyst Ben Mattinson and indeed offers one of the most frightening ball-carrying skill sets around, recorded as the 13th fastest player in world football in 2024, clocking a top speed of 36.65 km/h.
Having lost his way in the Bundesliga last season, however, it's clear that Adeyemi needs a fresh environment to build himself back up, only scoring five goals and adding two assists across 34 matches (19 starts) in all competitions.
Still, Liverpool could bring him up to the fore, having not exactly struggled in bringing forwards over from Germany in the past. Back in 2015, the Merseysiders signed Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for a £29m fee. He ended up scoring 111 goals in over 300 outings so that went pretty well, didn't it?
max-beier-roberto-firmino-liverpool-opinion
And by taking a look at Adeyemi's metrics from the previous year, when he wasn't beset by injuries and a struggle for form, it can be seen exactly what kind of player Liverpool would be welcoming.
Goals
0.39
Top 17%
Assists
0.32
Top 15%
Goal-creating actions
0.78
Top 4%
Successful take-ons
2.21
Top 18%
His fleet-footed style could see him forge an exciting connection with Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the most influential passers currently playing the game.
The Liverpool vice-captain, as per FBref, ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90.
His staggering range of distribution could see Adeyemi thrive under Slot's wing, making incisive darts into the danger area to strike on goal or create chaos himself with his goal-creating expertise. It's no wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him a "nightmare" for defenders.
While Liverpool have a talented and abundant frontline, Adeyemi could be the perfect addition to add an extra dimension and provide competition to the existing number.
Imagine him & Nunez: Liverpool add £49m "pace demon" to their shortlist
This winger has been earmarked as an alternative to Anthony Gordon.
لم يحسم بعد مستقبل جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول، محمد صلاح، رغم اقتراب عقده على الانتهاء في 30 يونيو 2025 رغم تصريحاته المتتالية عن تجاهل الإدارة.
ولكن بعيدًا عن ذلك، لم يتأثر محمد صلاح كثيرًا ومستواه في تصاعد مستمر ووصل إلى هدفه رقم 20 في الموسم بجميع البطولات بل إنه وصل إلى المساهمة رقم 37 ما بين الأهداف والتمريرات الحاسمة.
اقرأ أيضًا.. جيمي ريدناب: محمد صلاح يجبر ليفربول على منحه ما يريد
وعلق بول روبنسون حارس إنجلترا وتوتنهام الأسبق على مستقبل الفرعون المصري، وقال في تصريحات لشبكة “BBC Sport” البريطانية: “محمد صلاح قد يكون أفضل صفقة شتوية إذا جدد مع ليفربول”.
وتابع: “إذا نظرت إلى لياقته البدنية وإحصاءاته الرقمية ومستوى الأداء الذي يقدمه في كل مباراة مع ليفربول، فستجد أن اللاعبين قادرون على الاستمرار لفترة أطول الآن”.
وأضاف في النهاية: “يشارك في جميع المباريات طالما لائقًا، لا يتم استبداله إلا إذا لزم الأمر، سأكون مندهشًا إذا لم يوقع على عقد جديد مع ليفربول”.
After failing to secure European football last season, Newcastle United will have to spend big this summer in order to continue their quest to be the disruptors to the Premier League's traditional big six.
Toon target new talents this summer
If Newcastle want to prove that 2022/23's fourth-placed finish was not just a one-off, they will have to make major improvements in a number of areas this summer.
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A journalist has made a huge summer transfer claim.
ByHenry Jackson Jun 15, 2024
A fresh face between the sticks appears near the top of the Magpies' shopping list with Newcastle set to secure a deal for Burnley shot stopper James Trafford in the coming days. A fee of around £20million has been reporedly agreed for the young keeper to return to the Premier League.
Newcastle are also eager to bolster their defence with the most recent rumours seeing AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori linked with a move to Tyneside. The Italian giants are said to want £42 million for the England international, a reasonable price for a player of his quality.
With incomings the priority at St James' Park, there is the assumption that departures will be necessary in order to ward off any FFP sanctions. With this in mind, it appears that one Toon talent is at the top of the shortlist for one of Europe's top clubs.
Newcastle man top target for European giants
As first reported by Sport Witness, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has stated that Newcastle's Yankuba Minteh is a target for Borussia Dortmund this summer.
After last week saw Dortmund solve their issues in the dugout by parting ways with Edin Terzic and promoting his assistant Nuri Sahin, the German outfit are now eager to dip into the transfer market and improve upon the squad that made it to the Champions League final last season.
Minteh is one of many names reported to be of "serious" interest to Dortmund with the Gambian winger seen as a back-up option if the club cannot agree a permanent deal for Jadon Sancho.
The 19-year-old spent the last season on loan at Dutch side Feyenoord, contributing ten goals and six assists as his side finished second in the Eredivisie. The winger certainly impressed during his time in the Netherlands, ranking as one of the best performing players in his position.
Non-penalty goals
0.62
97th percentile
Assists
0.31
87th percentile
Progressive carries
7.85
98th percentile
Successful take-ons
3.65
98th percentile
Shots total
3.46
93rd percentile
It was his time with Feyenoord that saw Minteh catch the eye of then manager Arne Slot. Now at the helm of Premier League rivals Liverpool, Slot sang the praises of his player back in 2023 telling the press: ”He certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence, his willingness to give everything is enormous."
“When we see his statistics, it is really impressive… he is incredibly fast. And he wants it so badly."
With offloading talent to satisfy FFP a key part of Newcastle's strategy this summer, Minteh may have to be sacrificed in order to fund much needed reforcements at St James' Park.
West Ham United and Julen Lopetegui are thought to have made contact over a move to sign a Serie A defender at the peak of his powers.
West Ham transfer news
New manager Lopetegui is planning for his first season at the London Stadium and has already admitted that he will try to put his own stamp on things with the Hammers.
“I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big Club. We will try to put our stamp on the Club. I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.
“I am where I want to be. I am here because I want to be here and for us it was a fantastic day when we closed our agreement here because our commitment is 100 per cent to be here. We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham too, so we are really happy about this."
That could include in the transfer market, with sporting director Tim Steidten seemingly closing in on Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme as the first signing of the Lopetegui era.
A deal worth over £25m has reportedly been agreed with Palmeiras and Guilherme is set to undergo a medical, and by the looks of things, West Ham are now moving on to signing number two.
West Ham in contact for Serie A defender
According to reports from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham have made contact with Udinese over a possible deal to sign defender Nehuen Perez. The report claims that Napoli wanted Perez in January and offered €16m which was rejected, so the Irons may need to bid more than that figure.
Perez is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a right-back so would offer Lopetegui a versatile defensive option. The 23-year-old is an Argentina international and after coming through the books with Atletico Madrid, completed a permanent move to Udinese in 2022.
Since then, Perez has gone from strength to strength, making 94 appearances for his current employers and his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to a career-high €13m, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig calling him a “complete” defender when emerging in 2020.
A move to London could be one to watch for Perez, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Hammers launch a bid for a player at the very top of his game.