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Arsenal have "entered the race" to sign Brentford's highly rated goalkeeper David Raya, with the Spaniard now preferring a move to "Arsenal over Bayern", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Are Arsenal signing David Raya this summer?

The Gunners have had an outstanding transfer window so far this summer. The club have dramatically improved the quality of their starting eleven with the signings of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice – breaking the transfer record for a British player along the way.

Alongside these brilliant signings, Mikel Arteta has secured the long-term futures of several first-team stars, such as Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Aaron Ramsdale.

That said, the former Bournemouth man's future may be a little less clear with the recent news that the north Londoners have joined the race to land the much-sought-after Raya.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are set to make an offer for the 27-year-old after Bayern Munich's loan offer was rejected, with the idea being that he would compete for the number one spot with current shot-stopper Ramsdale.

The Premier League runners-up have already spoken to the player and are now his preferred destination over the Bundesliga champions, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Arsenal have entered the race. Arsenal had contacts with the camp of David Raya, and they are considering making a bid very soon; there is still no-bid, but they could beat very soon for David Raya.

"Yes, to create competition with Aaron Ramsdale. Of course, Ramsdale is the first goalkeeper, but in case they bring in Raya, this could be a possibility to create competition between the two goalkeepers. Something to add from what I'm hearing, David Raya prefers Arsenal over Bayern for many reasons, but he would love to join Arsenal.

"It's important to say that already some discussions took place discussing about the contract and this kind of things, so Arsenal already discussed some details on the player side, [and] now [it] depends on the clubs."

How good is David Raya?

One of the constants in Brentford's meteoric rise from the Championship over the last four seasons has been that of Raya. Since moving to West London in the 2019/20 season, he has started at least 24 league games, starting all 38 last year.

Across those four years with the Bees, he has never achieved a season rating lower than 6.66, reaching a seriously impressive 6.97 last campaign, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are just as impressive as well, with FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing the Spaniard in the top 6% for touches, the top 7% for crosses stopped, the top 8% for save percentage, and the top 15% for launch percentage and average length of goal kicks, all per 90.

His ability with the ball at his feet clearly left an impact on Steven Drench, who worked with him at the Blackburn Rovers academy, as he waxed lyrical about him, saying:

"His distribution is a major plus point, and being at Brentford with the style of football they play, he suits them. But he could go into any team in the top leagues in Europe and fit in quite well with the confidence he has on the ball.

"He's like an extra outfield player."

It'll be interesting to see how Ramsdale reacts to the competition should the Gunners complete the signing, but adding Raya to your team can only be a good thing.

اتخذ لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول، ريان جرافنبيرخ، قرارًا مهمًا بشأن مستقبله مع الريدز بعد نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وينتهي عقد جرافنبيرخ مع ليفربول في 30 يونيو 2028 ولكن أداء الهولندي الدولي لم يكن وفقًا للتوقعات في الموسم الحالي.

وسجل جرافنبيرخ 4 أهداف وصنع هدفين مع ليفربول هذا الموسم في 35 مباراة، وتلك الأرقام فتحت الباب أمام الكثير من التكهنات حول مستقبله داخل “أنفيلد”.

اقرأ أيضًا | كلوب يعترف: كنت على وشك الغناء أمام إيفرتون.. وما حدث أمر مروع

وبحسب شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، هناك اهتمام من جانب الدوري التركي لضم جرافنبيرخ، لكن اللاعب ليس لديه أي نية للرحيل عن ليفربول هذا الصيف.

لم يفكر اللاعب الهولندي في الانتقال إلى تركيا، فهو سعيد مع ليفربول ويريد إثبات نفسه مع مدربه الجديد الذي من المتوقع أن يكون مواطنه، آرني سلوت.

وتوصل ليفربول بحسب متخصص سوق الانتقالات، فابرزيو رومانو، لاتفاق بالفعل مع سلوت لقيادة الفريق بداية من الموسم المقبل بعد رحيل، يورجن كلوب.

ScorecardBenny Howell pulled off a wicket with the final ball•Getty Images

Benny Howell took a wicket off the final ball to earn Gloucestershire a tie against Middlesex in a thrilling T20 Blast game at Cheltenham College.Defending 182 for 5 and with Middlesex needing 59 off the last four overs, with only two wickets in hand, the points appeared to be heading the way of Gloucestershire.However, Ryan Higgins (68 not out off 28 balls) had different ideas and with Nathan Sowter providing able support, the pair took the visitors to within a single run of what would have been an unlikely victory.Unfortunately, for Middlesex, Sowter struck Howell’s final ball to Tom Smith at short cover and the Gloucestershire left-armer held on to earn his side a share of the spoils.Batting first in front of a full house at the picturesque Cheltenham College ground, Gloucestershire made a rapid start to their innings, courtesy of experienced openers Michael Klinger and Phil Mustard.The pair took 31 from the first three overs and looked well set when Klinger edged Tim Southee (20) behind at 31 for 1.Although Gloucestershire were severe on anything short and wide or too full, they struggled to cut free at any real pace. They passed 50 off 31 balls but when Mustard departed in the 7th over, for 26, and Iain Cockbain followed, for 20, in the eighth, Middlesex found themselves in the box seat.Sowter bowled particularly well from the Chapel End, with Tom Helm, Southee and Toby Roland-Jones providing healthy support.Cameron Bancroft was always likely to be the weapon to which Gloucestershire would turn and he didn’t disappoint. He struck the ball to all four corners of the College ground, reaching 50 off 30 balls, with four fours and two sixes.Unfortunately, for Gloucestershire, the Australian drove the very next ball, a full toss from Southee, straight down the throat of Brendon McCullum at extra cover.Howell weighed in with a useful 33 from 25 balls as Gloucestershire edged towards a competitive total and Kieran Noema-Barnett and Jack Taylor added some useful runs at the death.The target should have been well within the reach of a Middlesex side that was piled high with top class batting. Unfortunately, for the visitors, they lacked early application and soon found themselves in a spot of bother.Opener Paul Stirling, who struck his second ball back over Matt Taylor’s head for six was first to perish – bowled, playing a dreadful shot, off the final ball of Taylor’s opening over.Dawid Malan, who hit David Payne for three boundaries in the left-armers first over, looked in decent touch as Middlesex progressed at a rate of 10 an over. However, Gloucestershire kept themselves in the hunt with the key wickets of McCullum and Morgan in successive overs from the College Lawn End.First, McCullum (7) departed at 43 for 2, bowled by a slower delivery from Payne. Then, Morgan, who failed to score, sliced a Smith delivery to a grateful Payne on the extra cover boundary in the seventh over.The big wicket came in Benny Howell’s first over. Malan, who had struggled for the strike, top edged a length delivery to sub fielder George Hankins on the mid-wicket boundary.Having rebuilt, courtesy of George Scott and John Simpson, Middlesex shot themselves in the foot when Simpson, having dispatched the third delivery of Howell’s third over for six, ran himself out off the very next ball, for 15.Scott departed in the same manner, for 24, in the 14th over, following a mix up with Higgins, before Roland-Jones offered a caught and bowled opportunity that was well taken by Jack Taylor. Bancroft then took the most remarkable of catches to send back Southee at 119 for 8.Against the odds, Higgins quickly turned the tide and helped Middlesex to within touching distance of victory with 11, 19 and 18 off the 17th, 18th and 19th overs.It meant the visitors required 11 off the final over, from Howell. A six from Higgins put them in the box seat, but it was not to be as Howell and Smith came up trumps.

Derby County are set to complete another piece of transfer business soon, with The Derby Telegraph reporting that a deal is nearly sorted to snap up Charlie Lindsay on a free transfer.

Who is Charlie Lindsay?

The 19-year-old is currently without a club, having been let go by his previous club Rangers. The youngster never made his debut for the Scottish Premiership outfit and instead spent the entirety of his time with the team playing for their B-Squad in the Lowland League and in various cup competitions. He initially caught the eye with Glentoran's Under-17 squad, which prompted the Gers to bring him to their own youth setup. Initially getting minutes for their Under-18 outfit, he then moved up to Rangers B, but has been let go after just two seasons with them.

During his stint playing for the Gers, he did manage to impress in reserve team action. The attacking midfielder played in the Trust Trophy and UEFA Youth League for the Scottish outfit without ever really making an impact – he played 13 times and scored twice – but it was his 2022/23 season in the Lowland League that stands out. Becoming a regular there, he played 33 times and rewarded the Gers B team with 12 goals and six assists along the way. Despite that impressive record though, the midfielder was released at the end of the campaign.

Are Derby County signing Charlie Lindsay?

On a hunt for a new club, it now looks as if he may have found one. According to a report from The Derby Telegraph, Derby are ready to snap him up on a permanent transfer having tried him on a trial basis. He'd been tracked by several other EFL outfits too, with Hull, Blackburn and Huddersfield all monitoring his situation, but it looks as if he will now head to Pride Park.

The League One outfit must have liked what they saw from the 19-year-old and having now impressed during his spell there, he has earnt a place in the Rams' academy.

Lindsay, who appears to be one for the future, offers Derby some versatility should they need to call upon him. He can play as both a central midfielder but also further forward in an attacking midfield role too. He seems to excel in both positions, with the youngster managing more assists when further back but more goals when he is given the chance to roam forward. If needed, he has also been utilised on either wing in the past too.

The 19-year-old talent also has some experience at international level, albeit not a first-team cap. He has played four times for the Northern Ireland Under-16 squad and bagged two goals in four games for them. Despite a solid record with that youth outfit, he has since gone unpicked though for Under-17, 18 and 19 teams. Some more coaching and reserve gametime with Derby though could lead to more caps – and could perhaps lead in the future to some first-team football for the Rams and his country.

West Bromwich Albion's focus heading into the summer transfer window was to offload players before even thinking about recruiting as they looked to balance the books.

However, after getting a lot of deadweight out of The Hawthorns in the early stages of the summer, and bringing in £7m through the sale of Dara O'Shea to Burnley, the Championship outfit can perhaps now start to bring in some of Carlos Corberan's targets.

Who is West Brom target Josh Key?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, West Brom are in talks to sign versatile star Josh Key from League One side Exeter City.

Key is out of contract with Exeter and is therefore available on a free transfer, making him an ideal option for Albion as they look to strengthen in multiple positions.

Given his performances in the third tier, plus his contract situation, Key is understandably attracting plenty of interest. It is claimed that Championship pair Plymouth Argyle and Swansea City are also in for the 23-year-old, with the latter already making a compensation payment offer to Exeter.

Where would Josh Key fit in at West Brom?

Whoever wins the race for Key will be signing an extremely versatile player. The youngster started his career at right wing-back and featured there seven times last season, as per WhoScored, but he is also comfortable playing at centre-back (10 appearances), where a position has opened up at West Brom.

Key's versatility does not stop there, though, as he was also used in more advanced positions under Gary Caldwell last season, featuring on both the right and left wings, as well as in central attacking midfield and even as a striker.

"He is an amazing football player who can play in a number of positions and it is about how we utilise him in different games," Caldwell said in December.

Caldwell also praised Key's ability to get past an opponent, which is reflected in the fact that no City player attempted more dribbles (1.6) per game last season.

Key ultimately started out as a defender, and it may well be that it is at the back he finds himself should he join Albion, with Corberan feeling the need to overcome the exit of O'Shea. The Torquay native is just as strong in that side of the game, highlighted by his 1.6 tackles per game – only Alex Hartridge (1.8), who played exclusively at centre-back last season, could better than among Exeter regulars.

Should he arrive, it is clear that Key would not exactly be a like-for-like replacement for O'Shea. However, the former Tiverton Town loanee more than holds his own in certain areas when compared to the now-Burnley man.

For example, O'Shea averaged 1.1 tackles per game last season, while Key averaged 0.5 dribbles to the Irishman's 0.2. The latter did come out on top in terms of interceptions (1.8 v 0.7), but that can partly be explained by Key playing out wide and further up the field last season.

The pair are also different in stature, with Key – on a reported weekly wage of £1.1k per week during his time at Exeter – measuring in at 5 foot 10 and O'Shea at 6 foot 1.

Whether it is as a centre-back, right-back, on the wing or attacking midfield, it might just be that Joshua holds the key to unlocking a promotion-winning team under Corberan.

أكد قائد فريق مانشستر يونايتد، برونو فيرنانديز، أن فريقه سيبذل قصارى جهده بهدف التتويج بلقب كاس الاتحاد الإنجليزي عقب إقصاء ليفربول.

وفاز مانشستر يونايتد أمام ضيفه ليفربول بنتيجة 4/3، في إطار منافسات الدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.

وبهذا الفوز، سيلاقي نادي مانشستر يونايتد نظيره كوفينتري سيتي في نصف نهائي البطولة الإنجليزية على ملعب “ويمبلي”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | مانشستر يونايتد يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا من ليفربول في مباراة الـ7 أهداف ويتأهل لنصف نهائي كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي

وقال قائد مانشستر يونايتد برونو فيرنانديز لـ شبكة ITV: “لدينا فريق شاب، إنهم بحاجة إلى الوقت، وعندما تتاح لهم فرصة اللعب، عليهم أن يظهروا أن لديهم الجودة للعب مع مانشستر يونايتد، لدينا دائمًا إيمان، والمشكلة هي أننا نمتلك القدرة على اللعب”.

وأضاف برونو: “نحن نعطي 100٪ ونقدم دائمًا كل شيء ولكن في هذا النادي يجب علينا دائمًا أن نتمتع بمعايير عالية، إنه جزء من اللعبة أن يتم انتقادك، ولهذا السبب تلعب لمانشستر يونايتد”.

وأشار برونو: “هذا الموسم لم يكن بالمستوى الذي نريده ولكننا نريد التحسن، قلنا دائمًا أن هدفنا هو الوصول إلى المراكز الأربعة الأولى ومحاولة الفوز بكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، وسنبذل كل ما في وسعنا لتحقيق هذه الأهداف، الكأس هي بطولة كبيرة لهذا النادي”.

With the summer transfer window now well underway, Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to hand new boss Ange Postecoglou the tools to spark something of a revival at N17, amid the need for quality additions over the coming months.

According to recent reports in France, one man who is believed to be on the north Londoners' 'shortlist' is Lyon midfielder, Maxence Caqueret, with German giants Borussia Dortmund also keeping tabs on the promising Frenchman.

The 23-year-old – who is said to be valued at around £26m, according to CIES Football Observatory – has racked up 130 appearances for his current side since rising up through the youth ranks, notably contributing four goals and seven assists in 40 games across all fronts last season from his deep-lying berth.

Undoubtedly a player of "pure quality and intelligence" – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – it is no surprise just why the 5 foot 9 gem has warranted such interest of late, with Postecoglou seemingly looking to shake up his midfield ranks this summer, amid reports that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be on his way.

For all Caqueret's quality, however, Spurs may well be cautious with regard to splashing out on another exciting midfield star from Lyon, having previously been burned by the signing of Tanguy Ndombele from the French outfit.

Has Tanguy Ndombele been a good signing for Spurs?

While there have been reports that Postecoglou could be open to giving Ndombele another chance to impress this summer, the mercurial Frenchman has perhaps had enough opportunities over the past few years, having been signed on a club-record £63m deal back in 2019.

The 5 foot 11 enigma – who has spent time on loan back at Lyon and at Napoli over the last 18 months or so – has scored just ten goals and contributed only nine assists in 91 games in all competitions over the last four years for Spurs, having failed to truly make his mark in the centre of the park.

Branded a "disgrace" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher due to his lack of work ethic, the one-time Amiens man also came under fire from former boss Jose Mourinho due to his Tottenham woes, with the Portuguese stating in 2021 that "Tanguy is the kind of guy that you always expect more from."

With it clear to see that the £200k-per-week asset has not lived up to his rather hefty, initial price tag, it would be fair to suggest that the signing of Ndombele has proven a notable error for Daniel Levy and co, hence the possible concern over snapping up another Lyon midfield man in the form of Caqueret.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be plotting a move for Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher, with the Englishman currently facing an uncertain future in west London.

What's the latest on Gallagher to Tottenham?

According to journalist Lee Wilmot, the Lilywhites are said to be keen on signing the 23-year-old this summer as Ange Postecoglou looks to strengthen his midfield options, with a departure from the Blues seemingly in the offing for the former Crystal Palace loanee.

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Understand Tottenham are interested in signing Conor Gallagher from Chelsea this summer. The 23-year-old is expected to leave Stamford Bridge, with Spurs a potential destination."

In his attached piece for football.london, Wilmot goes on to add that the six-cap maestro – who is reportedly valued at around £50m – has been linked with a move to Newcastle United of late, albeit with the Magpies now said to be looking at 'other options', potentially opening the door for the north Londoners to pounce.

Would Gallagher be a good signing for Tottenham?

Having shone during his loan stint at Selhurst Park in the previous campaign – where he bagged eight goals and three assists in 34 Premier League games – it is fair to say that Gallagher was not able to hit those heights again as part of a struggling Chelsea side last term, having contributed just three goals and one assist in 35 league outings.

That being said, however, the £50k-per-week menace remains a "hungry" and "high energy" talent – as described by pundit Ally McCoist – that could well breathe new life into Tottenham's midfield, with the current starting pair of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp having been criticised by talkSPORT's Perry Groves earlier this year, as they seemingly "don't do anything".

The addition of the Blues ace may also prove to be something of a masterstroke for Postecoglou due to his apparent likeness to compatriot and new Real Madrid man, Jude Bellingham, having compared favourably to his international colleague, according to FBref.

That similarity between the two midfielders is notably showcased by their all-action style, with Gallagher having been described as a "box-to-box" player by writer Zach Lowy – while Bellingham – who only recently sealed an £88.5m switch to the Bernabeu – has been described as a player that can "do everything" by Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville.

That ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch is shown by the fact that the two youngsters can put in the hard yards defensively, with the latter man ranking in the top 7% for blocks made among his European peers, while Gallagher ranks in the top 4% in that regard.

Equally, the pair also have a real desire to get involved in the action in the final third despite typically operating in a central midfield berth, shown by the fact that the Chelsea man ranks in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Bellingham ranks in the top 2% for that same metric.

To share such statistical and stylistic similarities to the 19-year-old superstar is a sign of Gallagher's exciting potential, with the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace undoubtedly a player that any manager would wish to have in their side despite his relative youth, having been tipped to become the "best midfielder in the world" by Manchester City's, Phil Foden.

While the current Tottenham target may not be at that same level as his fellow Englishman, it would be a dream for Postecoglou to have his own version of Bellingham on the books at N17.

Todd Boehly will be aiming to back new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino in the transfer market as the Blues look ahead to the future under a boss who has plenty of Premier League experience.

The Stamford Bridge outfit are on course for their worst season since 1993/94, and with no European football next term, Pochettino will be able to focus purely on domestic affairs, which could well be a blessing in disguise.

The Argentinian will be hoping to sign players who further strengthen his first-team squad, and according to journalist Martin Arevalo, the Blues are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Leandro Paredes this summer – although Atletico Madrid are also keen and could provide stiff competition.

Chelsea have also established contact with the Argentinian’s representatives, and it looks as though Pochettino is already getting a head start on his transfer business.

Could Chelsea sign Leandro Paredes this summer?

The midfielder has a contract with PSG until 2024 and this means Chelsea could perhaps sign him this summer for a knockdown fee.

He hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons out on loan at Juventus, starting just eight games for the club in Serie A and ranking as just the 14th-best player in the squad, while ranking 6th for key passes per game and 17th for tackles made. However, this shouldn’t deter Pochettino from making a move for the player that he used to coach at the French side.

Indeed, he is statistically similar to German midfield maestro Toni Kroos, according to FBref, with the Real Madrid star considered to be the second-most comparable player to Paredes, and considering how incredible Kroos has been over the previous decade – winning a glut of major honours including five Champions League crowns – it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Despite his underwhelming season, Paredes ranks in the top 10% of players in his position across Europe’s big five leagues over the past year for passes attempted (70.61 per 90), pass completion rate (88.2% per 90) and touches (79.19 per 90), indicating he is one of the finest players on the continent for his passing ability – and he is clearly comfortable on the ball.

Kroos is also a wonderful passer of the ball, and he ranks in the top 1% for passes attempted (100.06 per 90) and touches (106.32 per 90), along with ranking in the top 3% for pass completion rate (91.1% per 90), With the duo's statistics fairly similar, Pochettino will know that if he makes a move for the 28-year-old, he could dictate play from the midfield with ease.

The 5 foot 11 gem has been lauded as being “perfect” by former PSG player Fabrice Pancrate, and there is no reason he could not enjoy a new lease of life in England under his former manager.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Mikel Arteta shouldn't start with the same back four this weekend as he did last time out in the Premier League with Arsenal.

How will Arsenal line up against Wolves?

It's the final match of the season for Gunners as they host Wolves at the Emirates knowing they will finish second in the division whatever the final score.

Their fate was sealed last weekend when they played away at Nottingham Forest, losing 1-0 and thus allowing Manchester City to win the division.

In that game, Arteta opted for an unusual line-up as he played Jakub Kiwior at left-back and Thomas Partey at right-back and moved Ben White into the middle of defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes – an entirely new back four for Arsenal.

After that plan failed, Watts has warned that it would not go down well with the home fans if the Spaniard was to try and persist with his defensive experiment against Wolves.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist explained (12:24): "I'm definitely not expecting us to see the same back four that we saw at Nottingham Forest.

"I'd be really surprised if Mikel Arteta tries that again, especially at home where I don't think it would go down very well indeed.

"So I'm expecting Kieran Tierney to come back in at left-back. And I think Ben White will go back to right-back. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't."

What's the latest Arsenal injury news?

With William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu both out injured, as well as Oleksandr Zinchenko, it's not hard to see why Arteta tried to mix things up recently.

But he should have Tierney available to come in as a more natural left-back against Wolves, which can then allow Kiwior to move centrally and White to go at right-back – which is how the team finished during their last Premier League win away at Newcastle.

With that in mind, it makes more sense to revert to that, though he could also bring in Rob Holding at centre-back potentially ahead of Kiwior – as it might be his last game at the Emirates amid some exit rumours.

However, there are issues further up the field to contend with too.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said (via football.london): "We had some issues this week. In the last few weeks some players were unable to play.

"With Reiss (Nelson), we had a little with Bukayo (Saka) which has been going for a few weeks and with Leo (Leandro Trossard)."

So it sounds like he may be forced to get creative with some tactical decisions but has the opportunity to at least play a more traditional back four this time around.