All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur could sign Gareth Bale 2.0 this off-season…

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, Antonio Conte is set to make Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back Filip Kostic his first summer signing at Spurs as part of a £150m spending spree.

Both the Italian head coach and sporting director Fabio Paratici are said to be keen to invest in his consistency, whilst the Express recently claimed that the north Londoners had scouts in attendance as the Bundesliga outfit clinched the Europa League over Rangers last week.

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Meanwhile, the very reliable Alasdair Gold of football.london has seemingly confirmed their interest, as he revealed on his YouTube channel:

“I know certainly that they’ve got a lot of interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 29-year-old Filip Kostic – their left wing-back, so that’s one they’re going to look at, they’re going to try and sign.

“I think there’s a lot of interest in him, but we’ll see. I think there’s a growing confidence that he might be someone that they can bring in this summer.”

He could be available for just €15m (£12.5m).

Bale 2.0

Indeed, the Serbia international has been a mark of consistency over the years, delivering the goods for Frankfurt since 2018.

Kostic finished the season as Oliver Glasner’s highest-rated player in the German top flight, averaging a WhoScored rating of 7.11, only further emphasising his ability to impact games week in, week out.

He bagged seven goals and provided 13 assists across the Bundesliga and Europa League, playing at left wing-back, and those returns far usurp all of Conte’s current wide options in defence combined.

Across the last three domestic campaigns, the 29-year-old has proved to be a major creative influence, averaging at least 2.4 key passes per game, on top of a minimum of 1.4 tackles per game.

Interestingly, Kostic has earned comparisons to Bale throughout his career. After all, the Welsh legend started his career in the very same role before transitioning into a lethal presence in the final third.

Dubbed a “mentality monster” by team-mate Kevin Trapp and described as having an “outstanding ability” by Glasner, the £18m-rated machine would evidently be a fantastic upgrade to Conte’s squad.

He is practically the perfect fit for what the Italian is trying to achieve in N17, and for just £12.5m, Paratici and co would be foolish to not pay it.

AND in other news, Kane eyeing new Spurs contract in big Conte boost…

Liverpool currently have the second-best defence in the Premier League this season, with just 25 goals conceded in 37 games.

Even though the Reds still have one match left to play in this top-flight campaign, which could potentially end with Jurgen Klopp’s side winning the league title, it seems as though the manager and the club’s hierarchy have identified one player who could make a move to Anfield in the summer.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Voetbal International (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have joined the race to sign PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.

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The report also claimed that fellow Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leicester City and Newcastle United are all interested in signing the 24-year-old.

After scoring two goals and providing five assists in 86 appearances for Toulouse, the midfielder joined his current club in September 2020.

Since then, the Ivory Coast international has gone on to make 87 appearances in Eindhoven across all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying six assists along the way.

With 29 league appearances to his name this season, no other PSV player has racked up more minutes than Sangare, showing just how important he has been to the Eredivisie giants.

To further highlight his significance to the team and his defensive talents, he has the highest average for tackles (3.3) and interceptions (2.6) per game of any PSV player in the 2021/22 campaign.

Klopp’s own Yaya Toure?

Speaking about the PSV maestro, African journalist Alpha Balde put him in the same frame as two of the Premier League’s most decorated midfield stars of yesteryear. He said of the 24-year-old: “Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien.”

Sangare has also received praise in the past from his former Toulouse boss Alain Casanova, who dubbed the Ivorian a “complete” player who is “calm in small spaces and comes out of pressure in incredible ways.”

Casanova also said that the PSV midfielder has “a great ability to recover the ball and does a huge amount of running.”

Taking all this into account, if Liverpool are to secure a deal for Sangare in the summer, which could reportedly cost them £30m, this could end up being a great bit of business from the Merseyside club and strengthen what is already a world-class squad.

In other news: FSG eyeing Liverpool swoop for £106m-rated titan, he will “be better than Van Dijk”

Leeds United have not found scoring goals quite as simple this season as they made it look in their previous Premier League campaign.

With 36 top-flight games played this term, the Whites have scored 39 goals, fewer than the likes of Brentford, Southampton and Newcastle United.

To put that into perspective, the Yorkshire club had scored 57 goals by the same point last season.

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One man who has been a shining light for Jesse Marsch’s side in an attacking sense is Raphinha.

With 33 league games under his belt, the Brazilian has scored 10 goals and provided three assists along the way, leaving no other Leeds player with more goal contributions.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, one man who the Yorkshire club could look to bring in and who may have what it takes to improve the Whites’ attack and potentially form a deadly duo with Raphinha is Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino.

Back in January, Leeds were linked with a move for the Japan international, only for him to stay at Anfield.

Liverpool struck a deal for Minamino back in December 2019 from Marsch’s former club RB Salzburg. Since then, the 27-year-old has made 54 appearances for the Reds across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and delivering three assists along the way.

During his time under Marsch’s management in Austria, the winger scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in 22 appearances, which shows that the American knows how to get the best out of the player.

Taking into account how Minamino has only made 10 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League this season and hasn’t even been involved in a top-flight matchday squad since March, it’s safe to say that he’s nowhere near the top of the pecking order in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

With Liverpool having the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz in their ranks, it doesn’t look good for the former Salzburg star’s his future at Anfield.

Praised by Klopp for his “exceptional” performances in the past, Minamino could be a valuable asset for Leeds as an extra attacking presence in their side who certainly has what it takes to link up with Raphinha and form a scary duo under his one-time Salzburg manager once again.

With all this in mind, if the Whites can avoid relegation, launching a move for the Liverpool outcast could be a great move for all parties concerned.

In other news – Could’ve signed for £4m, now valued at £135m: Leeds had shocker over 85-goal “cyborg”

Everton are reportedly now ‘tracking’ Gavin Bazunu ahead of a potential move in the summer.

The Lowdown: Standout season

Bazunu has enjoyed a standout season at Portsmouth on loan from Manchester City, where he picked up their Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.

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He surprisingly missed out on League One’s Team of the Season, something which manager Danny Cowley branded as ‘ridiculous’, but it is clear that the six-foot-two colossus has the potential to reach the very top.

The Latest: Everton interest

Taking to Twitter, The Irish Independent journalist Daniel McDonnell has revealed that the Goodison Park faithful have been ‘tracking’ Bazunu’s performances in League One, and are now ‘considering’ a move for him this summer:

“Everton are considering a summer move for Gavin Bazunu – have been tracking his L1 performances and interested if Man City opt to sell. As reported elsewhere, Southampton very keen and Bournemouth/Sheff U also in mix. If MCFC sell buyback option on cards.”

The Verdict: Depends on Pickford

A move for Bazunu may well depend on whether Jordan Pickford stays or goes next season.

It has been reported that the Merseyside club would be willing to listen to offers for their number one, whether they stay up or not, which would then pave the way for a new goalkeeper.

Dubbed ‘different class’ by Pompey central defender Clark Robertson, Bazunu has already grabbed the number one spot for the Republic of Ireland, but at just 20 years of age, it may be too soon for him to be starting in the Premier League just yet.

In other news, find out who was ‘absolutely wretched’ against Watford here!

Pundit and former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has made an injury claim regarding Patrick Bamford, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Bamford back on the pitch

The 28-year-old has been limited to a mere seven Premier League starts this season, playing just 559 minutes of action due to a number of injuries.

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His latest foot issue came against Wolves in March, although it looks as if he could have a part to play in the final games of the season as Leeds battle to avoid the drop.

Jesse Marsch confirmed last week that the striker has been back out on the Thorp Arch training pitches, but Mills had his concerns regarding Bamford’s fitness.

The Latest: Mills’ claim on Bamford

Mills, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding the Leeds striker.

He said that starting Bamford and having to take him off would be ‘disruptive’ to Marsch’s tactical setup and urged caution over the use of the 28-year-old given his injury troubles over the past few months.

The 44-year-old warned:

“It would be a real risk to have him as the main man up front going forward.

“He could break down at any moment, so to have him playing minutes if he’s not 100% – it’s a risk.

“If you have to then take him off, it’s disruptive. You’ve laid all your plans around him playing and having an impact.

“If you then have to take him off, it’s a bit like ‘oh no’ – because you have to change your set-up and your tactics completely if you’re Jesse Marsch.”

The Verdict: Impact sub?

Should Bamford return to the matchday squad for the final three games of the season, it could be wise if Marsch decided for an opposing plan to the one back in March.

Bamford was given the nod from the off in wins over Norwich and Wolves, but he failed to play more than 45 minutes in either game.

Therefore, it could be wise to use the striker as an impact sub instead of starting in upcoming games against Brighton, Brentford and possibly even Chelsea on Wednesday, with the Whites now at a make-or-break stage of the season.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now make first move to sign ‘undefendable’ star in blow to Everton

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy could replace manager Antonio Conte with one man despite protest from within the club’s hierarchy, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Conte future uncertain…

The 52-year-old has worked wonders since succeeding ex-boss Nuno Espirito Santo in November, guiding Spurs back into the Premier League top four battle and re-installing some faith from Lilywhites supporters.

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His arrival could also be a major pull in the transfer market with reports suggesting Conte’s presence has motivated certain targets to consider joining.

However, amid serious links to Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain, there are murmurs of an uncertain future for the ex-Inter Milan head coach.

The Latest: Mokbel makes Pochettino claim…

Now, according to The Daily Mail and journalist Sami Mokbel, it is believed Spurs are indeed considering heirs to Conte in the event he departs.

Tottenham, and by extension Levy, are considering alternatives to the heavily-linked Mauricio Pochettino – with Graham Potter (Brighton) and Roberto Mancini (Italy) named – but it is believed the former north London favourite ‘could still return’.

This is despite ‘opposition’ from Spurs’ own hierarchy, and even though Potter and Mancini are being considered, replacing Conte with Pochettino cannot be ruled out.

The Verdict: Interesting claim…

Having guided the Hotspur Way side to a first ever Champions League final with little financial backing, it is intriguing to see protests from Tottenham’s own club chiefs behind-the-scenes.

The Argentine, lauded as a ‘genius’ by ex-Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes, has also just won his first ever Ligue 1 title – clinching the French top flight crown with PSG last week.

His affection for Spurs is also another reason to seriously consider hiring Pochettino if Conte does indeed leave.

There is an argument to be made that he is, by some distance, the stand out managerial candidate.

In other news: Tottenham ready to make major bid for ‘world-beater’ who told friends he was keen to join…find out more here.

West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has been handed an injury update, with one member of his squad not set to return until nearly Christmas.

West Ham prepare for Man United clash after Liverpool defeat

The Hammers travel to Old Trafford on Thursday seeking to make amends following their first defeat since October, but Lucas Paqueta’s suspension after his sending off against Liverpool leaves Nuno with a real selection headache.

West Ham’s 2-0 loss to the Merseysiders on Sunday ended a three-match unbeaten streak, with Paqueta’s bizarre dismissal proving very costly.

Another Brazilian, Luis Guilherme, could make a rare start in his compatriot’s absence, while Crysencio Summerville is also a major doubt to face Man United after missing Liverpool with a calf problem.

Man United, meanwhile, arrive in confident mood after Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount both scored in a 2-1 comeback at Crystal Palace over the weekend.

Matheus Cunha could return after missing recent matches with a head injury, though a place on the bench appears more likely.

On paper, West Ham will be given encouragement by the fact they’ve won four out of their last five meetings against the Red Devils and completed the double over them last season.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

However, West Ham rank joint-second in the league for goals conceded from open play with 14, and first for goals conceded from set-pieces with 10 – weaknesses Ruben Amorin will undoubtedly look to exploit.

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ByEmilio Galantini Dec 2, 2025

Alongside Summerville and Paqueta, another player who’s set to sit out of this one is young defender Ollie Scarles.

The West Ham academy graduate, who’s been out of action since breaking his collarbone against Leeds United, has now returned to no-contact training as he slowly builds his capacity.

Following Nuno’s update, the Portuguese has now been handed a more specific timeline when it comes to the full-back’s return.

West Ham without Ollie Scarles until nearly Christmas

According to Hammers News, West Ham will be without Scarles until nearly Christmas as he continues his gradual comeback.

The Englishman could be back to face Man City on December 20 at the earliest, coming as a slight boost for Nuno given the difficulty of a trip to Eastlands.

However, the tactician might not want to risk him either, considering just how serious Scarles’ injury was and the delicacy of his recovery.

Once the England Under-20 international is back fit and firing, he’ll be a valuable asset, with Nuno starting him in each of his last two appearances before succumbing to injury.

Called West Ham’s ‘most exciting prospect since [Declan] Rice’ by members of the media, Scarles excelled at youth level with three goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances for the Under-18s.

The defender also racked up 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) for the Under-21s, and Scarles has since been handed 19 senior cameos in all competitions for the east Londoners.

West Ham appear to have high hopes for the youngster, who most notably put in the best performance of his career to date in a 1-0 win away to Arsenal back in February.

Nottingham Forest are now plotting the statement signing of a £30m forward, who is also being targeted by La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Forest looking to win race for Barca and Atletico target

It is a clear indication of how far Forest have come that they are now shopping in the same talent pool as the likes of Barcelona and Atletico, but it has been far from an ideal start to the new Premier League campaign.

The Tricky Trees have won just one of their first five league games, and suffered a shock defeat against Swansea City in the third round of the EFL Cup, which was an early setback for new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Under the helm of former manager Nuno, the Europa League side strengthened considerably in the summer transfer window, particularly in attacking areas, and Dan Ndoye has made a promising start, with two goal contributions to his name in the Premier League.

However, Evangelos Marinakis was unable to secure deals for all of his major targets, missing out on former SC Braga winger Roger Fernandes on deadline day, despite entering advanced talks.

There has since been an encouraging new update on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Fernandes, however, with a report from TEAMtalk reporting they are still plotting a statement signing of the winger, despite his £30m move to Al-Ittihad.

The 19-year-old is attracting serious interest, even though he only recently moved to Saudi Arabia, with the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also thought to be keen, although neither of the La Liga giants have made an approach thus far.

"World-class" manager wanted Nottingham Forest job before Ange appointment

A renowned manager was interested in taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo at The City Ground.

ByDominic Lund Sep 18, 2025

Interest from the Premier League is particularly strong, with the Tricky Trees constantly observing the youngster, even since Ange’s appointment, as there is a belief he could boost their chances of qualifying for Europe once again.

"1v1 specialist" Fernandes could be difference-maker for Forest

It has to be said, it would be very strange if the Portuguese winger were to leave Al-Ittihad so soon after joining, having not even made his debut, but the starlet clearly has the ability to succeed at Forest, given his exploits in a Braga shirt.

Speaking just under two years ago, scout Ben Mattinson said: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”

The ex-Braga star amassed 12 goals and 16 assists in 91 appearances for the Portuguese club, which is an impressive return for a teenager, and indicates he could be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League.

Forest appear to be well-stocked in attacking areas, having signed Omari Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa and Ndoye in the summer, but Fernandes is an exciting young player, and the rival interest from Barcelona and Atletico speaks volumes.

Ruben Amorim is nearing a year in charge of Manchester United, but it’s safe to say that his tenure up to now has been a huge disappointment for everyone involved.

The 40-year-old arrived from Sporting CP with huge excitement after his title triumph the year before, but such a feeling has certainly fizzled out over the last couple of months.

He’s only won 38% of the 47 games he’s been in charge of, resulting in the Red Devils finishing in an embarrassing 15th place in the Premier League – the lowest since the division’s formation in 1992.

Such form on the pitch has led to huge questions being asked about his long-term future at Old Trafford, potentially leaving the board with no choice if their dismal form continues in 2025/26.

Alongside his failures on the pitch, his decision-making off it has also been extremely controversial, with a situation surrounding one player being massively criticised by many people around the country.

Marcus Rashford’s United standoff with Amorim

Marcus Rashford is a player who came through the United academy system, making a huge impact in the first-team squad, racking up a total of 426 appearances for his boyhood side.

Upon Amorim’s appointment, the Englishman was utilised in the majority of the new manager’s matches – even scoring the first goal in his tenure against Ipswich Town.

However, the attacker rapidly fell down the pecking order, subsequently being left out of the first-team training and being forced to work with the youth squad before his temporary move to Aston Villa during the winter.

Rashford returned to his parent club during the off-season, but it rapidly became apparent that he would once again be left out of Amorim’s squad – joining Barcelona on loan with an option to buy.

He’s already started three times for Hansi Flick’s side and has wasted no time in demonstrating to the Red Devils boss the talent he still possesses despite his recent snub at Old Trafford.

The winger was handed a start in the Champions League last night, netting twice in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United, proving that he’s still more than capable of starring in Europe’s greatest competition.

However, moving Rashford out of the door at the Theatre of Dreams isn’t the only glaring error the manager has made at the helm – with his future needing to be questioned should such a situation carry on in the near future.

The Amorim decision which is a sackable offence at United

One of the main talking points over Amorim’s future is his current system, with his 3-4-2-1 formation evidently not having the desired effect, given the lowly league standing in 2024/25.

Most other managers would be open to the idea of shifting to another tactic to try and avenge the ongoing slump, but it appears that’s something the 40-year-old is unwilling to do.

He stated after the Manchester Derby defeat last weekend that he won’t be moving away from his current philosophy – even stating that the club would have to change the man before he changes his ideas.

The main issue that has arisen from such a system is the lack of quality and impact from the central midfield duo, often getting overrun and unable to deal with the threat posed by the opposition.

Kobbie Mainoo was a regular in the side during the 2023/24 campaign before Amorim took the reins last November, but since his arrival, the youngster has found minutes much harder to come by.

The 20-year-old has already been responsible for numerous high-profile moments despite his tender age, once looking like the next big talent to emerge out of the club’s infamous academy setup.

From last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers to FA Cup final goals against Manchester City – the midfielder really did manage to produce the goods in his breakout year.

However, his progress has undoubtedly stagnated since the former Sporting CP boss took the reins, only starting 20 league matches in 2024/25, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro ahead of him in the pecking order.

The new season has resulted in the same situation recurring, with the Englishman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Andy Townsend, only featuring for a total of 73 minutes in the Premier League to date.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

It’s baffling to see such a promising young talent being alienated after his impressive start to life as a professional, with the players desperately needing game time to continue his development.

Mainoo’s lack of minutes in recent times led to the midfielder even requesting a temporary move away from the club – but it was swiftly rejected, further adding to the suffering he’s endured under Amorim.

Rashford’s success away from United is one thing, but the manager’s stubbornness to not utilise Mainoo could well prove to be the final nail in his coffin over the coming weeks.

It’s clear the boss isn’t getting the best out of the current crop of players at the club, which could see many others following Rashford out of the door to seek regular minutes and get their once exciting careers back on track.

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

The window might not be officially open yet, but silly season is in full swing, and Arsenal look set for a busy one.

Earlier today, it was revealed that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is just a medical away from officially joining the Gunners, and it feels like he won’t be the last international to join from La Liga.

For example, for well over a year now, Mikel Arteta’s side have been heavily linked with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and then, over the last month or so, links to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have appeared everywhere.

And now, another exciting attacker, someone who has been compared to both aforementioned wingers, has been touted for a move to the Emirates this summer.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Antoine Semenyo and Rafael Leao.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could be attainable for a fee of around £70m, and while that’s a lot of money, he is a Premier League-proven star who has amassed an impressive enough tally of 20 goal involvements in 42 games for Bournemouth this year.

On the other hand, Leao could cost as much as £145m thanks to the release clause in his current contract, but he too has enjoyed a brilliant personal campaign this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 games for AC Milan.

However, while both players would be exciting additions to the team, another name has now entered the fray: Takefusa Kubo.

According to a recent report from Spanish newspaper AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Real Sociedad star.

In fact, the report claims that the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool have already made contact with the Japanese international, who has a release clause worth €60m – £50m – in his current contract.

While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should persevere with it, especially as Kubo has won comparisons to both Williams and Rodrygo.

How Kubo compares to Williams & Rodrygo

Before we get into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Kubo this summer, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Williams and Rodrygo, as, after all, they are some of the most exciting wingers around at the moment.

Well, in this instance, it all stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in La Liga and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.

In this instance, it concluded that the Spaniard is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Japanese star this season, while the Brazilian comes in eighth.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.31

0.35

0.32

Progressive Carries

5.04

5.32

5.28

Expected Assists

0.14

0.19

0.20

Goals per Shot

0.12

0.09

0.11

Clearances

0.49

0.41

0.42

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.16

2.61

2.34

Aerial Duels Win %

36.7%

39.3%

30.4%

We can better understand how this conclusion has been reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, clearances, progressive carries, goals per shot and more, all per 90.

On top of his similarities to the two sensational wingers and his tally of seven goals and four assists this season, another argument for why the Gunners should sign the “dangerous” international, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is his individual underlying numbers.

For example, FBref places him in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions from take-ons and passes blocked, the top 5% for shot-creating actions stemming from a defensive action, the top 7% for successful take-ons, the top 8% for fouls drawn and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while he might not be at the top of many transfer wishlists, Kubo would be an exceptional addition to Arsenal’s right-sided attacking options and someone who could get even better as the team continues to progress.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025