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The French titleholders have wonderful width and devastating dribblers, but the evolution of their midfield has been key to their transformation

There were just five minutes remaining at Santiago Bernabeu when Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey stupidly shoved Real Madrid counterpart Dani Ceballos to the ground right in front of referee Francoiz Letexier. A yellow card was the only possible outcome, and Declan Rice was rightly furious with his team-mate for getting himself suspended so needlessly for the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

Partey, who was immense in the comprehensive last-eight elimination of Madrid, would have been important no matter the opposition in the last four, but he's going to be all the more conspicuous by his absence at the Emirates on Tuesday because the Gunners are going up against Paris Saint-Germain, who boast the best midfield in this year's competition – any by some distance too.

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  From big-game bottlers to great entertainers

  Kylian Mbappe's decision to move to Madrid last summer was a major blow for PSG, particularly from a financial perspective. Losing one of the most valuable players in the world on a free transfer was an undeniable disaster for the club's Qatari owners.

  However, Luis Enrique repeatedly insisted that, on a purely sporting level, PSG could become a stronger, more balanced team without their talismanic forward, who accounted for 35 percent of the 124 goals they scored last season.

  The Spanish coach has been proven correct. Despite losing Mbappe, PSG have once again reached the semi-finals of the Champions League – and while playing better football than ever before. Indeed, the state-sponsored, superstar-obsessed club that most neutrals used to revel in seeing come up with new and exciting ways to get themselves knocked out of Europe have now become the purists' favourites – not least because of their wondrous use of width and the impressive amount of devastating dribblers they've managed to cram into their starting line-up.

  However, while the wondrous wing play of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia & Co. has rightly drawn plenty of praise from across the footballing world, their majestic midfield is arguably just as deserving of attention – particularly as its evolution has been utterly integral to PSG's transformation into one of the most likeable sides in European football.

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  'We lost almost every single duel'

  When PSG and Arsenal met at the Emirates earlier this season, the visitors didn't look anything like potential Champions League winners. The game was as good as over by the break, in fact, after goals Bukayo Saka added to Kai Havertz's opener, and Luis Enrique was left lamenting his side's complete inability to put the Gunners under any real pressure whatsoever.

  "Tonight, we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match," the Spaniard told UEFA's official website. "I think we lost almost every single duel we contested."

  However, as former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott pointed out after the 2-1 win over Madrid at the Bernabeu, PSG are no longer anything like the side they were at the start of the season: "PSG hadn't really clicked then," the ex-England international told , "but they have now."

  And it was a win over another English side that proved the turning point in their 2024-25 campaign.

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  'Something changed' during City win

  It's funny to think about it now but PSG were on the verge of an embarrassingly early Champions League exit when they hosted Manchester City on January 22. Had they lost at home to the 2023 winners, there would have been no way back for the runaway Ligue 1 leaders, as they'd only amassed seven points from their first six fixtures in the league phase, and PSG were 2-0 down after 53 minutes at Parc des Princes.

  However, as Luis Enrique said, "something changed" in and around the club that night. PSG's new crop of exciting young players proved not only their quality but also their mettle as they went about ridding the club of its reputation for bottling big games.

  The introduction of a revitalised Ousmane Dembele off the bench was key in that regard, while fellow winger Bradley Barcola also played a pivotal role in the fightback. However, as Pep Guardiola admitted afterwards, it was Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz that really decided the game, as PSG's midfield trio ran rings around Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic.

  “They were better in the duels," the Catalan coach said. "And we could not cope with it as they were so fast. Everything happened in the middle and they had more players there. We could not control them defensively and that was the point: to defend we have to play and we could not keep the ball, or make an extra pass."

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  Relentless pressing

  Liverpool and Aston Villa found it just as difficult to retain possession against PSG in the knockout rounds, and although both Premier League teams fared better in their respective home legs, they still couldn't find a way past the Parisians.

  The primary problem is dealing with PSG's pressing. As Luis Enrique has proudly pointed out, whenever the ball is lost, his players never stop trying to win it back. To illustrate the point, seven players have won possession more than 68 times in this season's Champions League, and five of them play for PSG: Achraf Hakimi, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Willian Pacho. Unsurprisingly, Neves and Vitinha rank joint-first among midfielders, alongside Joshua Kimmich.

  Neves has also won more tackles than any other player (31), while only Bayern Munich's Kimmich has completed more passes than Vitinha, whom Luis Enrique is now touting as the best No.6 in the world – and with some degree of justification.

Gus Poyet insists Chelsea have "no more excuses" as they aim to qualify for the Champions League and win the Conference League.

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• Blues aiming to finish in top five
• Must win final two games
• Poyet urges Maresca's side to get over line

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea face Manchester United on Friday evening and are acutely aware that they must win their final two games of the season if they are to guarantee qualification for the Champions League. They currently sit fifth, the final qualification spot this season, but are level on points with Aston Villa and are only one clear of Nottingham Forest in seventh.

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  Chelsea also have a Conference League final against Real Betis to prepare for, which comes just three days after their final game of the season against fellow Champions League hopefuls Forest. Nevertheless, Poyet insists standards have slipped at Stamford Bridge – a stadium that has witnessed the Blues lifting the Premier League trophy – and has told manager Enzo Maresca that he has no excuse if the club fail to finish in the top five.

• WHAT GUS POYET SAID

  Poyet told : “Chelsea must qualify for the Champions League next season. It was too early to call in the middle of the season, and then they had a great run of form. People even thought they could challenge for the title. After Enzo Maresca played down their chances, they went on a really bad run.

  “Can they balance their focus between the Premier League and the Europa Conference League? There are no more excuses for Chelsea. The expectation used to be top two, then top three, then top four and now top five! Qualifying for the Champions League would stop the slide.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea face United on Friday night. With Aston Villa playing Tottenham Hotspur on the same evening, the Blues will hope their London rivals can do them a favour.

Tottenham Hotspur are revelling over a Spurs teenager’s quality behind-the-scenes, with the player currently waiting to make his full debut under Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham prepare for Liverpool in Carabao Cup second leg at Anfield

Lucas Bergvall’s late first leg Carabao Cup semi-final winner handed injury-ridden Spurs a crucial advantage heading into their second leg at Anfield on Thursday evening, but it is a tough ask for Postecoglou’s side to come away from Merseyside unscathed.

What Harry Kane told Mathys Tel which convinced him to join Tottenham

Spurs made a dramatic late window swoop for the Frenchman.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 5, 2025

Arne Slot’s Premier League frontrunners are England’s standout side right now, and they haven’t got the array of player selection dilemmas currently facing Tottenham amid their ongoing injury crisis.

Postecoglou, though, has benefited from the late January window arrivals of Kevin Danso from RC Lens and, most notably, Bayern Munich sensation Mathys Tel on a season-long loan.

Radu Dragusin is out for a lengthy period after suffering a serious ACL injury, while both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are working their way back to full fitness, so Danso’s addition is pivotal.

Postecoglou relied on youngsters to get Spurs through their first leg against Liverpool, with Bergvall putting in an impressive display, Antonin Kinsky dazzling on his debut in goal and Archie Gray performing excellently as a makeshift centre-back.

“I haven’t lost sight of the fact that we’ve got two 18-year-olds, one who’s playing at centre back (Archie Gray), it’s not even his position,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s first leg win over Liverpool.

“I just don’t think people really understand the level of performance that these young guys are giving us at the moment. We had a goalkeeper (Antonin Kinsky) on debut. Djed (Spence) is playing left-back, unbelievably well. Lucas is just growing all the time. He’s got that ability as a footballer to create space for himself.

“He’s got the quality, but he works awfully hard for the team as well. Like I said, we’ve been dealing with some adversity for sure, but we’ve had some growth in that, I’ve got no doubt about that. That’s been masked by poor results and poor form, for sure. I’ve got no doubt that when we get our players back, the foundations are really strong, with a group of players we can really grow with.”

Tottenham privately hailing "generational talent" Mathys Tel

Now, with another young starlet set to play a crucial role under Postecoglou in Tel, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that those within the club are privately hailing the 19-year-old.

Tel performed a major U-turn over joining Tottenham, originally rejecting their advances before Postecoglou and Harry Kane swayed him into changing his mind, and now the French starlet is set to bolster Spurs’ ranks as they look to finish the campaign strongly.

According to Bailey, Tottenham are convinced they’ve got a “generational talent” in Tel, who’s awaiting to make his debut for the club, as supporters anticipate what he’ll bring to the table.

“Tottenham are already celebrating behind the scenes in regards to the signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich,” said Bailey, via X. “Spurs believe Tel to be a ‘generational talent’.”

The versatile forward racked up 10 goals and bagged a further six assists in all competitions for Bayern last term, and if he can replicate those numbers in England, Spurs would surely be tempted to trigger the rumoured £50 million buy-option clause in his loan deal.

Crystal Palace star Dean Henderson got involved in a fiery confrontation with Pep Guardiola after his penalty heroics against Manchester City.

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• Henderson saved penalty in Palace victory
• Was later booked for time-wasting
• Guardiola snubbed him for a handshake

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Eagles stunned Guardiola by beating City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium, which delivered the first major silverware in Palace’s 164-year existence. Henderson was instrumental in the triumph, producing a series of stunning stops, including a vital penalty save that etched his name into FA Cup history.

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  Following the final whistle, tensions briefly flared on the pitch as Henderson approached Guardiola to offer a handshake. The City manager refused the gesture and instead responded with a pointed finger-wag and a few sharp words. The incident, captured by television cameras, underscored the frustration bubbling beneath the surface for the City bench after missing out on yet another silverware in what has been a disappointing campaign.

• WHAT HENDERSON & GUARDIOLA SAID

  Speaking to after the game, Henderson said: "I just went to shake his hand, but obviously I think he was disappointed with the time-wasting. I said: 'You got your ten minutes,' so no hard feelings."

  Meanwhile, Guardiola said: "He defended his position, we defended our position. It's time-wasting. I understand in the last minutes, but since the one or two minutes? He's British, in English football, you have to play.

  "I'm sorry. Everyone can do whatever they want. We have to score goals. We didn't lose because Henderson was time-wasting. In the last minutes, I understand [time-wasting]. They gave us nine or 10 minutes extra time, but it's a question of rhythm. All the fans are there to let the 22 players play, play, play, play. So, when you see Barcelona now, they're losing, attack, attack, attack, attack, and the other team attack, attack. The show is beautiful.

  "But I understand his position. It's a question of the referee, not a question of mine.

  "Because we don't have the rhythm that you need again, again, again. I understand when it's 92 minutes, 86, 87, you know. But I don't feel it.
  "

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Henderson’s night wasn’t without controversy. Early in the match, the goalkeeper appeared to have handled the ball outside the penalty area while attempting to prevent Erling Haaland from latching onto a through pass. The incident triggered a VAR review, sparking fears of a potential red card. Ultimately, officials concluded that the infringement did not deny an obvious goal-scoring chance, allowing Henderson to stay on the pitch, a decision that City fans and Guardiola may still be fuming about.

  "I didn't know it was for me in all honesty," Henderson said. "I knew the ball had come into the box so I wasn't sure what they were doing it for. Then I asked Chilly [Ben Chilwell] down the side what they were doing it for, he said for me, but who cares? Doesn't matter."

A news report from an “irreplaceable” star’s home nation is stating that he is ready to leave his current club as Manchester City want to sign him in the summer, according to a new report.

Man City transfer news

The Blues were the busiest side in the Premier League when it came to transfers during January, as Pep Guardiola and co. addressed the underperforming squad. City added six new players to their squad in the form of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Juma Bah, Christian McFarlane and Nico Gonzalez.

Man City expected to make summer move for £49m player they'd agreed to sign

The Blues were heavily linked with this player in January, but are now eyeing the transfer to go through in the summer.

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By
Brett Worthington

Feb 5, 2025

The transfer window has been shut for a matter of days, and already the Blues are lining up what business they plan to do in the summer. City have been linked with a move for Geovany Quenda of Sporting Lisbon, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent days. Quenda has a release clause of €100m (£84m), which is a hefty amount of money for a 17-year-old, but given he is seen as a future star, the Blues may look to hijack United’s bid to sign the winger.

As well as looking at Quenda, City have not given up on the idea of signing Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus. Cambiaso was heavily linked with a move to the Etihad, with it claimed that an agreement of £49 million and bonuses was made between the clubs.

The Blues had reached an agreement on personal terms with the defender, agreeing to a four-year contract and doubling his current wages. However, City’s spending during January saw them delay the transfer, but it is possible it will go through in the summer after the FIFA Club World Cup.

£20m ace is ready to leave as Man City want to sign him

Quenda and Cambiaso may not be the only summer arrivals at the Etihad, as according to Colombian outlet Antena 2, Man City are keen on signing Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace, with the player ready to leave Selhurst Park.

The report states that Munoz’s impressive performances for the South Londoners have caught the attention of City as well as Chelsea and FC Barcelona. Guardiola sees Munoz as an option to strengthen his defence given the departure of Kyle Walker to AC Milan, and Munoz is ready to leave Palace, looking to consider his options once the 2024/25 season comes to an end.

The 28-year-old, who has been dubbed “irreplaceable” by journalist Dom Smith, is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2027 and is said to be valued at €25 million, which is roughly £20 million.

Munoz’s ability to play as a right-back as well as a right-winger may appeal to Guardiola, as he is always keen to have flexibility in his City team. Munoz would be a low-risk signing for the Blues, as the Colombian knows the Premier League and has shown he is more than capable of holding his own against the best of the best, but his age may need to be considered, as, for example, Cambiaso is much younger at 24.

Aston Villa’s inconsistent Premier League form continues.

On Saturday, the Claret and Blue Army were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by bottom three dwellers Ipswich, despite the fact the Tractor Boys were reduced to ten men on the cusp of half time; Axel Tuanzebe dismissed against his former club.

That means Unai Emery’s team have failed to win any of their last four in the Premier League, slipping down to ninth, thereby finding themselves below the European positions, ahead of Wednesday’s mouthwatering meeting with current runaway league leaders Liverpool at Villa Park.

Before that clash, it’s time to analyse the Villans’ current attacking options, assessing how a youngster, currently out on loan, could make a big impact.

Aston Villa's attacking options

Villa’s attacking options saw a major overhaul during the January transfer window, most notably the fact that Jhon Durán departed, joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £71m.

Meanwhile, despite interest from Arsenal, Ollie Watkins remained a Villa player, later joined by Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, the duo arriving on loan from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, while £23m was spent to bring in Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.

Rashford, in particular, has caught the eye during his two substitute appearances so far, creating more ‘big chances’ last weekend than any other Premier League player, despite only being introduced at halftime.

So, with the arriving trio and Watkins, as well as Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers, who Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian described as an ‘incredible talent’, Emery certainly has some talented attackers at his disposal.

However, could the best of the lot currently be out on loan, starring in the EFL, ready to shine in the Villa first team in the near future?

Aston Villa's future superstar

Back in January, after being recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County, Lyall Thomas and Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports reported that Emery was planning to ‘assess’ youngster Louie Barry in training, before making a concrete decision over his future.

Well, he was then loaned out again, this time to Hull City, but this does not mean the young forward doesn’t have a future at Villa Park.

Still only 21-years-old, Barry has already had a noteworthy career. He first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy from West Bromwich Albion in 2019, but returned to England a year later, signing for Villa for a reported £880k.

He was then in the spotlight again in January 2021; with the entire Villa first team and coaching staff in isolation following a Covid-19 outbreak, the U23s were tasked with facing Premier League champions Liverpool in an FA Cup tie, with Barry equalising for the youngsters on the cusp of half time, an amazing moment, even if the Reds ultimately prevailed 4-1 in the end.

Barry has subsequently been sent out on multiple loans by Villa, appearing for Ipswich, Swindon, Milton Keynes, Salford and Stockport, starring for the Hatters earlier this season, scoring 15 goals in just 24 appearances, named EFL League One player of the month in both August and November, as Dave Challinor’s side chase back-to-back promotions.

He’s been so impressive that Barry was recalled from his loan spell at Edgeley, his final appearance for Stockport coming against Villa’s fierce rivals Birmingham City on New Year’s Day, this not a coincidence, waving farewell following a 1-1 draw.

Daniel Storey of the i Paper noted that he was Barcelona’s ‘first English prodigy’, with Barry himself stating “I loved my time in Barcelona… but I decided to come back close to home [when] we had got wind that Covid-19 might be a big thing.”

He’s yet to get off the mark for the Tigers, making three appearances for Hull to date, including in Rubén Sellés’ starting lineup for the very first time against Norwich on Saturday.

So, let’s see how he compares to two of Villa’s most high-profile current forwards, namely Watkins and Rashford.

As the table outlines, Barry shares some of the best attributes with both Watkins and Rashford, while mirroring the latter in his ability to operate off the left flank or in a more central role.

Like Watkins – who has netted 12 times – he is a clinical finisher, scoring 16 goals so far this season, while over 50% of his shots hit the target, currently ranked first in EFL League One this season for shots on target per-90 (1.86), despite having not played in that division since 1 January.

Meantime, he is also a supreme dribbler, similar to prime Rashford, having been successful with 50% of his take-ons, albeit his assists and shot-creating action statistics are significantly lagging behind the other two.

Nevertheless, all the signs are there that Barry – who was hailed for having “incredible” composure by Declan Rice – will be a top-class forward in the future, so he is one that Villa supporters should remain excited about.

Aston Villa hit gold on “world class” star worth more than Felix & Rashford

Aston Villa already have a top star in their ranks away from their notable spending.

By
Kelan Sarson

Feb 17, 2025

The reason behind Kylian Mbappe's thumb-sucking celebration after his latest goal against Sevilla has been revealed.

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• Mbappe scored in Madrid's win over Sevilla
• Pulled off a thumb-sucking celebration
• Mbappe favourite to win La Liga Golden Boot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe starred in Madrid's latest 2-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday. He scored the opening goal of the match in the 78th minute, while Jude Bellingham added to the tally eight minutes later to save the club from yet another embarrassment.

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  After breaking the deadlock late into the game, the French winger was spotted pulling off a thumb-sucking celebration, which prompted people to think that the 26-year-old might be expecting his firstborn child. However, it was later revealed that Mbappe was dedicating his goal to a staff member who is expecting a baby. The player was also spotted hugging the staff on the sidelines after the goal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The strike against Sevilla took Mbappe's total goals tally to 29 in La Liga as he extended his lead over Robert Lewandowski to four goals in the race for the La Liga Golden Boot award.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Los Blancos will play their final league game on May 24 as they take on Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu. It will be the farewell game for outgoing manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is making the most of his holidays and showed off a prize catch on Instagram: Two lobsters.

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• Haaland on holiday
• Man City endured trophyless campaign
• Norway star relaxes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Haaland endured a trophyless season with City despite scoring 31 goals in 44 games in all competitions. Now on his holidays, the Norway international showed off his latest prize: Two succulent looking lobsters.

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  The City star snubbed a penalty in the FA Cup final as his side lost to Crystal Palace at Wembley, but he was on the spot on Instagram as he prepared to fire up the grill. His pictures also show off a putting green behind him, apparently in his garden.

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• WHAT HAALAND SAID

  Haaland simply wrote on Instagram: "Lobzter".

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Haaland's holiday will not last all that long as City will play in the Club World Cup this summer. They face Wydad AC on June 18.

After a few miserable weeks, the last few days have been a breath of fresh air for Arsenal fans.

On Tuesday night, Mikel Arteta’s side demolished PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League, and now it looks as if the club will be bringing in Andrea Berta as their new Sporting Director.

The Italian previously worked for Atlético Madrid, where he helped bring in a plethora of incredible players like Antoine Griezmann, Rodri, Marcos Llorente and most recently, Julian Alvarez.

The latter has been a force of nature for the side this season, and according to reports, Berta could sign Arsenal’s own version of the Argentine in the summer.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several sides keen on signing RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko in the summer.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners and Chelsea remain firmly at the head of the queue of interested parties, which includes Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

In yet more good news, the report has revealed that while the Slovenian international has a release clause worth £58m in his contract, Leipzig will allow him to leave for less should the final fee be deemed acceptable to them.

It could still be an expensive and complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Sesko’s ability and potential, it is well worth pursuing, and for Berta, an opportunity to repeat a move reminiscent of the one that saw Alvarez move to Spain last summer.

Why Sesko would be Arsenal's Alvarez

So, there are really two intertwined reasons as to why bringing Sesko to Arsenal in the summer would be, in a sense, a repeat of his deal to sign Alvarez last year.

The most significant is that, like the Argentine, the Slovenian star is one of the most exciting strikers in European football and has the raw ability to be a real game-changer for the Gunners.

For example, in just 34 appearances this term, totalling 2488 minutes, the 6 foot 5 “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 17 goals and provided five assists.

That means he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 113.09 minutes for a team not having a particularly good season in the Bundesliga.

In comparison, the former Manchester City marksman has done marginally better so far, scoring 22 goals and providing five assists in 41 appearances, totalling 2683 minutes, for Atléti.

In other words, the Calchín-born star is averaging a goal involvement every 1.51 games, or every 99.37 minutes.

The second reason the moves could mirror one another is that while the World Cup winner is just over three years older than the Leipzig star, both are young enough to become era-defining forwards for their respective sides and gold-standard acquisitions by Berta.

Ultimately, it could be an expensive transfer to get over the line, but it does look like Sesko could be one of the next great strikers in European football and deliver for Arsenal next season in the same way Alvarez is for Atlético this year.

Therefore, should he get the job, Berta must do all he can to bring him to the Emirates as soon as possible.

Arsenal have found their new Saka & Smith Rowe in "special" Hale End duo

The young guns could be superstars for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 6, 2025

West Ham have opened up on the situation surrounding Michail Antonio as he continues his recovery following his near-fatal car crash last year.

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• Antonio still recovering from near-fatal crash
• West Ham unable to reach an extension with the star
• Added to list of free transfers – decision to be made later

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Antonio was at the centre of a near-fatal car crash in December of 2024, where the West Ham striker had to be airlifted after having suffered multiple serious injuries. It is expected that the Jamaica international will not be able to return to action on the field at least until midway through next season, if at all.

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  West Ham have supported Antonio through his recovery phase. However, with his contract set to run out later this month, the east London side have been faced with a dilemma. After having offered the striker a short-term deal with considerably lower wages, the Hammers were informed that Antonio wanted a higher salary and a long-term contract. The club has now announced that the player has been listed as a free transfer for administrative purposes, while they mull over the "unique situation" and will only make a final decision when the time is "considered right and appropriate".

• WHAT WEST HAM'S STATEMENT READ

  In publishing their retained list for the summer of 2025, West Ham wrote: "Given Michail Antonio’s unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate. However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.

  "As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the Club’s absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONIO?

  The Jamaican is continuing his recovery with West Ham as he shared clips of his physical therapy. It is still uncertain whether the now-35-year-old will be able to make a return to the football field as a professional. However, he has announced that he remains committed to the prospect.