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Already thinking about summer targets, Crystal Palace have now reportedly set their sights on signing a young defender who’s earned comparisons with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk for his abilities in the air.

Glasner urges Crystal Palace to embrace final

Whilst transfer rumours continue to come thick and fast off the pitch, Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner have been preparing for one of the biggest games in their history this week. Wembley and the FA Cup final awaits the Eagles, as they go in pursuit of their first-ever FA Cup victory.

In front of them stand a Manchester City side looking to restore some pride to what has been their worst campaign under Pep Guardiola. Still battling for Champions League qualification with two Premier League games to go, the Citizens find themselves in unfamiliar territory and in with every chance of falling victim to a shock upset at Wembley.

The nerves will only be natural for all involved in South London, but Glasner has urged his players to embrace the occasion, telling reporters this week: “What is clear is that we should feel no burden. Pressure comes when you are trying to avoid relegation, when you are playing for your future, the future of the football club and the club’s employees.

“But playing in a Cup Final means that you can achieve something incredible. This is what we are all playing for, this is the childhood dream! When these players were kids, I’m sure they all watched the Cup Finals and dreamed of one day being involved in one. Now, everyone has the chance to fulfil that childhood dream.”

Scouts sent: Crystal Palace racing to sign "impressive" Serie A defender

He could replace Marc Guehi…

ByTom Cunningham May 13, 2025

It is also worth noting that FA Cup final victory would also see Crystal Palace qualify for the Europa League in a moment that would have an impact both on and off the pitch.

Crystal Palace targeting De Winter

One deal that Europa League qualification would help with is for a Serie A star. According to Football Transfers, Crystal Palace are now targeting a move to sign Koni de Winter from Genoa this summer. The central defender has only been at the Italian club for a year, but they’re already hoping to make profit by selling the former Juventus man for around €30m (£25m) in the coming months.

Dubbed a “gifted footballer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango during his Juventus days, De Winter has only pushed on at Genoa to earn comparisons with Virgil van Dijk by Football Transfers.

Those comparisons are certainly understandable, too. According to data relayed by their report, De Winter is well above average when it comes to his aerial performance in the Serie A, so it’s perhaps no surprise he’s scored three times with his head in his 22 league starts this term.

It’s the type of impact in both boxes that Crystal Palace should go all out to sign this summer, as Glasner looks to reinforce his backline.

Whilst their Champions League hopes hang in the balance, Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on signing a Real Madrid player who will be allowed to leave for the right price this summer.

Aston Villa face important summer after win over Fulham

It’s been a mixed season for the Villans as they head into the closing stages of the campaign. Although Unai Emery’s side have enjoyed some incredible moments against the likes of Bayern Munich and very nearly against Paris Saint-Germain, they’ve also found themselves frustrated in the Champions League race and dumped out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.

Aston Villa and Monchi racing to sign "outstanding" £34m Turkish League star

Scouts have been sent to watch him in action.

ByHenry Jackson May 2, 2025

Now, with a handful of games remaining, it will be their race to finish inside the top five which defines the narrative of Villa’s season. Emery recently had his say on what is set to be a frantic battle, telling reporters before his side’s win against Fulham: “2nd May today, and we are very, very excited.

“Our motivation is so, so high, motivation to finish the season, really feeling it’s our moment to play, showing as well our capacity through the most important way to get our objective, Premier League. And, of course, Villa Park is very, very important. We will need tomorrow our supporters, our fans to be with us.”

Meanwhile, off the pitch, a place among Europe’s elite would also have a significant impact on the Villans’ transfer plans. Recent reports have suggested that they’ve already got some PSR concerns and missing out on a place in the top five would hardly ease those concerns.

On that front, player sales have already been mooted too. The likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers have already found themselves on Chelsea and Liverpool’s radars, but whether Villa are desperate enough on the PSR front to sell two of their biggest stars remains to be seen.

Aston Villa prioritising Lunin move

Away from potential departures, those in the Midlands are also already setting their sights on potential incomings. According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are now prioritising a move to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid, who will allow their second-choice goalkeeper to leave for the right price this summer.

The shot-stopper has played a larger role than in previous seasons thanks to Thibaut Courtois’ injury, but has found himself once again benched since the Belgian’s return. As a result, an exit could now be pending and an opportunity to land a replacement for 32-year-old Emiliano Martinez.

Dubbed a “fantastic” goalkeeper by scout/writer Jacek Kulig last season, Lunin may well be ready to step into a No.1 role and out of the Courtois shadow at Real Madrid. At 26 years old, the shot-stopper is at the peak of his powers and could yet find himself on his way to Villa Park this summer.

Arne Slot’s achievement of winning the Premier League in his first season as Liverpool manager is nothing short of sensational, offering a seamless transition after taking over from Jürgen Klopp.

The Dutchman has led the side to the title with four games to spare, losing just two games in the process, highlighting the excellent job he’s done at the helm.

Such an achievement has secured the Reds’ 20th top-division league title, putting them level with Manchester United in terms of being the most successful side in English football history.

Undoubtedly, after tasting success in his first season, the 46-year-old will want to make it back-to-back in 2025/26, hopefully having the chance to make the necessary changes to his squad this summer.

Multiple areas of the pitch are in need of investment, with foundations already put in place by the hierarchy for potential incomings over the next few months.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings

A striker has been on the club’s radar over the last few weeks, as Slot looks to add firepower to the frontline in place of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, who could both depart this summer.

Benjamin Sesko is the latest player touted with a move to Anfield, with the Reds needing to trigger his £55m release clause if they are to secure a deal for his services.

He’s been named as a potential alternative to Alexander Isak, who looks unlikely to swap Tyneside for Merseyside, with Newcastle United demanding £150m for his signature.

Alongside Sesko, Slot could make another Bundesliga addition in the form of Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, that’s if recent reports are to be believed.

According to CaughtOffside, the Reds are set to make an offer for the 28-year-old in the coming months, with his current employers valuing him at £35m.

It also states that Vincent Kompany’s are willing to let the Frenchman depart during the off-season, with Coman himself considering his own future at the Allianz Arena.

Why Coman could be Slot’s next Gravenberch

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool in the summer of 2023 from Bayern Munich, looking to provide key depth in the middle of the park for former boss Klopp.

However, he struggled to break into the side, making just 12 Premier League starts, unable to dislodge Alexis Mac Allister from the role, with Wataru Endo even preferred to the Dutchman.

Slot’s arrival has transformed the 22-year-old’s career at Anfield, starting every single league game to date, and cementing his place alongside the Argentine.

Such a deal has proven to be a huge success for the club, with Gravenberch a key reason in their title triumph – offering a consistent presence in the side during a year of transition.

The manager could land his next version of the star in the form of Coman this summer, arriving as a fringe player from Bayern and looking to become a hit under his guidance on Merseyside.

The winger, who’s been previously labelled “one of the best players in the world” by Oliver Kahn, has struggled for game time this season, making just 12 league starts – unable to force his way into Kompany’s plans.

However, despite his limited minutes in 2024/25, he’s still managed to impress, producing numerous key figures that would bolster the Reds’ attacking department.

Games started

12

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

89%

Shots on target

1.3

Chances created

2.4

Successful dribbles

3.1

Touches in opposition box

6.3

He’s still managed to register nine combined goals and assists to date, whilst registering 1.3 shots on target per 90, showcasing his threat with the ball at his feet.

Such a threat is further seen by his tally of 2.4 chances created and 3.1 successful dribbles per 90 – having the tools to further aid the likes of Mohamed Salah in forward areas.

Such a deal would certainly aid the club’s chances of replicating their success in the years to come, having the opportunity to cement themselves as the country’s best ever team.

£35m for a player of his experience and quality is a bargain in today’s market, enabling them to sign a versatile option who could easily replicate the achievements set by former teammate Gravenberch.

A big Diaz upgrade: Liverpool make approach to sign future "£100m" star

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a sensation who could replace Luis Diaz.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 30, 2025

Chelsea are now preparing a £60m swoop for an “insane” forward, who has put in some very impressive performances in the Champions League this season, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new striker

With Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku struggling in front of goal since the turn of the year, it has become apparent that Enzo Maresca will need to bring in a new striker in the summer transfer window, and a number of targets have been identified.

Talks have been opened over a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, and there is a feeling the Blues could be willing to fork out a fee of £65m for the Sweden international, although they will face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Chelsea contact £198,000-per-week Bayern Munich player who's keen to leave

The west Londoners have reached out to another target.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

Given Gyokeres’ huge price tag, however, it could be wise to consider alternative options, and it has recently emerged that Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is set to be available for just £30m this summer, should his side be relegated from the Premier League.

Delap has been extremely impressive in front of goal in the Premier League this season, but according to a report from Spain, Chelsea have now set their sights on one of this season’s Champions League revelations, namely Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

The west Londoners are preparing a €70m (£60m) offer for Guirassy’s services, given that the striker has shone in the Champions League this season, most recently scoring a hat-trick against FC Barcelona in the quarter-final.

Serie A giants Juventus and Napoli are also interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund star, but Stamford Bridge is said to be his most likely destination this summer, with Maresca looking to bring in a striker who guarantees goals, amid concerns over Jackson.

"Insane" Guirassy could be huge upgrade on Jackson

Despite some promising signs near the start of the season, Jackson has been largely ineffective in front of goal this season, while Guirassy has been extremely impressive in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League throughout the campaign.

The Guinea international has amassed a remarkable 36 goal contributions in 40 appearances in all competitions, having been particularly prolific in front of goal in Europe, prior to his side’s exit at the hands of Barcelona earlier this week.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

25

15

3

Champions League

14

13

5

U23 football scout Antonio Mango has lauded the France-born striker as “insane” in the past, and his performances this season suggest he deserves to be playing in the Champions League next season, which is now extremely unlikely to be the case at Dortmund.

As such, it seems likely that a move to Stamford Bridge could appeal to Guirassy this summer, should the Blues manage to qualify for the Champions League, which underlines the importance of Chelsea having a strong end to the campaign.

Attempting to solve their left-back problem at long last, Manchester City are now reportedly in constant contact with one £30m target who Kyle Walker has recently got to know fairly well.

Man City planning major overhaul

Whilst Kevin de Bruyne’s pending departure is likely to be an emotional one at the Etihad, Manchester City may have to get used to bidding farewell to club veterans in the coming months as the Blues commence a much-needed overhaul.

City boss Pep Guardiola has already paid tribute to De Bruyne’s time at the club as the Belgian prepares to leave, whilst revealing that it was the club’s decision. The Spaniard told reporters: “The decision has been made for the club, and the club is the club. Me, Txiki [Begiristain, sporting director], and the club, so this is what it is. It was not easy for me to tell him it won’t continue.

Man City could now make £51m summer bid for "insane" goalscoring midfielder

The Sky Blues are now very keen on signing a central midfielder, who Pep Guardiola has personally identified as a target.

ByDominic Lund Apr 11, 2025

“The last year and a half, he was out injured because he gave everything for the club. Everything he had in his body and his mind, he’s done it, so there’s no doubt about it.”

The focus has since shifted towards replacing De Bruyne and whilst some may see that as mission impossible at the Etihad, a number of candidates have already emerged. Recent reports have mentioned the likes of Florian Wirtz and even Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White regarding players on City’s radar and there’s no doubt that both have their own standout qualities.

When comparing the two, however, it must be said that it’s Wirtz who would steal the most headlines having become one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, away from their need to replace De Bruyne, Manchester City must also finally sign another left-back this summer – allowing Josko Gvardiol to move back into central defence and ending Rico Lewis’ unsuccessful role down that side.

Man City in constant contact with Theo Hernandez

On that front, one name that has recently emerged as a potential solution is Theo Hernandez. According to The Boot Room, Manchester City are now in constant contact with Hernandez’s representatives over a summer move from AC Milan and are racing to secure his signature alongside Tottenham Hotspur.

A Champions League winner who could reportedly be available for as little as £30m this summer, Manchester City may well get themselves a bargain solution by signing Hernandez this summer. There’s no doubt that he would be an instant upgrade on Lewis and a player who could match Gvardiol’s quality or allow the Croatia star to move into the middle.

Minutes

2,254

2,647

1,720

Assists

3

0

2

Tackles Won

22

33

19

Ball Recoveries

111

119

89

Dubbed “electric fast” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Hernandez will have the chance to find out all about Manchester City whilst at AC Milan if he speaks to former captain Kyle Walker, who had plenty of pace of his own, often relied upon to halt counter-attacks as City dominated possession.

The England international is currently on loan at the San Siro and whilst he may yet leave on a permanent basis, he could first bring back the gift of Hernandez this summer.

Manchester United are thought to be interested in a Premier League star who actually has the same agent as Patrick Dorgu.

Man Utd looking at multiple summer signings as Ratcliffe calls out recent additions

The Red Devils have big plans for the future, as laid out by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, who recently announced plans for a new 100,000-capacity stadium.

However, shortly before those were released, Ratcliffe sat down with the media and discussed previous signings at Old Trafford. The co-owner called out several players who the Red Devils are still paying for, believing some aren’t good enough and are overpaid.

“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.”

Ratcliffe added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”

Perfect for Amorim: Man Utd make contact to sign "special" £25m sensation

He’s a wanted man…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 2, 2025

More recently, United have looked to youth in the transfer market, signing the likes of Ayden Heaven from Arsenal and Dorgu from Lecce in the January transfer window.

Both have featured under Ruben Amorim already, and it looks as if Man Utd are planning for the summer transfer window, where numerous incomings and outgoings appear to be on the cards.

The club may axe 10 Man Utd players on more than £1.8m a week at Old Trafford, whereas a new striker appears to be high on the to-do list, with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt a target.

Behind a new striker could be an attacking midfield addition, and an impressive Premier League player appears to be on the Old Trafford radar.

Man Utd eyeing bid for £60m+ Eberechi Eze

According to TEAMtalk, Man Utd are weighing up a move to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. The report suggests that the Red Devils may need to sell before launching a move for the England international due to PSR rules.

Eze is also wanted by Tottenham but is thought to be ‘ready to take the next step in his career’, and any transfer will cost at least £60m. Amorim is thought to personally be a fan of Eze and can see him ‘playing as one of the no. 10s in his side’.

Now aged 26, Eze has starred at Selhurst Park in recent seasons and has now made more than 150 appearances for the Eagles.

Games

31

Goals

6

Assists

9

Minutes played

2,457

He was called up to Euro 2024 for England last summer and has shown why again this season, becoming a key figure under Oliver Glasner.

Eze, who actually shares the same CAA Base agency as Dorgu, looks like he could be on the move over the coming months, and if United get some players out the door quickly, a deal for the Palace star could be one to watch.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is gearing up for another important Premier League test at home to Brentford on Wednesday, looking to extend the club’s incredible unbeaten run.

Arsenal set for Brentford after 1-1 draw at Chelsea

It’s been 17 matches since the Gunners last tasted a single defeat in all competitions, and a lot has changed since that 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s English champions are now all but out of the title race, despite barely playing a third of 2025/2026, while Arsenal are flying high and five points clear atop the table.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

10-man Chelsea came the closest to beating Arteta’s side last weekend, taking a 1-0 lead through Trevoh Chalobah at Stamford Bridge, only for in-form makeshift number nine Mikel Merino to equalise with his 20th goal this calendar year.

Arsenal’s imperious early-season has been made all the more impressive when factoring in their extensive injury list this term.

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, William Saliba, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz have all been sidelined at various points, with Arteta doing very well to adjust.

In Havertz’s case, the £280,000-per-week star hasn’t played at all this season since Arsenal’s opening day win over Man United at Old Trafford.

The Germany international, after just coming back from a hamstring problem which kept him out for months at the back end of 2024/2025, sustained a knee injury against United, with Havertz hauled off after just half an hour.

Fabrizio Romano: Berta eyeing "bargain" move for player likened to "top" Arsenal star

He could be a snip.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 2, 2025

Havertz required surgery with the former Chelsea star working hard to come back.

Reports suggest that Havertz has impressed Arsenal rehabilitation staff with his recovery, but he still hasn’t been available since August.

Mikel Arteta without Kai Havertz for 'weeks' after Arsenal injury update

The 26-year-old was, at one point, contending to be fit for Arsenal’s 4-1 triumph over Tottenham in the North London derby (Standard Sport).

Havertz was seemingly on the verge of a return to the field, but according to Arteta in his latest pre-match press conference, it will now be ‘weeks’ before the attacker makes his long-awaited return.

News of this setback for Havertz comes as a blow for Arsenal, with Arteta yet to have the desired conundrum of choosing how to fit both him and Gyokeres into his new Arsenal system on a regular basis.

Unable to display his best throughout 2025 due to consistent injury problems, Arteta will be desperate to have Havertz available once again as soon as possible.

With both Gabriel and potentially Saliba unavailable for Brentford too, summer signings Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera will likely partner one another yet again tomorrow evening.

Birmingham City have now reportedly joined Crystal Palace in the race to sign an impressive AFCON winger who would be an instant upgrade on Kyogo Furuhashi.

Chris Davies: "Difficult defeat to take" against QPR

Birmingham couldn’t have asked for a more frustrating night if they tried against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday. The Blues clawed their way back to level terms thanks to Patrick Roberts in the 93rd minute, only for Kieran Morgan to snatch all three points for the hosts in cruel fashion three minutes later.

Chris Davies admitted that the defeat was “difficult to take” when reflecting at full-time, telling reporters: “It was a very difficult defeat to take. To get ourselves back in the game at 1-1 and with a minute to go, you think that’s it’s going to be a point to take away but it wasn’t to be.

“Working towards half time and getting in at 0-0 would have been a reasonable start for us in the first half, but again we’ve conceded the first goal, and it’s given ourselves a big job.

“We’ve got a lot to do, we did get going in the second half, we were pushing and pushing. I was really pleased we could get that goal and then at the end it was a strike that went through a lot of bodies through into the goal.

“At half time I wasn’t happy with the performance. I thought it was well below par what we can do, I thought we were making a simple game look a lot harder than it needed to be.”

That one defeat has dropped the Blues down to 11th and three points behind Hull City in sixth. If they are to gain a Championship playoff place by the time that May arrives, then a January move for a player of Philip Otele’s calibre should be Birmingham’s priority.

Birmingham join race to sign Philip Otele

According to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, Birmingham have now joined the race to sign Otele and are rivalling Premier League side Crystal Palace for the winger’s signature in 2026.

The 26-year-old has been included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and could secure a place in Eric Chelle’s final squad before starring at the tournament.

Ahead of the tournament, Otele has already been in fine form for Basel in Switzerland, scoring eight goals and assisting another three in 26 games this season. By contrast, Kyogo has surprisingly struggled since arriving at Birmingham.

Many expected the former Celtic man to be among the signings of the season, but he’s yet to score a single Championship goal and was recently guilty of a glaring miss with the net wide open. It has simply been a nightmare spell for the summer arrival. A move for Otele could cost Kyogo his place, too.

The winger has had plenty of admirers throughout his career, with former CFR Cluj manager Adrian Mutu, who worked with Otele, telling reporters last year: “He possesses impressive physical strength, speed and technical skills. Although he can still work on his finishing, the interest doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Birmingham scouts spotted keeping tabs on exciting star alongside Wrexham

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is personally driving a move for Murillo, with Nottingham Forest’s stance on sanctioning a departure now being revealed.

The Blues have been solid from a defensive point of view in recent weeks, keeping clean sheets in their last three Premier League matches, most recently defeating Burnley 2-0 at Turf moor, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah impressing at the heart of defence.

Adarabioyo particularly caught the eye, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 8.6, the highest of any player, courtesy of making six tackles, winning ten of the 12 duels he contested, while also completing a whopping 102 passes, including seven long balls.

Being assured in possession of the ball is an important attribute for any player in a Maresca system, and the manager is now keen on another centre-back who could be an ideal fit in the Italian’s backline…

Maresca now driving Chelsea move for Murillo

According to a report from Caught Offside, Maresca has now personally identified Nottingham Forest defender Murillo as a key defensive target, but it could take a huge offer to get a deal over the line, with the Tricky Trees looking to hold out for up to €90m (£79m).

Forest are hesitant to cash-in on one of their key players, but they could be tempted to sanction a departure if a huge offer is submitted, with some other huge clubs also showing an interest in the centre-back, namely Barcelona and Arsenal.

The Chelsea manager is said to be a fan of ball-playing defenders capable of creating chances from deep, which means the Brazilian could be the perfect fit in his backline, and he recently put in a fantastic display as Forest secured a shock 3-0 win at Anfield.

Liverpool’s struggles continued on Saturday, with Arne Slot’s side falling to a shock defeat against a side that had made a slow start to the season, and Murillo displayed his attacking prowess by opening the scoring just after the half-an-hour mark.

It was a solid all-round performance from the one-time Brazil international, winning five of the six duels he contested, creating one big chance, and making 19 defensive actions, the highest number of any player.

It wasn’t the first time the 23-year-old has put in a top performance against the Reds, receiving high praise after impressing against Slot’s men earlier this year.

As such, Chelsea should undoubtedly pursue a move for Murillo, and it is promising news that Nottingham Forest could now be willing to sanction a departure for the right price.

Chelsea now readying hijack to sign Gabriel and Saliba 'hybrid' Chelsea now readying hijack to sign £44m 'Gabriel & Saliba hybrid'

The impressive international could be Chelsea’s answer to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 21, 2025

The summer of 2023 was a landmark period for Arsenal. It signalled the arrival of a certain Declan Rice no less.

The midfielder arrived in a club-record £105m move. The Gunners had beaten Manchester City to his services, thus securing the talents of one of England’s finest players of his generation.

Since he moved across London from West Ham to Islington, there has still been a feeling that Arsenal have missed a player of the calibre of a certain Granit Xhaka.

Over the last year, in particular, Rice has eradicated memories of the Swiss warrior but their Arsenal stories are woven together.

The year Rice arrived, Xhaka left and in perhaps peculiar circumstances. The veteran had just enjoyed the finest individual campaign of his time at the Emirates Stadium, scoring nine goals in all competitions.

No longer was he the defensive midfielder that a great Arsene Wenger once signed. He was now a goalscoring number 8.

After departing, Xhaka enjoyed a fabulous time under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga but he’s now back in England and proving to be one of the signings of the summer.

How Xhaka inspired Sunderland to a draw with Arsenal

Over the last few years the newly promoted teams have been swept aside without so much as a noise. To put it frankly, they’ve been terrible.

However, Sunderland are bucking that trend. Ahead of Sunday’s fixtures in the Premier League, they sat fourth in the table and a large reason for that has been the performances of Xhaka.

The Switzerland midfielder signed for the Mackems in a £17m deal back in the summer and was swiftly made club captain. His displays since then have been admirable.

Sky Sports analyst and Sunderland supporter Dougie Critchley went as far as to say he is the “best player” he’s ever seen in the famous red and white strips after his goal against Everton last week.

While Xhaka did not find the net against Arsenal on Saturday, it was another fine display from Sunderland’s tempo-setting midfielder.

Xhaka is a warrior, a leader of men and he demonstrated that by completing 90% of his passes, winning four of his five ground duels and completing seven clearances this weekend.

Minutes played

90

Touches

57

Accurate passes

35/39 (90%)

Key passes

0

Shots

0

Fouled

1x

Tackles won

2

Interceptions

1

Clearances

7

Recoveries

1

Ground duels won

4/5

Aerial duels won

1/1

Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey made the headlines but Xhaka issued Arsenal a timely reminder of his qualities.

Up against Rice and Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal’s midfield pairing exudes similar qualities but they aren’t the only men in Mikel Arteta’s ranks who bring a Xhaka-like presence to the squad.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka of 2025

The date is 28th October 2019. Unai Emery has chosen to substitute club captain, Xhaka. The response from Arsenal supporters inside the Emirates Stadium was remarkable.

He was booed and jeered as he left the field, which sparked an eyebrow-raising reaction from the Swiss. He cupped his ear, asked for more and then chucked the captain’s armband on the floor.

It was not a surprise to see that he was stripped of the captaincy just ten days later.

Speaking about the incident back in 2023, Xhaka labelled the situation as a “nightmare”. “The passports were out. I was done with Arsenal”, he said.

He ultimately stayed and enjoyed a remarkable change in fortunes under Arteta. The Spaniard turned him into a more forward-thinking midfield and after a hellish first few years in London, enjoyed a fabulous 2022/23 season, in particular.

That was the year Xhaka scored nine times and provided seven assists in all competitions.

The 33-year-old was still a vocal presence on the pitch and while he didn’t possess the armband, he still felt like a captain on the pitch. In the present day, the same could be said of defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

While the Brazilian hasn’t fallen out with supporters since moving from Lille in a £27m move, their Arsenal careers certainly have parallels.

Gabriel headed to London as an exciting talent but he was still incredibly raw. He showcased that during his first few years in English football.

The centre-back was rash and truth be told, a bit error-prone. Rio Ferdinand was particularly scathing of the defender back in 2022.

It was an incident that led to a DM exchange between Gabriel and Ferdinand and since that moment, he has gone from strength to strength.

Like Xhaka in his early days at Arsenal, the big Brazil international was a bit of an accident waiting to happen but they both enjoyed remarkable comebacks.

In the words of Jamie Carragher, Gabriel is now “the most influential player in the Premier League” this season and is in with a real shout of winning the PFA Player of the Year award if the Gunners win the league.

The defender has been a colossal presence in the heart of Arteta’s backline, a true “monster” as per pundit Troy Deeney. He’s a giant at the back, composed with the ball at his feet and has made a rather ridiculous impact from set-pieces.

So far this season, Gabriel has scored two goals and supplied three assists. Since joining in 2020, no centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals than him (22).

Like Xhaka, he’s also now one of the strongest commanders of men in the squad. He’s captained Arsenal on several occasions now and to quote Carragher once more, he is “the leader” in Arteta’s backline.

A midfielder he may not be, but he is certainly like Xhaka in plenty of ways. From being riddled with mistakes to becoming a cult hero at the Emirates, the parallels are certainly there.