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Arsenal or Liverpool? Kylian Mbappe has already decided his preferred transfer destination

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As his contract with Paris Saint-Germain draws to a close, Kylian Mbappe is still being connected to elite teams, making him a free agent come summertime.

Real Madrid has long been thought to be Mbappe’s next destination, but recent reports claim that the France international is no longer their top target. Erling Haaland of Manchester City has been linked as an alternative. Meanwhile, Brazilian sensation Endrick is expected to arrive at the Bernabeu for the start of the upcoming campaign.

Liverpool hopes to qualify for the Europa League against LASK.

This has given rise to new transfer rumours regarding Mbappe’s circumstances, with the Premier League being mentioned more frequently as the 24-year-old’s possible next stop.

Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool or Arsenal?

Rewinding a little to the summer, Mbappe’s thoughts on moving to England were already revealed by the Independent; the former Monaco player was rumoured to prefer Arsenal to Liverpool.


Kylian Mbappe would rather sign to Arsenal than Liverpool.
Although Mbappe and LFC have long been connected, Arsenal’s comeback under Mikel Arteta may put them in a strong position to capture this ambitious player.

If they could pull this off, Mbappe would genuinely be the heir to the great Thierry Henry at Arsenal, albeit one imagines it could be out of their price range.


The prospect of Mbappe playing in the Premier League against Haaland at Manchester City would be immensely exciting for Arsenal supporters, since it would create a rivalry between the players similar to the one between Messi and Ronaldo in Spain years ago.

‘Bosses are convinced’: Liverpool target could be Klopp’s next big signing but Bayern might get there first – Plettenberg

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Should the attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz leave the team “at the latest” in 2025, Liverpool will be in the thick of things to sign him.

Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich will compete with the Merseysiders, according to Florian Plettenberg, who verified the news on X (previously Twitter).

Liverpool hopes to qualify for the Europa League against LASK.

If the Bavarians are able to make the financial commitment, they are thought to have the advantage.

Wirtz would be a very flexible option for any interested party because he can play on both flanks but primarily stays in the middle of the park.

A player with enormous potential

With 16 goal contributions in 18 games this season, the German international has been in incredible form across all competitions.

You only need to look at the 20-year-old’s 2022–2023 stats, which include just 12 goal contributions in 25 appearances, to see how quickly he has improved in top level football.


According to FBref, Wirtz is a very competent dribbler who already ranks in the 95th percentile for successful takeaways and has a keen creative edge (94th percentile for shot-creating actions).

Without a doubt, it’s a player we should keep an eye on for the upcoming season or so if we have the funds to properly put our hat in the ring.

Jurgen Klopp confirms double Liverpool injury blow ahead of LASK game

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Prior to Liverpool’s Europa League match against LASK on Thursday night, Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on the status of Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker’s injuries.

The goalie was clearly uncomfortable near the end of last weekend’s game against Manchester City, and the attacker left the game hurt.

Klopp praises the City match, calling it’super exciting’

The Reds manager announced to the media on Wednesday at midday that the two players would not be playing in the Austrian team’s visit to Anfield.

Regarding Alisson’s hamstring issue, Klopp stated [via Liverpool Echo]: “We’ll have to see since Ali is a little less. He is unlikely to play the following week and neither tomorrow nor Sunday. Then, he ought to be alright.

But the Liverpool manager gave a less positive report on Jota, saying, “Diogo will take a little bit longer.” It’s a little more severe, but we’re not really sure. We must observe.

The Alisson news isn’t as bad as initially thought, and Liverpool’s top player might be ready for Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on December 17.

He will undoubtedly miss the game tomorrow night and the Premier League quadruple header against Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, and Fulham the following week.

Even if he’s healthy by the time we play Union Saint-Gilloise in two weeks, he won’t participate in what should be a meaningless Europa League group match because we’ve already advanced through the competition.

Sadly, it appears that Jota won’t be available until after the New Year. Over the course of the following month or so, Liverpool’s other four senior forwards will probably see a lot of rotation.

With nine games left before Boxing Day, squad management will be crucial in the upcoming months.

Arteta must bench Arsenal’s “big personality” in the CL after 4/10 display v Brentford

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On Wednesday night, Arsenal will play French team RC Lens with the goal of winning Group B qualification for the Champions League. The Gunners enter the European match fresh off a thrilling 1-0 victory against Brentford on the road the previous weekend.

Following Saturday’s full-time whistle, Aaron Ramsdale’s name was echoing loudly throughout Brentford Community Stadium, especially in support and encouragement of last season’s first pick, who, as Football.London noted, put up an unfortunate 4/10 performance.

Luckily for the goalie, as Arsenal surged to the top of the Premier League, a few times his teammates came to his rescue.

The stats for Aaron Ramsdale this year

Although Ramsdale is renowned for having a “big personality,” as Roy Keane famously remarked, his confidence has suffered greatly since David Raya entered the team to replace him.

The England international tried to take advantage of the fact that Arsenal was playing Raya’s parent team this past weekend, but his lack of confidence was on display in the first half of Arsenal’s match against Brentford, when the number one made a disastrous error that allowed Yoane Wissa to score inside the six-yard box.


Bryan Mbeumo was set up by the Brentford striker, but Declan Rice blocked his shot, which could have resulted in a goal with the XG of the subsequent opportunities totaling 0.51.

Ramsdale misthrew the ball into the end zone just before halftime, and it ended up at the foot of a Brentford striker. Although the onslaught was ineffective, the goalie’s confidence was further damaged.

With just six correct long balls completed out of 21 tries, the 26-year-old’s pass accuracy was only 50%, which is appalling for a custodian in an Arsenal team that possesses such excellent control and technical skill.

Regrettably, during his five Premier League games this season, this has been a recurring issue. Ramsdale’s greatest vulnerability is evident when the ball is at his feet, as evidenced by his 2023–24 Premier League statistics on FBref. With only 2.6 long balls completed and 26.6 passes attempted per ninety, the Arsenal keeper is among the poorest goalkeepers in Europe, ranking 34% and 7%, respectively.

Raya is the leading shot-blocker for Arteta.

When it comes to Raya, his greatest asset is his possession game, which is where Ramsdale lacks strength.

His 42.9% completion rate while playing long balls is quite outstanding. This gives Raya not just a great deal more control but also suggests that he can initiate assaults by being more aggressive and taking more chances with the ball.


Additionally, the number 22 commands attention in the box and instills confidence in the backline, especially from set pieces.

He ranks in the top 2% of goalkeepers in the division for the FBref cross-dealing measure, indicating that he is among the best in the Premier League. With 5.5 throws attempted per game, he is also keen to distribute the ball fast to initiate a transition once the ball has been seized. This will be especially crucial on Wednesday because in three of their last four Ligue 1 games, Lens has scored from a cross.

In addition, Raya has kept four clean sheets in eight Premier League outings since taking over for Ramsdale in goal, one less than Andre Onana, Sam Johnstone, and Nick Pope, while playing five less games.


Because of how dominant the Gunners are, the Spaniard has the lowest save average in the league (only 1.5), but he is also a confident stopper, as evidenced by the four stops he made in Arsenal’s most recent home game, a 3-1 victory over Burnley.

Raya outperforms Ramsdale even simply statistically, and Mikel Arteta and the goalkeeping staff will still lean towards the 28-year-old on Wednesday.

‘Really good fit for us’: Arteta says Arsenal have a ‘tremendous’ £27m player in their ranks, could start tonight

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Leandro Trossard is a “tremendous” player who is a “really good fit” for the Arsenal, according to manager Mikel Arteta.

The Arsenal manager was addressing the media prior to Wednesday night’s Champions League home matchup between the Gunners and Lens.

Since joining Arsenal in January for an alleged £27 million from Brighton, Trossard has proven to be a reliable addition.

With the Gunners, the 28-year-old has made 37 appearances, 19 of which have been starts. Across all competitions, he has tallied 12 assists and seven goals.

Trossard has made 15 appearances this season and has a strong stat line of six goals and two assists.

“Very effective”

When asked if Trossard was one of his best value acquisitions, Arteta responded in the negative during his pre-game press conference.

As reported on football.london, he started, “I’m not the club’s economist or financial advisor.”

However, he is an amazing player with the skill and intellect to play the way we desire. He is a wonderful fit for our group.


Regarding Trossard’s adaptability, Arteta remarked, “It was one of the primary reasons we signed him.” First of all, he has prior league experience and has completed previous league tasks.

We had a lot of problems on the front lines in January, and he was able to handle those needs quite effectively. He’s demonstrated that he can do it.

It was during Arsenal’s victory over Brentford in West London last week that Trossard played his first complete ninety minutes of the season.

While other players have caused a stir, Trossard has handled things calmly, remained composed, and is consistently available when needed.

Everyone who is associated with Arsenal adores him for his qualities and demeanour, making him an excellent acquisition.

After Gabriel Martinelli appeared a touch off against the Bees, Trossard will bet his last dollar that he starts on the left side of the Gunners front line.

Ten Hag has an “amazing talent” at Man Utd who could be just as exciting as Mainoo

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When Manchester United played Everton on Sunday, Erik ten Hag was forced to rely heavily on his younger players; Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, two standouts from the academy, stole the show.

With the Red Devils averaging 1.23 goals per game, it is evident that getting the ball in the net has been a huge problem for United, who for the first time this season won by a score of 3-0.

Amad Diallo, an attacker with “amazing talent” who has only made three Premier League games in his career, is the player who may increase that output, according to Tony Mowbray.

The winger’s preseason knee injury has stalled his growth, but once he’s healthy again, he might have an influence on United similar to that of Garnacho.


The right-wing problems at Man United

As everyone knows, Manchester United is having trouble deciding on a right wing player. The manager has not been impressed by Antony, Jadon Sancho, or Facundo Pellistri. Amad scored thirteen goals in the Championship last season, which is three fewer than the trio’s total of ten goals in the Premier League.

For Sancho and Antony in particular, the 2023–24 season was meant to be a fresh start, but both have missed significant amounts of time, with the former now prohibited from practising with the first team. Ten Hag finally decided to start Marcus Rashford against the Toffees out of position as a result of this.


Diallo was on loan at Sunderland for the previous season, where he significantly improved Mowbray’s team’s performance. Ten Hag thought the Ivorian needed a chance to “be strong physically and mentally.” Fortunately, the winger—who was purchased for £37 million in 2021—performed well in the second division and the loan was approved.

The reasons why Man United needs Amad Diallo

In spite of not being named Player of the Match, Mainoo performed like a seasoned pro against a physically strong Everton squad, exuding confidence and a desire to pick up the pace. Similar in style, Diallo has the ability to take Ten Hag’s team to new heights both within and outside the possession.


First of all, because of the frequent rotation in the right-sided role, partnerships with Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Diogo Dalot at right back have not been able to develop. Amad will offer much-needed balance to the United assault.

The 21-year-old’s left footedness aids in his passing angles into central areas, but he also has the potential to go outside, which offers him an unpredictable advantage.


Mowbray refers to Diallo as a “Magician” because of his ability to play quick, one-touch football that may create openings for opponents even though he lacks the lightning speed to easily outrun opponents.

He can hold the width well, but his best position is slightly inverted, which is how he brings out the best in Rasmus Hojlund, who enjoys playing with his back to the goal.

Amad exudes class and a great deal of promise while maintaining composure, much like Mainoo. The fact that he converted three penalties for Sunderland last season shows that he is a responsible player who doesn’t back down from crucial moments in the game—a quality that Manchester United has sorely lacked lately.

ESPN: Arsenal could now sell “sensational” £200k-p/w player to fund Douglas Luiz signing

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Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa is Arsenal’s top midfield target for January. They may even have to sell a great player to make the transfer possible.

Brentford 1–0 Arsenal
A thrilling 1-0 triumph against Brentford on Saturday was manager Mikel Arteta’s 116th game in command of the team across all competitions. Thanks to a late header from summer addition Kai Havertz, the Spaniard, who became the first manager to reach that milestone in Premier League history, was able to accomplish it in just 200 games.

Arsenal now tops the standings thanks to the three points, and Arteta expressed his happiness with the team and Havertz.

In response to Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Brentford away, Arteta remarked, “I’m so happy with the team, with the way they performed, we got the clean sheet and I’m so happy with how everybody played” (via Sky).

“This is a really difficult place to come, but we should have scored sooner. Brentford deserves praise for the work they perform with all teams. We shown a great deal of tenacity and faith. I’m happy for Kai. All you have to do is observe everyone’s response to see their love for him and the value he adds to the group. That’s what he must accomplish.

Because of the manner they were defending, we thought he might turn the tide of the match. His timing and execution were flawless. That’s what major players do, they win games for us.”

Arsenal appear to be in excellent form on the pitch and are strong favourites to win their first league championship in almost 20 years.

Edu Gaspar, the sporting director, and Arteta still wish to bolster some sections of the team in front of the approaching January transfer window.

Arsenal may sell Partey and has identified Luiz as their primary target.
To strengthen their midfield options, Arsenal is interested to recruit Luiz from Aston Villa, according to reputable media sources like Fabrizio Romano.

The Brazilian has been a standout player for Villa throughout their incredibly encouraging start to the season, as manager Unai Emery tries to challenge for a Champions League qualifying spot. Luiz, a former Man City player, is considered a “leading” target by Arsenal. He has started all 13 of their league games thus far, netting five goals and setting up two more.

ESPN reports that Arsenal may have to sell Thomas Partey in order to pay for Luiz’s acquisition. The £200,000-per-week star (spotrac), who made 33 league appearances last season as a key player, has been a constant under Arteta in recent seasons.

The Ghanaian has, however, experienced injury issues this season. Partey may be a suitable option to gather money for a Luiz move because he was also connected to an Arsenal exit in January.

According to recent speculations, Partey’s tenure at Arsenal may be coming to an end, but fans will remember his time there with nostalgia.

Strengths of Thomas Partey (via WhoScored)

Going Away

Airborne fights

extended views

dribbling

Taking On

Focus

Partey has been described as “sensational” by La Liga expert Gerry Armstrong, while the legendary Ray Parlour previously labelled Partey a “very efficient” and “important” player at Arsenal.

Arsenal to make January move for red hot LaLiga star as Arteta aims to kill two birds with one stone

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According to reports, Mikel Arteta is eager to add a new left-back to his roster, and Arsenal is apparently mulling a deal for Miguel Gutierrez of Girona.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a mainstay of the Gunners’ early success this season, appearing in all but one of their Premier League games.

Summertime acquisition But at the beginning of the season, Jurrien Timber suffered a major injury that limited Arsenal’s choices at left back.

The fact that Kieran Tierney, who may depart Arsenal permanently next summer, and fellow left-back Nuno Tavares are on loan has made the position more challenging.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is better suited as a right-back, but he has filled in excellently at times.

Thus, even if a new winger and midfielder are Arsenal’s top priority, it would make sense for them to sign a new left-back in January.

They are interested in a number of players in Europe, including Gutierrez, as TEAMtalk has previously reported.

Currently regarded as one of La Liga’s most in-form players, Gutierrez appears to be a target for Arsenal to pursue in the winter.

Arsenal considers a deal for the talented La Liga player
Football says.Arsenal scouts are interested in London-based Gutierrez after he made an impression this season for high-flying Girona.

In one of the biggest upsets of the season thus far, the Spanish team is presently tied for first place in the La Liga standings with Real Madrid after 14 games played.

When a European club starts the season with a surprising amount of success, their players usually attract a lot of attention in January.

While Yangel Herrera, a Manchester City loanee, and Artem Dovbyk, an international for Ukraine, have garnered attention for Girona due to their respective performances, Gutierrez is one player who is getting less attention.

In 2022, the 22-year-old left Real Madrid to join Girona. Currently one of the top names on the roster, he has made 50 appearances for Girona with two goals and five assists.

Gutierrez is a flexible player who can play as a left midfielder or left back, thus the Gunners may be able to fulfil their goal of adding a new winger by bringing him in.

The 22-year-old Spain under-21 international might end up being a great long-term asset for the Gunners since he is only likely to get better with experience.

But, Guitierrez’s contract still has a sell-on clause for Real Madrid, thus Girona will probably ask for a high price for their defender.

In light of this, Arsenal will need to follow through on a deal this winter or risk losing it.

“Definitely on the list” – Fabrizio Romano shares big Man Utd news he’s heard from Old Trafford

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After acquiring his minority stake in the Old Trafford team, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will probably name a new sports director for Manchester United. Journalist Fabrizio Romano gives GIVEMESPORT access to the club’s shortlist, which includes Paul Mitchell, exclusively.

The Red Devils, who are now coached by Erik ten Hag, will probably soon make an announcement about Ratcliffe’s arrival. The chairman of INEOS will then start working to turn around the club’s recent results.

Man Utd’s 2023–24 Premier League and Champions League campaigns have not gone well at first. The squad is hoping that leadership changes will infuse fresh vitality into the team for the remaining games of the season. The Manchester giants need to get closer to the top four spots in order to guarantee a Champions League berth for the 2024–2025 campaign.

Man Utd is looking to replace its sports director.
Ratcliffe will likely want to name a new sports director to help with Manchester United’s football operations, according to multiple sources. Ratcliffe’s arrival isn’t anticipated this week, according to NBC Sports, even if the team hopes to make the announcement before Thanksgiving on November 23.

Paul Mitchell is “practically living next door” to Old Trafford and is vying for the position of sporting director, according to writer Ben Jacobs, who spoke with GIVEMESPORT on November 17. According to the same article, the 42-year-old is eager to work in the Premier League, and given his location, Manchester United seems like the ideal place for him to be employed.

Mitchell is not the only person on Ratcliffe’s purported shortlist, though. The Independent claims that INEOS holds Dougie Freedman, Mitchell, and Michael Edwards of Crystal Palace in high regard. Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc, and Ratcliffe will be the recipients of any appointments.

The Englishman reportedly had five candidates on his shortlist for a sports director position, including Newcastle United executive Dan Ashworth, according to The Mirror on October 16. The former FA representative had a similar position at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he helped the team achieve recent on-field success and laid the groundwork for the team to finally qualify for European football for the first time in its history.

Jim Ratcliffe, Sr.
Any appointment, meanwhile, will be contingent upon when Ratcliffe makes his announcement and Man Utd’s ability to convince the players on the shortlist to take up the position at Old Trafford.

Paul Mitchell, according to Fabrizio Romano
Romano thinks Manchester United will hire a new sports director who will oversee transfers and alter the organisational structure of the team. According to the Italian journalist, Mitchell is one of the contenders, but he’s not the only one. According to Romano, GIVEMESPORT

“I anticipate the appointment of a new sporting director. I believe the plan is to handle the transactions and reorganise Manchester United’s organisational structure. Therefore, it will be crucial for Manchester United to have new managers, new managers with fresh ideas, and that will be the plan. Thus, there are several contenders, Mitchell among them. He’s undoubtedly on the list, based on what I’ve heard, but he’s not the only one. Thus, the discussion is still going on. But I anticipate some adjustments there.

News of Man Utd’s transfer
The attention will shift to Manchester United’s possible business during the 2024 winter transfer window with the arrival of a new sports director. The Red Devils have reportedly inquired about potentially signing Timo Werner, a forward for RB Leipzig, in January, according to Sky Sports Germany. The 27-year-old plans to stay with the Bundesliga team through the conclusion of the 2023–2024 campaign, but with United showing interest, this transfer may be worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Marc Guehi, a center-back for Crystal Palace, is Manchester United’s top transfer target for 2024, according to Football Insider. With each game the 23-year-old’s reputation at Selhurst Park develops, United is keeping a tight eye on the England international and running background checks.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s alleged interest in Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann is “as ambitious as it gets,” according to transfer source Dean Jones, who spoke with GIVEMESPORT on November 25. The Red Devils are reportedly moving quickly to lure the France international to Manchester, according to Spanish media. They claim the club will quadruple his compensation and activate his contract’s release clause.

Griezmann has had a tremendous career and might provide much-needed experience to an unimpressive Manchester United team. Griezmann won the 2018 World Cup with Les Blues. Despite the connections, the 32-year-old has stated to Marca (via Romano) that he has no plans to quit Atletico:

To be considered a legend in this group, I must prove myself. That is my goal. I aim to win some titles for Atlético and make the supporters happy by 2024. It would only be a fantasy.

Arteta nutmegged Odegaard and hit a mini ‘SIU’ celebration

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Before Arsenal’s Champions League match against RC Lens on Wednesday, manager Mikel Arteta took his players through a training simulation in which he turned back the years.

The Gunners will be eager to defeat the Ligue 1 team at Emirates Stadium tomorrow after losing to them in France earlier this month. With two games remaining in the group stages, the Gunners need one more point to secure their spot as the leaders of Group B.

Arteta played a game of rondo with the Arsenal players before the match, embarrassing captain Martin Odegaard with a brilliant piece of skill.

To the astonishment of onlookers, the Spaniard skillfully outwitted his captain, and he celebrated with style.

Though it seems doubtful that Arteta would don the boots anytime soon, the 41-year-old may still play well in the centre of the field for Arsenal.

As Odegaard discovered, he remains as skilled a midfield player as he was when he was a player.

After leading Arsenal to a 1-0 victory against Brentford over the weekend, the former midfield player became the manager of Arsenal with the most victories in his first 200 games in command. His transition to management has gone well.

Now that Arteta has won the FA Cup and the Community Shield with the Gunners since taking over as manager in December 2019, he will look to add more trophies to his resume.

After falling short of Manchester City to win the Premier League last season, Arsenal is back on pace this year.

They will be confident in their chances of winning both the Premier League and the Champions League, where they are presently leading the tables.

The North Londoners have made great progress defensively this season, but they have struggled offensively and will need to step up their game to increase their chances of winning the championship.