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Newcastle United have submitted a new bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa worth £40 million. The offer is said to be comprised of a £35 million transfer fee and £5 million in “difficult to achieve” add-ons.

Brentford brought Wissa to the Premier League from FC Lorient in 2021 for £8.5 million, meaning that the current bid would more than quadruple their initial investment. However, David Ornstein has since reported that this bid has been rejected.

Ornstein writes that sources close to Brentford do not know the club’s current valuation of Wissa, as they have not shared that information with any of the striker’s suitors at this point.

Whilst the Magpies move has been shut down for now, there is positive news for Newcastle in that both Fabrizio Romano and Ornstein are reporting that Wissa wants the deal to happen, with Romano posting that Wissa “hopes for green light to join NUFC project” and has sent a clear message on Wednesday.

Over the last few weeks, a number of clubs have been embroiled in transfer sagas that undoubtedly seemed connected. Newcastle’s need to bring in a player like Wissa has only been added to by the seemingly impending exit of Alexander Isak, who is pushing for a move more than ever.

Newcastle were previously reported to be waiting until Brentford signed Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara to make an offer, as he is seen as potentially being a replacement for Wissa. Now that Brentford have their man, they may be willing to allow Wissa to move to Newcastle if a satisfactory bid is received, especially given Wissa’s desire to see the deal happen.

Once Wissa joins Newcastle, the club may be more willing to entertain bids from Liverpool for Isak, as they, too, will have their replacement striker. Liverpool have already spent heavily this window; they have moved on a number of players for big fees, and players like Harvey Elliott could also be exiting soon, allowing them to have the finances to place a bid that matches Newcastle’s valuation of Isak.

Wissa has big shoes to fill

If Wissa is indeed to be the replacement for Isak, then he has big shoes to fill, but if anyone can do it, he can. Last season, Isak registered 23 goals and 6 assists, whereas Wissa registered 19 goals and 4 assists, only marginally behind the Swedish striker.

One positive way in which the two strikers are similar is that they both outperformed their expected goals last season. This means in the same way that Isak was scoring goals that most strikers wouldn’t, Wissa will be able to join the side and impress in the same way.

While Isak had better numbers, he was doing it in a better team, a team that managed to qualify for the Champions League, whereas Brentford only finished in 10th place. With the addition of Anthony Elanga to the squad and pre-existing players like Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy supporting him, Wissa will likely boost his numbers once he makes a move to the North East.

Emmanuel Petit has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to take inspiration from Luis Enrique's attacking approach at Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the Gunners' football has become too cautious. The Arsenal legend believes his former club should adopt a more direct and dynamic style, similar to the one that has transformed Les Parisiens over the last year.

• Club legend believes Arsenal don't play exciting football

  Petit reckons Arsenal’s current approach under Arteta has become overly reliant on possession and set pieces. He praised PSG's evolution under Enrique, highlighting their switch from sterile control to fast, forward-thinking football. He suggested Arsenal need to embrace a similar attacking intent if they want to take the next step.

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  Petit wants Arteta to make Arsenal more like PSG

  Speaking to the , Petit said: "Paris Saint-Germain, they look strong. Again, they started against Atalanta, and beat them 4-0 with some players injured. It's like they were following exactly what they've done for the last six months of the last season. They've been brilliant. The way they play, I love it.”

  He continued: "They control the ball, they control the position of the ball, but they play straight forward, you know. They play fast football. This is something I want to see with Arsenal. Possession is good, but if you don't play forward football, possession can be boring. Give me the ball, I give you the ball, give me the ball, I give you the ball.”

  Petit concluded by pointing to PSG’s turnaround as a lesson for Arteta: "That was the problem with Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain for months. Nobody could understand what he wanted to do. And it changed. He played more direct football and all of a sudden it changed completely."

• AFP
  

  Arsenal have failed in three straight Premier League title races

  Arteta has brought stability and consistency to Arsenal, but questions remain over the team’s attacking spark and whether they can win silverware. The Gunners have been criticised for cautious play and dependence on set pieces. Their inability to win a single Premier League despite being in three straight title races has underlined their failure to get over the line.

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• Next up for Arsenal: Olympiacos in the Champions League

  Arsenal return to Champions League action this Wednesday against Olympiacos, aiming to build on their solid start to the season. However, Arteta will face increasing scrutiny if performances remain uninspiring despite positive results.

The Milan City Council has approved AC Milan and Inter’s acquisition of the San Siro area for the construction of a new stadium. This decision follows Mayor Beppe Sala’s historic announcement to sell the land to the two clubs. However, the project could also mean the eventual demolition of the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

• Milan council agrees to San Siro sale

  At 3:45 a.m., the Milan City Council voted to approve the sale of the San Siro and its surrounding areas to AC Milan and Inter. The decision passed with 24 votes in favour and 20 against after a marathon session. The council’s approval was required following the mayor’s agreement to sell the land to the two clubs for €197 million (£167m/$225m). The plan aims to have the new stadium ready by 2031, in time for the European Championship the following year.

  A statement from both clubs read: "AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano express their satisfaction with the City Council's approval of the sale of San Siro and the surrounding area: a historic and decisive step for the future of the Clubs and the city. While awaiting the official announcement of the outcome of the council debate, the Clubs look with confidence and responsibility to the next steps in the process that will lead them to build a new stadium that meets the highest international standards: a world-class facility destined to become a new architectural icon for Milan and a symbol of the passion of football fans around the world."

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  Plans for the new stadium

  The clubs plan to invest around €1.2 billion (£1bn/$1.4bn) to not only build a new stadium but also create a recreational area for fans. The development has been divided into five zones, which will include the stadium, a museum, shops, hotels, football fields, and more. AC Milan and Inter have entrusted two architectural firms with the project: Foster & Partners for urban planning and Manica for the stadium’s construction. Once completed, the redeveloped San Siro area is expected to generate €3.1 bn in economic growth, €1.4bn in GDP, and create 16,350 jobs by 2035.

• What happens to the current stadium

  The construction of the new stadium will involve the demolition of most of the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Around 91 percent of the stadium including the first and third tier stands and part of the second tier will be removed. The remaining sections will be preserved and redeveloped creating a park and pedestrian pathways for visitors.

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  Inter and Milan’s challenge ahead

  With Milan and Inter working for nearly 10 years to have their own stadium, the City Council's approval brings both clubs one step closer to realising their plans. Meanwhile, Inter host Slavia Praha on Tuesday and the Rossoneri are next in action against Juventus at the weekend.

Rangers supporters will be desperate for their side to strengthen before Monday’s deadline, particularly defensively.

On Wednesday night, the Gers were demolished 6-0 in Champions League qualifying, humiliatingly dumped out 9-1 on aggregate, thereby conceding nine plus goals in a two-legged European tie for the first time in 65 years.

This has only cranked up the pressure on manager Russell Martin, despite the fact it was only his tenth match in charge across all competitions.

For now, Martin retains the trust of the Rangers board, if not the Rangers support, so could the addition of a new defender help his cause?

Rangers' defensive issue

Ever since his first game in charge, a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in July, Martin’s first-choice centre-back pairing has been John Souttar alongside Nasser Djiga, the duo starting together eight times today to date.

However, the latter, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, is certainly beginning to show signs of weakness.

Djiga was certainly culpable for Club Brugge’s opening goal at Ibrox, with the Burkina Faso international having also been sent off during the dismal 1-1 draw with Dundee earlier this month.

So, as Rangers search for an upgrade, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, they are close to signing centre-back Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille.

It has been reported elsewhere that the deal will be a loan with an option to buy, which transfer insider Sacha Tavolieri believes will be worth €4m (around £3.4m).

Transfer Focus

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

So, will Cornelius become the fifth Canadian international to represent Rangers, after Scott Arfield, Fraser Aird, Luca Gasparotto and Colin Miller?

Why Derek Cornelius should excite Rangers supporters

Since making his senior debut for VfB Lübeck in the German fourth-tier, Cornelius has become quite accustomed to changing country.

After spells with VfR Neumünster and then Javor Ivanjica in Serbia, he returned to Canada in January 2019, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps, with his big breakthrough coming during his time in Major League Soccer.

After that, following a loan spell in Greece with Panetolikos, and then 18 months with Swedish side Malmö, he finally earned a big move to Olympique de Marseille, joining les Phocéens for around £4m last summer.

He did make 21 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, 17 of which were starts, but has now been deemed surplus to requirements by Roberto De Zerbi, following the arrival of CJ Egan-Riley, so is on the move again.

Analyst Kai Watson is certainly a fan, labelling the 27-year-old “athletic” while also praising his “excellent” aerial duel-winning ability.

Cornelius will certainly arrive at Ibrox ultra-motivated, ahead of a World Cup on home soil next summer.

He has so far won 35 caps for Canada, starting all five of their matches at the most recent Copa América, as les Rouges upset the odds to reach the semi-finals, so, fitness permitting, he’ll be a starter for Jesse Marsch’s side next summer.

The question though still remains, how does he compare to the man he is set to replace in Rangers’ back-line, Djiga?

As the table documents, from the given samples, Cornelius comes out on top for the vast majority of metrics included.

The Canadian’s ball recoveries, duel-winning ability as well as his aerial duels success percentage all jump off the page, while Djiga only comes out on top in terms of ground duels.

Thus, all available evidence suggests that Cornelius will be an improvement on Rangers’ current options, demoting the Wolves loanee to the Ibrox bench.

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Sima repeat at Ibrox: Rangers are in talks to sign "outstanding" £15m star

Rangers are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a star who could be Abdallah Sima 2.0.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 29, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s antics in the transfer window over recent days have been constant, pulling off numerous high-profile additions throughout the summer.

Xavi Simons made his £52m move to join the Lilywhites at the end of last week, finally ending the club’s long-standing pursuit of a new attacking midfielder this summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were Thomas Frank’s main targets for the position, but the hierarchy decided to turn to the Dutchman to help bolster the club’s attack.

Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel have both already arrived in such an area this window, strengthening the options at the manager’s disposal ahead of his debut campaign in the role.

However, with just a few hours left in the window, the board could be set to back the manager once again, subsequently targeting a move for another top-level forward.

Spurs’ hunt to land a new attacker on deadline day

Despite having an offer rejected earlier this summer, Spurs haven’t given up hope on a move for Manchester City star Savinho before tonight’s 7pm deadline.

It’s been reported that the Brazilian youngster still remains as a priority target for Frank, with a £70m transfer being mooted for the 21-year-old’s signature.

However, he’s not alone on their list, with Atalanta star Ademola Lookman another option for the Lilywhites this evening, according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update.

They claim that the player himself is pushing for a move to North London, after previously stating his desire to depart the Italian outfit before the end of the window.

It’s also been suggested that the Nigerian forward could be available for around £43m – a potential bargain for a talent who registered 20 goals throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Spurs’ £43m target would be even better than Kolo Muani

In an attempt to bolster the front line, Spurs have turned their attention to PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani in recent hours – with a deal rapidly progressing throughout the day.

The Lilywhites have struck an agreement with Luis Enrique’s side to land the 26-year-old attacker, which will see the Frenchman join Frank’s side on a season-long loan.

It’s been reported that Spurs will pay a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee for his signature, with the deal not including any option or obligation to buy this time next year.

His tally of 10 goals in 22 appearances last season highlights the quality he possesses when in front of goal – hopefully handing the manager an option amid Dominic Solanke’s ankle injury.

However, a move for Kolo Muani may even be trumped in the remaining hours – especially if the hierarchy can strike up a late agreement for former Fulham star, Lookman.

The Nigerian has excelled in recent months – as seen by his goalscoring tally – which could make him a superb proposition for Frank and the rest of the frontline.

When comparing his underlying stats to those of Kolo Muani from 2024/25, he managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.

Lookman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Squawka Sport, outscored the PSG star, whilst also achieving a better goal per shot on target rate – subsequently highlighting his added threat in front of goal.

However, in terms of chance creation, the Atalanta star has further dominated, completing more key passes per 90 and more passes into the final third – offering more of an all-round threat in attacking areas.

His talent in possession is further showcased in his higher tallies of take-ons completed and progressive carries made – which could allow him to beat the opposition before finding the back of the net.

£43m for a player of Lookman’s quality in today’s market is an excellent price, subsequently handing Frank the added attacking quality he’s craved throughout the summer window.

If he does join, he could potentially form a deadly partnership with Kolo Muani in North London – which could allow the Lilywhites to build on their Europa League triumph.

Imagine him with Kolo Muani: £70m star Spurs' top target on deadline day

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make another move after agreeing a deal for Randal Kolo Muani.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 1, 2025

Gio Reyna “could play at most clubs”, USMNT legend Brad Friedel has told GOAL in an exclusive interview, with it possible that a move away from Borussia Dortmund could act as a “stepping stone” back towards another top team. Reyna has ended his six-year association with BVB in order to make a fresh start at Borussia Monchengladbach, with it up to him to prove that undoubted potential can be fully unlocked.

• Time for a change: Why Reyna left Dortmund

  Reyna has been one of the hottest prospects in U.S. soccer for quite some time, having moved to Germany in 2019 after starting out in the academy system at New York City FC. A senior bow was earned with Dortmund at 17 years of age, allowing him to break a youngest debutant record previously held by fellow countryman Christian Pulisic. Big things were expected of the classy playmaker.

  He did go on to make 146 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, but injury problems stunted his progress. A forgettable loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2024 saw Reyna fail to make an impact in the Premier League. He returned to Signal Iduna Park with serious questions being asked of his future.

  A permanent transfer was finally completed in the summer of 2025, with Reyna opting to remain in a division that he knows well. A three-year contract was signed with Gladbach, meaning that there is still plenty of time for the 22-year-old to catch the eye of another elite outfit.

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  Future transfer: Reyna can reach the very top

  Friedel believes that path can be trodden, with the former USMNT goalkeeper – speaking in association with – telling GOAL: “Absolutely he could (join another top club). Look at his age. For whatever reason, his body has broken down in the manner it has. He needs to figure out why and then build.

  “He could play at most clubs. Sometimes when players get injured you see straight away that the clubs will realise and then make sure he’s out. Gio’s always attached to big clubs or somebody is looking. They know he can play, that’s not the issue. That’s a good thing. Everybody knows the talent is there. Now he has to figure out how to stay fit.”

• Word Cup dream: What Reyna needs to do

  If Reyna can steer clear of the treatment table, then he should get a chance to rub shoulders with the best in the business at a home World Cup in 2026. A move to Gladbach is intended to help get him the regular game time that ongoing development requires.

  Friedel previously told GOAL: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player. For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

  “He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

  “Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio [Pochettino] choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

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  Injury issues: Familiar theme for Reyna at Gladbach

  Reyna has taken in two appearances for Gladbach so far, with a 4-0 defeat being endured on debut against Werder Bremen. He lost his starting berth for a meeting with Bayer Leverkusen and only managed 10 minutes off the bench in that contest.

  He has been nursing another fitness issue since then, with thigh problems causing concern, and all too familiar physical ailments are threatening to derail another bid to get his promising career firmly on track.

Former national team player Alexi Lalas raised concerns about USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino’s experimentation with the team's roster, acknowledging the coach’s right to try options, but saying he's surprised there is not yet a settled starting XI ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino's side drew Ecuador and beat Australia over the last week.

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  Experimentation versus clarity

  Lalas pointed out that that Pochettino's current approach differs from the clarity he initially suggested he would provide.

  “I've given up,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “I have, you know, resigned myself to the fact that Mauricio Pochettino is going to continue to experiment, leading all the way up to the World Cup. And again, that in and of itself isn't necessarily wrong or a bad thing. It's just the way that he intimated about what he was going to do. This is just very, very different.

  “And I think that that makes it fair to criticize. And I kind of want to see him kind of lay it down and say, 'I am going to use this next window or these games as if the World Cup is happening. And I'm going to bring everybody that I can possibly bring in. And then I'm going to start who I think for that game is the best possible XI. And there's not going to be excuses.'”

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• 'Flicking a switch' strategy

  Lalas noted that the USMNT have limited competitive matches left before the World Cup, which could jeopardize the team’s readiness.

  “There's a risk because, you know, people see a Christian Pulisic and yeah, we can put him in bubble wrap and mothballs until next summer and he doesn't ever touch the field lest he get hurt. But that's not realistic," he said. "It's not realistic for him or any big-time player. You got to be smart, of course. But again, we don't have qualifying. We don't have a lot of games. And so I worry about just flicking a switch or putting on the tap and expecting the power of the water to be there.

  “I hope it is. But it seems that's ultimately what is going to happen. Now, it would be a much more informed decision or flicking of the switch, if you will, because of all the information that Pochettino has.”

• The challenge facing Pochettino

  With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, the USMNT faces the task of balancing experimentation with the need for a settled, confident lineup. Pochettino must decide when to stop testing and begin solidifying his best starting eleven to build cohesion and tactical understanding.

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  What's next?

  Following their 1-1 draw with Ecuador and 2-1 win over Australia, the USMNT ended the October international break unbeaten and will regroup in November. They’ll face Paraguay and Uruguay on Nov. 15 and Nov. 18, respectively. 

It’s never straightforward with this Manchester United side, is it?

Entertaining might be a stretch, but what an all-encompassing game of football that was, with the Red Devils hanging on to secure a vital 2-1 win over rivals Chelsea amid freakish conditions at Old Trafford.

The rain lashed down in a fashion similar to what was seen at Grimsby Town a few weeks ago, although visiting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez can’t exactly blame the surface for his errant decision-making in the early exchanges, having brought down Bryan Mbeumo on the edge of his own area.

With the Spaniard sent for an early bath, it looked set to be a rare, serene win for Ruben Amorim’s men as the experienced pairing of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro converted against their ten-man opponents. And then.

Soft or brainless, take your pick, the typically rash Brazilian was then dismissed himself for a second yellow card just before the break, with a late Trevoh Chalobah header sparking a fraught, nervous finish for the home side.

Thankfully for Amorim, his struggling bunch rallied to claim all three points and surge up the Premier League table.

A positive result and a largely positive performance in parts, but there is a nagging sense that there are considerable problems still to be ironed out for the Red Devils.

Benjamin Sesko's display in numbers

With Casemiro hauling down compatriot Andrey Santos in needless fashion on the stroke of half-time, Amorim was forced to make a decision over how to plug that midfield void, with Manuel Ugarte ultimately selected as the man to enter the fray.

That switch saw marquee summer signing Benjamin Sesko withdrawn ahead of the second-half, with the Slovenian’s wait to get off the mark in Manchester continuing.

Six games, no goals, albeit with just three of those outings having come from the start, a fact that ensures that the ex-RB Leipzig man is the latest centre-forward addition to endure a stop-start beginning at the Theatre of Dreams.

There were signs of life on Saturday evening, having played a neat one-two with Fernandes at one stage, only for the Portuguese to uncharacteristically overhit his pass, yet once again the £74m signing was unable to fire.

One moment, in particular, appeared to signpost his dwindling confidence, with the 22-year-old taking the ball down beautifully before driving at the Chelsea goal, only to then slide in Amad, rather than taking on a shot himself from range.

While it was Sesko’s flick on that led to the early red card, United’s leading man was restricted to just eight touches in total, having slipped into Rasmus Hojlund territory as a player his teammates simply can’t get the best out of.

The lack of impact from the one-time Red Bull Salzburg man is of concern – as is Casemiro’s continued questionable decision making, amid his fourth United red card – although Amorim perhaps has an even bigger issue to ponder at wing-back.

Why Patrick Dorgu remains the biggest problem to solve

Much of the debate following the end of the summer window has centred on the decision not to plump for a first-choice, ready-made goalkeeper, alongside the failure to bolster the midfield ranks.

That latter scenario will be even more exposed with Casemiro now suspended, although one area of the park that was perhaps overlooked is at wing-back, with Amorim still lacking genuine, proven options in those two roles.

In the form of Amad, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, the Portuguese coach can make do on the right, although it is on the opposite side where a significant problem lies, with regard to young Patrick Dorgu.

The caveat, of course, is that the 20-year-old Dane is still a player for the future, having been at United for just over six months, following his January arrival from Lecce.

The plucky left-footer did also provide the assist for Fernandes’ opener, although that was the notable high point, having otherwise struggled with his decision-making down that left flank.

Indeed, he lost the ball on 18 occasions, as per Sofascore, with The Athletic’s Carl Anka noting that his “weight of pass needs work”.

Far too often did Dorgu seemingly make the wrong decision in the final third, with there a sense that Amorim’s system places far too much reliance on the youngster to provide a creative threat, having made more touches in the opposition box than any player during the Manchester derby (12).

The lack of genuine alternatives – with Luke Shaw now firmly fixed at left centre-back, and new man Diego Leon still an unknown quantity – has also ensured that there is too much of a reliance on Dorgu to feature week in, week out. Rarely is he even substituted due to the dearth of an obvious replacement.

Up against a dangerous figure in Reece James – whom he failed to track at one stage late on – United’s number 13 was up for the fight, albeit while winning just seven of his 16 duels, and failing to complete any of his three attempted dribbles.

Perhaps following a chaotic night, it is too harsh to judge any player, yet this is a theme that has dragged on ever since Dorgu’s arrival, having also been evident at the Etihad last week.

Sesko might catch fire, while there are replacements for Casemiro in both Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, but it is difficult to see any change in the situation at left wing-back. This is a problem without an obvious solution right now.

And so, while three points may have finally been claimed, Amorim still has plenty to ponder.

Not just Rashford: Amorim's treatment of Man Utd ace is a sackable offence

Getting rid of Marcus Rashford isn’t the only glaring error made by Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 19, 2025

This season feels like a do-or-die for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

The Spaniard has done a brilliant job of taking the club from mid-table mediocrity to perennial title challengers in five years, but he now needs to get the team over the finishing line.

Fortunately, even with the absurd number of injuries they’re already facing, the Gunners now have a squad full to bursting with brilliant players, like Eberechi Eze, who could help them win the Premier League or Champions League.

Interestingly, though, while Arsenal should be delighted to have the Crystal Palace star on the books, one of their former players is currently performing just like him.

The problems Eze solves for Arsenal

Now, while there are undoubtedly other things he brings to the table, there are two main ways Eze can help Arsenal, and they are somewhat interlinked.

Firstly, the Gunners ended last season with 17 fewer goals scored than champions Liverpool, and therefore needed to go out and sign a serious attacking threat in the summer, like the former Palace star.

For example, in 43 appearances last season, totalling 3,303 minutes, the England international scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, and the fact that he was able to do so in a mid-table side is even more encouraging.

This links to the other main way in which the Greenwich-born star could help the Gunners: his positional versatility.

On top of being proven in the number ten role, the former QPR gem is more than capable of playing off the left.

Not only will this give Arteta more tactical flexibility in games, but it also means the 27-year-old will be able to provide genuine competition for Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, two players who underperformed last year.

In all, Eze looks like an excellent signing for Arsenal, even though a player sold by the club years ago is starting to resemble the £68m man.

The former Arsenal star playing like Eze

It would be fair to say that Arsenal do not have the best track record when it comes to selling, often due to them selling a player for way less than their worth.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

That isn’t actually the case in this instance, as former Hale Ender Alex Iwobi was sold to Everton in 2019 for a hefty fee of around £35m.

The Nigerian wasn’t a bad player for the Gunners, far from it, but he wasn’t ever spectacular, and so when the Toffees made an offer like that for someone who’d amassed a tally of 39 goal involvements in 149 games, it was probably the right decision to let him go.

While he played a big role on Merseyside, the versatile international was eventually sold to Fulham for around £22m in the summer of 2023, and it would be accurate to say he’s been at his best with the Cottagers.

In fact, since moving to Craven Cottage, the former Gunners ace has scored 16 goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances, totalling 6118 minutes.

Yet, despite putting in consistently good performances for the West Londoners and already racking up three goal involvements in five league games this season, some consider him to be overlooked, with journalist Daniel Storey going as far as calling him “one of the most underrated midfielders in the country.”

With that said, what makes him like Eze?

Well, the first similarity the Nigerian shares with the Gunners ace is his positional versatility, as he’s just as comfortable playing on the wing as he is in midfield.

Second, he is also becoming a greater goal threat for his side, racking up 15 goal involvements in the league last season and just seven the year before.

Finally, like the North Londoners’ new star, he is also capable of making things happen, both through his brilliant close control and ability to deliver a pinpoint-accurate cross into the penalty area.

Ultimately, Arsenal did the right thing in selling Iwobi when they did, but it’s also true that the Fulham star is playing incredibly well at the moment, and looking a bit like Eze in the process.

Arsenal had Lewis-Skelly 2.0 in Hale End "monster", then he left for £0

The talented Hale Ender looked like he was going to be a star for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 25, 2025

In the battle of North Wales versus South Wales, Wrexham fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with the latter advancing to the quarter-finals. A 71st-minute strike from former Manchester United defender Will Fish made the difference in the end, after Red Dragons substitute Kieffer Moore had earlier cancelled out Yousef Salech's opener for the Bluebirds.

• Cardiff dominate all-Welsh cup tie

  For the first time since 2000-01, Wrexham came into a season in a higher division than Cardiff. But with the Red Dragons treading water in the lower reaches of the Championship after seeing the momentum of recent years slow down and the Bluebirds a dominant big fish in League One so far, there was less between the teams than leagues alone suggest.

  With Wrexham struggling to create beyond a good Nathan Broadhead chance, Cardiff took a deserved early lead after winning the ball deep in home territory. Rubin Colwill picked up the loose pass from under pressure centre-back George Thomasen, with Callum Burton pulling off a save to initially deny Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman but then powerless to prevent Salech gobbling up the close-range rebound. Colwill soon smacked the bar with a dipping free-kick and Wrexham had barely laid a glove on the visitors when the half-time whistle sounded.

  The half-time introduction of Moore, once of Cardiff, made a difference and the Wales international brought Wrexham back level seven minutes after the restart. Ryan Longman's deflected cross from the left looped into the six-yard box and Moore leapt highest to power in a header. Still, Cardiff continued to dominate and were good value for their go-ahead second goal from Fish, whose back post volley from a narrow angle squeezed its way past Burton.

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  The MVP

  Credit goes to Will Fish, whose goal ultimately decided it and late block preserved the lead he had given his team, but Rubin Colwill was the player who really set the tone for the dominant nature of Cardiff's performance and win. The 23-year-old is south Wales through and through, a Cardiff player since the age of eight and a full international. He pulled the creative strings for the visiting Bluebirds, created chances for his team-mates and even struck the woodwork with a sweet knuckleball of a free-kick. Colwill is too good for League One, but he'll be hoping that it's Cardiff who can provide a higher level.

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  The big loser

  Wrexham had the first big sight of goal of the night when Nathan Broadhead missed the target from a promising position 12 minutes in. The £10 million ($13m) club-record summer signing was playing Premier League football for Ipswich Town last season and needed to be more clinical. Not long afterwards, Cardiff were ahead and he barely got another sniff. In 45 minutes, Broadhead touched the ball just 17 times and that miss was his sole attempt. Strike partner Sam Smith was no better. Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass replaced the pair at half-time and did much more in the second half.

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• Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐