Now that Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is an Arsenal player, Mikel Arteta wants further improvements to his team and is focusing on bringing Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino to the Emirates Stadium.
The 28-year-old was a target before the Euros, where he helped Spain win the tournament. Sociedad are looking to offer their midfielder a new improved deal as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract. He scored seven goals and made four assists last season and caught the eye when scoring the winner when Italy beat Germany in the Euro quarter-finals.
*Emile Smith Rowe left the Gunners’ tour of the United States to complete a £34m transfer to Fulham. Because of an injury, Rowe made only three starts last season. Fulham’s record signing will join Ryan Sessegnon at the Cottage and the club is also in talks with Fluminense regarding defensive midfielder Andre who is wanted to replace Joao Palhinha after he moved to Bayern Munich for £47.5m.
United could bid on bargain Gallagher
United are anxious to strengthen their midfield this summer but a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan international Manuel Ugarte is proving to be a challenge and has not moved forward this week. Adrien Rabiot and Martin Zubimendi are being considered as possible alternatives. Sofyan Amrabat’s option to purchase, following his period at the club last season, is not being taken up but United have not written him out of their plans completely.
Atletico Madrid claim they are negotiating to buy Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher for £30 million, which would be a bargain and that has alerted United because he is considerably cheaper than Ugarte. I gather Atletico are confident of signing Gallagher but at the time of writing this column, personal terms have not been agreed.
Tottenham Hotspur have always admired Gallagher and are interested but coach Ange Postecoglou’s priority Is to sign a striker and if they succeed Richarlison will probably leave for Saudi Arabia. Free agent Adrien Rabiot has rejected an offer from Liverpool which has opened the door for United to make a bid. He was released from Juventus after failing to reach an agreement over a new contract.
Behind the scenes at Chelsea
I am focusing on Chelsea’s new coach Enzo Maresca this week because he has already discovered some of the problems encountered by his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino.
Pre-season tours are useful to assess players, improve their fitness and work out their strengths and weaknesses and match results are not that important. However, Chelsea’s 1-4 defeat to Scottish champions Celtic revealed much about the Blues.
Maresca is aware that Raheem Sterling is dissatisfied with being No3 behind Tyrique George and Mykhailo Mudryk but he has impressed from the bench. It was Sterling’s run that led to him being tripped and Christopher Nkunku scored from the penalty spot.
Maresca played down Sterling’s role. “We are trying something different. I cannot give you a reason why Raheem is not starting but we want to see our options,” he said.
Nkunku has scored twice in two games and could be a big player for Chelsea after his debut season was hit by injuries. Maresca is playing him in a deeper role at the moment.
Robert Sanchez was superb against Celtic. However, he kicked the ball long and direct which was confusing because Mareseca’s usual favoured play is moving forward from the defence. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen flew to the USA to join up with Chelsea and undergo a medical.
The 22-year-old is good with the ball at his feet which Maresca wants and he will challenge Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic. The coach conceded that many Chelsea players have not worked out his system yet and said: “One of the bad things was maintaining the high-line. When the ball is not under pressure you need to drop.”
That I remember was one of Mauricio Pochettino’s problems and he never overcame the problem. Maresca has two perfect options at right-back, Reece James and Malo Gusto and a wealth of talent at centre-half, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana who is hoping for an injury-free run this coming season.
At left-centre back is Levi Colwell and the 21-year-old impressed at the Euros but he was held back by Mauricio Pochettino last year and often used as a full-back.
At 6’2ft, his job this season will be stopping the likes of Erling Haaland, Ivan Toney, Darwin Nunez and Ollie Watkins. One player Maresca expects to improve and establish himself as a regular is Benoit Badiashile.
Marc Cucurella proved at the Euros what a good player he is and alongside Renato Veiga, he is expected to feature for the Blues at left-back which leaves Ben Chilwell in a difficult position.
Ten Hag promises more from Rashford and Mount
Erik Ten Hag has supported two of his problem players—Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount. Rashford endured a miserable season last time out and received fines for off-the-pitch rule-breaking. Mason Mount is doing an excellent job on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA as he attempts to work his way back into the starting line-up in time for the Community Shield match on August 10.
Rashford on the other hand, is under great pressure to improve on last season’s performances, where he scored only four goals. When United’s new shareholders INEOS decided to keep Ten Hag as coach, rumours circulated at Old Trafford that 26-year-old Rashford could leave. So far, those rumours have not been accurate and there appears to be little appetite to sell him.
Oscar Bobb and Savinho go head to head at City
Pep Guardiola says he is excited about his new signing Savinho. Following his superb form for Gerona last season, his main challenge will come from Oscar Bobb who showed what a great asset he is becoming and was City’s best player in the friendly 3-4 loss to Celtic.
Savinho said that right wing is his favourite position but he is willing to play anywhere across the frontline. He watched the first team train after signing his contract and then left to continue his summer holiday.
Alverez might call time on the City
Julien Alvarez is competing in the Olympic Games and going for gold with Argentina. Still only 24, he has three years left on his contract with Manchester City. He was valued by the CIES Football Conservatory at £141m which is ten times more than what City paid for him two years ago. Despite being one the most accomplished footballers in the world he has found it hard to come to terms with being second in line to Erling Haaland. Alvarez will not be able to link up with City on their pre-season tour having chosen to play his second tournament of the summer.
Many rumours are circulating that he might not play for City again in which case Atletico Madrid will make a bid by offering cash plus a significant player. Alvarez has not specifically said he wants a move but it is Guardiola’s practice to let any player leave if they are not 100 per cent committed to the team. When Julian returns from the Olympics it will be interesting to see if he stays.
Why Onana choose Villa and not United
I can reveal why Amadou Onana chose to join Aston Villa for £50m instead of talking to Manchester United. The Belgium international has agreed a five-year contract with Villa despite United tracking him all last season when he impressed with Everton. Erik Ten Hag wants to strengthen his midfield and Onana was one of his chosen targets. He defended his decision by saying: “I think Villa is where I should be. For me, Villa is part of the top of English football…The public might think it is not the most glamorous club but it was the best choice for the player I am today…The vibe is good, the mood is good and I will be able to work with Unai Emery, one of the most qualified coaches in the world.”
Transfer news…
**Liverpool have rejected a £12m bid from Marseille for 31-year-old defensive midfielder Endo. He joined the Reds from Bundesliga Stuttgart 11 months ago for £16m and started 43 times last season. Arne Slot has inherited a situation faced by Jurgen Klopp because Liverpool are not rich in defensive midfielders and Klopp often used Alexis Mac Allister in the position at times last season but Stefan Bajcetic is looking to build on his senior career after suffering a long-term injury and could be the solution.
** Newcastle coach Eddie Howe is hopeful the Toon will sign AC Milan’s £30million
rated defender Malick Thiaw immediately.
** Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan. The 26-year-old is valued by the Gunners at £50m which Forest cannot afford and hence the loan approach. Ramsdale is undoubtedly an excellent keeper but coach Mikel Arteta has made Brentford’s David Raya his number one and he has now been signed on a permanent deal after initially being on loan. Forest are, however, playing it cool and will wait because Ramsdale is unhappy at Arsenal and the club want to unload his salary.
**Tottenham have signed 18-year-old South Korean winger Yang Min-Hyeok from K League 1 side Gangwon. Min-Hyeok is excited to play with his idol Son Heung-Min. Spurs have sold winger Bryan Gil to Spanish club Girona on a season-long loan following previous loans at Valencia and Sevilla.
**Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper David De Dea is still without a club after missing a complete season. The former Spanish No. 1 has been unable to agree terms with Serie A Club Bologna.
**Southampton have completed a loan deal for Villarreal striker Ben Brereton Diaz. The 25-year-old flew into the UK on Monday to take a medical. He spent the second half of last season at Sheffield United who were relegated.
**West Ham United were not prepared to reveal how much they have bid for Manchester United’s right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka but they did say they still want to buy another big name to improve the team. Wan-Bissaka has previously rejected interest from West Ham and would prefer a move to Italian giants Inter Milan if he leaves Old Trafford. Agreeing his terms could prove difficult for the Hammers as he wants an increase on his current £90k-a-week salary.