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Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo could face a ban from FIFA for his involvement in the fight between Uruguay players and Colombia fans.

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• FIFA could hand Araujo a suspension
• Barcelona fear player could miss early games
• Got involved in fight after Copa America semi-final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chaos ensued after the final whistle blew in the second semi-final of Copa America 2024 as Uruguayan players were seen jumping into the stands to confront Colombia supporters. Liverpool star Darwin Nunez was seen to be at the centre of the incident while Barcelona's Araujo was also among the players who were involved in the ugly scenes.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As a result, the Catalan giants fear that the central defender could be handed a ban by FIFA, according to Diario AS. The report further adds that Araujo is set to return to Barcelona to undergo medical tests on a hamstring injury that he suffered while on international duty. While fresh medical tests will reveal the scale of the player's injury, early reports suggested that he could miss the opening few matchdays of the 2024-25 season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  At the moment, CONMEBOL are investigating the incident and if FIFA does not intervene, the 25-year-old's suspension is likely to be limited to international matches and his club games will not be affected.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The former La Liga champions have begun pre-season under Hansi Flick and are scheduled to travel to the US later this month for friendly matches against Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester City.

Erik ten Hag backed Amad Diallo to become a star at Manchester United in the upcoming season.

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• Ten Hag praises Man Utd youngster
• Scored in friendly win over Rangers
• Backs youngster to star at Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After missing out on United's first pre-season friendly match against Rosenborg in Norway on Monday, Amad was named in Ten Hag's starting lineup in the club's second friendly game against Rangers on Saturday. The 22-year-old, alongside Joe Hugill, was on target as the Premier League giants picked up a comfortable win in Edinburgh.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ten Hag was left impressed by the young winger's performance against Rangers as he heaped praise on the player while claiming that he will become a star at Old Trafford in the upcoming campaign. Diallo missed the majority of last season due to a knee injury, limiting him to just 12 matches across all competitions, in which he scored twice and provided one assist.

• WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the friendly, the Dutchman said: "We have to see Amad in a different way. Of course, he’s still young but he is not inexperienced any more. Last season he had bad times with bad injuries. Before that, he was in the Championship and he had a great season.

  "At the end of last season, he had a very good time in our first team and played some good games. Now for this season, this has to be the year. It’s great that he starts like this. On Monday he couldn’t play, he was not allowed to go into Norway, but today he could play and he played a very good game."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  The English side are now all set to travel to the United States where they are scheduled to face teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool in pre-season friendlies.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be forced to accept a hefty discount on one man after he confirmed that he is keen to leave Molineux this summer.

Gary O'Neil working miracles at Molineux

Heading into the season, few would have put Wolves anywhere other than relegation candidates, and certainly not in the top half of the Premier League. After another battling win over the weekend though, that is exactly where Gary O'Neil's side find themselves, with the Old Gold sitting ninth ahead of Newcastle and Chelsea meeting on Monday evening.

With European football a distinct possibility, a new contract is already being discussed for O'Neil, who has also been linked with the England job in recent weeks and who is likely to have bigger suitors than Wolves lining up should he continue his meteoric rise. But it isn't good news for everyone.

Fabio Silva wants out

One man not feeling the love under O'Neil is Fabio Silva, with the striker having been sent out on loan by the Wolves boss in January. He headed to Rangers, where he has found his feet quickly, scoring twice in nine Scottish Premiership appearances this season as well as twice in three Scottish Cup outings.

Speaking ahead of the second leg of their Europa League tie against Benfica, which his side head into as slight favourites following the 2-2 draw in Portugal, Silva admitted that if it were up to him, he would make the loan move permanent already.

"I'm loving being here", he began. "I don't control these things 100%. It's not 100% my decision to stay, if it was up to me then maybe yes. But I could say 'yes' and then you have a lot of things still to be taken care of.

"Perhaps I have the least input into whether I stay here but we have two months to enjoy the football, to win titles and I think after that, if we win trophies and everything goes well, Rangers and I will do everything for me to stay.

Wolves offered second chance to sign "tremendous" defender for just £8m

Gary O’Neil could be handed a bargain buy this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 7, 2024

"When you see me playing with a smile on my face, I think everything's going the right way. I enjoy playing here, playing for the fans, the staff, my team-mates. It's a pleasure to be here. I enjoy it a lot. I've been trying to get back my happiness and they're giving me that."

Given that Wolves signed him for £35m, they are unlikely to recoup anything like that fee for the Portuguese striker. He is currently valued at just over £10m by transfer site Transfermarkt, but even that would be almost a record fee for Rangers to pay to sign a player.

With that in mind, Wolves may have to accept a major loss on their initial investment should they grant Silva his wish and allow him to move to Ibrox this summer. Given his future at Molineux seems bleak, it may be the best outcome for all parties.

Cristiano Ronaldo said he is back where he "belongs" after returning to Al-Nassr training following a disappointing Euro 2024 with Portugal.

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• Ronaldo has quiet Euro 2024 with Portugal
• Back training with Al-Nassr after break
• Forward says he is back where he "belongs"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo has been enjoying his summer break following Portugal's quarter-final loss to France at Euro 2024. The 39-year-old had an underwhelming tournament, where he failed to score, and many questioned his value to Roberto Martinez's team. However, the former Real Madrid star looked in great shape and was clearly delighted to be back at Al-Nassr this week.

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• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  Alongside a host of photos of the veteran in Al-Nassr training, he wrote on Instagram: "Back where I belong! 💪🏼."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While many have said Ronaldo's powers are on the wane, which is understandable as he approaches 40, the ex-Manchester United man has been prolific in the Saudi Pro League. Last season he scored 50 goals in 51 games and the campaign prior he added 14 in 19 matches. So he clearly has more to give for Al-Nassr.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side take on Al-Taawoun in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup on August 14 before the new Saudi Pro League season begins eight days later against Al-Raed. They will hope to go one better than their second-place finish last term.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are believed to view an exciting 18-year-old as a "key" signing they wish to make for their future project.

Postecoglou outlines Spurs academy ambition

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking earlier this season, was public in his desire for the north London club to become a dream destination for some of Europe's hottest talents.

Club chiefs think unseen Tottenham teenager is a "star in the making"

He’s yet to taste a minute of senior football.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 14, 2024

The Lilywhites moved swiftly and decisively to beat Barcelona to the signing of Swedish talent Lucas Bergvall on January deadline day, who decided on a move to N17 over the Camp Nou in what was a major statement from Spurs.

Following the signing of Bergvall, Postecoglou suggested that Tottenham could become a priority landing spot for rising stars, as is the Australian's wish.

"I don't think it's so much what we're saying, it's more what people are seeing. That's the important thing," said Postecoglou on Bergvall's arrival.

"It's like anything in life, you can try to sell a vision of something to someone but if there's tangible physical evidence of it [it's easier]. Anyone who has watched us since I've joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be.

"I've said the other day, there aren't too many hidden gems around. Everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference.. I've always felt your football is your biggest selling point beyond anything else. Hopefully we're showing evidence of that which is helping us."

"I don't think we have the production line other top clubs have, certainly not. Even currently that’s why we’re investing in some younger players, even for the first team. For us as a football club that's definitely the way forward."

You definitely cannot rule out Spurs bringing in more promising young gems after Bergvall, and reports suggest Tottenham are still contenders to sign Club Brugge starlet Antonio Nusa.

Tottenham view Nusa as "key" signing for future project

Spurs were linked with a move for Nusa before his failed move to Brentford, with a report from Spain backing that they're still in for the teenager.

Indeed, it is claimed that Tottenham chiefs view Nusa as a "key" potential signing for their future project, but face competition from a host of sides including Arsenal and Man City.

“Fantastic! He is an incredibly exciting player," Arsenal star Martin Odegaard told TV2 late last year. "You see it, everything he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him. He deserved to get the chance that he takes it to such an extent. Incredibly cool!"

It's well documented that Everton have struggled with their finances in recent seasons, with the club suffering with a six-point deduction this campaign.

They've found themselves in trouble with the Premier League due to their erratic spending in previous years, with the club also investing a large amount of money towards their new stadium.

However, their poor business in the market is certainly eye-catching with the club spending over £20m on players such as Yerry Mina, Yannick Bolasie and Jean-Phillippe Gbamin, with the trio leaving the club on free transfers at the end of their contracts and failing to provide value for money.

In recent times, the club have operated more efficiently, buying youngsters such as Jarrad Branthwaite, with the defender joining from Carlisle United for £1m back in 2020, with the 20-year-old now subject to £75m interest from Manchester United.

The club have also conducted good business in selling players in recent years, with the club doing the right thing by selling one player for a hefty fee despite his lack of impact at Goodison Park.

Moise Kean's stats at Everton

In August 2019, the Toffees completed the signing of 19-year-old striker Moise Kean, on a deal rising to £27.5m – with the Italian having a lot of potential to live up to after two goals in his first three international games.

The striker made 33 appearances during his first campaign in English football, with Kean only managing two goals during the 2019/20 campaign.

However, he would start the next campaign in good goalscoring form for the Toffees, scoring twice in his first four outings, before agreeing a loan deal to join Ligue 1 side PSG for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.

The move would be a success for the youngster, with the marksman scoring on 17 occasions during his one season at the Parc des Princes – but the French side would not make the deal permanent with Kean returning to Goodison at the end of his loan move.

Kean would feature twice at the start of the 2021/22 season, before leaving Everton once more to re-join Juventus on a two-year loan deal, with the Italian giants having an option to make it a permanent.

The Old Lady decided to take up the option in the loan move, with the now 24-year-old re-joining the club for £25m – just £2.5m less than they sold him four years prior. A brilliant piece of business by Everton, considering his lack of goals in England.

Moise Kean's stats in 2023/24

Nearly one year on from the 6-foot striker's permanent return to Italy, he has failed to replicate his form that saw Everton decide to fork out £27.5m for his signature.

In Serie A this season, the Italian has failed to score a single goal in his 14 appearances, with his market value of £14m as per Transfermarkt now less than Everton's latest big-money forward, Beto.

The Portuguese forward joined Everton from Udinese for a fee in the region of £30m, with the 26-year-old scoring just four times for the Toffees in a rather inconsistent debut campaign.

His market value has since dropped to £18.7m according to Transfermarkt, but his goal return this season is far superior to Kean's with Everton doing the right thing in replacing the Italian with the 6 foot 4 attacker.

When delving into the stats of the two strikers, Sean Dyche may well have hit the jackpot with Beto's stats per game much more positive than those of Kean.

During the 2023/24 season, Everton's number 14 has averaged 4.2 aerials won per 90, with his tally over three times higher than the Italian's, with Kean only able to manage 1.3.

The Portuguese striker also has the edge over the Juventus forward, with his tally of 1.7 tackles more than Kean's 1.3 – with Beto a better fit for Dyche's system of pressing from the front, one of the reasons the Toffees have the best defensive record outside the Premier League's top four.

Despite Beto not scoring as many goals as the Everton faithful would've liked, it's clear the club conducted great business by allowing Kean to leave and replaced him with a player who's more suited to the manager's playstyle.

The Blues have already had one offer rejected for the 20-year-old as they go in search of attacking reinforcements

It's been clear for some time that one of Chelsea's priorities for this summer's transfer window is a new centre-forward. While Nicolas Jackson went some way to silencing his doubters as last season progressed, he remains a work in progress who would benefit from having some of the scoring burden relieved from his shoulders.

Over the past few months, the Blues have been linked with a host of huge names with fearsome records in front of goal. Napoli hotshot Victor Osimhen, for example, as well as Feyenoord sensation Santiago Gimenez and RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko.

However, once the window opened, and new manager Enzo Maresca was installed at the helm, Chelsea fans were forced to temper their expectations significantly. First, Aston Villa's Jhon Duran – who scored just five Premier League goals last campaign – was touted for a move to Stamford Bridge. Then, Samu Omorodion was linked.

Reports in June claimed that Chelsea submitted a bid worth as much as €40 million (£34m/£43m), once potential add-ons were taken into account, for the Atletico Madrid man – an offer Los Rojiblancos turned down. When the surprise news broke, Blues fans scrambled to Google to find out more about their potential new No.9. And what they found would have hardly inspired confidence.

The bottom line is that Omorodion only scored eight goals last season, which might make it difficult to see why Chelsea have rekindled their interest in the centre-forward, with Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that the club could be willing to go as high as €50m (£43m/$55m) to get a deal done. There is, however, more to the physical striker than meets the eye, as GOAL discovered when delving into his story so far.

• Where it all began

  Born to Nigerian parents in Melilla, an autonomous Spanish city that borders Morocco on the North African coast, Omorodion moved to the mainland when he was young. Initially joining local side AD Nervion in his hometown of Sevilla, he eventually signed up at Granada – a team based three hours away – in 2021.

  After ironing out some kinks in his game by attending a specialist football clinic in summer 2022, he exploded for the club's Under-19 side the following season. Omorodion would plunder 14 goals in just 29 regular season games, before making a decisive impact in the Segunda Federation promotion play-offs.

  He would net three times across the two-legged semi-finals against Utebo FC before scoring again in the second leg of the final to clinch promotion for Granada. Those exploits were enough to earn him a five-year contract, as well as apparent interest from several Premier League sides.

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• The big break

  After proving himself at reserve-team level, Granada took a close look at Omorodion during pre-season and he sufficiently impressed to earn a shock start on their opening day, La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid. As if this wasn't enough of a surprise, he even managed to mark his senior debut with a goal!

  Following a sloppy Atleti turnover in their own third, Gonzalo Villar fizzed a wicked ball across the front post and Omorodion burst past his marker to turn it into the net. His celebration was everything you might expect from a 19-year-old netting an equaliser against Atletico on their maiden start, with his sizable frame flopping forward after an overly enthusiastic knee-slide attempt.

  Things were about to get even better for Omorodion too. A few days later, Atletico would exercise the €6m (£5m/$6.4m) release clause in his contract, with the forward signing a five-year contract in the Spanish capital. But he would barely have time to get his feet under the table at the Metropolitano, with Atleti immediately sending him out on loan to Alaves.

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  How it's going

  Omorodion made a fairly slow start to life in his new surroundings. Initially, veteran striker Kike Garcia was prefered up front, with his less-experienced team-mate making do with substitute appearances in his first four games. Eventually, though, his time came.

  Omorodion was finally handed a start against Celta Vigo in late September, and he made the most of the faith shown in him, scoring a vital equaliser 17 minutes from time. Over the following months, Omorodion would establish himself as his side's go-to striker, though it wasn't all plain sailing. A shaky opening half to the season left Alaves in genuine relegation peril, though their prodigious centre-forward's form helped them pull away from the drop zone after Christmas.

  By February, Omorodion had eight goals to his name and his team were close to being safe. After that, though, things nosedived on a personal level. Omorodion would not add to this tally at all during his final 12 Liga games of the campaign.

  At this point, it's worth noting that he was not the only Alaves player who struggled to post impressive scoring numbers last season. Under Luis Garcia, they were one of the most defensive sides in La Liga, with no team in the division averaging less than their 41.8 percent average possession, and only Rayo Vallecano, Las Palmas, Mallorca and relegated Cadiz scoring fewer goals. Omorodion can still feel a sense of satisfaction, though, as he comfortably finished as the team's top scorer.

  After returning to Atletico Madrid at the end of the campaign, he was called up by Spain for the Olympics, scoring a late consolation goal in his side's group-stage defeat to Egypt.

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• Biggest strengths

  Omorodion's physical profile seems perfect for the Premier League. Not only does he stand at 6'4, he's well built, allowing him to fend off defenders. When he takes the ball with his back to goal, he's incredibly hard to dispossess and has the technique to drive forward too. This was useful for a side like Alaves, who used him as an out ball to relieve some pressure.

  The bulk of Omorodion's goals last season were scored from inside the box, which speaks to his clever movement in the final third.

  Despite his height, Omorodion is deceptively quick, especially across the first five yards or so. This means he excels creating separation from defenders in congested spaces. In theory then, provided the balls into the box are of sufficient quality, Omorodion should accumulate plenty of high-quality chances. His expected goals numbers from last season back this up, as he registered 0.51 xG per 90 minutes.

  And while the fact that he underperformed his xG considerably in La Liga suggests that he is not the finished product in terms of his shooting, there are reasons to be positive. His strikes were nicely spread between his right foot, left foot and head, showing hints of the accomplished presence he could become with the correct guidance.

Formula One star Fernando Alonso is delighted Kylian Mbappe has finally signed for his beloved Real Madrid and has backed him to have a big impact.

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• Mbappe leaves PSG for Real Madrid
• F1 star Alonso backs him to thrive
• Spaniard wants more Champions League success

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent memory, Mbappe finally left Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid earlier this summer. Now, Los Blancos fan Alonso has spoken about the 25-year-old's transfer, his hopes for the upcoming season – including retaining their Champions League crown – and more.

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  WHAT FERNANDO ALONSO SAID

  On Mbappe's signing, the Aston Martin driver told DAZN: "Very happy after a long wait of six or seven years in which the signing was almost done. He has finally arrived and he will be an incredible reinforcement for Madrid, I hope he is successful."

  When asked about the club's dominance, he added: "The Champions League is enough for me."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe was prolific for PSG down the years, winning more than a dozen trophies and scoring 256 goals in 308 games. Most of those goals came as a left-sided forward but he may play as a number nine at Madrid – which will certainly test his credentials. The France international will be under pressure to hit the ground running in Carlo Ancelotti's team but he is certainly capable of doing that as one of the world's best players.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While Alonso is next in F1 action at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 25, Mbappe could make his Madrid debut against Europa League winners Atalanta next Wednesday, before beginning their La Liga season away to Mallorca on August 18.

Glasgow Rangers return to domestic action this weekend following the recent international break, facing Hibernian in the Premiership at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement led his side to victory over the Easter Road outfit just a few weeks ago in what was a bad-tempered Scottish Cup clash in Edinburgh, and another win would allow the club to carry on their momentum into the final weeks of the season.

Injuries have played their part since the turn of the year, but it surely won't be long before the Belgian manager welcomes back the likes of Danilo and Abdallah Sima into the first-team squad.

With just nine games to go in the Premiership, Rangers and Celtic are battling it out at the summit in what has been the fiercest title race since 2011.

Clement will be hoping his star players can continue to perform between now and May as the chance to secure a first treble in over 20 years is within their grasp.

Todd Cantwell returned from injury to enjoy a brief cameo against Benfica prior to the break and the Englishman will be key over the coming weeks.

Todd Cantwell’s statistics this season

It's safe to say that Cantwell enjoyed an excellent start to life in Glasgow upon joining the club last January. Under Michael Beale, the former Norwich City starlet scored six goals and registered five assists in just 20 matches during the second half of the 2022/23 season.

The Light Blues failed to win a trophy, but hopes were high heading into the current campaign, especially if Cantwell could resume where he left off.

The opening few weeks were a disaster, however. Not only did the club miss out on the Champions League group stages, but they lost three of their first seven Premiership matches, meaning they slipped eight points behind Celtic.

Cantwell managed to register just one assist before suffering a knee injury against Celtic during the first Old Firm clash of the season, which ruled him out for seven games.

By the time he was fit enough to return, Clement had taken over from Beale, meaning Cantwell had a new manager to impress.

During the early stages of his tenure, the Englishman was often used out wide on the right flank, a position where he failed to really showcase his true talents, with the nadir coming against Aris Limassol in the 1-1 draw, where he was subbed off after just 36 minutes.

Since then, however, Cantwell has gone on to score five times in the league while being utilised in his favoured number ten slot.

Among his teammates, the 26-year-old currently ranks fourth for goals and assists in the top flight, along with ranking fourth for key passes per game (1.6) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (1.1), showcasing his talents in an attacking midfield role this term.

While he has been impressive recently, the Ibrox side had the chance to sign a player towards the end of the last season who is now currently outperforming Cantwell for his new club – Malik Tillman.

Malik Tillman’s Rangers statistics

The American attacking midfielder joined on a season-long loan deal from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, and it looked like a shrewd piece of business by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Despite being only 20 years old, Tillman enjoyed a solid start to life at Ibrox, scoring against USG in the Champions League qualifiers, while setting up Antonio Colak’s winner against PSV Eindhoven, which sent the Gers through to the group stages for the first time since 2010/11.

As the season wore on, the youngster continued to shine. By the end of the campaign, he had scored 12 goals and grabbed five assists while ranking third in the squad for big chances created (12) in the top flight, third for successful dribbles per game (1.5) and fifth for shots on target per game (0.7), demonstrating how effective he was in the opposition third.

He was hailed by teammate John Lundstram after a game against Aberdeen, who said: “Tell him how good he can be and how good he is. Because he’s phenomenal, his talent is up there with one of the best young talents I’ve seen. Stick with him, rather than saying he needs to be dropped if he has one bad game.”

Rangers had the chance to secure his signature for around £5m, but Bayern preferred to keep him, loaning him to PSV this season, where he has exceeded all expectations.

What Malik Tillman is doing now

The 21-year-old has taken the experience he gained during his time at Rangers last season and put it to good use for the Dutch giants this term.

Across 32 games for the Eredivisie side, Tillman has scored six goals and registered ten assists in all competitions as PSV look set to win the league following an impressive campaign.

The former Rangers gem has shone domestically and ranks fourth for goals and assists (12), sixth for key passes per game (1.9) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (1.5), suggesting that the American is enjoying life in Eindhoven.

These performances currently see the attacking midfielder valued at €13.7m (£12m) according to Football Transfers, while it could continue to rise over the coming months if he ends the season strongly.

It appears as though the Light Blues have missed out on signing a player who could have made them a stunning profit in the transfer market.

Not only that, but he is currently outshining Cantwell this season and his goals could have proven crucial for the side as they look to end Celtic’s recent dominance of Scottish football.

His future looks unclear, yet if he can maintain his current form, there might be a chance for the young talent to make an impression on the new Bayern Munich head coach ahead of the 2024/25

campaign.

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.

Tillman was raw during his spell at Rangers, but his potential had no ceiling. PSV are the beneficiaries of that now, and they could well make Bayern an offer they can't refuse for the American.

Arsenal are ready to offer a target an Emirates contract worth just under £100,000-a-week, according to a new report.

Arsenal transfer rumours

The Gunners have been in fine form in recent months under Mikel Arteta, scoring goals for fun in the Premier League in 2024. A push for the title as well as being in the Champions League quarter-finals promises for a dramatic end to the campaign, but away from the pitch, sporting director Edu Gaspar has already hinted that the club have their summer targets.

"We already have our targets,” said the Brazilian (via TNT Sports).

"We have planned a lot ahead and I will be worried if we don’t score a lot of goals and if we’re not creating chances, which is the opposite because we create a lot and score a lot of goals.

“The plan is to try to get better every year and I think we are in a good moment. Let's see if we can keep improving. I think if you see the type of the players we have at the moment, it’s players which have a big, big commitment of [to] the club, which is very important. So the way we transmit to the fans, transmit to people our commitment – sometimes you can lose, you can win games, it’s all part of the sport – helps us perform the best way possible and show the passion we have for the club and try to be win as many games as we can.

“Many times in certain conversations to recruit the players you don't see the character of the player or the character of the player does not fit well with what we are trying to do and then you have to move on and try to find what we’re really looking for. If you see all the signings we’ve made since we started together, everyone is almost the same, young, energetic and passionate, and good talents with big, beautiful futures ahead of them.”

Some of the players to have been linked with moves to north London include AC Milan starlet Franceso Camarda, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong.

Another target is Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, and it looks as if the Gunners are ready to make their move.

Arsenal ready Joshua Zirkzee contract offer

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, relayed by TBR, Arsenal are set to offer Zirkzee an Emirates contract worth €6m-a-year (£5.2m), which works out at just under £100,000-a-week.

However, the Gunners aren’t the only side keen on the Bologna striker. AC Milan are also mentioned with an interest, whereas Bayern Munich have a €40m (£34m) buyback clause.

Zirkzee, just 21 years of age, is into double figures for Serie A goals during the current campaign and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €40m Transfermarkt valuation.

The Dutchman has also been compared to Erling Haaland, with Voetbal International reporter Souleyman Ozturk claiming that Zirkzee is a better version of the Manchester City star.

"Zirkzee is better than Erling Haaland at everything. Now you may be dismayed because of this statement. But I will frame it. (Zirkzee) has vision, technique, strength, charisma, flair, footballing ability. He is therefore better than Haaland in almost everything.

"Imagine if Zirkzee had the energy and focus of Haaland. Then he would be the best striker in the world."

He appears to be an exciting Emirates target, and by the looks of things, a summer move is one to watch.