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[ad_pod ]According to BBC journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal have made an approach to sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic on a loan deal with a £35 million option to buy.

What’s the story?

A loan move is seemingly the only option for the Gunners at this stage, as Unai Emery recently admitted that the club are not in a position to make any permanent signings in this January transfer window (BBC).

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accesory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

However, Emery’s squad certainly lacks depth on the wings, especially in light of Danny Welbeck’s long-term injury (Independent). Alex Iwobi is currently the only senior natural wide player available for selection.

A move for Perisic would be a smart one on the part of the north London club, in the short term at least.

An injection of experience

The 29-year-old has been in decent – but not spectacular – form so far this season. According to Transfermarkt’s stats at the time of writing, he has registered three goals and two assists in Serie A.

The 78-cap Croatia international would bring some much-needed quality depth to Arsenal’s ranks, but his experience could also be a key factor behind Emery’s pursuit of the forward.

The Gunners have made a habit of signing experienced players recently, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sokratis and Stephan Lichtsteiner all having arrived in the last year. Perisic would bring yet more top level experience to the Emirates Stadium, which could help Arsenal become a more competitive, steely and combative unit under Emery.Â

However, £35 million is a huge price to pay for a player coming towards his latter years. A balance must be struck at Arsenal between buying in experience and building for the future.

This forms part of The Transfer Tavern’s Loan Watch series, where we analyse how a player from one club is doing on loan.

The Lowdown: Hendrick’s January move

Newcastle decided to send Jeff Hendrick out on loan to Queens Park Rangers in the January transfer window after playing a mere 70 minutes for them in the Premier League this season.

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In the Championship, the Republic of Ireland international has had plenty more minutes, missing just two games for the R’s so far.

The Latest: QPR struggles for Hendrick

Hendrick played 68 minutes for QPR in their 1-0 loss at Sheffield United in the Championship on Tuesday night before he was hauled off by manager Mark Warburton.

Unfortunately for him, he struggled to make any real impact in the match, failing to record a single shot on target, dribble or cross. Defensively, he lost out on four of his six duels in total, while he also made no clearances, interceptions or tackles and was guilty of giving the ball away four times (SofaScore).

The Verdict: Will be sold

Given Hendrick’s latest display, coupled with the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes at St James’ Park from Lyon in January, it now seems likely that the Irishman will be sold by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the summer.

Last night’s display wasn’t an aberration, either – as per WhoScored performance metrics, he ranks a lowly 19th among 26 players to have featured for QPR this season, which suggests that he has been largely unconvincing since his move to west London.

It may be the best time to cash in on the 30-year-old, whose market value only looks to be depreciating from here on in, as the Magpies already have plenty of options in his position.

Performances like the one he had for the Hoops at Bramall Lane last night will only make PIF’s mind up sooner, as he ultimately failed to send a positive message out to the new owners at Newcastle.

In other news, find out which ‘Rolex player’ NUFC are now considering signing

A big update has emerged on Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s plans for Ibrox loanee Aaron Ramsey…

What’s the talk?

According to TEAMtalk, the Gers are plotting a potential swoop to sign the gem on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

He is currently on loan from Italian giants Juventus and the Serie A side are said to be willing to let him leave on a free transfer, despite his current contract expiring in the summer of 2023.

Outstanding

Arsenal icon Martin Keown once dubbed the Welshman as “outstanding” and that is exactly what he would be for van Bronckhorst next season.

He has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of in a Light Blues shirt, with two goals in his last two games, and it is exciting to think about what he could do with a full pre-season under his belt.

The £175k-per-week midfielder has enjoyed an excellent career at the top level and his pedigree suggests that there is more to come from him in Glasgow. He scored 65 goals and provided 65 assists in 371 matches for Arsenal, before heading to Turin to chip in with 12 goals and assists in 70 outings.

This shows that he has the quality to regularly deliver in the final third with his bursts forward from the middle of the park. He played in the number 10 role against Celtic and caught the eye with a SofaScore rating of 7.6, winning 100% of his duels, scoring a goal, and creating two chances for his teammates.

Ross Wilson sang the gem’s praises in January, saying: “Not only is Aaron a world-class player who will play a key role in our team, his level of ability and professional standards will be an inspiration to our existing players.”

His recent form in the Premiership is now starting to live up to the hype and it is down to him to continue to deliver on the pitch, whilst making sure that he does not suffer any injury setbacks.

Ramsey’s career statistics and his two goals in two league starts for Rangers suggest that he will be able to have a huge impact on the pitch next season if they sign him permanently. He has the quality to be an outstanding player for the Glasgow giants and van Bronckhorst will surely be keen to keep him.

Wilson must now work hard off the pitch to make this a deal that is financially viable for the Gers, to take advantage of Juventus being willing to let him go for nothing.

AND in other news, Smith endured big Rangers howler over “world-class” £7.5m gem who was “admired by all”…

Sunderland have been handed a big injury lift ahead of their clash with Oxford United in League One this weekend…

What’s the latest?

Alex Neil has revealed that his squad has not been hit with any fresh issues, and he is now looking to step up the involvement of some of the players who have been struggling of late.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “We should be as we were for last weekend in terms of availability, though of course we’re still two days away from the game.”

On Alex Pritchard and Nathan Broadhead, who both recently returned from their respective injuries, Neil said: “With every day and every game that becomes a step closer [them being able to step up their involvement].

“So last weekend he [Broadhead] had 30 minutes and hopefully we’ll see more of him in the remaining games. Alex again, he came off after 60 minutes to protect him and hopefully moving forward we can see more of him.”

Buzzing

This update will surely leave the Stadium of Light faithful buzzing for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the Black Cats are unbeaten in seven League One matches, and supporters will be delighted that the squad will be the same as it ensures consistency in team selection. Players are able to forge connections on the pitch and master their individual roles in the system, instead of constant chopping and changing causing inconsistency on the pitch.

Therefore, having no fresh injury issues means that they can hopefully continue their fine form. They have not conceded a goal since 8 March and have kept five clean sheets in their last six league matches, which shows that the lack of selection problems has helped Neil to build a formidable team, duly making this latest update a major boost to Sunderland.

Supporters will also be elated by the head coach’s comments on Broadhead being able to step up his involvement. The 24-year-old came off the bench to head home the last-gasp winner against Gillingham and has been in impressive form throughout the campaign.

Broadhead has scored six goals in nine League One starts and can boast eight goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions. He has shown that he can make a difference at this level, and therefore fans will surely want to see him getting more minutes on the pitch to work his magic in the final third, which is why they will be delighted with this update from Neil.

AND in other news, Sunderland will rue call on “unstoppable” 492-goal ace who has “the strength of Mike Tyson”…

Journalist Michael Graham was left stunned by footage of the goal scored by Elliot Embleton for Sunderland at home to Shrewsbury Town in League One this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Bright start

Alex Neil’s team made a very bright start to the game at the Stadium of Light, with Embleton and Nathan Broadhead putting them 2-0 up within 13 minutes.

However, they were pegged back to 2-2 in the second half through goals from Josh Vela and former Black Cats central defender Tom Flanagan, before Broadhead popped up with his second of the game in second-half stoppage time, taking Neil’s side three points clear of seventh.

The Latest: Embleton strike

Footage of Embleton’s half-volley from outside of the area was shared on Twitter, and Graham was thrilled to give his immediate reaction.

The journalist, who is also an SAFC supporter, was stunned by Embleton’s technique, calling it ‘outrageous’.

The Verdict: Great finish

Of course, it was a wonderful finish from Embleton, as that kind of technique is very difficult to execute, especially from outside of the box.

He was perhaps unfortunate to be taken off in the 62nd minute for Corry Evans, as he had a solid game in general.

The central midfield player also made one key pass and three accurate long balls, maintaining an 85% pass completion rate, one of the best recorded out of his teammates (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, Embleton should be confident that he will keep his place in the starting eleven for when the Wearside club play Plymouth Argyle away from home next.

In other news, find out what big Sunderland injury boost has now emerged here!

An update has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Adama Traore this week…

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph’s Matt Law, Spurs are hoping to sign the Wolverhampton Wanderers star on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer.

It’s thought that the Midlands outfit may be forced into accepting such a deal as the 25-year-old wide man has entered the final 18 months of his current contract, though they would prefer a straight £20m deal.

The north Londoners’ willingness to offload Steven Bergwijn could help fund a permanent move before deadline day.

Traore is believed to be manager Antonio Conte’s first-choice to fill one of the three positions – right wing-back – that the club have prioritised this month.

Imagine him and Kane

Spurs have certainly been lacking in the final third this season, with leading talisman Harry Kane horribly out-of-sorts in the Premier League. He has scored only four goals in 17 games, as per Transfermarkt.

That accounts for 17.4% of all their goals scored – compare that to last season and the England skipper produced a whopping 33.8% of their goals.

With wing-backs ever so crucial to Conte’s system, there is a need for him to find the right option in order to provide Kane with sufficient service to get him back firing again.

This is where Traore fits the bill immensely.

A combination of his brute strength and dribbling ability make him a lethal threat along the flank. There have been concerns with his end product but ultimately, you aren’t being played at right wing-back to deliver goals.

He leads the Premier League on the ball, averaging a massive 4.5 dribbles per game – by comparison, Conte’s current first-choice option, Emerson Royal, manages just 0.8 successful attempts per outing.

Former Manchester United defender turned pundit Rio Ferdinand once dubbed the Wolves man as a “machine” to BT Sport (via BirminghamLive). “I was watching him pre-game and he could be a powerlifter or a cruiser-weight boxer – he’s huge,” he added.

It’s his physicality that makes him a terrifying prospect for any Premier League defender, which is why Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has previously deemed him to be “unplayable” and “undefendable.”

Therefore, sporting director Fabio Paratici could form quite the lethal duo in N17 as Traore could be the attacking wing-back that Conte desperately needs to bring the best back out of Kane.

It’s no wonder the £25.2m-rated Spain international is a priority this month.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops worrying behind the scenes Antonio Conte claim…

Sky Sports News journalist Ben Ransom has shared some worrying footage of Manchester City training ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid.

The Lowdown: City’s UCL run

An ill-tempered draw in the second-leg of the Sky Blues’ quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid sent Pep Guardiola’s side through to the last four of the Champions League.

Kevin De Bruyne’s second half goal in the first-leg was enough to secure the win for City, who now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals later on tonight at the Etihad.

When questioned in yesterday’s lunchtime press conference about the availability of Kyle Walker and John Stones following, Guardiola responded:

“They are doubts, they didn’t train for the last week to ten days and John since Brighton. We’ll see how they feel, we’ll speak to them tomorrow and then make the decision.”

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The Latest: Footage emerges

Taking to Twitter just 24 hours before kick-off, Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom has shared footage of Man City’s training session.

Captioning the video, he claimed: “No Walker nor Stones on the training pitch for Man City ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.”

The Verdict: Huge blow

This injury news will come as a huge blow for Guardiola’s selection, if indeed both players have not miraculously recovered in the hours since the footage was leaked.

With Joao Cancelo already suspended, City now do not have a player available who has been utilised at right-back before.

This suggests that one of Oleksandr Zinchenko or Nathan Ake will have to step up in Walker’s absence.

This will see to a makeshift back-line which Guardiola will hope can keep a strong Madrid side out, before his squad can recuperate for the second-leg.

In other news: Manchester City: Daily Mail makes Declan Rice claim

Following on from their disappointing 1-1 draw against Watford at St. James’ Park that saw Newcastle United miss out on securing all three points thanks to a late equalising goal, the Magpies are on their travels again with a clash against Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon.

On the chalkboard

In terms of which players Toon manager Eddie Howe could select to be in his starting XI on this occasion and what changes he could make from the team he picked to play Watford, one figure that ended up being an unused substitute last weekend that we feel should be given the chance to play from the start against Leeds is midfielder Joe Willock.

Having not made an appearance for Newcastle in the league since their 4-0 defeat against Manchester City last month, now could be the right time to get the Englishman back in the team to get some minutes in his legs again and back into the rhythm of playing regularly.

Even though the 22-year-old hasn’t managed to score a goal or provide an assist for Howe’s side in the Premier League this season with 16 appearances under his belt, Willock showed in his loan spell at the Tyneside club last season that he can be a real goal threat in the team by scoring eight goals in 14 league games.

Labelled as a “special” player by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in terms of the qualities he has on the pitch, Willock certainly has the ability to make the difference for Newcastle, not only in this game against Leeds who he could terrify with his attacking talents as they have managed to concede 39 goals in 20 league games this season but also throughout the remainder of the season if Howe keeps him in the team.

In terms of who could make way for the midfielder this afternoon if Howe does decide to start Willock, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £80k-per-week according to Salary Sport, the fact that Sean Longstaff had a rather underwhelming performance in the game against Watford that led to him being listed as Newcastle’s lowest-rated starting player on the day according to SofaScore with an overall rating of 6.6/10, could make him a likely option to drop down to the bench.

In other news: Terms agreed: NUFC could land masterstroke with gem whose “shorts look like underwear”…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Reims centre-forward Hugo Ekitike…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed that manager Eddie Howe is eager to sign the young Frenchman and personally wants this deal to be done.

He told Football FanCast: “It’s obviously a player that he’s aware of and someone that he would be keen to bring in and so it’s not just the recruitment team at the club. It’s Eddie as well that really likes him.”

This comes after recent reports that the Magpies are in talks over a potential deal to sign the forward, as the club look for striker cover with Callum Wilson out injured.

Buzzing

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this news for several reasons. Firstly, they will be happy with the fact that Howe is having a strong say on the players the club are trying to recruit, rather than the ownership bringing in signings and forcing him to work with them regardless of what he thinks.

It shows that there is a good working relationship between the manager and the board and they trust his judgement as they are willing to make moves on targets he wants to acquire.

They will also be buzzing as it could mean the team is improved by his arrival. The Magpies are 19th in the table after their draw with Watford at the weekend. They were able to overtake Burnley but saw Norwich shoot above them after the Canaries beat Everton 2-1, highlighting how close it is between the teams down at the bottom end of the league.

This shows how desperate Newcastle are to improve their team as they need to start picking up points to move out of the bottom three and avoid relegation to the Championship. Adding more goals to their side could be crucial to their efforts, particularly given the lack of goalscorers in the squad currently.

Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin are the only players in the team with more than one Premier League goal to their name for the Toon, although Chris Wood scored three in the first half of the campaign for Burnley. This suggests that Howe is in dire need of further attacking talent to be added to his team and that is what Ekitike could bring.

He has scored eight goals in ten starts for Reims in Ligue 1. This suggests that he could come in and provide a lift at the top end of the pitch if he is able to adapt to the English style of football.

AND in other news, PIF plotting Newcastle offer for “perfect” £22.5m dynamo, he’d be a major upgrade…

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Aleksandr Golovin to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sport Witness, who claim that a source close to the AS Monaco attacking midfielder has revealed that both West Ham and Everton are interested in a move for the 25-year-old this month.

The report goes on to state that David Moyes’ side have made contact with the Ligue 1 side regarding a deal for the Russia international, however, it is also claimed that Monaco are unlikely to want to part with Golovin in the current transfer window – with Russian media outlet Championat suggesting the French side would demand a fee of around €50m (£41m) in order to sanction his sale.

Moyes’ next Lingard

Considering just how impressive Golovin has been for Monaco since his £27m move from CSKA Moscow back in 2018, it is easy to see why West Ham would be interested in a move for the attacking midfielder this month.

Indeed, over his 114 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, the £22.5m-rated man has scored 16 goals and registered 22 assists, with arguably his best season for the Monegasques coming over his 21 league outings last season.

In this campaign, the £78k-per-week forward scored five goals, provided nine assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.8 key passes and taking 1.3 shots per game.

These returns saw the player who Jose Mourinho dubbed a “playmaker” earn a rather astonishing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.31, not only ranking him as Monaco’s best performer in the league, but also as the sixth-best player in the division as a whole.

Indeed, Golovin’s form in this campaign was not dissimilar from that of Jesse Lingard last season, who, over his 16 Premier League appearances while on loan at West Ham, scored nine goals, registered four assists and created three big chances for his teammates, seeing the 29-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.19.

Furthermore, both the AS Monaco attacking midfielder and the Manchester United man possess impressive positional versatility, with each player more than capable of operating from either flank or in the number 10 role.

As such, should Moyes be able to get a deal over the line for Golovin this winter, the 58-year-old Hammers manager could very much have the club’s next Lingard on his hands for the second half of the season – something that is undoubtedly an extremely exciting prospect for everyone involved with the club.

In other news: West Ham submit Jan offer for “outstanding” £70k-p/w tank, Moyes desperately needs him