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Arsenal face the prospect of losing a “big player” for Mikel Arteta in the next few weeks, as it is believed he’s now keen to leave the Emirates, and one club has already made an “official move”.

Arsenal players on the way out this summer

A good portion of Gunners squad members are already poised to end their time at N5, including some pretty considerable names.

£359k-per-week striker would join Arsenal "immediately", Berta wants him

He’s apparently very keen.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 24, 2025

Brazilian Serie A side Flamengo, who’ve agreed to sign Jorginho from Arsenal, are now set to formally land the Italy international before their Club World Cup campaign begins on June 17, with Arteta’s side green-lighting his earlier-than-anticipated exit (Fabrizio Romano).

Left-back Kieran Tierney is also set to re-join Celtic after shaking hands on a pre-contract with the Scottish champions, as was confirmed all the way back in February. The left-back scored in his last ever game for Arsenal against Southampton on Sunday, after getting the starting nod from Arteta, with Tierney signing off on his north London career in style.

Some reports in Italy claim that left-back Nuno Tavares is on his way to Lazio on a permanent deal, with the Serie A side paying around £4 million for him after an impressive debut season at the club overall – even taking into account the Portuguese’s injury problems over the second half of 24/25.

Albert Sambi Lokonga is also very likely to leave again this summer after spending this season on loan at Sevilla, and there are still questions surrounding the future of star midfielder Thomas Partey.

The Ghanaian recently entered talks with Arsenal over a new deal, indicating his willingness to stay, but it is far from a guarantee, with some sources believing that the £200,000-per-week midfielder would have to take a pay-cut (ESPN).

Arteta, for his part, is very keen on the 31-year-old extending his stay, after what has arguably been his finest season at Arsenal since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2020.

“Yeah, in regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it’s been his best season,” said Arteta when quizzed about Partey’s future.

“I think the way he’s played, performed, his availability has been exceptional, and he’s a really important player for us.”

Thomas Partey keen to leave Arsenal as Besiktas hold talks

Now, as per Turkish news website Fanatik, the midfield general is actually becoming more tempted by the exit door.

They report that Partey is eager to leave Arsenal and start the next chapter of his career, and Besiktas are the first club to make an “official move” for him. The Süper Lig giants apparently held “positive” talks with Partey’s main representative, and he is top of Besiktas’ list of targets.

Depending on terms, the far east of Europe could be a tempting landing spot, and this isn’t the first time that clubs from Turkey have been linked with a move for Partey, as he reportedly attracted interest from the Turks and Saudi Arabia last year.

Called a “big player” by Arteta, Partey has proved that time and time again throughout this term with some exceptional midfield displays, and his injury problems have now also become a thing of the past.

Losing such an experienced and proven member of the Arsenal squad would undoubtedly come as a blow, especially on a free, so it is unlikely that Andrea Berta will give up easily when it comes to tempting him with an extension.

Scott Parker will hope he’s in it for the long haul at Burnley as they step back up to the Premier League, after finding his last venture in the top-flight to be short-lived with AFC Bournemouth.

The 44-year-old would only last four top-flight contests with the Cherries during the 2022/23 season before being handed his abrupt marching orders, with a horrific 9-0 loss suffered at the hands of Liverpool during his final game not helping his cause whatsoever.

He returns to the elite division with a point to prove, therefore, having just successfully guided the Clarets up to the big time by collecting 100 points, with a defensive solidity on show that was nowhere to be found at Anfield.

However, bit by bit, the defence that only leaked 16 league goals last season is being picked off, with Maxime Esteve perhaps the next to leave Turf Moor behind after CJ Egan-Riley’s distressing contract situation.

The latest on Esteve's Burnley future

Annoyingly, Egan-Riley – who shone brightly next to Esteve last season – looks set to exit Lancashire for good, amidst interest in his services from RC Strasbourg and West Ham United.

The imposing Frenchman, meanwhile, also has his fair share of Premier League admirers, with Crystal Palace and Everton recently named as onlookers keen on adding the 23-year-old to their rosters, alongside ex-Clarets boss Vincent Kompany also keeping tabs on him from the Bayern Munich dug-out.

This would be a huge blow to Burnley’s confidence if they were to lose their in-demand number five, considering Esteve is just fresh off a campaign that saw him average an unerring 91% pass accuracy per Championship clash, alongside also showing off his brute strength with 3.6 duels won per match too.

But, the Clarets might now have a dream replacement for the ex-Montpellier titan up their sleeve, with the target in question already well-versed in how to battle and fight amid a Premier League relegation scrap.

The £12m "warrior" who'd be the dream Esteve replacement

After all, Esteve has struggled in the demanding top-flight in the past, away from his name currently generating a buzz, with zero clean sheets coming his way for Burnley from 16 league appearances during their relegation season.

On the contrary, the Clarets’ new defensive target – as has been reported by the Irish Sun – in Dara O’Shea at least exited this campaign just gone with his head held high, with the Republic of Ireland international even winning Ipswich Town’s Player of the Season accolade for his valiant efforts at the back, despite the Tractor Boys slipping straight back down to the second-tier.

On top of that, O’Shea was also a popular figure when he last donned claret and blue – away from deserting the Clarets after relegation – with the Dublin-born titan even amassing three goals and four assists in league action during the 2023/24 season at Turf Moor, alongside averaging an imposing 5.5 duels won on average.

Again, however, all of his heroic efforts were for nothing as relegation was ultimately served up. But, the £12m defender will hope to buck that ongoing trend if he does relocate back to Lancashire shortly, amidst interest also coming in for his services from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

Games played

35

46

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

58.9

78.0

Accurate passes*

34.0 (79%)

60.5 (91%)

Ball recoveries*

3.1

3.7

Clearances*

6.2

5.0

Total duels won*

5.4

3.6

His most recent stint with Ipswich shows off how he could be a dream Esteve replacement, with the table above displaying his similarities to the Bundesliga-linked defender, as seen in both centre-backs being unfazed by having the ball at their feet, away from completing their gritty defensive basics.

Parker will just pray that he can land O’Shea over other rivals, especially if Esteve does heartbreakingly seek out pastures new, with the Irishman also being labelled as a “warrior” by former West Bromwich Albion manager Valerien Ismael for his full-blooded displays.

The under pressure 44-year-old will need everyone singing off the same hymn sheet defensively if his team stands any chance at survival, with a familiar face in O’Shea rejoining potentially working wonders.

Burnley could sign dream Egan-Riley replacement in "outstanding" £25m star

Burnley would soon forget about CJ Egan-Riley leaving Turf Moor behind if they signed this outstanding replacement.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 5, 2025

Looking towards the summer transfer window, Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a serial winner represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu.

Man Utd's summer plan taking shape

Whilst step one of Manchester United’s transfer plan will be to win the Europa League later this month and confirm their shock place in next season’s Champions League, they simply need to invest no matter the outcome against Tottenham Hotspur. Ahead of his first full season in charge, Ruben Amorim will have the chance to prove doubters wrong, but will finally need players who suit his system to do exactly that.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

If recent rumours are anything to go by then it will, indeed, be a busy summer for the Red Devils on both the incomings and departures front. Already, players like Antony and Marcus Rashford could be heading for the exit door as the start of a hefty clear-out at Old Trafford, which Amorim will be desperate to see end with plenty of fresh faces.

Meanwhile, on the incomings front, names such as Ronald Araujo and Yann Bisseck have threatened to steal the headlines as of late. Two defenders who squared off in one of the best Champions League semi-finals in recent memory, as Inter Milan came out on top to win 7-6 on aggregate, both would undoubtedly improve the current Manchester United backline.

Amorim is well aware of the need for improvement too, having told reporters in the build-up to his side’s Europa League semi-final victory over Athletic Bilbao: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.”

However, despite that admission, the lure of Old Trafford remains there to exploit amid reports that Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign a serial winner.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Kingsley Coman

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich this summer by the winger’s agent. The Frenchman’s representatives have been knocking on doors around European football hoping to seal a move this summer, with Old Trafford seemingly among those.

A serial winner having won league titles at Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as well as the Champions League in Bavaria, Coman may not be at the peak of his powers but he would help change the mentality in the Manchester United dressing room.

What’s more, a deal could be made easier by the fact that Coman is represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu, who completed a move to Old Trafford in January. With contact already established and a relationship already built between both parties, the Red Devils have an ideal opportunity.

Dubbed a player who has “incredible talent” by former Bayern manager and current Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Coman could yet rediscover his most clinical form at Manchester United this summer.

Chelsea are now willing to make a £20m offer for a “genius” attacker, but there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United, according to a report.

Blues set to bolster attacking options after Ipswich draw

The burden of scoring goals and creating chances has largely fallen on Cole Palmer this season, with the attacking midfielder amassing 21 goal contributions in all competitions, by far the highest number of any player in the squad.

It has been another impressive season for Palmer, but the overreliance on the England international means the Blues can struggle when he isn’t firing on all cylinders, having now lost four Premier League games in 2025, while also stumbling to a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.

As such, Enzo Maresca is keen to bolster his attacking options this summer, with a new winger of interest, and David Ornstein has revealed that Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is set to be one of the targets, having been on the shortlist since January.

Chelsea submit £30m bid for "extraordinary" maestro who's keen on PL move

The Blues have tested the waters with an opening bid for a midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Apr 13, 2025

The west Londoners have also entered the race for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, but the Portugal international will not come cheap, given that he has been valued at £150m by the Italian club in the past.

Consequently, it could make sense for Chelsea to pursue a cheaper alternative, and a report from Spain has now revealed they are willing to make a £20m bid for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with the attacking midfielder seriously impressing in Ligue 1 this season.

The £20m price tag is no issue for the Blues, who have been monitoring Cherki’s performances closely this season, but there could be competition for his signature, with Man United also willing to make an offer.

There is a belief the 21-year-old would be a great addition to Maresca’s squad, and previous reports have revealed Lyon could be willing to cash-in this summer, given that they need to raise funds.

"Genius" Cherki could be fantastic signing for Chelsea

The Frenchman’s performances this season indicate a £20m deal could be an absolute steal, having amassed an extraordinary 11 goals and 18 assists in 38 matches for Lyon, which places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders for assists per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.64 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

6.94 (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

9.27 (99th percentile)

Journalist Julien Laurens has been a long-term admirer of the Lyon star, having lauded him as a “genius” in the past, and his performances this season indicate he could be ready to make a move to one of Europe’s top clubs.

The signing of Cherki would go some way to providing support for Palmer, who largely carries the burden of creating chances at the moment, and the young Frenchman’s availability for an extremely low fee is an added bonus for Chelsea.

England return to Test action against Sri Lanka, with Ollie Pope captaining in place of the injured Ben Stokes. Alan Gardner is joined by Andrew Miller and Andrew Fidel Fernando to preview the series

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2024After a three-week interlude, England return to Test duty for the three-match series against Sri Lanka – but they will do so without their captain, Ben Stokes, after he was injured while playing in the Hundred. On this week’s podcast, Alan Gardner was joined by Andrew Miller and Fidel Fernando to discuss Ollie Pope’s captaincy debut, Sri Lankan preparations and what the series might mean for Test cricket as a whole.