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Arsenal are confident in tying down Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli to new contracts, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Contract situations

Top of the Premier League table after seven games, the Gunners have turned their attention to sorting out fresh deals for some of their most important players.

Both Saka and Saliba are contracted until the summer of 2024, so they theoretically have 21 months remaining at the Emirates Stadium. Martinelli’s deal also runs until that time, but the club have the option to extend this by a further year.

The Latest: Sheth’s claim

Sheth believes that Arsenal are confident in getting the star trio to sign new long-term deals with the club.

Speaking with GiveMeSport about the futures of those three players, the Sky Sports reporter claimed: “I think that would be a big priority. I think that they’re pretty confident of being able to do those deals for those players.”

The Verdict: Huge news

All three of Saka, Saliba and Martinelli have started each of Arsenal’s first seven Premier League games in 2022/23, of which Mikel Arteta’s side have won six, so they can all feel that they have contributes plenty to the team’s early-season success.

The Gunners have scored the third-most goals in the English top flight, and defensively they also come in at joint-third for the least number of goals conceded.

With a combined Transfermarkt valuation of £135m, it is essential for the north London outfit to tie down those three regulars (all of whom are still only 21) to long-term deals as a means of ensuring their long-term future with the club.

Otherwise, Arsenal may be forced into selling them for reduced prices next season when their contracts are dwindling, a situation that Arteta will surely be keen to avoid.

West Ham United have been rebuffed in an approach for Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic. 

The lowdown

The defender moved from Crystal Palace to Manchester United in a £50m deal in 2019 but has now fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old has played just four minutes across their first four Premier League matches of the campaign, with new manager Erik ten Hag preferring Diogo Dalot at right-back up to this point.

West Ham already have two right-back options in their squad in the form of Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson, but GSB are seemingly keen to add depth in that area.

The latest

Ornstein tweeted that ‘Man Utd have received approaches’ for Wan-Bissaka ‘from Crystal Palace & West Ham’, but both have been dismissed.

Manchester United ‘don’t plan to sell or loan’ the defender because they want two right-backs in their squad and it’s probably ‘too late’ for the Red Devils to recruit any replacement.

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The verdict

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wan-Bissaka’s name continually mentioned in connection with West Ham in the coming months if he continues to struggle for game-time under Ten Hag.

While his attacking numbers are uninspiring – he ranks in the sixth percentile for non-penalty expected goals and expected assists per 90 – he’s very impactful out of possession, placing in the top three percentiles for interceptions and blocks per game among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days (via FBRef).

It’s easy to forget that this is a player who won Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year Award in 2018/19 and made the Europa League Squad of the Season in 2020/21 when Manchester United were runners-up.

Jamie Carragher once called him ‘the best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world’, while former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously said that ‘it is virtually impossible to go past him’ because of the defender’s ‘exceptional’ skills in this department.

Indeed, when it comes to being dribbled past, Wan-Bissaka is in the 97th percentile, indicating that he’s bypassed very rarely, and he seems like a teak-tough defender who’d be a fine addition to West Ham’s defence if they can get him in before Thursday night’s transfer deadline.

Wolves captain Conor Coady is ‘set to finalise’ his loan move to Premier League rivals Everton later today, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Seven-year tenure

After arriving at Molineux in 2015 in a £2m deal, Coady has gone on to play a huge role in the Old Gold’s recent success in the English top flight.

During his seven-year stay in the west Midlands, the 29-year-old has made a staggering 317 appearances in a Wolves shirt, with 152 of these coming in the Premier League.

The club captain remained instrumental in Bruno Lage’s defence last season, having demonstrated his reliability as a leader by skippering them in all 38 league games.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s news

With news having emerged of Everton making a move for the Wolves defender, O’Rourke has provided an update on the status of Coady’s seemingly imminent Molineux departure.

Taking to Twitter on Monday morning, the journalist claimed: “Conor Coady had his medical at Everton on Sunday and is set to finalise his loan move from Wolves later today. #EFC #wwfc”

The Verdict: Huge loss

Coady’s statistics alone demonstrate his importance to Wolves’ defence. During the 2021/22 season, the centre-back averaged 3.7 clearances and 1.1 blocks per game (via WhoScored), placing him second and first respectively for those metrics among Lage’s squad.

However, his absence will be most felt in the Molineux dressing room and on the training pitch. The Wolves manager has always spoken highly of the club captain and his ability to lead the team, having hailed him as ‘one of the best’ skippers around.

Therefore, whilst Coady’s presence will certainly be missed on the pitch, his leadership at the club means that his absence will leave a large void in Lage’s squad, with the 29-year-old’s successor as captain having a tough act to follow.

Liverpool didn’t waste any time on getting their business done when this summer’s transfer window opened, with three new players promptly joining the squad at Anfield, although a new update from a reliable source has emerged on a potential outgoing.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce, the club have no interest in selling Roberto Firmino this summer.

As per Pearce’s report, it is claimed that senior Anfield sources have rubbished speculation that Juventus have made a bid of £20m for the forward.

Despite entering the final 12 months of his contract, Liverpool are reportedly not interested in selling the 30-year-old this summer, and he remains in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the season ahead.

Supporters will be delighted

There is no doubt that supporters will be delighted that Firmino is set to stay at the club this summer, as he has become a popular figure over the last seven years and has been a linchpin in Liverpool’s success.

The Brazilian forward has made 327 appearances, scoring 98 goals and delivering 74 assists since joining the Reds in 2015, with his contributions playing a key role in the club’s achievements since Klopp’s arrival.

Firmino has won a Premier League title, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup so far with the Reds, and he will surely be hoping that he can add a few more trophies to the CV before his time ends at Anfield.

It is not clear as to whether FSG intend to offer the 30-year-old a new contract to extend his stay on Merseyside beyond June 2023, but there was speculation earlier this summer that there was an intention to arrive at an agreement.

The Liverpool manager is a huge admirer of Firmino and has made his feelings loud and clear about the player on numerous occasions, saying of the player in 2020: “Bobby is just exceptional, a very football smart person, I do not know a player like him, that is true.”

With that in mind, there will be a sigh of relief amongst Liverpool supporters upon Perace’s dismissal of a move for Firmino this summer, and Klopp will surely be hoping that the Brazilian can continue to impose a positive impact on the team in their pursuit for trophies this season.

AND in other news: Sky Sports reveal huge Liverpool injury update, supporters will be gutted

Manchester United talks to sign Ibrahim Sangare are ‘progressing well and quickly’, according to transfer insider and journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Sangare profiled

Sangare broke onto the scene at Toulouse in the 2018/19 season, starting 27 Ligue 1 games in the heart of midfield.

Since then, the now fully fledged Ivory Coast international has gone from strength to strength, earning a move to PSV in 2020, where he has continued his development in stunning fashion.

As per Whoscored, the 6 foot 3 midfield destroyer had perhaps his best ever season in the Eredivisie in 2021/22, racking up a remarkable 3.3 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game. To put those numbers into perspective, no Red Devils player managed better in either category.

It’s no surprise, then, that journalist Josh Bunting calls PSV’s rising star ‘a real powerhouse’.

The Latest: Moving quickly

As per Galetti, a transfer market insider for Italian TV and newspapers, there are ‘positive feelings’ a deal can be reached at around €35m-€40m (£29.8m-£34m).

He says the negotiations are moving ‘quickly’, which is surely music to Manchester United fans’ ears considering the protracted nature of their move for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.

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The Verdict: Perfectly balanced

For all the talk about the issues in the Old Trafford defence – they did concede 57 Premier League goals last season after all – the midfield was arguably in need of even bigger surgery this summer.

And, with Fred finally finding his feet as a quality top flight player, Christian Eriksen joining the ranks and de Jong moving ever closer to a roughly £70m move, the capture of Sangare could be the final piece of the puzzle to transform the engine room before Erik ten Hag’s first season at the helm has even begun.

If they can get a deal done around that £30m price range, the new boss will have added a destructive presence, complete number eight and a playmaker all for around £100m.

Aston Villa have already been busy in the summer transfer window, with four permanent signings secured, and a reliable source has now given an update on one potential outgoing.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that an “official proposal” has been made for Trezeguet by a Turkish suitor.

The transfer insider tweeted: “Trabzonspor have made an official proposal to Aston Villa for Mahmoud Trezeguet. Negotiations are set to begin. There are also other clubs interested in Trezeguet from Turkey and different leagues.”

Supporters will love it

Steven Gerrard will have the opportunity to strengthen his squad this summer and, at the same time, get rid of players who aren’t up to scratch to free up the wage bill and make some money to reinvest. Therefore, supporters will surely love it if Villa can sell Trezeguet this summer with one year remaining on his contract.

The Egyptian winger has struggled to make a consistent impact at Villa Park since he joined in 2019, with 64 appearances, nine goals and five assists over the last three years. He has averaged just 55 minutes per appearance, and following his disappointing output in the Midlands, he was sent on loan to Istanbul Baseksehir in January.

The £47k-per-week flop who was criticised by ex-Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor for being “erratic” and fell out of favour this season following a long-term knee injury. He was given a chance upon recovering after nine months on the sidelines, but he made a controversial dive in the January defeat against Brentford before being shipped off to the Turkish league.

Due to the 27-year-old’s poor output and decision-making in a claret and blue shirt, Gerrard made the decision in January to acquire former Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho on loan to make an impact from the left wing. The Brazilian has now had his initial six-month deal extended to a permanent transfer which secures his future at Villa Park until 2026.

It would be ideal for Villa if they can offload the Egyptian winger this summer ahead of his contract expiring in 12 months’ time, as he does not appear in the plans of the club going forward.

AND in other news: Romano reveals Villa have “opened talks” for 18-year-old starlet, Gerrard surely buzzing

Aston Villa have been heavily linked with Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma in recent months and it now seems as if they are among the favourites to sign the Malian this summer.

What’s the word?

After seeing a bid for the 25-year-old rejected by the Seagulls in January, it seems as if Steven Gerrard has reignited his interest in the former Lille man as he looks to strengthen his midfield options ahead of next season.

Although previous reports have suggested that he could cost as much as £70m and that Monaco were ready to submit a bid, journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Villa could be the favourites to bring him in over Tottenham Hotspur, who have also been credited with an interest.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “They’ll [Tottenham] have massive competition to sign Bissouma and it seems that he’s probably further along in negotiations with other clubs.

“Somebody like Aston Villa might already be in the lead with trying to get him.”

Should Villa sign Bissouma?

Of the Brighton players to make more than ten appearances in the Premier League last season, Bissouma was the top performer for Graham Potter’s side according to WhoScored, as they secured their highest-ever finish in the top flight.

This emphasises how important he is to the Seagulls and demonstrates why they value him so highly, but if Villa were able to convince him to make the move north, then they could have a top Premier League midfielder on their hands for potentially the next eight to ten years.

After an instrumental performance in a 1-0 win against Spurs last season, Potter sang the midfielder’s praises, saying:

“It is hard when you have a team performance like we did to single anyone out but tactically he was really good. He understood when to cover, release, put pressure on, and then you can see his qualities. His high-end actions are Champions League level. I think you saw the full array of his quality.”

If Villa do have European ambitions for next season, which their early signings suggest they do, then bringing in Bissouma could give them the extra quality in midfield they need to really push for a European spot, so supporters will surely be excited by this latest update from Jones.

And, in other news… Forget Suarez: Gerrard should unleash Villa’s “unsung hero” next season

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, following reports that suggest the 24-year-old could be set to leave Spurs this summer, there is indeed a serious chance that the Netherlands international moves onto pastures new in the coming weeks – particularly since Fabio Paratici’s capture of Ivan Perisic.

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In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “There is a serious chance for Steven Bergwijn to leave Tottenham in the summer, as Perisic is joining the club too. The plan is still the same. Ajax have his name on their list since January but there are many clubs interested in him, race still open.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it is undeniable that Bergwijn is a player who boasts a great deal of talent and potential for future growth, when considering his current market valuation, hefty weekly wage and lack of game time under Antonio Conte, the news that the winger is set to depart north London this summer is sure to have left the Tottenham faithful buzzing.

Indeed, the £26m-rated forward has started just one Premier League fixture since the Italian’s appointment as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor last November, playing a total of 275 league minutes over the past six months.

Furthermore, with the Dutchman reported to be earning around £75k-per-week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – ranking him as the club’s seventh-highest paid player – it is clear that if the 24-year-old is set to remain a backup option for Conte in 2022/23, this is money that could easily be put to better use by the 52-year-old in the summer market.

As such, while Bergwijn has provided Spurs with some memorable moments during his two and a half year stay – including a stunning volley in a 2-0 win over Manchester City on his debut and a stoppage-time brace to seal an incredible 3-2 comeback victory over Leicester City earlier this season – the fact that the former PSV Eindhoven starlet looks set to move on to pastures new this summer is undoubtedly a good move by Paratici, Conte, Daniel Levy and the club.

AND in other news: Contact made: Paratici in talks for £99k-p/w Spurs target, he’s “similar to Laporte”

Manchester United have held internal discussions over a move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow, according to Samuel Luckhurst.

The Lowdown: Henderson to depart?

New United manager Erik ten Hag is set to be extremely busy over the coming months, and he could now be on the hunt for a new back-up goalkeeper to David de Gea.

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That’s because Dean Henderson may well be on the move to Newcastle, with reports in the week suggesting a transfer to St James’ Park was close.

Should Henderson depart, Ten Hag would be left with De Gea and Tom Heaton after Lee Grant announced his retirement on Thursday.

The Latest: Darlow links

Chief writer Luckhurst shared a story for the Manchester Evening News on Friday morning regarding United’s back-up ‘keeper targets.

He revealed that United are considering a move for Darlow after Newcastle suggested including the 31-year-old as part of a deal for Henderson.

Darlow, described as ‘terrific’ by Steve Bruce, is aware of discussions, with Watford’s Daniel Bachmann another player of interest to United chiefs.

The Verdict: Good move?

As back-up targets go, Darlow could be the ideal man to arrive at Old Trafford. He’s made 33 appearances across the past two Premier League campaigns, taking his tally in the top-flight to 52.

Older than De Gea by just one month, the 31-year-old stood in for Martin Dubravka during the early stages of the 2021/22 season. He was on the bench after Eddie Howe took over, so he could well be open to serving as second choice under Ten Hag.

Bringing him to the club as part of a transfer for Henderson would also give the United boss one less transfer headache as he looks to make some marquee additions.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals Man Utd & Ten Hag eyeing another Dutch gem along with De Jong and Timber. 

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie believes that Hoops defender Christopher Jullien could leave the club at the end of the season.

The Lowdown: Jullien out of favour

The 29-year-old has suffered terrible luck with injuries in recent years, stunting his progress at Parkhead and seeing him slip down the pecking order.

In fact, Jullien has been limited to just one appearance in all competitions this season, not playing a single minute of Premiership action.

The Frenchman’s current Celtic deal expires in 2023 and it could be the case that he is sold this summer in order to receive a fee for him.

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The Latest: Jullien tipped to leave Celtic

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that Jullien could leave Celtic once the campaign reaches its conclusion. The 62-year-old stated:

“He’s played once this season so you do wonder if Ange has decided he isn’t good enough. To not even have had some sub appearances at the end of games, that speaks volumes for me.

“So, he’s one who could go this summer because he hasn’t played regular football for so long now. It’s probably better for everyone that he is moved on because I’m sure if Ange rated him then he would be playing.

“I just get the feeling he’s not in Ange’s plans because there was a big deal maced about him coming back and now there is nothing.”

The Verdict: Makes sense for all concerned

In truth, it makes complete sense for Jullien to find a new club ahead of next season, allowing Celtic not to lose him for free next year and also giving the player himself a better chance of regular football.

It seems clear from the Frenchman’s lack of game-time that Ange Postecoglou doesn’t see him as a key player moving forward, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt indisputably the first-choice centre-back pairing.

Jullien has been hugely unlucky with injuries, missing so much action in the process, and it simply has to be viewed as a move which ultimately hasn’t worked out how he or the club would have wanted, despite making 62 appearances in total.

In other news, one Celtic played has been tipped to finish his career at Parkhead. Find out who it is here.