Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to get 'ANGRY' and use last season's disappointment to fuel their bid to topple Man City ahead of the rivals' first meeting of the season in the Community Shield

 Jurgen Klopp believes a siege mentality could help Liverpool find the extra edge he thinks they will need to overhaul Manchester City this season.

Klopp's Liverpool team lost only two games last season in the Premier League but City still lifted the trophy after edging them out by a point.With City adding England midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland this summer, Liverpool cannot expect standards to drop at the home of the champions.

And, asked what he can do to try to keep pace with Pep Guardiola's team, Klopp said: 'We had a big meeting where I told the boys what I expect from them this year.

I want to use the togetherness we have, the atmosphere we have in the team, the experience we made for better. That is how it is. We can grow closer together, we can be clearer in the things we do.

'What happened last season didn't turn me crazy and neither the players. Because it is part of the deal.

'But if there is anything we can do with it and if we can use it to get even more determined then let's see. There is no guarantee for any kind of results.

'Everybody wants to hurt us, to win against us, to get a point against us. That is completely normal so it will be really tough but we will give it a try anyway.

The things we do are good. Can we do it better? Yes.

'Will that always lead to a better result? That is not possible because we won a lot of games but performance wise we can definitely improve and that is what we try.

'We want to create a resilience and a fighting spirit. Being angry is important to fight against the outside world in this specific moment.

All these things we can do. We don't know where it will lead us but we know it will improve us.'

Having lost Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich over the summer, Liverpool's own big signing has been the Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica.

Klopp admitted ahead of Saturday's Community Shield against City at Leicester's King Power Stadium that Liverpool are still getting to know their new forward — but predicted that City may experience similar teething issued with Haaland.

Liverpool missed out on the Premier League title last year despite losing just twice

'They are not used to Erling's natural runs, just as we are not used to Darwin's natural runs yet,' said Klopp. 'When Darwin offers a run we give him the ball all the time, which is not helpful because often a guy who stretches the opponent is there to create space between the lines, these kind of things.

'I am pretty sure they will need time for Erling but that doesn't mean he cannot score already like he did it in the first game he played for them against Bayern.

'Most of the City things look like last year. How they set up the press, how flexible they are in their own possession. It is good. It's very, very good but so far no real change is obvious.

'For us we want to be the team no one wants to play against. But we have to have more consistency and then when we have the ball, we have to create new ways.

'Not invent ourselves new, that is not necessary, but include new things here and there. That is what we were really working on.'

Klopp said on Thursday that he believes pre-season has been too short after Liverpool's participation in the Champions League final in Paris against Real Madrid on May 28.

With that in mind, Liverpool will play a behind-closed-doors practice game the day after their Premier League opener at Fulham next weekend.

'We did this last year as well,' he said. 'We have to extend our pre-season into the season but most of the teams will do that.

'I have no time today to go that deep into it. If you ask me that question, I look like the only moaner or the lonely moaner in the corner talking about what players have to do.

'I think we all agree but I am the only one who is talking about it. I don't read newspapers but not enough people talk about it. Pre-season is generally too short and that is why we extend it into the season.

'That doesn't help for the first games but it helps for the long term and that is the idea

New 2022/23 Adidas Arsenal kit: Third shirt unveiled as Gunners continue community initiative

 This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it

Arsenal community inspirations Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Sherelle, Jelani Blackman and Melanin Skate Gals & Palshave been on hand to unveil the new third kit

Arsenal have officially unveiled their brand new third kit for the 2022/23 campaign.

The striking Adidas pink kit, which is completed with navy and clear blue trims, as well as navy shorts and pink socks, will first be worn by the Gunners during their Premier League opener at Selhurst Park when they take on Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace next Friday. The north Londoners' kit release continues the theme of celebrating the Arsenal community, recognising the club's passionate fanbase and the amazing things they are doing within their respective communities.

Four particular community inspirations were mentioned by the club, in the form of Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Sherelle, Jelani Blackman and Melanin Skate Gals & Pals. The club statement on these four inspirations read: " Tayshan Hayden-Smith is a semi-professional footballer and community gardener.

Liverpool news and transfers recap - Roberto Firmino bid 'rejected', Diogo Jota Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Caomhin Kelleher and Calvin Ramsay all remain unavailable for the weekend -blowMatheus Nunes race The latest Liverpool transfer news, rumours and gossip including updates

 The latest Liverpool transfer news, rumours and gossip including updates on Roberto Firmino and Matheus Nunes

Friday Blog

Liverpool FC news, rumours and transfer gossip.

The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Anfield as well as keeping tabs on the transfer market around the world.

Serie A giants Juventus are reportedly interested in Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, while Leeds United are 'interested' in rumoured Liverpool target Matheus Nunes.

regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Mark Wakefield, Hannah Pinnock, Keifer MacDonald, Richard Garnett, Charlotte Coates and regular hosts Guy Clarke and Matt Addison.

Recap of the day

Roberto Firmino has reportedly been the subject of a 'bid' from Serie A giants Juventus, but Jurgen Klopp has outlined how 'essential' the forward is for Liverpool and there are no plans to sell.

Klopp spoke to the media earlier today ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester City in Saturday's Community Shield match at the King Power Stadium.

The Liverpool boss confirmed Alisson Becker would miss the match, but would return for the first Premier League game of the season away at Fulham. Diogo Jota is set for a longer spell on the sidelines

Mixed injury news

Jurgen Klopp today confirmed that Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota will both miss the Community Shield match against Manchester City on Saturday through injury.

Although, the good news is that Alisson should be ready to start the first Premier League game of the season against Fulham.

Klopp confirmed Jota will be on the sidelines for a while longer.

Three years ago today

Three years ago today, Liverpool announced the signing of Harvey Elliott from Fulham. The 19-year-old faced a tough season last time out after breaking into the starting XI before suffering a horrible ankle injury.

Elliott is now looking to force his way back into the Liverpool team as the start of the season fast approaches.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp issues 'unfortunate' Diogo Jota injury update as Alisson absence continues

Alisson Becker will miss Liverpool's Community Shield against Manchester City this weekend - but will be available for the start of the Premier League season.

And Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had a gloomier injury update over Diogo Jota by admitting it could "take a while" before the forward recovers from his hamstring injury.

Alisson has sat out the last three friendlies having suffered an abdominal issue during the Singapore leg of the Far East tour earlier this month.

Man City pursuit for Arsenal's transfer target points Edu in the direction of easier £25m deal

 Lucas Paqueta's next transfer destination must make Arsenal proactive in their pursuit of Youri Tielemans

Arsenal have been linked to a host of midfielders throughout the summer transfer window. However, in recent weeks the Gunners had been linked to two players in Youri Tielemans and Lucas Paqueta who could fill that void.

Despite the strong links to Paqueta, French news outlet L’Equipe have reported that the Brazilian is not interested in joining the Gunners. A potential reason for this is because the report goes on to claim that Manchester City are interested in securing his services if Bernardo Silva departs from the club.

With Arsenal desperately needing to sign a midfielder before the end of the transfer window, Edu must be proactive in his pursuit of Tielemans. The Belgian has already shown that he would be an ideal signing for the Gunners.

Since the start of the 2019/2020 Premier League season, Tielemans ranks eighth for the most tackles made in the division, having tackled on 212 occasions. This is impressive for a midfielder who is more scrutinised than praised for his work on the defensive front, and it also shows why Arsenal should still pursue a deal to further accommodate the Vieira signing.

The Gunners will need to sign a midfielder due to a lack of depth and quality in the middle of the park. CBS Sports reported earlier in the season that Tielemans would be available for £25m, which makes him an absolute bargain to solve Arsenal’s midfield issues.

The 24-year-old has been a regular in the Premier League for the last three seasons and has played a big part in Leicester's Champions League push over the last few campaigns. The midfielder's impressive performances have seen the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid show interest in him.

More importantly, he has already played in 20 Champions League games, showing that he has the necessary European experience. With Arsenal striving for their own top-four push, this will be an added bonus.

Despite the Gunners reportedly cooling their interest in the midfielder, it is a potential deal that Edu should look to get back on track as the Belgium international would prove to be a bargain for the north London side.

After it is clear that Arsenal are no longer in for Paqueta, Tielemans certainly becomes the next best option. The Gunners have had a successful window so far and capturing the signature of the Belgian would propel the north London side in their push for Champions League qualification ahead of next season.

Pep Guardiola's £50m decision indirectly hands Arsenal the perfect transfer development chance Pep Guardiola's decision to try and sign Marc Cucurella could benefit Arsenal as it opens the chance for a perfect loan move for Nuno Tavares

 Pep Guardiola's decision to try and sign Marc Cucurella could benefit Arsenal as it opens the chance for a perfect loan move for Nuno Tavares

Pep Guardiola has directly provided Arsenal with excellent transfer business so far in the summer window by allowing the Gunners to sign Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. And his blessings to Arsenal could indirectly continue by signing Marc Cucurella from Brighton.

The Gunners are looking to offload Nuno Tavares on a loan deal before the end of the transfer window. The Portuguese international has attracted attention from Atalanta, Marseille, and a host of other clubs according to reports.

However, the best move for Tavares would be in the Premier League and specifically to Brighton under Graham Potter, a manager who uses his full-backs with major importance. However, for this potential loan to take place, Manchester City will need to sign Cucurella.

According to Sky Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, Manchester City have agreed to personal terms with Cucurella. Brighton reportedly rejected the opening £25m bid from the Citizens and are instead demanding a £50m fee.

It is potentially because of this deal that Brighton are searching for alternatives. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, one of the alternatives for the Seagulls is to sign Tavares from Arsenal on a loan deal.

This would be the perfect move for all parties involved. It allows Tavares to gain crucial Premier League experience, so he can earn the necessary experience to fight for an Arsenal spot next season. it also creates the chance for the Gunners to assess the youngster over a season where he has played regularly in the Pr

emier League

Arsenal have 13 players guaranteed to miss Crystal Palace trip at the start of next season

 Mikel Arteta will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to naming his Arsenal matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace

After a busy summer of transfer activity, Arsenal's matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace will look a lot different from the one that closed out the 2021/22 campaign.

On the final day of last season, Aaron Ramsdale, Cedric Soares, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Nuno Tavares, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah started the 5-1 win over Everton as the Gunners narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.

Meanwhile, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe came off the bench in the second half as Bernd Leno, Benjamin White, Zak Swanson, Charlie Patino, Salah Oulad M'Hand and Emile Smith Rowe were Arsenal's unused substitutes at the Emirates Stadium.

By the time the Gunners take to the pitch at Selhurst Park a week on Friday, 75 days will have passed between Mikel Arteta naming a 20-man matchday squad for a competitive fixture and he will have to make at least two alterations given Lacazette and Swanson are longer at the club.

In fact, as things currently stand and going by the club's official website, Arsenal have 33 first-team players listed. This means Arteta will have to leave as many as 13 senior stars at home for the game against Palace in the scenario that no transfers are completed between now and August 5.

With that said, it would appear that there could be a few player sales completed very soon as there's talk that the Gunners have reached an agreement with Fulham for Bernd Leno whilst Nuno Tavares and Pablo Mari are said to be attracting interest from Atalanta and Fenerbahce respectively.

Should the trio depart in the next week, a decision would have to be made regarding which other 10 players to leave out against the Eagles and the way pre-season has unfolded indicates that Alex Runarsson, Arthur Okonkwo and Lucas Torreira will not be called up by Arteta.

Furthermore, with the futures of Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogun still up in the air, Arteta will be sending a clear message that those not included in the squad vs Palace are free to leave either on loan or on a permanent transfer.

Now in terms of more incomings, the Arsenal manager and technical director Edu have already said a lot will depend on getting players out the door first so it's possible that a deal for Youri Tielemans or Lucas Paqueta, for example, may have to wait until after the Palace fixture.

In a dream scenario where Arteta has no injury concerns, one can assume that summer signings Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Matt Turner will be involved in some capacity against Patrick Vieira's side, whilst William Saliba could even start in south London after impressi

ng in pre-season.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United meeting gives Chelsea clear plan for Timo Werner exit

 Thomas Tuchel has called out his attackers and Timo Werner is apparently responding with an exit as Cristiano Ronaldo remains an available option

Following an embarrassing 4-0 defeat against Arsenal, Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel let loose in frustration during his post-match press conference. He opted for refreshingly yet brutally honest responses to the questions directed to him.

Not too long ago, the Chelsea head coach was sure that the hunt for a new No.9 was no longer a priority for the Blues after signing Raheem Sterling.

The German believed that he had enough options to play with. He said: "We have Timo Werner as a nine, we have Kai Havertz as a nine, we have Michy Batshuayi as a number nine, we have Armando Broja as a nine and Raheem Sterling as a nine, maybe, so let's see how things work out."

seems that the array of attacking options could be reduced to just Sterling and Havertz, with Broja's future unsettled and Timo Werner itching to leave and find his once devastating form. Cristiano Ronaldo had expressed his desire to leave Manchester United early in the transfer window.

He is yet to play with the Red Devils this pre-season and has met with the new manager, Erik Ten Hag. The meeting also featured Sir Alex Ferguson. I'm not saying that Ronaldo could be on his way to Chelsea, but surely Tuchel must be wondering if this could be the right call?

Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, has already had conversations with Todd Boehly this summer where the transfer of Ronaldo was mentioned but not actioned upon. Tuchel is clearly looking for a goalscoring menace.

After the Arsenal beat down, he was asked whether he was concerned about Chelsea's goalscoring issue and replied: "For sure, if you look at the first half, it was even hard to escape our half in a productive way and to play in the opponent's half in a positive way and create chances – we

Listen, it's the same players, so why should anything change? We will hopefully see development, but at the moment, we have the same issues because we have the same players."

Ronaldo may be someone who demands a lot from himself and his peers. Despite ending the season as the top scorer at United, by quite a margin, he was still villainised for apparently disrupting the flow in the dressing room. Chelsea could do with a mentality monster like Ronaldo - especially as there is no one left on the market that could make the difference that fans want to see.Manchester United could give Chelsea a solid replacement for Werner in Ronaldo, but would he be the right fit for Thomas Tuchel's rebuild or just a quick fix?

What do you thi

nk? 

Arsenal handed Lucas Paqueta transfer boost after admission from Lyon chief Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Lyon winger Lucas Paqueta and the French club's head of recruitment has admitted they may have to sell him this summer

 Lyon chief Bruno Cheyrou has admitted the club "need to reduce the squad size" amid rumours linking talisman Lucas Paqueta with Arsenal.

The Gunners are reportedly interested in signing Paqueta, who has three years remaining on his existing deal. Technical director Edu has revealed he's a big fan of the 33-cap Brazil international, 24, but claims Arsenal will not make a bid before September.

Paqueta joined Lyon from AC Milan two years ago and has since scored 21 goals in all competitions. He was named in Ligue 1's Team of the Year after his debut season in France and was part of the Brazil squad that won the Copa America on home soil in 2019.

Lyon are struggling financially and Cheyrou, who is their head of recruitment and technical advisor, has said they may need to sanction some sales this summer. Paqueta is valued at £31.5million by Transfermarkt, although he would likely be more expensive.

W

e need to reduce the squad size," recently admitted former Liverpool and Marseille midfielder Cheyrou, as quoted by The Metro. "In terms of departures, we will analyse offers on a case-by-case basis but the economics will come into consideration.

"We will consider the offers with [owner] Jean-Michel Aulas and [technical director] Vincent Ponsot in order to make the best decisions. I am here to ensure the best team possible, but there are other things to take into account as well."

Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City Reach Agreement With Marc Cucurella

 Manchester City have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Marc Cucurella, according to new information.

The summer-long pursuit of the defender has seemingly taken a step to

wards completion, following the latest development.

From the viewpoint of the south coast club, they are yet to reach a full agreement with the Premier League champions over a transfer fee.

It was recently reported that Etihad Stadium officials had made their opening offer for the former La Liga man, in a proposal that was swiftly rejected by Amex Stadium chiefs.

As per various sources, Manchester City's opening bid was in the region of £30 million - which is substantially below the requests of Brighton for Marc Cucurella.

The Seagulls value their Player of the Season for the last campaign at around £50 million, although there is seemingly a reluctance from City to meet such a figure immediately.

Nevertheless, while the two clubs continue to negotiate and hold talks, a new development has signalled an advancement in the proposed transfer.

According to the information of transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City now have an agreement in place with Brighton's Marc Cucurella on personal terms.

Furthermore, Romano highlights that Cucurella is not happy with the ongoing situation and really wants a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

It is explained that the 24 year-old initially joined Brighton last summer 'dreaming of a top English club one day', and when Pep Guardiola called him, the player then only wanted a move to the Premier League champions.

In full, Fabrizio Romano explained on the latest episode of the 'Here We Go' podcast, "I am told that the player is not happy.

The player really wants this move to Manchester City.

"He joined Brighton dreaming of a top English club one day and when Pep Guardiola called him, he only wanted this move to Manchester City."

For now, it is seemingly a matter of waiting for the two clubs to move forward.

It is obvious that City will need to increase their offer for the player, and there is an expectation that Txiki Begiristain and his colleagues will do so in the coming days and weeks ahead.

Should Manchester City move closer to Brighton's valuation, then it is likely that the Amex Stadium club will not stand in the way of the player given that he wants a move.

Only recently, Brighton's technical director David Weir highlighted this very matter, as he disclosed, “It’s an important part of recruitment that players know they can leave the club to go on to bigger teams than Brighton.

"I think what we do is most important and if at some stage it is right for the club and the individual wants to leave, then I think that will have to be a part of the process as well."

Edu handed fresh £26m Arsenal transfer threat as Marseille president meets William Saliba agent Arsenal Transfer News: William Saliba is set for a bright future in north London but Marseille have shown no sign of surrendering their interest

 Arsenal Transfer News: William Saliba is set for a bright future in north London but Marseille have shown no sign of surrendering their interest

Arsenal have been handed a fresh threat to the future of William Saliba amid strong interest from Marseille. The 21-year-old defender proved himself to be one of Europe's brightest prospects while impressing out on loan with the French giants.

Saliba, whose contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in 2024, featured 36 times in Ligue 1 for the Olympians, steering Jorge Sampaoli's side to a silver medal finish behind Paris Saint-Germain. The France international played a key role in Marseille's success and, now having returned to north London, he's set for a breakthrough campaign.

However, it's thought that the Gunners consider the defender 'really important' to Mikel Arteta's plans. Though, behind the scenes, Marseille president Pablo Longoria flew to London to meet the Saliba's agent for dinner on Monday night, as per Romano.

While Saliba is yet to make a competitive appearance for Arsenal three years on from his arrival from St-Etienne, Arteta believes that his experience on loan has been invaluable. Speaking to The Athletic after Arsenal beat Chelsea in pre-season, the Spaniard said: "I am really pleased to see the way he is playing, the way he has adapted to the team, the maturity that he's shown at 21 years old; carry on doing it."

We will keep developing him, he has a huge potential," Arteta added, speaking of the £26million-rated Frenchman. "He is already a top player and we have to make him even better. He looked ready to me today."

With Saliba at Arsenal's disposal this season, the Gunners boss has a wealth of options to line his defence. Whether it be Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding or even Kieran Tierney in a back-three, Edu has armed Arteta with the tools to plot a challenge for Champions League qualification.

Why William Saliba's agent is in London amid Arsenal contract talks and potential transfer exit

 The defender has been linked with both an exit and an extended stay with the Gunners this summer after an impressive loan spell last season

Arsenal defender William Saliba has been linked with both an exit from the club as well as an extended stay in recent weeks. It comes after an impressive loan at Marseille last season, though his return to the Emirates leaves plenty of questions surrounding his role in the team.

The 21-year-old helped guide the French side to Champions League qualification in the previous campaign, also going on to win the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season award - previously won by the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni. The centre-back has also managed to earn a call-up to the senior French national team, but with two years remaining on his Arsenal contract and a duo of Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes to dislodge in the backline, his place in the team is still up for grabs.

While talks are said to be underway over a potential extension of his deal, his agent has been in London, but not only for talks with the Gunners. That's because Fabrizio Romano reports that the representative met up with Marseille president Pablo Longoria over dinner.

The nature of the meeting wasn't specified, however it could suggest the potential of another move from the French club, who haven't hidden their aspirations for Saliba to return. While his role is currently uncertain, Mikel Arteta has already been clear surrounding his thoughts on the youngster heading into the new season.

Discussing the defender after a huge 4-0 victory against London rivals Chelsea in pre-season, the Spaniard said: "I am really pleased to see the way he is playing, the way he has adapted to the team, the maturity that he's shown at 21 years old, carry on doing it. We will keep developing him, he has huge potential, he is already a top player and we have to make him even better."

Then, when asked if he was ready to step up to the challenge ahead, Arteta simply replied: "He looked ready to me today." It sets out clear intentions from the manager to keep hold of a hugely promising defender who could rise from being demoted to playing with the youth side t

o be

Thiago reveals the “audacious” Liverpool players impressing him in pre-season

 The Liverpool midfielder is enjoying his first uninterrupted pre-season since joining Liverpool two years ago, and several of his younger teammatesThiago played out a strong end to the previous campaign, securing the club’s Player of the Month Award in April, but all eyes are now on 2022/23. are catching his eye.

Having featured in all of the Reds’ pre-season friendlies so far this summer, the Spaniard will be hoping for even more success this season.

However, he’s not short of competition in midfield, with the signing of Fabio Carvalho only adding to Jurgen Klopp’s options in the centre of the park.

Carvalho is one of several young midfielders to have impressed in pre-season, with Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic also performing well against RB Leipzig on Thursday.

Thiago says he and several other Liverpool players were discussing the club’s array of talent in midfield while they were watching on in the second half.

“We were talking about it in the second half while we were on the bench, with Fabinho, Naby and Adrian, the talented players that we have in the midfield, they were playing at the time,” Thiago told LFCTV.

“It’s impressive how they are audacious with the things that they do and also how they treat the ball and how they work as well.Meanwhile, the 31-year-old has also revealed his role in helping new striker Darwin Nunez settle into the club, following his big-money move from Benfica earlier this summer.

Nunez opened his Liverpool account in emphatic fashion against Leipzig, with four goals in the second half and, as a fellow Spanish speaker, Thiago is one of the players helping the Uruguayan to adapt as quickly as pos

sible.

Edu hints at what needs to happen for Arsenal to complete £50m Lucas Paqueta transfer

  Arsenal transfer news: Technical director Edu has responded to reports linking the club with a move for a new midfielder this summer

He's been a busy man so far this summer, but Edu doesn't appear to be done yet. Arsenal have made five new signings in the form of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos, but Mikel Arteta is keen to continue his shopping spree in the coming weeks.

A central midfielder was said to be high up on the club's target list and Leicester City's

understands. However, an official bid is yet to be submitted which suggests departures are being relied on before a deal is potentially revisited later down the line.

As well as Tielemans, Lyon's Lucas Paqueta is someone else highly admired by Gunners staff. Reports in Brazil and France claimed that Edu had already been in touch with the player's representatives to confirm Arsenal's intention of making an offer, with Lyon believed to be looking for at least £50million for his services.

As well as Tielemans, Lyon's Lucas Paqueta is someone else highly admired by Gunners staff. Reports in Brazil and France claimed that Edu had already been in touch with the player's representatives to confirm Arsenal's intention of making an offer, with Lyon believed to be looking for at least £50million for his services.

I’m very respectful when I talk about Lucas," Edu told TNT Sports Brazil. "I’m a guy who likes him a lot, I’ve always liked him, since my time with Brazil’s national team. He’s had a great season, he was considered the best (overseas) player in the French league.

But today, there really isn’t any kind of talk, there’s only my admiration for the player, because the squad today is, in the position he plays, I think

Edu hinted that the number of options Arsenal already have in Paqueta's position is the reason behind the lack of movement, but didn't rule out a move completely. With just over a month remaining until the window closes, he could be one to keep an eye on alongside the aforementioned Tielemans, especially if departures take place.

Man Utd rejoin Arsenal in £59m Sergej Milinkovic-Savic transfer race after Frenkie de Jong blow

 Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with a move to both Arsenal and Manchester United this summer

Manchester United have rejoined Arsenal in the race for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to reports. football.london understands that the Gunners have a central midfielder is high on the list of transfer targets in the remaining weeks of the window.

It comes as Mikel Arteta has already looked to bolster his squad since the opening of the window. Five signings have already been made in the transfer market, with over £100million spent so far.

Discussing the potential of more signings, the Spaniard told reporters: "We are where we are. Obviously, at the moment we have injuries, you can see that we are still a little bit short in some positions for the way that we want to play but it is something that we are trying to address. We have increased the quality of the team for sure and the level of the squad is obviously something that we want to keep raising."

The attacking, defensive and goalkeeping ranks have all been bolstered, but options in the midfield could still be added to. Plenty of players have been linked to solve this issue, including Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The 27-year-old is said to be free to leave the Serie A side this summer, with two-years remaining on his contract with the club. However, the Gunners appear to have company in the race to sign the Serbia international.That's because Calciomercato report that Manchester United have revived their interest in the midfielder as they look to improve their side under new manager Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils had agreed a fee with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong, however his reluctance to move to Old Trafford has seen any sort of deal stalled.

The report claims Milinkovic-Savic is viewed as an alternative to the Netherlands international, with £59million enough to land him. Chelsea have also previously been linked with a move, adding a potential third party to the race.

It could complicate any deal the Gunners may view, with the days slowly ticking by in the transfer window.

Jules Kounde 'rejects' Chelsea move as Barcelona consider transfer 'closed

 Jules Kounde has sensationally rejected Chelsea’s proposal and is ‘closer than ever’ to joining Barcelona from Sevilla, according to reports in Spain. The centre-back seemed all but set to complete a transfer to the Premier League after the Blues had a £55million bid accepted by Sevilla. 

The La Liga outfit had accepted Chelsea’s bid and given cash-strapped Barca an ultimatum that they must match the offer or remove themselves from the transfer chase. And it now appears that the Catalans have had their own proposal green-lighted. 

bid and given cash-strapped Barca an ultimatum that they must match the offer or remove themselves from the transfer chase. And it now appears that the Catalans have had their own proposal green-lighted. 

A deal is now incredibly ‘closed’, according to reports, and Kounde has turned down an offer from Chelsea. The 23-year-old’s preferred destination was always Barca but he was open to joining the West Londoners if the La Liga side failed to stump up the cash required to prise him away from Sevilla. 

Once La Blaugrana made an offer, Kounde was always likely to accept personal terms. The player will now remain in the Spanish top-flight rather than move to the Premier League. 

Spanish football journalist Miquel Blazquez claims that Kounde is now ‘closer than ever’ to joining Barca after rejecting Chelsea. It is a major blow to Thomas Tuchel, who has been scrambling to sign new defenders following the departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. 

Tuchel targeted former Blues defender Nathan Ake and Dutch star Matthijs de Ligt. However, Ake decided to remain at Manchester City and De Ligt joined Bayern Munich from Juventus.

The Chelsea head coach will now need to look elsewhere for reinforcements. His only senior centre-backs are Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah and 37-year-old Thiago Silva. Cesar Azpilicueta, who has been widely linked with a move to Barca, can also play in the position. 

Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling are Chelsea’s only arrivals so far this summer for a combined fee of around £80m. New chairman Todd Boehly has promised big-name additions after purchasing the club from sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. 

The Blues have been linked with a move for Paris Saint Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe and could incredibly hijack Manchester United’s move for Frenkie de Jong. The Red Devils have pursued De Jong all summer but the Dutchman does not appear to favour a transfer to Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo taken by surprise as Man Utd offer alternative transfer exit option

Manchester United have been adamant that Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale - but could now make an exception to ensure he can play in the Champions League before returning next summer

Manchester United are ready to let Cristiano Ronaldo leave this summer – but only on-loan.

And in return they want the 37-year-old superstar to trigger a one-year-option clause to EXTEND his contract so he can return to Old Trafford next summer for a final swansong - hopefully in the

Ronaldo has asked to leave this summer to play Champions League football next season and has still not returned to training after being granted time off for personal family reasons.

But in recent talks with the striker's agent Jorges Mendes, it's understood United asked Ronaldo to consider taking up the one year option that was available to both sides and part of his agreement when he joined from Juventus in a £12.9 million deal a year ago.

United would then sanction a one-season loan deal to a Champions League club in Europe – with Atletico Madrid interested in the Portuguese goal machine.

Ronaldo would then return to Old Trafford next summer to see out a final campaign - with United hopeful they may be in a position to challenge for a Champions League place this season.

Senior United officials aren't banking on a successful first year under new Dutch boss Erik ten Hag, but there's an expectation that they should be able to compete for a top four finish
That would offer Ronaldo the chance to extend his Champions League love affair with one more season in Europe's elite competition before a final hurrah, possibly in the MLS in America.

Juventus 'considering' Roberto Firmino move

Serie A giants Juventus are 'considering' a move for Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, according to reports in Italy.

TuttoJuve claims Juventus could 'raise' their proposals in the coming days in a bid to get a deal over the line.

While he's yet to agree terms on a fresh contract as he enters the final year of his current deal, Firmino remains a valuable member of the team and it feels unlikely the player or the club would want to sanction a move this summer.

Nicolo Barella was linked with a move to Liverpool at the beginning of the transfer window, but fresh reports suggest Tottenham Spurs are set to rival the Reds’ interest.

 That’s according to Il Messaggero who believe Antonio Conte is looking to reunite with the Italian this summer.

Inter Milan are said to want £76.5m for the midfield sensation.

The pair had a fruitful relationship with each other at Inter Milan, guiding the Serie A outfit to their first Scudetto in over a decade.

And after already raiding his former club for the signing of Ivan Perisic, it would appear Conte would like to snatch another player from Inter’s grasp.

Barella excelled under Antonio Conte operating on the right-hand side of a midfield three.

How he’d fit in at Spurs is thus not particularly clear.

So far at Tottenham, Conte has deployed a different variation of his 5 at the back system, playing 2 midfielders and 3 attackers rather than 3 midfielders and 2 attackers.

And Barella is significantly better suited to operating within a midfield three rather than within a double pivot.

Spurs’ interest in Barella perhaps suggests Conte would be interested in deploying the 5-3-2 he used in Milan in north London too.

With Heung-Min Son alongside Harry Kane, Antonio Conte would be able to form arguably the Premier League’s best strike partnership.

But Liverpool might have something to say if Spurs really do attempt to formalise their interest in Nicolo Barella.

Liverpool’s midfield has lacked goals and assists for a while and signing Barella would go a long way towards nullifying that issue for the Reds.

The issue though for Liverpool is that it would be an either/or situation regarding Barella and Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool hope to sign Bellingham next summer when he becomes available for transfer, and he would likely come in to operate in the right-central-midfield position Barella performs in so strongly.

Liverpool don’t need both Barella and Bellingham. And it would appear Bellingham sits top of Liverpool’s midfield wish list some way above Barella.

Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea highlights and reaction as Gunners lift Florida Cup trophy Arsenal and Chelsea clash at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. This is the final game of the USA pre-season tour for the London rivals

Thomas Tuchel was not a happy man during Chelsea's 4-0 pre-season defeat to Arsenal in Orlando

Lucas Paqueta, Youri Tielemans, Cody Gakpo and Arthur Melo are among several players talks, Edu deadline

 The Gunners have just one pre-season bout left in the calendar before the new Premier League campaign commences, following last night's clash against Chelsea in Orlando. Mikel Arteta has enjoyed pre-season thus far; Arsenal have completed a handful of star-studded signings while also relishing impressive results too.

With Oleksandr Zinchenko penning a four-year deal at the Emirates Stadium, technical director Edu has now welcomed five new players to the club following the arrivals of Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus.

Lucas Paqueta, Youri Tielemans, Cody Gakpo and Arthur Melo are among several players

who continue to be strongly linked with a move to Arsenal as Nuno Tavares nears an exit. Meanwhile, reports have also surfaced claiming that Bukayo Saka has finally been offered a bumper new contract, though there's no agreement as of yet - so stay with us and keep your eyes peeled!

With that in mind and all the reaction to the clash against Chelsea, sit back and let football.london bring you all the latest news from the Emirates Stadium.

Tielemans wants Leicester exit

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano believes Youri Tielemans still wants to leave Leicester City this summer, but an official offer for his services is yet to be submitted.

Speaking on the Que Golazo YouTube channel, Romano claimed Arsenal remain in contact with the midfielder's representatives as they continue to weigh up their options. Other clubs are also said to be showing an interest

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta this summer, but technical director Edu has confirmed that talks are not currently ongoing.

"I’m very respectful when I talk about Lucas," Edu told TNT Sports Brazil. "I’m a guy who likes him a lot, I’ve always liked him, since my time with Brazil’s national team. But today, there really isn’t any kind of talk, there’s only my admiration for the player, because the squad today is, in the position he plays, I think we’re very well served in this regard."

Gabriel Jesus injury update delivered by Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's win over Chelsea The one down side of Arsenal's 4-0 win over Chelsea was Gabriel Jesus sustaining an injury and manager Mikel Arteta has delivered an update on his £45m summer signing

 Mikel Arteta has delivered an injury update on Gabriel Jesus after the striker was withdrawn in the 4-0 win over Chelsea.

The Brazilian, who joined the club in a £45m deal from Premier League rivals Manchester City earlier in the month, made the universal signal to the bench just before the hour mark that he needed to be substituted against the Blues and was swiftly replaced by Eddie Nketiah.

With the start of the Premier League season less than two weeks away and with Arsenal back in action next weekend against Sevilla in the Emirates Cup, it would be a massive setback if Arteta is not able to call upon Gabriel Jesus who has looked sharp in all of his pre-season outings.

Quizzed on the 25-year-old's fitness after watching his side beat Chelsea 4-0 to lift the Florida Cup, the Gunners manager revealed that he did not want to take any risks: "He got a knock on his quad in the first half and he wasn’t feeling very comfortable," Arteta said. "We decided not to take any risks today."

On a brighter note, it's now four goals in as many outings in an Arsenal shirt for Gabriel Jesus since his £45m transfer, going a long way to prove why Arteta was so keen on a reu

nion.

Jürgen Klopp's got Liverpool 'next magician he can give his team two new traits and unlock Defender's

 Liverpool have moved beyond Philippe Coutinho but Jürgen Klopp needs to see the next evolution of his Reds side. Two players can help each other and their manager

Liverpool have moved well beyond the need for a direct Philippe Coutinho 'replacement' (as they should have, four years after he left) but their players are now so well-rounded as a collective that finding upgrades within Jürgen Klopp's squad is difficult.

Adding goals from midfield is one thing that could help them evolve again, while the addition of Darwin Núñez will help give something new in attack.

Fábio Carvalho is the other exciting addition to the squad that Liverpool have made this summer other than Núñez, and while many wondered exactly what role he might play this season — in terms of position and number of minutes — it is already becoming clear that there is a plan.

Liverpool swiftly made clear that they did not intend for Carvalho to head out on loan when they signed him this summer. Like Harvey Elliott at Blackburn, Carvalho has had a season in the Championship and is ready for the step up.

Capable of playing in midfield and attack, the Portuguese youth international will play a big role this season as long as he avoids injury and has already impressed in pre-season.

Already, comparisons are being made to Coutinho, and while there is a question to be answered about exactly how helpful those sorts of things are, they are inevitable when a player as exciting as the 19-year-old emerges.

Carvalho appears best suited to playing a deeper role, though he can also play on the wing. In midfield, he can not only give Liverpool goals from that area with his expertly timed runs from the centre of the pitch, but he also showed against RB Leipzig his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet, teeing up one of Núñez's four goals.

That was not the only time that Carvalho has done that this pre-season, with the early signs in a Reds shirt (plus plenty of evidence from last season) being that he can carry the ball and then make the right decision.No other Liverpool midfielder has shown that trait consistently, even though Curtis Jones has the ability to do that. Up to this point, Liverpool have been very cautious with him, getting him to learn the defensive side of the game.

Jones has been playing it safe when in the Liverpool midfield, but Carvalho's breaks forward — plus Jones' performances in pre-season, where he has been deployed higher up the field — may show a shift in policy.

If Jones could do that as well, it would give Klopp a more attacking and forward-thinking option in midfield in Jones as well as Carvalho, with both players also capable of playing in attack.

With both playing at the same time, as they did against Leipzig, there would not have to be a fixed player on the left side of midfield and another on the wing — it could be switched up throughout the game, with the duo working in tandem to fill both roles, unlocking a side of Jones' game that has been stifled to this point at senior level.

Manchester City, with the interlinking Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva on the same side, for example, have been doing that for some time, even if Erling Haaland's arrival might make them more fixed in their positions. For Liverpool, trialling that approach could be the next step, just as Pep Guardiola

move away from it.

Mikel Arteta highlights Oleksandr Zinchenko best position after defender completes £30m transfer

Oleksandr Zinchenko offers Arsenal a plethora of versatility, but Mikel Arteta has already hinted at where the 25-year-old will be primarily deployed in north London

The process of moulding the Arsenal squad into one that represents Mikel Arteta's identity continued yesterday as the club officially announced the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

The Ukraine international was acquired for a fee believed to be in the region of £30 million, which takes the clubs spending beyond the £100 million mark yet again, with Matt Turner, Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus all already arriving this summer.

Zinchenko offers the Gunners a plethora of versatility, capable of influencing proceedings in multiple zones across the pitch. There was lot of talk of the 25-year-old potentially playing predominantly in midfield as it's been widely reported that this is his preferred position. But Arteta has hinted that his new number 35 will continue to operate in the role given under Pep Guardiola.

I'm very happy. It's the position we wanted to strengthen," Arteta said after speaking about the signing of Zinchenko. "His main position is left back but within that position and within the formation that we have he can alter and occupy different spaces on the pitch and this is the main quality he has."

Certainly finding adequate competition for Kieran Tierney was an absolute must in this window. In the Spaniard's last two seasons at the Emirates, during key stages of each retrospective campaign, the Scottish international suffered injuries that ruled him out in pivotal moments.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's first words as an Arsenal player as he issues Premier League challenge

 Arsenal transfer news: The Gunners have completed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City and the 25-year-old is chomping at the bit to get started

Oleksandr Zinchenko has issued a Premier League title challenge after completing a move to Arsenal from Manchester City. The 25-year-old, who has penned a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium, is the Gunners' latest signing of the summer following the arrivals of Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus.

The Ukraine international has insisted that he's eager for a new challenge, with silverware in his sights. Zinchenko's move to north London follows Edu's mission to undergo an overhaul this summer as Mikel Arteta seeks Champions League qualification.

And, singing from the same hymn sheet as the Spaniard, Arsenal's fifth signing spoke to the club's official website. Zinchenko began: "Thank you so much. First of all I would like to say this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid.

Since Thierry Henry and young Cesc Fabregas was playing here, I was just enjoying watching those games, that Arsenal. And obviously I started to love this club, so I am so excited and I cannot wait to play for this amazing club."

Zinchenko continued by vocalising his desire to achieve 'big things' at Arsenal. He added: "I’m ready for another challenge. I’m not here just to waste my time and the time of Arsenal because the club is always in front of everyone.

"I am here to achieve big things and I hope we can win some titles, and I hope we are going to fight for every title in which we are going to be involved. Even from the last season, I was watching The Arsenal’s games and I could smell it’s coming, you know? The team is growing up so quickly and I think it’s time. It’s time to do our best and to achieve something big."

Zinchenko concluded his first interview as a Gunner by detailing the feeling of donning an Arsenal shirt for the first time. He said: "It’s unbelievable, honestly, like I said, it’s a dream come true and since I was a kid I couldn’t even dream about it, but now it’s time, so I’m so happy."

The Ukrainian featured just 15 times for City in the Premier League last season, directly contributing towards four goals from left-back. However, Zinchenko is a No. 10 by trade and he has impressed at the Etihad Stadium despite limited game time and the power is now in Arteta's hands to decide how his new signing fits best in north London.

Chelsea seal third summer transfer after 'beating Barcelona' to secure Jules Kounde deal

 Chelsea looked to have moved on from Kounde after missing out on him last summer, identifying Matthijs de Ligt as their priority defensive target.

However, the 22-year-old snubbed a Stamford Bridge switch for Bayern Munich while Nathan Ake decided to remain at Manchester City, prompting the Blues to look elsewhere.

Despite recruiting two elite centre-halves this summer, Tuchel has his eyes on a third amid club captain Cesar Azpilicueta's desire to leave for Barcelona.

Kounde's impending arrival should facilitate his exit, with talks ongoing over a potential deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe.

Azpilicueta travelled with Chelsea for their pre-season trip to the United States after Tuchel informed him he must remain at the club until they sufficiently replaced him.

But he didn't feature last time out against Charlotte FC and will likely now be given the green light to complete a move to the Nou Camp.

Arsenal 'ready' to offer Serie A side cash plus first-team star in mega Lucas Torreira transfer

 Arsenal transfer news: Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo is said to still be a target for the north Londoners

Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo continues to be linked with a transfer to Arsenal.

 revealed back in January that the Gunners were keen to bring the Brazilian international to the club on loan but a move eventually failed to materialise. Now, according to Italian outlet CMW, the north London outfit are ready to lodge a player-plus-cash offer involving Lucas Torreira in a bid to sign Arthur during this window.

Torreira has spent the last two seasons on loan after falling down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta's stewardship. The Uruguayan international, who joined for £24million from Sampdoria back in 2018, has just one year left on his contract and Arteta made the decision to include the diminutive ace on the club's pre-season squad for their tour of the United States.

Lucas Torreira is our player, yes," the Spaniard said manager Arteta said when asked about the 26-year-old's future earlier this week. One option for Torreira seemed to be La Liga side Valencia, with his agent Pablo Bentancur confirming that the Spanish outfit are indeed interested in the player.

"We have reached an agreement with Valencia, Gattuso wants him," Bentancur said. "We are gonna discuss with Arsenal – Arteta wants to see him in the pre-season.

"He had great numbers with Arsenal but we have a pre-agreement with Valencia."

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Kick-off time, how and where to watch on TV and online

 Barcelona vs Real MadridWill Robert Lewandowski make his Barcelona debut against Real Madrid?

Barcelona vs Real MadridRaphinha insists: I didn't say Barcelona are better than Real Madrid

There's a lot of excitement around both Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer, with the latter signing some exciting players and the former having strengthened their squad of European champions.

Preparing for the 2022/23 season, the two LaLiga Santander giants will face off in the United States in a pre-season Clasico, which has fans' mouths watering.

Raphinha's reported recent comments about Real Madrid had fans craving this game, though the Brazilian has since insisted that he did not claim that Barcelona were "better than" Los Blancos. Even still, there's likely to be a bit of spice around the clash.

When does Barcelona vs Real Madrid start?

While fans of both Barcelona and Real Madrid back in Spain will undoubtedly be keeping a keen eye on this summer Clasico, those in the United States will likely have even more of an interest with the game being played there.

With that in mind, the Barcelona vs Real Madrid kick off time is set for 23:00 ET, as in Las Vegas that will be a local kick-off time of 20:00 on Saturday evening.

In Spain and Central Europe, the game kicks off at 05:00 on Sunday morning. Fans in the United Kingdom - should they be willing to stay up or set their alarms - can tune in for kick off at 04:00 BST.

You can watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the United States on the FOX Sports App, Fox Sports 2, or on FOX Deportes. In the UK, you can watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid on Premier Sports 1 or on the Premier Player.

Manchester United transfer news LIVE De Jong to Man United plus Ronaldo and Memphis Depay news

 Manchester United are waiting for a breakthrough with priority transfer target Frenkie de Jong as his proposed move from cash-strapped Catalan giants Barcalona continues to drag on.

As part of a summer rebuild, United have signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez from Ajax with other recruits — including De Jong — on Erik ten Hag's transfer wish list right now. Ten Hag worked with De Jong at Ajax and, under his guidance, the player burst onto the European stage.

Speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo and his future with United continues to mount, meanwhile, and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner winner has expressed his desire to leave. However, the club insist Ronaldo will not be sold as a number of clubs have been linked with his signature.

TODAY'S BIG TALKING POINT: Players in the dark over Ronaldo's future. Have your say here.

Keep track of the latest news, views and transfer rumours with dedicated updates below.

KEY EVENTS

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to join club where he does not 'carry the burden solely on him'

Man Utd 'yet to approach' Barcelona for Memphis Depay

Manchester United have not approached Barcelona for Memphis Depay, according to reports in Spain.

Barcelona are open to selling Depay for a fee in excess of £17m and according to Sport, the Netherlands international has already rejected an approach from Tottenham

Mikel Arteta puts to bed key criticism as William Saliba 'agrees' new Arsenal contract

 Had a poll been run at the point that William Saliba left Arsenal to join Olympique Marseille on loan to join wantaway Matteo Guendouzi in France, with the purpose of determining fan confidence that the 20-year-old would sign a new contract upon his return I imagine the results would not have been too positive. Saliba’s Arsenal career has been a non-starter for so long that many assumed it was done.

Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 but the arrival of Mikel Arteta put the breaks on an early entry into the senior setup. The Spaniard decided, rather quickly, that the young defender wasn’t ready.

Mistakes were made in the summer of 2020 and a failure to get Saliba the loan he needed meant he suffered six months of playing youth football. This certainly left him feeling detached and unwanted and his interviews when on loan with Nice showed his frustration.

We always have a plan and when we have to execute it, that’s a different story and football is a really funny game and we are really happy to have him and you can see the way he’s adapted,” Arteta said. “The way he’s matured and he’s playing well, and we are delighted to have him.”

Should this report bear fruit and the Frenchman confirms his extension with the club, it would be a huge win for the manager. A genuine show of confidence from a player who looked incredibly disillusioned with the Gunners for so long.

There is no timeframe on a possible announcement. Arsenal have been characteristically slow with these processes having even seen Oleksandr Zinchenko sit in the stands with Edu before the announcement of his signing was made official.

However, if and when Saliba is revealed to have extended his new deal it is a massive sign of encouragement that the players are buying into what Arteta is trying to achieve with the club. Doubts remain, and should, whether he can take the club back to the top.

Darwin Nunez scores Open account with four kaita wasteful Perfect Liverpool thump RB Leipzig - 5 talking points

 RB LEIPZIG 0-5 LIVERPOOL: Uruguay international Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score his first four Reds goals against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on Thursday evening

Liverpool picked up their second victory of pre-season on Thursday as they defeated RB Leipzig 5-0 in Germany.

Mohamed Salah's early strike got the Reds off to a great start, but they didn't have a firm grasp on the game until Darwin Nunez was introduced at half-time. Jurgen Klopp's prolific new striker scored four goals to comprehensively settle the friendly.

It's Liverpool's second successive win following their 2-0 triumph against Crystal Palace in Singapore last Friday. The Reds suffered a shock 4-0 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United in their opening game of pre-season in Bangkok earlier this month. Here are the main talking points from a fascinating evening at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.

Reds fans would've been hoping for a victory against Leipzig... but not expecting. The Bundesliga outfit won the DFB-Pokal last season - defeating Freiburg on penalties in the final - and are used to beating teams of Liverpool's calibre in the Champions League.

Yet Klopp's side put their fans at ease with a blistering start in the soaring German heat. In the eighth minute, Liverpool pressed Leipzig into a defensive error and Salah found himself in the box in acres of space. He coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

There were no more goals during the first half, a fact that would've pleased Klopp. Leipzig came close to equalising a couple of times with former Manchester City defender Angelino unleashing a wicked effort and prolific striker Christopher Nkunku testing Adrian.

The latter chance was particularly concerning for Klopp. Ibrahima Konate awkwardly tried to control a loose ball and it ricocheted off his feet into the path of Nkunku. It was a sloppy end to a disappointing first half for the Reds, who failed to build on Salah's early goal.

Keita wastes chance

Liverpool's third-choice stopper Adrian started against Leipzig as fans wondered where Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher were. Both are currently nursing injuries - Alisson is struggling with an abdominal issue and Kelleher suffered a knock on international duty last month.

Adrian did well when called on, producing that impressive save to deny Nkunku in the first half. Nevertheless, Klopp will be hoping Allison and Kelleher - or at least one of them - will will be fit for the Community Shield against rivals Man City in just nine days' time.

Speaking of goalkeepers, former Liverpool star Peter Gulacsi was between the sticks for Leipzig as their skipper. He never made a senior appearance for the Reds between 2008 and 2013, spending time on loan at Hereford, Tranmere and Hull in the EFL.

Nunez opens account

It was sloppy defending, in truth, and Blaswich had no choice but to bring Luis Diaz down. That gave Nunez the chance to score his first Liverpool goal... an opportunity he was never going to waste. The £85million man hammered the ball past Blaswich to make it 2-0.

Yet it was Nunez's second goal that caught the eye. In the 51st minute, Trent Alexander Arnold fed the Uruguayan and he confidently slotted the ball into the bottom corner. It was the perfect finish from a striker who looks ready to take the Premier League by storm.

And Nunez wasn't finished there. Moments later, he got on the end of a low cross from Harvey Elliott to settle the game... and there was still time for him to make it 5-0. Get very excited for the new season, Liverpool fans - you've got a new hero to adore.

HE'S ANNOUNCED HIMSELF' Fuming Arsenal fans all saying same thing as Zinchenko spotted in club shorts signing shirts for fans before transfer

 He left Manchester City’s American training camp earlier this week after saying his goodbyes to his former team-mates and headed for his medical to complete his £30million transfer.

The 25-year-old full-back was then spotted watching from the stands during the Gunners' pre-season win over Orlando City.

He is believed to have already penned a four-year deal with the North London club. 

Now Zinchenko has been spotted in Orlando talking to Gooners and signing autographs despite still no official announcement being made by Arsenal.

And that has left frustrated fans growing tired of waiting

One wrote online: “He is signing autographs for Arsenal fans, he has been seen walking with one of our coaches and he has been seen sitting next to Edu and yet Arsenal haven't announced him

Another commented: “We really take our time - Honestly, we don't need like 15 photos and 2 interviews ready to go - we can release them down the line.”

A fellow supporter said: “All we need is *Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Zinchenko from Man City* - one pic of him in our kit and everyone is happy.”

In almost all of his 127 appearances for City he played at left-back, despite previous midfield endeavours.

But Zinchenko produced eye-catching performances in centre mid against Scotland and Wales in the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

And that has led to Arteta hinting that he will be utilised in the No10 role at Arsenal.

Arsenal N'Golo Kante transfer chances assessed as Nicolas Pepe's and Lucas Torreira's exits loom

 All your latest transfer rumours on Friday with key updates on N'Golo Kanté, Lucas Torreira, Nicolas Pepe and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Arsenal's summer transfer window is at an interesting point.

Having moved quickly early on to sign a mixture of youth talent and more established stars like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira, Mikel Arteta has now gone on record to establish what is next in the forthcoming weeks.

The Chelsea midfielder's future is secured this summer but it could be a different story in future transfer windows.

MIKEL ARTETA CONFIRMS OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO SIGNING

Arsenal's summer transfer window is at an interesting point.

Having moved quickly early on to sign a mixture of youth talent and more established stars like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira, Mikel Arteta has now gone on record to establish what is next in the forthcoming weeks.

"I don't know, it's what we have today, and as well we have a large squad, so we have to make some decisions on the players that we're not going to be using consistently and be fair and straight with them, and that's a process that's going to start very soon, as well," Arteta said after the most recent Orlando win. "We have to. We have a big squad, and now we have to make things happen."

With these quotes in mind

Kante has become a Premier League icon in West London and in the East Midlands with Chelsea and Leicester City respectively.

Amid rumours that Todd Boehly will open new contract talks after the summer transfer window shuts, the possibility of the Frenchman leaving after next season remains in the balance.

The Gunners have been a long-term admirer of the 31-year-old since his Caen days and a certain former Man United player has assessed the prospect of the north Londoners making a future move for Kante.

He showed last season he’s still on top of his game.”

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

The Lazio man was once on the radar earlier in the window of both Arsenal and Chelsea.

However, Lazio's steep asking price has seemingly put the London duo off making a move for the Serbian international.

According to CalcioMercato, the Gunners, alongside Chelsea, have both made initial moves to sign the 27-year-old superstar, however, not only does Milinkovic-Savic not want to move to England, but Lazio have ramped up the asking price for their star player to as high as £70m.

Lucas Torreira

Arsenal midfielder exile Lucas Torreira has dropped a huge transfer hint that his long-awaited Gunners exit could be close as he was spotted away from the American training camp amid Mikel Arteta's recent admission.

The Uruguayan has been involved in the early parts of the north Londoners' pre-season schedule as Arteta made the decision early on in the summer to include the 26-year-old in the squad that is currently in Florida. "Lucas Torreira is our player, yes," manager Arteta said when asked about the midfielder's future after the latest Orland pre-season victory.

Despite this decision, the general feeling was that the Unai Emery signing was only being included to keep up his fitness levels ahead of another move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer. This follows the Fiorentina loan that the former Sampdoria man undertook in 2020/21. Since the emotional farewell that he penned upon the termination of his latest Serie A stay, Torreira's agent has gone on record to suggest that La Liga regulars Valencia were an option for his client but so far, nothing has materialised to this point.

“We have reached an agreement with Valencia, Gattuso wants him,” his agent Pablo Bentancur said. “We are gonna discuss with Arsenal – Arteta wants to see him in the pre-season. He had great numbers with Arsenal but we have a pre-agreement with Valencia.”

Whilst we wait for further developments on this front, the player himself has dropped a rather telling transfer hint on his social media. Perhaps, Spain may not be his next permanent destination as his Instagram story hints that Italy could be his home for the foreseeab

le future.