All posts by z3u9t.icu

Mauricio Pochettino appears to have already made his first major call as Chelsea head coach by informing the club he intends to stick with Kepa Arrizabalaga as first choice.

While that view may not go down all that well with Chelsea supporters, Pochettino has clearly seen enough in the Spain international to put his faith in him – for now, at least.

What is the latest with Chelsea's goalkeeper situation?

Chelsea had been linked with Andre Onana and Mike Maignan, which would suggest Kepa's time as first choice between the sticks was surely coming to an end. Edouard Mendy may have departed for Saudi Arabia, but neither Onana nor Maignan were being brought in to provide cover.

Interestingly, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now suggests Chelsea are instead tempted to sign Anatoliy Trubin from Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Blues said to be seriously considering an offer.

That suggests Pochettino has got his wish, though 21-year-old Trubin – valued at £17m by Football Observatory – could well rival Kepa for a starting spot as early as this coming season should he join.

Who is Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin?

Trubin led the way for clean sheets in the Ukrainian Premier League last season with 14, one more than Yevhenii Volynets of FK Kolos, as Shakhtar were crowned champions with the best defensive record in the division.

Despite his young age, Trubin has already played 94 times for Shakhtar, including 17 appearances in the Champions League.

It is on the continent he has really caught the eye, right from the moment he made a wonder save to deny Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku – a possible future Chelsea team-mate – from a free-kick as a 19-year-old in 2020.

Coincidentally, the stopper has silenced Lukaku on two occasions, keeping clean sheets in both of his meetings with Inter that season.

Indeed, the Ukrainian slowly built up a showreel of impressive stops and has earned widespread praise, with football writer Josh Bunting describing him as "superb" for such a young 'keeper, one who is capable of coming out for crosses as well as making huge saves.

Trubin would have to bide his time if he is recruited by Chelsea, but there is every chance he will succeed Kepa one day soon, making it a smart piece of business from the Blues' perspective.

Across a very similar number of Champions League appearances (17 for Kepa, 14 for Trubin), the Shakhtar goalkeeper has a better save percentage (71.3% v 67.2%), as per FBref, and also completes more passes per 90 minutes (29.2 v 22.5).

Kepa does come out on top in terms of pass-completion percentage (76 v 71.8), but the numbers are certainly positive from Trubin's perspective so early in his career.

As he showed last season when making the fourth-most saves of anyone in the Champions League, Trubin is a goalkeeper that can stand up to most tests, the next of which could see him rival Kepa to become Pochettino's number one at Stamford Bridge.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of additions to Michael Beale's defensive options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Jonathan Panzo to Rangers?

Scottish Express journalist Scott Burns has revealed that the Light Blues are still eyeing a deal to sign central defender Jonathan Panzo ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

They have not advanced in their efforts to land the Nottingham Forest player's signature, despite knowing what it would take to sign him, and are now facing competition from multiple teams.

The reporter Tweeted: "Been told by sources on all sides that a move for Jonathan Panzo to Rangers is not any closer. Rangers remain interested. They know the fee and wages but have yet to trigger the deal. German and English clubs also remain actively in talks with Panzo's camp."

Football Insider previously reported that it would take a fee in the region of £2m to secure his services, although it remains to be seen how much he is demanding in wages.

Where would Jonathan Panzo fit in at Rangers?

The left-footed defender could slot in as competition for Ben Davies on the left side of the back four, whilst also being able to fill in as a full-back when needed to cover for Borna Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz.

His arrival, therefore, could be terrible news for current Gers centre-back Leon King in the short-term as it may leave the academy graduate in need of a move elsewhere to find regular game time.

The 19-year-old talent only made four competitive appearances for the club after Beale took the job during the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Two of them came from the start – against Hibernian and Hearts in May – on the left of a central defensive pairing, which is where Panzo would likely feature.

Experienced campaigners Connor Goldson and John Souttar are in the squad to compete for a place on the right and the manager would then have Davies and the current Forest ace to battle it out for the second spot.

Panzo, was once praised as being "outstanding" by former boss Mark Robins, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 29 Championship appearances for Coventry last term. He made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per match – more than any Rangers centre-back managed in the Scottish Premiership – and won 58% of his individual duels.

King, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.89 over 15 league outings – lower than Davies, Souttar and Goldson – alongside 1.6 tackles and interceptions per clash for the Light Blues.

These statistics indicate that the Scotland U21 international will find game time hard to come by next season with the competition for positions that would be created by the signing of Panzo.

As a result, it could lead to him needing a loan move in the coming weeks.

Tottenham may lose more than just Harry Kane to Bayern Munich this summer, with reliable reporter Alasdair Gold revealing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is also a target for the Bundesliga champions.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Ange Postecoglou has got straight to work reshaping the squad left behind by Antonio Conte and Ryan Mason this summer. Having secured the permanent captures of loan stars Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski, Spurs have since signed James Maddison from Leicester City in a deal worth roughly £40m as well as new shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario for a fee in the region £17m, while there have been plenty of outgoings too (Transfermarkt).

Harry Winks has left to aid Leicester’s promotion efforts while Lucas Moura is departing as a free agent, and it remains to be seen if Clement Lenglet will return permanently after his loan deal last season.

Perhaps the biggest saga of all however is that surrounding Harry Kane’s future, with the club legend and talisman once again the centre of tiresome and seemingly never-ending exit links.

In previous summers it was Manchester City and Manchester United strongly linked with landing the record goalscorer and skipper, and this time around it’s Bayern Munich, with reports even going so far as to say Kane wants to play for the German champions.

However, he may not be the only Spurs star making his way to Bavaria based on recent reports…

Is Hojbjerg leaving Spurs?

According to the reliable Gold, writing an update on Postecoglou’s midfield options for football.london, Hojbjerg could also go to Bayern.

That is because the 27 year-old is “open to a move to play for a club in the Champions League” and is drawing interest from both Munich and also Atletico Madrid in Spain.

Gold writes that the £102k-per-week Denmark international “does not fit as well into the Postecoglou system” and that “this feels like a time when a parting of the ways might suit all parties”.

Indeed, the tough-tackling former Southampton enforcer has just two years remaining on his contract in north London, so the club are running out of time to cash in if they want to receive a decent fee for his services, assuming they do not plan to offer him an extension on his current deal.

It almost feels like a shame too, as despite the shortcomings of the team in general last season, Hojbjerg was certainly one of the more consistent performers, ranking highly for a number of midfield metrics and dubbed "invaluable" to the side by members of the media.

Indeed, compared with other players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, the Spurs number five ranked in the 92nd percentile for pass completion, the 80th percentile for interceptions and even in the 70th percentile for non-penalty goals, providing impact on both sides of the ball.

The capture of Maddison will of course do plenty to offset any loss of end product that would result from selling one of the current midfielders, but there aren’t many in the squad who can provide the same sort of cover in front of the defence, as the Dane led the current midfield ranks in both clearances and interceptions across the 2022/23 campaign.

It seems a move to Bayern will be difficult for the player to turn down on a personal note, but it would feel like a risk to allow Hojbjerg to leave this summer.

Manchester United are seemingly not giving up in their efforts to sign Rasmus Hojlund this summer, with Fabrizio Romano revealing they will now move for the striker after wrapping up Andre Onana.

How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored for Atalanta?

The 20-year-old has only spent one season with current club Atalanta, but has already caught the eye and showcased his ability in Serie A. He was given 32 league games for the Italian outfit over the course of the 2022/23 season, with 20 starts, and managed to bag nine goals with two assists along the way. They were his best totals in any league to date – showing that he is only getting better with more minutes and more gametime under his belt.

Prior to his move to Atalanta, he had spent time in both Denmark and Austria. Making his league debut with FC Copenhagen at just 17-years-old, he initially struggled to find the back of the net for the club despite making 19 appearances for them (albeit only two of those were actual starts).

The attacker then headed off to Sturm Graz to get regular football and with that came the goals. His first season in Austria led to seven goal contributions in 13 Bundesliga games, and he followed that up with five in five the season after before his switch to Serie A.

Have Manchester United made a bid for Rasmus Hojlund?

He's continued to go from strength-to-strength and his potential, as well as his current ability, has led to several sides all eyeing deals to sign him this summer. One of those clubs is Man United, with the Premier League side allegedly having already made a bid to try and bring him in to Old Trafford this window. Their attempts so far though have fallen on deaf ears.

Now, according to a report from Romano, writing for The Guardian, the Red Devils are lining up a new attempt to try and tempt Atalanta into a sale. It's unclear how much they will table to try and sign Hojlund, and Romano actually disputes reports of a previous bid, but he says they have held discussions and will ramp up efforts once the Onana deal is complete. Atalanta will apparently demand around €70m (£60m) to let the player go.

Despite his age, Hojlund has already caught the eye. It's therefore no surprise to see United trying to tie up a deal for an attacker that is currently seen as perhaps one of the hottest properties in his position right now. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that the youngster is a "complete forward" already and added that he has a "huge future".

It means that not only would the Red Devils be getting a player who can immediately come into their frontline and improve it, but could also get even better and become perhaps one of the best strikers in the league. If the club can get a deal sorted then, it could be a really shrewd piece of business.

Tottenham are keeping an eye on Lille star Jonathan David in case they lose Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, according to reports in France.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

It’s not a summer transfer window unless there is a saga surrounding Kane’s future in north London, but it’s fair to say this one feels closer to something actually happening than those that have come before.

That is of course due to the talisman’s contract situation, meaning Daniel Levy has to at least consider the offers coming in from Munich, and Ange Postecoglou has admitted he’s had no assurances:

“No, I haven't had any assurances [over Kane's future] and I wouldn't expect any assurances because with these kind of things you're never dealing in definites or certainties.

“I'm trying to concentrate on the things that I know right now, and what I know right now is that Harry's part of this squad.”

Those comments were followed by a pretty worrying update from Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who insists Kane has actually personally agreed to join the Bavarian giants:

“As reported: Harry Kane made 100 % clear that he only wants to join FC Bayern.

He’s not considering a move to another club abroad. It’s an agreement between Kane & Bayern.”

Now, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, the Lilywhites have picked out David as a possible option to replace their record goalscorer. Sport Witness translate the update, which says Lille have set their price at €60m (£51m).

Lille hope to make a signing of their own with the money they generate from selling their star man, a Canada international, but Kane’s moving is holding everything up, with Spurs one of the teams “observing” David’s situation.

There is plenty of competition for his signature however, as PSG, Chelsea and Newcastle are all keeping an eye on the striker merry go round as well.

How good is Jonathan David?

In truth, it’s going to be impossible for Postecoglou and Levy to find someone to fully replicate Kane’s end product, but there aren’t many players who come closer than David over the last couple of seasons.

The 23 year-old found the back of the net 15 times in 38 Ligue 1 showings in the 2021/22 campaign, and followed that up with 24 strikes in 37 games this time around.

He can play as an out and out centre forward, in behind another number nine or even on both wings if required, and hasn’t fallen below ten league goals in a season since he was a teenager.

A 40-cap international – with 24 goals in those games too – his injury history is also a major selling point, having missed a total of just three games due to illness or injury across his entire career to this point.

Labelled an “absolutely massive” player for Lille for his ability to step up to the plate in pressure situations, that is exactly the kind of mentality Spurs need from whoever arrives to fill Kane’s shoes – if he goes – and for £51m, Postecoglou would be getting an exciting young talent in the form of his life.

Aston Villa are reportedly remaining on the tail of Joao Felix, as Unai Emery aims to up the quality on show at Villa Park.

This summer has been an impressive one so far for the Villans, who have secured the signatures of Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres, with Moussa Diaby reported to be on the horizon too.

Monchi and Emery could create something special in the Midlands this window, with links to players in the calibre of Felix showing the ambition of the duo at the helm.

Could Aston Villa sign Joao Felix?

Last week, reports claimed that Villa were ‘leading the race’ to sign the Portuguese gem, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea.

A report from transfer insider Dean Jones and GIVEMESPORT named the 23-year-old as one of those that could be ‘on the shopping list’ of the Midlands club, who could be priced around the £80m mark by Atletico Madrid.

The swoop for the talent would be an audacious one, however with Diaby almost secured according to Fabrizio Romano, the Villans are showing real ambition this summer.

How good is Joao Felix?

Having once been lauded as a “genius” by Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto, a figure familiar with the talents of Felix, the 23-year-old has cemented himself as one of the most talented forwards in Europe.

Snatched by Atletico in 2019, the versatile attacker wrote his name in lights in Portugal before making the move to Madrid, scoring 15 goals and registering nine assists in the Primeira Liga in the 2018/19 campaign at just 18-years-old.

Earning a £113m price tag as a teenager is an indicator of the talent on show, now, Villa could equip their side with a forward as intricate as the former LaLiga sensation.

Deployed primarily as a centre-forward, the £242k-per-week Portuguese is extremely versatile in his approach to play, with the ability to occupy wide areas and roles just behind the striker.

For the Villans, obtaining a player in the calibre of Felix could be fundamental to their growth under Emery, and could be a marquee signing alongside the talents of Diaby.

The Frenchman could gel perfectly with the Viseu-born gem, in the Spaniard’s free-flowing attack, as an individual who himself adds a significant threat to the front line.

Also hailed as being an “absolute nightmare” for defenders by scout Jacek Kulig, Felix is a livewire in the final third, as highlighted by his monstrous 4.40 total shots per 90 in the Premier League last season.

The £40m-rated whiz’s talents delve way beyond his short spell in the Premier League, with him showcasing his attributes with 2.21 successful take-ons and 0.86 goals and assists per 90 in the 2021/22 LaLiga campaign.

At just 23, Felix has exerted his ability in Spain and Portugal, with Villa’s interest paving the way for him to finish his story in England after half a season at Stamford Bridge.

Emery could cause significant problems for his side’s opponents in the league, in a piece of business that could elevate the calibre and direction of things at Villa.

Manchester City have worked on signing Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, who could be brought in to replace Bernardo Silva, however the Bundesliga club have no interest in selling the midfielder, according to a report from 90min.

Is Bernardo Silva leaving Man City?

Silva is contracted until the summer of 2025, meaning Man City could hold off on selling him this summer, despite the interest from Barcelona, with it being reported that the player himself "dreams" of a move to the Camp Nou.

For City to consider selling the Portugal international, they would need to receive a fee of around €80m (£68m), as they have no interest in letting him leave, with a contract renewal worth around €18m (£15m) set to be tabled.

According to a report from 90min, the Sky Blues are ready to stand firm over the midfielder's desire to leave, and they have now informed him they have no plans to sell him this summer.

There is an offer on the table from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, but the Man City star has little interest in the move, despite the lucrative nature of the contract, but he is keen to speak to Barca and Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG have already held conversations with the former Benfica man, informing the European champions they would be willing to pay £75m to secure his signature, however that still may not be enough, as City cannot afford to lose him this summer.

There has already been some high-profile exits this summer, with Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan departing, meaning Pep Guardiola may be less likely to sanction Silva's departure.

With the Portuguese midfielder's future in doubt though, Man City have started to look at other midfield targets, including the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Nicolo Barella and Wirtz, however none of them look to be available at the moment, meaning the need to keep Silva is even more pressing.

Who is Florian Wirtz?

If Leverkusen soften their stance at a later stage in the transfer window and allow the 20-year-old to leave, he could be a fantastic replacement for Silva, having already established himself at international level, making eight caps for Germany.

Primarily an attacking midfielder, the German is also capable of operating on both wings and at striker, meaning he could be a versatile option for Pep Guardiola's side, and he has performed very well over the past few seasons.

Despite his age, the starlet is already a very important player for Leverkusen, registering 23 goals and 30 assists in 103 appearances for the Bundesliga side, meaning he averages over one goal contribution every other game.

The Pulheim-born maestro is also a fantastic dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Having been hailed as an "elite talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wirtz clearly has a lot of potential, so it is disappointing that he is not available for the time being, but Man City should keep him on the shortlist as a possible future target.

Tottenham Hotspur are "set to cut their losses" on Tanguy Ndombele and it looks like he's "heading to Galatasaray", according to journalist Darren Lewis.

Who will leave Spurs?

Barring the obvious one repeatedly linked with a Spurs exit, namely star striker Harry Kane, there are a fair few others who could depart with the Englishman.

The Lilywhites, after sealing three major signings in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon, may have to balance the books as we enter the final phase of this transfer window.

Spurs are also rumoured to be closing in on deals for both Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and Blackburn Rovers starlet Ashley Phillips, making the need to offload fringe squad members even greater.

Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are just some of the players mentioned (The Telegraph), alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has even admitted this window could mark the "end of an era".

“We have reached an important moment, whether it be for the club or me,” said Lloris to Nice-Matin.

“It’s the end of an era. I have a desire for something else. I will carefully study what is possible. However, I haven’t forgotten that I have a year left on my contract at Tottenham, and in football, it’s always hard to predict what will happen."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Ndombele, who has spent the last one and a half seasons various loan spells at Lyon and Napoli, looked set to be handed a chance by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou – who praised the 26-year-old for his application in pre-season training.

"Tanguy has been good," said Postecoglou ahead of Tottenham's pre-season tour.

"He's been working hard in training, as they all have because they've got no choice.

"I take things as I see them. He was part of a Serie A-winning side last season, and he's been working well. Within that context, I'm pleased to have him here and part of the group. What that means for the long-term, we'll see."

However, reports in the last week have indicated that chance may have come and gone, with reporter Lewis echoing that in a piece for The Daily Mirror.

He says that Tottenham are "set to cut their losses" on Ndombele this summer and he is "heading to Galatasaray".

The Turkish Super Lig side are aiming for an £11 million deal, and due to Maddison's arrival, Postecoglou will have that consistent creativity in midfield – making the need for Ndombele absent.

What's been said about Tanguy Ndombele?

The Frenchman simply hasn't displayed his raw quality on a regular enough basis over his four-year Tottenham stay, so now could be time to call it a day.

Ndombele has previously been praised for his undoubted talent, with Arsenal star Declan Rice even claiming last summer that the midfielder is one of the toughest opponents he's ever faced.

"I tell you now, he is one of the toughest I have played against," explained Rice.

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently.

“With players like that, you just have to let them play. Give them the freedom to go out and do whatever they want. When we played against Lyon in the Europa League, he was incredible. He’s a top player.”

The West Ham United striker curse lives on.

Gianluca Scamacca’s departure to Atalanta means that the Italian joins a long list of strikers including Sebastian Haller, Andy Carroll, Chicharito Hernandez, and Lucas Perez who failed to make a long-lasting impact for the Hammers.

Therefore, Irons boss David Moyes is back to square one, though a surprise name in Dominic Solanke has been tipped to finally buck the trend.

What’s the latest on Dominic Solanke to West Ham?

According to the Evening Standard’s Dom Smith, a West Ham representative is said to have contacted Bournemouth on 28th July to enquire about the attacker’s availability.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The Cherries maintained that he wasn’t for sale and were put off by his valuation, but with the new season on the horizon and deadline day creeping up, the 2023 Europa Conference League winners may be forced to alter their stance.

Would Dominic Solanke be a good signing for West Ham?

After stints at Chelsea and Liverpool, in which Solanke failed to forge a notable breakthrough, his career was seemingly heading into irrelevancy.

However, a move to Bournemouth has reignited his career, and he is one of their most productive assets. In the 2021/22 season, the 25-year-old netted 29 domestic goals and was the Championship’s second-highest scorer as his side achieved promotion back to the Premier League.

Prior to last season, many predicted that Bournemouth were destined for relegation. After a 9-0 loss to Liverpool and Scott Parker’s subsequent sacking, they appeared a chaotic mess, not possessing the quality or the experience required for top-flight football.

But, the appointment of Gary O’Neil galvanised the squad and the fanbase as the club finished in 15th position. The energetic forward particularly benefitted, making the fourth-most appearances (33), with the second-most goals (6) in the side, as per Transfermarkt.

In total, the £50k-per-week gem registered 13 goal contributions in the league and was a consistently effervescent, effective, and intricate focal point, who could also drop deeper to link offensive sequences.

This is portrayed by his rank within the best 16% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, as well as the highest 11% for assists per 90.

O’Neil has recognised such quality, as he once said:

"He's a dream as a centre-forward I think sometimes his work can go unnoticed, because it's difficult to score goals at this level.

“You ask him to press, he presses, you ask him to do stuff in possession, he does it. He literally does everything he can. He's probably the hardest-working centre-forward I've ever seen.”

Unlike Scamacca, Solanke is accustomed to English football, progressing through the ranks to becoming a top-flight regular. His pathway has taken a similar pathway to that of Jarrod Bowen, who has also ruthlessly excelled in the Championship.

After netting 22 times in the 2018/19 season, the winger was named in the EFL Team of the Season, and less than a year later he sealed a move to east London.

Bowen has risen from strength to strength in the English capital, being awarded the club’s Player’s Player of the Season in 2022 and netting the winner in their first European triumph since 1965.

The 5 foot 9 livewire’s dynamism, pace, end-product, and consistency mean he has cemented the right-wing position, and if afforded a technical and talented striking partner such as Solanke, it could be yet another exciting season for the Irons.

Arsenal have already enjoyed a fruitful transfer window thus far, with a host of expensive additions expected to help them take the next step towards usurping Manchester City. However, there could still be more to come…

Is Joao Cancelo going to Arsenal?

That's according to writer Rudy Galetti, who offered Tribal Football numerous updates on many of the latest transfer rumours.

One such saga he detailed was regarding the future of Joao Cancelo, who since being exiled to Bayern Munich back in January has led a confused return to the Etihad. Unsurprisingly, this has drawn plenty of suitors more than willing to gain his experience and quality.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Mikel Arteta has been ever-present within that group, and the Italian journalist now suggests that the Gunners remain interested in him, but must first rely on a few sales to offset their already lucrative summer.

The Citizens, likely in an effort to get him off their wage bill, reportedly slashed his asking price to €40m (£34m) back in May.

How good is Joao Cancelo?

The quality of the Portugal international needs no introduction, as the man who arguably popularised the inverted full-back role, bringing it into mainstream football with his dynamism and creativity from left-back.

As a longstanding problem position of Pep Guardiola's, the 29-year-old stepped up to post an outstanding 2021/22 season, outlined by his 7.33 average rating in the league. This was a figure buoyed by his offensive impetus, as he recorded eight assists alongside 1.1 key passes and 2.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Such form even earned praise from fellow full-back and now retiree Ahmed Elmohammady:

"Pep has improved so many players over the years but Cancelo became a world-class player".

Whilst Arteta seeks to exert total control over games, with many of his squad catered towards that, Cancelo would be a wildcard, more than capable of maintaining that possession-based system whilst adding in extra firepower that Oleksandr Zinchenko simply does not have.

It would essentially be like trading a central midfielder for a winger in that role, neither of which is a natural left-back.

For all his success last campaign, the Ukraine international was instead a far more calming presence besides Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, allowing the former to push forward.

This resulted in his 14 goal contributions in the Premier League, reaching the pinnacle of his career at the Emirates.

With these figures having departed, given his move to Bayer Leverkusen, perhaps now would mark the perfect time to remove the safety Zinchenko promises for someone who could actually make up for the absence of such an attacking presence.

His 6.93 average rating last term saw him record just three goal contributions, as his 0.7 key passes and 1.5 tackles per game were pushed aside in favour of his 88% pass accuracy, via Sofascore.

He is stable, solid and arguably faultless, but to topple a side like the Cityzens, Arteta will want much more.

The Spaniard needs match-winners all across the pitch, and goals aplenty to threaten a side they simply could not beat last year. By snatching Cancelo from their grip, they would instantly earn this, leaving Zinchenko's starting role seriously under threat.