CHELSEA failed to bring in Sevilla’s Jules Kounde before the transfer window slammed shut but will be looking to make moves for a defender in January.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe also failed to get his dream move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish club set to sign him on a free in a pre-contract agreement in the new year.
Real reportedly offered PSG close to £170m for the French forward’s signature, but the Parisian club failed to budge.
And clubs all over Europe will now cast their minds onto Erling Haaland, who looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund next summer.
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YES – BUT WHO’S THE BETTER PLAYER?
Arsenal’s £50million summer signing Ben White could prove better value in central defence than new £42m Manchester United recruit Raphael Varane over the next four years at least according to the tweet below.
But no financial predictions can replace the basic question: Which of them is and will be the ‘better’ player?
That’s without even considering other issues, such as how they gel with team-mates and tactics, plus their facts and figures ON the pitch.
French World Cup winner Varane, 27, has the greater pedigree after ten years with Real Madrid.
But White, twice capped by England, is four years younger.
Gunners’ fans, though, will want to know if has the stature, mentally as well as physically, to help Mikel Arteta’s men recover from opening with three straight Prem defeats – including conceding nine goals.
Let’s discuss this again in 2025…!
MUSTAFI JOY AT LEVANTE DEAL
Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi claims he was instantly impressed with Levante as he joined the Spaniards following his release from Schalke.
The 20-cap Germany star, 29, held talks with Torino last month but the Serie A club chose not to pursue a deal.
Credit: AFP Instead LaLiga club Levante have handed the ex-Valencia ace an 18-month contract.
Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.
“We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
SAUL FOLLOWS HAZARD AND SALAH
New Chelsea loanee Saul Niguez has been given the number 17 shirt following Eden Hazard and Mo Salah.
The midfielder, 26, was a deadline recruit from Atletico Madrid for the season.
But Chelsea also have the option to make the move permanent if the Spain star impresses.
Legend Hazard was initally given the number 17 before proving his value to the club – he was later given No10 and stuck with that until he left.
Mo Salah has also worn No17 for Chelsea but with less success compared to Hazard, as has fellow winger Pedro.
Most recently, Mateo Kovacic represented 17 but switched to number eight this season, highlighting his growing importance under Thomas Tuchel.
LINDLEOF FINE WITH BIT-PART UTD ROLE
Victor Lindelof will likely lose his spot in Manchester United’s first team following the arrival of mega-star Raphael Varane.
But the Swede has no issues with Varane replacing him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s back-four, and even welcomed the ex-Real Madrid ace’s arrival.
Because Lindelof, who started United’s first two Premier League games this season, feels Varane will help him and the United squad get better.
And that’s what is supposed to be at a club like United, Lindelof claimed.
Speaking to Afton Bladet, the 27-year-old said: “I think it’s really good. I play in one of the biggest clubs in the world, so of course you want good players.
“There will always be a situation of competition. I see it as a positive that we have an influx of good players joining the club.
“It will help us to develop further, and for myself I see no issue with that.
“Sometimes I won’t play games, but for me that’s alright.”
BERND OUT TO INTER?
Inter Milan are eyeing Arsenal No1 Bernd Leno, reports say.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
SUB PLOT
Victor Lindelof will likely lose his spot in Manchester United’s first team following the arrival of mega-star Raphael Varane, writes JUSTIN LAWRENCE.
But the Swede has no issues with Varane replacing him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s back-four, and even welcomed the ex-Real Madrid ace’s arrival.
Because Lindelof, who started United’s first two Premier League games this season, feels Varane will help him and the United squad get better.
And that’s what is supposed to be at a club like United’s, Lindelof claimed.
Speaking to Afton Bladet, the 27-year-old said: “I think it’s really good. I play in one of the biggest clubs in the world, so of course you want good players.
“There will always be a situation of competition. I see it as a positive that we have an influx of good players joining the club.
“It will help us to develop further, and for myself I see no issue with that.
“Sometimes I won’t play games, but for me that’s alright.”
TORREIRA SPEAKS
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has broken his silence on why he left Arsenal to head to Fiorentina on loan.
And the midfielder simply says it’s because he feels ‘good’ in Italy, where he played before he joined the Gunners.
He said: “I wanted to go back to Italy, where I felt good.
“For me the most important thing is to play.
“It’s true that we have been talking about Fiorentina for many years, I want to make the most of this experience now that I’m here.”
BLUES EYE KOULIBALY
Chelsea may turn their attention towards Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly after missing out on Jules Kounde.
According to Football.London, the European champions Chelsea will now turn to Koulibaly after failing to sign France international Kounde.
The Blues failed to meet Kounde’s £68million price tag, meaning they missed out on their top target.
But boss Thomas Tuchel remains keen to bring in a defender.
And Koulibaly – who has previously been linked with Man Utd – appears to be that target.
CRIS CROSS
It’s been a long and thrilling summer, but the transfer window has come to an end, writes ASIF NORAT.
Manchester United were one of the busiest teams, as they made four new signings and offloaded seven players.
For once, there were signs going into the transfer market that the club had clearly identified which areas they were looking to address and strengthen.
Because of the proactive planning from the board, it resulted with the business being done with ease and no panic buys on deadline day.
With the Glazers and the key members at Old Trafford deciding to act like a big club once and for all, they have left United’s supporters with a very satisfied summer and no room for complaints.
HEATH JOINS ARSENAL
Arsenal Women have announced the signing of USA international Tobin Heath.
The 33-year-old has an incredible record.
Boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Tobin’s record speaks for itself.
“She’s an incredibly talented player who will bring so much experience to our squad.
“This is an exciting time for the club, and I’m delighted we could secure Tobin’s signing as we prepare to kick off the new season at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.”
INTER PLOT LENO SWOOP
Inter Milan are plotting a transfer swoop for Arsenal first team goalkeeper Bernd Leno, reports say.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
BISS IS IT
Yves Bissouma is being chased by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.
MUST WIN
Arsenal flop Shkodran Mustafi has got his career back on track after joining Spanish outfit Levante, writes CHISANGA MALATA.
The Germany international had been without a club following the expiration of his short-term contract with Schalke at the end of the 2020/21 season.
The centre-back was in talks to join Italian outfit Torino last month, although the Serie A side opted not to take a punt on the 29-year-old.
Levante promptly swooped and have subsequently handed the defender an 18-month contract at the Estadio Ciudad.
An excerpt of a club statement read: “Levante UD has reached an agreement with Shkodran Mustafi (04/17/1992, Bad Hersfeld, Germany) for the incorporation of the footballer to the ranks of the Levantine team until June 2023, with the option of one more season.”
An elated Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.”
He later added: “We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
LUC AT THAT
Lukaku and Ronaldo look set to join he golden boot race this season.
The pair went head-to-head last term in the Serie A, but the legendary CR7 edged it.
RICE RELEASE CLAUSE
Declan Rice wants a release clause in any new contract he signs with West Ham, according to reports.
90min are reporting that the 22-year-old wants a release clause inserted due to the interest he is attracting.
The England international has been attracted interested from Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But the Hammers have put a £100million price tag on him as a deterrent.
A release clause in any new contract for Rice – whose contract expires in 2024 – could serve both parties well.
A sizeable but attainable release clause on a long-term deal would guarantee the Hammers a sizeable fee, similar to Jack Grealish’s deal to City.
OL NO
RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo has agreed personal terms over a five-year contract at Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The 23-year-old Spain international is interested in a move to the Catalan giants.
But he needs to convince Leipzig to negotiate with Barca over a potential transfer, which won’t be cheap.
HAA LA LAND
Super agent Mino Raiola reportedly demanded wages of £825,000-a-WEEK for Erling Haaland this summer – as well as £34m fee for himself, writes JAKE LAMBOURNE.
The Borussia Dortmund striker, 21, was heavily linked with a move away from Signal Iduna Park following his goalscoring exploits for the Bundesliga side.
Manchester United, City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were all believed to be keen on securing his services.
Attention will now turn towards 2022 with the Norway international now available for just £64million due to a clause in his contract.
It was recently claimed how clubs were put off signing Haaland in the recent transfer window after being told he would cost £500million over five years.
And now Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk has revealed the whopping demands his agent Raiola was seeking for his client.
Not only were potential suitors informed they would have to pay Haaland £825k-a-week in wages, but they were also informed of his agent fee.
Falk has declared that Raiola himself was seeking a staggering £34m for brokering the transfer.
VALUABLE ASSETS
Manchester City boast the most valuable Premier League squad, followed by Manchester United.
IT’S ALL GUNN HORRIBLY WRONG
Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has sent an email to all the club’s staff in which he called for everyone to bounce back after a ‘hugely disappointing start’ to the season, writes DYLAN TERRY.
The Gunners have lost their first three games of the Premier League campaign, conceding nine goals and failing to score.
The dreadful early run has left them rock bottom of the table amid growing pressure on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta – but he has received backing in the form of transfer funds, with the club topping the charts as the biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer.
And Venkatesham wants them to build on that by turning things around on the pitch.
In an email obtained by the Evening Standard, he said: “Of course, I write this update against the backdrop of a hugely disappointing start to the season.
“I know how tough this is for all of you, both as supporters and employees, with criticism coming from all angles.
“At times like this it is critical we stick together and stay positive. We have a very important run of games coming up after the international break and I’m confident we can and will come out fighting.”
‘WIN WIN’
Gary Neville believes Daniel James’ £25million switch from Manchester United to Leeds is “win win” for all concerned.
United legend Nev said: “He’ll suit the way they play with such pace on the counter-attack. He’ll love it there.
“It’s a good thing for United to get the money they did, and good for Dan to further his career at a good club.”
JACK THE LAD
England international Jack Grealish newboy has revealed he swapped for Aston Villa for Manchester City in order to increase his chances of playing for the national team.
He told IVT: “That was a massive reason.
“To be playing for England in the biggest of games I need to be playing at club level in the biggest of games, that would be the Champions League and all these type of games.
“You see the likes of Phil playing in the Champions League, in the semi-finals, the quarter-final, the final and you could see that it really did help his England career.
“So I feel like to be play at the biggest games for England I need to be doing that at club level also.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has high hopes for Jack GrealishCredit: Getty
DYNAMIC DUO
Former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor has heaped praise on England’s midfield duo Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.
The pair put in a solid performance in England’s 4-0 win against Hungary at the Puskas Arena, Budapest.
And Rice even got his second ever international goal for the Three Lions, scoring the fourth and final goal.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor questioned how long West Ham and Leeds can keep hold of their star men.
He said: “I watched Rice and Phillips last night, (they) were outstanding.
“But what was going through my head is ‘how long can these players stay at their clubs? How long can Leeds keep hold of Kalvin Phillips? How long can West Ham keep hold of Declan Rice?’
“Because if I’m them, they’re all going to be talking while they’re away ‘oh we’ve got Villarreal, Atalanta, we’ve got the Leipzig’s, we’ve got PSG’.
“And you’d have banter about it: ‘oh who have you got? Oh you’ve got no-one.’
“Do you know what I mean? You know what football banter’s like Trev and Jamie.
“I just can’t see them staying like more than another season at their clubs, I feel like they’re gonna wanna go and play at the top.
“They’re getting it with their country, so they’ll wanna get it with their clubs.”
‘THEY DON’T CARE’
Ian Wright slammed Fifa and Uefa for not doing enough to tackle racism after Hungary fans abused England players on Thursday, writes KEALAN HUGHES.
Raheem Sterling, 26, and Jude Bellingham, 18, were both subject to monkey chants from the home crowd.
And the Puskas Arena was full despite Hungary being forced to play games behind closed doors by Uefa due to fans displaying racist and homophobic banners during Euro 2020.
But since the 2022 World Cup qualifying match fell under Fifa jurisdiction, fans were allowed in, something which Wright could not beleive.
He said during ITV’s coverage of the match: “You can’t believe that two organisations can’t get together and give them a three-match ban.
“The sad thing is that black players will know – especially when there’s a full stadium there – that they are going to get racially abused because they’re banned as it is, they’re allowed back in so as soon as someone like Sterling is getting fouled, they know they’re going to get the abuse.
“It’s in their workplace that this is happening. I think it’s embarrassing. I don’t know what to say about Uefa and Fifa. They don’t care enough. They don’t care enough to do anything about it.
“We’ve got to say ourselves, like Gareth so rightly said, we’ve got our own problems. It’s only a couple of weeks ago that someone got arrested for abusing Jadon Sancho.
“So, of course, we’ve got our own problems but that doesn’t mean you can’t condemn that kind of behaviour.
“The banners, the videos, the armbands, the everything, the gestures… they don’t do anything.
“It’s all laughable, they don’t do anything. You’ve got to come down hard on people.”
UNITED STILL KEEN ON BISSOUMA
Manchester United are said to be still interested in signing Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Bissouma, 25, was reportedly on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer wishlist.
But the club never ended up making a move for the Mali international, who has also reportedly courted interest from Arsenal and Liverpool,
But the Metro claim, United could revisit their interest in the midfielder in the January transfer window.
ALL AUR NOTHING
Serge Aurier is reportedly keen on a move to Arsenal after leaving Tottenham, writes MARC MAYO.
Spurs terminated Aurier’s contract a year early on deadline day having failed to find a buyer during the summer transfer market.
The Ivorian defender’s next step remains to be seen but an incredible switch to his old team’s bitter rivals is said to be of interest.
Sky Sports claim the right-back has informed Arsenal of his interest as he looks to find a new club in England.
Mikel Arteta is nonetheless already well-stocked for the position having signed Takehiro Tomiyasu on deadline day.
The £20million Japan international will compete with Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles for a spot in the team.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
