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Arsenal will be looking to build on a decent first season under Unai Emery, with the club looking to add some quality to the ranks to ensure they challenge for the top four.

The Gunners are keen on adding to the squad to support Emery in his pursuit of bringing success back to the club, and there are bound to be plenty of names linked with a move to the Emirates this summer.

However, unlike some of their rivals in the Premier League, the Gunners will have to be careful in what they spend, and this weekend has seen the club quoted (as per L’Equipe) a fee of around £13.5m should they wish to sign Paris St Germain youngster Christopher Nkunku.

And while Nkunku might not have the goals to immediately catch the eye of onlooking Arsenal fans, his age and overall performances when given the chance for the Paris giants should encourage Arsenal fans.

Five goals last season in only 13 starts is a good enough return for the 21-year-old, who can fill in on either wing position as well as down the middle in a central striker role.

Nkunku has as yet failed to reach his maximum potential, but we have seen in years gone by that young players can often come into their own in a new environment, much like we saw with Thierry Henry many years ago, who arrived at Arsenal far from the prolific goalscorer he would become.

Arsenal are desperate for squad depth, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck both moving on this summer to leave gaping holes in the Gunners’ squad.

Nkunku could well come into the fold in that respect, with his versatility making the ideal sort of candidate for a club like Arsenal to sign given their reported current financial constraints.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Dinamo Zagreb attacker Dani Olmo has been heavily linked with a possible move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, with Mundo Deportivo claiming that a deal is nearing completion.

On the chalkboard

What exactly can the Spain Under-21 international do, however?

Olmo has not really been seen on these shores, tucked away in the Croatian League, and statistics are relatively scarce.

However, at the age of 21, he has made over 100 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals and providing 21 assists, and is capable of playing in attacking midfield and on both flanks.

A lithe forward, he excels with the ball at his feet and is capable of beating men at will. One clip on a YouTube video showcasing his skills sees him slipping away from six opposition players. Yes, you read that right, six.

A member of the Spain squad that won the Under-21 European Championships this summer, Olmo played four games at the tournament and his statistics are enlightening.

Per WhoScored, he averaged two key passes per game, 1.8 dribbles and four shots per game. He scored three goals and provided one assist.

He is regularly roughhoused by opposition defenders and was fouled 1.8 times per game, while he also averaged a pass completion rate of 82.9%.

One might think that number is relatively low for a player featuring for Spain but it speaks more to his desire to run with the ball, thus he is attempting to pass it at speed and that can lead to inaccuracy.

He also makes 1.3 tackles per game, which, for Mauricio Pochettino, is likely to go down well.

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A hard worker

Olmo is constantly on the lookout for the next opportunity.

He can often collect the ball from deep and drive forward, looking to beat defenders and create space for those around him.

Mundo Deportivo speaks of a bid being tabled from Spurs of €25m (£22.4m), and that is about right for a player who appears to be bursting onto the big stage.

His high ceiling is evidenced by his participation, and form, in the summer tournament and one feels that Zagreb will want to extract a high fee for such a promising young player.

Olmo, of course, is not yet the finished article, but Pochettino has polished a fair few rough diamonds in his time; he could do so again here.

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London News Online’s South London Press have published an exclusive that claims three Sky Bet League One teams are queueing up for the signature of Charlton Athletic’s Tariqe Fosu.

What’s the word, then?

The report states that Karl Robinson’s Oxford United, newbies Lincoln City and Rotherham United are all targeting the 23-year-old whose contract at the Valley is due to run out at the start of July.

Tariqe is one of many players set to exit the Addicks in the summer as they shuffle their pack ahead of their first season back in the Sky Bet Championship under Lee Bowyer.

The Cockney attacking midfielder joined from Reading during the Robinson reign and despite making 27 appearances in the league during 2018/2019, failed to feature in Charlton’s promotion run not playing a game after the end of March. Fosu is a former youth international with England.

Why Charlton should let Fosu quietly slip out the Valley back door

Bowyer and Charlton should let Fosu quietly slip out the back door of the Valley and allow a group of the clubs they left behind in League One to fight over his services.

The final couple of months of a historic campaign for the Addicks proved that the Englishman is quite simply surplus to requirements, not required to play a role in the most vital part of the term.

There’s the argument that stepping up a level means the Valley club need a bigger squad and could do with Fosu as a back-up option.

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However, the CAM also comfortable out on the left wing was barely able to contribute two goals and four assists in the best part of 30 appearances in League One last season.

Only being able to produce these weak figures in the third tier suggest that Fosu would be unable to have any kind of impact in the second tier, as was proven during his time at Reading.

The Addicks are best off forgetting about Fosu and not carrying any passengers with them in the next step up of their journey back to the big time. He’s been a good servant at stages but his time is now up.

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Loads of football fans believe Daniel Sturridge could be on his way to Rangers this summer after the striker was released by Liverpool on Tuesday.

There’s been no direct transfer link to the Gers apart from fairly short odds at various bookmakers, but fans feel the player’s prior relationship with Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard at Anfield could play a big role in determining his future.

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The 29-year-old’s time at Anfield has been blighted by injury and he managed to score just four goals last season but does have a history of being a prolific striker at a top level.

Back in the 2013/14 season he scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Reds, emerging as one of the best forwards in British football.

If Gerrard can help get him playing and unlock that kind of form again then he’d obviously be on to a winner.

Whether he’ll end up moving to Glasgow remains to be seen but he’d be an intriguing option for the Gers, who already have stars like Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe available.

These fans have taken to Twitter this week to share their thoughts that Sturridge could be on his way north…

Leeds United have been mightily unlucky with injuries this season, haven’t they?

Marcelo Bielsa has seen a number of his key players miss considerable chunks of the 2018/19 campaign and now faces a huge dilemma heading into the play-offs.

With both Barry Douglas and Ezgjan Alioski suffering season-ending injuries in April, the Argentine may look to Stuart Dallas to fill the left-back position in the Whites’ semi-final first-leg with Derby County on Saturday.

However, when you consider the Northern Ireland international’s recent performances for Leeds, this could end up being an extremely costly mistake for Bielsa to make.

Although Dallas provided an attacking threat against Ipswich last weekend which resulted in him scoring at Portman Road, he was simply terrible defensively. Constantly out of position, Dallas was directly culpable for the Tractor Boys’ second goal and had a nightmare of an afternoon up against Andre Dozzell who constantly targeted the Leeds ace.

With Derby boasting a considerable threat in wide positions from both Tom Lawrence and Harry Wilson, Bielsa could benefit from replacing Dallas with Jamie Shackleton at Pride Park.

A prodigious talent, the 19-year-old has been in outstanding form for the club’s under-23 side in recent weeks and has previous experience of playing as a full-back in the Championship this season, albeit on the right-hand side of defence.

Having impressed in three different positions for Leeds, there is no reason why Shackleton cannot provide the security needed to help his side overcome the Rams as his ability to play without fear could be extremely beneficial for Bielsa.

After placing his faith in a number of Leeds’ academy graduates this year, it would be fitting that by fielding Shackleton at the weekend, the 63-year-old ends up making the choice which leads the Whites to the Premier League at the end of the May.

What do you think Leeds fans? Should Bielsa start Shackleton at left-back against Derby on Saturday? Or would it be too much of a risk to play the 19-year-old in such a pivotal clash? Let us know below.

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Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen have both returned to Tottenham Hotspur training ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg tie against Ajax, per the London Evening Standard.

Vertonghen was absent from the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United while Sissoko sustained a groin injury in the first leg of the quarter-final encounter with Manchester City.

Plan A

Plan A, quite obviously, sees both Sissoko and Vertonghen restored to the XI.

Sissoko offers the engine required to take the ball from his defenders and push the play forward on the transition, and he can be trusted to play in a two-man midfield, potentially alongside Eric Dier, a player who thrives on winning the ball back and recycling it simply.

Vertonghen will surely start if he is fit and that would allow manager Mauricio Pochettino to deploy a three-man backline, with Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez alongside him.

All three players used to play for Ajax, and utilising such a defence could nullify the Dutch club’s nippy wingers and creative midfielders.

Of course, Fernando Llorente is likely to play up front in the absence of the injured Harry Kane and the suspended Son Heung-Min, but there is nothing Spurs can particularly do about that.

Plan B

Pochettino may be forced into plan B if Vertonghen and Sissoko fail to prove their fitness in time for kick-off tomorrow evening.

This is far less ideal. Alderweireld and Sanchez do have an excellent partnership but the latter has been prone to lapses in recent months and could prove something of an Achilles heel for Spurs, particularly without the protection of Vertonghen. Juan Foyth is unlikely to be trusted in such a momentous game.

Dele Alli has been out of form in recent months and turned in a truly woeful performance at the weekend as West Ham United became the first away team to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Nevertheless, the only alternative to him in midfield is the 18-year-old Oliver Skipp and, like Foyth, it is difficult to foresee him being trusted by Pochettino in a game of this magnitude.

Thus, with Alli out of form, Pochettino could instead rely on brawn instead of brains and pick both Dier and Victor Wanyama to shield a two-man central defensive partnership and potentially free up Alli, valued at £90 million by Transfermarkt, to roam forward.

He has not made any impact in that area of the pitch in recent outings, however, and he would need to turn in a season-defining performance for Spurs to have any hope of securing a first-leg lead in what is perhaps the club’s biggest game in their recent history.

Liverpool are still well within reach of landing the Premier League title after a 2-0 win at Cardiff City this weekend.

The Reds are hoping to beat Man City to top spot in what is an exciting battle to the finish in the English top flight, and manager Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to land the title.

However, Liverpool are going to want to keep up the pressure for years to come at the top, and to do so, they will need to ensure they keep adding new faces to the ranks to make sure the squad keeps improving and challenging.

This weekend has seen the Reds linked with Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, who has been in fine form for the French side this season.

Pepe has been a vital cog for the French side, scoring some 19 goals across the course of the campaign and pushing PSG to some extent in the race for the Ligue 1 title.

The winger though is bound to attract attention due to his performances, and if he was to sign for Liverpool he could prove to be the ideal sort of signing for Klopp and his team.

A pacey forward who can also play in the wide positons, he’d suit the quick attacking style of Liverpool and take some of the pressure off the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in wide areas.

Pepe is definitely going to get his move sooner or later, and Liverpool need to ensure they dont’ miss the boat with this one and get their big money bid in as soon as they can.

It takes little reminding that Arsenal’s defence needs a proper overhaul in the summer. Indeed, the Gunners’ shocking defending has often held them back this season and, frankly, Unai Emery needs to address this concern if he aims to challenge for bigger things in his second season.

However, it seems he’s already started drawing the blueprint for potential signings. According to reports from Argentinian reporter Martin Liberman (via Football London), the Spaniard wants to sign Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico to slot into his side’s defence next season. Interestingly, the Argentine’s being dubbed as the new Javier Zanetti thanks to his versatility in defence and ability going forward as well, impressing in the Dutch capital.

Tagliafico’s been a crucial part of Ajax’s stunning season and was rock solid in their amazing UEFA Champions League success at the Santiago Bernabeu, keeping some world-class attackers quiet in one of the most excitingly fluid sides on the continent this term. Furthermore, he’s been extremely consistent in the left-back slot for the Dutch giants, being rock-solid defensively and ambitious going forward as well.

The Argentine left back’s having a stellar individual season, helping Ajax keep 13 clean sheets in the league, along with a few in Europe. He’s averaging 2.3 tackle per game, 2.1 interceptions, 1.7 clearances per game (stats via WhoScored) while making a few key passes every other game as well.  In terms of the stats every football fan will love, he’s scored one, assisted four in Eredivisie, with his impressive passing and crossing ability elevating Ajax’s game.

Simply put, he’d be a wonderful signing for the Gunners and one who can slot seamlessly into Emery’s system at the Emirates stadium. Tactically versatile and strong enough to get up and down the pitch, you Arsenal fans can bet your bottom dollar you’d have a new cult-hero on your hands.

It’ll be very difficult to pry him away from Ajax with other big clubs surely keen. However, Emery could get the perfect blend of Nacho Monreal’s defensive knowledge and Sead Kolasinac’s attacking flair in the reliable Tagliafico, whose intelligence and grit will make them rock-solid defensively.

Arsenal fans, would you be pleased with Tagliafico’s potential arrival in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Marco Silva should stray away from his preferred lone striker system for the big match against Chelsea, and instead deploy a two-man attack with Cenk Tosun partnering Richarlison up front.

Why should he do this?

Despite having a fantastic first half of the season, summer signing Richarlison has endured a woeful 2019, in which he has scored just three goals in three-and-a-half months, compared to nine goals before the turn of the year.

At times, the big-money striker signed from Watford has looked lost upfront, with little aerial support or any form of hold up play from those around him such as Bernard, Theo Walcott and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

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In Tosun, Silva has a decent frontman who has been criminally underused this season, despite a fantastic end to the previous campaign in which he hit five goals in 12 starts.

The Turkish international is a far more physical presence than his Brazilian teammate Richarlison, but much less mobile – combined, however, the two could be the perfect foil for each other’s talents and wreak havoc up front against the Blues.

Who would make way?

A much maligned figure who somehow keeps his place in the team week in, week out, is Walcott.

The former Arsenal man, who turns 30 today, has managed to score just twice in the league this season, whilst setting up three more, but has somehow made 29 appearances, 23 of them from the first whistle.

A much more effective looking attack would be for Silva to switch his preferred 4-2-3-1 system into a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Bernard and Sigurdsson as the central attacking midfielders, and Tosun and Richarlison in the two central striking positions.

By doing this, the Toffees will hopefully see Richarlison return to his best form, whilst they would also be able to afford Tosun some much needed game time which could put him in the shop window for the summer if he performs well – the 27-year-old has made just nine league starts this season.

Imagining life without Rafa Benitez at St James’ Park must be a scary thought for Newcastle United supporters, so they’ll be praying that Mike Ashley can actually work some magic for once. 

It’s safe to say that Ashley surprised everyone by actually spending money back in the January transfer window as he splashed the cash on Miguel Almiron, which has benefited them already. So, perhaps the Englishman will take inspiration from his summer move by lining up another raid in the summer.

Interestingly, it appears as if Ashley is currently thinking about Benitez’s future at the club, as according to The Sun, Newcastle United are preparing a £40 million Hoffenheim’s Joelinton in the hope of persuading Benitez to stay.

Salomon Rondon has impressed while operating just in front of Almiron in recent times but the forward isn’t really the type of player who can bring the best out of Newcastle’s record signing, as the 25-year-old thrived in behind a fast, creative striker during his time at Atlanta United in the form of Josef Martinez.

Joelinton would be the perfect partner for Almiron as he looks to make use of his pace in the final third, as well as holding the ball up and picking a pass, so the Paraguayan would soon find himself being presented with plenty of opportunities and could cause lots of problems with quick link-up play and one-two passes.

Also, the Brazilian has produced 11 goals and nine assists in the current campaign and he’s only 22 years of age, so he still has his best years ahead of him. He’s strong and surprisingly quick despite standing at 6’1 inches, with a huge amount of strength at his disposal.

Newcastle’s attack would be feared if Ashley signs Joelinton and Salomon Rondon joins permanently, with two beasts possibly leading the Magpies’ line. Indeed, an attack that involves Joelinton’s pace and finishing, Rondon’s strength and aerial ability and Almiron’s creative qualities would give plenty of Premier League teams nightmares.

Newcastle United fans, would you want to see Ashley splash the cash on Joelinton?  Could he potentially be a better option than Salomon Rondon?