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Wolverhampton Wanderers are in ongoing "negotiations" regarding a summer deal to bring Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez to the Premier League, according to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo.

Who is Guido Rodriguez?

Rodriguez is naturally a defensive midfielder who has played his football at the Benito Villamarin Stadium for the past three years since joining from CF America back in January 2020, and during that time, he’s become a regular feature of Manuel Pellegrini’s side having started 33 out of 38 La Liga matches last season.

However, the 29-year-old’s contract is set to expire in less than a year meaning that there’s a strong chance he could be sold for a decent fee before the end of the current transfer window, and should he depart, he won’t be short of potential suitors waiting to snap him up.

The Argentina international firmly established himself as the Spanish outfit’s both defensive and overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.98 during the previous campaign, and it appears that his high standard of displays have caught the eye of Fosun and Julen Lopetegui at Molineux.

Are Wolves signing Guido Rodriguez?

Taking to Twitter, Merlo revealed that Wolves are currently in talks for Rodriguez, though at this stage, it doesn't sound as if a deal is anywhere close to completion between the two parties. He wrote:

"Wolves is interested in signing Guido Rodriguez, a Betis midfielder whose contract ends in June 2024. There are negotiations underway between the clubs, but for now nothing close to being finalised."

Wolves recently lost their talisman in Ruben Neves, who has completed a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal, so Lopetegui will need to enter the market for a suitable replacement in that defensive midfield position, and having been lauded a “creative” number six by journalist Josh Bunting, Rodriguez could be the perfect heir.

Last season he ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 98th percentile for clearances versus other players in his position, form which saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards, highlighting his desire to get stuck in and clear the danger to protect his backline.

Real Betis’ £28k-per-week earner, however, is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third having scored seven goals and provided three assists since joining, so the fact that he’s impactful at both ends of the pitch will be yet another attractive attribute to those at Molineux.

Furthermore, the Betis star has the flexibility to operate in four different positions across the pitch, including three roles in the midfield and even at centre-back, so he would be an excellent versatile option for the manager to have at his disposal.

Finally, Rodriguez already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured eight pieces of silverware since the start of his career, the most notable being when he was crowned 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina, so he could instil a much-needed winning mentality into the rest of the squad in the Midlands.

Chelsea are thought to be closing in on the signing of Montpellier forward Elye Wahi, according to an exciting update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Elye Wahi?

The 20-year-old has emerged as an exciting young player in France, catching the eye with his attacking performances for Montpellier, having broken into the senior side from the B team back in 2020.

In total, Wahi has scored 32 goals in 91 appearances for his current club, also chipping in with nine assists, but it was last season that really saw him go up a gear. He netted 19 times in just 33 Ligue 1 appearances – only 29 of those were starts – and it was a further sign that the Frenchman is emerging as a big talent.

The three-cap France Under-21 international is out of contract at Montpellier in the summer of 2025, so it increasingly looks as though he will depart in the coming weeks, allowing the French outfit to receive good money for his services rather than lose him for nothing next year.

Chelsea have emerged as the standout candidates to sign Wahi sooner rather than later, and a fresh claim suggests that the transfer could be agreed in the near future.

Are Chelsea signing Elye Wahi?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that Chelsea are making strong progress in their efforts to sign Wahi this summer, with talks believed to be at an advanced stage:

"Understand Chelsea are now advancing in talks to sign Elye Wahi — agreement getting closer, new negotiations round scheduled with Montpellier.

"Chelsea plan includes loan move for Wahi this season then CFC future. Chelsea want to accelerate next week as there’s competition."

This is a hugely exciting update for Chelsea supporters, with Wahi a long-term prospect who could grow into a fantastic attacking player at Stamford Bridge, having already made such a positive impact.

That being said, he has already shown that he can star in one of Europe's top five leagues, so perhaps he should be viewed as an effective squad player from the off, helping fill the Blues' issues up front rather than being loaned out. The west Londoners struggled with the likes of Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line last season.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the "constant progress" that Wahi has made in a short space of time, and he has also said that the 2022/23 campaign was "a truly incredible season for the 20-year-old Montpellier jewel".

For too long, it has felt as though Chelsea haven't been focusing on youth enough, with their squad growing old with the likes of Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante and Aubameyang in it in recent times, but it is encouraging to see the club potentially bringing in a top-quality youngster who can be a big part of the club's success under Mauricio Pochettino for many more years to come.

The Argentine has always been a keen advocate of youth, as he showed during his spell in charge at Tottenham, helping a young Harry Kane and Dele Alli burst onto the scene, and it will be fascinating to see how he uses Wahi, should Chelsea get a deal over the line.

Leeds United could be set to take another huge step towards a Championship promotion, if Daniel Farke is to secure the final star to complete his defensive overhaul.

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

With Ethan Ampadu their first summer signing, and Karl Darlow set to be the next, it seems that bolstering the backline has been the new manager's priority since his announcement earlier this month.

However, these subsequent deals, and even his appointment, was all prefaced by the Whites' reported interest in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

Clearly boasting plenty of suitors within the Yorkshire club, the 26-year-old centre-back will likely remain a target of theirs, with just a £10m price tag certainly affordable given they unloaded £7m to get the Welshman from Chelsea.

Although his actual game time has been limited of late, he would still enter Elland Road with experience beyond most in the changing room, and most importantly, pedigree when it comes to earning promotion from the Championship.

How many games has Nat Phillips played for Liverpool?

Despite coming up through the Reds' academy, Phillips has only featured 29 times for his boyhood club, which was only spurred on due to an injury crisis.

Few expected much from the hulking defender of whom few had heard much about, yet his displays on the biggest stage actually impressed many.

He clearly earned the approval of Jurgen Klopp, who was keen to praise the 6 foot 4 titan back after his 2020 debut:

"He's a brilliant guy, smart guy, intelligent, everything. He's not easy on the eye, he's not Messi but who cares?

"In the air, he's a monster! He was incredible. For the first game, I think everyone can imagine how nervy that must be after a long wait."

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp would echo that sentiment a year later, claiming:

"The second goal really helps and Nat Phillips has had an unbelievable time, he's full of confidence. He's a throwback defender. He wants to make blocks, he wants to make tackles, he's got great anticipation. He knows his limitations. Right now he must think he's in dreamland."

Across 17 Premier League games in that 2020/21 campaign, Phillips miraculously maintained a 7.19 average rating, buoyed by his 84% pass accuracy, 1.2 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 4.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

He would then translate these starring qualities into the Championship, as he spent six months of the 2021/22 season on loan at Bournemouth, cementing their promotion push with another 7.04 average rating and a further 4.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

That latter statistic would have ranked him joint-first among Leeds' squad last season, with his rating higher than any within that squad too.

To acquire the stalwart on a permanent basis would be to welcome an experienced star into Farke's fold, who is sure to offer further reinforcements to that fragile backline that is being targeted for improvement. The homegrown colossus even boasts five appearances in the Champions League too, as if his CV needed expanding.

Darlow and Ampadu's additions mark two huge strides in the right direction, with Phillips set to add that final starring piece.

Provided they continue to showcase such proactivity in the market and continue to bolster elsewhere, namely finding a key striker to spearhead their promotion charge, this could all culminate in an instant return to the top flight.

Lionel Messi is one of, if not the greatest player of all time. That is a fact of football. And with that status comes the privilege of playing with some of the best players that the beautiful game has to offer, who will likely spread the word of the Argentine's greatness even further.

There are many great honours in football, from the Champions League, all the way to the World Cup, but sometimes, players can simply realise their dream by sharing a pitch with Messi.

With that said, it must be some feeling to be named in the list of the legend's favourite teammates throughout his illustrious career – a list that we've taken a detailed look at, after it was revealed by Titan Sports, via The Daily Mirror.

10 David Villa

Arguably playing with Messi at the peak of his powers, David Villa formed quite the partnership with the Argentine, scoring a total of 48 goals in 119 appearances for Barcelona.

Messi, meanwhile, with Villa as a teammate, famously scored 91 goals in the calendar year of 2012.

9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Likely fuelling Zlatan Ibrahimovic's planet-sized ego even more, as if that was needed, Messi also named the Swede in his list of his favourite teammates.

During his time at Barcelona, the former AC Milan forward made just 46 appearances, in which he scored 22 goals in a short, but efficient spell at the Nou Camp.

8 Sergio Busquets

Messi then moved on to his former Barcelona teammate, and current Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets. And this one is up there with the least surprising.

Such is the way that Busquets makes everything easier out of the spotlight, providing the platform for greatness, many attacking players over the years will likely give the same answer as Messi.

Now in MLS, the Barcelona legend will almost certainly do the same job.

7 Andres Iniesta

There's not many players that can match Messi's Barcelona legacy, but if anyone can come close, it is Andres Iniesta. And the iconic number 10 recognised the honour of playing with the legendary midfielder, naming the Spaniard in the list of his favourite teammates.

Iniesta won the lot during his time in La Liga, and remains one of the best players to ever step onto the famous Nou Camp turf.

It came as no shock when Messi name-dropped his former teammate.

6 Xavi

Just like during their playing career, you can't get Iniesta without Xavi. Together, they formed one of the best midfields in football history alongside the aforementioned Busquets, winning four Champions League trophies together.

It's no surprise that Messi named all three midfielders in his list. There's no doubting they truly helped provide the platform for his incredible success throughout his career.

5 Neymar

Even ignoring Neymar's pure football ability for a second, his friendship alone with Messi was going to get him on the list.

Back to his football ability, Neymar isn't exactly a poor player, either. His flare was the perfect addition to Messi's magic, with the duo enjoying particular success during their Barcelona days, while also showing occasional glimpses of magic together at Barca.

4 Luis Suarez

Just like Neymar, Luis Suarez's friendship gets him on Messi's list first and foremost, before we even look back on his incredible Barcelona career.

Together with Messi and Neymar, Suarez formed one of the best front threes in the history of football. Together, 'MSN' played a total of 409, scoring an incredible 344 goals and recording 157 assists, winning honours such as the Champions League.

Suarez, himself, during his time at Barcelona, scored 195 goals in 283 appearances.

3 Samuel Eto'o

Another player that Messi had the privilege of scoring plenty of goals alongside, Samuel Eto'o was as selfless as ever during his time at Barcelona, helping a younger version of the Argentine to great success.

In total, Eto'o scored 130 goals in 199 appearances for a sensational record in front of goal.

He remains a Barcelona legend, and one of Messi's favourite players.

2 Deco

Like Eto'o, Deco had an impact on the early stages of Messi's career – something that the forward acknowledged by listing the former Barcelona man in his list of favourite teammates over the years.

During his time at the La Liga giants, Deco made 161 appearances, winning one Champions League, and scoring 20 goals.

1 Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho was always going to feature on this list, wasn't he? At the time, it felt like the passing of the torch between the Brazilian legend to Messi, as if he was almost welcoming space for his forthcoming legacy.

Not many would have believed at the time that a player could better Ronaldinho's time at Barcelona. Yet, here we are, with arguably the greatest player of all time doing exactly that, and more.

Rangers are now plotting a move for Queens Park Rangers midfielder Sam Field, with Michael Beale plotting to replace two first-team players with the 25 year-old, according to a report from Football Insider.

Who are Rangers signing this summer?

The Gers have seemingly done most of their summer transfer business, having significantly strengthened the spine of the team by bringing in the likes of Kieran Dowell, Leon Balogun and Jose Cifuentes, however they could still be in the market for a couple more players.

With Fashion Sakala recently leaving to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Fahya for an undisclosed fee, there could be space in the squad for a new striker, although Beale believes his squad are "healthy in numbers" in forward areas.

The Light Blues boss is in no rush to re-invest the money raised from selling Sakala by signing a forward but he could be set to make a move for a new midfielder, with Football Insider now reporting that he is interested in signing Field.

Read The Latest Rangers Transfer News HERE

Beale is said to be a big fan of the QPR midfielder, having spent time working with him during his stint at Loftus Road, and Rangers are now plotting a move to sign him, registering their interest in bringing him to Ibrox.

There may be competition for the 25-year-old's signature, however, with Premier League side Burnley also ready to test QPR's resolve to keep him, as he enters the final year of his contract with the Championship side.

With experienced duo Scott Arfield and Steven Davis departing following the expiration of their contracts this summer, Beale could be keen to add another midfielder to his ranks, and a move for the Englishman may now be on the cards.

How good is Sam Field?

The former West Bromwich Albion was one of QPR's best-performing players in the Championship last season, averaging a Sofascore match rating of 6.98, which placed him second in the squad.

Although it was a poor season for the Rs, only just managing to avoid relegation to League One, the central midfielder impressed on a personal level, particularly in a defensive sense.

Over the past year, the 5 foot 11 maestro ranks in the 98th percentile for blocks and clearances per 90, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level, while also placing in the 93rd percentile for interceptions, and the 92nd for aerials won.

QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth was clearly impressed by the Stourbridge-born midfielder, lauding him as "sensational" back in April, with football writer Ian McCullough previously describing him as "absolutely superb."

With Beale pointing out that he is well-stocked in attacking areas of the pitch, it could be worth re-investing the money raised from selling Sakala on a new midfielder, and the QPR star could be available for a reduced fee, with his contract expiring next summer.

Field's performances in the Championship indicate he could make a real impact for Rangers in their pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title, and he could be a quality addition to the squad.

As the chaos of Liverpool's pursuit of midfield reinforcements continues, the Reds have briefly turned part of their attention to potentially adding a right winger to their ranks to back up Mohamed Salah, according to reports.

So far this summer, Jurgen Klopp has welcomed just two new signings, in the form of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Now, however, the Premier League giants have reportedly turned their attention towards Johan Bakayoko.

What's the latest on Johan Bakayoko to Liverpool?

According to Dutch reporter Rif Elfrink, Liverpool have enquired with Bakayoko's management about how much a move for the PSV Eindhoven winger would cost this summer.

The Reds will have to get in line if they are to pursue the winger's signature, however, with Everton and Paris Saint-Germain still in the race, according to Sacha Taviolori, with Liverpool's Merseyside rivals set to make an approach to PSV.

Klopp's main focus may well be on putting an end to his current midfield crisis, which looks set to result in the arrival of Wataru Endo, but Bakayoko could still be an option to reinforce the attack.

Should Liverpool sign Johan Bakayoko?

Whilst Liverpool's immediate problems do not come down the right-hand side, with Salah often the star man and showing no signs of slowing down, welcoming an adequate deputy to the Egyptian would be smart business. And a young player like Bakayoko is an ideal candidate.

The winger, still only 20-years-old, had an incredibly impressive campaign last time out, scoring nine goals and assisting a further six in all competitions. Still so young, the chances of Bakayoko getting even better are increasing by the week, with youth football writer Moby Haque offering some insight on Thursday:

"I REALLY hope we can sign him, our fans would love him. He is the Sadio like winger, completely unpredictable on the wing. One of the best PSV academy talents in a while. Gakpo can attest."

So far this season, the Belgian has featured four times for PSV, including two games in Champions League qualifying, in which he has made two assists. The cherry on top for Liverpool, if they do push on for Bakayoko's signature, would be beating their Merseyside rivals, Everton, to their target.

According to Transfermarkt, too, the PSV man is worth just €10m (£9m), making him an affordable option for those at Anfield, so they should have no issue trumping the Blues for his signature.

Bakayoko has earned high praise throughout his career already, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who said last season: "20 years of age. Such an electric player. Still very far from being a finished product but the potential is really high!"

Meanwhile, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also said that the winger is, "performing at a very high level".

Kulig also listed the youngster's impressive stats last season, with the winger directly involved in a goal every 137 minutes, and enjoying an expected goal rate of 3.85, as well as an expected assist rate of 6.67. On top of that, Bakayoko also made 1.7 key passes per 90, made six big chances, and had 60% dribble success.

With that said, it's no surprise that Liverpool have reportedly enquired about a potential deal for the PSV man this summer, who had a standout campaign last season, deservedly earning such high interest.

After a far from desired start to the Premier League season, Aston Villa could suffer another mishap so early into the campaign after what was a thrilling summer for Unai Emery.

The Spaniard teamed up with Monchi at Villa Park to deliver some exciting moves in the transfer window on the back of a successful end to the 2022/23 calendar, welcoming Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby to the fold.

Things have rapidly taken a turn for the Villans, with two major injury blows shocking the squad, seeing Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings both away from the action for the foreseeable future.

An opening day rollicking by Newcastle United left a bitter taste for those associated with the club, however, things could still take another negative turn regarding the side’s outgoings.

Who could leave Villa Park this summer?

The most expected player to depart Villa Park at present is Philippe Coutinho, who has been linked with a lucrative move to Qatar after a failed spell back in the Premier League.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Another name speculated to be allowed to leave the club is academy product Cameron Archer, who according to journalist Alan Nixon is a player the Villans are open to selling for the right conditions, as relayed by Birmingham Live.

The speculation regarding the striker's future could be a blow for the club, who have one of the country’s most promising young forwards at their disposal.

How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?

Having once been hailed as “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old showcased just what he can do if given the chance last season, where he thrived during a half-season loan at Middlesbrough.

The Englishman wasted no time in becoming accustomed to his surroundings, scoring 11 goals and securing six assists in only 20 Championship appearances for the Reds.

With Ollie Watkins as Emery’s first-choice striker, there’s little room for the academy graduate to worm into the starting eleven, however, given his success in the senior game last term, there is surely a place for his talents in the squad.

Considering the busy schedule ahead for Emery’s side, with the potential of added fixtures in the Europa Conference League, the Spaniard could save the club millions by exerting Archer’s talents rather than seeking alternative reinforcements in the market.

Selling the marksman could be a mistake that has been made by the Villans before, with a similar narrative evident in the sale of fellow academy graduate Carney Chukwuemeka to Chelsea.

While Villa received a healthy £20m fee for the midfielder, his talents have become apparent already in the 2023/24 campaign, with Mauricio Pochettino selecting the 19-year-old to start against Liverpool in the Blues’ season opener.

Receiving substantial pay-outs for sporadic players is a plus to a degree, however, working with an upcoming star from the club's academy to the benefit of the player and the team is more rewarding.

Emery could save Villa millions by integrating Archer into his current side, who at 21 could be the eventual heir to Watkins and beyond if given a shot at his boyhood club.

Leeds United have agreed a deal to sign Swansea City striker Joel Piroe this summer, and a reliable journalist has revealed when the move is likely to be completed.

Where is Joel Piroe from?

Piroe was originally born in Wijchen, Netherlands, but made the move to the Championship when he joined Swansea from PSV Eindhoven back in 2021, and he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of Michael Duff’s first team having made a total of 96 appearances to date.

However, the 24-year-old’s contract is set to expire in less than a year, meaning that now would be the perfect opportunity for his side to cash in, and he won’t have any problem attracting potential suitors having established himself as their top-performing offensive player last term.

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Daniel Farke’s side were one of the clubs firmly in the mix to sign the Dutchman, and it wasn’t long before Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas confirmed that talks were ongoing regarding a switch, and there has now been a significant development if the following update is to be believed.

When will Leeds sign Piroe?

According to The Daily Mail, Piroe is "heading" to Leeds to start undergoing his medical tests after the club "agreed on a fee" of £12m to sign him from Swansea.

Southampton, Leicester City and Everton have also "shown interest", but it was the LS11 outfit who held "key negotiations" on Monday and have "worked hard to convince the forward of a move" over the past couple of days.

Fabrizio Romano has also since revealed that the centre-forward is expected to put pen to paper on the necessary paperwork to fully finalise the move by the end of the week.

How many goals has Piroe scored?

In the Championship last season, Piroe racked up an impressive 21 goal contributions (19 goals and two assists) in 43 appearances, form which saw him receive five man-of-the-match awards, but the striker also posed a constant threat even when he didn’t hit the back of the net.

The Roebbers client, who is naturally left-footed, recorded a total of 140 shots over the course of the previous campaign which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, not to mention the strong link-up play that he has with his peers, ranking in the 96th percentile for pass completion.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

Swansea’s “clinical” forward, as hailed by journalist Josh Bunting, is also a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even in attacking midfield.

After missing out on a deal to sign Aston Villa's Cameron Archer, who has reached an agreement to join Sheffield United, Farke will have no doubt felt a sense of disappointment, but the imminent arrival of Piroe should lift his spirits. He's arguably a better option than the less experienced Archer considering his proven track record in the second tier.

Arsenal are looking at strengthening their defence before deadline day following the massive injury blow to Jurrien Timber.

Recent reports have revealed who the Gunners could target as a result, as Mikel Arteta and Edu consider their options for the remaining days of the summer transfer window.

By the first week of July, the north Londoners had already added Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Timber to the squad, with the arrival of their most recent capture, David Raya, coming earlier this month.

The opening day injury to Timber knocked the preparation Arsenal had covered in order to add to their depth in defence, however with under two days of the window remaining, moves are expected to be made.

Who could Arsenal sign before deadline day?

Reports in Spain have linked the Gunners with centre-back Eric Garcia, who traded Manchester City for Barcelona in 2021, however the Spaniard is also rumoured to be wanted by Girona.

Another player that has emerged as a potential target comes closer to home, with the Daily Mail naming Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi as one of the ‘prominent targets’ for the club to eye.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

News in Denmark has now listed Arsenal as a potential suitor for Danish right-back Alexander Bah, who signed for Benfica last summer from Slavia Prague.

The report notes that the defender could be the ideal coup for the north Londoners considering the loss of Timber to injury and loan exit of Kieran Tierney, however, it’s believed that despite the Eagles’ reluctance to sell the 25-year-old, an offer of around €35m (£30m) would be hard to turn down.

Who is Alexander Bah?

Having been lauded as “incredible” after scoring his first goal for the Portuguese champions by the 'Danish Scout' on social media, the versatile full-back could be the perfect acquisition for Arteta to consider.

Deployable as both a defender and a winger on the right side, the Denmark international has strengths going forward consistent with the demands that the Arsenal boss has of his full-backs in north London.

As per FBref, last season in the Primeira Liga, the 25-year-old averaged an impressive average of 5.65 progressive passes and 2.83 progressive carries per 90 for Benfica, as well as recording a stellar 1.53 key passes per 90.

Based on such numbers, it’s clear to see why the "fast" and "quality" Dane – as once described by former Sporting CP and Zenit St Petersburg striker Danny – would be of interest to Arteta, particularly after the injury to Timber who proved to have a similar level of performance in Eredivisie, prior to his move to the capital.

Despite being deployed at centre-back for Ajax, the 22-year-old machine averaged a mammoth 8.62 progressive passes and 2.38 progressive carries per 90 for the Dutch side, suggesting the compatibility for Bah to take his place with a similar skill set identified, via FBref.

Defensively, the Benfica whiz was equally impressive as he was going forward last term, averaging a solid 2.83 tackles per 90 on the right side of defence to showcase his durability as a complete full-back.

Losing Timber was a monumentally disappointing shock for those at the Emirates, at a time when it was assumed that the Dutchman was the missing piece to fixing the lack of depth in quality in the back line.

In securing the signature of Bah, Arteta and Edu could find an instant replacement for the 22-year-old absentee, in a talent that has provided all the indicators that he could be a sufficient alternative to the £38m man.

Mikel Arteta has gotten Arsenal firing on all cylinders since his appointment, clearing out most of the deadwood and recruiting some top players who believe his cause as the Gunners manager.

After a rampant title fight last season with former mentor Pep Guardiola, Manchester City were the team with more energy as the Sky Blues clinched their seventh Premier League title. Arteta will be hoping he can his north London side to their first title in 20 years.

The post-Arsene Wenger era is in succession and the now Spaniard has made sure he’s brought youth with him for the ride – Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka are part of an attacking unit that dazzles 60,000 spectators in a stadium just a few miles from each of their respective birthplaces.

For the vast majority of the Premier League, Arsenal has been known to be an underdog in one way or another.

Whether it was the Gunners being pinned up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United for the title or trying to go toe-to-toe with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to be crowned the kings of London.

Arsenal missed out on a player who was the personification of an underdog – a rising starlet now thriving in the Premier League, Eberechi Eze.

What has been Eberechi Eze’s career path prior to Crystal Palace?

The 25-year-old may be reconsigned as one of the most talented players in the league who can “go past people, slip people in and finish” with ease, but his potential wasn’t recognised as a youngster at Arsenal.

Speaking on the Rising Ballers YouTube channel, Eze said:

"I started off at Arsenal, think I was eight, got released from there at 13, went to Fulham got released from there, went to Reading got released from there.

“There's bare rejections, a lot of rejections during that period. Then went to Millwall having to try to prove yourself again which as a young kid is difficult, again that didn't work out, got released from there."

“Arsenal was probably the hardest", he added. "My dream was to play for them so hearing them say no at 13 that was tough and I remember like training after I got released and I couldn't focus.

“I was crying whilst I was training. But I think that helped me so much in the other rejections because if I can get through Arsenal releasing me I can get through any other club releasing me.

“My mindset was if it was not going to be Arsenal I have to find somewhere else".

The England international impressed on a two-week trial at Queens Park Rangers before the west London club offered Eze a one-year contract in 2016.

The 2018/19 season was the attacking midfielder's first full season in the QPR first-team playing in all but one of the Hoops’ Championship games.

The 5f10 midfielder scored four and assisted three times in 2018/19 as his side finished 19th. The following season the now £30k-p/w player became the ‘creative’ beast that he is known as today.

Eze found the back of the net on 14 different occasions in the Championship while also managing to rack up eight assists in a mid-table QPR side. The midfield maestro created 82 chances across the season (10th most in the league) averaging 1.8 chances created per 90 minutes according to FotMob.

The skilful playmaker also averaged a staggering three successful dribbles per 90 with 61% of his take-ons being successful showing he’s not only capable of creating chances with through balls from deep areas of the pitch.

Eze’s world-beating season earned him a move across London to Crystal Palace as the Eagles splashed out £16m for the QPR prospect.

The Hoops also negotiated a 20% sell-on clause in Eze’s contract, which may be seen as very smart business as the midfielder is now reportedly worth at least £60m, per the Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney.

Will Arsenal regret releasing Eze?

The big question is will Arsenal regret releasing Eze?

After all, Arteta’s mighty Gunners will need to emulate Man City’s squad depth if they can go the distance in obtaining the title, even more so due to them playing in the UEFA Champions League this year.

The north London giants were the second-highest scorers in the Premier League last season with 88 goals. To put this into context, third-place Manchester United only managed to convert 58 times throughout the 2022/23 Premier League season. This may be why Arsenal have so many players in double figures for their goalscoring tally.

Eze did manage to score 10 times in a mid-table Palace side which would suggest that he would have scored a lot more if he was to play his home games at the Emirates Stadium.

The lowest-scoring player on the list is Kai Havertz with only seven goals to his name, however, it must be noted that the German did finish as Chelsea’s top goalscorer last season in the Premier League.

One of Eze’s key attributes is his "silky" dribbling – in the words of former teammate Geoff Cameron.

The 5 foot 10 Englishman tops the chart with 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 last season twice as many then Leandro Trossard and triple what Havertz averaged.

The "mesmerising" Palace whiz – as lauded by current teammate and Eagles skipper Joel Ward – also averaged 1.9 chances created per 90 showing he still has what it takes to unlock a defence like he did so well at in the Championship with QPR.

Ultimately, Eze would offer Arteta a differential to Odegaard for an attacking midfielder who is comfortable out wide. Guardiola moulded Bernardo Silva into a similar type of player, converting the Portuguese right-winger into a roaming creative catalyst in the centre of midfield to give him another option to Kevin De Bruyne.

2022/23 player statistics in the Premier League, as per FotMob Name Games Goals Assists SD p90* CC p90* Eberechi Eze 38 10 4 2.4 1.9 Bukayo Saka 38 14 11 1.8 2.1 Martin Odegaard 37 15 7 1.4 2.2 Gabriel Martinelli 36 15 5 1.9 1.9 Leandro Trossard 36 8 12 1.2 1.8 Kai Havertz 35 7 1 0.6 1.3

*SD p90 – successful dribbles per 90

*CC p90 – chances created per 90

Will Eze leave Selhurst Park?

In the summer, Palace showed it’s still possible to fight off a top-six club when they tied Michael Olise on a new four-year contract after Todd Boehly’s high-spending Chelsea activated the 21-year-old’s £35m release clause.

Of course, sporting director Dougie Freedman would love to give Eze the Olise treatment with a new bumper contract but with the money that homegrown players are going for at the minute, it would’t be impossible to say no to any incoming offers.

On deadline day, the Manchester City recruitment team highlighted Eze as a prime transfer target, as per Sunday Mirror.

The Citizens offered a reported £60m for the newly-capped England international as a replacement for Cole Palmer who joined Chelsea for £42.5m deal.

The report further stated that City refused to reach the Eagle’s 80million valuation of Eze.

Either way, given the evidence above, it appears that Arsenal made a rather premature decision on the England international, as he continues to haunt them with his domestic form at Selhurst Park.