Given Victor Osimhen is one of the world’s best No 9s, definitely available for transfer and with a £64m release clause is a cheaper option than both Viktor Gyökeres (who is older) and Hugo Ekitike (who is relatively unproven), it seems a little bit wild that Arsenal, Liverpool or any other elite European team are not in for the Nigerian striker. Having impressed last season on loan at Galatasaray, winning the Golden Boot in Turkey on the way to a Süper Lig title, Osimhen could complete a remarkable permanent move to Istanbul in lieu of any other interest. Napoli are happy to sell, given Osimhen has one year remaining on his contract, but have reportedly inserted a clause preventing the striker from joining Juventus at a later date.
Like a sophisticated nuclear submarine patiently lying in wait or just a middle-aged man trying to get out of a bathtub, West Ham have emerged as a potential loan destination for Jack Grealish. The Manchester City winger’s gargantuan wages are too dear for a permanent move but a loan deal may suit and the Mill is wholeheartedly in favour of the deal, mainly because Grealish and West Ham mascot Danny Dyer will undoubtedly be thrown together in the name of #content. Everton could yet scupper the Englishman’s move to east London, offering Grealish a chance to stay in the north-west.
Speaking of West Ham, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was crowned last season’s Hammer of the Year for his performances at right back, so naturally West Ham are targeting … another right-back! In fairness, Kyle Walker-Peters will be relatively cheap after becoming a free agent, so the east Londoners will just have to stump up for inflated wages and a large signing-on bonus that is the norm with free transfers these days. West Ham have swooped after his provisional move to Besiktas was cancelled and the Turkish club released a curt statement: “It is publicly known that the arrival of professional football player Kyle Walker-Peters, with whom we previously announced an agreement in principle and invited him to Istanbul for a medical examination, has been postponed. Kyle Walker-Peters notified us, requesting an extension. Consequently, our club has withdrawn its transfer.”
One Englishman that has made his way to Besiktas is Tammy Abraham, with the former Chelsea striker confirming the loan move earlier this month. That leaves a Tammy Abraham-sized hole at his parent club, Roma, which may now be filled with the loan signing of Brighton’s Evan Ferguson. The Irishman failed to find the net in any of his eight appearances last season on loan at West Ham but there’s a good player in there somewhere and the Italian capital is not a bad place to find one’s form.
Hold the back page! Arsenal have signed a striker! Alas, it is not an expensive and moody Swede playing in Portugal (yet), but Salford City’s 17-year-old Will Wright, who is expected to cost around £250,000 after 50 goals across all age groups. Liverpool were also reportedly interested but failed to match Arsenal’s bid.
In the not-too-distant past, Gio Reyna was The Next Big Thing for Borussia Dortmund and the USMNT. Now, the 22-year-old is on the verge of a £5.5m move to American-backed Serie A side Parma, who are now managed by 29-year-old Carlos Cuesta, one of Mikel Arteta’s former coaches at Arsenal.
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And Florian Wirtz’s dad has credited Arne Slot as the reason his son chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich. “Arne Slot presented his playing philosophy, the team tactics in possession and pressing, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas,” Hans Wirtz told Der Spiegel. “This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also totally impressive.”
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