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Nwaneri out of Arsenal image
Whereas Myles Lewis-Skelly appears likely to remain at the Emirates, the identical can’t be mentioned for Ethan Nwaneri. The 19-year-old was excellent in his breakthrough season for Arsenal in 2024-25 however barely featured final season and was despatched on mortgage to Marseille. That didn’t actually work out and Arsenal are actually exploring one other momentary transfer to make sure Nwaneri will get common soccer this season. Milan, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Fulham are all considered , with Nwaneri unlikely to function on the bench for Friday’s opener towards Coventry consequently. Whether or not Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus can be found stays to be seen as Arsenal try to seek out suitors for the Brazil duo. Ed Aarons
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New United pair down for Tigers check
Manchester United’s summer time switch enterprise has centered on recruiting in central midfield. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see who Michael Carrick selects in two key roles for the primary recreation of the season. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have been current for extra of pre-season than Kobbie Mainoo, who didn’t play a minute for England on the World Cup and was a late returner to Carrington after a vacation. Carlos Baleba certainly won’t have arrived in time to begin at Hull. Mainoo is in the most effective place in the long run but when Carrick decides to ease him into the season, it might be intriguing to see how Santos and Tielemans workforce up, the stress check for a brand new partnership that might present the right stability of defensive consciousness and talent to maneuver the workforce up the pitch. Will Unwin
3
Swapped pair face former golf equipment
Neither Everton nor Crystal Palace have loved a very scintillating summer time of switch exercise however mixed to make headlines with a swap deal between Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson. The pair will face each other – and their former golf equipment – on the primary weekend of the season, desperate to show what their price to their new groups. McNeil was hardly ever a daily on Merseyside however had a constructive second half to final season, satirically after a transfer to Crystal Palace fell by way of on the final minute. Johnson didn’t settle at Selhurst Park, unable to crack the code that may get him into the beginning lineup on a weekly foundation, after shifting from Spurs. A recent begin ought to reinvigorate the duo and there’s no higher solution to additional enhance the temper than beating a former employer. WU
4
Can Ipswich copy Black Cats’ success?
Ipswich clearly realized rather a lot from what Sunderland did a 12 months in the past, as they went out and purchased loads of gamers. The Black Cats shortly moulded their 19 acquisitions right into a profitable unit however at the least that they had the constructive of a head coach in Régis Le Bris who had his ft below the desk. Gary O’Neil is the brand new man at Portman Street and he has 12 signings – at time of writing – to probably use for the opener. The file arrival, Emersonn, who has moved to Portman Street from Toulouse, is essentially the most eye-catching of those that have been acquired. The Brazilian has an underwhelming profession goalscoring file and some query marks hanging over his head. Despite the fact that it’s their first recreation, Ipswich want to select up factors at house, and to take action require a striker who could cause issues for defenders. How shortly Emersonn adapts shall be important for the Tractor Boys’ success this 12 months. WU
5
Glasner’s robust Diomande prepared for debut
August is the season for debuts and nobody shall be extra happy than Oliver Glasner when Ousmane Diomande steps over the white line on the Metropolis Floor. Glasner needed the Ivorian centre-back to interchange Marc Guéhi at Crystal Palace, six months earlier than the England defender departed for Manchester City. Diomande, a £34m purchase from Sporting, is anticipated to line up in a again three for Nottingham Forest towards Leeds, when the Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager, who performed for Glasner at Wolfsburg, might additionally make his Forest bow. Diomande is a fast and bodily defender however one other side of his attraction is his aerial energy at set items. “They’ve each performed Champions League soccer and they’re used to competing for titles,” mentioned Glasner. “They will add this successful mentality.” Ben Fisher
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Serene Senesi can deliver calm to Spurs
Cristian Romero has taken his maverick model of defending to Atlético Madrid, upsetting impartial Premier League watchers. His compatriot Marcos Senesi has arrived to shore up issues on the again as Roberto De Zerbi desperately tries to steer Spurs away from a 3rd straight season of battling relegation. The all-action Romero had his qualities as a pacesetter and defender however by no means felt reliable, which is what most need from a centre-back and captain. Senesi impressed throughout his time at Bournemouth, hardly ever making headlines however proving himself a relaxed presence on the again. The Argentinian is sweet on the ball and shall be extra adventurous in possession than his countryman. He’s but to be despatched off in three seasons as a Premier League participant – Romero was dismissed twice in 2025-26 alone, to not point out a one-match ban and a nice for his behaviour in direction of a referee. His calmness will enhance Spurs. WU
Brentford v Tottenham, Saturday 5.30pm
7
Villa head south besieged by issues
It’s certainly not how Unai Emery envisaged the countdown to Aston Villa’s season-opener at Brighton on Sunday – and definitely not as he loved the afterglow from the membership’s Europa League conquer Freiburg in Might. The supervisor has a unprecedented variety of issues. Take the midfield the place the brand new signings João Gomes and Johan Manzambi are damage doubts. Observe: Amadou Onana is a long-term casualty whereas Youri Tielemans has been offered. It goes on. Emery is about to lose Ezri Konsa to Arsenal – in a summer time the place Villa have additionally offered Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne. They’re making an attempt to maneuver on Emi Martínez, whereas the way forward for Ollie Watkins is unsure, with Al-Hilal circling. For the cherry on high, the rampaging 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo is a health concern. Emery’s teamsheet shall be very attention-grabbing. Will he pitch the brand new goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, who solely signed on Wednesday, straight in? David Hytner
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Maresca should win to silence Metropolis noise
Is Enzo Maresca already below stress after Manchester City’s 3-0 schooling by Arsenal within the Neighborhood Defend? Perhaps not, but when the Italian’s new workforce go down at house to Bournemouth on Sunday, you wouldn’t have to be a soothsayer to image the scrutiny that can comply with. Maresca and Metropolis are enduring a troublesome switch window, with Rodri’s departure to Barcelona the headline, a dizzying blow that needs to be shaken off. The brand new Bournemouth coach, Marco Rose, has confronted Metropolis six instances within the Champions League with Leipzig and Mönchengladbach, and is certain to order his guests to go for the jugular on the Etihad. Metropolis are weak however Maresca can treatment this with a win of any type. This, in spite of everything, is the job many felt he was the apparent selection for. Jamie Jackson
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King Kev remembered at Newcastle
Kevin Keegan was presupposed to have been the visitor of honour at St James’ Park on Sunday, however his demise from most cancers in July means this assembly of two of his outdated golf equipment will flip right into a tribute to one of English football’s enduring heroes. Keegan’s household shall be current to witness an outpouring of affection for the previous Liverpool and Newcastle ahead and (twice) Magpies supervisor. As soon as the sport kicks off, all eyes shall be on Alexander Isak, a St James’ Park outdated boy whose determination to pressure a £125m transfer to Anfield final summer time didn’t go down effectively on Tyneside. The Sweden striker, making his first return to Newcastle, has a lot to show at Liverpool, and now has a brand new head coach to impress in Andoni Iraola. Newcastle too have a brand new face within the house dugout, the place Matthias Jaissle will occupy the technical space for thus lengthy inhabited by Eddie Howe. Louise Taylor
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Former Madrid managers meet in capital
Actual Madrid’s two head coaches from final season meet at Craven Cottage, with the deal with Xabi Alonso, slightly than Álvaro Arbeloa. The Fulham man, nonetheless, could have extra to show within the Premier League. His managerial profession has been much less outstanding than that of his Basque rival – and he has clearly insisted on snapping up expertise from the Bernabéu. Gonzalo García and César Palacios have made the journey over from the Spanish capital with Arbeloa. It exhibits nice religion from the previous Liverpool defender however it does put additional stress on the trio, their fates now completely intertwined. All three want a constructive begin to present they benefit being within the Premier League. In any other case, it might be very simply to criticise them individually and collectively. WU
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