Aston Villa have reportedly held talks over a move to sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Unai Emery is set to be backed by NSWE ahead of his first full season in charge with a “huge” transfer budget, and the club have already spent €33m on Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

Midfielder Youri Tielemans has also put pen to paper on Villa Park terms this summer after his Leicester City contract expired, and it looks as if attention is now on a new attacker.

Villa have reportedly had an opening €45m offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby turned down, with Joao Felix another player of interest. Contact has been made for the Atletico Madrid forward, however, Villa have competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United, so it looks as if they could turn their interest to Johnson.

The Daily Mail provided an Aston Villa transfer update on Thursday regarding Johnson, claiming talks have taken place over a move for the Wales international.

Forest have already rejected a £30m offer from Brentford for the forward but are thought to be willing to sell, should a bid in the region of £40m be submitted.

Johnson has serious admirers within Villa Park and is believed to be keen on a move to the Midlands after encouraging noises emerged from the player’s camp.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Johnson shares the same agency as Jacob Ramsey and is just 22 years of age who can play as an attacking midfielder, winger or striker. He has progressed through the youth ranks at The City Ground and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €38m Transfermarkt valuation.

In total, Johnson has made 105 senior appearances for Forest, scoring 29 times and registering 12 assists. He enjoyed a productive first season in the Premier League last year as well, helping the Reds to safety in the top flight with 11 goal contributions in 38 games. Steve Cooper lauded Johnson as a “fantastic player” and a “great finisher” back in February after netting the winner against Leeds.

“He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher. The guys didn’t get loads of service at the top end of the pitch but, sometimes you just need one moment.”

As per FBref, Johnson has been compared to the likes of Michail Antonio, Odsonne Edouard and Danny Ings over the past 12 months and ranks in the top 12% of forwards for progressive carries, top 9% for crosses and top 1% for tackles in the defensive third, showing how he could bring more than just goals to Villa Park.

Should a £40m move go through, Emery could be getting a player who may only get better in time, while also providing the Spaniard with an alternative option or potential partner to Ollie Watkins. Johnson could turn out in a wide area, behind Watkins or as another centre-forward, and by the looks of things, a move will be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Brazilian midfielder Bitello, as Mikel Arteta seeks reinforcements to bolster his squad this summer.

The Gunners have had a busy transfer window so far, securing the signing of Kai Havertz, with Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice waiting in the wings to be officially announced as arrivals.

Edu Gaspar’s business this window could be far from over, with reports suggesting that the club’s sporting director could repeat a previous masterclass.

Could Arsenal sign Bitello?

According to reports in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Arsenal have sparked an interest in Gremio star Bitello.

The 23-year-old was in action on Sunday, with representatives from the Gunners in attendance with a scout watching the game.

Reports in Brazil speculate that the club would want at least €10m (£8.5m) for the attacker, who could be a versatile addition at the Emirates.

Who is Bitello?

With the ability to play in both deep and attacking midfield as well as on the right wing, the Brazilian could be a useful weapon for Arteta to have at his disposal next term.

The Gunners could add another dangerous forward to their ranks in Bitello, whose statistics show his devilish ways in possession and his eye for a good pass.

In 13 Brazilian Serie A appearances, the playmaker has scored three goals and has demonstrated his innate versatility in play.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old averaged 5.65 progressive passes per 90 in the league, as well as making an average of 3.82 passes into the final third per 90 to highlight his strengths in distribution.

The Formosa do Oeste-born gem played an impressive 2.07 key passes per 90 in the competition, showing his creative side and strengths in playing a strong pass.

A live wire on the ball, Bitello drew an average of 3.42 fouls per 90 to suggest the danger he can unearth going forward and to put into comparison, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli drew 1.19 fouls on average per 90 in the Premier League.

Being the subject of fouls is not the only thing the two have in common, with his fellow countryman also being snatched by the north Londoners while expressing his talents in Brazil.

Signed by Arsenal in 2019 from Ituano, Martinelli has established himself as a firm starter at the Emirates, contributing 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League last season.

When the teenager arrived in the capital, his influence was not expected with a more sporadic role anticipated while he found his feet thousands of miles away from home, however it didn’t take him long to adjust.

In his first season, the Brazilian earned 14 Premier League appearances and scored three goals, followed the season after with another 14 league appearances and three goal contributions, via Transfermarkt.

In 2021/22, Martinelli began to become a starter in north London, securing 29 appearances and contributing to 12 goals before his campaign high of 36 appearances and 20 goal contributions this year.

Edu could now repeat the masterclass from seeking talent from his homeland in securing the signature of Bitello, who has shown glimpses that he could provide a real threat if given the chance.

Leeds United target Lewis Pirie is set to travel to Yorkshire for a medical imminently, as reports in Scotland reveal further details on the 16 year-old's agreement with the Whites.

Who are Leeds signing in 2023?

Daniel Farke looks set for an extremely busy summer once the takeover is officially signed and sealed, with the new boss sure to want to overhaul the squad and reshape it in his image.

The Elland Road outfit have brought in Nick Hammond as interim football advisor to dictate transfer activity this summer, and a number of outgoings are expected in Yorkshire to start with, as centre-back Robin Koch has already secured a move away after joining Eintracht Frankfurt, while Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca are not thought to be too far behind.

In terms of potential signings, Phil Hay reports that a new goalkeeper, left-back, centre-back, midfielder and forward could all arrive, and the reliable reporter revealed that Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow is a possible target between the sticks.

Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips seems to be the main target to reinforce the centre of defence, and Coventry City’s Gustavo Hamer has long been linked as a possible midfield addition, as per Hay.

Up front, Aberdeen starlet Pirie is clearly first up on the agenda, with reports of a move emerging during the week before Fabrizio Romano revealed a breakthrough in talks on Friday morning, sharing that a deal had been agreed at around £200,000.

Now, in an update from sources north of the border (The Daily Record print edition, July 8, page 50) and thus likely more in the know, it seems Leeds fans have plenty of reason to be excited about this deal.

That is because not only is the fee cheaper than first reported, with the initial cost just £150,000, but Pirie has actually rejected an offer of fresh terms with current club Aberdeen, so it seems the striker is really dead set on becoming a star at Leeds – the sort of thing all fans want to hear about their new arrivals.

Pirie is now booked in for an imminent medical, and is thought to be travelling down to Yorkshire as we speak, with the signing likely to be officially announced next week.

How good is Lewis Pirie?

Pirie’s record at youth level makes for some reading – he scored 51 goals for club and country last season, as per Romano – so this looks like an incredibly exciting capture for Leeds. You’d expect that the teenager will initially slot into the youth sides at Thorp Arch, perhaps with a view to getting some minutes in the cups this season or even embarking on a loan spell to a lower division.

Leeds have proven to be one of the best in the land for offering chances to youngsters though, becoming the first team in Premier League history to hand eight teenagers their debuts in one season back when Marcelo Bielsa was at the helm, so don't be surprised to see Pirie in the first-team on a regular basis before too long, such is his prolific form at academy level.

The likes of Joe Gelhardt and Crysencio Summerville have thrived since making that step up from academy level to senior football in Yorkshire, and hopefully Pirie can follow in their footsteps or be even better.

Luke Wright has announced he will step down as Sussex captain with immediate effect, with Chris Nash taking charge

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2017Luke Wright has announced he will step down as Sussex captain with immediate effect, with Chris Nash taking charge for this week’s Specsavers County Championship clash with Worcestershire.Wright, 32, joined Sussex from Leicestershire in 2004, and was originally appointed NatWest T20 Blast captain in 2015. He took over in all three forms of the game when Ed Joyce stepped down as club captain in 2016, but he has struggled for form this season, and believes a return to the ranks is best for all concerned.”Firstly, I would like thank Sussex for the privilege and honour of being made captain of this fantastic club,” Wright said.”I have always been someone that loves and enjoys the game, but over a period of time now whilst being captain, this has not been the case and it has affected me both on and off the pitch.”After taking some time I decided that stepping down was in mine and the club’s best interests going forward. I look forward to giving my full commitment as a player to future Sussex successes.”Wright has a top score of 38 in seven first-class innings so far this season, while Sussex have already been eliminated from the Royal London Cup, having missed out on a quarter-final berth.”Luke has made this decision with the best interests of himself, his young family and the team,” said Keith Greenfield, Sussex’s director of cricket. “We thank him for all of his efforts while captaining the club. It is an all-encompassing position, particularly whilst rebuilding the team.”Luke plays his best when enjoying his cricket and playing in an attacking manner. We all want to see Luke play with a smile on his face and enjoying his cricket.”This way, we will all see the best of Luke and we know he’ll continue to drive success for Sussex Cricket going forward.”Head Coach Mark Davis said, “I would like to thank Luke for everything he has done for the team in his role as captain. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Luke and establishing a new-look Sussex team that will bring success back to our great club.”His passion and enthusiasm for the club is second to none and without the stress and strains of captaincy, I am convinced he will be back to winning games for the club.”

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches played on May 5, 2017

Mohammad Isam02-May-2017

Taijul Islam’s six wickets spun out Legends of Rupganj for 84 as Mohammedan Sporting Club clinched a low-scoring encounter by 51 runs at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar.Known more as a Test specialist, left-arm spinner Taijul got his second six-wicket haul in List-A cricket as Rupganj were skittled out in 32.4 overs in reply to Mohammedan’s below-par 135.Rupganj’s innings saw only Yasir Ali, Naeem Islam and Mosharraf Hossain reaching double figures. Apart from Taijul’s six wickets, Sajedul Islam took two wickets.Earlier left-arm spinner Asif Hasan took four wickets while Mohammad Sharif and Jalaj Saxena took two wickets apiece as Mohammedan were bowled out for 135 runs in 39.4 overs. Captain Raqibul Hasan top scored with 24 as the rest of the batting line-up had plenty of starts but no big score.Abahani Limited got back to winning ways with a six-wicket win over Kalabagan Krira Chakra at the BKSP-3 ground in Savar.Kalabagan were constrained by Shuvagata Hom’s accuracy as the offspinner took four wickets. One of his scalps was that of Tushar Imran, who top scored with 36. Mohammad Saifuddin and Manan Sharma took two wickets each as Kalabagan were bowled out for 156 in 45.5 overs.Saif Hassan struck 61 off 62 balls with six fours and a six as the defending champions reached the target with 19.4 overs to spare.A 123-run third-wicket stand between Shahriar Nafees and Marshall Ayub eased Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club to a seven-wicket win over Prime Bank Cricket Club at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.Both batsmen made fifties with Marshall making 62 off 85 balls with six boundaries while Nafees struck an unbeaten 78. He hit five fours and a six in his 125-ball knock.Earlier batting first, Prime Bank were bowled out for 180 in 49.5 overs. Zakir Hasan reached his third List A fifty but it was a pain-staking effort as he tried to keep the crumbling innings together. He struck two fours and a six in his 103-ball innings. Farhad Reza and Delwar Hossain took three wickets each for Prime Doleshwar.

Overview

Pakistan cricket has always been associated with great symbols – their unpredictability, and boldness to unleash young surprise packages to name a couple. Now, however, those associations seem more diluted. There are more challenges than ever before with the team fluctuating around the bottom three spots in the ICC ODI rankings. They were on the verge of losing a berth in the Champions Trophy and barely managed to qualify.

Squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz

Pakistan have won all the major titles – World Cup, World T20, Asia Cup – but the Champions Trophy crown has eluded them. The closest they came was in 2009 when a crucial catch dropped by Younis Khan halted their progress into the final. Pakistan’s record in the 2013 edition was rather modest – knocked out losing all three games, and losing to India meant they lost their unbeaten record in the tournament against India.Pakistan are slotted in the same group as arch-rivals India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, the only Full Member they beat in the 2015 World Cup. They have already had to do away with one captain [Azhar Ali] and they go into the Champions Trophy ranked No. 8 but the next couple of weeks present them a rare opportunity. The young players coming into the squad – legspinner Shadab Khan, fast bowler Hasan Ali – and even Sarfraz Ahmed, the newly appointed captain will, once and for all, know if they can cut it with the best in the world.

Champions Trophy history

1998 – first-round exit
2000 – semi-final lost
2002- first-round exit
2004 – semi-final lost
2006 – first-round exit
2009 – semi-final lost
2013 – first-round exit

Form guide

Pakistan beat WestIndies 2-1 in their most recent ODI series, a tournament that was played with the added pressure of getting a rankings boost ahead of the September 30 deadline for direct qualification into the 2019 World Cup. Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam made match-winning hundreds and Mohammad Hafeez was the highest run-getter in the series with 201 runs at an average of 67.

Strength

“The return of my swing will make a huge difference in conditions like England,” Mohammad Amir said. Amir will lead the bowling attack, which remains the team’s biggest strength. The 18-year old legspinner Shadab had a fantastic introduction to T20Is, picking up 10 wickets in four games, and has been backed to replicate that performance in 50-overs as well. Pakistan will also look for impactful performances from Junaid Khan, who made his ODI comeback against Australia earlier this year, and Wahab Riaz, with his sheer pace.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Weakness

Pakistan’s limited-overs batting has been strewn with unbelievable collapses. To add to that, concerns regarding the strike-rates of their batsmen have also risen and cost them games recently. The team appears to be struggling to adapt to the pace of one-day cricket, where power-hitting has become a major aspect. In the period between 2012 and 2015, Pakistan’s scoring rate in the first 10 overs hovered close to the 4.5 runs per over mark, only gradually improving over the last two seasons and climbing to over 5. Their scoring rate in the last 10 overs has also shown similar improvement after a period of prolonged struggle. They have already lost their best power-hitter, Sharjeel Khan, in the wake of the PSL corruption case, while Umar Akmal was removed from the squad after failing a fitness test. With the batting unit lacking in firepower, their bowlers will be under a significant amount of pressure.

Key stats

• Malik is set to feature in his sixth Champions Trophy tournament, the most among current players. He made his tournament debut in 2002, and since then has played all editions of the tournament. He has scored 326 runs and taken 10 wickets in 15 Champions Trophy games.
• The last time a Pakistan batsman scored a century in the Champions Trophy was in 2009 when Malik made 128 against India in Centurion. Saeed Anwar, who struck two of them in Nairobi in 2000, is the only other batsman from Pakistan to have scored a century in the tournament.
• Among the current Pakistan bowlers, Junaid Khan has dismissed Virat Kohli the most in ODIs – three times, all during the 2012-13 series.

Fulham have made an opening bid for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, however it has been knocked back by the Blues, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham are looking at strengthening their attacking options this summer, however they have already missed out on a couple of their targets, with former Coventry City striker Victor Gyokeres recently agreeing a deal with Portuguese side Sporting CP.

The Cottagers have also rejected the chance to hand a Premier League return to attacking midfielder Brendan Aaronson, with the USMNT star recently joining Union Berlin on loan from Leeds United.

Marco Silva may need to start thinking about bringing in a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Football Insider recently reporting that Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are confident of completing a deal to sign the Serbian striker this summer.

Not only that, Manor Solomon's departure means that new wide options may also be required at Craven Cottage, and Fulham have recently made their interest in signing Hudson-Odoi very clear.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the Cottagers have now submitted their opening offer for the 22-year-old, who is set on leaving his boyhood club, as he approaches the final year of his £120k-per-week contract at Stamford Bridge.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino is unable to guarantee the Englishman consistent game time following the arrival of Noni Madueke, as well as several other stars in January and last summer.

However, the bid has been rejected by Chelsea, with the Blues unhappy with the offer they received, and it remains to be seen whether Fulham come back to the negotiating table with a new proposal.

Is Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

It is no wonder the 22-year-old has his heart set on leaving this summer, as he was sent out on loan during the 2022-23 campaign, making a total of 14 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, however he did not manage to impress.

During his time with the German club, the Cobham academy graduate failed to score a single league goal, weighing in with just one assist, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good signing for Fulham this summer.

Hailed as "amazingly talented" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the winger is a very confident dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 87th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

A move to a club where he receives consistent game time could be exactly what the three-time England international needs at this stage of his career, having only been used sporadically for Chelsea over the past few years.

When he has received consistent game time, Hudson-Odoi has often impressed, recording one goal and five assists for Chelsea in the 2019-20 campaign, while he also has a total of four Champions League goals to his name.

Fulham should test the waters with another offer for the Chelsea ace in the coming days, as he could be a fantastic addition to Silva's squad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly closing in on their first defensive summer signing, as speculation regarding Nico Elvedi ramps up.

The Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back could be the one to bolster Julen Lopetegui’s backline after making sufficient sales this window.

What’s the latest on Nico Elvedi to Wolves?

As reported by Football Insider this week, the Old Gold are in advanced talks to sign the defender for a fee in the region of £7.7m.

Since then, Swiss news outlet Blick (as relayed by Sport Witness) has reported that the 26-year-old is ‘convinced of a change’, with Lopetegui being a ‘decisive’ factor behind the switch.

The report added that Elvedi’s partner had been in Wolverhampton, as the move seems to move closer to being complete.

How good is Nico Elvedi?

With 230 Bundesliga appearances under his belt, the versatile defender could be a vital asset for Lopetegui to add to his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

A player with experience and the versatility to play anywhere along the back line, the 47-time cap Swiss international could quickly become a favourite at Molineux.

While the former Real Madrid boss has a host of defensive talent to his disposal, there are flaws to the amount of depth in central defence, particularly following the sale of Nathan Collins.

Another area that poses a potential weak spot for Wolves is the longevity of those already equipped as Molineux’s centre-backs, with Max Kilman’s future still unconfirmed and Craig Dawson being 33 years of age.

The former West Ham titan made the switch from east London to the Midlands back in January, and quickly became part of the furniture under Lopetegui, making 17 appearances in the Premier League.

While the Rochdale-born veteran has unteachable experience in playing in England, it may be a suitable time for the Old Gold to evaluate potential successors to take his throne.

Once lauded as having “incredible composure” by former Borussia sporting director Max Eberl, Elvedi could be the perfect mix between experience and youth to phase out Dawson’s run in partnering Kilman, should he remain at Molineux.

An assured figure on the ball, the Swiss ranked in the top 5% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for his pass completion, averaging a mammoth 91.5% completion rate per 90, as per FBref.

Despite being a reliable presence in defence, Dawson fell far short of possessing a pass completion rate as dazzling as his potential successor, averaging 82.9% per 90 in the Premier League last term.

The Swiss colossus could prove to be a more polished and updated edition of the former West Brom ace, with FBref comparisons showing that Elvedi could prove to be an upgrade.

At 26, the Gladbach defender averaged 1.47 tackles and 1.11 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga last term, compared to the Englishman’s 0.80 tackles and 0.76 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League.

A similar narrative is evident in comparisons between their decisive presence in defence, with Elvedi averaging 4.75 clearances and 2.26 aerial wins to Dawson’s 4.22 clearances and 2.02 aerial wins per 90 last season.

In signing Elvedi, Lopetegui could equip his side sufficiently enough to phase the era of Dawson out, and to rejuvenate his back line to pair the Switzerland star and Kilman in a highlight of his side’s progression.

فسر أسطورة نادي ليفربول ومنتخب إنجلترا، ستيف ماكمانامان، السبب الذي لن يجعل هداف الريدز، محمد صلاح، يتوج بجائزة أفضل لاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي هذا الموسم.

ويحتل محمد صلاح المركز الثالث في ترتيب هدافي البطولة برصيد 17 هدفًا بفارق هدفين فقط عن مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، إيرلينج هالاند.

اقرأ ايضًا.. مدرب كريستال بالاس: شاهدت مباراة ليفربول وأتالانتا لأجد شيئًا يساعدنا على الفوز

وتحدث ماكمانامان عن وجهة نظره في تصريحات نقلتها شبكة “Liverpool World” البريطانية، وقال: “لا اعتقد أن محمد صلاح في أفضل مواسمه الكروية مع ليفربول، لأنه تعرض إلى إصابتين”.

واستمر: “لهذا السبب أستطيع فهم سبب أن كون رودري، فيل فودين وديكلان رايس هم المرشحون الحاليون للجائزة، خاصة مع تعرض هالاند أيضًا لإصابة لفترة طويلة”.

وأضاف: “محمد صلاح بالتأكيد أحد أعظم المهاجمين في تاريخ ليفربول، فهو لا يقدم الأفضل لديه لمدة 3 أو 4 سنوات فقط بل لمدة 7 سنوات، وبالتالي فهو يستحق هذا الوصف”.

وأتم: “ربما تعرض لبعض الإصابات هذا الموسم، لكن خلال فترة وجوده في أنفيلد، اعتنى بنفسه جيدًا وكان استثنائيًا، وبالتالي، يجب أن نضعه من ضمن المهاجمين البارزين بالتأكيد”.

Nicolas Pepe is still yet to return to London Colney for pre-season according to Charles Watts.

The Ivory Coast international spent last season on loan at OGC Nice in France, and is the subject of Saudi Arabian interest this summer.

How many goals did Nicolas Pepe score for Arsenal?

Pepe's move to Arsenal has been an ultimately disappointing move for both parties.

The winger was signed by Unai Emery for a then-club record fee of £72m and came into the league with very high expectations, having recorded 35 goal contributions in 41 games the season before his arrival in the Premier League.

The forward's first two campaigns at the Emirates were underwhelming but not awful, managing 18 goal contributions in his first campaign, and 21 goal contributions in the following campaign. The forward received praise from both Emery and Mikel Arteta during that time, with the current Aston Villa manager stating Pepe was a "very good player and we believe in him totally." whilst the current Gunners boss lauded the winger when he made the Europa League team of the tournament, stating: "His work ethic has been phenomenal and he’s deciding many more games and doing what he can do in the final third in a much more consistent way."

The 2021/22 season was where it really started to go wrong for Pepe. The goal contributions dried up, with the forward managing only nine contributions across the entire season. The forward only started five games as the manager opted to use the likes of Bukayo Saka on the wing instead of the £72m man.

Following the disappointing 21/22 season, the Ivorian headed back to Ligue 1 with Nice in an attempt to reignite his career, however, he failed to hit the heights he managed at Lille, managing just eight goals and one assist across the year-long loan, with manager Lucian Favre memorably tearing into the forward's debut performance ""He is lacking a bit of rhythm, intensity in his placements, in his pressing as well and in his ball recovery, because everyone has to do that. There aren’t any exceptions. If one or two players don’t do the work, the whole team is in trouble. Everyone has to do it at the same time, everyone has to defend to recover the ball.”

After it was reported that Nice would not be interested in bringing the player back next season, Saudi clubs moved to try and sign the forward, however, personal terms were never agreed upon, and the move collapsed, leaving the forward in the lurch regarding this season considering he is not part of Arteta's plans next season, with a report even suggesting that the Gunners could terminate the forwards contract.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Watts revealed that Pepe was yet to return to the club for pre-season training, and hinted that it could mean a move is brewing for the Ivorian: "Yeah the Nicolas Pepe thing, the fact he hasn’t even come back for training yet, for any part of training, to be assessed or go through any medical tests, it just makes you think that somethings been agreed, something's in the offing when it comes to him and what’s going to happen this summer however we don’t know of any firm offers for Pepe yet."

Should Arsenal keep Nicolas Pepe?

It really makes no sense for all parties to try and keep the player around.

For Arsenal, Pepe would be the third choice option in his natural right-wing spot, with Saka and Reiss Nelson ahead of him in the pecking order. Therefore, it makes little sense to keep a 28-year-old on £140k per week at the club to barely play. However, following the collapse in Saudi interest, there are no other clubs willing to take a gamble on the attacker as of now, so the club may be forced to negotiate the termination of their second most expensive signing's contract in order to save on the £7.2m a year wages.

For the winger, a move away from Arsenal would be the best for him with it unlikely that he breaks into the North London club's squad next season. Should the player reduce his wage demands, a move to the Saudi Pro League may well be back on the cards, but the smartest move might be to terminate his deal with the Gunners, allowing him to move to any club on a free transfer, which may open up some other opportunities for moves that didn't previously present themselves due to financial constraints. And whilst the move may not be as big as his one to Arsenal in 2019, a move to a smaller club out of the limelight of the media might just be the right thing to get his career back on track.