No jogo mais importante de 2020 até aqui, o Santos encera a LDU, nesta terça-feira (24), pelo confronto de ida das oitavas de final da Conmebol Libertadores, fora de casa, e além da equipe equatoriana, o elenco santista terá como adversária a altitude de 2850 metros, da cidade de Quito.
De acordo com o preparador de goleiros santista, Arzul, a diferença entre a capital equatoriano e o Brasil, que está no nível do mar, é grande e pode fazer diferença com a bola rolando, principalmente em relação aos chutes de média e longa distância.
– A diferença é brutal entre o nível do mar para 2.800, onde nos encontramos. Quando você bate na bola, se você sai junto com ela, não consegue chegar. A preferência da adaptação é estudar o tempo de bola, para ter um bom ataque. Dá pra pegar um pouco da velocidade e ter noção do tempo de bola, que é fundamental. A velocidade varia muito, um atleta que tiver precisão, que acerta ela no gol, ela balança demais e tá ficando mais leve, e ela sendo mais leve as dificuldades aumentam cada vez mais – disse o preparador à Santos TV.
Para o duelo diante da LDU, John fará a sua terceira partida consecutiva como titular. Quarto goleiro, no início da temporada, o camisa 31 se tornou o reserva imediato de João Paulo, após a saída de Éverson ao Atlético-MG e contusão de Vladimir. Como o titular da meta santista testou positivamente para o novo coronavírus, foi vetado para viajar ao Equador. Paulo Mazotti será o reserva, tendo sido relacionado para o seu primeiro compromisso pela Libertadores.
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No jackets in the Long Room … the hottest day yet of an abnormally sweltering English summer has claimed a notable etiquette casualty
Andrew Miller26-Jul-2018
An MCC member reads a newspaper•Getty Images
The hottest day yet of an abnormally sweltering English summer claimed a notable etiquette casualty on Thursday evening, as Marylebone Cricket Club announced a relaxation of its strict dress code for members entering the Pavilion at Lord’s.Spectators attending Middlesex’s Vitality Blast match against Hampshire were informed prior to the start of the match, at 6.15pm, that there was no longer a requirement for them to wear jackets in the Long Room, due to the “abnormally warm” weather.Temperatures in London touched 34C on Thursday afternoon, with the possibility of an even hotter day to come on Friday – potentially threatening the hottest ever recorded in the country, 38.5C in August 2003.Ordinarily, Lord’s dress code for men states: “Gentlemen shall wear lounge suits or tailored jacket and trousers, shirt, tie or cravat and shoes with socks.” Women must wear: “dresses; or skirts or trousers (which may be cropped below the knee) or culottes, with blouses or smart tops, and formal shoes, boots or sandals.”However, a tweet from @homeofcricket, the official Lord’s Cricket Ground account, ahead of the match read: “Due to the abnormally warm temperatures, MCC has decided to dispense with requirement for gentlemen to wear jackets in the Pavilion and arrive wearing one. This applies to Members of MCC and Middlesex and their guests.”It comes after India’s touring team short their ongoing warm-up match against Essex, from four days to three, for what was believed to be concerns about the parched outfield at Chelmsford, and the desire to more closely manage their workloads ahead of next week’s first Test at Edgbaston, starting on August 1.While Lord’s has long held a reputation for inflexibility when it comes to dress codes – and other codes, for that matter: it wasn’t until 1999 that women were finally admitted to the Long Room – in reality, MCC has relaxed many of its regulations in recent years.A loosening of the club’s famous egg-and-bacon tie – both literally and metaphorically – was first undertaken a decade ago by the club’s then-chief executive, the liberally minded Australian Keith Bradshaw, whose efforts to portray the club in a new light also included his championing, on MCC’s behalf, of pink-ball floodlit cricket. Further relaxations have been proposed ahead of the launch of the ECB’s new city-based competition in 2020, which, with its family-friendly remit, may involve permitting children into the pavilion.Certainly the club seems slightly less set in its ways than the other two big beasts of the British Social Season – Wimbledon, where in 2015 Lewis Hamilton was ejected from the Royal Box after an “unfortunate misunderstanding” with the dress code, and Royal Ascot, which actually beefed up its dress code this year in a bid to keep a tighter rein on spectator behaviour.”Additions to the official dress code in 2018 make socks a requirement for gentlemen,” according to the Royal Ascot style guide. “Our dress code is traditional, woven into the very fabric of our history.”There wasn’t a whole lot of tradition on display at Lord’s on Thursday night, where – as Hampshire wilted in the evening heat, losing their last nine wickets for 54 runs in a 22-run defeat – a “kiss-cam” was scouring the stands and zeroing in on amorous couples.And while they may have been unusually hot under the collar, it is not thought that the cameras lingered too long on the members at this stage of the club’s evolution.
Chelsea's academy has become a goldmine for producing talent on a widescale and while the likes of Reece James, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher have cemented their place in the first-team, others have been shipped out on loan or released as a youngster and gone on to excel elsewhere.
With a history of loaning out a whopping 41 players in 2019, it comes as no surprise to see talent slip through the Blues' net and one example of that is when they painstakingly released a 14-year-old Declan Rice.
The Englishman rose to first-team stardom in east London, amassing over 200 appearances for the club and capped his final emotional term with victory in UEFA's Europa Conference League before sealing a £105m move to Arsenal this summer.
If releasing one of the Premier League's finest prospects wasn't enough to churn the stomach, Chelsea lost an even bigger talent when Jamal Musiala was snapped up from under their noses four years ago.
Why did Chelsea let go of Jamal Musiala?
A two-window transfer ban was imposed upon Chelsea in 2019 and several of Europe's prying hands looked to steal some of their top talents. Although winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was subject to a bid from Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga giants also sought to prise Musiala away from west London, as per Sky Sports.
The German-born attacking midfielder, who was 16 years old at the time, turned down a long-term offer from Chelsea in favour of a three-year deal with Bayern.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group E – Spain v Germany – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – November 27, 2022 Germany’s Jamal Musiala in action with Spain’s Pedri and Gavi REUTERS/Molly Darlington
During that period, it was fashionable for young English players to hone their craft in the Bundesliga with Musiala following in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson, two players who enjoyed fruitful spells in Germany.
Chelsea did receive compensation from Bayern for taking their hottest prospect – reportedly around £170k – but he's developed into one of the best young talents in world football since leaving Stamford Bridge, nothing will cure the devastating blow of having Musiala snatched from them.
How good is Jamal Musiala now?
The "future Ballon d'Or" winner – as dubbed by teammate Alphonso Davies – has already elevated himself towards the realm of being world-class at 20 years old.
The Germany international has combined his ability to glide past defenders, his press resistance and his sharp awareness to become the complete attacking midfielder, who continues to take the world by storm.
Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala.
Capping off his sensational season in the Bundesliga last term by posting an impressive 12 goals and 13 assists in 33 appearances, Musiala's performances caused the footballing world to stand up and applaud as he came second to Jude Bellingham in the prestigious Golden Boy award.
Once praised by German legend Lothar Matthaus, who compared him to the great Lionel Messi for his ability to excite and entertain on the field, the youngster is delivering on the potential that his formative years promised, and some.
Similar to Messi, gliding past the opposition like they're not even there is a major hallmark of Musiala's game, backed up by how his metrics hold up against his fellow positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.
In the past year, the £83k per-week phenom has delivered a devastating impact in the final third, demonstrating his glowing technical attributes by placing within the top 1% for successful take-ons, top 2% for pass completion, top 12% for assists and top 17% for progressive passes, as per FBref.
Excelling on the domestic stage for Bayern and the international scene for Germany has seen Musiala's value rise exponentially to a whopping £129m (€150m), as per Football Observatory, with the 20-year-old continuing to carve a path to an untouchable legacy, while Chelsea are left wondering what could have been.
Manchester United are being sued by members of their own staff for around £100,000 following a significant administrative error, a report says.
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Man Utd sued by own members of staffCould cost club around £100,000Private information sent to employeesWHAT HAPPENED?
An email was sent out to 167 staff that revealed their wage slips and those of everyone else in the pool. That gave out the name, address, National Insurance number, earnings, pensions benefits and tax contributions of everyone else, reports.
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The information was sent out in a single file that was received by members who work in the catering and hospitality, museum and stadium tour areas as well as programme sellers. The incident happened in March 2018 as United were trying out a new system with a “lack of managerial staff overseeing the procedure". The employees have since lodged a complaint with the High Court on data protection grounds.
WHAT MAN UTD SAID
A spokesman for the club said: "We take the data privacy of our employees very seriously and regret this isolated incident, which occurred in 2018. Measures were put in place to prevent it happening again and we informed the Information Commissioner’s Office, which took no further action."
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The legal battle will be a headache for the high ups at Old Trafford amid another underwhelming season on the field. The Red Devils are currently sixth in the Premier League table and eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
The summer transfer window marked a poignant moment for those at Tottenham Hotspur, as the curtain came down on Harry Kane's stellar stint at N17 – the England skipper sealing a move to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich having had just a year to run on his contract in north London.
That high-profile departure had come just under ten years on from Spurs losing another sparkling talisman to a historic, European giant following Gareth Bale's £85m switch to Real Madrid, with chairman Daniel Levy sanctioning that sale on deadline day in 2013.
While it was not long after the Welshman's exit that things began to click under Mauricio Pochettino – as that man Kane emerged onto the scene in 2014/15 – there will be Lilywhites supporters pondering whether 'success' could have been achieved earlier had the now-retired speedster not been allowed to move to the Bernabeu a decade ago.
Could Andre Villas-Boas have remained in the job for a longer stint? Could the north Londoners have begun to challenge the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea at the summit?
Off the back of a 2012/13 season that saw Bale register 40 goals and assists in all competitions, it is easy to contemplate whether the former Southampton could have kicked on even further in English football and helped to end the club's lengthy wait for silverware.
One possible certainty had the Cardiff native stayed put that summer is that Levy is unlikely to have sanctioned a £105m spend on seven new faces in that same window, prior to Bale's exit, with those additions potentially having been signed in the knowledge that the forward was to depart.
With that in mind, here's a look at how Villas-Boas' side could have lined up in 2013/14, had Bale remained in place and the majority of that infamous 'magnificent seven' not been signed…
1 Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The only player from this starting XI that remains on the books under Ange Postecoglou – albeit as a forgotten figure – Hugo Lloris had been snapped up the year prior to Bale's departure, joining on a £13m deal from Ligue 1 side, Lyon.
While the veteran Frenchman has since been cast aside in the present day after initially outlining his desire for a move earlier this year, on the whole, it has been a stunning, lengthy stay in England for the ex-skipper, having racked up 444 appearances in all competitions.
A World Cup winner at international level, in his pomp the 36-year-old was a truly "exceptional" talent – as hailed by ex-teammate Brad Friedel – with a figure of such quality likely having been deserving of a more trophy-laden spell in the Premier League.
Perhaps, with longer time spent watching Bale work his magic higher up the pitch, that goal could have been realised.
2 Right-back – Kyle Walker
The undisputed first-choice option at right-back prior to his £50m move to Manchester City in 2017, Kyle Walker had truly begun to click into gear during the 2012/13 season, with the former Sheffield United ace having provided five assists in 36 league games under Villas-Boas' watch.
That was an early example of the potent attacking threat that the Englishman can offer down the right flank, with it likely to have been exciting to witness the full-back on one side, with Bale on the other wing for a lengthier period of time – a duo that could wreak havoc on opposition defences.
While perhaps not at his peak in Lilywhite, the 33-year-old has since won trophies galore after blossoming into the "best right-back in the world" at the Etihad, as hailed by City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, having been part of the club's remarkable treble success last term.
3 Centre-back – Michael Dawson
Michael Dawson
Before the days of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, or even Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, it was Michael Dawson who was holding the fort at the heart of the defence alongside the latter man in 2013, with the former Nottingham Forest ace leading the side as captain at the time.
Having made 27 league outings in 2012/13, Dawson would ultimately go on to make a further 32 appearances in the top flight the following season, prior to joining Hull City in the summer of 2014.
A solid, but unglamorous performer at centre-back, the now-retired titan was perhaps the type of player that Spurs needed to upgrade on at the time, although even if this list were to include the club's infamous seven signings of 2013, eventual flop Vlad Chiriches was the only defensive addition of the lot.
The Belgian colossus would ultimately develop into "one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and in Europe" – in the words of Pochettino – having been a true "warrior" in the backline after signing from Ajax in 2012.
The classy, left-footer had helped to fill the void of former cult hero, Ledley King following the Englishman's retirement that summer, with Levy and co having found a new figure to build their defence around.
Part of the side that remarkably reached the Champions League final in 2019, Vertonghen eventually departed for Benfica a year later, with the 36-year-old now plying his trade in his homeland for Anderlecht.
The man who could have linked up with Bale down that left channel, Danny Rose had returned to White Hart Lane in the summer of 2013, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Sunderland in the top-tier.
Having struggled to force his way into the first-team set-up in north London despite his stunning debut goal against rivals Arsenal in 2008, it was in 2013/14 that the one-time Leeds man began to make a strong, consistent impression, registering one goal and four assists in 22 league games.
While the 33-year-old would endure a sour end to his time at the club after being cast aside by Jose Mourinho, he still contributed 38 goals and assists in 219 games across all fronts, ensuring he could have been the perfect attacking foil for Bale.
6 Centre-midfield – Mousa Dembele
Mousa Dembele
Lauded as a "genius" by Pochettino, Mousa Dembele blossomed into a real world-beater following the appointment of the Argentine coach in 2014, with the current Chelsea boss having turned him into a 'special player' – as journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke wrote at the time.
There is perhaps a world, however, in which Pochettino may never have ended up at N17, with the continued presence of Bale potentially set to have kept Villas-Boas in a job for far longer, as the Portuguese tactician was eventually sacked in December 2013 – just months after the Welshman's sale.
In the event of that scenario, would Dembele have become the beloved and influential figure that he developed into under Pochettino's watch?
7 Centre-midfield – Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Options in the middle of midfield were particularly thin on the ground at Spurs in 2013, with that summer having seen the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker move onto pastures new, leaving Villas-Boas with little depth in that department.
In the event of Bale staying, the likes of Christian Eriksen (£11.5m) and Etienne Capoue (£9m) may never have ended up in north London, leaving Gylfi Sigurdsson as one of few options for the club to work with in that area of the squad.
The Icelandic playmaker, in reality, spent just two years with the Lilywhites prior to leaving for Swansea City in 2014, while he now plies his trade for Danish side Lyngby, after leaving Everton.
8 Centre-midfield – Paulinho
With Bale's sale recouping around £85m – and with Levy ultimately spending £105m – that difference of around £20m could have been what the typically frugal Levy would have been willing to spend had the wing wizard stayed put, ensuring that at least one of the 'magnificent seven' can feature in this lineup.
As the first signing of that summer on a £17m deal from Corinthians, it makes sense for Paulinho to be the sole inclusion in the side, particularly with the centre of the park one of the areas that desperately needed bolstering at the time.
Quite whether Bale staying could have altered the Brazilian's dour stint is difficult to predict, with the 6 foot enigma ultimately lasting just two seasons before departing for China, with eight goals and six assists under his belt in 64 games.
Unsurprisingly, it was the attacking ranks which saw the most change following the exit of Bale, with the likes of Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Nacer Chadli having all been recruited in order to help pep up the front line.
Lamela, in particular, was meant to be the man to try and fill the shoes of the departing hero, although, in his absence, diminutive speedster Aaron Lennon would likely have remained the leading option in that role, having recorded four goals and eight assists in the league in 2012/13.
Just 18 months later, the 21-cap England international was moved on to Everton after falling by the wayside under the Pochettino regime, with things initially tumbling for the club after Bale's move to Madrid.
10 Centre-forward – Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
The second-most expensive signing of that window was Roberto Soldado on a £26m deal, yet had the Spaniard not made the move from his homeland, the onus would have been placed on Emmanuel Adebayor to lead the line heading into 2013/14.
The former Arsenal and Manchester City man wouldn't have exactly been the most inspiring figurehead in attack, however, as he had scored just five league goals in 2012/13, despite previously recording 28 goal involvements in 33 league games the season prior.
Something of a polarising enigma, Adebayor did eventually go on to outscore Soldado – who was the "flop of the season" according to journalist Sam Tighe – with 11 league goals in 13/14, with the summer signing, by contrast, scoring just six top-flight goals as the goalscoring impact of Bale was not adequately filled.
No dia 8 de outubro, o Red Bull Bragantino dava sinais que poderia reagir no Campeonato Brasileiro e recebeu o então líder Internacional. Com gols de Thiago Galhardo, o Massa Bruta acabou derrotado por 2 a 0 e ligou o sinal de alerta na luta contra o rebaixamento.
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Desde aquela partida, principalmente nos jogos em casa, a postura do Braga foi diferente e o Nabi Abi Chedid tem sido uma grande válvula de escape na luta para fugir do Z-4.
Nos últimos quatro jogos como mandante, a equipe somou 10 pontos. A única vez que saiu sem ganhar foi diante do Santos, quando conseguiu o empate no minuto final.
O ataque, que antes era um problema, desencantou ao marcar oito gols. A defesa não ficou por baixo e levou apenas um gol.
Diante da melhora dentro de casa, o Red Bull Bragantino chegou a marca dos 26 pontos e aparece na 12ª colocação.
It's fair to say that Arsenal's work has gone somewhat under the radar this season, with Mikel Arteta's side comfortably in contention for the Premier League title after coming up short last year.
Manchester City won the treble and are probably the best team in the world right now, while London rivals Tottenham Hotspur's astounding revival under Ange Postecoglou; Liverpool, too, have been impressive since the summer and look to be back on track after a miserable year.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are plying their trade and awaiting a Spurs slip-up to leapfrog their neighbours and reclaim top spot after spending such large portions of the 2022/23 campaign as the pace-setters.
Having fallen at the final hurdle, Arteta didn't rest on his laurels and spent lucratively to bolster his side's prospects this time around, with the club-record £105m acquisition of Declan Rice proving to be a most auspicious addition.
That being said, the work will not stop there and Arsenal could be poised to further strengthen the midfield ranks to sustain their spot among Europe's elite, with a Premier League star currently being targetted.
Arsenal's transfer targets
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are preparing to initiate contract negotiations with holding midfielder Douglas Luiz amid persisting interest from Arsenal.
The Gunners were ready to battle Tottenham for the gem in the summer and have tried on multiple occasions to sign but no such move materialised, with Villa's exciting project convincing Luiz to remain in the Midlands for the time being.
Football Transfers' valuation model reveals that he is currently worth around £30m, though his outfit would likely demand a greater fee for his services.
Douglas Luiz celebrates for Aston Villa
Luiz signed a new long-term contract with Aston Villa one year ago, which certainly tips the cards in their favour, but Arteta appears determined to keep chasing and secure the tenacious ace's services, potentially replacing Thomas Partey in the centre of the park.
The story of Thomas Partey's Arsenal career
Partey has been an important part of Arteta's squad since his £45m release clause with Atletico Madrid was met in 2020, having now forged 104 displays for the side.
This season, a groin injury – yet another fitness concern for the midfielder – has disrupted his playing time and he has only featured four times across all competitions, with three games coming at right-back in the opening phase of the campaign.
Last week, 90min released a report highlighting Partey's disgruntlement at his reduced role at the Emirates Stadium, claiming that Rice's arrival, partnered with the hunger to bring in further midfield cover, could result in the Ghanaian's departure.
As per FBref, the £200k-per-week machine ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, outlining him as an all-action box to box threat.
Described as a "sensational" player by LaLiga expert Gerry Armstrong, Partey was crucial in returning the London side to the forefront of domestic football last season but has seemingly fallen down the pecking order this term, despite his term marred by injury so far.
Arsenal held onto the 30-year-old in the summer despite advances from the Saudi Pro League and Juventus, though the latters' recent situation surrounding Paul Pogba, who is likely to receive a lengthy suspension amid a doping scandal, could prompt them to return for the titan.
With 90min reporting his frustration with present circumstances, there is a chance that he will be shipped on to facilitate the signing of a player such as Luiz, who would be a worthy successor for such an energetic and combative midfield presence.
How Douglas Luiz compares to Thomas Partey
Luiz, aged 25, has been a centrepiece in Aston Villa's impressive ascendancy over the past year, with Unai Emery simply superb in his transformative effect since arriving in 2022.
Dubbed an “enforcer” by reporter Ashley Preece, the £75k-per-week ace has chalked up 167 appearances across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and supplying 15 assists, since signing from Manchester City in 2019. Evidently, he is more of an attacking force than Partey, who has only ever found the net on five occasions in Arsenal red.
Having cemented himself as an important member of the squad, Luiz has already scored five goals from just ten Premier League outings this season too. Impressive stuff indeed.
Such goalscoring success means that he has actually outscored Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in the Premier League this season, with the prodigious England international posting four goals and three assists from nine appearances, earning praise from England boss Gareth Southgate for his "ruthless" attacking verve.
Also having earned nine international caps, the Brazil star is steadily working his way toward prominence on the major stage, and he would prove to be an upgrade on Partey if he did join the fold.
Player
Club
Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle
Gavi
Barcelona
Adrien Rabiot
Juventus
Manuel Locatelli
Juventus
Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham
As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, and the top 19% for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, illustrating his offensive ability in what would be a brilliant dimension for this thriving Arsenal team.
Not just an attacking tool, Luiz has also completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League this season, averaging 2.5 tackles and 6.6 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 63% of his dribbles and 60% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore. Clearly then, this is player who knows how to do Partey's job and more.
Hailed for his "outstanding" performances by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, Luiz is a starring member of an Aston Villa side targetting success unseen at Villa Park in some time, and while Unai Emery's stewardship reclaimed a position in European competition this season, there is a sense that such feats are only the beginning of a prosperous new era.
Leon-bailey-jhon-duran-douglas-luiz-aston-villa
Such a project is worth fighting for, no doubt, but Arsenal's own enthralling exploits would turn the head of any aspiring midfielder, and given the previous efforts to secure his signature, it might just be a deal that steers over the line next year.
Whether Villa acquiesce to a possible sale at the season's midpoint is another question, and indeed Football Transfers' £30m valuation of the Brazilian is hardly a fair reflection of his true price tag in today's market.
It won't be an easy deal to complete, but Arteta and his technical director Edu have been astute and intelligent in conducting their transfer business over the past few years and pinching this impressive component from the Aston Villa system is certainly possible.
Arsenal have maintained their spot at the forefront of the Premier League after falling short in the title race last season against Manchester City, who leapfrogged Mikel Arteta's men at the business end to secure their third successive title en route to a seasonal European treble.
It was a gallant, inspiring, effort from a team that had failed to qualify for Champions League football for six successive seasons, but the sense of poignancy at failing to secure the trophy stung.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Arteta has ensured that the previous woes have been used to continue the increments made since his appointment in December 2019, and after nine league matches this season, the bid for a first league triumph in over two decades is very much on.
That being said, the club are prowling the market for a new, free-scoring centre-forward, and if rumours are to be believed, Napoli revelation Victor Osimhen is among the chief candidates.
What's the latest on Victor Osimhen to Arsenal?
Before the summer transfer window closed, Football Transfers reported that Arsenal had registered a concrete interest in Osimhen, having held preliminary talks after the Nigerian ace rejected a contract extension with the Serie A champions.
While he has been valued at a staggering £150m by the Italian outfit, the 24-year-old star's contract with Napoli expires in 2025, meaning 2024 is the crucial window of opportunity; Arsenal could seek to exploit a growing acceptance that his sale must be granted.
The Serie A champions could risk him running down his contract throughout the 2024/25 campaign before leaving for nothing in 2025 if they opt against cashing in on him during one of the next two transfer windows.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer insider Dean Jones penned his thoughts on the reported interest, highlighting the fact that while the allure of signing the striker is profound, the technicalities in the way make completing a deal challenging.
Jones said: "They play it down if you try to get any official quote on Arsenal going for Osimhen, but obviously if that time does come, they've got to be smart because Osimhen is valued at a ridiculous price and rightly so by Napoli.
"But also, there's going to be a huge wage and everything that comes in turn with that. So this is really ambitious if they do go for Osimhen, but if you're an Arsenal fan, this is the dream, this is the guy that can lead you properly towards title talk and properly into the Champions League conversation."
Are Arsenal hoping to sign Ivan Toney?
Given the Gunners' £105m acquisition of Declan Rice this summer, there is a discernible willingness from the powers that be to strengthen in accordance with Arteta's vision, stemming from the fantastic strides taken under the Spanish manager's tutelage.
Rice was the tailor-made midfield signing required to upgrade on the team, and now swooping for a new, prolific forward appears to be the primary port of call on the transfer front, and while Osimhen is the coveted name, the difficulties surrounding a deal could prompt the Emirates side to further their interest in Brentford's Ivan Toney.
One of England's most impressive strikers over the past few years, Toney is currently serving a lengthy suspension following a breach of betting regulations. Enforced in May, the 27-year-old will not return to competitive football until January 16, 2024.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal – alongside Chelsea – are informed on Toney's situation as the England international targets a transfer this winter, though Thomas Frank's Bees will demand a ballpark "£60-65m" for his sale.
There would be worse ways for the Gunners to splash their cash, though, with Toney hailed for his "remarkable" qualities by his manager.
Since Brentford achieved promotion from the Championship in 2021 – with Toney leading the line and posting 33 goals and ten assists – he has scored 32 goals and supplied nine assists across 66 Premier League appearances, with his commanding presence in the final third exactly what Arsenal need as a counterweight to Gabriel Jesus' creative role.
The £20k-per-week ace would prosper supplemented by the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and while Osimhen is likely rivalled only by Manchester City's Erling Haaland in terms of cutting edge in front of goal right now, Toney would not be a bad fallback option. Not one bit.
How good is Victor Osimhen?
Described as a "monster" for his exploits by ESPN journalist Colin Udoh, Osimhen was the centrepiece of Napoli's sensational Scudetto triumph last season, winning the Serie A title with 90 points, 16 points ahead of second-placed Lazio.
I Partenopei were positively electric in their forward efforts, with the £91k-per-week sensation plundering a whopping 31 goals and five assists from 39 matches across all competitions.
These statistics show that the talented number nine proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option for his team as part of a title success, which could make him the dream signing for Arsenal as they eye a title of their own.
This season, while Napoli have not been quite so imperious so far, Osimhen has retained his innate predatory sense and has scored six times from eight Serie A outings.
His rate of scoring is exactly what the Gunners need, with the prodigious Saka in stunning form this season but his tally of five is still bettered by Osimhen's six.
Saka, who has been praised as a "ruthless" presence in front of goal by his England manager, Gareth Southgate, is also one of the Premier League's most creative forces, ranking among the top 12% of positional peers for assists per 90.
As per FBref, the 6 foot Naples sharpshooter ranks among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues and European competitions over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 1% for total shots taken, and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, making him indisputably one of the finest finishers in the business.
Victor Osimhen: Similar Players (Football Transfers)
Player
Club
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
Christopher Nkunku
Chelsea
Andre Silva
Real Sociedad
Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Should Arsenal fail to sign Osimhen at some point over the coming transfer windows remains to be seen, but the fact that the London giants are in such a good position that falling back on players such as Toney is within the realm of possibility illustrates just how emphatic the ascent to prominence once more has been.
That being said, the work is certainly not done and Arteta's renaissance will only be etched into history as an unmitigated success should one of the most coveted prizes be brought back to the Emirates.
With Osimhen serving as the arrowhead, there is every chance that the years still to come will be filled with prosperity and silver-laden success.
Therefore, the Gunners must reignite their interest in the Napoli star and ditch any plans they have to swoop for Toney ahead of the January transfer window.
England manager Gareth Southgate has named his latest Three Lions squad for upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Brazil.
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England to face Brazil & Belgium
Squad announced for Wembley friendlies
Calls ups for Gordon, Toney and Palmer
WHAT HAPPENED?
Southgate has sprung a few surprises with his latest selection. Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been recalled after returning from his eight-month ban for breaching gambling rules, while Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, West Ham's Jarrod Bowen and Chelsea's Cole Palmer also get the nod. Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite also earns a first senior international call-up.
West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips is the most noticeable absentee after being dropped from the squad following a tough season. Philipps struggled for game time in the first half of the campaign and is yet to make an impact at West Ham following his loan move. Jack Grealish also misses out due to injury,while LiverpooL's Joe Gomez and Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa are called-up amid injuries to Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, and Reece James.
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ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite, Ben Chilwell, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, James Maddison, Declan Rice
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins
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WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID ABOUT PHILLIPS
Southgate spoke about his decision to drop Phillips at a news conference: "I think he knows exactly what we think of him. A good version of him is an important player for us. We don't have many players of that profile.
"Unfortunately, his form just hasn't been good enough. I've spoken to him, he knows that. I said to him towards the end of last year, if he didn't play at City, it was going to be a problem."
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WHAT SOUNDS SAID ABOUT BRANTHWAITE
Southgate also spoke about his decision to call up Branthwaite: "He's played consistently well. We watched him as a back-up centre-half for the under-21s. If you said a year ago he would consistently play in the Premier League, I would have been surprised. Credit to Sean Dyche. He's in on merit. We're looking forward to having a look at him."
Virat Kohli is not convinced his epic 149 against England at Edgbaston is his best Test innings. It was Kohli’s first Test century in England – he had had a torrid time on his only other visit in 2014 – and it helped pull India back into the Test after Sam Curran had wiped out the top order before lunch on the second day. Kohli ended up making more than half the runs India made and, vitally, allowed England just a minor lead of 13 runs.
Anderson on bowling to Kohli
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of play on day three, James Anderson said: “I felt like I was on top of him, so obviously the dropped catch was frustrating. “The easiest thing for me yesterday was it wasn’t swinging that much, it was doing just enough. I was thinking bowl the same ball every ball, and with natural variation he [Kohli] might just play at one. That the simplest it gets, when all you have to think about is putting the ball in the right spot. “Early on he was going hard at the balls outside off and I felt in the game. I just thought hang around off stump and he’ll nick one in the end. “Ben Stokes came up to me and said he’s batting out of his crease, but essentially I was trying to hit that fourth-stump area.”
Kohli admitted that it was a test both mentally and physically to survive the conditions and the England fast-bowling attack led by James Anderson, but he would still rank his second-innings century in Adelaide in 2014 as his best effort in the longest format.Kohli was one of two players, along with David Warner, to record twin centuries in that Adelaide Test. In a high-scoring affair, India were set a target of 364 on the final day. Kohli, who was the stand-in captain at the time, was clear that India would go for the target. India fell short by 49 runs, as Kohli made 141.”I am not sure [that Edgbaston is my best]. This could probably come in second to Adelaide,” Kohli told . “Adelaide still remains very special to me because it was second innings, and we were chasing a target. And I had total clarity that we are going for the target. Not once did I think that we are not. That was a beautiful zone to be in.”That’s not to say Kohli was making light of the hard slog at Edgbaston: “I am very happy … [to have] this opportunity to help the team this way and pull us back in the Test match and compete. That is what we’re here to do: we are here to compete, we are here to fight and we are going to keep doing that.”Kohli said his main aim here was to take the total as close to England’s 287 as possible. “It was difficult, but I told myself that it’s important to enjoy this and take it upon me as a challenge to take the team far and take the innings deep. It was a test of physical and mental strength, but I’m glad that we could come close to their total and remain pretty much in the game.”The fight he waged against England’s bowling attack was a quiet one for the most part. A score of 54 for 2 – at which point Kohli had walked in – had become 100 for 5. Kohli now had just the lower order in allrounders Hardik Pandya and R Aswhin and the tail to rely on. He stitched together a 48-run partnership with Pandya and then 21 for the seventh wicket.Then it was into the tail, and Kohli responded with 92 runs from 116 balls; the three tailenders accounted for 8 runs from 37 balls. Kohli said the lower order and tail gave him ample support, building his confidence. “I have to commend the tail as well; Hardik batted really well after we lost five, and then the way Ishant and Umesh applied themselves… I think it was an outstanding effort from them also. So I have to give a lot of credit to them for getting us this close, because they got stuck in there and supported me really well, and I could feel confident about them being out there, which is very important.”The one disappointment for Kohli was being unable to take a small lead, which became his new target as India advanced towards the England total. However, the prized wicket of Alastair Cook late in the day put the smile back on Kohli’s face. “It wasn’t just about getting to the three-figure mark, but to continue from thereon. I was very disappointed when I got out as well, because I thought we could’ve taken a 10-15 runs lead, but in hindsight we wouldn’t have been able to bowl then.”