The Sounders have MLS's best defense and a leading star in Jordan Morris, so why aren't more people talking about them as Cup contenders?

The Seattle Sounders enter the MLS postseason as one of the league’s hottest teams, unbeaten since August. With two MLS Cups, a CONCACAF Champions Cup, and coach Brian Schmetzer at the helm, plus star players like Jordan Morris, who matched his career-best in goal contributions, and Albert Rusnak enjoying a standout season, Seattle also boasted the league’s best defense. So why aren’t more people talking about the Sounders as serious contenders?

Heading into the postseason, the betting favorites for MLS Cup are – of course – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at +150, followed by the LA Galaxy at +350, Columbus Crew at +650 and LAFC at +700. However, the team with the fifth-best odds at +1600, Seattle, are the dark-horse team that people are forgetting about. Seattle fans don't say its a Schmetzer fall without reason.

The Sounders' manager is one of few in MLS who knows how to navigate the end of a campaign to precision, and one of the few on the touchline who knows how to win in playoff soccer. While the higher profile teams like the two Los Angeles clubs are favorite to come out of the Western Conference, Seattle won't go down without a fight. In fact, they might just storm their way to MLS Cup. GOAL digs into how the Sounders might be the team to surprise everyone in this postseason.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowIMGANDirection from the defense

During the 2024 MLS season, the Sounders conceded just 35 goals in 34 matches. Essentially, they averaged just one goal from their opposition per game; an incredible achievement.

Messi and Miami, for context, conceded 14 more goals during their Supporters' Shield-winning season. Leading from the back, Seattle created a wall in front of their net that was nearly impenetrable. Only twice did they find themselves conceding three goals during the regular season, and never more than that.

The quartet of Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gomez, Jackson Ragen and Nouhou Tolo all played at least 27 games across the campaign, with Ragen leading the pack at 33 matches. He's also provided goal-contributions, too, scoring three times and recording one assist.

Every single one of their starting-four defenders learned to follow Schmetzer's direction, playing out of the back to maintain possession and progress the ball forward. In fact, they've followed it to such precision that each defender had a minimum of 84 percent pass completion percentage during the regular season.

It wasn't just the work of their four defenders, though. It was the wall in their net, otherwise known as Stefan Frei, too. Keeping 13 clean-sheets in 29 matches across the campaign, the Swiss shotstopper made 71 saves on the season while averaging a save percentage of 72.5 percent.

From the goalkeeper to the forwards, they played as a cohesive unit, which led to their regular-season success and defensive achievements.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMorris back on top

As good as Seattle's defense was in 2024, Morris staying healthy and in form was just as important on the other end of the pitch.

In fact, he had the highest scoring season of his professional career with 13 strikes, and tied his 2020 record of 18 goal-contributions. Speaking with GOAL earlier this year, Morris revealed that his confidence is higher than ever before in 2024. “I feel like I'm pretty much playing some of the best soccer in my career right now,” he shared, in a introspective conversation on his MLS and international career.

Morris led the Sounders in scoring across the regular season, while registering the most shots on target of any player. The 29-year-old also held the highest accurate-shooting-percentage of anyone on the roster at 47.8 percent, too.

A Seattle native, and a Sounder his entire professional career outside of four appearances on loan for Swansea, Morris left it all on the pitch during the regular season for the Western Conference side. However, he didn't do it alone. Perhaps the most surprising performer of their campaign came from right beneath him on the field, in Rusnak.

IMGANRusnak's emergence

Signed as a Designated Player ahead of the 2022 season, Rusnak had not quite lived up to the expectations of him in a Sounders kit. In two seasons, and 64 regular season matches, he recorded just 14-total goal-contributions, critically underperforming.

However, in 2024, something changed with the Slovakia international. He had a career best campaign, scoring 10 goals and recording 16 assists. His assist tally was especially impressive considering his previous high with Seattle was four assists and his career high was set in his rookie season with RSL with 14 in 2017.

Rusnak was statistically their best player in the final third, and it was not particularly close. He outperformed his expected goals (xG) of 7.45 while recording a 39.66 percent accurate shooting percentage from the No. 10 position.

Combining with Morris in their attack, along with the likes of young breakout star Paul Rothrock, and Argentine starlet Pedro De La Vega, they've created a formidable attack that runs opposite of their outstanding defense.

To bring it all together? A tactical mastermind, a serial winner, and a man who knows exactly what to do over the next six weeks.

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AFPIt's Schmetzer season

Schmetzer is really, really good at what he does.

The postseason pressure and the expectations that come with it? It's like the first cup of coffee in the morning to him, he treats it like a routine part of his job and calmly guides his players through tense situations in the business end of the MLS season.

The Sounders manager has built his career up for moments like the playoffs. He crafted excellence with the club when they were a USL side in the early 2000s, and during their first six years as an MLS club, where he was an assistant, he helped them to four Open Cup titles and their first Supporters' Shield.

Now as manager who has been on the job since 2016, he's a winner.

In this game, having someone like that backing you on the pitch can be the difference between advancing or going home.

And now the Sounders will need that expertise against a grueling first round opponent.

Leeds United will have to be smart in the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business on Friday, in order to retain a squad that is capable of competing for promotion to the Premier League.

The Whites lost 1-0 to Southampton at Wembley in the play-off final last month and, as a result, are now preparing for a second season in the second tier.

This has left the future of several of their star players up in the air as some of Daniel Farke's key performers may not want to remain outside of the top division for another year.

Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly already made contact to pursue a deal to sign winger Crysencio Summerville from Elland Road.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Italy U21 international Wilfried Gnonto is pushing for a move back to Italy and Bayern Munich have been linked with an interest in English starlet Archie Gray.

It remains to be seen how much money the Yorkshire-based outfit will be able to spend to bolster their squad with signings to replace any players who leave. However, there is one free agent they could swoop for who could be a fantastic addition to the team.

Leeds United's interest in free agent magician

It was recently reported by TEAMtalk that the Whites are one of a clutch of teams keen on a swoop to sign Coventry City attacking midfielder Callum O'Hare during the summer transfer window.

The English talent is now set to become a free agent when his deal with the Championship team expires at the end of this month, after he turned down the chance to extend his contract with Mark Robins' outfit.

He is due to be available on a free transfer as, at the age of 26, Coventry would not be due any compensation from his next team, which could make him an ideal acquisition for Leeds given that they do not know how much they have to splash before sales are made.

The report added that the Whites are also facing competition from other clubs in the race to land his signature, as Southampton and Burnley are also keen on the talented maestro.

Southampton, who beat Leeds in the play-off final, won promotion to the Premier League and that means that they can offer him top-flight football, which could give them an advantage over Farke and the Clarets in this particular transfer chase.

If the Yorkshire-based outfit do manage to come out on top and secure his services, though, then the German head coach could finally end his experiment of playing Joel Piroe in a number ten position next season.

Joel Piroe's debut season for Leeds in numbers

The Dutch centre-forward was brought in from Championship rivals Swansea for a reported fee of more than £10m to bolster their attacking options last summer.

He arrived at Elland Road off the back of a return of 19 goals in 44 league games during the 2022/23 campaign and 22 goals in 45 outings in his first year in the English second tier for the Swans.

The vast majority of his appearances for the Welsh side came as a number nine, with 69 as a centre-forward, 12 as a right winger, and six as an attacking midfielder.

Yet, the majority of his games in a Leeds shirt during the 2023/24 campaign came as an attacking midfielder, with just eight starts as a centre-forward in 42 league outings.

Farke predominantly used him as an attacking midfielder behind a number nine – Georginio Rutter or Patrick Bamford – and that often meant that the Whites lacked dynamism and creativity in that role.

Appearances

42

Goals (xG)

13 (12.74)

Assists

3

Key passes per game

0.8

Big chances created

3

Duel success rate

38%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe scored fewer goals for Leeds than he did in either of his seasons with Swansea whilst also struggling to create chances on a consistent basis.

He managed less than one key pass per game and averaged an assist every 14 matches, whilst also being dominated by defenders in physical duels, which shows that the left-footed attacker did not offer much creativity for the team.

Farke could now end that experiment and exclusively use the 24-year-old ace in his natural position, as a striker, by signing O'Hare to play as a number ten.

Why Leeds should sign Callum O'Hare

The 26-year-old wizard returned from a knee injury that had kept him out for the best part of 300 days and 37 competitive matches this season.

Despite coming off the back of such a big blow, the former Aston Villa academy graduate returned to fitness and showcased his quality at the top end of the pitch.

O'Hare has been compared to Manchester City star Jack Grealish due to their Villa upbringing, slicked-back hair, and creative mastery in an attacking midfield position throughout his career.

Starts

18

31

Goals

6

6

Goals per start

0.33

0.2

Assists

3

6

Assists per start

0.16

0.19

Pass accuracy

86%

87%

As you can see in the table above, the Coventry star's form this season stacks up well against the England international's displays in his last year in the Championship with the Villans in the 2018/19 campaign.

The right-footed star, who scored four goals in five FA Cup games this term, is a creative midfielder who can offer a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

This is further backed up by his performances in the 2021/22 campaign before a knee injury ruined the following season, as he racked up five goals, eight assists, and 1.9 key passes per game across 43 starts, which shows that the Englishman can provide the creativity that Piroe lacks as a number ten.

O'Hare, who was described as one of a number of "very dangerous" Coventry attackers by journalist Josh Bunting, has proven himself to be a fantastic Championship operator as an attacking midfielder when fit, as shown by the aforementioned statistics.

Great news for Gray: Leeds eyeing up "unbelievable" first signing

The Whites reportedly have the talented young defender on their list of targets.

ByDan Emery Jun 16, 2024

This is why Farke could end his Piroe experiment by signing the Grealish-esque star as he could compete with Georginio Rutter for a place in the number ten role, and leave the Dutchman to battle it out with Bamford for a starting spot up top.

Kagiso Rabada has said the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement “will always be relevant” to him even though South Africa will not take a knee in their upcoming white-ball series against England. Instead, the squad, who will play together for the first time since March, are considering wearing black armbands in solidarity with the fight against gender-based violence and to mourn the lives lost to Covid_19.South Africa’s head coach, Mark Boucher, last week described BLM as “an ongoing thing for us, not something that we have to continue to show”. Rabada said it would remain part of the conversation, even if it is not front-and-centre of their actions.ALSO READ: ‘Real conversations’ key for anti-racism message – Jordan“Black Lives Matter is one-hundred percent something I will always stand for and I speak for myself,” Rabada said. “It was a team decision not to kneel and to look at gender-based violence and devote ourselves to another cause. However, Black Lives Matter will always be relevant and something I will always believe in and I speak for myself there. But, Mark has stated that the team will not be kneeling and that’s how it’s going to be.”Boucher said the South Africa squad believed they already showed their support for BLM when they took a knee at the exhibition 3TC match in July, following weeks of fractious debates on race in the country. All the players involved in that fixture are part of the squad that will play England and Boucher said of one of them, Lungi Ngidi, who led South Africa’s response to BLM, was satisfied that the team has done enough.According to Boucher, South Africa will now concentrate on living out values of anti-racism rather than demonstrate them with on-field gestures, even though they have not played together as a national team since the BLM movement resurged over the winter.In South Africa, the rhetoric around BLM was particularly divisive and exposed the recently papered-over cracks that have resulted from decades of legalised racial discrimination. After Ngidi expressed his wish that South African players join the rest of the world in “making a stand” in support of BLM, four former players, all white, criticised him, prompting an outpouring of stories of exclusion from players of colour. CSA has set up a social justice and nation-building committee to address historical injustices but has recently made no other public statements about anti-racist action or transformation, including its plans for reparations.Janneman Malan takes a knee on the pitch prior to the start of the 3TC game•AFP via Getty Images

The conversation around BLM appears to have shifted from collective to individual action, which Rabada remains in favour of. During the IPL, he spoke about the responsibility that high-profile people, including sportsmen, have to raise awareness over social issues and he reiterated that belief.”It is important, especially if you have a platform like you do as a sportsman – spreading the right message is important. It doesn’t mean anyone should go out of their way to do it but if you would like to, it’s important to spread the right message,” Rabada said. “There is huge responsibility in the things you say and the things you stand up for. We’ve seen the roles sportsmen had to play in all the political movements that were happening during the lockdown. I expressed my opinion on Twitter, and on some podcasts that we did but I am not getting into it too hectically. I am not writing essays about it, I am not writing a doctorate about it but I threw my two cents out.”When asked whether he thought the debate needed to move from whether a team should take a knee as a symbolic gesture, to whether they could better tackle racism in practical ways because repeated taking of a knee diminishes its significance, Rabada said he would “need to think about it”.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has rushed to delete a 'black face' photo on social media after being appointed Manchester United's interim boss.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Van Nistelrooy replaces Ten Hag at Man Utd
• Appointed interim boss
• Hastily deletes social media post

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Van Nistelrooy has been appointed interim boss of Manchester United after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Red Devils. After taking up his new role, Van Nistelrooy was quick to delete a photo of himself with "black face" on social media. The original image posted 11 years ago, showed Van Nistelrooy dressed as a king and wearing black makeup. According to , the photo had been deleted by 4pm, just hours after Van Nistelrooy had taken charge of the first team squad.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Van Nistelrooy's photo was taken when he took part in the Parade of the Three Kings in Marbella. The Dutchman was dressed up as Middle Eastern king Balthazar as part of a charity function where he visited children at a hospital and handed out gifts and sweets. At the time he posted a message on social media that read: "In hospital with presents for the young and old.” However, the photo was criticised at the time with black face seen as racist and deeply offensive.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The practice of 'blackface' dates back to the 19th century. In the Netherlands the controversial tradition of 'Zwarte Piet' – Black Peter – still continues at Christmas festivals.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR VAN NISTELROOY

  Van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United for the first time on Wednesday night when the Red Devils take on Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. It has been reported that Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim is the frontrunner to succeed Ten Hag permanently, but Van Nistelrooy is also being touted as a contender for the job.

Fast bowler will play for Southern Punjab in the 2021 One-Day Cup, which begins on January 8

Danyal Rasool26-Dec-2020Fast bowler Aaron Summers is set to make history by becoming the first Australian to take part in domestic cricket in Pakistan. ESPNcricinfo understands the 24-year old will play for Southern Punjab in the 2021 One-Day Cup, which begins on January 8 and runs until the end of the month. The deal is understood to be in its final stages, with official confirmation from the PCB imminent. While Australia’s borders are currently closed to both departures and arrivals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Summers has received a travel exemption from the Australian government, clearing the path for him to come to Pakistan.The PCB’s playing conditions do not prevent the inclusion of overseas players, but does currently limit it to a maximum of one per side. They must, however, make sure to obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from their home board and their team has to apply for their inclusion either a month before the start of the season or via special request afterwards. It is understood Southern Punjab made a special request, given the 2020-21 season is underway, which the PCB appears set to approve.Instances of foreign cricketers playing on Pakistan’s domestic circuit have generally been rare, though not completely unheard of. Fourteen Afghanistan players featured for Afghan Cheetahs in the 2011-12 Faysal T20 Cup. Yamin Ahmadzai, the Afghanistan fast bowler, played five first-class games in Pakistan in 2016-17. Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza played in the National T20 Cup that same season. In 2009, former England Uunder-19 player Bilal Shafayat played for Habib Bank, while Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid Hassan represented Pakistan customs. It was a side Mohammad Nabi had earlier represented, too, and a pair of Zimbabwean cricketers were believed to be considering signing first-class contracts in Pakistan, only for those deals to ultimately fall through.PCB chairman Ehsan Mani did say on a podcast this year that he would like to see foreign cricketers playing in Pakistan’s first-class system, but the chances of this happening were considered fairly remote. The restructuring of the first-class system, which slashed the number of teams from 16 to just six – getting rid of all departments in the process – further reduced the number of players that could potentially be on show. And while several high-profile foreign players have now played in the Pakistan Super League, the first-class system is not considered nearly as alluring.That the first overseas player lined up to play first-class cricket in Pakistan is Australian is not insignificant either. They are the only Full Member not to tour Pakistan this century. Australia’s last visit came in 1999, with the ‘A’ side touring in 2007. A number of high-profile Australians have played the PSL in Pakistan, though, and a World XI that played three T20Is in Lahore in 2017 included Tim Paine, the current captain of the Test side.Landmark deal aside, in Summers, Southern Punjab will gain an express fast bowler to complement the options they have in their ranks. Summers was selected by Karachi Kings in the 2019 PSL and played two matches without quite making an impression, and remained unpicked this year.He rose to prominence in the Big Bash League thanks to his fierce pace, outgunning on debut an attack that also included Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills. The meteoric rise such explosive pace had suggested hasn’t quite panned out for Summers, but the One-Day Cup in Pakistan represents an intriguing, if unusual opportunity to resurrect his career.

Birmingham City head into the forthcoming League One season as a major sleeping giant, with the Blues more used to battling it out in the Championship, as opposed to playing the likes of Burton Albion in the third tier.

The relegated side cannot underestimate the challenge ahead, however, as teams are likely to raise their game when facing off against Chris Davies' men, in an attempt to pull off a scalp and embarrass the Blues.

Birmingham could, however, become more feared by their upcoming League One opponents by signing this attacking gem, who could also soften the potential blow of Paik Seung-Ho departing, by strengthening the midfield ranks.

Birmingham locking horns over soon-to-be free agent

According to a recent report by Birmingham World, Birmingham could be set for an intense transfer scrap with Championship side and near neighbours, West Bromwich Albion, over the services of Josh Windass this summer.

The soon-to-be free agent, who was dazzling towards the back-end of last season for Sheffield Wednesday, would have been a much-needed boost to Birmingham's survival chances if he was on the roster at the Blues then, with Davies and Co now having to convince the 30-year-old to drop down to League One.

The former Accrington Stanley man will, no doubt, see West Brom as the more attractive offer on the table currently, and with the Baggies having already made contact as per the report, Carlos Corberan's men look to be in the driver's seat over a deal for the enigmatic attacker.

What Windass could offer Birmingham

With a reported £20m up for grabs in the Birmingham transfer kitty, Birmingham could flex their guns in the market and swoop in for Windass by offering him a bumper deal, without having to dent the bank too much when it comes to a fee, owing to Windass joining for £0, with his Wednesday contract ripped up shortly.

As well as offering Birmingham a composed head who can finish under pressure, as seen with the curled-in strike above against Newcastle United, Windass would also offer the Blues another option through the centre of the park, if South Korean gem Paik Seung-Ho is off this summer.

Linked with the likes of Blackburn Rovers recently, the 24-year-old Seoul-born midfielder departing will be a blow, but one that would be softened quickly by Windass' arrival onto the scene.

Windass' numbers by position for Wednesday
Position played	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
AM	48	16	6
CF	33	12	6
SS	14	3	0
RW	8	2	0
RM	5	1	1
LW	4	1	1
LM	2	1	1
CM	2	1	0
Sourced by Transfermarkt

As much as Seung-Ho endeared himself to Birmingham supporters last season with his versatility across the midfield positions, Windass is, arguably, even more flexible for his team when needed, as can be seen glancing at the table above.

The 30-year-old's numbers last playing in the third tier will also make for extremely encouraging reading from a Blues perspective, with a combined goals and assists league tally of 18 from just 34 regular league games really sticking out.

That doesn't even take into account that a last-gasp header from the daring 5 foot 9 forward sealed promotion for Wednesday at the end of that campaign too, crashing in a very late header to win the League One play-off final for the Owls.

Danny Rohl even described Windass as being a "game-changer" for his men on his day last season, seen in his heroics in that play-off final, with more up his sleeve perhaps, if moved onto St. Andrew's soon.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Concluído o divórcio entre São Paulo e Daniel Alves, o jogador recebeu uma avalanche de críticas do comentarista Sormani, da ESPN. No programa “Bate-Bola Debate” desta sexta-feira (17), o jornalista afirmou que o ex-Barcelona é uma “grande mentira” e que deu “sorte na vida”.

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– Daniel Alves foi o cara que mais deu assistências para o Messi. Quero ver dar para o Uribe, Pablo, Tréllez. Para o Messi, eu também dou. Daniel Alves é uma grande mentira. Um bom jogador para razoável. Deu muita sorte na vida. É vencedor porque é sortudo. Veio da Europa e não conseguiu fazer a diferença no Brasil! Jogando no São Paulo! – disparou.

-Não acho um jogador para gozar de tanto prestígio. Já citei uns 10 laterais melhores do que ele. Cara afortunado, deu sorte, sempre no lugar certo, na hora certa – completou.

A polêmica declaração de Sormani rendeu assuntos no Twitter. O nome do comentarista esportivo teve destaque entre os tópicos mais comentados da rede. Foram mais de 2 mil menções citando a enxurrada de críticas do jornalista contra Daniel Alves, ex-jogador do São Paulo.

علّق هانز فليك، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، على فوزه في مباراة اليوم ضد خصمه بارباسترو في بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، موسم 2024/25.

وحل برشلونة ضيفًا على بارباسترو، في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 من كأس ملك إسبانيا، حيث فاز بنتيجة 4/0 (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وحصل برشلونة بتلك النتيجة على بطاقة التأهل إلى منافسات دور الـ16 من بطولة الكأس.

وقال فليك في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “أفكر دائمًا في أنسو فاتي يلعب على جهة اليسار، سواء اليوم أو في المباريات السابقة، أفضل تواجده هناك، وليس كمهاجم”.

وأضاف: “أنا سعيد جدًا بأداء اللاعبين الذين لا يحظوا بمشاركة كبيرة، وبالأداء العام للفريق بأكمله، سعيد للغاية بشأن هذا الأمر”.

وواصل: “لقد عاد أراوخو بعد إصابة قوية، لقد كان قادرًا على اللعب لمدة 90 دقيقة وشاهدتم مستواه، لقد تحدث بأدائه في الملعب، وهو أحد قادتنا”.

وأردف: “سنسافر ونتدرب في برشلونة يوم الإثنين، ويوم الثلاثاء في السعودية (استعدادًا لمباراة أتلتيك بلباو في كأس السوبر الإسباني يوم الثلاثاء)، أعتقد أن لامين قد يكون متاحًا في تلك المباراة”.

وتعرض لامين يامال لإصابة على مستوى الكاحل يوم 15 ديسمبر الماضي خلال مباراة ليجانيس في الدوري الإسباني.

وأوضح: “رافينها؟ لقد واجه بعض المشاكل، كان يتدرب بشكل جيد لكننا قررنا أنه من الأفضل إعفائه من هذه الرحلة”. 

وفيما يخص أزمة داني أولمو وباو فيكتور بعد رفض تسجيلهما، من قِبل رابطة الدوري الإسباني والاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، قال: “الجميع يريدون عودة أولمو وباو معنا”.

وشدد: “هذا هو الشيء الوحيد الذي يمكننا قوله، لقد كنا مركزين بشكل كبير في المباراة، لا يمكننا أن نفعل أي شيء آخر، يحاول الفريق ألا يكون مشتتًا بتلك الأمور، يتعين علينا أن نكون محترفين ونرد على أرض الملعب”.

Arsenal are thought to be seriously pushing to sign a £21 million player, and manager Mikel Arteta is said to personally want him at the Emirates.

Edu and Arteta target new midfielder for Arsenal this summer

Sporting director Edu Gaspar and the wider recruitment team are believed to be targeting a new midfielder this summer, coming after Mohamed Elneny's departure from London Colney and the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey's future.

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The Ghanaian's contract expires next summer, so he could be sold in the coming weeks as Arsenal consider making some money back off the £45 million spent on him from Atletico Madrid in 2020.

Partey made just 14 Premier League appearances last season, largely due to fitness issues, and Arsenal would be saving some money off his £200,000-per-week salary if they can find a suitable buyer for the 31-year-old.

Appearances

115

Goals

5

Assists

4

Bookings

24

Red cards

1

Minutes played

7,794

Saudi have expressed an interest in signing Partey, as have clubs from Turkey, according to various reports. Arsenal extended Jorginho's contract by a further year to provide support for star man Declan Rice in midfield, but it is believed that the north Londoners want another body in that area.

Everton's Amadou Onana is a transfer target for Arsenal in that respect, as is Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal are even willing to pay Zubimendi's entire release clause, but the roadblock is whether he'll choose to leave Sociedad this summer.

“Midfield is still a high priority, and we know that Arsenal have had a long-standing interest in Martin Zubimendi," said journalist Ben Jacobs to GiveMeSport.

“And the challenge there is about persuading the player to leave Real Sociedad because he's very much in love with the club and the culture, lifestyle, so he's settled. But because he's in his mid 20s, not early 20s or a teenager, it's kind of a crossroad, because once you turn 26, even though that's your peak, a lot of clubs like to buy a little bit younger. So we wait and see whether Arsenal move in that direction.”

Luckily, a far cheaper alternative to Zubimendi, and someone who could be more willing to make a Premier League move, is the Spaniard's teammate Mikel Merino.

Sociedad expecting Merino exit as Arsenal push to sign him

Spanish news outlet El Diario Vasco, relayed by Sport Witness, have shared an update on this, claiming Arsenal are "bidding the most" to sign Merino and Arteta personally wants him.

This somewhat echoes other reports that Arteta is personally trying to get Merino to Arsenal, but El Diario Vasco believe that Sociedad are fully expecting the Spaniard to leave this summer. He hasn't responded to their latest contract offer, which has caused concern over his future.

Merino's current deal expires in 2025, meaning he could also be available for a cut-price £21 million and over half the value of his release clause. The former Newcastle midfielder has been a hero for Spain at Euro 2024 as well, scoring the winner against Germany in their quarter-final tie.

He could be Arsenal's most astute option to succeed Partey, considering other midfield targets like Onana and Zubimendi will come at a much higher premium.

Mason Greenwood was reportedly made to watch clips of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior following his nightmare showing for Marseille against PSG.

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Hauled off at half-time against PSGAdvised to work on defensive effortsTaken goal tally for the season to sevenFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United winger Greenwood headed into a Classique clash with Paris Saint-Germain on October 27 hoping to provide inspiration for Marseille in their bid to put down a marker against fellow Ligue 1 title hopefuls.

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The 23-year-old was, however, hauled off at half-time after making little impact against the defending champions – with Marseille’s cause being done few favours by a first-half red card for Amine Harit. Roberto De Zerbi admitted afterwards that he had been expecting more from Greenwood.

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With the one-cap England international still having a lot to learn, De Zerbi encouraged the talented forward to watch videos of Brazilian superstar Vinicius in action. That assessment session was, according to , intended to show Greenwood how hard the best attacking players on the planet work when out of possession.

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That message appears to have got through to Greenwood as he delivered a match-winning goal last time out against Nantes – taking him to seven efforts for the season through 10 appearances. He is back in his manager’s good books and continues to unlock further potential in his game during a productive stint in France.