Arsenal are thriving on the pitch of late, and even despite their collapse at Anfield they remain in the driving seat to claim the Premier League title.

However, nothing short of perfection will see them claim the ultimate prize over Pep Guardiola's imperious Manchester City.

Whether they fail or succeed, one thing is for certain: the Gunners will have to continue improving if they are to maintain their stay at the apex of English football once more.

Therefore, investment will be demanded this summer to bolster a squad already laden with talent.

There has been plenty of noise surrounding the undecided future of Folarin Balogun, as someone who could potentially bolster the north London outfit without them having to spend big. However, the 21-year-old is reportedly keen on remaining a first-choice forward, and that future might seem unlikely should he stick around at the Emirates.

With Gabriel Jesus already in his way, and a summer where another top forward could well join, the New York-born ace might seek to join pastures new. However, should Mikel Arteta manage to sign Jonathan David in his place, this will be of little worry to the Spaniard.

Do Arsenal want to sign Jonathan David?

Having first shone in Belgium, earning his move to LOSC Lille, the Canadian finisher has since become one of Europe's most lethal strikers in recent years for a side that has seldom challenged for elite honours.

Across 128 appearances for the French outfit, the 23-year-old has an outstanding 53 goals alongside posting a further nine assists.

This season also sees him top the Ligue 1 scoring charts alongside a certain Kylian Mbappe, further exacerbating his pedigree. Such is the continued brilliance of David, podcaster Tony Marinaro even labelled the 5 foot 9 speedster: "One of the best strikers in the world."

All of these facets culminate to justify Arsenal's interest in the ace, reported by Italian media. However, with an asking price of €50m (£44m) to overcome, this will not be an easy deal to iron out.

These funds, while likely available for a side returning to Champions League football at the very least, would still mark a huge outlay. However, with the number of suitors for Balogun only growing, it seems this young loanee could be the key to ensuring this move goes through.

With the youngster enjoying a fine goalscoring season in senior football, boasting 18 league goals, this still is below David's tally in the same division. The Gunners need instant impact if they are to continue their battle with the Cityzens over the next few years, which is what this Canada international brings given his consistent scoring record.

Should a big offer land for their on-loan superstar, it would be a no-brainer for Arteta to sanction the exit if it meant he could secure Jesus such an imposing striker to compete for a spot with.

Newcastle United "have watched" Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

Which midfielders are Newcastle interested in signing?

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is keen to strengthen in midfield this summer, with it recently being reported they are still interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored four goals in Scotland's two most recent Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Kalvin Phillips is also an option for the Magpies, and Manchester City would not stand in his way if he were to express a desire to leave this summer, meaning he could be available on an initial loan, with a view to a permanent deal.

Having been linked to Marcus Thuram for quite some time, the Athletic's Chris Waugh has also claimed Newcastle are interested in his younger brother, Khephren, who is being targeted by Premier League rivals Liverpool.

In an interview with NUFC Blog, Talbot spoke about another Newcastle target, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Kone.

The journalist said: “Interestingly, The Athletic reported Newcastle have been looking in France and Germany at central midfielders, but didn’t reveal who. This brings me onto Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach. He’s another Newcastle have watched who is likely to leave this summer at around the £40m mark.

“Again Liverpool are also keen – but talks have not developed since late last year. Both he and Thuram have been tipped to become future stars who would come in for a minimal cost, especially when you look at the likes of Jude Bellingham, who is likely to demand £120m.”

Would Kone be a good signing for Newcastle?

Football scout Jacek Kulig lauded the central midfielder for his performance against Bayern Munich earlier this season, describing him as a "one man army in midfield" after winning a remarkable 14/19 duels. Not only is the Frenchman gifted at winning back possession, but he is also a very good dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, averaging 2.17.

Newcastle are already well-stocked in central midfield, with Howe having the likes of Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff to choose from, however Kone would still be a welcome addition, having proven himself in the Bundesliga.

At just 21-years-old, the starlet has already established himself as a key player for Monchengladbach, making 25 appearances this season, and he is ready to take the next step in his career.

يرى مايكل أوين أسطورة الكرة الإنجليزية أن لاعب وسط ريال مدريد، جود بيلينجهام، رغم تألقه هذا الموسم إلا أنه لن يكون في مستوى ستيفن جيرارد أو فرانك لامبارد.

ويقدم بيلينجهام موسمًا رائعًا مع ريال مدريد في الموسم الحالي، ويتصدر جدول ترتيب الهدافين في الدوري الإسباني برصيد 13 هدفًا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فابريزيو رومانو يوضح موقف ريال مدريد من دخول ميركاتو الشتاء

وحصد الإنجليزي جائزة الفتى الذهبي وكوبا لأفضل لاعب صاعد في عام 2023 نظرًا لأدائه المميز، قبل أو بعد الانتقال من بوروسيا دورتموند.

وتحدث أوين عن وجهة نظره في تصريحات لشبكة “Boyle Sports”، وقال: “حتى لو فاز بيلينجهام ببطولة الدوري الإسباني هذا الموسم ودوري أبطال أوروبا أو يورو 2024، فلن يكون أفضل من جيرارد أو لامبارد، ليس حتى في مستواهما”.

وأتم: “إذا حقق كل هذه الألقاب، كل ما سيحصل عليه بالفعل هو جائزة الكرة الذهبية وسيكون أمرًا مستحقًا بكل تأكيد رغم عدم فوز جيرارد أو لامبارد بتلك الجائزة”.

Manchester United's European ambitions ended in heartbreak last night as they capitulated against Europa League masters Sevilla in their quarter-final second leg, losing 3-0 to crash out 5-2 on aggregate.

It was a woeful performance by the Red Devils, although it was always going to be a tough ask when they were missing Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes, while Marcus Rashford was only given the second half to try and make things happen.

It only took eight minutes for the home side to score, as Harry Maguire was reckless in possession following a poor back pass by David De Gea and Youssef En-Nesyri pounced upon the loose ball and scored the opener.

Two more goals in the second half condemned United to defeat and Maguire couldn’t quite recover from his mistake, losing possession nine times throughout and making only one tackle in the game and with a Sofascore rating of 6.3/10, he was the second-worst player on the pitch.

Despite his performance, it was Marcel Sabitzer who really struggled to impose himself in the tie, with Erik ten Hag deploying him in an attacking midfield slot in place of Fernandes, yet he was almost non-existent.

How did Marcel Sabitzer perform for Manchester United vs Sevilla?

The Dutchman would have expected big things from the on-loan midfielder, especially with his two-goal salvo in the first leg, yet he couldn’t get out of first gear and struggled throughout his 68 minutes on the pitch.

With a rating of 6.1/10, he ranked as the worst United outfield player and judging by his performance and the statistics to go with it, it’s easy to see why.

The Austrian completed just 11 passes last night and from a position where he was expected to make things happen, this is absolutely woeful. He managed only 26 touches during the match also while failing to register a single shot or dribble attempt as his attacking output was extremely limited.

Defensively, Sabitzer committed four fouls, lost possession ten times, was dribbled past once and won just four duels, proving that even when tasked with helping out when United were on the back foot, he failed to provide any sort of meaningful support.

The team as a whole were majorly disappointing, yet the 29-year-old had the chance to showcase his abilities to Ten Hag from an attacking position but failed to live up to expectations and this arguably cost the Old Trafford side a place in the semi-finals.

After that display, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him named on the bench for the tie against Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester United got back to winning ways with a professional, 1-0 victory over Brentford on Wednesday evening, with the Red Devils ending their three-game run without a win in the Premier League to move back into the top four.

Having started the month on a sour note following the weekend defeat to Newcastle United, Erik ten Hag's men responded in fine fashion with a commanding performance yesterday, securing all three points following a first-half strike from Marcus Rashford.

The England international lashed home from close range following a neat flick-on from January arrival Marcel Sabitzer, with the 25-year-old scoring for the first time in four league games to take his tally to 28 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Having been given the nod through the middle as misfiring dud Wout Weghorst dropped to the bench, the United academy graduate seemed to relish the prospect of leading the line, registering an impressive haul of four key passes as a marker of his playmaking prowess, while also proving a real nuisance for the Bees with his dynamism in the channel.

The Manchester native was not the only figure who looked close to getting back to his best, however, with both Rashford and fellow forward Antony having been "dangerous" in the first half, in particular, as per journalist Matthew Law.

How did Antony perform against Brentford?

There is no getting away from what has been a difficult debut campaign in England to date for the £86m Brazilian, with the 23-year-old having failed to build on a promising start to life at Old Trafford after scoring three times in his first three top-flight appearances.

On the evidence of last night's outing, however, it looks as if the former Ajax boss could be able to replicate or even improve upon that early season form, having been a real livewire down the right flank against Thomas Frank's men.

As Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, the one-time Sao Paolo man 'faded' after the interval, although prior to that he had been 'United's most creative player again', notably racking up two key passes from his 60 touches to illustrate his desire to make things happen for his side.

The £200k-per-week wizard could well have had an assist to his name early on after teeing up Scott McTominay with a clever pull-back, although the towering midfielder could not mirror his goalscoring heroics for his country as he rifled a fierce effort over the crossbar.

Antony was then heavily involved in the game's deciding goal after producing a delicate dinked cross to pick out Sabitzer, with the Austrian in turn managing to tee up Rashford to power past a helpless David Raya.

Those two moments of quality showcased the ability that fleet-footed maverick does possess, albeit with the 5 foot 9 enigma still needing to demonstrate that impact on a consistent basis, having somewhat irked the home crowd after repeatedly curling efforts wide having cut in onto his stronger left foot.

That frustrating knack for wasting opportunities will be held against the marquee arrival, although the win over the west London outfit appeared to illustrate that Antony can have a key role to play in Ten Hag's side moving forward.

Rangers are a potential destination for Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes, according to a report by MLS ‘insider’ Tom Bogert.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Ibrox could be central to a real summer of change with as many as nine Rangers players out of contract the end of this SPFL season as things stand.

Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Malik Tillman, Ryan Jack, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor and Kieran Wright are all out of contract just next month (Transfermarkt) – presenting a real headache for Ibrox transfer chiefs and manager Michael Beale.

The Scottish Premiership giants could lose all nine of the aforementioned players unless action is taken pretty soon, with reports also surrounding the future of young winger Josh McPake amid his disappointing loan spell at Queen’s Park.

In terms of incomings, Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma has recently been linked with a move to Glasgow, as has Swansea City striker Joel Piroe. The latter player could even come in as a replacement for Morelos with his contract set to expire in May.

As highlighted by links to Honduran attacker Palma, South America could be a fruitful pool of talent Rangers may look to exploit, with news emerging on Cifuentes.

The Ecuadorian, who featured in Qatar at the World Cup, could leave L.A. for free this winter with his contract expiring at the end of this calendar year. As such, MLS insider Bogert claims Rangers could move for Cifuentes alongside the likes of Leeds United and Espanyol.

The journalist also expects him to be in high demand, explaining via Twitter:

Should Rangers sign Cifuentes?

Having featured at the World Cup and possessing a fair bit of experience despite still being 24-years-old, this could be a potentially shrewd move by Rangers.

Speaking to talkSPORT (via footballscotland), South American football expert Tim Vickery spoke of Cifuentes’ real quality back in 2019, stating:

“He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder. He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.”

High praise for the midfield ace, it’s a hardly surprising Rangers are now keeping an eye on his situation in the states.

A number of fans have been reacting to what Chelsea defender Thiago Silva had to say following his side’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.

What did Thiago Silva say?

The Blues fell to another 2-0 loss against the defending champions to exit the competition at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard selected a relatively defensive side to take on Madrid, with two goals from Rodrygo in the second half sealing the win for the visitors.

Silva returned to captain the side and didn’t hold back after the match, appearing to question the club’s off-field decisions under new owner Todd Boehly when it comes to numerous manager changes and multiple signings. The Brazilian admitted to beIN Sports that the changing room has been made bigger to accommodate the size of the squad now, with 16 players arriving at a cost of over €600m during the current campaign.

"I think the first step has been made. An incorrect step. but it has been made. We can't be blaming managers if we don't take responsibility. It's a hard period for the club with a lot of indecision: change of ownership, new players arriving. We had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn't fit the size of the squad.

"Everybody talks too much about replacing managers. I think we, as players, must also take responsibility. We have had three managers this season, plus a fourth with Bruno where we failed to win. We have lost today and with Lampard we have failed to win. Everybody is talking about the manager but we must look at what has been done wrong and try to change."

Is Thiago Silva right about Chelsea?

A number of supporters were quick to give their thoughts on Silva’s comments on Twitter, with a selection of responses available to view below.

"Sounds more like a manager than Frank" – @DoTheBartMan199

"Give him Boehly's job when he hangs up his boots." – @Majjer94

"Great leader. Says it as it is." – @ImJamieMartin

"Fair play to Thiago Silva here, Todd Boehly is an embarrassment to football. I for one, selfishly hope they continue to fail (as a LFC fan). This proves one thing, be careful what you wish for in your owners. Having an owner like Chelsea, won't do any good for anyone." – @DomTREP

"Bohely is a clown hahaha. FFP is coming Chelsea fans." – @6times2019__

"Potter might be the most unluckiest manager ever. This is a dire situation" – @AJ151O

"Boehly is a clown and he has turned Chelsea into a circus." – @BlueCityBrain

"Genuinely superb from Silva here. He’s earned the right over his career to speak his mind publicly and he puts the problem in perspective very well here." – @CouchNish

"Yeah this is pretty damning on Todd Boehly, embarrassing actually" – @obvszee

"This is damning" – @HassettTerry

It seems referee Andy Madley and VAR may have made a key error after dismissing a possible hand ball in the most recent Chelsea defeat.

What happened with VAR in the Chelsea game?

It was a day to forget for Graham Potter and his team as they slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in front of their own fans in the Premier League.

Indeed, their opponents Aston Villa actually managed to leapfrog the Blues and move up to ninth in the division while leaving Chelsea down in 11th with just ten games to play.

In the end, it was goals in either half from Ollie Watkins and then John McGinn that were enough for the Villans as they claimed an impressive win at Stamford Bridge.

However, as shown in footage from Match of the Day, perhaps Potter and co could have got back into the game had Tyrone Mings been punished for a possible hand ball.

Did Chelsea deserve a penalty for the possible handball from Mings?

With Chelsea two goals down and pushing for some sort of fight-back, Joao Felix drove into the box and eventually the ball deflected back towards Mings who was already on the ground have attempted an earlier challenge.

He seems to move his arm towards the ball and undeniably makes contact which sees a number of Potter's players desperately asking for a penalty.

Madley doesn't point to the spot but VAR does get involved. After checking it, however, it seems to decide that the ball hits the top of Mings' arm and so allows play to continue with no punishment.

It's certainly a tight call and from the footage – when looking at the still image – it could be argued that it hits the Aston Villa man's forearm.

Seeing as the rules of the game note that anything on the arm outside the shirt line should be given as a handball, Chelsea fans may have the right to feel a little annoyed by this call.

Seeing as Potter and his team were booed off after the game – and now the manager could be fired, with Villa fans signing "you’re getting sacked in the morning" – it was a pretty disastrous 90 minutes for the home team.

Perhaps a penalty following this incident would have sparked some sort of comeback but football is fickle and with this moment not going Chelsea's way, it could result in their manager losing his job.

Arsenal have opened talks with Leicester City star Youri Tielemans over a move to north London, but European giants Barcelona are now also in contention.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Mikel Arteta's side have a pressing on-field ambition to clinch their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, and as they currently sit eight points clear of their closest rivals Man City, they have a very realistic opportunity to do so.

This campaign stands out as Arsenal's arguable most crucial of the last decade and a half with all eyes now on the north Londoners.

In the background, sporting director Edu will be working on ways to strengthen Arteta's options – for when they're either defending their title or at least getting ready for another audacious attempt.

Many transfer targets have been mentioned via the media and central midfield is thought to be a real priority. The likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Raphinha have all been linked this week alone and reports from Belgium claim Arsenal are well in the hunt to sign Everton star Amadou Onana alongside Chelsea.

Vitor Roque, who is currently standing out as one of South America's most exciting young wingers, has also been contacted by the Gunners – at least according to 90min.

Now, as per Football Insider, backing up other claims, Arsenal are now in talks with Foxes star Tielemans over a Bosman move to the Emirates Stadium. However, there is a potential spanner in the works, as one of Europe's biggest clubs in Barcelona have joined the chase.

Newcastle are also said to be interested as all three clubs eye a move to sign him on a free transfer. Tielemans is out of contract at the end of this season and looks certain to leave the King Power.

What could Tielemans bring to Arsenal?

While this arguably hasn't been Tielemans' finest campaign to date, having only racked up three goals and an assist all season, he's still showcased his exceptional ability in past years.

Leicester's two most previous campaigns saw the 25-year-old hit double figures in terms of goal contributions, and just last season, he ranked among the Foxes' best for key passes made and attempts at goal per 90 (WhoScored).

The £120,000-per-week ace has also been called an 'elite-level distributor' by members of the press like Statman Dave, a football analyst for Sky Sports and the BBC. On a free deal, the move would also represent less risk financially.

Arsenal could make a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Despite their remarkable performance in the Premier League so far this season, the Gunners are looking at new options all over the pitch for the summer, with Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund on the agenda, in a deal that could be worth over £44m.

In central midfield, Declan Rice remains a key target, and it has also emerged that the West Ham United captain is pushing for a summer move – according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook – which could make a deal easier to orchestrate.

The Gunners are said to have a three-man shopping list of potential options in the engine room, with Moises Caicedo and Amadou Onana also being considered, although Rice remains their first choice.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, O'Rourke has claimed Mikel Arteta could also make a new attempt to sign Raphinha in the summer, having failed with a €70m (£61m) offer in the January transfer window.

The journalist said: "I think there's a possibility they could revisit the situation with Raphinha; it seems Arsenal sporting director Edu is a huge admirer of his fellow Brazilian; a lot will depend on what's going on at Barcelona this summer. If they need to sell players to raise funds, which it looks likely, Raphinha could be made available on the market and I'm sure that will pique Arsenal's interest if they think they can land the former Leeds man on a cheap deal."

Should Arsenal sign Raphinha this summer?

The Brazilian has a proven track record in the Premier League, having scored 11 goals and bagged three assists in his final season with Leeds United, and he has made a solid start to life in La Liga.

In 25 league games, the £199k-per-week earner has weighed in with six goals and four assists, which indicates Barca would be unwilling to let him go, if not for their concerning financial situation.

Journalist Muhammad Butt has also hailed the former Leeds man for his capabilities at the back, describing him as a "defensive monster" in February, while praising his work-rate and ability to drive the ball forward.

Arsenal are likely to be well-stocked in wide areas, given that Bukayo Saka is expected to sign a new contract, with Gabriel Martinelli already committing to a new deal.

However, Arteta will want to compete on all fronts next season, with the Gunners almost certain to be back in the Champions League, and Raphina would provide the Spaniard with fantastic strength in depth.