La Liga &#8211; CaughtOffside

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Arsenal ready to SWOOP for insane €35m talent!

(Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP via Getty Images)

Rayan Cherki could be a useful option

Cherki will add goals and creativity to the Liverpool attack. The opportunity to play in the Premier League could be exciting for him, and he will look to test himself at the highest level. Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs around the world and they could provide him with the platform to push for major trophies as well.

Having a versatile attacker like him could certainly come in handy for the Premier League giants. They will be hoping to compete on multiple fronts and they need a deeper squad. Having flexible players could prove to be invaluable for them during rotation and injuries.

Furthermore, regular football in the Premier League could accelerate his development and help the Frenchman fulfil his potential.

It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds over the next few months.

The post Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Director sets date to leave current club as Arsenal link intensifies

Mark Brus — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:31:12 +0000

Real Sociedad director Roberto Olabe is reportedly leaving the club at the end of the season and it looks like Arsenal are emerging as a potential next destination.

The Gunners have a good relationship with Sociedad, having done plenty of business together in recent times over players like Mikel Merino, Kieran Tierney and Nacho Monreal, while Mikel Arteta also played for the Basque club for a spell in 2004/05.

The Athletic have reported on Olabe leaving Sociedad and suggest this will put top clubs on alert, and a report from Todo Fichajes follows this up by naming Arsenal as possible suitors as they look to replace Edu.

It was recently announced that Edu would be leaving his role at the Emirates Stadium, and it won’t be easy to replace the Brazilian after some superb work to rebuild the club alongside manager Arteta.

Who will link up with Mikel Arteta as Arsenal’s new sporting director? (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Who is Roberto Olabe and could he be a good candidate for Arsenal?

Olabe has been director of football at Sociedad since 2018 and has been instrumental in helping the team improve since then.

The Basque outfit have done well to unearth some top talents on the cheap or promote from their academy, and it’s helped them to make a healthy profit from player sales whilst remaining competitive in La Liga and in Europe.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool favourites to land 24 G/A superstar!

Olabe looks like he could surely do a good job for Arsenal, though it remains to be seen if they might favour former players stepping into that role, just as Edu was.

Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker could be one to watch as he already has a role with the north London giants’ academy, so would make sense as a smart promotion from within.

West Ham’s Tim Steidten has also been mentioned, so it won’t necessarily be a former player and there will surely be a very thorough search for the best candidate.

The post Director sets date to leave current club as Arsenal link intensifies appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Barcelona chief already laying groundwork for major Liverpool transfer raid

Mark Brus — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:58:42 +0000

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly eager to seal the transfer of in-form Liverpool star Mohamed Salah as he nears the end of his contract.

The Egypt international is one of the finest players in world football and could undoubtedly do a job for Barca, even if he is now 32 years of age and possibly past his peak.

Still, Salah’s form this season has been superb and he’s showing no sign of slowing down as he’s already in double figures for both goals and assists, with Barcelona’s Laporta already making some effort to secure a deal, according to Fichajes.

Salah looks like he could be an absolutely terrific signing on a free, especially as he’s showing signs of being able to keep on performing at the highest level for a few more years.

Barcelona already have 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski on their books, and there seems every chance Salah could also be a top performer at the highest level in Europe at that age as well.

Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal for Liverpool (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah transfer saga hotting up

Barcelona’s interest is hardly surprising and is surely a major wake-up call for Liverpool, who need to do what they can to get Salah’s new contract sorted as soon as possible.

The Reds will surely find it close to impossible to replace the former Roma man, who has established himself as a club legend and also one of the finest attacking players of the Premier League era.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

OFFER prepared for top Arsenal target!

Salah may feel he’s achieved all he can in English football, so Barcelona might be a tempting destination for him, even if there’s also been some talk of a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Plenty of big names have gone to Saudi in recent times and perhaps Salah will be the next, though it arguably seems like it would be a waste of talent as he’s got plenty more to do for a top European club in the next few years.

The post Barcelona chief already laying groundwork for major Liverpool transfer raid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal facing major transfer issue, situation should become clearer in next few weeks

Mark Brus — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:30:31 +0000

Arsenal are reportedly facing one potentially significant obstacle in their transfer pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The Gunners have been linked again with Zubimendi in a report from the Independent, which suggests that the Spain international has been keen to leave Sociedad, but stayed out of loyalty due to other players moving on.

The Independent claim, however, that that is expected to change next summer, with Zubimendi perhaps set to be on Arsenal’s radar again as he’ll feel owed the chance to make a big move.

Still, there’s slightly conflicting information coming out about this as Fichajes report that the 25-year-old remains very loyal and committed to his current club, which could complicate things for Arsenal.

Martin Zubimendi celebrates a goal (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

Fichajes go on to state that Arsenal could get a clearer picture about the situation in the coming weeks, so Gooners will no doubt be keeping an eye out for Zubimendi updates.

Could Arsenal sign alternatives to Martin Zubimendi?

Arsenal may already have alternatives in mind in case Zubimendi again decides he’d prefer to stay with Sociedad, as sources have informed CaughtOffside about the north London giants keeping a close eye on Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor.

Taylor looks a promising young talent and could make sense as a smart long-term investment, though Zubimendi is clearly more proven at the highest level.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Arsenal have invested a lot in midfielders in recent times, with Mikel Merino joining this summer, and Declan Rice the year before that.

Still, there could be room for further reinforcements in that position as Arteta faces the worrying situation of both Jorginho and Thomas Partey both being due to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Zubimendi or Taylor could both make sense as ideal replacements, and one imagines Arsenal will surely consider a few other options as well.

The post Arsenal facing major transfer issue, situation should become clearer in next few weeks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

€45m Tottenham star happy to be linked with “best clubs in the world” casting doubt over future

Darren Looney — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:50:16 +0000

Tottenham defender Pedro Porro has admitted to being happy with the rumours linking him to some of “the best clubs in the world” as uncertainty continues to grow around his future in North London.

The full-back arrived at Spurs in 2023 as part of €45m deal with Sporting CP and has grown to become a fan favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to his very attacking style of play.

The Spanish star has proven to be one of the most dangerous full-backs in Europe going forward and across the 67 appearances he has made for Tottenham, the 25-year-old has contributed eight goals and 12 assists.

Porro has a contract in North London until 2028 but that has not stopped the right-back from being linked with a move away next summer.

Real Madrid are in the market to strengthen the right side of their defence and following the long-term injury to Dani Carvajal, Porro is one of the names being linked to the La Liga champions – although Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold tops Los Blancos‘ list.

Man City are another interested in the 25-year-old as they look for a successor to Kyle Walker at the Etihad Stadium.

In a recent interview, Porro has acknowledged these rumours and his words don’t bode well for his future at Tottenham.

Will Pedro Porro leave Tottenham next summer? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

More Stories / Latest News

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Tottenham star Pedro Porro acknowledges exit rumours

Speaking in an interview with El Desmarque, Porro admitted to being aware of the rumours linking him away from Tottenham and essentially stated that he is happy to be associated with “the best clubs in the world.”

“My friends send me the rumours, it is a compliment… but I am focused on Spurs and the national team,” the defender said via Fabrizio Romano. “It is the result of a job well done if one of the best clubs in the world is taking notice of me.”

It is unlikely that Tottenham will allow one of their best players to leave next summer as the North London club continues to try and close the gap to the top of the Premier League and if they do, it will not come cheap for the Spaniard’s suitors.

The post €45m Tottenham star happy to be linked with “best clubs in the world” casting doubt over future appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“We are underdogs” – Latest words from Liverpool star gives fans an insight into elite mentality

Darren Looney — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:18:17 +0000

Mohamed Salah has admitted that he wants to “win it all” with Liverpool this season in what could be the superstar’s last campaign with the Merseyside club.

The Egypt captain is out of contract at Anfield in 2025 and there is a possibility that the 32-year-old could leave at the end of the season, although contract talks are ongoing with the winger.

Barcelona are one club looking to pounce on the Premier League star’s situation ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window but the move is out of the Catalan club’s hands.

Salah has been with Liverpool since 2017 and has had a legendary career with the Premier League giants. The former Roma star has won every trophy possible with the Reds and on a personal level has racked up 366 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, scoring 221 goals and assisting a further 99.

The Egyptian would not have been able to achieve this without hard work and the winger’s elite mentality was on show during a recent interview.

Mohamed Salah in action for Liverpool. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Speaking in the latest instalment of the Reds Roundtable presented by Standard Chartered on the Liverpool YouTube channel, Salah admitted that he wants to “win it all” this season and that he hates the “idea that we are underdogs.”

When asked what his ambitions for the 2024/25 campaign are, the 32-year-old said: “Win it all. In my opinion, I work so hard every day, I hate the idea that we are underdogs.

“We have an incredible group… In each position, you’re gonna find players that are really one of the top three in the world.

“So, why we don’t win it? This city and this club has to always fight for everything.”

More Stories / Latest News

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Can Liverpool win it all this season?

Liverpool have made a very impressive start to life under Arne Slot and the early indications is that the Reds can indeed win everything this season. The Merseyside club sit top of the Premier League after 11 matches and have won all their matches in the UEFA Champions League.

It will be a very difficult task to win the quadruple as no club has ever achieved that feat but it is fair to say the fans of the club would be happy with another Premier League title.

The post “We are underdogs” – Latest words from Liverpool star gives fans an insight into elite mentality appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Man United face Real Madrid competition for transfer of Ruben Amorim favourite

Mark Brus — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:08:29 +0000

Manchester United are reportedly set to face competition from Real Madrid for the potential transfer of Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

The talented young Portugal international has previously been linked with Man Utd by Sacha Tavolieri after his success under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.

Amorim would likely do well to bring Inacio with him to Old Trafford, but it seems it won’t be that simple as Real Madrid are also in the market for a top defensive signing, according to Fichajes.

Their report notes that Los Blancos could face competition from the Red Devils for Inacio, and it will certainly be interesting to see what happens with the 23-year-old in the weeks and months ahead.

What next for Goncalo Inacio after Sporting Lisbon success?

Goncalo Inacio in action for Portugal (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Inacio looks like he could be a perfect fit for United right now as they surely need to think about bringing in a long-term replacement for someone like Harry Maguire, who is now out of favour in the MUFC first-team.

However, there’s also a lot of competition for places from the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, and Leny Yoro once he gets back from his injury.

Real Madrid, by contrast, might immediately have more room for Inacio due to the Eder Militao injury problem opening up a space in their team.

More Stories / Latest News

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Still, Inacio might also be tempted to follow Amorim after doing well under him in his career so far, so it could be that that connection will end up giving United the edge.

The post Man United face Real Madrid competition for transfer of Ruben Amorim favourite appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal now have clearer path towards exciting midfielder transfer

Mark Brus — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:41:47 +0000

Arsenal now reportedly have a clearer path towards the transfer of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi for a variety of reasons.

The Gunners remain interested in Zubimendi as a potential option to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s side in the middle of the park, while it remains to be seen if Liverpool will go back in for the Spain international, according to the Independent.

Zubimendi has shone during his time in La Liga and it’s not surprising to see big names linked with him, with the Independent suggesting a move away may now be more realistic.

According to the report, Zubimendi agreed to stay at Sociedad in the summer due to other big names, such as Arsenal new-boy Mikel Merino, as well as Robin Le Normand, leaving the Basque club.

However, the 25-year-old was supposedly keen to be given guarantees about a future exit, and it seems this means Arsenal are still considering him.

Martin Zubimendi celebrates a goal for Spain (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

Martin Zubimendi transfer: Do Arsenal still need him?

Arsenal signed Merino in the summer, as well as Declan Rice the year before that, so is there really that much need for Zubimendi as well?

The north London giants arguably have more urgent issues in attack, where Kai Havertz has been playing as a bit of a makeshift striker, while there’s a lot of pressure on Bukayo Saka to play week in, week out and to always find that bit of magic to lift the team.

Still, midfield could be a bit of a problem soon as well, with Arsenal likely to feel they won’t have enough depth in that department next season if both Jorginho and Thomas Partey end up leaving.

More Stories / Latest News

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back

Liverpool target now looks CERTAIN to leave!

Both players are heading towards the ends of their contracts, and that could mean AFC lose both for nothing, which would surely require major investment to solve the problem.

Zubimendi is a classy performer who could also surely give Arsenal something a bit different in midfield, perhaps offering better quality on the ball than players like Rice and Merino.

The post Arsenal now have clearer path towards exciting midfielder transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Admiration continues: Liverpool & Arsenal could get transfer boost following major development

Mark Brus — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:25:15 +0000

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi reportedly still has admiration from top clubs after Liverpool and Arsenal’s past interest in the Spain international.

Zubimendi has shone for Sociedad and one imagines clubs will be on alert for him again now that Sociedad’s director of football Roberto Olabe is set to leave the club at the end of the season, according to The Athletic.

It remains to be seen if this definitely means someone like Zubimendi will be available, but it could certainly be the kind of development that works in the favour of interested clubs.

Sociedad have clearly done well so far to persuade Zubimendi to stay where he is, and Olabe may well have been an important figure due to his role as director of football.

Martin Zubimendi with Real Sociedad (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

With him gone, the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal will surely feel emboldened that they could try again for Zubimendi and perhaps have more luck snapping up the 25-year-old next time.

Martin Zubimendi transfer: Do Liverpool or Arsenal actually still need him?

Zubimendi was hot property in the summer and frequently made headlines, though it remains to be seen if he’s really still needed at either Liverpool or Arsenal.

The Gunners ended up signing Mikel Merino from Sociedad instead, so it remains to be seen if they’ll be entering the market for another midfielder again that quickly.

Having said that, Zubimendi is a similar style of player to Jorginho, who is nearing the end of his contract, so there could be a role for him there.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool make enquiry for €25m-rated utility man who dreams of Real Madrid move

Man United confident of landing Arsenal and Liverpool target as Amorim’s first signing

Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back