Liverpool are admirers of a marquee new defender, but they aren’t the only club who like him in the Premier League, according to a new report that has emerged.

Liverpool facing depth crisis at centre-back

The Reds have Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Joel Matip as their natural centre-back’s in the building as it stands, but the club have recently suffered a huge blow regarding the fitness of the latter. Last week, Matip was confirmed to have sustained a serious ACL injury, which means that he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, so with Jurgen Klopp losing his stalwart and Quansah still so young, FSG should be eyeing replacements during the upcoming transfer window.

Barcelona‘s Ronald Araujo has been highlighted as a potential candidate, with the 24-year-old having worked his way up through his club’s youth ranks to become a regular feature of their first-team, making 127 senior appearances in total to date (Transfermarkt – Araujo statistics).

Liverpool are watching Barca star Araujo

According to 90min, Liverpool are interested in Araujo, but they are likely to find it difficult to prise him away from Barcelona and the Camp Nou in the coming weeks.

“Bayern Munich are interested in signing Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo, who would like to stay at Barcelona but has doubts over his place in the side in the long-term, sources have confirmed to 90min. Several clubs are keeping an eye on Araujo amid this uncertainty. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all fans of his, but it is not expected that Barcelona will sanction an exit anytime soon.”

In La Liga this season, Araujo has provided a real physical presence at the heart of Barcelona’s backline. He’s currently averaging 2.5 aerial wins and 1.6 clearances per game, highlighting the impact he can make both on and off the ground (WhoScored – Araujo statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 2, Rivera’s native also has the versatility to operate at left-back, right-back and higher up as a defensive midfielder alongside his usual role at centre-back, so he would be a great player to bring into the building considering the cover that he could provide in various other positions outside of his own. He would even offer Klopp the chance to switch to three at the back if required, although that is not a system we have seen the German coach utilise often.

Centre-Back

177

Right-Back

20

Defensive Midfield

4

Left-Back

1

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Araujo even gives off “prime Van Dijk vibes”, referring to the season in which the Dutchman landed second on the Ballon d'Or podium, and with the winning mentality and leadership that he will possess having won three pieces of silverware since the start of his career, this is a no-brainer of a deal to complete if the opportunity were to present itself in the coming weeks.

The decision to sack Michael Beale in favour of hiring Philippe Clement could be looked back on as the best choice that any Scottish Premiership side have made this season. The former AS Monaco boss has completely turned things around for Rangers, not only putting them back in contention for the title but in control of their own fate.

When Clement first arrived, the thought of Rangers getting back into the title race seemed a world away. Now, however, they're five points adrift of Celtic with two games in hand, having failed to lose once in all competitions under their new manager.

Now, they could look to get one over on their Old Firm rivals away from the pitch and in the transfer market, having reportedly eyed up a move to sign one particular reinforcement.

Rangers transfer news

Clement's run as Rangers boss is even more impressive when considering that he hasn't even had a transfer window to make his mark on the squad as of yet. Clement recently spoke about the potential of January arrivals, saying via Rangers News: “I’m not going to put an amount on that but yes we have ambition to do things. We know also it’s a difficult period January to get players in because everybody who is performing really well in a club, the other club don’t let them go.

"It’s logical also – it’s the same on our side. So you need to look for opportunities. Maybe players who played less, (but) will they be fit then for the rest of the season? It’s more difficult decision-making than the summer transfer window but yeah we’re ambitious to make things better.”

Instead of winter arrivals, however, reports suggest that Rangers' attention has turned towards the summer. According to the Daily Record, Rangers are eyeing a move to sign Bournemouth goalkeeper Will Dennis, who is currently on loan at Kilmarnock. The shot-stopper is out of contract come the summer and will, therefore, be able to make a free move elsewhere after landing on the radar of Rangers' scouts. With Celtic also reportedly interested, however, the Gers may have to act quickly if they want to secure Dennis' signature.

Rangers can deal Celtic off-field blow

In one swoop, Rangers could steal in to win the Scottish Premiership from under Celtic's nose and then land Dennis ahead of their rivals in what would deal Brendan Rodgers a frustrating double blow. Dennis' stats have been impressive at Kilmarnock this season when compared to Jack Butland's, which means he'd be an ideal deputy to the Rangers number one.

Player

Clean Sheets

Save Percentage

Saves

Will Dennis

7

76.6%

50

Jack Butland

10

81%

33

When the summer window arrives, Dennis could get his biggest move yet in Scotland, with the expiration of his Bournemouth contract presenting the potential opportunity to pick between Rangers and Celtic. As the Old Firm rivals battle off the pitch, and the race for the title intensifies on it, the next few months should be an exciting watch in the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic are building for another successful campaign north of the border, but they may now have to field a proposal for one of their star players from the Premier League, according to a report.

Celtic finally announce Benjamin Nygren

Typically, Celtic are slow starters in the window as they prefer to take stock before acting on the market, but supporters will be heading into the weekend with a spring in their step following confirmation of Benjamin Nygren’s arrival.

Coming in from FC Nordsjælland on a five-year deal, the versatile attacker has vowed to impress the Bhoys’ support by creating plenty of chances as well as getting himself on the scoresheet, regardless of where he is deployed on the pitch.

He explained: “I feel amazing to have signed for Celtic, it’s so nice to be here. I’ve been looking forward to this so much.

“I’m a player who wants to create a lot of chances and go towards goal. I’m a link between the defence and the offence and I can run a lot. I’m an offensive-minded player but I also work hard and try to do my best in all parts of the game.”

With the recruitment wheels in motion at Parkhead, Celtic could make a move for Girona forward Bojan Miovski to settle their long-winded quest for a number nine following Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure in January.

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Nevertheless, they could also be set for outward movement in relation to their front line after turfing out a £500,000 bid from Bolton Wanderers for Irish striker Johnny Kenny.

Como’s advances for Celtic star Nicolas Kuhn have turned heads, though the Hoops could be set for another shock to the system amid Premier League interest in one of their most productive stars.

Brentford could submit imminent offer for Daizen Maeda

According to a report from Sportiva, cited by the Daily Record, Brentford could submit an imminent offer for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda after Keith Andrews took over at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Tottenham, Fenerbahçe and West Ham have all been tentatively linked with a move for the Japan international, but the Bees are now said to be in pursuit, even if they will give careful consideration to the finances behind any deal before proceeding, though it is suggested they could move for him in “immediate” fashion.

Daizen Maeda’s mercurial 2024/25 campaign at Celtic – all competitions

Appearances

51

Goals

33

Assists

12

Trophies

1x Scottish Premiership, 1x Premier Sports Cup

Labelled a “special player” by Alistair Johnston, Hoops favourite Maeda managed to direct 28 of his 57 shots on target last term and emerged as arguably Celtic’s most important player on the march to a domestic double.

Brendan Rodgers won’t be in a rush to lose his services, but a question mark over his future will continue to remain as his contract at Parkheads ticks down.

Two years remain on his current terms, so nailing Maeda down to a new long-term deal will be a central priority for the Irishman.

With West Ham United vying for a European place yet again in the Premier League this season, David Moyes could turn to the January transfer window to cement his side's place in the top six and potentially beyond. The Hammers currently sit as high as sixth and just seven points adrift of the top four in what could be a dream campaign in England's top flight.

Those at the London Stadium will be well aware that there's still a long way to go, but the winter window could suddenly put an even greater positive spin on their season so far if they land their targets. Among those that they're reportedly eyeing is a rival player who knows all about qualifying for European football.

West Ham transfer news

When West Ham lost Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer, it was easy to worry about just how they'd replace the midfielder and splash the cash gained from his departure. Months later, however, and those fears have been firmly put to bed. The Hammers signed Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse to boost their midfield, before turning their attention to Mohammed Kudus, who has starred further forward. Now, they could repeat their transfer genius by landing a defensive target on the cheap.

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According to Football Transfers, West Ham have made contact to sign Eric Dier, who will be allowed to leave Tottenham Hotspur this month. The defender's current contract runs out in the summer, meaning that the Lilywhites are on course to lose him for free if they do not cash in this month. Given that Moyes is reportedly impressed by Dier and sees him as a player similar to summer target Harry Maguire, a deal could certainly be on the cards for West Ham in the transfer window this month.

"Reliable" Dier desperately needs move

Dier's game time shows just how much he needs a Spurs departure. The England international has started just one Premier League game for the Lilywhites this season, even amid injuries to both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

A January switch to West Ham would be coming at the perfect time for both parties. Dier would be staying at the top level in England's top flight, with West Ham competing for a place in the top six, and the Hammers would be getting a player with the experience that could make all the difference in the remainder of the campaign.

It's been some fall from grace for Dier since Ange Postecoglou arrived since he was once at the centre of praise from former boss Antonio Conte. Conte said via The Daily Mail: "What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived. We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop. He is providing great continuity in his role and playing every game. I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve."

Even despite his struggles under the Aussie manager, there is no question his experience and know-how could add crucial depth and leadership to a Hammers side riding the crest of a wave.

With the January transfer window now open, Chelsea have the chance to make up for a summer of deals yet to pay off and potentially hand Mauricio Pochettino further reinforcements to turn things around. The Blues currently sit as low as 10th and are already 12 points adrift of the Premier League's top four, as they remain on course for another season without European qualification.

In an attempt to prevent what would be another disastrous campaign, Todd Boehly could spend even more money in a transfer window that he must get right if the Blues are to pave the course back to their best. Among those who could help steer a sinking ship is one exciting young defender who is set for a vital decision this month.

Chelsea transfer news

It's a rare day when Chelsea aren't in the headlines for their transfer activity these days and those headlines aren't always positive. The London giants spent big in the summer to welcome the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Romeo Lavia and several others, only for Palmer to be the only real standout so far. Yet to see their transfer tactic pay off, Chelsea could now turn to a Benfica star to solve their problems.

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According to The Sun, Chelsea are eyeing a move to sign Manchester United target Antonio Silva in the January transfer window. The Blues have reportedly already had their first proposal of £52m plus Armando Broja turned down, however, and have been told that they will need to pay the central defender's release clause of £87m if they want to secure his signature.

Money has rarely stood in the way for Boehly at Chelsea, but the need to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations may prove to be an obstacle in such a big-money move, potentially handing those at Stamford Bridge a frustrating blow.

Given that the report claims Silva is Manchester United's number one summer target though, Chelsea may have to move quickly to welcome the Benfica man, getting one over on their rivals in the process.

"Talented" Silva can be better than Disasi and Badiashile

Since arriving, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi have struggled to find their feet at Stamford Bridge, playing their part in the side which has already suffered eight defeats in 20 Premier League games this season. Silva could make the impact that the aforementioned duo have failed to, however, despite being just 19-years-old. Silva's stats, when compared to Disasi and Badiashile, show that he is already bettering them in some areas.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Tackles Won

Blocks

Antonio Silva

16

67

27

31

Axel Disasi

18

73

12

14

Benoit Badiashile

0

17

9

6

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt will be keen to keep hold of Silva, having been full of praise for the teenager last year, saying via talkSPORT: "Antonio is 18, but when you see him on the pitch, he doesn't look that age. It was obvious in pre-season that he is a talented player and that he is already a professional player who is able to withstand the pressure playing for the Benfica first team, and he has shown it many times this season."

Celtic look to be using the January window as an opportunity to offload several fringe players, but the exit of one highly-rated player could now lead to a new striker signing.

Celtic outgoings take precedence

Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to trim his squad where possible as he looks to streamline his options ahead of the return following the Scottish Premiership winter break.

Cited by The Scotsman, the Irishman explained in a recent interview why he is willing to offload some of his fringe players, stating: "You have to for multiple reasons (offload fringe players), for the players themselves and for their football careers, they need to play. For financial reasons, you can’t be carrying numbers of players each month who aren’t contributing. It then allows us the opportunity to bring players in. That’s just a natural process."

Rodgers could ignite Kyogo with Celtic move for £3m SPFL star

The Hoops have been touted with an interest in the impressive centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 10, 2024

On Tuesday, Celtic announced through their official channels that forgotten man Yosuke Ideguchi has joined Japanese giants Vissel Kobe on a permanent basis, and he is unlikely to be the last to leave the building over the coming weeks.

Summer signing Gustaf Lagerbielke is attracting interest from the likes of Genoa and Lecce. At the same time, Benjamin Siegrist, Alexandro Bernabei, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Marco Tilio could all become part of a cost-cutting operation at Parkhead before the window expires.

Now, a fresh report has emerged detailing that another Celtic man has been given permission to speak to another club as Rodgers continues to enact a clearout in Glasgow's east end.

Rocco Vata could form Bologna swap deal

Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports News reporter Anthony Joseph has let it be known that Celtic have allowed youngster Rocco Vata permission to speak to Bologna over a move, and both avenues of a permanent transfer this month or a pre-contract agreement are being explored by the Serie A high-flyers.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has been involved with the Hoops' B team this campaign and has notched 13 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions (Vata statistics – Transfermarkt).

Scottish reporter Scott Burns has indicated that the Glasgow giants haven't offered Vata a new deal despite his current terms expiring later in the year and it now seems as if the 18-year-old could move on to new pastures after featuring just four times for Celtic's senior side.

There could be a positive twist in the tale for the Hoops, with reports from Italy, via Sport Witness, claiming that Bologna may try to use striker Sydney van Hooijdonk as a "pawn" in negotiations to "unblock the operation" amid Rodgers' rumoured interest in the Dutchman, who is the son of club icon Pierre van Hooijdonk.

With Celtic on the hunt for a goalscorer, the 23-year-old's record of 92 strikes from 196 games would likely appeal, given Oh Hyeon-gyu and Daizen Maeda's absence courtesy of being called up for the Asian Cup.

Glasgow Rangers could need to sign a new centre-forward to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

Russell Martin currently has Danilo, Hamza Igamane, and Cyriel Dessers at his disposal at Ibrox, but it remains to be seen if all three of them will still be at the club when the window closes.

After the 2-2 draw at Ibrox on Sunday, the Rangers head coach officially confirmed that the club have rejected an offer that was way below their valuation for Dessers, which shows that there is concrete interest in the attacker.

Meanwhile, Lille have reportedly been in talks over a potential deal to bring Igamane, who scored 16 goals last season, to Ligue 1 this summer.

This means that Rangers may lose two of their three centre-forward options during the window, which may be why they have been linked with an interest in veteran forward Jamie Vardy.

Why a move for Jamie Vardy could make sense

It was recently reported that the Scottish giants are the ‘frontrunners’ to secure a deal for the free agent number nine after Genoa dropped out of the race for his signature.

Vardy ended his long-term association with Leicester City this year after a return of 200 goals in 500 matches for the Foxes, helping them to win a Premier League title and an FA Cup.

He turned 38 in January, which means that the forward is in the latter stages of his career, but the former England international still has the capability to make a big impact in front of goal at the top level.

Vardy ended the 2024/25 campaign with nine goals in 35 Premier League starts for Leicester, despite their relegation from the division, which came after the attacker had managed 20 goals in 37 games in all competitions when they were in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.

Mo Salah

29

33

Chris Wood

20

33

Raul Jimenez

12

34

Danny Welbeck

10

34

Jamie Vardy

9

38

Tomas Soucek

9

30

Bruno Fernandes

9

30

Jacob Murphy

8

30

Leandro Trossard

8

30

Heung-min Son

7

33

As you can see in the table above, the English dynamo’s nine-goal haul in the Premier League last season was particularly impressive, when you see that he was the only player aged above 34 within the top ten scorers over the age of 30 in the division.

This shows that he is still at a very high level in front of goal, despite his age, which is why Vardy could make a lot of sense as a short-term addition for Rangers.

Striker considering move to Rangers this summer

However, the Scottish giants appear to have an opportunity to sign another experienced free agent centre-forward who could be an even better signing than the former Leicester man.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, veteran Dutch striker Luuk De Jong is “considering” a potential transfer to Rangers after his exit from PSV.

The 34-year-old attacker became a free agent at the start of the month and is currently weighing up his options, with a switch to Scotland seemingly a realistic option for him.

Meanwhile, PSV boss Peter Bosz, when asked about interest from Rangers in the striker, revealed that he has spoken to De Jong about the possibility of him signing for Martin’s team.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Light Blues can tempt him enough to make the move to Ibrox, as he is still ‘considering’ his options at this moment in time.

Why Rangers should sign De Jong over Vardy

If presented with the choice, Rangers should decide to sign De Jong instead of Vardy because he could be an even better signing for the Scottish side this summer.

The former Netherlands international is four years younger than the ex-Leicester marksman, which means that he may have a few more years of service to offer on the pitch for the Gers, making him a potentially better medium-term addition to the side.

His goalscoring record in the past two seasons for PSV also suggests that the Dutch dynamo has the potential to deliver more than Vardy in front of goal for Rangers, if he can adapt to Scottish football and hit the ground running at Ibrox.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the 34-year-old striker plundered 18 goals and 12 assists in 47 matches in all competitions. That came after the veteran attacker produced a staggering haul of 38 goals and 18 assists in 48 appearances in the 2023/24 season for PSV.

This means that De Jong has scored 56 goals and assisted 30 for the Dutch giants in the past two seasons, whilst Vardy managed 30 goals and six assists in that time for Leicester.

These statistics suggest that the former Barcelona ace could offer way more to Rangers as both a scorer and a creator of goals than the Englishman, whilst also being four years younger, because, quite simply, he has scored and assisted significantly more goals.

Appearances

34

31

Goals

29

14

Minutes per goal

96

175

Big chances created

18

16

Key passes per game

2.0

1.8

Assists

15

8

As you can see in the table above, De Jong has consistently provided goals and assists over the past two years at league level, and has even been unfortunate not to have more assists to his name.

He is an experienced and lethal marksman who can find the back of the net on a regular basis whilst also creating high-quality chances for his teammates week-in-week-out, which could make him a fantastic all-round centre-forward option for Martin.

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Whilst, at 34, De Jong may not represent the future for the Ibrox giants, the Dutch striker could make a big short-term impact as the Gers look to wrestle back control of the Scottish Premiership next season.

Newcastle United have been boosted in their efforts to sign an attacking "magician" in the near future, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle's interest in Raphinha

The Magpies are badly in need of an injection of quality into their squad this month, following what has been a season of struggles to date. At the start of the campaign, there were high hopes that Eddie Howe's side could kick on to secure another top-four finish in the Premier League, as well as go far in the Champions League, but it hasn't panned out that way.

It would be a surprise if Newcastle failed to make any new signings in the January transfer window, with plenty of players linked and additions badly needed in order to give Howe's men any chance of getting themselves back in the top-four hunt.

One player who was seen as a big target for the Magpies last summer was Raphinha, who is currently at Barcelona after starring for Leeds United. A move failed to materialise at that point, with the Brazilian staying put, but he has struggled to be a regular in 2023/24 to date, only starting eight league matches.

Now, it looks as though the move isn't dead in the water, however, with Newcastle's hopes of acquiring his signature given a boost.

Newcastle handed Raphinha boost

According to a new update from Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle could have a second chance to sign Raphinha, with the La Liga giants increasingly of the feeling that he could be allowed to move on.

It is claimed that "patience is running out" with the winger given his disappointing impact at Barca since arriving from Leeds, and a second bid could now be accepted for him.

Raphinha may have been a little underwhelming in Spain thus far, but that's not to say that he couldn't be an inspired signing by Newcastle at a time when more attacking quality is required. The 27-year-old is someone who former Leeds teammate Dan James has raved about in the past, lauding his technical brilliance, saying:

"He’s a magician. He’s always been a great player – I played against him at United and he was always great – but he’s improved so much. He fully deserved his Brazilian call-up and I think since he got it, he’s pushed on even more, he’s even more confident. He can do absolutely anything on the pitch. It’s great playing with him."

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Raphinha has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, which means he could hit the ground running at St James' Park – he has 29 goal contributions (17 goals and 12 assists) in 65 appearances in the competition – and his class out on the right-hand side would provide strong competition for the likes of Miguel Almiron.

At 27, his best years could be about to arrive, and whether it is in January or the summer that he joins Newcastle, his flair and end product could make him a new hero at St James'.

Glasgow Rangers have already started their winter transfer business with intent, bringing in striker Fabio Silva on a loan deal to Ibrox until the end of the current campaign.

It proves that Philippe Clement isn’t resting on his laurels following a positive start to his spell at the Gers and is clearly looking for ways to bolster his squad.

With the winter break in operation until 20 January, the Light Blues have a week left to prepare for the second half of the season and, considering they are fighting on both domestic and European fronts, more signings are a necessity rather than a want.

With this in mind, a few names have been mentioned regarding a potential move to Ibrox, but the latest player could perhaps be the most exciting link yet…

Rangers transfer news – Oscar Zambrano

It comes as no surprise to any of the supporters that Clement is targeting a midfielder this month, especially as this area of the first team has been struck with plenty of injuries to key players.

The likes of John Lundstram, Jose Cifuentes, Ryan Jack, and Nico Raskin were all unavailable at one stage, leading to the 49-year-old coach playing Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell – a right back and attacking midfielder – as his pairing at the heart of the midfield at one stage.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Light Blues are watching midfielder Oscar Zambrano, yet they face an almighty battle to secure his signature this month.

Fabio Silva

2024

Todd Cantwell

2023

Nico Raskin

2023

Aaron Ramsey

2022

James Sands

2022

Mateusz Zukowski

2022

Amad Diallo

2022

Scott Wright

2021

Jack Simpson

2021

Ianis Hagi

2020

Celtic are also keen admirers, but it is the clout of the Premier League which may prove to be the destination for the 19-year-old talent.

Luton Town and Brighton & Hove Albion have discussed making a move for the player, according to Bailey, yet it is AFC Bournemouth who are emerging as the frontrunners for his signature.

An alleged price tag of £5.5m may prove to be a stumbling block unless Clement can move on some deadwood this month, but he will have to be swift considering the teams who are watching him.

The youngster could very well be Clement’s own Moises Caicedo, with the pair sharing similar attributes from their favoured deep-lying midfield role, and it would be a stunning coup for the Glasgow side if they managed to pull off a move.

How Oscar Zambrano compares to Moises Caicedo

Like the current Chelsea gem, Zambrano started his career in his homeland, currently turning out for Ecuadorian outfit LDU Quito, whereas Caicedo played for Independiente before securing a career-changing move to Brighton in 2021.

Caicedo likes to dictate the play from deep and possesses wonderful physical and technical abilities, which have made him a standout so far in his young career.

The 22-year-old currently ranks in the top 4% with regard to pass completion percentage per 90 minutes when compared to positional peers across Europe (90.1%) while last season in the Premier League, the youngster made 100 tackles, good enough to rank him second behind Joao Palhinha. It's clear, therefore, that he can influence the game from the heart of the midfield.

U23 scout Antonio Mango praised Zambrano for his performances at the U20 World Cup in May 2023, saying: “Ecuador may have scored 12 goals at U20 World Cup (Highest) but Zambrano is one to have caught my eye. His discipline and awareness combined with terrific passing ability is fantastic. The Unsung Hero.”

It is clear he could turn into Caicedo 2.0 and this is a move which Rangers simply cannot let escape, especially with his ceiling being so high and the fact he has the potential to make the club a massive profit in the future.

Oscar Zambrano’s career statistics

The 19-year-old has already made 48 appearances for his club side since making his debut back in 2022 and is clearly on a fast track to a career in Europe in the not-too-distant future.

During the 2023 league campaign for his club side, Zambrano finished with a stunning 91% pass success rate along with losing possession just 4.8 times per game and recovering 4.3 balls per game, already showcasing his Caicedo-esque abilities at such a tender age.

This has led to praise from a variety of courses, with South American football expert Nathan Joyes dubbing the midfielder as a “classy operator” who is “very mature for his age” last month as Premier League sides circle him like vultures.

He still has plenty of development to do, but moving to Rangers and experiencing the chance to win trophies and play European football could be ideal for the teenager to begin what could be a productive career in Europe.

He has yet to make his debut for Ecuador, but it surely won't be long before he makes the step-up and his displays in the U20 World Cup last year will surely put manager Felix Sanchez on high alert.

Zambrano started all of Ecuador’s four matches in the competition, and he was sublime throughout. Not only did he achieve an 89% pass success rate, but the midfielder also demonstrated his wonderful defensive abilities by making 2.5 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, along with winning 57% of his ground duels.

While not known for his attacking skills, he did average 2.3 key passes per game for his nation, along with succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts, proving that he could perhaps play a hybrid role in the future, which would be a big advantage for Clement.

The Belgian coach is desperate to reinvigorate his midfield with some young talent and Zambrano certainly fits the bill.

Although the lure of the Premier League may prove to be too much for Rangers to cope with, Clement will regret not making a more concrete offer for a player who could explode and shine on the continent, similar to Caicedo last season for Brighton.

He eventually made the move to Chelsea for a staggering fee of £115m. It may be too early to discuss this type of fee with regard to Zambrano, yet it shows just what could be achieved by developing highly-rated young talent.

We are now a month into the summer transfer window and Arsenal’s elusive striker doesn’t appear to be forthcoming just yet.

Coming into the ongoing market, Andrea Berta and Co knew, above all else, that new forwards needed to be brought into the club.

Well, Mikel Arteta has certainly issued his rallying call with reports suggesting that the Spaniard now wants his new centre-forward signed by the time Arsenal jet off to Singapore for their pre-season tour on July 19th.

So, no pressure Berta, it’s over to you.

The latest on Arsenal's hunt for a new striker

Without necessarily too many announcements, this has been a busy window for the Gunners with midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard both set to be announced before too long.

The north Londoners have raided Chelsea again to bring in Kepa Arrizabalaga in a £5m deal but they may not stop there. Noni Madueke, one of the Blues’ wingers, has reportedly agreed personal terms with Arsenal ahead of a prospective move.

Now, the Gunners are preparing club-to-club talks this week. It’s certainly an interesting one, but it’s not the priority; signing a striker is.

Much of the chatter this summer has been dominated by Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres. Well, the latest on the Gyokeres saga is that Arsenal may have made a breakthrough in proceedings.

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That’s according to a number of sources including David Ornstein, who reports this weekend that the Swedish attacker now “wants to join” Arsenal and Arteta is pushing for a swift conclusion to the deal.

Ornstein reveals that a deal has moved into an advanced stage and discussions will now continue regarding a transfer fee.

Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol suggests that a ‘deal is expected to close this Sunday’ worth around €80m (£70m), while reporting that he ‘will join Arsenal’ in the next few days once the remaining details are finalised.

Personal terms on a five-year contract have also been agreed, as per journalist Ben Jacobs.

Why Arsenal must prioritise Gyokeres over anyone else

In the last 24 hours, talk of Madueke moving to Arsenal has been rife among the fanbase.

While it’s true that Arsenal need to discover a backup for Bukayo Saka after his enormous workload finally saw his hamstring give way last year, there are obvious concerns surrounding the Chelsea winger.

The first is that supporters are tired of raiding Stamford Bridge for Chelsea’s hand-me-downs. They have already brought in Kepa this summer but this would be the eighth occasion in the last ten years where someone has traded the blue of London for the red of London.

Petr Cech

£10m

David Luiz

£8m

Willian

Free

Jorginho

£11m

Kai Havertz

£65m

Raheem Sterling

Loan

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Madueke is a player with plenty of potential. He scored a Premier League hat-trick in 2024/25, You don’t do that if you aren’t a talented player.

In total, the England international ended last campaign with 11 goals in 41 appearances before jetting off to America for the Club World Cup. Inconsistenty is there, of course it is, he’s still only 23, but considering Arsenal have been linked with wingers such as Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, this feels underwhelming.

You sense that it’s the order of the deals Arsenal are completing here. No one can disagree that Arteta needs a Saka backup and should the Gunners conclude deals for a striker, a winger of Rodrygo’s calibre and also further their interest by concluding a move for Eberechi Eze, no one would bat an eyelid at Madueke’s arrival.

Thus, it perhaps represents one of Arsenal’s least exciting moves this summer. It’s certainly less exciting than Gyokeres, let’s put it that way.

Just casting your eye at the Swede’s remarkable goal tally over the last two years tells you all you need to know. He’s a “monster” in the words of journalist Alex Turk, crashing home 54 goals in 52 games last term.

For a team lacking goals, he feels like the ideal signing. Remarkably, no player in Arsenal red and white scored more than nine goals in the Premier League throughout 2024/25. That’s the first time the Gunners have swept through a league season without a player hitting double figures since 1923/24, over 100 years ago.

Arteta’s side had to ride the wave of injuries, sure, but it speaks volumes. Arsenal have to sign a striker and Gyokeres, Europe’s leading marksman last campaign, would perhaps be the club’s most captivating acquisition since Declan Rice moved from West Ham United for a club-record £105m.

Gyokeres isn’t just a goalscorer either. Unlike Kai Havertz, he’s capable of running the channels and he’s one of the quickest and most powerful centre-forwards around.

For an Arsenal team that lacks pace in transition after turning the ball over, this should help enormously.

During his time in the Championship at Coventry City, Opta Analyst noted that ‘Mark Robins’ side thrived in the chaos of transition’ during the 2022/23 campaign. That was largely thanks to Gyokeres who, as the focal point of the attack, helped the Sky Blues to become the most direct team in the entire division.

With Gyokeres up top, Opta revealed that Coventry registered 123 ‘direct attacks’. The next best was Sunderland who registered just 77 in comparison. Arsenal are one of the best at hounding the opposition and you best believe that if they won the ball back, their forward line would now totally transform with the Sweden international leading the line instead of Havertz.

So, the Swede would undoubtedly add more goals to this Arsenal team, but the overall threat of Arteta’s other forward players should also improve if they are to attack with more pace and power.

This would be a game-changing signing over at the Emirates.

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