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The 2023/24 season has been a disappointing campaign for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s side currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, 13 points off a top-four spot and having lost 12 games so far.

They also crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages, and the 15 goals they conceded in the competition was the most by a Premier League team in a single campaign in the group stages, as per Opta Joe.

Of course, these numbers are nowhere near good enough for a club of United’s stature, and it has seen manager Ten Hag, who is into his second season at the club, face plenty of criticism. However the club have denied several times that they have been talking to other managers, and it remains unclear at this time as to whether or not they will part ways with Ten Hag this summer.

The finger of blame has been pointed in a few different directions by United fans this season. Aside from the criticism that Ten Hag has faced, United fans have also directed blame at certain players, including Casemiro, who has struggled for form this season, and has looked nothing like his usual self – dubbed a "Soccer Aid" player by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Naturally, United’s way to fix the problem has been to look into the transfer market, although not just in midfield. They have looked at Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite as the man to sure up the defence, but with a £75m price tag, according to GiveMeSport, the Red Devils may have to find an alternative option, and they have identified one of the best defenders in Serie A as that player.

Manchester United's Branthwaite Alternative

The man in question here is Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer, who has recently emerged as United’s ideal alternative target to 21-year-old Branthwaite. According to The Mirror, Bremer has a £43m release clause in his contract, which would save United £32m should they sign the Brazilian over Branthwaite.

27-year-old Brazil international Bremer, who played one minute at Wembley against England last month, has been a key man for the Turin side this season. He has started 32 games in Serie A, playing every minute of each.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, interest in Bremer from the Old Trafford club “is becoming increasingly insistent”, with Juve targeting Mario Hermoso of Atletico Madrid as a potential replacement should Bremer move to United.

How Bremer compares to Branthwaite

Described by football analyst Ben Mattinson on X as a “monster” at the heart of Juve’s defence, Bremer is certainly one of the most highly-rated centre-backs in Europe. The 27-year-old has helped to keep 15 clean sheets for Juve this season, the joint-third most in Serie A, as per Sofascore. That is almost double the amount Manchester United have managed to keep this season, with eight, according to Sofascore.

The most notable difference between Branthwaite and Bremer is the fact that the Everton man is left-footed, and Juve’s number three is right-footed. However, this is not necessarily a cause for concern for United, who aren’t specifically targeting a left-sided centre-back, and Braithwaite is equally strong on each foot. Indeed, both are capable of playing central centre-back in a back three in possession, which is likely where they would both slot in at United if they joined the club next summer.

Bremer is a very aggressive centre-back, who likes to step up and get close to attackers; he is not afraid to contest duels on the ground or in the air. Branthwaite is a wonderful defender, quick along the ground despite his frame, and superb at defending wide spaces.

Aerially, Bremer ranks highly, according to Fbref. He averages 2.88 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 15% of centre-backs in Serie A. In comparison, Branthwaite averages 2.69 aerial duels won per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, which ranks him in the top 21% of defenders in the competition, as per Fbref.

However, with this in mind, it is worth considering that Brantwahite is quite a bit taller than Bremer, with the former standing at 6 foot 5, and the latter smaller at 6 foot 2.

Another place where Bremer’s numbers stack up favourably against Branthwaite’s is on the ball. Whilst still not elite, the Juve defender averages 3.32 progressive passes per 90 minutes, whereas Branthwaite averages just 2.06 progressive passes per 90.

Take this with a pinch of salt, however, because Branthwaite is playing in an Everton side with far less possession and a different way of playing than Juve. In actual fact, Branthwaite is superb on the ball, despite what the numbers suggest.

Both defenders read the game excellently, and this is reflected in their interception numbers. Branthwaite excels here, with his 1.61 interceptions per 90 minutes ranking him in the top 9% in the Premier League. On the other hand, Bremer makes just 1.22 per 90 minutes, placing him as low as the 65th percentile.

No doubt, signing Bremer could help fix the struggles that Casemiro has faced this season. The Brazilian midfielder has looked like a shadow of his former self – being dribbled past 2.2 times per game in the league – although having Bremer behind him to cover for him if he loses a challenge could well be vital for the 32-year-old veteran.

It is certainly sad to see such a decline, yet bringing in a player like Bremer, who can help in duels and by sweeping up loose balls, might well prove to be helpful to the former Real Madrid man – who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, as per the Daily Mail.

Should Manchester United deem Branthwaite unattainable this season, Bremer offers a wonderful alternative. He is aggressive and good in the air, although does leave a lot to be desired in possession.

For just £43m, he could be a great choice should the Red Devils wish to strengthen at the back, and provide more support to his compatriot Casemiro ahead of him.

Man Utd could unleash the real Bruno by signing “unreal” ace for £0

The Man United target has been described as a “concrete option.”

By
Tom Lever

Apr 20, 2024

Al-Nassr are reportedly close to striking a deal with Chelsea for winger Angelo over a move ahead of the Saudi Pro League's transfer deadline.

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• Chelsea set to sell Angelo
• Al Nassr offer bid worth €23m
• Chelsea working upon sell-on clause

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Saudi Pro League's transfer window is set to close in less than four hours and Al-Nassr are set to work hard until the deadline as they look to sign winger Angelo from Chelsea.

  The Blues are hard at work to clear out their super-bloated squad and are willing to sell the winger.

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  As per Fabrizio Romano, Al Nassr have offered Chelsea a deal worth €23 million (£19m/$25m) and the price has been accepted by the Blues.

  The only detail yet to be agreed upon, as per the report, is the sell-on clause for a possible future sale of the 19-year-old.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea signed Angelo for a reported fee of €19m (£16m/$21m) from Brazilian Serie A side Santos in the summer of 2023. The Blues then loaned the winger out to Strasbourg on a season-long loan deal where he appeared 25 times for the French club.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ANGELO?

  Al-Nassr will look to close the deal with Chelsea as soon as possible with the transfer deadline fast approaching. The Saudi Pro League side will be in action next against Al-Ahli on September 13.

Matias Rojas has "no words" to describe the feeling of being Lionel Messi's teammate at Inter Miami, with the Paraguayan still pinching himself.

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• Argentine moved to America in 2023
• Herons have strengthened again since then
• All-time great now an inspirational leader

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi made his way to the United States in the summer of 2023. He has been joined by a number of other notable additions since then, including former Barcelona colleagues Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

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  Rojas was another new arrival for the 2024 MLS campaign, with the 28-year-old playmaker heading to Florida from Brazilian side Corinthians. He is currently responsible for providing attacking creativity for the Herons during Messi’s injury-enforced absence.

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  WHAT ROJAS SAID

  The Paraguay international is loving every minute of his time in Miami, telling reporters of what it is like to work with Messi – even when the iconic Argentine is restricted to an individual rehabilitation programme: “Leo is always there, he watches everything and he talks to us before games. He communicates more with those who can speak Spanish, he pays attention to what is happening, and he gives his opinion. We are proud to be in there, enjoying these moments. Sometimes I talk to my family to realise what is happening, but as I always say, I will not get tired of saying that we share the day with the best player in the history of football. There are no words to describe what I feel every day.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Messi is still waiting on dates to be set for a return to full training and competitive action. Inter Miami will be back on MLS duty against Supporters' Shield rivals FC Cincinnati on August 24. They are hoping to have their talismanic captain in contention for selection again by the end of the month.

Sunderland were known to splash the cash on some underwhelming duds when they were still playing their football in the Premier League, overpriced flops who struggled to ever really fit into their new Wearside environment.

Major signings such as Jack Rodwell and Didier Ndong stick out as being spectacular misfires from the Black Cats, with the latter of those two statement purchases still going down as Sunderland's most expensive capture to this date.

Fast forward to the present, flashy purchases are very much resigned to this turbulent part of the club's history that inevitably played a part in their demise all the way down to League One – Mike Dodds' side consisting more of spritely gems such as Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham now, as opposed to risking it all on some wild and rash buys.

Another one of those over-the-top transfers is remembered for being one of the biggest wastes of money in Sunderland's recent history, with the striker in question entering for a bumper £9m fee and frustratingly just drawing blanks instead of showing off his potency.

Jozy Altidore's time at Sunderland

It's fair to say a lot more was expected of Jozy Altidore when he rocked up to the Stadium of Light 11 years ago than what the Black Cats unfortunately got, arriving in England from the Netherlands with a reputation for being a deadly finisher in the Eredivisie.

Altidore would net 51 goals from 93 games playing for AZ Alkmaar, including a mightily impressive 31 goals from just 38 matches during his final season at AZ before his Sunderland nightmare began.

Strikes such as this one against FC Heerenveen must have had the Wearside outfit licking their lips at the prospect of what they were going to get when Altidore travelled over to England, only for the move to be a disaster from start to finish.

The American centre-forward would end up finding the net a dire three times for the then Premier League Black Cats from 52 games, with remarkably just one of those strikes actually coming in the top-flight.

Altidore would be cursed in front of goal with Hull City at this level even before joining Sunderland, only mustering up a solitary strike for the Tigers too in the Premier League.

If anything, Sunderland should have done their research better involving this forgettable loan stint before splashing the cash wildly.

One miss during his wretched time at the Stadium of Light saw one-time Black Cats boss Gustavo Poyet describe Altidore as feeling "devastated" by his lack of a cutting edge, with the move undoubtedly going down as a terrible flop.

The move is exposed further as a blunder on Sunderland's end when you look at how much the ex-AZ striker would cost if this deal went through in today's inflated market, with Totally Money's Transfer Index heightening Altidore's Sunderland trauma even more by exposing those details.

Jozy Altidore's transfer value in 2024

If the same ill-fated move went through in 2024, Altidore would have been even more of a costly error on Sunderland's end with the fee – as per Totally Money – coming in at a bumped up £16.4m.

To contextualise, that would result in the 6 foot 1 striker coming in as Sunderland's second most expensive purchase of all time.

Sunderland will sleep a little easier about the high-profile purchase of Asamoah Gyan in contrast to Altidore firing blanks, with the Ghanaian sharp-shooter earning hero status by bagging 11 goals from 37 games for the Wearside outfit.

Altidore would eventually rebuild his reputation and get his bruised career back on track when relocating to Toronto FC after leaving England, setting the MLS alight with goal after goal.

Sunderland will be left scratching their heads at what went wrong for Altidore when donning a Black Cats strip considering he looked unfazed by his Black Cats demons with Toronto, having been seen as a coup under Paolo Di Canio before freezing in his new spotlight.

Altidore's time after Sunderland

Altidore would become the goalscoring beast he was in the Netherlands with Toronto, amassing 13 goals from just 25 appearances during his debut MLS season.

In total, Altidore would go on to become a decorated servant for the Canadian club by netting 79 goals from 173 games before walking away in 2021 for a new challenge with New England Revolution.

That move didn't quite go according to plan for the American centre-forward though, with the goal-shy Altidore that ruined his short but ego-crushing time with Sunderland remerging again – only firing in two goals from 30 games.

Now, the well-travelled attacker finds himself without a club at 34 years of age with retirement surely in his immediate plans.

Sunderland will worry that their current crop of centre-forwards are lacking a prolific edge similar to Altidore, with Mason Burstow only managing one goal so far on loan from Chelsea.

Likewise, Nazariy Rusyn has just two goals next to his name which so happens to be the same paltry goal return the American striker managed from two spells in the Premier League.

There is the reassurance that neither of those signings dented the Sunderland bank account like Altidore did however, with the strikers at Dodds' disposal not quite going down as being failures to the same degree as their former misfiring dud just yet.

Sunderland could strike gold by cashing in on gem who's now worth £11m

Sunderland could soon make a hefty profit on this star if he is sold on.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 5, 2024

Arsenal have won the race for Sweden's talented young star Rosa Kafaji, who was rumoured to also have interest from Real Madrid, Juventus & PSG.

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• Arsenal make Sweden star Kafaji third summer signing
• Real Madrid, Juventus & PSG rumoured to be interested
• But Gunners win race for 21-year-old forward

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kafaji has signed what the club has described as 'a long-term contract', joining from BK Hacken. The Swedish side made her the most expensive domestic transfer in Swedish women’s football history at the end of 2021 but were always going to struggle to keep hold of her this year, with several big clubs interested in the 21-year-old ahead of her contract expiring in a few months. She will wear the No.16 shirt in north London.

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  That's because Kafaji has spent the past 12 months lighting up the biggest of stages, taking her form from the Swedish Damallsvenskan to the Champions League and even to Wembley. In Europe's premier competition, the young forward helped Hacken reach the quarter-finals, scoring goals against PSG and Real Madrid, and she's earned chances with the senior national team, too, providing a stunning assist for Fridolina Rolfo in a draw with England back in April. Now, she will take the next big step in her club career as she joins a top club in a top league.

• WHAT KAFAJI SAID

  “It feels amazing to join this club – I'm so happy to be here,” Kafaji said. “I had a very good feeling after speaking to Jonas [Eidevall, head coach] and Clare [Wheatley, direct of women's football] and it just feels right to be at Arsenal. I’m hungry to keep growing and I know this is the right place for me to do that and compete for the biggest trophies. I can't wait to get started and walk out at Emirates Stadium in front of all our supporters.”

  Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall added: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Rosa to the club. She’s one of the most exciting young talents in the world and I’ve been a keen admirer of her game for a number of years. She plays with a fearlessness beyond her age and I know she has the hunger and mentality it takes to realise her potential here with Arsenal.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kafaji, who ranked 11th in GOAL's NXGN list back in 2022, is Arsenal's third signing of the summer. She follows Mariona Caldentey, the former Barcelona star, and Daphne van Domselaar, the Netherlands international goalkeeper, through the doors in a transfer window that has seen Brazil youngster Gio Queiroz, Canada shot-stopper Sabrina D'Angelo and, most notably, star striker Vivianne Miedema leave.

Rangers may have just been handed a major boost over the future of their £15m man, it has emerged.

Key man wants out

The latest international break has only served to fuel the rumours that Philippe Clement's No 1, Jack Butland, is keen to leave Rangers this summer despite an excellent Scottish Premiership season.

The 31-year-old has been a key part of the meanest defence in Scotland, keeping 17 clean sheets and conceding just 16 times since his arrival on a free transfer in the summer.

Club green light offer to sign Rangers star Clement is trying to keep

The Ibrox side could be handed a big blow in their efforts to keep a senior player.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 28, 2024

However, his form was not rewarded by England boss Gareth Southgate, who overlooked the ex-Crystal Palace and Manchester United shot-stopper in his latest Three Lions squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

It led to reports that Butland was considering his options already amid Premier League interest, with the idea that a return to England may lead to greater exposure and therefore a return to the England squad.

For their part, Rangers are not set to deny Butland a move should he choose to, but will demand a massive £15m to let him leave the club this summer – something that would come close to a record sale for the Ibrox side.

Now though, they may not have to sanction a departure after all, with the latest reports offering hope for the Rangers no.1 to stay at Ibrox.

Butland boost for Rangers

It has emerged that Butland may not have to leave Scotland to be in with a chance of making the Three Lions squad in the near future, with Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge claiming that he was "extremely unlucky" not to make the most recent squad.

"I was told that he was extremely unlucky not to make this England squad. There was a lot of deliberating over whether him or Aaron Ramsdale should have taken that third spot," he told GiveMeSport.

"That tells me two things – he is doing ever so well this season, and you can get in the England squad by playing in Scotland, which is a huge plus for Rangers. I actually put him in my England squad on Sky Sports News," Bridge added.

Should that message have been communicated to Butland himself, it may persuade him to remain at Rangers beyond this summer despite interest from elsewhere, knowing that should he continue to perform to the high standards he has managed thus far at Ibrox, he will not be discounted.

Of course, this summer's Euro 2024 tournament could prove pivotal. Though Jordan Pickford is England's firm No 1, there are no obvious backup goalkeepers at present, with Ramsdale not playing for Arsenal and Sam Johnstone set to miss the competition in Germany after an elbow injury on international duty with the Three Lions. Meanwhile, England youth goalkeeper James Trafford has lost his spot as Burnley's No 1 goalkeeper in recent weeks and may fall out of contention as a result.

This predicament could present Butland with the opportunity that he has craved to return to Gareth Southgate's setup, all while still playing for Rangers.

Former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite is reportedly looking to buy Espanyol, weeks after leaving the La Liga side.

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• Braithwaite wants to buy Espanyol
• Left the La Liga side this summer
• Unhappy with his treatment at the club

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Barcelona and Middlesbrough striker joined Espanyol in the summer of 2022 following the expiry of his contract with the Blaugrana side. The Danish forward helped Los Periquitos gain promotion to La Liga with 22 goals in 33 league appearances. However, the 33-year-old left the Barcelona-based club and is now planning to buy out the club due to his unhappiness with his treatment over the last two years.

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  While Braithwaite was never one of the best footballers in the world, he has been featured by Forbes regularly as one of the richest footballers in the world as he owns a real estate business, a restaurant and a clothing line. The £617,000 that Braithwaite and his brother Philip Michael put in NYCE Companies in the US is now reportedly valued at an astounding £180 million and his next goal, according to Spanish publication Marca, is to become Espanyol's largest shareholder.

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  WHAT BRAITHWAITE SAID

  Following Espanyol's promotion to La Liga in May, Braithwaite was very openly critical of the board and their handling of his contract situation in the summer of 2023. He said: "Now we have to enjoy it and see what happens in the future.

  "I don't know anything, I'll talk about it in the next few days. A year ago the club offered me a renewal, but it was disrespectful. Let's see if they want me to stay here because the offer I received a year ago shows that they don't trust me."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BRAITHWAITE?

  The Danish striker has now joined Brazilian Serie A side Gremio and will look to buy the majority shares in Espanyol as a sort of payback for his ill-treatment. Braithwaite is yet to make his debut for Gremio as he enjoys his vacation having followed the European calendar the season prior. However, he will likely soon join the Brazilian side or training before making his debut.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s interest in Ismaila Sarr heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that the Magpies are eyeing a potential swoop for the Watford attacker, with Crystal Palace also considering a deal for the relegated winger.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “They (Palace) just won’t want to get into a price battle with Newcastle, who have got some interest in him.

“It’s not major interest right now, but they’re definitely looking at the situation, as they see him as a game-changer and somebody that’s probably a step-up from Saint-Maximin.”

Supporters will be delighted

The supporters will surely be delighted by this claim as Sarr has the potential to be an excellent, exciting, addition to the team next season.

He has managed ten goals and six assists in two Premier League campaigns since making the move to England from France in the summer of 2019.

In between those two seasons, he caught the eye playing in the Championship as he scored 13 goals and provided four assists in their promotion success. This shows that he has the ability to score goals on a regular basis, with glimpses of that also coming through in the top-flight.

At the age of 24, he still has plenty of time left on his hands to develop as a winger. He is far from the finished article and having two full seasons of Premier League football will be useful experience for him moving forward, as he now knows what it takes to compete at this level.

The Senegal international was relegated in both of those campaigns and this means that he was playing in a team that was not good enough to stay in the division both times. Now, imagine what he could do if he was playing for Newcastle in a team that is looking to finish in the top half of the table instead of just avoiding the bottom three.

Sarr is a player the club invest in for the future as well as the here and now. Eddie Howe can work with him on the training pitch to help him fulfil his potential and become a crucial player for the Magpies in the years to come.

Fans will surely be keen to see young, exciting, players developing alongside the club and that is why they will be delighted with the interest in signing the Hornets attacker.

AND in other news, “Newcastle asked..”: Reporter delivers big transfer claim that’ll leave Howe excited…

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has been left impressed following the appointment of Dan Ashworth as Newcastle United’s new sporting director.

The Lowdown: Ashworth joins Newcastle

Newcastle have now announced the appointment of highly rated Dan Ashworth as the club’s new sporting director, after the 51-year-old resigned from his technical director role at Brighton back in February.

Ashworth joined the south-coast club in 2018 after a successful stint as the Football Association’s technical director, where he led various England age groups to international triumph with wins at three tournaments in 2017.

Since arriving at Brighton, the former FA man has helped establish Graham Potter’s side as a mainstay club in the Premier League.

The Latest: Downie’s verdict

Taking to Twitter, Downie shared the news of Ashworth joining Newcastle, and the Sky Sports reporter gave his verdict on the appointment, claiming:

“Feels like Dan Ashworth is as good an appointment as Newcastle could make for their Sporting Director role. Time will tell, but going by his past work this feels like a bold & clever piece of business. Also been a while since I wrote/said “with immediate effect.” #NUFC”

The Verdict: Great appointment

According to The Guardian, Amanda Staveley’s PIF-backed consortium identified Ashworth as a key figure when they completed their takeover last October.

They report that negotiations took place amid claims that Brighton wanted £5m in compensation to release him from his contractual obligations, and now a deal has been struck.

With the perseverance and money involved for Newcastle to get their man, this is clearly a great appointment for the North East club, who is highly rated due to his impressive CV in the sport.

As a result, Newcastle will now be able to start making moves in the transfer market with their focus set on next season’s competition.

In other news: Newcastle United: Magpies target Hugo Ekitike ‘told’ he can leave Reims

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has worked with many top-level players throughout his glistening managerial career who have equally won numerous trophies and awards.

The one figure that has played more games under the 51-year-old than any other player he’s managed is Raheem Sterling, who has featured 292 times under the current City boss.

City signed the winger from fellow Premier League club Liverpool back in 2015 in a deal worth a reported fee of £49m.

Since then, the England international has gone on to make a total of 339 appearances for the Manchester club across all competitions.

In those appearances, the 27-year-old has scored 131 goals, delivered 95 assists and won several domestic trophies in the process.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sterling will decide in June whether he wants to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Citizens before his current contract runs out in the summer of 2023.

Should the former Liverpool star decide to bring his time with City to an end, the Premier League champions may have already identified who they could bring in as a suitable heir for their current winger.

It was also reported earlier this year that City are one of the potential suitors for Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka should he find himself leaving the north London club in the near future.

With 23 goals and 29 assists under his belt in 131 senior appearances for the Gunners, the 20-year-old certainly knows how to score and create goals for his side in the same way that Sterling has been doing at City for seven years.

This season saw the youngster end the Premier League campaign with more goal contributions than any of his Arsenal teammates as well as a higher overall performance rating than any other player in Mikel Arteta’s squad according to WhoScored.

This highlights just how capable he is of playing in the top division at a high level.

Labelled as an “outrageously talented” player by Gary Lineker, Saka currently has a market value of £102m according to CIES, which suggests that it may not be cheap for City to pluck him out of Arsenal this summer.

However, should the Citizens find themselves waving goodbye to Sterling or if he plans to run his contract down, securing Saka’s signature may end up being worth the potential significant investment and give Guardiola his dream heir for the current City attacker.

In other news: Man City eyeing “unbelievable” £45m gem who’s “one of the best”, Pep would love him