Look who’s xhak
Granit Xhaka could be set for a shock £10million return to the Premier League.
Leverkusen’s 32-year-old former Arsenal star is wanted by newly-promoted Sunderland to spearhead their survival fight.
And the Black Cats are willing to offer the Swiss international midfielder a three-year contract to lure him to the Stadium of Light.
Xhaka still has three years left on his deal with the German giants but could be allowed to leave this summer.
Sunderland have already splashed out £110m on six new recruits as they prepare for life back in the Prem.
And the vastly-experienced Xhaka fits the profile of player that boss Regis Le Bris hopes to bring him to help lead his young squad.
Medical day
Arsenal have already organised a date for a medical as Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres closes in on a transfer, and that date is reportedly to be today!
The Gunners have already wrapped up the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard this summer, while Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera are edging closer to being confirmed as a new Arsenal players.
Arsenal have been working for weeks on a deal for a new striker with sporting director Andrea Berta negotiating for Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
The Gunners eventually decided Gyokeres was their top target but talks have stalled over the last week or so after Arsenal and Sporting struggled to agree a fee.
Mind boggling
Only people with a top IQ can figure out these 10 Premier League clubs based on emojis.
The puzzles have been put together using emojis as each of the syllables of the club’s name.
The head-scratching codes have been created by the ticket comparison site, SeatPeak.
The ten teams range from recent Premier League champions to newly promoted clubs.
SeatPick ceo Gilad Ziberman said: “To celebrate World Emoji Day, we’ve created this super fun game you can share with your friends.
“With the 2025/26 Premier League season fast approaching, see if you can spot which teams are hiding behind the clues.”
Record signing
The first £1m transfer in women’s football has been completed after the Canada forward Olivia Smith concluded her record-breaking move from Liverpool to Arsenal.
The 20-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the European champions and, although the fee is officially undisclosed, multiple sources say it is the game’s first to reach the £1m mark, as revealed by the Guardian a week ago, in a historic moment for the sport.
The previous highest was the $1.1m (£890,000) paid by Chelsea for the US centre-back Naomi Girma in January.
Out of the ox
But someone who doesn’t have a contract on the table is ex-Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 31, joined the Turkish giants from Liverpool in 2023 but struggled to stand out mainly due to injuries.
According to Yeni Safak, the Istanbul outfit tore up the versatile midfielder’s deal after paying him a hefty severance fee.
The same source claims Besiktas paid £1.2million in order to release the former England international.
That would pose as a cheaper price than to pay the former Arsenal star’s remaining wages.
Eager Ethan
Just in case you missed it, Ethan Nwaneri is set to sign a bumper new deal with Arsenal.
The attacking midfielder’s current contract with the Gunners is set to expire next summer.
There were fears the teenager could leave the Emirates on a free transfer as talks over a new deal had yet to bear fruit.
But according to The BBC, the 18-year-old is on the verge of inking a new contract with the north Londoners.
The Beeb claims both parties have agreed terms over a new four-year deal.
Nwaneri will receive a massive pay rise as a result of his new contract.
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