Arsenal are said to be interested in snapping up a Serie A midfielder this summer as they prepare to mount a Premier League title defence. Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta have their work cut out this summer, given the precision that will be required to improve this Gunners side.

While some signings might be forced by fringe players who are offered starting roles elsewhere, it’s not immediately clear which positions need strengthening, given Arsenal have an incredibly strong squad with depth aplenty.

The striker and left wing roles are likely to be addressed, and a midfielder could also be added in anticipation of an exit there ahead of next season.

Serie A midfielder comes into focus

It has been a quiet summer so far for Arsenal, who don’t need to be rushing into the market, given they are Premier League champions and came within a whisker of the Champions League title. Fine-tuning is a precision art, and not one achieved with a scattered approach, and so it should come as no surprise that there have been few credible transfer links this summer.

There is some chatter, though, and reports in Italy suggest AS Roma star Manu Koné could be of interest to the Gunners when it comes to midfield options. According to Corriere della Sera, Arsenal have made early moves for the French midfielder, but no bid has yet been made.

What to expect from Koné

Koné, described as one of the “most exciting midfielders in Serie A”, is very much an out-and-out midfielder, operating as a box-to-box midfielder for the most part, though he can play in a deeper role if needed. It is the latter ability that might make him attractive to Arsenal, who are likely considering replacing Christian Norgaard.

Kone is the type of player who can carry the ball and drive a team up the pitch, which is something Arteta may well be looking for, given his side struggled in transition towards the back-end of the season.

The midfielder is under a long-term deal in the Italian capital, though, and Arsenal will likely have to pay at least £43million to land his signature, and that could increase if he impresses at the World Cup. Fortunately for the Gunners, they will have the capacity to spend significant money this summer, providing they shift a couple of fringe players.

Arsenal have become a profit machine during this successful period, and their new-found revenues are allowing them to continue pushing on with large spending bills, unlike many of their rivals who find themselves hamstrung by FFP rules.

Tottenham Hotspur are moving full steam ahead with their transfer plans under Roberto De Zerbi.

The Italian came in last season and helped rescue Spurs from what would have proven a disastrous relegation, with the North London club securing their survival on the final day.

Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have both arrived on free transfers as De Zerbi looks for more players who can provide experience and leadership for next campaign.

They are in talks with Manchester City over a deal for Savinho and have submitted two bids for Jan Paul van Hecke.

After finishing 17th in the Premier League, there will inevitably be exits from the club before the 2026/27 season gets underway.

There are reports Mathys Tel’s future at the club is in doubt, just 12 months on from his £30million switch from Bayern Munich.

Mathys Tel open to Tottenham exit

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that a ‘shock’ move to Bournemouth is on the cards for Tel. The Frenchman joined Spurs permanently 12 months ago, after spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan in North London.

Tottenham’s preference is keep to Tel but the player is said to be frustrated by his ‘limited’ role at the club and is keen to move somewhere he will play more regularly.

The Cherries are named as ‘concrete suitors’ for the player, as he explores his options. Porto are also credited with an interest alongside Ligue 1 side Lille and Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

Tel has struggled to establish himself at Tottenham since his move and despite showing flashes of potential, he remains a fringe player. He scored four goals in 31 Premier League appearances last season. He was only named in the starting XI for 13 of those games.

Tottenham should use swap deal to sign Alex Scott

GIVEMESPORT has reported that Spurs target Alex Scott is valued at £80million by Bournemouth. With no European football, Tottenham will have to be shrewd in the transfer market.

They have already made smart moves for Senesi and Robertson, with both players arriving on free transfers.

Manchester United and Liverpool are also clubs credited with an interest in Scott. If Spurs could offer Tel as part of a player-plus-cash swap deal, it could give them the edge in the race for the in-demand Scott.

United and Liverpool can both offer the player European football but if they are unwilling to meet the Cherries’ £80million asking price, they will struggle to get any potential deal over the line.

For Spurs, negotiations could be made easier if Tel is included in any deal. Scott, according his former manager Nigel Pearson, is ‘destined for the elite’ – and this summer could be Tottenham’s best chance to sign a player who supported Tottenham as a boy.

Serious questions have already been asked about FIFA’s decision to award the 2026 World Cup to the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.

Multiple controversies hit the biggest competition in world football before a ball had even been kicked, with many involving the President of the United States, Donald Trump. First, many European nations considered boycotting the tournament due to his attempted takeover of Greenland.

Then the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, whose participation at the World Cup has been in constant doubt ever since. In the days leading up to the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, there have been even more issues surrounding entry to the host nations.

FIFA ‘Contractual Guarantees’ Not Being Met By the United States

Top African referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry to America, while fans of various nations have faced visa issues. Iran have also failed to secure a training base in the US, despite their three group stage games being held in the country.

Instead, they’ve been forced to prepare for the World Cup in Mexico and will have to commute in and out of the US within 24 hours of all games they play. Being accessible to all participating nations is actually a ‘contractual guarantee’ considered by FIFA before awarding the World Cup to any country.

Journalist Miguel Delaney informed LBC that football’s governing body takes into account the accessibility of a host nation when considering bids for the World Cup. He said:

He then pointed out the close relationship between Trump and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, stating: “FIFA, evidently, despite Infantino’s very craven relationship with Donald Trump, hasn’t been able to secure those guarantees.”

Henry Romero via Reuters

Infantino himself previously expressed the need for the biggest international competition to be available and accessible to everyone. Or else there would be ‘no World Cup’, in his eyes. Per Delaney (via The Independent), the FIFA president said in 2017:

FIFA have stated they are ‘not involved in host country immigration processes’, but stripped Indonesia of the Under-20s World Cup after they refused to allow Israel’s team into the country.