It was the greatest week in Arsenal’s recent history, and one of the most painful at the same time.

Six days after ending a 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy once more, the Gunners were in Budapest for the Champions League final, leading Paris Saint Germain through Kai Havertz’s early opener.

Arsenal led for almost an hour before Ousmane Dembele’s penalty brought things level. The German’s opener turned out to be Arsenal’s only shot on target of the entire match, which went the distance before Gabriel’s missed penalty ensured the Champions League title went back to Paris.

For all the hurt of that night, however, Arteta is already turning his attention to the transfer window, and one performance in particular appears to have accelerated his thinking in the market.

Viktor Gyokeres’ Champions League Final Was One to Forget

Viktor Gyokeres finished the 2025/26 season as Arsenal’s top scorer with 21 goals, and nobody can take that away from him. But goals alone don’t tell the whole story, and his display in Budapest after coming on for Martin Odegaard in the 66th minute, as a direct response to PSG’s equaliser, was deeply underwhelming.

The numbers, via SofaScore, make for uncomfortable reading. In his 54 minutes on the pitch, Gyokeres had 20 touches and lost the ball ten times – meaning he lost the ball every second touch. He also completed just six of his 12 passes and won only four of his 12 duels.

What Arsenal desperately needed in that final half an hour, and throughout extra time, was a striker capable of holding the ball up under pressure and relieving the siege PSG were laying on.

He provided almost none of that.

A deflected effort that fizzed wide late in extra-time was the extent of his attacking contribution. He did convert his penalty in the shoot-out, but by that point, the damage had already been done.

Bournemouth’s Kroupi Emerges as Target to Replace Viktor Gyokeres

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who was speaking soon after the final whistle, Arsenal are understood to be exploring alternatives in the striker position.

One name attracting serious attention is Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi. The young forward has already been linked and represents a very different profile to Gyokeres. He’s more technical, more comfortable in tight spaces, and better suited to the kind of intricate, possession-based football Arteta demands from his squad. At only 19-years-old, described as a ‘killer’, he scored just one less goal than the Swede in last season’s Premier League (13).

Gyokeres’ goals were crucial in delivering the title. But if Kroupi is indeed the man Arsenal are targeting, it suggests the club believe there’s a more complete option out there, one who can contribute when the goals aren’t flowing as well, and when the game needs winning in a different way.

Liverpool have made Andoni Iraola the clear favourite to be the club’s next manager following the shock dismissal of Arne Slot on Saturday, and they are already in talks over a potential big signing for the Spaniard.

Liverpool announced on Monday that they had sacked Slot following a disappointing season, which saw them finish 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal as they looked to defend the Premier League title they won in the Dutchman’s debut campaign in charge.

While they did secure Champions League qualification by finishing fifth, they conceded more goals (53) than in any other Premier League season in their history, with club chiefs deciding it was time for change.

It makes sense too with some big changes happening on the pitch, with the exits of Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah already confirmed, while it was announced on Sunday that Ibrahima Konate will be leaving Anfield when his contract expires at the end of next month.

Liverpool have decided they want to appoint Iraola as Slot’s successor, with formal talks expected to start this week.

The Spaniard led Bournemouth to an exceptional season in the English top flight, where they finished one place and three points behind the Merseyside club to secure qualification for the Europa League, all after losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January.

Liverpool Ahead in Race to Sign Yan Diomande

Liverpool have already decided they need to invest in their frontline this summer with Salah leaving the club, and RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande has emerged as one of their top winger targets.

According to Sport, some of the biggest clubs in Europe are interested in prising him away from the Bundesliga club this summer.

That includes Liverpool, who are considered to be ahead in the race for his signature, although Leipzig are said to be standing firm on their €100m (£87m) valuation of the exciting teenager.

According to Sport, the 19-year-old is leaning towards a switch to Anfield despite interest from other huge clubs like Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool In Talks With Diomande’s Agents Over Terms

The report adds that Liverpool have already started negotiations with the player’s agents over personal terms for a move to the Premier League, and that his representatives have expressed the willingness for their client to join.

The Reds are said to have promised the Ivory Coast international a prominent role at Anfield following Salah’s exit, including a starting position he wouldn’t be guaranteed at PSG because of the quality options they have in that area of the pitch in Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, among others.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season with Leipzig, scoring 13 goals and providing a further 10 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for the German club.

While the majority of his outings this term came from the right-hand side, where Salah lined up for Liverpool, he also made 10 appearances from the left too, to show his versatility.

Should he arrive at Anfield this summer, he would be competing with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha for a spot in Iraola’s XI.

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is really starting to heat up. After Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League final, the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vitinha have massively boosted their chances and will be considered among the current favourites.

However, with the 2026 World Cup still on the horizon, the award is far from being decided just yet. Indeed, the best players on the winning team at that competition – or any other standout stars this summer – will have to be considered for the Ballon d’Or by voters. For example, Lionel Messi won the prize after leading Argentina to glory in Qatar four years ago, while Luka Modric lifted the prize in 2018, after Croatia made the final in Russia.

As such, if England or France do well at the World Cup, there is every chance the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise could win the game’s biggest individual award, despite failing to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich.

Thomas Muller Backs Bayern Star to Win 2026 Ballon d’Or

With the Ballon d’Or race still up in the air, Bayern legend Thomas Muller has weighed in on the debate. The German spent 25 years with the club, winning a whopping 33 trophies. In his final season before heading to MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps, the iconic attacker had the pleasure of playing alongside both Kane and Olise, winning his final Bundesliga with the pair in 2025.

For context, most people consider Kane a favourite for the Ballon d’Or this year. However, Muller thinks that Olise’s “artistic” quality gives him the edge. He explained, via Bavarian Football Works, why he’s backing the Frenchman:

Kane and Olise Have Had Spectacular Seasons

Both Kane and Olise have enjoyed spectacular seasons in Germany, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.

The English striker has scored a mind-blowing 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern this season, while also having seven assists to his name. His best moment perhaps came in the DFB-Pokal final, as he scored a hat-trick – the 31st of his career – in the 3-0 win over Stuttgart.

Olise has been equally as impressive and grabbed an assist for Kane in that cup final win. That took his tally across the season to a whopping 31, while he has also scored 22 goals, meaning he’s got 53 goal contributions in 52 games across 2025/26.

Clearly, both men are playing at their absolute peak and are in with a shout of winning the Ballon d’Or. If one man can outshine the other at the World Cup this summer, it may well be enough to secure the famous golden ball.