Arsenal have been dealt a boost in their bid to land a new left-winger this summer, with one of their possible targets now available. The Gunners need to strengthen on the left having struggled to get consistent performances from their players on that side, though Leandro Trossard did have an impressive campaign.

Ultimately, though, Arsenal need someone as dangerous as Bukayo Saka on the left to ensure they have a complete front three, and it seems that is very much the plan this summer. The left-winger signing is likely to be responsible for much of Arsenal’s financial outlay this summer, and there are already a couple of likely targets.

Morgan Rogers has reportedly been singled out as the ideal option, but there may now be a decision to make due to the availability of one of the world’s best left wingers.

Barcola becomes available

via Reuters

According to TalkSport reporter Alex Crooks, PSG and France left-winger Bradley Barcola has now become available due to failed contract negotiations with his club.

Crooks said on TalkSport’s YouTube: “Another potential star of this World Cup – Bradley Barcola. He is in demand when it comes to Premier League clubs. Liverpool and Arsenal are both tracking Barcola, and I woke up to a message this morning from a very reliable source that Barcola has asked to leave PSG. He has been in contract negotiations and those negotiations have stalled, which could open the door to Liverpool and Arsenal.

“Arsenal obviously looking to strengthen out wide, and that could mean Gabriel Martinelli is sold, maybe Leandro Trossard as well. While Morgan Rogers is very much Arsenal’s top choice, I certainly wouldn’t rule out a move for Barcola, who could be a key player for France as they look to go all the way here in North America this summer.”

Barcola a worthwhile option

With Aston Villa in the Champions League and unlikely to sell Rogers, at least not for a crazy fee, Barcola is an option Arsenal should be considering. The ‘world-class’ 23-year-old is already playing at a world-class level, scoring 13 and assisting seven this season, and he can play across the front line.

Kylian Mbappé said of Barcola this week: “It was inevitable that he would reach the highest level, but he did so in his very first season in Paris. He’s really starting to establish himself with the national team. Bradley doesn’t talk much. You have to understand that. But once you do, you know he’s a great guy.”

He is a little unlucky in that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has the left wing spot locked down at PSG, likely being the best in the world in his position, but Barcola has plenty to offer, and he can surely elevate Arsenal’s attack to a new level. It will likely be a pricey deal, but the fee is also likely to be less than what Villa will ask for Rogers this summer.

Manchester United must be careful not to miss out on what could be a generational talent this summer. The Red Devils have a number of areas they want to strengthen after a season of progress that saw them finish in third in the Premier League.

Michael Carrick has been kept around as the club’s new permanent boss, and while he did very well last season, he will know that more progress will be expected this season. New recruits will be needed to help make that happen, but it’s not just a case of upgrading. There are parts of this United squad that now have holes following the usual slew of summer departures, and one of them is at left-back.

United’s left-back problem

United’s left-back problem is two-fold. The Red Devils are sorely lacking in depth following the departure of Tyrell Malacia, now down to just Luke Shaw and the young Diego León. And with Shaw 30 years of age and having had his fair share of injury issues, Carrick is arguably lacking a starting left-back.

The right starting left-back signing could solve both of those issues, given there will be a reduced need for depth, especially with a couple of the centre-backs able to play on the left in an emergency, while León could be used if needed, provided he is not loaned out.

But getting the right starting left-back is another task altogether, and reports now suggest that United will resist getting stuck in a bidding war for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown, instead turning to £80million-rated Lewis Hall.

Hall has impressed with Newcastle United, but he had a rocky end to the season that may have played a part in him missing out on the England World Cup squad.

Brown proving some players are worth it

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United’s recent recruitment has been seriously impressive. They have moved away from paying silly fees for unproven players, instead going with a nice mix of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League, and some more calculated risks from abroad.

To that end, it’s understandable why United don’t want to find themselves in a bidding war for Brown, but some players are worth paying for.

Hall is a very good player, and he is undoubtedly proving himself in the Premier League. But at 22 years of age, everyone in Germany is recognising Brown, described as ‘fearless’ by the Bundesliga website, as a generational talent who will be Germany’s starting left-back for years to come. That’s a different level to Hall, who isn’t even among England’s best two or three left-backs.

Beyond that simple logic, Brown is coming off a season of registering four goals and six assists, proving himself as not only a solid left-back defensively, but one who can get forward, support the attack and produce. That kind of left-back is crucial in the modern era, and it will be crucial to keeping United a dangerous attack going forward.

Hall is far more of the traditional mould, and while there is a place for that, Carrick and the Red Devils need to be more ambitious.

And, given the news that Bayern Munich appear to have come to an agreement over a €55million (£47.5million) fee including add-ons, he would be considerably cheaper than Hall. That agreement also means United need to act quickly to complete a last-minute hijack if they are interested in the player.

The decision should be obvious for United, and this World Cup will highlight why, with Brown playing a starring role for Germany and already getting on the scoresheet in his first game.

Luis de la Fuente’s Spain side have left fans puzzled during their 2026 World Cup opener and during other international games, with many spotting that none of the players sing during their national anthem.

La Roja proved they were one of the strongest teams in the European Championships, with the Iberian nation proving many doubters wrong by reaching the Berlin final and then beating England 2-1 to lift the prestigious trophy back in 2024, as they now turn their attention to the world stage.

Blessed with stars such as Rodri and history-maker Lamine Yamal, the Spaniards are among the favourites to repeat their 2010 highpoint. Because of their fortunes in Germany, onlookers were able to see the stoic national anthem on plenty of occasions. However, despite the fact that Spain fans always tend to chant during the song, there is a good reason why the players refrain from doing so.

Current Spanish National Anthem Composed Without Lyrics

Siphiwe Sibeko via Reuters

Spanish teams in the past have often been at the end of criticism for the fact that none of the players were seen singing during the pre-match anthem, with some going as far as to call the former world champions a ‘disgrace.’

However, those levying them complaints may be unaware that the squad don’t sing because the Spanish national anthem doesn’t have any lyrics. The origin of ‘Marcha Real’ links back to the 18th century, where the tune was used as a military march, as per Classic FM.

There have been several suggestions over possible lyrics in the past, with the Spanish Olympic committee attempting to have the phrase ‘Viva Espana’ open the national chant ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. However, this was turned down due to the fact that the words were commonly used during General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.

Another reason why certain Spanish players may choose not to engage with the Spanish national anthem is because of their place of birth. Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba are two of the biggest stars from Spain’s past who received calls to be axed from the national set-up due to the fact that they were both from Catalonia.

The region, located in the north-east of Spain, is home to Barcelona and has recently found itself fighting for its independence. Calls for this reached its peak in 2017, with an illegal referendum and mass protests taking place. The situation was so tense that Pique even stated that he would be willing to retire from international football if his inclusion was going to upset natives.

Some of those from Basque also feel as though that region is an unrecognised nation, separate from Spain. As such, Euro 2024 heroes Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino, from the Basque Country, were branded as ‘traitors’ for their part in the tournament success.

The Spanish National Anthem’s Old Lyrics

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Between 1938 and 1975, the Spanish national anthem did contain lyrics after the aforementioned General Francisco Franco came to power. Franco led the Nationalist Party during a period of civil war, eventually overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic.

The dictator ruled the country unopposed for over three decades, during which he instructed famed poet Jose Maria Peman to create a new anthem which included lyrics designed to promote ‘the rebirth’ of Spain.

Upon Franco’s passing in 1975 after battles with Parkinson’s disease, the anthem was abolished, and a lyric-less anthem made its return. To this day, some fans can be seen singing the old lyrics as they get fired up before their team’s games. However, the links to what is considered to be some of the darker days in modern-day Spain mean that we are unlikely to see any of De La Fuente’s men join in with the serenading.