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Arsenal Should Forget Guimaraes And Sign Bouaddi Instead

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Arsenal are intent on adding a new midfielder to their ranks this summer, and recent reports suggest Bruno Guimaraes is at the top of Mikel Arteta’s wishlist.

The Gunners may have won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years last season, but they aren’t prepared to sit still and rely on the same squad again next term. Instead, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are ready to invest heavily in the transfer market to ensure they take advantage of this window to build a dynasty, as their primary rivals enter a period of transition.

Arteta is understood to be fond of Guimaraes and is pushing for a deal for the Newcastle United man to be completed. However, the Magpies are reportedly demanding around £90million for their talisman, and this could present a major stumbling block in the prospective deal.

Arsenal Shouldn’t Pay £90m for Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates vs Crystal Palace via Reuters

Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100million earlier this summer, while Mateus Fernandes also joined the Lilywhites for an astronomical fee, and Manchester City paid £116million for Elliot Anderson. This is the going rate for midfielders, and thus, it’s no surprise that Newcastle want upwards of £90million for their captain.

That said, there is a key difference with Guimaraes which Arsenal simply must consider before splashing this outlandish fee on him. While the aforementioned trio of midfielders are all 26 and under, the Brazilian will turn 29 in November.

Guimaraes is arguably the most talented of the lot, but his age profile should prompt the Gunners to carefully consider how much they’re willing to spend to bring him to North London.

When spending money on a player, how many years of service you’re likely to get from the player in question, in their prime, ought to influence how big you’re willing to go. Arsenal may get two or three seasons of Guimaraes’ best level, but beyond that there are question marks.

The fee for Fernandes may seem steep right now, but the Portuguese is 21, and Spurs could have him at his best for nine seasons. Essentially, given the deal came to £85million in total, the Lilywhites may end up paying around £9million per season for the former West Ham United man at his best.

If Arsenal get three great seasons before Guimaraes starts to decline, then their cost per season will equate to £30million. This outlay could also, in turn, prevent them from doing another piece of business they need to get done.

Of course, if Arsenal win another Premier League title or a Champions League during these three years, and Guimaraes plays a significant role in this triumph, the £90million outlay could be justified. However, it’s certainly food for thought for Arteta and Berta.

A fee in the region of £65million to £70million would feel much more comfortable.

Arsenal Should Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi Instead

Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup Burt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

If Newcastle remain stubborn with their £90million valuation of Guimaraes, then Arsenal should pivot to an alternative. The Gunners have been linked with a host of younger midfielders, including the likes of Alex Scott and Manu Kone, but they should ultimately turn towards Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a £52million offer for Bouaddi, though Lille are understood to be wanting more than £60million for him. His price tag may even have gone up after his World Cup performances and the inflated value of transfers elsewhere. The 18-year-old has made waves in Ligue 1 over the last two seasons and is ready for a step-up to a more challenging league, even at his tender age.

While he may not be ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League, he can develop at Arsenal over the next few years, with a view to him succeeding someone like Declan Rice in the future. He has superstar potential, with his ability to carry the ball aggressively through the lines and disrupt opposition attacks remarkably impressive given how young he is.

Fees correct prior to summer 2026

All 10 found — excellent!

Some may argue that this move would leave Arsenal short on ready-made midfielders to compete on four fronts next season. However, the Gunners delivered a Premier League title last season with their existing cohort in this department, with the likes of Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly more than capable of holding down the fort across four competitions.

In fact, the stronger argument is that Arsenal don’t need a win-now signing in this position, and should instead be looking at their succession plans for the likes of Rice, Zubimendi and Merino. In three years, all three of these players could be past their best, and signing Guimaraes would do little to solve this issue.

However, Bouaddi, described by Morroco teammate Chemsdine Talbi as a “top-level player”, alongside Lewis-Skelly would set up Arsenal’s double pivot for years to come.

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Novak Djokovic Named Toughest Opponent of His Tennis Career

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Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner and current world number eight, has looked back on the landmark moments of his extraordinary career and named the opponent he regards as his greatest rival.

In an interview with Eurosport, Djokovic reflected on more than two decades at the top of the game, highlighting the achievements that remain most significant to him.

The Serbian star quickly pointed to his first Wimbledon triumph in 2011 as the standout memory of his career, describing success at SW19 as the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.

“It was my dream tournament when I was young,” he said. He even placed that achievement above his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open, where he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Djokovic also singled out winning Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games as one of the defining accomplishments of his journey, stating: “But I would say, a gold medal for my country would probably be the highlight of my entire career.”

Novak Djokovic Reveals Toughest Tennis Opponent

Novak Djokovic Marko Djurica via Reuters

When questioned about the most challenging opponent of his career, Djokovic was quick to reference the two fellow members of tennis’ legendary Big Three.

“You probably know the names Federer and Nadal,” he joked. “I would say Nadal would be the one that probably stands out [as] my biggest opponent and biggest rival.”

The rivalry between the Serb and the Spaniard has delivered some of the sport’s most memorable matches over the past 20 years, including the unforgettable 2012 Australian Open final and the gruelling 2013 French Open semi-final.

Even with so many achievements behind him, Djokovic says his attention remains fixed on what lies ahead. “The best moment is the next winning moment,” he explained, highlighting the demanding nature of the ATP Tour and the need to move forward after every event.

Novak Djokovic Isn’t Considering Retirement Just Yet

Although he was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals, the penultimate Grand Slam tournament of the 2026 season, Djokovic stressed during his post-match comments that he has no plans to make the 2026 Championships his farewell appearance.

He maintained that he still believes he can challenge for major titles on grass and is already eager to return to the All England Club.

With a record tally of 24 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and a relentless hunger for success, the Serbian legend remains motivated at the age of 39. As he targets a defence of his Olympic crown at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, supporters can look forward to more milestones from Djokovic in the years ahead.

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Sheamus’ Irish Post After WWE Exit Has Been Translated

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Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) has taken to social media for the first time to confirm that he has, in fact, left WWE.

Last week, it was announced out of the blue that the Irishman and WWE could not agree on a contract, which resulted in the 48-year-old’s departure from the company.

Only a few days ago did that seem pretty much confirmed after he was no longer seen on any type of current participants page on the WWE website. Yesterday, however, it was Sheamus‘ time to speak as he uploaded a post to X sharing his thoughts.

After being part of the company for nearly 20 years, many fans around the world were shocked to hear of his departure, and it seems that Sheamus is also saddened by the decision.

TKO are the new owners and have been quick to make decisions about the future of WWE and how it is shaped. There have been a few sticky contract negotiations with pay cuts being requested for many Superstars across the sport. This is due to TKO’s idea that, because there are now fewer fights and time spent in the ring, the stars should not be making as much money as they once were.

Sheamus Joe Camporeale via Imagn Images

A statement was also made by “The Celtic Warrior” when he chose to change his X and Instagram handles from his stage name to his real one.

By losing Sheamus, WWE will be taking a massive hit, as the Irishman brought in a large number of supporters. It is rumored that someone within the high-level rankings of WWE attempted to convince TKO to keep Sheamus due to his pull and attraction to the fans. Multiple comments on his X post show just how distraught the supporters truly are.

On his post on X, Sheamus said, “Slan mo WWE Chairde”, which translates to “Goodbye, my WWE friends” in Irish. Once again, this shows the heartbreak that he feels about his departure. Many believed that only last year did he sign a five-year contract extension to keep himself in the sport he loves for longer, but after an injury and rehab, it is sad to see the end of Sheamus without even a proper goodbye.

There is no news as of yet if he intends to keep on wrestling or if, after a long and illustrious career, this is where it comes to an end for him.

The 17th of November 2025 was “The Celtic Warrior’s” last fight on Monday Night Raw, where he came together with John Cena and Rey Mysterio against Judgment Day as part of Cena’s farewell tour.

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Wimbledon: Alexander Zverev’s Grandmother Banned From Entering UK

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After defeating homeboy Arthur Fery in the Wimbledon semi-finals, many had questions about Alexander Zverev and his advancement into the final on Sunday, and who would be in attendance supporting him.

After attending the French Open final last month, many assumed that the German’s grandmother would be once again making an appearance in the crowd to support her grandson’s great achievements. Many have been left disappointed, though, with Zverev having to make do without his grandmother watching on this time around.

The No.2 seed put on a dominant display against the Englishman Fery, with the wildcard getting beaten in straight sets on Friday. Jannik Sinner’s win against Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, means that Zverev will be competing against the current Wimbledon champion and No.1 seed.

This isn’t the first time these two have played in a Grand Slam final against each other. In a similar set-up at the Australian Open in 2025, Sinner was once again aiming to defend his title and successfully went on to do so.

According to Zverev, one person who is possibly going to be attending Centre Court tomorrow is the German Chancellor, who no doubt will be rooting for his country’s representative.

Going into the match, the German is looking like the underdog with nine previous face-offs between these two resulting in a victory for Sinner, but with the feeling of now having a Grand Slam title to his name after Paris, there is nothing stopping the German from making it two titles.

Alexander Zverev’s Grandmother Banned From UK

Alexander Zverev Toby Melville via Reuters

Zverev has said that, with the German Chancellor being present, he hopes that a few strings can be pulled that will result in his grandmother being able to attend the event. Unfortunately, due to not having a visa and being a Russian passport holder, it is not looking entirely promising that she will get to attend.

Zverev explained that once her 90 days were up, she could no longer be there to watch his Wimbledon performance and, with time being of the essence, getting a visa this late in the game does not seem likely.

With Russian citizens now facing longer background checks when applying for visas, the possibility of getting one will likely take several weeks rather than a couple of days.

Despite his grandmother not being in attendance, a win for Zverev would still be an incredible day for the German; back-to-back Grand Slams and winning what many would call the most prestigious one of them all. The match tomorrow will, we’re sure, have many, whether they are there in person or watching on the TV at home, on the edge of their seats.

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