Sports
Arsenal Should Forget Stones And Sign ‘Monster’ Spain Defender
Arsenal are being heavily linked with a move for Manchester City defender John Stones, but they ought to pivot to a different target instead.
The Gunners are exploring centre-back options on the market after William Saliba suffered a back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. While an exact timeline for the 25-year-old’s absence has not been confirmed, there has been speculation suggesting he may not feature for Mikel Arteta’s team until December or January, with Arsnal’s update on the situation stating that he would be out for an “extended period”.
Ezri Konsa has emerged as a target for Andrea Berta, although Arsenal are reportedly unwilling to meet Aston Villa’s £60million valuation for the England international.
The North Londoners are instead said to be considering a shock move for Stones, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City at the end of last season.
Arsenal should not move for John Stones
Arsenal are in a precarious position regarding Saliba’s injury. The Frenchman will be back in action at some point next season, and at that point, whoever comes in to replace him in the short-term will become somewhat redundant in Arteta’s squad.
Thus, it’s easy to see the appeal of a short-term deal for Stones. The Manchester City man brings a wealth of experience, is still capable of playing at the highest level and is available for free.
On the surface, the 32-year-old is the perfect stop-gap solution to rotate in and out of Arteta’s side with Cristhian Mosquera.
That said, Stones has played just 20 Premier League matches over the last two seasons. He’s injury-prone himself, will command huge wages given it’ll be his final big contract and displayed signs of fragility defensively at the World Cup.
Arsenal should steer clear and sign a younger player who can be a more serious long-term option alongside Saliba and Mosquera.
Arsenal should sign Jon Martin instead
Arsenal have been loosely linked with a move for Real Sociedad’s Jon Martin, who would represent a significantly more astute signing than Stones and has been described as an ‘aerial duel monster‘ by football analyst Ben Mattinson.
The 20-year-old broke through into the Basque outfit’s first team in the 2024/25 season, and has since established himself as one of the brightest young centre-backs in La Liga.
Exceptionally composed in possession, Martin would help replace some of the outstanding ball-playing traits they’ll miss without Saliba. While certain aspects of his positional play defensively could still improve, the Spaniard is dominant in the air and aggressive enough physically for the Premier League.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
The Gunners should be able to negotiate a reasonable fee for the player with Sociedad, given the two clubs have a close relationship, having agreed deals for the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Kieran Tierney and Nacho Monreal in the past.
It would be a much more sensible investment than signing an ageing John Stones to a lucrative short-term deal. However, Martin did recently put pen-to-paper on a new contract with La Real, which would make a deal even more difficult to get done this summer.
Sports
Tottenham Move Into Pole Position to Sign Savinho
Tottenham Hotspur are now in advanced talks to complete yet another major summer signing, as Roberto De Zerbi closes in on his first attacking addition.
Tottenham have worked from back to front so far in terms of their summer transfer business, bringing in Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka to reinforce their defence, before adding two experienced Premier League stars in Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to their midfield, both club-record deals at the time.
Despite Spurs’ 2-0 pre-season friendly win against Auckland in New Zealand in the last 24 hours, De Zerbi wants more new faces in his squad before the September 1 deadline, with a big focus on the attack.
The Italian said after the game against Auckland that he wants a ‘couple’ of important signings for his frontline, to support the likes of Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, with the latter continuing to be linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
De Zerbi is said to want to add a left-winger and a striker to his squad in the coming weeks, with their Premier League campaign due to get underway in a month’s time, with Manchester City star Savinho emerging as the top target for the former.
Tottenham Move to Pole Position to Sign Savinho
According to the Sun, Tottenham have moved into pole position to sign the Brazilian from City with talks now advanced over a deal for the 22-year-old.
Italian giants AC Milan are also in the race to sign the forward, but the report says it’s believed that Spurs have made him their number one target, with discussions progressing positively.
Milan turned their attentions to Savinho at City having initially registered their interest in an ambitious move for Phil Foden, but the England international has since signed a new contract to remain at the Etihad.
The San Siro outfit are said to be preparing a loan offer with a mandatory buy clause worth between £43-47m, with recent reports suggesting that Tottenham have made a £70m offer to ensure they get the man they have wanted for more than a year.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Tottenham Make Enquiry for Exciting PSG Forward
Tottenham have also made an enquiry to sign another exciting winger in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahaim Mbaye, according to the latest reports on Sunday evening.
While Savinho often plays from the left-hand side, Mbaye is more right-sided, which could suggest that Spurs are open to signing two more wingers before the window closes.
The north Londoners will face stiff competition in their bid to prise the talented 18-year-old away from the Parc des Princes however, given he is also attracting interest from Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.
With four goals and four assists in 42 appearances for PSG, they Champions League holders are said to value the Senegal international at in excess of €50m, but they would be willing to sell for that price.
Now it is up to Tottenham to decide if they are willing to reach that fee for a relatively unproven 18-year-old.
Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson Names 3 ‘Great’ Newcastle Players Kevin Keegan Signed
Sir Alex Ferguson has paid a warm tribute to the late Kevin Keegan, singling out three signings that transformed Newcastle United‘s side into the club’s “best ever team”.
Keegan, who died on July 20 aged 75, helped build Newcastle into an exciting and powerful side during his first spell in charge between 1992 and 1997, before later returning for an eighth-month stint in 2008.
His first spell helped thrust Newcastle into contention, as promotion in his first season was later followed up with a spellbinding title race with Ferguson’s Manchester United in the 1995/96 season, falling just short.
The pair’s rivalry helped define the early days of the Premier League, paving the way for the great battles we’ve seen over the years — and the Scotsman is just one of many to pay tribute, as he highlighted three transfers that changed the game for Keegan.
Ferguson’s Tribute to Keegan
Ferguson reminisced when speaking to Track Radio, via BBC, describing Newcastle’s strength at their peak under Keegan as a formidable outfit.
“I had the utmost respect for him,” Ferguson said. “We had many duels when he was manager of Newcastle, but I have to say the job he did at Newcastle was fantastic.
“He re-energised that club, and he brought that enthusiasm and fanaticism that great supporters can give. That’s the job he did.”
Keegan’s attention then turned to the trio of players that helped Newcastle to develop a real edge, and one that turned them into contenders as one of the club’s best-ever teams. Ferguson said:
He also brought three great players to the club – [David] Ginola, [Faustino] Asprilla, Philippe Albert – and added a bit of class to the team, and I must say the challenges we had with Newcastle at that time at United were huge.
“Kevin carried the love of the game on his sleeve, there’s no question about that, and that carried right on to the fans, to the players. That period at Newcastle was of emotion, it was excitement.
“They brought these great players to the club too, and they added to it, and it gave Newcastle – I think – their best ever team.”
The Impact Ginola, Asprilla and Albert Made for Newcastle
All three additions cost just over £11m, but each left a distinct mark. David Ginola, the biggest name of the three, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in 1995 and was the central flair symbol of Keegan’s “Entertainers” before he later joined Tottenham.
The first addition was actually Phillipe Albert, who signed from Anderlecht in a £2.6m deal and who became somewhat of a cult hero; his audacious chip over Peter Schmeichel in the famous 5-0 rout of Ferguson’s United was his best moment.
Faustino Asprilla arrived in 1996 from Parma but was seen as a larger gamble given his £6.7m price tag, which was considered sizable at the time. The Colombian thrived at times, with a hat-trick against Barcelona being the highlight. All three brought something different to the table and all helped Newcastle to play with Keegan’s identity, which made them one of the most exciting sides in England at that time.
Sports
Dani Olmo Slams ‘Lying’ Argentina Coach After World Cup Incident
Dani Olmo has broken his silence on the ugly scenes that followed the 2026 World Cup final, accusing Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala of “lying” in the apology he issued for their post-match confrontation.
Spain lifted the trophy after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in New Jersey, but tempers boiled over at the final whistle, with several Argentina players and staff involved in heated exchanges.
Amid the chaos, television cameras captured Ayala striking Olmo in the face as the Barcelona man appeared to be trying to defuse a situation. FIFA has since opened an investigation into Argentina’s conduct.
Ayala’s Apology and Olmo’s Response After World Cup win
Speaking earlier this week, Ayala expressed regret over the incident but played down the contact as being less serious than it looks on footage. He said the incident was “more of a push than a punch” and claimed it came as “a reaction to something [Olmo] said,” adding that he would apologise to the Spain international in person if their paths crossed.
Olmo, however, remains unconvinced. Speaking to Catalan newspaper Diari de Terrassa, the midfielder refuted the apology and rejected the suggestion that he had provoked the outburst. Olmo said:
“Someone who says they’re sorry, but justifies a punch by saying it was a response to a comment, is surely not sorry, because he is lying. I didn’t say anything to him, so he doesn’t need to apologise.
“What truly defines us is not the mistake, but the courage to acknowledge it with humility, honesty and dignity,” he added. “If I see him, I’ll obviously apologise to him in person.”
Olmo Proud of World Cup Win and Team Behaviour
Beyond the controversy, Olmo shined a light on his team’s collective efforts and manner in victory in becoming world champions, highlighting that he wants the squad remembered for their behaviour as much as their football.
“I want them to be proud of how we competed, how we won, and above all, of our behaviour,” he said, before reflecting on the responsibility that comes with the platform. “The far-reaching nature of football means that we players are role models for children and future generations, and that carries a great responsibility.”
Asked what underpinned Spain’s triumph, Olmo pointed firmly to unity over individual talent. “The group, the collective, always above individual players,” he explained, describing the squad as a family that transcends any single star. He also praised the backroom staff, particularly around physical conditioning, insisting there were no shortcuts to success.
“It’s all about hard work, nothing else, to achieve the goal,” Olmo said — a fitting summary of a Spain side that outclassed Argentina, managing 20 shots to their opponents’ two on the night in a dominant yet tight World Cup final.
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