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Journalist Paul Brown has been left thrilled by reports that Arsenal are targeting Man City captain and treble-chasing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.

Who are Arsenal looking to sign this summer?

The Premier League giants narrowly missed out on their first title in nearly 20 years last season, with Mikel Arteta being beaten to the punch by his mentor Pep Guardiola.

Despite Arsenal's position at the front of the queue for much of 2022/2023, they fell short at the final hurdle, and it's now the task of Arteta to shore up key positions of his squad for a fresh challenge next campaign.

The north Londoners are looking to sign central midfielders above all with reports suggesting they could make two key signings in that area of the pitch. West Ham's Declan Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo, among others, are apparently on their radar.

Sporting director Edu has also apparently earmarked the signing of a central defender to back up stars like William Saliba, with the Frenchman succumbing to injury at the back end of last season.

Going back to midfield, Man City star Gundogan is another target for Arsenal, according to reports, with the German really coming into a hot streak of form lately.

His latest heroics, a brace in the FA Cup final against Man United on Saturday, saw City clinch a domestic double with the Blues still well and truly on for an historic treble.

Journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GiveMeSport, says he could be a game-changing signing for Arsenal if they get it done.

"If Arsenal were to get Gundogan, I think that would be a great signing for them," said Brown in response to the links.

"He’s a really versatile player who can play in a number of different roles. He switches systems very easily in game and could be a game-changer for them really. And one that is quite fascinating to see.”

Who is Ilkay Gundogan?

The 32-year-old was Guardiola's first ever signing as City manager and hasn't looked back since – having played a key role over his seven-year stint.

This season, Gundogan has contributed with a number of important goals in sky blue, and he etched himself into club folklore with final day title-winning heroics against Aston Villa in 21/22.

However, City are in danger of losing him on a free at the end of this month, putting Arsenal and Arteta on serious alert.

His experience and quality could prove to be a major asset for the Gunners, especially at zero cost, and we believe he couild be an exceptional signing for them.

At the backend of a forgettable campaign, the emergence of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones will have been a pleasing consolation for manager Jurgen Klopp, with the Scouse-born ace playing an important part in a seven-match winning run to bridge the gap to the top four.

It was too little too late, and the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years with a fifth-placed finish, ending an illustrious run in the competition that has led the Anfield side to three finals, winning one.

Hailed as the "complete #8" by one analyst & scout, the 22-year-old has almost certainly earned a place in Klopp's plans next term after his purple patch, especially considering James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club following the expiry of their contracts.

And now, the Guardian report that Chelsea are the latest team to have joined the race for the 21-year-old, but that Liverpool and Barcelona are both wanting to claim the player's signature for themselves, all looking to meet his €40m (£34m) buyout clause.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

The £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister is the first of an ostensible torrent of incomings, with two or three top-class acquisitions still expected to be made, and one, the precocious Spanish talent Veiga, could spell danger for Jones' role on Merseyside.

Despite the recently-concluded campaign being Veiga's first with regular top-flight football, he has plundered 11 goals and supplied a further four assists from just 28 LaLiga starts, earning acclaim for his "dangerous" skill set – as said by journalist Euan McTear.

It's quite frightening to envisage the fleet-footed midfielder's future, given how brilliantly he has taken to life at the top level, already ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for rate of assists, the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref.

The praise is mounting: talent scout Jacek Kulig has marvelled at the "amazing" talent while journalist and content creator Rimedi dubbed him "baby Kaka" for his elegance on the ball and deft dribbling skills.

Jones boasts some impressive metrics of his own after starting the last 11 league matches of the year, scoring three goals and registering one assist, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, also crisp as they come with the ball, ranking among the top 3% for pass completion.

Klopp will be wary of hampering Jones' progress but with such a fantastic starlet available for an affordable fee, it's simply too good an opportunity to cede, especially given the tumult of Liverpool's present situation. Indeed, this move could be a blow to one of Anfield's hottest young talents.

Chelsea could still launch a move for Aymeric Laporte this summer, with transfer reporter Rudy Galetti stating that the defender remains on the Blues' wanted list.

Is Aymeric Laporte leaving Man City?

The Man City defender did feature for his club during their historic 2022/23 season but not as frequently as he probably would have liked. With the Premier League outfit going on to win the league, FA Cup and Champions League, the centre-back only got onto the field in the top flight on 12 occasions with eleven starts. It's the lowest amount of games he has had yet over the course of his City career.

He still impressed when he was trusted on the field though, ranking in the 99th percentile for attempted passes (86.43 per 90) and progressive carries (2.59 per 90) amongst players in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. It shows that his ability hasn't waned and he is still a very capable, ball-playing and offensively driven centre-back.

It appears that a stay in England is a real possibility for Laporte now too. That's because reliable journalist Rudy Galletti has revealed that Chelsea are still keeping tabs on the defender and that despite Bayern Munich also holding an interest, he is still very much a wanted man by those at Stamford Bridge.

No official bid or offer has yet been made for the Spaniard though and he adds that the situation is "evolving" in terms of the interest around the player.

What is Laporte's transfer value?

No potential fee has been mentioned in the report but CIES Football Observatory suggest that Laporte's value could be around the 40 million Euro (or £34m) mark. It means that a deal wouldn't break the bank for the Blues and would mean they have another body in their backline.

He could be worth the fee too considering his experience in the game. Not only has he won Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man City, but has been good enough to earn time with Spain too, after changing citizienship from playing for France's youth sides.

To add to his 281 club appearances in the league over the course of his career, the national side have also given him 21 caps in total. It shows the defender's abilities in that he is trusted on the big stage – and a player like him, labelled "incredible" by Pep Guardiola, could really boost the defence at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United have been no strangers to poaching players from their bitter rivals over the years, with the Red Devils having notably snapped up the likes of Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith from long-time foes, Leeds United in the Premier League era.

According to recent reports, it looks as if Erik ten Hag and co could be set to make another summer raid on the Yorkshire side, with TEAMtalk suggesting that the Old Trafford outfit are in the race for American midfielder, Tyler Adams.

The piece adds (citing a report from The Athletic) that the former RB Leipzig man – who only made the move to England last summer on a £20m deal – could be allowed to depart for a fee of around £40m ahead of next season, following the Whites' recent relegation.

The report also suggests that the 24-year-old has outlined his desire to play in the Premier League once again next season, with another of United's rivals – Liverpool – also said to be plotting a move.

The presence of Jurgen Klopp's side may prove an obstacle to Ten Hag's hopes of landing the New York native this summer, although the Carabao Cup winners should certainly do all they can to ensure that they are at the front of the queue.

Who could Adams replace at Man United?

There may be those who would turn their nose up at the prospect of signing a newly-relegated player, although Adams hardly disgraced himself having enjoyed a promising debut season in English football – prior to suffering what proved to be a season-ending hamstring injury in March.

With the midfield maestro ultimately missing the final 12 games of the season – only two of which ended in victory for Leeds – that absence was likely a key factor in the club's downfall, as he had been "instrumental" prior to that, according to pundit Kevin Campbell.

Lauded as a "tackling machine" by Campbell, the £55k-per-week ace notably finished joint-fourth in the division alongside Casemiro for tackles made despite that extended spell on the sidelines, further highlighting his destructive brilliance in the centre of the park.

The addition of such a 'machine' could then prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Scott McTominay's time at the club, with the 26-year-old – who also typically lines up in a deeper midfield role – having been linked with a summer exit amid interest from Newcastle United.

The Scotland international may be left running scared by Adams' arrival at the Theatre of Dreams, with the latter man seemingly offering more in a defensive sense to Ten Hag after averaging 5.2 tackles and interceptions combined per game from his 24 league appearances in 2022/23, while McTominay averaged just 1.9 in that regard from the same number of games.

The Leeds man may also offer more in possession having averaged one key pass per game as a sign of his creative intent, while the Red Devils academy graduate averaged just 0.3 key passes.

With McTominay seemingly having had his chance to impress over recent years, it could be time for United to find a new midfield solution with the signing of Adams.

Newcastle United are reportedly in talks to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer – a transfer that will only help further unlock the potential of Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United transfer news – will they sign James Maddison?

After suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Foxes last season, Maddison's exit seems a guarantee this summer, given his proven quality at the top level.

With that said, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies will 'insist' on a deal for the England international this week, who is a top target for Eddie Howe.

"Newcastle will insist on James Maddison deal this week as they don’t want a long saga — he’s top target but decision has to be made soon," he tweeted.

The northeast giants may need to act quickly to secure Maddison's signature, however, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly still interested, with Romano adding:

"Tottenham are also working on player side, still pushing and into the race; no bid was submitted last week despite reports."

A deal for the Leicester man would cost Newcastle in excess of £50m, according to Sky Sports, in what would be their first transfer of the summer window.

How would James Maddison fit into Newcastle United's side?

When you take a look at the current Newcastle midfield, adding Maddison into the middle of the park almost spoils the on-watching fans at St James' Park.

Howe has already got Bruno Guimaraes and a transformed Joelinton at his disposal. Add Maddison into the mix, and you've suddenly got one of the most exciting trios in the Premier League.

Between them last season, they were involved in 37 goals in the last campaign, with Maddison scoring 10 goals and assisting a further nine, Joelinton scoring six and assisting three, and his Brazilian teammate scoring four and assisting five.

Speaking about Maddison back in 2020, then Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers saiD (via Sports Mole):

"He's got immense quality. You saw his right foot at Manchester City, he has that technique with both feet. That was a sensational strike tonight."

Maddison, in particular, can supply and score goals from midfield, as proven in a struggling Leicester side last season.

The former Norwich City "magician" – as lauded by analyst Statman Dave last year – managed nine assists without a potent striker in front of him, too.

As good as Jamie Vardy once was, he was a shadow of his former self for the Foxes last season, scoring just three Premier League goals.

The more you look at it, the more you start to believe that Maddison worked miracles to get nine assists to his name.

If he does make the move to Newcastle, however, then he'll be in assist dreamland.

Not only will he have 18-goal England teammate Callum Wilson to endlessly supply, but an always-improving Isak will also be on hand to tap home any pinpoint passes placed his way.

As per FBref, last season Maddison played 5.47 progressive passes per-90, which was 1.08 more than Joelinton managed. A player with his ability to play such passes should only increase the goals of Isak.

Last season, the Sweden international scored 11 combined goals for both Real Sociedad and Newcastle, with 1.29 shots per 90.

By comparison, with Maddison's progressive passing ability, Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho shot 3.04 times per 90.

With that said, it is clear that if the Englishman does make the move to the Magpies this summer, Isak will benefit from his passing range, getting more shots off, and, therefore, have the potential to score more goals.

West Ham are interested in signing Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria this summer but don't want to spend the reported €20m asking price, according to a new report.

Did Zakaria have a good season?

The Hammers are on the lookout for some significant transfer business in the summer window, as they look to kick on after a disappointing Premier League season, but a campaign that ultimately saw them crowned winners of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

With Declan Rice looking almost certain to leave the London Stadium for a fresh challenge in the coming weeks, finding a replacement in midfield will be of the utmost importance for West Ham.

One player who has been linked with a move to east London recently is Zakaria, who is currently at Juventus but spent last season on loan at Chelsea, where he earned £90,000 per week. The Swiss had an underwhelming spell at Stamford Bridge, though, being part of a struggling Blues team and only starting five league games in total.

Despite this, it looks as though he remains a transfer target for West Ham, though, and with an approach already made, a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

Could Zakaria be off to West Ham?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], the Hammers "having carried out a survey" for Zakaria, with Juventus happy to let him leave the club before the beginning of next season. That being said, the mooted €20m (£17.1m) asking price is "too much" for West Ham, so a move is only likely to materlialise if they lower the price.

There is competition for the Juve man's signature, however, with Bundesliga pair Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund believed to have "sniffed out" a deal for him.

While Zakaria's time at Chelsea hasn't exactly enhanced his reputation as a player, he could still be an exciting signing by West Ham this summer, helping fill what is likely to be a sizeable void left by Rice in the middle of the park.

Former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole hailed him as "excellent" at one point last season, while a tally of 49 caps for Switzerland shows what an experienced international player he is, not to mention the fact that he has 125 Bundesliga appearances to his name.

At 26, Zakaria could be a strong signing for West Ham for four or five years, bringing a combination of 1.3 tackles and 1.1 clearances in the Premier League in 2022/23, while also ranking in the 99th percentile for medium and long passes completed.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has personally gone to great lengths to tempt West Ham star Declan Rice with a move, according to Jacob Steinberg.

Will Arsenal sign Declan Rice?

After nearly a week of further talks, following the agreement of a total £105 million fee (£100m + £5m in add-ons), both the Gunners and West Ham have finally reached a compromise on payment structure for the transfer of Rice.

Over what has felt like a very drawn-out transfer saga, Arsenal are at long last set to seal their top transfer target, with both transfer chief Edu and Arteta playing a big role. Fabrizio Romano, a world renowned transfer journalist, has even given his famous "here we go" to the signing on Twitter.

Rice will become the most expensive British transfer of all time, usurping the likes of Jack Grealish (Man City) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), in what is a big boost for Arsenal as they look to mount another title challenge.

The 24-year-old has previously spoken of his desire to win silverware, a goal which will have undoubtedly been a factor in him choosing Arsenal.

Speaking back in 2022, Rice revealed he is ready for a big move, claiming he can play at any level required.

"I feel like I am one of the established top players around the world," said Rice (via 90min).

"I am still young, but in terms of my playing ability and the way I’ve performed consistently, I see myself as an established player now who’s got good experience and can play at any level if required.

"All I can do is go out there and perform, regardless of the price tag. I just need to focus on playing well and performing at the best level I can.”

The Guardian's Steinberg, sharing further background on Arsenal's move for the England international, has dropped an interesting claim involving Arteta.

The journalist says Arsenal's manager has personally "gone to great lengths" in a bid to tempt Rice with a move to north London, with the Spaniard believing his physicality and leadership can gift his side a better chance of winning the league.

What's been said about Declan Rice?

The former Chelsea academy star stood out as West Ham's best-performer by average match rating, all while making more interceptions per 90 than any player in their squad (WhoScored).

Called "world class" by members of the media, former Hammers defender Matthew Upson also recently professed his great admiration for Rice.

"I really enjoyed working with him," Upson told BBC Sport.

"He was so receptive. He had the ability to take criticism or feedback. It didn't deter him. He took it all in such a positive way and had the intelligence to absorb the information and add it to his game, which is a real skill.

That is him. Nobody has added that or given it to him. That is just Declan. That is his star quality."

Tensions can boil over for several parties when a player decided to call it quits at a club in the summer transfer window. Usually, it's the fans who take aim at the departing player, with a chorus of boos the next time they witness that departing player take to the field.

Usually, though, those within the club or associated with the club of the departing player get it more. They've experienced enough football to know that players leaving is simply just part of the game. Players arrive, and players move on every summer. Or at the very least, they have the wisdom to hold their peace.

One man who didn't seem to get that memo, however, was Bayern Munich legend Mehmet Scholl, who replied to Lucas Hernandez's farewell post in brutal fashion.

The defender has completed a move from the Bundesliga champions to Paris Saint-Germain, signing a contract until 2028.

What did Mehmet Scholl say?

Hernandez took to Instagram to post his farewell message, asking fans to "respect" his decision.

In full, when translated it said (via Reddit): "Dear FC Bayern Munich fans, It is with a heavy heart that I announce my departure from the club today. After careful consideration, I have decided to take on new challenges.

"I would like to thank you for your unwavering support during my time here. The moments shared will forever remain in my memory, as will the trophies won, especially the Champions League I always dreamed of.

"I would like to sincerely thank my teammates, coaching staff, entire club staff, executives and coaches of FC Bayern Munich for their trust and unconditional support at all times. This club has allowed me to grow as a player and as a person, and I am proud to have worn the jersey of one of the most prestigious clubs in the world.

"Lastly, I ask you to respect my decision, even though goodbyes are always difficult. "With best regards, Lucas Hernandez"

Clearly not touched by the message, though, Scholl replied by ruthlessly commenting: "I don't believe a word of it. Bye-bye."

It's fair to say that the move did not go down well with the Bayern legend. And he clearly doesn't feel as though Hernandez has shown enough respect for the club with this transfer departure.

What is Theo Hernandez's transfer value?

Completing a move to PSG for a reported €50m (£42.86m), Hernandez left Bayern for more than his market value, as per Transfermark, which has the defender priced at €45m (£38.58m).

It has not taken the Bavarians long to find a replacement, however – reportedly triggering the release clause of Napoli star Kim-Min jae. The centre-back arrives off the back of an excellent season in Serie A, picking up the Scudetto.

Hernandez, meanwhile, departs having won every trophy there is to win in club football, with the highlight being the Champions League win back in 2020. The victory ironically came against his new club PSG.

Now in the French capital, the defender will be desperate to secure European glory once again, ending PSG's long wait for Champions League victory, in the process.

Despite a certain Bayern Munich legend being far from pleased with his move away, the transfer to the Ligue 1 champions represents an opportunity for Hernandez to add to his ever-growing list of trophy wins.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Goncalo Ramos over the summer transfer window so far and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

Is Goncalo Ramos joining Newcastle?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are interested in signing the Benfica striker but will need to provide the right offer to snap up his services this summer.

As per the report, Newcastle were proposing a €60m (£51m) offer to secure the signing of Ramos, however, it would only be an €80m (£68m) bid that would convince the Portuguese club to part ways with their star player.

How good is Goncalo Ramos?

Eddie Howe will surely be thrilled with his squad at St James' Park after their achievements and huge progress last season with the side reaching their first cup final in almost two decades and qualifying for Champions League football.

However, there will be little room for sentiment when it comes to planning to compete on all fronts next season and subtle tweaks will need to be made to ensure that the team can build upon the progress they have already made and can comfortably challenge for trophies.

As a result, the signing of Ramos would be a wise investment for the Magpies should they be able to meet Benfica's financial expectations this summer as the promising young goal machine would be a worthy successor for Callum Wilson.

Until last season, the Newcastle mainstay had been the first-pick front-man in the number nine role, however, the arrival of Alexander Isak provided quality competition for the England international and has been since rotating with the Swedish striker which has been a success as the pair have both been hugely impactful in front of goal.

Having said that, Wilson will turn 32 years old during the next campaign and with injuries a consistent problem for the goal-scorer, the arrival of Ramos could be bad news for his short-term future on Tyneside, as the Portugal international would be seen as part of the long-term future of the club.

Over 106 appearances for Benfica so far, the 22-year-old talent – hailed as "pure class" by Ian Wright – has scored 41 goals and registered 16 assists with a goal contribution every 110 minutes so far; as well as tallying up 25 appearances in the Champions League making him a potentially valuable prospect for Howe when his team challenges in Europe next season.

Not only that, whilst predominantly playing as a centre-forward, Ramos is versatile with experience playing as a second striker and in an attacking midfield role too, so there is no reason why the Newcastle boss would need to sacrifice Isak to start Ramos as he could play in a slightly deeper role just behind.

With that being said, a move for Ramos is definitely one to watch as injecting some more youth into the forward line would set up the strike force for years to come and assist Newcastle in their pursuit for success.

With promotion expert Daniel Farke now at the helm, Leeds United will no doubt be plotting to secure an instant return back to the Premier League this term, having slipped back into the second tier last term after just three years in the top-flight.

The chances of Farke – who sealed two promotions from the Championship during his time at Norwich City – pulling off that feat have not been aided by the possible mass exodus that the Whites are set to endure, with the likes of Robin Koch and Brenden Aaronson having already moved out on loan.

A far greater blow, however, looks to be the impending exit of last season's top scorer, Rodrigo, with the 32-year-old Spaniard seemingly on his way to Qatar to join Al-Rayyan, after three seasons at Elland Road.

Since signing from Valencia back in the summer of 2020, the experienced marksman has netted 27 times in 95 games in all competitions for the Yorkshire giants, with 15 of those strikes coming last term despite the club's eventual relegation.

With no other Leeds player having even reached double figures for goals in 2022/23, the Brazil-born hitman will leave a notable void in Farke's squad, with it unlikely to prove an easy fix trying to replace his influence in attack.

One name that has been mentioned as a possible centre-forward target of late, however, is Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge – according to The Athletic's Phil Hay – with the 24-year-old also attracting interest from MLS clubs amid his limited game time at the City Ground, after starting just two league games last term.

While the Englishman may not be the most glamourous of signings, his prior experience in the second tier could prove invaluable for Farke and co next season…

How good is Sam Surridge?

It is fair to say that the Slough-born striker endured a frustrating 2022/23 campaign after scoring just one Premier League goal for Steve Cooper's side, albeit with the former Stoke City striker having been a crucial figure in Forest's successful promotion charge in the previous season.

Having signed from the Potters in January 2022, Surridge went on to score seven goals in just 17 Championship appearances in the second of the season, having arguably been "one of the best finishers" in the league, according to Forest legend, Gary Birtles – who also dubbed him "sensational" in front of goal.

That view has been echoed by journalist Lee Clarke, who recently hailed the £15k-per-week ace as something of a "cheat code" due to that sparkling previous form, as he simply "never looked like missing" when played in on goal.

Evidently a player who could fill the goalscoring shoes of Rodrigo, Surridge is also an asset due to his hard-working nature when leading the line, with Birtles describing him as a player who "worries defenders", while also stating:

"His work rate and trying to close defenders down to stop them playing, that lets midfield push up a couple of yards and the defenders even more. That makes life more uncomfortable and problematic for the opposition."

That willing work ethic is seemingly shared by Leeds' departing forward, with the ageing sensation notably ranking in the top 11% among those in his position in Europe's big five leagues for tackles made, showcasing that desire to defend from the front.

That would suggest that if Farke is turn to Surridge to be the main man next season, the 6 foot 3 machine could prove to be the perfect heir to Rodrigo at Elland Road.