Football
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes claims Arsenal are making £51m transfer mistake
Paul Scholes has cast doubt on Arsenal’s decision to pursue Martin Zubimendi in a £51 million transfer deal from Real Sociedad. The former Manchester United midfielder questioned not only the Spaniard’s overall quality but also his potential fit within Mikel Arteta’s system at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have long been in discussions with Zubimendi, with the 26-year-old seen as a top priority for Arteta ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Talks have been ongoing for months, and there were concerns within the club that Real Madrid might swoop in for the midfielder.
However, recent reports indicate that Zubimendi has now agreed to personal terms with the Gunners and is expected to complete his move once the window officially opens.
With veteran midfielder Jorginho likely to leave north London and Thomas Partey also rumored to be on the move, Arsenal are looking to reshape their midfield. Zubimendi is believed to be earmarked for a deep-lying role, providing defensive cover while allowing Declan Rice more freedom to push forward.
Despite Arteta’s vision, Scholes isn’t convinced the move makes sense. Speaking on The Overlap, he questioned whether there’s even a real need for the Spanish international.
Scholes said he believes Rice is more than capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and doesn’t view him as a natural attacking option, as many suggest.
Recalling a past performance, Scholes pointed to a Europa League match where Zubimendi faced Manchester United and didn’t leave a strong impression.
On the other hand, Gary Neville offered a completely different perspective. The former United captain and pundit praised Zubimendi’s qualities and supported Arsenal’s pursuit of the Spanish international.
He argued that Arsenal still lack a midfielder who can dictate the tempo and maintain control in high-pressure games. In Neville’s view, even though Rice and Partey are strong players, neither excels in terms of receiving and distributing the ball under pressure in the same way Jorginho does.
Zubimendi brings with him experience from over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad, as well as a European Championship title with Spain from Euro 2024. Neville believes this pedigree could be exactly what Arsenal need to unlock their midfield’s potential and add composure in key moments.
In addition to Zubimendi, Arteta is targeting a new striker to elevate the team’s attacking options. The Gunners have shown interest in several forwards, including Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, and Liam Delap.
The need for a new presence up front has become pressing as Arsenal have now gone five consecutive seasons without silverware. Their second-place position in the Premier League is under threat with just two matches left, and stiff competition from Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.
Arsenal face a tough test against a resurgent Newcastle side this weekend before ending their campaign with a match against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. With significant changes expected in the summer, Arteta’s squad could look quite different by the time the next season kicks off.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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