Arsenal have "entered the race" to sign Brentford's highly rated goalkeeper David Raya, with the Spaniard now preferring a move to "Arsenal over Bayern", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Are Arsenal signing David Raya this summer?

The Gunners have had an outstanding transfer window so far this summer. The club have dramatically improved the quality of their starting eleven with the signings of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice – breaking the transfer record for a British player along the way.

Alongside these brilliant signings, Mikel Arteta has secured the long-term futures of several first-team stars, such as Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Aaron Ramsdale.

That said, the former Bournemouth man's future may be a little less clear with the recent news that the north Londoners have joined the race to land the much-sought-after Raya.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are set to make an offer for the 27-year-old after Bayern Munich's loan offer was rejected, with the idea being that he would compete for the number one spot with current shot-stopper Ramsdale.

The Premier League runners-up have already spoken to the player and are now his preferred destination over the Bundesliga champions, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Arsenal have entered the race. Arsenal had contacts with the camp of David Raya, and they are considering making a bid very soon; there is still no-bid, but they could beat very soon for David Raya.

"Yes, to create competition with Aaron Ramsdale. Of course, Ramsdale is the first goalkeeper, but in case they bring in Raya, this could be a possibility to create competition between the two goalkeepers. Something to add from what I'm hearing, David Raya prefers Arsenal over Bayern for many reasons, but he would love to join Arsenal.

"It's important to say that already some discussions took place discussing about the contract and this kind of things, so Arsenal already discussed some details on the player side, [and] now [it] depends on the clubs."

How good is David Raya?

One of the constants in Brentford's meteoric rise from the Championship over the last four seasons has been that of Raya. Since moving to West London in the 2019/20 season, he has started at least 24 league games, starting all 38 last year.

Across those four years with the Bees, he has never achieved a season rating lower than 6.66, reaching a seriously impressive 6.97 last campaign, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are just as impressive as well, with FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing the Spaniard in the top 6% for touches, the top 7% for crosses stopped, the top 8% for save percentage, and the top 15% for launch percentage and average length of goal kicks, all per 90.

His ability with the ball at his feet clearly left an impact on Steven Drench, who worked with him at the Blackburn Rovers academy, as he waxed lyrical about him, saying:

"His distribution is a major plus point, and being at Brentford with the style of football they play, he suits them. But he could go into any team in the top leagues in Europe and fit in quite well with the confidence he has on the ball.

"He's like an extra outfield player."

It'll be interesting to see how Ramsdale reacts to the competition should the Gunners complete the signing, but adding Raya to your team can only be a good thing.

Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale has gone all out to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 season, but work still needs to be done on the defence.

Out of eight signings this summer, only two are defenders, Leon Balogun and Dujon Sterling, and with the new season fast approaching, Beale will have act swiftly in order to bring another centre-back to the club.

With Ben Davies failing to inspire confidence among the Gers faithful due to his struggles last season, could he perhaps be on his way out of Ibrox?

Does Ben Davies have a future at Rangers?

Following the end of last season, the Gers appeared to be open to offers for the former Liverpool gem, however, nothing has materialised with regard to him leaving.

The defender ranked in a lowly 16th across the squad for tackles per game last term (0.9) and 14th for overall Sofascore match rating (6.94) while he also endured a woeful performance against Celtic in April, making a key mistake which led to the Parkhead outfit scoring.

The Englishman failed to clear a simple ball in his own penalty area and Celtic ended up scoring their second goal from the blunder as the Light Blues went on to lose the match.

With just over a month to go until the transfer window shuts, Beale may be hoping there is a prospective buyer sooner rather than later.

Who could replace Ben Davies?

The Glasgow side have shown recent interest in young defender Dembo Saidykhan, who currently plays for Steve Biko in The Gambia.

The 19-year-old is also being courted by Southampton and French side Toulouse, suggesting that if Beale wants to make his move, it must be sooner rather than later.

Despite Balogun arriving back for his second spell with Rangers, there is still a need for another centre-back. Saidykhan may not be the answer straight away, yet the teenage titan does hold key attributes which could allow him to shine for the club in the near future.

During the U20 World Cup, he certainly showcased why he is attracting attention, shining for The Gambia during their impressive run to the last 16, before being defeated by eventual winners Uruguay.

His displays were that impressive he actually ranked as their second-best defender with regard to overall Sofascore match rating (7.05), while he also ranked fourth for accurate passes (45.8), sixth for tackles (1.5) and fifth for interceptions (one) per game, showcasing not only a solid passing ability, but just how effective he was at the heart of the defence.

Not only did he shine in relation to his teammates during the competition, but the youngster was praised by journalist Hernan Federico Pacheco, who said Saidykhan was “strong” and “agile” across his four matches for The Gambia.

It would certainly be a wildcard option if Beale did decide to go ahead and secure his signature, especially considering he hasn’t played in Europe yet. With Davies struggling at times last term, moving him on for a fee and bringing in Saidykhan could be a shrewd move that could pay off handsomely in the near future.

West Indies are “huge underdogs”, in the words of their captain Jason Holder, but they cannot be counted out, given their form during the warm-ups, the uncertainty of what the pink ball might do at Edgbaston, and the inexperience in England’s top order

The Preview by Alan Gardner16-Aug-2017Match factsAugust 17-21, 2017
Start time 2pm local (1300 GMT)Big PictureCue spooky music and prepare to step through the locked door… English cricket is about to enter the Test Twilight Zone, where strange things can happen. At the Adelaide Oval in 2015, the highest score between Australia and New Zealand was 224 and the Test was over inside three days; in Dubai last year, West Indies’ first taste of day-night Tests, Azhar Ali scored the first pink-ball triple-hundred; a few weeks later, again in Adelaide, Faf du Plessis declared South Africa’s first innings during the final session of the opening day. More fantastical still, Pakistan came within 40 runs of chasing 490 to beat Australia at the Gabba in December 2016.So what will Edgbaston serve up for England’s first experience of this eye-catching format tweak? Stuart Broad articulated the uncertainties for the home side when he described it as a step into the unknown and while West Indies are unlikely to talk up their chances too much, they will have the edge in understanding how the pink ball plays. In their last warm-up match, against Derbyshire, they had four batsmen score hundreds whilst bowling out the opposition cheaply – although Shannon Gabriel’s problem with overstepping was a cause for concern.England should come into the game high on confidence, having just defeated South Africa 3-1, but there ought to be no room for complacency – and not only because of how they’ll react to the pink pill. Mark Stoneman, the Surrey opener, will make his debut as England’s search for a long-term opening partner for Alastair Cook continues, and that is just one of three or four positions that Joe Root will want nailed to the table before setting off for an Ashes defence this winter. This will be a big series for the likes of Tom Westley, Dawid Malan and Toby Roland-Jones, too.Root will also know not to underestimate West Indies on the basis of their last encounter, when they held England to a 1-1 draw in the Caribbean after being talked down as “mediocre” opposition in the build-up. Jason Holder, West Indies’ captain, set the tone with a match-saving hundred in Antigua and then he and his fellow quicks helped bowl them to a series-levelling victory in Bridgetown. The selectors haven’t yet recalled the recently un-retired Jerome Taylor, but Kemar Roach is back, after 18 months out of the Test side, and the tourists have a pace battery to keep England on their toes. Edgbaston under floodlights might help to put them in the pink.The wider context, of course, encompasses the future of the Test game. Ticket sales have been healthy and the Birmingham public seems ready to embrace the concept (or at least give it a whirl). Will they get an Edgbaston classic? Well, stranger things have happened.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)
England WWLWL
West Indies LWLWLIn the spotlightHe has been a model of consistency on the county circuit and, a few weeks after his 30th birthday, Mark Stoneman is finally set for his England opportunity. An average of just under 35 might not signal a great talent waiting to be unleashed but that is more reflective of his tough grounding on the spicy northern tracks of Chester-le-Street, where he learned his trade for Durham. His move to Surrey saw him add a career-best 197 earlier this season and last week he completed 1000 first-class runs for the fifth season running. A good series will in all likelihood see him opening at Brisbane for the start of the 2017-18 Ashes.Whether West Indies’ top seven can make enough runs to put England under pressure will be a key factor of the series, but the return of Kemar Roach could give them an edge with the ball. He may no longer be the bruising quick who discomforted Ricky Ponting and gave Jonny Bairstow a working-over on debut but his form in domestic cricket suggests his has the nous to adapt; seven wickets at a cost of just 74 in two tour matches offers further encouragement that he will be a handful. Roach is by far the most experienced member of the attack and West Indies fans will fervently hope the fire still burns.Teams newsEngland will make just one change from the side that overcame South Africa at The Oval and Old Trafford, with Stoneman coming in for Keaton Jennings as Cook’s 12th opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss. That means no return for Chris Woakes and Mason Crane missing out.England: 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Mark Stoneman, 3 Tom Westley, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Dawid Malan, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Toby Roland-Jones, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.Kyle Hope is in line for a debut, coming in at No. 3 above his younger brother, Shai. Both scored hundreds in the pink-ball warm-up match at Derby, as did Roston Chase and opener Kieran Powell. Gabriel struggled with his run-up in that match, bowling 24 no-balls in all, but is expected to play, with the final choice between Devendra Bishoo’s legspin or a fourth seamer in Alzarri Joseph.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kyle Hope, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo/Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon GabrielPitch and conditionsThe surface being used is one over from the pitch that Australia were bowled out for 136 on in 2015. It is expected to offer some life for the seamers but may not break up much. The forecast is generally clear for the five days but it could be a little chilly for those in the stands come the evening.Stats and triviaWest Indies last won a Test in England on their tour of 2000 – victory by an innings at Edgbaston.The 2012 Edgbaston Test saw Tino Best fall five runs short of becoming the first No. 11 to score a Test hundred.Stuart Broad needs five wickets to overtake Ian Botham as England’s second-highest Test wicket-taker.Joe Root has made at least one half-century in his last ten consecutive Tests – another at Edgbaston would set a new record for England.Quotes”Of course you want a settled side. You never want to go into a series with guys out of form or under pressure. But that’s one of the challenges of Test cricket.”
“We’re obviously huge underdogs.”

West Ham United are eyeing a summer swoop for Jean-Clair Todibo.

What’s the latest on Jean-Clair Todibo to West Ham?

According to French outlet Nice-Matin, the Irons have made an approach to sign the Nice titan, who could cost around €40m (£34m).

Despite still just being 23-years-old, Todibo has enjoyed stints across the continent at Toulouse, Barcelona, Benfica, and Schalke.

However, since joining Nice in 2021, the 6 foot 3 defender has been far more settled and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the French outfit.

Would Jean-Clair Todibo be a good signing for West Ham?

Last season, in 33 Ligue 1 starts, the player averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game (fourth-highest in the squad), as well as 3.1 clearances and 0.6 blocks per game (second-highest).

His game is built upon defensive solidity and his quality has been recognised even in the infancy of his career – back in 2020, German legend Lothar Matthaus described Todibo as the “best centre-back” he’s seen in a “long time.”

This sentiment was echoed by his former teammate Aaron Ramsey, who added:

“Jean-Clair is a very interesting character; he’s very confident and he’s a great guy around the dressing room and he’s a very, very talented player, who can go all the way to the top.

“For him, it is important to keep his feet on the ground, strive for more, and take in as much information as possible.

“He’s a great guy, a great player, and very ambitious, so there is no reason that he can’t go all the way to the top and represent France.”

From a West Ham perspective, adding a man of this calibre and reputation would be a monumental boost. Furthermore, Todibo can also be a noticeable upgrade on Kurt Zouma.

Defensively, the former Barcelona starlet outranks his elder for tackles per 90 (2.28 vs 0.41) and blocks per 90 (1.29 vs 0.77), while Zouma very narrowly outperforms Todibo for interceptions (1.36 vs 1.29).

However, what separates these two players is their ball-playing ability. Todibo is vastly superior to the former Chelsea youngster for pass completion per 90 (88.5% vs 84.4%), progressive passes per 90 (4.8 vs 1.4), and successful take-ons per 90 (0.63 vs 0.09).

Although it is easier for the £20k-per-week man to score better than Zouma, as in domestic matches he averages over 30 more touches (76.2 vs 42.5), Todibo still ranks tremendously across the continent, sitting within the best 20% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics.

Zouma is perhaps a victim of David Moyes’ lack of possession-based style of play, but Todibo’s pedigree is undeniable and looks like he could be a formidable asset in the Premier League.

Moreover, despite only signing for the East Londoners in 2021, the 6 foot 3 mountain has already missed 23 games through injury. With the club set to play a third-consecutive season of European football, they cannot afford to lose Zouma for another prolonged period, whilst Todibo is yet to miss any games for Nice due to injury.

This signing would be an inspired way for the 2023 Europa Conference League winners to kickstart their window.

Sussex Sharks won their final group game in the NatWest T20 Blast when they beat Essex Eagles by 55 runs at Hove on Friday. But their convincing victory was still not enough to see them through to the quarter-finals of the competition as they were edged out of the tournament on Net Run Rate.Chris Nash’s 73 gave Sussex the edge as he batted with Luke Wright as a runner towards the end of his innings after pulling up in pain following a quick single.Chris Nash batted with a runner but his efforts were in vain•Getty Images

Essex never looked likely to get close to a target of 173 on the thrilling last night of the competition’s group stages.Unlike Sussex earlier in the evening, their Essex innings got off to an awful start. Varun Chopra was out in the first over when he hit Danny Briggs to deep midwicket. And the wickets continued to fall.Dan Lawrence was caught in the covers when he got a think edge to one from David Wiese and the bowler struck again in the same over when Ravi Bopara was well caught behind buy the diving Ben Brown to make it 33 for 3 in the fourth over.It was 45 for 4 when James Foster was caught behind and Essex were in deep trouble at 49 for 5 in the eighth over when Will Beer had Ashar Zaidi caught at deep square-leg. Everything now depended on Ryan ten Doeschate. But when he hit Beer high in the direction of cow corner Chris Jordan took an excellent running catch. After that even some late clouting from Paul Walter and Simon Harmer could not get the Eagles close.When Sussex batted Chris Nash was once again their star, with an innings of 73 off 55 deliveries. It was his sixth half-century in the competition this year as he continued to turn around his disappointing early season form.There were seven fours and two sixes in his innings which ended unluckily in the penultimate over when, playing a ramp shot off Mohammad Amir, he flicked a bail off his stumps with the stroke.Nash and Luke Wright put on 84 for the first wicket before Wright, attempting a straight six, was caught just inside the boundary by Ryan ten Doeschate for a 23-ball 37 in the ninth over.The Sussex innings stumbled as they lost three wickets while scoring 18 runs off four overs. Sussex were without skipper Ross Taylor, who had returned home to New Zealand for family reasons. But Nash finally found the support he needed in Laurie Evans, who hit an astonishing six over midwicket off Jamie Porter on his way to 47 off 34 deliveries.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and manager Ange Postecoglou is a big fan.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has backed Postecoglou with a handful of noteworthy additions so far, sealing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon.

All three have made their debuts already, specifically during Tottenham's 3-2 pre-season friendly defeat to West Ham this week, with Postecoglou professing his excitement about working with Maddison even before that game.

“Really excited to get James as part of the group," explained the Spurs manager.

“Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals.

“I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James – even better if we could get James, so we ended up getting James."

Their transfer priority right now appears to be in central defence, with Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet, Galatasary's Victor Nelsson and Juventus star Gleison Bremer all being linked.

However, according to The Daily Mail, the north Londoners could also sign more new midfielders after Maddison with a star regular from last season, Hojbjerg, potentially joining Atletico Madrid this summer.

The Denmark international is apparently open to it with discussions ongoing, and to succeed Hojbjerg, Spurs have their eyes on a number of targets – including Gallagher of Chelsea.

He's apparently "emerged as a candidate" for the Lilywhites to replace their midfield star, with Postecoglou being a personal fan of the 23-year-old "believes he would fit in well" with his plans.

Gallagher's energetic approach is particular draw for the 57-year-old, but as things stand, Chelsea would be reluctant to sell the Englishman given their shortage of midfielders.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

On loan at Crystal Palace over 2021/2022, Gallagher dazzled as one of the Eagles' best-performing players by average match rating, according to WhoScored, and chipped in with eight goals and three assists.

Gallagher featured regularly for Chelsea last season, too, making 35 league appearances whilst scoring three goals and adding a further assist (WhoScored).

Former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to the media on Gallagher last year, claimed his development is "extraordinary" and raved over his brilliant potential.

“His development is extraordinary and outstanding," said Tuchel.

“He was a pleasure to coach in pre-season – he has so much positive energy, so much energy in general and so much work-rate to give that he can of course be a big help and a big influence.”

Meanwhile, former Tottenham star Jermaine Jenas told Match of the Day (via The Sun), that Gallagher can be a "game-changer".

“I think he is a game-changer aswell Conor Gallagher. He’s the type of player that you bring on and he has an impact on the game.

“Also, he’s won a World Cup. He was part of the U17 World Cup-winning side so he understands tournament football and I’m pleased for Conor.”

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be stepping up their search to find a long-term successor to free-scoring striker, Harry Kane, following an update regarding the Premier League side's interest in Gent sensation, Gift Orban.

How much would Gift Orban cost?

According to Belgian outlet, Het Nieuwsblad, the Lilywhites have seemingly already made contact regarding a potential summer swoop for the 21-year-old, with the piece outlining that Spurs have 'reported' to the Nigerian's entourage.

As per the report, the potential exit of Kane to Bayern Munich has left Ange Postecoglou and co searching to find a new centre-forward, with the promising youngster said to be 'an important name on the list' of targets.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

The suggestion is that if the north Londoners are to strike a deal for the 5 foot 10 gem – who still has four years left on his current contract – then the Pro League side would be looking to recoup more than their record sale of Jonathan David to Lille for €27m (£23m) back in 2020.

How good is Gift Orban?

Attempting to fill the shoes of Kane – who currently boasts a staggering haul of 213 Premier League goals – is no small task, with Postecoglou potentially set to have to think outside of the box in order to acquire a suitable and affordable successor to the England skipper.

While not yet a household name, young Orban has proven his credentials during his embryonic senior career thus far, having scored 41 goals in just 48 games in all competitions for both Gent and former club, Stabaek.

A player who is simply "born to score", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, the prolific starlet will likely be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, Victor Osimhen, by making the leap from Belgian football to Europe's top five leagues.

In the case of Osimhen, the current Napoli man – who has been the subject of a mammoth €140m (£120.3m) offer from Al Hilal – truly burst onto the scene following his stint at Pro League side Charleroi, scoring 20 goals in just 36 games for the club after signing on an initial loan deal from Wolfsburg in 2018.

That standout form unsurprisingly saw the Lagos native quickly snapped up by Lille in the summer of 2019, with the 6 foot 1 ace going on to net 18 goals in just 38 games for the Ligue 1 side before sealing his move to Naples a year later – for whom he now boasts 59 goals in just 101 outings.

That consistency has led to apparent interest in the 24-year-old from those at N17, although Postecolgou could perhaps find a bargain alternative in the form of Orban, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs having previously spoken of the likeness between the pair:

"And he is, naturally, because they’re both Nigerian, being compared a little bit to Victor Osimhen. He’s a little bit smaller than Osimhen, but he’s not afraid to put his body about, he’s clinical, he’s intelligent and he’s got good awareness."

The two marksmen are also both alike due to their searing speed which can prove a real asset in the final third, with Osimhen described as a "pest for defenders" by Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, while Orban seemingly has "electric pace & acceleration" – according to Kulig.

The hope will be though that rather than following his fellow Nigerian to France – with both Lille and Lens said to be interested in his signature – the Gent speedster will take an even bigger risk to join Tottenham this summer.

Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain feels he is regaining some of the old rhythm, and wants to add more skills to his repertoire

Andrew Fidel Fernando at the Premadasa30-Aug-2017

His hauls may be lighter of late, and his pace may have diminished, but Sri Lanka’s acting captain Lasith Malinga remains defiant as ever of criticism, and has no plans to quit. In fact, he wants to continue adding skills to his bowling repertoire.Though Malinga is hardly Sri Lanka’s greatest concern, his figures since returning after a 19-month ODI layoff have not been impressive. He has taken eight wickets in 11 matches, at an average of 63.25. Where once top orders sought to see him off safely and score off the remaining bowlers, he does not inspire fear anymore. In Malinga’s defence, fielders have also dropped eight chances off his bowling. At least half of those were easy catches.”As a bowler, I’ve not been able to get wickets in the last couple of series,” Malinga said. “A lot of people have talked about that. In fact, there has been more talk in the last couple of months than in 14 previous years that I’ve played, but I’m used to that. But whenever someone is coming towards the end of their careers, there is failure. People talk about them not being fit enough, or not picking him.”Although his performances have not quite reflected it, Malinga himself felt he was regaining a little of his old rhythm. There have been glimpses of the old Malinga over the past two months – most recently, he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan with a short ball that jagged sharply back in.”I was out for 19 months, but now I feel I am getting better. Everyone knows how major my leg injuries are. Now that my leg is getting better, I’m doing all the treatment and all the rehabilitation. The fitness also is improving, and now I feel really comfortable to bowl 10 overs – I bowl consistently.”What’s more, he feels there are additions to be made to his game yet. At various points in the series, Malinga has been seen chatting to Zaheer Khan, who is commentating on the matches. They’ve spoken about their old days at Mumbai Indians together, and how Malinga’s body is still holding up, but also about what Malinga could do to regain his wicket-taking ability.”Zak [Zaheer] is more of a seam and swing bowler, and I want to learn more of that kind of thing over the next few years,” Malinga said. “That’s what I talked with him. Every time I have an opportunity, we speak about my bowling action, and how I have to improve. Because guys like him are in the commentary box, they look at every single one of my body movements and my bowling action, and how I swing the ball, and they have a good idea of how I’m going now.”

Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid to sign AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez this summer, according to reports.

The defender would be the third player to make the move to the Midlands club in the current transfer window.

What's the latest on Roger Ibanez to Nottingham Forest?

Forest have made an opening bid of £25m (£22m) to Roma in pursuit of Ibanez, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Premier League side pushing to get the deal done.

It comes as little surprise to see Forest splashing the cash after they spent a reported €195m on reinforcements last summer, whilst also already spending a reported €35m (£30m) so far this summer.

With that said, a deal to sign Ibanez could be well within reach for Forest this summer, ahead of their second season back in the Premier League.

Steve Cooper will be hoping for a similar campaign to last season, with the added bonus of securing early survival. So far welcoming Anthony Elanga and Ola Aina, his side certainly looks in good shape to cause a few shocks in the coming campaign.

The addition of Ibanez could be the cherry on top for those at the City Ground this summer.

Should Nottingham Forest sign Ibanez?

Signing a defender with plenty of European experience would represent excellent business for Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian would be an instant upgrade on Cooper's current options, too.

According to FBref, when compared to current Forest defenders, Joe Worrall, Felipe, and Moussa Niakhate, Ibanez makes more progressive passes, more progressive carries, more tackles, and more interceptions. Based on the stats, Ibanez is simply on another level compared to those currently at the club.

At 24-years-old, too, the defender could yet reach an even higher level, whether that is at Roma or indeed at Forest.

Roma manager Jose Mourinho is certainly a fan of the Brazilian, previously praising the defender, saying via the club's official website: "Tomorrow it’s Ibanez and 10 others. Beyond what your question might be, that’s the answer. I have a lot of respect for someone that, from the first day I got here, has given everything he has. And, on more than one occasion, even when he has had a few issues.

“Last year we went through a spell where he was the only central defender, with Chris Smalling injured and Gianluca Mancini and Marash Kumbulla suspended. He was there every single game. When we went to Seville to face Real Betis earlier this season, the morning of the game I saw him and thought it was going to be impossible for him to play. And yet he played. He’s one who always fronts up.

“When we win, we all win together. When we lose, we all lose together. For me he is untouchable."

The fact that Ibanez received such praise from Mourinho speaks volumes about just how good he is. If Forest can get a deal done for the defender this summer, then everything points in the direction of Ibanez going onto have great success at the Midlands club.

Arsenal seem to be a quiet contender to pull off one of the greatest transfers the Premier League would have ever seen…

Is Kylian Mbappe leaving Paris Saint-Germain?

That's according to Football Transfers, who attest that the Gunners are keeping a close eye on the developing situation regarding Kylian Mbappe's drawn-out exit from Paris Saint-Germain.

With Sky Sports having detailed the deterioration of the relationship between player and club, suggesting the former is willing to sacrifice his next year of football in order to leave for free next summer, many clubs have been put on high alert as such a generational asset becomes available.

Not least Mikel Arteta, who will reportedly use Gabriel Martinelli as a makeweight to convince the Parisian giants to allow him to join them.

A package is in place for the France international should he choose an Emirates switch, although it would hinge on the move happening in January or next summer.

It had previously been suggested that his exit would not come unless a €200m (£173m) fee was stumped up, although that could drop dramatically given the fresh update.

How many goals does Kylian Mbappe have?

It does not need much to outline just how utterly exceptional Mbappe is and would be wherever he chooses to play.

With 212 goals in 260 games for PSG and a total of 244 strikes across an already illustrious career thus far, the 24-year-old truly has the world at his feet.

Even teammate Neymar would agree with that notion, as he claimed last year: "He’s a world-class player, present and future of this club. I’m very happy that Kylian – who’s my friend and teammate – he’s staying here at Paris."

It, therefore, goes without saying that he would walk into virtually every team in the world, even if elite stars stand in their way.

Martinelli enjoyed arguably the best year of his career since moving to north London and finished as the club's joint-top scorer as they made the lofty step up to title challengers.

Scoring 15 times and assisting a further six across all competitions, it is hard to imagine many who would even challenge the 22-year-old, let alone completely usurp him.

However, his tally pales in comparison to his potential successor, who notched 41 goals and assisted a further ten in just 43 games in all competitions in France.

What makes Mbappe even more special, aside from his remarkable goalscoring figures, is the imperious technical quality he boasts on the ball.

His dribbling technique is exemplary, and his creativity is unparalleled. When compared to other forwards across Europe, he ranks in the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, the best 1% for progressive carries per 90, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

The former AS Monaco star is the perfect all-around attacking package, and for all Martinelli's progress in recent years, there is little chance he will grow to such an unparalleled level.

Upon securing the Brazilian's contract extension, Arteta noted earlier this year: "He’s a player with enormous potential – he still has so many things to improve but he’s already performing at a really high level.

“He can develop physically. He can develop mentally. He can develop in terms of consistency. He can develop defensively. He can develop in the final third and in the spaces that he occupies. His numbers can be improved, and he’s so willing – that’s the best thing about Gabi."

Whilst this is outlined to excite fans at the ceiling he boasts, there are a few attributes with which Mbappe could improve. It is this gulf that separates the two, with his potential acquisition set to turn Arsenal from mere contenders into the team to beat.