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It might seem overly simple, but if there is one thing Arsenal need to add to the squad this summer, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side are well known for being one of the hardest teams to break down in world football – and the data shows it – but time and time again this season, the North Londoners found it hard to put the ball in the back of the net when it really mattered.

So, while the addition of Martin Zubimendi will be a great one – when it eventually happens – the club need to do a lot more and strengthen the frontline.

Fortunately, reports have now linked the Gunners with another option to lead the line next season, someone who could be a great alternative to Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal's striker search

Arsenal’s hunt for a new number nine has been ongoing for over a year now, and over the last few weeks, Sesko and Gyokeres have been constantly linked.

The former was a target last summer, again in the winter, and now, for the third window on the bounce, he has been dominating the talk around the club, with reports suggesting he could cost at least £67m.

The situation is even more unclear regarding the Swedish international, as while he supposedly rejected Manchester United in favour of the Gunners, reports from late last week claimed that Sporting CP’s demands had seen the North Londoners ‘freeze’ their interest in the 27-year-old.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, it looks like the Gunners might need to seek out an alternative, which could help explain the links to Dušan Vlahović.

Yes, according to a recent report from TuttoJuve, Arsenal are now in the picture for the Juventus marksman.

The report has revealed that in light of Sporting wanting at least €80m – £68m – for Gyokeres, Arteta and Co are now ‘evaluating valid alternatives,’ one of which is the Serbian international.

No price is mentioned in the report, but stories from last month claimed that the 25-year-old goalscorer could be available for just £25m, which could make him an ideal alternative to Sesko and Gyokeres.

Why Vlahović could be a great alternative to Sesko and Gyokeres

Okay, so the first thing to say is that one of the advantages to signing Vlahović over Gyokeres and Sesko is that he’d cost substantially less and, therefore, free up more money to spend elsewhere.

However, while you would expect someone who could cost less than half as much as the Leipzig star, for example, would be significantly less effective, that is not the case.

When it comes to raw output, he’s only marginally worse than the Slovenian star, who is playing in a top-five league and, therefore, at a similar level.

Moreover, while he is miles off the Sporting star, it’s important to note that research from Opta Analyst found that 11 of 18 teams in the Portuguese top-flight are League One standard.

That brings us to one of the significant benefits of signing the Serb, who former Juventus striker Darko Kovacevic once said is “just like Haaland”, over the other two: his vast experience at the highest level.

For example, across his career to date, the Belgrade-born monster has made 202 appearances in Serie A.

In comparison, the former RB Salzburg gem has made just 64 appearances in the Bundesliga, while the Stockholm-born poacher has never played a minute of football in a top-five league.

Ultimately, Vlahović probably wouldn’t be the most exciting addition Arsenal could make to the frontline this season, but he has a proven track record in a tough league, is almost as effective as Sesko and would cost a fraction as much.

Therefore, if the Gunners cannot get their hands on either the Leipzig star or Gyokeres this summer, then the Juventus ace would be a great alternative.

Arsenal set to bid for £40m star who has heart set on move to Emirates

The Gunners could land a long-term target…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 16, 2025

Having already welcomed Carlton Morris from Luton Town, Derby County are now reportedly in talks to sign an experienced winger at a bargain price this summer.

Derby sign Carlton Morris

Leaving relegated Luton in favour of a move to Pride Park, Morris became the first signing of the summer at Derby earlier this week and will be hoping to ensure that they, unlike The Hatters, push beyond the Championship’s dropzone next season. At 29 years old, he’s now a player with plenty of experience and his versatility to play all across the frontline could prove pivotal for John Eustace.

After putting pen to paper, Morris told Derby’s official website: “It’s a massive club that I’ve heard a lot of good things about. When they came in for me, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really.

“[The move is] a big change, especially with my family. You want to know about the football club, about the area, and I’ve heard nothing but good. I’ve heard it’s a great family club, so I’m excited to get going.

“I think I’m entering the prime stage of my career as a striker now. I spoke to Rob Edwards, who has told me how good Keith Downing is and that Matt Gardiner is exceptional to work with as well.

Derby face Blackburn in race to sign midfielder with same agent as Forsyth

Derby County are now in a race with fellow Championship teams to sign a versatile midfielder.

By
Brett Worthington

Jun 26, 2025

“They’re only going to make me a better player which is crucial as I’m at a place where I’m probably the most coachable I’ve been in my career and ready to kick on.”

In their second season back in the Championship, Derby are seemingly ready to welcome more experience after Morris this summer and that includes one particular winger. As Eustace’s side aim to push on, they’ve reportedly opened talks in pursuit of a bargain deal.

Derby open talks to sign John Swift

As reported by Birmingham World, Derby are now in talks to sign John Swift alongside three other EFL clubs. The former West Bromwich Albion winger is now a free agent after leaving the Hawthorns and is believed to have already met with two managers regarding his future, one of them being Eustace.

Whilst he endured a mixed spell for the Baggies, Swift’s experience may prove invaluable for a side in Derby’s position. Meanwhile, at his best, Swift is someone who has often found himself at the centre of impressive praise.

That includes from former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray last season, who told reporters after Swift scored a free-kick against Burnley last season: “John Swift’s free-kick was a fantastic goal. He’s a wonderful player and he’s very talented. Certain games need certain types of players to give us the best chance to win.”

With three other EFL sides interested, there’s no doubt that signing Swift would represent an impressive coup for Derby, who have already made a statement by signing Luton’s Morris this summer.

It is no secret that being an elite footballer pays incredibly well, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth being above £500m following their outstanding long-lasting careers.

Those at the very top have incredible wealth, and one way professional footballers spend their money is on some of the best luxury cars around.

Seen as a prized possession, many may wonder what the world’s best drive and how expensive some of their cars are worth. Here are 10 of the most expensive cars owned by footballers around the world.

The most expensive cars owned by footballers in detail:

10

Kevin De Bruyne

McLaren P1 – £1.15m

A Manchester City legend, Kevin De Bruyne recently departed the Etihad after a hugely successful 10-year stay. Before leaving, De Bruyne was picking up a whopping £400,000-a-week with the Sky Blues, so it shouldn’t come as no surprise that he owns a car worth more than £1m.

According to reports, the attacking midfielder has a McLaren P1 which has a valuation of £1.15m. One of the best sports cars around, the P1 has a total of 903 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds.

9

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Ferrari LaFerrari – £1.2m

Only 499 Ferrari LaFerrari’s have been made, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of two known footballers to be an owner of the £1.2m supercar.

The former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Chelsea striker is known for his lavish lifestyles and that is shown in his car collection with the Ferrari LaFerrari dubbed the ‘most powerful street-legal supercar the Italian manufacturer has produced’.

8

Son Heung-min

Ferrari LaFerrari – £1.2m

As well as Aubameyang, Tottenham icon Son Heung-min also owns a Ferrari LaFerrari, although he ditched the iconic red version for black.

The South Korean superstar was told by Spurs that ‘he could not own a red one due to their rivalry with Arsenal’, with the supercar reaching a top speed of 227mph and boasting a 6.3-litre V12 engine.

7

Samuel Eto’o

Aston Martin One-77 – £1.3m

Former Barcelona and Inter Milan star Samuel Eto’o retired back in 2019, however, he still made enough during his playing days to splash out on an Aston Martin One-77.

Worth £1.3m, three-time Champions League winner Eto’o is the proud owner of the supercar, which is rarer than the Ferrari LaFerrari, with only 77 units ever made back in 2012.

6

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ferrari Monza SP2 – £1.4m

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an extraordinary player in his prime, and his lavish lifestyle saw him purchase a Ferrari Monza SP2 for his 38th birthday back in 2019.

It set the former Swedish striker back £1.4m, with only 499 being made in the world. The value of the rare supercar is now thought to be worth £2m, so Ibrahimovic could make a tidy profit if he cashes in.

5

Karim Benzema

Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang – £1.56m

French forward Karim Benzema is currently earning a whopping £830,000-a-week in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad after joining in 2023, and he has quite a collection of luxury cars.

His most valuable and fastest vehicle is the Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang, with only five ever made in the world. Chrome painted and a body made up of polished aluminium and black carbon fibre, it is thought to be worth more than £1.5m.

4

Neymar

Lamborghini Veneno – £2.5m

Neymar’s net worth is thought to be around £280m, so it’s no shock that he can afford a £2.5m Lamborghini Veneno, one of just 13 to have been produced.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star’s supercar is powered by a 6.5L V12 engine and is capable of reaching a top speed of 221 mph.

In total, Neymar’s car collection is thought to be worth a combined £11m, which includes an Aston Martin Vulcan and Maserati MC12.

3

Erling Haaland

Mercedes AMG One – £2.7m

A goalscoring machine for Manchester City, Erling Haaland’s new Etihad contract sees him pick up £525,000-a-week, which works out at over £27m-a-year.

His rare Mercedes AMG One is worth £2.7m, just over five weeks’ worth of wages, and can reach a top speed of just under 220mph. There are only 275 Mercedes AMG One’s around, and Haaland can call himself one of the lucky owners.

2

Cristiano Ronaldo

Bugatti La Voiture Noire – £12m

Earning a staggering £172m-a-year in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly the owner of the only Bugatti La Voiture Noire ever made.

Worth £12m, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire was produced in 2019 and is described as ‘the rarest and most exclusive of all modern Bugattis’.

In total, Ronaldo’s car collection is thought to be worth around £19m, a figure which works out at around six weeks’ wages with Al-Nassr.

1

Lionel Messi

Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti – £25m

Top of the charts, allegedly, is Lionel Messi and his Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti. It is claimed that Messi actually outbid his rival Ronaldo for the classic Ferrari at a cost of £25m.

Only four Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti’s were made in the 1950s, and it is seen as a must have vintage car, powered by a 4.0L V12 engine and able to reach a top speed of 186 mph.

The bidding started at around £17m and ended on £25m, with Messi thought to be the winner of the auction in Paris back in 2016.

Chelsea have made a proposal to sign an “insane” attacker who’s England’s “biggest talent”, and BlueCo have now received a response, it has been revealed.

Blues looking to reshuffle attacking options

The Blues have been very busy in the opening stages of the summer transfer window, having already confirmed the arrivals of the likes of Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, which means they may need to offload some current players to create space in the squad.

Fabrizio Romano has now revealed the west Londoners may have the opportunity to sell one of their wingers to a rival club, with the transfer expert stating that Arsenal are making moves to secure Noni Madueke’s signature.

Having already agreed personal terms on a move across the capital, it is clear Madueke is keen on joining the Gunners, which means the last remaining hurdle is for the two clubs to agree a suitable fee.

HandofArsenal have now revealed that Chelsea have floated the idea of signing Max Dowman in preliminary talks over the deal to sell Madueke (via Sports Mole), but BlueCo did not receive the response they would’ve been hoping for.

The Blues’ proposal to sign Dowman has been knocked back by Arsenal, given that he is very highly regarded by the north Londoners, meaning the deal to offload Madueke will need to be of a different nature.

Bigger talent than Gittens: Chelsea expected to bid big for £85m superstar

Despite signing João Pedro and Jamie Gittens in the last week, Chelsea are now expected to bid £50m+ for a Premier League “superstar”.

By
Ben Gray

Jul 7, 2025

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed the winger is valued at around £52m by the Blues, meaning they could be in line to pocket a tidy fee for his services.

"Insane" Dowman could be England's "biggest talent"

Although he is still only 15-years-old, the teenager has been tipped to go on and have a very successful career, with Arsenal insider Will Balsam dubbing him the “biggest talent in England”.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also been left extremely impressed by the young attacking midfielder’s performances at youth level, claiming he could go on to make his Premier League debut in the near future.

As such, it is disappointing that Arsenal have no interest in letting Dowman leave this summer, but it is good news that Chelsea could be set to receive a big fee for Madueke, with Enzo Maresca well-stocked in attacking areas and definitely in a position to sanction the winger’s departure.

Arsenal are now preparing a £69m offer for a “world-class” forward, who could be in line to join alongside Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.

Berta keen to strengthen Arsenal attack

Andrea Berta’s first summer transfer window as sporting director has been very impressive, with the Italian securing deals for the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Christian Norgaard, but the Gunners are still lacking a top striker.

Despite links to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko earlier in the window, it is now apparent that Gyokeres is Mikel Arteta’s top target, and a breakthrough is expected soon, with the manager keen to get a deal done before Wednesday’s friendly against AC Milan.

This comes over a week after Arsenal reached an agreement in principle to sign the Sweden international, although recent claims suggest Man Utd could look to hijack the Gunners’ move for Gyokeres.

Having already strengthened in wide areas, Gyokeres could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arteta, with the manager aiming to finally win the Premier League title next season.

He's like Saka & Saliba: Arsenal set to complete move to sign "elite" star

Arsenal are closing in on their latest new signing this weekend.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 20, 2025

However, despite the addition of Madueke, the north Londoners remain keen on adding another winger to their ranks, and an opening bid is now in the works.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now preparing a €80m (£69m) offer for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with Arteta viewing the forward as the ideal option to strengthen the left-wing area.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Gunners are able to tempt Madrid into a sale, given that the Spanish side value the Brazilian at €100m (£87m), and they are in a strong negotiating position, as there are still three years remaining on his contract.

There could also be rival interest from Liverpool, with Arne Slot’s side also expressing an interest in the 24-year-old, although they are yet to make any formal moves of their own.

The player himself is said to be open to testing himself outside Spain, indicating a move to the Emirates Stadium could appeal to the Real Madrid ace.

"World-class" Rodrygo could be Martinelli upgrade

Lauded as “world-class” by former teammate Luka Modric, the Madrid forward featured regularly throughout the 2024-25 campaign, during which time he showcased his ability to score goals and set up his teammates on a regular basis.

As such, the Brazil international could be an upgrade on international teammate Gabriel Martinelli, who has arguably failed to kick on since a very impressive 2022-23 season, picking up just eight Premier League assists across the past two seasons.

The former Santos man also scored a remarkable solo goal against Atletico Madrid in the 2022-23 campaign, once again showcasing his dribbling ability.

At the very least, Rodrygo would provide strong competition for Martinelli’s starting spot, and strength in depth is exactly what Arsenal need if they are to compete for major honours next season.

Nottingham Forest are now “starting” talks to sign an “incredible” forward, who could be in line to join alongside Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, according to reporter John Percy.

Nottingham Forest closing in on Ndoye's signature

With Anthony Elanga joining Newcastle United, one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s most important tasks this summer was to bring in a new winger, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed a deal is now in place for Ndoye, with the Bologna forward set to travel to England for a medical very soon.

Given that Elanga is well-known for being a “constant direct threat”, it was important for Nuno to bring in a replacement also capable of driving at opposition defences, and the Swiss winger ranks in the 92nd percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year.

Despite the deal for Ndoye recently edging closer to completion, the Tricky Trees remain interested in signing another new winger this summer, and Nuno is now targeting a reunion with one of his former players…

That is according to Percy, who recently reported that Nottingham Forest are now “starting” talks with Fulham over a potential deal for Adama Traore, with the winger emerging as a serious target, given that Nuno is prioritising the additions of new wide men.

Nottingham Forest now "join the race" to sign £50m+ Premier League forward

The Tricky Trees are now in the race for the signature of a forward, journalist Sebastien Vidal has revealed.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 27, 2025

The Fulham forward is regarded as a direct replacement for Elanga, and he could join alongside Ndoye, who is set to sign a five-year deal at the City Ground, having informed Bologna of his desire to leave and play in the Premier League.

"Incredible" Traore could be ideal addition to Nuno's squad

Much like Ndoye, the £65k-a-week Spaniard is a skilled dribbler of the ball, while he also ranks very highly for assists per 90 over the course of the past year, when compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders.

Lauded as “incredible” by journalist Arjun Pradeep, the former Barcelona man is also well-known for his “electric” pace, which could make him an ideal signing for Nuno, given that the manager implemented a counter-attacking style of play last season.

With Forest set to embark on a Europa League campaign in the 2025-25 campaign, it is very important that Nuno has considerable strength in depth, so it would be a smart move to try and get a deal for Traore over the line alongside Ndoye.

Manchester City have confirmed that Omar Marmoush will miss his side's clash with rivals Manchester United after picking up a knee ligament injury.

• Marmoush suffers knee ligament injury
• Forced off in ninth minute for Egypt
• Ruled out of Manchester derby

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Marmoush, who scored in Egypt's 2-0 win over Ethiopia last week in a World Cup qualifying game, hobbled off the pitch in the ninth minute of their latest clash against Burkina Faso on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury. He continued for a short while after picking up the knock, but was eventually replaced by Osama Faisal.

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• WHAT EGYPT'S FA SAID

  The Egyptian Football Association delivered an update on their star forward's condition, as they shared photos of him leaving the pitch and wrote: "Omar Marmoush suffers a bruised knee ligament. The player will undergo an X-ray upon his arrival to Cairo [on] Wednesday morning."

• WHAT MAN CITY SAID

  City themselves have now said the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt star is set for a spell on the sidelines.

  A club website statement reads: "Manchester City FC can confirm that Omar Marmoush has sustained a knee injury whilst on international duty with Egypt. The City striker suffered the injury in the early stages of Egypt’s World Cup qualifying match with Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening. Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation. Everyone at City wishes Omar a speedy recovery."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The injury comes as a huge blow for Pep Guardiola's side, who are looking to bounce back from consecutive losses against Tottenham and Brighton. If Marmoush is out for the long term, team-mate Erling Haaland will be under extra pressure to provide the goals City need to compete on multiple fronts.

Will Aston Villa soon make their maiden first-team signing of the summer?

So far, teenager Yasin Özcan has arrived from Kasımpaşa for a reported fee of around £5.8m, albeit he was immediately loaned out to Anderlecht, while veteran goalkeeper Marco Bizot and 19-year-old winger Zépiqueno Redmond have both joined on free transfers.

Thus, right now, ahead of their Premier League opener against Newcastle United, Unai Emery will not have any high-profile new signings to showcase, but could that be about to change?

Aston Villa transfer news latest

Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Dan Bardell notes that Aston Villa have so far been unable to spend money in this summer window due to their lack of PSR headroom, but forecasts that they will be active and “opportunistic” in the coming weeks, having to date kept their powder dry.

This was exactly the strategy that saw the Claret and Blue Army land both Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan in January, but the pair will need replacing, with the Englishman having joined Barcelona, while it appears unlikely that the Spaniard will return to Villa Park either.

Thus, as they target attacking reinforcements, with Alan Nixon revealing on his Patreon that Aston Villa had joined the race to sign Evann Guessand, and were willing to outbid Crystal Palace, who have long been viewed as the front-runners to secure the Ivorian’s signature.

That has since been followed up by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who revealed that the Midlands has reached a “verbal agreement” with Nice, having lodged a bid of around €30m (£26m), plus add-ons.

That comes after it was previously noted that the forward was valued at around £22m by the Ligue 1 outfit.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, Guessand looks set to become just the second player from Côte d’Ivoire to call Villa Park home. Jonathan Kodjia is the first, and so far only, in case you were wondering!

What Evann Guessand would bring to Aston Villa

Guessand, who is still only 24 years old, joined Nice at the age of 15, but only became an outstanding figure in les Aiglons’ first-team as recently as last season.

He spent time out on loan at Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland and then Nantes in Ligue 1, scoring five goals for la Maison Jaune, most notably bagging a stoppage-time winner against Olympiacos in the Europa League, sparking wild scenes of celebration at Stade de la Beaujoire.

He has returned to Nice for the last two seasons, very much a key figure for his boyhood club, scoring six goals in Ligue 1 in 2023/24, before bagging 12 during the most recent campaign, firing Franck Haise’s side to a top four finish and possible Champions League qualification; they face Benfica in the first leg of a qualifier this week.

The table below emphasises Guessand’s impressive form in Ligue 1 last season.

The table outlines that Guessand is an all-round attacker, ranked highly when it comes to both goals and assists, but also chances created and dribbling, overperforming his expected goals figure by almost three, underlining his clinical edge.

Alex Barker of The Athletic is certainly a fan, labelling him a “real physical handful” as well as being an “agile” forward who is capable of creating “high-quality chances” too, concluding that his ability to do it all makes him “Bruno Fernandes-esque”.

Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis agrees, noting that he is a ‘good dribbler’, which is surprising given that he is 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

Meantime, Mohamed Fathall of Breaking the Lines states that he thrives when able to ‘support a central striker’, adding that he is ‘constantly looking to take on defenders’, using his ‘intelligent movement’ to get into goal-scoring positions.

Well, this makes him the ideal strike partner for Ollie Watkins who, as documented by Ahmed Walid of The Athletic, only truly started scoring goals with impressive regularity at Aston Villa after Emery had coached him to remain within the width of the penalty area.

Watkins has reached double figures for goals in each of his five Premier League campaigns, although such consistency could be maintained if fed by the Fernandes-esque talents of Guessand, considering he created 12 ‘big chances’ in Ligue 1 last term, as per Sofascore.

For context, Manchester United’s skipper was only just ahead with 16 ‘big chances’ created in the Premier League.

With Villa’s number 11 thus able to pounce on regular, quality service, Guessand and Watkins could form a deadly attacking partnership, as Villa target a top five finish and Europa League glory in the season ahead.

Emery's own Benteke: Aston Villa eyeing deal for "terrifying" £51m ace

Unai Emery could soon have his own Christian Benteke at Aston Villa if this signing is secured.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 4, 2025

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been directly linked to the Barcagate scandal after police uncovered WhatsApp messages showing he monitored a paid social media campaign designed to attack rivals and even Pep Guardiola. Investigators allege Bartomeu concealed contracts, manipulated polls, and used fake accounts to boost his image before the 2021 elections.

• Police reveal Bartomeu’s role in smear campaign

  The Catalan police have confirmed that ex-president Bartomeu was fully aware of, and actively monitored, a paid social media campaign commissioned by Barcelona and involving a company called Nicestream during his presidency, as per a recent report by . The report also cited police reports, stating that the seized WhatsApp messages show Bartomeu receiving regular updates from adviser Jaume Masferrer on Nicestream’s activity, which included smear campaigns against rivals Joan Laporta, Victor Font, and even Pep Guardiola. Police allege Bartomeu deliberately concealed contracts and commissions from auditors and investigators.

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• Former president's role in Barcagate

  Investigators found 138 Nicestream reports on Bartomeu’s devices, though only around 20 were shared with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the firm tasked with auditing the club after the scandal first broke in 2020. Police claim Bartomeu deliberately hid the most damaging documents, which detailed interventions designed to defame rivals, manipulate polls, and even monitor journalists critical of his leadership. Over €2.3 million was reportedly paid to Nicestream through split contracts, designed to avoid internal oversight. The funds, the report concludes, were used for Bartomeu’s “personal purposes and benefits.”

• Attacks on Guardiola and Rivals

  The police report highlights Nicestream’s strategy of deploying 226 fake accounts to shape online discourse. These included targeted campaigns to discredit Guardiola and his supporters due to his perceived closeness with Joan Laporta. Víctor Font was also the subject of an “action plan” intended to “inconvenience” him during his presidential campaign. At the same time, positive posts were generated in support of Bartomeu’s allies, including former president Sandro Rosell. Police note that Bartomeu even requested edits to his own images in reports, underscoring his direct involvement.

  The ex-chief has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with Barca initially dismissing suggestions of smear campaigns. However, the newly recovered messages indicate that the former president not only approved of the campaigns but also attempted to obstruct internal investigations. When auditors requested full documentation, Bartomeu reportedly replied: “This audit is commissioned by the board, and the board will only make the findings public.” The Mossos conclude that Bartomeu was “reluctant to allow anyone to review the contract,” strengthening suspicions of a cover-up.

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  Barcagate probe deepens as Bartomeu awaits ruling

  The report is now in the hands of Barca’s 13th investigating court, where the Barcagate case has been under review for over five years. Bartomeu, along with senior figures including Jaume Masferrer, remains under formal investigation following their 2021 arrests. Meanwhile, the Guardiola's City are focused on the pitch shifts to the Champions League clash with Napoli.

When it comes to academies, few teams in the Premier League can match Chelsea.

While they do not always make it into the Blues’ first team, the number of top-flight footballers that come out of Cobham is staggering.

However, while the club have made an enormous amount of money from selling their academy stars, they have occasionally seen future superstars slip through their fingers, with Jamal Musiala being an example of this.

Fortunately, while Enzo Maresca is unlikely to ever get his hands on the German superstar, the club are closing in on a player who has won comparisons to him.

Chelsea target their new Musiala

As well as blowing teams away on the pitch, Chelsea have enjoyed a brilliant summer off of it, in the transfer market.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The board have backed Maresca in a big way by signing the likes of Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.

Moreover, with just over two weeks remaining of the window, it looks like the Blues are planning to make at least one more addition to the team in the shape of a player previously compared to Musiala.

At least that’s according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s intense interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

More than that, the report has revealed that the Blues are approaching a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations for the Argentine and believe Manchester United will agree to a fee of around £35m before the window closes.

If this really is the case, then the West Londoners would have done incredibly well to sign a player as talented as Garnacho for such a low fee, especially as he’s been compared to Musiala.

How Garnacho compares to Musiala

So, before we get into some of the other positives to signing Garnacho, we should look at where this comparison to Musiala has come from, as some might describe it as a bold shout.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the 23/24 edition of the Champions League and came to the conclusion that the German star was the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the United ace in the competition.

While that might not seem right to some, we can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by taking a look at some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

In this case, those metrics included things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, tackles and more, all per 90.

These numbers point to a player who, when he’s at his best, is capable of being just as much a creator as a scorer of goals, and that is very much how people would describe Musiala today.

However, while comparison to someone as incredibly talented as the German is arguably reason enough to sign the 21-year-old, another reason the West Londoners should go out and get him is his output from last season.

For example, despite playing for a historically poor United side, the future “superstar”, as journalist Liam Canning once dubbed him, was still able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances.

Ultimately, while Garancho is not on the level of Musiala at the moment, the fact that he’s capable of putting up numbers so similar to his is hugely encouraging, and if Chelsea can get the best out of him, they may just have a world-beater on their hands.

Shades of Cesc & Hazard: Chelsea in talks to sign "one of the world's best"

Chelsea could sign their new Fabregas & Hazard.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 15, 2025