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Exclusive: Why Arteta, Arsenal deserve "credit" despite January striker failures
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F06%2Farteta--parlour-composite.jpg "Mikel Arteta and Ray Parlour composite image")
Arsenal not signing a striker in the January transfer window might not prove fatal to their Premier League title hopes, as Mikel Arteta's current crop 'know their roles so well'.
That is the view of Gunners legend Ray Parlour, a three-time Premier League winner with the North London giants, whose chances of usurping Liverpool at the top of the rankings suffered a massive blow on Saturday.
Arteta's men looked toothless in attack as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, where Mikel Merino filled in up front as Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli watched on helplessly due to injury.
The Gunners' transfer chiefs failed to strike a deal for a new signing in January and have unsurprisingly been the target of vociferous fan frustrations, but if Liverpool lose to Manchester City on Sunday as well, Arsenal could cut the gap down to five points by winning their eventual game in hand.
'Parting of the ways looks increasingly likely': Can Reds forward leave on high?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F52%2Farne-slot_1.jpg "Liverpool head coach Arne Slot before his side's Premier League match against Fulham, on December 14, 2024")
Darwin Nunez's future is all but sealed, with the attacker reportedly destined to leave Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
The Reds' weekend got off to a perfect start when Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by West Ham United on Saturday, meaning the Merseysiders are first and lead the Gunners by eight points.
Striker Nunez will be relieved that his costly miss against Aston Villa, when the Reds drew 2-2 with the Lions last Wednesday, did not allow Mikel Arteta's side to close the gap to five points.
The Uruguayan striker has only started seven times in the top flight this term, and his performance against Villa was concerning, with boss Arne Slot criticising his overall showing, saying: "I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, that scores for us in the home game against Villa.
"Very big plans": Van Dijk addresses future as Reds prepare for busy summer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F43%2Fvirgil-van-dijk_1.jpg "Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk pictured on October 27, 2024")
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has insisted that he cannot speak about a potential contract extension but reaffirmed his love of the club.
Arne Slot's side are set to play Manchester City on Sunday, but they already received a huge boost in the Premier League title race on Saturday when West Ham United managed to beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates thanks to Jarrod Bowen's first-half winner.
The Merseysiders are now eight points ahead of the Gunners in the league having played the same number of games, and with seven of their remaining 12 matches coming at Anfield, they must be considered clear favourites to win the title.
However, stars Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk are set to leave the club at the end of the season given they have not yet signed contract extensions, and the latter refused to speculate on his future when speaking to Sky Sports, saying: "We are still in three competitions and we want to be successful in all three of them. And that is the main focus I've got. Very, very big plans in that sense.
Which clubs could offer Archer a Southampton escape route this summer?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fcameron-archer.jpg "Southampton's Cameron Archer celebrates scoring on October 5, 2024")
Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Southampton striker Cameron Archer during the summer transfer window.
The former Aston Villa man has attracted interest from a number of Championship sides so far this term, including promotion-chasing Sunderland.
Archer - capable of playing as a central striker or off the left wing - has netted just two goals across 22 Premier League appearances for Southampton during 2024-25.
The forward is not totally to blame for that poor record, with the Saints representing one of the worst top-flight outfits in recent times.
Okoli replacement? Leicester 'strongly interested' in Champions League defender
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Fsoumaila-coulibaly.jpg "Borussia Dortmund defender Soumaila Coulibaly on July 12, 2024")
Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Borussia Dortmund defender Soumaila Coulibaly during the summer transfer window.
The Foxes are supposedly targeting reinforcements for their backline ahead of the new campaign, with the future of current players in doubt.
Despite joining from Italy at the beginning of this term, centre-back Caleb Okoli is continuing to be linked with a switch back to Serie A, namely AC Milan.
There are currently backline issues for Leicester head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy to contend with, especially after a 4-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday night.
Big upset: Leicester leading Milan, Juventus in winger hunt?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F05%2Fpatrick-wimmer.jpg "Wolfsburg attacker Patrick Wimmer on January 24, 2025")
Leicester City have reportedly moved ahead of AC Milan and Juventus in the race for Wolfsburg attacker Patrick Wimmer.
The Foxes are planning for a future in the Premier League past this campaign despite another sobering match at the King Power Stadium on Friday night versus Brentford.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's troops lost 4-0 to the Bees, meaning that Leicester have now been defeated in each of their last six top-flight matches in the East Midlands without scoring.
After picking up that unwanted record last time out, the Foxes are languishing down in 19th position in the Premier League table, two points away from safety.
Too good to be true? Leverkusen star 'available for just £33.2m' this summer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Ffriwir.jpg "Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz pictured on January 29, 2025")
Manchester City and Liverpool-linked defender Jeremie Frimpong allegedly has a 'gentleman's agreement' enabling him to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Both the Citizens and the Reds could be on the hunt for full-back additions this summer, as Liverpool are still at risk of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold when his deal expires at the end of the season.
Arne Slot's side rebuffed an approach from long-term admirers Real Madrid in December, but Los Blancos are still keeping abreast of the situation and are free to engage in pre-contract talks with the Englishman.
Meanwhile, Man City are set to wave goodbye to Kyle Walker this summer, when he is expected to complete a permanent switch to AC Milan or another club, while John Stones - another option on the right - could be one of seven players sold.
'Everything possible': Man City to concede defeat in race for Serie A star?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F06%2Frafher.jpg "AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez pictured on January 6, 2025")
AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez is apparently pining for a return to Real Madrid this summer, despite reported interest from the Premier League.
It has been claimed that Manchester City and Real Madrid are preparing to go head-to-head for the signature of the Frenchman, who may have burned some bridges with the Milan faithful recently.
Hernandez played a major role in the Rossoneri's recent elimination from the Champions League playoffs against Feyenoord, being sent off in the second leg for two bookable offences, the second of which was for simulation inside the area.
Sergio Conceicao's side were 1-0 up in the night and drawing 1-1 on aggregate at the time of Hernandez's dismissal in the 51st minute, after which Feyenoord equalised at San Siro to seal their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Transfer boost? Man United-linked goalkeeper opens door to summer move
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Fsenne-lammens.jpg "Belgium Under-21 goalkeeper Senne Lammens on October 15, 2024")
Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens has conceded it would be difficult to turn down a move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils could look to bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer amid uncertainty surrounding Altay Bayindir's future at the club.
Bayindir has struggled for game time since arriving from Fenerbahce in September 2023, having had to settle for just seven appearances in all competitions.
The player's agent stated in the January transfer window that his client was keen to continue his playing career at Old Trafford.
Chelsea forward to be offered Bayern escape route?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F04%2Fchristopher-nkunku.jpg "Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku celebrates after scoring on January 11, 2025")
Bayern Munich reportedly remain interested in signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman was linked with a move away in the winter transfer window amid interest from Bayern and Manchester United.
A winter departure ultimately failed to materialise, ensuring that he will see out the remainder of the season with Enzo Maresca's side.
However, there is some doubt about whether he remain at Stamford Bridge for the 2025-26 season despite being under contract until the summer of 2029.
Man United 'to use Rashford' in a bid to 'land' highly-rated Bayern star this summer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Faleksandar-pavlovic.jpg "Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic on February 18, 2025")
Manchester United are reportedly planning to use Marcus Rashford in a bid to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic during this summer's transfer window.
Rashford left Man United on loan in the latter stages of the January market, making the move to Aston Villa, and Unai Emery's side have the chance to sign the forward on a permanent basis this summer for a fee in the region of £40m.
However, a long-term switch to Villa Park is far from certain, with Villa having financial problems, and it is possible that Rashford will head back to Old Trafford once his loan spell has been completed.
It is difficult to imagine the forward having a future at Man United under current head coach Ruben Amorim, though, and according to CaughtOffside, he could be used as part of a swap deal involving Bayern's Pavlovic.
Midfield Magician: Man United 'weighing up' summer move for Palace star
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Fadam-wharton-eberechi-eze.jpg "Crystal Palace duo Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze on February 2, 2025")
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Crystal Palace central midfielder Adam Wharton.
The 21-year-old made the move to Palace from Blackburn Rovers at the start of 2024, and he excelled for the Eagles in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, which led to him earning a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024.
Wharton has had a frustrating 2024-25 season due to a groin problem, with the Englishman undergoing an operation towards the end of last year, but he has featured in Palace's last two Premier League games against Man United and Everton.
The midfielder will be looking to finish the season strongly, and according to CaughtOffside, he could be in line for a big-money move during this summer's transfer window.
Could Man United enter the free agent market amid injury crisis?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F01%2Fruben-amorim_1.jpg "Man United head coach Ruben Amorim on December 30, 2024")
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has rejected suggestions that the Red Devils could look to enter the free agent market to boost their squad for the final stages of the 2024-25 campaign.
The 20-time English champions were missing 12 first-team players against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend due to a mixture of injury and illness, and nine will be absent for Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo have recently been ruled out for the season, while there are also fears that Mason Mount will be unavailable for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
Kobbie Mainoo is another currently on the sidelines, with the Englishman out until at least the start of April, and aside from Victor Lindelof, Man United's bench against Spurs was made up by academy players.
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