Arteta wanted another centre forward this summer (Picture: Getty) Viktor Gyokeres has been told he is ‘lucky’ to still be an Arsenal player after the summer transfer window. The Sweden international scored 21 goals in his debut campaign in England following his £64million move from Sporting CP last summer. But questions over whether he is the man to lead the Gunners attack remain with the club pursuing a move for Julian Alvarez all summer. Arsenal were desperate to sign the Argentina international from Atletico Madrid with Mikel Arteta personally reaching out to the former Manchester City star in efforts to convince him to return to the Premier League. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Barcelona were also eager to sign Alvarez but their public pursuit of the player infuriated Atletico who refused to do business with their La Liga rivals. Atletico were willing to negotiate with Arsenal with the possibility of Gyokeres being included as part of the deal floated at one stage. Ultimately, Alvarez was not interested in joining Arsenal and was still an Atletico player when the transfer window closed this week. Arsenal considered other options to strengthen up front, exploring a move for Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen while Lautaro Martinez was reportedly discussed on deadline day. Gyokeres’ goals helped Arsenal to the title (Picture: Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Kai Havertz has started both of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season ahead of Gyokeres, as was the case in last season’s Champions League final and several other high profile games. Given Arsenal’s interest in some of Europe’s elite forward players this summer, Deeney believes the Sweden international can count himself lucky to still be at the Emirates. ‘I think he knows he’s lucky to be there, personally,” he said on the Premier League All Access podcast for talkSPORT. Havertz is Arteta’s first choice up front (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire) ‘I think when you look at his career, look at his attributes, he’s probably going, “I’m at a team here, I’ve won the Premier League, this is unbelievable”. ‘He will be used in the Champions League, but also there’s a business element to this where sometimes, things just get swept under the rug now. ‘He’ll have a conversation, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing over the next two, three weeks, he gets more minutes and more time now the window’s closed. ‘Mikel is not stupid enough to just keep him on the outside, he’ll be like, “Alright, you’re still here, you’re part of the squad, let’s move forward.”’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
‘It’s better to look a little further than the next game’Head coach ‘happy with the four wingers we have’Andoni Iraola has defended Liverpool’s summer transfer strategy and said the club were right not to pay “crazy money” for short-term fixes while Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are recovering from serious injuries.Liverpool had the highest net spend in the Premier League, with Bradley Barcola, signed for a potential £123m, added on Monday to a front line that includes the £125m Alexander Isak and £116m Florian Wirtz. Barcola could make his debut at Ipswich on Friday, despite not featuring for Paris Saint-Germain this season. Continue reading...
The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. Cristiano Ronaldo has spent much of his career making soccer’s impossible milestones look increasingly ordinary, and Luka Modric knows that better than most. The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. The Croatian midfielder has watched Ronaldo’s evolution from close range, sharing some of the greatest moments in Real Madrid’s history with him. Now, with the Portuguese superstar approaching a number that has seemed almost unthinkable for generations of players, Modric has offered a fascinating prediction about how long his former teammate could continue. Modric and Ronaldo spent six seasons together at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, forming part of a team that dominated European soccer. The pair won four Champions League titles together, alongside numerous domestic and international honors, before eventually taking separate paths. That shared history gives Modric a unique perspective on Ronaldo’s mentality. While many players begin to slow down as they enter their late 30s and early 40s, Ronaldo has continued to score and compete at an extraordinary level. Speaking to Diario AS, Modric said: “Cristiano is incredible; he’s a phenomenon, a monster, and I have no doubt that he’s going to reach that number.” Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with his team mate Luka Modric The midfielder was responding to a question about whether he simply expected Ronaldo to reach 1,000 official career goals, a milestone that would make him the first player to achieve it. Ronaldo was reportedly just 22 goals away from the landmark at the time of the interview. Why Modric would not be surprised if Ronaldo continues to play Modric’s confidence goes beyond Ronaldo reaching 1,000 goals. The Croatian explained that the Portuguese star’s mentality and natural ability to find the net make it difficult to place a normal limit on his career. Modric told Diario AS: “I don’t know how much longer he’ll want to keep playing, but he’s going to keep scoring goals even if he wants to continue until he’s 50.” He pointed specifically to Ronaldo’s character, confidence, and relentless desire to compete. Modric added: “His gift for scoring goals is incredible, and above all, his character, his faith, and his self-confidence; it’s something incredible.” That combination is what makes Modric’s prediction feel less like exaggeration and more like an assessment from someone who knows Ronaldo extremely well. At 41, Ronaldo is still chasing goals with the same competitive edge that defined his prime years. Friendship built at Real Madrid The relationship between the two veterans goes beyond what happened on the pitch. Modric has previously spoken warmly about Ronaldo’s personality away from soccer, while Ronaldo has repeatedly shown his admiration for the Croatian midfielder. Together, they played a major role in one of Real Madrid’s most successful eras. Their four Champions League triumphs included the unprecedented European dominance of the mid-2010s, with Ronaldo leading the scoring charts and Modric controlling games from midfield. Their careers eventually moved in different directions, but neither player has followed the conventional retirement timeline. Modric remains with Milan, while Ronaldo continues his career with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. For now, the immediate target remains the 1,000-goal mark. With only 22 goals reportedly separating Ronaldo from history, Modric has little doubt that his former teammate will eventually get there.
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