The Hard Tackle takes a look at the latest transfer news surrounding Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Amid all the excitement surrounding UEFA Euro 2020 and Copa America, the transfer wheel in the market is well and truly running. This is, after all, going to be an exciting yet cautious and steady summer for football, as the majority of the European clubs look to recover from the financial blow they received in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Premier League will have a major advantage among other European heavyweights, with the league being one of the most financially stable ones in Europe. And with that in mind, clubs across England have already started their preparation for the new season and are poised to spend the big bucks in the summer, albeit to varying degrees.
Arsenal, as ever, have shown a lot of ambition in the market, with Mikel Arteta determined to undergo a major squad overhaul while Liverpool are planning a similar turnaround after a disastrous title defence in the 2020/21 campaign.
Chelsea are ready to invest big as well after an auspicious start under Thomas Tuchel, but they may have to get rid of their unwanted players before Roman Abramovich can give the green light for big money investments in the market.
And, here at The Hard Tackle, we will delve into the latest transfer happenings surrounding the Premier League bigwigs.
Liverpool youngster Remi Savage set to join Newcastle United
Despite the success players like Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold have had in recent years, Liverpool have lost a myriad of young players to other clubs due to the lack of prospect in the senior squad. According to Liverpool Echo, Remi Savage could become the latest LFC youth players to leave the club, having snubbed a new deal in favour of a move to Newcastle United.
A centre-back by trade, Savage was one of the ever-present figures in the Liverpool reserve side last season, notching up 19 appearances in Premier League 2. The youngster, though, appears to have no future at Anfield, with Liverpool already bringing in Ibrahima Konate earlier in the summer.
If the move is indeed successful, Savage could follow the footsteps of another Liverpool talent in Ethan Ennis, who appears to have joined Chelsea this summer.
Florian Neuhaus considering Liverpool move
More news regarding Liverpool come from Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg, who has offered an update on the club’s pursuit of Florian Neuhaus. The Merseyside giants are believed to have made multiple enquiries and are poised to make an offer for the Gladbach midfielder, who is highly rated by Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp has already shown a lot of desire to find a replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutchman ran down his contract at Anfield this summer to join Paris Saint-Germain, leaving a massive void in the LFC midfield.
Neuhaus has emerged as one of the top candidates to replace him due to his work ethic and passing ability in the middle of the park. The German international is also likely to leave Gladbach after the Foals missed out on European football – making him a realistic option for the Reds. However, the club is targeting a bunch of alternatives, including another Bundesliga playmaker in Christoph Baumgartner.
Patrik Schick on Arsenal radar
The ongoing European Championship, like most other major international competitions, is going to unearth a lot of hidden gems across European football. One of such players has been Patrik Schick, the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. And if the report from Fichajes is to be believed, Arsenal have already taken a liking for the Czech Republic striker.
The Gunners are one of three Premier League clubs interested in Schick this summer. The Bayer Leverkusen forward is actually the desired Plan B for the club, in case they fail in their pursuit of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is also a target for Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta’s interest in signing a new quality centre-forward this summer suggests the end of the road for Alexandre Lacazette and perhaps even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Emirates. The Gabonese international was linked with a shock move to Tottenham last month, and while such a deal is unlikely, it won’t be surprising to see the former Dortmund striker seeking pastures new this summer.
Watford, Southampton interested in Ainsley Maitland-Niles
In order to be able to afford a move for Calvert-Lewin, Schick or any other striker, however, Arsenal need to cash in on their unwanted players in the summer. According to Mirror, one of such players could Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has emerged as a transfer target for Southampton and the newly-promoted Watford.
A product of the Arsenal youth academy, Maitland-Niles is returning to Emirates on the back of a successful loan spell with West Brom. He has already been linked with a move to Leeds United earlier this summer. It won’t be surprising to see him depart the club, with Arteta favouring more technically gifted individuals.
Maitland-Niles is not the only Arsenal academy product tipped to leave Emirates this summer, with Newcastle United already working on a deal to sign Joe Willock permanently. Much like Maitland-Niles, the young midfielder has enjoyed a stellar loan spell with NUFC, scoring as many as eight goals in just 14 league outings – playing a central role behind the club’s survival.
Chelsea considering Miralem Pjanic swoop
From one London giants to another, Chelsea are apparently eyeing a shock summer swoop for Miralem Pjanic, as reported by Fichajes. The ageing midfielder is not wanted by Barcelona after a poor debut campaign in Camp Nou, as he fell behind the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets and Pedri in the pecking order.
It has put Chelsea on red alert, with Thomas Tuchel keen on bolstering his options in central midfield. With Ross Barkley and Tiemoue Bakayoko linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, one could hardly blame the German tactician, who is also not a fan of Mateo Kovacic.
Pjanic, as a result, has emerged as a potential target for the Blues due to his experience and technical prowess in the middle of the park. It remains to be seen how much Barcelona demand for the Bosnian international, who still three years remaining on his current deal at Camp Nou.
Pjanic could be the mastermind of the center of the pitch!