Arsenal are reportedly nearing an agreement to sign Leicester City ‘wonderkid’ Jeremy Monga, with personal terms said to be agreed. This potential transfer comes as Chelsea are rumoured to be advancing talks for striker Dusan Vlahovic, potentially making him the first signing under new manager Xabi Alonso.

The summer transfer window is approaching, and several prominent clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham, are actively pursuing early deals. Arsenal are also linked with Paris Saint-Germain defender Emmanuel Mbemba, who reportedly favours a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Monga, a 16-year-old winger, has been a long-term target for Arsenal. His departure from Leicester appears likely following the club’s relegation to League One. Journalist Nicolo Schira has indicated that personal terms have been agreed with the young player. Monga has made 37 senior appearances for Leicester and is an England U19 international. He is also noted as the third-youngest player to appear in a Premier League match.

Separately, Arsenal had reportedly made an approach for Mbemba last week. The 18-year-old defender, who can play as a centre-back or left-back, has been offered a new deal by PSG. However, he is available for a training compensation fee of £150,000 as his current contract is set to expire at the end of the month. Reports suggest the France youth international prefers a switch to Arsenal.

Chelsea and Tottenham pursue new signings

Chelsea are reportedly intensifying their efforts to sign Dusan Vlahovic. The Juventus striker has been a subject of transfer speculation, with previous interest from clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United. Italian reports, cited by TEAMtalk, suggest that Chelsea are in contact with Vlahovic’s father, Milos, who is said to be considering offers on his son’s behalf. Newcastle are also rumoured to be interested in the Serbian international.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are also active in the transfer market. They have reportedly agreed terms with Jan Paul van Hecke and Savinho. Tottenham have already secured the arrival of Andy Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool and are expected to finalise a deal for Marcos Senesi, who is leaving Bournemouth. Brighton chief executive Paul Barber confirmed that Tottenham had two bids rejected for Jan Paul van Hecke, with a third offer anticipated. Dutch outlet Voetbal International reports that Spurs have agreed personal terms with the defender.

Micky van de Ven, a Netherlands teammate, revealed he discussed Tottenham with Jan Paul van Hecke. The defender is reportedly keen on reuniting with his former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi in north London. Brighton‘s chief executive also confirmed that Tottenham is not the only club tracking Van Hecke, who reportedly has a £70million asking price. Tottenham is also pursuing Manchester City winger Savinho, who has reportedly agreed personal terms on a contract until 2031.

Real Madrid’s transfer plans and other movements

Following Florentino Perez‘s re-election as Real Madrid president, the club is set to launch a significant bid for Michael Olise. Perez had vowed to bring Jose Mourinho back as manager and make a £130million bid for Bayern Munich winger Olise. Real Madrid is also expecting the arrivals of Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate. However, Bayern Munich has stated that Olise, who contributed to 53 goals in 52 appearances this season, is not for sale.

In other transfer news, Manchester United could become frontrunners in the race to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. Rogers had previously stated there was “no bigger club than Manchester United.” Manchester United may also lead the pursuit for Rogers, though they would need to pay £100million for Adam Wharton, having already secured a deal for Ederson. Liverpool could reunite Rayan with Andoni Iraola and are considering a swap deal for Yan Diomande. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is also reportedly interested in signing Arsenal‘s Riccardo Calafiori.

Arsenal are also reported to have opened talks with Morgan Rogers‘ representatives, indicating serious interest in bringing him to the Emirates this summer. The club is reportedly looking to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season, especially after winning the Premier League title and being outclassed in the Champions League final. Clinton Morrison, a former Crystal Palace forward, has suggested that Arsenal needs to prioritise signing a new striker and a left winger to put pressure on current players and continue evolving. Journalist Nicolo Schira reported on X that Jeremy Monga has agreed personal terms with Arsenal.

Source: standard.co.uk

The post London transfer news: Arsenal close to Monga deal; Chelsea in Dusan Vlahovic talks appeared first on UK-News.

England’s Dominance Amidst Weather Interruptions

England continued their push for victory against New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord’s, despite persistent rain interruptions that have limited play throughout the match. The home side requires five more wickets to secure a win, while New Zealand needs an additional 199 runs to reach their target. So far, the Black Caps have managed 168 runs for 15 wickets across the match, making the target of 199 runs for the remaining four wickets a challenging prospect on a difficult pitch.

The match has seen a wicket fall roughly every four overs, highlighting the challenging conditions for batsmen. Only five sessions of play have been possible due to the weather, with the third day being significantly affected by rain. Play resumed at 11am BST on day four, with a more optimistic forecast for dry weather.

Key Performances and Pitch Conditions

Ollie Robinson has been a standout performer for England, tightening their grip on the match. He has taken seven wickets for 57 runs in the match, including five for 39 in the first innings. His performance has been particularly notable given he waited more than two years for his 21st cap. Robinson cleaned up Rachin Ravindra for four runs and trapped Daryl Mitchell leg before wicket, continuing his strong comeback.

Other significant contributions from England’s bowlers include Gus Atkinson with four for 25 and Josh Tongue with four for 55. Tongue, who spoke about using a smiley face at his mark to maintain focus, claimed the wicket of Tom Blundell, who was pinned on the crease and given out LBW for four runs. This brought New Zealand’s score to 58 for six.

The pitch at Lord’s has been widely discussed, described as dry, uneven, and vicious for batting. It has offered irregular bounce and elaborate seam movement, contributing to a high number of dismissals. Of the 35 wickets that have fallen, 21 have been single-figure scores, with eight ducks and 11 clean-bowled dismissals. This has made scoring runs a significant challenge for both teams.

Robinson’s ability to exploit these conditions has been crucial. When he switched to the Nursery End on day three and Jamie Smith stood up to the stumps, he promptly took two wickets in four balls. His success has led to discussions about his status as England’s best bowler by Test strike rate since the first world war, for players with a minimum of 80 wickets. He has a wicket every 47 balls, two fewer than Fred Trueman.

New Zealand’s Batting Challenge

Despite the difficult conditions, New Zealand still has some batting depth remaining. Opener Devon Conway, who scored a double century on his Test debut at Lord’s, remains at the crease. While his recent scores at this venue have been lower (23, 3, 13, 1, and 19 not out), his past performance suggests he is capable of a significant innings.

Additionally, Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson, who were key contributors in New Zealand’s first innings, are yet to bat. Phillips, who started purposefully with a single, is coming in very low in the order, indicating a strategic decision by captain Tom Latham. Tom Blundell, who made 96 runs at Lord’s in 2022, was dismissed early on day four by Josh Tongue.

The decision to take an early lunch on day three, despite clearer skies, caused some debate, as it further delayed play. However, when play did resume, England found momentum, particularly with Robinson’s double strike. The weather intervened again shortly after, preventing further play on day three. The forecast for day four was more optimistic, allowing for a resumption of play at 11am BST.

Source: theguardian.com

The post Lord’s: England push for victory against New Zealand on day four appeared first on UK-News.