Barcelona have reportedly begun discussions with Liverpool over a potential swap deal that could see Frenkie de Jong move to Anfield this summer.

The Reds opted not to make any major moves in the January transfer window, with Arne Slot’s side prepared to act if the right opportunity arose—but ultimately, no deals materialized.

So far, Liverpool’s only signings since Jurgen Klopp’s departure have been Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, the latter returning to Valencia on loan. Despite this, Slot has guided his team to the top of the Premier League, sitting six points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand.

While Slot’s debut season has been impressive, he has also faced off-field challenges, including contract uncertainties surrounding key players Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk, all of whom are set to become free agents at the end of the season.

Recent reports suggested that Salah and Van Dijk had agreed to new deals, but Slot dismissed those claims, stating, “We have some contractual situations that you probably don’t know about.”

“But Trent, Mo and Virgil haven’t extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.

“My life is mainly short term but we have so many quality people at this club that look at the longer term as well. You always have to be prepared for all the new things coming up.

“The players that don’t play a big part at the moment; will they be able to do this another year? Will they fight for their place or will they [want to] go somewhere else? So we have to be prepared for the next window and what we can do.”

The upcoming summer transfer window could be pivotal for Liverpool, with reports from Spain suggesting that the Reds are eyeing a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

Barcelona have reportedly ‘intensified contacts’ regarding a potential deal and are ‘exploring the possibility of an exchange’ that would see Luis Díaz head to the Camp Nou in return.

It is claimed that one of Slot’s ‘wishes is to reinforce the midfield with a world-class midfielder’ with compatriot De Jong the man he reckons ‘fits perfectly into Liverpool’s style of play’.

Barcelona, for their part, ‘do not rule out the sale’ and now their sporting director Deco ‘has opened talks with Liverpool to explore exchange options, with the intention of taking advantage of the Reds interest in the Dutchman.’

Deco ‘wants to include’ Liverpool winger Diaz ‘in a possible swap deal with De Jong’ but although it ‘sounds attractive to both sides, it won’t be a straightforward deal’.

The report adds: ‘Talks between Deco and Liverpool are still ongoing, and in the coming weeks there could be progress on this possible surprise operation. Barça know that they need quality reinforcements to remain competitive, and the possibility of incorporating Luis Diaz through an exchange with De Jong is an option that the club is studying closely.’

According to a recent report by Fichajes, Real Sociedad’s midfielder Martin Zubimendi has become a hot prospect for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Real Madrid and Arsenal leading the race to sign him.

Both clubs are looking to strengthen their teams for the next season, sparking a fierce competition between La Liga and the Premier League.

Zubimendi has proven himself vital for Real Sociedad with his outstanding vision, tactical intelligence, and accurate passing. These skills have caught the eye of both Real Madrid and Arsenal, who see him as a perfect fit for their future strategies.

Real Madrid are keeping track

Within Real Madrid, Zubimendi is seen as a future cornerstone of their midfield.

As Luka Modric winds down his illustrious career and with Toni Kroos now retired, the club views the young player as essential to keep their stronghold in both Spanish and European football.

On the other hand, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta is eager to attract Zubimendi to London. Arteta has proven his knack for convincing transfers in the past, and his pursuit of Zubimendi highlights his drive to fortify Arsenal’s midfield.

Future uncertain

The financial clout of Arsenal in the Premier League poses a major hurdle for Real Sociedad, even though Zubimendi remains contracted to the Basque team.

Currently, Zubimendi’s future is up in the air. Real Madrid is banking on the prestige of playing for one of Spain’s most decorated clubs to sway him.

Meanwhile, Arsenal is aggressively pursuing him, ready to offer lucrative deals.

Zubimendi’s choice will be a pivotal moment in the upcoming transfer period, as both clubs watch closely for his next step.

Arteta have new star to unleash after Martinelli injury that could save millions

Gabriel Martinelli’s recent hamstring injury has dealt Arsenal a significant blow in their attacking lineup. The 23-year-old Brazilian is expected to be out for over a month following an injury sustained in a 2-0 loss to Newcastle.

This injury means he’ll miss crucial Premier League matches against Leicester, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest. His status for the upcoming games against Manchester United and Chelsea is also in doubt, as well as potentially both legs of the Champions League round of 16, depending on the schedule.

The absence of Martinelli exacerbates Arsenal’s forward line crisis, particularly with Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the season due to an ACL injury and Bukayo Saka out until at least March with a hamstring tear. Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment over not securing new signings in January, pointing to a lack of firepower upfront.

Currently, Kai Havertz, who scored in a recent 5-1 victory over Manchester City, has been inconsistent, leaving Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, and youngster Ethan Nwaneri as the primary fit attacking options. This situation could jeopardize Arsenal’s title aspirations.

However, Arteta might look to the club’s academy for solutions. Ethan Nwaneri, at 17, has had a notable season with seven goals in 23 appearances. Other promising talents include Myles Lewis-Skelly, Andre Harriman-Annous, Khayon Edwards, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Max Dowman, and Osman Kamara. Harriman-Annous, with 12 goals in 22 games, stands out as a versatile forward who could potentially make an impact if called upon.

While there’s no immediate indication of these youngsters being thrust into the first team, their performances suggest they could be part of Arteta’s plans to navigate this challenging period in Arsenal’s season.

Arsenal and Liverpool boast the best defensive stats in the Premier League this season, a fact mirrored by their standings.

Despite their solid backlines, both teams are reportedly eyeing reinforcements in defense come summer.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes (via 90min), both clubs are set to compete for Girona’s left-back, Miguel Gutierrez, who has a £25 million release clause.

Interestingly, his former club, Real Madrid, can reacquire him for just £6.5 million due to a buyback clause.

Arsenal’s interest stems from uncertainties about Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future at the club, although any new signing would likely be a reserve to Riccardo Calafiori.

Meanwhile, Liverpool aims to find a successor for Andy Robertson, whose performance has reportedly declined as he’s aged into his thirties.

Liverpool could scupper Arsenal’s deal

Both Arsenal and Liverpool offer appealing football projects, making it hard to choose one over the other as a more desirable destination. However, should Miguel Gutierrez opt for Liverpool, he might find more consistent playing time, especially if the league leaders decide to phase out Andy Robertson and move on from Kostas Tsimikas.

At Arsenal, Riccardo Calafiori fits well into Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup, and Jurrien Timber has also proven effective at left-back, raising questions about Arsenal’s actual interest in Gutierrez. Additionally, Arsenal might prioritize a significant investment in their attacking line this summer, potentially delaying any defensive signings.

Meanwhile, it’s uncertain if Real Madrid will activate their buyback clause for Gutierrez. If they do, it might be with the intention of selling him for a profit later, as Carlo Ancelotti already has Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia as left-back options and might not seek another in the upcoming transfer window.

Lee Sharpe tips struggling Arsenal star to turn his season around

Raheem Sterling’s loan move to Arsenal is clearly not working out for either him or the club.

Mikel Arteta had high hopes that the Chelsea forward could significantly boost Arsenal’s attack, leading to Reiss Nelson being loaned out to make room for Sterling. Given Sterling’s impressive track record, he was anticipated to bring both depth and flair to Arsenal’s forward line.

However, Sterling’s performance has been underwhelming, echoing the reasons why Chelsea was ready to part ways with him. He’s not living up to his former self, and it’s increasingly evident that he’s struggling to make a positive impact at Arsenal.

Despite this, there was no move to terminate his loan in January, and he remains with the team. Sterling is attempting to recapture his form, but so far, he hasn’t capitalized on his chances.

As the season progresses to its critical phase, former player Lee Sharpe has expressed optimism about Sterling’s potential improvement. Sharpe commented, according to Metro Sport:

‘I’m not sure why he’s not getting picked, maybe it’s something Arteta has seen in training or something else. It’s a shame to see because we know he is capable of producing on the pitch, it’s just a matter of getting that out of him.

‘Arsenal could really do with his help on the right-wing too, considering they’re missing their star man for what looks to be at least another month, so I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard from him this season.’

Despite Lee Sharpe’s hopeful outlook, Raheem Sterling doesn’t seem to be the dynamic player he was during his time at Liverpool and Manchester City. There’s an increasing feeling that Arsenal could be squandering precious time in attempting to restore him to his previous peak performance.