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Ilkay Gundogan's potential move from Manchester City to Barcelona is stalling because a deal can't be reached on the player's wages according to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness.

What is the latest on Ilkay Gundogan's Man City departure?

The midfielder has been with Pep Guardiola's side since the 2016/17 season and has managed 186 Premier League outings for the club during that time. He's claimed four league titles during that time and his team are heading for a fifth this campaign, with the side currently top of the standings.

It could be a nice send-off for the German too, with the player expected to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer. With his contract set to expire, and no new deal agreed to keep him at City, he looks likely to find pastures new when the window opens. Whilst the German himself has previously stated that no decision has been made over his future yet, reports claim he is probably set to head out of the exit door.

In terms of who will snap up the 32-year-old, the club most heavily linked to his signature is Barcelona. The Spanish giants are on the hunt for new midfielders following the news that Sergio Busquets will be bringing his time at the Camp Nou to an end. The Catalans then will be desperate to bring in Gundogan this summer but reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, state that talks are at a standstill because of the player's wages. It mentions that there is "disagreement" over the finances involved in his contract, with what the player wants being too much for Barca to offer currently.

Whilst a deal could still happen then, it looks as though fresh dicsussions are needed in terms of hashing out the terms of a contract with the Spanish giants in order to get a deal done.

Should Man City let Gundogan go?

The midfielder has given plenty to Pep Guardiola's side since arriving at the club seven years ago. He's often led City to victories on his own with his offensive drive and finishing ability, as showcased by him bagging 42 goals during his time there, as well as notching up 15 assists.

Even during the current campaign, when he has featured much less frequently for City, he has shone when given time on the field. The 32-year-old has a WhoScored rating of 7.06 in the Premier League, which puts him within the top ten best performers at the club this year.

Gundogan still has plenty to give then and even Pep Guardiola has previously admitted his admiration for the player. The manager labelled the German as "exceptional," which is high praise from a boss who has not only led some of the best teams in Europe to silverware but has also played for Barcelona himself.

If City do let the German depart, then they will be losing a player who still has a lot left in the tank and can still perform to a high standard most weeks too. It would be a blow for the Etihad-based side but with their financial power, they could certainly find an adequate replacement.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has decided to target a central defender behind-the-scenes with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi on the agenda.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

As the Gunners chase a first league title in nearly 20 years, with Arsenal still well in contention despite Man City's unstoppable resurgence recently, sporting director Edu is reportedly identifying targets for the summer window.

The north Londoners are said to be in the market for a central midfield star above all, at least according to recent reports. Indeed, West Ham star Declan Rice and Brighton's Moises Caicedo apparently feature highly in the club's thinking.

This is regardless of Jorginho's signing in January with the Emirates Stadium side actively looking to reinforce that key area. Elsewhere in the team, moves for attacking options further forward haven't been excluded, as Arsenal hold a serious interest in both Vitor Roque and Barcelona star Raphinha.

Now, as per a report from The Daily Mail and journalist Sami Mokbel, Arteta is personally looking to strengthen another position in the squad. The Spaniard has now decided to target a centre-back behind-the-scenes, placing one near the top of his summer transfer wishlist.

As such, Palace defender Guehi is a player attracting interest from Arsenal, and it is believed that the Eagles could be tempted by a £50 million offer for their star.

William Saliba's lower back injury has exposed Arsenal's lack of depth in the middle of defence, making the signing of reinforcements for the position one of their priorities for this summer.

What could Guehi bring to Arsenal?

As per WhoScored, the England international ranks in Palace's top two for clearances made and interceptions per 90 – all whilst being their most-selected Premier League player.

Having featured over more league minutes than anybody at Selhurst Park, Guehi has been a key player under both Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson over the 2022/2023 campaign.

The 22-year-old has also been praised as an 'absolute tank' and 'massive' by goalkeeper Josef Bursik, who said this on his former England Under-21 teammate:

"Easy, Marc Guehi. He’s an absolute tank.

“It’s like having a brick wall in front of you, he’s massive.”

When asked who was the strongest player in that Under-21s side back in 2021, midfielder Conor Gallagher added:

"Definitely Marc. You can’t get round him and you can’t move him, so it’s definitely him.”

Arguably one of England's most exciting young defenders, he would be a stellar addition for Arteta.

Both Alastair Cook and Steven Smith have said the Ashes does not need to include a day-night Test but Cook believes boards should continue exploring the format

Andrew McGlashan08-Jun-20162:31

Ultimately day-night Tests means more viewers – Sutherland

Alastair Cook believes that boards should continue to explore the notion of day-night Test cricket but has echoed the views of his Australia counterpart, Steven Smith, in saying that the Ashes does not need such a concept.South Africa have now agreed to play a floodlit Test against Australia in Adelaide later this year, having initially been reluctant about the idea. This means there will be two day-night Tests in the Australian season, with Pakistan also playing under lights at the Gabba.England look set to play their first floodlit Test next year, against West Indies at Lord’s or Edgbaston, although the ECB did approach the Bangladesh Cricket Board about the possibility of playing one on the tour to Bangladesh in October.ACA chief wants day-night conditions worked on

The Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson has called for Cricket Australia find ways to optimise the conditions and tools required for day-night Test cricket, so that the quality of the cricket is not compromised.
“Over the next five months Cricket Australia needs to invest time and money to develop the best quality ball and the best wicket so we get the highest quality of Test cricket,” Nicholson said. “That’s what the players want and the fans deserve.”
He stressed that the players’ views have to be taken seriously. “The concerns of the players run deep, and with Alastair Cook’s comments we see they also run internationally. When the best players in the world are all expressing concerns they must be listened to and their concerns must be addressed.
“The message from players all over the world is clear: ‘We want the best quality Test cricket. To achieve this there is a lot of work to be done on the pink-ball format.'”

The key aim of the day-night Tests is to attract more spectators, when they are able to attend after work, but both Cook and Smith think current crowds for the Ashes are strong enough to stay with tradition.”A lot of the games have really good attendances and it’s probably not a series where you need to do it exactly at this time,” Cook said.Smith agreed. “I think it works pretty well with the red ball. Playing against England, we always get the viewers and the crowds out, so I don’t think there is any issue there.”Cook said the key to the format’s success in the longer term remains the quality of the pink ball. For the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last year, when Australia faced New Zealand, extra grass was left on the pitch in a bid to ensure the ball retained its colour.Cook has experience of facing the pink ball when he played for MCC in Abu Dhabi in 2015 and does not feel it has the same qualities as the red ball.”No disrespect to the guys who make it, but on the two occasions I’ve played it doesn’t seem to behave the same way as the red ball,” he said. “I’ve got no idea why. But it’s one of the great things about Test cricket, sometimes the ball swings conventionally, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it reverses, but my occasions with the pink ball it didn’t do any of that, then it nipped all over under twilight. The quality of the ball is vital.”My general view of day-night Tests is that it’s definitely something cricket authorities need to keep looking at because it’s the way to keep the game moving forward with the times, making it more possible for spectators to come and watch.”Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland however said having day-night Tests in the Ashes would be a “natural progression” and would also attract more audience in the UK because of more suitable timings.”I respect the views of Steven and Alastair… the Ashes is a great contest and will no doubt attract a huge audience both at the grounds and on television, but the facts of the matter are by playing day-night Tests, we’re going to get even bigger audiences at the game and on television,” Sutherland said.”We’ve played one day-night Test match and this summer we have two in the schedule, so I think there’s a natural progression for us to get to a point where Ashes Test matches are played as day-night games. The Ashes series is still a long way off and we want to get through this summer first, but we will play somewhere between zero and two day-night Tests during the Ashes in 18 months’ time.”The time [of day-night Tests] shifts games into a more appealing time of day in the UK. We all need to stay very open-minded to this [and] continue to progress and build everyone’s confidence.”Sutherland also said there will not be any changes to the format of matches in Sydney (traditionally the venue of the New Year’s Test), Melbourne (traditionally the venue of the Boxing Day Test) and Perth. “There’s no doubt from our point of view Sydney and Melbourne are landmarks in the calendar and they work very well as day games at that time of year when everyone is on holiday. Perth is already time-shifted into the eastern states with the three-hour time difference.”

Leeds United are keeping tabs on Hull City defender Alfie Taylor ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Alfie Taylor?

Whites captain Liam Cooper and Robin Koch will be out of contract at the end of next season ,meaning that backline reinforcements will be needed should one or both of the duo depart during the upcoming window, and Sam Allardyce may have already highlighted an ideal long-term replacement in the form of the 19-year-old.

Taylor is an academy product at the MKM Stadium and is a regular feature of the club’s youth sides having originally joined the U18s, before being promoted to the U21s just last summer, as per Transfermarkt, but he is yet to make a single first-team appearance in the Championship.

The Tigers centre-back, however, has recently been training with Liam Rosenior’s senior squad and was named on the bench for the second-tier fixtures vs Watford, Blackburn and Middlesbrough, so is edging ever closer to making his professional debut, and this has attracted the attention of the hierarchy at Elland Road.

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds, alongside Premier League rivals Leicester City and Crystal Palace, are all “tracking” Taylor ahead of the 2023/24 term. Hull’s exciting starlet has been brought “onto the radar” of the top-flight trio following his performances at youth level, with his admirers looking to “bolster” their options in defence upon the conclusion of the current campaign.

The Yorkshire outfit view the teenager as a player with “huge potential” and believe that he could “develop” into someone that could compete at the highest level in the near future. The Championship outfit are “determined” to retain his services beyond the summer but are nevertheless “bracing themselves” to receive offers.

Would Taylor be a good signing for Leeds?

Should Leeds get relegated from the Premier League, Allardyce will have to sell some of his most prized assets and create a new squad ready for the Championship, so if that turns out to be the case, Taylor would be an extremely promising addition for the long-term future of the club.

Naturally a left-sided centre-back, he is a homegrown talent which always helps when balancing lots of transfers in and our during a no doubt busy summer, and is used to competing for silverware having participated in the likes of the FA Youth Cup with Hull’s U18s.

Finally, Taylor only currently pockets £500-per-week as a result of his age so he wouldn’t be an expensive player to have on the books, and when you consider how cheap of a recruit he’d be alongside his potential, Leeds chiefs shouldn’t even have to think twice about wrapping up a deal during the upcoming window.

Tottenham Hotspur have now set their sights on signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, having been impressed with his performances this season, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

With ENIC keen on bringing in new options in midfield this summer, Tottenham have now joined the race for RCD Mallorca star Kang-in Lee, who could be allowed to leave for less than his €30m (£26.5m) release clause.

Spurs are also "hot on the trail" of Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, after first taking note of him in their Champions League matches against the Portuguese side earlier this year, while a new striker could also be in order, amid Harry Kane's uncertain future in north London.

To replace the England captain, the Lilywhites could look at signing Lille's Jonathan David, who is expected to leave his current club this summer, although it is not yet a foregone conclusion that Kane leaves the club.

While the rumours surrounding the Tottenham striker are likely to dominate the news in the summer window, the club are also keen on bolstering their options in midfield, and Football Insider reports Gibbs-White is now a target.

The Forest midfielder has been watched by Spurs throughout the 2022/23 season, and scouts have been impressed by the improvements he has made, while they also believe he has the potential to develop even further.

The report also claims that the Englishman is regarded as a classic Tottenham player who would be a great fit in the midfield.

Should Tottenham sign Morgan Gibbs-White?

Hailed as "sensational" by journalist Josh Bunting, the maestro has cemented himself as a vital player for Forest this season, making 33 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has picked up four goals and six assists.

Only Brennan Johnson has amassed more goal contributions for the Tricky Trees this season, highlighting the £80k-per-week midfielder's attacking threat, while he is also very strong in the air, ranking in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year.

That said, it is debatable whether the 23-year-old would help take Tottenham to the next level, given that Rodrigo Bentancur has averaged more non-penalty goals, assists, and is far better defensively, ranking in the 74th percentile for tackles per 90.

Of course, Bentancur is expected to be out until November, however, when the Uruguayan does return, Gibbs-White would find it very difficult to displace him in the starting XI.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford "can leave" in the summer should the club get relegated from the Premier League, according to CBS reporter and journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest on Pickford's future?

The England international first arrived at Goodison Park in July 2017 and has since gone on to establish himself as the first-choice shot-stopper between the sticks having made 231 appearances to date, and he has only continued to impress since the arrival of Sean Dyche.

Back in February, the Toffees talisman signed a new long-term deal which keeps him at the club for at least another four years, but with him currently pocketing £125k-per-week, making him the highest earner in the squad, the board will be aware that their most prized assets will have to be sold to free up the wage bill should they fail to avoid the drop at the end of the season.

Reports have claimed Tottenham Hotspur have identified the 29-year-old as their number one target to replace Hugo Lloris during the upcoming window with a £35m price tag having been placed on his head, though it's worth noting that this could decrease even further should relegation occur.

According to Jacobs (via CaughtOffside), Everton are indeed in danger of losing the services of Pickford as a result of an in-house agreement being in place, with Ryan Mason's side very much in pole position to sign him. He said:

“I still wouldn’t rule out a Premier League club moving for Jordan Pickford, even though he’s signed a new deal until 2027 with no relegation clause in it. There is still an informal agreement if Everton go down that Pickford can leave. Spurs were always a frontrunner, but we’ll have to wait and see now what their new manager thinks.”

Should Everton keep or sell Pickford?

Pickford has undoubtedly been one of Everton's standout performers over the years having kept 61 clean sheets in 231 appearances at Goodison Park, and with his form for England also having seen him dubbed a "monster" by journalist Joe Crann, Dyche needs to do everything he can to retain his side's top-flight status and hang on to his goalkeeper.

The Puma-sponsored athlete has recorded 108 saves from 154 shots on target against this season and provides a strong outlet with his range of passing from the back, having completed 141 of 142 short passes and 214 of 218 medium passes since the start of the current term, as per FBRef.

Finally, Pickford has twice been the recipient of Everton's Player of the Year award which just goes to show how much he's appreciated and individually recognised for his efforts by the supporters, so even the thought of losing him will be a huge blow.

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is looking to quit Elland Road in the summer, even if the Whites remain in the Premier League.

What’s the latest Leeds news on Meslier?

The Frenchman has once again been a regular in Yorkshire this season, playing every minute of Premier League action. He has surpassed 100 appearances for the club and has now turned out more than 100 times in the top flight.

Meslier has been attracting interest, though, with Fabrizio Romano saying that a number of clubs have sent scouts to follow the ‘keeper, with Chelsea thought to be one side who are keen.

A further update has emerged regarding the 23-year-old’s future, and it doesn’t make for good reading for those who want him to remain with the Whites.

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Meslier, revealing that he wants to quit this summer regardless of what division Leeds find themselves in this summer. The report states how Chelsea are very keen to secure Meslier’s services, although Manchester United and Tottenham have also shown an interest.

How much could Leeds bring in for Meslier?

A number of top English sides who normally qualify for Europe appear to be circling around Meslier, and with his contract running until 2026, Leeds could be in line for a big windfall after spending £5.7m on the player back in 2020.

Meslier is valued at a career-high €22m by Transfermarkt and has impressed summer signing Brenden Aaronson earlier in the season, who said this about the keeper after the opening weekend win over Wolves:

“You see it from him every single day. I think there was one day last week where he was saving everything and we were just shooting on him. He has so much quality in goal. He’s such a great goalie.”

Still in the early days of his career as a goalkeeper, reports have suggested that Leeds would want around £40m for Meslier’s services, so any club may have to meet that asking price to stand a chance of sealing a deal.

The player has been climbing the Premier League all-time saves list and is already in 38th place on 368 stops, more than the likes of Edwin van der Sar and Thibaut Courtois, so you'd expect that figure will increase even further, but possibly away from Yorkshire, should he get his wish of a move away from Elland Road.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta personally wants to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer, according to reports.

Who are Arsenal linked with?

The Gunners and transfer chief Edu are thought to be planning for the 2023/2024 Premier League season already and reportedly have their eyes on a few transfer targets.

Reports in the last fortnight have suggested that Leicester City star Youri Tielemans is of interest as the midfielder's contract is set to expire at the end of this season. Indeed, central midfield is thought to be a top priority for the club, as West Ham star Declan Rice is repeatedly linked with a move to north London.

Brighton ace Moises Caicedo has been billed as an alternative to the Englishman with Barcelona star Raphinha also on Edu's list of potential signings. However, reinforcing the striker position is certainly not out of the question either, as rumours surrounding a possible move for Vlahovic are still prevalent.

The Serbia international is a player who Arsenal tried to sign from Fiorentina before he opted for his Turin move, yet according to an update by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Arteta is still very keen on the idea.

According to the Italian news outlet, Arsenal are listed as a 'suitor' for Vlahovic after their attempts to prise him away from Fiorentina, with Arteta personally 'attracted' to his playing style. The Spaniard apparently believes there isn't a player like him in Arsenal's current squad, which is playing a role in Arteta's interest.

The north Londoners are also boosted in their chase for Vlahovic by their near-certain qualification for the Champions League next season. The report does state to 'keep an eye' on Chelsea, though, who are firmly in the race with Todd Boehly's backing.

Should Arsenal sign Vlahovic?

The 23-year-old has ten goal contributions to his name this season, scoring eight goals with a further two assists, which may not seem outstanding but Juventus on the whole have struggled this year. Vlahovic is still a bright spark in the forward areas when at his very best, averaging more attempts at goal per 90 than any other Juve player in Serie A this season (WhoScored).

Journalist Pete O'Rourke certainly believes he would be a good fit, recently stating to GiveMeSport:

"He's a proven striker; he's done really well in Serie A and also on the international scene as well, so that'd be a big-name signing and it would just continue to show the progress that Arsenal are making that they are actually able to make these types of signings."

If Arsenal can prise him away from Italy, he could be a brilliant capture.

Chelsea's search for a new manager is already well and truly underway, as Todd Boehly looks to bring in a replacement for Graham Potter as soon as possible.

The former Brighton boss was sacked after last weekend's 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa, with the 0-0 draw against Liverpool on Tuesday leaving the Blues in 11th position in the Premier League table.

It is no surprise that Boehly is keen to bring in a replacement as he looks to salvage an incredibly poor season, and it seems as if he has already made contact with recently sacked Bayern Munich boss, Julian Nagelsmann.

Will Chelsea appoint Julian Nagelsmann?

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea have made contact with the German manager, who departed the Allianz Arena late last month despite leaving Die Roten in the Champions League quarter-finals and still very much in the hunt for another Bundesliga title.

The report claims that Boehly is looking for a manager with experience of managing a top club in Europe and Nagelsmann certainly fits that bill, having managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in his career, despite being just 35.

It is also claimed that the young manager is well-known to sporting director Laurence Stewart and already has a connection with technical director Christopher Vivell, who he worked alongside at Leipzig.

Therefore, it certainly seems as if he could make the move to Stamford Bridge, especially as Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has suggested that talks are "ongoing and positive."

While The Telegraph suggest that he would be keen on taking the job, previous reports have claimed that he wants to wait until the summer to take over, which makes sense when you consider the mess that the Blues currently find themselves in.

However, that might not be enough for Boehly who likely wants a new manager through the door at Stamford Bridge ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid next week.

Would Nagelsmann be perfect for Boehly?

Boehly has proven with his signings at Chelsea that he wants to build for the long-term future at Stamford Bridge, with young talents such as Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke all joining the club in his tenure.

In Nagelsmann, Chelsea would be getting one of the most talented young managers in world football, as the German was labelled a "genius" for his work at Hoffenheim before he was even 30, with the Athletic's Raphael Honigstein singing his praises after they reached the Champions League in his second season in charge.

He was perhaps harshly sacked by Bayern, having impressively won 60 of his 84 games in charge with the Bundesliga giants, averaging an impressive 2.23 points per game. That represents a significant increase on the 1.42 points per game averaged by Potter at Chelsea this season.

Nagelsmann has a rare blend of top-level experience and youth, which makes him the perfect appointment for Boehly's long-term plans. He has already brought in a plethora of top young talent so why not bring in a young coach too?

Indeed, the outspoken owner will now be hoping that the German manager can be convinced to join now rather than in the summer.

Leicester City are on the hunt for a new manager having sacked Brendan Rodgers just a matter of days ago.

What’s the latest Leicester manager news?

Rodgers performed admirably during his role at the King Power, notably winning the FA Cup and Community Shield.

However, he was given his marching orders last weekend with the Foxes now rooted firmly in the relegation zone.

It’s thought a permanent hire may not be made until the summer, where according to Sky Sports, Thomas Frank is an option to succeed Rodgers.

The Brentford boss has worked wonders with the London club as they sit ninth in the Premier League, a position Leicester should be occupying given their recent history.

Should Leicester hire Thomas Frank?

The job the Dane has performed with the Bees is nothing short of miraculous.

They were promoted from the Championship with a brand of swashbuckling football and they haven’t changed their style since competing with the big boys.

Fortunately for Brentford, it’s paid off with Frank’s men now in with a realistic possibility of securing European football next term.

The “special” tactician – as dubbed by Ben Mee – would surely be a better option than a number of candidates for the role, notably Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard has a wonderful CV that includes a spell with Real Madrid, a Champions League triumph with Liverpool and a promotion with Newcastle.

Yet, his recent performance is hardly anything to shout about with Benitez tasked with awakening a somewhat sleeping giant in the form of Everton, only to be sacked while relegation-threatened last term.

He would walk into a similar setting in the Midlands if he were to be given the gig right now, so it certainly feels like a case of the wrong job at the wrong time.

Frank, on the other hand, has a much better recent history.

Promotion from the second tier was one thing but for Brentford to be sitting inside the top half of the Premier League is nothing short of miraculous.

They have done so with a style of football that would certainly suit Leicester too.

Predominantly playing in a 4-3-3 shape, they rely on intense pressing and speedy attacks.

Does that remind you of anyone? Perhaps the days of Claudio Ranieri and Jamie Vardy’s peak at the top level.

Although the Leicester great doesn’t possess the height of an Ivan Toney – the third-highest scorer in the top-flight this term – he is the focal point with the ball always aimed at finding him.

They aren’t just phenomenal on the counter-attack, a style of play that saw them beat Manchester City on their own patch, but they’re also brilliant when it comes to winning duels.

Indeed, no side has won more aerial battles this term than Brentford.

Furthermore, they are adept at set-pieces, with the Bees having scored a joint-league-high of 12 goals from dead ball scenarios in 2022/23.

That is likely to have creative maestro James Maddison licking his lips should Frank arrive at the King Power, with the great Dane having already admitted that the England international is “incredible.”

All the signs point to improvement under the 49-year-old, it’s just a shame they might already be down before they get a chance to have a deeper discussion about his appointment in the summer.