You know the silly season is upon us when targets from 2012 are being linked with a move to Arsenal again.

There was once a time when the Gunners were reportedly in for every player under the sun as well as every decent young prospect, and Mario Gotze, in particular, was the name on every fans’ lips.

The Borussia Dortmund man was once the hottest thing in football after starring for Jurgen Klopp’s side at just 18-years-old, guiding the Black and Yellows to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, but since the playmaker’s controversial move to Bayern Munich, Gotze’s career has not gone according to plan.

A failed stint in Bavaria followed by a return to Dortmund leads us back to Arsenal, where according to Bild the Gunners are interested in a move for Gotze this summer.

There’s no question that Gotze on paper seems like an ideal Arsenal signing, a player who could replace Aaron Ramsey and a name who can fit well into Unai Emery’s system, but the Gunners should be aiming for a more ambitious player when it comes to replacing the Juventus bound playmaker.

Gotze is not the player he once was a few years ago. Age has not been kind to the 26-year-old and neither have injuries to the attacking midfielder and they should be looking to players who could handle the physicality of both European and Premier League fixtures.

Gotze would have been an incredible signing seven years ago, but now, the Gunners have just missed their chance.

Arsenal fans, who should replace Ramsey this summer? Let us know!

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Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign PSG midfielder Julian Draxler, according to the Daily Star.

What’s the word?

Spurs have been linked with a number of central players over recent weeks, from Real Betis star Giovani Lo Celso to Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele.

But the Star now claim that Draxler has been touted to the club, with PSG looking to raise funds before the end of the month in order to comply with financial fair play regulations.

The deal would be worth £35m after a season in which he made a total of 46 appearances in all competitions.

The 25-year-old, who can play as a playmaker and in a deeper role in midfield, scored five goals and laid on 12 assists in 2018-19 and is one of the most decorated players in world football.

A reject

It appears that Draxler is expendable to PSG and the report claims that he is “low” on Tottenham’s list of priorities this summer, as he should be.

Christian Eriksen, of course, is poised to leave the club this summer, having opened up on his desire to make a “step up”.

To replace him with Draxler would be rather underwhelming and the club appear to know that, given their other targets this summer.

He has never been the star at PSG and, though he has played in a World Cup-winning team, one has to feel that a move for Lo Celso or Ndombele would go further to filling in the gap left by the Denmark international.

At the end of the day, Draxler does not score many goals nor does he lay on that many assists considering PSG’s dominance of their top flight and he is playing in a weaker league than Eriksen.

The Dane, who scored 10 goals and provided 17 assists in 2018-19, significantly betters his tally of five and 12.

Spurs are right to be aiming higher than a player who is being crowbarred out of the door.

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Rangers are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur youngster Albert Rachi, according to The Evening Times.

What’s the story?

The Ibrox side aren’t messing about this summer when it comes to player recruitment having already completed deals for Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Steven Davis.

Just as important as those first-team deals though is making sure the club are in the market for stars of the future, and The Evening Times reckon the club have teenage prospect Rachi on their radar.

Who is he?

Rachi only joined the Spurs set up last year after graduating from the Eurostar academy, who describe the 15-year-old as a player who “has a smooth and fast playstyle” and “attacks the net with extreme speed and pace.”

Those attributes certainly sound like the kind of thing Rangers would be after and although clearly any potential move would be one to bolster our youth ranks, the fact they are paying such close attention to recruitment in the academy sides bodes very well for the future.

Check out Keith from C’mon the Hoops’ fascinating video on the origins of the Old Firm derby below…

Gerrard’s long game

It’s become clear to most observers that Steven Gerrard isn’t at Rangers to make a quick impact and disappear again, he has gradually been putting in the building blocks that cane bring success to the club long-term.

From improvements at the training ground to these latest reports targeting promising youth players, the Ibrox boss is keen on building a lasting legacy in Glasgow.

That long game view of Rangers has arguably been neglected in the past and their supporters must be hoping that it’ll all pay off on the pitch next year and beyond.

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The 2018-19 campaign was not the season that Jack Wilshere would have hoped for.

Indeed, the 27-year-old, who arrived on a free transfer last summer, was restricted to just eight Premier League appearances after battling a troublesome ankle problem.

Wilshere returned to action in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City on April 20, though, before playing against Southampton and Watford in West Ham’s final two games of the 2018-19 season.

The 34-time England international took to social media after the clash with the Hornets to insist that he would be working hard over the summer break.

And judging by the reaction of the West Ham fans, a number are excited by the possibility of having a fully-fit Wilshere next term.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

It remains to be seen whether the former Arsenal ace can overcome his long-standing injury troubles, but the Hammers fans are fully behind him.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

How do Bournemouth go about replacing a player like Ryan Fraser? The 25-year-old was incredible in the Premier League this season, notching up 14 assists.

Based on Eddie Howe’s recent words (Daily Echo), there is every chance Fraser could remain at the Vitality Stadium for another year.

But if not and the Cherries find themselves in the market looking for a replacement, then they could do a lot worse than Ademola Lookman.

According to The Independent, as well as Southampton, who are interested in a £20m deal, Bournemouth are also keen on the Everton winger.

Mainly on the periphery at Goodison Park this season, it would probably be a bit much to expect Lookman to come in and instantly make the sort of impact Fraser has been making.

Still, looking at his skill set, he is exactly the sort of player the south coast club will need should Fraser depart.

He is quick, can dribble and has an overall directness to his game that makes him a tricky customer to defend against.

And at 21, he has time to develop into a productive wide man like the Bournemouth star he could be replacing.

At RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, the England U21 international has already shown he can be a goal threat, suggesting that perhaps all he needs is game time.

Bearing that in mind, with Fraser potentially leaving Bournemouth, the two could be a match made in heaven.

Bournemouth fans, would you take Lookman as a Fraser replacement? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Arsene Wenger left Arsenal on a somewhat sour note. While his farewell was a fitting 5-0 win at home to Burnley in which the players reminded all of why fans grew to love the Frenchman so much, a sixth placed finish and a trophyless season left the Gunners faithful demanding change.

Since his departure though, it’s evident the man is still loved amongst all who support the North Londoners. He regularly gets the attention he rightly deserves when appearing as a pundit on beIN sports or making time for journalists and fans when the opportunity arises.

Little is known about Wenger’s next professional venture, and there were fears he’d drop out of football completely and lose touch with the game. The ex-Arsenal manager once said “retirement is dying” when speaking about football keeping him on his feet for so many years and how hard it would be to walk away.

Check out an Arsenal fan vow to “move to another planet” if Spurs win the UCL in the video below…

He remains jobless, in terms of looking for a team to manage, but he’s certainly is no slouch, having recently invested in tech company PlayerMaker.

Most recently though, an image has appeared on social media showing Arsene Wenger playing in a charity match with Real Madrid legend and manager Zinedine Zidane. Many might have forgotten that Wenger had a career as a player, and the picture, while it doesn’t give too much away, suggests he may still have some of his class on the pitch.

Arsenal fans enjoyed the photo that appeared to display Wenger dribbling away from Zidane who looks to be trying to keep a hold of the Gunners legend…

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According to the Daily Star, Liverpool are amongst a number of top Premier League clubs interested in signing Leicester City star James Maddison, who enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign in the top-flight.

The report states that Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool have all enquired about the Englishman’s availability this summer, but with the Foxes under no pressure to sell, Maddison’s valuation stands at £60m.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

That figure is three times what Leicester paid for the 22-year-old last summer when they parted with £20m to sign the attacking midfielder from Norwich, and it looks to have been a shrewd investment.

Maddison scored seven goals and recorded seven assists last season, whilst he also created the most chances in the Premier League to truly announce himself at the top level of English football – his form led to a call-up to the England team.

So, would the former Coventry academy graduate be a good fit at Anfield? Football FanCast’s writers have their say…

Luke Glanville

“I think the thing that many people forget is that Maddison has only been a Premier League player for one season. Yes, he looks to be a real talent, but we need to see if he can produce consistently over two to three seasons in the top flight first. Maddison is not yet the finished article and in my opinion, wouldn’t fit in at any top-six club at the moment, let alone Liverpool.”

Harry Sherlock

“James Maddison would be a great fit at any top-six club. He’s just got the kind of talent that makes him attractive to any potential suitor. He’d fit right in at Liverpool as he’d be able to supplement the ferocious talents of the front three, while adding some dynamism to the club’s midfield. That is perhaps their one weak spot, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita not the most dynamic, creative trio. Adding Maddison in would be like adding cream to strawberries; it makes all the sense in the world.”

Charles Jones

“Maddison is undoubtedly an incredible player, but Liverpool may be the only club in the top six where he doesn’t quite fit in. Klopp has just won the Champions League and finished the Premier League season with 97 points using a midfield made up of three less creative players. Maddison is at his best when playing as a number 10 and at the moment there isn’t room for a player in his mould in the Liverpool XI.”

أكد دوني فان دي بيك، لاعب فريق مانشستر يونايتد صعوبة وأهمية مباراة الغد أمام باريس سان جيرمان، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويلتقي الفريقان في الجولة الخامسة من دور مجموعات البطولة، في ملعب الأولد ترافورد.

وقال فان دي بيك، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للبطولة: “سنواجه أحد عمالقة أوروبا ليلة الغد، نحن نعلم أننا أمام مهمة صعبة”.

وأضاف: “نريد المضي قدمًا في تلك البطولة، نحتاج إلى اجتياز مرحلة دور المجموعات أولًا وقبل كل شيء”.

وواصل: “نحن بحاجة إلى إبقاء ذلك في أذهاننا وبذل قصارى جهدنا للفوز بهذه المباراة، نعلم أن باريس سان جيرمان فريق جيد حقًا مع لاعبين رائعين”.

وتابع: “أظهرنا في مباراتنا الأولى في باريس أننا نلعب كفريق واحد، نقاتل معًا، ونلعب معًا وحققنا نصرًا كبيرًا هناك، آمل أن نتمكن من تكرار ذلك في ملعبنا غدًا”.

يُذكر أن مانشستر يونايتد فاز على باريس سان جيرمان بهدفين مقابل هدف، في مباراة الجولة الأولى.

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Clyde 1 Superscoreboard host Ewan Cameron has claimed Celtic manager Neil Lennon could be sacked by Christmas, speaking on Monday’s edition of the high profile radio show.

What’s he said?

There’s plenty of curiosity about the upcoming Scottish season already after the departure of Brendan Rodgers and appointment of Lennon at Celtic.

For many, it could be the kind of change that wedges the door open a little for Rangers to mount a true challenge for trophies next term.

Outspoken pundit, Chelsea flop, Celtic legend. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith throws back to Chris Sutton in the video below…

One pundit who clearly feels that way is radio host Ewan Cameron, who had plenty to say on Monday’s edition of Superscoreboard on Clyde 1.

He reckons there could be a Celtic implosion, explaining to listeners:

Celtic won’t win a treble again. That’s it, it’s gone. The treble Treble is done. It’s not going to happen. They might win a cup but they won’t win the league.

Rangers will stop them winning nine-in-a-row. I’m making that bold prediction tonight here on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.

Celtic will not win the league under Neil Lennon and I’ll tell you another thing, he might not last till Christmas.

Are Celtic at risk of collapse?

The Hoops of course can never take success for granted and to win a league you don’t just need the best players in the country but also a determination and mentality that separates you from the chasing pack.

Will next season be one of the most competitive in Scotland for years? Possibly.

Are Celtic set for a disastrous season that results in Lennon’s sacking before the new year? That’s incredibly unlikely.

Lennon’s winning record is exceptional at Celtic, in both of his spells at the club. He only lost one match when filling in for Brendan Rodgers, winning two trophies in the process. Before leaving for pastures new in 2014 he also delivered a further five trophies, including three league titles in a row.

The suggestion he is an appointment that will lead to Celtic ruin doesn’t hold much weight in the face of his record so far.

It seems like we have our first transfer saga casualty as Spurs end (via the Evening Standard) interest in signing Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha after being put off by Crystal Palace’s asking price for a second year in a row.

Contrary to this news, Spurs are apparently prepared to back coach Mauricio Pochettino in the transfer market this summer having not provided the resources to buy a player in the last two windows. Unless you believe Glenn Hoddle, who suggested after the Ajax game that it was Pochettino’s choice not to sign anyone new.

Zaha has been the subject of interest from Tottenham for some time now and the 26-year-old has confirmed he wants to leave Selhurst Park in order to play European football next season.

However, Palace – who are understandably keen on keeping the man who provided double figures for goals and assists this seasons – are not prepared to let him go on the cheap and have slapped a huge £100million valuation on his head.

The Ivory Coast international still has a huge four year left on the contract he agreed in August, which is apparently worth a sizeable £130,000-a-week. Again, hard not to see why Palace want to hold onto him.

As we say, this isn’t the first time Spurs have come in for the player. Just last year, Palace apparently warded off their interest with a £70million asking price.

And there’s little to no chance that Spurs would be willing to spend more than double their transfer fee now. Which fans can be thankful for.

£100million is a huge amount to spending on any player, especially one of Zaha’s level. Of course, we aren’t saying he’s a bad player. Not by any means. But 100million pound sterling worth of talent, really? The price tag has been designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to ward off interest from the bigger clubs. Spurs would do well not to fall into this trap and look elsewhere, as they have done so well in the past.

Spurs fans, where do you stand on the Zaha deal? Would you be happy splashing £100m on him? Let us know in the comments below