Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos has emerged as a hot prospect following an impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, with several European giants, including Arsenal, keeping a close watch on his future. The 21-year-old caught the eye with his composed performances in Ligue 1, earning himself a place on the summer transfer wish list of AC Milan, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and others.
According to Just Arsenal Sources, two unnamed clubs are also reported to have made verbal offers of €30 million for Santos. However, Chelsea rejected those approaches, underlining their intention to retain control of the midfielder’s future. With scout teams regularly attending matches in France, a fierce rivalry is developing between leading clubs from England, France and Italy.
Chelsea have placed a significant price tag on Santos, reportedly valuing him between €50 and €60 million. This valuation reflects the club’s confidence in his potential and their unwillingness to part with the player unless a major offer arrives. The midfielder signed for Chelsea with long-term plans in mind, and that strategy may now be coming to fruition.
Incoming manager Enzo Maresca is said to be closely evaluating Santos’ development, and reports suggest the Brazilian is expected to return to Stamford Bridge in time for the Club World Cup. Maresca has already indicated that Santos has a defined place in his tactical setup, something that appears to have strengthened the player’s desire to stay and fight for his future at Chelsea.
While Arsenal’s interest in Santos is genuine, the Gunners may hesitate given Chelsea’s firm stance and high valuation. Santos is not only versatile but also composed in possession, making him a profile that could suit Mikel Arteta’s midfield plans. However, unless Chelsea’s demands drop, Arsenal may need to explore alternative targets.
Whether a formal bid materialises remains to be seen, but Santos’ summer will be one to watch, especially if Maresca follows through on his commitment to integrate him into the first team.
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One midfielder in whom Liverpool are reportedly interested may have burned his bridges with his current club after going AWOL from training in recent days. The Reds have already enjoyed a blockbuster transfer window which has seen them spend around £250m on new additions such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, and speculation persists over a possible big-money swoop for Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has fuelled the transfer fire by telling Newcastle chiefs that he wants to ‘consider his options’ this summer and asking not to travel with the Magpies’ squad for their pre-season tour to the Far East. It appears that the 25-year-old isn’t alone in being marked absent amid reported interest from Liverpool. Luiz AWOL from Juventus training amid reported Liverpool interest According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Reds have been keeping tabs on Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, with Everton and West Ham also considering the possibility of bringing the former Aston Villa man back to the Premier League. The Brazilian failed to report for training on Thursday, with the Turin club now expected to ‘take disciplinary action’ over his unexcused absence. The Bianconeri are seemingly open to selling the 27-year-old for around €40m (£35m), and it’s claimed that his time with the Serie A outfit ‘is set to end’ before the conclusion of the summer transfer window. Liverpool have no real need to go after Luiz right now Luiz was a standout player for Aston Villa during his time in the Midlands, being voted Player of the Season two years ago by teammates and supporters, and then chipping in with nine top-flight goals in helping them to a first Champions League qualification in 2024. Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant even proclaimed the season before last that the now-Juventus midfielder ‘can do everything’ that Declan Rice can ‘and better’ (talkSPORT), and a couple of years ago he may have seemed like the perfect transfer target for the Reds. That was at a time when we were undergoing an extensive midfield overhaul following the exits of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and others, but right now that part of the squad is delightfully stable at Anfield. Luiz’s failure to turn up for training as reported might also be considered a red flag for FSG, and is in marked contrast to how Luis Diaz has continued to display a positive attitude behind the scenes despite reportedly wanting to leave Liverpool. The 27-year-old’s future might lie away from Turin after his recent misdemeanour, but right now it’s hard to envisage him joining the Reds. A talented player he might well be, but timing counts for a lot in football, and at present he’s not someone we drastically need.
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Shortly after former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy shared that someone "in the know" believes there's a possibility Nick Saban — who retired in January 2024 — might return to coaching, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could be a potential destination for the seven-time national champion. According to Mike Rodak of 247Sports, Saban was asked during a Friday appearance on Fox News if he intends to come out of retirement. "No, I'm really happy with what I'm doing right now," Saban responded. "It's exciting to still be involved in the game. It's exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people create value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always try to do as a coach." Saban, now working as an ESPN analyst, will be 74 in October. Per Christian Datoc of the Washington Examiner, President Donald Trump could consider having Saban "lead a new commission examining problems arising with the growth of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and coinciding changes to the NCAA transfer process." Meanwhile, it's thought that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could look to hire a big-name candidate if first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer fails to impress during the 2025 campaign. Additionally, Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd recently hinted that Saban could be interested in becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns if the team selects Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the first pick in the 2026 draft. "There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me to go back to coaching," Saban added during Friday's segment. "I enjoy what I'm doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I loved the competition. But it's another station of life now. I enjoy what I'm doing right now and want to continue to do it — spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. It's been really, really good." The "right now" portion of Saban's comments attracted the attention of Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who was quick to point out he did not say "no for good" regarding a return to coaching. In short, it seems that rumors about Saban's future could hover over the college and pro football communities through at least the rest of the year.
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
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