Category: Football

Premier League Transfer Sagas Continue

Almost 2 weeks have passed since the beginning of the Premier League transfer window and as predicted it’s not been quiet. With teams getting down to business immediately, the rumours have been flying around with some huge names tipped for a move.

The Battle for Rice

The future of Declan Rice has remained uncertain for over a year now after his consistent impressive form for both West Ham and England. Arsenal have made it clear for some time now that they want Rice and are willing to pay big money to sign the midfielder.

However, similarly to how the title race panned out, Manchester City have joined the battle for the West Ham captain. It is believed Arsenal are still hopeful of completing a deal before City have the chance, but with numerous Arsenal bids rejected as well as City’s first offer of £90 million rejected, they are running out of time.

With Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan likely to be departing for Barcelona, Rice could be the perfect fit to play alongside Croatian international Mateo Kovacic. The Chelsea man is set to sign for the treble winners, having undergone a medical on Friday. Kovacic was one of the standout players last season in what was a disappointing campaign for Chelsea.

Another big money signing could also be on the horizon for Manchester City with interest shown for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol. It is reported that the German side would only let the Croatian leave if the asking price of £85 million including bonuses was met. If the deal was to go through it would make Gvardiol the most expensive defender in the world.

Arsenal have business of their own as well with the announcement of Chelsea star Kai Havertz close. The German scored Chelsea’s winning goal in the Champions League Final in 2021 and he is expected to sign for £65 million. The Gunners are also in advanced talks with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber with a deal expected soon.

Although somewhat of an outsider in the race for Rice, Manchester United are also interested in the 24 year old. If Arsenal and Manchester City both fail to offer an acceptable bid, Ten Haag might be licking his lips at the possibility of enticing Rice with a move to the Red Devils.

Ten Haag’s hunt for a midfielder

With that said, the Stretford club have their eyes set on another London midfielder in Chelsea star Mason Mount. The England international was only involved in five goal contributions last season, however, United have had a third bid of £55 million pounds rejected. A counter proposal from Chelsea sees Mount’s price tag at £58 million but with no signings made so far, will the Reds take their interest elsewhere?

There is also the question over David De Gea’s future at the club after the Spaniard’s poor season that was littered with mistakes. He is out of contract at the end of the month and even if he were to stay, there is no guarantee he would be the number one as Man United have been linked with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa.

The Chelsea Clearout

Mauricio Pochettino’s overhaul of the Chelsea team is well underway. With 9 players possibly departing the club and Kante already making the move to Saudi Arabia, the Argentine has made it clear what his mission is.

With the possible departures of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Kovacic’s all but confirmed move to Manchester City, Chelsea have no time to waste in getting down to business. And that they have done with the signing of Christopher Nkunku for £52 million from RB Leipzig. The French forward scored 16 goals in 25 appearances in the Bundesliga last season.

The Blues are also close to signing another goalscorer, Nicolas Jackson from Villareal. The Senegalese man is thought to have undergone a medical on Saturday and is expected to join for a fee of £35 million. He scored 12 goals in La Liga last season and Chelsea will hope he can be a fitting replacement for Romelu Lukaku who is looking increasingly likely to remain at Inter Milan after his loan spell.

With Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy soon to be following Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Arabia, Chelsea are expected to approach Brighton over the signing of midfielder Moises Caceido once a number of these deals have been completed.

The Saudi Revolution

One of the big talking points of this summer’s transfer window so far is the marquee signings being made by teams in the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’golo Kante are all blockbuster names that have introduced themselves to Saudi Arabia.

This is a common occurrence for players nearing the end of their career to move to a club outside of Europe and receive a healthy paycheck. However, this time it is a little bit different with players entering their prime making the move to the Middle East with the latest one being Ruben Neves.

The 26 year old Portuguese midfielder has signed for Al Hilal for a fee of £47 million, much to the disappointment of many Wolves fans. Often the first name on the team sheet at Molineux, the move seems a strange decision, however, who could blame him with a rumoured salary of £300,000 a week. Neves isn’t the only player in his prime being linked with Saudi Arabian clubs. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is heavily linked with a move to Southwest Asia as well as teammates Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech.

The Race for Maddison

Not quite as high profile as the Declan Rice saga, another battle between two Premier League clubs unfolds. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are thought to be battling it out for the signature of Leicester City midfielder James Maddison. Another England man caught up in a transfer war, the 26 year old has been on the wishlist of both clubs for some time and as a result of Leicester’s relegation, a deal is looking promising.

Could this be a way of new Spurs boss, Ange Postecoglou, making a first statement signing in order to gain disgruntled fans back on side after last season’s misery? It is thought that Spurs lead the race for the midfielder and are close to a deal although Newcastle’s offer of Champions League football next season may make the North East a more tempting move.

Aside from the Maddison battle both sides are carrying out business of their own. With reports that long-time goalkeeper Hugo Lloris could be on the way out, Spurs have agreed a deal with Serie A club Empoli for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The 26 year old is expected to undergo a medical in the coming days and could replace the French international after 11 years at the club.

With the future of Harry Kane remaining in the balance after a bid from Bayern Munich was rejected, which striker will Spurs target to replace their starman if he was to leave?

Newcastle on the other hand have had a quiet start to the window with no signings as of yet, however, they are expected to announce the signing of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in the next few days.

The Italian defensive midfielder captains Italy under 21s and is expected to arrive on Tyneside for £55 million much to the disappointment of many AC Milan supporters. It’s safe to say this will not be Eddie Howe’s only signing considering their shock qualification for the Champions League and they will still be very keen on drafting in Maddison to bolster their attacking strength.

Klopp’s lack of squad depth

With the signing of Alexis Mac Allister announced before the window had even opened, Liverpool were limbering up to do some serious business this summer. Yet since the signing of the Argentine they have been relatively quiet with no other signings made.

After missing out on Champions League football for the first time since 2016, fans are worried about their side’s squad depth next season. The departure of James Milner, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita, their squad is beginning to look a bit bare.

With that said, there are reports Liverpool are hoping to have talks with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the coming days. The Nigerian international was pivotal in Napoli’s title winning success last season scoring 26 goals in 32 appearances in the Serie A. However, it is thought Liverpool will be faced by competition from Chelsea and Manchester United for Osimhen’s signature.

At this early stage, it is still hard to predict who will be the signing of the summer but with rumours surrounding Harry Kane and Declan Rice, not to mention the transfer of Jude Belligham to Real Madrid, there are going to be some big deals made.

Why not see how some of these stars perform at their possible new clubs from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

Premier League Transfer Window is open for business!

It seems like an age since the last action of an exhilarating period of Premier League football doesn’t it? A season of twists and turns saw some shock results, a relegation battle and a thrilling title race. Although the start of the new Premier League season is still two months away, the summer transfer window is just around the corner with the domestic window commencing on June 14th and the overseas window beginning on the 1st July.

What better way to prepare for the upcoming season than by looking at some of the Premier League teams looking to do big business in the window?

Manchester City

We start with the champions/treble winners. Pep Guardiola’s men treated us to some scintillating football with some remarkable talent on show, most notably star man Erling Haaland scoring 36 goals breaking the record for most goals scored in a Premier League season.

It’s hard to say how this transfer window will pan out for the Citizens but it would be unusual for Guardiola not to spend money. Interest in Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has resulted in the London club allowing him to have talks with City. The Croatian international only scored once and assisted twice in the league last term and a move away from Stamford Bridge is looking increasingly likely.

City are also considering a move for highly-rated defender Josko Gvardiol. The £80 million rated defender has impressed many with his form at RB Leipzig alongside performances in the Qatar World Cup and his ability to play at centre-back and left-back makes him an anntractive target for the Manchester club.

Arsenal

After an exciting battle with Manchester City, Mikel Arteta’s men must look back on the 2022/23 season as runners up. Ultimately, it was the lack of squad depth that let the Gunners down and Arteta will be looking to strengthen before the first game on 14th August but who will he bring in?

It is believed the Frenchman is targeting two midfielders over the summer, especially with the possible departure of Granit Xhaka. The first of whom being West Ham and England star Declan Rice. The central midfielder is sought after by many Premier League clubs and has been for some time after his good form for club and country. However, if the 24 year-old is wanting to leave the Olympic Stadium, he will not come cheaply with a rumoured asking price of £100 million.

The second of Arteta’s transfer targets is Moises Caceido. The Ecuadorian defensive midfielder impressed at Brighton last season and attracted attention from many of Europe’s elite, notably Arsenal in January when they had two bids rejected.

Manchester United

It has been a season of ups and downs for the Red Devils with a Carabao Cup win, a hint of a title charge, the prospect of new ownership and an FA Cup final defeat to their neighbours. Not only has their season been hectic, their transfer window promises to be busy as well. Manchester United’s heightened interest in Napoli defender Kim-Min Jae could see the departure of captain Harry Maguire. The England International’s time in Manchester has been turbulent and with a replacement looming, it could be the perfect opportunity for him to progress his career elsewhere.

Erik Ten Haag is another man in pursuit of Declan Rice but it is believed he will have to better Arsenal’s bid in order to persuade a move away from London. One of the big summer signings could be that of Harry Kane to Manchester United. Kane scored 30 goals in the league last season only second in the standings to Erling Haaland. He would certainly be a statement signing at Old Trafford, but will he really leave Tottenham?

Liverpool

It was a somewhat disappointing season for Jurgen Klopp’s men with a finish outside of the top four, however, they have wasted no time in getting down to business with the signing of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister for an initial fee of £35 million. The Argentine scored 12 times in all competitions for Brighton last season and made a name for himself starting 6 games in Argentina’s triumphant World Cup Finals.

Klopp is also looking for more men to strengthen his midfield line up including OGC Nice’s youngster Kephren Thuram. The playmaker scored 2 goals and had 4 assists in Ligue 1 last season and his exciting style of play has seen him described as one of Europe’s hottest talents. He could be another statement signing if Liverpool are willing to splash out the rumoured £50 million price tag.

Tottenham

In what was a campaign of disappointment for Tottenham, after failure to achieve European Football next season for the first time since 2010, things might be starting to look up for Spurs fans. With the appointment of, Celtic treble winner Ange Postecoglou things are looking more hopeful and perhaps the lack of European Football may allow for some respite and better focus on the league next season.

With that said, there is no time for rest in the transfer window for Spurs. The biggest challenge to begin with will be keeping a hold of Harry Kane. Interest from both Manchester United and Real Madrid are casting doubt on his North London future. It’s safe to say his departure would be a huge miss and Postecoglou would have to think of a big name to replace him.

In terms of arrivals, Harry Maguire is someone who Spurs would consider if he was looking for a move out of Manchester and could easily be a replacement captain for Harry Kane, if Kane was to leave. The destination Kane will end the summer at is still very uncertain and it is sure to be an ongoing saga over the next couple of months.

Chelsea

It’s hard to sum up Chelsea’s season without saying it was a disaster. Three managers, over £600 million spent and an extremely poor twelfth placed finish saw a rather disgruntled Chelsea faithful by the end of the season. So where do they go from here?

With the possible outgoings of N’Golo Kante to Saudi Arabia and Mason Mount, Chelsea have to do some smart business in the forthcoming window. The appointment of manager Mauricio Pochettino will be of benefit with his wealth of experience and he is throwing his hat in the ring for the signature of Moises Caceido from Brighton. They are also joining the race for Celta Vigo youngster Gabri Veiga who scored 11 goals and had 4 assists in La Liga last season. However, the Blues will have to battle with Liverpool and Barcelona if they want any chance of signing the talented midfielder.

Newcastle

Even most Newcastle fans couldn’t have predicted a top four finish in the first full season of their new ownership. But that’s exactly what Eddie Howe managed to do and the Magpies can look forward to Champions League Football for the first time since 2003. Now there is no doubt that Newcastle must strengthen to deal with the extra game time and higher quality of football. However, they will not be afraid to spend big, already targeting Arsenal full back Kieran Tierney. The Scottish International played as a backup to Oleksandr Zinchenko last season and is hoping for some more regular game time with a move away from the Emirates.

In terms of marquee signings that Eddie Howe may make this summer, Leicester midfielder James Maddison and Chelsea midfielder Connor Gallagher are names that have been thrown around. Newcastle are also interested in Lyon’s talented attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki. The 19 year-old has impressed many European Clubs including French giants PSG, which may end up being the more attractive option for the youngster.

Aston Villa

Having only taken 13 points from 12 games at the beginning of the season under Steven Gerrard, it was looking like a gloomy campaign in the West Midlands. That is until Unai Emery arrived and propelled them to a 7th place finish with European Football on the horizon. After a horrendous start to the season, Villa secured a place in the European Conference League with a win over Brighton on the final day. So how will Emery be looking to improve his side with an additional set of fixtures next season?

The Spaniard is rumoured to have a number of players on his wishlist with the key target being Leicester playmaker Youri Tielemans. The Belgian is a likely candidate to leave Leicester after their relegation to the Championship last season and he has been on the radar of many Premier League clubs over the last few years. It would be an excellent start to the summer for Villa and a signing that would issue a statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.

Everton

Another team who had a pretty woeful season, only avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day. For the second season running, the Toffees found themselves fighting for their lives in the Premier League. Unless some very good investment is carried out over the summer, they may see themselves in a similar position next season.

Possible players on Everton’s radar include Harry Maguire, one of multiple clubs looking for the England man’s signature. Brennan Johnson is another reportedly being watched keenly by the Everton scouts. The Nottingham Forest forward played a key role in their survival last season scoring 8 goals in the league along with 3 assists. He would be a good start to the summer business for Dyche while wounding a rival.

So there is a lot to ponder before the first kick of a ball on the 14th August. Will we see Harry Kane making a move? With Jude Bellingham rumoured to be set on Real Madrid, is there any chance an English club may hijack the deal?

At this stage, it’s uncertain who will go where and which team will be the biggest spenders in this transfer window before the window closes on 1st September.

Make sure you can watch the newest transfers in action next season with Engage Hospitality.

Manchester City beat Inter Milan in Champions League Final

Manchester City made history on Saturday night as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final to secure a famous treble.

Rodri fired home what proved to be the winner in the 68th minute of a cagey affair in Istanbul.

Despite dominating the early proceedings, things didn’t exactly go to plan for City in the first half. Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with a hamstring problem and they struggled to break down the Serie A side, whose energy and intense pressing caused them problems at times.

But Pep Guardiola’s men held their nerve and when Rodri’s composed finish flew past Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, they started to believe.

Inter continued to push and but for the crossbar, smart reactions from Ederson and Romelu Lukaku blocking his own teammate’s shot, they would have forced an equaliser.

But City held on to clinch their third trophy of the season. And while they can have no regrets after a dominant campaign, there may just be one thing playing on their minds: how on earth did Nathan Jones and Southampton manage to knock them out of the League Cup and prevent the quadruple?!

How did they win the treble?

After going head-to-head with Arsenal for most of the season, Manchester City eventually won the Premier League by five points to win the first of their three trophies and their fifth league title in six seasons.

Erling Haaland settled into life in England quickly, breaking almost every record that lay in his wake and scoring 36 league goals to win the Golden Boot.

Guardiola’s side then added the FA Cup to their collection last weekend, beating arch-rivals Manchester United in the final thanks to two goals from Ilkay Gundogan.

With only the Champions League remaining, all roads led to Istanbul and to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the scene of Liverpool’s iconic comeback against AC Milan in 2005.

City had done the hard work already, comfortably seeing off Bayern Munich in the quarter-final before blowing Real Madrid away in the semis with a humbling 4-0 second-leg win at the Etihad.

But Inter are no pushovers, having qualified from the group stage ahead of Barcelona before seeing off the likes of Porto, Benfica and AC Milan en route to the final.

City were the clear favourites going into the showdown but there were fears that the occasion could prove too much for them, as it did against Chelsea two years ago.

However, their imperious form continued and they finally landed the elusive treble, matching rivals United’s achievement from 1999.

Where do Man City go from here?

You could argue that as far as Pep Guardiola is concerned, his work at City is done. The 52-year-old has finally added the Champions League to his City CV having not won it since his 2011 triumph with Barcelona.

Guardiola has two years to run on his contract and there’s every chance he’ll carry on and possibly even extend it. Alternatively, he may feel there’s nothing left to achieve and a new challenge could appeal to him.

As for City, their future is bright, even if Guardiola were to move on. In Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden they have a core of young, exciting players that are only going to improve. And they’ll undoubtedly add quality to their squad, with the likes of Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva linked with moves away.

A lot could change for City in the next year or two but two things are for certain, there will be top-quality football on display, and you can watch it all with Engage!

A Premier League Season to remember

Another Premier League season has come to a close and thousands of fans up and down the country are either celebrating, commiserating or simply getting their breath back after another exhilarating (and exhausting!) campaign.

Manchester City secured yet another title, despite being run close by Arsenal. Meanwhile, Newcastle United will make a long-awaited return to the Champions League, alongside Manchester United, after finishing in the top four at Liverpool’s expense.

Aston Villa will also be playing in Europe next term, while Tottenham and Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after disappointing campaigns. Elsewhere, Everton live to fight another day after a dramatic win on the last day confirmed their survival.

The dust has barely settled on a memorable campaign yet most of us are already counting down the days until the next one begins. And when the Premier League does return, you can watch it in style, with hospitality packages available at all the top clubs.

Manchester City

Having dominated the Premier League for the past two seasons, it was hard to see how Pep Guardiola could make Manchester City even better. Step forward Erling Haaland! The Norwegian striker took no time at all to settle into English football, scoring 36 Premier League goals and obliterating just about every record in the process.

Despite pressure from Arsenal, City eventually made sure of their third consecutive title and they’re now looking to complete a historic treble with both the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come.

Guardiola’s squad doesn’t look like it needs improving ahead of next season, particularly with the likes of Jack Grealish and Julian Alvarez growing in confidence following the break for the World Cup.

But with Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo expected to leave, they’ll likely look to add to their squad depth as they target a sixth title in seven seasons next time around.

Arsenal

Up until a couple of months ago, most of us (except City and Spurs fans, of course!) thought Arsenal were finally going to end their Premier League title drought. Mikel Arteta’s young side defied expectations all season, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli leading the way.

Ultimately, they couldn’t keep up with City but they showed immense promise and if they can add quality to their squad, with Gundogan and Declan Rice among the names mentioned, they’ll no doubt be in the mix next season.

However, Arteta will need to be wary about how competing in the Champions League could affect their domestic form. The Gunners will be competing with Europe’s elite again and we have plenty of hospitality options if you want to hear the famous anthem back at the Emirates.

Manchester United

United have been going through the motions for a few years but they look to finally be on their way back under Erik ten Hag, who impressed in his first season at the helm. The Red Devils eventually finished third, thanks in large part to a fantastic season from Marcus Rashford, as well as the impact from new signings Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez.

They could add to their Carabao Cup success by making it a cup double against rivals City this weekend. And while a title charge may seem beyond them for now, if they can somehow convince Harry Kane to leave Tottenham then they’ll be a genuine force to be reckoned with.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s side sparked into life midway through the season but missed out on the Champions League, despite another incredible campaign in front of goal from Mohamed Salah.

Their ageing squad desperately needs reinforcements, particularly in midfield. Liverpool look set to miss out on long-term target Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid but they’ll be boosted by strong transfer links to Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

The World Cup winner will add a much needed spark in the middle of the park for the Reds, as could the revival of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who shone in a new midfield-hybrid role during the latter parts of the season.

Tottenham

It was a season to forget for Tottenham, who finished eighth in the Premier League despite an incredible 30 goals from Kane. They’ll be desperate to hang on to the England striker, who is now just 47 goals behind Alan Shearer in the all-time charts.

Not qualifying for Europe could be a blessing in disguise for Spurs, who can put all of their efforts into finishing as high as possible in the league. They’ll be keen to appoint their next manager quickly in order for him to hit the ground running.

Chelsea

Like Spurs before them, Chelsea fans didn’t enjoy the best of seasons. They watched their side finish 12th despite spending a record amount on players and the fairytale return of Frank Lampard in the dugout didn’t work out as hoped.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The good thing for Chelsea is that they’ve confirmed new manager Mauricio Pochettino early. The former Spurs boss will be able to make a decision quickly about which players will work for him and which ones need a fresh start elsewhere.

The Blues have got a talented young squad packed full of potential. They could gel well following a strong pre-season – and you could be there to witness their resurgence with one of our hospitality packages at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle

It wasn’t too long ago that Newcastle were looking over their shoulders, nervously wondering if they were destined for another spell in the Championship. Fast forward 18 months and Eddie Howe has taken them from the bottom three to the Champions League.

The Magpies have obviously splashed the cash but getting it right is easier said than done. The likes of Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope have all hit the ground running since being brought in by Howe and they were pivotal to them securing fourth place.

Newcastle will undoubtedly look to add more depth to their squad this summer as they prepare to compete in Europe but there’s no reason why they can’t push on from here and become a regular fixture in the Champions League.

Aston Villa

Just like Howe has done at Newcastle, Unai Emery has completely transformed Aston Villa since his arrival last October. They looked lost under Steven Gerrard but Ollie Watkins’ prowess in front of goal turned their fortunes around, firing them to a seventh-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

While they’ll be excited for a European tour next season if they can navigate past the playoff round, the Villans will also be wary of letting it affect their performances in the Premier League, as has been the case with West Ham this year.

Everton

For the second season in a row, Everton avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. And if they want to make it third time lucky, Sean Dyche’s squad will need a serious overhaul in the transfer window.

Everton have holes throughout their side but a new striker should be at the very top of their wishlist. They desperately missed the goals of Richarlison, who they didn’t replace. While Dominic Calvert-Lewin is unplayable on his day, he’s injured far too often and his fitness can’t be relied upon to keep the Toffees afloat.

As the crunch time of the English domestic season draws nearer, we look forward to the semi finals of the FA Cup. Four teams will battle it out in the hope that their team can clasp the famous FA Cup Trophy. Neutrals can be excited as well with the very high possibility of a Manchester Derby in a Wembley Cup Final!

Starting with the first of the Manchester clubs, Manchester City will face Sheffield United at Wembley in late April. After the 7-0 demolition of RB Leipzig last week and the 6-0 battering of Championship leaders Burnley on Saturday night, they are a force to be reckoned with at the moment, as they usually are. 8 of the 13 goals scored by The Citizens last week came from Norwegian superstar, Erling Haaland, and stopping him at the moment may be Sheffield United’s biggest challenge.

Sheffield United are not to be underestimated

With that said Sheffield United will not be a walkover. They currently sit second in the Championship with Middlesborough breathing down their necks. A 3-2 win over Blackburn in the last round, courtesy of a Thomas Doyle 91st minute screamer, will see them marching down Wembley Way in a month’s time. However, will The Blades be too engulfed in the battle for promotion to overcome this ruthless City team and find themselves in their first FA Cup final since 1936?

Manchester United take on Brighton

So what about the neighbours? Manchester United will entertain Brighton in an all Premier League clash at Wembley. Only 3 weeks after their triumph over Newcastle in the League Cup final, Manchester United are in the hunt for another trophy after a thrilling 3-1 win at home to Fulham. Although, it wasn’t all plain sailing for The Red Devils, finding themselves 1-0 down after an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal just after half-time. That was, until The Cottagers were reduced to nine men when Willian was dismissed for a handball and Mitrovic for dissent, the game was turned on its head. A Bruno Fernandes brace and a stylish Marcel Sabitzer finish ensured they would be progressing. With the Red Devils in the quarter finals of the Europa League after a comfortable win on aggregate over Real Betis last week, they will be tough to beat. However, will the amount of games be too much for them to carry on this strong run of form?

Can Brighton remain on their winning streak?

Erik Ten Haag’s side will have to be at the top of their game when they face an inform Brighton team in the capital next month. Roberto De Zerbi’s men are flying at the moment having lost one in 13 games while they eye up a Champions League Spot. They thumped League 2 opposition Grimsby Town 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Amex, showing no signs of letting up their incredible run of form. With Brighton aiming for only their second ever FA Cup final, they will be very difficult to beat.

So will we see a Manchester Derby at Wembley?

The two sides have only met once at Wembley in the FA Cup coming in 2011 when City knocked United out in the semi final on the way to their ninth finale of this trophy. This would be the City’s seventh FA cup trophy if they were to clinch it, but they have to get there first. It is looking increasingly likely they may face each other again at Wembley as the teams thin out, but as they will know, the teams that Pep Guardiola’s and Erik Ten Haag’s sides play, are not going to give up without a fight. A Manchester City win looks probable, however, United will have a much bigger task on their hands if they are to overcome fellow Premier League opposition. It’s safe to say a Manchester Derby at Wembley would be a thrilling encounter and could make for a classic FA Cup final if it were to happen.

The legendary commentator and our good friend John Motson has sadly passed away on Thursday 23 February, aged 77.

A Legendary Sports Commentator

John was a regular guest at our ICON events and many of our clients would have had the opportunity to speak with him, take photos and hear his iconic voice that can be recognised all around the world.

One of the kindest people in the industry, John would spend his time sharing his incredible stories in the footballing world with passion and detail. He had quite a few to choose from, covering an astonishing 10 World Cups, 10 Euro Championships and 29 FA Cup Finals before retiring from his commentary duties in 2018.

His 50 year broadcasting career has included moments that will never be forgotten. From the 1988 FA Cup Final where “the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club” to his favourite match where England beat Germany 5-1 away “Oh, this is getting better and better and better. One, two, three for Michael Owen!”

When John spoke, no matter where you were, heads all around the room would turn. As one of the most inspirational and recognisable voices of all time, ‘Motty’ would always be noticed but was never too busy to take the time to chat.

John’s Best Bits

John worked at the BBC for the majority of his career and his story and experiences is fascinating. You can review his story and see for yourself how iconic he was.

John loved Horse Racing

Although John’s impeccable career was centred around football, his passion for other sports such as Horse Racing was there for all to see.

John loved the Cheltenham Festival and the ICON was due to be with us at the festival in just a few weeks time. As ever, John was more than happy to speak to our clients, share a few of his tips and get the punters going with a little commentary of his own.

Outside of his usual spot in the commentary box, John kept busy throughout his career and maximised his popularity and natural charismatic gifts.

Motson provided commentary and narration for Cbeebies programme Footy Pups, featured on the FIFA video game series for 10 years and featured on Motty Mastermind!

We want to send our deepest condolences to Anne, who was John’s lifelong partner and Mother to their son and more recently a Grandmother

Anne and John were married for a sensational 45 years and she was a regular attendee alongside John at our ICON events. You couldn’t wish to meet a nicer person and the most important figure in John’s life.

As the transfer window closes and the league action is halted for a week as a result of cup football, let’s take a look at how some of the top teams spent their money in January.

Have Arsenal done enough to stay at the top?

Starting with the league leaders, Arsenal have been pretty quiet in terms of cementing their position at the top. With a 3-2 win at home to Manchester United last month, they put a big statement out to the rest of the league about their intentions. Although there has been no big money signings in January they have still been one of the busier Premier League clubs with the exciting signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton for £27 million and Jakub Kiwio from Spezia for £20 million. Not to mention, the deadline day signing of midfielder Jorginho from struggling rivals Chelsea for £12 million. Their main target, Moises Caicedo was not to be in the end due to Brighton’s reluctance to sell the inform midfielder. So it was only three quality signings for the league leaders in January, two of which have previously proved their talent in the Premier League. These signings give Arsenal more strength in depth, however, have they made a mistake by not spending big or will these players be enough for them to get that overdue 4th Premier League title that is well within their grasp.

No major changes for Man City

So what about the reigning champions? Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side have been far from their best this season with numerous disappointing results, so surely they would have been busy in January? As a matter of fact, the Citizens’ activity in the window was very limited with their only signing being Argentine Maximo Perrone. The 20 year old midfielder has scored 3 goals in 33 appearances at Argentinian club Velez Sarsfield and has joined City for a fee of £8 million. The biggest news involving City in January this year was perhaps the departure of Portuguese international Joao Cancelo to German force Bayern Munich. The full back left on loan with the option to buy at the end of the season for £61 million. Cancelo has been a valuable asset to City over the last 4 years with 154 appearances in all competitions. He will certainly be a miss at Manchester City leaving you to wonder whether that is another blow for the Manchester side in the race for the title.

Project Newcastle well underway with two new additions

It’s safe to say everyone has been shocked by the inclusion of Newcastle United in this season’s title race. Eddie Howe continues to do a magnificent job up in the North East with the Magpies sat in 3rd position and due to play in their first major final since 1999 (Carabao Cup). It’s no secret that Newcastle have a bit of money at the moment as a result of the takeover of the club 14 months ago, but learning to spend it wisely is a different matter. However, that is exactly what Howe has done thus far and this January he has made two new additions to the squad, both of which seem to be exciting youngsters. The first signing is fiery young talent Anthony Gordon for £45 million. The winger has scored 3 goals for Everton this season and has also featured for the England side at youth level. Many Everton fans were happy to see him go, however, the way Howe has improved players such as Joelinton and Sean Longstaff, he seems a hopeful prospect who could be a key part of the project at Newcastle. Another youngster Newcastle have signed is Harrison Ashby from West Ham for £3 million. The full back didn’t feature much at the Hammers but fans are eager to see how he will prosper under Howe. Although people expected Newcastle to go big this January, they seem to have taken a much more measured approach and focused on strengthening rather than necessarily improving.

Three loan signings for Manchester United

Currently level on points with Newcastle and also in preparation for a cup final against them, Manchester United have been particularly quiet in terms of money spent. With that said, they have made three loan signings with Jack Butland from Crystal Palace, Wout Weghorst from Burnley and the most notable of the trio Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich. After the injury of Christian Eriksen last week, Ten Haag needed to act fast to bring in a replacement and he did just that with a deal on deadline day for the Bayern Munich midfielder. The Austrian has made 15 appearances for Munich in the league this season scoring 1 goal and assisting another. Could he help the Red Devils push on to challenge Arsenal? Failing that, will he help them to secure a Champions League spot for next season?

Money spent wisely at Spurs

Trailing behind the top 4 are North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur. They have been similar in their methods to Manchester United with two loan signings but very exciting ones at that. The first of which is Pedro Porro. The right back has 13 assists and scored 9 goals in 67 league appearances for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon since joining from Girona in 2019. He has been described as one of Europe’s most exciting talents. He will certainly be an asset to Conte’s right hand side, an area where Spurs have previously struggled. The second of the signings is former Bournemouth winger Arnaut Dajuma on loan from Villareal. With 12 goals in 33 appearances in LaLiga since joining Villareal in 2021, he could be a key player in Tottenham’s push for a Champions League place after a poor run of form.

Single signing for Liverpool – will the new youngster give them the goals they need?

Dropping down the table, a struggling Liverpool team sit in 9th place. Jurgen Klopp’s men are 10 points outside the top 4 and trail leaders Arsenal by an astonishing 21 points. This is a stark contrast to events over the past 5 years where Liverpool have been winning trophies including Premier League and Champions League honours. A surprising turn in form since the start of the season sees the former European Champions with all the work to do to make up positions, what with their recent departure out of the FA cup. The only signing made by Klopp in January was Dutch World Cup Star Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for £45 million. The winger has been a valuable asset for his country scoring 3 goals in the 2022 World Cup alongside his excellent form in the Dutch league scoring 9 goals and bagging 12 assists in 14 matches. At only 23 years of age, it is no wonder that Klopp saw Gakpo’s talent as a potential solution to their poor season so far. With that said, will one signing be enough to turn the season around for the Reds or are they targeting a summer rebuild?

Biggest spend of the season at Chelsea

Level on points with Liverpool, in 10^th place sit Chelsea. Now it’s certainly no secret that Chelsea have struggled to pick up results this season and many fans blame this on the arrival of new manager Graham Potter from Brighton. That being said, many of the players have a lot to answer for as they simply have not been good enough. Less than two years ago they were European Champions but the Blues seem a million miles off that now. On the one hand, they seem to have realised their poor form and have made an incredible 8 new signings in January spending an absurd £323 million. The most notable signings included Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British record fee of £106.8 million and Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk for £88.5 million. The ridiculous amount of money spent by Chelsea has led many opposition fans and pundits to question the fairness around the lack of spending restrictions in the Premier League with many clubs simply unable to keep up. In terms of how this will improve the Chelsea team, it is now up to Potter to decide how these players will assist him to turn an extremely disappointing season around.

Want to see how the new signings get on and whether they make an impact on the race for the top 4? Why not watch it from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.

There is a feel-good factor around St. James’ Park, the home of Newcastle United. Rewind 12 months ago, and The Magpies were in the relegation zone, fighting for Premier League survival. A year is a long time in football (just ask any Everton manager), and Newcastle find themselves challenging for a Champions League place (or possibly the title) plus a potential Carabao Cup Final.

The turnaround is quite remarkable, Newcastle’s accession up the Premier League ladder has taken everyone by surprise, perhaps even their super wealthy Saudi Arabian owners, who bought the club from Mike Ashley in November 2022.

Eddie Howe takes the reign

Under manager Eddie Howe, who took charge shortly after the takeover, Newcastle have spent wisely rather than lavishly in the transfer window. In came the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett in the first window post-takeover – quality players with Premier League experience, but hardly Kylian Mbappe, who was trending all over Twitter shortly after the Saudi acquisition was confirmed.

Bruno Guimarães was added before the close of the January 2022 window from Lyon, and was instrumental in the second half of the season, as Newcastle comfortably secured their status in the Premier League, finishing 11th.

After failing to win any of their first 14 games under Steve Bruce, Newcastle won 12 of their last 18 games in the 21/22 season with Eddie Howe, and they have carried this momentum into the 22/23 season.

More talent arrived through the doors at St James’ Park in the summer transfer window, including striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, centre back Sven Botman from Lille and goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley.

However, it wasn’t a new signing who caught the eye in Newcastle’s pre World Cup run, but a diminutive Paraguayan forward, who was written off by many as a flop just a season or two ago – Miguel Almirón.

His form in the 22/23 season has drawn many comparisons with Lionel Messi, and the former Atlanta United player is practically a one man shortlist for goal of the season.

Other players like Joelinton and Fabian Schär have also emerged from the shadows and revitalised their Newcastle careers under Eddie Howe.

Can Newcastle see domestic success this season?

At the time of writing, Newcastle are on the brink of a Carabao Cup final, as they bid to win their first major trophy for over 50 years.

When the Saudi’s took over last year, it wasn’t to lead Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory, they have bigger fish to fry, namely the Premier League and Champions League. However, judging by the atmosphere the Toon Army has created in recent weeks, the fans see the Carabao Cup as a major trophy worth winning, one that will end half a decade of hurt and usher in a new era of Newcastle success.

Years of frustration for the Toon

For the majority of Newcastle’s Premier League days, they have been considered a sleeping giant. A one club city with a 50,000 seater stadium, iconic strip and devoted fanbase. Every once in a while the team has flirted with immortality but has always fallen at the final hurdle, most notably under Kevin Keegan in 1996, when they blew a 12-point lead in the title race to eventual champions Manchester United.

More recent near-misses came under Sir Kenny Dalglish and Rudd Gullit, who lost back-to-back FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

In the noughties Sir Bobby Robson led The Magpies to the second group stage of the Champions League in 02/03 and the semi finals of the Uefa Cup in 03/04.

Bad signings, poor ownership and a managerial merry-go-round meant many Newcastle fans had to revert from supporters to protestors, utilising their famous passion for the club in a different way.

Newcastle have exceeded expectations in 2022/23

These days, however, the Newcastle fanbase is united, after so many years of frustration, mass-walkouts and a general media-circus around St James’ Park, the stadium is now home to arguably the best atmosphere in the country. It’s as though all the tension and build over the last two decades has finally been unleashed, manifesting itself as uncomplicated, wholehearted support for the Newcastle players and managers.

Newcastle currently sit 3rd place and in a Champions League spot. It’s a position most football fans believed Newcastle would eventually reach, but not so soon after the takeover with relatively modest investment compared to other top 4 rivals.

Clearly the team is thriving off the St James’ Park atmosphere, which will soon surely play host to European giants in the Champions League or Europa League next season.

There is no ceiling for this great club and the volume its supporters generate. If you think things are good right now, just wait until you hear St James’ Park on a Tuesday night under the lights, as the players in Newcastle’s iconic black and white strip, stroll out onto the pitch to the sound of the Champions League anthem.

The turn around at Arsenal this season has been, to put it simply, astonishing. The Gunners are believing again, as they sit 8 points clear at the top of the Premier League after victory away at North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

If you were to tell Arsenal fans a few years ago that they would comfortably be league leaders in 2023, many would have laughed in your face. As a matter of fact, some fans cried for Arteta to be replaced at this stage last season. But here we are into the New Year and they are still flying high. With only one defeat in the league this season, Mikel Arteta’s men are taking the league by storm as we approach the halfway mark.

However, with the two Manchester clubs and Newcastle in hot pursuit, football fans across the globe are asking the question, will Arsenal hang on?

As mentioned earlier, some Arsenal fans will agree that over the past 10 years, they have been the laughing stock of the so called ‘big six’, what with their constant runs of poor form and consistently having to settle for Europa League football, much different to the Arsenal we saw back in the late 90s and early 2000s winning the premier league 3 times in 6 years. Not to mention the incredible feat of going a full Premier League season unbeaten, the only team to have done so in the Premier League era. They became known as ‘The Invincibles’.

This invincible season has seemed so far away in the last decade with the relatively frequent managerial changes after Arsene Wenger left and the lack of league success, having not appeared in the Champions League since the 2016/17 season. This is a stark contrast from the years prior where Arsenal last missed qualification for Europe’s most prestigious competition in the 1995/96 Premier League Season, an impressive stat beginning and ending within Wenger’s reign. Since then it has been doom and gloom for the North London club with many fans projecting their disappointment.

However, this season they seem to be turning their fortunes around. The Gunners are believing again and they owe much of that to former player turned manager, Mikel Arteta. Arsenal are Arteta’s first experience of being head coach, however, he has learnt from the best when he was Pep Guardiola’s right hand man from 2016-2019 at Manchester City. With only one defeat this season and unbeaten in their last 13 they sit 8 points clear at the top of the table, looking very unlikely to slip up.

Nevertheless, they are yet to play Guardiola’s City side this season and I’m sure they’ll not be planning on giving up without a fight. With a team of their quality, you can never write them off. One thing is for sure, it will be a thrilling title race that could go right down to the wire.

Don’t forget Arsenal are not out of the FA Cup either. A comfortable 3-0 win away at Oxford United in the 3rd round has resulted in a tough fourth round draw away at Manchester City. It will certainly not be an easy tie, in fact probably the hardest they could have asked for, however, Arsenal’s impressive FA Cup form over the years, may make them the favourites for this one. They have been FA Cup winners 4 times in the last 10 years with the most recent title in 2020. If they were to travel to the North West and win, they will certainly fancy their chances of adding another FA Cup trophy to their long list.

In fact the only cup that Arsenal are no longer competing for is the League Cup after being knocked out by a strong Brighton side. Despite this, they are still going strong in the Europa League and are set to play in the round of 16 in March. After topping their group, Arsenal will certainly be keen to avenge their defeat from neighbours Chelsea back in the 2019 final by winning the competition this year. They will definitely need to improve on their dismal display from Baku four years ago when they were thumped 4-1 by the West London side if they are to stand any chance of progressing through the knockout stages. With that said, the way Arsenal are playing in the league, it is hard to not see them as favourites.

Although a lot of credit has been given to Arteta for the tactics he has instilled in his side, there is a lot of credit due for his deals in the transfer market. Many of the signings made by Arteta, such as Ben White, were questioned when they weren’t performing immediately. However, players such as White, Odegaard and Gabriel have all proved key players and have been vital to their success this season. Not to mention, the incredible young talent on show at the moment, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli crafted into some of the most talked about names in world football. But who will Arsenal sign next?

There have been a lot of questions raised about whether or not Arsenal have enough squad depth to challenge for the title. After being snubbed by Chelsea for 89 million pound Shakhtar Donetsk winger, Mykhaylo Mudryk, they must regroup and rethink who they target this January. Another option for Arteta may be former Leeds star Raphinha. The winger has made 22 appearances for Spanish giants Barcelona scoring 5 and assisting 3 times in all competitions. He was previously on Arsenal’s radar in July 2022 before his move from Leeds but their bid was rejected. Despite this, there are no new faces at the Emirates in 2023 just yet.

So with three trophies up for grabs, will Arsenal win all three of them? Or will they focus on winning their first league title in almost 20 years? Injuries may be the downfall of Arsenal this season with a lack of squad depth perhaps being their only weakness, unless they plan to be busy in January. As good as they have been, there is still a long way to go. It’s safe to say it is going to be an exciting end to the season whether you’re an Arsenal fan or not.

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