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As Arsenal continue to march on in the quest to secure the Premier League title, manager Mikel Arteta may well reflect on what was a vital summer clearout prior to the start of the campaign, with the Spaniard having somewhat ruthlessly overseen the exits of the likes of Hector Bellerin, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe – among others – in order to continue putting his own stamp on the squad.

One further figure that had a perhaps more low-key departure during that mass exodus was diminutive midfielder, Lucas Torreira, with the Uruguay international having joined Turkish giants Galatasaray on a permanent deal after spending the previous two seasons out on loan at Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, respectively.

That exit marked what had largely been an underwhelming spell in north London for the 27-year-old, in truth, with the Emirates outfit likely to be regretting forking out roughly £26m to bring the 40-cap maestro to England in the first place, having plucked the tenacious ace from Serie A side Sampdoria in 2018.

What went wrong for Torreira at Arsenal?

That capture of the Fray Bentos-born dynamo had initially looked like astute business for former boss Unai Emery, with Torreira having made a stunning start to life in the Premier League, notably netting in a thumping 4-2 victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur just a matter of months into his time at the club.

That standout display ultimately saw the 5 foot 5 warrior lauded by club legend Martin Keown, with the former England international notably likening the new addition to his former teammate, Patrick Vieira:

‘It was the best all-round midfield display I have seen in an Arsenal shirt since Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva used to run the show. Torreira and Vieira could not be more different in terms of size and stature but their drive and determination is exactly the same.’

Also praised as “incredible” and described as a “fighter” by teammate Bernd Leno following that north London derby performance, the former Pescara man would also net a stunning scissor kick just days later in a win over Huddersfield Town, having quickly established himself as a leading presence in Emery’s side.

Despite that impressive debut campaign, however, the defensive-minded menace would go on to make just 17 league starts the following season as he quickly faded from view, having somewhat slipped down the pecking order amid Arteta’s arrival in the dugout.

A place on the bench for the FA Cup final triumph at the end of the 2019/20 campaign proved to be Torreira’s last real involvement for the club, as he ultimately went on to join Atletico later that year, before making the move to Florence the following season.

That latter switch proved particularly impressive as the all-action “leader” – as lauded by pundit Domenico Caso – scored five times in 31 league games for the Serie A side, albeit with that form ultimately not doing enough to alter his situation back at his parent club.

Having been deemed surplus to requirements by Arteta and co, the no-nonsense star was allowed to depart for Istanbul back in August, with Arsenal sanctioning his exit for a minimal fee of just £5.5m.

That price tag proved around five times less than what the Gunners had initially paid for him four years earlier, with the inability to recoup a greater figure representing something of a howler as far as the club are concerned.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in signing central midfielder Morten Hjulmand in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Morten Hjulmand to Tottenham Hotspur?

According to Calciomercato, Spurs have been sending scouts to watch the Lecce gem in action in the Serie A this season as sporting director Fabio Paratici gathers information on the 23-year-old.

The report claims that the Italian side rejected an offer of €13m (£11.5m) from Southampton during the January transfer window as they did not want to cash in on him until the summer, although it remains to be seen how much they will demand for his services now.

It is stated, however, that Tottenham will face competition for his signature from AS Roma, Napoli, and Borussia Dortmund, with the former two having already held talks with Lecce.

Can Hjulmand replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

Paratici could now land Antonio Conte the dream heir to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s position in the side by swooping to sign his compatriot in the summer.

The Danish international, who captained Southampton earlier in his career, is a leader on the pitch for Spurs and Hjulmand has been lauded as a ‘leader and captain’ on and off the field for Lecce, which suggests that they are both vocal, encouraging, presences in the middle of the park.

Hojbjerg, 27, has been in fine form in the Premier League this season. He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.22 across 23 outings and made three tackles and interceptions per game, winning 54% of his duels, whilst also completing 89% of his attempted passes.

Hjulmand, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 in 21 Serie A outings. The 23-year-old battler, who was hailed by journalist Alvaro Canibe as having a “remarkable” campaign, has made an eye-catching five tackles and interceptions per match, winning 58% of his battles, whilst completing 79% of his passes.

This comes after the gem averaged a score of 7.13 and made 3.9 tackles and interceptions per outing in the second division of Italian football for Lecce last term across 37 appearances.

His passing efficiency is not as impressive as Hojbjerg’s but the midfielder is playing in a team that is slogging it out in the bottom half of the Serie A and he may not have the chance to play it safe in dominant possession, as the current Spurs enforcer can in fourth-place.

Lecce’s standing in the Italian top-flight also suggests that Hjulmand has more opportunities to make defensive actions, which would explain his numbers being greater than the Tottenham man’s, however, his efficiency in those duels remains impressive as it highlights his strength and skill in winning possession back for his side.

Therefore, the 23-year-old could be the long-term heir to Hojbjerg as both players are defensive-minded midfielders who have the quality to be leaders for their side on the pitch, whilst moving to Tottenham could allow the Lecce star to improve his passing.

Private equity group MSP Sports Capital have reportedly kickstarted their Tottenham Hotspur takeover ‘campaign’ as a report shares their ‘genuine’ interest in acquiring the Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Najafi takeover links…

In recent weeks, there have been reports of interest from US-Iranian billionaire Jahm Najafi, who is apparently plotting a multi-billion pound bid to buy Spurs.

The Financial Times broke news of Najafi’s intentions with a formal approach (through MSP) expected soon, but according to sources closer to home, chairman Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis are undecided.

It is believed the Spurs chiefs do not know whether to sell a minority stake, negotiate a full sale or simply take no action, whilst there are some suggestions that ENIC value the club at close to £4.5bn.

The Latest: MSP kickstart Spurs takeover campaign…

According to Football Insider, there has been an update on the matter, with Najafi and MSP Sports Capital now conducting ‘due diligence’ ahead of a ‘takeover campaign’ for Spurs.

It is claimed their interest is ‘genuine’, with the consortium taking ‘concrete steps’ to buy Tottenham, mainly by conducting background checks into the club and matters of financial governance from UEFA and the Premier League.

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The Verdict: Promising…

Spurs supporters who have protested the ownership of Lewis and the ENIC group could see this news as promising, given that MSP and Najafi have seemingly begun their takeover process.

While there is an argument to be made that Tottenham have invested in the squad over the last few transfer windows, with roughly €533m (£469m) spent since their Champions League final appearance in 2019, former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino went for a prolonged period of time without any backing.

That period of inactivity on the transfer front perhaps highlights why sections of the fanbase have become frustrated with the current Spurs ownership, especially as some of their top-flight rivals continue to benefit from lofty backing.

The potential and promise of a full takeover is understandably alluring for some in N17, and it will be a very interesting topic over the next 12 months.

Nottingham Forest could be without left-back Renan Lodi for this afternoon’s meeting with Everton.

The Lowdown: Regular

Lodi arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid over the summer and has made himself a regular in Steve Cooper’s side in 2023. The 24-year-old, hailed as ‘hard-working’ by Diego Simeone, has started the last 10 Premier League fixtures, helping Forest to four clean sheets.

The Reds have picked up a more than respectable 15 points in that run, however, the Brazilian may miss a matchday squad for the first time since October after he was replaced with an issue against West Ham last time out.

The Latest: Injury update

Nottingham Post reporter Sarah Clapson shared a story on Friday following Cooper’s pre-Everton press conference.

The story said that Lodi faces a late fitness check ahead of this afternoon’s fixture and that the full-back was actually a doubt before West Ham with a groin issue.

The Verdict: Toffolo time?

Lodi is one of three left-backs on the books at the City Ground alongside Harry Toffolo and Omar Richards. As per WhoScored, Lodi has outperformed Toffolo this season, so missing the former for a key fixture wouldn’t be ideal. Richards has been out all season through injury, so if Lodi isn’t passed fit, Cooper may be forced to go with Toffolo.

The 27-year-old last started for Forest in the league back in October, although he was initially first choice at the beginning of the campaign, so could prove to be a solid replacement.

All eyes will be on team news an hour before kick-off, and it’ll be interesting to see if Lodi makes it or if Cooper is forced into another defensive change

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has slammed VAR official Andre Marriner for his inconsistency after helping Anthony Taylor hand Manchester United midfielder Casemiro a red card.

What’s the latest on Casemiro, VAR and Man United?

The Red Devils had to settle for just a point at Old Trafford this weekend in the Premier League when they hosted Southampton and saw the game end all square at 0-0.

No doubt, the major talking point in the match came when Casemiro was booked for a poor tackle on Saints' Carlos Alcaraz. Despite the initial yellow card, referee Taylor was told by VAR to consult the monitor to reconsider his decision.

As a result of Marriner's intervention, the foul was upgraded to a red card and so Man Utd had to finish the rest of the game with just ten men.

While speaking about the incident on The United Stand, Goldbridge slammed the "farce" call and suggested that Marriner had been inconsistent when compared to his own refereeing standards.

He explained (2:00): “24 hours ago, Andre Marriner watches three tackles worse than Casemiro’s as the referee in the Chelsea, Leicester game, and only books one of them.

“So in the space of 24 hours… Andre Marriner, who is the person who makes that a red card – because otherwise, Anthony Taylor has given a yellow – he gets in his ear: You might not want to look at that it's a red.

“So Andre Marriner makes Anthony Taylor turn that from a yellow to red. 24 hours ago, no red card for three tackles worse.

"So anybody who sat there going: 'Well, it is a red card, Mark.' It's not. Because Andre Marriner has changed the rules in 24 hours. You can't do that in a game week. It's inconsistent. It's a farce, it's a joke.”

Was VAR correct for the Casemiro red card at MUFC?

To be fair to Goldbridge, Marriner was refereeing that Chelsea win over Leicester City the day before and did fail to hand Ricardo Pereira a red card for a foul on Joao Felix which was just as bad, if not worse, than Casemiro's.

However, it was arguably up to VAR to intervene and tell the referee to double-check that challenge but they failed to, so Marriner could only go with his initial reaction.

Perhaps if he'd been given a second look at the incident he would have sent Pereira off. As he was the one in charge of the technology in the Man Utd game, he took that opportunity to give Taylor a nudge regarding the Casemiro foul and the referee ultimately came to his final conclusion with the help of the monitor.

All in all, it's certainly an example of inconsistent use of VAR and you can see why United fans will be frustrated but two wrongs don't make a right, so even if a mistake was made by the officials in the Chelsea game, that shouldn't necessarily have any impact on what happens in any other matches.

A collection of Arsenal supporters have been blown away by the latest performance of defender Rob Holding as he helped the club with a key win.

What did Rob Holding do against Palace?

In the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, the Gunners cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, meaning they now sit eight points clear at the top of the table.

In front of the Emirates crowd, Mikel Arteta’s men looked dominant pretty much throughout with Gabriel Martinelli opening the scoring, while a brace from Bukayo Saka sandwiched one further effort from Granit Xhaka to seal the victory despite Jeffrey Schlupp’s consolation.

However, ahead of kick-off, some fans may have been concerned as Holding had to come in for his very first league start of the campaign with William Saliba out of the team.

The Frenchman picked up a back injury mid-week and could potentially be set for a spell out on the sidelines for a few weeks. The young centre-back had started every game in the top flight up to now, so it’s easy to see why some fans may have been fearing the worst when Holding was asked to step in against Palace.

However, the Englishman passed any tests with flying colours, even being pictured laughing towards the end of the game when he fouled Wilfried Zaha, a man he appeared to have in his back pocket through the afternoon.

Indeed, as per SofaScore, Holding won four ground duels, seven aerial duels, completed 91 per cent of his passes, and also completed five out of five long balls.

Unsurprisingly, the supporters were quick to lavish the centre-back with plenty of praise, appreciating the way he’d eased their fears with a fine performance in Saliba’s absence.

Here are some of the best Tweets…

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a fresh approach for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Amrabat targeted

After impressing during Morocco’s remarkable run to the semi-final of the Qatar World Cup, Amrabat became the subject of interest for a number of top Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.

At one stage, Spurs were said to be one of the teams most interested in the midfielder’s signature, with Antonio Conte also trying to bring him to north London in the previous summer transfer window, specifically requesting the signing from the board.

With the 26-year-old’s current contract set to expire at the end of next season, there may be renewed interest in his services in the next window, with Spurs said to be one of the sides that will be targeting him once again…

The Latest: Spurs still interested

According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are the club expected to make a move for the Moroccan ‘above all’ others, amid interest from elsewhere, with FC Barcelona also said to be eyeing a deal.

The central midfielder’s revived performances have caught the eye of Conte, who knows the player’s abilities well from his time working in Italy.

In a potential boost to the Lilywhites’ chances of landing the Fiorentina ace, the player himself was said to be disappointed about a move not transpiring in January, and he is waiting for his opportunity in the summer window.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Back in December, Charlie Parker-Turner raved about the maestro’s performances out in Qatar, naming him as one of the best players to compete at the World Cup.

The journalist said: “Sofyan Amrabat is in the conversation for Player of the Tournament. Unbelievable warrior of a midfielder.”

After looking so impressive with his national side, the 46-time Morocco international has continued to impress at club level, most recently putting in a very good performance against Sivasspor, making four tackles and registering a pass completion rate of 95%.

Amrabat’s passing ability is one of his best assets, while he was also praised by the media for putting on a ‘tackling masterclass’ in the World Cup semi-final against France, highlighting the range of different strengths that he possesses.

At 26-years-old, the Moroccan World Cup hero is likely to be in his peak years, and he would provide excellent competition for the likes of Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Yves Bissouma in the Tottenham midfield.

The managerial search continues at Tottenham Hotspur as chairman Daniel Levy seeks to find a suitable successor to Antonio Conte at N17, with the Lilywhites in line to make their fourth permanent appointment since sacking Mauricio Pochettino back in November 2019.

While Conte is yet to actually be shown the door, the writing is seemingly on the wall with regard to his impending exit, with the 53-year-old having taken aim at both the club and his own players during his explosive, post-match outburst on Saturday.

It does appear that it is now a matter of when and not if the experienced Italian – who has just a matter of months left to run on his contract – will be moved on, with Levy and co already lining up potential candidates who could get the north Londoners firing again.

Among the list of names that have been mentioned to take on the top job – including the aforementioned Pochettino – one potential surprise figure has emerged in the form of Burnley boss, Vincent Kompany, with The Guardian revealing earlier this week that the 36-year-old is 'of interest' to the Tottenham hierarchy.

The up-and-coming coach is relatively inexperienced in the dugout as he is only in his second managerial post after leaving Pro League side Anderlecht to make the move to Turf Moor last summer, although the Belgian's remarkable campaign thus far in charge of the Clarets has showcased his elite credentials.

Is Kompany the man to replace Conte?

It would be something of a gamble to turn to a man who is currently working in England's second tier, although Kompany appears to be a "million miles ahead" of the other Championship coaches, according to pundit Nedum Onuha.

That quality has been showcased by the fact that despite losing the likes of Nick Pope, Dwight McNeil, Ben Mee and James Tarkowski in the summer, the 89-cap international has steered his youthful and rampant side to the top of the table, with the Lancashire outfit enjoying a 13-point lead at present.

It looks as if the former Manchester City captain is almost nailed on to lead his side to promotion at the first time of asking, with that impending success rubberstamping the belief that the exciting coach is simply a born "winner" – as hailed by Burnley youngster, Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

What has been most impressive about Kompany's work with the Clarets has been the rapid nature in which he has taken the club away from the old-school approach of former boss Sean Dyche, with his side now playing "very attractive football" according to pundit Aaron McLean.

That progressive style has also been lauded as "exceptional" by City boss Pep Guardiola, with the trailblazing Spaniard only recently outlining his belief that his former skipper could go on to replace him at the Etihad in the near future.

If Levy can get their first, however, it could represent a real coup for Spurs, with Kompany beginning to showcase the winning mentality that had previously been the theme of his playing career, as he notably swooped four Premier League titles during his stint with the Cityzens.

To have an asset in charge who knows all about what it takes to claim silverware and also has an attractive brand of football to boot is a rare commodity, with Tottenham needing to pounce sooner rather than later before the ex-Belgium titan ends up at another elite club.

One an inspirational "leader" as a player – according to Guardiola – Kompany is now having that same effect in the dugout, showing himself the type of figure who supporters and players can well and truly get behind.

Amid the apparent division that Conte has sparked of late, the capture of the Burnley boss could well be the uniting presence that Spurs are craving, while also helping to get the club rocking once again amid their recent woes.

A number of supporters online have slammed Manchester City midfielder Rodri after his bitter comments following Spain’s recent defeat to Scotland.

What did Rodri say after the Spain defeat?

It was far from an ideal night for La Roja at Hampden Park as the home team picked up a shock 2-0 victory in their latest Euro 2024 qualifier.

Indeed, all three points came courtesy of Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who struck in each half to give Scotland the win.

After the game, Rodri – who makes a reported £220,000 per week at City –– didn’t seem at all gracious in defeat as he lamented the opposition’s playing style in his post-match interview.

While speaking to Viaplay, he said: “It’s the way they play… for me, it’s a bit rubbish. Because it’s always wasting time. They provoke you. They always fall. For me, this is not football.”

Interestingly enough, when Spain were unceremoniously dumped out of the World Cup by Morocco in 2022, the midfielder seemed just as rattled.

Back then, he told the press: “Morocco offered absolutely nothing, without disrespecting them. In the game, they did nothing. They just waited for the counters. They stayed behind and tried to counter us!”

You can’t help but wonder if may Rodri should be a little more introspective and try to learn how to win games of football in trying situations, as opposed to just moaning when things don’t go his way.

It’s fair to say fans online certainly didn’t have much time for his latest bout of moaning as they took to Twitter to slam his comments.

Here are some of the more notable reactions…

The comments didn’t get any more forgiving from there, either…

And some were just brutal!

Cry more daftie 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/4qztHHK0Tr
— THE REAL John Mason (@johnmasonrtid) March 29, 2023

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a summer move for Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk.

Will Wolves sign a striker this summer?

Wolves have struggled considerably in the Premier League this season, currently sitting just one point clear of the relegation zone, and their main issue has been a lack of goals, particularly from their strikers.

The Old Gold have scored just 23 times in the top flight, the joint-fewest of any team alongside Southampton, with Diego Costa failing to score in 15 league games, while Raul Jimenez is also without a single goal in the top flight.

Costa's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, while Jimenez is expected to leave in the summer, meaning Julen Lopetegui will be tasked with bringing in at least one new option in attack.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Wolves are one of the clubs interested in signing Morelos, however, there will be a lot of competition for his signature, as Aston Villa, Everton and Burnley are plotting moves.

Crystal Palace have also made their interest clear, and they are ready to make an offer for the Colombian, who is available to sign on a free transfer, owing to the fact his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

The forward's chances of sealing a switch away from Rangers are said to be increasing, potentially opening the door for a move to Molineux

Should Wolves sign Alfredo Morelos?

It is clear that Lopetegui will need to bring in at least two new strikers in the summer, given his side's struggles in front of goal, and the 26-year-old could be a fantastic option to have, at the very least as a backup option.

Throughout his career, the £33k-per-week forward has regularly managed to find the back of the net, scoring a remarkable 46 goals in 62 games for HJK Helsinki, as well as 122 in 263 for Rangers, including ten strikes this season.

During his time with the Gers, an unnamed Scottish Premiership defender described the marksman as a "nightmare for defenders", while also claiming that he is more difficult to play against than former Celtic man Odsonne Edouard.

Edouard has managed to show flashes of brilliance since signing for Crystal Palace, amassing nine goal contributions in the Premier League last season, and so there is no reason why Morelos couldn't go on to do even better things with Wolves.