All posts by h716a5.icu

Switch-hitters are common across baseball, but have you ever seen a switch-pitcher? Well, if not, Seattle Mariners prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje is here to fix that.

The Mariners chose Cijntje with the 15th pick in the 2024 MLB draft. Now, the Mississippi State product is throwing for Seattle at Spring Breakout, a showcase event for the best prospects across MLB farm systems.

Friday night, Cijntje stood atop the mound and threw back-to-back pitches with opposite arms. First, he got Travis Bazzana, the top pick in the 2024 draft, to ground out with a 92-mph heater from his left arm. Then, he switched to the right arm for the next at bat, hurling a 95-mph fastball from the opposite side mere seconds later.

“That's something special,” Bazzana, the top Cleveland Guardians prospect, said of Cijntje via MLB.com. “You don't really see that ever. I think he's got a bright future, and it was cool to battle.”

After the initial out against Bazzana, Cijntje threw right-handed for the rest of his two-inning outing. He even struck out Bazzana with his right arm for the final out of his night.

Pat Venditte, who played in the big leagues from 2015 to '20, is the most recent pitcher to throw with both arms in the MLB. He pitched for six different teams as a reliever, mainly with his right arm against right-handed hitters while switching to the left for left-handed hitters. His unique style prompted a new rule requiring pitchers to indicate the hand he intends to pitch with before an at-bat, known as the "Pat Venditte Rule."

According to MLB.com, the Mariners intend to develop Cijntje as a right-handed starter because it's his better pitching arm with a deeper arsenal where he can reach a higher velocity. But he still has plenty of upside as a lefty, too.

Cijntje, who was born in the Netherlands but primarily grew up in Curaçao, grew up as a switch-pitcher. He pitched from both sides during the 2016 Little League World Series as a member of the team which represented his hometown of Willemstad, Curaçao.

One day, we'll likely see him as one of the rare pitchers who needs to keep the Pat Venditte Rule in mind on the mound.

Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen missed out as Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi won the African Player of the Year award. The Moroccan full-back collected the honour on Wednesday evening, sealing a triumphant year in which he won the treble, including the Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League trophy. The only blemish was PSG’s defeat in the Club World Cup final to Chelsea in New York, where he was forced to settle for a silver medal.

Hakimi emerges as the best in Africa

A visibly moved Hakimi thanked the people who had shaped his journey, including his family, PSG teammates and Morocco manager Walid Regragui. 

"It's really an honour for me to be here today and I'm proud to win such a prestigious trophy," Hakimi said.

His celebrations, however, are tempered by a painful reality as he is currently recovering from a severe ankle sprain. Morocco are hopeful he will recover in time to lead the host nation at the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21. If fit, he will spearhead their attempt to win the tournament for the first time since 1976.

The ceremony turned into a showcase of Moroccan football’s growing influence. Ghizlane Chebbak won the women's African Player of the Year prize, edging teammate Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade. Chebbak had finished as top scorer in this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, even though Morocco ultimately fell short against Nigeria in the final.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, hero of Morocco’s remarkable World Cup run and now a key figure in Saudi Arabia, claimed the men’s Best Goalkeeper award. Meanwhile, Morocco’s under-20 World Cup-winning side was voted the continent’s top national men’s team, further underlining the nation’s talent pipeline. The accolades continued with Watford’s 20-year-old midfielder Othmane Maamma named Africa’s Best Young Male Player, while Doha El Madani retained her crown as the best young women’s player.

Cape Verde manager Bubista was honoured as Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding the island nation, home to just over half a million people, to an extraordinary qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie completed her own hat-trick by picking up a third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah’s form under scrutiny as Liverpool struggle

The awards setback for Salah comes at a time when his club form has slipped noticeably. His influence at Liverpool has waned, and the team’s attacking struggles have been laid bare. His output has dropped significantly as he is taking fewer shots and venturing into the penalty area far less than he used to. The Egyptian is far from the only forward under pressure. Florian Wirtz, signed as a creative centrepiece, has yet to tally a goal or assist in the Premier League. By all accounts, he is still adjusting to the speed and physicality of English football. Alexander Isak, who was acquired from Newcastle for a club-record fee, has also endured a frustrating start. Injury setbacks have restricted his involvement, limiting any chance for rhythm or consistency. Hugo Ekitike, who began brightly, has delivered flashes of quality but has been unable to pull together a sustained run of top-level performances. The collective downturn has placed Liverpool in a precarious spot, as they currently sit in the eighth spot with 18 points.

Should Salah step aside?

Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison believes the time may be approaching for a bold reshaping of the attack, one that might involve phasing Salah out of the starting XI.

Hutchison said: "The uncomfortable conversation will be around the likes of Mo Salah because there’s a way to get Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz into the same team, but it means there’s no place for Salah. You can have [Milos] Kerkez on the left and [Conor] Bradley on the right as wing-backs. Then you have [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Ryan] Gravenberch in midfield. If you want to put a positive spin on it, every team in the Premier League would love Wirtz, Isak and Salah. Now Slot’s job is trying to come up with a formula to get all those three into the same 11, with Ekitike, because you can’t spend all that money on Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike and tell them to fight for their place in the side."

He added: "They have to be starters now. I would be very tempted to play all three from now to the end of the season and play their way into form, into goals, into chemistry, into improving the league position. I know it’s a big jump from now to the end of season, but that will be Liverpool’s team and individuals going forward. That’s what I would look at. So the uncomfortable conversation is around why and how you don’t get Mo Salah into that team anymore. Perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations would be the time to try it!"

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportPressure mounts on Slot to fix Liverpool’s fragile core

Before resolving the selection dilemma in the forward line, Slot faces equally urgent issues in defence and midfield. Liverpool have become worryingly easy to play through, conceding goals in ways that would have been unthinkable under Jurgen Klopp at his peak. The balance in midfield continues to feel unsettled, with new signings still struggling to integrate. Salah’s looming departure for the Africa Cup of Nations next month may provide clarity, or further complicate matters, depending on how the team performs without him.

Manchester United’s hierarchy ensured that Ruben Amorim was well backed in the 2025 summer transfer window. Despite another season filled with inconsistencies under the Portuguese manager, the Red Devils’ owners have backed their manager, highlighted by the amount of money they spent over the summer.

Star forward Bryan Mbeumo has been the biggest success story after his £71m move from Brentford. He was one of three marquee attackers who United signed, along with Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko for £74m.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens rounded out a busy summer where Amorim was well and truly backed.

If recent rumours are to be believed, INEOS are willing to give Amorim even more money to spend.

United’s next marquee signing

It is certainly an exciting time to be a United fan with all the incomings. They have been linked with a few big names from within the Premier League, including Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba, in recent days.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Yet, the man who the Red Devils could turn to first in midfield is Real Madrid and France international Aurelien Tchouameni. According to reports in Spain, via Football365, United have ‘put forward an offer’ to sign the former AS Monaco star as soon as January.

This is certainly not a deal that will come cheap for United. The reported bid they have played for the midfielder would see him become Amorim’s most expensive signing, at £79m including add-ons.

However, the report suggests Los Blancos are not open to the move as things stand.

Man Utd's next Casemiro in the making?

At 25 years of age, the 43-cap France international is about to enter the peak years of his career. Since moving to the Bernabeu in 2022 from Monaco, he has become a key player in midfield, helping Madrid win multiple titles, including the Champions League and La Liga.

This season under Madrid’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, Tchouameni has featured 15 times, in all competitions. Operating at the base of midfield, he’s completed 90 minutes 12 times, racking up 1224 minutes so far.

There are a couple of smaller things in Tchouameni’s game that make him such an appealing addition for Amorim. One of those is his versatility, with the Frenchman able to slot in at centre-back. The other his his knack for goal.

England fans won’t forget this strike in the 2022 World Cup, highlighting how dangerous he can be from range.

If the Red Devils were able to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford this term, he would, in many ways, be the second coming of Casemiro. United’s number 18 has shone under Amorim this term, playing all ten Premier League games he’s been available for. Indeed, there are a couple of striking similarities between the pair.

Indeed, the fact that Casemiro was also a big money signing from Los Blancos is one of the main ways this deal feels alike. Versatility is also a similarity, with the Brazilian able to operate at centre-back too, as well as his natural role in midfield.

The former Madrid star is also prone to a goal just like Tchouameni, with three to his name already this term.

One of his best strikes in Red came last season in the Carabao Cup, when he hit this long-range screamer against Leicester City.

Tchouameni and Casemiro also share a statistical likeness, as can be seen when looking at their stats this season, as per FBref..

For example, the French star averaged 5.88 progressive passes and 3.3 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 4.41 progressive passes and 3.97 tackles and interceptions each game from the Brazil international.

Progressive passes

5.88

4.41

Tackles and interceptions

3.33

3.97

Clearances

1.96

1.76

Progressive carries

1.03

0.15

Ball recoveries

4.23

5.74

It is easy to see how this deal to sign Tchouameni could be the second coming of Casemiro at Old Trafford. They have followed a similar career path and are statistically alike. He could well be the Brazilian’s replacement down the line.

As football analyst Raj Chohan said, Tchouameni is “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet” and he would certainly add more midfield quality to United.

Garnacho 2.0 at Man Utd: INEOS in talks with agent to sign £70m "monster"

One Garnacho-esque new signing could help add firepower to Man United’s attack.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 19, 2025

Jack Edwards and Nathan McSweeney scored fifties on a mixed-soil pitch to keep Australia A in the contest

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2025
Half-centuries from Nathan McSweeney and Jack Edwards, and Manav Suthar’s five-wicket haul, headlined the opening day of the second four-dayer between India A and Australia A in Lucknow. Picked as the lone specialist spinner, Suthar took 5 for 93, reining Australia A’s middle order in, on a mixed-soil pitch.After Shreyas Iyer, who had led India A in the first four-dayer withdrew from the second, Dhruv Jurel took over as captain and shared the wicketkeeping load with N Jagadeesan. Both wicketkeepers are likely to be picked in India’s squad for the two-match Test series against West Indies starting October 2. Allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was playing his first competitive game since suffering a knee injury on the England tour, bowled eight overs and went wicketless on the first day.Incumbent Australia opener Sam Konstas, who scored a 122-ball century in the first four-dayer, played a more subdued innings in the second, scoring 49 off 91 balls before falling to Mohammed Siraj, who had been drafted into the team for this game along with KL Rahul, in the lead-up to the West Indies Test series. Siraj had Konstas nicking behind, with Jagadeesan taking the catch having just switched keeping duties with captain Jurel three overs ago.This was the second time in two matches during this series that Jurel and Jagadeesan had switched keeping duties in the middle of an innings, with the latter taking over the gloves from Jurel at the beginning of the second day’s play in the previous four-day game.Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas played out most of the first session•Tanuj Pandey/UPCAOllie Peake made 29 off 39 balls before Suthar breached his defences in the 45th over. When Suthar also dismissed Cooper Connolly, for a duck in his next over, Australia A were wobbling at 150 for 4. Their captain McSweeney, though, brought up his first half-century of the tour, in humid conditions, and moved to 74 before Punjab’s towering quick Gurnoor Brar, who has had a stint with the senior India team as a net bowler, had him caught by Ayush Badoni, who had replaced Iyer.”The pitch is playing quite nice,” McSweeney said after stumps on day one. “I think it has a little bit more pace in the wicket than last game, so you get great value for shots. The ball swung around a bit more than probably anticipated. But I thought the way Sammy [Sam Konstas] and I were able to play during that first session set up a decent day. Sammy’s playing beautifully, continuing on from last week. A pretty solid day at cricket.”Suthar was consistent with his lines and lengths. He had an economy rate of 3.32 while all of India’s frontline seamers went at over four an over.”I thought their left-arm spinner [Manav Suthar] bowled beautifully,” McSweeney said. “He bowled quite slow in the first session and the way he was able to be really consistent in the second, changing his pace, he got a few wickets. He was building pressure today. It’s a great template we can follow going into the next innings.”Josh Philippe and Edwards counterattacked, with both batters having strike rates of over 100. While Suthar cut Philippe’s innings short on 39 off 33, Edwards ran away to 88 off 78 balls, including 11 fours and a six. Todd Murphy, batting at No. 10, gave Edwards good company and ensured the innings did not slide to a premature end.Their ninth-wicket partnership ended on 55 when Brar removed Edwards in the 82nd over. Murphy and No.11 Henry Thornton survived the remaining 2.4 overs on the day and took Australia A to stumps.

Freddie Freeman cemented himself in the history books when he hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the Dodgers' World Series win over the New York Yankees. Game 1 of the World Series had gone to extra innings, and the Yankees took a 3–2 lead in the top of the 10th inning. The Yankees intentionally walked Mookie Betts and the bases were loaded with two outs when Freeman came up to the plate. Freeman seized the moment, hitting the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and the Dodgers the first win of the series, which they would go on to win 4–1.

Freeman finished the World Series with four home runs and 12 RBIs, and was named the World Series MVP. Even as Freeman was named a hero for his efforts in the Dodgers' eighth World Series, all on a sprained ankle, he did not fully process the significance of that grand slam until over a month after the title victory.

As spring training begins ahead of the 2025 season, Freeman shared that it took until Christmas time when he re-watched the home run with his son, Charlie, to take in his surreal feat on baseball's biggest stage.

“I went down a rabbit hole on YouTube,’’ said Freeman, via Bob Nightengale of . “Just to see the reactions of people watching that game, and what it meant to so many people. I know Yankees fans weren't too thrilled with it, but just what sports and baseball can do in general for so many people. And to be able to be a part of that for a very long time, I'm sure this home run is going to last for a long time.

“Just being part of such an iconic franchise, and to have such a moment like that, and that's going to last forever, it's special."

Since that World Series victory, Freeman has also spent the offseason recovering from ankle surgery after playing through that sprained ankle throughout the postseason. Freeman is currently limited as spring training gets going, but is looking to be ready to play in the Dodgers' season opener in Tokyo next month.

Jamie Carragher has taken aim at Thierno Barry and another Everton star, following the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Monday night.

David Moyes made a very positive start after returning to Merseyside, and signed off at Goodison Park on a high note by defeating Southampton 2-0, but his side have failed to really kick on this season, having collected just 12 points from ten Premier League games.

As things stand, the Toffees aren’t in any imminent danger of suffering relegation, given that they remain five points clear of the bottom three, but there are some signs they could be drawn into a battle for survival.

Perhaps most concerningly, summer signing Barry hasn’t hit the ground running at striker, failing to score in the opening ten top-flight matches, and the Frenchman’s performance against the Black Cats left a lot to be desired.

The 23-year-old was hooked before the hour mark after missing one big chance and touching the ball just 19 times, squandering the majority of the passes he attempted.

Carragher takes aim at Barry after Sunderland

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher has now claimed that Moyes needs to sign a new centre-forward in the summer transfer window, given that Barry and Beto aren’t up to the required standard.

The former Liverpool defender said: “Everton need to find a striker, what they’ve got right now is not good enough, and that reason alone could mean that between now and the end of the season they are looking over their shoulders in terms of staying in the Premier League.

“So, they’ve got new owners – obviously a lot better than what they’ve had before, but that is the one glaring position that Everton need to fill in January. They have to find somebody.”

It would be somewhat surprising Barry was even given nearly an hour against Sunderland, but his back-up option has also struggled to get on the scoresheet on a regular basis ever since his arrival at Everton, with the Guinnea-Bissau international bagging 17 goals in 83 games.

Beto’s goalscoring form

PL appearances

Goals

2023-24

30

3

2024-25

30

8

2025-26

10

1

Indeed, the 27-year-old has found it difficult to get to grips with life in the Premier League, and Carragher is correct in his assessment that Everton should pursue a new striker in the January transfer window.

Interestingly, the Toffees have now emerged as potential suitors for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, with it being revealed a shock cut-price deal for the Serbian could be a possibility.

Iliman Ndiaye moving to centre-forward may also be an option, with the winger showing a keen eye for goal this season, finding the back of the net four times in ten Premier League outings.

Everton also eyeing Nicolas Jackson alongside Dusan Vlahovic Everton now eyeing Nicolas Jackson as Bayern Munich maintain £70m stance

The German giants have made their choice.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 1, 2025

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea that they are 'lucky' to have a player like Estevao Willian after the teenager dazzled with a goal in the Selecao's 2-0 win over Senegal in an international friendly on Saturday. The Blues wonderkid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro were on target as the five-time world champions secured the victory.

Estevao stars in Brazil victory

Brazil handed Senegal their first defeat in over two years as they beat the African giants 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Estevao and Casemiro. United's star forward Matheus Cunha hit the woodwork twice before Estevao broke the deadlock around the half-hour mark.

Casemiro then doubled his team's lead minutes later as he finished off a free-kick from Rodrygo. It was a stellar performance from the five-time world champions, who have now won four out of the six games they played under Ancelotti. The match also witnessed some heated moments as Arsenal's Gabriel and Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr were forced off with injuries ahead of next week's north London derby. 

AdvertisementGettyAncelotti sends message to Chelsea fans

After the game, Selecao boss Ancelotti lavished praise on Estevao for yet another impressive outing with the national team as he told reporters: "Estevao has incredible amount of talent. It’s a surprise this level at his age. He’s good at finishing, has a lot of magic… and he works very hard. I can say this: with Estevao, Brazil have a guaranteed future."

The Italian coach added: "He’s a very talented player. He is able to show every game, in Chelsea too, and he doesn’t need a lot of minutes to show his quality. He can play five minutes and he can show his quality. I think the Brazil national team is really lucky to have him, and also Chelsea."

Ancelotti apologises to Arsenal

Following Gabriel's injury, which came as a major blow for Arsenal, Ancelotti apologised to the club's fans as he said of the issue: "Bad? I don't know, he had a problem on his adductor, the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When players have an injury, I hope they can recover well and soon." 

The Brazilian centre-back has displayed stellar form for the Gunners in the 2025-26 campaign, scoring two goals in all competitions. Such is the former Lille defender’s importance to the Gunners that he has featured in all 17 of their games this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side rise to the Premier League summit in addition to being joint-leaders in the Champions League standings.

Arteta would hope that Gabriel's injury is not too serious and he recovers in the remaining few days of the international break and returns to action by November 23 when the Gunners face Spurs in the north London derby. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportHow is it going for Estevao?

Estevao has appeared in 16 matches across all competitions for the Blues, although his game time has been limited as Enzo Maresca remains sceptical of giving the teenager too much exposure. The Chelsea coach, however, has always been full of praise for the youngster, as he said earlier this season: "It’s exciting to see him. The good thing about Estevao, sometimes with young players we are worried, because they have one good game and they think they are already [at the] top. Estavao, he’s playing well but he’s polite, he’s humble, he wants to learn. I think his family are also doing a big job there, so we are very happy not only with the way he’s performing. But he’s a nice boy, a good boy.

"In the Premier League he needs a little bit more time. I think he’s more [of a] winger, but he’s going to finish playing inside the pitch, in the pockets. For me, it’s very, very similar to Cole [Palmer]. I had Cole at the same age as Estevao at [Manchester] City Under-23 and they are very similar. Cole started playing wide because he needed a bit [more] physicality; now he’s playing inside. And Estevao, they are quite similar, now he’s playing wide but in the future I think he’s more of an inside player."

Seam-bowling allrounder Johann Layne has replaced him in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2025West Indies seamer Matthew Forde has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan that starts in Tarouba from Friday. Forde suffered a shoulder dislocation earlier on Wednesday while attempting a catch during a training session.Johann Layne, the West Indies academy seam-bowling allrounder, has replaced Forde in the squad. Layne is among the seamers that impressed Ian Bishop, who called him “rangy, tall and intelligent”.Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Jediah Blades are the quicks in their ODI squad with Gudakesh Motie as their frontline wristspinner. Alzarri Joseph has been rested. West Indies would also miss Forde’s talent with the bat lower down the order; he holds the ODI record for fastest fifty (16 balls), achieved in May against Ireland.Related

Alzarri Joseph rested, Shepherd back in WI squad for Pakistan ODIs

Pakistan and West Indies look to break out of their ODI funk

West Indies lost the T20I series against Pakistan 2-1 in Lauderhill, but are looking to claim a fourth-straight ODI series with the tour moving to Trinidad & Tobago. It is only their fifth ODI series since the start of 2023, but come into the contest having beaten England twice (2-1, on both occasions) and Bangladesh once (3-0).The 50-over game has been a difficult format for West Indies in recent history, missing out on the last two ICC tournaments for ODIs. Their qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup is also far from guaranteed as they are ranked tenth in the rankings. West Indies realistically need to finish within the top nine – one place higher than they are – to secure automatic passage at the cut-off date. A series win against Pakistan, ranked six places above them, would help them significantly.

The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series. After Aaron Judge flied out to start the inning Giancarlo Stanton hit a double.

With Stanton on second, Jazz Chisholm Jr. flew out for the second out of the inning. That brought up Anthony Volpe who singled for his first hit of the series. As Teoscar Hernandez fielded the ball in left field Stanton was waved home by third base coach Luis Rojas.

It did not work out for the Yankees.

As you probably noticed in that video, Stanton was not exactly flying around the base paths. The decision to send him there should be second-guessed on New York's newspaper back pages and sports talk radio shows quite a bit tomorrow, but before that happens, Stanton and the Yankees have to get roasted online.

Those are just the ones with the funny images.

In Stanton's defense, he's often injured. He missed an extended amount of time this summer with a hamstring injury, he's built like a statue and he has only attempted to steal one base since 2018. If he were able to run fast, it wouldn't be fair. The third base coach should probably keep that in mind if there's a next time.

Arsenal are in “ongoing” transfer discussions with a forward via agents, as sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta continue their planning for the summer transfer window.

Arsenal braced for historic Champions League night at Real Madrid

While their recruitment plans for next season are beginning to be put into focus, Arteta and co’s current first priority is preparing for what could be an historic Champions League night at the Bernabeu.

Arsenal: £200k-p/w star holds exit talks with Arteta very likely to lose him

His departure would give the Gunners boss a major headache.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 15, 2025

Arsenal hold a 3-0 aggregate lead over Real Madrid heading into their quarter-final second leg, courtesy of two sensational free-kicks from Declan Rice and Mikel Merino’s superb finish at the Emirates this time last week.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Los Blancos must now mount a major comeback to stand any hope of keeping their Champions League hopes alive, but it is only half-time and Carlo Ancelotti’s side still pose a serious threat.

It is by some distance Arsenal’s most crucial game of the entire season so far, and it has the power to make or break their campaign after they conceded defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Nothing less than perfect will do against Europe’s most feared side on away turf, with potential victory against Real also coming as a real statement to the rest of the continent that Arsenal are now among it’s truly elite teams.

A good run in the Champions League will also pay dividends when it comes to attracting their top transfer targets when the window reopens, with Berta planning to sign multiple attackers for Arsenal after being appointed as their new sporting director.

This reportedly includes a left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with many interesting names becoming linked to joining Arteta as we approach what will be a “big” summer for Arsenal, by Arteta’s own admission.

In the last few days, it has emerged that Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is becoming a more serious target for Arsenal.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg first reported the Frenchman is being viewed as an alternative to Leroy Sané, and Arsenal are among the favourites to strike a deal for Coman.

Now, the same journalist has shared another update on the 28-year-old’s future involving Arsenal.

Arsenal in "ongoing" talks with Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman

Plettenberg reports that Coman’s representatives are in “ongoing” talks over a potential move to Arsenal, while Bayern are set to replace the winger, eight years after he completed a permanent move to Bayern from Juventus for around £18 million.

“There is contact between Arsenal and Kingsley Coman’s management, with both sides in ongoing communication,” wrote Plettenberg.

“Arsenal are aware that Saudi Arabia is a very appealing option for Coman, but they have expressed their interest. Coman and Bayern are expected to part ways in the summer. The situation is positive, with open dialogue between all parties. Coman will be replaced.”

The former PSG forward has featured regularly under Vincent Kompany this campaign, heading into double digits for goals and assists combined, but he’s been in and out of the starting eleven amid fierce competition for places.

The Premier League appears a viable move as he hits the prime of his career, with Tottenham also believed to be expressing an interest in Coman this summer.