Arsenal Q&A - transfer special: YOUR questions answered - what's really going on with Martin Zubimendi? Will Arsenal sign Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, or both? And is Thomas Partey heading for the exit?
Arsenal's transfer needs are glaring - a striker to put the ball in the back of the net.
A misfiring attack, and a lack of investment in it since Leandro Trossard joined two and a half years ago - Kai Havertz arrived six months later but was initially signed as a midfielder - ended up costing Arsenal last season.
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The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Cooper still in last-minute talks with Treasury over spending review
The Home Office remains locked in negotiations with the Treasury over its budget with time running out before the spending review. Rachel Reeves is expected to announce above-inflation increases in the policing budget when she sets out her spending plans for the next three years on Wednesday. But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is yet to agree a final settlement with the Chancellor, with reports suggesting greater police spending will mean a squeeze on other areas of her department's budget. Downing Street is now understood to be involved in the talks, with Ms Cooper the last minister still to reach a deal with the Treasury. The spending review is expected to see funding increases for the NHS, schools and defence along with a number of infrastructure projects as the Chancellor shares out some £113 billion freed up by looser borrowing rules. But other areas could face cuts as she seeks to balance manifesto commitments with more recent pledges, such as a hike in defence spending, while meeting her fiscal rules that promise to match day-to-day spending with revenues. On Monday morning, technology minister Sir Chris Bryant insisted that the spending review would not see a return to austerity, telling Times Radio that period was 'over'. But he acknowledged that some parts of the budget would be 'much more stretched' and 'difficult'. One of those areas could be London, where Sir Sadiq Khan's office is concerned the spending review will include no new projects or funding for the capital. The mayor had been seeking extensions to the Docklands Light Railway and Bakerloo Underground line, along with powers to introduce a tourist levy and a substantial increase in funding for the Metropolitan Police, but his office now expects none of these will be approved. A source close to the Mayor said ministers 'must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government', adding this would harm both London's public services and 'jobs and growth across the country'. They said: 'Sadiq will always stand up for London and has been clear it would be unacceptable if there are no major infrastructure projects for London announced in the spending review and the Met doesn't get the funding it needs. 'We need backing for London as a global city that's pro-business, safe and well-connected.' Last week, Ms Reeves acknowledged she had been forced to turn down requests for funding for projects she would have wanted to back, in a sign of the behind-the-scenes wrangling over her spending review. The Department of Health is set to be the biggest winner, with the NHS expected to receive a boost of up to £30 billion at the expense of other public services. Meanwhile, day-to-day funding for schools is expected to increase by £4.5 billion by 2028-9 compared with the 2025-6 core budget, which was published in the spring statement. Elsewhere, the Government has committed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament – a timetable which could stretch to 2034. Ms Reeves' plans will also include an £86 billion package for science and technology research and development.
Scottish Sun
31 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Michael Owen reveals he didn't know what Ballon d'Or was when he won it and had to ask manager about it
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MICHAEL OWEN has admitted he had no idea what the Ballon d'Or was - even after winning it. The former Liverpool striker won the prestigious gong in 2001, beating Real Madrid icon Raul into second place. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Michael Owen has claimed he had no idea what the Ballon d'Or was Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 2 The former Liverpool striker won the annual gong in 2001 Credit: Getty Owen played 297 times for the Reds over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals. He later moved to Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as earning 89 caps for England. The 45-year-old's electric pace and lethal finishing made him one of the world's most feared strikers. Owen bagged 24 goals in 46 Premier League games in 2001, catching the eye of the Ballon d'Or panel. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL FRANK DISCUSSION Tottenham AGREE deal to make Thomas Frank new manager after Ange axe The award is handed out annually to Europe's best player. But after beating greats including David Beckham, Luis Figo and Thierry Henry to the award, Owen had absolutely no clue what it was. Owen told talkSPORT: "When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said 'You've won the Ballon d'Or', I'm like 'What's that gaffer'? "I didn't know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "Back in those days it was never in our press." Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d'Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. People don't know this' - Michael Owen breaks silence on 'well done he's 13' meme 27 years on from humiliating teenager But it wasn't until he became a Galactico with Madrid in 2004 that he truly understood its significance. Owen continued: "When I played for Real Madrid, it's like an MBE, it follows you. "Whenever they mention your name it's Ballon d'Or winner. "Abroad it is so big and it's only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years. "It's so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries. "It quickly sunk in how big it was."
Scottish Sun
31 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Leicester and England wonderkid Jeremy Monga, 15, snubs Man City interest to stay at King Power Stadium
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEICESTER CITY have signed 15-year-old starlet Jeremy Monga on a bumper new contract in a major coup for the Championship club. The news will come as a blow to Manchester City and a string of other Premier League and top continental clubs who were desperate to snap up the teenage prodigy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Jeremy Monga has signed a professional contract with Leicester Credit: Alamy The winger became the second youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League earlier this season when he came on as a substitute against Newcastle. And he went on to make seven Premier League appearances for Ruud van Nistelrooy's relegated Foxes. That sparked interest from Euro giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well as interest closer to home, led by Man City. Foxes fans feared Monga would be snapped up before he fulfilled his potential at the King Power. City could have swooped before he was old enough to sign his first professional contract aged 17 and Leicester would only have received a nominal fee as compensation for developing the young talent. However that would have been worth a fraction of the kid's true value. Now Leicester have protected their investment by convincing the 15-year-old winger to sign a new scholarship contract with a professional clause that kicks in when he reaches his 17th birthday in July next year. Monga, who joined Leicester's Academy as a nine-year-old, will now begin his Academy scholarship this summer with his first pro contract kicking in by the summer of 2026. Despite being just 15 years old, Monga has already featured for the Foxes first team during the 2024/25 season. It means the teenager will be around next season to try and help Leicester return to the Premier League at the first attempt and comes as a huge boost to the relegated Foxes. £67M Real Madrid Star Rodrygo on Gunners Hit List | From The Sports Desk | Sun Sport Leicester are also on the brink of signing fellow teenager Jake Evans on a similar deal. 'It's important to have these players for the future for a longer time. I think he will be very good for the club,' said Van Nistelrooy at the end of last season. Polish goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk has seen his contract extended by the Club to 2027 after an impressive campaign that saw the 24-year-old Academy graduate collect 10 Premier League appearances. In total Leicester signed up nine Academy graduates as they prepare for life back in the Championship. But Monga's deal is by far the most significant as it keeps him out of the clutches of Europe's leading clubs. Following a 16-minute debut off the bench against Newcastle in the Premier League, Monga went on to make a further six league appearances for the club under Van Nistelrooy. A club statement said: "Nine exciting young talents from our Academy will extend their stays with Leicester City after a combination of new contracts, extension options and scholarship agreements were confirmed... "Meanwhile, Jeremy Monga has committed to commencing his professional career as a Leicester City player, with an agreement now in place to secure the talented teenager's future at King Power Stadium. "Jeremy will begin his Academy scholarship this summer with his first professional contract scheduled to commence in summer 2026. "Our second-youngest appearance maker and the second-youngest player in Premier League history, having made the first of his seven Premier League appearances against Newcastle United in April, aged 15 years and 271 days, Jeremy is among an exciting group currently progressing on our Academy pathway, which he joined as an Under-9." The versatile winger has been captain of England's Under-16s too and trained with City's U-21s squad as a result of his potential. But that only helped to catch the eye of some of Europe's top clubs, with City among those who were hoping to tie up a move this summer. Monga almost made history by becoming the youngest ever Premier League goalscorer against Nottingham Forest, only to be denied by Matz Sels. Van Nistelrooy was boisterous on his future and said at the time: "That would have been some story if Jeremy could have topped his exam week with a winner away at Forest. "If he stays here and this is his future we can build more minutes into his pathway. "I've had many conversations with him and his family. And so hopefully he can sign soon - it's up to him. "It's a joy to work with him and sometimes we speak about GCSEs and mathematics. I even have to help him with his studies sometimes! "But if he had scored the winner against Forest that would have been a real fairytale."
