^ ^ Arsenal begin talks to sign Manchester United target with £69m clause after impressing Mikel Arteta

Arsenal have made the first move to sign Maxi Araujo from Sporting CP (Shutterstock)

Arsenal have begun talks to sign Sporting CP left-back Maxi Araujo, according to reports in Portugal.

The Uruguay international is about to finish his second season with Sporting following his €13.5 million (£11.3m) move from Mexican side Toluca in 2024.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Araujo impressed Mikel Arteta during Sporting’s two Champions League quarter-final games against Arsenal earlier this month.

Arsenal have now made an initial approach with Araujo to discuss a potential move to the Premier League this summer.

However, Arsenal are expected to face strong competition with both Manchester City and Manchester United interested in the 26-year-old.

Maxi Araujo impressed in Sporting’s Champions League quarter-final ties against Arsenal this month (NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Sporting, meanwhile, remain in a strong negotiating position as Araujo still has three years remaining on his contract, which also includes an €80m (£69.3m) release clause.

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The Portuguese champions are said to be open to selling Araujo but will only listen to transfer fees in excess of €50m (£43.3m).

Atletico Madrid have also been keeping tabs on Araujo’s progress in Portugal ahead of the summer transfer window.

Speaking before Sporting’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League, Araujo was asked about the prospect of facing Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke.

‘I believe that all the Arsenal players are very good. Both are among the best wingers in the world, and for me it’s a privilege to face either of them,’ he said.

‘I feel prepared, and whoever plays, it won’t affect me. The most important thing is that I’m ready.’

Araujo is also expected to be named in Uruguay’s World Cup squad this summer where they will play Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

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^ ^ Mariona Caldentey meets Guillem Balague

Ahead of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals, Guillem Balague sits down with Spain and Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who is personally aiming going for a fourth consecutive UWCL win, and a fifth overall.

Mariona gives us an insight into her childhood on the island of Mallorca, moving to Barcelona aged 18 and how she’s adapted since moving to Arsenal back in 2024.

Plus, the pair look ahead to facing European giants Lyon in the semi-finals this season, just how much the Champions League means to her and of course discuss the growing rivalry in the women’s game that is Spain vs the Lionesses!

Commentary of both legs of Arsenal’s semi-final against Lyon will be on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.

TIMECODES: 00:46 - Mariona sits down with Guillem. 01:17 - Mariona tells us about her childhood in Felanitx, on the island of Mallorca. 06:40 - On joining Barcelona at 18 years old. 08:50 - On moving to Arsenal back in the summer of 2024 and how she’s adapted. 12:24 - On the recognition she achieved during her first season in England. 15:45 - On her club captain Kim Little and playing at the Emirates. 21:20 - Looking back on last year’s Champions League win. 22:40 - Looking ahead to this year’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon. 28:50 - On the developing rivalry between Spain and the Lionesses.

^ ^ Arsenal vs Newcastle: Predicted lineup today and confirmed team news

Saka’s presence has been missed (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal could have Bukayo Saka available again for their Premier League clash with Newcastle United this evening.

Saka has not featured since the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City last month due to an Achilles injury, sitting out of the last five games while he side surrendered their lead at the top.

But Arteta confirmed on Friday his winger is could make the squad for the visit of Eddie Howe’s side.

Arsenal have also been without their first-choice full-backs as of late. Jurrien Timber has not played since coming off in the win over Everton in March due to a groin injury.

Riccardo Calafiori has also sat out in recent weeks with Piero Hincapie deputising on the left.

Calafiori is set to return to the squad this evening but Timber will once again not be involved.

Arsenal’s injury woes have cleared up over the last 10 days with Mikel Merino their only remaining absentee.

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Timber has missed the last seven games (Picture: Getty)

Newcastle meanwhile will be without two key players, both on Arsenal’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window.

Anthony Gordon missed last week’s defeat to Bournemouth with a hip injury which rules him out again tonight.

Tino Livramento was forced off in that game with a groin injury that could end his season.

Joelinton meanwhile will serve a two-match suspension after picking up his 10^th booking of the season.

Arsenal XI to face Newcastle – Metro prediction

Arteta will want to get Saka back in the team as soon as possible. But, with that huge Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid looming next week, the Gunners boss might be tempted to ease the England international back in with Noni Madueke available to start.

The roles of Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard enabled Arsenal to play with more attacking verve against Manchester City, creating plenty more than we have been accustomed to seeing from them in recent weeks and months.

With goal difference potentially a factor in where the title ends up, Arteta will surely let them off the leash again and go for Newcastle in a similar way.

Arsenal vs Newcastle channel, live stream and kick-off time

Arsenal vs Newcastle kicks off at 5:30pm tonight.

You can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event with streaming also available through the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.

You can also follow all the action with Metro’s LIVE blog.

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^ ^ Private chef reveals the drink Cristiano Ronaldo banned from his diet

Cristiano Ronaldo has cut out milk from his diet (Getty)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s former private chef has revealed that the 41-year-old has banned milk from his diet.

Ronaldo is about to complete his 25th season as a professional footballer and is closing in on 1000 career goals after scoring his 969th in Al-Nassr’s win last weekend.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward has maintained a strict diet throughout his career and has frequently attributed his strict and clean diet as a key factor behind his longevity in football.

Giorgio Barone, who used to prepare Ronaldo’s meals, has revealed that the footballer has cut milk from his diet, despite it being a good source of protein and calcium.

‘No milk,’ Giorgio Barone told Covers.com.

Cristiano Ronaldo is able to maintain body fat levels well below 10 per cent with his strict diet (Instagram)

‘Humans are the only animals that drink the milk of other animals. No other animal drinks milk after three months. Calves don’t drink milk after the age of three months. Animals don’t drink the milk of other animals.

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‘It does not exist in nature. Only human beings continue to drink milk up to 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, and in my view it is wrong. We breastfeed from our mothers, like dogs, wolves, cows and donkeys. It is normal.

‘After infancy it is not normal. It is against nature.’

In 2021, Ronaldo wiped a whopping $4 billion off Coca-Cola’s market value after he removed a bottle of the drink on a table and told the audience to ‘drink water’ during a press conference at the European Championship.

Ronaldo, who uses saunas and ice baths as part of his recovery, is also able to maintain body fat levels below 10 per cent through a high-protein diet that avoids sugar and carbohydrates that include flour, such as pasta and bread.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez frequently use saunas (Instagram)

‘Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet is balanced,’ Barone said. ‘He eats a little bit of everything, but it’s always healthy.

‘Starting with breakfast, he would have an avocado with coffee, eggs and no sugar. Absolutely no sugar. Lunch could be chicken, fish and always vegetables. If he needs carbohydrates, he gets them through vegetables, so he doesn’t need anything made with flour.

‘Nothing like pasta, bread and other types of food. In the evening, he eats light foods, usually fish or meat in the form of fillet. It’s always accompanied by vegetables.’

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^ ^ Paul Merson makes huge Premier League title claim ahead of Arsenal vs Newcastle clash

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson believes the Premier League title race will be ‘over’ if Arsenal fail to end their poor run of form against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Gunners have seen the title taken out of their hands following a damaging 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City last weekend.

And a midweek win against Burnley for Pep Guardiola’s side means City now sit top of the table with only five games remaining of the season.

Arsenal, who only two weeks ago were nine points clear of City, have seen their quest for silverware falter after only one win in their last six matches in all competitions.

And Merson believes that Mikel Arteta’s side could soon find themselves out of contention in the league if they don’t get back to winning ways against an out-of-form Newcastle.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson said: ‘This is a humungous football match. Newcastle have lost to Barcelona, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, four losses on the trot.

‘You’d think Arsenal should win this, but Newcastle often do well in this fixture!

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Mikel Arteta’s side have lost back-to-back league games (Picture: Getty)

‘Arsenal have four big fixtures coming up over the next two weeks. After this game, they face Atletico Madrid away from home in the Champions League semi-final and host Fulham next weekend before the return leg against Diego Simeone’s team.

‘That is a tricky run. And let’s be honest, Arsenal have been losing a bit of control in recent weeks. They have started to wobble at the wrong time. That Bournemouth defeat hurt them the most. If they at least got a draw in that game, they could have been a point ahead of City now.

‘If Arsenal don’t win this game, it’s all over in the title race. They are literally in last chance saloon now. City are above Arsenal only because they’ve scored more goals. So there is still a possibility of Arsenal winning every game and still losing the title due to City scoring more than them!’

Arsenal face Newcastle on Saturday (Picture: Getty)

However, Merson reckons that the manner of City’s win against Burnley, combined with their fixture schedule over the next fortnight, means all hope is not yet lost for Arsenal as both sides enter the final stretch.

‘Like I said before, City winning by just the odd goal against Burnley puts the ball back in Arsenal’s court,’ he said. ‘The reason why I say Arsenal have an advantage is because they play twice before City’s next game away at Everton.

‘So they could be six points ahead before Guardiola’s men take the trip to Merseyside, which will be a tough game for City. If Arsenal win their next two games, the will put all the pressure back on their rivals.

‘I haven’t seen enough from City to suggest they will not let in goals during games. Even against Burnley, they conceded big chances. Arsenal should just win the next two games at all cost and if they do it, I can sense them back to being in control in the title race.’

And while Merson is hopeful that his former club will be able to win on Saturday, the ex-Gunners midfielder urged caution, saying: ‘This has always been an entertaining fixture in the last few seasons.

‘Even though I’m backing Arsenal to win, I don’t think the result is a foregone conclusion here.’

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