^ ^ Rio Ferdinand makes Arsenal title claim as Manchester City sanction Rodri transfer

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand (Picture: YouTube)

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester City would have pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title last season had Rodri been available for the entire campaign.

Arsenal clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 back in May, finishing seven points clear of Man City in Pep Guardiola’s last season at the club.

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri missed 17 Premier League games last term due to injury issues and Ferdinand believes his availability would have changed the course of the title race.

Rodri now looks set to end his long and successful spell at the Etihad Stadium, with Barcelona closing in on a stunning deal for the World Cup winner.

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Ferdinand says Rodri’s imminent departure will present ‘huge challenges’ to a Manchester City team already having to cope with the exit of legendary manager Guardiola.

Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea boss, has been given the possibly tricky task of replacing Guardiola, who won six Premier League titles, the Champions League and eight domestic cups at Man City.

Speaking on his podcast, Manchester United legend Ferdinand said: ‘Can we just talk about Manchester City please?

Man City legend Rodri is set to join Barcelona (Picture: Getty)

‘Not only have they lost Pep Guardiola, it now looks like they’re losing Rodri. That’s two of the most important people at the football club in the last seven or eight years.

‘So after a big change in manager they’re losing the biggest, most important player in their team.

‘If Rodri started and played every game last season and didn’t have that injury, Man City win the Premier League. No disrespect to Arsenal but if Rodri played ten more games, Man City would have won the league.

Arsenal pipped Man City to the Premier League title (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s no coincidence. This guy went into the Spain team and was their most important player, wins the best player of the tournament and helps them win the World Cup. He’s won the Ballon d’Or too, he’s won everything.

‘If Barcelona get him they are a certified problem this year because Rodri is the most important footballer for any team on the planet right now and has been for the last few years. He’s a top player and a top pro.

‘I think Man City have a huge challenge this year in competing in the way they have in the last eight or nine years.

Former Man City boss Pep Guardiola (Picture: Getty)

‘They’ve lost two huge components of the football club, not only on the pitch but off it as well. They were both huge contributors so let’s watch this space.’

Arsenal hero Anders Limpar has also suggested Manchester City could be set for a difficult season if they sell influential midfielder Rodri.

‘If Manchester City sell Rodri they are shooting themselves in the foot because he cannot be replaced,’ Limpar told SveaCasino.

‘We said the same about David Silva but they did replace him and brought in a couple of good players, like Bernardo Silva, but it’s even harder to replace Rodri now.

‘He’s a Ballon d’Or winner because of how good he is in his role. Who are you going to replace him with?

‘City have to be very, very careful here or they can become a mediocre team that struggles to finish sixth or seventh even with Erling Haaland because Rodri is the machine. He’s the engine in that midfield.

‘It would be the best signing of the summer for Arsenal if Rodri goes to Barcelona or Real Madrid.’

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^ ^ Karel Prince: Lie Detector - Fraizer Campbell

This week, former Manchester United, Sunderland, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town striker Fraizer Campbell submits three stories from his career, but only one is true. Was Campbell really caught up in a police helicopter pursuit after taking a wrong turn through the city centre? Did he secretly climb out of a hotel window to collect chicken and chips on the eve of a Championship playoff final? Or did he ignore manager Steve Bruce's instructions and sneak off to Las Vegas for 48 hours with team-mate Titus Bramble during an international break?

Armed with photographs, football knowledge and a healthy dose of suspicion, Karel and Anita investigate every claim before Campbell returns to reveal the truth.

Karel Prince: Lie Detector is presented by Karel Prince and Anita Abayomi and is a Sport Social Studios production for BBC Sounds.

Credits  Series Producer: Matt Tasker  Technical Producer: Tom Hinckley  Executive Producer: Jim Salveson  Photography: Tom Barker  Artwork: James Mobbs  Original Theme Music: WIZZFX  Commissioning Executive for BBC: Stevie Middleton  Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard

^ ^ Rio Ferdinand sends message to Man Utd and Chelsea over Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer

Man Utd legend and ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has advised Manchester United and Chelsea to ‘get the chequebook out’ and sign ‘huge talent’ Myles Lewis-Skelly from Arsenal.

Premier League champions Arsenal have reportedly offered the 19-year-old England international to both Man United and Chelsea.

Lewis-Skelly had a frustrating start to the 2025-26 campaign but broke into the team in the business end of the season to help Arsenal get over the line in the Premier League title race and reach the Champions League final.

Despite his increased importance to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are believed to be open to offers after signing Bruno Guimaraes in a £75m deal from Newcastle United.

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Ferdinand is a huge admirer of ‘top player’ Lewis-Skelly and says both Manchester United and Chelsea should jump at the chance to sign him.

‘If I’m Manchester United right now I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘What a player, a top player. He was a massive part of the team when he was brought in towards the end of the season. He contributed to Arsenal winning the league, he was brilliant and came in and produced.

Arsenal are open to offers for Myles Lewis-Skelly (Picture: Getty)

‘If he’s on the market and he’s a good price you have to take him. The good price I’m saying is £60m or £70m.

‘If that’s the case, get the chequebook out, slap it down and sign him. No questions asked, I would take him.

‘He’s young, a huge talent, can play in two positions and I think mentally he’s made of the right stuff.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)

‘The left-back position at Manchester United is not a problem because we’ve got Luke Shaw who played a lot of games last season and stayed fit.

‘But if he does get injured we haven’t got a natural left-back sitting there. [Patrick] Dorgu is more of a left-winger now and [Noussair] Mazraoui and [Diogo] Dalot aren’t full left-backs.

‘So that’s an area I think you can bring in someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly and he can play man, definitely.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYu-LUiMan5/?hl=en

Lewis-Skelly has made 75 appearances for boyhood club Arsenal since making his first-team debut in 2024.

The teenager has also earned six caps for England but was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the recent World Cup.

Former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere believes Lewis-Skelly should be considering his future at the Emirates Stadium given the level of competition in Arteta’s squad.

Chelsea have been offered the Arsenal star (Picture: Getty)

‘My heart would obviously say he is an Arsenal boy through and through, and you never want to see them leave the club,’ he told Metro via Spinbit.

‘For me, it’s a disappointment every time I see one of the academy boys having to leave. I’m gutted every single time because I’ve been there, but putting myself in Myles’ position, he needs to leave if he wants to have game time.

‘I know he had an unbelievable end of season last year in the last five, 10 games with the Champions League final, but don’t forget for three quarters of the season, he didn’t touch a ball. He didn’t get a minute. He didn’t come on. He didn’t play.’

Aliadiere continued: ‘For a young lad of his ability and his age, at some point, you need to think about your own career and about playing week in, week out and being a regular at the top level.

‘And now with the arrival of Guimaraes, where is he in the pecking order now? They have still got Zubimendi, so where is Myles going to get a minute and game time?

‘So as much as I definitely don’t want to see him going to Man United, I’m just thinking for his own career, he might have to move.’

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^ ^ Arsenal legend ‘would swap’ first-team star for Marcus Rashford

Myles Lewis-Skelly fell out of favour under Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta last season (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal legend Lee Dixon says he ‘would swap’ Myles Lewis-Skelly for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford were the opportunity to present itself this summer.

Lewis-Skelly broke out of Arsenal’s academy ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team star two years ago, making 23 top-flight appearances across an outstanding debut season with his boyhood team.

And while Lewis-Skelly got his hands on the Premier League trophy at the end of the club’s title-winning season last term, it proved a much trickier campaign for the 19-year-old from a personal perspective.

The versatile teenager, a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, fell out of favour as Riccardo Calafiori nailed down his spot at Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back with a series of excellent performances.

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There was a resurgence from Lewis-Skelly towards the back-end of the season, though, and he became the second-youngest player – after Trent Alexander-Arnold – to start a Champions League final in May, albeit in defeat.

But with Arsenal adding further strength to their midfield in the shape of £75million arrival Bruno Guimaraes, it appears Lewis-Skelly’s path to regular first-team minutes could be further blocked heading into the new campaign.

Manchester United have been keeping close tabs on the situation and are reportedly plotting an offer with a view to prising Lewis-Skelly away from the Emirates before the summer transfer deadline.

Lewis-Skelly faces an uncertain future in north London (Picture: Getty)

Ex-Arsenal right-back Dixon would swap Lewis-Skelly for Rashford (Picture: Getty)

While the Gunners are believed to have ruled out the possibility of Lewis Skelly leaving, Dixon could see the sense in sanctioning a move – especially if a player such as Rashford is thrown into the mix as a makeweight in any potential deal.

‘Would I swap them? You know what, I probably would,’ the ex-Arsenal and England full-back told BestBettingSites.

‘That’s nothing against Myles Lewis-Skelly; it’s about giving him the freedom to go and expand his game elsewhere.

‘With Marcus Rashford, he’s a player who needs an arm around his shoulder, and Arteta would be great for him.

Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona (Picture: Getty)

‘Give him that love, give him the freedom to play on that left side, and yeah, I’d like to see him in an Arsenal shirt.’

Though Dixon has some ‘reservations’ about signing Rashford, he feels Arteta may be a little short of options in attack following Leandro Trossard’s recent departure for Besiktas.

‘I have my reservations about whether he’s consistently a top-class player,’ he added,

‘But based on what Arsenal have in the squad now, he’d be a good addition.’

Lewis-Skelly made only five league starts last season (Picture: Getty)

United have been eyeing a move for Lewis-Skelly this summer as they look to bring in a left-back to provide support and competition for Luke Shaw.

Lewis Hall is understood to be at the top of United’s wishlist of targets, but Newcastle have been insistent that the 21-year-old England international is not for sale.

Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson have also been linked with the Red Devils in recent weeks.

But speaking to Casinolyze, ex-United defender Phil Bardsley urged his former club not to give up hope of capturing Hall without a fight.

Newcastle and England star Hall is United’s top target at left-back (Picture: Getty)

‘Luke Shaw has looked sharp in pre-season but with his injury record you always worry,’ Bardsley said.

‘I don’t think you can always rely on him for a full season, especially when United are back in the Champions League, because of the amount of games they’ll have to play.

‘Lewis Hall from Newcastle United would be the perfect fit. It’s just a question of getting him out of Newcastle United this summer when they’ve already sold so many players and lost Eddie Howe.

‘He’s a Premier League proven player though and a great age. I think the way he plays suits Manchester United to a tee.’

Lewis-Skelly started in midfield in last season’s Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

Bardsley is confident Hall would prove a far more suitable addition that Lewis-Skelly, despite the latter’s obvious ‘qualities’.

‘I prefer Lewis Hall to Myles Lewis-Skelly when you look at what Manchester United need this summer. Hall is better suited to playing left-back,’ he added.

‘I think if you look at Lewis-Skelly, he’s a much better player when you play him in midfield, and I don’t think United need another young player going into the middle of the park.

‘They need a proven defensive midfielder who’s got that experience to come in and own that position.

‘Listen, he’s a quality player. There’s no doubt about it. He won the Premier League last season and started in a Champions League final in midfield. But for me, if I had to pick between the two of them, it’s Lewis Hall every day of the week and twice on Sunday.’

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^ ^ Chelsea set Pedro Neto asking price after Arsenal transfer approach

Pedro Neto has been linked with a move away from Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea will demand a ‘very large bid’ to sell Pedro Neto after Arsenal made an approach for the winger.

The Premier League champions have been linked with a move for Neto after missing out on top target Vinicius Junior.

Arsenal were growing confident of completing a stunning move for Vinicius but the Brazil icon ended his contract dispute with Real Madrid to sign a new deal at the Bernabeu.

Despite missing out on Vinicius, Mikel Arteta remains interested in signing a new winger after selling Leandro Trossard earlier in the summer.

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Arsenal are also open to offers for fellow winger Gabriel Martinelli, who has attracted interest from fellow European clubs.

Arteta did welcome Greece international Christos Tzolis to the Emirates Stadium but is expected to sign another winger, especially if Martinelli ends his long spell in north London.

Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Neto, who has made 103 appearances for Chelsea since his £54m move from Wolves in 2024.

Arsenal tried and failed to sign Vinicius Junior (Picture: Shutterstock)

According to The Athletic, Neto was left off of Chelsea’s ‘untouchable’ list going into the summer transfer window but is still a ‘highly regarded member of the squad’.

As a result it will take a ‘very large bid’ for Chelsea to consider selling Neto so close to the start of the new Premier League season.

It was reported last week that Chelsea would demand £70m for the Portuguese winger, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)

Former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere has urged the Gunners to look at cheaper options after missing out on Vinicius and named Chelsea’s Neto as a ‘great option’.

‘I just think: Yes, we’re champions, yes, we’ve made a lot of money. But at some point, you’ve got to balance the books as well,’ Aliadiere told Metro via Football Betting.

‘When you think about the money that Arsenal already spent after Guimaraes’ arrival, what we’ve spent last year, plus we’ve only had Trossard leaving for money.

‘Only the club will know financially where they are, but will they be able to go and spend 150 million on a new winger, or is it maybe financially more reasonable to go for a lower option?’

Aliadiere continued: ‘Pedro Neto could be a great option. He’s played in the Premier League for many years, is established, knows the league, a very, very good player.

‘And don’t forget, we’ve already signed a left winger with Christos Tzolis. He’s a left winger, so you’re just adding top talent.

‘We’ve spent 40million. ‘You can’t just spend 40 million and then just stick him on the bench and never play him. So I think you’ve got to keep every option open and see what is best financially for the club.’

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