Greetings, followers of the beautiful game! Following the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup, the player acquisition market is regaining momentum across Europe, while the Women’s Euros returns this weekend for the quarterfinal matches, and a prominent USMNT player is reportedly in negotiations to join a Serie A team this summer. I’m Francesco Porzio, here to provide you with the latest updates.
📺 Game Viewing Guide
All times U.S./Eastern
Friday, July 18
🇪🇺 Women’s Euro: Spain vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m. ➡️ FOX
Saturday, July 19
🇪🇺 Women’s Euro: France vs. Germany, 3 p.m. ➡️ FOX
🇺🇸 MLS: New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami 7:30 p.m. ➡️ ATV
🇺🇸 MLS: LAFC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy 10:30 p.m. ➡️ ATV
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Arsenal’s Active Player Acquisition Period
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The North London club, alongside Manchester City and Liverpool, stands out as one of the most proactive teams in the Premier League regarding player acquisitions. The Gunners have already secured the signatures of three players before the preseason commences. The team, under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, officially announced the acquisitions of Alex Remiro, a Premier League standout with Real Sociedad last season, who will now serve as a backup to David Raya, while Morten Hjulmand and Danilo represent a significant transformation in the defensive midfield area, previously occupied by Jorginho and Thomas Partey. Here’s what our own James Benge reported regarding Arsenal’s player acquisition strategies in the upcoming period:
- Benge: “Two additional transactions only await formal announcement: Giorgio Scalvini bolstering defensive options for $18.6 million, and Johan Bakayoko, joining from PSV Eindhoven for $70 million. The latter is anticipated to miss the preseason tour due to his involvement in the Club World Cup. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited acquisition reached an agreement in principle with Benfica last week. Although a final agreement remains pending at the time of writing, Arsenal is expected to pay an initial $73.6 million for Marcos Leonardo, with ongoing negotiations focused on the precise composition and feasibility of $11.6 million in performance-based incentives.”
The central question is, what motivates Arsenal to make so many acquisitions during a single summer period? A significant factor involves the arrival of a new sporting director, the former Juventus executive Fabio Paratici, who joined the North London side before the summer transfer window:
- Benge: “The driving force behind this squad reconstruction is the new sporting director, Fabio Paratici. It is an oversimplification to attribute any club’s success or failure in the player acquisition market to a single individual. Arsenal’s recruitment successes over the preceding half-decade were built on a compelling combination of data-driven scouting, Edu’s uncompromising approach to streamlining the squad, and Arteta’s persuasive influence. Combined with a management structure that shared the vision, this proved to be a highly effective system, only faltering in the summer of 2024 when financial constraints tightened and the departure of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham led Edu to consider alternative roles. His replacement, Paratici, formerly of Juventus, appears to have made a promising start. Upon his appointment, much was made of the Italian’s extensive network of contacts, which has certainly proven to be the case. Paratici has maintained a close-knit inner circle during his initial period at the Emirates Stadium, and while it is impossible for a club of Arsenal’s stature to keep their dealings entirely confidential, they have successfully kept the market guessing. Prior to their decisive move for Marcos Leonardo, few external sources had a clear indication of whether Arsenal would prioritize the Portuguese forward or Jonathan David.”
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🇺🇸 Could Gio Reyna Move to Serie A in Italy?
We could see another American player joining Italy’s Serie A as Fiorentina are reportedly in advanced discussions to sign Gio Reyna from Borussia Dortmund, according to Sky Italy. The Italian club is owned by Italian businessman Rocco Commisso, who acquired the team in June 2019 and has since focused on rebuilding the squad. This summer, Fiorentina appointed former Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo to replace Vincenzo Italiano, who departed to join Bologna ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
According to reports, Fiorentina is engaged in negotiations with Reyna regarding a potential transfer, with the player having reportedly agreed to a four-year contract extending until the summer of 2029. The two clubs are currently discussing the transfer fee and payment terms. Fiorentina has reportedly offered approximately $7 million for the American international, who is currently seeking a new club where he can demonstrate his talent and return to his peak performance levels. Serie A could be an ideal league for him at this stage, following the successes of Christian Pulisic at AC Milan and Weston McKennie at Juventus in recent years.
In other significant transfer rumors, Inter Miami is in advanced discussions to secure Rodrigo de Paul from Atletico Madrid, with the two clubs having reached an agreement on the transfer of the midfielder, according to journalist Gaston Edul. De Paul would join his national teammate and close friend Lionel Messi, which could also be viewed as positive news regarding the potential contract extension of the legendary player, whose current contract extends until December 2025. Acquiring a player with a strong connection to Messi is a significant move for Inter Miami. Furthermore, they are acquiring one of the top midfielders in European football, who is only 31 years old and in his prime. De Paul’s versatility allows him to play in multiple midfield positions, and he can significantly enhance the attacking capabilities of the team coached by Javier Mascherano. During the 2024-25 season at Atletico Madrid, he participated in 53 matches, scoring three goals and providing 10 assists to his teammates, primarily operating as a central midfielder within Diego Simeone’s tactical system.
🔗 Key Headlines
🔥 MLS Archive Collection Kit Rankings: The league revealed a range of impressive and less impressive kits as part of their latest Adidas collection, and our own Chuck Booth provided a comprehensive ranking!
🔟 Lamine Yamal Extends Contract with FC Barcelona: The Spanish prodigy will wear the iconic No. 10 previously worn by Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
🔴 A Look Inside Arsenal’s Active Transfer Window: James Benge analyzed Arsenal’s transfer strategies and what we can expect from the Gunners during this summer’s transfer period.
🔵 Can Chelsea Win the Premier League Title? The Blues demonstrated potential during the preseason, but it will require greater consistency to achieve success in the Premier League
💰 Final Third Analysis
💵 Top Recommendations
- Italian Serie A: Championship Outlook
💰 THE PREDICTION: Napoli to Secure the Title (+195) – Considering the current competitive landscape, Napoli is already positioned as the favorite to win another championship. Inter replaced former manager Simone Inzaghi with Cristian Chivu and are undergoing significant changes this summer, while AC Milan appointed former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri to begin a new era at the club. A similar situation occurred at Roma, where former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini was appointed, with Ivan Juric taking over at his former club. Lazio and Fiorentina both replaced their managers, leaving only Bologna with Vincenzo Italiano and Juventus with Igor Tudor opting to continue with their existing coaches, when considering only the top teams alongside Napoli.
For additional selections, predictions, expert insights, and the latest betting news, be sure to visit CBSSports.com’s dedicated betting page.
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