Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has chosen between winning the Premier League or Champions League with the Gunners this season if he “had to choose” one.
Saka has reached the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in his career. He slotted away his penalty in a shootout in which the Gunners prevailed over Porto 4-2, after 210 minutes across both legs saw the tie end 1-1.
The last time Arsenal reached this stage of the tournament, Saka was still playing youth football. As such, it’s a big achievement for him to have helped his side to where they are – he’s got three goals and four assists in this season’s Champions League.
Despite the fact many believe Arsenal are one of the favourites to win the trophy, and they seem to have a good chance to do so, if given the choice between that and the Premier League this season, Saka would choose the latter.
“Bukayo, Champions League or Premier League,” Saka was asked by Thierry Henry on CBS Sports.
“Wow. He isn’t going to let me say both. If I had to choose, this season, then I would say the Premier League. But I want both,” Saka said.
Indeed, Premier League triumph is something the Gunners have clearly been working towards for the past few seasons. After eighth-placed finishes in his first couple of seasons at the helm followed by fifth the next year, Mikel Arteta made his side very competitive last season.
Related video: Arsenal scrape past Porto on penalties (Reuters)

Arsenal finished second to Manchester City after leading the league for most of the season, and they find themselves top of the table at the moment, having scored the most goals out of anybody.
Indeed, they’re in a good position in both the league and the Champions League, but given they have now put themselves in a spot where they could achieve Premier League glory two years on the trot, it’s little surprise that’s the preference.
Arsenal would no doubt like to win both trophies if possible, and the club are clearly pleased with the position they find themselves in at the moment.
“We’re top of the league and into the next round of Champions League, so everyone is so happy,” Saka added.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta offers response after Arsenal boss is accused of ‘insulting’ Porto manager’s ‘family’

Quadruple Leeds transfer explodes into life as Farke, Hammond agree on moves for £47m worth of talent

Leeds United are quickly putting plans in place for the summer transfer window with reports stating Daniel Farke has reached a decision with the club over the futures of loan quartet Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson and Ian Poveda.
The Whites are the form team in English football right now, going through 2024 unbeaten so far and having won 11 of their 12 league games this calendar year to surge into automatic promotion contention. What was once a 17-point gap behind runaway leaders Leicester can be reduced to nothing with Leeds knowing a win over Millwall at Elland Road on Sunday will guarantee themselves top spot.


And while nothing can be taken for granted in this most remarkable of seasons in the Championship, Leeds will now be many people’s favourites to secure themselves a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Following their demise from the top flight last season, the Whites saw a plethora of their big name stars depart Elland Road, many of whom exploited relegation loan clauses in their deals to secure moves elsewhere.
IN DEPTH ~ Leeds United loan army: How Farke’s 13 loanees are faring and what their immediate future holds
To that end, the likes of Kristensen, Roca, Robin Koch, Max Wober and Aaronson were among those quickly out the door once relegation was confirmed, while the likes of Jack Harrison, Sam Greenwood and Luis Sinisterra – the latter of which has already made his move to Bournemouth permanent – also departed late in the window.

And with the current campaign entering the business stages, Leeds know they face several major decisions on all 13 of their players currently out on loan.
However, according to the latest reports, Leeds have now reached a decision on four of these ahead of the summer window.

Farke, Hammond decide to offload four Leeds loanees

Discussions on the player side of things at Elland Road will be decided by director of football Nick Hammond, who has undisputely done a cracking job since stepping into what was a difficult situation at the club last summer.
In negotiating the exits of several stars, it was Hammond who brought in the likes of Ethan Ampadu – a £7m bargain from Chelsea – as well as Joe Rodon, Glen Kamara, Ilia Gruev and Joel Piroe – four signings who have galvanised Leeds this season. Sam Byram was the choice of Farke, while Hammond also helped secure the deal to bring Jaidon Anthony the other way from Bournemouth after Sinisterra’s agent made a late push to get his client out of the club.

And with Hammond sticking around to oversee the 2024 summer window at Leeds, the Whites have tried to get ahead of the curve by holding talks already over the future of a quartet of their loanees.
First up, it’s already been decided that Poveda, who joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan in January, will not be handed a new deal and has now played his last game for the club.
While no secret, TEAMtalk sources have confirmed that there will be no way back for the Colombia international at Elland Road.
As a free agent, he is expected to either sign permanently with the Owls, or potentially could yet make a fellow free-transfer switch to Birmingham and depending on which club offers him the more attractive deal.
Both sides are currently both embroiled in a furious fight to stay in the Championship.
Football Insider, meanwhile, reports that another loanee, Kristensen, has had it communicated to him that the club plan to accept offers for his services this summer.

Leeds reach surprise decision on Brenden Aaronson future

The Denmark international joined Leeds from RB Salzburg in a deal just shy of £10m and was a mainstay of the side who crashed out of the Premier League.
Departing for Roma, the 26-year-old has had a mixed time of things in the Italian capital, and it remains uncertain if they will take up an option to make his stay permanent.
However, Leeds have reportedly told the 20-times capped Denmark international there is no way back for him at Elland Road and they will look to offload him this summer, whether to Roma or elsewhere.
It’s also reported that the same message has been communicated to Aaronson, though that news may come as more of a surprise given the reports that Leeds did consider his loan recall in January.
Ultimately that never came around, with the USA star seeing out the campaign with loan club, Union Berlin.
However, having come in for criticism with the Bundesliga side, and having scored just one goal in 29 appearances, it seems unlikely they will look to sign him permanently.

Farke, though, has reportedly decided that there will be no role at Leeds for the player next season, regardless of what division they are in, and will look to offload the player.
Having cost £25m, Leeds will likely take an enormous hit on that initial investment if they do sell, though another loan away looks possible too. Either way, it will now be left in the hands of his agent to secure his client another club.

Roca decides his time at Leeds is over

Meanwhile, Leeds are also ready to let Spanish midfielder Roca depart Elland Road on a permanent basis.
The 27-year-old was one of the first to leave last summer upon relegation, returning to his homeland and signing a loan deal with Real Betis.
Arguably the most successful of Leeds’ loan army, Roca has become a mainstay of the Betis side and seen his name linked with a first ever call up to the Spain national squad.
He has been very vocal of his decision to make his stay in Andalusia permanent, with Leeds also open to his sale.
Should promotion back to the Premier League not be secured though for Leeds, Roca will get the chance to stay at the LaLiga side on another’s season loan.
However, promotion back to the Premier League will likely force Betis’ hands over a permanent deal, with Leeds reportedly hopeful of securing a fee of around €10m (£8.5m).
Speaking about his future, Roca told El Desmarque: “There is a clause like this year. If Leeds is not in the Premier League, I can go out on loan again. Let’s see.
“It depends on whether they go up or not. They are things out of my control.
“I sincerely hope they go up, because of all the teams I wish them the best. I am grateful to them, I wish them the best, it has been my home, and from there we will see.”
Leeds paid a combined £47m for Kristensen, Roca and Aaronson, while Poveda was a free transfer capture from Man City in January 2020.
READ MORE: Five Championship standouts Leeds Utd should sign if promoted to the Premier League

Brilliant Liverpool star must not be ignored by Gareth Southgate in latest England squad

Joe Gomez must have thought his England career had gone, but there will never be a better time for Gareth Southgate to recall the Liverpool defender.
Gomez, 26, is playing his best football in years, showing great versatility and absolutely epitomises what being a good squad member is about. He has filled in at centre half, left back, right back and even midfield during Liverpool’s injury problems this season.


Gomez has done it brilliantly, playing well for the team and has adapted to every position, earning rich praise from Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool boss Klopp has urged Southgate to pick him ahead of the Euros this summer - and it is easy to see why.
I think Klopp is being a little cheeky now with his comments about Gomez. Let's not forget that Liverpool weren't picking him and he was injured so it's not as if England were freezing him out.
Klopp has selective memory around England and his players rather like with Trent Alexander-Arnold who was the "best right back in the world" when England were playing him in midfield. But Klopp has never explained why it's now ok for Liverpool to do the same with Trent.
The fans are also so appreciative of what Gomez has done. On Sunday, Gomez started at left back, switched to right back after Andy Robertson came on and was surging through midfield by the end.

There is never a complaint about it just a willingness to do a job for the team.‌ Let’s not forget that Gomez already has 11 senior caps and was around the England camp from 2017 to October 2020.
Injuries have done for him since then but he is a player who Southgate likes for what he does on the pitch but also as a person.‌ He is a character who can do a good job and fill in at various roles - and that is so important for England who have so many injury concerns about defenders.
Joe Gomez deserves an England recall
© Getty Images
Luke Shaw is out. Ben Chilwell has been injured. Harry Maguire has missed games. There are so many worries in that department before Thursday’s squad announcement - but also for the Euros this summer.‌
That is why Gomez is such a good fit for England. Southgate has a relationship with him from the various age groups as he has worked his way up through the England ranks. It will be important to have good tourists for the Euros, those who will fill in with no complaints.

Also, it is impossible to see new call-ups from out of the blue ahead of the Euros this summer. But that is not an issue for Gomez because he has been a regular before - and should be again.
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Man Utd and Chelsea battle like it’s 2021 as Liverpool go Dutch

It feels like Chelsea and Manchester United have been battling for Jules Kounde since time began, while the new Liverpool era could start with a Dutch midfielder…
 
IS IT STILL 2021?
Chelsea have been chasing Jules Kounde for three years and they might finally get their man this summer as Barcelona are open to selling the French defender, having pulled all the levers they can and been left with just ‘sell some of the players that are worth money’. And Kounde – at just 25 – is still worth some money.

According to Sport, Chelsea face some competition in the form of Manchester United, who want to overhaul their defence this summer. Never again should they find themselves with no choice but to pick Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire.
Kounde was a target for both clubs last summer but opted to stay in Barcelona. His preference is still to remain in Spain, but the two Premier League clubs might be able to offer him something Barca resist: A permanent place in the centre of defence. He’s a bit fed up of filling in at right-back, apparently.
 
LIVERPOOL TO GO DUTCH AGAIN?
It went very well with Virgil van Dijk (less well with Ryan Gravenberch) and Liverpool’s first incoming transfer under the new partnership of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes could be another Dutchman in Teun Koopmeiners, the 26-year-old defensive midfielder who has had a brilliant season for Atalanta.
Related video: Why Chelsea Cannot Score Goals (Dailymotion)

According to reports in Italy, Liverpool have ‘already expressed their approval’ of Koopmeiners, but Juventus are also very, very interested. It is said that a price somewhere in the region of £50m would secure the Dutchman, though Liverpool fans might ask if he is really needed as Wataru Endo has surpassed all expectations.
READ: The top 10 Liverpool deals made by Michael Edwards
 
GYOKERES EMERGES AS ARSENAL CHOICE
We never did quite buy that Arsenal would sign Ivan Toney as Arsenal do not really need or want a pure No. 9; Mikel Arteta wants a fluid front four and if Gabriel Jesus was a better finisher then there would be no doubt that he would be the perfect man. But do you know who is a better finisher? Viktor Gyokeres, that’s who. He’s so good that nobody has scored more goals than him in 2024.
They will face an awful lot of competition for him, but if they can stump up the 100 million Euros it would cost to crowbar him out of Portugal, he would be a perfect signing: he plays primarily up front but can play on the wing when Arteta fancies using Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard up front. He is said to have emerged as the Gunners’ No. 1 target.
 
TRENDING GOSSIP:
Ten Hag ‘requests’ £25m Man Utd signing to replace midfielder; Ratcliffe to ‘do everything’ for Kane

Tottenham could receive Arsenal helping hand in pursuit of £60m-rated Prem attacker in Man Utd blow

Tottenham achieving Champions League football could help them to snare Pedro Neto, with the Wolves winger keen on playing top European football, so Arsenal could help Spurs to the signing.
Tottenham are one of the leading names pursuing Neto. Of late, TEAMtalk have suggested they are in the mix along with Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle.

However, it’s said the Reds and City are the two clubs most likely to pull off the signing. Both are in the Premier League’s top three at the moment, so it’s not hard to see why they’d have such a good chance of making the move.
Champions League football – which both clubs look sure to grab – could now be a deciding factor on where Neto goes, too.
Indeed, according to Football Insider, Neto is ‘keen to play’ in the elite European competition if he leaves Wolves this summer. Qualification for the tournament will apparently give clubs a ‘huge edge’ on snaring the winger.
It’s also widely believed a fee of £60million will ensure Wolves sell the star.
Tottenham are currently outside the conventional Champions League qualification places, as they’re fifth, while usually it’s the Premier League’s top four that secure their place in the competition.
Related video: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta reacts to the Penalty Victory over Porto (English Football Channel)

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However, with change to the format coming after the current campaign meaning the two countries whose clubs perform best across European competitions will get an extra spot, Spurs could be in with a chance.
While some English sides already being knocked out is less than ideal for those chances, Arsenal’s progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League – and the fact they’re one of the favourites – means there’s still hope.
That said, the Gunners could actually help their north London rivals to sign Neto, who looks a good fit given he’s assisted nine Premier League goals this season.
For Manchester United, the winger’s Champions League hopes will be a kick in the teeth. While they have not been named with concrete interest, a recent report stated the Red Devils could join the race for Neto.
But they’re currently six points below Spurs, and the north London outfit have a game yet to play over them. As such, surpassing Ange Postecoglou’s side looks tough, and so, therefore, does convincing Neto to join.
READ MORE: Latest UEFA standings: Will the Premier League get a fifth place in next season’s Champions League?