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The 2023/24 season of European club football kicks off the traditional curtain-raiser of the UEFA Super Cup. Theoretically, qualifying for the Champions League began on 27 June (just 17 days after last season's final between Manchester City and Inter) but the Super Cup has been viewed as the season opener since Anton Witkamp, a journalist at the Dutch publication De Telegraaf , dreamed up the competition in the early 1970s. At its inception, Witkamp said of the competing teams: "More than money and glory, they were pursuing the right to be called the best." The economic reality of the modern game has seen some of the Corinthian spirit fade but the Super Cup remains the first available prize of the European season. Here's everything you need to know about the 2023/24 edition of the competition. When is the 2023 UEFA Super Cup? The 48th UEFA Super Cup will take place on Wednesday 16 August 2023 , after the first weekend of league football for the English and Spanish top...

The smattering of journalists ambling into Arsenal's press room in July 2001 were waiting for Richard Wright when Arsene Wenger strolled in beside a very different figure. The arrival of Ipswich Town's goalkeeper would have to wait as Arsenal unveiled one of the greatest transfer coups of the modern age. Not only had they lured Sol Campbell away from their fierce rivals Tottenham, but the Gunners had secured the England international's signature without paying a transfer fee. Two decades on, a move for any of Tottenham's free agents wouldn't provide the same seismic shock (apologies Lucas Moura). However, there are other clubs around Europe that could have their stars snagged by Arsenal this summer. Here are some of the most inviting free agent options for the Gunners. 5 free transfers Arsenal could target in the summer window 1. Daichi Kamada Daichi Kamada enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his Bundesliga career last term (nine goals) / Koji Watanabe/GettyImage...

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the signing of James Maddison after agreeing a fee with Leicester City, sources have told 90min . Spurs have been locked in talks with the Foxes for much of this month in the hope of striking a deal for long-term target Maddison. 90min reported on Tuesday that a transfer was nearing with new Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou pushing to make Maddision one of his first summer signings. And 90min now understands that Spurs and Leicester have reached an agreement over a fee that could total £45m if all add-ons are met. He will shortly Travel for a medical and finalise the move. Leicester, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season, had held out hope of selling Maddison for £60m. But 90min revealed this week that their stance changed, allowing for smoother negotiations with Tottenham. READ MORE FROM THE 90MIN TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM feed Newcastle United had also shown significant interest in the midfie...

Mikel Arteta says Martin Odegaard's dramatically improved performances for Arsenal last season were the result of a 'brutal' work ethic and the ability to adapt and learn quickly. The 24-year-old registered 15 goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League appearances as Arsenal fought tooth and nail with eventual champions Manchester City in a two-horse title race. Few were expecting Arsenal to challenge for silverware prior to the 2022/23 season beginning, but it quickly became apparent that there had been a mentality shift at the Emirates Stadium under the captaincy of Odegaard, who succeeded Alexandre Lacazette in the role. Odegaard raised his Game significantly for Arsenal , with his performance level mirrored by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and many others for large portions of the season. Speaking in an interview with leading Spanish publication Marca , Arteta was asked how he'd helped Odegaard become a star turn in north London. And although the Spaniard admit...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has conceded 'talent comes at a price' as the Gunners push to complete the expensive signings of both West Ham's Declan Rice and Chelsea's Kai Havertz. West Ham have already knocked back two bids from Arsenal for Rice, who they value at over £100m. The Gunners' latest offer, a package worth £90m, was rejected and Arsenal now face pressure from Manchester City to get a deal done. Speaking to Marca , Arteta was first asked about Rice and, given the current status of Arsenal 's pursuit of the midfielder, remained predictably tight-lipped. "I can't talk about players who are not in the club. I prefer not to say anything," he said. Arsenal 's pursuit of Havertz is far calmer, however, with a fee of £65m agreed to lure the Germany international over from Chelsea, and that was reflected in the freedom with which Arteta discussed this second move. READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP feed "Tale...

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez is back in training following the injury that prematurely ended his debut season at Old Trafford. Martinez quickly became a fan favourite following his £57m transfer from Ajax last summer, despite a rocky start in back-to-back Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford - the latter of which saw him substituted at half-time on a disatrous day for United. But the Argentine then started the next 12 Premier League games, from which United took 26 points out of a possible 36. Martinez was afforded some additional time to bring his match fitness up to speed after filling a back-up role in his country's World Cup win, re-established by mid-January. However, a foot injury initially feared to be Achilles-related that he suffered during the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla ended his season early in April. Tests later revealed a much less serious metatarsal problem, much to the relief of fans and the club. READ T...

Liverpool have agreed to send young midfielder Fabio Carvalho on loan to RB Leipzig next season, 90min understands. The 20-year-old joined from Fulham last summer and managed 21 appearances across all com Pet itions during his first season at Anfield. He was a regular feature in the squad to start the season but was afforded just 11 minutes of Premier League action from November onwards. A loan move for this season has been on the cards for a while now but, as 90min revealed in April, the idea of a permanent departure was firmly ruled out. Sources have confirmed that Liverpool have rejected a permanent offer from Leipzig but have agreed to a straight loan deal which does not include an option or obligation to buy for the German side. Liverpool want Carvalho back at the club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and have ensured they remain in control of the former Fulham starlet's future. READ MORE FROM THE 90MIN TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM feed Liverpool officials are understood to have be...

West Ham are expected to confirm the appoint ment of Tim Steidten as the club's new technical director in the coming days, 90min understands. The Hammers have undertaken an exhaustive and thorough process to find the right candidate to assume responsibility of the club's transfer dealings, which have been overseen by manager David Moyes and head of recruitment Rob Newman. 90min reported in May that majority owner David Sullivan had made his dissatisfaction known over the club's performances last season, even though West Ham went on to end their 43-year trophy drought by winning the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina. Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto, Brentford's Lee Dykes, Benfica's Rui Pedro Braz and Aston Villa's Johan Lange were all under consideration for the role, but sources have confirmed to 90min that a deal to appoint former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Steidten has now been agreed. His arrival at London Stadium is expect...

Arsenal and kit manufacturers adidas have temporarily suspended the sale of their 2023/24 home shirt due to a design error. The Gunners' home strip pays homage to the 2003/04 Invincibles squad for its 20th anniversary and is meant to include their 38- Game record from that campaign on the seams. Pictures soon circulated on social media of buyers who spotted their kits including only 32 games from that legendary campaign under Arsene Wenger and adidas have now released a statement confirming the shirt has been pulled from shelves while the mistake is fixed. It reads: "The 2023/24 Arsenal Home Authentic Jerseys are temporarily unavailable while a design error is being corrected. "We are working closely with the club and our partners to ensure restocked jerseys are available as soon as possible, and are offering full refunds to fans who have already bought one. READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP feed "This design error falls short of the stan...

England manager Gareth Southgate has heaped praise on Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star scored his first ever hat trick for the Three Lions. Saka was in stunning form on Monday night for England, bagging a hat trick in his side's impressively thorough trouncing of a decent North Macedonia side - with Harry Kane, Kalvin Phillips and Marcus Rashford getting the rest of the goals in the 7-0 win. Speaking to the press after the Game , Southgate revealed that Saka scored three goals despite having a slight Achilles injury . “I am delighted for him. He’s had a slightly sore Achilles - for a few weeks - and it's another one where it would have been easy to pull out of the camp and miss out on a night like this that I'm sure will live with him forever. READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP feed "When you have one of the best nights of your life it's a reminder to everyone to go through these things." When asked if Saka can become an 'elite...

90min rounds up the latest  transfer news , rumours and gossip circulating around the world... If Sheikh Jassim is successful in buying Manchester United , he would be interested in bringing former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back to the club. (Mirror) Arsenal are prepared to part ways with midfielder Thomas Partey this summer as they seek to overhaul their midfield. (Telegraph) The Gunners are likely to land Declan Rice from West Ham , who are readying a bid to try replace the Englishman with Fulham 's Joao Palhinha . (Fabrizio Romano) Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag has been left 'fuming' as the club's delayed takeover proceedings have seen the Red Devils fall behind Arsenal in the race for Rice . (Sun) Bayern Munich are in advanced negotiations to sign Kyle Walker on a permanent deal from Manchester City . (Sky Sports ) Talks remain ongoing between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Mallorca over the signing of South Korea international Lee Kang-in . (Marca) READ TH...

The task for every single top Premier League side this summer is to construct a team that is capable of beating Manchester City to the Premier League title. That task is even more heightened for Arsenal given they were top for so much of the previous campaign. They also do not seem to be losing any key components of that team, so they need to enhance the squad over the summer and try to come back stronger in 2023/24. One of the many names that has been heavily linked with Arsenal is Chelsea forward Kai Havertz. The German has been a very hard player to judge since he arrived in the Premier League , but he could get a fresh chance to impress if the move to the Emirates Stadium happens. Havertz to Arsenal details As things stand at the moment, there is serious interest from Arsenal in the German forward, and there is a desire from Havertz himself to make the move happen. It is essentially a case of Arsenal and Chelsea agreeing on the terms of the transfer. One of the main reasons that ...