Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.
Barcelona players want to sign bargain €12M right back
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Barcelona players want to sign bargain €12M right back

Even though he is a center back by trade, young Frenchman Jules Kounde has legitimately become one of the best right backs in world football for Barcelona, and since Real Madrid rival Dani Carvajal's torn ACL, there's a strong case to be made that Kounde has been the best right back in the league. Behind Kounde, Barcelona also have Hector Fort as a young prospect at the position, but it looks like the Blaugrana would like to sign reinforcements at the position and potentially let Kounde shine at center back again if someone emerges. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, via barcacentre, there are several players within the Barcelona ranks who are "admirers" of Rayo Vallecano star Andrei Ratiu. Per the report, these players are such fans of Ratiu that they regularly use him i...
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Arsenal fully expected to win Martin Zubimendi transfer battle
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Arsenal fully expected to win Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

Arsenal have been pursuing Real Sociedad center midfielder Martin Zubimendi for over a year now, and even after signing teammate Mikel Merino last summer from La Real, the Gunners still remain very much interested in the talented 26-year-old Spanish international. However, recent interest from Real Madrid has threatened to complicate things, as Madrid are the biggest club in Spanish football and have a big need for a midfield regista who can cover defensively while controlling and dictating play in possession. Despite the recent rumors linking Zubimendi to Real Madrid, it seems like Arsenal are still the favorites to ultimately land the most coveted No. 6 in European football. According to a report from Sky Sports's Dharmesh Sheth, via afcstuff, a Zubimendi transfer to Arsenal wil...
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Will Manuel Neuer play for Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan in UCL?
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Will Manuel Neuer play for Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan in UCL?

Bayern Munich club legend Manuel Neuer remains a fixture in goal for Die Roten, even though the club recently invested in another promising young German goalkeeper this winter in former FC Koln man Jonas Urbig. While Urbig has impressed in limited action for Bayern, he's only been getting starts because of a recent injury to the Bayern No. 1, as there is no question that Neuer has the job sealed as the club's captain for as long as he's there. Neuer has been out since the beginning of March with a torn muscle fiber, and while there is optimism he should be able to return soon, his status remains up in the air. According to a report from TZ Muenchen, via iMiaSanMia, the 39-year-old will most likely not be back in time for Bayern Munich against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Ch...
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How much Manchester United want in order to sell Kobbie Mainoo
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

How much Manchester United want in order to sell Kobbie Mainoo

The summer 2025 transfer window could spell the end of Kobbie Mainoo's run at Manchester United after just two seasons in the first team as a promising homegrown player. But Mainoo is holding out for an awful lot in wages, and while some have guarded optimism that eventually cooler heads will prevail, there's a worry that Manchester United are getting fed up with the situation. Mainoo was a welcome breakout star in the 2023/24 season, playing a vital role in Manchester United salvaging European qualification out of the campaign by beating crosstown rivals Manchester City - the Premier League champions - in the final of the FA Cup. However, the 2024/25 season has been a nightmare for Mainoo, who is on the periphery of the squad and has looked disinterested on the pitch as part of a...
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David Ornstein clarifies Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer rumors
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

David Ornstein clarifies Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer rumors

Arsenal have been driving hard to sign Real Sociedad breakout star Martin Zubimendi ever since he emerged on everyone's radar as one of the best No. 6's in European football last season. They even signed one of his best teammates in the summer 2024 transfer window, bringing Mikel Merino on board to pair with Declan Rice at the base of the midfield. But Arsenal still want Zubimendi. The problem is that Liverpool and Barcelona aren't the only formidable adversaries interested in the Spanish international on the transfer market, as Real Madrid are now pushing hard to sign the La Real standout. The Athletic's David Ornstein recently clarified the rumors stating that Real Madrid are now favored over Arsenal in the transfer battle. Via Madrid Xtra, Ornstein said that he has not heard of...
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Real Madrid will soon decide if they want to sign a CB in 2025
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid will soon decide if they want to sign a CB in 2025

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is on the verge of securing his third marquee transfer in three straight years, as Liverpool superstar right back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to join the Merengues for free this summer. Last year, Real Madrid signed PSG superstar attacker Kylian Mbappe for free - an even bigger long-term dream target of Florentino's. And the year before, he signed Jude Bellingham from Dortmund for 100 million euros. Even though Alexander-Arnold alone would be a successful transfer window for Real Madrid, there are many fans who believe the club needs to make more defensive signings, and while TAA would be a much-needed right back to help Dani Carvajal, he is more of an attacking-minded fullback. Transfer rumors swirl around Bournemouth breakout star an...
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Rafael van der Vaart buries Aston Villa for use of Dutch stars
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Rafael van der Vaart buries Aston Villa for use of Dutch stars

Aston Villa spent over 100 million euros on new players in the summer 2024 transfer window and then added a handful of more big names in the winter after thos summer signings failed to improve Villa's status from a Champions League side to a potential title contender in the Premier League. In fact, Aston Villa have fallen outside the top four entirely and have been worse off in 2024/25 despite the aggressive reinforcements. And many of those new additions have failed to get a solid foothold in the time. Among the most prominent is left back Ian Maatsen, who was signed permanently for nearly 45 million euros from Chelsea after enjoying an excellent 2023/24 breakout season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, in which he was one of the standouts in BVB's return to the Champions League Final. ...
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Jude Bellingham played big role in recruiting Trent Alexander-Arnold
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Jude Bellingham played big role in recruiting Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid are on the cusp of signing superstar right back Trent Alexander-Arnold as a free agent from Liverpool this summer, ending arguably the most anticipated transfer saga of 2025 before the window officially opens. TAA is a homegrown talent for Liverpool, and yet the Reds are fully expected to lose their most valuable transfer commodity to the biggest club in world football this year. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had the generationally gifted right back tabbed as his only option at the position, and he accelerated his interest in the England international following star man Dani Carvajal's season-ending ACL tear. Perez also had some vital help. Relevo reports, via the Madrid Zone, that Real Madrid star midfielder and Alexander-Arnold's England teammate Jude Bellin...
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Newcastle want to sign Liverpool center back as Dean Huijsen alternative
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Newcastle want to sign Liverpool center back as Dean Huijsen alternative

Dean Huijsen is the name on everyone's lips right now, and with Real Madrid ramping up their interest in the Bournemouth breakout star, the 19-year-old is becoming an even more popular name on the transfer rumor mill. According to a report from top transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle still want to sign Huijsen this summer but believe it won't be easy for them to get a transfer done for the teenage Spanish international. As such, Newcastle are moving to other center back transfer targets, and the latest young talent to catch their eye is Liverpool backup center back Jarell Quansah, who has also played right back this season in Trent Alexander-Arnold's absence. Fab writes that Newcastle and Liverpool have not engaged in transfer talks yet for Quansah, but he notes that the d...
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Arsenal targeting £60M Alexander Isak alternative at striker
28Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Arsenal targeting £60M Alexander Isak alternative at striker

Arsenal needed to sign a top striker in the last summer transfer window, and after failing to bring in anyone new, the Gunners are, once again, being linked with marquee names at the striker position in the summer 2025 transfer window. Although breakout stars Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres remain firmly on the Arsenal transfer radar, the Gunners are being linked with some even bigger names at the striker position now, namely Premier League superstar Alexander Isak. The Swedish international has been the best striker in the league this season over at Newcastle, surpassing Erling Haaland of Manchester City. He has all the tools, especially the lethal finishing, that Arsenal are looking for at the 9. But the problem is cost. According to a report from The Sun, via afcstuff, Newca...
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