The Premier League season is entering the stage where results on the pitch begin to collide with decisions being made behind the scenes. Clubs are already planning their summer business, scouts are travelling across Europe in search of the next big signing, and struggling teams are battling to stay clear of the relegation trapdoor.
At Arsenal, questions are emerging about Gabriel Martinelli’s future after a difficult campaign in front of goal. Elsewhere, Real Madrid are monitoring some of the league’s best midfield talent, while Chelsea are assessing their attacking options after a disappointing season for Liam Delap.
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Further down the table, Nottingham Forest and West Ham are locked in a tense survival fight. Tottenham are under pressure near the bottom and Everton are demanding more from their forwards. Off the field, the legal wrangling over the sale of Chelsea continues and Manchester City’s Rodri has escaped suspension after his comments about refereeing.
With the weekend’s fixtures approaching, here are the key Premier League talking points.
What happens if Martinelli leaves Arsenal?
Arsenal are ready to sell Gabriel Martinelli at the end of the season. He has scored only one goal in the Premier League and provided two assists in 22 games.
Arsenal are in talks with the agents of AC Milan’s left winger Rafael Leao, discussing a possible move for approximately £75 million. RB Leipzig’s Norwegian Antonio Nusa is also being considered, together with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, although it is highly unlikely coach Eddie Howe will let him go. Nusa has been compared with Brazilian Neymar because of his dribbling skills and electric pace as a winger.
Leandro Trossard has consistently overshadowed Martinelli for Arsenal this season and Mikel Arteta has built up trust in him. He will currently start him whenever he is fit and available. That limits Martinelli’s opportunities but there will not be a lack of clubs willing to bid to sign him because of his presence, physical stamina and determination.
Barcelona have also been discussing Gabriel, but they are likely to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United as he has done well on loan at the Nou Camp. The supporters have taken to him and he is very popular.
If Martinelli does move, Arsenal will sign a replacement, which will bring into the picture Gordon, Leao and Nusa, plus Atletico Club’s star performer Nico Williams. There could be an intense bidding war among the elite clubs at the end of the season.
Rodri and Tonali are in demand
Real Madrid had scouts sitting in the comfy padded seats at St James’ Park when Newcastle played Manchester City. They had travelled from Spain to watch midfielder Sandro Tonali as Los Blancos look to strengthen this summer. However, there was a double reason to book a flight to the UK.
I can reveal that it is Manchester City’s Rodri who is most wanted by the Spanish giants. He has a contract until 2027 but Real are clever at luring top Premier League footballers to the Bernabeu. The Ballon d’Or winner is now 29 years of age, whereas Tonali is only 25. Newcastle would want approximately £100 million before they let him out of the door.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with Tonali during the past few weeks and have regularly sent scouts to report on his progress. I am hearing that if the Gunners are to buy him they will try to tie up a deal before the summer.
It all gets a little complicated with Manchester United entering the picture. They have to replace Casemiro in midfield as he is definitely leaving in the summer after being a good servant to the club. He is a hero on the terraces and his partnership with Kobbie Mainoo has been one of the backbones of Michael Carrick’s success since he took over as interim manager.
Real Madrid have failed to replace Luka Modric since he left last year for AC Milan and either Rodri or Tonali are seen as the solution to their midfield.
Brazilian Roque for Stamford Bridge
The step up from Ipswich Town to Chelsea has been too much for Liam Delap, who has scored only three goals in 33 matches. The Blues management are looking at Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque as a replacement if they move Delap on in the summer. I have heard they are prepared to spend £45 million to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Roque moved from his native Brazil to Barcelona but the move did not work well for him or the club and he returned home last year. Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior says the Brazilian would work well with his players and his strategy. Chelsea will be anxious to tie up a deal well before the 2026-27 season to allow him time to settle in London.
Forest see the shoots of revival
Nottingham Forest can see the shoots of a revival growing and are confident they can avoid the dreaded drop into the Championship.
This weekend they face Fulham at home, which they believe they can win. If Forest succeed they will place Tottenham in a difficult position because Spurs face Liverpool at Anfield.
We can assume Wolves and Burnley are gone, despite Wolves winning their last two games, which leaves one other club to join them in the relegation places. Tottenham are only one point ahead of Forest and West Ham, who seem to be playing with renewed confidence, while Spurs are rock bottom and that assessment is coming from their players, not me.
Forest coach Vitor Pereira refused to comment on his side’s hopes of escaping their sticky position and said, “Believe me, this is too much for me. I just care about my team. All my energy I put into what we can control and the way I can help my team. Every day I study, study, study and I plan. I try to find solutions to help them. A manager, in my opinion, is there to support his players and to try to help them physically and mentally. I just have energy for this. I cannot focus on anything else. If we are playing a particular team then I will study them, but it is more important to me to be with my team.”
Later this month Forest travel to Tottenham in what will be a defining match which neither team dare lose.
Barry and Beto told they must improve
Everton strikers were singled out at Monday’s briefing and both Thierno Barry and Beto have been told they have to follow their former team-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is now with Leeds and has scored 10 goals already this season. Barry has scored six and Beto five. As a striker or forward you are judged on your numbers and most people at Everton think their strikers’ position needs the most attention for improvement.
In many ways Calvert-Lewin, Barry and Beto are similar in that they run all the channels from wing to centre and even from attacking midfield. All are reasonably quick and have pace. However, where Barry and Beto are falling down is their finishing determination. According to Everton’s assistants, what they are doing in training is getting both players to drive directly at defenders, drop a shoulder and move forward with their pace.
Everton have a top class coach in David Moyes and he is ably assisted by club legend and England international Leighton Baines. Their main concentration at the moment is to get more from both Barry and Beto or there could be changes made in the summer.
Why Forest have sacked 3 managers
Life is never easy playing for a team owned by Vangelis Marinakis, the Greek billionaire, and Nottingham Forest’s coaches, players and club hierarchy know that only too well. Four coaches in a season is incredible, even for him.
Many of Forest’s problems stem from the appointment of Edu as Global Head of Football last July. Nuno Espirito Santo, in my opinion, is a very good manager and he was at Forest at the start of the season. After a falling out with Edu he was sacked by Marinakis. Edu then allegedly forced out the next two respected managers, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, with Vitor Pereira signing a contract as Forest’s fourth manager.
Pereira has now fallen out with Edu and Marinakis has finally realised that perhaps the fault for Forest’s poor season is not necessarily with his managers. He has spent £200 million this season strengthening the team, with many players brought in at Edu’s insistence. The result is that Forest sit in 17th place in the Premier League, equal on points with West Ham and only one point outside the relegation zone.
Edu, I am told, has been instructed to stay at home and his future at Forest is under review. The club say that he is still working as normal but the next few weeks will decide his future, particularly if Forest face life in the second tier next season.
Disasi shows his class at West Ham
Axel Disasi has been a breath of fresh air for West Ham and the astute Nuno Espirito Santo has used him every week since his loan from Chelsea began.
Disasi could not get a game at Stamford Bridge but he has proved to be very influential in West Ham’s fight to avoid relegation. Hammers legend and former captain Mark Noble is now a scout at the London Stadium and he identified Disasi as a player the club should buy from Monaco. He eventually went to Chelsea but has been loaned out to Aston Villa and then to West Ham.
Supporters have taken to the likeable Frenchman who celebrates his tackling successes as though he had scored a goal and he has given 100 percent to the Hammers.
Disasi has said he wants to sign for West Ham permanently in the summer but the club can only keep him if they avoid relegation. After posting a record loss of £104 million in the latest accounts, the club might be forced to sell players if they go down.
West Ham play Manchester City this weekend and if they beat them they would move two places above Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, who have a difficult match against Liverpool.
If Leeds lose to Crystal Palace on Sunday and West Ham win, they would also be level on points.
Why Andy Robertson turned down Spurs
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson said this week that he was ready to leave Liverpool when Tottenham came calling in January as his current contract enters its final few months.
The long-serving Anfield favourite and Scotland captain turns 32 years of age in April and Tottenham approached him and Liverpool to see if he wanted to move.
Andy said, “There was definite interest from Spurs and there were discussions. My decision was that I wanted to stay and I have never not been committed to Liverpool after eight years at Anfield. I want to win more trophies at Liverpool.”
The decision was left to Andy in recognition of his long service and he decided to stay. An injury to Joe Gomez then prompted Liverpool to convince him that they still wanted him.
He is hoping that his current contract will be extended in the summer.
Chelsea sale money still frozen
Roman Abramovich’s lawyers have informed the UK government that the sale of Chelsea FC for £2.35 billion is money that belongs to him and he will fight in the courts any attempt to take the funds.
Chelsea and Stamford Bridge sale funds are still frozen in Abramovich’s company Fordstam Ltd due to arguments about how the money will be used to aid Ukraine victims as they fight the Russian invasion.
The lawyers for Abramovich have stressed that he is “fully committed” to making the money available for charities in Ukraine, but the British government are holding up the money due to restrictions on how the money can be spent. Abramovich wants the money available to all war victims on both sides.
£1.4 billion, which Abramovich lent to Chelsea, is owed to Camberley International Investments but cannot be released until the Island of Jersey government drops an investigation and legal action. Another £5.3 billion of his fortune is also frozen.
Rodri escapes ban but faces fine
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 and warned about his future conduct by the Football Association. Rodri spoke out after City’s draw with Tottenham accusing the referee Robert Jones of not being neutral and fair to City.
The Ballon d’Or winner was angry when Dominic Solanke’s goal was allowed after he appeared to kick City defender Marc Guehi. Rodri made his remarks during a post-match interview during which he questioned, by implication, the integrity of a match official.
Players are allowed to make comments about the game but are not allowed to question the integrity of officials. Rodri apologised and blamed the media for not reporting his words accurately.
He said, “I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of officials. I have always had and continue to have great respect for referees and the difficult job they undertake. My comments were made in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result.”
With the season approaching its final stretch, the Premier League storylines are beginning to overlap. Clubs chasing survival are preparing for decisive fixtures, while those at the top are already planning how to strengthen for next year.
Transfer speculation surrounding players like Martinelli, Tonali and Roque underlines how quickly attention turns to the summer window, even while crucial points remain at stake. At the same time, off-field issues such as managerial upheaval at Nottingham Forest and the frozen Chelsea sale funds continue to shape the wider landscape of the league.
As the run-in intensifies, the coming weeks promise defining moments both on and off the pitch, with reputations, careers and even Premier League status hanging in the balance.
– Ends
Published By:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published On:
Mar 13, 2026 17:28 IST
