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Arsenal have entered the race with Tottenham and Manchester United to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, according to reports.

Eze was one of Palace’s standout performers last season with 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, while he scored the winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Spurs are targeting Eze as a marquee signing for new manager Thomas Frank, while Manchester United have also viewed the 26-year-old as a potential signing to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s attack.

But according to talkSPORT, Eze is also on Arsenal’s shortlist with Mikel Arteta keen to recruit a versatile attacking player along with a new striker this summer.

It’s understood that Eze has a £68 million release clause in his deal with Palace, which would make him a cheaper option than Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who Arsenal have also targeted.

Arsenal have also made an enquiry for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, who has an £85m release clause that can be activated during the first 10 days of July, while they are also interested in Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

Talks have also been held for both Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko but Arsenal have yet to reach an agreement with either Sporting CP or RB Leipzig.

Earlier this month, Paul Scholes urged United to sign Eze after the Palacemidfielder emerged as one of the only positives from England’s 3-1 defeat to Senegal.

Speaking after last summer’s transfer window closed, Palace chairman Steve Parish said he was ‘astounded’ by the lack of interest in Eze.

‘I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael [Olise] and Ebbs in the same window and we didn’t have in Ebbs the interest that I thought we would have,’ he told Sky Sports News.

‘I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy’s just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person.’

Eze, meanwhile, has made no secret of his desire to join a club who are capable of winning the Premier League title.

‘Everything there is for me to win, I want to win, and I’ll do anything I possibly can to win the Premier League,’ he told Sky Sports last month.

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Ange Postecoglou snapped at a question about Manchester United after Tottenham reached the Europa League final on Thursday night.

Postecoglou lost his cool after Spurs defeated Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt 2-0 in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final clash.

The result means the north London club will face Ruben Amorim’s United in the final – a side they have already beaten three times so far this season – with both teams massively struggling in the Premier League this term.

In his post-match press conference, a journalist asked the Australian head coach: ‘United have constantly said this competition won’t save their season… The manager has said it, the players have said it… Is it different for Tottenham? Would it save your season?’

Postecoglou replied: ‘I don’t care. Why should I care what Man United think? Wy is that relevant to me? Ask the United manager why he said that.

‘Me, I’ve said all along that this is important. You should know better than me what a trophy would do for this club. The question answers itself.

‘What’s happening right now is people are fearing that it actually might happenAnd they’re already trying to tear it down somehow or diminish it somehow by talking about the league form.

‘Maybe if we had United’s success, maybe I’d have a different view. I could be sitting here in fifth position and the commentary would be, “that’s great Ange but the club needs to win something” – that’s exactly what everyone would be saying.

‘Of course it’s massive, of course it is. United have got their own journey to go on and maybe if they go 15 years without winning anything they’ll change their perspective on things as well.’

Spurs currently sit 16th in the Premier League table with just three games left, while United are one spot above them in 15th.

Tottenham’s last major trophy came in 2008 when they defeated Chelsea in the final of the League Cup, currently known as the Carabao Cup.

Quizzed further about the upcoming Europa League final against United, Postecoglou added: ‘It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it!

‘The debate’s now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy.

‘I mean, who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It’s a separate thing.

‘It’s got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had. A lot of them are because of the situation we’ve been in.

‘But how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final. Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League, and haven’t made finals. Why should that be diminished?

‘I couldn’t care less who’s struggling and who’s not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there.

‘I think we’ve probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year, on our road to getting there. So looking forward to it, should be a great game.’

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Paul Scholes has revealed his Europa League final prediction after Manchester United and Tottenham advanced from the semi-finals.

United thrashed La Liga side Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate to surge into the final, which will be played on May 21, while Spurs thumped Norwegian outfit Bodo-Glimt 5-1 across two legs.

The winner of the Europa League will not only secure a major trophy but qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Manchester United and Tottenham are 15th and 16th respectively in the Premier League – more than 20 points outside the Champions League places.

But winning the Europa League final will send one of the struggling Premier League clubs into Europe’s top competition next season and Scholes expects that to be Man United.

‘I’m not saying United will definitely win it but history tells me they’ve got a great chance,’ Scholes said on TNT Sports.

‘We know Spurs have beat them three times this season and they’re a really good team. I like Tottenham.

‘If they watch that first 70 minutes [of United’s second leg against Bilbao] Spurs will think they’ve got a good chance.

‘But I just think about the history of this club. It’s almost like Real Madrid at times, they can not play well and still win cups.

‘I just feels the odds are slightly in United’s favour. But I do think Spurs are a good side on their day.

‘I just think the history and the experience of the club will get them over the line. I really like Ange and think he’s got a good team but I just favour Manchester United.’

Scholes’ former United teammate Owen Hargreaves added: ‘It’s going to be fascinating. There is so much at stake for everyone.

‘But if United in a down season can win a trophy and get into Champions League, it tells you what the club is all about.

‘Right now, momentum is with Manchester United with the energy around the club at the moment.’

Man Utd power past Bilbao

Manchester United took a huge step to reaching the Europa League final by thumping 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg in Spain.

Mikel Jauregizar gave the Spaniards hope of a comeback with a first-half opener at Old Trafford but United rallied and won 4-1 on the night thanks to Mason Mount’s brace and goals from Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund.

Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim said: ‘It’s the least we can do for these fans, for the support they have given us in this tough season.

‘I know I should be a better manager and the team should be better at this moment but we’re trying and we are in a European final.’

Spurs too strong for Bodo-Glimt

Tottenham beat Bodo-Glimt 3-1 in the home leg and produced a professional performance in Norway to advance to the final.

Chasing two goals to force extra-time, Bodo-Glimt’s hopes evaporated when Spurs scored twice in six second-half minutes through Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro.

‘I couldn’t be prouder of the lads,’ under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said. ‘We knew it was a difficult place to come.

‘We’re aware of the record they have here, the pitch. I think the lads handled it well. Excited, we’re in a final.’

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