Earlier today, we ran the latest edition of our subscriber-exclusive Ask Ornstein session.
Once a week for an hour, The Athletic’s subscribers can ask me for my views on anything from the world of football. I have pulled together some of my favourite questions and my answers to them are below.
Want to ask me a question? Join us next Thursday.
Caolan M. asked: “Which attackers have you heard Liverpool are interested in this summer?”
David Ornstein: They will obviously have multiple options on their radar, but the only name I’ve personally heard of so far — which others have already reported — is Alexander Isak. Liverpool aren’t alone in liking the Swede. We know Mikel Arteta wants to sign him, Chelsea and Barcelona have been also been linked, and I’m sure many other sides would be keen, too, if the opportunity arose.
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But that’s a big ‘if’. Newcastle have no intention of selling their best player and, understandably, don’t welcome this kind of conversation. Isak has more than three years left on his existing contract, he is very well paid, and there’s no financial requirement for the St James’ Park hierarchy to cash in.
Now, every player has their price and while I’m not aware of Newcastle specifically setting one for Isak, the number that seems to circulate around the industry is something like £150million. Perhaps if teams are prepared to make such eye-watering offers there’s a conversation to be had, but Newcastle hold the aces here and their plan will be to build with, rather than without, him.
Liverpool are only going to consider making a move if Isak is genuinely available; they’re not the type of club to engage in a wild goose chase. But I do think (sorry to say this, Newcastle fans) his future will be one of the big talking points heading into and during the summer transfer window.
Luka C. asked: “If Arsenal fail to sign Isak this summer, are there any other players the club prefers? Reports indicate that Sesko and Ekitike are among the names Arsenal are interested in.”
Ornstein: Arsenal will have done a significant amount of work on many options and, to my knowledge, none more so than Sesko.
Arsenal have done a lot of work on Sesko (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
That doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to sign him because, as you mention, there is the Isak interest and they are not the only club pursuing Sesko.
Personally, I haven’t heard of Ekitike or any other candidates being as high in the thinking as those two at this stage, but that can always change, of course.
Gu99Ner asked: “What is your knowledge of Arsenal’s sporting director search? Any updates since you initially broke the news?”
Ornstein: Arsenal are working to bring the process to a conclusion as swiftly as possible, but it’s hard for them (let alone us) to put a precise timeline on it as there are multiple factors, moving parts and circumstances (like fixtures) that have an impact.
They’ve been narrowing down the options and, as has been widely reported, Andrea Berta is among them. But there are other candidates and a final decision has yet to be made, with conversations and due diligence ongoing.
Arsenal’s priority will be to make the right appointment for them rather than a quick one, but if they can marry up both aspects, that would be the ideal scenario. This is a huge moment for the club on so many levels; it’s a massive decision.
도리 asked: “Will Joshua Kimmich re-sign for Bayern Munich?”
Ornstein: That’s the multi-million Euro question and there doesn’t seem to be a decision either way at this point.
Kimmich is 30 years old and has plenty still to offer, which is why there will be interest from elsewhere. But clearly, we shouldn’t rule out a renewal at Bayern just yet if they can find a common ground on the numbers.
Parva S. asked: “Is Son Heung-min likely to sign an extension or is he going to leave after next season?”
Ornstein: By the time his existing deal, which was recently extended until June 2026, expires, Son will be turning 34 years old. Beyond that, I don’t know of a decision being made by the player or club just yet. It’s probably far too soon to say.
Personally, when you consider his recent trajectory, I wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to part ways at that point, but this is pure speculation and a lot can happen between now and then.
Shyam G. asked: “Any truth in the Luis Campos/Chelsea talks story?”
Ornstein: Chelsea are not looking to hire Campos.
Andrew M. asked: “Any news on whether Rashford will go permanently to Villa?”
Ornstein: Neither side will have decided that so soon and it wasn’t something agreed at the time of the move, otherwise I presume they would have included an obligation to buy.
Rashford has impressed for Villa on loan (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
J L. asked: “1) If you could change one thing about football — whether that’s a particular rule, an element of discourse (e.g. “VAR is biased towards certain teams”), or a so-called tradition that should be phased out — what would it be and why? 2) Who are, in your opinion, the most exciting young players that people should have on their radar? Prolific goalscorers can be easy to spot, but are there any up-and-coming young defenders, midfielders etc. that have really caught your eye and you expect will be getting talked about more and more in the coming years? 3) Which podcast do you have more fun appearing on — Athletic or Tifo? 4) Most underrated Premier League-era player?”
Ornstein: 1) Fans of pretty much every single club seem to claim the league and match officials have an agenda against them and are corrupt. This effectively proves the leagues have an agenda against nobody and match officials are not corrupt. Such nonsense needs to stop! As do people claiming reporters like me are “on the payroll” for simply speaking the truth. You may not like or agree with it, which is fine, but cut the rubbish.
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2) I want to take a closer look at Hakon Haraldsson of Lille. I’m not sure if he meets your criteria at 21, but to me that’s young and he keeps winning player of the match awards in the Champions League, which is no mean feat!
3) TheAthleticFC is great fun, especially when I can do it in the studio with Ayo. I’m not on Tifo as much, but the shows we did in the studio around the last transfer window were fantastic. Hard to pick one, as I don’t want to upset either!
4) Bryan Mbeumo.
Moe I. asked: “Why have you never mentioned Simon Rolfes, director of football at Bayer Leverkusen, as a target for Arsenal? Have Arsenal never been interested in him or is it from his side? Also, have our owners considered multiple club ownership since this seems to be the way football is heading?”
Ornstein: Rolfes is doing a fantastic job and is extremely highly regarded. I have no information yet to suggest he is considering leaving Leverkusen or in the Arsenal equation. Arsenal already have multi-club ownership, although their link with the Colorado Rapids has clearly not been utilised much to date. In terms of the models we’re seeing elsewhere, it’s something Arsenal will undoubtedly have pondered and Mikel Arteta mentioned it publicly, however there doesn’t appear to be any tangible movement on that front right now.
Ali C. asked: “I want to ask about Arsenal’s academy recruitment. You said on The Athletic FC podcast a few months ago that the club wanted to bring in top talent at younger ages at the academy level, but barring a few, that didn’t really materialise. Coupled with the fact there are no academy players on loan, several players who needed loans are still there. It has been an area of weakness for years. Do we have any sense that there will be any change to improve these?”
Ornstein: There are lots of good intentions around this internally, but actions speak louder than words and so far there hasn’t been a huge amount of action. There are some early signs of that changing and there is some impressive work being done in preparation, but it is all about execution. Other clubs are illustrating this and let’s see if Arsenal can step it up in the summer.
Sean M. asked: “What are Chelsea’s plans for Andrey Santos and is Liam Delap the favourite to become the next striker?”
Ornstein: Santos looks to be progressing nicely and therefore I’m sure Chelsea will be deliberating whether or not to integrate him into their first team ahead of next season. I don’t actually know the latest, so will make checks and hopefully give you a better answer in the coming weeks.
I’m not sure there is a ‘favourite’ for the striker signing yet, but I do expect one to arrive at Stamford Bridge. I revealed the Delap interest in November, but Chelsea aren’t his only suitors. I suspect there’s a good chance his next move is to a Champions League club and, if so, that is a factor yet to be determined.
(Top photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
