Still on the hunt for incomings even with Bryan Mbeumo seemingly on the way, Manchester United are now reportedly battling against clubs in the Saudi Pro League to sign a midfield ace.
Mbeumo waiting to undergo Man Utd medical
After going back and forth in negotiations with Brentford, it looks as though Manchester United have finally taken a step closer to signing Mbeumo this summer. The Red Devils are now reportedly finalising any add-ons in an offer that will exceed the £60m mark, while Mbeumo is now waiting for approval to undergo a medical at the club.
The forward is on course to become United’s second arrival of the window, but he’s unlikely to be the last. If recent reports are anything to go by then INEOS are still on the hunt for a goalkeeper and a striker this summer.
The big question on that front has been just who will arrive to fill that quota. The likes of Emiliano Martinez have been among the headlines on the goalkeeper front, but whether Aston Villa sell one of their star men to a rival even in the face of PSR troubles remains to be seen.
He's better than Cunha: Man Utd close in on signing "phenomenal" star
Manchester United look set to complete their second signing of the summer after Matheus Cunha.
ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025
Meanwhile, when it comes to strikers, it did look as though Ruben Amorim could get a shock reunion with Viktor Gyokeres. United were certainly in the race, reportedly making the Swede their No.1 target, but ultimately he set his sights on Arsenal with negotiations still ongoing.
That may not be the last time that the Red Devils interact with his representatives, however. Reports are now suggesting that another one of their clients are on United’s radar this summer.
Man Utd now battling to sign Ndidi
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Manchester United are now battling to sign Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City this summer. The experienced midfielder is attracting plenty of interest following the Foxes’ relegation, including from the Saudi Pro League, and is now free to leave the King Power Stadium if his £9m release clause is triggered this summer.
Represented by the same agent as Gyokeres, United shouldn’t find it too complicated to open discussions for a midfielder who could provide Amorim with a bargain solution to his Casemiro problem.
Starts
28
18
Progressive Carries
0.70
0.24
Interceptions
1.20
0.84
Ball Recoveries
4.92
6.20
While Ndidi’s arrival wouldn’t steal the same headlines as Cunha or Mbeumo, it would have importance in its own right. Carrying the ball at a far better standard while proving more effective off the ball, Ndidi is more athletic than the ageing Casemiro and could crucially offer the quality in depth that Amorim requires.
Earning around £75,000-a-week at Leicester, Ndidi wouldn’t exactly disrupt United’s wage bill either. That, alongside his £9m release clause, makes him a viable option for INEOS and the Red Devils in the coming months.
Nottingham Forest have a huge season in 2025/26 ahead of them. After being in contention for a Champions League spot for much of the campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could only qualify for the UEFA Conference League, although that is still a fantastic achievement.
Their good performances have drawn interest in their players from other clubs in the Premier League. One of those sides is Newcastle United, who are targeting a move for Anthony Elanga.
The East Midlands outfit currently values the Sweden international at £50m, showing just how important he is to the club and their exciting project.
Anthony Elanga scores vs Spurs
If Elanga does depart the City Ground this summer, they will need to sign a replacement. Reports suggest they may already have someone lined up.
Nottingham Forest's potential Elanga replacement
Sorting an Elanga replacement this summer is something Forest simply must get right. The Swedish forward is a versatile player, so if he does leave, Nuno must surely go and sign a player in a similar mould.
Well, perhaps the man who could replace Elanga is Juventus star Timothy Weah. According to a recent report from Gianluca Di Marzio, the City Ground side ‘are interested in’ signing Weah this summer. The report suggests that the ‘clubs have already started contact and the negotiations are in full swing’ to agree a deal.
Juventus forward Timothy Weah
At this stage, personal terms with the USA international do not seem to have been completed. However, a fee is becoming more clear, with the Italian giants seemingly wanting just £12m for Weah this summer, which seems like an excellent value for money deal.
Why Weah would be a good replacement for Elanga
It was a really impressive campaign on a personal level for Weah, in what proved to be a turbulent season at times for the Old Lady. He became an important player and helped Juve to qualify for the Champions League, finishing fourth.
Juventus forward Timothy Weah
Across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, Weah, who is the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George, played 43 games, including one in the ongoing Club World Cup. In that time, he scored six goals and assisted a further five, with eight of those goal involvements coming in Serie A.
One of the words that springs to mind when discussing Weah is versatility, with Dougie Critchley describing him as “one of the most versatile players in world football”. He is incredibly flexible, able to play as a winger on either side, a full-back on either side and as a centre-forward.
This offers his manager, who could well be Nuno next season, extreme tactical flexibility, both during a game, should he wish to make tweaks, or before a game. Having a player who can play in multiple positions is certainly useful for any manager.
Indeed, that can be said about Elanga, too. The 23-year-old can also play on either flank, operating on the right wing most often last season. Like Weah, he can feature as a centre-forward, too, doing so seven times in 2024/25.
Stepping up and replacing the Forest number 21 will not be easy for Weah, though. Last season in Garbaldi Red, Elanga scored six Premier League goals and assisted 11, playing all 38 games. That included a sensational strike against former side Manchester United.
The underlying numbers via FBref for both players stack up well against each other. For example, Weah averaged 3.08 progressive passes per 90 minutes for Juve, compared to Elanga’s 2.27 each game for Forest, rubberstamping their creative threat in the final third.
Stat (per 90)
Weah
Elanga
Goals per shot
0.24
0.14
Key passes
1.04
1.8
Progressive passes
3.08
2.27
Tackles and interceptions
2.75
0.9
Progressive carries
2.47
3.67
There is no doubt that losing Elanga would be a huge blow for Forest. However, signing Weah, an even more versatile attacker who still manages good output, would be a superb way to replace their talismanic attacker.
He would be cost-efficient and offer Nuno tactical flexibility and quality in the final third. This seems like an excellent move for Forest this summer.
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Right, Andrea Berta, what have you got for us? Arsenal fans will hope that once the transfer window ends, a striker has signed on the dotted line.
There aren’t many dead certainties in football or sport in general, but the addition of a new centre-forward would undoubtedly boost Mikel Arteta’s hopes of winning silverware next season.
Truth be told, the record of the club’s strikers was not awful in 2024/25. Kai Havertz was on for a 20-goal season if he didn’t sustain a hamstring injury over the winter and Mikel Merino, for all the discussion surrounding him, had a terrific end to the campaign.
The Spaniard notably scored against Real Madrid and once all was said and done, finished the season with six goals in 12 games as a striker. It wasn’t a flash in the pan either as he netted for Spain during the recent set of international fixtures.
That said, they cannot rely on those two again heading into 2025/26.
Arsenal's hunt for a new striker
So, what’s the latest? Well, talks were opened to sign RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko a few weeks ago and it’s reported that Arsenal are indeed still pushing to sign the Slovenian powerhouse this summer.
Sky German’s Florian Plettenburg revealed last week that there remains a ‘positive’ feeling around the deal, but there is no agreement in place yet. A sticking point continues to be the price tag with Leipzig looking for something between £68m and £85m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As a result, Arsenal are continuing to do work on Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swede now very much keen on signing for the Gunners amid interest from Manchester United. The latest on that deal is that the Sporting striker is reportedly now ‘dreaming’ of heading to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
But, what if there was a better option than both? Well, that player would well be out there over the forthcoming months.
Indeed, according to one GOAL transfer correspondent, Arsenal are one of the teams to have held talks over signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen this summer.
The Nigerian is attracting plenty of interest with Galatasaray, Juventus, PSG, Chelsea, Manchester United, Milan and Real Madrid said to have had contact with the forward.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
Osimhen was valued at over £100m last summer but Napoli struggled to find a suitor and as a result, he spent the campaign on loan at Galatasaray.
Now, his value has fallen to around £63m which would be a more attractive price than Sesko’s valuation, in particular.
But, who would be the better signing?
How Osimhen compares to Sesko and Gyokeres
Sesko is very much a raw talent. While he bagged 21 goals in all competitions throughout 2024/25, only 13 of those came in Bundesliga action. For someone who could cost over £80m, you could argue that Arsenal may well end up overpaying here.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
However, you cannot argue with his skill set. He’s tall, he’s quick, he’s physical and he’s already been described as the “new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig.
As for Gyokeres, well, you’re probably going to get goals. There are not very many players on the planet capable of scoring at the rate he’s been scoring at over the last few years.
Since trading Coventry for Lisbon, the Sweden international has been on fire at Sporting. He scored 54 goals in 52 games this season, adding to the 43 in 50 he netted throughout 2023/24. He’s a rampant goal machine, that is evident. However, there is a lingering question: can he do it in a top five league? There are some doubters.
Osimhen, on the other hand, has proven over a number of years now that he can perform at the highest level of the game. He’s a ready-made option and there’s a reason most of the top clubs in Europe are looking at him.
Like Gyokeres, Osimhen was playing in a lower quality league this season – the top-flight of Turkey – but he was incredibly destructive. The 26-year-old scored 26 goals in 30 league matches and added another 11 in as many games in cup competitions.
It follows the trend of Osimhen scoring a bucket load of goals wherever he goes. It was at Lille where the “monster” forward, as he’s been described by analyst Ben Mattinson, first became something of a household name.
2020/21
10
5
2021/22
18
18
2022/23
31
22
2023/24
17
43
2024/25
37
54
The Nigeria international scored 18 in 38 for Les Dogues and in a Napoli shirt, has 76 in 133 outings, an average of 19 per season.
For some, it might be crucial to learn that 65 of those goals have come in Serie A, where he notably led Napoli to the title in 2022/23, becoming a cult hero in the process.
An immense physical presence, the aforementioned Mattinson has also labelled him as a “beast in the air”, highlighting his ability to “hold up play”.
In contrast, that’s an area where Gyokeres perhaps struggles more with Mattinson indicating that the Swede has a “heavy first touch” and “doesn’t anticipate contact or shield the ball well.” Those are red flags in his eyes and as a result, it does indicate that Osimhen could be the better option.
He’s an animal in front of goal, has clever movement like Gyokeres and can offer something else in the build-up play too. That final factor could well be decisive for Arteta who enjoys a forward who isn’t just a one-trick pony.
Big Havertz upgrade: Arsenal held talks on Wednesday to sign £67m "monster"
The prolific marksman would be a massive hit at Arsenal.
Manchester City have now opened talks to sign a £42m attacking midfielder who’s “one of the best” number 10’s in the world, according to a report.
Man City making progress in Rayan Cherki pursuit
Man City have set their sights on a new attacking midfielder this summer, following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, and their pursuit of Lyon star Rayan Cherki is progressing nicely, with Fabrizio Romano recently dropping an exciting update.
The deal to sign Cherki is now thought to be close, with Lyon expected to ask for a fee of £35m, and the attacking midfielder cannot wait to make the move to the Etihad Stadium.
However, the move isn’t over the line just yet, which means Pep Guardiola’s side are still considering other potential targets, and they have now opened talks over a deal for RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.
That is according to a report from L’Equipe, which states Simons has been identified as a back-up option for Cherki, should the deal for the 21-year-old fall through, with the Dutchman now expected to leave the German club this summer.
Alongside Ait-Nouri: Man City want "world-class" £67m full-back on the other side
The Blues are keen on bringing in another full-back this summer, despite the fact the deal for Rayan Ait-Nouri is now advancing.
1 ByDominic Lund Jun 4, 2025
After arriving at Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €50m (£42m), the attacking midfielder’s time with the Bundesliga side appears to be coming to an end, and there is no shortage of interest, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal also keen.
Simons could be among the world's best no.10s
Replacing De Bruyne was always going to be a difficult task, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak recently stating he believes the Belgian is the best player ever to wear the City shirt: “What Kevin has given to this club, in my view, he is the greatest player to play for this club. I think his accomplishments speak for themselves.”
In truth, it will be very difficult for any player to replicate the 33-year-old’s achievements, but there are some signs the RB Leipzig star could be on a similar level, having been singled out for very high praise by one scout back in January.
That said, the Blues making a move for Simons appears to be contingent on the Cherki deal falling through, and they should also be extremely happy if they secure the Frenchman’s signature, given his goal and assist return this season.
Tottenham Hotspur’s pull in the transfer market, not to mention the finances available for crucial signings, have undoubtedly been boosted by their spot in the Champions League for next season, with chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team set for a very intriguing summer window.
Ange Postecoglou vows better Premier League finish for Spurs
Spurs confirmed their place in Europe’s most prestigious competition by reigning triumphant in the Europa League final last week, an historic night for both the club and under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham hold negotiations over signing 6 foot 5 defender in last few days
The Europa League champions are making their first moves of the transfer window.
1 ByEmilio Galantini May 26, 2025
Domestically, Spurs finished one place outside the relegation zone in 17th, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign, and this has resulted in a major dilemma for Levy when it comes to deciding Postecoglou’s long-term future.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Their Europa League triumph represents a significant milestone for the north Londoners, who ended their 17-year wait for silverware and secured their first European trophy since 1984, with Postecoglou highly suggesting that he wants to stay at Tottenham during their trophy parade last week.
The final call on that won’t rest with the Australian, though, who also vowed to put Spurs in a much stronger position domestically if he’s given the chance next term.
“From my perspective, I made decisions that I felt were giving us the best chance of achieving the goal we needed to achieve this year and that has affected our league form,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Brighton on the final day.
“If people don’t want to take that into account, then there is nothing I can say to explain it any better than that.
“I came to the club and we had finished eighth. I didn’t take over a club that had finished second. They had no European football to speak of. Lost the one player who probably guarantees you European football. That was my starting point. At the end of two years, I’ve got the club a trophy it has been crying out for, Champions League football, we finished fifth last year. Either people are saying ‘last year it was a huge anomaly for us to finish fifth or this is what we deliver right.’
“I have got no doubt next year we will be in a much stronger position, challenging for the top places.”
If Postecoglou does stay for 2025/2026, there is little denying he needs to be backed in the transfer market with Tottenham’s newly-found Champions League riches this summer.
Pundit convinced Angel Gomes wants to join Tottenham
Injuries left Postecoglou hamstrung at various points over the course of 24/25, emphasising the need for Spurs to strengthen across the board.
Their greater pull could also help them to land Europe’s most coveted free agents, like England international midfielder Angel Gomes, who is set to leave Lille when his contract expires on June 30.
Tottenham have been tipped as one of the favourites to sign Gomes on a free this summer, with pundit John Wenham telling Tottenham News that he’s convinced the 24-year-old would jump at the chance to join Postecoglou’s side.
“Tottenham are going to be playing in the Champions League next season,” Wenham said.
England'sAngelGomesin action
“Therefore, when it comes to the pecking order of options Gomes has, I’m sure that Tottenham would be near the top of the list if they were to make an offer.
“I’m sure Gomes wants to come to Tottenham and live in London and play Champions League football with the current Europa League holders. As a result, I’m sure a decision will be made on that soon.”
The former Man United gem has impressed in Ligue 1 since his switch there in 2020, so much so that he was awarded his first call-ups to the Three Lions squad late last year.
He could be an astute option to reinforce Tottenham’s midfield, which was left desperately short at points last season and crippled their chances of success.
David Ornstein has shared an update on the prospect of Tottenham Hotspur parting company with manager Ange Postecoglou after their historic Europa League final win in Bilbao, as chairman Daniel Levy is suddenly handed a much tougher decision to make.
Tottenham seal first European trophy since 1984 after win over Man United
Brennan Johnson’s scrappy opener proved decisive on an unforgettable night in Bilbao for Postecoglou, who silenced many critics by fulfilling his bold early-season promise of always winning trophies in his second year.
Tottenham hold talks with forward compared to Messi amid Europa League glory
Ange Postecoglou’s side now have a big summer to plan for.
1 ByEmilio Galantini May 22, 2025
Much was made of that statement throughout 2024/2025, but it will now go down as one of the most memorable quotes in recent football history.
By making good on his pledge, the 59-year-old also guided Spurs to their first European trophy since 1984 and first piece of silverware at all since 2008, with the Lilywhites also set to play Champions League football next season.
Guglielmo Vicario
7.7
Yves Bissouma
7.6
Cristian Romero
7.4
Bruno Fernandes
7.4
Destiny Udogie
7.2
via WhoScored
Tottenham are set for a huge financial windfall from winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League, which should have a very positive effect on the club’s recruitment drive for top targets, who’ll also be more tempted by their advances, given Spurs’ status.
However, despite Postecoglou ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought, the jury is still out on whether he’ll be at the helm next season.
Reports in the build-up to Wednesday night indicated that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of their potential Europa League triumph, but the emotion of a season-saving 90 minutes and one of the club’s best nights in recent memory has resulted in this decision being easier said than done.
Tottenham have identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, among others, as possible replacements for Postecoglou, and the process of finding a successor to the ex-Celtic boss has reportedly been underway for a while.
David Ornstein shares Ange Postecoglou sack update
Speaking on the Sky Sports Paper Talks show in the aftermath of Spurs’ win over Man United, Ornstein shared an update on the possibility of Tottenham sacking Postecoglou.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecogloulooks on
The reliable journalist claims they’re still likely to part ways after a dismal domestic campaign, where Spurs broke their record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign, so there may not be room for any sentimentality.
“The clear direction of travel as far as the Tottenham hierarchy are concerned goes is to make a change this summer, and it will be fascinating to see if they follow through with that,” said Ornstein.
“I think it is most likely they will from an outside perspective, but they have a bit more food for thought now.
“I think if they look at the evidence, and that isn’t just results but performances and injuries, then there is enormous room or improvement. They feel there is a strong squad there. They have invested heavily and it needs more work, they need good fortune with injuries, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there was still a change there.
“And I don’t think it would surprise Ange Postecoglou given some of his comments that have hinted towards a change coming. He seems to be at peace with that. Whatever happens now, his legacy is preserved as a history-maker for Tottenham, but there are important conversations that need to take place, and it would be an about turn if they were to stick with him because the feeling was that they would make a change this summer.”
Should Spurs hand Postecoglou his P45 after their triumph in Spain? Have your say in the comments.
Arsenal are set for one of their biggest summer transfer windows in recent memory, and new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted absolutely no time in his attempts to transform the squad.
Arsenal recruitment plans as Berta spearheads major overhaul
Kieran Tierney is set to re-join Scottish champions Celtic and Jorginho has already reportedly agreed to sign for Flamengo before their Club World Cup campaign (Fabrizio Romano), with uncertainty also surrounding the future of star midfielder Thomas Partey as talks continue over fresh terms.
Arsenal "now in concrete talks" to sign £67m striker instead of Gyokeres
Berta is in contact with a club official.
ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025
Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who are currently on loan deals elsewhere, are also widely expected to not have long-term futures at Arsenal, with winger Raheem Sterling and goalkeeper Neto looking set to return to their parent clubs after the Premier League season ends as well.
In response to the plethora of exits which are set to take place, which could include the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, Berta has got to work on Arsenal’s summer recruitment drive.
Following Berta’s arrival at N5 in late March, GiveMeSport reported that Arsenal are looking at signing a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker.
Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is set to join Arsenal this summer, as per Fabrizio Romano, so Berta already has his midfielder en route, while Arsenal are now also in “serious” talks to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko (Florian Plettenberg).
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
It is set to be a season-defining summer for Arsenal, after they meekly surrendered this year’s Premier League title to Liverpool, and we can expect Berta to spearhead a very busy transfer window at the Emirates.
An intriguing question has emerged from Brazil in the last 48 hours: where exactly does 22-year-old winger Marquinhos fit into all of this?
Cruzeiro tell Marquinhos they're sending him back to Arsenal
The Brazilian joined Cruzeiro on a season-long loan in January, which apparently includes an obligation to buy set at around £3 million, which will be triggered if he surpasses 17 appearances.
That is according to South American journalist Jorge Nicola, who told his YouTube channel that Cruzeiro have informed Marquinhos of their intent to send him back to Arsenal.
“Last week, Cruzeiro’s directors contacted the player’s staff to make it very clear that we no longer count on Marquinhos and we intend to return him to Arsenal,” Nicola explained.
“The big problem is that the English club that owns the economic rights of the 22-year-old player has already stated that it will not accept the return. Arsenal, in fact, is against re-loaning the player.
“It is worth remembering that Marquinhos is on loan until December and the purchase option is very close to becoming an obligation. He has 16 appearances and if he enters the field one more time, Cruzeiro will be forced to buy him for something around €4m.
“And that is precisely why Cruzeiro decided that it will no longer use Marquinhos, a player who is not in coach Leonardo Jardim’s plans. Cruzeiro tried to convince Arsenal to increase the limit of games that would make the obligation, Arsenal did not accept.”
Given Arsenal’s ongoing attempts to sign a new star winger, it is growing more and more unlikely that the forward can force his way back into Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans.
The task for Berta is to find Marquinhos a new landing spot after Cruzeiro, with this ongoing uncertainty over his future proving a real shame, considering Arteta revealed he’s actually a “popular” player at the club.
Consistency is key. No doubt, maintaining a decent baseline across the campaign is something that Arne Slot will have demanded of his Liverpool side at the start of the season, but the squad have surpassed expectations.
Despite only adding Federico Chiesa to the squad last summer and opting against investment in January, the Reds won the Premier League after beating Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago.
Federico Chiesa in action for Liverpool
Levelling with Manchester United, given that it was Anfield’s 20th top-flight title, has been the icing on the cake.
Focus has now been turned toward making improvements this summer. With Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to sign for Real Madrid and left-back in need of attention, sporting director Richard Hughes has certainly got his work cut out.
However, his most important job is surely sourcing a replacement for Darwin Nunez.
Why Darwin Nunez needs to go
Nunez has been given ample opportunity to prove himself on Merseyside, but sadly, he’s now completed three seasons as a Liverpool player and each term has been a disappointment.
Darwin Nunez for Liverpool
Liverpool’s club-record signing at £85m, the 25-year-old has scored 40 goals across 146 outings for the club, providing 26 assists for his teammates.
However, he’s regressed since Jurgen Klopp left at the end of last season, with his chequered exploits under the German’s wing now something more colourless, at odds with Slot’s meticulous, cool-headed system.
At the end of the day, he’s failed to score in 38 of his 44 matches across all competitions this season, which is terrible for a high-cost striker tasked with providing goals for a team competing at the very height of European football.
Mohamed Salah
49
33
23
Cody Gakpo
46
17
6
Luis Diaz
47
16
8
Diogo Jota
35
9
4
Darwin Nunez
44
7
7
Federico Chiesa
13
2
2
It’s hardly surprising that Liverpool want a new centre-forward to ease Mohamed Salah’s goalscoring load. Fabrizio Romano has actually said that the plan is for the Uruguayan to be offloaded.
Of course, Liverpool will need to bring in an able replacement.
Liverpool lining up new striker
While Alexander Isak is the dream, Newcastle are confident they will be playing Champions League football next year, thus meaning their £150m valuation will stand strong against the waves of suitors. Liverpool would be forgiven for ceding defeat in that one, along with the rest.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, according to Spanish reports, the champions have turned their attention to Julian Alvarez, with FSG hatching a plan to sign Atletico Madrid’s star forward this summer.
While Alvarez only joined the La Liga side from Manchester City for an £81m fee last year, Liverpool view the Argentine as the perfect profile to front Slot’s system and are lining up a move.
The report concludes by suggesting that the Reds have ‘not officially ruled out a move yet’ for the striker.
It goes without saying that facilitating a deal will be no easy task, although Atletico’s interest in Nunez could see Hughes and co play an interesting bargaining chip to sweeten a prospective deal for both parties.
Why Julian Alvarez is perfect for Slot
Off the bat, Alvarez would be a good signing for Liverpool given his experience in English football, accomplished as one of Pep Guardiola’s trophy-winning stars at Manchester City.
The 25-year-old has hit 55 goal contributions across 103 appearances for City, notably winning the treble in 2022/23. However, he’s gone up a gear since moving to Spain.
Indeed, Alvarez has scored 27 goals and added five more assists across 51 fixtures in his debut season for Atletico Madrid, with his exploits leading journalist Roy Nemer to pronounce him “the best centre-forward in the world” for the 2024/25 season.
That praise alone differentiates him far enough from Nunez’s toils to suggest that Liverpool would be wise to make their move, but there’s more to it than that.
His ever-improving prolific sense is great, but FSG’s technicians tend to look beneath the surface when profiling a potential target, and the dynamic attacker ticks a lot of boxes.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90.
He’s good with his feet, both in collecting and calmly distributing the ball in tight spaces or indeed navigating away from danger in such enclosed areas, nimbly darting past opponents before finding room to strike on goal.
Nunez does bear a likeness to the Atletico man; electric-paced and multi-faceted, it’s clear to see why Klopp thought he saw something special when plucking a young Nunez from his clinical career at Benfica, but his temperament and decision-making have ultimately let him down.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Conversely, Alvarez is always attentive to the situation he is in, making the right decisions and putting the right weight on his passes, hitting the ball sweetly when shooting himself. One Real Madrid reporter even conceded recently that the £116k-per-week talent is “such an intelligent football player.”
Nunez’s poor finishing and questionable decision in the build-up have ultimately alienated him from a position of pedigree in Slot’s squad. Since Boxing Day, the international has only started once in the Premier League, which makes a pretty damning indictment on how he is viewed by his head coach.
Darwin Nunez in action for Liverpool
He will depart with Anfield’s gratitude and appreciation following the part he has played in recent years, stabilising the ship after an initial team-wide slump, winning the Carabao Cup last year and indeed contributing toward sealing the Premier League title this year.
But Slot is not prepared to watch his flourishing project stagnate, and will happily enforce Nunez’s sale if it means a player of Alvarez’s ilk could be brought in.
It might make all the difference.
Slot's new Trent: Liverpool make bid for "one of the greatest CMs ever"
Liverpool are going to be busy shoppers in the transfer market this summer.
Glasgow Rangers had to watch on as their city rivals were crowned champions of the Scottish Premiership for the fourth time in as many seasons.
The Light Blues, who were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren last time out, are a whopping 17 points adrift of first place with more matches left to play, which shows that they have not even made it a close race.
Rangers made the decision to part ways with Philippe Clement earlier this year and brought Barry Ferguson in on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The former Scotland international and ex-Rangers midfielder has only won three of his seven Premiership games in charge of the club to date, which does not suggest that he is the right man to take the job on a permanent basis this summer.
The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox next season. A manager who can bring a league title back to Ibrox next season.
They need to find a head coach of Brendan Rodgers’ calibre. The Northern Irishman had proven himself to be a good manager in the Premier League before his move to Celtic, where he has been incredibly dominant.
Why Brendan Rodgers has been a big success in Scotland
Prior to his first spell at Parkhead, Rodgers earned promotion from the Championship with Swansea in the 2010/11 campaign and finished 11th in his first top-flight season with the Welsh outfit.
That earned him a move to Liverpool in the summer of 2012, and he led the Reds to seventh, second, and sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League in his three full seasons in charge.
Rodgers joined Celtic for the 2016/17 campaign, winning the Premiership title in his two full seasons at the helm, before joining Leicester in early 2019.
The Northern Irishman enjoyed a largely successful time with the Foxes, winning the FA Cup in 2021, before his return to Celtic in the summer of 2023.
22/23
28
19th
21/22
38
8th
20/21
38
5th
19/20
38
5th
18/19
10
9th
Since returning to Parkhead, Rodgers has claimed the Premiership title in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, and has the chance to win the domestic treble by beating Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final this season.
This shows that he has been a huge success on the other side of Glasgow, and that may be down to, in part, because he arrived at Celtic off the back of several seasons of impressive performances as a manager in the Premier League.
Kevin Thelwell is set to join Rangers as their new sporting director this summer, after his contract with Everton expires, and he reportedly has a former Premier League manager in mind for the job.
Thelwell tells Rangers who would be a good appointment
According to Football Insider, Thelwell has told the 49ers, who are part of an ongoing takeover at Ibrox, that former Everton and Burnley head coach Sean Dyche would be a fantastic appointment for the club.
The report claims that Ferguson is not expected to be given the job on a permanent basis, after his interim spell comes to an end, and this means that the club will be in the market for a new head coach.
Everton managerSeanDychebefore the match
Football Insider reports that Thelwell is a big fan of Dyche, with whom he worked at Goodison Park, and he believes that the English boss has the mentality and character to thrive at Ibrox.
The outlet adds that the sporting director also believes that the manager’s direct, physical, style of play would go down well with the supporters in Glasgow.
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However, Football Insider does not reveal whether or not Dyche, who was relieved of his duties by Everton in January, would be open to a move to Ibrox this summer.
If the 53-year-old tactician is interested in joining the Light Blues, the 49ers could land their own version of Brendan Rodgers by bringing him to the club.
Why Rangers should appoint Sean Dyche
The experienced boss would arrive with similar credentials to the ones that Rodgers first arrived at Celtic with, as he has tasted promotion from the Championship and seasons of midtable finishes in the Premier League.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
Dyche has shown that he can get a team to win matches regularly to earn promotion, finishing second and first in the 2013/14 and 2015/16 Championship seasons respectively, but he can also set up a side to be resolute and tough to break down, to avoid relegation from the top-flight.
24/25
19
16th
23/24
37
15th
22/23
18
17th
21/22
30
18th
20/21
38
17th
19/20
38
10th
18/19
38
15th
17/18
38
7th
16/17
38
16th
14/15
38
19th
As you can see in the table above, Dyche has only been relegated from the Premier League in one of his full seasons in the top-flight, although he did leave Burnley on the edge of relegation with eight games left in the 2021/22 campaign.
The former Toffees head coach, therefore, knows how to create a good team spirit and a gritty mentality because he has led so many sides to safety throughout his time in the English top-flight.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
His mixture of experience coaching title-chasing teams and sides that wanted to avoid the drop suggests that he could be a great fit for Rangers, because he can use the former experience to compete for the title in the Premiership and the latter experience to produce hard-working, gritty, displays in big European matches.
Therefore, Dyche, who was dubbed “unbelievable” by Kieran Trippier, could follow in Rodgers’ footsteps as a proven Premier League coach who could arrive in Scotland to win major trophies in Glasgow, but this time at Rangers to end Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.
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It is now down to Thelwell and the club to see if the former Burnley stalwart would be willing to take on the role, and if he is the best option available out of all of their targets.
Manchester United could now be willing to sell a “very good” player for more than £55m this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.
United basking in glory of Lyon victory
The Red Devils produced a stunning turnaround against Lyon on Thursday night, winning 5-4 at Old Trafford to book a place in the Europa League semi-finals, where they will meet Athletic Bilbao.
United were 4-2 down deep into extra-time and on the verge of their season coming to an embarrassing end, only to score three times in the remaining minutes, culminating in Harry Maguire scoring a dramatic winner with a penalty shootout looming.
Bruno Fernandes
This is still a Red Devils side that has been painfully lacking in quality this season, however, highlighting the need for a host of new signings to arrive during the summer transfer window. Atalanta midfielder Ederson has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, potentially being seen as a replacement for Casemiro in front of the defence.
There is also a shock rumour regarding Scott McTominay returning to United in the summer, following an impressive season at Napoli. It would be a surprise, but Ruben Amorim may feel that he can get the best out of the Scot.
Man Utd want over £55m to sell Rasmus Hojlund this summer
According to a new report from Caught Offside, Manchester United are willing to sell Rasmus Hojlund at the end of the season, demanding over £55m for his signature, with INEOS willing to take a loss on the £72m spent on him.
Serie A trio Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli are all thought to be “considering moving” for the £85,000-a-week striker, who has struggled to reach the required standards throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
Rasmus Hojlund
At just 22, there would be a risk in United letting Hojlund leave, considering how much time he still has to improve as a player in his career. That said, he looks increasingly lost at Old Trafford, even though Amorim lauded him after his recent goal against Leicester City.
“It’s really important for Rasmus. He’s doing the right things, helping the team, fighting for every ball. He scored a very good goal and I think he deserved it more than anybody. It was a difficult goal with difficult control with his right foot. It’s a shame we stop for the national teams because we have confidence.”
United have to be ruthless this summer, bringing in a proven striker who can take the team up a level, and if that means cashing in on Hojlund, so be it.
Appearances
27
Starts
18
Minutes played
1592
Goals
3
Assists
0
Shots per game
0.9
Key passes per game
0.5
Dribbles per game
0.3
He has been given enough opportunities to prove his worth to Amorim, but unless he enjoys a strong end to the season, it looks increasingly like a transfer that ultimately hasn’t quite worked out.