All posts by h716a5.icu

Glasgow Rangers are now in talks with a European club over the sale of a “brilliant” key player, who has already agreed personal terms to go, according to a recent report.

Martin wants more defensive reinforcements at Rangers

The Gers are closing in on their return to pre-season action, as it is less than four weeks away until they return to competitive action in the Champions League second qualifying round. Before that, Russell Martin will hope to have as much transfer business wrapped up as possible, as he will want to make a strong start as the new Rangers boss.

The Scottish giants announced the signing of Max Aarons on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday. The defender is “delighted” to be joining Rangers, as he describes the Gers as a “huge club”.

Aarons told the club’s media team: “I am delighted to be here; as you can see, it’s a huge club, and you realise that when you walk through the doors. I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got a lot of experience now in different leagues, and I have played a lot of games. I think I can bring that experience; I can bring a new energy, and I think Rangers fans can be excited – I am really looking forward to it.”

Rangers bid made: 49ers table offer to bring "spectacular" 22 y/o to Ibrox

The Gers want a permanent transfer.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 26, 2025

Aarons may not be the only defender to arrive at Ibrox this summer, as the Gers are in talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City. Meanwhile, Rangers are also looking into the possibility of a deal to sign Owen Beck from Liverpool, with the new boss making it clear he wants to improve his defensive ranks.

Rangers now in talks to sell Hamza Igamane

Deals for Coady and Beck may soon become more financially viable too, as according to Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are in talks to sell Hamza Igamane to French outfit Lille.

Tavolieri states that Lille have made Igamane a top target, as they see him as the person to replace Jonathan David, who is leaving the club on a free transfer.

He adds that the Rangers forward has spoken to the club and has now agreed personal terms, and all that remains is the two clubs, who are in talks, to agree a transfer fee.

Earlier this week it was reported that Rangers were “at risk” of losing Igamane, as teams such as Marseille and Lazio were circling with interest. In fact, it was claimed that Marseille had made an approach to sign the 22-year-old, which had rocked the Scottish club.

Rangers have set a £20 million asking price on Igamane, but it remains unclear if Lille would be willing to pay that much.

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The Morocco international was sensational for the Gers last season, as he netted 12 goals in 33 league games, as well as a further four in the Europa League. A standout moment was him netting the winner in the 3-2 win away at Celtic, an impact that Derek Ferguson lauded as “brilliant”.

“Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff, and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

The former India opener met the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee on Tuesday

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jun-20241:52

Is Gambhir the right fit to be India head coach?

Gautam Gambhir, the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as India men’s head coach, has formally applied for the position and attended an interview on Tuesday, ESPNcricinfo has learned. Gambhir interacted with the BCCI’s cricket advisory committee (CAC), which is the panel entrusted by the BCCI to shortlist applicants.The CAC comprises former India cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik.It could not be confirmed how many applications the BCCI has received, but it has been learnt that WV Raman, the former India batter who was India women’s head coach from December 2018 to May 2021, has also been interviewed*.The BCCI, which had set May 27 as the deadline for applications for the post, had held informal discussions with Gambhir during IPL 2024, when he helped Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title after returning to the franchise as mentor in November 2023.The KKR job was Gambhir’s second such stint; he had been a mentor at Lucknow Super Giants during the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, helping the team qualify for the playoffs both times.Gambhir had sought time to take a final call during the IPL, but speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi on June 1, he expressed his desire to coach India. “Look, I would love to coach the Indian team,” Gambhir said. “There is no bigger honour. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?”Gautam Gambhir mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title•CABHe had been answering a question on whether he saw himself helping India win a World Cup.”How can I help India win the World Cup – I think it’s not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup,” Gambhir said. “If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India.”Gambhir became the frontrunner for the job once his former India team-mate VVS Laxman told the BCCI last year that he was not interested in the head coach job. Laxman is currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Dravid had taken over from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signing on for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He then accepted the BCCI’s request to extend his tenure until the ongoing T20 World Cup.The BCCI had said the new head coach would be appointed for for three-and-a-half years, from July 2024 to December 2027, and would helm the team in all three formats.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 12, 2025

Celtic enter the market with a clear idea of where they need to strengthen and could now turn to a recognisable name to solve their quest to land another centre-forward, according to a report.

Celtic's quest to add attacking firepower

Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda ended the campaign as Celtic’s only two senior centre-forward options, while Johnny Kenny came in from the cold to supplement their output from the bench.

Late attempts in January to secure a striker fell through, despite the Bhoys’ failed pursuit of Danny Ings from West Ham United following Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure to Rennes.

Nevertheless, the calculated decision to stick with what they had at the time has allowed more time to make sure the right man arrives to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ pool of attacking talent.

Youssef El Kachati was mooted as a Celtic target. However, the former Morocco Under-23 international looks set to join NEC Nijmegen under freedom of contract on a three-year deal from Telstar.

Rodgers could potentially be left with more work to do on that front if Fenerbache or Tottenham step up their interest in Japanese forward Maeda. Both clubs are keen to deal him in, though have been told a fee in excess of £21 million is required for his services.

Brentford set to go at Celtic with £60m Mbeumo windfall to sign "breathtaking" star

The Bhoys are set to witness movement in both directions this summer…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 6, 2025

Left-back, centre midfield and on the flanks have been mooted as areas of the field where Celtic could look to enact squad surgery, whetting the appetite for a summer of significance before they enter the Champions League qualifiers at the playoff phase.

Encountering a quick turnaround, the Bhoys may now look to a former player who is available on the market to add some expertise in front of goal.

Celtic hero Kyogo Furuhashi wants to return to Parkhead

According to reports in France, Celtic are ‘ready’ to offer an olive branch to former striker Furuhashi following his frustrating spell at Rennes, where he has yet to score in six appearances.

The Ligue 1 outfit are set to part ways with the 30-year-old this summer, and it is now said that the Bhoys icon is in favour of completing a sensational return to Parkhead. However, Bournemouth are also lurking in the distance and could submit an offer.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s excellent time at Celtic

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Rennes boss Habib Beye is set to omit Furuhashi from his pre-season plans and will put him up for sale after he failed to live up to expectations at Roazhon Park.

Labelled “excellent” by Rodgers, he made his move to France for roughly £10 million mid-season, though he has only completed 120 minutes of football, coming mostly as a substitute.

Truthfully, it did seem like a strange move in January for the Nara-born man in light of his new club’s close brush with relegation, but a swift exit would suit all parties, including the player and his desire to be considered for Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Whether he could achieve that feat at Celtic remains to be seen. Either way, the prospect of Furuhashi returning to Glasgow’s east end could soon become a reality.

Arne Slot might not be a manager, framed as Liverpool’s head coach, but the Dutchman still has a significant say in Anfield’s comings and goings.

Working with sporting director Richard Hughes to improve Liverpool’s Premier League-winning squad this summer, the strategy appears to be working, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez slated to upgrade the defensive flanks while Florian Wirtz is targeted as the new playmaker-in-chief.

Engaged in direct and progressive talks with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz, 22, Liverpool are on the cusp of breaking their transfer record and signing one of the game’s most sought-after and talented forwards; the German is renowned for his vision, athleticism and output.

Trent Alexander-Arnold might be leaving, but wrapping said deals up will assuage the malaise surrounding the vice-captain’s expected free transfer to Real Madrid.

And with Liverpool planning to remodel the frontline, too, Slot’s side could even raise their level for the 2025/26 campaign.

How Slot is remoulding Liverpool's frontline

Mohamed Salah extended his contract by two years last month, and it’s a good thing too. The right-winger broke the record for goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season, hitting 47, and claimed the full gamut of accolades.

However, he’s 33 next month and needs more support. That’s why a concerted effort to sign Wirtz has been mounted, with Liverpool looking to sign a new striker in Eintracht Frankfurt’s £84m-rated striker Hugo Ekitike too.

It’s not just incomings, though. Barcelona are known admirers of Luis Diaz, while Bayern Munich have recently registered their interest in Cody Gakpo.

There’s also the Federico Chiesa conundrum. According to The Athletic, a return to Italy is a strong possibility, though perhaps a loan move would be more plausible. Chiesa, 27 and wracked by injuries in recent seasons, has featured peripherally this year after joining from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m fee last summer.

He may well leave. However, Salah’s getting on a bit and Slot has hinted that the Italy international will be afforded the chance to prove himself during pre-season, so a resurgence isn’t off the cards.

The £150k-per-week forward has been unfortunate, and fans would love nothing more than to see him turn his Premier League career around and play an important part for the Reds next term.

The same could be said for Darwin Nunez, however, after three seasons that have left plenty to desired, it’s crucial that, unlike with last summer’s recruit, the 25-year-old is sold during the looming off-season.

Why Liverpool must cash in on Darwin Nunez

It’s simple: if FSG fail to engineer an exit for Nunez this summer, Liverpool will not play the upcoming season with a much-needed new number nine.

It’s been an up-and-down journey for the Uruguay star, and certainly not without its entertainment, but Nunez needs to leave Liverpool for the good of his career.

He’s stagnated, staled, lacking the intensity and tenacity which characterised his maverick style upon arriving on Merseyside. Now, he’s been hammered into a shape that’s left him unfit for purpose in Slot’s system, too erratic and instinctive to absorb and implement the Dutchman’s sharp tactics.

Given that he arrived from Benfica for a fee rising to a club-record £85m, the disappointment is understandably palpable.

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It’s rather telling that Nunez has struggled to adapt to Slot’s vision. Take Ryan Gravenberch; take Gakpo; take, even, Salah. Players have raised their game, all right, but Nunez has regressed.

Given that he takes home some £140k per week, it’s clear Liverpool need to move him on and bid for a more effective class goalscorer, especially when considering how much more he earns than top target Wirtz.

The German superstar takes home £73k per week, which is a little over half of Nunez’s earnings. Of course, he’s in line for a bumper pay rise when concluding his transfer to Liverpool, but it goes to show how disappointing Jurgen Klopp’s signing has been, scorer of 25 Premier League goals across three campaigns having never fallen to a lengthy injury.

Slot has been displeased with the South American’s application, at times, speaking of his “disappointment” in the talisman and even stating he “can’t accept” his perceived lack of work-rate back in February.

This, of course, combines with the plain truth that Nunez’s finishing simply hasn’t come on. As per Sofascore, he’s missed 55 big chances across his three terms in the Premier League, only scoring 25 goals.

You might think that Wirtz would be the perfect player to resurrect the centre-forward’s English career, and indeed, his playmaking prowess suggests he stands a stellar chance of at least raising Nunez’s game, but it’s not a risk Slot can afford to take, especially if attacking threats such as Gakpo or Diaz were to part with the Premier League champions.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak was the club’s top target, but he’s reportedly not going anywhere after Eddie Howe’s side succeeded in securing a place in next season’s Champions League.

If Liverpool find they must make their move for Ekitike instead, Slot will still get his mitts on “one of the best strikers out there,” as the Frenchman has been dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

As discussed earlier in the article, Ekitike would cost a significant outlay, maybe even scratching the same ballpark as Wirtz, but it would be money well spent for a player who would surely represent an upgrade on Nunez, who has sadly fallen by the wayside.

While there’s substance to the argument that Chiesa should stay on, providing cover for Salah, Nunez has failed to perform across three season, and now must be axed. It’s sad, for all of a Liverpool persuasion want him to succeed, but at this stage it would be a risk to keep him on with the league champions.

Not just Trent: World-class Liverpool star must not play for the club again

Liverpool are ready to make a series of sales in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 26, 2025

Manchester United fell to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in what was their 18th defeat in what has been a Premier League season to forget.

Marc Cucurella’s second-half header from Reece James’ cross was enough to secure all three points for the hosts, subsequently bolstering their Champions League ambitions.

Harry Maguire thought he had put Ruben Amorim’s men ahead early on, but his fine finish was ruled out after being adjudged to have been in a slight offside position.

The defeat isn’t the end of the world for the Red Devils, with full focus on next week’s Europa League final, coming through the meeting with no new injury concerns.

However, the manager will likely be disappointed by the performances of multiple first-team starters in West London, putting their starting roles at risk for the European final.

Man Utd’s poor performers against Chelsea

Defender Luke Shaw has been injured for the majority of the campaign, but boss Amorim handed him a start from the off, looking to stake his claim for a place in his plans next season.

However, the 29-year-old struggled to make a positive impact at the Bridge, failing to win a single tackle, whilst losing possession four times – ultimately looking like a shadow of his former self.

He wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with striker Rasmus Hojlund once again unable to deliver the goods in attacking areas, registering a measly tally of just 26 touches during his 90-minute display.

He also lost possession a staggering 13 times, losing every ground duel he entered and failed to register an effort on goal – with Amorim desperately needing to offload the Danish international this summer.

The pair ultimately weren’t at a level good enough to hand the manager a reason to start the Europa League final, with another player needing to be dropped for the crunch clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

5/10 Man United dud must be axed for Europa League final

The Europa League final hands United a chance to end what has been a dismal campaign on a high, securing another trophy and a place in the Champions League for 2025/26.

Amorim will have the opportunity to land his first title after his appointment at Old Trafford back in November, potentially being a key step in his tenure at the club.

However, if they are to win such a meeting against fellow Premier League opposition, they will need to be at the top of their game – something which they haven’t been for many months.

The manager will likely have numerous selection headaches ahead of the meeting in Bilbao, but Noussair Mazraoui should be one player who’s not included in the starting eleven after his display against Chelsea.

The Moroccan international operated in a right-wing-back role against Maresca’s men and struggled to have the desired impact at both ends of the pitch. While he’s often demonstrated he’s one of Erik ten Hag’s best signings this term, notably ranking second in the club’s Player of the Season rankings, his form has fallen off, perhaps due to fatigue.

He featured for the entirety of the contest on Friday, only completing 77% of the passes he attempted, whilst being unable to complete any dribbles and unable to aid players in the final third.

However, out of possession, he was just as poor, often being unable to prevent winger Noni Madueke from gliding past him into attacking areas.

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Mazraoui only made one block, and won just 50% of the aerial duels he entered, struggling to match the high standards he set for himself in the early stages of the season.

As a result of his showing, the full-back was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by GOAL journalist Richard Martin – highlighting his lack of impact during the defeat.

It’s evident that he’s not the player to operate at wing-back, undoubtedly being more comfortable in a centre-back role, with the manager needing to drop him for the final next week.

Such a showing will hand the manager a decision to make in wide areas, but unfortunately for the former Bayern Munich ace, it was an evening to forget and one that could put his place in the side at risk.

Man Utd's own Frimpong: INEOS plotting move to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could nail down one key position in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

ByEthan Lamb May 16, 2025

Liverpool opened their eyes to a new way of life last summer, with Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp in the hot seat, tasked with driving a new era toward titles.

Well, he’s proven himself the perfect pick – and then some. Slot’s dominance in the Premier League this term has been as such that Liverpool have been sighted across Easterly holiday destinations this week, partying ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX.

It’s been almost three weeks since Virgil van Dijk led the celebrations following the 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, almost three weeks since Liverpool put themselves back on their perch and levelled with Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.

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Now that the top place on the podium has been secured, FSG need to back Slot in the transfer market and strengthen ahead of next year’s title defence. One of the biggest names around is already being lined up.

The latest on Liverpool's pursuit of Florian Wirtz

When David Ornstein speaks on a transfer rumour, it usually means such chatter has a concrete foundation. The Athletic correspondent has confirmed Liverpool have made contact with Florian Wirtz’s representatives as the fight for the in-demand playmaker heats up.

Wirtz is anticipated to leave Bayer Leverkusen this season and reports from Germany have sought to tilt the narrative toward Bayern Munich, and while the nation’s restored champions remain favourites at this stage, it’s thought that negotiations are not so advanced as has hitherto been believed.

Of course, Manchester City also reported have a vested interest and have met with the 22-year-old to discuss a potential summer move. Pep Guardiola needs a successor in the shape of Kevin De Bruyne, and they have the financial means to secure the £126m-rated superstar.

Having plundered 69 goal contributions across the past two campaigns for Die Werkself, Wirtz is clearly of the elite class. However, he’s not the only attacking player Liverpool need to sign. In fact, with Darwin Nunez expected to depart, signing a new centre-forward may be even more important.

Liverpool chasing new forward

According to The Telegraph’s Sam Dean, Liverpool have registered their interest in Brighton forward Joao Pedro, though they face stiff competition from Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Seagulls star has been a prolific success on the south coast over the past two years, signing from Watford in June 2023 for just shy of £30m.

Reports from earlier in the season suggested the Reds would need to fork out a record-breaking £100m fee to sign the Brazilian, and it goes without saying that sporting director Richard Hughes will be tasked with whittling that figure down, should interest form something more substantial.

How Pedro would fit in alongside Wirtz

Joao Pedro has scored 18 penalties for Brighton, a considerable chunk of his 30-strike haul across 70 appearances for his blue-and-white outfit.

Still, he’s a talented and dynamic striker with a combative approach which could see him slot right in on Merseyside as Nunez’s successor.

As per FBref, the top 9% for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

Sure, he could do more in front of goal, but the 23-year-old has a certain completeness that Slot could make good use of, especially with Wirtz installed into the playmaking spot behind him.

Liverpool are all about data, and they have clearly been coloured impressed by the underlying metrics. Given that journalist Gerard Struber has hailed Wirtz for his “world-class” playmaking skills, it feels like he could be the man to take Joao Pedro to the next level.

Indeed, the German international has created 17 big chances in the Bundesliga this season, starting only 24 matches. He’s also averaged 1.9 key passes, 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per fixture, as per Sofascore, underscoring not just creative pedigree but boundless energy and high-level athleticism too.

Could Joao Pedro wish for a better supplier behind him, threading a constant source of support with artful flair and mechanical efficiency?

The dynamic forward, who plays slightly from the left, arcing right so too maximise his shooting potential, has actually only missed 16 big chances in the Premier League across his two campaigns for Brighton too, as per Sofascore, scoring 19 goals.

This is a curious metric, one which reveals a natural clinical sense, if also a map for improvement in finding golden opportunities to score.

Mind, Slot has already demonstrated his ability to take interesting up-and-coming profiles and shape them into something special. Joao Pedro’s natural-born accuracy differentiates him from Nunez, and with Wirtz there, threading surgical passes from every which way, he has everything he needs to maximise his potential at Anfield, a veritable hothouse for player development.

The South American forward has already been hailed for his “really magical” ability on the ball by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, and he now just needs to marry the floating elements of his skill set into a coherent whole. He needs to join Liverpool and hit the top of the ceiling.

Liverpool have put themselves back on the map as one of the continent’s most fearsome outfits, and if FSG can get it right in the market this summer, Slot could create a dynasty to connect up with Klopp’s.

With Wirtz and Joao Pedro in the mix, Slot could surely consolidate his Liverpool side’s position at the top of the table and move for greater riches, an embarrassment of riches, eclipsing Arsenal and Manchester City and all the rest and striking fear into the hearts of the club’s opposition.

Slot has struck gold on Liverpool star worth more than Zubimendi & Frimpong

Liverpool have hit the jackpot on a star who’s worth as much as two transfer targets combined.

ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025

Manchester City’s strong end to the season continues.

On Friday night, the Sky Blues beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at the Etihad with, who else, Kevin De Bruyne the only scorer.

Having now won four Premier League games on the spin, Pep Guardiola’s team now have second place well within their sights, widely expected to continue their winning streak on Saturday, considering they’ll be facing rock-bottom Southampton.

Despite this recent upturn in form, which includes reaching a third successive FA Cup Final, Guardiola still insists that this season has been a disaster, hence why he’s planning to spend big this summer, so could he go shopping within the league?

Manchester City's midfield target

The Blues are lining up a big-money move this summer with the likes of £100m-rated Morgan Gibbs-White now in their sights and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz also a target.

That said, could it be another Premier League star who Pep and Co turn to?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, according to a report in Spain, Manchester City ‘have submitted’ an offer of £55m to Tottenham Hotspur for the services of James Maddison, who they claim is viewed as the long-term ‘successor’ to the outgoing De Bruyne.

Maddison would surely add a touch of creativity and vision to Man City’s midfield, something that has been lacking throughout this season.

The 28-year-old England international joined Spurs from Leicester City for a reported fee of £40m two summers ago but, with Tottenham currently down in 16th, no European football next season could force them to sell key assets, unless they’re able to win the Europa League of course.

So, would Maddison be a good signing for Manchester City, and which recent move would this be reminiscent of?

How Maddison compares to Jack Grealish

Of course, the Sky Blues are no strangers to signing high-profile English international attacking midfielders from within the Premier League, breaking the then-British transfer record to secure the services of Jack Grealish for £100m in 2021.

Now coming towards the end of his fourth season at the Etihad, Grealish’s Man City career can be split into two distinct parts, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

39

50

36

31

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,520

Goals

6

5

3

3

Assists

4

11

3

5

As the numbers emphasise, during Grealish’s first two seasons in Manchester, he was a regular starter and key contributor, but this has certainly not been the case during this campaign or the last, starting only one Premier League fixture since Christmas.

So, would Maddison be able to replicate the form of great Grealish should he make the move to the Etihad?

Well, let’s compare the duo this season to help answer that question.

Appearances

31

45

Minutes

1,520

2,717

Goals

3

12

Assists

5

11

Goals – xG

+0.1

+4.2

Shots on target %

32.3%

46.6%

Pass completion %

87.7%

81.5%

Attempted take-ons

37

106

Take-on success %

37.8%

41.5%

Big chances created

3

8

Progressive carries

92

62

Progressive passes

71

221

Touches per 90

36

66

As the table highlights, Maddison’s statistics this season are almost universally more impressive than Grealish’s for every metric included.

He’s certainly a more progressive passer, while simply on goals and assists alone, the Spurs star – who is “unbelievable” in the eyes of Sky Sports pundit Darren Ambrose – has a lot more end product.

The one problem could be that Maddison’s season may actually be over.

Ange Postecoglou stated that he is “concerned” his star midfielder could require knee surgery, which would be a major blow because, as Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic argues, he might just be Tottenham’s most-important player, given ‘how good he is at finding those pockets of space’.

Thus, any potential summer sale would be a massive blow for Spurs but, on the flip side, this would be a major coup for Man City.

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Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to host play-off hopefuls Bristol City at Elland Road in the penultimate game of the campaign.

The Whites secured their promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, after their 6-0 win over Stoke City, but still have to battle it out with Burnley to win the title.

Daniel Farke’s side need to win this evening to go back to the top of the division, and the German head coach could make a change to his starting XI by dropping Brenden Aaronson from the side.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international was selected in the number ten position for the handsome win over Stoke last week, but was the only member of the attack who ended the game without a goal contribution.

Wilfried Gnonto scored a goal, Manor Solomon provided two assists, and Joel Piroe, of course, scored a staggering four goals, whilst Aaronson did not deliver a goal or an assist.

The American midfielder did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates and missed the only ‘big chance’ that came his way, as he failed to get in on the action against the Potters.

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Aaronson has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in his last 14 appearances in the Championship for Leeds, which is why it could now be time, after promotion has been secured, for Farke to ruthlessly ditch him from the side.

The rarely-seen Leeds star who should replace Brenden Aaronson

The former Norwich City head coach should unleash the rarely-seen Largie Ramazani in his place, either as the number ten or out wide, with Gnonto moved into a central position.

It has been a difficult season for the Belgian dynamo since his permanent move from Almeria last summer. He has only started seven of his 27 appearances in the second tier and has been an unused substitute in four of the last five matches.

Ramazani, who was described as an “explosive” forward by journalist Joe Donnohue, has shown flashes of quality in the second tier this season, as shown in the clip above against Norwich City earlier this term.

Appearances (starts)

27 (7)

xG

3.86

Goals

4

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has been directly involved in six goals in the Championship, despite only starting seven times to date, which shows that the potential is there for him to make a big impact in the final third.

This is why Farke must consider bringing the rarely-seen whiz into the starting XI against the Robins this evening, because he could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch that they have not had with Aaronson in the team over the past 14 matches based on his return of goals and assists against his lack of game time.

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Ramazani could, then, use these last two matches of the season to prove to Farke and the club that he has what it takes to be a part of their Premier League campaign next season.

Newcastle United are striding ahead in Eddie Howe’s mission to secure Champions League football and may elbow one of their Premier League competitors aside to bring in a talented star once the window opens, per reports.

Newcastle United look to make summer transfer statement

With their pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League gathering momentum, there is no surprise that the Magpies have one eye on potential reinforcements ahead of the summer.

Alexander Isak is set to attract much speculation over his future in the North East, leading Newcastle to pursue Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis despite further interest from Chelsea in the Greece international.

Following the theme of prospective striking additions, Moise Kean is another target at St James’ Park after contact was made with Fiorentina regarding whether the Italy international would be within their reach.

Given the former Everton star has a release clause of £45 million, all signs point to an affordable deal should circumstances align. Even if Isak stays, Callum Wilson’s impending departure on a free transfer has made room for another centre-forward to enter the fold.

Eddie Howe is recovering from a recent illness. Nevertheless, his group will be desperate to book a slot in the Champions League to reinforce the 47-year-old’s excellent performance in the dugout this season.

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The former Bournemouth boss has ended their 56-year trophy drought and looks on course to secure another tilt for the Geordies at Europe’s top table, which is bound to attract prospective recruits in the next few months.

Now, news has come to light revealing that Newcastle are in talks to sign a versatile star as they aim to beat one of their Premier League rivals to his signature.

Newcastle open talks to sign Marseille forward Luis Henrique

According to TBR, Newcastle have opened talks to sign Marseille forward Luis Henrique, who is also a target for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United ahead of the summer window.

The Magpies view the Brazilian as a winger, as opposed to their divisional rivals’ opinion that a deeper role on the right-hand side would suit best. This campaign, he has registered nine goals and eight assists across 31 matches encompassing all competitions.

Luis Henrique’s key statistics in Ligue 1 – 2024/25

Chances created

48

Successful dribbles

45

Shots

27

Shots on target

13

Successful crosses

26

Duels won

67

Dubbed “fantastic” by Roberto De Zerbi, the 23-year-old is also attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, creating a potential battle for his services that could go the distance in months to come.

Capable of featuring on either flank or even as a foil for the central attacker, his versatility would likely appeal to any side set to be involved in European competition.

Depth is the watchword for teams such as Newcastle moving forward to avoid injury concerns. Either way, the onus is now on chiefs behind the scenes to accelerate talks surrounding the potential transfer.