All posts by n8rngtd.top

There have been quite a few problems for Tottenham Hotspur to contend with this season, but injuries have been by far and away the most significant.

More specifically, injuries to the backline, as while the absence of Dominic Solanke, for example, is far from ideal, the North Londoners have still managed to score the joint-second most goals in the Premier League.

However, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero out for practically the entire campaign, Ange Postecoglou has been forced to rely on a combination of 18-year-old Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin and, recently, Kevin Danso.

Such a situation has understandably impacted the Lilywhites domestically and in Europe, so much so that Daniel Levy and Co may rue losing an experienced centre-back last January who’s won comparisons to stars like Virgil Van Dijk and Gabriel Magalhães.

Spurs' January 2024 departures

So, back in Postecoglou’s first winter window with Spurs, the club saw several players leave, such as former captain Hugo Lloris.

The World Cup-winning Frenchman made 447 appearances for the North Londoners across 11 and a half years, but on January 31st 2024, he moved to LAFC on a free.

Since switching to Major League Soccer, the vastly experienced shot-stopper has made 50 appearances and won the US Open Cup last year, beating Kansas City 3-1 in extra time.

A former Tottenham ace who has endured a more middling time away from North London is Japhet Tanganga.

The reliable if unspectacular defender joined Millwall on a short-term loan on January 18th, and after making 18 appearances for the side, in which he scored twice, he made his move permanent in the summer for free.

This season, the 25-year-old has made 34 appearances for the club, once again scoring twice.

While he’s clearly settled in, he did have a horror show against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup over the weekend, scoring an own goal and deflecting the ball into Daniel Munoz for his strike.

With all that said, there’s another former Spurs defender who first left the club last January and has also won comparisons to Van Dijk and Gabriel.

The former Spurs star compared to Van Dijk and Gabriel

So, while Sergio Regulion, Ashley Phillip and even Djed Spence all went out on loan last January, the defender in question is someone with far more experience at the domestic and international levels.

After spending nine years with Spurs, Eric Dier finally left the club last winter, and while his move to Bayern Munich was initially a short-term loan, it was later extended to cover this season as well, meaning he did not return to North London.

Now, it would be fair to say that towards the end of his time at the club, the 49-capped Englishman was not seen as a top-class defender, but under Thomas Tuchel last season and, to some extent, Vincent Kompany this year, the 31-year-old has reminded people that he can still be a useful player for a top side.

For example, the “monstrous” star, as dubbed by journalist Dan Kilpatrick, has already made 35 appearances for FC Hollywood and now looks set to be a part of the squad that reclaimed the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen and has been likened to Gabriel and Van Dijk.

The comparisons stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, across the last 365 days and then creates a list of the ten most similar players.

In this instance, it concluded that the Brazilian was the sixth-most similar centre-back to the Englishman in last season’s Champions League, and the Dutchman is the seventh-most similar overall for the last year.

We can get a better understanding of this by looking at the underlying numbers in which the trio have ranked closely over the last season and a bit, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals, passing accuracy, tackles, through balls, expected assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while we are not suggesting that Dier is anywhere near the defender the other two are, the fact that he’s been compared to them indicates that he has found his fee again since moving to Bavaria.

So, with how badly Postecoglou’s defence has been hit by injuries this season, we reckon a part of him wishes the Englishman was still at the club.

Spurs wasted £36m on "special" Poch signing who earned more than Spence

The promising prospect failed to live up to the hype at Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 4, 2025

Who's hot, who's not? INDIVISA ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

It was a high-scoring weekend across the NWSL. Barbra Banda scored a hat trick for the Orlando Pride, the Houston Dash finally got on the board, and the San Diego Wave exploded with five goals against the North Carolina Courage.

While the standings remain similar to previous weeks, the Wave are continuously showing signs that they could be the team to beat.

The Chicago Stars and Utah Royals continue their woes, with the two clubs now at the bottom of the standings. The league takes a break this weekend for international play – and it just may be the reset some of the clubs need.

So, who's leading the pack, and who's falling short of expectations? INDIVISA presents the latest 2025 NWSL Power Rankings.

• Getty Images
  

  14Chicago Stars

  Prior Ranking: 14

  Result: Lost 3-1 to the Kansas City Current

  Ramifications: The Stars absorbed another loss, dropping their record to 1-8-1. The highlight of the match was Shea Groom's goal in the 51st minute, which was her first since 2022.

  U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes was also at the game and was reunited with Chicago's Mallory Swanson, who is out for the season after announcing her pregnancy earlier this month.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  13Utah Royals

  Prior Ranking: 13

  Result: Lost 3-1 to the Orlando Pride

  Ramifications: Utah are 1-7-2 overall this season, dropping another yet game. The Royals did manage to get a goal on the board, thanks to a 14th-minute finish from Brecken Mozingo. The Royals need to start stringing together some big wins for a chance to make it above the playoff line.

• Getty Images
  

  12Bay FC

  Prior Ranking: 10

  Result: Drew Houston Dash 2-2

  Ramifications: Bay FC played the Houston Dash to even, showing some moments of brilliance on both sides of the field. Penelope Hocking and Rachel Hill scored the two goals for Bay FC.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  11Houston Dash

  Prior Ranking: 12

  Result: Drew Bay FC 2-2

  Ramifications: The Houston Dash battled to a draw, with the highlights of the game Avery Patterson's finish, followed by Messiah Bright's 88th-minute stunner. The Dash are currently in 12th place with a 3-5-2 record.

Viktor Gyokeres insists consistent reports about his future are "clickbait" as he continues to be linked away from Sporting CP.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Gyokeres linked with Premier League move
• Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd keen
• Hits out at mass of reports

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gyokeres has consistently been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea all touted as potential suitors for the prolific Sweden international. He ended the season with 39 goals in 33 games in the league, as well as six goals in eight games in the Champions League.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reports have suggested that Gyokeres is open to a move to United this summer but he has now hit back at the weight of reporting suggesting he is set for a big-money transfer. He has a release clause of £85 million ($114m) but is said to be available for around £60m ($81m).

• WHAT GYOKERES SAID

  Gyokeres told Vogue Scandinavia: "Clickbait. These days, there's sports news 24 hours a day. They come up with topics to keep the cycle going."

  He also dropped a potential hint about his future by claiming that he would find it "difficult" to play in a cold country once again after living in Portugal, adding: "In Sweden, people work hard during the week and only socialize on the weekend. Here, it's much livelier during the week. You have dinner with friends and have a glass of wine on Monday. I like that. After living in a hot country, it would be difficult [to return to a colder country]."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Gyokeres has a decision to make this summer if bids are tabled. Sweden, meanwhile, face Hungary in a friendly on Friday.

Arne Slot was outthought and Liverpool were outfought on Sunday afternoon, and the 2024/25 Carabao Cup does belong to Newcastle United.

This has been an extraordinary campaign for Liverpool, one which should reach its crescendo with the Premier League title in Anfield’s clutches after Jurgen Klopp called time on his legendary career in Merseyside last summer.

There can be no grievances; the Reds were comprehensively outclassed against a Magpies side that has hungered for silver for so many years, now rejoicing after ending 70 years of barren luck.

Only days on from Liverpool’s gutting Champions League exit on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool were once again out of sorts, unable to match their opponents’ intensity and confidence.

Toothless in attack and bested in crucial midfield battles, seasonal euphoria has been subdued over the past week, with much to consider heading into the summer.

Liverpool's torrid performance at Wembley

With over 15 minutes of normal time still to play, Slot threw the kitchen sink at Liverpool’s black-and-white adversaries, launching every attacking option onto the field – to no avail.

It was a desperate gambit, and one that didn’t pay off as Newcastle’s bulwark stood firm against the second-rate frontline. Liverpool’s pitiful performances in recent weeks look so incongruous across the whole story of the season. But it has mattered, glory reduced to the shape of the Premier League cup.

Overwhelmed would be apposite wording: Slot’s tried-and-tested midfield trio flattered to deceive, winning just seven of 21 combined duels in the capital. Newcastle were far sharper, latching onto second balls and wanting the trophy more; it was clear.

Federico Chiesa scored a lifting consolation in stoppage time, but it was far too little too late as Eddie Howe’s side expertly harnessed the dark arts to whittle down precious time.

Errors have punctuated Liverpool’s recent cup exits but had Liverpool avoided just one misplaced pass, you still feel United would have prevailed. It was, as The Athletic’s James Pearce so aptly put it, an “abysmal performance.”

Epitomised by the forward line’s woes.

Liverpool's frontline misfires (again)

It’s become a familiar tale over the past few weeks, Liverpool’s formidable frontline reduced to something far more ordinary against PSG and now Newcastle on momentous stages.

Nothing can detract from Liverpool’s brilliance on the Premier League front, but this will sting and indeed hang a light on the glaring problems up top.

Mohamed Salah has flattered to deceive of late, sure, but he’s carried a frontline lacking a cutting edge to the brink of a league triumph, and it has proved too much across cup fronts.

Diogo Jota in particular was non-existent at Wembley, hooked before the hour mark after missing a great chance to restore parity right after Ban Burn’s opener. That’s the tenth game on the trot that the Portugal international has failed to find the back of the net.

Luis Diaz’s tally is respectable, but when you consider only four of the Colombian’s strikes have been posted after November 5th 2024, with one goal across his past 18 matches, you begin to question whether his end product matches the gifted ability he carries.

Approaching the penultimate year of his contract, questions are indeed being asked.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

How Luis Diaz let Slot down

Diaz has had plenty to cheer about this season, bagging an almighty hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, enjoying an early Premier League flurry of strikes to get the Slot era up and running and also providing firepower from an unnatural role in the centre to help Liverpool’s lack of reliable options, to promote fluency.

But we keep coming back to his lack of bite. Here is a player with all the minerals to become world-class: startling speed, fleet feet and a tenacious appetite that arrested FSG’s attention and urged them to spend up to £49m on bringing him in from Porto in 2022 as Sadio Mane’s successor.

But Diaz will never be truly world-class, for he simply isn’t incisive enough in key moments. Since arriving at Anfield, he’s scored 37 goals from 140 appearances, also laying on 18 assists. It’s decent, but it’s not great.

His bundled-in goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February stands lonely as his only strike in any competition since bagging in the rout over West Ham United after Christmas. Against the Magpies, he never looked like adding to his haul.

He’s surely got to be sweating over his long-term future on Merseyside. Diaz’s current deal expires in 2027, by which point he will be 30 years old. Is a renewal likely to be on the cards? If your reckoning is in the negative: should Liverpool cash in for maximum value this summer?

Chiesa’s last-gasp goal provided the Reds with something that had been lacking, instinctively darting into space after Harvey Elliott played a delightful threaded ball into space. Newcastle were carved open, and the Italian forward fired an excellent strike past Nick Pope.

Having failed to even attempt a shot on goal in the capital yesterday, the Colombia international also completed only one of his three attempted dribbles while creating one key pass for his teammates, as per Sofascore. He also won just four of his ten duels, ceded possession every five and a half minutes and failed to complete a cross.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle was not impressed, echoing the sentiment that Liverpool’s left flanker failed to provide any sharpness, lots of huff and puff but little tangible product. He gave him a 4/10 match score, which was a fair assessment, in truth.

So then, where are we? Liverpool look rather poor at the moment, with their sapped legs and loss of inspiration and snap costing them dearly across Champions League and Carabao Cup campaigns. Players such as Diaz and Jota are playing themselves out of a future, and FSG have plenty to chew on over the coming weeks.

But the international break is upon us, the perfect chance for recalibration. There’s a league title still to win, after all.

Suarez 2.0: Liverpool line up move for "the most complete CF in the world"

This free-scoring centre-forward would be an even bigger deal than Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 16, 2025

With Morgan Gibbs-White attracting plenty of interest, Nottingham Forest could welcome an impressive replacement, having reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star.

Nottingham Forest join hectic race

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were back to their ruthless best against Ipswich Town, entering the break three goals to the good before adding a fourth to secure a 4-2 victory in the second-half. Gunning towards shock Champions League qualification, the awoken Midlands giants now sit as many as six points clear of fifth-place Manchester City.

By securing their place among Europe’s elite, Nottingham Forest could also go in search of Europe’s top talents with names such as Tammy Abraham and Hugo Bueno mentioned in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, those at the City Ground could yet fall victim to their own success amid Manchester United’s reported interest in signing Gibbs-White this summer. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed an excellent season and now finds himself on the radar of the Premier League’s top sides.

Edu could be key: Nottingham Forest now plotting hijack to sign teenage gem

He’s been a goalscoring machine at youth level…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 15, 2025

There’s no doubt that his exit would deal Espirito Santo a major blow, but it’s one that those in the Midlands could instantly ease by signing a rising star this summer.

According to Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign Semih Kilicsoy alongside Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Everton. Besiktas reportedly value their 19-year-old sensation at just €20m (£17m), which is set to ignite a battle between Premier League sides in the coming months.

For such a price, Forest could seal a deal destined to become a bargain in years to come. Kilicsoy is already leaving his mark on the Turkish Super Lig and has all the attributes needed to replace a player of Gibbs-White’s calibre. Whether Forest step up their interest remains to be seen, however.

"Monster" Kilicsoy could replace Gibbs-White

If Forest lose their talisman this summer then Kilicsoy could quickly emerge to hand Espirito Santo an ideal replacement. A winger who can also play as a striker, there’s no reason why the teen’s stocky and powerful build won’t see him step into a deeper role throughout his career, although that is one Besiktas or his potential suitors must experiment with.

Meanwhile, in his natural role, Kilicsoy has thrived. Following 15 goal involvements last season, the talented Besiktas star has scored six goals and assisted a further four in the current campaign to earn the praise of analyst Ben Mattinson. The scout had nothing but good things to say, describing him as a “physical monster”.

In comparison, Gibbs-White has scored five goals and assisted a further seven for Nottingham Forest this season – highlighting just how important he’s been under Espirito Santo in his side’s push for Champions League qualification.

The son of a former Watford and Stoke striker is set to appear with Maya Jama on the latest series of the ITV2 reality show which kicks off next week.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Jama hosting 12th Love Island series
• Two footballers set to stay in the villa
• Show returns on 9 June

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two footballers are set to appear on the latest series of ITV2 reality show Love Island. The lineup has been confirmed and among the 12 contestants are Dejon Noel-Williams, a semi-professional and son of former Watford and Stoke striker Gifton, and Harry Cooksley, who turns out for Southern League Premier South side Farnham Town and has been dubbed 'The Surrey Zidane'.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The series is hosted by Jama, who recently flew back from a romantic vacation in Italy with Manchester City defender Ruben Dias. The show is filmed in Mallorca in a rural villa called Sa Vinyassa.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gifton Noel-Williams made the majority of his career appearances in England's lower divisions but did play three times during Watford's ill-fated 1999-00 Premier League campaign. He later had spells with Stoke and Burnley before a journeyman-esque end to his career which included stints with Real Murcia, Elche, Millwall, Austin Aztek and Codicote.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The latest season of Love Island premieres on Monday 9 June, with plenty of dramatic moments expected on the show's tenth anniversary.

Let us take you back to 2007. Gareth Bale has learned his trade at Southampton and is still effectively a boy. He’s only 17. But here he is, signing for Tottenham Hotspur.

A £10m move at the time didn’t exactly blow Spurs fans away but it was a deal that would change the modern landscape of this football club.

It took a while for that to occur, however. Bale didn’t win any of his first 24 games in Spurs colours. He was a jinx, perhaps even a curse.

However, he managed to turn his career around after a rocky start and is now perhaps only second to Harry Kane in terms of modern icons at White Hart Lane.

When Real Madrid came calling in 2013, lodging an £85m bid, Spurs banked a ridiculous amount of profit but said farewell to one of their greats.

Taking into account the Welshman’s second stint in north London – a loan spell – he featured across 237 games, bagging 71 goals and posting 53 assists.

So, where’s the next Bale coming from? Well, the Lilywhites have a number of top young stars, notably Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore.

Moore is perhaps one of the most exciting.

Mikey Moore's debut campaign in the Spurs first-team

Last summer marked Moore’s emergence in the Spurs first-team. Ange Postecoglou loves him and couldn’t wait to unleash the teenager in the senior game.

He did so for the first time against Manchester City, bringing the 17-year-old from the bench in the last two games of the Premier League campaign.

Moore played a more prominent role during the club’s pre-season preparations, dazzling defenders by scoring against both Hearts and Vissel Kobe while also posting an assist against QPR. It was some start to life as a first-team player.

While the teenager has not been a regular contributor in terms of goals and assists since, failing to find the net in the Premier League but scoring twice in all competitions, he’s still looked incredibly promising.

Injury and illness have stunted Moore’s development across the new year but he’s left not just a lasting impression on fans but also his teammates.

Speaking after their 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in November, James Maddison remarked: “From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing. He was brilliant. Just demanding the ball and fearless.”

Still only 17 years of age, the future is certainly bright for the England youth international, named among GOAL.com’s top 50 wonderkids around the globe.

Still, one of the players on that list could be an even bigger talent.

Spurs have a bigger talent than Mikey Moore

Featuring on GOAL’s list were five Spurs players, chief among them Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Those two are certainly further ahead in their development so it makes sense for them to be included higher up.

However, we want to talk about Luka Vuskovic, the young defender who’s yet to be seen in Spurs colours.

It was back in September 2023 that Spurs first announced they had agreed a deal to bring a then 16-year-old Vuskovic to the club from Croatian side Hajduk Split.

He won’t officially transfer clubs until the summer of 2025 so we are still waiting for his Spurs debut, but now aged 18, he’s showcasing the immense potential many expect from him.

A centre-back by trade, the teenager is on loan at KVC Westerlo in Belgium’s first tier where he’s not just demonstrated himself to be a capable defender but he also has a habit of finding the back of the net, scoring seven times in 28 appearances.

So, why is there such hype? Well, standing at 6 foot 5, he’s been described as a “freak athlete” by data analyst Ben Mattinson and an “insane talent” by scout Jacek Kulig.

He’s got the imposing frame to terrify defenders, the goalscoring ability to impact things at the opposite end of the pitch and he’s dominating even when he’s not finding the net.

Indeed, according to Sofascore, he’s achieved the highest match rating in a single game among defenders in Europe’s ‘top ten leagues’ in a game where they didn’t find the net or assist a goal.

That was during a 0-0 draw with OH Leuven where the young centre-back completed 91% of his passes, won ten of his 12 aerial duels, completed a key pass and successfully made all seven of his long balls.

This is an elite talent in the making, a comfortable passer, a menacing header of the ball and a goalscorer. What more could you want?

Those in his homeland are already getting excited and who can blame them? Croatian media have been quick to celebrate his performances, crowning Vuskovic as “a talent who is born once in 100 years”.

Perhaps, like Bale, he is blessed with the potential to play for a club like Madrid. Spurs will hope they get a few years of service out of him before anything like that happens.

Ange has found a "mind-blowing" star at Spurs who could be the next Defoe

The talented forward could replicate the Spurs icon.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 21, 2025

The striker is reportedly set to be out for an extended period, handing a major blow to the Eastern Conference side

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• McGuire undergoes shoulder surgery
• Reportedly sidelined 3-4 months
• Second shoulder injury this season for him
• Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire is set to be sidelined for an extended period after undergoing a successful shoulder surgery last week. The striker missed the start of the 2025 MLS campaign due to a shoulder injury as well, but his recent surgery was on the opposite shoulder.

  According to GIVEMESPORT, he will be sidelined for 3-4 months.

  The 24-year-old appeared in 12 matches for Orlando through Matchday 18, scoring one goal and recording one assist. He was a member of the U23 USMNT roster that competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Advertisement

• Imagn
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McGuire was a breakout rookie in 2023 with Orlando, bagging 14 goals in his debut season for the club. Ahead of the 2024 campaign, he was set for a big move to England with Blackburn Rovers and even took photos in the club's kit ahead of a deadline day move in January of that year, but an administrative paperwork error denied him the transfer.

  Since his failed transfer abroad, he's stagnated in development, scoring just 10 regular-season goals across the 2024 campaign, and just one this season.

  McGuire was called in for the USMNT's January training camp in January 2024 under Gregg Berhalter, but has not featured with the senior team since.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  McGuire signed a new long-term deal with the in August 2024, handing him a major pay raise from his previous contract while ensuring the club was able to maintain his services.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• USA Today
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MCGUIRE?

  If he maintains his current track of recovery, the U.S. prospect will return near the end of the MLS season. Deadline day 2025 is on Oct. 8.

Jude Bellingham has hit back in style after brother Jobe's first Dortmund goal sparks playful competition between siblings at the Club World Cup.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Jobe scores first goal for Dortmund
• Jude responds with goal against Pachuca
• Opens up about friendly rivalry with Jobe

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham found the net in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Pachuca at the Club World Cup, just a day after his younger brother Jobe scored for Borussia Dortmund in their 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns. With Madrid down to 10 men, Jude delivered a clutch strike to help seal the win and match his brother’s effort. Jobe had scored on his first start for Dortmund after signing from Sunderland earlier this month, finding the net in the 45th minute to put his side 3-1 up before half-time. It was a moment that sparked a bit of friendly sibling rivalry, and Jude has now responded.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT JUDE BELLINGHAM SAID

  Asked whether Jobe’s goal was on his mind during his own performance, Jude said to DAZN: "My brother’s goal yesterday on my mind? A little bit, I’ve gotta be honest. Everyone’s been caning me, saying he’s better than me. I had to do something today. We’re 1-1 now, we’ll see for the rest of the tournament (laughs).”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Bellingham brothers have made history by becoming the first siblings to score in the same edition of the Club World Cup. The performances from both have drawn lighthearted comparisons, with friends teasing Jude after Jobe’s goal. Now, both stars are level with a goal apiece as they head into their final group-stage matches.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE BELLINGHAM BROTHERS?

  Jude and Real Madrid face RB Salzburg on June 26 to close out their group stage, while Jobe and Dortmund take on Ulsan on June 25. Both brothers will be eyeing the knockout rounds, and potentially a once-in-a-lifetime clash on the world stage against each other.

Manchester City have reportedly made contact to sign a £50m star who has been compared to both Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan.

Man City latest as Pep suffers Haaland injury blow

Those behind the scenes at the Etihad appear to have one eye on the summer transfer window, however, Pep Guardiola’s side are looking to salvage their season by winning the FA Cup.

City came from behind to beat Bournemouth on Sunday to set up a semi-final with Nottingham Forest after goals from Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland.

However, Man City were dealt an injury setback regarding Haaland, who is now set to be out for seven weeks with an ankle problem.

Talking on Haaland’s injury, Guardiola said: “Sometimes there are years that these things happen – it’s happened all season. It could have been different if it was the end of the season [before the Club World Cup]. With all the injuries we have this season, I’m sorry for them and for Erling as well. Hopefully the recovery is as speedy as possible and he can come back.

“We don’t have another player with his skills or specific qualities, but we have to adapt. For many years, we played with different ways up front. It depends on the quality of the players. We are going to try and find a solution.”

Viana's a fan: Man City battling to sign "unbeatable" 6'8 star worth £17m

He could replace Ederson.

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 1, 2025

Ahead of the summer, midfield could be where Guardiola and co conduct an overhaul, with the likes for Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan could be on the move. Now, it looks as if the club have made their first moves for a key target.

Man City make contact for £50m AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders

According to TEAMtalk, Man City have made an enquiry to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. The Sky Blues have made contact ‘to understand the conditions of a potential deal’, with reports prior claiming the AC Milan midfielder is valued at £50m and is City’s top target.

The 26-year-old has been starring for AC Milan this season, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists in more than 40 games.

As can be seen, he has been compared to Foden, and Gundogan among others and can play as a defensive central or attacking midfielder.

Iconic midfielder, Frank Rijkaard has also been impressed with what he’s seen from Reijnders, saying: “I hope that Reijnders becomes one of the best midfielders in the world, but I sincerely believe he’s already on the right path. I really like his style of play.

“As time goes on, he’s becoming increasingly important for Milan. He can cover all roles in the midfield and shows his generosity: he never holds back from a run for the team and always gives his best.

“With the quality he has, he’s excellent at creating dangerous chances for his teammates and setting up the play well.”