All posts by z3u9t.icu

The Manchester United fanbase will be hoping for a major transformation next season, with the levels produced by the first team in 2024/25 nothing short of disastrous.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the campaign in 15th place in the Premier League, whilst also losing the Europa League final to fellow English strugglers Tottenham Hotspur.

The manager was only somewhat responsible for the embarrassing period on the pitch, largely having to work with the players who were already at Old Trafford before his appointment.

However, the current transfer window has allowed him to change the Red Devils’ fortunes, with Matheus Cunha already joining in a £62.5m deal earlier this summer.

Various other additions are expected to hand the manager the best possible chance of being a success in the role, with the additions he makes crucial to his tenure at the club.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Ollie Watkins is a striker who has constantly been on United’s radar over the last couple of days, with the hierarchy exploring a deal to land the England international this window.

Any deal for the 29-year-old appears to be an expensive one, as Unai Emery’s side are currently demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with their leading talisman.

As a result, the Red Devils have seemingly moved on to other targets in recent days, resulting in Napoli star Victor Osimhen reemerging on their shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim in their report that the Nigerian forward has expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer, with a Premier League move the dream for the 26-year-old this summer.

It also states that Amorim’s side are leading the race for the talisman this window, but any deal could cost them £64m after he scored 37 times on loan at Galatasaray last campaign.

Why United’s £64m target could be Amorim’s next Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t need any introduction with the vast majority of people knowing the goalscoring prowess he possesses based on his figures this season.

The Swedish international started the 2024/25 campaign under the guidance of now United boss Amorim, scoring a staggering 54 times in his 52 outings across all competitions.

After the 40-year-old accepted the manager’s job at Old Trafford, many links have emerged between the striker and the Red Devils, but no deal has come to fruition.

He looks set to leave the Portuguese outfit this window, but is in favour of a move to Arsenal, after he stated his desire to move to the Emirates rather than the Theatre of Dreams.

However, whilst it may be a disappointment to miss out on a clinical goalscorer like Gyokeres, the supporters shouldn’t worry, with Osimhen having all the tools to replicate his success.

When comparing their respective stats from the recent campaign, the Nigerian has dominated in numerous key areas, highlighting why he’d be the better option for the Red Devils.

The Napoli forward, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has posted a higher shot on target rate this season, showcasing his excellent talents in the final third.

Games played

30

33

Goals & assists

31

46

Shots on target

2.2

2

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Aerials won

4.3

0.6

Aerial success rate

64%

30%

Take-on success

60%

27%

He’s also won more of the aerial battles he’s entered, along with a higher success rate for take-ons, offering a more all-round option within the final third than the Swede.

The price tag between the pair is expected to be very similar this summer, but as seen by the difference in stats, Osimhen would certainly be the man to choose in the current window.

He’s also managed to demonstrate his talents in Europe’s top five leagues, having the experience and quality to help fire the side back up the table next time around.

If a deal for the Nigerian does get completed this summer, it would be one of the signings of the window, handing Amorim that elite-level talisman he’s desperately been hunting for as of late.

He's better than Watkins: Man Utd in talks to sign "world-class" £26m star

Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a new striker this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 4, 2025

Liverpool made mincemeat of the Premier League’s finest in 2024/25, winning the title in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm.

Such was their dominance that a late-season sojourn over in the Gulf states was permitted while rivals worked toward positive finishes to the term.

This wasn’t the case for the Anfield side; far from it. However, 2025/26 will bring a new campaign and Liverpool are acting like it, using their pull, heightened by the recent success, to sign Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool like to pluck exciting talents from their divisional rivals, and this summer is proving no different. Indeed, with a fee agreed with Leverkusen for the £34m sale of Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate’s future uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract, Real Madrid lurking, is it any surprise that sporting director Richard Hughes is hoping to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi?

Why Liverpool target players like Kerkez & Guehi

Liverpool might have broken the British transfer record this month (should Wirtz’s fixed £100m fee be expanded by the £16m in add-ons), but the Merseysiders tend to walk down a less-beaten path, signing up-and-coming talents from clubs settled lower down the Premier League ladder.

Take Andy Robertson, for example, signed from Hull City for just £10m back in 2017. He’s since solidified his name among the division’s all-time great full-backs.

1.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

259

64

2.

Andy Robertson

308

60

3.

Leighton Baines

420

53

4.

Graeme Le Saux

327

44

5.

Kieran Trippier

204

38

And how could we forget Gini Wijnaldum? The Dutchman was the industrious, metronomic heartbeat which kept Klopp’s system ticking, purloined from Newcastle United after their relegation to the Championship.

Shoutout Xherdan Shaqiri, too.

The point is, Liverpool run their club intelligently, identifying players proven in the Premier League and with plenty of scope for growth. Manchester United, with their Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, may well have taken a leaf from their rival.

While FSG are in a position to sign superstars like Wirtz, they haven’t lost track of their roots: Kerkez, signed for £40m, is evidence of his, hailing from the south coast, while the 24-year-old Guehi would also align with this tried-and-tested Merseyside method, having been at the centre of transfer rumours in recent days that suggest Liverpool would be willing to pay £50m to snap him up.

Slot will have had his say in identifying such players, looking to bring them to Anfield, but he is benefiting somewhat from the club’s prowess when Klopp was at the helm. Certainly, there’s one star in particular who aligns with the discussed method who should be the barometer from which to judge an addition’s success.

Liverpool have struck gold on Premier League signing

Like Kerkez and Virgil van Dijk before him, Alexis Mac Allister has proved a stunning signing for Liverpool, joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £35m two years ago.

His first term, the Argentina international, who was instrumental in his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph, filled in as a holding midfielder after the Anfield side failed in a bid to land Moises Caicedo; since, with Slot in charge, he’s moved back into a more expansive midfield role, winning silverware in both seasons on Merseyside.

One constant, however, has been Mac Allister’s brilliance in the centre of the park. The 26-year-old has only gone from strength to strength after switching the Seagulls for the Liverbird, with pundit Joe Cole even declaring him a “superstar” who “can play anywhere”.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

35 (30)

Goals

5

5

Assists

5

5

Touches*

74.2

55.8

Pass completion

88%

87%

Big chances created

3

6

Key passes*

1.4

1.3

Dribbles*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.9

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.3

Ground duels (won)*

5.0 (50%)

4.3 (50%)

Take a look at the table above. What do you see? Curiously, Mac Allister has shifted roles under Slot, less active and frenetic in his play, calmed into a controlling force which channels the flow of the coach’s ball-playing vision.

The South American star perhaps said it best himself: “In terms of the change, perhaps with Jürgen I played as a lone five [holding midfielder]. So, the position was very different. I was much more defensive than anything else.

“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”

It’s certainly showcased through the metrics: as per FBref, Mac Allister ranked among the top 20% of midfielders in the Premier League last year for goal involvements, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 14% for shot-creating actions and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

He’s the real deal, having ballooned in value and technical quality since making the leap. It’s a rise that Slot and co will no doubt hope Kerkez will follow, and Guehi too, should he sign from Palace this summer.

The fiesty midfielder’s progress at Liverpool has even impelled Real Madrid to come knocking on the door, with reports earlier in the year suggesting Florentino Perez would be willing to fork out some €90m (£76m) for the maestro, who has been earmarked as a potential long-term successor to Luka Modric’s soon-to-be vacant locker at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Naturally, this puts him in a much higher bracket than Kerkez and Guehi, but we must caveat that with a firm ‘for now’, as the ball-playing specialist may yet find his new and potential teammates to be rivalling him on the financial scales down the line.

Liverpool know their stuff, work with a calculated eye to sign up-and-coming Premier League stars and bring them up to elite status, when certain other high-station clubs then come sniffing around for fully developed product.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Mac Allister is a perfect representation of that, and soon Kerkez and perhaps Guehi will be too.

Better than Gyokeres: Liverpool in the race for "the new Haaland"

Liverpool are sounding out a series of Alexander Isak alternatives this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Whilst many dared to question whether Lionel Messi would have been able to perform at the peak of his powers in the Premier League, the legendary Argentine continued to prove those doubters wrong in the only way he knows how – by dominating England’s best sides.

Whether it was Manchester United at Wembley in the 2009 Champions League final or, more recently, against Liverpool in the first-leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final tie – which they eventually lost in historic fashion – Messi has proven time and time again that a cold, rainy night in Stoke would be no problem for a man of his talents.

Manchester City

8

7

3

Arsenal

6

9

2

Manchester United

6

4

0

Liverpool

4

2

0

Chelsea

10

3

3

Tottenham Hotspur

2

2

0

In 36 games against England’s top six, Messi has scored 27 goals and created another eight. If there were any remaining doubts that he would have dominated the Premier League at a level arguably never seen before, then those numbers should bring those to an end once and for all.

Like most around European football, some of the Premier League’s best have often been in awe of Messi. Jamie Carragher, among those running out of superlatives for the magical playmaker, said: “There have been so many players we’ve thought that about in the past, but to go on and do what he’s done, it’s crazy.

“For me, he’s the best player we’ve ever seen play football. And you can’t predict that of any 19, 20-year-old when you’re looking at where they’re going to go.”

Whilst he has often terrorised English opposition, there has been occasions when Messi has been shocked by Premier League players taking their revenge, and he admitted that one player left Barcelona fearful.

Messi: Lampard was one of the best players in the world

Given that his record against Chelsea out of all of the Premier League’s top six is the worst, Messi’s praise for a Stamford Bridge hero should come as no surprise. He took the time to single out Frank Lampard ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League tie against the Blues in 2009, admitting that he admires the midfield great and that he was a “big threat”.

The tie itself lived up to the billing, but it was another midfield legend who stole the headlines as Andres Iniesta netted a last-gasp winner for Barcelona to take his side into the Champions League final.

7 of the best El Clásico matches of all time

Real Madrid and Barcelona have played out some classics since their first meeting in the early 20th century – here are a few of the best.

ByBarney Lane Oct 25, 2024

Messi’s praise still rings true, however. At the peak of his powers, Lampard was one of the most dangerous midfielders around and Messi had every right to be fearful of the threat that he often provided. All in all, Lampard scored 211 goals in 648 games for Chelsea.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have money to play with this summer and could now turn their attention to an exciting winger to add flair acrosss their forward line, according to reports.

Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstart summer transfer window

Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United may have left a sour taste in the mouth for supporters of the Old Gold, but there was always an element of inevitability regarding his eventual fate.

Nonetheless, the picture appears to be bright in the West Midlands under Vitor Pereira, who will be given time and financial backing to shape his squad over the coming months.

Evaluating the immediate priority at Molineux, adding one or two quality attacking options in the face of Cunha no longer being in the building will become a popular topic among fans and pundits alike.

Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic has been targeted by the Old Gold to help provide some added prowess in the final third, and Alex Neil’s ringing endorsement that the 20-year-old is one of Europe’s top ten talents will likely create plenty of intrigue.

Further back, Nelson Semedo is mulling over a new deal at Wolves as his contract nears expiration, illustrating the importance of bringing a right-sided defender to the club should the Portugal international move on to tackle a fresh challenge.

Wolves could sign instant Cunha replacement in "special" £25m talent

Wolves will be hoping to sign a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 31, 2025

Sunderland’s Trai Hume may be the man the Old Gold are looking for to strike an adequate balance. Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri’s impending transfer to Manchester City leaves food for thought at left-back.

Transition may not be a bad thing for Wolves in light of big-money departures. Either way, they are now reportedly plotting a swoop for an exciting young winger.

Wolverhampton Wanderers plotting swoop for Roger Fernandes

According to Molineux News in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga winger Roger Fernandes and he expects the Old Gold to ‘explore’ the Primeira Liga for additions during the window.

Reports earlier this year claimed Manchester United, Manchester City, Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also keen on Fernandes amid his rise to prominence in Portugal, which has led to a £25m price tag.

Referencing the situation, Bailey said: “I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again. I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”

Roger Fernandes at Braga in 2024/25 – why are Wolves taking an interest? (FBRef)

Shot creating actions (Primeira Liga)

78

Shot creating actions (Europa League)

19

Progressive carries per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)

4.71

Progressive passes received per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)

9.94

Goal-creating actions (combining both competitions)

9

Likened to former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia by Foot The Ball, Fernandes has registered five goals and seven assists in 48 appearances for Braga this term and is capable of featuring on either flank.

Completing an average of 1.4 dribbles per league match, the Portugal youth international could go some way to filling the creative void left by Cunha, even if he is only one part of the solution.

Manchester United are now circling to sign an “incredible” attacker, in what would be a hugely controversial deal, according to a report.

Red Devils moving swiftly in the transfer market

Matheus Cunha became Man United’s first signing of the summer last week, with Ruben Amorim getting his summer rebuild underway early doors, and the manager has no plans to stop there, as another forward could be on their way to Old Trafford soon.

There are conflicting reports about who United’s priority target is at centre-forward, but recruitment chiefs certainly have a number of potential options in mind, with it being revealed they are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

£29m

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

£84m

Bryan Mbeumo

Brentford

£60m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£67m

Any top striker is only as good as the service he receives, however, and with widespread reports linking captain Bruno Fernandes with a move to Saudi Arabia, Amorim may also be tasked with bringing in another attacking midfielder this summer.

According to a report from The Mirror, the Red Devils have a hugely controversial target in mind, as they are now circling to sign Manchester City maestro James McAtee, who could now be edging closer towards an Etihad Stadium exit.

Man Utd could sign "excellent" £34m ace as agent speaks out on summer move

The Red Devils could be moving closer to another signing.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 2, 2025

McAtee has been left out of Man City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, which could spell the end of his time on the blue side of Manchester, with United believed to be keen on a surprise deal to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford.

With the 22-year-old’s contract set to expire in 2026, City may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash-in on the Englishman, and reports from elsewhere have detailed they could look to hold out for a fee in the region of £25m.

"Incredible" McAtee needs fresh start

Man City have already made the mistake of letting some exciting academy graduates leave in the past, most notably Cole Palmer, who has gone on to excel at Chelsea, and there are signs McAtee could be capable of following a similar path.

Lauded as “incredible” by former teammate Oli McBurnie, the Salford-born midfielder impressed when given the opportunity during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals in 27 outings, but unfortunately his game time was far too limited.

Not only is the City ace an attacking threat, but he is also clearly a well-rounded player, given that he has impressed on some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.96 (89th percentile)

Blocks

1.96 (99th percentile)

Should McAtee be willing to cross the Manchester divide, there are signs he would be able to kick on at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a difficult deal to get over the line, given the rivalry between the two clubs.

As PSG celebrated winning the Champions League on Saturday evening, Arsenal fans were longingly contemplating whether that would have been them had they signed a striker last summer or even over the winter.

The Gunners swept aside Real Madrid with absolute ease but came unstuck against the might of PSG, although they certainly were not disgraced in the semi-final stages.

That said, you’re not going to get very far if Mikel Merino is your striker in the semi-finals of a major European competition (sorry Mikel).

The Spaniard certainly did a good job as an emergency centre-forward, scoring six goals in 12 appearances in that position, but that cannot continue heading into 2025/26.

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of a new striker

Andrea Berta came into this summer window needing to tick one box: sign a new striker.

Indeed, after the failed attempts of the last few windows, it’s an absolute necessity if the Gunners are going to challenge for major honours next term.

So, who are their options? Well, Benjamin Sesko appears to be the number one pick at the moment, with Fabrizio Romano revealing last week that initial talks have now started over a move to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal looked at Sesko last summer but the Slovenian decided to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig but a year later he is now set to be on the move.

If a move falls through for a second successive summer, then Berta does have an alternative up his sleeve. That’s according to reports on the continent.

Transfer Focus

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

They suggest that while talks for Sesko have indeed started, there is no agreement on personal terms yet.

As a result, Arsenal’s ‘objective is to make progress on several fronts simultaneously’ so that they are not left empty-handed for another transfer window.

The alternative is Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres. The report notes that the Swedish striker has ‘already given his verbal agreement’ to join the north Londoners this summer.

While Sesko is expected to cost around £70m this summer according to Sky Sports, Gyokeres is likely to cost £67m.

How Sesko compares to Gyokeres

Alexander Isak is allegedly still Mikel Arteta’s dream target this summer but with Newcastle United having secured Champions League qualification, attaining the Swede’s signature is nigh on impossible.

As a result, their striker chase likely boils down to both Sesko and Gyokeres now, but who would be the better signing?

Well, if the club are looking for more of a project striker then the Leipzig star would be their man. Indeed, by signing Sesko, the Gunners would be gambling on his potential but he certainly has all of the raw ingredients to be a huge success in the future.

Here, they must take influence from Newcastle’s pursuit of Isak, or to use a more recent reference point, PSG’s transfer strategy. Buy the player before they’re a superstar, much in the way the Parisians have done with players like Desire Doue, Vitinha and Bradley Barcola. Now, they are three of the very best players in the world.

Here’s what Arsenal could achieve with Sesko’s signing. He’s not a plug-and-play forward just yet, scoring 21 times this term, but he ticks a lot of boxes.

Described as the “new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, he’s got pace, he’s got an incredibly powerful shot, he can find the net, and standing at 6 foot 5, he’s got a ridiculous leap on him. There is so much to like about the 22-year-old.

Goals

13

39

Expected Goals (xG)

9.89

30.95

Big chances missed

10

23

Assists

5

10

Successful dribbles *

1.2

1.8

Ground duels won *

2.0

4.4

Aerial duels won *

2.1

1.1

Gyokeres, on the other hand, is certainly the win-now option. He’s the most lethal centre-forward in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 54 goals in 52 games this season. At the age of 26, he’s reaching his prime and he knows his game inside out.

Considering Arsenal need a goalscorer, they’d be silly to turn down someone of his calibre in front of goal. Described as a “ball-striking monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, there simply isn’t a better option on the market right now if you’re looking for out-and-out goals.

For those who doubt the quality of opposition in the Portuguese top-flight, he also scored six in eight Champions League ties, which included a hat-trick against Manchester City.

It could be vital as well that he’s already got experience of English football. He came through the ranks at Brighton and then dazzled at Coventry City, netting 22 times in 50 outings during his final campaign in the Midlands.

Since then, he’s only gone from strength to strength. No player has scored more than Gyokeres in the top ten leagues worldwide this calendar year.

On that evidence, he’d be a seriously exciting signing. Whether he’d be better than Sesko, however, we may never know.

Arteta's £45m star will be totally finished at Arsenal if Sesko signs

Arsenal are planning to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 1, 2025

Leeds United had to put out a statement to defend their captain, Ethan Ampadu, after his former partner posted a picture of their child in a Galatasaray shirt.

The Whites pointed out that they are separated and that the Wales international is sensitive to the situation, and that he did not have any responsibility for the image being published on social media.

It is a shame that this situation has created problems for Ampadu after what was a truly brilliant season from the versatile star, who is now a hugely valuable asset for the club.

Ethan Ampadu's current market value

At the time of writing (19/06/2025), the Welsh star is valued at €16m (£13.4m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the fee the Whites paid for him in the summer of 2023.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £7m to sign the defensive midfielder from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is now worth almost twice as much, thanks to his form for the club in the Championship.

Ampadu has made 84 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit in that time, helping the team to keep 35 clean sheets in the second tier.

There is a former Leeds defender, though, who is now worth even more than the Wales international, having left the club on a free transfer last year – Robin Koch.

Robin Koch's current market value

The Whites swooped to sign the German defender from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m in the summer of 2020 and he went on to play 77 times for the club across three seasons at Elland Road.

After Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Koch opted to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2023/24 campaign until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024.

This meant that the towering centre-back, once dubbed a “monster” by winger Vincenzo Grifo, left to sign for Frankfurt on a free transfer last year, and that has turned out to be an absolute bargain for the German side.

Appearances

36

30

Goals

0

3

Dribbled past per game

0.9x

0.4x

Clearances per game

4.1

6.5

Aerial duel success rate

62%

67%

Duels won per game

5.2

4.7

As you can see in the table above, Koch’s performances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season have been far more impressive than his displays for Leeds in the Premier League were, which has led to interest from elsewhere.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently reported that Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to trigger his release clause, which is worth up to €20m (£16.8m), whilst Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in signing him.

This shows that Koch’s value has soared since his exit from Leeds because he is now worth far more than the £11.5m that the club paid for him in 2020, and obviously more than the £0 they got back for his services in 2020.

The Whites, therefore, may rue how his situation unfoded because they were unable to extract a transfer fee from his exit, as he ran his contract down, and now he is closing in on a big-money move for even more than club captain Ampadu is worth.

Big Piroe upgrade: Leeds leading the race to sign "outstanding" PL star

Leeds are leading the race to sign a Premier League star who would be a big upgrade on Joel Piroe.

ByDan Emery May 18, 2025

Arsenal are expected to sell a “high level” player who “could play” for Barcelona or Real Madrid, with sporting director Andrea Berta set to make some big decisions this summer as he looks to reshape Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal players tipped to leave as we approach summer window

There are already a number of players who appear more likely than not to depart N5 this summer.

Talks held: Berta could now sign once-£137m forward for Arsenal after twist

The odds of his potential arrival have just increased.

ByEmilio Galantini May 6, 2025

Arsenal are prepared to sell left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, according to reports, following a campaign of limited game time, and he will be joined out of the door by fellow defender Kieran Tierney, who has agreed a pre-contract with Celtic.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

While Arsenal are in talks to extend Thomas Partey’s contract, no agreement has been reached just yet, meaning he’s set to depart the Emirates as things stand, alongside out-of-contract teammate Jorginho, who’s already agreed to join Flamengo.

Uncertainty is also beginning to surround the future of Riccardo Calafiori, with some reports in Italy suggesting that Arsenal are prepared to part company with the versatile defensive ace, following a 2024/2025 campaign blighted by injuries.

“His injuries are a major concern because if he can only play in 15-20 games a season he’s not going to be somebody they want to keep on the books,” said former chief Man United scout Mick Brown to Football Insider earlier this week.

“But at the same time, there are a few players who look like they’ll leave Arsenal this year. They can’t let too many of them go because their depth is already an issue.

“So it’s a big decision for them to make and one they’ll sit down and discuss soon.”

There is also the matter of those who are currently out on loan, including both Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares.

Arsenal expected to sell Nuno Tavares after excellent season at Lazio

The latter joined Serie A giants Lazio on loan with an obligation to buy last summer, and he’s since gone on to be a major success abroad.

Tavares bagged eight assists in his first eight league games for Lazio, and even though the Portuguese’s end to the campaign has been spoiled by injury, he’s seriously impressed when available.

As a result, Lazio are keen to make a deal happen for the 25-year-old, but the obligation is only activated based on certain conditions being met, giving the Italians some wiggle room when it comes to negotiating an indefinite move.

In any case, according to Football Insider, Tavares is set to leave Arsenal permanently regardless, alongside Lokonga, and they’ll be among the potential 10 departees from the club this summer.

The Portugal international’s form this term earned him a spot back in the international team set up, with former Marseille boss Igor Tudor’s past comments on Tavares now looking more relevant as a result.

“He is a boy who is still young. He played two days ago with Portugal U21. He has high level physical qualities. He has extraordinary explosiveness,” said Tudor about Tavares.

“He could play at Real Madrid, Barca or Manchester City.”

Based off his exploits this season, you can also see why Benfica once put a £74 million release clause into the defender’s contract before he joined Arsenal.

Liverpool are now plotting to sign a goalkeeper who is statistically similar to Manchester United’s Andre Onana for just £4 million, according to a recent report.

Liverpool confirm Van Dijk’s new contract and being summer planning

Just under a week after confirming Mohamed Salah signed a new contract with Liverpool, the Reds have now announced that superstar defender Virgil van Dijk has signed a new deal until the summer of 2027.

Total cost of Virgil Van Dijk's new Liverpool contract is over £40,000,000

There could be a big transfer twist on the cards.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 17, 2025

The 33-year-old, who was set to become a free agent this summer, was being eyed by German giants Bayern Munich, but the Dutchman has committed to the Premier League side, and his new contract will reportedly see him earn £400,000 a week.

“I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions, obviously, that go through my head right now speaking about it. It’s a proud feeling; it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing, and I’m so happy.

“It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan, and it was always Liverpool.

“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things; it gives me a great feeling.”

Liverpool eye new back-up goalkeeper if Kelleher departs

As Van Dijk commits his future to the Reds, according to German outlet Sport Bild, Liverpool are interested in signing goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas from Borussia Mönchengladbach, who are desperate to raise funds.

The report states that Nicolas has interest from England and particularly from Liverpool. That is because the current head of first-team goalkeeper coaching, Fabian Otte, has worked with Nicolas before, and he could be in line for a move to Anfield to help strengthen their options between the sticks.

The Reds are planning to make an immediate move for the shot-stopper, and the right offer could see this deal accelerate, as Mönchengladbach are desperate for cash to balance their books. Nicolas has a market value of just 5 million euros, which is roughly £4 million.

The report adds that the 27-year-old is seeking one final big contract in his career, but perhaps worryingly, Nicolas is statistically similar to Man United’s Onana. The pair have similar passing figures and share poor penalty saving records, placing the Manchester United ‘keeper second on FBRef’s ‘similar players’ tool.

Nicolas

Onana

Apps

19

31

Goals against

25

41

Goals against per 90

1.37

1.32

Saves

69

85

Save percentage

78.3%

69.8%

Clean sheets

4

9

Passes completed

669

868

Passes attempted

794

1192

Penalty kicks faced

5

4

Penalty kicks saved

0

1

Liverpool already have Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from Valencia in the summer, but that is not stopping them from looking for another goalkeeper, as Caoimhín Kelleher is expected to leave while Vitezslav Jaros could go out on loan, opening up a spot for a veteran third choice.

Liverpool have been boosted in their attempts to sign a £50m-rated Premier League player in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool days away from Premier League glory

The Reds’ 1-0 win away to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon edged them one step closer to winning the title, with glory now within touching distance for Arne Slot and his players.

Liverpool know they will be crowned Premier League champions if they win at home to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, but in fact, they could even seal the title before then in the unlikely event that Crystal Palace prevail at Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Slot will know that a busy summer is still required at Anfield, however, with his squad flawed in certain areas, such as left-back and centre-forward, and new signings continue to be linked with the Reds.

Ballon d’Or favourite Raphinha has been mentioned as a surprise option for Liverpool, but he feels more likely to sign a new deal at Barcelona, while highly-rated Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga has also been backed to come in and be a long-term acquisition.

Liverpool boosted in race to sign £50m Bournemouth star Huijsen

Speaking on Give Me Sport‘s Market Madness podcast, Romano claimed that Real Madrid may pull out of the race to sign Liverpool target Dean Huijsen, amid continued interest in the Bournemouth centre-back, who has a £50m release clause in his contract:

“I’m hearing that internally at Real Madrid, they have still not decided whether they want to sign a centre-back or not in the summer, how much they want to spend. They have Raul Asencio at the club who is doing very well. So that’s why Real Madrid are not so convinced, not about Huijsen, but about signing a new centre-back in the summer.

“And this is why the timing is helping the English clubs. So Liverpool will be there, Arsenal will be there, Chelsea will be there. The release clause is £50m, so the negotiation is on player side, basically. And I’m sure that all these three clubs will push and push again in the next days, weeks, to try reach an agreement with Dean Huijsen and his camp.”

This is a definite plus for Liverpool, who seemingly continue to see Huijsen as a leading option to come in and bolster their central defensive options this season, and rightly so.

The Spain Under-21 international has been superb for Bournemouth throughout the season, playing with a maturity far beyond his 19 years, averaging 5.9 clearances and 2.3 aerial duel wins per game in the league.

As big a blow as Trent: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool star potentially on the move this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

If Liverpool manage to pip other huge clubs to Huijsen’s signature ahead of next season, it would feel like a major coup, with the former Juventus youngster having the potential to become one of the best centre-backs in Europe.