There are still a couple of months of the season left to play, and following Tuesday night’s sensational result in the Champions League, we aren’t sure many Arsenal fans will be thinking about the transfer window.

However, the club certainly are, and they seem intent on improving the first team to make sure Mikel Arteta’s side have a far more successful Premier League campaign next year.

Moreover, while signing a new striker will undoubtedly be one of the club’s key objectives, there are other areas of the team that need reinforcing.

Recent reports suggest this is an opinion shared by the board, as the latest player touted for a move to the N5 is a winger who’d not only improve the starting lineup but also help the incredible Myles Lewis-Skelly reach another level.

Arsenal transfer news

On top of playing them off the park, reports have come out in recent weeks claiming that Arsenal are keen on signing Real Madrid’s Arda Güler.

Transfer Focus

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

The North Londoners are supposedly keen on paying around €30m for the Turkish prospect, which is about £26m, and considering he’s racked up a tally of ten goal involvements in just 1170 minutes, that might prove to be great value.

Another young talent the club are said to be interested in is German wonderkid, Florian Wirtz.

The Bayer Leverkusen star has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in just 39 games this season, but would cost around £112m, making it a transfer that seems rather unlikely, which might not be the case regarding Nico Williams.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, the Gunners are planning to ‘secure the signing’ of the Spain international this summer.

The report further reveals that the bid for the Athletic Bilbao star is now ‘underway.’

However, to ensure they get their man, the North Londoners will have to stump up enough cash to activate his €60m release clause, which converts to around £52m.

It would be an expensive deal to get over the line, but given Williams’ ability and potential, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’d help Lewis-Skelly reach another level.

Why Williams would help Lewis-Skelly

So, if Arsenal are able to get their man in the coming weeks, there are two fundamental and intertwined reasons why Williams would be great for Lewis-Skelly, and the first is his output.

Since the start of last season, the Spain international has proven himself to be “one of the best wingers on the market” in the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson. He’s been a reliable source of goals and assists for Bilbao, scoring 17 of the former and providing 25 of the latter in just 76 appearances.

That means that despite still being just 22 years old, the Pamplona-born “level-raiser,” as Mattinson dubbed him, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.80 games.

Williams’ recent form
Season	23/24	24/25
Appearances	37	39
Minutes	2729′	2752′
Goals	8	9
Assists	18	7
Goal Involvements per Match	0.70	0.41
Goal Involvements per Minute	104.96′	172′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Now, just imagine how a consistent level of output like that from the winger in front of the Hale Ender would improve his own, be that from getting on the end of passes and slotting home the ball himself or playing a perfect ball over the opposite full-back for the winger to get on the end of and finish a move.

Lewis-Skelly has already proven himself a fantastic progresser of the football and the idea of him playing alongside such a dazzling winger on the left is a tantalising one. Ranking in the top 14% of positionally similar players in the top-flight for passes into the final third, Williams would know he’s going to receive plenty of service, and exceptional service at that.

Having such a frightening winger may well also free up extra room for the teenage superstar to operate in. Lewis-Skelly attracts and glides through opponents like a knife through butter as it is but with Williams in tandem, the left side of Arsenal’s attack would be truly menacing.

Ultimately, signing Williams would be good for the whole Arsenal team, but having him start ahead of Lewis-Skelly could help get so much more out of the already incredible teenager.

Arsenal have struck gold on "unplayable" star who's their own Bellingham

The incredible talent looks destined for greatness with Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 9, 2025

While the fans and team will have their full attention on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final next week, the Arsenal board will already be planning for what could be a blockbuster summer of transfer business.

Last year, Mikel Arteta and Co shifted a lot of the club’s unwanted players for good money, but they didn’t really strengthen the first team enough to sustain a successful title challenge this season.

It looks like it’s going to be a totally different story this year, with links to top-level attackers like Viktor Gyokeres, Ollie Watkins and Nico Williams coming in from every direction.

However, while the frontline certainly needs addressing, the midfield could be just as important, and it seems like the club agrees; a recent report has touted one of the most exciting midfielders in world football for a move to the Emirates, a player who might just be able to get the best back out of Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal's midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a couple of the other midfielders that Arsenal are said to be interested in, such as Hugo Larsson.

Transfer Focus

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

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Reportedly available for around £51m, the Eintracht Frankfurt gem would undoubtedly be an investment for the future, but with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “transitional monster” and comparing him to a young Jude Bellingham, he might just be one worth making.

However, the far more likely acquisition would undoubtedly be Martin Zubimendi.

The Spanish international has long been touted for a move to the Gunners, and based on more recent reports, it appears the club themselves are confident of getting their man.

However, perhaps the most exciting link of them all has been to Frenkie de Jong.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now one of several Premier League sides interested in the Dutch international.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester City are also keen on the player.

While no price is mentioned in the story, it is said that Barcelona are being forced to consider selling him as no progress has been made on his renewal.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could help revive Odegaard.

Why De Jong would be perfect for Odegaard

So, if Arsenal are able to get ahead of the chasing pack and get their man, why would he be an ideal partner for Odegaard?

There are two key reasons for this; the first is his defensive qualities.

While the Dutchman is now primarily an eight and would likely join as such, he’s got plenty of experience playing as a six – making 132 appearances there – and so, were he to chip in with the defensive work alongside Declan Rice, that might allow the captain to focus all of his energy and focus at the sharp end of the pitch.

The second reason is that, on top of his defensive abilities, the former Ajax star is an incredibly technical and gifted midfielder, with former manager Xavi going as far as describing him as “one of the best players in the world.”

It’s not hard to see where the Spanish legend is coming from either, as the 27-year-old’s underlying numbers are nothing short of spectacular.

De Jong’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Goals per Shot

0.25

Top 1%

Pass Completion

94.0%

Top 1%

GCA from Take-Ons

0.12

Top 1%

Progressive Carrying Distance

169.24

Top 1%

Carries into the Final Third

3.14

Top 1%

Passes Completed

78.36

Top 2%

Goal-Creating Actions (GCA)

0.64

Top 2%

GCA from Live Passes

0.52

Top 2%

Passes into the Final Third

9.72

Top 3%

Live Ball Passes

81.56

Top 3%

Carries

57.65

Top 3%

Touches

90.29

Top 4%

Progressive Passes

7.62

Top 7%

All Stats via FBref

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for goals per shot, pass completion, goal-creating actions from take-ons, progressive carrying distance, carries into the final third, the top 2% for passes completed and goal-creating actions, the top 3% for passes into the final third and more, all per 90.

So, just imagine a vastly experienced international who currently captains Barça, who can influence the game in almost all areas of the pitch playing alongside the North Londoners’ number eight – he’d undoubtedly improve as well.

Ultimately, it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but with how much of a difference De Jong could make to Odegaard’s career and Arsenal overall, Arteta and Co must do what they can to get it done.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025

Aston Villa have now held internal talks over a move for an “unbelievable” midfielder, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Villa pursuing attacking midfielder

As we edge closer to the summer transfer window, it is becoming apparent that one position in which Villa are keen to strengthen is attacking midfield, and they are particularly keen on bringing in Rosenborg youngster Sverre Nypan.

Sporting director Monchi was recently spotted in Norway, having held talks with Nypan’s father to discuss the possibility of a move, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now suggested the deal could be edging closer to completion.

At just 18-years-old, the Rosenborg starlet is likely to be one for the future, and there are now suggestions the Villans could look to bring in an attacking midfielder with a plethora of experience at the top level.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Aston Villa have now held internal discussions over a move for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to leave the Etihad Stadium upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

De Bruyne may be reluctant to leave England due to family reasons, which has alerted a number of Premier League clubs to the Belgian’s availability, while there is also widespread interest from abroad.

Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, NYCFC and D.C. United have submitted enquiries, with Serie A side Como also in the picture to sign the 33-year-old.

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"Unbelievable" De Bruyne is a Premier League great

The Belgium international has admitted he was surprised not to be offered a new deal to remain with City, perhaps considering he has still performed well this season, despite a slight drop-off, picking up three goals and seven assists in the Premier League.

The City legend has recorded a remarkable 121 assists and 71 goals in 284 Premier League games, which establishes him as one of the true greats, and he ranks highly across some key attacking metrics over the past year.

Statistic	Average per 90
Assists	0.43 (97th percentile)
Shot-creating actions	5.97 (96th percentile)
Progressive passes	7.45 (97th percentile)

While De Bruyne is perhaps not at the level he once was, he is clearly still capable of competing at a high level, and it could be a little early to move to the MLS, so it may be worth Villa making a move, as long as his wage demands are reasonable.

There is a big task ahead for Daniel Farke and the recruitment team at Leeds United after the 2024/25 season ended with promotion to the Premier League.

The Whites lifted the Championship trophy at Home Park after they beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 on the final day of the campaign, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Manor Solomon.

They ended the season with a staggering 100 points on the board, beating Burnley to the title on goal difference, and can now prepare to play in the top-flight next term.

The three newly-promoted clubs have all been relegated from the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, which paints a picture of how difficult it is going to be for Leeds, and Burnley, next term.

They will need to nail their recruitment to build a squad that is capable of following in the footsteps of the six teams that have fallen before them, which makes the summer transfer window absolutely vital.

Leeds need to land top-quality players who can come in to make an instant impact in the first-team, as they did when they once splashed the cash on Rio Ferdinand.

Why Rio Ferdinand was a great signing for Leeds

Back in November 2000, the Whites swooped to sign the England international from West Ham United for a reported fee of £18m, which was a British record fee at the time.

Although Ferdinand was only 22 at the time of the move, Leeds knew that they were signing a quality operator at the heart of the defence because he had already played 155 times for the Hammers in their first-team.

The English colossus made 32 appearances in all competitions during his first season at Elland Road, including seven in the Champions League, before he hit his stride in his second year in West Yorkshire.

Ferdinand went on to play 41 times in all competitions in the 2001/02 campaign and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the Premier League for his performances at centre-back, which speaks to how impressive his displays were.

His form for Leeds in those two seasons led to interest from elsewhere, and Manchester United swooped in to sign him for a British record £30m in the summer of 2002.

This shows that the defender was a great signing for Leeds because he was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in his second season, as shown by his inclusion in the Team of the Year, and they made a substantial profit on him within two years of his arrival.

Leeds could, now, find their next version of Rio Ferdinand by moving to sign a new central defender this summer, amid reported interest in a Ligue 1 star.

Leeds eyeing move for Ligue 1 star

According to The Sun on Sunday’s print edition (4 May, page 55), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds have sent scouts to watch Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi in action this season.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit have made the centre-back one of their top targets heading into the summer transfer window, following their promotion to the Premier League.

It states that Marseille are looking for a fee in the region of £20m for the 26-year-old defender, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are willing to pay that much money for him.

The outlet also reveals that the Argentina international, who currently plays under Roberto De Zerbi in France, would be interested in a move to England, which should come as a boost to Leeds in their pursuit of the £20m-rated star.

Transfer Focus

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

It is now down to Leeds to enter talks with Marseille, if they decide to press ahead with their interest in the Argentine ace, to wrap up a deal for Balerdi before any other teams enter the race for his signature.

If the Whites can get a move over the line for the Ligue 1 colossus in the summer transfer window, the right-footed titan could be Rio Ferdinand 2.0 for the club.

Why Balerdi could be the next Ferdinand for Leeds

As aforementioned, part of what made Ferdinand such a great signing for Leeds was that he was already an experienced player at the top level who could slot straight into the side.

Balerdi has played 161 times for Marseille, 124 times in Ligue 1, and has been capped six times by Argentina at international level, which shows that he has plenty of experience at the top level.

This means that Leeds would not be signing a young player with little experience in Europe’s major leagues and taking a big gamble on a promising gem, they would be signing a star who is ready to make an instant impact in the Premier League.

Balerdi’s performances in Ligue 1 for Marseille this season suggest that he could come in as an instant upgrade on Joe Rodon, despite the Welsh star’s solid showings in the Championship.

Appearances

24

46

Tackles per game

2.0

0.9

Interceptions per game

1.3

0.6

Duels won per game

5.0

4.4

Aerial duel success rate

65%

60%

Ball recoveries per game

6.1

4.0

As you can see in the table above, the Argentina international has made more defensive actions – recoveries, tackles, duels won, interceptions – per game than Rodon has on average, whilst also being more dominant in the air.

These statistics suggest that he could make an instant impact at Elland Road because he has already outperformed the Wales international at a higher level, which suggests that he could be an upgrade on him.

In March, De Zerbi described him as an “extraordinary” player and hoped that “big European teams” forgot about him in the summer transfer window.

This suggests that Leeds would also be signing a player who could be on the radar of ‘big’ European sides in the future, which could see him sold on for a profit further down the line if he is a success in the Premier League.

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Balerdi could, therefore, arrive as Ferdinand 2.0 as a proven top-level centre-back who could hit the ground running before being sold to a huge club in the future for a profit on the £20m that could be spent on his services this summer.

And just like that, Arsenal’s season has come to a bitterly disappointing end.

Mikel Arteta’s side started like a house on fire against Paris Saint-Germain last night, but two goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi were enough to dash their hopes of only a second Champions League final in the club’s history.

Bukayo Saka managed to pull one back late on, but it all proved too much for the visitors, and once again, they came up short when it really mattered and looked utterly bereft of ideas for much of the game.

While it wasn’t a terrible performance from the North Londoners, a few players let themselves down, like Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and another who has to be axed this summer.

Arsenal's poorest performers vs PSG

Like the team overall, Odegaard and Martinelli started the game relatively well last night, with the former forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into an incredible save down low to his left and the latter getting past his markers several times.

However, as the game progressed, both starters began to fade into the background, with The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid claiming the captain put in a “completely anonymous display in the second half,” and the same could be said about the latter.

It might sound overly harsh, but we aren’t alone in this opinion, as Alex Turk of the Express was particularly scathing of the pair.

He awarded the Norwegian a 4/10 and the Brazilian a 3/10, writing that the former ‘goes missing in these crunch games far too often’ and the latter was both ‘invisible’ and ‘not near the level required.’

It’s a damming assessment of their performances, more than justified by some of their statistics, as, across his 95 minutes of action, the captain amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.22, while the former Ituano gem failed in 100% of his crosses and lost 50% of his ground duels.

However, while neither player looked anywhere near their best last night, there is still some clear upside in keeping them for next season, which cannot be said about another of the Gunners’ biggest disappointments from Pairs.

The Arsenal star who has to be axed

While William Saliba and even Mikel Merino looked off the pace last night, neither of them should be moved on in the summer, which cannot be said for Thomas Partey.

The former Atlético Madrid star was absent for the first leg of the tie due to a stupid incident off the ball against Real Madrid, but it would be hard to say he added much of anything to the team in the second leg, bar some rather underwhelming long throws.

For example, while he kept the ball moving fairly well in the first half, he slowly became more and more of a problem in possession, losing the ball at an increasing rate, including for Hakimi’s tie-ending goal late in the second half.

Chalkboard

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

Again, while it sounds harsh, we aren’t alone in being disappointed with Turk awarding him a paltry 3/10 match rating at full-time, while Catterson-Reid simply described his showing as “so so bad.”

Minutes

95′

Touches

61

Completed Passes

31

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Long Balls (Accurate)

4 (2)

Shots

0

Ground Duels (Won)

7 (4)

Aerial Duels (Won)

2 (0)

Lost Possession

19

Dribbled Past

1

Unsurprisingly, the 31-year-old’s statistics more than back up the scathing reviews of his display, as, in 95 minutes of action, he made just 31 passes, misplaced two of three crosses and 50% of his long balls, failed to have a single shot, lost 100% of his aerial duels, lost the ball a staggering 19 times and was dribbled past once.

It was the sort of showing that makes talk of him being offered a new contract seem utterly ridiculous, as with him turning 32 in the summer, there is no reason to believe he’ll improve, let alone maintain his form into next season.

Ultimately, while the team clearly put in the effort at points last night, there were a few too many players who weren’t at the level, including Partey, who should be thanked for his service in the summer and sent on his way.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025

At some point this week, Liverpool could be crowned champions of the Premier League, should Arsenal lose at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening or Anfield claim three points against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Of course, neither juncture could turn the Reds toward the title, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Redmen’s romp toward the finish line has turned into a procession.

The Premier League is lauded by many as the toughest, most competitive and most prevalently entertaining division in the world, and while some would claim that the top flight has lulled this term, Liverpool have capitalised emphatically to defy pre-season predictions and move Arne Slot within touching distance of the crown in his first year.

It’s quite the feat, especially since he entered an outfit dealing with three contractual conundrums which have itched at Liverpool’s campaign all year long.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have penned extensions, but there’s been radio silence from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

However, noise from the media suggests that his move to Real Madrid on a free transfer is a matter of when, not if.

What Liverpool will miss when Alexander-Arnold leaves

Alexander-Arnold scored the winner against Leicester City at the weekend, and his celebration felt like a farewell of sorts, hanging his shirt on the corner flag.

While the most optimistic Liverpool supporters are holding onto hope that the 26-year-old will pen a new deal with his boyhood club, Fabrizio Romano and the rest have confirmed that Trent’s camp and Los Blancos are working toward an agreement on a summer move.

He will be missed. Not only is the emotional connection strong, but Alexander-Arnold is one of the most distinctive players in the game.

The unique advantage that the right-back offers, sparking attacking play with such frightening consistency from an unconventional ball-playing position, has helped Liverpool maintain their place as the Premier League’s most creative team for the past five seasons.

*24/25

Liverpool

97

23/24

Liverpool

102

22/23

Liverpool & Man City

103

21/22

Liverpool

97

20/21

Liverpool

82

Conor Bradley may well get the nod as Slot’s first choice at right-back next season, but Liverpool are going to need to replace Alexander-Arnold’s ball-playing genius somehow.

Liverpool lining up potential Trent replacement

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Liverpool could make a move for two full-backs, namely Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina.

Yet, could Slot replace Trent’s creativity from a different area of the pitch instead?

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ready to compete with Manchester United for the signing of Xavi Simons this summer, with the RB Leipzig magician now said to be a ‘top target’ for the Reds.

A transfer fee might prove a sticking point, though, with the Germans looking to bank around €100m (£87m) for the 21-year-old this summer, just one year after buying him from Paris Saint-Germain for a €50m (£43m) fee.

However, if sporting director Richard Hughes can move discussions into a more agreeable zone, this could be a stunning capture for Liverpool.

What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool

Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting Simons could take Alexander-Arnold’s berth at full-back. However, the little Dutchman is one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the business, and he’s still got plenty of development left to complete.

However, the Netherlands international does have a similar sort of ball-playing strength that could be utilised and unleashed to preserve Liverpool’s slick offensive play, maybe even unlocking a new dimension.

Matches (starts)

21 (21)

Goals

9

Assists

5

Pass completion

84%

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

2.2

Dribbles*

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

Duels won*

4.4

He’s a complete midfielder, capable of shifting into flanking positions too. Simons’ 2.2 key pass average this term actually stands taller than Alexander-Arnold’s 1.9 average, further evidence that he has what it takes to thrive at Anfield.

But to emphasise it more clearly, the Dutchman ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive passes and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

There’s a reason Simons is shaping up to be such a hot commodity with his talent for picking at the seams of opposition defences, something Liverpool could make good use of, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves.

Simons’ playmaking superiority over the Liverpool man may in part be down to positional placement but it doesn’t detract from his being a high-level “game-changer” with his passing and flair, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

It’s exactly the kind of quality that Liverpool will need. Trent has scored 23 goals and racked up 90 assists across his 350 career appearances as a Liverpool player, described as a “genius” by reporter Neil Jones.

Simons may still be young, but his 41 goal involvements across 72 Leipzig games, partnered with the underlying creative metrics that speak in his favour, do suggest that Slot could make good use of his countryman’s qualities, transferring Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more central area.

It’s possible that Liverpool have accelerated their plans to sign Simons due to the growing sense that Alexander-Arnold is going to leave the club this summer. Maybe, tacitly, those in FSG’s head offices already know the outcome.

With plans already being drawn up for a new centre-forward, it might be worthwhile to sign such a player to sit in behind, jockeying with Dominik Szoboszlai for a regular starting berth and enhancing the overall fluency of the Anfield side.

In any case, it might be good for Slot to steer the creative heartbeat toward the middle of the park, with Simons, who has been described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, capable of anchoring Liverpool’s inventiveness behind the frontline, reorienting toward a more conventional well of supplementation.

Truth is, though, it’s far simpler: the Dutchman is a brilliant young player, one who could do really well in Slot’s Liverpool team.

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Football pundit Micah Richards believes a Leeds United target who the 49ers have made an approach for will “light it up” should he leave Man City this summer, according to a new report.

James McAtee’s Man City career could be coming to an end amid Leeds links

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McAtee’s most successful time in recent seasons came on loan at Sheffield United, where he was a regular starter and thrived in the second tier.

After his latest spell with the Blades, City decided to keep hold of McAtee, but it is a move that has seen his career stall, as he’s struggled to win over Pep Guardiola, and it’s now been reported that he is ready to leave the Etihad.

The attacking midfielder is out of contract in 2026, and given his situation at the Etihad, Premier League-bound Leeds United have made an enquiry over the possibility of securing a transfer for McAtee this summer.

Premier League apps (starts)

15 (3)

FA Cup apps (starts)

4 (3)

Champions League apps (starts)

5 (0)

Carabao Cup apps (starts)

2 (2)

The Whites are not the only team chasing McAtee, as Nottingham Forest are also keen on landing the England under-21 international. It could be a costly deal for the Yorkshire side, as City are said to value the midfielder at around £35 million.

Micah Richards: McAtee will "light it up" should he leave Man City

The latest development in McAtee’s situation at Man City saw the midfielder left out of their FA Cup final squad on Saturday, and according to pundit Micah Richards, McAtee would “light it up” should he leave the Blues.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes McAtee needs to leave City if he wants to play regularly. Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Rest Is Football’, via Leeds Live: “He [McAtee] is not getting in their team. He’s another one that is going to have to leave.”

Richards went on to agree with Shearer’s comments and added that “he’s got something special” and will “light it up” in a new team.

McAtee has played 48 times in the Premier League, scoring six goals in the process, and if Leeds do sign him, they will hope his experience of the division, even though it is limited, will help them next season, and he can be a creative force in their forward line.

Real Madrid are being repeatedly linked with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, and a report has now claimed the tactician is already making transfer demands ahead of a switch to the Bernabeu, which could end up scuppering Arsenal.

Arsenal targeting new centre-back for Mikel Arteta

With Riccardo Calafiori preferred at left-back by Mikel Arteta, and some uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Jakub Kiwior, Arsenal are believed to be in the market for another central defender this summer.

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Arteta will also be minus Kieran Tierney, who has agreed a pre-contract to join Celtic in July, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is widely expected to be sold by Arsenal this summer after falling down the pecking order.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games	Date
Bournemouth (home)	May 3rd
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori appear likely to be Arteta’s two first-choice left-backs next season, so if Kiwior does leave the Emirates, Arsenal will have a scarce lack of defensive options behind Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

This has prompted them to look into a summer deal for highly-rated Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen.

According to the reliable David Ornstein, Arsenal have held talks with Huijsen’s camp already, and are willing to pay the £50 million release clause into his contract.

“They [Arsenal] are among the clubs (with Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham) who have met his representatives, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta keen to sign the Spain international,” wrote Ornstein in a Q&A recently.

“Whether or not Arsenal win the race is unclear because it’s still open and I’m not aware of a front-runner between them, Chelsea and Liverpool to date.

“Either way, Huijsen would play a lot of football at Arsenal, and they can now show him many examples of how, under Arteta, players have developed extremely well and become top-level talents. Now, this doesn’t mean he will opt for them; there are pros and cons to each of the suitors, all of whom are ready to pay the release clause.”

It has also been reported by talkSPORT that Huijsen favours a move to Arsenal after these discussions, so this could be a real one to watch, with Bournemouth standing to make a major profit off his £16 million signing last summer.

Xabi Alonso asks Real Madrid to sign Dean Huijsen

While the Gunners are clearly very keen, the same can now be said of Real Madrid’s prospective new manager.

Alonso is Real’s top priority to replace Carlo Ancelotti, according to Fabrizio Romano, and the former Liverpool midfielder is equally keen to swap Leverkusen for La Liga.

The move appears like a very real possibility, with Spanish media sources now reporting that the tactician is already making transfer demands to Real president Florentino Perez and the Whites’ board.

Indeed, it is now believed Alonso has asked Real to consider signing Huijsen, as the 43-year-old holds a real desire to reinforce the club’s central defensive options before his potential first full season in charge.

The former Juventus starlet has started every single Premier League game under Andoni Iraola since early December, becoming a reliable mainstay for the Cherries, which is made all the more impressive by his young age.

Another “unique” player is believed to be in “advanced talks” with Liverpool over joining Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield, according to an update from journalist Matteo Moretto.

Liverpool closing in on Frimpong signing

The Reds are acting fast in their search for a Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong seemingly the man to come in at the end of the season.

The Dutchman was left out of the German side’s starting lineup for their final Bundesliga game of the season at Mainz on Saturday, and has now undergone a medical with Liverpool ahead of his move being completed.

Frimpong has the potential to be such an exciting signing for the Reds, with the 24-year-old possessing blistering speed and impressive end product, having racked up 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances for Leverkusen.

There is no guarantee that the Netherlands is being brought in as a right-back – he can play on the wing, too, and Conor Bradley is already a great option there – but it would be a surprise if that wasn’t the case. Now, an exciting update has emerged regarding a target on the opposite flank.

Kerkez in "advanced talks" with Liverpool

According to Moretto on X, Liverpool are now in “advanced talks” with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, as a move to Anfield edges closer: “Milos Kerkez is in very advanced talks with Liverpool over contract terms.”

And while Moretto only stated negotiations between the clubs would begin soon, Fabrizio Romano has since added those are now advancing as well: “Understand Liverpool have contacted Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez deal with talks now advancing.”

Romano also confirmed Moretto’s claims that the player is keen to join and is “completing the agreement on personal terms”.

If Liverpool manage to snap up both Frimpong and Kerkez before the next transfer window has even technically opened, it would represent such a promising start to the summer.

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Kerkez looks like a perfect option to come in and be Andy Robertson’s long-term successor, with the Hungarian ten years younger than the Reds legend, and possessing more pace and energy, which is understandable given the different points their careers are at.

The Bournemouth ace has shone throughout this season, bagging five assists and a couple of goals in the Premier League, while goalkeeper and former teammate Mathew Ryan has lauded him in the past.

The idea of Liverpool having Frimpong and Kerkez marauding down either flank next season is a mouthwatering prospect, giving them an extra dimension under Arne Slot, and the future feels extremely bright at Anfield.

Rangers’ season continues to peter out.

On Saturday, after Celtic were officially crowned champions at Tannadice earlier in the day, the Gers were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren, with Cyriel Dessers and then Nicolas Raskin on target in Paisley.

This means, since the split was first introduced in 2000, the Light Blues have still never won all five post-split fixtures, but it matters not this time round, given that they are 17 points adrift the champions, out of all other competitions too, ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox.

So, the primary concern for Rangers supporters is who is going to be their new manager, especially considering next season will start early, given that they’ll enter the Champions League second qualifying round on 22/23 July, so could the new 49ers ownership group hire a “brilliant” boss?

Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers

As widely reported by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, and many others, Steven Gerrard remains amongst the front-runners to return as Rangers manager this summer.

The Englishman has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq in January, enduring a pretty underwhelming 18 months in the Middle East, winning only 19 of 55 matches.

Nevertheless, Gerrard’s record during his first spell in Glasgow is very impressive, as the table below outlines.

Pedro Caixinha

26

54%

Zero

Zero

Graeme Murty

35

60%

Zero

Zero

Steven Gerrard

192

65%

1

Zero

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

68

62%

Zero

1

Michael Beale

43

72%

Zero

Zero

Philippe Clement

86

64%

Zero

1

Barry Ferguson

11

36%

Zero

Zero

As the table outlines, Steven Gerrard is both Rangers’ longest-serving manager and also their only boss to deliver a top division league title since the legendary Walter Smith, departing with an impressive 65% win ratio after almost 200 matches.

Andrew Slaven of the Scottish Football Show believes it would be the populist appointment to re-hire Gerrard, but also posits whether or not Michael Beale could return as his assistant, having himself been, as described by former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, Rangers’ “worst ever” manager.

So, the new 49ers ownership group may choose to look elsewhere, so could they hire a soon-to-be out-of-work manager?

Rangers' potential new manager

On Easter Monday, following a 6-0 demolition of Stoke City, Leeds United were promoted back to the Premier League.

A 4-0 drubbing of Bristol City on Monday night took the Yorkshire giants’ points tally to 97, the most they’ve ever accumulated in a single season, and victory at almost already-relegated Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will see them clinch the EFL Championship title.

So why is this relevant to Rangers?

Well, despite achieving promotion, a report by Matt Hughes of the Guardian has suggested that Leeds are considering sacking manager Daniel Farke, due to concerns over his previous record in the Premier League. There are now whispers – perhaps unsurprisingly considering the 49ers’ link – that Farke could end up in the Ibrox hotseat instead.

So, let’s assess the German’s managerial record.

Norwich City

2017/18

60

14th

Norwich City

2018/19

94

1st

Promoted

Norwich City

2019/20

21

20th

Relegated

Norwich City

2020/21

97

1st

Promoted

Norwich City

2021/22

22

20th

Sacked after 11 games

Borussia Mönchengladbach

2022/23

43

10th

Sacked

Leeds United

2023/24

90

3rd

Beaten in play-off final

Leeds United

2024/25

97

1st

Promoted

As the table shows, Daniel Farke is a bit of a Championship promotion specialist, possibly set to win the title for a third time, but his Premier League record is miserable, winning only six of 49 matches, holding the unwanted record of most successive Premier League defeats suffered by any manager, which is 15.

Nevertheless, Neil Warnock believes it would be ridiculous to sack Farke given that he has done a “brilliant job” this season, while Beren Cross of The Athletic notes that Leeds’ ‘senior players praised’ the manager’s style, giving them the ‘freedom’ to play.

Even Pep Guardiola described him as an “exceptional manager” during his time at Carrow Road.

Nevertheless, should he be dismissed, this is where Rangers come in.

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is poised to become the new majority stakeholder at Rangers, so already has a working relationship with Farke, making any appointment potentially straightforward.

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What Farke has proved is that, when he’s in charge of one of the top teams in a division, he has thrived, possibly making him a more exciting appointment for Rangers than any potential Gerrard return.

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