The last week or so has been nothing short of spectacular for Arsenal.

Yes, they may have dropped more points in the Premier League, but in the Champions League, they’ve beaten the holders Real Madrid 3-0 at home and then 2-1 away, becoming the first English team to win their first two matches against Los Blancos at the Bernabeu.

It’s been a miraculous turnaround in what’s been a surprisingly tough season for the Gunners, both due to poor form and a seemingly never-ending slew of injuries, which have, at points, left their frontline precariously thin on the ground.

Fortunately, the board seem intent on ensuring this problem doesn’t arise again next year, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the best attackers in Europe, someone compared to Alexander Isak and Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars who have been heavily touted for moves to the Emirates in the summer, such as Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The Athletic Bilbao star reportedly has a £50m release clause in his current contract, and with an impressive tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances this season, he’d be a fine addition to Arteta’s array of young wingers.

Down the middle, the name most heavily linked with a potential move to N5 in recent weeks has been Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres, who would reportedly cost around £60m.

While that is a lot of money, it could still prove to be a bargain, as in just 45 appearances this season, the Swedish tour de force has scored 44 goals and provided 11 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.22 goal involvements per game.

However, there is still an element of doubt over the Stockholm-born monster as he remains relatively untested when it comes to a top-five league, unlike Ousmane Dembélé.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few ‘clubs showing an interest in an ambitious potential summer transfer’ for the French international.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are all big admirers of the versatile forward, which could make an already complicated move even more so.

It would undoubtedly be a costly move as well, but given Dembélé’s immense ability, and the fact he’s been compared to Isak and Mbappé, it’s one worth fighting for.

How Dembélé compares to Isak and Mbappé

Okay, before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should sign Dembélé, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Isak and Mbappé and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Real Madrid star is the third most similar forward to the Frenchman and the Swede is the sixth.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, including, but not limited to, goals per shot, crosses into the penalty area, non-penalty expected goals per shot, tackles won, percentage of successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Dembélé & Isak & Mbappé

Statistics per 90

Dembélé

Isak

Mbappé

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.23

0.13

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.11

0.04

0.10

Non-Penalty Expected Goals per Shot

0.16

0.20

0.13

Tackles Won

0.29

0.19

0.28

Successful Take-On %

45.7%

49.4%

44.8%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.62

0.54

0.43

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

However, while sharing some similarities with two of the best forwards in the world is undoubtedly one argument for signing the French international, it’s not the only one.

Another is the fact that he’s been in simply sublime form this season, with former professional-turned-pundit Joe Cole labelling him “the most in-form player, let alone winger, in European football.”

It’s not hard to see where Cole’s coming from either, as in just 42 appearances, totalling 2815 minutes, the former Barcelona star has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists.

That means he is currently averaging 1.02 goal involvements every game, or one every 65.46 minutes, which is a world-class level of output.

Ultimately, it could be an incredibly difficult transfer to get over the line, but if there is a chance Arsenal can sign Dembélé this summer, they have to take it, as he could be transformational.

Related Arsenal ask Real Madrid about signing £62m forward in William Saliba talks

The Gunners are fresh off the back of an historic Champions League tie with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Manchester City are preparing to travel across the city to face their bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Cityzens are currently fifth in the table and are fighting to secure a place in the Champions League for next season, to ensure that they do not drop down to the Europa League spots.

This clash with Ruben Amorim’s side is not only important within the context of the Premier League, though, as it will also be the final Manchester derby for Kevin de Bruyne.

The long-serving Belgian superstar announced on Friday that this will be his final season at The Etihad and he will be moving on from the club when his current contract expires in the summer.

De Bruyne will leave Manchester City a couple of months short of ten years since his £55m transfer to the club from Wolfsburg back in the summer of 2015.

The Belgium international’s exit will leave a big hole in Pep Guardiola’s squad because he has been a key player for the Premier League champions for so many years.

Why Kevin de Bruyne is a Manchester City legend

Since joining from Wolfsburg, De Bruyne has cultivated a reputation for being one of the most feared creators in the history of the English top-flight.

At the time of writing, the 33-year-old magician has racked up 118 assists in the Premier League – a tally that comes second only to Ryan Giggs (162) in the history of the league.

The experienced wizard has scored 106 goals and provided 174 assists in 413 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City to date, which shows that he has consistently contributed as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position.

De Bruyne will leave the club having won six Premier League titles in ten seasons at The Etihad, heavily contributing to those successes with his immense quality at the top end of the pitch.

24/25

20

2

6

23/24

18

4

10

22/23

32

7

16

21/22

30

15

8

20/21

25

6

12

19/20

35

13

20

18/19

19

2

2

17/18

37

8

16

16/17

36

6

18

15/16

25

7

9

As you can see in the table above, the former Chelsea man has delivered a consistent stream of goals and assists when fit for the majority of his career at the club in the Premier League.

All of this contributes to why de Bruyne is a Manchester City legend, as he has been a top-class performer for a decade, but his powers are waning, as shown by his goal tally this season, and his value has plummeted as a result.

Kevin de Bruyne's current market value

At the time of writing (05/04/2025), the Belgian sensation’s current Transfermarkt valuation stands at just £23m, whilst he is also set to leave the club for £0 when his contract expires this summer.

His market value peaked at a whopping £128m in the summer of 2018 and has steadily declined in recent years, as the Premier League legend heads toward the end of his playing career.

His current market valuation of £23m places him 19th in the current Manchester City squad on value, behind the likes of Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, and Vitor Reis.

This illustrates his natural decline, as his performances and value have regressed with age, and that is why it feels like the right time for him to move on when his contract expires at the end of the season.

He is still fairly highly valued, at £23m, though, and there is one former Manchester City starlet – at the other end of his career – whose value has soared past the Belgian’s.

Morgan Rogers came up through the City academy, after being signed from West Brom in 2019, before being sold to Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £1.5m in the summer of 2023.

Morgan Rogers' soaring market value

Since leaving The Etihad on a permanent deal almost two years ago, the England international’s career has skyrocketed and he is now worth even more than de Bruyne.

After just six months at Boro, Aston Villa swooped in to sign the forward in a deal that could be worth up to £16m in the January window at the start of last year.

Rogers has since established himself as a big star for Unai Emery at Villa Park and earned recognition on the international stage, with three caps for England to date.

The 22-year-old talent has racked up 15 goals and 12 assists in 59 appearances in all competitions for the Villans, including three goals and three assists in ten outings in the Champions League.

Rogers, as illustrated above, has achieved a lot in a short time at Aston Villa, which is also backed up by his statistics as he has provided a consistent stream of goals and assists from an attacking midfield position.

The English star, who pundit Jamie Carragher previously described as “unstoppable”, has proven that he can perform in the Premier League and the Champions League, which suggests that he could have developed into a star at Manchester City if he had been given more opportunities to shine.

Unfortunately, the Cityzens decided to cash in on him for just £1.5m before he had the chance to showcase his quality at the top level, and his rise since then proves that they messed up with that call.

At the time of writing, Rogers is valued at a whopping £42.5m by Transfermarkt. This means that his value has soared by a staggering 2,733% from the £1.5m that City raked in for his services from Middlesbrough less than two years ago.

Forget Foden: Pep already has the perfect De Bruyne replacement at Man City

Manchester City will lose Kevin de Bruyne this summer, handing Pep Guardiola a task to replace him.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 4, 2025

This proves that Manchester City messed up when they decided to sell him because he is now worth £41m more and worth even more than de Bruyne, whilst delivering quality performances in the Premier League and the Champions League.

Aston Villa kept their Champions League ambitions intact with an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening in the Premier League.

The two clubs are both vying for a top-five finish and with it a spot in Europe’s top table next term. Unai Emery’s side defeated PSG in midweek, but this performance will also bolster their confidence ahead of the final few games of the campaign.

Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the first minute before Fabian Schar equalised for Newcastle.

The second half was all Villa, however, as Ian Maatsen, an own goal by Dan Burn and an effort from Amadou Onana sealed all three points.

The majority of the starting XI performed wonderfully well, but it was Watkins and Morgan Rogers who powered the club to yet another league win.

How Watkins and Rogers performed against Newcastle

Watkins set Villa on their way to all three points after slotting home a deflected opener against the Magpies.

The Englishman also grabbed an assist, registered five total shots and made two key passes before he was subbed off in the 82nd minute.

He is returning to the form of last season and Rogers is someone who is helping him flourish. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a fine season, having scored 14 goals and recorded 12 assists in all competitions.

Accurate passes

Youri Tielemans (71)

Key passes

Marco Asensio (5)

Ground duels won

Youri Tielemans (8)

Tackles

Ian Maatsen (6)

Shots on target

Morgan Rogers (3)

Against the Toon, Rogers grabbed another assist, completed 90% of his passes, made two key passes and succeeded with all three of his dribble attempts.

When the pair are playing at this high standard, nothing can stop Villa, that’s for sure. There is one player in the squad who has been the fulcrum which makes everything tick – Youri Tielemans.

The 9/10 star who's becoming Aston Villa’s best player

The Belgian international has been the standout performer for the club this season, showcasing his talents at the highest level.

Five goal contributions in 12 Champions League games proves that the midfielder has been sublime in the competition. Add in another eight goal involvements in the Premier League and Emery has a player who could be in high demand this summer.

Content creator Mark Goldbridge described Tielemans as “Villa’s player of the season this year” following his display on Saturday evening, and it is easy to see why.

Operating in a deep-lying midfield role, the former Leicester City star completed 88% of his passes, took 98 touches, won 11 of his 16 total duels contested and even made three key passes throughout the match – including the assist for Watkins’ opener.

Alongside Boubacar Kamara, Tielemans dominated proceedings and his performance was key in Rogers and Watkins delivering in the final third yet again. Indeed, journalist John Townley awarded the 27-year-old a match rating of 9/10 for his stunning display.

Emery has started the midfielder in every single Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League match this season, highlighting his importance to the club.

Should Villa qualify for Europe’s premier club competition next season while also winning the FA Cup, they will have Tielemans to thank.

Aston Villa in talks to sign "talented ball carrier" likened to Grealish

Villa aren’t the only side interested, though.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 19, 2025

Liverpool moved one step closer to winning the Premier League title, whilst relegating their opponents in the process, by beating Leicester City 1-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds battled hard throughout the game to take the lead, but had to wait until deep into the second half to find the opening strike from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Arne Slot brought the defender off the bench in the second 45 and was rewarded with a match-winning cameo from the academy graduate, who is out of contract this summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's match-winning display

The England international came off the bench to secure all three points for the Reds with his goal in the second half, after Conor Bradley started the game.

Alexander-Arnold had only scored two goals in 28 matches in the Premier League before Sunday’s match, yet the full-back stepped up to seal the win with a superbly hit left-footed strike that was too hot for Mads Hermansen to handle.

His match-winning display was not perfect, though, as his use of the ball outside of that goal was not up to usual standards, completing 50% (4/8) of his attempted passes and losing possession eight times from 15 touches.

This could have provided Leicester with a route back into the match late on in the game, as he was consistently giving them the ball back, but the hosts did not have the quality to make anything out of their extra possessions.

Chalkboard

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

There was a Liverpool player who was even better than the match-winner on the day, as midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai made himself undroppable with a superb all-round display from the start.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai is undroppable

The Hungary international was left out of the XI in the narrow win over West Ham at Anfield last time out, as Curtis Jones started ahead of him, but he has just made himself undroppable with an excellent showing.

Szoboszlai should keep his place ahead of the England international after an incredibly efficient and creative display in the middle of the park against Leicester.

The midfield whiz, who was once described as “magic” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, created two ‘big chances’ for his teammates, which they failed to take, and only lost possession twice from 46 touches of the ball.

Minutes

71

68

xG + xA

0.37

0.28

Big chances created

2

0

Duels won

2/4

2/5

Possession lost

2x

5x

Dribbled past

0x

0x

As you can see in the table above, Szoboszlai outperformed Jones in that midfield role after the Englishman failed to create any chances, let alone ‘big chances’, in the West Ham clash.

The Hungarian dynamo, who lost possession fewer times than Alexander-Arnold despite playing 52 more minutes, should now be undroppable in that position ahead of Jones, after significantly outperforming him.

Szoboszlai was also more impressive than the match-winner for Liverpool because the rest of the defender’s performance outside of the strike left a bit to be desired, whilst the former RB Leipzig man was excellent on and off the ball throughout his time on the pitch in midfield.

Nunez upgrade: Liverpool likely to see £50m bid accepted for "mini-Salah"

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Darwin Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 20, 2025

Slot must, now, keep the creative maestro in the starting line-up for the club’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Premier League next weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is under serious pressure as uncertainty revolves around his future in north London, with chairman Daniel Levy shortlisting multiple candidates to replace the Australian if he departs N17.

Managers linked with Tottenham as Ange Postecoglou timeline shared

According to reports this week, in the event Postecoglou is in fact shown his P45, Spurs would be aiming to bring in a replacement before the first summer transfer window opens on June 1st (Pete O’Rourke).

Tottenham talking about hiring "class" Iraola alternative who Guardiola loves

The City boss has called him “one of the best” around.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 16, 2025

The Premier League confirmed that there will be two separate windows this year. One will be open from June 1st to June 10th, and the other from June 16th to September 1st – which allows clubs like Man City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham apparently aim to take advantage of the early window to sign players for their prospective new head coach (Pete O’Rourke), and it is believed that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva are their two “top candidates” – even if their clubs will battle to keep them.

Bournemouth owner Billy Foley is attempting to agree a new contract with Iraola to keep him out of Levy’s clutches, while Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan admitted this week that the west Londoners are extremely keen to keep hold of their high-performing manager Silva.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, admitted before Spurs’ clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League that he’s in the dark about his future.

“No – no idea,” said Postecoglou on whether he’ll be at Tottenham next season.

“We have a game tomorrow night, but it’s not something I need to think about. I’ve never thought about those things in terms of what is important.

“What is important is the game. That’s a massive opportunity for this group of players and this football club to get closer to achieving what everyone wants to achieve. Anything other than that, particularly in terms of me, I don’t really have much thought process that thinks about my career or what I’m doing in that way.”

Tottenham are on course for their worst ever Premier League campaign to date, after losing 17 top-flight matches, and Postecoglou has attracted fierce criticism throughout 2024/2025 despite the injuries which have depleted his squad.

Tottenham planning to make approach for Brentford boss Thomas Frank

Now, as per TEAMtalk, an update has emerged on their links to Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

The Dane has apparently shot up Levy’s managerial target list, following news that Iraola is leaning more towards remaining at the Vitality Stadium for next season.

According to TT’s information, Tottenham will ask Frank about replacing Postecoglou if they decide to sack him, and it is also believed that the 51-year-old is ready for the next step in his managerial career after transforming the Bees into a solid Premier League outfit.

Interestingly, his contract also contains a release clause, akin to Iraola and Silva. The cost to bypass negotiations with Brentford and head straight to Frank stands at around £10 million, so Levy would still need to invest significantly in his capture.

That being said, Frank is highly-rated by his peers, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola calling him “one of the best” managers around.

After Arsenal’s very underwhelming 1-1 draw with Brentford, it’s now all eyes on the Bernabéu for Gooners everywhere.

Last Tuesday, the north Londoners smashed Real Madrid 3-0 in North London, Declan Rice scoring two sublime free-kicks before Mikel Merino lashed home a third; this was their 515th match at the Emirates, and most would agree this was the stadium’s best night.

So now, Mikel Arteta’s team will travel to the Spanish capital seeking to avoid a vintage Real Madrid remontada, but would they stand a better chance if they didn’t have Jakub Kiwior in the backline?

Jakub Kiwior's record deputising for Gabriel

Back on 1 April, during a 2-1 home win over Fulham, Gabriel suffered a serious hamstring tear that required surgery and means he will not feature again this season.

This was a major blow because Gabriel is arguably deserving of Arsenal’s player of the season, having been immense in both boxes throughout the campaign.

So, in the Brazilian’s absence, Kiwior continues to deputise, which fans were concerned about because during the Polish defender’s previous Premier League start, coming at Craven Cottage all the way back on 8 December, his ‘lethargy or lack of awareness’ proved to be a costly error, allowing Raúl Jiménez to open the scoring.

Kiwior’s last 19 starts for Arsenal

Wins

13

Draws

6

Defeats

0

Goals conceded

13

Clean sheets

9

Nevertheless, Kiwior was actually pretty solid against Real Madrid, with Arteta hailing his performance as “phenomenal”.

That said, did the Gunners let a future upgrade leave in January?

Ex-Arsenal centre-back impressing at Premier League rivals

Back in January, Ayden Heaven departed Arsenal to join Manchester United, for a reported compensation fee of £1.5m.

Heaven joined Arsenal from West Ham as a 14-year-old, his senior debut coming against Preston North End in the EFL Cup, having played a prominent role during the pre-season tour of the United States.

However, frustrated by his lack of first-team opportunities, Heaven decided not to sign a professional contract, instead moving to Manchester United earlier this year.

Well, in the short term, this move paid off, making four appearances before actually suffering a serious foot injury against Leicester, although Rúben Amorim confirmed the injury ‘is not as bad as initially feared’, adding ‘he will play again this season’.

So, let’s have a look at Heaven’s career in numbers so far.

Ayden Heaven’s career statistics

Team

Appearances

Arsenal

1

Arsenal U21s

26

Arsenal U19s

10

Arsenal U18s

11

Manchester United

4

Man United U21s

1

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

His early performances for Man United earned rave reviews.

Andy Mitten of United We Stand believes he was Man United’s “best player” at the King Power prior to his injury, proving he’s more than up to the task at Premier League level.

In the meantime, manager Amorim believes he has got “a very good player” on his hands, adding that he is “really comfortable with the ball” and impressively “aggressive” defensively.

James McNicholas and Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic reported that Arsenal did not want to lose the young defender, but were forced into a sale, so would the Gunners actually be better off in the immediate term had they held onto Heaven?

Well, it would certainly give them more defensive options. Kiwior and William Saliba were forced to start yet again on Saturday, and who knows, the teenager may have been poised to feature in the remaining weeks of the season had he stuck around.

Related Fewer touches than Raya: 5/10 star must never start for Arsenal again

Arsenal laboured to a 1-1 draw with Brentford in the Premier League.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

Who is the greatest player in Liverpool’s modern history? Certainly, if we’re talking about post-millenial brilliance, Steven Gerrard sits at the top of the tree.

Gerrard might be the greatest player in the Merseysiders’ history anyway, utterly incredible and synonymous with the city’s beating red heart.

However, we’re looking at Liverpool’s resurgence over the past decade, here, when Jurgen Klopp saved a team from drowning and turned it back toward the light.

So many superstars have graced Anfield’s pitch since the former German manager was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor, but it’s hard to argue against Virgil van Dijk being the cream of the crop.

Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's hero

When Liverpool paid Premier League rivals Southampton a £75m sum to take their prized centre-back in January 2018, many opposing fans chuckled at such an obscene figure for a defender.

But it’s difficult to say that Liverpool and their Dutch skipper haven’t had the last laugh, with Van Dijk transforming the Reds’ shaky backline and leading them to glory, winning all the biggest honours, coming within a whisker of Lionel Messi on the Ballon d’Or podium in his prime and immortalising his name as the leader of Liverpool in their finest period in modern times.

The 33-year-old is no longer a bright new voice in the Premier League but he’s still matchless in defence, so important this season as Arne Slot’s side surprised everyone and assumed a commanding lead at the top of the table – 11 points clear with seven games to go.

Matches (starts)

31 (31)

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clean sheets

13

Pass completion

92%

Key passes*

0.3

Dribble success

60%

Ball recoveries*

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

Clearances*

5.1

Total duels (won)*

4.7 (67%)

And he’s not done yet. Van Dijk has completed 313 appearances for Liverpool and won the full gamut, and though his lucrative contract is into its eleventh hour, he’s recently allayed fans’ concerns by confirming that talks are ongoing regarding a renewal.

This will be crucial for the Anfield side as it steers into the second year of Slot’s project, giving the Netherlands icon another year (or two) to drive the stake of his legacy even deeper into the rich Liverpool soil.

To be fair, you’d have to say that Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s best signing in a long, long time. The Egyptian joined the club from AS Roma for just £34m and has gone on to claim legendary status.

However, his arrival preceded the skipper’s. He was followed from the Serie A by another though, and it is he who stands proud as Liverpool’s standout signing.

Liverpool's best signing after Van Dijk

You’ve probably already guessed who it is. While Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and co have reshaped Liverpool’s midfield and charged the club’s charge toward the Premier League title this season, it’s not them.

While Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz and and Cody Gakpo have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success in recent years, it’s Alisson Becker between the sticks who has been the life-juice since arriving in the early knockings of Klopp’s still-standing (even if he’s gone) dynasty.

Liverpool paid a world-record £67m fee – for a goalkeeper – to secure Alisson’s signature, but it still feels like something of a bargain. Quite simply, the Brazil international’s positional rivals all pale in comparison.

Slot has been more than happy to chip in about his keeper’s calibre, hailing his “world-class” saves. He’s the best of the best, with his stunning display at the Parc des Princes in February the perfect illustration of his lofty skills.

Making nine stunning saves and preventing an xG total of 2.26 goals, as per Sofascore, the South American called it “the performance of my life” as Liverpool somehow survived a ceaseless onslaught and emerged victorious – they lost the return leg, of course, but Alisson still put in a good shift.

First-leg match-winner, Harvey Elliott, also called his towering teammate “the best in the world” – and it’s a fair claim indeed.

It’s not just this season that the 32-year-old’s been in fine fettle, as you surely know. Back in May 2023, Klopp declared that his shot-stopping star had been the club’s “most consistent player” through a testing year.

In fact, injuries aside, Alisson is rarely in the firing line for poor performances, with his leadership, command and shot-saving prowess all converging to present a player who is truly the complete package.

The fact that Alisson, who arrived at Liverpool way back when, remains Liverpool’s best signing since Van Dijk was brought into Klopp’s squad six months earlier makes a telling comment on the issues behind recruitment over recent years.

It also details a pretty firm assessment regarding the Reds’ absolutely staggering longevity, not really making the sweeping changes of their divisional rivals over the past eight years or so.

Liverpool have done well to prudently tie Giorgi Mamardashvili down, but whether he’ll reach the same incredible heights as the Brazilian is another question entirely.

The Georgian keeper is set to join from Valencia this summer in a deal worth £29m, but the 24-year-old is sure to spend some time serving as Alisson’s understudy, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher as the able deputy leaves in search of a first-choice spot.

Alisson’s place is at Anfield for the foreseeable, but he’s about to enter the penultimate year of his contract and could leave for a transfer fee in one year’s time or maybe see his £150k-per-week deal out to its end.

In any case, the 6 foot 4 sensation is one of Liverpool’s finest modern players, so important, so influential, over the years. There’s a firm case to be made that all who have walked through the gates since have failed to outstrip him.

Better than Diaz & Gakpo: "Perfect" £62m star wants to sign for Liverpool

Arne Slot is hoping to make a range of signings this summer to improve Liverpool’s starting 11.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 7, 2025

West Ham have found themselves limping through this Premier League campaign, now sitting 17th in the table having only scored 37 goals and conceded 55 times.

Graham Potter, coming in halfway through the season, has struggled to get all of his ideas across, focusing more on defensive stability to gain some results and ensure the club’s safety, which could be confirmed this weekend.

Last season, with David Moyes in charge, the Hammers scored 60 goals, conceding 74 times. Therefore, despite West Ham’s poor start under Julen Lopetegui, Potter is likely to guide his side to a better defensive year.

So the focus next season will be back on the attack, looking to bridge the gap and get back towards that 60-goal mark, especially with talent such as Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus in attack.

Sadly, Kudus might not be at the London Stadium for too much longer.

The latest on Kudus' future at West Ham

According to reports from The Guardian, Kudus could be set to leave the club in the summer, with West Ham accepting a sale of their Ghanaian forward could be the best way to ‘boost their transfer budget’.

One interested club is Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr, where the 24-year-old could team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Saudi club are reportedly preparing to “up the ante” in their attempts to lure Kudus away from London, with an offer of around £85m expected. West Ham signed Kudus for around £38m back in 2023 from Ajax, and a big sale just two years on could be good for their books.

Kudus has made 75 appearances for the Hammers so far, scoring 17 goals, providing 12 assists and totaling 5,883 minutes played.

Whilst the 24-year-old has struggled to find the same form this season as his debut campaign, it won’t be easy for the club to replace him, already forming a strong connection with Bowen at the top of the pitch.

How West Ham could replace Kudus internally

Luckily for West Ham, they already signed a young superstar winger back in the summer, with Luis Guilherme joining the Hammers from Palmeiras for a fee of around £25.5m.

Since his arrival, the 19-year-old has only made 12 appearances for the club, struggling for first-team opportunities in his first season in England.

When Guilherme was signed in the summer, Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall from Analytics United provided analysis on the Brazilian winger, labeling him “an impressively potent offensive asset”. This talent is something that has not dissipated, but is perhaps being protected whilst he acclimatises to the Premier League and the conditions of English football.

Goals

0.00

0.11

Assists

0.00

0.11

xG

0.20

0.25

xAG

0.07

0.09

Progressive Carries

2.00

3.49

Progressive Passes

2.00

2.85

Shots Total

1.88

2.60

Key Passes

2.00

1.08

Shot-Creating Actions

6.67

3.78

Successful Take-Ons

3.33

3.09

When comparing Guilherme’s underlying numbers with Kudus’ underlying numbers, it is important to include the context of the Brazilian’s minutes, only managing 133 minutes this season, which contributes largely to his per 90 metrics.

Chalkboard

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

However, you can begin to analyse the styles of each player, both being direct with the ball at their feet, looking to make things happen in the attacking third and create for themselves and their teammates.

Guilherme, in his minimal chances, has shown his creativity, producing shot-creating actions and key passes at a good rate.

Kudus may have a higher athletic ceiling than the Brazilian, being a nightmare to stop once he hits top speed and hurting teams in transition, but Guilherme is no slouch, described as an “electric” player with an “explosive first step” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Giving the young Brazilian a proper chance next season to fill Kudus’ shoes could be a much cheaper alternative, allowing them to spend those funds acquired wisely in other positions such as midfield.

Biggest wonderkid since Rice: West Ham struck gold on "electric" starlet

West Ham have struck gold on their biggest wonderkid since Declan Rice with this “top player”

ByConnor Holden Apr 17, 2025

As Manchester United prepare to take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park this afternoon, it could be argued that the trip to Tyneside is merely an unwanted obstacle for Ruben Amorim’s side, with all eyes on next week’s Europa League tie with Lyon.

The Red Devils certainly won’t throw in the towel on the domestic front, yet left residing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, there truly is little to play for in the top-flight – other than pride, of course.

That scenario should ensure that the Portuguese coach is ready to ring the changes for today’s encounter, albeit with there an argument to be made that alterations need to be made regardless.

Indeed, the Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler has already reported that Andre Onana could be dropped following his midweek blunders, while Rasmus Hojlund could be in the firing line after another limp outing which saw him register just 11 touches on Thursday night.

Alongside the goal-shy Dane, Alejandro Garnacho is another perhaps in need of a rest as his woes continued in front of goal away in Lyon, with the 20-year-old arguably outclassed by young Rayan Cherki for the hosts.

As such, it might be time for Amorim to trial a fresh new attacking lineup, considering the return of a number of high-profile talents.

Man Utd team news for Newcastle

As Amorim revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the 40-year-old should have a similar squad available to the one that made the trip to France earlier this week, with squad depth gradually beginning to improve in the Old Trafford ranks.

Indeed, that latest outing saw Kobbie Mainoo finally make his return to action off the bench, with compatriot Mason Mount also stepping up his return to fitness after now featuring as a substitute in each of United’s last three games in all competitions.

Elsewhere, fellow England star, Luke Shaw, has also been back in contention of late, albeit with the versatile defender still waiting to make his first appearance since early December. A first start, meanwhile, could be on the cards for the first time since February 2024.

Chido Obi could also be in the mix again, with the teenage striker ineligible to feature in Europe, albeit with Toby Collyer and Mathijjs de Ligt likely to be absent once again, having joined the likes of Amad Diallo, Ayden Heaven and Jonny Evans on the treatment table.

Thankfully, however, there does not appear to be any fresh injury blows, with Lisandro Martinez – who is likely to be out for much of 2025 after rupturing his ACL – seemingly the only long-term absentee at the Theatre of Dreams.

Chalkboard

That growing list of options should ensure that Amorim now has the chance to shuffle his pack against the Magpies, with both Garnacho and Hojlund among those who could make way.

How Man Utd's attack could look against Newcastle

There could be worse ideas than to drop Garnacho and Hojlund back to the bench, thus taking the pair out of the firing line and allowing them the chance to potentially make an impact as a substitute late on.

Rasmus Hojlund’s stats vs Lyon
Stat	Record
Minutes played	63′
Touches	11
Shots on target	1
Shots off target	1
Passes completed	2/3
Key passes	2
Ground duels	0/3
Aerial duels	N/A
Possession lost	3x
Fouls	1
Stats via Sofascore

As Thursday’s 2-2 draw showcased, the Red Devils do now have the luxury of increased alternatives in the attacking ranks, with the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee on the hour mark proving particularly fruitful.

While the Dutchman may not be the out-and-out striker that United are craving, his late header did showcase his growing impact in a United shirt, having now scored on the road against both Real Sociedad and Lyon.

With Hojlund toiling, Zirkzee may have to lead the line from the off this time around, thus marking a real full circle moment, considering he was jeered off against today’s opponents just a matter of months ago.

The 23-year-old could be joined in the front line by the aforementioned Mount, with the former Chelsea man having looked lively during his late cameo in midweek, emphasising just why Amorim has hailed him as a “proper footballer”.

Mount, 26, has been among the few who the former Sporting CP boss has repeatedly singled out for praise during his brief tenure thus far, although now is the time for the Englishman to walk the walk.

With the £55m man joining Zirkzee in the starting lineup, the final number ten berth could be taken up by the returning Mainoo, with the 19-year-old playing his part in the second goal in France, as it was his brave header which found Bruno Fernandes.

The FA Cup final hero has endured a rocky season due to injury and the failure to nail down his best position in the 3-4-3, although it does appear he could earn a regular role for himself as part of the front three, having scored and assisted in that berth against FCSB back in January.

As Amorim has stated, the Red Devils “need to be careful” with the teenager amid his injury woes, although it would be a waste not to utilise a player of his talents, with the United boss stating that Mainoo is “really good near the opponent’s box”.

With Fernandes potentially replacing Manuel Ugarte by dropping into a deep-lying berth, the opening is there for the academy graduate to take his chance as one of the two number tens.

There could be a lack of pace if Amorim does opt to deploy Mainoo alongside Mount and Zirkzee, although that £375k-per-week trio could make up an exciting, new-look forward line at St James’ Park.

64 touches, 93% passes: Man Utd's 8/10 star is now as important as Bruno

Manchester United could only secure a 2-2 draw with Lyon in the Europa League last night.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 11, 2025

A former scout has claimed that a “really good” Premier League player would be “happy” to seal a move to Everton in the summer transfer window.

Moyes eyeing summer signings for Everton

David Moyes will know the importance of the Blues nailing their summer transfer business, with the manager reportedly personally pushing to complete the signing of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. The 20-year-old has spent this season on loan at West Ham, having fallen out of favour with the Seagulls, but the Everton manager reportedly believes he can get the best out of the Republic of Ireland international.

In terms of other Blues-related transfer news, Monaco attacker Mika Biereth has been linked with a summer move to Merseyside, following an impressive season. The 22-year-old has scored 12 goals in just 13 appearances in Ligue 1, as well as netting twice in the Champions League for Sturm Graz, prior to his move away later in the campaign.

West Brom midfielder Tom Fellows has been backed to move to Everton numerous times, with a move almost happening in the January window, and the Premier League club are said to be confident of striking a deal this summer.

Liverpool player would be "happy" join Everton, says King

Speaking to Goodison News, former Everton scout Bryan King, who once told them to sign Alexander Isak during his time as their Scandinavian talent-spotter, said Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah would be “happy” to join the Blues this summer.

“This wouldn’t be the first time a Liverpool player has joined Everton. Therefore, I couldn’t see that being a problem, and I think Liverpool will sell to the club that makes them the best offer. In addition, I’d imagine Quansah would be quite happy to move across Stanley Park. He is probably already living in the Liverpool area. Therefore, a move to Everton wouldn’t cause him or his family too many problems.”

The £30,000-a-week Quansah would be a controversial signing by Everton, given the fact that he is a Liverpool player, but it is easy to see him being a good addition, should he not have a long-term future at Anfield.

The 22-year-old England international had a tough start to the season, being substituted at half-time away to Ipswich Town on the opening weekend, and he has only made two starts in the league in 2024/25. That said, Jurgen Klopp was a big admirer.

Related Outscoring Salah in 2025: Everton chasing DCL upgrade who's "like Haaland"

Moyes needs to strengthen Everton’s frontline this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

It remains to be seen if Liverpool want to sell Quansah this summer, but he has the physical prowess to thrive under Moyes, as well as technical ability – he has a 91.6% pass completion rate in the league this season – and he has even been compared to Virgil van Dijk in style, which is the ultimate praise.