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Tottenham Hotspur have approached a Brazilian transfer target via his representatives as they look to get a head start on the summer window, with north London rivals Arsenal also contacting him in the last seven days.

Tottenham face AZ Alkmaar in Europa League last 16

Spurs take on Eredivisie giants AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their last 16 clash in the Europa League this evening, with manager Ange Postecoglou revealing that winger Dejan Kulusevski will miss the tie with a foot injury.

Tottenham plan to sell Bissouma to fund bid for £66m "generational talent"

The Mali international could be shown the exit door this summer, with a number of Premier League clubs keen.

1 ByDominic Lund Mar 5, 2025

Postecoglou could well benefit from the full returns of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke, who have all been missing for weeks, but the Australian was coy over their chances of starting tonight.

“We’ll see, we’ll train today,” said Postecoglou in his latest pre-match press conference. “Obviously they’ve all out for significant amount of time so we’ll see when we reintroduce them but they’re all here and training today, so we’ll make decisions after that.”

Spurs’ boss will be eager to reintroduce as many first-team stars as possible before the next international break, and the Europa League represents their only chance of winning any major silverware in Postecoglou’s second season in charge.

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

“I think it is fair to say the boys really understand there is a great opportunity for us,” said Postecolgou on the Europa League. I think they’ve appreciated the fact that the guys who have been playing through are now able to recover and train and prepare themselves better for games.

“That’s coincided with seeing their teammates come back and certainly the guys that have been out injured, we’ve already seen with guys like Vic, Brennan, Madders to a lesser extent (due to time out) but Wilson, Destiny, they’ve come back with a real hunger and desire to help the team because I think they’ve all been frustrated to sit on the sidelines and see how difficult it has for the group of players who have been playing. They’ve just wanted to help and now they get that opportunity.

“Again, I think you sense that in the group that they appreciate they have some support and some help. There is a platform there for us to hopefully get back to playing our football and seeing how far we can progress.”

Tottenham open talks with Flamengo defender Wesley Franca

According to RTI Esporte, the Lilywhites are also preparing for next season by making enquiries over key targets, and one of them is believed to be Flamengo defender Wesley Franca.

As per their information, Tottenham have held talks with Franca’s representatives, but they’re by no means the only Premier League side who are keen on a move for the right-back.

Cross-town rivals Arsenal also made contact with his camp this week, to gauge the conditions of a potential deal, with Franca’s price tag believed to stand at around £29 million.

The 21-year-old, called “exceptional” by ex-Chelsea and Atlético Madrid defender Felipe Luis, can also play as a right-midfielder when required. After claims of Real Madrid interest in Pedro Porro, Spurs have been sporadically linked with a new full-back, and Franca could be an astute option.

Liverpool’s hopes of securing a domestic trophy to go along with what they hope will be a Premier League title were dashed when they were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United at Wembley last weekend.

The Reds were beaten by goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak in the capital, in the same week that they were also dumped out of the Champions League on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain.

Isak scored what turned out to be the winning goal at Wembley when he reacted to Jacob Murphy’s header to sweep the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher with a ruthless finish into the bottom corner on the half-volley.

It was a lethal strike from the Sweden international who showcased his quality in the final third, whilst Liverpool’s number nine – Diogo Jota – struggled.

The Portugal international failed to find the target with his only effort on goal and only completed 40% of his attempted passes in the match, as he struggled to have a positive impact on the match.

Their contrasting performances on the big stage on Sunday may explain why the Reds have been linked with an interest in signing Isak from the Magpies.

Liverpool's reported interest in Alexander Isak

The Merseyside giants are reportedly keen on a swoop to land the former Borussia Dortmund marksman in the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking on his YouTube channel earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano said: “Liverpool are also there for Alexander Isak, they already made some contacts with people close to the player, so both clubs are interested in Alexander Isak.

“For Arsenal, he is the absolute top target. For Liverpool, he’s one of names they are considering in that position.”

Liverpool just experienced first-hand the kind of quality that Isak could provide Arne Slot’s side, which may be why they are looking to rival the Gunners to his signature.

However, The Telegraph reported, back in December, that the Magpies are poised to demand a fee of more than £150m for the centre-forward, and that would make him a club-record signing for the Reds.

Transfer Focus

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

Liverpool could avoid splashing out more than £150m and smashing their club-record transfer fee to land a new number nine, though, as they are said to be keen on a bargain alternative to Isak.

Liverpool showing interest in Ligue 1 centre-forward

According to CaughtOffside, the Premier League leaders are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Lille centre-forward Jonathan David in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Liverpool are ‘considering’ a swoop to bring the Canada international over to England ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as he is due to be a free agent this summer.

David’s current contract with the Ligue 1 side expires at the end of this season and he will be free to negotiate with other clubs at the end of June, which is an opportunity that has attracted interest from plenty of sides.

CaughtOffside adds that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain are also considering moves for his services, which shows that Liverpool are facing serious competition from massive clubs in England and abroad.

David, who scored against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season, has also attracted interest from Premier League sides Arsenal and West Ham United, the latter of whom invited the centre-forward’s agent to watch one of their matches.

Michael Edwards must, now, push to win the race for his signature in the summer transfer window because the Lille marksman could arrive at Anfield as a bargain alternative to Isak, given that he will be a free agent in the summer instead of a signing in excess of £150m.

Why Liverpool should sign Jonathan David

Aside from the fact that he will not a penny in transfer fees, there are several reasons why signing David would make a lot of sense for the Reds.

The Canadian marksman only turned 25 in January and this means that Liverpool would be bringing in a striker who is heading towards the prime years of his career, with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve.

That is particularly exciting when you consider that he has already scored 19 goals or more in each of the last four seasons for Lille in all competitions – including an eye-catching nine goals in 14 matches in the Champions League this term.

The Ligue 1 superstar was once described as “one of the best strikers in the world” by podcaster Tony Marinaro, which is hard to argue when you take his consistent run of goals over the last four years and his form in Europe’s biggest club competition this season into account.

David has proven himself to be a reliable performer at the top end of the pitch for the French side for several seasons, which shows that his current form is far from a flash in the pan and, instead, is something that suggests he could be a fantastic addition for Slot.

When you compare his performances for Lille since the start of last season with Isak’s for Newcastle, signing the 25-year-old on a free transfer seems like a dream scenario for Liverpool.

Appearances

55

58

xG

35.84

31.39

Goals

40

33

Big chances missed

32

26

Big chances created

15

12

Assists

7

7

As you can see in the table above, they boast similar records in their respective leagues, as both scorers and creators of goals, as they are both ruthless finishers who can also create for their teammates.

These statistics show that David is a clinical finisher who can make the most of the opportunities that are created for him, as he has outperformed his xG by almost two goals.

Meanwhile, Jota – who started up front in the League Cup final – has scored five goals from 7.21 xG across 18 appearances in the Premier League this season, which suggests that he has been an unreliable presence for the Reds in the centre-forward position.

Therefore, David could be the perfect signing for Liverpool to come in and make the most of the high-quality opportunities that have been wasted by the Portuguese international.

A "monster" Trent upgrade: Liverpool gearing up to sign £34m Madrid target

FSG are gearing up for a summer of change at Liverpool.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 18, 2025

He would also be a bargain alternative to Isak because he can offer a similar level of quality in the final third, as shown by his aforementioned statistics for Lille, without the more than £150m price tag to go alongside him.

That is why Edwards must do everything in his power to convince David to make the move to Anfield over any of the other reported clubs that are eyeing him up this summer.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is reportedly driving a move to sign a star player this summer and has held talks with his representatives.

Alexander-Arnold agrees Real Madrid move as Liverpool eye replacement

Despite the Reds being on course to win the Premier League in Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield, it could still be an extremely busy summer in the transfer market.

The futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been a huge talking point in recent months, with the trio’s current deals expiring in the summer.

Real Madrid have shown a big interest in signing Alexander-Arnold, and recent claims have stated that a move to the Bernabeu is “99% done” for the right-back.

An agreement has been reached between Alexander-Arnold and Madrid, and that has been backed up by the likes of Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri and The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Writing in his latest Sky Sports column, Tavolieri stated that an agreement between Alexander-Arnold and Madrid looks set to be a five-year deal, and that ‘nothing will be able to change the Englishman’s mind’ on staying at Anfield.

Liverpool ready to pay £60m+ for 18-goal star with same agent as Van Dijk

Liverpool are ready to push forward for an exciting addition this summer.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 24, 2025

In regards to a replacement, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, who has been dubbed a “monster” in the final third, has been heavily linked to become Alexander-Arnold’s replacement at Liverpool. Now, Tavolieri has shared an update on a potential deal for Frimpong which involves Slot.

Slot driving Liverpool move to sign Jeremie Frimpong

As per the same Sky Sports report, Tavolieri says that signing Frimpong remains one of Slot’s main objectives and that the Dutchman has been in direct contact with the player.

Slot is seemingly driving the move to sign the full-back as he has had a telephone call with Frimpong’s representatives and regular discussions by message. He also stated there is even the chance of a physical meeting with Slot, Frimpong and his reps in the coming weeks.

Frimpong is valued at €50m (£41.7m) by Leverkusen and it is claimed that Liverpool ‘could soon make an initial offer in this range’.

Frimpong

Alexander-Arnold

Games

40

39

Goals

4

3

Assists

11

7

Yellow cards

6

4

Minutes played

2,838

2,869

Frimpong has scored more goals and registered more assists than Alexander-Arnold in fewer minutes this season, so on paper, a move to sign the 24-year-old looks a smart one.

The former Manchester City youngster, who impressed at Celtic before joining Leverkusen, has been praised by Xabi Alonso, who said last year: “Since I got here for the first time, since the first day, Jeremie has been a key player for us and for myself.

“He’s a great guy, His personality, he brings a lot of joy to the locker room. So you need to keep him having this joy. But as well as become more mature.”

A move looks like set to be one to keep an eye on, and if Slot gets his way, Frimpong will be a Red ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Chelsea and chairman Todd Boehly will be looking to find a new club for one player who’s attracted criticism for his “horrendous” attitude behind-the-scenes, according to a new report this week.

Chelsea set for mass summer sale in transfer overhaul

Enzo Maresca will have many key decisions to make when the transfer window reopens for business, as a host of players are set to return spells out on loan and face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea chiefs "adamant" they'll sign £60m star after Real Madrid decision

Los Blancos have had a real influence on BlueCo’s transfer plans.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi all appear very likely to leave Chelsea this summer, either on loan again or permanently, while Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to depart, regardless of the Blues activating their recall clause for him in January.

Tottenham (home)

Today

Brentford (away)

April 6th

Ipswich Town (home)

April 13th

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Mykhailo Mudryk has been linked with a move to Sevilla after his failed drugs test as well, and versatile forward Christopher Nkunku actually agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich in the winter, only for his Bundesliga move to fall through.

In-form goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, amid Chelsea’s links with Liverpool shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher, has also refused to rule out remaining at sister club Strasbourg beyond this season.

“We’ll see after what could happen this summer. It could be a very good option to stay here if Strasbourg qualify for the UEFA Champions League,” said Petrovic on his Chelsea future.

“I always had confidence in my ability to improve. I have progressed more than I thought (at Strasbourg), but I can still improve more between now and the end of the season.”

It is set to be a big summer of transfers again at Chelsea, and they’ll be getting busy early. The Premier League confirmed that the window will be open from June 1st to June 10th, allowing BlueCo to conduct business before the Club World Cup, and there is every reason to believe that outgoings could occur in this period.

Joao Felix attitude slammed as Chelsea look to sell

AC Milan loanee Joao Felix is another who’s set to return to London after his temporary stint in Serie A, which really hasn’t gone according to plan.

Despite a promising start, the Portugal international’s form has seriously tailed off in recent months, and Fabrizio Romano confirms that Milan have no intention of signing Felix on a permanent deal.

Now, reliable journalist Simon Phillips has shared what sources have told him about Felix’s “horrendous” attitude behind-the-scenes – which could be the reason why his career has stunted since a mega-money move to Atlético from Benfica a few years ago.

He adds that Chelsea are looking to sell the attacking midfielder again this summer, with Felix even separately linked to a surprising Galatasaray transfer.

“An SPTC source has been speaking with some Atlético Madrid staff members as well as some current Portuguese internationals, and we have heard that Felix’s talent as a youngster was the best they’d seen at that level from a Portuguese player but according to the source, it is his attitude and arrogance that let’s him down and is ‘horrendous’,” wrote Phillips, via his Substack.

“I guess this could explain a lot and why he floats from club to club trying to find a new home.”

Questions will now really be asked of Boehly and why Chelsea elected to re-sign him on a permanent deal just last summer.

Nottingham Forest are ready to pay a massive £75 million to sign one of Europe’s most sought-after players this summer, according to a new report.

Nottingham Forest slip-up against Everton

After only narrowly escaping relegation last season, Nottingham Forest have been enjoying an extremely fruitful 2024/25 campaign.

With just six Premier League games left to play, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently third in the table, firmly on course for qualification for next season’s Champions League.

There hopes of qualification, however, took a minor dent at the weekend as they slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Everton, who walked away from the City Ground with all three points thanks to a last-gasp goal from midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Speaking after the game, Espirito Santo was highly critical of his side’s display.

“The performance was not good,” said the Portuguese head coach, as per BBC Sport. “Last minute of the game, from an offensive corner we conceded so we are disappointed but in terms of the game, we were not good. Everton were dominant.”

“Everton made problems for us so it was a tough one. were not able to do the things they normally do. Everyone felt we were not comfortable. The defense was fantastic for us and today we felt the boys It is in our hands and we have to bounce back.”

Nottingham Forest ready to pay £75m for Cunha

Despite their strong season, if Forest are to qualify, and compete, in next season’s Champions League, they’ll no doubt need to add further quality to their squad, particularly in the final third.

One man the club and owner Evangelos Marinakis are particularly keen to add to their ranks over the summer is Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian has been Wolves’ star player this season, playing a vital role in their likely Premier League survival, scoring 13 goals – many of them long-range beauties – and registering four assists.

Games played

26

Goals

13

Assists

4

Progressive carries

3.9

Progressive passes

4.7

Shots on target

1.5

Pass accuracy

70%

Take-ons completed

2.1

According to reports from Spain, Forest are now ready to pay as much as £75 million to secure Cunha’s services, but will face stiff competition from all of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are willing to do the same.

The publication adds that it’s also unclear whether Cunha would be open to leaving Molineux, having only signed a contract extension in February.

Speaking about the 25-year-old back in November, former Premier League defender turned pundit Micah Richards described him as “absolutely sensational.”

“He’s the one who can unlock the doors. He finds the little pockets of space and makes the right decisions at the right times,” said Richards. “He’s always scanning where he needs to be and always plays the right pass. He is so key in what Wolves are trying to do. He is the best at everything.”

It is remarkable to think that Manchester United’s worst-ever Premier League season could still end in Champions League qualification, with Ruben Amorim having seemingly put all his eggs in the Europa League basket on the evidence of the weekend defeat.

Following on from Thursday’s thriller against Lyon, the Portuguese coach put out a much-changed side for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers, having handed a first-team debut to 20-year-old, Tyler Fredricson at centre-back.

While the academy star – alongside teenager, Harry Amass – caught the eye as part of a makeshift back five, it was again the attacking unit that came under fire, with Sunday’s 1-0 loss representing the 13th time this season that United have failed to score in a top-flight game.

With the Red Devils in desperate need of a solution to those attacking woes, it does appear that one of the men who lined up against them at Old Trafford could be on his way to Manchester this summer, with Matheus Cunha seemingly the first concrete target to emerge.

Latest on Man Utd's pursuit of Matheus Cunha

It was reported by The Athletic earlier this month that Amorim’s side are keen on bringing the Brazilian to the Theatre of Dreams in order to bolster one of the two number ten berths, with the former Atletico Madrid man having now scored 14 league goals this season for the Old Gold.

That has since been followed by claims from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano which suggest that United are actually leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, with negotiations currently ongoing regarding a potential summer move.

Cunha did only sign a new contract in January, amid interest from the likes of Nottingham Forest at the time, albeit having since outlined his desire to “take the next step” in his career.

A possible exit from Molineux would appear to be on the cards if any interested party opts to trigger his reported £62.5m release clause, with Wolves having originally forked out around £44m to snap the forward up permanently in the summer of 2023.

A major benefit to United would be that Cunha is reportedly still interested in the move even if Champions League qualification is not secured, although he may not be the only Premier League target under consideration at present.

Man Utd seeking Cunha alternatives

It was reported in recent weeks that United view Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as a potential alternative to Cunha, provided they can’t get a deal done for the Brazil star, with the Cameroonian forward having dazzled for the Bees in recent seasons.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, that has been followed by more recent claims in Spain, which suggest that INEOS still want to sign the 25-year-old this summer, having ‘set their sights’ on the in-form left-footer.

As per the report, it is claimed that ‘discussions could intensify’ over the next few weeks, with Mbeumo seemingly open to taking on a new challenge after spending the past six years in west London.

In terms, of an asking price, the former Troyes ace could potentially be up for grabs for around £50m-£55m, as per prior claims, with the versatile forward set to enter into the final year of his contract next season – albeit with Thomas Frank’s side holding the option of a 12-month extension.

How Mbeumo compares to Cunha

It is worth stating that either Cunha or Mbeumo would likely represent an upgrade on Amorim’s current attacking options, with Bruno Fernandes currently the top scorer in the league this season for United, with just eight league goals.

Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, has scored just five league goals in 2024/25, while Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have netted just six times between them. Mason Mount, for instance, has scored just one goal in total since signing back in 2023.

That emphasises the need for at least one new recruit this summer, although if it is to come down to either one of Cunha and Mbeumo, it could well be argued that the latter man would be the better signing.

Indeed, the France-born speedster can operate centrally or on the flanks – like Cunha – thus making him a perfect option for any of the attacking roles in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, with his form this season, in particular, seeing the Bees star emerge as “one of the best players in the Premier League”, according to Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell.

That statement has certainly been justified considering that Mbeumo has even eclipsed Cunha’s return after netting 18 goals in the Premier League in 2024/25 alone. To put that into context, Marcus Rashford has never surpassed 17 top-flight goals in a campaign.

A return of 24 Premier League goal involvements in total follows the winger’s record of 16 and 15 goals and assists across the previous two campaigns, respectively, having now consistently delivered at top-flight level.

As noted in the table below, it is also the Brentford man who appears to provide that greater creative quality, as evidenced by his superior record with regard to big chances created and key passes per game, thus representing a real all-rounder in the forward line.

Games (starts)

28 (25)

33 (33)

Goals

14

18

Big chances missed

2

8

Assists

4

6

Big chances created

12

16

Key passes*

1.7

1.9

Pass accuracy*

78%

75%

Balls recovered*

4.1

4.2

Tackles*

1.2

1.2

Interceptions*

0.6

0.4

While the case of Mount may be something of a concern, it could be argued that United have too often ignored or opted against signing players from within the Premier League, having repeatedly looked to the Eredivisie, for instance, during Erik ten Hag’s time in charge.

Now, under the new INEOS and Amorim regime, things need to be done differently, hence why turning to Mbeumo or Cunha could well be a real masterstroke.

The Wolves star would be a statement signing in his own right, although on current form, might his attacking counterpart be an even better addition?

Amorim must axe Man Utd dud who makes them look like they’re playing with 10

Manchester United fell to yet another Premier League defeat against Wolves this afternoon.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 20, 2025

Somewhere in Germany, in a Red Bull Group office complex, Jurgen Klopp perhaps unleashed a few fist bumps when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur to seal the Premier League trophy.

Klopp’s self-defined “heavy metal football” left with him at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, replaced by something smoother and cooler in the form of Arne Slot.

Both approaches have borne dividends for Liverpool, Klopp creating a dynasty before his successor took the reins and won the Premier League in his first year in the dugout.

Slot has dealt with adversity this term and emerged on top, but now must contend with the loss of Liverpool’s focal creative source, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Why losing Alexander-Arnold is such a big blow

Alexander-Arnold has been at Liverpool for two decades, moving up and up through the youth floors before knocking on Klopp’s door in the early years of his tenure.

He’s now one of the driving forces behind a sustained period of success at Anfield. Liverpool are a team of many parts, but Trent has been one of the most important cogs in the system, with his peerless passing and eagle-eyed vision making so many opponents pay over the years.

Having won the full gamut, the 26-year-old will depart a fundamental part in putting the Reds back on their perch. He’s played 352 matches for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals and laying on 92 assists.

Real Madrid are the expected destination, and Liverpool now need to find a way to replace their chief playmaker’s output. As per FBref, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 5% for shot-creating actions per 90.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

59

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

Alexander-Arnold’s one-of-a-kind talent is not something that Liverpool can replicate at right-back. Bradley is an exciting player, but he’s not Trent.

However, Liverpool aren’t against sourcing a new means of elite creativity, having found an interesting solution in another area of the pitch.

Liverpool make proposal for Premier League legend

As per Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Liverpool have made a surprise contractual offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, whose deal at the Etihad expires at the end of the season.

While Napoli are also pushing, Liverpool have a financial advantage over the Serie A’s first-placed side and could blow them out of the water, should they continue to insist upon a pre-contract arrangement.

De Bruyne, a boyhood Liverpool fan, turned 33 this year and has been frustrated by injuries in recent seasons, but still retains an artistry to his creative approach, which is among the finest Europe has seen.

Why Liverpool should sign Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne may not know where he’s going to end up but he has made it clear that he’s still got mileage in the engine and isn’t against winding up at another Premier League club.

It’s been quite the career in English football for the Belgian, who fell by the wayside as a Chelsea prospect before finding a new home in Belgium and then finding his feet and then some at Manchester City, joining from Wolfsburg in a £55m deal in 2015.

He’s one of the most accomplished and decorated Premier League players of his generation, even described as “one of the greatest midfielders ever” by his manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne might be approaching the twilight years of his career, but he’s certainly still got it. FBref have recorded that he ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues and the top 3% for passes attempted, progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90.

Now, why would Liverpool want to pursue an ageing attacking midfielder such as De Bruyne? After all, Slot already wields the energy of Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott’s natural spark.

Well, the answer is obvious. Liverpool need signings, and they need quite a few. Left-back, centre-back. Ryan Gravenberch could do with some competition at number six, and Darwin Nunez certainly needs replacing at the front of the ship.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has got some juggling to do, all right, and bringing De Bruyne over to Liverpool could be a fantastic, stop-gap sort of way to plug a hole and retain the giddy support levels that Alexander-Arnold will be taking with him over to the Santiago Bernabeu.

De Bruyne still has the requisite quality in his locker. As per Sofascore, he’s created 14 big chances in the league this year, despite starting only 17 times. Moreover, he’s averaging over two key passes per game.

This all adds substance to the argument for his arrival. De Bruyne has scored six goals and provided eight assists in all competitions this season, with ten of those 14 contributions coming since the start of the calendar year.

Alexander-Arnold might be leaving, but Liverpool will endure. With surgery required across a range of areas for the Reds, this would be the perfect way to add some new creativity, some Alexander-Arnold levels of creativity to Slot’s team and help him relocate Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more conventional area in the middle of the park.

For Anfield simply won’t succeed in finding another player like Trent on the right side of the backline.

Dream Trent replacement: Liverpool make bid for "one of the best in Europe"

Liverpool could be about to end their hunt for a player who could fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2025

Chelsea are not afraid to spend big money to acquire some of the best up-and-coming talents. Two examples of that are currently playing in their midfield, namely Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. They joined the club within several months of each other in 2023.

World Cup winner Fernandez was a British record signing in February of that year. Just months after lifting the prestigious prize with Argentina, he moved from Benfica to Chelsea for £107m. However, that record was smashed by Caicedo in mid-August, who cost the Blues £115m including add-ons from Brighton and Hove Albion.

So, their midfield has been constructed having spent plenty of money, and perhaps they will do the same to their attack this season, given they have been linked to several expensive strikers.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a new striker

The West London outfit clearly have one target in mind for the summer transfer window, and that is to sign a new striker. In a recent report, BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella linked them with some of Europe’s most sought-after talent, including Victor Osimhen, Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

Kinsella has also said that the Blues are also considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. He is one of the strikers that the club have not ‘ruled out’ signing over the next few months in the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman, along with some of the other names above, are ‘considered quality options’ by Chelsea. However, they will not be the only Premier League giant making a move for Ekitike.

In recent days, GIVEMESPORT have claimed that Liverpool could also look to sign him, with a reported £84m his price tag should either side make a move.

Why Ekitike would be a good signing

It has been an excellent season for France U21 international Ekitike. The striker, who was born in Reims and came through their academy, was described as “inevitable” by football scout Antonio Mango, which shows how well his season has gone.

In 47 games so far this term, Ekitike has managed to find the back of the net 22 times, grabbing 11 assists along the way, too. Of those, he has registered 22 goal involvements in 32 games in the Bundesliga, showing excellent consistency throughout the campaign.

The former Paris Saint-Germain attacker is a man for the big occasion, having scored some crucial goals this season. He has bagged against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, whilst scoring in the Europa League knockout rounds against Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur.

Should the Blues agree on a deal to bring Ekitike to Stamford Bridge this summer, he could prove to be an excellent alternative to another reported target, Brighton star Joao Pedro.

According to a report from Telegraph reporter Sam Dean, Chelsea are one of three sides ‘showing interest’ in the Brazilian, alongside Arsenal and Liverpool.

The 23-year-old has had an impressive season down on the South Coast. In 27 Premier League games this term, he has managed ten goals and six assists, which included one of each against Manchester City in a 2-1 win back in November.

As the goal involvement numbers show, both Ekitike and Pedro are well-rounded centre forwards. However, the stats via FBref suggest the Frenchman is slightly better. For example, he averages 3.64 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 3.32 each game for Pedro.

Goals and assists

0.80

0.74

Goals per shot on target

0.34

0.33

Key passes

1,56

1.39

Shot-creating actions

3.64

3.32

Successful take-ons

1.89

1.34

Progressive carries

3.31

3.06

Ball recoveries

3.05

2.73

While both players are strikers who can score and create goals, which will certainly add a new potency to Chelsea’s attack, it does seem that Ekitike is the better option. The ability to carry the ball more efficiently should also be of great appeal to the decision makers at Stamford Bridge.

£84m is a big investment for the 22-year-old, but considering sections of the media believe he “could be the next Mbappe” and that he’s better than Pedro, it seems like a deal they cannot miss out on.

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Everton are thought to have held talks with a “really good” player over a summer move to Merseyside, but they are far from alone in showing an interest.

Everton already lining up summer deals

David Moyes will know the importance of the Blues nailing their summer transfer business, as the Scot looks to transform them back into a mid-table Premier League team who look upwards at the European spots rather than over their shoulder. In fact, with a move to a new stadium coming and funds expected to be available, the club needs to have lofty ambitions moving forward.

Sunderland captain Dan Neil has been linked with a move to Everton ahead of next season, with the midfielder set to lead the Black Cats out at Wembley in the Championship playoff final against Sheffield United later this month. Failure to get promoted could only improve the Merseysiders’ chances of getting their man.

The Blues are also reportedly interested in signing Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, whose stock has dropped after a disappointing season. The Republic of Ireland ace has struggled out on loan at West Ham, but it may still be that Moyes believes he can turn his fortunes around.

Meanwhile, a John Stones reunion has been mooted at Everton, should the England international leave Manchester City at the end of the season, which could be a popular piece of business among the Blues fanbase.

Everton in talks with Tomas Soucek

According to The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Everton remain “keen” on completing the signing of West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek this summer. It is claimed that “up to five Premier League clubs have held talks” with the Czech over a move, with the Blues deemed to be one of the teams in question.

The £90,000-a-week-earning Soucek could be a shrewd signing by Everton, even though he may not be the young, creative midfielder that some fans would like to see come in. Now 30 years of age, the West Ham ace admittedly isn’t getting any younger, but he still has plenty to offer, having scored 41 goals in 243 appearances for the Hammers and offering a real physical presence at set pieces.

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The fact that Moyes knows him so well from their time together at the London Stadium together can only bode well – they won the UEFA Europa Conference League together – and the Everton manager has lauded him in the past.

Ultimately, if Moyes believes Soucek can be a strong signing this summer, he needs to be trusted by The Friedkin Group, and there is no reason why he couldn’t be an effective figure who chips in with goals, having even scored three times against Everton in the past.

Sporting CP star and top Arsenal transfer target, Viktor Gyokeres, has made an intriguing admission to teammates, amid reports that the clubs are advancing in talks over his move to north London.

Portuguese media claim Arsenal have agreed fee to sign Viktor Gyokeres

Over the last seven days, reports in the Portuguese media have boldly claimed that Arsenal are making serious progress in their bid to tempt the 26-year-old back to England.

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Following his quite ridiculous haul of 53 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this season, Gyokeres has emerged as a prime striker target for Arsenal, with sporting director Andrea Berta said to be personally pushing for him.

“Andrea Berta is pushing to sign Viktor Gyökeres for Arsenal,” said Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg a fortnight ago.

Sporting CP

101

96

28

Coventry City

116

43

17

Brommapojkarna

67

25

9

FC St. Pauli

28

7

4

Swansea City

12

1

0

Brighton

8

1

1

via Transfermarkt

“Several talks have already taken place. Alexander Isak remains high on the Gunners’ list, as previously revealed — but he’s very expensive. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are all in the race. No commitments yet. Everything is still open. Bayern are currently out — too expensive. As exclusively revealed in October, Gyökeres can leave Sporting this summer for €60–70 million, due to a verbal agreement between the player and the club.”

Since then, the likes of newspaper O Jogo, sharing information in the last few days, have reported that Gyokeres is “on his way to Arsenal”, with the Gunners and Sporting shaking hands on a £59 million fee.

Last week, fellow Portuguese source A Bola made claims of an Arsenal offer to Gyokeres over personal terms worth £135,000-per-week as well, though reports closer to home have since stated that Berta is actually prepared to hand out a £10 million-per-year salary package (CaughtOffside).

£59 million would be considered one of the bargains of the summer for one of Europe’s most lethal goalscorers in his prime, so it will be intriguing to see if this does in fact come to fruition.

Viktor Gyokeres makes admission amid Arsenal agreement claims

However, according to Sporting midfielder and teammate Pedro Goncalves, the Swede is remaining coy over his future.

Confirming what the striker has told him, Goncalves states that Gyokeres said he’s ‘not a fortune-teller’ when asked if he could stay at Sporting – appearing to commit his future.

“I asked [Gyokeres], and we all asked him. He says he’s not a fortune-teller,” said Goncalves.

“We still have the Portuguese Cup against Benfica to play. I have a very good relationship with him, but I don’t talk about it with him. What I know is because of Fabrizio Romano… I’m sticking with him. I don’t know if he’s going to leave.

“I feel like he’s evolved a lot since he arrived. There are training sessions where it seems like he’s holding back.”

The Scandinavian superstar is making waves abroad, and it appears inevitable that he’s set to leave Sporting. The only question is, who can win the race for him?

Judging by recent reports, Arsenal appear to be firmly in pole position as things stand.