All posts by h716a5.icu

Thomas Frank has a huge task on his hands next season if he is to transform the situation at Tottenham Hotspur after the club’s form in England’s top flight.

The Lilywhites finished the season in 17th place in the Premier League last time around, losing 22 times in the process – leading to Ange Postecoglou’s subsequent dismissal in North London.

However, the side’s Europa League triumph against Manchester United in Bilbao is evidence of the levels they can reach, needing to use such an achievement as a springboard into 2025/26.

Frank will need to be backed by the hierarchy in his quest, needing to make key changes to his squad he desires to push them back towards a top five finish in the near future.

The Dane has showcased at Brentford he’s able to thrive in the Premier League, hoping to do so again across the capital as he wastes no time in making moves in the market.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Wingers have been high up on their list in recent weeks, with Spurs strongly linked with a move to land Bryan Mbeumo, securing a return between the player and the manager.

However, he looks set to make a move to Manchester United this window, leading to West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus also emerging as a potential option.

Whilst the aforementioned duo have been on their radar, progress appears to have been made on a deal to land Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that Frank’s side are set to make a £65m bid to land the 25-year-old this window after 11 goals and five assists in the league this campaign.

It also confirms that the Cherries aren’t prepared to lose another one of their star players, but the Lilywhites are confident they can secure a move for his signature this window.

Why Semenyo would be Frank’s next Solanke

Striker Dominic Solanke joined in a £65m deal from the same club last summer, with the English international seen as the heir to Harry Kane after his departure 12 months prior.

The 27-year-old managed to score 16 times in his 45 appearances across all competitions, with five of his efforts coming in Europe and helping the side end their 17-year trophy wait.

Like many players in the current first team squad, he’s had his own injury issues this campaign, restricting him from having the dream first year in North London.

However, he’s still managed to showcase his talents within the final third, ending the year as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the division for 2024/25.

Frank could be about to land his next version of Solanke this window, with Semenyo following in his footsteps and moving to Spurs to rekindle their impressive partnership.

Whilst the fee touted appears to be an expensive one, the Ghanaian international has showcased his skillset this season, adding a new dimension to Frank’s forward line should he complete a move.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, registered 16 combined goals and assists, a figure that would’ve made him the joint-highest contributor in the current squad.

Games played

37

Goals & assists

16

Shots on target

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.9

Chances created

1.3

Touches in opposition box

5.9

Aerials won

1.9

His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90, along with 1.9 successful dribbles – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

The 25-year-old has also created 1.3 chances per 90, whilst also notching 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90, having the tools to star alone or even provide players around him in North London.

If he can transfer his skillset over to the Lilywhites next season, it would be a superb deal at £65m, having the potential to improve further with further quality players around him in Frank’s side.

Such a transfer could provide the added cutting edge needed for success, handing the manager the best possible chance of impressing during his first year at the helm.

Big Johnson upgrade: Spurs open initial talks to sign £70m "monster"

Tottenham are hoping to sign a right-sided forward this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 21, 2025

It’s all changing at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

Ange Postecoglou may have led the club to their first trophy in a generation, but a 17th-place finish in the Premier League was enough for Daniel Levy and Co to send him on his way.

In his place, former Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been tasked with dramatically improving the club’s domestic form next season, and one way to make that happen is by adding genuine quality to the squad.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest the North Londoners may be closing in on a signing who’d be a more exciting addition to the team than Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

The transfer window may have only just opened again, but Spurs have recently been linked with many talented attackers, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, who thrived under Frank’s management.

Transfer Focus

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

Moreover, to ensure the squad aren’t left short on numbers in attack next year, Levy and Co have also re-signed Tel on a permanent transfer.

The young Frenchman did well enough in spells last season, and the potential is certainly there, but based purely on what we saw from him this year, it’s hard to describe his £30m signing as particularly exciting.

The good news is that the Lilywhites now appear to be advancing in talks to sign someone who certainly would be an exciting signing: Antoine Semenyo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Spurs are incredibly interested in the Bournemouth star and are ‘growing in confidence in striking a deal’ with the South Coast side.

The report does not mention how much the Ghanaian international could cost the North Londoners, but reports from earlier this month claim that a fee of up to £70m should be enough.

Now, that is certainly a lot of money, but given Semenyo’s ability and experience, it’d be worth it for Spurs, especially as he’d be a more exciting signing than Tel.

Why Semenyo would be a more exciting signing than Tel

Okay, so the first thing to address is that Semenyo has an inherent advantage here in that the newest attacking signings are going to be more exciting than a club re-signing someone they’ve had on loan before purely for the fact that they’ll represent something fresh and relatively unknown.

However, while this is undoubtedly the case here, there are other significant reasons why the Bournemouth star would be a far more exciting addition to the team than Tel, starting with their output.

In 20 appearances for the North Londoners, totalling 1257 minutes, the Sarcelles-born attacker was able to score three goals and provide a single assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every five games, or every 314.25 minutes.

In stark contrast, the Cherries ace scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 178.1 minutes.

Moreover, while the Frenchman can play off the left or up top relatively easily, the Chelsea-born ace can play off either flank, up top or even in midfield, thanks largely to the fact he’s ambipedal.

Finally, on top of everything else, the 25-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, also comes out way on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, he comes out on top in almost all relevant metrics, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and many, many more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.45

0.23

Progressive Passes

3.06

2.31

Progressive Carries

3.93

2.62

Shots

3.51

2.47

Shots on Target

1.12

0.85

Passing Accuracy

73.4%

74.4%

Key Passes

1.29

1.15

Passes into the Final Third

1.38

1.31

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.26

1.38

Live Passes

29.5

27.8

Shot-Creating Actions

3.71

2.47

Goal-Creating Actions

0.37

0.31

Successful Take-Ons

1.94

1.62

Ball Recoveries

4.44

3.62

Aerial Duels Won

1.85

0.38

Ultimately, while Tel is a talented player who could develop into something special, Semenyo is streaks ahead of him and would be a far more exciting signing for Spurs.

A better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs enter talks to sign "unbelievable" CF

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to make a move to land an attacker who could star in North London.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League last season, and will surely be looking to raise their game even higher under Eddie Howe’s wing next year.

To do that, they will need to hit the mark in the summer transfer window, which officially opens next Monday. Bryan Mbeumo is involved in a tussle between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, so that’s unfortunately one which St. James’ Park will have to cede, but Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga is fixed on Howe’s radar.

The speedy Elanga, however, is valued at more than £55m by the Tricky Trees, and the Magpies may want to fold their interest, given the perfect alternative has recently been made available on the transfer market.

Newcastle enter race for PL star

As relayed by Caught Offside, Newcastle have entered the race for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, who will not sign for Chelsea in a permanent deal after the Blues paid a £5m penalty to sever their obligation to buy clause, worth £25m.

The 25-year-old played his part for Chelsea last season, but Enzo Maresca ultimately wanted to look in a different direction this summer, but that’s not to say Sancho isn’t without his suitors, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur also keen.

There’s no way back for the winger at Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils outfit, so if Newcastle do want to push ahead with a move, they might find negotiations to be comparatively smooth sailing.

Why Newcastle want Jadon Sancho

It certainly wasn’t the worst season in the world for the England international. Across 42 matches in all competitions, Sancho only scored five goals but did rack up ten assists, notably featuring heavily as Chelsea won the Conference League.

In the Premier League, Sancho might have only started 19 matches, but he did clinch seven direct goal contributions, averaging 1.5 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

And if you needed further evidence of his qualities, the silky winger finished the 2024/25 campaign ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

In the right environment, under the right manager’s guidance, Sancho has proven himself to be one of the most dangerous widemen in football.

Surely, Sancho at his peak outstrips any version of Elanga, whose progress in Nuno Espirito Santo’s system has been remarkable, but perhaps the underlying data doesn’t favour him, only averaging 0.7 dribbles per Premier League game in 2024/25 (winning 39%), as per Sofascore.

His two-footedness adds another layer to the argument of him being a better option than Elanga, with Howe known to enjoy shuffling his forwards across different positions, even fielding Alexander Isak out on the left flank on occasion.

Left winger

176

54

45

Right winger

113

32

44

Attacking midfield

20

5

4

Centre-forward

6

2

1

Arriving in the Premier League as a £73m signing for Manchester United, Sancho has struggled, no doubt, but he was incredible when plying his art with Borussia Dortmund, impressing both domestically and on the biggest European stages.

Even at a lower ebb across the past 12 months (but not his lowest), Sancho has demonstrated a glowing range of qualities. At £25m, surely this represents a better deal than Elanga, who almost matched the Chelsea man for numbers, scoring six goals and assisting 12 more over 43 games?

Given that Forest could be looking to bank north of £50m for Elanga this summer, it perhaps makes more sense to invest in Sancho, who might just find his erstwhile footing on Tyneside, working under Howe’s tutelage to finally realise the potential that once led talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him as a “phenomenon”.

Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 5, 2025

It’s pretty easy to point out where Arsenal need to strengthen this summer: attack.

However, while the primary focus of the fans might be on who Mikel Arteta and Co could bring in up top, and understandably so, it’s arguably just as crucial that the club improve their wing options.

The North Londoners need a proven leftwinger who can come in and help alleviate the attacking burden placed upon Bukayo Saka off the right.

Fortunately, that seems to be the case, as reports have now linked Arsenal to an international who has been compared to the incredible Rodrygo and Lamine Yamal.

Arsenal's winger search

With Arsenal’s left-wing issues being impossible to ignore this season, the club have unsurprisingly been linked with a host of brilliant wide talents in recent weeks, such as Antoine Semenyo and the afformentioned Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Bournemouth this year, racking up a tally of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, which helps to explain the hefty £70m price tag placed on his head.

Likewise, the Real Madrid star enjoyed a relatively good year in Spain, scoring 14 goals and providing ten assists in 51 games, although with a price tag of up to £85m, the club might want to look for cheaper alternatives, like Leroy Sane.

Yes, according to a recent report from Turkey, Arsenal have not only maintained their intense interest in the Bayern Munich star but are planning to “make a formal offer” for him today.

It could be a clever bit of business from the Gunners, as, thanks to his contract with FC Hollywood expiring this month, the German international would be available on a free.

It might not be the most exciting transfer of all time, but it’s one Arteta and Co should push to complete, as on top of his undeniable quality, the former Manchester City star has also won comparisons to Yamal and Rodrygo.

How Sane compares to Rodrygo & Yamal

Before we look at a couple of the reasons why Arsenal might want to, and should, sign Sane this summer, it’s essential to address these comparisons to Yamal and Rodrygo and where they have come from.

In both cases, they stem from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues and came to the conclusion that the Spaniard – who has been utterly superb this year – has been the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the German for the last 365 days.

Then, when looking at purely the Champions League from this season, FBref concluded that the Brazilian was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Bayern ace in this year’s competition.

Expected Assists

0.34

0.37

Key Passes

1.98

2.02

Live Passes

47.5

47.2

Switches

0.11

0.13

Tackles Won

0.82

0.88

Blocks

0.44

0.38

The best way to understand how these conclusions were reached is to take a closer look at the metrics in which the players are similar, and in the case of the Barcelona gem, that included things like expected assists, key and live passes and more, all per 90.

In Real Madrid star’s case, the metrics include things like non-penalty expected goals, aerial duels won, tackles, blocks, carries into the penalty area, and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.25

0.3

Expected Assists

0.14

0.16

Aerial Duels Won

0.56

0.52

Tackles

1.97

1.86

Blocks

1.27

1.24

Interceptions

0.42

0.41

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.25

2.27

Now, while being compared to two of the most exciting wingers on the planet should already be encouraging enough, there are a couple of other reasons the Gunners should be going out to sign the “incredible” Bayern ace, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, as soon as possible.

The first is that even though his game time was somewhat restricted this season, he remained a potent threat, both in terms of scoring goals and creating them.

For example, in 45 appearances, totalling just 2376 minutes, the 29-year-old dynamo was able to score 13 goals and provide six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.36 games, or more crucially, every 125.05 minutes.

Finally, on top of everything else, the Essen-born star is a proven winner, having picked up two Premier Leagues with City and then four in Germany, which is just the sort of player Arteta should be adding to his talented but sometimes a little naive squad.

Ultimately, given his ability, track record and the calibre of players he is still being compared to, signing Sane for nothing this summer feels like a total no-brainer for Arsenal.

Twist: "Extraordinary" £60m+ star now plans to snub Man Utd to join Arsenal

The Gunners have received a boost in their pursuit of a forward, who Andrea Berta has already held talks to sign.

1 ByDominic Lund Jun 8, 2025

Liverpool opted against significant first-team investment after Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and put an end to his Anfield dynasty last summer.

One of the esteemed coach’s final acts, in typically larger-than-life fashion, was to bellow his successor’s name into a mic, Liverpool having finished the 2023/24 Premier League season in third place, and as Carabao Cup champions.

“Arne Slot,” the manager roared, and Liverpool’s fans echoed his rallying cry. It was the end of an era, an illustrious period of sustained success that saw the Reds win the whole gamut after several interminable seasons of disappointment, languishing below their rightful place among the big boys.

Klopp’s decision has been vindicated. Slot has won the Premier League in his first term at the helm, so dominant, taking the team left to him and shaping it into something greater.

Now, though, it is time for first-team investment. The pieces are being moved well ahead of the summer transfer window, and though fans anticipate a raft of exciting arrivals, some departures are needed too.

Darwin Nunez chief among them.

Why Liverpool must sell Darwin Nunez

While the thought of Florian Wirtz driving a Nunez resurgence is tantalising, it’s probably not going to happen.

The Uruguay international, 25, has just completed his third campaign in a Liverpool shirt, and it was probably his least productive yet.

When Nunez arrived in July 2022 for a fee rising to a club-record £85m, he arrived to much fanfare. Here was a robust, athletic and deadly forward who scored 34 goals from 41 matches in his final season for the Portuguese giants.

But he’s failed to make it work in the Premier League. Here’s a statistic: Nunez has only scored 25 goals in the English top flight, featuring 95 times and avoiding any serious stretch in the infirmary.

24/25

47

7

7

23/24

54

18

15

22/23

42

15

4

Klopp’s tactics are perhaps characterised by their chaos. Nunez, then, embodies some of the German’s core principles, but Slot’s businesslike approach has led to a regression, with the boss even stating in February that he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work-rate.

While the £140k-per-week talent’s time on Merseyside has been defined by wastefulness, this hasn’t really been the case this term. Instead, he’s been reduced to a small part in the grand play, scoring only seven goals across all competitions and starting but once in the Premier League since Boxing Day.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool’s plan is to part ways with the record man, and all parties welcome the prospect. With Saudi suitors interested, Liverpool might just find they can sign a suitable replacement to add to the exciting rebuild Richard Hughes is currently fronting.

Liverpool want to sign a new striker

As per Spanish reports, Liverpool are ready to challenge Newcastle United for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, who is ready to leave the south coast club this summer.

The clubs in question are ready to meet Brighton’s €70m (£58m) demands, both eager to take the lead in the race.

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, transfer insider Ben Jacobs claims Chelsea are not actively pursuing a move, only enhancing Liverpool’s chances of getting a deal done.

What Joao Pedro would bring to Liverpool

Newcastle’s success in qualifying for the Champions League after Aston Villa were controversially beaten at Old Trafford surely ends Anfield’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak this summer, with PIF set to demand north of £150m for his sale.

Joao Pedro, conversely, is expected to leave the AMEX, and for a far smaller figure at that. The Brazil forward has been a success since joining Brighton from Championship side Watford in 2023, a deal that narrowly missed the £30m mark.

Across 70 appearances for the Seagulls, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals and supplied ten assists. However, he’s not defined by his goal metrics, promising though they may be, with Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard hailing his “really magical” quality on the ball.

Beaten by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch to the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, he’s got the physicality and technical ability to become a star under Slot’s wing, smoothly replacing Nunez at number nine.

As per Sofascore, Joao Pedro has only missed 16 big chances across his two top-flight campaigns at Brighton, scoring 19 goals and supplying nine assists. He’s only started 42 matches during this period.

The foundations have been laid, and now Slot can welcome this rising star into his brood and take him to the next level, providing the title winners with a new focal frontman who can provide a richer goal threat while maintaining a dynamic, multi-faceted approach to benefit the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah, among others.

Nunez’s day is done, but in his place, Liverpool can sign a striker capable of proving an upgrade while echoing some of the South American’s finer qualities.

But there’s no denying that Joao Pedro is a sharper and more complete version, as the table below highlights.

Goals

0.40

0.46

Assists

0.16

0.28

Shots taken

2.70

1.94

Shot-creating actions

2.46

3.33

Touches

29.07

43.43

Touches (att pen)

5.88

5.64

Progressive passes

2.14

3.60

Progressive carries

1.83

3.05

Successful take-ons

0.64

1.34

Tkl + Int

1.99

1.16

As you can see, Nunez pales in comparison to the Brighton man, who has yet to reach his potential and already has showcased high-level qualities in the Premier League.

It’s time for change. Nunez will leave Liverpool with the goodwill of the fanbase, but he must indeed depart – especially if a deal for a player like Joao Pedro is in the pipeline.

Liverpool are brewing their own version of Wirtz in "fearless" academy star

Liverpool could do with an academy sensation breaking into Arne Slot’s senior squad.

ByAngus Sinclair May 24, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are now clashing over the Gunners’ top target for a key area of the squad, with both men wanting different players.

Arsenal tipped for crucial transfer decision this summer

The north Londoners lost out on a place in the Champions League final to PSG, despite battering 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, and fell miles behind Liverpool in this year’s Premier League title race.

Arsenal in advanced talks to sign "exciting" 24 year-old after Zubimendi

The Gunners are seen as favourites.

ByEmilio Galantini May 15, 2025

Injuries and a lack of potency in the final third took their toll on an Arsenal side, with Arteta’s men drawing more games than any other Premier League side in the top 12 so far (14), which highlights their serious issue when it comes to finishing teams off.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Only Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea have created more big chances than Arsenal this season, as per official stats from the Premier League, but their shortage of wins in comparison to Arne Slot’s side in particular strongly indicates a struggle to fully capitalise on these opportunities.

As such, critics have pinpointed the absence of a prolific number nine as the main cause of this.

Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise as an emergency striker for much of the campaign, following Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s serious long-term injuries, with Berta prioritising the signing of a centre-forward for Arsenal this summer to help provide more potency in the final third.

“Arsenal have got a bit of a problem,” said former Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider recently.

“Arteta has to decide what type of centre-forward it is that he wants to lead the line. And it’s a huge decision for him because it’s one they have to get right. If you’re a team that, for the majority of the time, has the ball and you’re playing in the opponents’ half, you’re playing in a congested area.

“So are they looking for somebody who has a bit of physical presence who can bully defenders, get on the end of crosses and you can bounce things off him? Or do they want a clever, ball-playing type who will drop in to link play with the likes of Odegaard?

“The names that are being spoken about seem to be a bit all over the place – they have to make a decision about the type of forward they want.”

Arteta and Berta in Arsenal disagreement over signing Sesko or Gyokeres

According to reports from Portugal this week, specifically A Bola, Arsenal are making significant progress on a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who’s bagged 52 goals over another prolific campaign in the Primeira Liga.

Meanwhile, as per other media sources, RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko remains in the picture as a target following his own career-best season in the Bundesliga.

The prolific duo are both expected to depart their clubs for under £70 million, with Sesko’s release clause currently standing at around £62 million and “machine” Gyokeres commanding a price tag of £63 million.

Either would be a stellar option, going by their excellent campaigns abroad, but there appears to be an ongoing debate over who Arsenal should try and sign behind-the-scenes at N5.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Arteta and Berta are in an Arsenal disagreement over whether they should sign Sesko or Gyokeres.

Arteta personally wants the former at Arsenal next season, while Berta actually prefers they go for the latter.

“Mikel Arteta wants Sesko at Arsenal, but Andrea Berta prefers them to go for Viktor Gyokeres,” wrote Phillips.

“So there is a disagreement there at the moment.”

With both men heavily linked, this is a very intriguing aspect of Arsenal’s search for a new forward, as it appears Berta and Arteta have different ideas on how to improve the squad.

Chelsea are prepared to open talks over re-signing a former “leader”, who one source describes as the perfect player for Enzo Maresca’s dressing room.

Enzo Maresca makes "very important" Conference League claim

The west Londoners take a commanding 4-1 lead into their Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgardens tonight, and all signs point towards Chelsea easing past Jani Honkavaara’s side as they look to confirm a spot in the final on May 28.

Chelsea hold extensive talks to sign £38m ex-Fulham star who Mourinho wants

The Stamford Bridge legend is a long-time fan.

ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Maresca has a golden chance to win his first piece of silverware as Chelsea manager during his debut season in charge, and a lot of expectation is riding on him, as they’ve been backed as solid favourites to lift the trophy since the beginning of 2024/2025.

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

While Chelsea have much grander ambitions in the long-term, being knocked out of the Conference League at this stage would arguably be a disaster, and Maresca says winning the competition is “very important” for many reasons.

“Very important, very important for sure, 100 per cent,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s Conference League ambitions.

“For different reasons but the main reason is because we want this club winning trophies. In this moment we are in the Conference so we have to try to win the trophy in the competition that we are.

“So yeah, it’s important personally, but for me, it’s much more important for the club, for the fans. We said many times that it’s the only trophy that Chelsea didn’t win in the past and Chelsea can become the first club in Europe to win all the European competitions so it’s also good for the club.”

It would also end the campaign on a high, even if Chelsea’s race for Champions League qualification is taking centre stage right now.

The club’s ambitions to compete in Europe’s most prestigious competition will also have a knock-on effect when it comes to summer transfers, and it is believed the signing of a new centre-back is a top priority for Chelsea ahead of next term.

Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen and Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi are among Chelsea’s rumoured central defensive targets, but according to Football Transfers, they now have their eyes on a possible reunion with Antonio Rudiger.

Chelsea ready to open talks over bringing back Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger

According to their information, the Blues have made contact with their ex-defender’s camp “in recent days” to be informed on his future at the Bernabeu – as they lay some groundwork over a potential deal.

The Germany international, while generally satisfied with life at Real, has apparently become “increasingly difficult” to deal with, and one source describes his situation as “tense” amid clashes with those in his inner circle.

The reasons for Rudiger’s dissatisfaction are kept vague, but this has apparently alerted Chelsea. Indeed, as well as reaching out to the £238,000-per-week defender’s representatives, it is believed Chelsea are “ready to negotiate” re-signing Rudiger if they get the green-light from him or Real.

The 32-year-old, despite some drama behind-closed-doors, has been described by an FT source as “exactly what the dressing room needs”. Rudiger’s experience could also be vital for Maresca’s very young squad, and he’s already a proven Premier League defender.

“He’s a leader, a warrior, exactly what this Chelsea dressing room needs,” said the source.

“There’s no fear about his personality. If anything, that fire is what we’re missing.”

Manchester City are racing a number of other Premier League sides for an “insane” midfielder, whose club are now demanding €60m (£51m) for his services, according to a report.

City set sights on new midfielders

Pep Guardiola is expected to continue the rebuild of his squad this summer, given their drop-off in the Premier League, although they still have a good chance to make a success of the campaign by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.

One area in which Guardiola is keen to strengthen is midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne set to leave at the end of the season, and the Blues are preparing to make a super offer for River Plate attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono.

There may also be a desire to overhaul the central midfield options, given that Ilkay Gundogan is in the twilight years of his career at 34, while Mateo Kovacic is set to turn 31 in just a few days’ time.

Development: Man City now close in on move to sign "world-class" £54m star

The Blues have received a boost in their pursuit of a defender, who they are expected to make a move for this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 29, 2025

Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara has recently emerged as a surprise target, with the Blues making contact over a deal for the Brazilian, and they also have their eye on a Bundesliga star.

That is according to a report from Germany (via Sport Witness), which states Man City are now racing a number of their Premier League rivals for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson.

A deal for Larsson will be on the relatively expensive side, however, with the report stating that Frankfurt are set to hold out for a fee of €60m (£51m) for his services.

Frankfurt are keen to keep hold of the Swedish maestro, but it may be difficult to turn down a big offer from one of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Arsenal and Liverpool also in the race for his signature.

"Insane" Larsson compared to Gundogan

Football scout Ben Mattinson has compared the 20-year-old to Gundogan, claiming he is “similar” to the German midfielder due to his ability to make late runs into the box and score goals.

Scoring goals is clearly the Sweden international’s forte, given that he ranks in the 90th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, but there are signs that he is a well-rounded midfielder.

Mattinson claims the youngster has “insane running power & stamina”, while also singling him out for praise due to his ability to win back possession.

With Gundogan now in the latter stages of his career, Guardiola may be keen on bringing in a like-for-like replacement, and there are plenty of signs that Larsson could be exactly that.

Manchester City are already lining up a few transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 1.

Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been earmarked as potential replacements for the departing Kevin De Bruyne.

That being said, City will have to splash the cash if they wish to land either, as the German is valued at £129m while Nottingham Forest are demanding £100m for their star player.

However, the Citizens are also looking to strengthen at the back.

Man City's search for a defender

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is also reportedly emerging as a player Pep Guardiola wants to have at his disposal.

He isn’t the only full-back on City’s radar, however, as a current Serie A star could be on the move to England.

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In January, the Etihad side were keeping a close watch on Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, yet no move materialised back then.

Fast-forward a few months and Guardiola is keen to follow through on this initial interest when the transfer window opens, according to the Sun, who state that City still want to acquire him this summer.

Juventus appears to be closing in on a replacement for the Italian full-back, which could boost City’s pursuit of the player this summer.

A fee of around €60m (£50m) will be demanded by the Old Lady, one that is certainly affordable for the Manchester side.

While Kerkez would be an ideal long-term option at left-back, Cambiaso has much more experienced and has even enjoyed a better season from a statistical point of view than the Hungarian…

Why Andrea Cambiaso would be a better signing than Milos Kerkez

Kerkez has enjoyed a wonderful campaign for the Cherries throughout 2024/25, and it is perhaps no surprise the likes of City and Liverpool are looking to test their resolve with an offer.

Since joining from Genoa in 2022, Cambiaso has gone about his business steadily, but offers qualities at both ends of the pitch.

Games

30

29 (29)

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

5

Touches

61.2

59.1

Pass completion

92%

80%

Key passes

1.0

1.0

Dribbles

0.8

0.6

Ball recoveries

3.6

4.5

Tackles + interceptions

1.9

2.6

Clearances

0.6

2.8

Duels (won)

3.1 (52%)

4.1 (53%)

There isn’t much between the two City targets, especially regarding attacking metrics, but the Italian does come out on top in a fair few.

Indeed, when assessing data supplied via FBRef, he has registered more shots per 90 (0.63 vs 0.51), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.41 vs 2.26), successful take-ons (25 vs 20) and more goal-creating actions (0.31 vs 0.27) than the Hungarian left-back this season domestically.

Furthermore, the Juventus star has registered a higher pass completion percentage (89.5% vs 75.2%) while winning a higher percentage of aerial duels (37.5% vs 35.2%) per 90 than the Bournemouth youngster.

He was even dubbed “world-class” by European football expert Zach Lowy last season and he could be the ideal fit for Guardiola at City.

Another bonus is his ability to play either on the right or left side of the defence, giving the manager plenty of flexibility when choosing his side. That’s something that the Cherries defender cannot offer. He is solely a left-back.

Kerkez will no doubt go on to have an excellent future in the game, that there is no doubt, but at the current time, Cambiaso could very well be the best signing for the club as they head into a new era next season.

Man City have struck gold on "exceptional" gem worth more than Kerkez

City have hit the jackpot on a current academy graduate who is starring under Guardiola.

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

Arsenal are now preparing a bid for a midfielder who has “enormous potential”, and they believe he would be a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s system, according to a report.

Gunners pursuing a midfielder

Arteta will undoubtedly be very pleased with Declan Rice’s performances recently, with the Englishman scoring two remarkable free-kicks to put the Gunners in a very strong position to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.

However, the manager is keen to strengthen his midfield even further this summer, with the Spaniard and new sporting director Andrea Berta looking to bring in a partner for Rice, and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi remains one of the key targets.

The north Londoners are set to trigger Zubimendi’s £51m release clause, having already reached an agreement on personal terms, but there is set to be stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, with Real Madrid also keen.

Arsenal now among favourites to sign £39m forward after Sane blow

The Gunners are switching to a different option.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 13, 2025

The Real Sociedad maestro is not the only La Liga midfielder on the shortlist, however, with a new report from Spain revealing Arsenal are now leading the race for Valencia’s Javi Guerra, who has emerged as a key player for the Spanish side this season.

Guerra’s performances have attracted the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs, but the Gunners are currently in the driving seat, and they are now preparing to make a considerable offer for his services.

Having closely followed the maestro’s performances, the north Londoners are convinced he would be a perfect fit for Arteta’s system, but it could be tricky to get a deal over the line.

Valencia are reluctant to sanction the midfielder’s departure, given his emergence as an important player, but there is an awareness it will be difficult to keep hold of him, amid widespread interest in his signature.

"Explosive" Guerra could has "enormous potential"

The youngster has established himself as a key player for Valencia this season, making 30 appearances in La Liga, during which time he has picked up two goals and three assists, and there are signs he could get even better.

Valencia director Miguel Angel Corona clearly believes the central midfielder is a future star, saying: “We are fully aware that we have a player with enormous potential for the future and the ability to perform at a good level now.”

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also given an overview of the Valencia star’s abilities, while praising him for a solid display against Celta Vigo earlier this season.

Guerra could be an excellent addition for Arsenal in midfield, so it is exciting news they could soon formalise their interest by making a huge bid.