All posts by h79snht.top

Manchester United secured a remarkable quarter-final triumph over Lyon last night, producing a comeback Sir Alex Ferguson would’ve been proud of.

Ruben Amorim’s side looked to be on the verge of defeat, trailing 4-2 on the night, until three goals in seven minutes secured a place in the semi-final, setting up a clash with Athletic Club.

Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot before substitute Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire scored in the last couple of minutes to secure a phenomenal turnaround.

Such a win has kept the Red Devils’ hopes of ending the season with a trophy alive, now being just three games away from winning yet another European title.

However, despite the victory, numerous players failed to deliver at Old Trafford, potentially putting their starting role in the side at huge risk in the process.

Man Utd’s poor performers against Lyon

Striker Rasmus Hojlund was tasked with the responsibility of leading the line after Joshua Zirkzee was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.

However, the Dane failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way, losing 12 duels – the most of any player on the pitch – whilst also failing to register a single effort on goal.

He wasn’t the only player to disappoint at the Theatre of Dreams, with Andre Onana shipping four goals on his return to the starting eleven after missing the defeat against Newcastle United.

The Cameroonian was helpless with a couple of the efforts, but only managed to complete 69% of the passes he attempted – often putting the backline under needless pressure.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other United player struggled to make a positive impact, with his time at the club needing to come to an end.

The United player who must never play for the club again

Whilst the side produced one of the best comebacks Old Trafford has ever seen, Amorim will have a few question marks to contend with over the next few months.

Hojlund’s lack of form will undoubtedly come into question once again, with his own future up in the air, potentially needing to be moved on to resurrect his once-promising career.

With the summer transfer window looming, a new striker will certainly be top of the manager’s shopping list, with serious firepower needing to be added to take the side back to the summit of the Premier League.

However, he also needs to make a brutal call on the future of Luke Shaw after his failure to impress off the substitutes bench in last night’s iconic turnaround.

The 29-year-old has been extremely prone to injuries over the last couple of years, adding to the list of reasons why he should be moved on during the off-season.

He was brought on to replace Noussair Mazraoui at the break, but struggled to make an impression, giving away the penalty that gave the visitors a two-goal advantage.

Shaw also only completed one of the four crosses he attempted, whilst also giving possession away five times – leading to journalist Adam Joseph labelling his showing as “disastrous”.

Luke Shaw’s stats for Man Utd against Lyon

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

75

Touches

32

Passes completed

22/24 (92%)

Crosses completed

1/4 (25%)

Possession lost

5x

Penalties conceded

1

Ground duels won

0/2 (0%)

Stats via SofaScore

His disappointing showing didn’t stop there, losing 100% of the ground duels he entered, and failing to win a single tackle – struggling to make the desired impact at the back.

As a result of his showing, the defender was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst, highlighting how disappointing he was off the bench.

His inability to produce an encouraging showing, whilst also taking his injury record into account, it’s crucial that Amorim makes the brutal decision to offload him during the upcoming window. Indeed, it would be no surprise if he does not feature again before the campaign is out.

He’s been an excellent servant to the club, but unfortunately he’s no longer at the level required if the side are to return to Premier League glory, needing fresh blood to help them in their quest next campaign.

Related Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd in advanced talks for "out of this world" £52m ace

Man Utd are looking to strengthen in midfield

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Apr 17, 2025

Chelsea have now held internal talks over the possibility of re-signing a star former player, with Enzo Maresca’s side now looking to strengthen yet another area of the squad which could soon be weakened.

Chelsea firmly in Champions League race after win over Fulham

The Blues were staring down the barrel of west London derby defeat to Fulham on Easter Sunday, but thanks to two dramatic late goals from Tyrique George and Pedro Neto, Maresca’s blushes were spared.

Related Chelsea preparing £43m offer for "surprising" new striker target

The west Londoners have another name on their agenda.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

The 2-1 win at Craven Cottage keeps Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification firmly alive, and there are more than four spots up for grabs this year amid a tight race for fifth with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.

Defeat at Fulham would’ve spelled disaster for Maresca, but Neto’s 93rd minute winner sparked jubilation in the away end and could come as a season-defining strike.

“Personally, the goal from Pedro doesn’t change my view from the season,” said Maresca on Neto’s late goal.

“I said three or four days ago, and I will repeat, Chelsea in the last two years have never been in a Champions League spot and this season we spent the whole season there. So today’s win doesn’t change my view.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

“It’s already a good season and can become very good if we finish in a Champions League spot, no doubt. But for sure today was an important win because first of all it’s a derby, second it gives us the chance to be there and probably was the most difficult win and the reason why is because they all played yesterday, so for us it was a must-win game. And I think after we conceded the goal is the reason why we struggled a bit more because for the players it became more difficult and second half we were much better.”

The race for Europe will also be crucial in determining the club’s transfer plans for this summer, as it will boost the club’s budget and do wonders in attracting their top targets for next season.

Chelsea discuss re-signing Man City legend Kevin De Bruyne

Now, as per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, an attacking midfielder could be on the agenda for Chelsea, with Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Carney Chukwuemeka all likely to be sold or loaned out in the summer.

They’ve also refused to rule out bringing in veteran players if they come as good value, prompting them to consider a move for Man City legend and former Cobham star Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian is out-of-contract and set to leave Eastlands this summer, bringing an end to 10 years of major success at City where he’s been right at the heart of their dominance.

He is undoubtedly one of the best creative midfielders the Premier League has ever seen, and Phillips now reports that Chelsea are internally discussing re-signing De Bruyne, 11 years after Jose Mourinho sold the player to Wolfsburg for just £17 million.

His “beloved” status at the Blues follows a decade of stunning performances, where he’s also managed 107 goals and 177 assists in all competitions.

The 33-year-old has suffered from his fair share of injury problems in the last two seasons, though, and would likely need to take a cut on his sky-high £400,000-per-week salary.

Crystal Palace are now in a fight with fellow Premier League side Wolves over the signing of an £8.5 million striker, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace's summer plans become clearer

Oliver Glasner has not only stabilised the situation at Selhurst Park and led the Eagles out of relegation trouble, but he has also led the South Londoners to the FA Cup final.

Related New target: Crystal Palace interested in signing "fantastic" £9m "monster"

The Eagles have set their sights on a midfielder, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer.

Posts ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

By winning that famous English trophy, Palace would seal their place in next season’s Europa League as well, and that achievement could do wonders for Palace’s summer transfer budget. Already the Eagles are being linked with several players, as Glasner plots a few changes to his squad this summer.

According to Caught Offside, Palace are in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon. The Premier League side are considered dark horses in the race, given that teams such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

Meanwhile, last week it was reported that Palace could be a step closer to their first signing of the summer, as they have opened talks with Tamiou Kpebane, who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. The 18-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer, and the Eagles are working on bringing him to South London.

Crystal Palace working to beat Wolves to signing of £8.5m striker

Glasner appears to have his eyes on strengthening all parts of his team this summer, as according to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are eyeing a move to sign Phil Harres from German side Holstein Kiel.

The report states that the Eagles have made regular checks on the centre-forward throughout this season and see him as a player who could become a star. However, they are not alone, as Wolves are also keeping a close eye on him, as well as many other teams across Europe.

The 23-year-old joined Holstein Kiel last summer and has made a solid first impression, netting eight goals in 23 league games. But the Bundesliga side are battling relegation and could be resigned to losing their striker, as they value Harres at £8.5 million heading into the summer.

Harres, who has been dubbed an “instinctive” finisher in the past, is naturally a centre-forward, but he can also play as a right-winger, which would be ideal for Glasner as he likes to have flexibility in his forward line.

Current Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this summer, but the talk of Harres arriving isn’t likely seen as a replacement for the Frenchman but, in fact, a player who can take some of the burden away in terms of being the constant source of goals.

The one concern would be that Harres has only played football in Germany. Therefore, he would arrive with no Premier League experience and could take some time to adjust, given the Bundesliga has produced a fair few flops on English soil.

Heading towards the end of what could yet turn into another season with no silverware, Arsenal have already reportedly set their sights on summer targets and are now willing to table an opening offer to sign a La Liga ace.

Arsenal's alarming form after Bournemouth defeat

Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean that their chase is over in the battle to secure their Champions League place. Mikel Arteta’s side simply wipe their title tears and go again in the Premier League if they are to avoid the ultimate disaster.

Sat second – three points above Manchester City and four above a Newcastle United side who have a game in hand – there’s still every chance that the Gunners drop to fourth in the coming weeks. It’s also worth noting that, should Nottingham Forest defeat Crystal Palace, Arsenal will only be four points in front of sixth place and dropping out of the Champions League places.

Defeat against Bournemouth was the fourth time that Arteta’s side failed to win in the Premier League in their last five games and alarm bells should finally be ringing over their need to swiftly secure European football and end a season full of frustration.

Arteta had his say after Bournemouth came from behind to shock Arsenal at the Emirates, telling reporters: “We started and we did the most difficult one to score the goal. I think after that we had four or five very open situations to score the second one.

“We didn’t kill it and after that, on top of that, you defend the box really poorly, the way we’ve done it in the two set-pieces that we have conceded again. So they’re going to punish you and a team like Bournemouth, they’re going to punish you. And after that the game becomes rushed, very chaotic.

“That’s why they want big spaces. They have more legs than us, especially with sets and plays that were struggling in the final minutes. And we weren’t able to get the result that we wanted, so we’re very disappointed.”

Arsenal willing to table bid to sign Garcia

Already looking to put this season behind them, those in North London have seemingly set their sights on a new shot-stopper. According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are now willing to table an offer worth €30m (£25m) to sign Joan Garcia this summer.

In what would be one of Andrea Berta’s first acts as sporting director, the Gunners could finally get their man a year on from reportedly agreeing personal terms to secure his arrival from Espanyol before a deal collapsed.

At 24 years old, the Spaniard is likely to arrive as a backup for David Raya before one day replacing the 29-year-old Arsenal goalkeeper. Potentially fending off competition from Bournemouth, the North London giants could kick their summer off with the arrival of Garcia.

17 defeats. That’s the dismal record Manchester United have been on the receiving end of this season.

Despite that, they could still qualify for the Champions League. It’s funny how football all works out, isn’t it?

Just days ago, the Red Devils were celebrating their place in the Europa League final, but things just continue to go from bad to worse on the domestic scene.

Last weekend, they were on the end of a 4-3 defeat at Brentford and despite that win over Bilbao in midweek, they could not carry any momentum in this weekend’s events.

West Ham were the visitors to old Trafford on this occasion and they came away with a 2-0 win, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen scoring.

United didn’t get on the scoresheet but they really should have. They may have scored seven across their two semi-final legs but in the Premier League, it’s all been rather laboured in the final third.

Why Man United’s attack is struggling

This was never going to be an overnight fix for Ruben Amorim upon replacing Erik ten Hag but not even the former Sporting coach would have expected things to be quite this challenging.

One of the biggest reasons for their lack of potency hasn’t just been the finishing ability of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund but it could be argued that there’s a lack of creativity and the squad doesn’t possess the right players to get the most out of Amorim’s system.

Patrick Dorgu was signed in January as a wing-back but the manager will need to strengthen significantly in those areas over the summer.

Dorgu

With Amad also injured for the last few months, it’s meant that United have had to rely solely on Bruno Fernandes to carve out goalscoring opportunities. The captain has had a wonderful campaign, registering 38 goal involvements in all competitions, but even his threat has waned in the last several weeks, failing to score a Premier League goal in his last six matches.

So, with Fernandes faltering, they’ve not really had an answer elsewhere. That was all too apparent against West Ham on Sunday.

Yes, the squad may have been fatigued, but it’s evident that, first and foremost, Fernandes doesn’t thrive as well in a deeper position and secondly, that Kobbie Mainoo does not suit this system, playing in one of the central no.10 positions.

He doesn’t score many goals at the best of times and even a re-energised Mason Mount couldn’t expose the Hammers this weekend.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

Hojlund too has struggled, largely due to a lack of service. Truth be told, he should have found the net against Graham Potter’s men, only emphasising the problems Amorim faces in their forward line.

How Hojlund is now becoming Man United’s new Martial

Let’s cast our minds back to the summer of 2015. It’s September and Anthony Martial has just become the most expensive teenager of all time, trading the principality of Monaco for a move to the north west of England in a deal worth £36m.

At the time, he was being billed as one of France’s next great football players. In fact, Martial was rated so highly that one part of the terms in his move involved a Ballon d’Or clause which would see Monaco receive another payment should the forward be named the world’s best player.

Well, it’s safe to say he never even came close to living up to that hype. Martial spent nine years at Old Trafford in a stint where he failed to live up to the immense promise many expected of him.

Across 317 appearances in United red, he did actually score 90 goals which is a pretty impressive record by all accounts.

15 of those came in his debut campaign and there was there was even the 23-goal season of 2019/20 to shout about. However, from that moment onwards, he only bagged another 20 in United colours before departing in 2024. He’s now at AEK Athens in Greece.

There are certain similarities between Hojlund and Martial here. Signed for an enormous fee as a young forward, a ridiculous £72m to be exact, the Dane had a promising first season and could still come good.

He netted 16 goals in his first season at the club, one more than Martial’s opening year, but it does feel as though Hojlund’s United career will also go down as a story of unfulfilled promise.

The simple fact is that despite boasting some impressive attributes, namely a powerful running style and the ability to gallop down the channels, he’s an incredibly frustrating player all the same.

There has certainly been a lack of service for the former Atalanta striker this season but even when given chances, he’s fluffed his lines. That was certainly the case against West Ham on Sunday.

Hojlund vs West Ham

Minutes played

90

Touches

31

Accurate passes

9/15 (60%)

Shots on target

2

Shots off target

4

Expected goals (xG)

1.31

Successful dribbles

0/2

Big chances missed

2

Ground duels won

1/6

Aerial duels won

3/8

Possession lost

13x

Stats via Sofascore.

In the process of amassing just 31 touches and only completing 60% of his passes, he wasted two glorious chances which rather typified his season.

To his credit, Hojlund busted a gut to get on the end of the first one, but after Amad had played his teammate in, the 20-year-old could only stick the shot straight at the on-rushing Alphonse Areola. The second opportunity was even more glaring.

About three or four yards out, the net was gaping and ready for Hojlund to find the net, only for Areola to race across his line and keep out the shot. It was a remarkable save but it certainly looked easier to score than it did to miss.

The £85k-per-week forward was handed a low 4/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst as a result, who himself lamented that late effort that Areola denied.

While there are some pretty obvious differences between Hojlund and Martial, notably that the latter did go through a prolific spell, their stories of being signed for a colossal sum of money at a young age bear similarities.

Amorim and Co will just hope he can find more consistency than the Frenchman ever did on English shores.

Related Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd star who was as bad as Ugarte vs West Ham

Manchester United suffered a 17th defeat of the Premier League season.

Posts 1 ByMatt Dawson May 11, 2025

Leeds United face the unenviable task of having to recruit for a season in the Premier League after they won the Championship title to earn promotion to the big time.

The last six teams that were promoted from the second tier were all relegated in their first seasons in the top-flight, which speaks to how difficult the task ahead will be for the Whites.

However, Leeds already know what it takes to achieve survival in their first season back in the Premier League, because they finished in the top-half under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

The West Yorkshire outfit lost 4-3 to Liverpool in a thrilling match on the opening day of the term, before they went on to comfortably avoid relegation.

Exceptional recruitment work done by Victor Orta and Bielsa underpinned their success that season, as they made several key signings to bolster the squad.

Arguably, the most successful signing that the Whites made ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was the addition of Raphinha from Rennes on a permanent deal.

Leeds hit the jackpot with Raphinha

Leeds swooped to sign the Brazilian attacker from the French side in a deal that was reported to be worth £17m plus add-ons, and it turned out to be a huge bargain.

Coming up from the Championship, Bielsa’s side needed an injection of quality to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and that is exactly what Raphinha provided with his quality at the top end of the pitch from a right wing position.

20/21 Premier League

Raphinha

Appearances

30

Goals

6

Big chances created

12

Key passes per game

2.1

Assists

9

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international made an instant impact in the top-flight with a return of 18 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 30 appearances.

Raphinha was not done there, though, as the left-footed magician scored 11 goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 35 appearances in the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign to steer Jesse Marsch’s team clear of relegation.

Raphinha’s incredible form for Leeds in the Premier League in his two seasons at Elland Road, unfortunately, attracted interest from elsewhere, and he signed for Barcelona in a deal worth a reported £55m in the summer of 2022.

In the present day, the former Whites star has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches for the Spanish giants this season, in what has been a phenomenal campaign for him on an individual level.

Whilst Raphinha has kicked on to become a superstar in European football with Barcelona, Leeds are still looking for their next winger to shine on the Premier League stage.

Leeds United's wingers since Raphinha left

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in the season after the Brazilian sensation moved on from Elland Road, which points to how important he was to the side.

The Whites ended that term without any of their wingers scoring more than five goals or assisting more than seven goals in the top-flight, which shows that they failed to adequately replace Raphinha’s impact at the top end of the pitch.

Leeds United’s top-performing wingers since Raphinha left

Season

Most goals (all comps)

Most assists (all comps)

24/25 (Championship)

Dan James (12)

Manor Solomon (13)

23/24 (Championship)

Crysencio Summerville (21)

Crysencio Summerville (10)

22/23 (Premier League)

Luis Sinisterra (7)

Jack Harrison (10)

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Dan James hit double figures for goals and Manor Solomon hit double figures for assists, but it remains to be seen how that translates to the top division, after Crysencio Summerville’s struggles this term.

The Dutch forward, who left Leeds to sign for West Ham last summer, only scored one goal and provided one assist in 19 Premier League games for the Hammers this season, which suggests that he has failed to make the step up to the top tier as of yet.

Leeds, therefore, have not had a winger who has had the quality to make a consistent impact at the top level since Raphinha left, but they could change that by signing reported transfer target Dazien Maeda, who is reportedly valued at £25m.

Why Leeds should sign Daizen Maeda

The Whites should swoop to sign the Celtic superstar in the upcoming summer transfer window because he could be their best winger signing since they brought Raphinha in from Rennes in the summer of 2020.

Maeda, dubbed an “amazing role model” by Brendan Rodgers, just ended his 2024/25 campaign with the Scottish giants and enjoyed an unbelievable year on a personal level.

The 27-year-old sensation scored a staggering 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which means that Raphinha only outscored him by one goal for Barcelona, and he has scored at least 12 more goals than any other Leeds winger has in one season in the last three years.

These statistics show that the Celtic star has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the Leeds squad as a winger, who typically plays on the left flank, with the quality to score and create goals at an incredible rate.

Some supporters may question the quality of Scottish football and how it translates to the Premier League, as is the case with the Championship, but Maeda also showcased his quality on the biggest stage of all in the Champions League.

24/25 Champions League

Daizen Maeda

Appearances

9

xG

2.80

Goals

4

Conversion rate

27%

Big chances created

1

Assists

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Hoops star outperformed his xG to score an impressive four goals in nine Champions League games, which included goals against German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

This shows that the Japanese ace, who has been described as a “machine” by coaches, has the quality to make a big impact in the final third against some of the biggest teams in Europe, which suggests that he could adapt to the level of the Premier League.

Related “Top class” star is absolutely finished at Leeds if the 49ers sign Wilson

This Leeds United star’s career at Elland Road could be over if Callum Wilson signs.

Posts ByDan Emery May 20, 2025

Therefore, Leeds could sign their best winger since Raphinha by splashing £25m on Maeda in the upcoming summer transfer window, because he has the statistics and the performances at the top level to suggest that he would be a high-quality addition to Daniel Farke’s squad.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy have some key decisions to make in the near future, which even stretch beyond manager Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham's transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

With Levy yet to fully decide on whether to stick or twist with Postecoglou, following a season of extreme highs to the lowest of lows, the Lilywhites chief will need to commit to a direction soon as we enter the summer transfer window.

Related Tottenham prepared to pay £68m for ex-Arsenal gem who gave Ange nightmares

They could also propose a player-plus-cash deal.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini May 31, 2025

Postecoglou’s position in the dugout will greatly determine how Spurs tackle their recruitment strategy, and with the first mini-window now upon us – open from June 1 to June 10 – supporters will be eager for the Australian’s future to resolved as soon as possible.

There are reports that Levy and technical director Johan Lange have identified targets, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze among the players attracting Tottenham’s keen interest.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, it is unlikely they can make any serious moves until they have some clarity regarding Postecoglou, who guided the club to their first major trophy in 17 years but also set a dismal Tottenham record for most Premier League defeats in a single season (22).

It appears an attacker is firmly on the agenda at Spurs, amid links to Eze and Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané, with Spurs chiefs reportedly keen to add more experience to their youthful squad.

“Spurs don’t have to sell to buy, with Champions League qualification huge for the club,” said Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge in a Q&A, providing some answers on the club’s transfer plans.

“All areas, apart from the goalkeeping department, will be looked at. Midfield and forward would be the priority if Cristian Romero stays.”

There are many intriguing market opportunities for Spurs to consider, and one of them comes in the form of wantaway £195,000-per-week Chelsea winger Christopher Nkunku.

The France international bagged 14 goals in all competitions under Enzo Maresca last season, despite barely starting, and he can play in a variety of attacking roles – namely on the left-wing, attacking midfield, second striker and as a centre-forward.

Tottenham plotting bid to sign Christopher Nkunku on loan

Spurs made an enquiry for Nkunku recently, as reported by reliable GiveMeSport journalist Ben Jacobs, so he appears to be a genuine target for Levy.

Now, Chelsea News, a site run by another reliable journalist in Simon Phillips, reports that Tottenham are considering a loan bid for Nkunku with an option to buy the 27-year-old.

The former RB Leipzig star’s final price tag could apparently be around £46 million plus bonuses, which would take it to £55 million, but both Spurs and Newcastle are keen to take him on an initial temporary deal before paying anywhere near that amount.

Even though Chelsea would prefer an outright sale, there is an acceptance within Stamford Bridge that they may have to green-light such a move, with the Blues keen to get him off their books.

Nkunku could be an excellent deal for Tottenham given his quality, experience and versatility, with the option of remaining in London also potentially attractive for the player.

Aston Villa are now ready to hijack AFC Bournemouth’s transfer to sign an “outrageous” up and coming defender, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa identify replacement for key star

Since making the move to Villa Park, goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s career has gone from strength to strength, as he’s established himself as one of the best keepers in England and the world, given his heroics for Argentina, where he won the Golden Glove award in the 2022 World Cup.

Related Aston Villa join battle for "fantastic" midfielder in cut-price £8m deal

He’s a wanted man.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 8, 2025

Now at the age of 32, Martinez may feel it is the right time for him to leave Villa and move to the next stage of his career. The Argentine is still under contract until 2029, but transfer speculation is continuing to mount, as Manchester United have reportedly made an approach over a possible move this summer. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have also been in the mix, and the Villans’ need to balance sales with incomings could create the perfect storm for his departure.

So as Martinez weighs up his future, Unai Emery and co. are looking at options to replace the 32-year-old, and OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka is someone club chiefs have identified. He is believed to be Villa’s first choice to replace Martinez, but they do face competition for his signature, as Marseille are also interested in signing the shot-stopper.

Aston Villa ready to hijack Bournemouth transfer to sign £20m defender

As the Villans look to strengthen their goalkeeper department, Emery also wants a new defender, and according to The Sun, Aston Villa are ready to join the battle to sign Adrien Truffert from Rennes.

The report states that Emery is in the market for a new left-back despite having Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen at his disposal, with the former now in his thirties and out of contract in 2026. However, Bournemouth are already chasing a deal for the defender, and it is claimed they are close to agreeing a £20 million deal with Rennes.

Villa will have to match the Cherries’ offer to stand a chance of signing the 23-year-old, but before they can do that, they will have to move a player on to abide with PSR.

Adrien Truffert’s Rennes stats

Apps

191

Goals

9

Assists

23

In fact, the defender has yet to earn a senior international call-up, and his thinking may be that a move to the Premier League could open that door. Bournemouth do appear to be ahead in the race, but Villa may have a way of beating the Cherries to a deal, with Truffert represented by the same agency as current Villa defender Enzi Konsa, perhaps allowing the Villans a smoother path in negotiations.

Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are getting busy behind-the-scenes, and supporters are very eager to see them strengthen with key new signings after a lacklustre Premier League title challenge.

Mikel Arteta has already expressed the need for Gunners officials to bolster his squad in certain areas, with the Spaniard publicly predicting a “big” next few months in the transfer window.

Related Their answer to Mbeumo: Arsenal bidding hard to sign £53m "level-raiser"

The dynamic winger would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 16, 2025

The arrival of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has already been agreed after months of talks dating back to January, and despite some concerns over his cryptic comments recently, the move apparently remains on track with Arsenal regarding the Spaniard as “done and signed” (David Ornstein).

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are still believed to be closing in on a deal for Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga too (BBC), despite the wait for an official confirmation from north London, but a lot of the noise is centered around their pursuit of a striker.

Last week, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres was reportedly subject to a failed bid from Arsenal, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, with Berta appearing to simultaneously work on deals for both the 27-year-old and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

As reported by Romano there, talks remain ongoing over the latter despite the Gyokeres noise, coming after the Slovenia international rounded off a career-best Bundesliga campaign with 21 goals in all competitions last season.

However, there are some discrepancies over his price tag, and he could end up being a costly operation, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg saying that Sesko’s final price could be up to £85 million despite reports of a release clause below that figure.

Arsenal could sign Benjamin Sesko in the next two weeks

According to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, speaking on a call with the broadcast giant this week, an Arsenal move for Sesko remains alive, and they could still strike a deal for the 22-year-old before the end of June.

“Well, I think it also comes down to the player. If they agree a fee for Sesko, I think that one could actually be done when the window opens on the 16th of June,” said Jacobs.

“I’m not saying day one of when the window reopens, but certainly in the last two weeks of this month.”

Sesko is a player who Arsenal wanted last summer and attempted to sign in January (Ben Jacobs), so he’s long been on Arteta’s radar, but the negotiations appear to be dragging on somewhat – indicating some potential issues behind-closed-doors.

News of Gyokeres being very keen on a move to N5 in his stead comes as a welcome boost for Arsenal, though, with their striker search shaping up to be one of the major stories of the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur and their recruitment plans under Thomas Frank are evolving by the day, with the Lilywhites currently involved in a transfer saga with La Liga champions Barcelona.

Spurs are expected to utilise the significant financial windfall from their Champions League qualification over the coming months.

Related Frank holds Tottenham talks over signing £300k-p/w ace who's open to joining

The Spurs boss has been discussing him with Lilywhites hierarchy.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge recently stated that Daniel Levy and the recruitment team want to strengthen in all areas of the squad bar their goalkeeper, so it appears they’re determined to back their new manager ahead of his first full season in charge.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

This apparently includes a new right-back, despite the emergence of previous outcast Djed Spence in a more regular first-team role and Pedro Porro’s place in the squad.

Spence became a fixture under Ange Postecoglou and finished 2024/2025 as one of Tottenham’s breakout stars of the campaign, and there is reason to believe that Frank will be keen to work with the Englishman given Brentford’s attempts to sign him in the past (Alasdair Gold).

While the north Londoners won’t need to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy this summer after their qualification for the Champions League (Michael Bridge), reports have suggested that Spence’s evolution could motivate Levy to offload Porro for a decent fee.

As well as this, Porro is attracting rumoured interest from former club Man City, so the Spaniard could well look to end his Spurs stint on a high after winning the Europa League.

If he does end up leaving Spurs, Frank will still need a replacement who can rotate with Spence, and Monaco defender Vanderson could be a very adept choice. A report from UOL earlier this week stated that Tottenham are ready to invest significantly on Vanderson’s signing, but Barcelona’s talks for the 23-year-old proved a major obstacle in their way.

Tottenham "best placed" to sign Vanderson from Monaco

However, as per an update from Spanish newspaper Sport, this is no longer the case.

Barca have decided to cool their interest in Vanderson, due to Eric Garcia’s excellent performances at right-back when Jules Koundé was out injured towards the back end of 2024/2025. This has opened the door for Spurs, who could now have a free run at signing the South American wing-back.

Tottenham are apparently “best placed” to sign Vanderson, and Monaco are convinced that Frank’s side will meet his £30 million asking price.

Despite his fairly young age, the defender boasts top-level European experience and his Ligue 1 performances over the last 12 months have earned him five starts for the Brazil national team.

He also put in an excellent display against Barca in the Champions League early last season, grabbing two assists for Monaco in a 2-1 win against Hansi Flick’s side.

“Every day he wants to be better than the last,” said his former manager, Philippe Clement.

“That can give him a lot of pressure, lots of stress with all of the ambition that he has. We need to manage that more for him. If I left him to it, he would train for 18 hours a day. He is like that. Sometimes we need physical and mental breaks and he is a young player that needs to manage that. He will do it, because he has such a positive frame of mind.”