Arsenal chiefs are now targeting an “all-round” forward, who arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for last summer.

Andrea Berta's transfer plans for Arsenal this summer

The Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, looks set to be a very busy man when the transfer window reopens for business.

Injury to Arsenal star stops Berta from signing two players in key position

The north Londoners had a potentially ambitious plan.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 1, 2025

Manager Mikel Arteta has already admitted that the club are set for a “big” summer after Berta’s arrival, and the Spaniard is “excited” by what could be in store.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s transfer plans ahead of next season.

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

“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.

“But it’s a big summer for many things, because first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then, obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with a host of players looking set to depart N5.

Neto will return to Bournemouth after his straight loan expires, while Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic after agreeing a pre-contract with his former club in the winter window.

Arsenal are expected to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko as well, and veteran midfielder Jorginho will be free to find a new club after his contract expires on June 30th – emphasising the need for new arrivals in key areas.

Thomas Partey and Arsenal are in negotiations over a contract extension right now, but a new midfielder remains high on Berta’s agenda, amid reports a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is close.

Arsenal are internally behaving like they’ve already signed Zubimendi, according to David Ornstein. Meanwhile, as Arteta’s side also reportedly chase new wide options, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is emerging as an option.

Arsenal targeting Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal are targeting Ramsey as a potential option, and a Villa Park exit for the 23-year-old isn’t entirely ruled out.

Ramsey has been a firm regular under Unai Emery this term, making 43 appearances in all competitions, where he’s predominantly featured on the left-wing. The Englishman could be a solid alternative to Gabriel Martinelli on that side, but Arsenal are not the only north London club to conjure up ideas about signing Ramsey.

According to The Times, Tottenham made a part-exchange bid for Ramsey, offering Villa £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso, but this offer was rejected out of hand.

Called an “all-round” player by ex-Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ramsey’s rumoured price tag stands at around £50 million, so Berta will have to pay a significant fee if he wishes to seal an Arsenal deal.

It may feel like we’re in the thick of the summer transfer window, Liverpool fans, but that’s not the case. Rather, FSG are working with incredible prudence to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will likely feature for the final time as a Liverpool player on Sunday in the season’s closing game against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, but sporting director Richard Hughes has already engineered and wrapped up a move for his successor.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong will play for the Merseysiders next season, with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez also being pursued, discussions at an advanced stage.

Liverpool need something more in attack, too. While Mohamed Salah has forged an individual season for the ages, he’s perhaps been let down at times by his peers.

After penning a two-year extension, the Egyptian King needs to be supplemented by some elite-level firepower, someone capable of being his next Sadio Mane.

FSG may well have found just the man for the job.

Liverpool pushing to seal marquee signing

According to the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, Liverpool’s ambitious push to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is very much intact, with FSG doing everything in their power to bring the 22-year-old under Slot’s influence.

Transfer Focus

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

Liverpool have been locked in a transfer battle with Bayern Munich for the talented midfielder’s services, and have been emboldened in recent days after Manchester City dropped out the race. Die Roten, however, remain favourites at this stage.

The truth is Liverpool will do all they can to get a deal done for Wirtz, Germany’s poster boy. However, given that the Bundesliga champions are also doing everything in their power to sign the playmaker, it’s not going to be easy.

In spite of the Germany international’s €150m (equating to about £126m) price tag, FSG are willing to green-light a staggering club-record transfer.

Here’s why.

Why Wirtz could be Slot's new "superstar"

Some might question why Liverpool aren’t instead preparing to fork out a similar sum on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but if the Magpies seal a place in next season’s Champions League, the Swedish striker isn’t going anywhere.

And anyway, with Alexander-Arnold set to depart and take his boundless creativity with him, Liverpool need to find a new playmaker-in-chief.

That could be Wirtz, who, aged 22, has already overcome a crushing ACL injury to win an invincible domestic double, win the Bundesliga Player of the Year and be called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes.

Attacking midfield

169

48

57

Left winger

21

4

5

Right winger

17

8

5

Centre-forward

15

7

7

Central midfield

5

0

3

He’s the real deal, all right. After just 197 senior appearances for his current club, the 5 foot 9 midfielder has scored 57 goals and supplied 65 assists, showcasing a level of reliability in the final third that the likes of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai don’t project with the regularity of Salah.

Or Mane, for that matter. You could say that Wirtz stands a stellar chance of becoming Slot’s own version of the Senegalese legend, whose “world-class” attacking threat, as remarked by Jurgen Klopp, hasn’t yet been recaptured by any signing at Liverpool.

Mane signed for Liverpool in 2015, leaving Southampton for a £34m fee. He devoted the prime years of his career to Anfield and left a legend, instrumental in conquering the Premier League and the Champions League.

Though typically playing off the left, Mane was positionally fluid and made a menace of himself through remarkable powers of intensity, overwhelming his opponents before finding space to strike on goal.

Wirtz is more central (see the table above), but he does enjoy playing out on the left, with his heatmap from the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign suggesting he drifts over more often than not.

It would give Slot a new tactical piece to play with, in any case. Wirtz has only missed eight big chances across Leverkusen’s league and European campaigns this year, scoring 16 goals. Moreover, he’s created 21 big chances, denoting his immense playmaking ability that will allow the Reds to transition away from the Alexander-Arnold era, such as it is.

As per FBref, Wirtz ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal contributions, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

The German’s unrelenting energy in driving the ball forward is something to be admired. It’s something, perhaps, that is Mane-esque.

With flair and fleet feet and a deadly switch when placed at the end of an attacking sequence, Wirtz is the real deal. ESPN correspondent Rob Palmer called him a “superstar in the making” a few weeks ago, but he may well already be of the highest station.

Liverpool need to get it done, giving Salah the perfect new attacking partner to win more silverware over the next few years.

He'd be incredible with Kerkez: FSG want to sign £50m "tank" for Liverpool

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

Rangers are now “definitely” targeting an “unbelievable” manager as a potential alternative to Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Gers' new manager pursuit rumbles on

The Gers have been without a permanent manager since the end of February, at which point Philippe Clement was dismissed, and they are yet to find a successor to Barry Ferguson, who has been the interim boss since the Belgian’s departure.

However, it appears as though the 49ers are now stepping up their pursuit, with Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti recently emerging as a major target, having submitted an offer to lure the Italian away from the European heavyweights.

Ancelotti is not the only target in the frame, however, with Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl still under consideration, while there have also been whispers that Steven Gerrard could be in line for a return to Ibrox.

Sky Sports: Rangers considering move for "ultra-positive" 3-4-2-1 manager

The Gers have set their sights on a “great man manager” to replace Barry Ferguson this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025

In an interview with Football Insider, Brown has now revealed that Gerrard is under consideration to replace Ferguson in the Rangers dugout, while also stating he can envisage the 44-year-old returning to his former club.

The former scout said: “I’m always a little bit concerned when players or managers go back. But Gerrard is very well thought-of in Glasgow and he’s very well-connected in the game.

“That will give Rangers a boost, like we saw the first time he was there, in the transfer market which could be key for them when the window opens.

“I can see Gerrard going back, he’s definitely one of the targets, but they need a clear direction and clear path to go and improve.”

"Unbelievable" Gerrard is proven at Ibrox

Brown may be correct to have reservations about the Liverpool legend returning to Ibrox, especially considering his managerial career hasn’t kicked on since leaving the Gers, being sacked by Aston Villa before failing to pull up any trees with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

However, the Englishman, who likes to utilise a 4-3-3 formation, knows what it takes to win the Scottish Premiership title, having led Rangers to glory in the 2020-21 campaign, picking up 102 points and going the entire league season undefeated.

In that sense, a move for the ex-Liverpool man could make sense ahead of Ancelotti, given that the 35-year-old is yet to prove himself in the hot-seat, having only been assistant manager to his father, Carlo, during spells with Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Madrid.

However, the way in which Gerrard left the Scottish side the first time around left a bitter taste, so it may also be a wise idea for the 49ers to get the new era underway by appointing a totally new manager.

A £50 million-rated Crystal Palace star has now told club chiefs that he is ready to leave this summer amid interest from Manchester United and others, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace chasing midfield reinforcements

Whether Palace win the FA Cup and therefore secure Europa League football or not, it looks as though the South Londoners are going to be very busy in the summer transfer window.

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.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, Palace announced that midfielder Will Hughes agreed a new contract until 2027, but it is still clear Oliver Glasner and co. have their eyes on adding to their options in the middle of the park. Highly-rated Sunderland pair Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have been linked with moves to Selhurst Park, but they are not the only options under consideration.

Palace are now interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City, as the midfielder can leave the Foxes for just £9 million, given that he has a relegation clause.

However, they are not alone in the race, as Everton and Fulham from the Premier League are also interested in a deal. Palace are also in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from French side Lyon. However, the Premier League side are considered ‘dark horses’ in the race, given that there are many other teams from England also looking to snap up the exciting attacker.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out

Signing players like Ndidi and Cherki may become a top priority for the Eagles, given the fact they could be about to lose a key player. According to TBR Football, Eberechi Eze has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Premier League teams.

TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey has now reported that Eze feels it is the right time for him to leave Palace. This news comes amid significant interest from teams in the Premier League – Manchester United are hopeful of signing Eze, while Spurs consider signing Eze as a replacement for Son Heung-min and Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to secure a deal.

Bailey said on Eze’s situation: “Much will depend on Palace’s demands around his release clause; very few are needed to be paid in one lump sum, and I don’t believe that Palace will do that to Eze either. Tottenham love the player; we know that – but they are not alone – Manchester City like him a lot. I am told that Pep Guardiola is an admirer.

“City are looking at bolstering their attacking midfield ranks, but Florian Wirtz is ahead of him in that regard, and I believe so are Lucas Paqueta, Charles De Ketelaere and Francisco Trincão, but I would not dismiss it totally. Newcastle and Aston Villa also admire him, and if he does go – it will be a team playing in Europe.

Apps

142

Goals

30

Assists

23

“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all fully aware of him and are fans of his talents, but I don’t believe he is a priority for them as it stands. Eze, for his part, feels the time is right to move and has expressed this to Palace.”

Eze, who has been dubbed “frightening” by teammate Joel Ward, would cost teams a minimum of £50 million this summer.

Attackers have usually been the players to capture the hearts of the Manchester United fanbase over the last few years, catapulting the side to various levels of success.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy are just three attackers who have started at Old Trafford since the turn of the decade – helping the club win countless Premier League titles.

The Portuguese star has undoubtedly gone on to achieve massive things in the professional game, banking the Red Devils a huge profit after leaving in a £80m deal back in the summer of 2009.

However, fast-forward to the present day, Ruben Amorim doesn’t have such talent at his disposal within the final third, contributing to their lowly Premier League standing.

The summer transfer window presents a huge opportunity to strengthen such a department ahead of 2025/26, with countless players already touted with a switch to the North West.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Even though the transfer window is yet to open, the centre-forward position has been the one with the most interest, with various players in the frame to switch to United.

Liam Delap has been the name at the top of the list over the past few weeks, with the Amorim’s side said to be in pole position to trigger his £30m relegation release clause this summer.

However, he’s not the only forward who’s been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo also on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the Red Devils are preparing a £65m bid for the Cherries forward, who’s managed to register 11 goals and six assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that the interest in the 25-year-old has come directly from the manager, with the boss seeing the Ghanaian as the perfect attacking option to transform his side.

Why United’s £65m target would be perfect alongside Cunha

Matheus Cunha has been another name on the lips of United supporters over the last couple of months, with the Wolves attacker appearing to edge closer to a move to join the club.

The Brazilian international has been a key target in recent times, with various reports claiming that Amorim’s side are willing to trigger the £62.5m release clause within his current deal at Molineux.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed talks were still at an advanced stage between the club and the 25-year-old, with the prospect of no European football no issue to Cunha.

His tally of 15 goals and six assists in the league this season would certainly improve the current situation, operating in an attacking midfield role should he complete a switch to the Theatre of Dreams.

Cunha’s figures of two chances created and 2.1 successful dribbles per 90 showcase the threat he poses in attacking areas, handing Semenyo the ammunition to succeed alongside the Brazilian international.

The Cherries attacker has also thrived in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25, which could see him form a deadly partnership with the current Wolves gem based on their respective figures.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Sue Smith, has registered 3.6 shots per 90 this campaign, along with 1.2 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball, offering the side a needed eye for goal.

Antoine Semenyo’s stats for Bournemouth in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

35

Goals & assists

14

Pass accuracy

78%

Shots taken

3.6

Shots on target per game

1.2

Dribbles completed

55%

Aerials won

1.9

Touches in opposition box

5.9

Stats via FotMob

He’s also completed 55% of the dribbles he’s attempted, along with 1.9 aerials won, handing Amorim an all-round option to run the channels and play off should they need a focal point.

The Ghanian’s impressive figures don’t stop there, averaging 5.9 touches per 90 in the opposition box per game – handing the Red Devils a ‘fox in the box’ type forward they’ve been missing.

£65m would be a huge fee for another forward from the Premier League, but Semenyo has proven over recent months that he’s more than capable of stepping up to the task at Old Trafford.

The prospect of a partnership between him and Cunha under Amorim’s guidance is certainly an exciting one, potentially playing a key role in leading the side back to their former glory.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 15, 2025

A huge summer awaits for Everton.

As outlined by Rob Tanner of The Athletic, the Toffees currently have ten first-team players out of contract, which is more than any other Premier League club, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gana Gueye and captain Séamus Coleman, to name but a few.

So, as they move into their brand-new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, there’s going to be plenty of work for David Moyes and the back room staff to do in the transfer window, but could a current member of the squad step up and come to the fore?

The latest on Abdoulaye Doucouré's Everton future

As was widely reported this week, Abdoulaye Doucouré will leave Everton this summer as a free agent, following the expiration of his contract, stating that he is “sad to leave” and that he “will be forever a Blue”.

After scoring the winner at Nottingham Forest last month, the Mali international mimed answering the phone and signing a contract, overtly stating his desire to stay, but his five-year association with the Toffees will come to an end, with Sunday’s trip to Newcastle set to be his 166th and final appearance for the club.

Given that Doucouré has started 31 of Everton’s 37 Premier League matches to date this season, one of the five he missed being due to a red card picked up after full time of the Merseyside derby celebrations, he will be a tough man to replace.

But do the Toffees already have a young star coming through ready to do just that?

Everton's next midfield stalwart

Cast your mind back to last summer when, as outlined by Gabriele Marcotti of ESPN, certain Premier League clubs, namely Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Everton, were swapping players on the cusp of the 30 June deadline, thereby avoiding breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules.

One such deal saw Villa sign Lewis Dobbin for a reported £10m from Everton, while Tim Iroegbunam went in the opposite direction, costing the Toffees a reported £9m.

The majority of the players involved in these conspicuous deals had no impact at the club they joined, as the table below outlines.

Lewis Dobbin*

Aston Villa

Zero

Omari Kellyman

Chelsea

Zero

Odysseas Vlachodimos

Newcastle

1

Samuel Iling-Junior*

Aston Villa

Zero

Enzo Barrenechea*

Aston Villa

Zero

*spent the season out on loan

Iroegbunam, in truth, made only 21 appearances for Everton this season, totalling a mere 676 minutes, so could feature on this list for sure, but this was largely due to a foot injury suffered against Newcastle in October, keeping him on the sidelines until February, having started each of the Blues’ first four matches of the campaign beforehand.

His only start under Moyes came when Arsenal visited Goodison in April, but the 21-year-old is highly-rated, with Steven Gerrard, when he was at Aston Villa, saying that Iroegbunam possesses “all the attributes to be a top Premier League player” in the future.

Meantime, Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic praised the youngster’s ‘sharp counter-pressing’, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout outlined how he ‘regularly roams forward in attack’, while boasting ‘defensive awareness, speed and tackling ability’, making him an excellent all-round midfielder.

These all sound like similar characteristics to Doucouré, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Appearances

32

27

Minutes

2,563

722

Goals

3

Zero

Assists

2

1

Shots

1.09

0.61

Completed passes

26

20

Pass completion %

80.2%

77.9%

Interceptions

0.3

0.9

Clearances

0.6

0.6

% of ground duels won

53%

50%

% of aerial duels won

37%

50%

Tackles

1.5

1.6

% of dribblers tackled

32.6%

56.3%

Ball recoveries

5

8

Touches

41

43

Average Sofascore Rating

6.77

6.55

Note: Statistics are Premier League only

Of course, Iroegbunam’s lack of Premier League minutes does mean only a small sample size can be analysed, but his statistics are still impressive.

The table outlines that Doucouré is more of a goal threat, but that Iroegbunam is a better out-of-possession midfielder, boasting superior numbers when it comes to ball recoveries, interceptions, clearances, tackles and aerial duels.

These are all qualities Moyes would look for in a midfield player and, while Patrick Boyland of the Athletic believes Iroegbunam is still ‘adapting’ to a new style of play, the stats suggest he could become a key figure for the Toffees next season.

Forget Angel Gomes & Doucoure: Moyes must unleash exciting Everton teen

Everton won’t need to delve into the market to land a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, given one player already at the club.

ByEthan Lamb May 22, 2025

Leeds United have a crucial summer on the cards over the next few months, needing to invest well to prevent being relegated from the Premier League next season.

Daniel Farke’s side ended their two-year stint in the Championship after a 6-0 win over Stoke City a couple of weeks ago, before claiming the title with a triumph over Plymouth Argyle on the final day.

The German has a huge task on his hands to build a side capable of maintaining their top-flight status, whilst also doing good enough in the role to avoid losing his own job.

It’s unclear how much money he will have at his disposal during the off-season, but it’s pivotal that the board backs the 48-year-old in his quest to build an excellent side.

His task of doing so has already been a little bit harder, with it unclear if one player will remain at Elland Road upon the conclusion of the current campaign.

The latest on Junior Firpo’s future at Leeds

Left-back Junior Firpo has been a crucial member of the Leeds squad throughout 2024/25, making 32 appearances in the league and registering 14 combined goals and assists.

However, his excellent form within attacking areas may be his final contributions to the club, with his current deal in Yorkshire set to expire at the end of June – with no new contract on the horizon.

During the club’s title-winning bus parade on Monday, teammate Ethan Ampadu was heard chanting Real Betis in relation to the full-back, with the Spanish side just one team touted with a move for his signature.

He was also present on Jayden Bogle’s Instagram livestream, with the 28-year-old making a comment to chairman Paraag Marathe about a new deal at Elland Road.

However, it remains to be seen whether he will remain at the club ahead of next season, with Farke potentially needing to delve into the transfer market to land an adequate replacement.

The player who could be Leeds’ Firpo replacement

Left-backs in the modern game are extremely hard to come by, with Leeds having a challenge to replace the Dominican international should he depart the club.

Such a problem could’ve been solved had they kept hold of Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis, who was sold to the Tractor Boys in the summer of 2022, leaving the Whites for a reported £1m.

However, three years on, the 25-year-old has taken his career to the next level at Portman Road, notching 34 assists and helping Kieran McKenna’s side claim back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Undoubtedly, fans must wish they had kept hold of David, but could rekindle interest in another talented English star in the form of Archie Brown, who has previously been on their radar.

The 22-year-old Gent full-back, who came through Derby County’s academy, has impressed over the last few years, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur previously in the race for his signature too with a £15m deal mooted.

He’s featured in 45 games across all competitions in 2024/25, playing a total role in the club’s ambitions of claiming the Belgian Pro League title in the coming weeks.

When comparing his stats to those of Firpo, the Englishman has managed to better him in numerous key areas, further showcasing why the Whites should once again pursue a move for his services.

Games played

27

32

Goals & assists

4

14

Progressive carries

4.4

2.2

Carries into final third

3.7

1.6

Shot-on-target accuracy

36%

35%

Blocks made

1.4

0.8

Interceptions made

1.3

1.2

Take-ons completed

1.3

0.4

Aerials won

67%

58%

Brown, who’s been labelled “complete” and “fast” by Gent’s former head of recruitment Samuel Cardenas, has managed to complete more progressive carries and more carries into the final third – showcasing his direct nature with the ball at his feet.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – handing the club the added attacking threat in the Premier League.

However, Brown has also thrived defensively, making more blocks and interceptions per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels – handing Farke’s side the defensive solidity they will need in the top-flight.

Losing Firpo would be a massive blow to the side given the levels he’s produced this season, but with his contract rapidly ticking down, the hierarchy need to draw up a list of replacements.

Whilst Brown hasn’t been on their radar in recent months, the club should look to return to such a deal, with the youngster the perfect player for the role – subsequently having the potential to improve further down the line given his tender age.

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ByKelan Sarson May 5, 2025

Manchester United have now thundered into the race for a “world-class” £84m forward, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature in the summer, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on winger to replace Garnacho

While Man United managed to sign off the 2024-25 campaign on a high note, securing a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao will remain fresh in the memory for supporters.

As such, it is difficult to be too positive ahead of the summer, with the Red Devils’ summer transfer plans likely to be affected by the lack of Champions League football, and Gary Neville has expressed concerns they may choose to cash-in on some of their young players to raise funds.

Neville said: “I know it’s become a thing now whereby people sell players from their academy to facilitate PSR and financial fair play, but if Manchester United start to sell academy players to raise funds to bring in other players, I think that’s the thin end of the wedge.

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Posts ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025

Alejandro Garnacho is one of the youth products that could be on his way out, with Arsenal now being contacted over the possibility of signing the Argentine, and if the 20-year-old does end up being sold, it is likely a replacement will be necessary.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United may now have just the player in mind, having thundered into the race for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, who is looking increasingly likely to exit the San Siro this summer, with a £84m fee being touted.

United have now registered a concrete interest in signing Leao, who could be on his way out due to the lack of European football on offer at Milan, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona also keen.

"World-class" Leao could be Garnacho upgrade

It is unclear whether the 25-year-old would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, given that Ruben Amorim’s side will not be playing in Europe next season either, but the allure of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs could be tempting for the winger.

Should the Red Devils manage to get a deal over the line, there are plenty of signs he could be an upgrade on Garnacho at left-wing, having outperformed the starlet across a number of key statistics for wingers over the past year. Leao also loves current Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes, having called him a “maestro” in the past while on international duty together.

Statistic per 90

Rafael Leao

Alejandro Garnacho

Non-penalty goals

0.32

0.20

Assists

0.26

0.17

Successful take-ons

2.83

1.31

Having also been lauded as “world-class” by football writer Carlo Garganese in the past, Leao could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, but a move to Old Trafford could be a tough sell after the Europa League final defeat.

Liverpool have the luxury of playing out the remainder of the Premier League campaign as champions after they won their second title in the division, and their 20th top-flight title overall.

The Reds officially won the league at the end of last month when they hammered Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in a phenomenal 5-1 victory in front of their own supporters.

Arne Slot came in to replace Jurgen Klopp last summer and has already equalled the number of Premier League titles won by the German in his nine seasons on Merseyside.

However, the former Feyenoord coach may hope for more success in the cup competitions next season and beyond, after his team failed to win either of the domestic cups or the Champions League.

In order to do that, the Dutchman could look to improve the quality and depth of his squad in the upcoming transfer window to target more trophies next term.

This could mean that some players who have featured regularly could be either lesser-spotted in the 2025/26 campaign or sold in the summer, and one star who may fall into that category is Diogo Jota.

Why Diogo Jota's future at Liverpool is uncertain

The Portugal international, who joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers almost five years ago, has played 36 matches in all competitions so far this term, despite missing 18 games through injury for club and country.

Jota has started 15 games in the Premier League and the Champions League for Slot, which shows that he has been utilised fairly regularly by the Dutch head coach when you factor in his injury absences.

His future at Anfield remains uncertain, however, due to his performances on the pitch and his lack of availability through injury, as he has missed 72 matches through injury since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Jota, whose last goal came against Everton in April, has been absent for at least 18 games in each of the last three seasons, and this means that Liverpool cannot rely on him to be consistently available each year.

24/25 Premier League	Diogo Jota
Appearances	25
Starts	15
xG	7.59
Goals	6
Big chances missed	13
Key passes per game	0.4
Assists	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Wolves star’s performances on the pitch have also left a bit to be desired, as he has underperformed against his xG and rarely provided much in the way of creativity for his team.

This is further evidenced by his return of zero goals and zero assists in four appearances in the Champions League earlier this season for the Reds, and may explain why journalist Ben Jacobs recently revealed that there is a chance that Jota could be sold this summer.

Liverpool could seal the forward’s fate by swooping to sign a reported target who has the quality to be miles better than the Portuguese flop for Slot.

Liverpool eyeing up LaLiga sensation

According to Rousing The Kop, working with journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have made contact with Real Madrid to be kept informed on Rodrygo’s situation in the Spanish capital.

The report claims that the Reds want to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch in the upcoming summer transfer window, and are open to signing players in central or wide areas to add to what they already have.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that the Premier League champions have been alerted to the potential availability of the Brazil international, who has had to accept a reduced role since the arrival of Kylian Mbappe last summer.

However, the report adds that there is no guarantee that Rodrygo will be available to sign from Real Madrid this summer, but the Reds have made contact to ensure that they will be in the know if that does become the case.

If Liverpool can strike a deal for the forward, who is reportedly valued at €100m (£85m) by the Spanish giants, then they could land an attacker who is miles better than Jota.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

The Premier League side should pursue a deal for the Brazilian star if he becomes available because he could come in as a big upgrade on Jota ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Rodrygo, as aforementioned, has not been as prominent at the top end of the pitch for Real Madrid because he has to compete with Jude Bellingham, Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr to get the ball in the final third.

Despite that, the 24-year-old star has still racked up 14 goals in all competitions for the Spanish giants this season, as shown in the highlights above.

Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Rodrygo has scored 49 goals and provided 27 assists in all competitions for Real. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota has scored 31 goals and assisted 15 for Liverpool in that time, which speaks to the difference in quality between the two forwards.

League and Champions League form
24/25 season	Jota (Premier League + CL)	Rodrygo (LaLiga + CL)
Appearances	28	42
xG	8.49	6.29
Goals	6	11
Big chances missed	16	3
Big chances created	3	7
Assists	3	7
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian dynamo has also outperformed the Reds attacker at league and Champions League level in the current campaign, overperforming against his xG whilst Jota has underperformed.

The chart above also shows that Rodrygo, who can play on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, offers far more than the Portugal international when it comes to progressing play through passes, carries, and successful take-ons.

This means that the £85m-rated star, who was described as “world-class” by Luka Modric, could be miles better than Jota for Liverpool because he has the ability to score and assist more frequently and more efficiently, whilst also offering significantly more in the build-up with his passes and carries.

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Therefore, Slot must hope that the board can wrap up a deal for the LaLiga star if he becomes available this summer, because the versatile forward could be a terrific addition to the squad as an upgrade on Jota.

If Arsenal needed any more motivation to get over the finishing line next season, Tottenham Hotspur have just provided them with it.

With second place in the Premier League now practically secured, the board and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta can turn their attention to the summer transfer window and the hunt for a new striker.

Two of the strikers most heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the last few months have been Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, although, with the former lacking experience in a top-five league and the latter potentially costing upwards of £150m, other options have also been floated.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co are now interested in an ideal Gyokeres alternative who has won comparisons to the Toon star.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other strikers who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.

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 has enjoyed another impressive season with RB Leipzig, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games, although such a rate of return has reportedly seen his release clause increase to around £75m.

Delap, on the other hand, has a release clause worth just £30m in his current contract, although, with 12 goals and two assists to his name in 36 Premier League games this season, he’d represent more of a gamble.

Moreover, if Arteta and Co really want someone who’d be a genuine alternative to Gyokeres, they’d have to be a proven goalscorer, such as Julián Alvarez.

According to a recent report from journalist Matías Palacios via the Spanish football program El Chiringuito, Arsenal are one of several teams very interested in the Atletico Madrid star.

In fact, the journalist claims that the Gunners, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all “want” the Argentine this summer and that “meetings with the interested clubs will begin” next week.

A potential price tag for the striker is not mentioned, but as he cost the La Liga giants around £82m only last summer, we wouldn’t be surprised to see his valuation hit nine figures, especially as the CIES Football Observatory price him at €125m, which is about £105m.

With that said, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Alvarez, as not only could he be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres, but he’s also won comparisons to Isak.

How Alvarez compares Isak

So, before we look at some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Alvarez this summer, we should examine this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and concluded that the Swede is the tenth most similar forward to the Argentine across the last 365 days.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assisted goals, progressive carries, shots on target and goals per shot, key passes, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Expected Assisted Goals

0.17

0.15

Progressive Carries

2.79

2.77

Shots on Target

1.23

1.32

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.21

Passing Accuracy

74.6%

74.7%

Key Passes

1.45

1.39

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.47

On top of the clear statistical similarities, the former Manchester City star has also scored a similar number of goals as the Newcastle ace this season.

For example, in 53 appearances, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided six assists.

In comparison, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 games for the Magpies this term.

Finally, on top of the goals and similarities to one of the best strikers in the world, the Gunners should seriously consider signing Alveraz because he’s a proven winner, having won the treble with City in the 22/23 season.

Therefore, whatever it costs, Arsenal should look to bring the World Cup winner to N5 this summer, even if that means not signing Gyokeres.

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