In an attempt to continue a growing trend at the City Ground, Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly monitoring a deal to sign yet another South American gem for Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest write to UEFA
In a ruthless mood as ever, Marinakis has wasted no time before attempting to take advantage of Crystal Palace’s UEFA troubles. The Eagles are at risk of being kicked out of European football despite qualifying for the Europa League last season, with John Textor’s involvement in both Palace and Lyon breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership rule.
Whilst many have assumed that their European spot could go to Brighton & Hove Albion, who would move into the Europa Conference League, Nottingham Forest have seemingly spotted an opportunity of their own. The Midlands club have reportedly written UEFA in an attempt to take Crystal Palace’s Europa League place and move above the Europa Conference League as a result.
It’s not a move that will win many friends around the Premier League, but it is one that could have an impact on Forest financially and, therefore, in the summer transfer window.
With a place in the Europa League to offer, the Tricky Trees could turn their attention towards reported transfer targets such as Douglas Luiz. The Juventus midfielder has endured a nightmare first season in Turin and may now be on his way back to the Premier League after just one season away.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
That said, the Brazilian may not be the only South American to complete a move to the City Ground this summer, with Marinakis now reportedly eyeing another talent.
Nottingham Forest monitoring Cepeda
As reported by Chilean outlet Prensa Futbol, Marinakis is now monitoring a deal to sign Lucas Cepeda from Colo-Colo for Nottingham Forest this summer. The Chile-born winger reportedly has a release clause worth just $5m (£4m), which could see those in the Midlands land a bargain deal for another South American talent.
It’s at the City Ground that Cepeda could follow in the footsteps of Murillo, Ramon Sosa, Carlos Miguel and others by swapping South America for the Premier League and Nottingham Forest. At just 22 years old, like those before him, the winger could realise his full potential at Nottingham Forest.
Offer accepted: Nottingham Forest reach agreement to sell £40k-p/w player
He looks set to depart.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 10, 2025
It’s an impressive trend at the City Ground and one that Marinakis should be able to continue more than ever now that Nottingham Forest are in a position to offer European football.
Whether Cepeda is ready for the Premier League will be the big question, however. The winger only managed four goals and one assist last season following eight goals and four assists in the season prior. Given how talented the Forest squad is these days, there will also be questions as to whether Cepeda would earn the game time he needs in the Midlands.
Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur, and how the tactician will perform in his first big job, is set to be one of the most intriguing Premier League stories of next season.
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.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025
There are many other riveting storylines on the horizon: Man City’s rebuild, Newcastle’s Champions League campaign, how Nottingham Forest will kick on from being last year’s surprise package, the newly-promoted three and Villa’s mission to remain among England’s elite to name a few of them.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
However, Frank’s debut campaign in the Spurs dugout stands out among the most enthralling narratives to keep an eye on next term, with the 51-year-old having big shoes to fill after Ange Postecoglou ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy.
It will also be the Dane’s first-ever campaign as a Champions League coach, and there is much more expectation on Frank’s shoulders than there ever was at Brentford.
The pressure which comes with managing a big six club is far more intense, so it is vital that chairman Daniel Levy backs Frank in the transfer market this summer, as Postecoglou’s immediate heir looks to get off to the best possible start.
Even though the ex-Bees boss will need time to build, there will be far less margin for error in north London than at the Gtech Community Stadium with far more eyes on Frank, especially after their historic Europa League triumph in Bilbao.
He is also faced with the possibility of losing some key players in the coming months.
Son Heung-min could well leave Tottenham this summer after 10 faithful years, as the Saudi Pro League look to add yet another big name to their financially-backed division of clubs.
Cashing in on the South Korean could be very tempting for Levy. The 32-year-old is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and not exactly getting any younger, with there also being an argument that Son’s best years are behind him.
Cristian Romero U-turning over Tottenham exit after Frank arrival
Another star player who’s been heavily linked with an exit is star £165,000-per-week defender Cristian Romero.
The Argentine World Cup winner played a key role for Spurs on their run to Europa League glory, captaining them in each tie from the quarter-finals onwards. Romero didn’t feature much in the Premier League, mainly due to injuries and Postecoglou resting him for their European campaign, but the centre-back is undoubtedly a pivotal player for them.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
Micky van de Ven called his central defensive partner a “world-class” asset for the club, but reports from Europe and beyond in the last few months have claimed that Romero wants to leave Tottenham for Atlético Madrid.
Diego Simeone even confirmed Atletico’s interest in Romero, but according to a fresh update from TYC Sports, the tactician may have to wait a little longer to secure the 27-year-old’s signature.
Indeed, it is now believed that Romero could decide to stay at Tottenham for one more season, with Frank’s arrival cited as a key reason behind this potential decision, alongside their place in the Champions League next term.
This would come as a major boost for Frank, who’ll be very keen to keep hold of his best players, and Spurs’ youthful, inexperienced squad overall could seriously benefit from a leader like Romero in the dressing room.
That being said, if Atletico come calling with an offer too good to resist, it may well get Levy thinking, given Romero is out of contract in 2027.
Arsenal’s search for a new striker could still go on long into the summer transfer window, with sporting director Andrea Berta currently weighing up their best possible move.
Arsenal assessing Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals
As per a helpful update from the BBC, amidst some confusion over who Arsenal’s top striker target actually is, the Gunners are actively working to discover the conditions of deals for both Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).
£50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks
He also snubbed an exit last summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025
Both strikers, fresh off the back of career-best campaigns at their current clubs, have serious credentials.
Sesko, standing at a towering 6 foot 5, boasts a fairly modest goal-record of 21 in all competitions from last season. However, the 22-year-old’s potential for growth, not to mention outstanding physical attributes like his speed and power, make him a very intriguing option for Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard is known to be a big fan of his, and Arsenal have tried to sign Sesko on multiple occasions since last summer, so they could still make it third-time-lucky this window.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres has just concluded a sublime Primeira Liga campaign, where he guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years whilst scoring an incredible 54 goals in all competitions.
While Arsenal work to discover which deal would be best suited to the club, both centre-forwards are set to be “extremely expensive”, so it is vital that Arteta and Berta get this decision right.
That being said, there are suggestions that Arsenal do have other alternative targets in that position, so it isn’t exactly a straight two-horse race between Sesko and Gyokeres for the Gunners’ striker spot.
Arsenal internally discussing deal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins – an England international and boyhood Arsenal supporter – was subject to a low-ball bid from north London in the January transfer window.
Arsenal made a £45 million offer for Watkins to test Unai Emery’s resolve, according to The Telegraph, which is nearly half of Villa’s £80 million valuation.
The north Londoners never went back in with a second offer, but a new report from The Athletic suggests that a fresh summer swoop for Watkins isn’t completely off the table, despite work going into Sesko and Gyokeres right now.
It is believed Arsenal are still internally discussing Watkins as a striker target, and while they face a major obstacle in the form of Villa, they may not run into much trouble when it comes to convincing the player himself.
Back in 2020, Watkins admitted that he dreams of a move to Arsenal one day, and now that he’s 29-years-old, time is running out to make that fantasy a reality.
“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said.
“But, you know, it’s a long shot.”
The former Brentford star helped to fire Villa to a Europa League spot with 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.
His Premier League pedigree and experience at the top-level is something which should be carefully considered by Berta, with the only sticking points being his age and potential price tag.
Liverpool are reportedly on red alert over potentially signing a “phenomenal” Premier League player in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool favourites to sign Wirtz in stunning deal
In a massive development late in the week, the Reds are believed to be closing in on the signing of Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, in what would almost certainly be a club-record move to Anfield, potentially costing as much as £126m.
Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed that the 22-year-old has given Liverpool his “verbal commitment”, preferring to join the Premier League champions over Bayern Munich.
The news has clearly caused a huge amount of excitement among the Reds’ fanbase, with Wirtz a signing who could feel one of the most exciting and significant in years, considering he is among the best attacking players in Europe, bagging 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 Leverkusen appearances.
If Liverpool could sign the Germany international, as well as Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, it would be a fantastic start to the summer, and now another promising talent has been linked with a move to Merseyside.
Liverpool eyeing move for "phenonemal" ace
According to The Boot Room, Liverpool are on alert when it comes to Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri this summer, with the teenage attacker no closer to signing a new deal at the Emirates.
It is claimed that the Reds are “well aware” of the £6,000-a-week Englishman’s situation, with Chelsea and Manchester City in the same boat, and there is also thought to be “very strong interest” from other European clubs.
The idea of Liverpool signing Nwaneri is enormously exciting, both because he is a special talent and the fact that the Reds would be stealing him away from one of their biggest Premier League rivals.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Arsenal, making 25 appearances in the league, and former Reds left-back Stephen Warnock has described him as “phenomenal”.
Just imagine him & Wirtz: Liverpool want to sign "incredible" £68m CF
Liverpool are planning to replace Darwin Nunez with a new centre-forward this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair May 23, 2025
Granted, it does feel like a move is relatively unlikely, not least because the Gunners will do everything they can to tie him down to a new deal, but his current situation is certainly giving potential suitors hope.
Appearances
25
Starts
10
Minutes played
817
Goals
4
Assists
2
Dribbles per game
1.3
Key passes per game
0.9
Pass completion rate
88.9%
Liverpool were linked with a move for Nwaneri back in 2022, so they appear to be long-time admirers of him, and snapping him up this summer would be an incredible coup, considering he has the ability to reach the very top of the game.
Tottenham Hotspur are in ongoing talks with a “superstar” player who’s already announced that he’s set to leave his club this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy attempting to reinforce the Spurs squad early doors after an injury-ravaged campaign.
Ange Postecoglou dealt injury headache ahead of Europa League final
Whether or not Ange Postecoglou remains at N17 beyond 2024/2025 is up for debate right now, and reports suggest that the 59-year-old is highly likely to depart regardless of their success in the Europa League final next week (David Ornstein).
£19m "wizard" privately tempted by Tottenham move after "fresh" discussions
The Lilywhites have made contact.
ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2025
Statistically, Postecoglou is Spurs’ worst-ever manager of the Premier League era, having recently guided the club to their record number of defeats in a single campaign since the competition’s inception.
Their dismal number of top-flight losses this season now stands at 21, following Spurs’ 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday, but Postecoglou still has a chance to etch his name into the club’s history books in much more positive fashion on Wednesday.
Son Heung-min
7.00
Pedro Porro
6.98
James Maddison
6.98
Dominic Solanke
6.85
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
The Lilywhites face-off against fellow strugglers Man United in a blockbuster Bilbao encounter, where Postecoglou could win Spurs their first major trophy in 17 years while simultaneously qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
However, the tactician, akin to the vast majority of this campaign, has been dealt an injury headache going into the final – with Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall all set to miss the Europa League final next week.
Postecoglou was also dealt a major Pape Sarr scare, after the Senegalese went straight down the tunnel following his substitution against Villa through injury.
Even though Postecoglou has since confirmed that he doesn’t think Sarr’s problem is too serious, the series of aforementioned injury blows highlights Tottenham’s need for reinforcements in key areas, as Spurs head into their biggest game of the season with a weakened squad.
Injury absences have debilitated Postecoglou’s options and chances of success throughout 2024/2025, and it’s made the need for Tottenham to strengthen this summer pretty evident.
Tottenham in talks with Lille striker Jonathan David
The trouble for Levy is that credible media sources report Spurs may need to operate on a sell to buy policy, with transfer funds seemingly limited.
That makes world-class free agents, like Lille star Jonathan David, all the more tempting for Tottenham’s recruitment team.
Lille'sJonathanDavidshoots at goal
The Canada international has been free-scoring in Ligue 1 since his move there five years ago, racking up strikes in big Champions League games this season against the likes of Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.
Earlier this week, David announced that he is set to leave Lille when his contract expires, and this has piqued interest from a host of top sides, including Spurs.
Postecoglou’s side have had some contact with the 25-year-old’s camp leading up to the summer (Graeme Bailey), but as per esteemed French newspaper L’Équipe, Tottenham are in ongoing talks with David over joining them right now.
Lille'sJonathanDavidcelebrates scoring their fourth goal
The north Londoners, despite murmurs of advanced Napoli talks for the Brooklyn native, haven’t given up hope of striking a deal for David, with Spurs, Antonio Conte’s side, Juventus and Aston Villa all in the mix.
While David is technically a free agent, Levy could still end up forking out around £28 million for his signature when factoring in salary, various commission fees and his signing bonus (Sacha Tavolieri). That being said, his impressive goalscoring record still marks the “superstar” out as a serious bargain.
Whilst Leeds United lapped up most of the praise in the Championship this season, winning the second-tier title, Scott Parker’s Burnley were more than worthy challengers to the West Yorkshire side’s throne.
After all, Daniel Farke’s side only clinched the title on the final day via goal difference, with the Clarets hoping and praying for a shock Plymouth Argyle victory in Devon, but Parker’s men had to make do with the tag of being runners-up despite also achieving a remarkable haul of 100 points.
Still, there would be celebrations aplenty as the Lancashire side instantly returned to the promised land of the Premier League.
Burnley certainly have their unbelievable defensive record to thank for sealing automatic promotion, with James Trafford a formidable option in between the sticks all season long.
Trafford's standout season in goal for Burnley
Unfortunately for the Turf Moor side, some of their standout performers could still depart for more luxurious pastures this summer, even as the Clarets return to the elite league.
Trafford definitely fits into this category, with rumours circulating that Newcastle United are keen on adding the ex-Manchester City stopper to their roster off the back of his unerring quality in the second tier.
Unbelievably, the Carlisle-born ‘keeper would only concede 16 goals across Burnley’s triumphant 46-game marathon, leading to a jaw-dropping 29 clean sheets being tallied up.
Parker has even gone as far as labelling Trafford as “world class” off the back of such a memorable campaign for his promoted side, but he isn’t the only standout figure in the Clarets camp that is attracting deserved Premier League action.
James Trafford for Burnley.
Indeed, there was a performer who was just as lively, albeit at the complete opposite end of the pitch.
The Burnley "superstar" who is ready for the Premier League
Parker will already be wary about the difficult challenge ahead, considering he has only picked up nine career wins at Premier League level as a manager.
But, he will be slightly less hesitant about diving back into the tricky division if he can keep Josh Brownhill situated at Turf Moor, with the 29-year-old keen to make an impression on the top-flight again after taking the second tier by storm in 2024/25.
Staggeringly, the experienced EFL head managed to bag more goals in Championship action this season than Trafford would ship, with a bumper 18 goals coming his way to help his team soar into the top two spots.
With six assists also next to his name, the midfield “superstar” – as he was previously labelled by one of his former bosses in Lee Johnson – will be raring to go in the top-flight next season with or without his current employers.
The likes of Everton and West Ham United are reportedly taking an interest in the skilful Clarets captain to boost their own options centrally.
Championship
231
41
25
Premier League
111
6
6
League One
67
8
4
After all, even with the table above confirming that Brownhill’s most comfortable location is the Championship, he has shown flashes of his immense quality in the Premier League before even whilst Burnley have struggled, with his 2023/24 output seeing him pick up six of his overall 12 goal contributions.
This is why both the Toffees and the Hammers are presumably keen, but if Parker and Co are serious about staying put in the top-flight for the long-term, losing Brownhill would be a disaster.
The much-loved number 8 does already have two top-flight relegations on his CV, but after such a sensational personal season alongside the strong Trafford, he could be just what the Clarets need moving forward to return back to their former Premier League glory days.
Burnley make contact to sign ace with "great potential" amid Kompany talks
The Clarets are on their way back to the top-flight.
Liverpool have made new contact with the agents of a “world-class” player ahead of a potential summer move, an exciting new transfer rumour has claimed.
A huge summer awaits at Liverpool
The Reds may be the new Premier League champions, but there are still flaws within the squad that Arne Slot will want to address this summer. New full-backs will be needed, for example, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving and Andy Robertson arguably past his best, and a centre forward also looks to be required.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has been linked with a move to Liverpool, with the Argentine seen as an upgrade on Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, both of whom have struggled to make their mark this season.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with a shock move to the Reds from Manchester City, having confirmed that he will leave the Etihad at the end of the current campaign. West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus is another rumoured option for Liverpool when the summer window arrives, with Arsenal also believed to be interested. Now, one of the most well-known attacking players in Europe has been linked with a switch to Anfield, though.
Liverpool make contact with "world-class" Real Madrid star Rodrygo
According to The Boot Room, Liverpool have “spoken” to the representatives of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo over a summer move to Anfield, as have Manchester City and Arsenal.
These are fresh discussions, having only happened in “recent weeks”, with previous reports earlier in the year also saying that contact had been made.
The idea of Rodrygo playing for Liverpool is mouthwatering, considering he is a world-renowned star who still has so much of his career ahead of him. The 24-year-old has 68 goals and 50 assists for Madrid, which is no mean feat, while Luka Modric has called him a “world-class” footballer.
If Liverpool managed to entice him to the club ahead of next season, it could feel like one of the biggest transfer coups in their recent history, and the Brazil international may well be considered the natural long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank.
Rodrygo can also be a threat from the left-hand side, however, so he could even arrive as an immediate upgrade to Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, amid doubts over the latter’s future with the Reds.
It remains to be seen if Rodrygo sees his future away from Madrid, however, at a time when there are so many superstars at the club, and always a great chance of winning major silverware every season. The report states that he is “not happy” but will “assess” things in the summer when the managerial situation at the Bernabeu is cleared up.
Huge Nunez upgrade: Liverpool plot big move for "the best CF in the world"
Liverpool desperately need to sign a new centre-forward this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair May 9, 2025
Liverpool are a major attraction in their own right, and could easily only go from strength to strength under Slot, so the £204,000-a-week Rodrygo’s head will hopefully be turned by a move to Merseyside.
Liverpool are revelling in their Premier League triumph at the moment, but those behind the scenes have no doubt commenced preparations for next season’s title defence.
Frankly, the Anfield side won the title at a canter this term, going 26 matches undefeated before losing to Fulham at Craven Cottage last month with all said and done.
To be sure, Arsenal and Manchester City will be back, stronger and hungrier than ever after respective disappointments in the top flight this season.
But they are bound to reinforce their ranks and Liverpool must do the same. While the mere thought of Alexander Isak continues to tantalise fans, craving a new number nine, FSG appear to be focusing on the rear end of the pitch at the moment, with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen right at the top of the summer shopping list.
The latest on Dean Huijsen to Liverpool
Bournemouth’s rising star is perhaps the most touted potential target of the summer, and we’re not even there yet. Data analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world,” after all.
The 20-year-old arrived at the Vitality Stadium on a £15m deal last summer after Juventus decided they were better off cashing in on the young prospect, who featured on loan for AS Roma last season.
As per Sofascore, he’s started 23 Premier League matches this season and has kept seven clean sheets, averaging six clearances per game and winning 61% of his aerial battles.
How foolish the Old Lady must feel, especially given rumours surfaced in March that Real Madrid have made him one of their priorities. Such claims mentioned that Juventus regretted their decision.
Liverpool are also keen, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg even revealing last week that FSG have presented an offer to the Spain international.
With an attractive £50m release clause, Arsenal and Chelsea are also working overtime to secure his services, as per Fabrizio Romano, with the race very much open at this stage.
Bournemouth's DeanHuijsencelebrates after the match
For such a young player with relatively minimal experience at the highest level, this is quite the glowing endorsement of Huijsen’s potential.
He might be the talk of the town, but Liverpool actually boast an up-and-comer with the same stock as Huijsen, and that’s despite a frustrating campaign in which he hasn’t earned the playing time he would have hoped for.
Liverpool have hit the jackpot with £4m signing
He might be a wholly different type of player, but Harvey Elliott is at the same career stage as Huijsen and will no doubt feel aggrieved that he hasn’t been given the chance to showcase his skills in a similar fashion.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
Of course, Bournemouth are at a different level to Liverpool, and there’s little question that Elliott would feature front and centre for Andoni Iraola’s team, having been praised as a “special” player by journalist Bence Bocsak.
He hasn’t seen all that much action this year, true, but Elliott has still popped up with some big moments, notching six goal involvements across all competitions. Liverpool might have crashed out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, but the England U21 international scored the winning goal in the first leg, defying the odds after the Reds spent 90 minutes under the cosh.
He might not have featured with the regularity he desires this term, but Elliott has still demonstrated his elite-class qualities as an up-and-coming attacking midfielder, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, assists placed and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, also ranking highly for progressive passes and carries.
The young playmaker was admirable, taking a strong stance regarding his future in January, rejecting any notion of a departure and claiming: “Liverpool is my club, Liverpool is my team.”
Having joined the club as a 16-year-old after leaving Fulham’s academy, signing for a tribunal fee of £4m, he’s already played a shedload of football under Jurgen Klopp but is now struggling for minutes in Slot’s system.
Liverpool player Harvey Elliott
That’s all well and good, but he’s a gifted young footballer with suitors beginning to get a sense that Liverpool might be keen on selling.
According to Football Insider, there are a number of Premier League clubs lining up to make their move this summer, with Newcastle United thought to be at the forefront.
Elliott, who, like Huijsen, is valued at £50m, might come to jump at the chance of playing at St. James’ Park, having failed to start just one of Liverpool’s Premier League fixtures this season.
24/25
14 (0)
0
1
23/24
34 (11)
3
6
22/23
32 (18)
1
2
21/22
6 (4)
0
0
20/21*
0 (0)
0
0
19/20
2 (0)
0
0
It would be great to see the 21-year-old’s services retained for several years yet to come (or more). Elliott is already showing elite-level signs, and Slot could turn him into a world-beater with the right series of tweaks.
However, things will need to change for that to happen. In any case, the £50m-rated talent has already made 143 appearances and played his part across a trophy-laden spell in the club’s modern history.
Given that he signed for a tribunal fee of just £4m, there’s no way to look it other than through the lens of Liverpool hitting the jackpot with his signing.
Isak 2.0: Liverpool line up move for Nunez upgrade who's the "next Mbappe"
Liverpool may have to cede early defeat in their bid to sign Newcastle’s star striker.
Manchester United’s dismal season in the Premier League continued to hit new lows after a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Vitor Pereira’s side, who have been battling relegation all season, are now level on points with the Red Devils on 58 points, only behind them on goal difference.
A stunning free-kick from Pablo Sarabia was the difference between the two sides in Manchester, as a moment of quality decided the match in a stadium where that has often been the case for the home team in the Premier League era.
A lack of quality sums up where United are at this moment in time – sat 14th in the league table – and their selection of strikers is a damning indictment on the recruitment work done behind the scenes in recent years.
Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta in a £72m deal in 2023, started against Wolves and failed to score, which means that he has scored three goals in 28 Premier League matches.
Joshua Zirkzee was unavailable and is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, but he has rarely provided the quality that United need in the final third.
Why Man Utd could move on from Joshua Zirkzee
The Red Devils reportedly paid a fee of £36.5m to sign the Netherlands international from Serie A side Bologna last summer to compete with Hojlund for a spot in the starting line-up.
Unfortunately, neither of them have performed well enough to nail down the position of Manchester United’s first-choice number nine, instead taking turns at struggling at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League.
Zirkzee has started 14 of his 32 appearances in the division, which shows that he has failed to perform well enough to be a consistent starter, and scored three goals from 4.82 xG in that time.
Non-penalty xG
0.31
Bottom 36%
Non-penalty goals
0.19
Bottom 16%
Shots
1.89
Bottom 9%
Assists
0.06
Bottom 19%
Expected Assisted Goals
0.10
Bottom 41%
Shot-creating actions
1.99
Bottom 31%
As you can see in the table above, the Dutch centre-forward ranks incredibly lowly among strikers in the Premier League in a host of key goalscoring metrics.
These statistics show that Zirkzee does not get into high-quality goalscoring positions on a regular basis and that he fails to make the most of his opportunities when they do come his way.
Joshua Zirkzee
The former Bayern Munich gem turns 24 next month, almost two years older than Hojlund, and could be moved on this summer to make room for a new striker. He cost more than £30m less than the Danish prospect, which could make it more appealing to sell to limit any losses on their initial outlay.
Man Utd reach agreement with £30m striker
According to Africa Foot, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Manchester United have already reached an agreement with Victor Osimhen and his representatives ahead of a possible transfer.
The report claims that the Red Devils have struck a deal with the Nigeria international ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
It reveals that Osimhen wants to move to the Premier League to take the next step in his career, and he has now given the green light to a transfer to Old Trafford.
The outlet adds that a permanent exit from Napoli is on the cards for the striker this summer, despite his contract not ending until 2026, and that a fee of up to £30m could be enough to secure his services.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whilst an agreement may have been reached with Osimhen and his representatives, Manchester United still need to agree a deal with the Italian club to ensure that the forward is part of Ruben Amorim’s squad for the 2025/26 campaign.
The agreement with the player does suggest that they are closing in on the Galatasaray loanee, though, and that may not be good news for Zirkzee and his future in Manchester.
Why Manchester United should sign Victor Osimhen
The Red Devils must continue on their path to signing Osimhen from Napoli this summer because he could come in to solve the problems that they have had in the striker position this season.
The 26-year-old marksman is a prolific and reliable goalscorer who has proven his quality at the top end of the pitch in recent seasons, in Italy, France, and Turkey, whilst the United front two have struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign in the Premier League.
24/25
Galatasaray
33
29
23/24
Napoli
32
17
22/23
Napoli
39
31
21/22
Napoli
32
18
20/21
Napoli
30
10
19/20
Lille
35
17
As you can see in the table above, Osimhen has scored 17 goals or more in five of the last six seasons for Lille, Napoli, and Galatasaray, with a staggering 29 goals in 33 matches in the current campaign.
The Napoli forward, who was once described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, was particularly impressive in the 2022/23 Serie A season, scoring 26 goals to guide his side to the title.
Zirkzee, meanwhile, has only scored seven goals in 48 matches in all competitions in his debut year in England, which would be Osimhen’s lowest tally in any of his last six years.
This suggests that Osimhen, who currently ranks within the top 1% of forwards in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.98), would come in as a significant upgrade on both Zirkzee and Hojlund due to his ability to consistently and reliably find the back of the net, adapting to new countries and leagues with ease.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
In terms of what that would mean for the current United strikers, Zirkzee being older and less expensive than Hojlund could result in him being the one to be sent packing to make room for the Nigerian striker ahead of next season.
Therefore, the news that United have reached an agreement with Osimhen should come as bad news to the Dutch attacker, whose days at Old Trafford may already be numbered.
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It is now down to the board to ensure that they can reach an agreement with Napoli, whether that is for a fee of £30m or not, to bolster Amorim’s attacking options.
Liverpool fell to just their second Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon, losing 3-2 to Marco Silva’s European-chasing Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Alexis Mac Allister put Arne Slot’s side ahead after just a quarter of an hour but would trail 3-1 at the break after goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz.
Luis Diaz pulled a goal back in the second half, but it was too little too late, as the Reds squandered an opportunity to move one step closer to title glory in 2024/25.
They still sit 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just seven games to go this campaign, still sitting in pole position to end their four-season drought for a league triumph.
It certainly was an afternoon to forget on the banks of the River Thames, with numerous players failing to deliver like they have done on so many occasions – undoubtedly contributing to the loss.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Fulham
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been a superb replacement for Alisson in his absence this season, but his showing today was one of his worst of the season.
The Irish international had a goals prevented xG of -1.22 whilst also conceding three times – the most he has in any game throughout the current campaign.
As for star man Mohamed Salah, he blanked for the second game in a row after failing to make an impact in the Merseyside derby against Everton in midweek.
The winger registered just 49 touches, missing one big chance and failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – once again unable to have an impact in the final third.
However, despite the Egyptian’s lack of positive impact in the capital, one other Reds player failed to deliver, with Slot needing to drop him from his starting eleven next weekend.
The Liverpool player who was worse than Salah against Fulham
Ahead of the game, Slot decided to make just one change from the team that beat their local rivals on Wednesday night, with Cody Gakpo coming in to replace Diaz.
Such a decision proved that the Dutchman had faith in the side to claim another victory, but were unable to do so, falling way behind the high levels they have set for themselves.
Liverpool managerArneSlotbefore the match
Diogo Jota scored the winner against the Toffees, but failed to have any form of positive impact this afternoon, with the manager desperately needing to drop the Portuguese international from his side.
The 28-year-old featured for 67 minutes against the Cottagers, missing a big chance and only completing two passes, showcasing how poor he was when the ball fell his way.
He also notched just 22 touches, an average of one every three minutes, and lost the ball 100% of the time he tried to take on an opponent, unable to repeat his heroics from midweek.
Out of his 22 touches, he lost possession 13 times, meaning he gifted the ball away with 60% of his touches – with Slot needing to hand increased minutes to the likes of Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa.
Minutes played
67
Touches
22
Passes completed
2
Dribbles completed
0/1
Possession lost
13x
Big chances missed
1
Shots taken
1
As a result of his dismal showing, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Express’ Jack Mceachen, further highlighting how poor he was during the defeat.
Given his inability to take advantage of his starting position, Slot has to drop him from the side, with Jota simply not at the level required for a side at the top of the Premier League.
The summer could pose an interesting challenge for the manager, deciding whether to stick or twist, potentially ending his stint at Anfield after his inability to impress.
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Arne Slot’s side are expecting to be busy in the summer transfer market.