Manchester United lost for the 16th time in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford away from home at the weekend.

The Red Devils have endured a dismal domestic campaign, under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, and are just two points ahead of 17th in the table.

There is the mitigation of their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, though, and that may have had an impact on the manager’s team selection for this match, as the likes of Chido Obi Martin, Tyler Fredricson, and Harry Amass were named in the starting XI.

Obi Martin, 17, made his full Premier League debut and was given the full 90 minutes by Amorim, but was, unfortunately, unable to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Brentford’s forwards, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade, and Bryan Mbeumo caught the eye in an excellent win for the Bees against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mbeumo, in particular, is a player who is reportedly of interest to the club. It was recently claimed that the Brentford star and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha are both targets for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Why Mbeumo and Cunha are attractive targets for Manchester United

The headline is that both Mbeumo and Cunha are proven Premier League performers who have shown that they can contribute with goals and assists at that level on a consistent basis.

This suggests that they would be more likely to hit the ground running and be successful signings for Manchester United compared to a signing from abroad with no prior experience of the English top-flight.

Mbeumo has produced 18 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for Brentford so far this season, which speaks to the goal threat that he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

The Cameroon international has scored eight or more goals in each of the past four seasons in all competitions since the Bees were promoted to the top-flight.

Meanwhile, Cunha has caught the eye with his performances for Wolves in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, as he has showcased his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate.

Appearances

30

2

1

xG

7.94

N/A

N/A

Goals

15

2

0

Big chances created

12

2

0

Key passes per game

1.8

2.5

0

Assists

6

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international has racked up 17 goals and six assists for the Old Gold, including 15 goals in the Premier League.

These statistics show why Cunha and Mbeumo are both attractive options for United this summer because they have both provided their respective teams with plenty of goals and assists this season.

However, the Red Devils are also reportedly interested in an even more prolific forward from abroad who could come in to bolster the club’s attacking options.

Manchester United in regular contact over deal for Bundesliga star

According to The Boot Room, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs lining up a move for RB Leipzig centre-forward Benjamin Sesko ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the Slovenian marksman, and that they had scouts in attendance to watch him score against Bayern Munich at the weekend.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that a move to England to play in the Premier League is the most ‘likely’ outcome for the Leipzig sensation this summer, as his representatives are currently in talks with multiple clubs.

The Boot Room adds that Manchester United and Newcastle United are in regular contact with the player’s agents ahead of a potential swoop for his services in the coming months.

INEOS must push to win the race for Sesko, who is reportedly valued at £60m by Leipzig, because he is even more prolific than Cunha and Mbeumo and could be an excellent addition to Amorim’s squad.

Why Manchester United should sign Benjamin Sesko

Firstly, the Slovenia international is only 21 and would come in as a long-term option for the Portuguese head coach, as a player who has plenty of time left to develop and improve.

He is four years younger than both Mbeumo and Cunha, who are both 25, and this suggests that he has more scope to grow and progress as a footballer during his time at Old Trafford, whilst also having the quality to provide goals in the short-term.

The 21-year-old marksman has also outscored the Brentford and Wolves forwards with a return of 21 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig this season, which shows that he is more prolific in the final third.

Sesko, who was once dubbed a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been in fine form for Leipzig in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, showcasing his lethal finishing at the top level.

Appearances

31

8

xG

9.87

3.57

Goals

13

4

Big chances created

5

0

Assists

5

0

As you can see in the table above, the £60m-rated ‘monster’ has been incredibly clinical in those two competitions, with 17 goals from between 13 and 14 Expected Goals.

Sesko has proven that he knows how to find the back of the net on the European stage and in one of Europe’s major leagues, as well as scoring four goals in the DFB Pokal, and this suggests that United would be signing a striker who is in-form and able to make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

Of course, he has not played in the Premier League, or in England at all, and that could make him a riskier addition than Mbeumo or Cunha, who are currently thriving in the division.

But his goalscoring record across all competitions and his age profile suggest that it would be a high-risk, high-reward, signing for the Red Devils, which is why they should take a gamble on him and attempt to win the race for the impressive young forward in the summer transfer window.

As bad as Shaw: Amorim must axe Man Utd dud after 4/10 Brentford display

Ruben Amorim must ring the changes for Manchester United’s next game.

ByMatt Dawson May 5, 2025

Rangers are reportedly in pole position to hire an “outstanding” manager as their next boss this summer, according to an interesting update on the situation.

Rangers continue search for next manager

The Gers drew 1-1 at home to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon in the final Old Firm derby of the season, as the 2024/25 season draws towards its conclusion. Rangers are continuing their search for a permanent new manager, with Barry Ferguson seemingly unlikely to be given the job after his current stint in an interim role, with various names mentioned as possible options to come in this summer.

Marco Rose has been one of the names mentioned in recent weeks, having most recently managed RB Leipzig earlier in the season, also winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles during his time in charge of RB Salzburg.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has continued to be talked about as a front-runner to return to Ibrox ahead of next season, having guided them to league title glory back in 2020/21. The Liverpool legend could potentially jump at the chance to have a second spell as manager, as the Gers look to narrow the current gap in quality between themselves and Celtic.

Dream XI Gerrard could build at Rangers: Tavernier stays & £12m star signs

Here is our dream Rangers lineup should Steven Gerrard return as manager this summer, featuring captain James Tavernier and some new signings.

By
Ben Gray

Apr 30, 2025

Rangers favourites to win Rose race

According to a new claim from Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, 49ers Enterprises’ “links” with Red Bull means Rangers are the favourites to hire Rose as their new manager despite interest from elsewhere. The report adds that it puts them “above other clubs in the race to secure his services” in the coming weeks and months, with the appointment described as a “real possibility”.

There is certainly plenty to like about Rose, in terms of Rangers picking him as their No.1 option to come in, not least his aforementioned two title wins with Salzburg. The German, who likes to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, has succeeded at the highest level, including managing one of Europe’s biggest clubs in Dortmund 46 times, and former Germany international Marco Reus has lauded him in the past.

“We have had a very open, good and close relationship built on trust right from the start. Marco Rose has done an outstanding job so far, and he will continue to do so in the future.”

The Red Bull connection can only be a good thing for Rangers, if it helps entice Rose to Ibrox, and it’s now a case of them deciding if he is a better option than Gerrard.

Marco Rose’s key managerial stats	Matches	Points per game
RB Leipzig	124	1.85
Borussia Dortmund	46	1.85
Borussa Monchengladbach	88	1.61
RB Salzburg	114	2.35

Opinion among Gers supporters will likely be split in that respect, but Rose’s record speaks for itself, and he could prove to be an inspired appointment.

Glasgow Rangers went into Sunday’s clash already at Ibrox knowing that the result was more or less immaterial as their second-placed finish has already been confirmed.

Since their city rivals won the Scottish Premiership title at the end of last month, Rangers have known that they cannot finish as low as third and they cannot win the division, leaving the Light Blues stuck in second place with little to play for in the remaining games of the season.

The Light Blues should already be focused on what they need to do in the upcoming summer transfer window in order to turn the tide and compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign.

A new first-team head coach will be a big part of their plans because Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge until the end of the season, having come in to steady the ship after Philippe Clement was dismissed earlier this year.

However, the Scottish giants will also know that they will have some difficulties on their hands when it comes to dealing with interest in their stars from elsewhere.

For example, Premier League sides Aston Villa and Leeds United are reportedly lining up moves for Nicolas Raskin, who is valued at £20m by the Gers, ahead of the summer window.

Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers

If Leeds or Villa are able to complete a deal for the former Standard Liege star, losing the Belgium international would be a big blow for Rangers and the next manager to walk through the doors at Ibrox.

Raskin recently won the Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night, which speaks to how highly the supporters and his own teammates value his performances this season.

The central midfielder has combined impressive play on the ball, scoring two goals and providing nine assists, with dominant defensive work out of possession, making 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 58% of his duels, across 31 appearances in the Premiership.

Raskin also caught the eye with his fantastic performances for the Light Blues in the Europa League before the club were knocked out by Athletic Club in the quarter-finals.

24/25 Europa League

Nicolas Raskin

Appearances

12

Tackles per game

3.7

Interceptions per game

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

7.4

Ground duel success rate

50%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dynamo excelled at winning the ball back for his side, with a whopping five tackles and interceptions per game on average, and more than held his own in physical battles.

These statistics reinforce how much of a blow it would be to lose the midfielder to Villa or Leeds this summer because of how impactful he can be in both the Premiership and the Europa League.

However, a fresh report has emerged on the club’s interest in a new central midfielder who could come in as a dream replacement for Raskin.

Rangers lining up move for £4m star

According to The Scottish Sun, the 49ers have Basel loanee Metinho at the top of their list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window, once their takeover is finalised.

The report claims that the Light Blues are lining up a move for the central midfielder ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and that he is valued at £4m at this moment in time.

Metinho is currently on loan at Basel from Troyes, having spent the first half of the year at Sparta Rotterdam, and the Gers are hoping to reach an agreement with the French side in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The Scottish Sun adds that there is also interest from several teams in the English Championship and that the 49ers want to fast-track a deal for the young star, which could mean that they bring him in before they even appoint a new manager.

Why Rangers should sign Metinho

Rangers must push to sign Metinho ahead of those teams in England because he could come in as the dream replacement for Raskin in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Signing the 22-year-old star from Troyes could soften the blow of losing the Belgium international, should he move on from Ibrox in the coming months.

The Brazilian midfielder struggled for game time with Sparta Rotterdam in the first half of the season, starting two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, before a loan move to Basel sparked his campaign into life.

Since joining the Swiss giants, the £4m-rated star has been a key figure in the middle of the park, starting eight of his ten appearances in the Super League, and has caught the eye with his defensive work.

24/25 Super League

Metinho

Appearances

10

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles per game

3.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.7

Ground duel success rate

69%

Aerial duel success rate

45%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Metinho has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, which is more than the 3.6 that Raskin has averaged in the Premiership for Rangers this term, and won an eye-catching 69% of his ground duels.

Clearly, the Troyes starlet still has areas for improvement, including his success in aerial contests in the middle of the park, but he appears to have the raw defensive materials to be an excellent signing for the Scottish giants.

Metinho could be the dream replacement for Raskin by arriving at Ibrox to provide a similar level of defensive quality in midfield by breaking up attacks with tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries at a similar rate.

In possession, the Brazilian star also ranks within the top 2% of midfielders in the Men’s Next 14 competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries (3.49) and successful take-ons (1.83) per 90, which shows that he can provide quality as a progressive midfield player as well as being an excellent defender.

Related He'd be Gerrard 2.0: 49ers could hire "special" manager for Rangers

The 49ers could find their own Steven Gerrard for Rangers by hiring “pretty special” manager.

Posts ByDan Emery May 9, 2025

At the age of 22, he is also two years younger than the Belgian star and still has time left on his side to develop and improve further, which is another reason why the youngster could be a fantastic signing for the 49ers to make, irrespective of who the next manager is going to be.

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.

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.

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.

One of the biggest clubs in the Premier League wants to sign an Everton star this summer, according to an update from former scout Mick Brown.

Everton battling to keep hold of key men

While much focus is on the players the Blues could sign in the summer transfer window, there are certain key figures whose services must be retained ahead of next season.

Jarrad Branthwaite is one such example, with the England international likely to be the subject of plenty of interest from some big clubs, as he continues to impress in an Everton shirt. Manchester United are thought to be in the mix to sign him, for example.

There are also others who may simply move on with their deals up at the end of the season. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been linked with a summer exit after an impressive spell with the Blues, not least scoring that all-important goal against Bournemouth back in 2023.

The same applies to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t always found playing time easy to come by this season, starting only 19 times in the Premier League. He is also out of contract at the end of the season.

Everton star Branthwaite wanted by Chelsea

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown claimed that Chelsea are interested in completing the signing of Everton centre-back Branthwaite this summer:

“There’s no doubt the manager wants to improve his defensive options. I’m told they’ve been looking at Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. He would be a solid option for them, but I don’t think they’re completely convinced. If you’re looking at Branthwaite, how much better is he than what they’ve already got at Chelsea? Then, you have to consider that it would take big money to bring him in because Everton aren’t going to let him go easily.

“So if they’re spending that type of money, they want a player who would be a really significant upgrade on the likes of Colwill, and they’re not convinced he is. It’s something they’ll consider and then they’ll be the ones to make that decision. But as things stand I think they’re more likely to look elsewhere.”

The £35,000-a-week Branthwaite is arguably Everton’s most prized asset currently, so they must do all they can to retain his services.

The 22-year-old has once again been a rock at the heart of his side’s defence in 2024/25, making 30 appearances in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 6.3 clearances per game.

Appearances

30

Starts

28

Minutes played

2510

Clearances per game

6.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.1

Tackles per game

1.2

Interceptions per game

0.9

Goals

0

Assists

1

Branthwaite has received so much adoration in recent years after his rapid rise at Everton, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher heaping praise on him, saying:

“Branthwaite has been outstanding. I think this lad is pretty special. He’s a big part of why Everton in my eyes have a good chance of staying up, him and his partnership with [James] Tarkowski.”

Moyes has unearthed Everton's new Wayne Rooney in £15m star

Everton found their new superstar on an emotional day at Goodison Park.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

Everton should only entertain the idea of allowing Branthwaite to leave if a monstrous offer arrives from Chelsea or elsewhere – ideally, though, he will be with the Blues for many years to come, becoming a legend over time.

Newcastle United have now submitted a significant bid for an “incredible” player, with Eddie Howe of the belief he would be a perfect fit in his midfield, according to a report.

Newcastle pushing for the Champions League

Regardless of whether Newcastle secure Champions League football, the 2024-25 season will always be remembered fondly by fans, having finally ended their 70-year wait to win a major honour, but they still remain in a strong position to seal a top-five finish.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place, two points clear of Nottingham Forest with just three Premier League games left to play, although their remaining fixtures are on the more difficult side, with matches against two direct rivals now on the horizon.

Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

May 11th

Arsenal (a)

May 18th

Everton (h)

May 25th

It could prove to be a difficult task, but should Howe’s side qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they should be able to attract some top players in the summer, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo believed to be of interest.

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are also interested in a new midfielder, having submitted a €25m (£21m) bid for Girona maestro Yangel Herrera, who they are now determined to win the race for.

Atletico Madrid and top-five rivals Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing Herrera this summer, but the Magpies have now taken a firm step towards securing his signature, having put a strong offer on the table.

Howe believes the Venezuelan would fit perfectly into his side, and the manager is looking to introduce some additional quality into an already impressive midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali attracting interest due to their performances this season.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025 Herrera could be "incredible" signing for Newcastle

While Howe is not short on top-quality midfield options, there are clear signs the 27-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, who could play an important role for the Magpies in a potential Champions League campaign next season.

The central midfielder has caught the eye in front of goal for Girona this term, registering four goals and three assists in La Liga, including a well-taken headed effort against Celta Vigo back in September.

Not only that, but the former New York City FC man impressed with his tackling ability in the early stages of his career, while also catching the eye due to his pass-success rate in the final third during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lauded as an “incredible player” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are plenty of signs that Herrera could be a success at a major European club, so it is a promising development that Newcastle have now made a concrete approach.

Turning their attention away from a historic League One season and towards the summer transfer window, Birmingham City and Tom Wagner are now reportedly eyeing the chance to sign an Aston Villa gem.

Wagner wants to rekindle Aston Villa rivalry

Whilst attempting to swoop in and sign one of Unai Emery’s most impressive young talents, Wagner has made it no secret that he’s hoping to see Birmingham reignite their rivalry with the Villans in the near future. Back in the Championship and one step away from their rivals in the Premier League, the Blues chief is seemingly desperate to bridge that gap and commence a true battle.

Wagner told reporters earlier this month: “It’s absolutely a top objective. It’s the right rivalry for Birmingham, the right derby for English football, and the right way for each club to achieve its highest potential is by rekindling a rivalry that’s been dormant for too long. When I speak to the true fans on both sides of that rivalry, I get the same reaction, which is that they’d love to see it.”

Related He's a Dowell upgrade: Birmingham make offer to sign "unplayable" EFL star

Birmingham City are attempting to sign a star who would be an upgrade on Kieran Dowell.

Posts ByDan Emery May 28, 2025

Unlike many clubs in the past, Birmingham won’t just be looking to survive in the Championship at the first time of asking. Alongside Wrexham, they’ll have their sights on causing a few upsets and pushing beyond the dropzone and perhaps even mid-table mediocrity if they get their summer business right.

That is the big unanswered question, of course. Just who could Birmingham sign this summer fresh from League One promotion? A number of names have already been mentioned, from Kwame Poku all the way to Torino’s Che Adams who played for the club between 2016 and 2019.

Meanwhile, Birmingham may not be afraid to steal some headlines by signing a rival star when the summer transfer window swings open in what would make an immediate statement.

Birmingham eyeing Louie Barry deal

According to GiveMeSport, Wagner and Birmingham have held internal talks about signing Louie Barry from Aston Villa this summer. The young winger will be allowed to leave the Villans on loan in the coming months after having his spell at Hull City cut short courtesy of injury last time out, and a move to St. Andrew’s could yet become an unexpected opportunity.

Although his loan spell at Hull ended in frustration, Barry’s form at Stockport County during the first-half of the season initially caught the eye enough to earn a move into the Championship. Scoring 16 goals in 28 games for the League One side, the 21-year-old earned the praise of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described his form as “superb” in December.

Following what turned into a mixed season, Barry has a decision to make in the coming months. If his League One numbers are anything to go by, then the Villa gem could now be ready for the Championship and potentially Birmingham this summer.

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.

Attempting to finally replace Illan Meslier, Leeds United are now reportedly serious about signing a goalkeeper who has been the best shot-stopper in Ligue 1 this season.

Leeds' Meslier problem set to end this summer

Leeds may be a side in celebration right now after winning the Championship and earning promotion back to the Premier League, but that should not take away from their clear Meslier problem. The shot-stopper endured a disastrous year which very nearly derailed the Whites’ automatic promotion hopes, before Daniel Farke had seen enough and replaced his No.1 with back-up option Karl Darlow.

After making that decision, Farke saw his side go from one win in five Championship games to six wins in seven to earn title success in the Championship. And that form without Meslier was no coincidence. His confidence looked lower than ever at times and those around him looked similarly concerned – creating a chaotic backline.

After dropping his goalkeeper, Farke admitted that it was a decision that had to be made at the start of April, telling reporters: “Obviously he was involved in both [Swansea] goals in the last game, and it was a shame because after the penalty save he was on his way to being man of the match.

“So it was clear we had to make a decision. And we had to make it early in the week, because in that position the players need clarity, and Karl [Darlow] needs the time to prepare.

“We had a pretty open, honest conversation. Of course he’s disappointed he won’t start. But he took it very professionally and he was still more disappointed about the Swansea game.”

49ers in active talks to sign £20m star who's desperate for Leeds move

Daniel Farke knows him well…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

May 9, 2025

Now, with an even more important decision to make, the 49ers have reportedly added a goalkeeper to their summer wishlist at Elland Road and have set their sights on a particularly impressive option.

Leeds now serious about Petrovic

According to TeamTalk, Leeds are now serious about signing Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea this summer following his impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, and his agents have been informed of the interest. It’s whilst on loan in Ligue 1 that Petrovic has earned plenty of admirers with the numbers only adding credit to a fantastic campaign.

With two games left to play, no goalkeeper in his division has managed a better save percentage than his 75 per cent, or more accurate passes than the 913 that he has completed. Simply put, Petrovic would offer those at Elland Road an instant upgrade on Meslier this summer.

Now a prime target for Leeds, Petrovic’s agent is reportedly aware of the interest and his client could have a decision to make in the coming months. Fresh from his loan spell in France, whether Chelsea believe that the 25-year-old is ready to become their No.1 ahead of Robert Sanchez is likely to play a large part. What he is unlikely to do is sit on the bench once again following an excellent campaign.

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is personally keen on a high-earning centre-forward, who’d now reportedly jump at the chance to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal two-man striker target list with Andrea Berta holding talks

According to recent reports, two players currently stand out as Arsenal’s most desired striker targets – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Arsenal seal first summer sale as "high level" player completes European move

A few more expected to follow this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Going by the on-field and off-field numbers, it is clear to see why this is the case.

Gyokeres, who’s racked up a phenomenal 53 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season, could also depart the Primeira Liga side for a fee of up to £60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, so he’d be an arguable bargain when factoring in the 26-year-old’s record.

Sporting CP

101

96

28

Coventry City

116

43

17

Brommapojkarna

67

25

9

FC St. Pauli

28

7

4

Swansea City

12

1

0

Brighton

8

1

1

Meanwhile, Sesko’s current release clause stands at £67 million, and the Slovenia international actually bettered his goalscoring tally from last season (18) with 21 goals across all competitions.

While some reports in Portugal earlier this week stated that Arsenal have agreed a £59m fee to sign Gyokeres from Sporting (O Jogo), this claim appears to have jumped the gun, as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Friday that Berta is holding serious talks over a move for Sesko.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a top goalscorer remains very much open, as Berta identifies targets who he believes would be best-suited to Arteta.

Interestingly, as per journalist Simon Phillips last week, Arteta would personally prefer Sesko, while Berta is believed to be more of a fan of Gyokeres.

What’s clear, though, is Arsenal’s glaring need for another striker. Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for most of this calendar year, following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

While the latter has since returned to action, it is imperative that Arsenal don’t wait any longer to sign a 25-plus-goals-per-season forward, as they look to mount a successful Premier League title challenge.

Dušan Vlahović would "immediately" join Arsenal this summer

According to some reports, there are other centre-forwards on Berta’s shopping list, albeit further down the pecking order when compared to Sesko and Gyokeres.

Journalist Daniele Longo, writing a piece for Calciomercato, shares that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is one of them.

The Serbia international is entering the final 12 months of his £359,000-per-week contract at Juve, and with no sign of a renewal, it would appear that the Old Lady must be more inclined to sell him this summer, rather than lose Vlahovic for nothing in 2026.

Longo states that Vlahovic “would immediately pack his bags” and join Arsenal if given the opportunity, and Berta personally wants the ex-Fiorentina star, even if he’s less of a transfer priority.

The “starting” price of any negotiations for Vlahovic comes at around £42 million, which could be seen by some as good value, considering the “machine” has scored at least 14 total goals per season since 2020/21.

If Berta were to seriously pursue him, Arsenal’s major obstacle would undoubtedly be Vlahovic’s extortionate wages.