Burnley will be playing Premier League football once again next season after they finished second in the Championship to secure promotion back to the big time.

The Clarets finished on a staggering 100 points in the second tier, somehow only finishing second to Leeds United, and are now preparing to build a squad that can avoid an instant relegation from the top-flight.

Scott Parker will need to make some big and tough decisions on players who will leave Turf Moore, and ones who will come in, and one star whose future is uncertain at the moment is Ashley Barnes.

Why Ashley Barnes could be released this summer

The veteran striker signed for the club from Norwich City in the January transfer window and put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season, which means that his current contract is due to expire at the end of next month.

Speaking ahead of the final game of the season, Parker was asked if a decision had been made on the striker: “Not at the moment, no.

Transfer Focus

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

“We’ve not really discussed in great detail next year or certainly how it would look in terms of players’ contracts. We’ve got one game left and that’s been the main focus.

“But Ashley Barnes has been incredible since he’s come in and there’s an opportunity for him at the weekend as well, depending on the decision I make.”

In the weeks since those comments, there has still not been any official confirmation of his release or a new contract, but his limited impact on the pitch could mean that they look elsewhere ahead of a Premier League season.

Barnes ended the campaign with one goal in 21 appearances, including two starts, in the Championship, and the Clarets have been linked with a striker who could be the next version of the veteran forward, George Hirst.

Why George Hirst could be the next Ashley Barnes

Burnley and Leeds are both reportedly interested in signing the Ipswich Town centre-forward after their relegation from the Premier League has already been confirmed, and he could be Barnes 2.0

Barnes joined the Clarets from Brighton at the age of 25, having come up through the lower leagues in League One and the Championship, and went on to score 42 goals in 200 Premier League games for the club.

Like the Burnley icon, Hirst has worked his way up the EFL. He played in League One for Portsmouth and Ipswich and the Championship with Blackburn Rovers and the Tractor Boys, before his first taste of regular top-flight football at the age of 25/26 this season.

Premier League	George Hirst (24/25)	Ashley Barnes (21/22)
Appearances	25	23
Minutes per game	24	35
Goals	3	1
Assists	1	0
Ground duel success rate	33%	34%
Aerial duel success rate	59%	44%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hirst’s form for Ipswich this season in the Premier League has been more impressive than Barnes’ last outing in the top-flight with the Clarets in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics also show that the striker, who was described as “unique” by Kieran McKenna, has the physical attributes to be a Barnes-esque figure for Burnley, particularly with his strength in the air to win flick ons and compete with opposition defenders.

Parker has struck gold on Burnley star who's worth more than Brownhill

Burnley will hope this star can settle into Premier League life well after an impressive debut season at Turf Moor.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 23, 2025

Hirst, who has scored three goals from 2.13 xG, has the potential to combine physical and technical attributes to be an effective centre-forward at Premier League level if he can kick on with regular minutes, as he only averaged 24 minutes a game behind Liam Delap.

That is why Parker could unearth Burnley’s next Ashley Barnes by signing the experienced striker, who has done the hard work in the lower leagues and could now be given a chance to really show his quality at the top level.

With the season officially over, Arsenal have what might just be their most important summer in years to contend with.

Mikel Arteta might have helped to utterly transform the team since taking the job in 2019, but with a third Premier League runners-up medal on the bounce this year, there is an undeniable feeling that next season has to see the North Londoners lift a significant honour.

While keeping his key players fit will undoubtedly help the Spaniard with this objective, it’s arguably just as, if not more important, for new Sporting Director Andrea Berta and the board to bring in the right, needle-moving signings over the next few weeks and months.

Fortunately, they may be in the process of doing that, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the most exciting wingers on the continent, someone who’d be a massive Gabriel Martinelli upgrade.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the superstar in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide talents who have been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.

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 a release clause that stands at around £50m in his Athletic Bilbao contract, and while that’s a lot of money, it would be more than worth it, as, at just 22 years old, he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 45 games this season.

Cherki, on the other hand, did even better, racking up a staggering 12 goals and 20 assists in just 44 games, which makes his reported price tag of just £30m feel like a bargain.

However, it would appear that the North Londoners are now keen on another incredible talent from Ligue 1, Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several Premier League teams incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain star.

The report has revealed that alongside the Gunners, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have sent scouts to watch the Frenchman.

Moreover, while the story claims that the Parisians have no intention of selling the 22-year-old, sources close to the club say he’s valued at up to €120m, around £101m.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Barcola’s outrageous ability and potential, Arsenal should go all out to get him, especially as he’d be a mega Martinelli upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Martinelli

The first thing to say is that while Barcola has played off the right before and made a not-insignificant number of appearances up top as well, his most played position, and by quite some way at that, is left-wing.

Therefore, he’d undoubtedly play there for Arsenal, and therefore, his most significant competition for game time would be Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s hardly a competition at all.

For example, the incredible Frenchman, who’s blessed with “devastating pace,” per U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3564 minutes, which comes out to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.18 games, or every 222.75 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Well, considering Barcola has been described as “one of the best left wingers in Europe” by analyst Ben Mattinson, it’s just as one-sided a comparison with the PSG phenom doing better in practically every metric.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.97

0.49

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.99

0.47

Progressive Passes

3.97

2.05

Progressive Carries

5.66

4.88

Shots

3.05

2.16

Shots on Target

1.57

0.94

Passing Accuracy

81.7%

71.4%

Key Passes

2.07

1.57

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.11

1.46

Shot-Creating Actions

4.17

2.91

Goal-Creating Actions

0.83

0.27

Successful Take-Ons

1.40

1.30

Ultimately, while Martinelli remains a useful player and could be an important part of the squad next season, Barcola is evidently the far superior winger in every conceivable way.

Therefore, even if it costs a king’s ransom, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the incredible Frenchman this summer.

He's like Van Persie: Arsenal hold secret talks to sign "the new Haaland"

Arsenal could sign a similar striker to Robin van Persie this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 2, 2025

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.

Everton manager David Moyes is prepared to enforce sweeping changes this summer after guiding his team, hitherto imperilled, toward safety since re-joining in January.

Incomings will flood through the gates at some stage, but for now, some house-keeping. Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and Abdoulaye Doucoure are among the first-teamers set to depart when their contracts expire next month.

The biggest presence, Doucoure, has done a lot for Everton, not least scoring against Bournemouth on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign to preserve the club’s long-sustained Premier League status, but he’s 33 next year and the top earner besides at £130k per week.

With Dwight McNeil and Charly Alcaraz in the fold (the latter should sign after his loan spell), number ten isn’t actually the priority position for Moyes though.

However, signing a new striker is definitely an urgent job for the Toffees as they step into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton need a new striker

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out of contract at the end of the season, but the 28-year-old striker has not been named as one of the outgoing players.

If Everton are to keep him on the books, it shouldn’t come at the expense of a fresh signing, for Calvert-Lewin has only scored three goals across 25 Premier League games this term.

Beto has been a man reborn under Moyes’ wing, but is still prone to some misfires and Armando Broja, whose loan spell at Goodison Park has been ruined by injury, will return to Chelsea after this weekend’s culminating fixture against Newcastle United.

Everton desperately need to sign a new number nine, having only scored 41 goals in the league this season; the three relegated sides are the only ones to have bagged fewer.

While it’s easier said than done, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes one of English football’s most sought-after stars would be wise to make the move to Bramley-Moore Dock in the coming months.

Carragher urges Moyes to sign PL star

On Monday Night Football, following Liverpool’s defeat at Brighton, Carragher was critical of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap’s potential transfer to Manchester United.

As per The Athletic, the 17th-place Red Devils have held executive meetings to determine whether a deal for the Englishman is feasible, with Chelsea also keen.

Moyes has been candid about his side’s own hopes of completing a move, and it’s something Carragher seems to agree with, believing the 22-year-old’s development would be best served in a talismanic berth on Merseyside.

Delap has a £30m release clause in his contract, which became active after the Tractor Boys’ relegation was sealed toward the end of April.

Though it’s been a pretty miserable campaign for Kieran McKenna’s newly-promoted team, Delap can hold his head high after scoring 12 goals from 32 starting appearances in the Premier League, praised as being “very strong” and a “powerful runner” by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who seems keen.

Delap’s physicality and natural-born clinical edge may well see him become Everton’s finest centre-forward in a long time, perhaps even since the days of Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku joined Everton from Chelsea for £28m (a similar fee) in July 2014 after a successful season-long loan spell at the outfit, and though he’s plied a nomadic career for himself, the 32-year-old devoted four prolific campaigns to the Blues cause.

Delap differs from the well-known Lukaku, but he’s similarly brutish in applying his physicality, eager to outmuscle his opponents and marry that presence with a deceptive swiftness and a sharp shooting sense.

As you can see below, Delap has maintained a comparatively superior level of prolificness to Everton’s existing strikers, also matching a combativeness that can be observed through high numbers in the duel.

Matches (starts)

36 (32)

29 (14)

25 (19)

Goals

12

8

3

Assists

2

0

1

Goal conversion

18%

16%

6%

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.9)

1.6 (0.8)

1.9 (0.8)

Big chances missed

10

12

14

Pass completion

62%

58%

64%

Key passes*

0.6

0.3

0.3

Dribbles*

1.1

0.7

0.4

Duels won*

4.3

5.0

5.0

And, of course, he’s far more progressive in his ball-carrying, something perhaps more clearly underscored by data-led platform FBref, who record Delap to rank among the top 13% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues this term for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Lukaku has been noted to ‘run like a wrecking ball’ by The Athletic’s Carl Anka in his heyday, and given the success Everton gleaned from the goal machine’s inward tactical database, extracting the raw quality of his skill set and building a team perfectly framed to promote his talent, Delap may well be curious at following suit to kick on over the next few years.

Given that the goalscorer used to be on Manchester City’s books as an academy player, a further similarity with Lukaku can be found, amid his initial stint at Chelsea. Let’s not forget too, the Belgian had one of the most fruitful spells of his storied career at Everton, posting 87 goals and 27 assists across 166 displays.

Described as a “wrecking ball” earlier in the campaign by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones, just like Lukaku, Delap has what it takes to become a bona fide superstar in English football.

But would moving to Manchester be the most prudent for him right now? Old Trafford has proven to be a hotbed for stagnation and even regression over the past decade, and this is a player who needs balmy conditions so he can continue to foster his skills.

Imagine him & Ndiaye: Everton could see £12m bid accepted for PL midfielder

Everton are ready to make a series of signings for David Moyes this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

Despite reaching a hefty 90 points in the Championship last season, Sheffield United are now resigned to another campaign in the second t ier

Both Burnley and Leeds United soared into the top two spots in the division at their expense with a mammoth 100 points each, leaving Chris Wilder’s men to fight it out in the cruel lottery of the playoffs.

To make matters worse, the Blades headed into their playoff showdown at Wembley versus Sunderland having never been promoted via this nail-biting route, with that unlucky streak unfortunately continuing against the Black Cats.

It was Tommy Watson who broke United hearts with a last-gasp finish, but the chance would never have fallen to the feet of the new Brighton and Hove Albion youngster kindly if it wasn’t for an inexplicable moment of madness from Welshman Kieffer Moore.

His head-in-hands back-pass could be his last ever cursed moment donning Blades red and white, with Wilder and Co. perhaps tempted to move on the injury-prone striker, having blown hot and cold throughout last season.

Indeed, the experienced EFL attacker would miss 17 games in total due to injury, meaning these three strikers on the potential United shopping list could be viewed as upgrades on the often missing 32-year-old.

1

Emil Riis Jakobsen

Emil Riis Jakobsen would certainly come in and be a similar striker to Moore, considering the Dane boasts a towering 6 foot 3 frame when contrasted wit the ex-Cardiff City man’s imposing 6 foot 5 build.

The soon-to-be free agent has been on Wilder’s radar before according to reports, and with his Preston North End contract confirmed as not being renewed, now could be the perfect time to finally add him to his Blades roster as a back-up attacking body.

After all, Jakobsen did manage to better Moore’s six-goal haul just this season gone with 12 league strikes in total, with the likes of Tyrese Campbell presumably keen to bounce off such an experienced EFL head as promotion is sought after once more.

2

Oli McBurnie

Wilder could also look to the past when recruiting a possible Moore replacement, meaning a deal might soon be on the table for Oli McBurnie to spectacularly return to Bramall Lane.

This wouldn’t be an unusual deal for Wilder to sign off on, considering United were reportedly keen on adding the £2m-rated Scotsman back to their camp in January.

Moreover, with 29 strikes already in his back pocket for the Blades, he wouldn’t need a long time you imagine to get back up to speed with proceedings, having also chipped in with a respectable five strikes for current La Liga employers Las Palmas across the 2024/25 campaign.

It would all rest on whether the Yorkshire-born attacker would fancy swapping Spain for the challenges of the EFL again, but it could be an inspired switch if it clicks into gear.

3

Charlie Kelman

Away from going after seasoned Championship veterans, the Blades could look to Queens Park Rangers hotshot Charlie Kelman as an alternative up top after an explosive loan spell at Leyton Orient.

United have been recently linked with a move for the slick 23-year-old, and after years of not being handed that many meaningful first-team opportunities at Loftus Road, he might well fancy a switch to Wilder’s men to become an exciting reserve option.

Kelman’s league numbers for Orient (24/25)
Stat – per 90 mins*	Kelman
Games played	46
Games started	37
Goals scored	21
Assists	5
Shots*	2.4
Shots on target*	1.1
Goal conversion %	19%
Big chances missed	20
Stats by Sofascore

Kelman would instantly burst into life leading the line for Richie Wellens’ promotion-chasers, as seen in his 21 strikes and five assists helping the O’s reach the League One playoff final, only to then fall at the vital finishing hurdle to Charlton Athletic.

Wilder and Co. tasted similar agony, but will hope landing promising new strikers such as Kelman can get them over the line this campaign to come.

Sheffield United expected to make swoop to sign "important" player for £0

They’re set to go again in pursuit of promotion.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 27, 2025

Club World Cup hopefuls Benfica are set to raid Wolverhampton Wanderers should they be knocked out of the competition earlier than expected, according to a recent report.

2025 Club World Cup gets underway

The FIFA Club World Cup has been given a makeover this year, with 32 teams now qualifying for a competition that will take place every four years, just like the World Cup. Teams such as Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester City have qualified from Europe, with many other teams from across the globe also participating in the USA.

Related How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

The competition got underway this weekend as Inter Miami and Al Ahly played out a goalless draw. Since then, Bayern Munich have thrashed Auckland City 10-0 and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain have beaten Atlético Madrid 4-0.

Representing England in this competition are Chelsea and Man City, who previously won this competition back in 2023. Chelsea get their tournament underway on Monday as they face Los Angeles Football Club, while City have to wait until Wednesday when they play against Wydad Casablanca.

Benfica eyeing Pereira if booted from Club World Cup

Benfica are participating in the competition and are preparing for their opening match against Boca Juniors on Monday. Ahead of that game, The Sun reports that should Benfica flop in the Club World Cup, they will make a move for Wolves’ Vitor Pereira.

Bruno Lage is currently the manager of the Portuguese side, someone Wolves know well, given his time at Molineux. The 49-year-old is under growing pressure following last season’s performances, and should they be knocked out early, club president Rui Costa is ready to move for Pereira.

This news comes at a time when Wolves have already seen big-name players such as Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri leave to join Manchester United and Manchester City, and now their manager could be on the way out.

Vitor Pereira’s Premier League record

Games

22

Won

10

Drawn

3

Lost

9

Points

33

Points per game

1.50

Pereira arrived at Molineux in December 2024, taking charge of 25 matches, and in that time oversaw an excellent turnaround which saw Wolves go from destined for relegation to a comfortable finish at the end of the season.

The Portuguese has won 10 of his 22 Premier League matches in charge, which led to pundit and former Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer heaping huge praise on Pereira, stating what he has done has been “incredible”.

“He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch.

“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”

Molineux chiefs are reportedly scrambling to tie the manager down and ward off any interest from Benfica, but fans may have a new team to root for in the revised Club World Cup given the impact it could have in the West Midlands.

Celtic are active on the market and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly closing in on a bargain deal to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Celtic begin to motor in summer transfer window

The official opening of the window for Celtic will take place next week, but they are already moving down the line with several deals as scaling up becomes the mantra at Parkhead.

Recent interest in Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden and Telstar’s Youssef El Kachati has cooled. However, supporters would have been delighted to see Kieran Tierney officially announced, following months of waiting for his signature to be confirmed.

Looking forward to working with a player who delivered so much during his first spell in charge, Brendan Rodgers believes his ‘elite’ qualities will bring an element of stardust as Celtic chase more success domestically and on the continent.

The Irishman stated: “We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”

Not to be deterred there, Celtic have identified Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top summer target, amid holding a concrete interest in his services over the past year.

The latest names on Celtic’s summer transfer wishlist

Ross Doohan

Aberdeen – deal near completion

Harley Mills

Peterborough United

Lennon Miller

Motherwell

Demir Tiknaz

Rio Ave (on loan from Besiktas – buy option)

Callum Osmand

Fulham – deal near completion

As mentioned above, a compensation package for Fulham striker Callum Osmand is on the verge of going through to solidify Rodgers’ striking options, representing smart business as the Hoops aim to find value for money in the market.

Now, a young defender is also set to join the Parkhead ranks in a similar agreement, even if he won’t be thrust into the first team straight away.

Celtic set to sign prospect Isaac English

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are on the verge of signing defender Isaac English from Greenock Morton and are set to agree a bargain fee of £50,000 with the Scottish Championship side ahead of his proposed move.

Scouts were alerted to his potential off the back of his displays in the second-tier outfit’s Club Academy Scotland Performance League title win at Under-18 level.

Sinclair 2.0: £4.6m star who "wins games on his own" is Celtic's top target

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a winger who could be their next Scott Sinclair.

ByDan Emery Jun 10, 2025

Admittedly, not much is known about English in the public domain. The 17-year-old hasn’t made a senior appearance at Cappielow Park, though he has trained within Dougie Imrie’s senior set-up and looks to be one for the future.

After losing youngsters such as Daniel Cummings, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly in recent times, news that Celtic have a prodigious star ready to walk through the Lennoxtown entrance will be a welcome boost in their mission to stockpile emerging talent.

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.

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 season of disappointments has finally come to an end.

While it would be fair to say that they probably exceeded expectations in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side certainly underdelivered in the Premier League.

Now, injuries and suspensions certainly played their part in this, but many of the Gunners’ first-team stars have been seriously underwhelming, including the reigning Player of the Year, Martin Odegaard.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the Norwegian’s lacklustre form could cost him his place in the team next season, as one of the league’s most exciting midfielders has now been touted for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal transfer news

With yet another trophyless season under their belt, it seems as if Arsenal are determined to make significant additions to the team this summer, as the last few weeks have seen them linked to a number of seriously talented players, such as Eberechi Eze and Kaoru Mitoma.

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 a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract, and while that is a lot of money, he’s certainly worth it, as on top of playing a key role in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.

Mitoma could end up costing the Gunners around £80m and has amassed a reasonable enough tally of ten goals and four assists in 36 games.

However, another name has now entered the picture, someone who could end up being the perfect upgrade on Odegaard: Morgan Gibbs-White.

Yes, according to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Nottingham Forest star this summer.

The report claims that Arteta views the Englishman as the ‘perfect option’ to add some added drive and tenacity to the Gunners’ midfield next season, although he could be an expensive addition, with prior stories claiming he could cost around £100m.

It would likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gibbs-White’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Gibbs-White compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to say is that even though Gibbs-White is talented and capable enough of playing in several different positions, from right-wing to central midfield, his best and most played position is undoubtedly attacking midfield.

Moreover, the ten position is where he has truly excelled and reached another level for Forest this season, so were he to move to Arsenal in the summer, it seems like a sure bet that he would come in to play as the most attacking player in the midfield.

Therefore, his most significant competition for game time at the Emirates would be Odegaard, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes down to their pure output from this season, which is ultimately what matters most and what the Gunners need to focus on, it’s the Tricky Trees star who comes out on top.

For example, in 38 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3142 minutes, the “exceptional” 25-year-old, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, scored seven goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.23 games, or every 184.82 minutes.

Appearances

38

45

Minutes

3142

3447′

Goals

7

6

Assists

10

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.4

Minutes per Goal Involvement

184.82

191.5′

In contrast, the North Londoners’ captain scored six goals and provided 12 assists in 45 games, totalling 3447 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Norwegian star, the difference is even more stark when we just look at their Premier League record, as his tally of 11 goal involvements in 30 games comes out to an average of one every 2.72 games.

In contrast, the Forest ace’s haul of 17 in 34 appearances comes out to one every other game.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more goals and assists to their midfield next season, and while Odegaard may well get back to his best, Gibbs-White has shown that he can do just that.

Therefore, even though it’ll cost a king’s ransom, the North Londoners should do what they can to bring him in.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Rangers are believed to have reached a verbal agreement over the signing of an “outstanding” two-time league champion this summer.

Who is Russell Martin looking to sign for Rangers?

Russell Martin knows the importance of hitting the ground running as the Gers’ next manager, as he looks to do a far more convincing job than Philippe Clement before him. New signings will only help in that respect, and the 39-year-old is already eyeing plenty of fresh faces.

Peterborough United attacker Kwame Poku looks likely to join Rangers in the near future, with the winger available on a free transfer, and his club’s current director of football Barry Fry has called him the “best player in League One” currently.

An audacious move for England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has also been mooted in recent days, with the former Arsenal man relegated with Southampton last season. The Saints stopper is unlikely to want to be plying his trade in the Championship, so moving to a club of Rangers’ size could appeal greatly to him, allowing him to be playing European football.

Similarly, Conor Coady is now back in the second tier of English football after suffering relegation from the Premier League with Leicester City, and he is another who Rangers are said to be interested in.

Rangers reach verbal agreement to sign Max Aarons

According to a report relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers have reached a verbal agreement over the loan signing of Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons this summer.

The Englishman was loaned out to Valencia last season, with the Cherries finding it hard to offer him regular football, and it looks like the same will happen again in 2025/26.

Aarons looks like an astute signing by Rangers, and the loan aspect of it also takes away plenty of risk, should the right-back struggle to impress at Ibrox.

There is no reason why that should be the case, however, with the 25-year-old an impressive player who has now racked up a total of 224 appearances in the Premier League and Championship combined.

Aarons is also a two-time league champion in the latter, twice finishing top with Norwich City in 2018/19 and 2020/21, and former manager Daniel Farke has lauded his qualities.

“Max is outstanding in many topics. I can’t praise him enough for what he has done since his first appearance. When you have the clubs interested in him who were interested it is easy to lose the ground under the feet. Maybe you think you know everything about football. He is always looking to work harder. Never ill, never injured. If the best clubs in the world are interested then maybe there is not that much more space to improve.”

He's Vaclav Cerny 2.0: Rangers are now set to sign "unplayable" star

Rangers are reportedly set to complete a deal for a star who could be Vaclav Cerny 2.0.

ByDan Emery Jun 16, 2025

At 25, Aarons is still a relatively young player, so if he impresses for Rangers in 2025/26, there is no reason why a permanent move couldn’t come to fruition further down the line.