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Sheffield United are making progress in their hunt for new signings and Ruben Selles is now advancing for his latest target, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Failing to claim promotion to the Premier League will have carried a sting in the tale for the Blades, though inevitable departures can often pave the way for fresh hunger ahead of the new campaign.

With Ruben Selles now in the door and facing up to that task, Don Goodman has had his say on Vinicius Souza’s Sheffield United departure as he prepares for an imminent move to Wolfsburg, claiming that he is surprised there wasn’t Premier League interest in the midfielder.

He stated: “The biggest surprise for me, should Vini Souza depart Sheffield United this summer, is that a Premier League club hasn’t taken a chance on him, and I say that with the greatest respect to Wolfsburg.”

He added: “it was up to the players who had almost let themselves down in the Premier League to wipe the slate down and go again, and he certainly was one of those who did that. When he wasn’t in the team, they missed him (when he was), he was outstanding.”

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are active on the transfer front and could look to bring in Tyler Bindon, who has previously worked with Selles while on loan at Reading last campaign.

Sheffield Utd now make contact to sign "unbelievable" star ahead of rivals

The Blades want to take advantage of his contract situation…

2 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 8, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur pair Ashley Phillips and Alfie Devine could yet end up at Bramall Lane, indicatting that the club are searching far and wide for reinforcements ahead of the new campaign.

Now, Selles and company have their eye on a central defender from the continent who could add some much-needed solidity at the Yorkshire outfit.

Sheffield United hold "concrete interest" in Etienne Kinkoue

According to Fabrizio Romano on social media platform X, Sheffield United hold ‘concrete interest’ in Le Havre defender Etienne Kinkoue, who is set to leave his current employers this summer, with his deal at the Ligue 1 side set to expire in 2026.

Valued at around £4.3 million, Burnley and FC Köln are also said to be in pursuit and the 23-year-old wants to take his next career step elsewhere.

Standing at 6ft 5in, Kinkoue made 28 appearances across all competitions last campaign and helped his side to remain in the top-flight, though he could now be set for a new challenge away from the comfort of his homeland.

Sheffield United have been in the market for central defenders this summer and Kinkoue is clearly someone who would fit the bill ahead of another tilt at promotion.

It might not even be July, but Arsenal feel like they’re falling behind in the transfer window.

Manchester City have already signed a handful of incredible players, including Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester United have picked up Matheus Cunha, and Chelsea got Liam Delap through the door at the start of the month.

However, the most significant transfer to be completed by a rival, and the most worrying for the Gunners’ Premier League prospects next season, has been Liverpool’s acquisition of Florian Wirtz.

The German international has been the talk of the window so far, and it looks like he could be a superstar for the Reds.

How Wirtz compares to Premier League stars

With the level of excitement that has followed Wirtz to Liverpool and the enormous £116.5m fee it took to get him out of Bayer Leverkusen, there is an expectation from fans and rivals alike that the German will hit the ground running next season.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

With that in mind, how do his numbers from this season stack up against some of the more prominent attacking midfielders in the league?

Well, given the amount of money he has cost the Reds, it should come as no surprise that none of the Premier League’s top attacking midfielders were more productive than the 22-year-old across all competitions last year.

Wirtz

45

16

15

0.68

Odegaard

45

6

12

0.40

Palmer

48

15

12

0.56

Fernandes

57

19

19

0.66

De Bruyne

40

6

8

0.35

Rogers

54

14

15

0.53

Gibbs-White

38

7

10

0.44

Szoboszlai

49

8

9

0.34

Eze

43

14

11

0.58

Maddison

45

12

11

0.51

In his 45 appearances, the former Leverkusen gem produced 31 goal involvements, which comes out to an average of 0.68 per game, and the only player to get close to that was Bruno Fernandes, whose 38 goal involvements in 57 appearances came out to an average of 0.66 per game.

Bringing it back to Arsenal, the sad reality is that the team’s captain and previously mercurial Martin Odegaard didn’t get anywhere near to being as productive as the man of the moment.

In fact, the Gunners’ Norwegian leader was only able to score six goals and provide 12 assists in 45 appearances this season, which comes out to a rather underwhelming average of 0.40 goal involvements per game.

In short, the North Londoners’ midfield maestro appears to be no match for the effectiveness of Liverpool’s new superstar.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom, as Mikel Arteta has his own monster talent at the Emirates, someone worth millions more than Wirtz.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Wirtz

While Arsenal are blessed with an abundance of talent, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that there are not many players worth more than the monstrous fee Wirtz has cost Liverpool.

However, one of those players who is worth more is, of course, the simply sensational Bukayo Saka.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the Hale End icon is worth up to €157.3m, which converts to about £135m, or £18.5 more than the Liverpool star’s price tag.

Now, there will undoubtedly be some out there who look at such a price and rubbish it, but if we look at how the pair stacked up against one another this season, it might be easier to see where the CIES were coming from.

For example, despite missing over three months of action, the “world-class” winger, as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, was able to score 12 goals and provide 14 assists in just 37 appearances, which comes out to an average of 0.70 goal involvements per game – 0.02 better than the German.

Moreover, when we look under the hood at their respective underlying numbers, the 23-year-old international once again comes out looking better.

For example, he produces a higher non-penalty expected goals plus assists figure while also playing more key passes and making more tackles, which only helps to demonstrate the way in which he takes responsibility for all areas of the game.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.71

0.50

Non-Penalty G+As

0.78

0.77

Progressive Passes

3.65

6.74

Progressive Carries

5.00

5.02

Shots

3.44

2.83

Shots on Target

1.15

1.34

Passing Accuracy

75.5%

78.3%

Key Passes

3.02

2.18

Shot-Creating Actions

6.09

5.66

Goal-Creating Actions

1.20

0.99

Tackles

1.51

1.23

Ultimately, it’s this ability to have an outsized impact on the attacking side of the game while still putting in the dirty work while still being relatively young that makes Saka so valuable, and if he continues on his current trajectory, we aren’t sure Wirtz’s valuation will ever catch up.

A bigger star than Zubimendi: Arsenal make approach to sign £50m midfielder

The midfield monster would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 23, 2025

An “interesting” Everton player is now said to be very close to leaving the club in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Everton eyeing Premier League attacker and others

Blues supporters will be desperately hoping to see new signings arrive on Merseyside this summer, as David Moyes looks to take the team forward and make them a top-half Premier League side again.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has been linked with a move to Everton, with the veteran a proven top-flight attacker who could add much-needed firepower in the final third. A tally of 88 goals in 239 Premier League appearances highlights the Englishman’s pedigree.

The Blues are also believed to have entered the race to sign Timothy Weah, with the USA international currently plying his trade at Juventus. He scored five goals in Serie A last season, only starting 18 out of 38 league matches, so a fresh challenge may appeal to him.

Elsewhere, Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto appears to be a leading start to add to Moyes’ attack, with one report claiming that they are battling Wolves for his signature, with the latter tabling an offer for his services. Now, an Everton exit rumour has emerged, with one player not expected to be at the club at the start of next season.

"Interesting" Everton ace close to leaving

According to Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Youssef Chermiti is now “very close” to leaving Everton this summer, heading to Championship side Stoke City.

The 21-year-old is reportedly likely to move there on a season-long loan deal, hopefully picking up some important experience before the Blues make a decision over his future at the end of next term.

This feels like a shrewd decision for all parties, with the report saying ‘sources believe Chermiti is not in Moyes’ plans for Everton next season’, so he needs to enjoy regular football elsewhere. He is under contract until the summer of 2027, so there is no rush to sell him permanently yet.

The Portuguese has struggled to make an impression in a Blues shirt, failing to register a single goal or assist in 24 appearances, but he was lauded as a “very interesting” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

Hopefully, Chermiti will flourish out on loan at Stoke, with the Championship a massive test of any players’ credentials, then giving Moyes a headache when he returns to Everton next summer.

Same agent as McNeil: Everton eyeing swoop to sign "incredible" PL rival

He’s got plenty of experience.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 21, 2025

He will have to do a lot in 2025/26 to show the Scot that he is worth persevering with long into the future, though, and it will be interesting to see how he fares over the next 12 months or so.

Manchester United’s business in the transfer market has left a lot to be desired over recent years, with many of their additions failing to make the grade in the Premier League.

Rasmus Hojlund is arguably the biggest example in the current squad, costing £72m from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023, but has struggled to make the desired impact.

The Dane has only scored four times in the league throughout 2024/25, leading to rumours over his long-term future at Old Trafford, with a return to Serie A on the cards this summer.

It’s crucial that the hierarchy back Ruben Amorim in the market over the coming months, but more importantly is that they hand him the right players to operate in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Matheus Cunha has been the first addition, but if the club are to have any chance of rising up the table next campaign, added reinforcements are needed to help the Brazilian within the final third.

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

A striker has been the priority of United so far this summer, especially after missing out on number one target Liam Delap to fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea.

Since his move to Stamford Bridge, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Dušan Vlahović and Jean-Philippe Mateta have all been touted with a move to join the Red Devils.

However, other forwards have also been on their radar, with Lyon winger Malick Fofana the latest player linked with a move to Old Trafford, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

Their report states that Jason Wilcox is considering making a bid for the Belgian youngster, who registered 16 combined goals and assists across all competitions – costing in the region of £38m.

It also claims that Chelsea are firmly in the race for his signature, with Amorim’s side once again facing the prospect of a transfer battle with Enzo Maresca’s side for a player’s signature.

Why United’s £38m target could be Amorim’s next Amad

Despite Hojlund’s failures within the final third this campaign, other players around him have managed to star, including Ivorian forward Amad Diallo.

The 22-year-old was seen as an outcast under former boss Erik ten Hag, but was handed the platform to impress after Amorim’s arrival in late November last year.

He’s since taken his career to the next level at Old Trafford, registering 19 combined goals and assists across all competitions in 2024/25, with his £36m transfer fee now looking somewhat of a bargain.

Amad even scored a hat-trick in the comeback win over Southampton and bagged the winner in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, a feat that made him an instant hero among the fanbase.

Such a deal needs to be replicated going forward, with new target Fofana providing just that should he make a move to Manchester in the coming months.

He possesses a similar skillset, with both being nimble left-footed forwards who can operate off either wing, potentially operating in a wing-back role in Amorim’s system if needed.

When comparing his stats to those of Amad from the recent campaign, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be.

Games played

29

26

Goals & assists

9

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

48%

36%

Progressive carries

6.3

5.1

Carries into final third

3.2

2.5

Take-on success

47%

46%

Crosses completed

4

1.9

Fouls won

2.1

1.3

Fofana, who’s been labelled “special” by journalist Zach Lowy, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has notched a higher shot-on-target rate, demonstrating his clinical ability in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more progressive carries and more carries into the final third per 90, handing the side an added threat given his desire to get forward with the ball at his feet.

The Belgian’s trickery has made him a constant nuisance to opposition defenders, completing 47% of his attempted take-ons and winning more fouls per 90.

£38m in today’s market is a solid price for a 20-year-old star who could improve massively in the years ahead under Amorim’s guidance, offering the side a new star in attacking areas.

If he can replicate Amad’s success in the Premier League in the near future, it would be another bargain and an addition that could take the club back towards their former glory.

An Elanga repeat: Wilcox in talks to sell £105k-per-week Man Utd talent

Manchester United may be about to make a huge mistake in selling one first-team star.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 17, 2025

A positive update has now emerged regarding Newcastle United’s efforts to sign a “special” player in the summer transfer window.

Howe in charge of transfers at Newcastle

There has been a big change at St James’ Park since the end of the season, following the departure of Paul Mitchell as sporting director, with the 43-year-old releasing a statement upon his exit.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year. I’m leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales – someone who I have worked so closely with in my career – moving on soon. The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.”

It means that Eddie Howe now has far more control of Newcastle’s summer transfer business, amid rumours that the pair didn’t get along, not least last summer when both were reportedly dissatisfied with a lack of business.

It will be interesting to see if Howe flourishes with even more responsibility, bringing in the right players who can suit his style of play, and a new centre-back will surely be a priority. Now, a new report has emerged regarding a potential signing in that area of the pitch.

Newcastle planning approach for "special" defender

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Newcastle are planning an approach for Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti this summer, with the Italian valued at £29m.

Alongside Pedro: Howe readying move to sign £16m-a-year star for Newcastle

He desperately needs a fresh start.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 9, 2025

The 26-year-old’s future in Turin is described as “uncertain” and he also likes the idea of moving to the Premier League, acting as a boost for the Magpies.

As mentioned, Newcastle must strengthen their defence this summer, considering several of their current options are in their 30s, and Gatti stands out as a strong choice for them.

The Italy international has enjoyed an interesting journey, emerging as a late bloomer rather than standing out at academy level, with Eurofoot describing his career as being on a “special” path.

Gatti enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 season with Juve, including completing 95.2% of his passes in Serie A, highlighting the quality he has in possession, and he is at a perfect age to come straight in as a key man for Newcastle.

Appearances

30

Starts

26

Minutes played

2196

Pass completion rate

95.2%

Clearances per game

2.5

Aerial duel wins per game

1.2

Tackles per game

0.9

Goals

1

Assists

0

It may not be easy for the Magpies to get him, amid competition from the likes of Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, but they can guarantee him Champions League football, which could prove vital.

Already seemingly closing in on Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have now reportedly opened talks to sign another Bundesliga star and one that would instantly solve their striker problem.

Frimpong travels to complete Liverpool move

With Trent Alexander-Arnold on his way to join Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, Liverpool have acted swiftly and are reportedly closing in on signing Jeremie Frimpong. The flying fullback has already travelled to complete his move to Anfield in what looks set to be the first of a number of fresh faces making their way to the home of the Premier League champions in the coming months.

Whilst Alexander-Arnold’s goodbye tears are still drying, the Reds have acted in rapid fashion to find his replacement. But they’re not done there. Reports have also revealed that Liverpool are in pole position to sign Frimpong’s Leverkusen teammate, Florian Wirtz.

It initially looked set to be a battle between Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the German’s signature, only for Liverpool’s call to push Wirtz towards rejecting other interested parties. Now, with their first offer submitted, it could just be a matter of time before those at Anfield land one of the earliest and likely one of the biggest deals of the summer transfer window.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has also confirmed Liverpool’s interest, recently telling reporters: “It’s currently an open subject with Florian. There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there’s no more to say right now. Florian is our player.”

The Bundesliga seems to be where it’s at for Liverpool this summer too, amid rumours that they’re already lining up a move to sign what could be their third player of the summer from Germany’s top division.

Liverpool open talks to sign £84m Hugo Ekitike

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are also in talks to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer and are serious contenders to sign the Frenchman alongside rivals Chelsea.

Michael Edwards and Arne Slot are fans of the forward but, like Wirtz, the deal won’t come cheap with Frankfurt looking to receive around €100m (£84m) to sell their star.

Mac Allister 2.0: Liverpool working on another amazing signing after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to replicate a deal for Alexis Mac Allister durng the upcoming summer window.

ByEthan Lamb May 28, 2025

Liverpool’s interest should come as little surprise. Slot, despite securing the Premier League title at the first time of asking, lacked a natural No.9 all season, with Luiz Diaz often asked to play the role amid Darwin Nunez’s continued struggles. Now, with the latter likely to depart, the Reds could make their move to sign a replacement that analyst Sam McGuire dubbed a “shot monster”.

After ending the season with 22 goals to his name for Frankfurt, all signs are pointing towards a top European move for Ekitike this summer and a deserved one at that.

Whilst Birmingham City’s unbelievable attacking arsenal undoubtedly helped them to stroll to the League One title with 81 goals being scored, the defenders also more than played their part in the Blues’ title-winning success when shutting out some dangerous third-tier attackers.

Chris Davies’ men would boast the sternest defence in the division come the end of their near flawless 46-game campaign, with only 31 strikes being shipped in total courtesy of Christoph Klarer at the back showing off their imposing nature.

Still, the reawakened giants won’t be resting on their laurels moving back up to the Championship, with signings all over the pitch rumoured to join the impressive St Andrew’s ranks.

Birmingham's growing list of transfer targets

Davies’ side won’t be content with simply making up the numbers next season after promotion, knowing full well that chairman Tom Wagner will again give the Blues adequate funds to spend on some top buys.

Birmingham have already been linked with major moves for former star Che Adams alongside League One superstar Kwame Poku to enhance their potent forward areas. Further, a move for Irish shot-stopper Mark Travers has also been rumoured.

But, the ever-growing list of statement targets doesn’t stop there, with journalist Alan Nixon now reporting that the newly promoted side could go back in for the much-admired Harry Darling who Birmingham have previously had on their shopping list.

Davies and Co might well be able to land the experienced Swansea City centre-back for nothing, considering his deal with the Welsh side expires very soon, but fellow promoted outfit Wrexham are also allegedly sniffing around for the 25-year-old.

Amazingly, if a deal was to get over the line, Birmingham would be able to land an instant upgrade on Hannover 96 powerhouse Phil Neumann who is also set to join the Blues this summer from the Bundesliga, meaning competition for places in the heart of defence would be extremely fierce.

How Darling would be an upgrade on Neumann

Winning both Neumann and Darling in quick succession would make sense, with the likes of Grant Hanley exiting St. Andrew’s at the expiry of his contract, alongside Dion Sanderson’s future at the club being up in the air after a loan stint at Blackburn Rovers.

But, if it was a toss-up between the two new potential centre-backs as to who would partner a formidable Klarer moving forward, Darling could well get the nod over the 6 foot 3 German when picking apart their impressive 2024/25 numbers below.

Games played

39

32

43

Goals scored

5

2

1

Assists

3

1

3

Touches*

74.5

64.4

91.8

Accurate passes*

53.9 (88%)

38.9 (83%)

68.4 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

3.9

4.3

3.5

Clearances*

5.0

5.2

5.6

Total duels won*

4.9

4.3

7.5

Clean sheets

12

10

18

Straight off the bat, Darling already possesses a lot of experience of the English game to his advantage, with 108 career games under his belt in the difficult Championship.

On top of that, the soon-to-be free agent has also averaged a better pass accuracy per league clash this season in the second tier than Neumann has managed in the German top-flight, alongside also bettering the Hannover number five when it comes to winning duels.

Klarer has shown in abundance for Birmingham that he can be equal parts classy yet attritional too, meaning the “heroic” Swans centre-back – as he was once labelled by former manager Luke Williams – and the Austrian enforcer could soon be a match made in heaven in the heart of the Blues defence.

Of course, Neumann would still be pushing for a starting spot here, but if Birmingham can win such a distinguished performer at the level on a free transfer, it’s a move they simply must pursue.

He'd be amazing with Adams: Birmingham make move for "unplayable" EFL star

Birmingham City would scare Championship defences stiff if they picked up this top EFL talent alongside Che Adams.

ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are potentially two games away from doing something seriously special in the Europa League.

However, while Ange Postecoglou could lead his side to continental success, the club’s domestic form cannot be described as anything other than shambolic.

With three games left to play in the Premier League, the North Londoners have been on the losing side 19 times and sit just a point above West Ham United in 16th place.

Unsurprisingly, such wretched form has led to reports suggesting that Postecoglou is set to be replaced in the summer, regardless of what happens in the Europa League.

There have been a whole host of names linked with the club in recent weeks, but there has been one which would represent a massive coup for the Lilywhites: someone who’s an even bigger name than José Mourinho and would be an enormous upgrade on Ange.

Tottenham's manager search

The last few weeks have seen a variety of managers linked with the Spurs job, and while there have been some underwhelming ones, like Scott Parker, there have been some more exciting ones as well, like Marco Silva and Andonio Iraola.

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 helped turn Fulham from a yo-yo club into a mid-table Premier League side that can give anyone a game on their day.

It’s been an even more impressive transformation down at the Vitality Stadium, with Iraola taking the Cherries from relegation favourites near the start of last season to genuine contenders for a European place this season.

Moreover, the Spaniard helped to get the financially minuscule Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga during his time in the Spanish capital.

However, even with the aforementioned managers, there is an element of risk, as none of them have taken over a club as big as Spurs, so there will always be lingering questions over how they’d cope with it.

So, with this in mind, reports from GIVEMESPORT late last month that claimed the Tottenham board had held international discussions about hiring Carlo Ancelotti are so exciting.

It would be an incredibly ambitious move, and one that might not pan out if reports linking the Italian to the Brazilian job are accurate, but if it paid off, the club would have themselves a significant upgrade on Postecoglou and a bigger name than Mourinho.

Why Ancelotti would be an incredible hire

So, before we look at how he stacks up against Postecoglou, let’s delve into just why we think he’s now a bigger name than Mourinho, as we’re sure it’s a point that the ‘special one’ would wholeheartedly disagree with.

Firstly, timing is crucial in this argument, as during Mourinho’s peak years at Chelsea, Inter Milan and, to some extent, Real Madrid, he’d undoubtedly be the ‘bigger name’, but in the last seven years or so, that has completely changed.

For example, since the start of the 16/17 season, the Portuguese coach has only won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League with AS Roma.

In comparison, the Real boss has won the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich and three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, one Spanish Cup, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Supercups, the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, all with Real Madrid.

Moreover, the Reggiolo-born mastermind also won the Champions League in his first stint with Los Blancos and twice with AC Milan, so there is a very genuine case for him being the greatest manager in the world.

With all that said, it should come as no surprise that when we compare his recent record to Postecoglou, he comes out so far ahead that it is almost pointless.

For example, in his current stint with Real, the “elite” 65-year-old, as dubbed by talkSPORT host Adrian Durham, has won 161 games, drawn 34 and lost 35, which comes out to an average of 2.25 points per game.

Games

230

96

Wins

161

45

Draws

34

14

Losses

35

37

Points per Game

2.25

1.55

In contrast, the Australian has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses, resulting in a far worse average of 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, if there is any chance whatsoever for Spurs to sign Ancelotti in the coming weeks, they have to take it, as he’d be a monumental upgrade on Ange.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must sell Spurs dud after 4/10 display

Tottenham Hotspur need a clear-out this summer after another game where they failed to claim all three points.

ByEthan Lamb May 5, 2025

Manchester United now expect to complete the transfer of an “unplayable” striker target who Chelsea have already made a bid for, according to a new report.

Man Utd chasing reinforcements ahead of busy summer

This summer is expected to be a busy time for the Red Devils – several contracts are up and plenty more players are expected to depart, as Ruben Amorim tries to put a squad together that suits his system and his system only.

Man Utd preparing £40m bid to sign full-back who is also wanted by Arsenal

Man Utd face a battle with Arsenal to sign an experienced defender.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 28, 2025

Christian Eriksen looks set to leave United, and there are still doubts over whether Casemiro will remain beyond the summer. Both players leaving would open the door for a new midfielder at least, and United have their eyes on one or two players they would like to sign. Over the weekend, the Red Devils were linked with a move for Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who would be able to leave the Italian side for £34 million.

Lobotka is not the only Napoli midfielder United could sign, as they have been offered the chance to sign Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who is set to become a free agent in the summer. United are not alone in the race, as Manchester City have also been offered the chance to sign the player via his entourage.

Meanwhile, the Premier League side are also keeping a close eye on Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Serie A. The Brazilian could also be available for a relatively low fee.

Man Utd expect Gyokeres to pick them over Chelsea

Signing a new midfielder may have to wait until United have addressed their forward options, as Amorim is desperate to sign a new striker to end the misery in front of goal. According to Football Insider, Man United are now confident they are going to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP this summer.

The report states that United have been working hard in the background to reach an agreement, and they are now in a good position to complete the transfer of Gyokeres. The Sweden international is considered a top target at Old Trafford and has been since Amorim was appointed head coach.

United will hope securing Champions League football by winning the Europa League will give them the advantage they need, as Chelsea have made a bid worth £64 million for Gyokeres already, and they are yet to know if they will be playing in Europe’s biggest competition. It is believed Amorim’s relationship with the forward has swung it in United’s favour, and they are now confident it’s a “done deal”.

Apps

98

Goals

95

Assists

27

Gyokeres, who has been dubbed “unplayable” by former teammate Maxime Biamou, has scored a staggering 38 goals in 30 Liga Portugal games this season, as well as a further six in the Champions League. United may hold another advantage in the race for Gyokeres, as the Swedish striker has the same agent as current United defender Victor Lindelof.

Turning their attention towards future stars, Liverpool scouts are now reportedly keen for sporting director Richard Hughes to sign one particular 16-year-old gem ahead of Barcelona this summer.

Liverpool could endure summer of change

With Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit now more inevitable than ever and the likes of Andy Robertson and Darwin Nunez struggling for form under Arne Slot, it could be a summer of change at Liverpool. What they will hope to avoid, however, are departures for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, with a new deal for the former now considered a matter of when and not if, as per David Ornstein.

The Dutchman provided a fresh update on his deal following Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham, telling reporters: “There is progress, yeah. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.

“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again [at Fulham]. We wanted to reward them, but I ask them to be there again on Sunday and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”

Of course, Van Dijk’s main focus will be on ensuring that Liverpool seal the Premier League title once and for all in their remaining seven games. Sat 11 points clear of chasing contenders Arsenal, the Reds need just four wins to secure their crown. Even if doubt began to creep in against Fulham too, the Reds could instantly put that to bed against West Ham United this weekend.

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Meanwhile, once their place at the top of English football is confirmed, their focus will turn towards the summer transfer window. Already, a number of names have threatened to steal the headlines on that front and if reports are anything to go by, those at Anfield are in for a busy few months ahead of next season.

Liverpool battling Barcelona to sign Mederic

Though it’ll be bigger names like Jonathan David and Milos Kerkez who steal the headlines this summer, no matter where they find themselves playing next season, Liverpool are still keeping an eye on welcoming future stars.

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by Sports Witness, Liverpool scouts are now keen for Hughes to sign Obli Kouame Jean Mederic ahead of interest from Barcelona, who want to add him to their famous La Masia academy.

The 16-year-old defender has reportedly been outstanding at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations this month and has done enough to attract the attention of Liverpool, Barcelona, Marseille and Atalanta.

Helping Ivory Coast finish top of their group at the U17 AFCON, Mederic is certainly one to watch at just 16 years old. Liverpool, of course, aren’t afraid to shop around other academies, having welcomed Harvey Elliott from Fulham in the past and – more recently – Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea last summer.

Now, they could get one over on Barcelona by welcoming Mederic at the first chance they get this summer. It’s then that the Ivory Coast defender would join up with the Reds’ academy, before perhaps one day joining the likes of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate within Slot’s backline.