Aston Villa have now been handed a boost in their pursuit of a £70m forward, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealing he would be open to a move to Villa Park this summer.
Aston Villa eager to sign new forwards
It has been clear that Villa need to sign a striker since the January transfer window, at which point they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr, and the need to bring in a centre-forward could be exacerbated by the departure of Ollie Watkins.
Manchester United have held talks over a deal for Watkins, which means the Villans have started to run the rule over replacements, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani has entered the frame as a potential option.
Besiktas’ Semih Kilicsoy also remains of interest, alongside Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, with Unai Emery’s side now ready to make a move for the striker, should he become available later this summer.
Target
League appearances in 24/25
Goals
Randal Kolo Muani
26
10
Semih Kilicsoy
32
3
Nicolas Jackson
30
10
After losing Duran in the January transfer window, versatile forward Marcus Rashford was brought in, but with the Manchester United man now Barcelona-bound, Emery is also keen on bringing in a forward capable of playing out wide.
Last week, it was revealed that Aston Villa have made an approach for Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who could be valued at £70m, and there has now been another update on their pursuit of the forward.
According to a report from The Boot Room, Garnacho is open to a move to Villa Park this summer, given that he is keen to remain in the Premier League and play under Emery.
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Bailey added: “Alejandro Garnacho wants to stay in England, and there are only so many options. Chelsea, we know, like him, whilst Tottenham have maintained contact.
“But Aston Villa have emerged as an option, I am told the player has done his homework on the possibility of working with Unai Emery, and he has heard good things.”
Garnacho could be "amazing" signing for Aston Villa
Amid doubts surrounding Jacob Ramsey’s future, it could be very important to bring in a new signing capable of playing at left-wing this summer, and the 21-year-old has picked up 31 goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances from that area, including games at youth level.
Ruben Amorim has also singled out the youngster for high praise, describing him as “amazing” after an impressive performance in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal last season.
Alejandro Garnacho in action for Manchester United.
That said, given that Villa are treading a fine line PSR-wise, it may not be financially prudent to shell out £70m on a player yet to record world-class numbers.
Garnacho amassed a respectable six goals and two assists in the Premier League last season, but his performances are yet to justify a £70m outlay, so it may only be worth Villa making a move if the winger becomes available for a lower price.
West Ham United are now in direct negotiations over a deal to sign an “excellent” defender, with his price tag not considered an issue, according to a report.
West Ham summer transfer rumours after Kudus sale
One of West Ham’s main tasks this summer will be to bring in a replacement for Mohammed Kudus, with the forward recently sealing a controversial move across the capital to Tottenham Hotspur, but they are also keen to strengthen other areas of the squad.
With long-serving left-back Aaron Cresswell departing upon the expiration of his contract, the Hammers are now stepping up their pursuit of a left-back, with a report revealing they are on course to sign Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf for €22m plus add-ons.
However, there is also an eagerness to strengthen on the opposite side of the defence, with talks being opened over a deal for Celta Vigo right-back Oscar Mingueza, but the 26-year-old is not the only Spanish defender on the Irons’ shortlist.
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According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), West Ham are now in direct negotiations with the agents of Girona’s Arnau Martinez, with work underway to try and convince the right-back to make the move to the London Stadium this summer.
Martinez is viewed as one of Girona’s biggest assets, which indicates the Spanish side could be reluctant to sanction a departure on the cheap, but his price tag isn’t considered a problem for the Hammers, given the money that comes from playing in the Premier League.
The Irons remain in touch with the 22-year-old’s representatives ahead of potentially making an offer, and reports from elsewhere have detailed that it could take a bid in the region of €14m (£12m) to get a deal over the line.
Martinez could be "excellent" addition to Potter's squad
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has been left impressed by the Spanish defender in the past, taking to X to suggest that he is a versatile player, also capable of playing at right centre-back in a three-at-the-back system.
At 22-years-old, the full-back is at a good age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, and he already has a great deal of first-team experience, making a combined 86 La Liga appearances over the course of the last three campaigns.
An asking price of just £12m is very reasonable, and there are plenty of signs that Martinez could be capable of pushing for Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s starting spot in the near future, while his versatility would be an added bonus for Graham Potter.
Glasgow Rangers are not messing around in the summer transfer window. They have already made several moves in an attempt to bolster Russell Martin’s first-team squad.
Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, and Emmanuel Fernandez had all already arrived through the door at Ibrox before the signing of Thelo Aasgaard was made official.
The Norway international has joined Rangers from south of the border in a permanent deal that is reported to be worth around £3.5m.
Aasgaard, as a player who has predominantly been deployed as an attacking midfielder or off the left flank in his career, could be viewed as their replacement for Ianis Hagi, who left the club on a free transfer this summer.
There are still attacking reinforcements to come for the Light Blues, though, as they have yet to replace Vaclav Cerny, who recently returned to Wolfsburg.
The Czechia international spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Ibrox, gracing the right flank each week, and they will need to replace the quality he provided in the final third.
Why Rangers must replace Vaclav Cerny
You only have to take a brief glance at the kind of numbers Cerny put up during his time at Rangers to know that the club were dealt a big blow when his loan deal expired.
The left-footed star produced 18 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the right wing.
12 of those goals and four of those assists for the Light Blues came in the Scottish Premiership, as he showcased his ability to make a big impact on a regular basis in the top-flight.
Cerny was also unlucky to only end the season with four assists to his name in the division, as his teammates let him down too many times with their wasteful finishes.
Goals
12
Top 6%
xG
9.03
Top 6%
xG on target
11.03
Top 6%
Assists
4
Top 25%
xA
8.41
Top 1%
Chances created
81
Top 1%
As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star racked up an eye-catching 8.41 xA tally, the most of any winger in the league, but was only rewarded with four assists.
Overall, these statistics show that it will take a lot to find a quality replacement for Cerny, because he delivered goals and created chances at an exceptional rate for the Gers last season.
However, Rangers are now reportedly eyeing up a potential deal for a winger who could come in as a perfect replacement for the Czechia international.
Rangers pursuing new winger deal
According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by the Daily Record, Rangers are pursuing a deal to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Weslley Patati this summer.
It is claimed that the Light Blues are one of a number of teams interested in the winger, though, as AZ Alkmaar, Al Wahda, Al Ain, and Girona are also keen on signing him, which shows that there is plenty of competition for his signature.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Unnamed teams from the Premier League and the Championship in England are also keeping tabs on his situation, adding even more potential suitors to the list.
Maccabi Tel Aviv have already rejected £3.5m offers from several clubs, including AZ, and are said to be looking for a fee within the region of £9m for the 21-year-old attacker.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants are prepared to pay the £9m that may be required to bring the Brazilian dynamo to Ibrox before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
Why Rangers should sign Weslley Patati
The Light Blues should push to bring the left-footed star to Glasgow in the coming weeks, whether it is for that fee or potentially a reduced one if they can lower it in negotiations, because he could be a perfect replacement for Cerny.
As a left-footed forward who predominantly plays on the right, although he can also play off the left wing, Patati could be a dream signing to take the Czechia international’s place in the starting XI.
Like Cerny, Patati is a winger who likes to cut in on his left foot from the right flank to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, using his ability on the ball to constantly make things happen in the final third.
Analyst Kai Watson claimed that the forward is “so good with the ball at his feet that he’s difficult to stop”, which is backed up by his impressive statistics for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2024/25 campaign.
Appearances
30
33
Goals
12
12
Big chances missed
6
6
Big chances created
17
6
Key passes per game
1.4
2.5
Assists
6
4
Dribbles completed per game
1.7
1.4
As you can see in the table above, Patati caught the eye with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the right wing, just as Cerny did.
He scored as many goals as Cerny did at league level, with the same level of efficiency in ‘big chances’, whilst also creating a whopping 11 more ‘big chances’ for his teammates.
This suggests that the potential is there for the Brazilian starlet to come in as a potential upgrade, whilst offering a similar stylistic option to the Gers, on the wing, because of his goalscoring pedigree and his consistency as a creative threat.
Of course, he has yet to prove himself in the Premiership, and it remains to be seen if he can adapt to Scottish football, but the 21-year-old ace appears to have all the tools available to be a real success at Ibrox as a replacement for Cerny.
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Therefore, the Gers should push hard to win the race for his signature, amid fierce competition, because the goals and assists he has the potential to deliver from the right wing could make supporters forget all about the Wolfsburg loanee.
How sad that Liverpool’s smart business sense in the transfer market will likely prevent Arne Slot’s side from becoming engaged in the frenzied crowd come August, when panic stations are manned ahead of the impending closure date.
Ah well. There are worse problems for a side to have. Liverpool, having won the Premier League with relative ease last season, have already completed a series of signings to plug gaps ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, where a title must be defended and where expectations will be heightened across tournamental fronts, where the Reds perhaps fell flat.
Still, that shiny league title softened the blow of losing the Carabao Cup final, did it not? However, we can’t deny that Liverpool suffered a dip around spring, a rough patch which limited the scope of Slot’s extraordinary success.
More quality was needed, and that’s why Richard Hughes has overseen such an imperious start to the summer market, with the sporting director now turning his head toward central defence.
Why Liverpool want a centre-back
Earlier in June, Liverpool agreed to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £30m plus add-ons. A buyback clause has been written into the contract.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah
The move will not be finalised until the defender completes his duties with England at the U21 European Championship, but he won’t be a Liverpool player next season.
With a question mark also hanging over Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have set their sights on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is anticipated to leave Selhurst Park this summer. Anfield has emerged as the leading suitor in the race.
We all know of Real Madrid’s expertise in warping Spanish media, but the fact remains that Konate has been left ‘disappointed’ after rejecting Liverpool’s latest contract offer, and is indeed heading into the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.
However, if Liverpool fail to get a deal for Guehi over the line, a fresh face will still be needed to strengthen the rearguard.
Liverpool register interest in Guehi alternative
According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have entered the race for Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, who plays for Valencia in La Liga.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Though the Reds will slow the pace after their breakneck start to the window, Hughes will remain attentive to opportunities and is keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old as Arsenal begin to accelerate their own interest.
Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the Gunners are locked in talks for the rising star, with a €20m (£17m) being agreed.
Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino
If Liverpool want to complete a hijack, they will need to move fast.
Why Liverpool want Cristhian Mosquera
Guehi would bring a certain completeness to Liverpool, and he’s proven in the Premier League besides, but he’d cost quite a fee at £50m.
If a breakthrough is found vis-à-vis Konate, would it make sense to launch such a bid, especially when Guehi already harbours certain reservations about playing time?
He’s an excellent player, but Mosquera is showing significant potential and could be a worthwhile project for Slot and his coaching team over the next few years, especially as he’s already shown a certain precocity in chalking up 90 senior appearances for Valencia, having turned 21 today.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
Across the 2024/25 campaign, the Spaniard, born and reared in Alicante to Colombian parents, Mosquera actually started 37 of Valencia’s league fixtures, with his one absence coming when his side faced Barcelona at Camp Nou. They lost 7-1.
Coincidence? Likely not. The hulking defender’s natural ease in high-pressure situations would have been perfect for that match, and when looking at how his metrics compare to Guehi’s over the players’ respective league seasons, you begin to see exactly why he’s so coveted.
Matches (starts)
37 (37)
34 (34)
Goals
1
3
Assists
0
2
Clean sheets
8
11
Touches*
65.7
64.9
Pass completion
91%
84%
Key passes*
0.0
0.5
Ball recoveries*
5.1
4.3
Dribbles (success)*
0.1 (56%)
0.4 (86%)
Tackles + interceptions*
2.4
2.6
Clearances*
3.3
4.6
Ground duels (won)*
2.3 (70%)
2.9 (63%)
Aerial duels (won)*
1.1 (45%)
2.0 (54%)
Just a reminder that Mosquera is only 21. You really can see why Arsenal are so interested in bringing him over to the Emirates. However, Mosquera’s blend of steely tackling and crisp passing play, those fundamental defensive virtues, could be developed into something world-class at Anfield.
Slot promotes a ball-playing game, and he expects his centre-halves to contribute, picking out those in space upfield to spark a devastating transition.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
And if that weren’t enough, Mosquera also ranked among the top 18% of central defenders in La Liga last term for progressive carries and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising a mobility to rival Guehi’s and indeed an athleticism which allows him to roam about, hoovering up danger and recycling it into something positive.
This is an interesting element for any defender to equip to their toolkit, but when you are so naturally talented in winning the ball back, as Mosquera is, a “truly magnificent centre-back” is created, as has been noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Moreover, Mosquera’s success in the air might not be great, but it will improve. Guehi, too, finds his stronger challenges come on the ground, and so it’s curious indeed that the La Liga star is already performing to a higher standard in that regard, in fact superior to all his positional peers across Spain’s top flight as well.
No doubt, Palace have the more refined man. However, given Liverpool already boast two of the finest defenders on the globe in Konate and skipper Virgil van Dijk, does it not make sense to sign the developing star, who could learn from the superstars already under Slot’s wing ahead of a more prominent role in the coming years?
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Sunderland might be without Jobe Bellingham for their nerve-wracking Premier League adventure, but at least Regis Le Bris still has Chris Rigg to call upon for now.
Amazingly, Rigg is only 18 years of age, despite featuring a colossal 47 times last season for Le Bris’ promotion-winners.
The teenage sensation has rightly garnered lots of attention from higher up suitors; therefore, with Manchester United once reportedly keen on adding the breakout Black Cats star to their star-studded camp.
Sunderland'sChrisRiggin action with Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris
However, with Bellingham gone, Sunderland must do everything in their power now to keep Rigg at the Stadium of Light for the foreseeable future.
Sunderland interested in move for Rigg 2.0
Le Bris could well land his next iteration of Rigg this summer with a new target – one who’s three years older than Rigg – now on the radar.
Indeed, as per a new report from SportsBoom, Sunderland has made some initial enquiries about landing emerging West Bromwich Albion midfielder Isaac Price.
Burnley and Portsmouth are also named as being in the conversation about snapping up the young Northern Irishman, but Sunderland’s glittering track record with up-and-coming talents might well sway Price’s decision-making to swap the West Midlands for Wearside.
Whilst Price has shown flashes of his excellence from his short stay at the Hawthorns to date, he could really find that his game is elevated by moving to the Stadium of Light.
How Price could be Le Bris' next Rigg
Whilst Rigg had been in and around the senior mix for some time before Le Bris’ arrival, he hadn’t yet captivated the Sunderland masses regularly until the ex-Lorient boss stormed through the door. It’s fair to say he now certainly has.
24/25
47
4
1
23/24
30
4
0
22/23
17
0
2
21/22
9
2
2
The teenager had excited fans at the Stadium of Light with his promising displays in youth circles for some time now but his first real breakout season in the senior side came just this campaign.
Amazingly, that would coincide with promotion being reached, with Rigg now desperate to prove himself in the Premier League, alongside his new potential teammate in Price who will be equally eager to cut his teeth at an elite level.
Much like the 18-year-old starlet, Price has been thrust into the spotlight from a very early age, with his debut for the Northern Ireland senior team coming when he was just 19 years of age.
This has proven to be a wise call ever since, considering the promising Baggies number 21 is up to six strikes already for his national side, despite only receiving 16 caps.
He has also shown why West Brom splashed out a rumoured £2.5m to win his services just this January, with Price managing to pick up one goal and one assist for his new employers from 15 appearances, even as their promotion hopes started to crumble.
CM
60
2
2
DM
24
2
3
AM
20
0
2
RM
20
0
0
RW
2
0
0
LM
2
0
0
CF
1
0
0
RB
1
1
0
CB
1
0
0
He could kick on even more with Le Bris by his side, therefore, having seen what the ex-Lorient boss has managed with Rigg, with Price’s flexibility to play in a whole host of positions also drawing similarities to the Red Devils-linked youngster. Last season, the 18-year-old wildly lined up as a centre-forward on five occasions.
Dubbed as “outstanding” by former teammate Asmir Begovic when Price was a wide-eyed teen himself at Everton, this could be finally the time the Pontefract-born ace proves himself in the Premier League.
Everton midfielder Isaac Price.
Sunderland’s approach of gifting up-and-coming youngsters plenty of minutes has worked wonders in the past, with that perhaps continuing if Price joins Le Bris’ growing camp very shortly.
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The transfer window has swung back open, and Arsenal need to get to work.
Mikel Arteta’s side may have once again finished the season as the second-best team in the Premier League this year, but as things stand, they are getting left behind by their rivals in the market.
For example, Liverpool have secured the services of Florian Wirtz, Manchester City have signed Rayan Cherki and a host of other talents, and now Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur look ready to battle it out for Bryan Mbeumo.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
Fortunately, recent reports suggest that the Gunners may well be fighting to sign a dynamic winger of their own, someone who could be their answer to Mbeumo next season.
Arsenal's winger search
With Arsenal producing the best defence in the league for the second year running, it’s no surprise that almost all transfer rumours around the club have been focused on strikers and wingers.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Regarding the latter, the North Londoners have already been linked with Real Madrid’s sensational Rodrygo for £84m and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga for closer to £60m.
However, as things stand anyway, neither of those players feel like they are likely to move anytime soon, which can’t be said for Nico Williams.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spanish newspaper Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal remain intensely interested in the Athletic Bilbao star.
In fact, in an exciting development, the report claims that the Gunners ‘are bidding hard’ for the young Spaniard and that they are offering him a net salary of €9m a year, which comes out to around £7.67m and is more than either Bilbao or Barcelona can afford to offer.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliams
Moreover, the story reaffirms prior reports that the club are willing to activate the winger’s €62m release clause, which converts to around £53m.
It’s going to be an incredibly costly and likely quite a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be the perfect answer to whoever signs Mbeumo.
Why Williams would be a perfect answer to Mbeumo
Now, while Mbeumo is an undeniably talented winger and was one of the best attackers in the Premier League this season, there are a number of reasons why Williams would be a great answer for Arsenal.
The first and arguably most significant reason relates to the Spaniard’s underlying numbers from the last two campaigns, as when we compare them to the Bees ace, it becomes very clear that his ceiling is far higher.
Moreover, while the former Troyes ace does do better in some metrics, like progressive passes and aerial duels won per 90, he comes out a distant second in almost every other area and by quite some distance.
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists
0.65
0.55
Progressive Passes
2.97
3.84
Progressive Passes Received
11.5
9.15
Progressive Carries
5.70
3.42
Shots
2.58
2.15
Shots on Target
0.95
0.86
Passing Accuracy
71.2%
66.4
Key Passes
2.01
1.71
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.72
1.59
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.62
0.39
Shot-Creating Actions
5.05
3.79
Goal-Creating Actions
0.73
0.50
Tackles
1.09
1.07
Successful Take-Ons
3.33
1.31
Ball Recoveries
4.71
4.17
Aerial Duels Won
0.38
0.95
For example, the dynamic “level-raiser,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, does far better in crucial metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, shots and shots on target, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions and many, many more, all per 90.
Now, if the two wingers were the same age, then we’d still suggest that the Pamplona-born international would be the better signing, but given the fact he is three years younger than the Avallon-born ace, then there is no telling how much the gap will grow in a few years time.
Finally, on top of all of that, the 28-capped international has also proven he can perform in the most high-pressure moments, as he was the one who opened the scoring for Spain in last summer’s European Championship final.
Ultimately, Mbeumo is a great player and will likely do well wherever he ends up, but Williams looks to be the superior winger and, therefore, a perfect answer for Arsenal.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers’ fortunes have been transformed under the leadership of Vitor Pereria.
Indeed, since being appointed on December 19 last year, the former Porto boss has guided the Old Gold away from the relegation zone, securing another season in the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira and his players celebrate after the match
Wolves have defeated Manchester United (twice), Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur during that time frame.
Premier League
Manchester United
Won 1-0
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur
Won 4-2
Premier League
Ipswich Town
Won 2-1
Premier League
West Ham United
Won 1-0
Premier League
Southampton
Won 2-1
Their recent victory over the Red Devils meant it was the first time since the 1970s that they had completed the league double over them.
Several players shone, but Marshall Munetsi was one player who failed to contribute much for the Old Gold.
Wolves must drop Marshall Munetsi
The midfielder only arrived at Molineux in the winter transfer window and has featured 11 times for the club, scoring and assisting once apiece.
Against United, he was once again deployed as an attacking midfielder alongside Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian was impressive in what looked like a potential audition, but the January signing struggled.
He completed only 13 passes while winning just two of his 12 contested ground duels, being bullied in one-on-one scenarios.
The midfielder failed to register a single shot during the game, while failing to either make a key pass or create a single big chance in what was a poor performance overall.
As such, he was even awarded a rating of just 6/10 for his display by 90min and, against Leicester this afternoon, he must be dropped from the starting XI.
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After his match-winning goal against the Old Trafford side, Pablo Sarabia is certainly deserving of a start against the Foxes.
Why Pablo Sarabia must start for Wolves
Sarabia may have only played 16 minutes of the clash against United, but he made the most of his time on the field. With just over ten minutes left in the game, the Spaniard scored with a delightful free-kick, which sealed all three points for the away side.
The former PSG star has only played 19 league games for the club this season, yet he has still managed to score three goals, record two assists, create two big chances, and succeed with 67% of his dribbles in that time.
The “technically gifted” gem, as so dubbed by writer Charlie Gregory after the Old Trafford victory, has proven time and time again that he has the ability to create plenty for the Old Gold.
Leicester have conceded 73 goals this season, the second-worst record in the entire top flight. With the club secure in their Premier League status, now is the time to unleash Sarabia, who could run amok against this poor defence.
The 32-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, but as shown against Man United, he is still able to deliver when it really matters.
Pereira must give him a spot in the starting XI against the Foxes this weekend. Another positive showing might just go a long way in securing the maestro an extension on his current deal.
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Wolves could lose Matheus Cunha in the summer transfer window.
Manchester City are eyeing a £30 million-plus move for a former Real Madrid defender this summer, as Pep Guardiola looks to shore up his side’s shaky backline, according to a new report.
City eyeing Champions League qualification
After a poor start to the campaign, City have shown signs of resurgence in recent months. While they’re still not quite at the level that brought them sustained domestic dominance in recent years, Pep Guardiola’s side are now firmly back in the hunt for Champions League qualification — a prospect that seemed highly unlikely just a few months ago.
Speaking to the club’s official website, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan recently addressed the importance of securing a top-four finish, calling it a “responsibility” to ensure City remain among Europe’s elite despite an underwhelming season.
“Our team is made and built to be more than this — it’s built to be a contender for the title every single year.For various reasons, we haven’t been at our best for a long period of the season. We are where we are right now, and we need to accept the situation.
“There are minimum targets that have to be achieved at this club, and that’s definitely qualifying for the Champions League next season. We have to do it – it’s our responsibility.”
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One of Manchester City’s most pressing issues this season has been their defensive frailty. In the Premier League, Guardiola’s side have already conceded more goals than in any previous campaign under the Spaniard — and the most since the 2009/10 season, when Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini led the team to a fifth-place finish.
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Manchester City battled to a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison on Saturday, but two Sky Blue stalwarts certainly did not impress on Merseyside.
Apr 19, 2025
Guardiola attempted to bolster his defensive options in January, bringing in centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens and highly rated teenager Vitor Reis from Palmeiras. However, Khusanov has struggled to impress since his arrival, and reports suggest he could already be sent out on loan this summer. As for Reis, the 19-year-old is seen more as a long-term prospect rather than an immediate solution to City’s defensive issues.
According to CaughtOffside, City are now eyeing Lazio centre-back Mario Gila as a key target for the upcoming transfer window. Pep is reportedly a fan of the 24-year-old’s “composure, passing ability and understanding of defence”.
The report adds that Lazio are open to selling the former Real Madrid defender for a fee in the region of £34–39 million. However, City will face stiff competition for his signature, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid themselves all monitoring the situation closely.
Gila has been one of Lazio’s key players this season, starting 26 of the club’s 28 Serie A games, winning an impressive 33 tackles and making 118 recoveries.
Leeds United took a gigantic leap towards promotion back to the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Preston North End at Elland Road on Saturday in the Championship.
Some of the loudest cheers of the afternoon, however, did not come for Manor Solomon or Jayden Bogle’s first-half goals. Instead, they came from the stands when the news filtered through to fans that Sheffield United had surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle.
Thanks to that result for the Blades, the West Yorkshire outfit are now sat five points clear of third place and only need to rack up seven points from their last four matches to guarantee promotion.
They also have the added insurance of Burnley and Sheffield United still having each other to play later this month, which guarantees that at least one of them will drop more points.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
Another one of the biggest roars from the Elland Road stands on Saturday came towards the end of the match when a teasing cross came into the box and was met by the hands of Karl Darlow, who fell onto the floor and removed any danger from the situation, as he continued his Leeds revival.
Why bringing Karl Darlow in has been a masterclass
Whilst some could argue that the English shot-stopper should have been brought into the starting line-up sooner than he was, the former Newcastle United man has been a reassuring figure between the sticks for the Whites.
Illan Meslier simply had to be dropped from the side after his third error that directly led to a goal this season in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea, fumbling a cross that allowed Harry Darling to score.
Daniel Farke replaced him with Darlow for the following match against Luton Town and the experienced colossus has shown his quality in the last three games.
The 34-year-old veteran has proven to be a safe pair of hands in goal, with no thrills or spills, and avoided the kind of controversial moments that have followed Meslier throughout the season.
Appearances
39
3
Goals prevented
-2.73
+0.56
Error led to goal
3
0
Clearances per game
0.9
1.0
Aerial duels won per game
0.5
1.0
Aerial duel success rate
100%
100%
As you can see in the table above, Darlow has been a positive between the sticks with his shot-stopping, compared to Meslier’s underperformance in that department, whilst he has also won twice as many aerial battles per game on average to claim crosses.
These statistics show that Farke has played a masterclass by bringing the Englishman into the team as the new number one because he has been a big upgrade on the French dud on current form, both as a shot-stopper and in terms of the command of his area.
His performances have gained instant respect from the fanbase, who – as shown in the post above – appreciated his cross-claiming efforts against Preston, and he will be hoping to continue this form into the final four matches to propel Leeds to the Premier League.
Darlow, who had only started one league game in more than 18 months at the club prior to the game against Luton, has revived his Elland Road career in recent weeks.
The former Newcastle and Nottingham Forest shot-stopper, however, is not the only Leeds star who has revived his career in West Yorkshire this month, as Patrick Bamford is in a similar boat.
How Patrick Bamford has revived his Leeds career
Prior to the last three Championship games, the former England international had become an afterthought at Elland Road due to his lack of impact on the pitch this season.
Bamford had been an unused substitute in 11 of his previous 19 appearances in the matchday squad in the Championship before that draw with Luton at Kenilworth Road.
TEAMtalk had reported in December that Wrexham and Genoa were both keeping tabs on the £70k-per-week centre-forward’s situation ahead of a possible swoop for his services.
The 31-year-old number nine’s current contract with Leeds is not due to expire until the summer of 2026, though, and this means that an exit from Elland Road this summer is far from guaranteed.
His last few performances off the bench suggest that a move away from the club this year may not be a foregone conclusion, that his prior lack of minutes on the pitch suggested, as he has shown great promise in his cameos.
As you can see in the highlights above, Bamford was incredibly unfortunate not to double the team’s lead against Middlesbrough with 15 minutes to go when he scored a perfectly good goal that was incorrectly ruled out for offside.
The replay showed that the striker timed his run perfectly to receive the pass from Wilfried Gnonto, and he finished equally as impressively, but the linesman got the call wrong – with no VAR to overturn it.
Even without the goal that should have stood, Bamford provided a strong presence at the top end of the pitch in that cameo by winning six of his nine duels in just 17 minutes on the pitch.
Appearances
42
Starts
32
Ground duel success rate
33%
Aerial duel success rate
18%
Duels won per game
1.5
Dribble success rate
31%
Dribbles completed per game
0.3
As you can see in the table above, Joel Piroe – the first-choice centre-forward at Leeds this season – has struggled with the physicality of the Championship this season.
The Dutch marksman, who has scored 15 goals in the league, has been dominated in duels by opposition defenders, losing 74% of his battles overall and only winning 1.5 duels per match.
Bamford, meanwhile, won six duels in just 17 minutes against Middlesbrough and one of his two ground duels in just ten minutes against Preston, which suggests that he could provide more physicality than Piroe.
After that cameo against Preston, Farke told LeedsLive: “You need to handle the pressure and the praise. Everyone senses how much effort Patrick (Bamford) puts in. He deserves all the praise.”
The English attacker appears to have revived his Leeds career, with Farke clearly appreciating the effort the forward puts in on the pitch, and it could even be time to bring him into the starting line-up to repeat the masterclass that has been played with Darlow.
Saved by Bogle: Farke must finally drop 5/10 Leeds dud who lost 67% duels
This poor Leeds United underperformer nearly cost his team dear against Preston North End.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Rangers have reportedly been boosted by the news that one particular attacking target is now open to completing a move to Ibrox.
Rangers receive transfer boost
It looks set to be a hectic summer at Ibrox, starting with new ownership with the 49ers Group reportedly on their way in the coming months. To say that they’ll have an important first act to make would be a major understatement too, with a new manager needed to take over from interim boss Barry Ferguson.
Whilst the interim boss has impressed at times, recent rumours suggest that Rangers are set to turn their attention towards a more experienced option and could even lure the likes of Marco Rose to Scotland. The German was recently sacked by RB Leipzig as they continued to slip away from Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga, but could be handed an instant return to management by the Gers.
Marco Rose for RB Leipzig.
Meanwhile, it could also be a busy summer on the incomings front with a permanent move for Vaclav Cerny already mooted in recent weeks. And the loanee may not be the only attacking star on the way to Ibrox in what could turn into a major boost.
According to Rangers News, Dor Turgeman is now open to joining Rangers this summer and the 49ers could yet swoop in to land a deal worth around £5m in the coming months.
That said, the Maccabi Tel Aviv forward hasn’t exactly hidden his end goal, with reports indicating that he’ll only complete a move to the Scottish giants if he can use them as a stepping stone towards the Premier League.
49ers now well placed to agree move to sign £20m+ Adidas player for Leeds
The 49ers seem key to a deal.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 1, 2025
Unfortunately for Rangers, it is something that Koppen may consider even if that is the case as he looks to transform the Gers’ transfer model into one that signs stars for cheap, builds them up and then sells them on for major profit.
"Quick" Turgeman suits Koppen's plan
Just like Turgeman has made his ambitions no secret, Koppen has been fairly open about his own plan at Rangers – telling reporters as relayed by Rangers News: “You have to let the players go, also because that’s how you attract them, they come with an ambition to go. We cannot force them to stay.
“You have to say to them, come here to be successful and win, but this is not your end station. 80% of these players who move to the club should come with the ambition to go. Ultimately, that is only achieved by winning and progressing so that everyone can benefit – the club and the player.”
When thinking about players that would slot straight into that criteria of players, Turgeman instantly comes to mind. The 21-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, could add instant firepower at Ibrox before earning the Premier League move that he desires.
Dubbed “quick” and “agile” by The Rangers Journal last summer, the 49ers should make signing Turgeman one of their first priorities when they arrive at the club this summer.