Manchester United could now be offered the chance to sign a Brazil international midfielder in exchange for Jadon Sancho, according to a new report.
Man Utd make moves to replace Ten Hag's flops
Since the 2024/25 season came to an end, there has been a lot of talk about the future of many players at Old Trafford, with goalkeeper Andre Onana one of those whose future has come under serious scrutiny.
A very up-and-down season which saw Onana make several mistakes in the Premier League and Europa League has now seen him be linked with a move away this summer. At the end of last week, it was reported that AS Monaco are interested in signing Onana from United, but the Cameroon international is said to be keen on remaining at Old Trafford and proving his worth.
While that may be the case for Onana himself, United are already working behind the scenes to look at players who could potentially replace him. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is said to be keen on the idea of joining the Red Devils and prefers that move over joining Barcelona in this transfer window.
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However, United have their eye on another goalkeeper, as according to a report from Spain, United have submitted a bid worth £13 million to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have rejected that offer, but a deal is there to be done for United, should they improve their bid.
Man Utd offered chance to sign Douglas Luiz
In other news at Old Trafford, according to Gazzetta dello Sport’s Giovanni Albanese, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United could have the opportunity to sign Douglas Luiz in a deal that would see Sancho join Juventus.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
The Serie A side were keen on signing Sancho last summer, and the link between the club and player hasn’t broken since then. Juventus have been in talks with Sancho’s entourage over a transfer, and their general manager Damien Comolli is now looking at ways of adding a player into the deal so it can be completed.
This is where Luiz comes into the mix, as the midfielder, who has struggled since joining the Turin giants, could be a player United are willing to take in exchange for getting rid of Sancho. Luiz, who has been dubbed “world-class” by former teammate John McGinn in the past, played just 19 games in Serie A last season, three of which only came as a starter.
Apps
175
Goals
20
Assists
18
However, during his time in the Premier League, the Brazilian was a consistent presence in the midfield for Aston Villa. In the 2023/24 season, Luiz scored an impressive nine goals and recorded five assists, which helped him secure his move to Juventus.
But given how things have gone in Italy, a move back to England could be on the cards, and given Juventus value Luiz at £30 million, United may be willing to snap their hands off for this type of transfer.
It may be odd to argue, amid what was a wretched campaign for Manchester United as a whole, although 2024/25 was in many ways a season of redemption in some quarters, with Harry Maguire re-establishing himself as a central figure under the new Ruben Amorim regime.
Thrust into an unorthodox number nine berth during United’s Europa League run, in particular, the England international delivered arguably the greatest Old Trafford moment in recent years, following his last-gasp winner against Lyon.
Once written off under Erik ten Hag, having been stripped of the captaincy amid talk over a move to West Ham United, the 32-year-old, to his credit, fought his way back from the brink, having notably been hailed as “perfect” for the 3-4-3 system by Amorim.
Fittingly too, that heroic winner against the Ligue 1 side had been supplied by another man on a mission, in the form of Casemiro, with the Brazilian having also delivered the assist for Kobbie Mainoo just minutes earlier – alongside winning the prior spot-kick.
Central to that comeback, the 33-year-old is in many ways the comeback kid, having shaken off the disappointment of being left out of the starting lineup for last season’s FA Cup final, to then edging out Manuel Ugarte to get the nod for the Europa League showpiece 12 months later.
Casemiro
That resurgence has been a joy to behold, although the fact remains that his £70m addition was perhaps a costly, long-term mistake. Could something similar soon be repeated?
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
Speaking of fixing prior mistakes, the Red Devils appear to be searching for a suitable successor to Andre Onana between the sticks, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future at the club after just two years in Manchester.
Linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, the £47.2m signing made a catalogue of errors again in 2024/25 – including three leading to a goal in the Premier League – with it no surprise that Amorim is reportedly seeking a replacement.
As noted by journalist Rudy Galetti, United are said to have “renewed interest” in Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the club holding “internal talks” over whether to make a move for the German.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Writing in his attached piece for TEAMtalk, Galetti notes that the 33-year-old has emerged as a ‘leading target’ for the Red Devils, amid their search to replace Onana this summer.
The veteran goalkeeper – who is said to have also been considered by Chelsea – is facing his own uncertainty back in Catalonia, amid the potential arrival of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
Why Ter Stegen could be another Casemiro for Man Utd
It is heartwarming that a man who won the lot at Real Madrid – namely five Champions Leagues – appears to simply love life at Manchester United, with Casemiro memorably collapsing to the floor in delight following the wild celebrations after Maguire’s Lyon winner.
The one-time Porto man has looked back to his first season best in recent months, having notably described 2022/23 as the “best” individual campaign of his career, with Erik ten Hag having hailed him as the “cement” in the side at the time.
Frustratingly, however, such performances were not maintained in the following year, with Casemiro described as looking like he’s playing “in Soccer Aid” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, having failed to justify his reported £350k-per-week salary.
Games (starts)
28 (24)
25 (24)
24 (18)
Goals
4
1
1
Assists
3
2
0
Big chances created
7
2
3
Key passes*
1.0
0.6
0.9
Pass accuracy*
79%
83%
80%
Tackles & interceptions*
4.4
4.0
4.1
Balls recovered*
N/A
5.3
4.3
Dribbled past*
1.6
2.2
1.2
Total duels won*
55%
52%
64%
Despite his recent renaissance, the decision to plump for the ageing talent remains a costly one then, with the same potentially set to occur with regard to Ter Stegen – a player who takes home £102k-per-week in Barcelona.
Like his former Madrid rival, the 44-cap Germany international could bring a wealth of experience to United, undoubtedly, having racked up 422 appearances for the club to date, while winning a plethora of major honours.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Much like Casemiro too, Ter Stegen has repeatedly delivered the goods at the elite level over a consistent period, having previously been described as “extraordinary” and “among the three best keepers in the world” by former boss Xavi. Former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak also stated that it is “is crazy the way he can make some saves”.
The problem is, however, that at 33, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach man would hardly be a long-term solution, not least considering his unfortunate injury woes of late.
Indeed, last season, the long-serving Barca star made just nine appearances in all competitions, having only recently made his return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a tendon issue.
That spell out of action – which saw Ter Stegen miss 51 games for club and country – follows a previous period of absence in 2023/24, in which he missed a further 19 games with a back injury.
For a club like United who have endured frequent injury setbacks in recent times, that must surely have alarm bells ringing, with Amorim unable to afford further disruption in such a key position.
Yes, like Casemiro, the 6 foot 2 ace – who ranked in the top 7% in LaLiga in 2023/24 for save percentage – can be a quality asset on his day, but those days may prove to be few and far between as his career reaches its climax.
As United found with Casemiro – and Raphael Varane before him – Spain’s elite clubs are rather canny at affloading ageing stars at the right time. United simply can’t prove another victim of that this summer.
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The transfer news is starting to heat-up at Rangers.
Following Russell Martin’s appointment, and with the start of Champions League qualifying little over five weeks away, Rangers need to act quickly in the transfer market, seeking to rebuild their squad at Ibrox.
Southampton manager Russell Martin.
So, with one centre-back seemingly on his way out of Ibrox, could the Gers’ land a vastly experienced defender?
Rangers' search for a new centre-back
Defence is clearly an area the Gers are looking to improve this summer with links to English centre-back Harry Darling emerging on a regular basis.
That being said, Darling isn’t the only defender on the club’s radar heading into the forthcoming weeks.
According to a report by the Leicester Mercury, Rangers have initiated talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City this summer, having lodged an enquiry in a bid to understand what it might take to sign the former England international.
Football Insider revealed on Sunday that, with the Foxes needing to offload players following their relegation to the EFL Championship, Coady could be one name on the chopping block, handing Martin and Co encouragement in their attempts to sign the defender.
The 32-year-old is vastly experienced, having made almost 200 Premier League appearances to date, joining Leicester from Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago for a reported fee of around £7.5m.
Analyst John Walker labels Coady “highly intelligent”, praising his in-possession play, so could Martin convince him to move to Glasgow?
How Conor Coady could finally replace Goldson at Rangers
Back in the summer of 2018, following Steven Gerrard’s arrival in Govan, Rangers signed Connor Goldson from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported fee of £3m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.
Despite requiring heart surgery during his time with the Seagulls, the Englishman would go on to make 309 appearances for the Light Blues, winning all three domestic trophies, a near ever-present fixture of the Gerrard-era, as well as being a key figure in the side that reached the Europa League Final in Seville three years ago.
Graham Falk of the Scotsman labels him a ‘stalwart’ of Rangers’ recent success, and many would argue that the club have not replaced him since he was allowed to leave for Aris Limassol last summer.
The need to replace him has only been made greater by news surrounding Robin Pröpper, who could be poised to depart Rangers this summer.
Indeed, reports suggest that FC Twente are ‘desperate’ to re-sign the centre-back for £1.5m, just a year after the Eredivisie outfit sold him to the Gers for around double that fee.
Robin Propper
They go on to say that Pröpper ‘will hold talks’ with new manager Martin before making a concrete decision over his future, but few supporters would mourn his exit, given that Ewan Paton of the Rangers Review asserts that Scottish football is ‘too quick and physical for his capabilities’.
So let’s assess if Coady would be an upgrade.
Appearances
26
43
Minutes
2,002
3,210
Tackles
0.6
1.2
Interceptions
0.7
1.2
Clearances
3.8
4.9
Blocked shots
1.3
0.7
Ball recoveries
3.3
4.4
Aerial duel success %
37.14%
54.04%
Ground duel success %
53.33%
53.26%
Passing accuracy %
91.47%
85.81%
Touches
64.6
75.5
Average Sofascore Rating
6.60
6.69
The table suggests that Pröpper was more impressive than Coady this season, with the Dutchman boasting better statistics for most metrics included, but some context is required.
Rangers finished second in the Premiership while Leicester were relegated from the Premier League, thereby skewing the data, while it is worth considering that England’s top flight is, according to Global Football Rankings, the strongest division in the world, with Scotland’s first division ranked all the way down in 43rd place.
The most interesting statistic from the table above, however, is Coady’s excellent pass completion percentage – better than Propper – which would fit into Martin’s style of play perfectly.
Meanwhile, as outlined by Tim Spiers of the Athletic, the Englishman is known for his outstanding leadership qualities, describing him as an ‘intelligent ball-playing centre-back’.
Thus, still only 32 years old, Coady still has plenty to offer and, if Rangers are able to snap him up on the cheap, he would be an excellent addition, reminiscent of Goldson’s move to Glasgow all those years ago.
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Celtic won the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup trophy during the 2025/26 campaign, but missed out on the treble with a loss to Aberdeen on penalties in the SFA Cup final.
It was a successful season for Brendan Rodgers and his men, despite the final loss at Hampden Park in the final game of the campaign, and that was owed, in part, to the quality of the squad.
Nicolas Kuhn was one of the stars who propelled Celtic to two trophies with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, with 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions this term.
His form was particularly impressive when you consider that his reported wage of £12k-per-week does not make him one of the top earners in the squad.
Noteworthy Celtic players who earn more than Nicolas Kuhn
As per Capology, James McCarthy (£14k), Anthony Ralston (£14k), Luis Palma (£16k), and James Forrest (£19k) earn, or earned in McCarthy’s case, more than Kuhn.
Chalkboard
They combined for 12 league starts between them, whilst Palma was sent out on loan to Olympiacos for the second half of the season, and the German winger managed 21 starts on his own.
Meanwhile, Maik Nawrocki, who played three times in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, is also on a weekly wage of £12k at Parkhead, which suggests that Celtic are not getting value for money on their wages with several members of the squad.
Another centre-back who reportedly earns more than Kuhn is Gustaf Lagerbielke, who Lecce chief Pantaleo Corvino claimed is on £13k-per-week, and Rodgers must finally axe the flop this summer.
Why Celtic must sell Gustaf Lagerbielke this summer
The Hoops swooped to sign the Swedish central defender from Elfsborg for a reported fee of £3m in the summer of 2023, and it is fair to say that things have not gone to plan for him so far.
Celtic defenderGustaf Lagerbielke.
He only made ten appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign, as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales established themselves as the first-choice pairing.
Speaking about Nawrocki and Lagerbielke’s lack of game time last season, pundit Ewan Cameron claimed that they were not Rodgers’ signings, saying: “He (Rodgers) doesn’t fancy them. He doesn’t rate them.”
Appearances
7
Starts
4
Pass accuracy
85%
Clean sheets
3
Error led to goal
0
Duel success rate
72%
The Swedish defender’s lack of game time in the Premiership that season, as evidenced in the table above, backs up that claim from Cameron, as Rodgers very rarely relied on him.
Celtic’s manager then opted to allow the 25-year-old flop to join FC Twente on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, and it has been another fairly frustrating year for the centre-back.
Gustaf Lagerbielke in action for Celtic against Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.
Lagerbielke did start 15 Eredivisie matches, playing more than he did for the Hoops, but was also an unused substitute in five of the club’s last six regular season games.
This shows that he has failed to nail down a regular spot as a starter in the Dutch top-flight out on loan, which does not suggest that the £3m dud is coming back to Parkhead this summer in a position to push on and fight for a place in Rodgers’ starting line-up.
The Northern Irish boss decided to go with Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Scales, and Nawrocki ahead of him in the squad this season, and Lagerbielke’s struggles abroad indicate that the manager made the right call.
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Therefore, Rodgers must, now, finally ditch the defender on a permanent basis, if there is sufficient interest from elsewhere to facilitate a deal, because he does not appear to have a bright future in Glasgow and earns more than one of the team’s biggest stars in Kuhn.
What might have gone down as the worst season in a generation for Tottenham Hotspur will now be recognised as one of the best.
Under an immense amount of scrutiny and pressure, Ange Postecoglou and his side managed to get the better of Manchester United on Wednesday night and, in the process, win the Europa League.
Their victory in Bilbao now means they’ll be playing in the Champions League next season, which should, in turn, help them attract the best talent in what has to be a massive summer of transfers.
Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co already seem to be looking to add some genuine quality to the squad, although one of the recent stars touted for a move to N17 could spell trouble for James Maddison.
Tottenham transfer news
Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth reviewing some of the other players linked with Spurs over the last few weeks, such as Daizen Maeda and Eberechi Eze.
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 played under Postecoglou at Celtic and could be available for just £25m, which would make him a seriously tempting option, as in just 50 appearances for the Hoops this season, he has scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists.
A little closer to home now, and Eze will be available for around £68m thanks to the release clause in his contract.
While that is a lot of money, he’s certainly worth it, as in 42 appearances this term, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.
However, there is another younger and just as exciting international who has now been touted for a move to the white side of North London: Xavi Simons.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Spurs are ‘dreaming of signing’ the RB Leipzig star, and in exciting news, the Lilywhites believe ‘they can convince’ him to join them.
However, he would cost around €80m, which is about £67m, and there are plenty of other interested parties, with reports from earlier this week claiming Arsenal are keen on the Dutchman.
It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Maddison.
How Simons compares to Maddison
Now, while Simons is a versatile attacker who can play off either wing, he’s also more than capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, and with Brennan Johnson scoring as many goals as he has this season and Mathys Tel potentially remaining at the club in the summer, there is a strong chance Spurs view the Leipzig ace primarily as a number ten.
Netherlands'XaviSimonscelebrates scoring their third goal
Therefore, one of his main competitors for game time next season would be Maddison, but who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately the most important metric of all, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out on top.
For example, since the start of last season, the Flying Dutchman, whom one analyst dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world,” has scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in just 76 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.
In contrast, since joining the club ahead of last season, the Lilywhites number ten has scored 16 goals and provided 21 assists in 75 appearances, which comes out to a reasonable but comparatively less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.02 games.
Appearances
43
30
Goals
10
4
Assists
15
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
0.46
Appearances
33
45
Goals
11
12
Assists
8
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.57
0.51
Furthermore, besides being more productive than the former Leicester City star, the Amsterdam-born “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also six years his junior, meaning he’s likely to get better still and has a better fitness record.
For example, he has suffered just one injury in his career to date, which saw him miss 15 games for club and country, whereas the Englishman has suffered 18 injuries, which have seen him miss 67 games for club and country.
Ultimately, while Maddison is a great player, Simons is clearly superior and, therefore, Spurs should do what they can to sign him this summer.
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Liverpool are looking to establish their stranglehold over the Premier League title and could now swoop for one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool ready to pounce in summer window
The Reds are enjoying the view from the summit of English football and have more glory in their sights under Arne Slot following his excellent debut campaign in charge.
Even surrendering a two-goal lead at home to Arsenal over the weekend couldn’t dampen their spirits, and supporters are patiently counting down the days until they can witness the Premier League trophy being hoisted above Virgil Van Dijk’s head.
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
Once the celebrations have died down, Liverpool are set to be active in the market this summer and have plenty of names on their shortlist to bolster in key areas. Pouncing on a potential opening, the Reds are keeping informed on Rodrygo’s situation at Real Madrid amid Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior taking a fair share of the limelight at the Bernabau.
Athletic Club midfielder Mikel Jauregizar is wanted by Liverpool to add some steel in the engine room. Martin Zubimendi was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League champions earlier this year, but is now on his way to Arsenal from Real Sociedad.
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Divisional competitors will likely provide stiff opposition in the hunt for new targets, that is just the nature of show business as the Premier League title race begins to take shape next term. Nevertheless, Liverpool control the narrative currently in that regard, and they could now look to pip the chasing pack to the signature of one of Europe’s most promising defenders.
Romano: Liverpool firmly in the hunt to sign Jorrel Hato from Ajax
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are firmly in the running to sign Jorrel Hato as speculation continues to do the rounds surrounding his future.
He stated: “Let me start with Jorrel Hato, this talented defender from Ajax. For sure, he’s a player on the list of Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League.
“So both clubs are monitoring the player, and for sure he’s on the list.”
Labelled “fantastic” by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, Hato has registered three goals and six assists in 48 appearances across all competitions this campaign. Defensively, he has shone in Ajax’s bid to claim the Eredivisie title over PSV Eindhoven, winning 4.1 duels per match in the Dutch top-flight.
Establishing themselves as a force in the transfer market, the Reds will hope they can convince the versatile Netherlands international to commit his future at Anfield, given his capability to play in the middle of a rearguard or at left-back, which could help phase out the legendary but ageing Andy Robertson.
Hato is unlikely to be the only centre-back pursued by Liverpool this summer either, amid their ongoing efforts to try and tie down Bournemouth sensation Dean Huijsen.
Manchester City have been blessed with some incredible midfield gems over the years with the end of Kevin De Bruyne’s unbelievable journey with the Premier League giants now in sight.
With 108 goals and 177 assists next to his name, the Belgian will surely bow out as one of City’s modern day greats, with other stars that used to strut their stuff from the middle of the park in a similar dazzling way including David Silva and Yaya Toure among many others.
Now, it’s up to Pep Guardiola to find his next pool of exceptional midfield gems in the upcoming transfer window, with one target perhaps going down as a new take on Toure if everything aligns nicely.
Man City's pursuit of a new Toure
Before delving deeper into how City’s new target could go on to achieve greatness like the Ivorian, there are an extensive list of midfield names on Guardiola’s shopping list growing by the week.
Indeed, both German superstar Florian Wirtz and Nottingham Forest talent Morgan Gibbs-White have been incessantly linked with a big-money move to the Etihad, with Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincao also reportedly on City’s radar alongside arch rivals Manchester United.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
But, their focus might now have switched to sealing the signature of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta, with reports from Spain suggesting that Guardiola and Co have set their sights on landing the enigmatic Brazilian this summer.
The Irons midfielder has been on the club’s radar for a while now, notably seeing a £60m bid rejected back in 2023, before they registered further interest in 2024.
Paqueta has been embroiled in a whole host of controversies at the London Stadium, but when assessing his midfield capabilities in isolation, he has the potential to become the Spaniard’s next Toure, with the South American a skilful, but tough presence centrally much like the ex-City number 42.
How Paqueta could be Guardiola's next Toure
It will be extremely hard for the Hammers number 10 to ever become as beloved as the now-retired midfielder, considering Toure would end his esteemed stay at the club with three league titles next to his name after picking up 125 goal contributions in total.
But, Paqueta – now valued at £30m via Transfermarkt – could slot into Guardiola’s main XI as a similarly lively presence anyway.
Indeed, the 27-year-old has garnered a reputation for being an entertaining figure in the heart of the West Ham midfield ever since his move to the London Stadium in 2022.
After all, even with a betting scandal weighing heavily, Paqueta has still managed to chip in with five goals this season in all competitions for Graham Potter’s lowly Hammers, which included a nicely-worked move being finished off by the 55-time Brazil international during Potter’s debut match from the dug-out.
Toure’s goal tally was always grander than just five for Guardiola’s men – with his lowest for a season coming in at the heftier seven – but Paqueta’s 18 goals and 14 assists overall for his current employers definitely makes him stick out as a tenacious yet attacking presence in the centre of the park akin to the former City icon.
CM
Toure
231
58
32
DM
Toure
210
24
20
AM
Toure
75
11
13
DM
Paqueta
5
0
0
AM
Paqueta
134
27
19
Much like the ex-Barcelona man before him too, Paqueta can either be unleashed as an attacking “maverick” – as he was once labelled by David Moyes – or slot into the side as a more defensively-minded midfielder, with his high tally of 6.3 duels won per game this season in the league sticking out in this regard.
City will just have to hope any scandals next to the Brazilian’s name begin to dissipate on his arrival to Manchester, with the serial trophy winners finding themselves burnt here in the past when Toure exited the club in 2018 after being reportedly shunned on his birthday.
Whilst it’s obvious the 27-year-old is a similarly flamboyant character, everyone at City will just pray the “incredible” talent – as he was also lauded by Moyes – lets his football do the talking like Toure also successfully managed.
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On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.
Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.
Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?
Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker
Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.
Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.
It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.
Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?
Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku
As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.
Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.
The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.
Appearances
56
Minutes
2,555
Starts
24
PL appearances
38
PL starts
11
Matches missed injured
36
Matches an unused sub
7
Apps 15 minutes or less
15
Goals
17
PL goals
6
UECL goals
7
Assists
5
As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.
He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.
So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?
Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.
Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.
So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.
Goals
13
8th
35th
Assists
5
28th
117th
Shots
65
11th
162nd
Shots on target
29
11th
46th
Goals – xG
+3
11th
43rd
While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.
He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.
Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.
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Glasgow Rangers could be set to see their takeover by the 49ers Enterprises go through by the start of the summer transfer window.
It appears as though it is a matter of when and not if the US-based consortium will arrive at Ibrox, hopefully with plenty of financial investment to help bolster the squad.
There will be several major decisions to make ahead of pre-season. Working out who must stay and who should be sold is going to be crucial ahead of the 2025/26 season for Rangers.
Furthermore, choosing the correct manager to lead the club into this new era could be the most important decision the 49ers make.
Barry Ferguson has been the interim manager since Philippe Clement was given his marching orders a few months ago. He went to get the role on a permanent basis after overseeing just four wins from his ten games in charge at the time of writing, conceding 20 goals in the process.
With the end of the season in sight, the rumour mill has begun with regard to who will be the next manager of the Light Blues.
The managers linked with Rangers
The most surprising name linked with a move to manage the club is José Mourinho. He knows full well about the Ibrox atmosphere having seen his Fenerbahçe side defeated on penalties in the Europa League last month, even congratulating the squad in the dressing room after the game.
According to TEAMtalk, Mourinho would reportedly be keen on making the move to Glasgow, although he would need significant backing from the 49ers that they would provide him with funds to strengthen.
The Portuguese boss might not be at the top of his game compared to his previous successes, but he would certainly be box office.
Former Southampton manager Russell Martin is also a name that has been mentioned regarding the vacant managerial role.
The Scot is reportedly keen on taking over from Ferguson this summer and is reportedly waiting to hear from the hierarchy at the club to discuss a potential move.
Of course, Steven Gerrard has been linked with a return to Ibrox after being sacked by Al-Etiffaq in Saudi Arabia.
This news was once again reported by TEAMtalk. Gerrard knows what it takes to win with the club, having led them to their first league title in a decade during the 2020/21 campaign.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
His previous two managerial roles ended poorly, however. They say never go back. Should the club make a move for the former Liverpool icon? Or is time to go in a totally new direction under new owners?
Marco Rose is a name that has been mentioned recently amid the talks of a takeover by the 49ers.
Why Marco Rose could be in contention
Rose was recently sacked by Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after two and a half years in charge.
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The 49ers have a strong relationship with Red Bull and with Rose having managed both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig during his career so far, the connections are there to be made.
Gretar Steinsson, the 49ers Technical Director, has held discussions with managerial targets across Europe ever since the potential takeover was mooted and this could see the club look in a different direction.
RB Leipzig
2022-25
124
1.85
Borussia Dortmund
2021-22
46
1.85
Borussia Mönchengladbach
2019-21
88
1.61
RB Salzburg
2017-19
114
2.35
Lok Leipzig
2012-13
30
1.2
Via Transfermarkt
Rose worked with Steinsson during his spells in charge of both Salzburg and Leipzig, indicating that there is a prior relationship which could perhaps lead to Rose becoming one of the favourites for the vacant role at Ibrox.
This may just be a coincidence, but given his relationship with the Red Bull Group in recent years, Rose might be getting talked about as a potential new manager in the coming weeks, that’s for sure.
Why Rose could be a great alternative to Gerrard
The Ibrox faithful will forever have a place for Gerrard in their hearts, especially after claiming the Premiership title in 2021.
During his final few months, however, the football wasn’t pretty and the Light Blues were struggling majorly.
Spells at Aston Villa (sacked after less than a year) and Al-Ettifaq (left by mutual consent after 18 months) haven’t exactly done much to further his career after success with the Gers.
The only positive surrounding his potential return is that Gerrard knows the standards expected at Ibrox, meaning he could integrate a lot quicker than, say, Rose or someone else.
The case for Rose is also complicated, although he has managed one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Borussia Dortmund – between 2021 and 2022.
Rangers did defeat his side 4-2 during the knockout stages of the Europa League in the 2021/22 campaign as they set the standards on their way to the final that season.
Marco Rose for RB Leipzig.
Prior to that, he claimed two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Salzburg, also going on to win the Austrian Cup but it is his spell with Leipzig which was the longest of his career.
During his debut season, the 48-year-old secured the German Cup, but his Bundesliga placings got worse over his time with the club. Third was secured in 2022/23, before a fourth-place finish last season.
When he was sacked, Leipzig were sitting in sixth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
He prefers to use a classic 4-4-2 system, which could be altered in several ways to suit the players at Rangers. Plus, he could be given money to bolster the squad in the transfer market should he join the club.
Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson has heaped praise on Rose amid his name being mentioned with the job, saying: “I honestly can’t believe there’s snobbery around Marco Rose. Take the Celtic scarf picture out of the equation, claiming that he’s a bad or below average manager is truly a wild statement in my opinion. In profile/stature he’s a level above someone like Gerrard, by a distance.”
Interestingly, Rose has defeated Celtic four times in his managerial career, twice each with Salzburg and Leipzig. Of course, beating them with Rangers is a different challenge altogether, but he knows how to get the better of the Parkhead side.
That could be all the difference.
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After defeating Real Madrid in the Champions League last week, it’s safe to say Arsenal have demonstrated they are capable of battling with Europe’s elite.
Mikel Arteta has transformed the side after taking the reins in December 2020, overseeing a transition that has taken them back to Premier League title challengers in recent seasons.
However, the Spaniard is yet to complete the job of winning the title, desperately needing to push for such an achievement in 2025/26 to cement his legacy at the Emirates.
If the 43-year-old is to go one better and end their two-decade wait for a title triumph, he will need the hierarchy to support him in the transfer market to allow him to have the best chance of success.
With the summer rapidly approaching, rumours have already been swirling over potential targets, with most of the links being in the same area of the pitch.
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Over the last couple of days, Arsenal have received a huge boost in their pursuit of landing a new striker, with an update provided on the future of Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres.
New sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted no time in making the Swede his number one target after previously holding talks with his representatives over a move to North London.
However, the latest update has confirmed that he’s not interested in a move to fellow English side Chelsea, potentially putting the Gunners in pole position for his signature in the coming months.
He’s not the only attacker touted with a move, with the likes of Kingsley Coman and Nico Williams also hugely admired ahead of the summer window.
According to one Spanish outlet, the Gunners are already in advanced talks to land the Athletic Club star and are more than willing to trigger his £50m release clause in the coming months.
Why the £50m star could be Arteta’s very own Vini Jr
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has been one of Europe’s most deadly forwards in recent years, notching a tally of 45 goals across his last two seasons under Carlo Ancelotti.
Many thought he would win the Ballon d’Or for 2024, but was pipped to the post by Manchester City’s Rodri, with his standing in such an award highlighting how threatening he has been in Madrid.
However, in the recent Champions League clashes with the LaLiga giants, Arsenal managed to silence the Brazilian for large spells, only managing to get on the scoresheet after a mistake within the backline.
There’s no denying he is a hugely talented player, with Arteta able to land his version of the superstar this summer should they complete a deal for Williams.
The Spaniard has been labelled as a similar player to Vini Jr by FBref based upon their respective figures from 2024/25, showcasing how impressive the transfer target has been.
When delving into the stats, the 22-year-old has managed to match or better the Madrid star in numerous key areas, with any move undoubtedly improving the forward line in North London.
Williams, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Eduardo Hagn, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has notched a higher shot-on target accuracy rate – highlighting his clinical nature in the final third.
Games played
27
25
Goals & assists
10
16
Shot-on-target accuracy
37%
30%
Shot-creating actions
5.2
5.2
Tackles won
0.8
0.2
Take-ons attempted
8.2
7.5
Aerials won
40%
12%
He’s also managed to win more of the aerial duels he’s entered, whilst also attempting more take-ons per 90, offering Arteta a real all-round threat within the final third should he join the club.
If the Gunners are to finally end their drought without a league title, it’s pivotal that the hierarchy back the manager with the right additions to help him in his quest.
The Athletic Club star ticks all the boxes with his pace, constant attacking threat, and his end product, with the £50m fee touted a potential bargain should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Vini Jr in recent years.
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