All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have held back in recent transfer markets, opting against springing into the scramble for new players and instead relying on their existing stars.

It’s paid off, and handsomely at that. Aside from Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus for £12.5m last summer but only started once in the Premier League and is being touted for a move back to Italy, no first-teamers have arrived since August 2023, when Jurgen Klopp applied the finishing strokes to his midfield remodel.

Well, that was the case, at least, until FSG activated Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause last month, and welcomed the right-sider from Bayer Leverkusen.

Frimpong, electric-paced and positionally flexible, replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold. Elsewhere, Milos Kerkez is in talks to leave Bournemouth and shore up the left flank, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of following Frimpong from the BayArena to Anfield.

Negotiations have maybe been a tad protracted, but this is a potential British-record signing, and still, his announcement is but a formality at this stage (famous last words).

Fans got a chance to see their potential new superstar in action last night. Germany might have lost in their Nations League semi-final tie to Portugal, but the 22-year-old proved his talent.

Florian Wirtz's performance vs Portugal

Beady-eyed detractors watched on in hopes of Wirtz struggling to make an impression on the international stage, but he scored the opener and was firmly involved in much of the contest.

Clever shimmies, well-worked one-twos and indeed a desire to get at the heart of the affair, on both sides of the field, all highlighted the calibre of player Liverpool could welcome into their fold, even if he trudged home as one of the defeated.

It wasn’t a display that left nothing to be desired, however. Pitted against opposite counterparts Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, the Werkself icon was always going to be up against it.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

Accurate passes

32/42 (76%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

3/5

Tackles

3

Duels won

9/16

Still, he scored, showcased his technical range and indeed a defensive persistence that will serve him well under Slot’s wing. The Liverpool head coach, remember, withdrew Jarell Quansah at half-time on his debut last season following concerns over his side’s success in the duel (or, more correctly, lack thereof).

Wirtz could almost complete the puzzle, ensure Slot has the means to win more gold next year. However, Liverpool also need a striker, and may well be planning a hijack for a new nine.

Liverpool plan hijack for new Striker

RB Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this year, and thus are resigned to selling Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, their two most profitable players.

And according to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool could be ready to compete with Arsenal for centre-forward Sesko, potentially seeking to hijack Mikel Arteta’s move.

“The biggest question mark will be over the number nine and if they can genuinely go for Alexander Isak,” Jacobs said.

“Will they drop the £100m that Frankfurt are asking for Hugo Ekitike, they could even enter the race for Benjamin Sesko even though it feels like Arsenal are more advanced on that one at the moment.”

Transfer Focus

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

The Gunners are “more advanced” in their pursuit, but the striker market is rather slim and Sesko, 22, has a €80m (about £67m) release clause.

That’s more affordable than the likes of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool would strike gold with Benjamin Sesko

Liverpool are undergoing a series of changes this summer, and Darwin Nunez is expected to be a part of the exodus, making way for a new striker.

Sesko’s a raw talent, his potential yet untapped, but he’s undoubtedly a star in the making, having scored 39 goals and laid on eight assists across 87 appearances for Leipzig.

The Slovenia international has even been declared “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with his incredible power, rangy frame and pace (he’s “one of the fastest players on the planet”) aligning with the Manchester City superstar, who has scored 121 goals from 142 appearances in Pep Guardiola’s team, notably winning the treble. There’s the exemplar, right there.

It would be a fool’s notion to expect a similar pathway for Sesko, but then there’s no denying he’s got all the pieces to become a top talent in the Premier League, especially so if he’s been sourced by a creative phenom in Wirtz.

Wirtz, indeed, will depart Leverkusen having won the 2023/24 Bundesliga as an invincible, winning the Player of the Season. In total, he’s notched 122 goal contributions from 197 total matches for the Werkself.

Taking a closer look at the German playmaker’s extraordinary skill set, we see his passing and line-breaking qualities could serve chance upon chance on a silver platter for Sesko.

As per FBref, Wirtz ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers this season for goal contributions, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

When not threading surgical passes through to Sesko, Wirtz would be charging forward himself, left skip, right, left, right. His slaloming style, expertly weaving past hopeless opponents, would take the heat off the central striker, allow him to get into space.

Then, the pass is played, and Liverpool are ahead once again.

Slot's own Huijsen: Liverpool submit concrete bid to sign "complete" star

Liverpool could be set to make a move to land a star who could become their own Dean Huijsen.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 5, 2025

The final day of the Premier League season saw controversy and agony for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side were on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League, but ended up falling down to sixth in the table and only reaching the Europa League after a 2-0 loss away to Manchester United.

The controversial moment came with the scoreline at 0-0. Morgan Rogers, a key player for the Villans, stole the ball from Altay Bayindir’s grasp and converted home. However, the referee blew the whistle before the England international scored, meaning VAR could not intervene.

With Villa missing out on Champions League football, you may think that will stop them competing for the big signings this summer with those who did qualify. However, before the window has even opened, that does not seem to be the case.

The latest Villa transfer news

It seems like the Villans will need to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer. Recent reports suggest that Emiliano Martinez will leave the club, with former side Arsenal lining up a move if David Raya leaves North London.

Transfer Focus

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

If that is the case, reports in one Spanish newspaper, via Sport Witness, suggest the Villans have placed a bid for his replacement.

That man is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Barcelona, as well as the Gunners and south coast outfit Bournemouth.

There is also interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli, who have just won their fourth Scudetto. If Villa really have made a bid, it would need to be in the region of £21m, which is thought to be his release clause.

Why Garcia would be a good signing

There is perhaps no goalkeeper who is more highly rated in Europe this season than Garcia. The 24-year-old, who was born in Sallent de Llobregat, a small town outside of Barcelona, was named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season.

Indeed, that was the sort of impression he left on the rest of European football this term, hence the interest from Villa and co. Garcia kept eight clean sheets in 38 La Liga appearances for Espanyol this season.

According to FBref, there were just six goalkeepers in La Liga who kept more clean sheets than Garcia in 2024/25. Impressively, he made the most saves with 140, and had the fifth highest save rate of 75.5%.

Goals conceded per game

1.34

14th

Saves

140

1st

Saves per game

3.68

4th

Save percentage

75.5%

5th

Clean sheets

8

=6th

A colossus between the sticks, the 24-year-old was described as a “big game player” by football analyst Ben Mattinson. Garcia certainly stood up for the count against Real Madrid in 2024/25.

At the start of September, he made ten saves in a single game, which he repeated against Real Betis days later. In the return fixture in February, he kept a clean sheet to help his side win 1-0.

If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will be hoping he can be as good as Pau Torres has been in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. The Spaniard made the move to Villa Park back in 2023 for £31.5m from LaLiga side Villarreal.

During his two-year stay at Villa Park so far, the defender has made 73 appearances, even managing to chip in with two goals and three assists, although both of those strikes came last season.

Once described as a “fantastic player” by former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Torres has been excellent for Villa. That is in spite of some injuries which he has been able to bounce back from.

If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will surely be hoping he can have as much of an impact in the West Midlands as Torres has so far, following his own switch from Spain.

He certainly brings great pedigree, and will surely be hoping to have a big part to play as they look to win the Europa League next season.

Emery's next Saka: Aston Villa learn asking price for "elusive" star

Aston Villa are in the hunt for a Turkish winger this summer.

ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

Brendan Rodgers has the chance to win the domestic treble this afternoon when his Celtic team takes to the field to face Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final at Hampden Park.

The Hoops have already won the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup, which they won on penalties against Rangers, and they can clinch a third domestic trophy with a win today.

Rodgers failed to win the treble in his first season back in the dugout at Parkhead, winning the Premiership and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign, but now has the chance to make it five trophies out of six at domestic level since the summer of 2023.

The Northern Irish head coach’s team were held to a 1-1 draw at home to St. Mirren on the final day of the Premiership campaign, as James Forrest scored a stoppage-time equaliser.

Rodgers may look to make some changes to the starting XI that took to the field against St. Mirren at Parkhead for this cup final clash, and Adam Idah is one player who could be ruthlessly ditched by the former Liverpool manager.

Why Adam Idah should be dropped

The Ireland international lined up against St. Mirren as the starting centre-forward and was withdrawn from the action after 54 minutes without a single shot on goal.

His underwhelming performance last time out, which included just six successful passes, may cost him a place in the starting XI for the cup final, particularly given his record coming off the bench for the Hoops.

Idah has only started 21 of his 42 domestic appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants so far this season, which shows that he has failed to nail down a place as a regular starter under Rodgers, despite Kyogo Furuhashi’s move to Rennes on a permanent deal in the January transfer window.

The former Norwich City marksman, who signed for Celtic on a permanent deal last summer after an initial loan spell at Parkhead, has had more joy off the bench in the Premiership for the Bhoys this term.

Appearances

19

16

Minutes

1,352

357

Goals

6

7

Minutes per goal

225

51

Assists

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Idah has scored more goals and delivered more assists in just under 1,000 fewer minutes on the pitch in the top-flight off the bench in comparison to as a starter.

These statistics suggest that the Irishman is more effective as a super sub for the Scottish giants, which is also backed up by his role in the SFA Cup last year, as he came off the bench to score the winning goal against Rangers in the 90th minute at the end of his loan spell.

Therefore, the data would suggest that Rodgers could increase his team’s chances of coming away with the win and the treble by ruthlessly dropping Idah to the bench, as it could make him more effective as an option this afternoon.

This would provide Daizen Maeda, who has scored 14 goals in ten matches as a striker this season, with an opportunity to play through the middle as the main striker.

The Japan international starting over Idah in the centre-forward position would open up a spot on the wing for another player to join him and Nicolas Kuhn in the front three. That position should be filled by club legend James Forrest.

Why James Forrest should start against Aberdeen

In order for Idah to fulfill his role as a super substitute, Rodgers will need to bring another winger into the side and his options are currently limited because Jota is missing with a knee injury, which he sustained in the win over Dundee United last month.

Forrest could be the ideal option to come in to start this match because he is coming off the back of a confidence-lifting goal against St. Mirren on the final day of the Premiership season, a goal which means that he has scored in 16 different seasons for the first-team.

As you can see in the clip above, the Scottish forward blew the roof off Parkhead with his last-gasp strike, which was pretty much the last touch he had in the Premiership season to avoid ending his streak of seasons with at least one goal.

Forrest should, now, be rewarded with a start against Aberdeen, whom he scored against in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup last season, on the left flank, with Kuhn on the right and Maeda through the middle as the number nine.

That would then allow Idah to come on for Forrest in the second half as a super sub option, which would free up Maeda to move out wide, and that gives Rodgers tactical flexibility off the bench in the second half if things are not going Celtic’s way this afternoon.

It would be unfair, though, to suggest that the Scottish veteran would only be starting because of tactical reasons or because of Idah’s impact off the bench, because he is a quality player in his own right who could make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

SFA Cup

41

11

11

League Cup

33

12

6

Premiership

336

73

74

Champions League

30

1

3

Europa League

31

1

7

As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old forward has a particularly impressive record in the SFA Cup in his career, with 22 goals and assists combined in 41 appearances.

Forrest was once described as a “difference-maker” by Rodgers and that is backed up by his statistics in this competition, as he has delivered goals and assists on a regular basis.

Including £7m star: Three wingers Celtic should sign to replace Jota

Jota is set to be out for up to nine months through injury and here are three possible replacements that Celtic could sign.

ByDan Emery May 22, 2025

He should now be given an opportunity to add to that record in the clash at Hampden Park against Aberdeen this afternoon, by being named in the starting XI ahead of Idah.

This could, therefore, win the treble for Rodgers by both giving Forrest a chance to make an impact in the final third, whilst also getting the best out of the Irish striker off the bench.

One Tottenham Hotspur star is attracting very serious interest from a Premier League rival, who are also set to open talks over his signing “in the coming weeks”.

Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt in crunch Europa League semi-final

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou’s sole focus right now is on the club’s potentially fruitful Europa League campaign.

Manager who's open to joining Tottenham has now turned down new contract

He’s becoming a more solid contender to replace Ange Postecoglou.

2 ByEmilio Galantini May 8, 2025

The north Londoners travel to Bodo/Glimt knowing they’re just 90 minutes away from their first European final since Mauricio Pochettino took them to the brink of Champions League glory in 2019, and if they avoid an embarrassing defeat against the Norwegian minnows, Spurs’ spot will be confirmed.

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Winning the Europa League would be a perfect end to an otherwise dismal campaign for Postecoglou, who has led the Lilywhites to 19 Premier League defeats as Tottenham languish 16th in the table.

Not only would it mean lifting their first piece of major silverware since 2008, but Spurs also have a golden opportunity to book a place in next season’s Champions League draw, so quite a lot is on the line tonight as Postecoglou seeks to rescue the season in dramatic fashion.

“I think the fact it is a semi-final and such a big game irrespective it is always going to be a bit tight and tense throughout the whole game,” said Postecoglou on the challenge of Bodo/Glimt.

“I think it is just the nature of the competition you’re in and being in a semi-final, whether it was at our place first or at our place second, it would have been the same kind of scenario of two teams who know there is a big prize at the end of getting to a final. Yeah, we’ll have to perform.”

Everton set to open talks for Richarlison

Their success in the competition may also determine Tottenham’s transfer plans for the summer, with recent reports suggesting they’re set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer window as things stand (The Telegraph).

One of the men who could be sacrificed to make room for new signings is £60 million striker Richarlison, who hasn’t featured as often as he would’ve liked this term due to a 24/25 campaign blighted by injuries.

The Brazil forward also faces losing his spot in the national team, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who also told The Boot Room that Everton are set to open talks for Richarlison “in the coming weeks”.

The Merseysiders could offer Tottenham’s “underrated” attacker a route out in pursuit of more minutes, and it is believed Richarlison views the brand-new Everton Stadium as an ideal landing spot.

“I’m told that he has been made aware that he needs to be playing next season,” said Bailey.

“Brazil have a host of options competing with him – Real Madrid’s Endrick but also a host of Premier League rivals – Joao Pedro, Rodrigo Muniz and Evanilson – and they will all be starting for their respective clubs.

“Richarlison needs to be playing, he knows this and that is just why Everton are in such a strong position. They can offer him that chance of first-team football.

“Everton want him back, as we revealed earlier this year, and I believe there is confidence from their side, but also a belief from Richarlison and Spurs’ end that this is likely the best option.

“As it stands a permanent deal will be tough, but that is what the talks in the coming weeks will be aimed to work out.”

Richarlison is also believed to be attracting interest from Brazilian Serie A sides, and it will be intriguing to see where his future lies.

The 27-year-old has been a real mixed bag since making the move to London, enduring spells of bad form and unavailability whilst also going through real purple patches, like the one midway through 2023/2024, when he was seemingly scoring goals for fun.

Arsenal will surely sign a new striker for big money this summer, but the question remains, who will it be?

The Gunners have scored just 64 goals in the Premier League this season, down from 91 last year and 88 the season before that, which is a major factor why they will conclude the campaign trophyless.

So, given that they’re unlikely to be unable to land Mikel Arteta’s dream target, are they about to snap-up an “electric” alternative?

Arsenal's search for a new striker

According to a report by Miguel Delaney of the Independent, Arsenal have ‘laid the groundwork’ as they continue to pursue RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Šeško.

The Gunners attempted to sign the Slovenian international early last summer before the European Championships, but the 21-year-old decided to sign a new contract with Leipzig instead of moving to North London.

Now though, Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland claims that Šeško has a release clause worth €80m (around £68m), adding that a move ‘is also possible without triggering the clause’.

Transfer Focus

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

Philipp Hinze, also of Sky Sports Deutschland, reports that Leipzig ‘don’t want to let’ him go but, with die Roten Bullen on course to miss out on Champions League qualification, all the indications are that Šeško will be on the move this summer, so could it be to Arsenal?

Why Benjamin Šeško would be a good signing for Arsenal

Of course, Šeško is not Arteta’s dream striker signing, that is Alexander Isak, with Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport outlining how he is top of the manager’s wishlist, while acknowledging that this move is very unlikely to happen, with Phil McNulty of BBC Sport adding that he cannot see Newcastle selling their ‘best player’ to a direct Premier League rival.

Meantime, speaking on the Arsecast Extra, James McNicholas adds that it is going to be near-impossible for Arsenal to sign the Swede if Newcastle qualify for the Champions League, which they’re very much on course to achieve, thereby meaning they’ll surely have to look elsewhere.

So, should Šeško be the next name on the list?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson labels the Slovenian “electric”, praising his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis notes that he ‘possesses the ability to score a wide variety of goals’, which is certainly a useful skill to have, one that many members of Arsenal’s forward line do not.

Meantime, Luis Kircher of Total Football Analysis describes Šeško as an ‘exceptional talent’, while Alex Barker​​​​​​​ of Breaking the Lines believes the ‘hot prospect’ is destined for the top, sighting Matthias Jaissle, his former manager at RB Salzburg, who labelled him “a dream of a player”.

A 6 foot 4 monster of a centre-forward, much like Isak, the Leipzig man is very much a young version of his Newcastle counterpart. So let’s assess how the duo compare this season.

Appearances

43

40

Minutes

3,186

3,144

Goals

21

27

Assists

6

6

Goals – xG

+2.8

+2.2

Shots

121

129

Shots on target %

47.9%

43.4%

Shot-creating actions

56

89

Goals-creating actions

9

14

Big chances missed

18

20

Touches in opposition area per 90

4

7

Touches per 90

26

25

As the table outlines, in a near-identical number of minutes this season, Šeško and Isak’s statistics are often very similar, but with a few key differences.

Šeško boasts a slightly better goals – xG figure, while a higher percentage of his shots find the target, missing two-fewer Opta-defined big chances.

Meantime, Isak comes out on top when it comes to goals, shot-creating actions and pure total shots, while the Swede takes a higher proportion of his touches inside the opposition’s penalty area.

Nevertheless, if Isak is the unascertainable dream target, Šeško’s statistics suggest he would be a more than adequate, youthful alternative, firing Arsenal to the big trophies that they so desperately crave.

​​​​​​​

Rice's dream: Arsenal have "wrapped up" deal for "world-class" £51m monster

The experienced internationalinternational will be perfectperfect for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2025

Even after they were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday, Liverpool look destined to lose one particular star this summer with his agent already reportedly working on an exit.

Slot credits Klopp after Liverpool title win

Not even the most optimistic Liverpool fan could have predicted a debut title for Arne Slot. The Dutchman had an impossible act to follow in the great Jurgen Klopp, but waltzed in without welcoming any significant arrivals before completing a task only five other Premier League managers have achieved in history. Slot, like Klopp, has now become an instant part of Anfield history.

For the first time this season Slot was no longer the stern, focused tactician at Anfield when the final whistle sounded on Sunday. Instead, like his Liverpool squad, he was seen donning the champions shirt and swaying along to You’ll Never Walk Alone in front of the Kop.

The Liverpool boss took time to express the joy of becoming a Premier League champion whilst also handing credit to Klopp, telling reporters: “I am 99.9% sure that if I pick up my phone there will be a message from Jurgen.

Revealed: The "exciting" 9-goal winger Liverpool chiefs have enquired about

The Premier League champions could swoop in…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

“So many moments in the season the two of us have had contact. I think he showed last season what a wonderful human being he is by introducing me. But what mattered most is the team he left behind that was able to win the trophy. The work Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders] did – the culture, work-rate, quality – was outstanding.”

That Premier League crown is unlikely to stand in the way of a busy summer, however, with one forward seemingly destined to head for the exit door.

Darwin Nunez set to leave Liverpool

According to reports in Spain, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has handpicked Darwin Nunez to sign this summer and the Uruguayan’s agent is already working on a Liverpool exit. The forward’s third season at the club looks set to be his last as Slot gets ruthless and Liverpool look to move on after winning the Premier League title.

It has been his third season that Nunez has arguably looked the most out of place in Liverpool’s squad, which has moved on from Klopp’s heavy-metal approach towards a more controlled style under Slot.

2022/23

42

15

4

2023/24

54

18

15

2024/25

43

7

7

This season’s numbers highlight how Nunez has struggled under Slot compared to the improvements he was making under Klopp and it’s become clearer than ever that he must move on to find his best form.

Once described as “outstanding” by his Klopp, Nunez looks destined to depart Anfield as a case of what might have been rather than the player they believed they had signed in 2022. Whether that means that Atletico Madrid beckons for the £140,000-a-week forward remains to be seen, however.

Manchester United fell to their 15th Premier League defeat of the season earlier this afternoon, losing 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

Pablo Sarabia’s free kick just 10 minutes from time secured all three points for Vitor Pereira’s side, cementing their Premier League status for another season.

The defeat saw them achieve their highest tally of losses in a single league campaign since 1989/90, highlighting the job Ruben Amorim has on his hands this summer.

Whilst all their attention is undoubtedly on the Europa League, wins are needed to make the 2024/25 campaign look somewhat respectable after the lows they’ve endured.

Numerous players failed to deliver once more yesterday, potentially putting their starting roles at risk ahead of the crunch European clash in just over a week’s time.

Man Utd’s poor performers against Wolves

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was rewarded for his heroics on Thursday night with a start this afternoon, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way.

The 20-year-old managed just 31 touches during the defeat, failing to complete any of the dribbles he attempted and only winning 33% of the ground duels he entered.

He wasn’t the only United star to fail to deliver, with fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte looking tired after featuring in the majority of the outing against Lyon.

The Uruguayan only managed to win one tackle, losing possession 11 times and often looking wasteful when having the chance to find one of his teammates.

However, despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils player once again failed to impress, with Amorim needing to make a brutal call on his future this summer.

The player who Amorim needs to axe this summer

The task of the summer rebuild was made even more obvious to Amorim this afternoon, coming back to earth with a bang after their Europa League triumph just a couple of days ago.

Huge decisions are needed all over the pitch to avoid a repeat of this afternoon’s embarrassing defeat, with additions and sales needed if they are to return to their former glory.

One of the players who desperately needs selling in the coming months is striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has blown every single chance he’s had to impress under Amorim.

The Dane cost the Red Devils a staggering £72m back in the summer of 2023, but has ultimately failed to deliver this campaign, scoring eight times in his 45 outings across all competitions.

At one stage, he went 21 games without a goal, but he’s been handed the responsibility at the top end after Joshua Zirkzee’s season-ending hamstring injury.

His lack of impact was evident once again today, registering a total of just 14 touches in his 70-minute showing, leading to journalist Alex Turk labelling him as “atrocious”.

Hojlund also only completed six passes and won just two duels, often being a passenger throughout the meeting, failing to make any sort of impact, making it feel as though the side were operating with just ten men.

To top off his dismal showing, he was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by Turk, highlighting his lack of impact throughout the contest – ultimately leading to his withdrawal.

Minutes played

70

Touches

14

Passes completed

6/8

Duels won

2

Possession lost

5x

Shots taken

1

Times caught offside

1x

There’s no denying that Amorim desperately needs to strengthen the front line over the summer, with Hojlund simply not at the level of a side pushing for a return to the top four.

Whilst they will lose a small fortune on their big-money investment, parting ways with him is the only option, with any funds generated massively helping their pursuit of a new talisman ahead of 2025/26.

The perfect Rashford replacement: Man Utd in talks over deal for £50m star

Manchester United could forget about Marcus Rashford with a move for one player on the cards this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 19, 2025

Liverpool are thought to be eyeing a move for a highly-rated player in a possible swap deal with Luis Diaz this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool stumble in Premier League title push

The Reds slipped up in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, losing 3-2 away to Fulham, following a bitterly disappointing performance at Craven Cottage.

Alexis Mac Allister’s brilliant opening goal seemingly set Liverpool on their way to another vital three points, but some shocking defending from Andy Robertson and co. along with a generally lacklustre performance saw them 3-1 down at half-time, and they deservedly lost.

It means Arne Slot’s side still need 11 more points to guarantee the Premier League title this season, and while success should still clearly come their way next month, they aren’t always making life easy for themselves at the moment.

Liverpool haven’t quite looked themselves for some time now, crashing out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle United. While league victories have been recorded against both Southampton and Everton, neither were entirely convincing, and it has heightened the need for summer signings.

Liverpool eyeing Barcelona star Araujo in possible Diaz swap deal

According to Revelo [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo at the end of the season as key figures at Anfield are big fans of the player, who earns about £164,000 per week in Catalonia.

He could cost around £64m via a release clause in his contract, but the fee will rise drastically if they cannot agree a deal before the summer.

While a swap deal involving Diaz is far from definite, it is considered a possibility, with the Colombian linked with a move to the Catalan giants plenty of times in recent months and sporting director Deco a big fan.

A new centre-back is a must for Liverpool this summer, given Virgil van Dijk’s age, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez’s injury records, and the fact that Jarell Quansah is still young. In Araujo, the Reds could have a fantastic option, with Barca legend Carles Puyol paying him enormous praise in the past.

“He’s having a very good season, he’s in extraordinary condition. I’ll stick with what they’ve told me, because I don’t know him personally, but he’s very professional, humble, he always gives his best in training and matches and that’s where his performance is. Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come.”

Araujo has endured a frustrating season for Barcelona, with injuries restricting him to only six starts in La Liga, but the 26-year-old should still be considered a leading option for Liverpool.

The new Fabinho: Slot must sell Liverpool dud after "awful" 4/10 display

Liverpool have some huge calls to make this summer to build on their success in the Premier League.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 7, 2025

A swap deal involving Diaz would arguably be ideal, with doubts persisting over whether the Reds’ No.7 will ever quite become a world-class attacking player like Sadio Mane was on the left wing for so many years at Anfield.

Aston Villa could make a move for an “excellent” striker in 2026, amid Ollie Watkins’ struggles to make an impact.

Villa lay down marker with victory over Arsenal

Villa secured their seventh win on the spin in all competitions on Saturday, courtesy of a 2-1 victory against Premier League leaders Arsenal, which came in dramatic fashion, with Emiliano Buendia firing home a late winner to send Villa Park into raptures.

Unai Emery was delighted with the result, despite also making it clear his side must keep their feet on the ground, saying: “Today we must be happy, the supporters, Aston Villa fans and ourselves because we did the job we needed.

“Of course, we got three points and we are, in the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world, more or less, now feeling strong and feeling comfortable.

“But this is a race for 38 matches and we are on 15.”

It is difficult not to get too carried away, with the Villans now just three points behind Arsenal, but Watkins may need to get back to his best if Emery’s side are going to make a serious push for the Premier League title.

The Englishman has scored just three goals in 15 league outings, and Aston Villa are now lining up a move for a new striker in 2026, with a report from Tuttosport (via FC Inter News) revealing they could launch an attack to sign Bologna’s Santiago Castro next summer.

Nottingham Forest are also in the race for the centre-forward, and a deal could be on the expensive side, with the Italian club potentially set to demand €40m – €50m (£35m – £44m) for his services.

Ideally, Bologna would like to keep hold of the 21-year-old, and they are planning to offer him a bumper new contract in the coming weeks, in order to ward off the interest from elsewhere.

Emery's a fan: Aston Villa willing to make mega-money bid for £52m "baller"

The Villans are lining up a winter move for a new midfielder.

ByDominic Lund 5 days ago Castro could be "excellent" addition to Villa's attack

Donyell Malen has proven himself as a solid option at striker this season, scoring seven goals in all competitions, but Villa may still have room to bring in another centre-forward, given that the Dutchman regularly features out wide.

Castro has proven he could be a viable target with some of his displays this season too, having scored five goals in all competitions, two more than Watkins, while he also showcased his ability to create chances last term, leading to high praise from scout Jacek Kulig.

The Argentinian hasn’t been prolific since moving to Bologna, chipping in with 16 goals and 10 assists in 71 outings, but he is still very young, having only turned 21 in September, and Villa should continue to monitor his performances between now and next summer.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will not have been pleased with the way that his team failed to secure all three points against Falkirk at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The German tactician revealed after the match that the players who have not done enough on the pitch in recent games will not get as many minutes in the future.

This should ease any concerns from supporters that underperforming players will not be replaced in the starting line-up in the coming matches in the Premiership and the Europa League.

The biggest Rangers underperformers against Falkirk

As you would expect in a 0-0 draw at home to Falkirk, there were several Rangers players who underperformed and should be at risk of being dropped from the starting line-up.

Bojan Miovski, for example, played the full 90 minutes and lost 73% (8/11) of his duels without scoring a goal or even creating a chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in the number nine position.

Thelo Aasgaard also struggled in the number ten role for the Light Blues, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, before he was subbed off for Danilo with 22 minutes left to play.

1

Bojan Miovski

2

Thelo Aasgaard

3

Oliver Antman

4

Nicolas Raskin

5

James Tavernier

Oliver Antman, similarly to the Norway international, failed to make much of an impact on the right wing, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, which is why he also features on this list.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Unfortunately, Nicolas Raskin also features among the worst performers against Falkirk, less than a month on from pundit Chris Sutton declaring him the team’s “best player”, as he struggled in midfield.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Nicolas Raskin

Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the Belgium international from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday night after a couple of underwhelming showings in the middle of the park.

Raskin, who has been valued at up to £20m by the Scottish giants, has not been near his best in the last couple of games against Braga and Falkirk, which should see him dropped for his sloppy play in midfield.

In the game on Sunday, per Sofascore, the former Standard Liege star lost four of his seven physical duels and only created one chance for his teammates in 90 minutes on the pitch, in what was a rather ineffective display.

Minutes

90

90

Key passes

0

1

Possession lost

10x

9x

Ground duels won

4/14

3/7

Aerial duels won

2/3

0/0

Fouls

6

2

Dribbled past

2x

1x

As you can see in the table above, Raskin has lost a whopping 14 of his 21 ground duels in the last two outings, committing eight fouls and being dribbled past three times as part of that.

These statistics show that the central midfielder has been too easy to play against for opposition midfielders, which led journalist Jonny McFarlane to state that “a spell on the sidelines beckons” because he is “much better than he’s showing”.

It is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that Raskin won 57% of his ground duels in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and he has only won 33% of his battles on the deck in the last two matches.

The 24-year-old star, who scored five goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last term, is better than he is currently showing, which is why a spell on the bench may be beneficial for him to clear his head and recharge to get back to his best.

Therefore, Rohl should drop his “best player” from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday to see if it will spark a reaction out of him for the following game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Danny Rohl sends 13-word warning to his Rangers players ahead of the transfer window

The manager has has sent a pretty clear message to his players…

ByBen Goodwin Dec 1, 2025