After tying both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah down to new deals, Liverpool are now reportedly set to offer another star man a fresh contract in the hope that he stays put.

Liverpool still trying to convince Alexander-Arnold

Although the Reds have plenty to celebrate with Van Dijk and Salah staying put before they sealed their status as Premier League champions last weekend, there still remains questions to be answered in the coming weeks. And the first on everyone’s mind will undoubtedly surround Trent Alexander-Arnold and his future at the club.

Yet to follow in his teammates’ footsteps by putting pen to paper, it seems likely at this stage that the academy graduate will be off to Real Madrid as a free agent when the summer arrives. Liverpool, however, are reportedly yet to give up hope and after Alexander-Arnold received a reminder of what Anfield glory truly feels like, perhaps they are right to hold onto that belief.

Alexander-Arnold, himself, chose to remain reserved when questioned about his future following his winning goal against Leicester City, meanwhile. He told reporters: “I have said all season that I am not going to speak on my situation. I am not going to go into the details.

“But days like today are always special. Scoring goals, playing games, winning games, winning titles — they are special moments for me and I am glad to do my part.”

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With that said, the right-back isn’t the only Anfield star who has found himself at the centre of contract headlines, with one of Liverpool’s most important players now reportedly set to be offered a fresh deal in Merseyside.

Liverpool set to offer Ryan Gravenberch fresh contract

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool have now made contact with Ryan Gravenberch’s camp over a fresh deal at the club, as they look to tie down yet another one of Arne Slot’s key men.

The Dutchman, who is currently on £150,000-a-week has been a revelation under Slot, converting from a struggling midfielder to Liverpool’s unlikely solution in the No.6 role – replacing Fabinho at long last.

The Liverpool boss has rarely hidden his admiration for the former Bayern Munich star either, telling reporters earlier in the campaign after his side drew against Fulham: “Impressed, like everyone who was in the stadium or saw the game. Ryan did outstanding again today.

“Without the ball, he was mostly in our last line, had to play sometimes against a nine, against wingers who are really fast. And with the ball, he came into the midfield. An outstanding performance from him.”

With three years left on his current deal, it looks as though Liverpool are keen to ensure that Gravenberch is at the heart of their midfield for years to come and even beyond those three years.

This summer, Liverpool’s suits will attack the transfer market with the same intensity as Arne Slot’s first-team squad has over the past year.

The Dutch tactician needs rewarding; he’s won the Premier League in his first season at the helm, after all. While the Reds are a brilliant, balanced and dangerous squad, they are also flawed, with fault lines traced across left-back, central defence and centre-forward berths.

Oh, and Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season. The full-back is widely expected to sign for Real Madrid.

Anfield has enjoyed a historic season, the fans all recipients of the glory. Few foresaw this when Jurgen Klopp intimated his decision to take off his long-held manager’s badge at the end of the 2023/24 term. The year before, Liverpool’s juice had run out, an exodus authorised.

But Klopp rebuilt his legacy and has simply passed on the baton to a man who has put his own stamp on the players and willed them into a new, albeit similar, design.

Now’s the time to attack the market, and we all know a flashy new centre-forward would be the uplifting move for FSG to make.

Liverpool want a new centre-forward

It’s not like Liverpool fans need their spirits raised all that much, what with it being little over a week since the Premier League crown was clinched after Tottenham Hotspur were thrashed 5-1.

But Alexander-Arnold’s decision stings, no doubt, and the disappointing finishes to cup competitions leave plenty to be desired on such fronts. A free-scoring striker is needed.

Is Alexander Isak the man for the job?

Newcastle United’s star man is outscored only by, you guessed it, Mohamed Salah in the Premier League this season, but his club will play hardball as suitors come knocking, demanding a fee in excess of £150m for the Swedish goalscorer.

Instead, Liverpool may turn to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who would be a more affordable option, with suitors willing to pay €70m (about £60m). He still carries the suggestion of blooming into something truly world-class down the line.

Sesko, 21, has scored 39 goals since arriving in Germany at the start of last season, laying on eight assists too. There would be an element of risk about the acquisition, Darwin Nunez’s disappointing stint is pressed firmly in fans’ minds, but Sesko could be the man Slot is looking for to complete his frontline for many years to come.

He’s not the only Leipzig star on Liverpool’s list, however.

Liverpool prepare bid for Leipzig star

Liverpool need to raise the bar in the final third, ensuring they stay ahead of the pack next year. Bolstering across different positions is paramount toward achieving this.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s why, as per Empire of the Kop, Liverpool are interested in signing Xavi Simons, Leipzig’s creator-in-chief and bearing an ever-growing direct threat in front of goal.

The report suggests that FSG are preparing an official bid for the 21-year-old, worth approximately €60m (£51m).

Several days earlier, The Daily Mail revealed that Liverpool had placed scouts in Germany, watching Simons and Sesko as Leipzig delayed Bayern Munich’s title parade after a gripping 3-3 draw in the Bundesliga.

Imagine Xavi Simons & Sesko

Slot is all about fluency and tenacity and coherence. Master the basics and then amplify your understanding to the nth degree, he’ll say at tactical meetings, weaving peak fitness and subtle depth through the canvas of his game plan.

Simons and Sesko are two players who would only keep this unity intact, maybe even strengthening the cords that hold the Anfield squad together. Sesko’s stunning goal against the newly-crowned German champions, indeed, highlights this perfectly.

The infamous toe poke. Lashing at the ball with the outside of his boot, Sesko scored a stunning trivela against Bayern, played into space by Simons’ high-level passing.

The young Dutchman has been more of a direct force this season, ten of his 18 direct involvements coming by way of goal, but there’s no disputing his vision and eye for a shrewd pass, ranking among the top 13% for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

With Trent rehousing in Spain, signing a number ten of Simons’ ability could be the perfect way for Slot to reorient Liverpool’s creative centre, in turn strengthening Sesko’s chances of succeeding if he makes the move too.

Of course, Leipzig won’t want to sell both of their attacking stars, but they have a good relationship with Liverpool after the transfers of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate in recent years, Fabio Carvalho also moving to Germany on loan last year.

Moreover, there is confidence that Leipzig will accept that Simons wants to take the next step in his journey, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, currently sixth in the Bundesliga, two points off top four.

Xavi Simons – Bundesliga Stats 24/25
Stats (* per game)	#
Matches (starts)	23 (23)
Goals	9
Assists	7
Pass completion	83%
Big chances created	12
Key passes*	2.1
Dribbles*	1.3
Ball recoveries*	5.1
Tackles + interceptions*	1.6
Duels won*	5.4
Data via Sofascore

Described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Netherlands star simply has to be a priority for the Reds this season, with his high-ranked ball recoveries illustrating an energy and athletic approach that could see him play Szoboszlai’s role while adding a greater depth of creativity too.

By doing this, Liverpool will go from strength to strength, especially if they have Sesko in their mix. The Slovenian has enjoyed the fruits of Simons’ labour over the past two years, and it’s easy to see why: already ranking among the top 12% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, he’s the perfect focal point for a midfielder to thread balls in front of.

Liverpool have got to get this double deal done, patching over the small holes in Slot’s squad ahead of a campaign that promises much success.

He'd be incredible with Gakpo: Liverpool line up move for £45m "machine"

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1

By
Angus Sinclair

May 5, 2025

Leeds United are already preparing for life back in the top-flight and are said to be making inroads in their pursuit of a prolific striker, according to reports.

Leeds ready to take on the Premier League after dramatic title win

Despite some nervy moments along the way, Leeds are once again a Premier League club from next season and optimism is high in Yorkshire over how they may fare against the elite, especially after their last-gasp win to seal the title at Plymouth on Saturday.

Undoubtedly, savvy additions will need to be made to ensure the Whites don’t end up in a relegation scrap, but the size of the club coupled with a talented existing core could be the ideal recipe for success at Elland Road.

Stepping up their ambition, Leeds are interested in a move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison. However, Everton,Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fluminense, Al Hilal and Al Shabab are also interested in the Brazil international.

Adhering to PSR regulations will become part and parcel of most clubs’ summer thinking, which may mean Leeds need to prioritise which positions are in urgent need of surgery.

On that front, Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen could replace Illan Meslier between the sticks, while Wolverhampton Wanderers stopper Sam Johnstone may also add some Premier League experience if he were to join the ranks.

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Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to be excited as the Whites have another crack at the big time, even if the gap between Premier League and the rest of the football ladder is growing exponentially. Despite this, Leeds have now put themselves in contention to sign one of England’s leading marksmen in years gone by, per recent developments.

Leeds United make advances to sign Jamie Vardy

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are pursuing a deal for Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy, who is set to become a free agent once his contract at the King Power Stadium expires.

Known as one of the Premier League’s greatest modern-day heroes, the 38-year-old has scored 243 career goals for club and country and still believes he has something to offer in the top-flight, proving that with another strike against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

Jamie Vardy’s 2024/25 campaign – all competitions

Appearances

34

Goals

9

Assists

3

The outlet state that Vardy’s potential destination is ‘more advanced than people may think’ and that Leeds are in the market for several options to strengthen their forward line. Burnley are also in pursuit of the former Three Lions international. Patrick Bamford could make way regardless in the coming window after emerging as a target for Wrexham.

Labelled “top-class” by Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Halifax man has still shown signs that he is a potent force in the Premier League, registering 24 shots on target this term.

Longevity probably isn’t what you’re going to get from Vardy at this stage, though his vast experience and know-how in front of goal makes him a compelling option for Farke as the Whites aim to build the foundations for a solid season.

Last month, Liverpool officially confirmed that Mohamed Salah had put pen to paper on a new two-year contract extension with the club to extend his stay at Anfield.

The Egypt international’s deal was due to expire this summer, making him a free agent, but he has decided to commit to the Reds until the summer of 2027.

Salah has scored 33 goals and provided 23 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool so far this season, which illustrates how big of a boost this news was to Arne Slot.

The forward told the club’s official website: “Of course I’m very excited. We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.”

The news of his new contract at Anfield also means that the right-wing position has been locked down for next season, as Salah’s form suggests that he will be the first-choice in that role for Slot for another two years.

Who plays on the left side of the front three on a regular basis in the 2025/26 campaign remains up for debate, though, as does the future of Luis Diaz.

Why Luis Diaz could move on from Liverpool

Earlier this week, CaughtOffside reported that Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are eyeing up both Diaz and Darwin Nunez for moves in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The outlet claimed that Slot would rather keep hold of the former Porto star, but that the club would be prepared to cash in on him if an offer of £67m comes in for his services.

It revealed that Al Hilal are ready to pay big to land the winger, who has also been of interest to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, this summer, which means that his future at Anfield is currently up in the air.

Luis Diaz (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

37

33

xG

11.88

9.99

Goals

8

12

Big chances missed

13

9

Big chances created

5

8

Assists

5

5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Diaz’s output has improved in the Premier League in comparison to last term, after he struggled in front of goal in the 2023/24 campaign.

Liverpool, however, may also see this as inconsistency from a 28-year-old forward who should be in the prime years of his career, and may wonder if it is sustainable or if his finishing will revert to type next year.

Therefore, the club could decide that now is the right time to cash in on him for £67m, amid interest from Saudi Arabia, whilst his value is high off the back of a strong season.

Liverpool would need to have a top-quality left-wing option to replace him, though, and their interest in a Ligue 1 star could be the end of Luis Diaz.

Liverpool eyeing move for Ligue 1 star

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Lyon forward Malick Fofana in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Reds and fellow Premier League side Arsenal are the two main suitors for the Belgium international, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

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It reveals that Liverpool are planning a swoop to sign the 20-year-old starlet, as they look to take advantage of Lyon’s ‘financial problems’, whilst the likes of PSG, Juventus, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United are also said to be eyeing him up.

CaughtOffside adds that the Reds are serious about a move for the Ligue 1 sensation, who is valued at roughly £42m by the French outfit, and that they are looking at him amid doubts over the future of Diaz and Diogo Jota.

With this in mind, FSG swooping to sign Fofana from Lyon in the summer transfer window could spell the end of Luis Diaz’s career at Anfield.

Why Malick Fofana could be the end of Luis Diaz

If the Reds complete a deal to sign the 20-year-old star from Lyon this summer, the club could be even more open to cashing in on the Colombian forward amid strong interest from the Saudi Pro League.

Having turned 20 at the end of March, Fofana is a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which would make him a long-term addition for the club. He is eight years younger than Diaz and could, therefore, provide more to the team over the next five or six years, or more.

Last month, talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the forward has “enormous potential” and a “big future ahead”, and that is backed up by his impressive performances for Lyon at such a young age this season.

Despite being a teenager for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign, Fofana has featured regularly in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League, and chipped in with more than ten goals across both competitions.

Malick Fofana (24/25)

Ligue 1

Europa League

Appearances

28

10

xG

3.72

2.17

Goals

5

6

Big chances created

5

1

Assists

4

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £42m-rated star has scored 11 goals and provided five assists, and outperformed his xG by roughly five goals.

Fofana also ranks within the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions for progressive carries per 90 (6.69) over the last 365 days, which illustrates how effective he is at getting his team up the pitch through dribbles.

Diaz, meanwhile, ranks in the top 32% with 4.17 progressive carries per 90 in that time, which suggests that the Lyon star could immediately provide more to the team as an outlet to get the ball up the pitch and into dangerous positions.

Fofana’s finishing this season, outperforming his xG by more than five goals, also suggests that the potential is there for him to provide a similar goal threat if Liverpool’s other forwards can get him into high-quality positions on a regular basis.

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Therefore, Liverpool signing the Lyon star could be the end of Diaz at Anfield because he is an incredibly talented player, who plays in the same position, and the club could bring him in as the long-term option on the left flank, leaving the door open for a move to Al Hilal for the Colombian star.

Ahead of a summer full of potential sales, Aston Villa could now lose one of Unai Emery’s most important players to Barcelona amid reports that he’s now ready to leave the club.

Why Aston Villa may need to sell

After the Premier League received a glimpse of their potential troubles when they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the January transfer window, Aston Villa could be in for a long summer. Failure to qualify for the Champions League would particularly exacerbate their PSR problems to the stage that they may be left with no choice but to sell once again.

Many have had their say on the potential problems that Aston Villa face this summer and former Villans chief Keith Wyness, who now runs a football consultancy which advises top clubs, has been among those.

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Wyness recently told Football Insider: “The issue with PSR is not surprising. They’ve been sailing close to the wind. It’s only been the cleverness of Monchi and the recruitment team which have got them out of trouble so far.

“They’re going to have to do it again. It may be a player sold that the Villa fans are not happy about. That’s where the value will be. When you look at what Emery has done with squad strengthening, the fans will forgive him and allow him to get the resources to go ahead in the market – and meet PSR.”

Just who heads for the exit door with that said is now the big question. Emery’s squad is one filled with talent, there’s no doubt about that, but whether the Spaniard will help open the door for the likes of Ollie Watkins or Morgan Rogers to leave remains to be seen this summer. Instead, it could be another Aston Villa who heads for a summer exit.

Barcelona plotting move to sign Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now targeting a move to sign Emiliano Martinez, who is ready to leave Aston Villa for a ‘bigger club’ when the summer transfer window arrives.

The Argentine shot-stopper has rebuilt his career at Villa Park over the years and become one of the best in the world in his position – winning the Yashin Trophy twice. Now, however, with Barcelona calling, the 32-year-old could be set to depart.

What certainly shouldn’t be seen as a positive sign over his future for those at Villa Park is just how emotional Martinez looked following his final home game of the season. The former Arsenal man even looked to be waving a tearful goodbye to the fans.

A player who was praised for an “incredible” save by legend Alessandro del Piero in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Juventus earlier this season, Martinez would be an undeniable loss for those in the Midlands.

The transfer window is just around the corner, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.

While Mikel Arteta’s side have had to contend with a torrent of injuries this year, it’s still become increasingly clear that they do not have the attacking options at their disposal to get over the line.

For example, the only player to reach double digits for goals and assists in the squad this year has been Bukayo Saka, who’s done so despite missing almost four months of action with a hamstring injury.

So, with this in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see the North Londoners being linked to so many talented attackers in recent weeks, including one who has won the Premier League in the past and even been compared to Saka.

Arsenal's winger search

While the priority for Arsenal this summer will likely remain a new centre-forward, the club have still been linked with a plethora of talented wide players, such as Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.

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The former has a release clause of £48m in his current deal, which doesn’t seem too steep considering he’s still just 22 years old and has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this year.

However, Cherki could be even cheaper, with some reports claiming he could be available for just £30m, which would be a steal, as in just 43 games this season, the young Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists.

Yet, if the club want to go all out on a superstar striker this summer, they might have to go for a genuine bargain on the wing, someone like Leroy Sané.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bayern Munich star, and, alongside Chelsea, are currently the frontrunners to secure his signature.

While the competition from the Blues is far from ideal, the good news is that the £245k-per-week star wouldn’t cost anything in transfer fees, thanks to his current deal expiring in the summer.

It might still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Arsenal should do what they can to bring Sané to the Emirates, as he would add some real quality to the attack, and he’s even won comparisons to Saka in the past.

How Sané compares to Saka

So, before we get into some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Sané this summer, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Englishman was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the German in the entire competition.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Expected Assists

0.09

0.11

Progressive Passes

3.04

3.57

Passing Accuracy

83.8%

83.8%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.03

3.30

Goal-Creating Actions

0.43

0.47

Successful Take-Ons

2.17

2.00

However, on top of their statistical similarities, they are also both predominantly right-sided, left-footed players who have played and thrived under Arteta’s coaching, with the German spending several years with him at City.

Aside from the similarities to their best player, though, why should the Gunners bring the Bayern star this summer?

Well, first and foremost, while he has spent plenty of time off the right, he’s just as capable on the left, meaning he could provide some genuine competition to both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard next season on top of being able to rotate with others in the side.

Moreover, even though he’s closer to the end than the start of his career, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has still been seriously effective this term, racking up 13 goals and six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 2348 minutes.

That means the former Premier League winner is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.31 games, or every 123.57 minutes, which is undoubtedly the sort of output that would give the North Londoners a serious boost.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be going all out to sign Sané this summer, as not only does he share some key similarities with Saka, but he remains a productive attacker and, best of all, he’d be free.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur went into last weekend on something of an increasingly rare high.

For everything else that has gone wrong this season, the North Londoners had just secured their place in the Europa League Final, and therefore the chance to make this campaign a memorable one.

Unfortunately, the little positivity there among the crowd quickly disappeared as Ange Postecoglou oversaw yet another dismal showing in the Premier League, which ultimately ended in the club picking up their 20th league defeat in the competition.

Unsurprisingly, then, reports have continued to emerge linking the club with a host of new managers, including one who’s got Champions League experience and would be a massive upgrade on Postecoglou.

Tottenham's manager search

With the domestic campaign being as much of a disaster as it has this year, it’s hardly been a surprise that, in recent weeks anyway, there has been an avalanche of reports linking the club to a plethora of top managers, like Marco Silva and Simone Inzaghi.

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Since taking charge of Fulham in 2021, the former has helped transform the Cottagers from a Championship side who’d come up and go straight back down on a regular basis into a comfortable mid-table side.

However, with little to no experience in managing a truly big club, the spotlight in North London could be a little too bright for the Portuguese coach.

In contrast, Inzaghi would be an incredible appointment down to his brilliant record with Lazio and Inter Milan, but due to the incredible work he’s done at the San Siro, it feels like hiring him is nothing more than a pipe dream.

So, this need to strike a balance between attainable and exciting might help explain the links to Roberto De Zerbi that have popped up in recent weeks.

For example, it was reported late last month that the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is someone appreciated by many at Spurs, and then only last week, talkSPORT revealed that he’d be open to returning to the Premier League this summer.

It could be a complicated deal to get done, but one thing is certain: he’d be a significant upgrade on Postecoglou.

How De Zerbi compares to Postecoglou

So, if Spurs are able to convince the Italian coach that they’re the perfect club for him to take charge of ahead of next season, why would he do a better job than Postecoglou?

Well, the first thing to look at is their respective records in English football, as while the Australian has a marginally better one, it should be far greater given the size of Tottenham compared to Brighton and the nature of the latter constantly losing their biggest talents.

For example, the former Celtic manager has managed 98 games in England, of which his side has won 46, drawn 14 and lost 38, which comes out to a points-per-game average of 1.55 – a number seriously helped by the ten-game-winning streak from the start of last season.

De Zerbi vs Postecoglou
Manager	De Zerbi (Brighton)	De Zerbi (Marseille)	Postecoglou
Games (All Comps)	89	35	98
Wins	38	20	46
Draws	20	5	14
Losses	31	10	38
Points per Game	1.51	1.86	1.55
All Stats via Sofascore

In contrast, the former Sassuolo boss managed to win 38 of his 89 games in charge of the Seagulls, drawing 20 and losing 31, which comes out to a points-per-game average of 1.51.

However, since moving to Marseille, the “genius” tactician, as dubbed by analyst Statman Dave, has overseen 20 wins, five losses and 10 defeats, which comes out to a far more impressive point-per-game average of 1.86.

Moreover, the fact he’s managed at a club as massive and intense as the French giants is another big plus; if he’s been able to cope with the pressures on the French Riviera, he’d be fine in North London – which hasn’t been the case for Postecoglou this year.

Finally, on top of doing well in France, the 45-year-old is often credited with being something of an innovator, with Pep Guardiola, of all people, describing him as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years.”

Ultimately, it now feels like there is no future for Ange at Spurs, and while he might not be as big a name as some would like, De Zerbi is the perfect combination of gettable, exciting and capable of handling big clubs.

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By
Dan Emery

May 12, 2025

Well, it all comes down to this for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League final tonight in the knowledge that winning by a two-goal margin will send them to the club’s first final in the competition in 19 years – their second overall.

However, for them to get those two goals, or even to win by one and get through to penalties, the North Londoners are going to have to be at their very best from the first minute to the last, and that means making some personnel changes from the team that lost against Bournemouth.

In particular, there’s one player who has to be ruthlessly dropped by Arteta, a player who struggled just as much as the out-of-form Martin Odegaard did.

Arsenal's poor performers

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other starters who underwhelmed on Saturday afternoon, such as Leandro Trossard.

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The Belgian wasn’t terrible on the day, but as can sometimes happen when he starts up top, the natural winger offered little to nothing in attack, earning himself a 6/10 from the Standard’s Simon Collings.

Likewise, it was another worrying showing from David Raya, who once again looked shakey in possession and almost gifted the visitors a goal out of nothing with a poor pass out from the back.

Finally, while he did manage to pick up an assist for Declan Rice’s great goal, it was yet another poor game for Odegaard, as his lacklustre marking of Evanilson in the closing stages saw the Cherries knick all three points and more than justified the 6/10 match rating he received from Collings.

However, while the Norwegian will almost certainly keep his place in the team for tonight’s game thanks to the armband and a lack of other genuine options, there was another starter who simply has to be dropped by Arteta ahead of tonight.

The Arsenal star who has to be dropped

So, while Trossard is likely one of the starters who will be taken out of the lineup for tonight’s game, Ben White should be another.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion star came back into the starting XI on the back of news that Jurrien Timber had picked up a minor knock.

While £50m defender wasn’t terrible on the day, he didn’t convince anyone that he should keep his place now that the Dutchman’s seemingly back in full training.

For example, while the Englishman offered something on the overlap and should eventually get back up to speed, he really struggled with the defensive side of the game and was ‘troubled by Dango Ouattara’s pace,’ per Collings.

Unfortunately, on top of looking shaky and failing the eye test, the Gunners’ “warrior,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also had some pretty terrible statistics from the game.

Minutes

86′

Expected Assists

0.01

Clearances

6

Dribbled Past

3

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (1)

Lost Possession

8

Passing Accuracy

22/28 (79%)

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

For example, while he did well to make six clearances, he was dribbled past three times, lost four of five ground duels, lost the ball eight times, failed his one and only attempted dribble and amassed a dire expected assists figure of 0.01.

Ultimately, if he couldn’t live with Ouattara on the weekend, then there is no way the manager should be looking to start him against potentially Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tonight.

That is especially true now that Timber seems to be fit and back in contention, who respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described as an “elite 1v1 defender” following his monstrous display away to Real Madrid.

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Liverpool have now made contact over a summer deal for a “ridiculous” forward, who is also a target for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report.

Reds ramping up summer transfer plans

With deals to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez seemingly progressing nicely, the next task at hand for FSG may be to strengthen in attacking areas, given that Mohamed Salah has largely carried the goalscoring burden this season.

Salah’s attacking numbers this term are off the charts, but Jamie Carragher has admitted that he’s had some concerns about whether the Reds’ other forward options, such as Luis Diaz, are at the required level.

Diaz’s ability to play through the middle may tempt Arne Slot to keep hold of the Colombian, considering Darwin Nunez is looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit door, but there may also be a temptation to bring in a new winger.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Get French Football News), Liverpool have now made contact over a deal for AS Monaco forward Maghnes Akliouche, who has also emerged as a target for French champions PSG.

The Champions League finalists are only willing to spend €50m (£42m) on the winger, however, and with Monaco looking to hold out for a fee of €60m (£51m), the deal is currently at a standstill, which could allow one of the other potential suitors to swoop.

Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Akliouche, with the latter club recently opening talks over a deal, so there may be competition for his signature from the Reds’ Premier League rivals.

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PSG have re-asserted themselves as a dominant force in Ligue 1 under Luis Enrique, but Monaco are also likely to be pleased with their campaign, having secured a third-placed finish, and the right-winger was one of their most important players.

The 23-year-old picked up five goals and 10 assists in 32 Ligue 1 outings, while also catching the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who described the Frenchman as “ridiculous”.

Not only are Liverpool looking at signing a new winger, this summer, but they have also set their sights on an attacking midfielder, with Florian Wirtz recently speaking to Slot about a move to Anfield, although a deal is likely to be on the expensive side.

Akliouche’s main position is right-wing, but the Monaco star has also featured in attacking midfield on a number of occasions, and he may be better suited to playing in that area for the Reds as an alternative to Wirtz, considering it will be very difficult to dislodge Salah.

Turning their focus towards summer arrivals, the Friedkin Group have now reportedly made their first contact in the race to sign an award-winning Championship star for Everton.

Everton confirm departures

After their season ended with an unexpected victory over Champions League-chasing Newcastle United, who qualified nonetheless, Everton confirmed the news that a number of stars will be leaving the club next month. The Toffees have said farewell to Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic, Joao Virginia and, most surprising of all, Abdoulaye Doucoure ahead of the summer transfer window.

Doucoure came as a surprise following how important he became under Sean Dyche and then David Moyes, but it is a decision that Everton have decided to make. The French midfielder announced his departure, saying: “I am going to leave the football club at the end of the season. After five wonderful years, my time at Everton came to an end.

“Everton means a lot to me, the past five years have been hard but I will always remember my time as a dream for me to play for Everton Football Club. Obviously I am sad to leave the club but I feel the time has come for a new chapter for me and the club as well.

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“I will be always grateful for what the club did for me. My best memory will be the goal I scored against Bournemouth to keep the club in the Premier League. This is something I will always be proud [of]. It was a wonderful moment for me and my family and the club as well.”

As one key man departs, it will be important for Everton to get their recruitment right in the coming months. So far, reports have certainly been positive on that front too, with rumours linking them to Liam Delap and now a Championship award winner.

Everton make first enquiry to sign Sheffield United star Hamer

According to Ben Jacobs, Friedkin have now made their first enquiry to sign Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United this summer. The midfielder won the Championship’s Player of the Season award, but ultimately missed out on promotion in heartbreaking fashion against Sunderland in the playoff final. If ever there was a player who deserves a place in the Premier League, however, it is Hamer.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is one of many who is well aware of the quality that Hamer possesses and knows that quality is always bound to attract other suitors.

He told reporters at the end of April: “When Gus speaks, everybody listens. And rightly so, there should have been interest in him in the summer, because of how outstanding he was in an incredibly disappointing campaign for us.

“He cleaned up in the Player of the Year awards, so there was always going to be interest in him. I’m okay with stuff like that, because he’s a good player, and I would not expect anything different off the back of that.”