Frank Lampard has endured a horrific start to his Everton tenure so far, losing nine out of his 16 matches and winning only six times as his side have slipped further down the table, even occupying a place in the bottom three.
Relegation is a genuine possibility and, unless there are some heroic performances over the next couple of weeks, then the Toffees could well drop out of the Premier League for the first time.
A 1-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend could well be the start of a daring escape from the drop, and with a trip to Leicester to come on Sunday, there may be a glimmer of hope for Everton.
Lampard also confirmed some good news during his pre-match press conference.
Speaking about the availability of players for the visit to the King Power Stadium, the 43-year-old said: “No changes for us.
“We had a pretty good week with recovery for the lads, a couple of little niggles but hopefully we will be the same as we were (for Chelsea).”
Lampard & Everton fans will be happy
This will be music to Everton supporters’ ears, as they need all the positives they can get at the moment, and any further injuries could derail the much-needed momentum from triumphing against Chelsea.
The Toffees have been hit with a string of injuries throughout the campaign, with the likes of Tom Davies, Yerry Mina and Andros Townsend all hit with various spells out of the team and continuing to be sidelined.
This hasn’t helped matters but it cannot be used as an excuse for for a season which started off with so much hope but has sunk into a chaotic mess, and mere Premier League survival will not satisfy the fan base, who surely deserve better than a last-ditch scrap for their top-flight lives.
Everton face five cup finals between tomorrow and 22 May and they simply need to focus on one match at a time, starting with the trip to the King Power Stadium. At least Lampard’s revelation of no further injuries will offer a boost for him and the supporters ahead of the Leicester clash.
AND in other news, Everton given green light to sign “undefendable” £50m gem, it’s bye-bye Richarlison
West Ham have received a huge boost as David Moyes revealed an injury update which will be sure to please the club’s supporters.
Moyes is optimistic that Issa Diop will return before the end of the season as the Hammers approach some crunch fixtures in their hunt for Europa League glory and the quest to secure a possible top-six spot in the Premier League.
Diop missed the recent matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea due to an ankle injury, with West Ham losing both in what could be damaging defeats for their respective aspirations in the season’s run-in.
Moyes will want to have him back as soon as possible, with the Scot stating prior to today’s clash against Arsenal: “Issa is making a really good recovery and there’s always an outside chance he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
Fans will be buzzing with Diop update
Diop has a seasonal rating of 6.69 on SofaScore, and despite him just playing 13 Premier League matches, West Ham have only lost three games this year while the Frenchman has featured. Also, figures from WhoScored highlight his no-nonsense defensive nature, with his match average of 3.2 clearances the third-highest in Moyes’ squad.
At 25 years of age, he has the potential to be part of the furniture at the London Stadium for a few years yet. With Angelo Ogbonna out until next season with a serious injury, Kurt Zouma also encountering injury problems and Craig Dawson the wrong side of 30, there appears to be an opportunity for Diop to establish himself for the Irons in the long-term.
Moyes might always be seeking to improve the West Ham squad, but he has no excuse not to make use of the Frenchman whenever he can for the rest of the season, particularly with such a sparsity of options at centre-back.
This injury update will be good news for supporters who ideally will want to see a clean bill of health, and hopefully Diop can play some part in the last few matches of the season.
AND in other news: “No agreement…”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge West Ham update, Moyes will be fuming
Former Scotland defender believes talks will already be ongoing behind the scenes at Celtic regarding the permanent transfer of Jota.
The lowdown: Deal to be done
Signed on loan for the 2021/22 campaign, according to a report from The Scotsman, the Hoops can land the 23-year-old permanently for £6million in the summer.
However, Bhoys boss Ange Postecoglou recently claimed that talks over the permanent switch will have to wait until the end of the season as the Hoops look to wrap up a 52nd Scottish top-flight title.
One ex-Scottish Premiership man believes the deal could already be in the offing, though, with Hutton telling Football Insider the parts are likely moving behind the scenes…
The latest: Hutton reacts
Speaking to FI, who lead with a headline of ‘secret talks’, former Rangers ace now BBC 5 Live pundit Hutton has suggested that the club’s hierarchy will be making plans as we speak.
“They will be talking about it in the background. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
“It just hasn’t probably got out there into the public domain yet. There’s no doubting his quality, we see it.
“He scores goals, he assists, he’s a real threat on his day. They’ll want to tie him down, Postecoglou will want that to happen.
“Then he can move on to other areas of the pitch where he feels he needs to strengthen and this isn’t a distraction. So I’m pretty sure, in the background, they will be talking about it.”
The verdict: Fingers crossed
Jota has been nothing short of sensational at Parkhead this season and wrapping up this deal, alongside the move for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers, should be regarded as a top priority for the summer.
So far this season the Portuguese attacker has scored 11 times and registered 12 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, earning a superb 7.53 average Sofascore rating in the process – the third highest in the league.
Valued at £4.95million (Transfermarkt), if Hutton is correct and the Hoops can complete the signing of the 18-cap Portugal Under 21 ace from Benfica for the mooted fee, it would not only add top-quality to the Celtic Park squad but would also be a shrewd financial move.
In other news, Frank McAvennie is in awe of one Celtic player’s development. Find out who it is here.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s future at Anfield has come into question after his team dropped points in their 3-3 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Dutchman, who won the title in his first season, has lost ten of his 23 matches in all competitions, including six in the top-flight, this term.
On top of that, Mohamed Salah has claimed that his relationship with the manager has broken down after being on the bench for the third straight game against Leeds.
The Salah situation and the poor results this season have put pressure on the former Feyenoord tactician, with the club reportedly looking at potential replacements.
Liverpool have admiration for national team manager
Dave OCKOP reports that Steven Gerrard has been sounded out as a potential interim to come in and steady the ship if FSG decide to part ways with Slot in the coming days or weeks.
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The report claims that Liverpool are also admirers of Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann, previously of Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim.
It adds that the 38-year-old manager is expected to lead his country to the World Cup in America, Canada, and Mexico next summer, though, which means that he will not be available immediately.
Bayern's Julian Nagelsmann
Dave OCKOP suggests that the German tactician may be available after the World Cup, though, which is where Gerrard stepping in as an interim option could make sense.
If Liverpool were to eventually bring Nagelsmann in as their long-term replacement for Slot, he would be the perfect appointment to get the best out of Florian Wirtz.
Why Nagelsmann would be perfect for Wirtz
To say that Wirtz has not lived up to expectations in a Liverpool shirt so far would probably be an understatement, as he has yet to deliver a single goal or assist in the Premier League, per Sofascore.
The Reds splashed out £116m to sign the attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, and he has racked up no goals and three assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.
Slot has simply been unable to get the best out of the huge-money signing, who produced 16 goals and 14 assists for Leverkusen last term (Sofascore), but Nagelsmann could come in to get him flying at Anfield.
Wirtz’s form for Germany at international level is proof that he could shine for the Reds if Nagelsmann replaces Slot in the dugout, because he has proven that he can perform in that system.
Caps
27
3rd
Goals
8
1st
Assists
6
2nd
Goals + assists
14
1st
As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool attacking midfielder has been the most impactful attacker of the manager’s reign with the national team, providing more goals and assists combined than any other player.
For further context, Wirtz scored no goals and provided three assists in his first ten caps for Germany before Nagelsmann took the job, which shows that the ex-Bayern boss can get the best out of him.
The 38-year-old boss was once described as the “best young coach in Europe” by reporter Josh Bunting in 2022, and it is still hard to argue with that assessment in the present day.
Mikel Arteta, 43, and Xabi Alonso, 44, are two of the brightest young coaches in the game, managing Arsenal and Real Madrid, yet they have won as many league titles combined (one) as Nagelsmann has, having won the Bundesliga with Bayern, and he is five and six years younger than them.
The German boss won 2.31 points per game during his time with Bayern, per Transfermarkt, whilst Slot has won 2.00 points per game across 79 matches with Liverpool to date.
This suggests that Nagelsmann could come in as an upgrade on the Dutchman as an all-round manager, whilst also being the perfect appointment to get the best out of Wirtz at Anfield.
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Therefore, it could be a good move for FSG to bring Gerrard in as an interim appointment with a view to landing Nagelsmann next summer, if they decide that parting ways with Slot is the route that they want to go down in the coming weeks.
After missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day, Liverpool are reportedly ready to table a January offer to sign a Barcelona alternative for Arne Slot.
Slot admits "lot to improve" after Atletico Madrid win
If you were to ask Liverpool what their perfect set of results would look like after five games, then 15 points from a possible 15 in all competitions would be their answer.
Ask them about their ideal performances in that time, however, and they’re unlikely to request five last-gasp winners. Nonetheless, somehow, Anfield’s late show has rolled on.
Slot drops early hint about Isak's likely Liverpool role against Everton
He surprised the Liverpool boss…
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This time, it was Virgil van Dijk who stepped up – heading home in the 92nd minute to hand Liverpool a deserved 3-2 victory against Atletico Madrid. Alas, for all the positives in arguably their best performance of the season so far, Slot admitted that there’s still a “lot to improve”.
Whether things would have been different from a defensive standpoint if Liverpool’s move for Guehi crossed the line on deadline day is certainly something to ponder.
Without the Crystal Palace captain, the Reds’ biggest weakness comes courtesy of their depth at centre-back and that may well be something they solve with an alternative option in January.
Liverpool ready to table £40m Araujo offer
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now ready to table an offer to sign Ronald Araujo in January. The Barcelona defender has lost his place in Hansi Flick’s side and the Reds are reportedly willing to submit a bid for his signature worth €50m (£43m) when the winter window arrives.
Whether the Catalan club accept that offer is the big question. Given their constant state of financial chaos and the fact that Araujo has lost his starting place, the defender could be an asset that they’re willing to let go at the right price. Meanwhile, compared to Guehi, there’s no denying that the 26-year-old has the ability to compete for a place at Anfield.
Minutes
754
3,059
Progressive Passes
5.83
3.94
Tackles Won
1.07
1
Ball Recoveries
3.21
4.29
Described as “strong” by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Araujo could become quite the coup at just over £40m. The defender has plenty of experience at the very top level and could instantly translate that to the Premier League by completing a January switch to Liverpool.
Football is cyclical. Great teams rise, and then they fall. However, Aston Villa appear to have reached a concerning crossroads at a premature point in their project.
At the end of the 2024/25 season, Unai Emery watched in agony as his side put in a meek performance at Old Trafford. It was the final match of the Premier League campaign, and a single point would have been enough to reprise a place in the Champions League. Villa were beaten, and contentiously at that.
Four games into the new league season, the Lions have yet to roar, blanking across each of their matches and losing twice. It’s hardly time to panic, but fears of a regressive year have been heightened by this slow start, and Emery knows he needs to bring it all together.
Only, Villa were inhibited across the summer transfer window, a by-product of that frustrating defeat in Manchester. It was for this reason that Jacob Ramsey was forcibly sold to Newcastle United, and only Evann Guessand was brought in.
Villa, still, have Ollie Watkins leading the line.
Ollie Watkins is still Villa's talisman
Watkins has been at this game for a while, having played 228 matches across all competitions for Aston Villa, scoring 87 goals and supplying 42 assists.
He’s been synonymous with the club’s advancements over recent years, and offers at number nine a varied and deep take on the craft.
Watkins is one of the finest Premier League forwards of his generation. Behind a select few superstars, it is the Three Lions star who produces clinical performances as such that has led statistician Statman Dave to describe him as “one of the best 9s in the world”.
Erling Haaland
100
88 (0.88)
Mohamed Salah
111
67 (0.60)
Alexander Isak
86
54 (0.63)
Ollie Watkins
115
50 (0.43)
Chris Wood
95
39 (0.41)
Bryan Mbeumo
101
39 (0.39)
However, he’s 29 years old (hardly ancient), and reflective of the ageing nature of Emery’s first-team squad. Given the trammels imposed on Villa Park in the summer transfer market indeed led to only the permanent signing of Guessand, there’s no question the young and inspiring signings will need to be made in the window ahead.
Villa’s isn’t a team solely comprised of veterans, though, with one of the Premier League’s brightest young stars in the ranks, and though he’s not a striker, Morgan Rogers has the capacity to replace Watkins as Villa Park’s talisman.
Emery has struck gold on Morgan Rogers
Rogers, 23, signed for Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in January 2024, joining for a £15m fee. What a bargain. He played a part across the latter end of the 2023/24 season, but came alive after a full pre-season, notching 29 goal involvements across all competitions as Villa battled across domestic and Champions League fronts.
As remarked by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to be “unstoppable” when he gets going on the ball, Rogers’ athleticism and pace enable him to shift between wide and central attacking berths, and the division is taking note.
Indeed, Rogers was crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, and he is definitely beginning to establish himself as the Midlands club’s best signing since Watkins was welcomed from Brentford for £28m in September 2020.
He sits among esteemed company.
24/25
Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers
23/24
Chelsea
Cole Palmer
22/23
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka
21/22
Man City
Phil Foden (2)
20/21
Man City
Phil Foden
Watkins has been the man his teammates turn to for quite some time, but that started to shift last term, with Rogers proving a focal point from deep but also a combative and tenacious force with talents across different phases of play.
Sofascore recorded, for example, that he created 16 big chances in the Premier League last year and averaged 1.8 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game, with his heatmap showcasing his energy, covering so much ground.
Now a fully-blooded England international too, the £75k-per-week talent might not have clicked into gear across the opening weeks of the current campaign, but when Emery’s system does start purring once more – and it will – then Rogers will surely form the nucleus of the next phase.
Villa must be delighted that they managed to avoid parting with their young prize this summer, despite financial concerns and a tidal wave of interest.
Indeed, Tottenham Hotspur had taken a particular liking to the dynamic midfielder, enquiring about his availability and not appearing dissuaded by Aston Villa’s £80m valuation.
The truth is, Emery and his leadership coterie might share an opinion that Rogers is unsellable, his price tag something that would stretch into record territory, should they need to cash in.
But the fierce resistance to piqued curiosity from divisional rivals this summer emphasises the pedestal on which Emery has placed him.
Already accomplished in the Champions League, Rogers has the world at his feet, and must surely fancy his chances of rivalling the very best in the business in the years to come. Not just in the Premier League, but across the globe.
Rogers has not yet developed into the player those coaches who watch him every day feel he can become. Here is the biggest testament to the one-time Manchester City academy member’s growth, and indeed Emery’s ability to bring him to the fore.
It’s easy to forget that Rogers has only just begun his second season consistently playing at top-flight level. So much more is still to come, and Aston Villa will fight tooth and nail against anyone who wishes to prise him away. Here we have the new talisman, ready to guide his side toward a sustained period of success.
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Brendan Rodgers has had to oversee a lot of change on the left side of his Celtic squad, at left-back in particular, during the summer transfer window so far.
The Hoops have already added one new left-back to the team in the form of Kieran Tierney, who has returned to Parkhead on a free transfer from Premier League giants Arsenal, six years on from his initial move to the Gunners from Glasgow.
Tierney, who won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell at the club after coming through the academy, will be aiming to nail down a position as the first-choice left-back at Celtic once again.
The Scotland international looks set to replace compatriot Greg Taylor, who is leaving the Scottish giants this summer upon the expiry of his contract.
Fabrizio Romano, as shown in the post above, recently confirmed that the full-back has agreed a deal to sign for Greek side PAOK ahead of next season.
Another left-back who has moved on from Parkhead this summer is Jeffrey Schlupp, who spent the second half of the season on loan from Crystal Palace, and the club must now avoid a permanent deal for him.
Why Celtic should not sign Jeffrey Schlupp
The Eagles confirmed at the end of May that the left-back would not be getting a new contract at Selhurst Park, which means that he will be available on a free transfer.
Schlupp made 14 appearances, starting eight of those games, in the Premiership and the Champions League for the Hoops, and his best performance for the club came in the second leg of their Champions League play-off clash with Bayern Munich.
Minutes
90
Clearances
9
Blocks
1
Interceptions
5
Tackles
6
Dribbled past
1x
Ground duels won
7/8
Aerial duels won
1/2
As you can see in the table above, the Palace loanee was incredibly dominant defensively up against the mercurial Michael Olise on the right wing for Bayern, winning the majority of his duels and making 11 tackles and interceptions, whilst being dribbled past just once.
Despite that impressive showing from the Ghana international, Celtic also have to plan for the future and signing a 32-year-old, who turns 33 in December, on a permanent multi-year contract may not be the best move that they can make this summer.
Therefore, supporters should be happy to read that the Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of an alternative target who could be an even better signing than Schlupp.
Celtic schedule medical to complete new signing
According to Sponichi, Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Albirex Niigata defender Hayato Inamura to bolster their options at the back ahead of next season.
The report claims that the left-footed star’s last match for his club was the 4-0 defeat to Machida on Sunday, as he played 90 minutes as a centre-back in the loss.
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It adds that the two clubs have already reached an agreement in principle over a transfer for the 23-year-old talent, and that a move will officially go through in the coming week.
Sponichi reveals that the Japanese defender will travel to Scotland at the start of the coming week to undergo a medical with the Hoops before putting pen to paper on a permanent switch to Glasgow.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
This means that Celtic are set to sign the versatile Niigata ace in the coming days, with a medical scheduled and a fee agreed, and he could come in as an even better signing than Schlupp.
Why Inamura will be a better signing than Schlupp for Celtic
As aforementioned, the former Palace loanee turns 33 later this year and would only come in as a stop-gap signing to provide cover in the short term, which is also what he did during his loan spell.
Schlupp would not be a signing with a view to the future because, at his age, he is unlikely to develop much further, if at all, and does not have the potential to grow into being the first-choice after Tierney’s second spell comes to an end.
Inamura, however, is nine years younger than the Ghana international and, therefore, has far more time on his hands to develop and improve as a player during his time in Glasgow.
He is five years younger than Tierney and could, therefore, eventually be his successor if he kicks on and improves at Celtic, whilst initially coming in as a back-up option.
Inamura is usually deployed as a centre-back by Niigata, but Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph noted that he can also play as a left-back. His statistics in the J1 League this season also suggest that he would be well-suited to playing that role for the Hoops.
Assists
0.07
Top 8%
Pass accuracy
87%
Top 29%
Accurate long passes
5.75
Top 5%
Long pass accuracy
47%
Top 19%
Chances created
0.42
Top 18%
Cross accuracy
50%
Top 15%
As you can see in the table above, the soon-to-be Celtic signing ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of possession-based metrics, which speaks to his ability on the ball.
His ability to successfully complete crosses at an impressive rate and to consistently create chances for his teammates from a centre-back position suggests that he could be well-suited to playing as a left-back for the Hoops, which would allow him to showcase his in-possession qualities.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
Inamura, who analyst Rio Nakagawara claimed has “fantastic ball progression” as a passer and carrier, appears to have the technical qualities to thrive in Glasgow.
His positional flexibility also makes him an attractive target, as he can play at centre-back or left-back, and that is another reason why he would be an even better signing than Schlupp, who was not a central defensive option for Rodgers.
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Overall, signing Inamura seems to make more sense for the Premiership champions because of his age profile, his positional flexibility, and his quality on the ball.
Tottenham Hotspur were thrashed by Brighton & Hove Albion to finish a miserable Premier League campaign that has been salvaged and then some overseas.
Indeed, Ange Postecoglou’s side dared to dream in midweek, beating Manchester United in Bilbao to seal the Europa League title and end 17 interminable years of rotten luck on the trophy front.
A hangover was expected, but this bruising defeat was not an outlier for the Lilywhites, who have wrapped up the 2024/25 league campaign languishing in 17th place.
There’s much for chairman Daniel Levy to chew on over the coming months, with several players doing themselves few favours down N17 this weekend.
Spurs' worst performers vs Brighton
Tottenham lost their 22nd top-flight match of the season, marking the end of their worst-ever Premier League campaign.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou
The defensive capitulation underlined the crux of Postecoglou’s woe this season, with pitiful performances from the newly-promoted trio proving the tenuous barrier between Tottenham and a true relegation dogfight.
There were more than a few tired legs after the interval, and Dominic Solanke’s early penalty was too little to give Tottenham the strength they needed to finish the term off on strong footing, with Pedro Porro and Archie Gray lacking their usual enthusiasm, substitute Wilson Odobert inefficient when welcomed after the break.
Yves Bissouma made a hash of things when brought off the bench, giving away the penalty after bringing down Diego Gomez in the box, leading to Matt O’Riley’s spot-kick to make it 3-1. A fourth would follow in stoppage time.
Tottenham's Yves Bissouma gives away a penalty
It was a performance to forget, all told. Certainly not the fixture of the week that will be remembered in years to come.
One man in particular failed to replicate his sparkling midweek form, shining a light on his ability to emerge at the biggest moment, reminiscent of former hero Lucas Moura.
Spurs' new Lucas Moura
Lucas played an important role for Tottenham after signing from Paris Saint-Germain for £23m in 2018, posting 39 goals and 27 assists across 221 appearances in all competitions.
However, he didn’t always maintain the requisite levels for a reputation in English football as a truly deadly forward, one who can maintain their output invariably.
Premier League
152
20
16
0.24
Champions League
22
6
1
0.32
FA Cup
17
5
6
0.65
League Cup
12
2
0
0.17
Europa League
10
4
1
0.50
Conference League
4
1
2
0.75
UEL Qualifiers
3
1
1
0.66
UECL Qualifiers
1
0
0
–
Now, Brennan Johnson is in danger of adopting a similar reputation, proving Tottenham’s hero on a big night but struggling to project his finest form with the desired degree of consistency.
Make no mistake, this has been a promising term for the former Nottingham Forest man, who joined for a £47.5m fee in July 2023 and has sharpened his goalscoring sense this year, bagging 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions.
He failed to add to his haul against the Seagulls, however, unable to influence proceedings for his struggling and, frankly, sapped side.
Football.london’s Alasdair Gold saw the funny side, branding the Welshman with a 5/10 match rating but quizzing why he was permitted the full 90 after such frenzied celebrations only days earlier, bundling in the only goal against United on Wednesday.
Like Johnson, Lucas liked to make a key contribution on the continental scene for Tottenham, miraculously scoring that hat-trick to send Mauricio Pochettino’s side through to the Champions League final way back when, but he lacked consistency, and that’s something Ange’s star needs to work on.
Underscoring this, the Wales international has only netted in three of his past 20 Premier League games, emphasising an up-and-down nature that Lucas carried through his career in English football too.
The good thing is Johnson can be afforded some leeway, of course, after his goal on Wednesday night, but he still saw a chance go begging after being played into space and struggled to impose himself, albeit working hard defensively, making two clearances as he found himself hemmed in the defensive third, as per Sofascore.
Johnson also completed only nine of his 17 attempted passes, a success rate of just 53%, failed to make a dribble, failed with all three attempted passes from range, and didn’t even attempt a trademark dribble.
Still only 24, mind, he’s got plenty of time to hone his talent and reach the level those around him know he is capable of.
One thing’s for sure: he has already left a bigger legacy than his Brazilian positional peer and could reach higher still with a few improvements over the coming season.
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Manchester City are looking ahead to another season of Champions League football next campaign and could now aim to beat rivals Manchester United to a talented midfield addition, according to a report.
Man City looking to challenge for Premier League title in 25/26
Pep Guardiola will be more aware than anyone that his side need to improve on what ended as a trophyless season just gone. However, they will have a chance to bounce back swiftly at the Club World Cup next month.
Chelsea and Manchester City provide Premier League representation at the United States-based tournament, which could carry a bounty worth nearly £100 million for the competition winners.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts withJamesMcAtee
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised an aggressive recruitment drive will be underway at the Etihad Stadium following a first campaign without silverware since 2017, serving as a warning to top-flight competitors.
He stated: “It’s a lot of lessons learned. I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve.”
Talks have been held over a deal that could see Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri move to Manchester City, with the Algeria international high on their left-back shortlist heading into the window.
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In addition, AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders could be a Citizen before the Club World Cup, indicating the priority is to bring through a swift stream of arrivals to replace outgoing figures such as Kevin De Bruyne before the competition begins.
Now, Manchester City have set their sights on beating Manchester United to another operator in the engine room as they aim to go from strength to strength.
Man City making £42m offer to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson
According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Manchester City are offering around £42 million for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and he is said to be at the top of Guardiola’s summer shortlist.
Atalanta midfielder Ederson
Hugo Viana has been assigned the specific task of bringing the Brazil international to the Etihad Stadium, while the Serie A outfit have reportedly lined up Celtic’s Arne Engels as a replacement should a deal go through.
Ederson in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
49
Goals
5
Assists
2
Manchester United have been in the race to sign Ederson and have made contact over a swoop for the midfielder, who has also been linked with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in recent weeks.
Labelled “powerful” by Tiago Nunes, the 24-year-old won 161 tackles over the course of the campaign on league duty, lending credence to his reputation as a dogged operator in the engine room.
With Rodri back and Mateo Kovacic also capable of playing in a holding role, it remains to be seen where Ederson would fit in at Manchester City if a deal were to come to fruition in the summer window, but it looks as if it will be one to watch.
The Premier League has seen some world-class wingers since 1992, with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah the current best player in the top flight.
The Egyptian King has extended his stay at Anfield and looks set to continue to light up the division, but where does Salah rank among the best wingers in Premier League history?
Ranking factors Appearances Goals Assists Titles What others have said about them 20 best wingers in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Leroy Sane Man City
Arguably one of the quickest left-wingers the Premier League has seen, Leroy Sane’s spell at Man City under Pep Guardiola was extremely successful.
The German was one of Guardiola’s first signings at the Etihad and would destroy full-backs with his pace alone, with the Spaniard calling Sane “the best wide player in the world” in 2019.
Games
90
Goals
25
Assists
28
Titles
2
19 Harry Kewell Leeds, Liverpool
After coming through Leeds United’s academy, Harry Kewell made a big impact in the Premier League with the Whites and then Liverpool between 1996-2008.
The Australian, could score all sorts of goals, beat defenders with ease and use his pace to great effect and won the Young Player of the Year in the Premier League in 1999/00.
Games
274
Goals
57
Assists
38
18 Alexis Sanchez Arsenal, Man Utd
Alexis Sanchez’s Premier League career may have been stained slightly due to how his time at Man Utd went, however, he lit up the division with Arsenal between 2014-2018.
Under Arsene Wenger, Sanchez would be the Gunners’ main man in attack, so it’s no surprise that the legendary Arsenal manager would call the Chile star a winger who has “something special”.
Games
154
Goals
63
Assists
31
17 Bukayo Saka Arsenal
Over his career, Bukayo Saka could quite easily rise up this list even higher, and he has already made a big impact for Arsenal since turning professional in 2018.
The England international has become a key player for club and country, cutting in off the right to score with his left foot on a regular basis. Regarded as one of the best attackers in the world, Saka has even been called Thierry Henry’s “favourite player” and “one of the best players in Europe” by Robert Pires.
Games
200
Goals
55
Assists
45
16 Marc Overmars Arsenal
Continuing the trend of great Arsenal wingers brings us to Marc Overmars, who would star in his first season in north London to help the club win their first Premier League title in 1997/98.
The Dutch speedster was called “world-class” by Arsene Wenger and also had great technical ability, so it wasn’t a shock when Barcelona paid big money for Overmars after three years at Highbury.
Games
100
Goals
25
Assists
14
Titles
1
15 Steve McManaman Liverpool, Man City
An academy graduate at Liverpool, Steve McManaman’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was frightening, and he was key for the Reds out wide in the 1990s.
Going down as an arguably an underrated Liverpool legend, McManaman’s displays caught the eye of Real Madrid, where he would go on to become ‘the most successful English player to head overseas’.
Games
275
Goals
41
Assists
59
14 John Barnes Liverpool, Newcastle
John Barnes was approaching 30 years of age when the Premier League was formed, however, he arguably saved the best years of his career as a winger in the latter stages of his career.
Barnes was even called “the best player” Jamie Carragher has ever trained with and the “best finisher” ahead of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, which says all you need to know about how good Barnes was at Anfield.
Games
201
Goals
28
Assists
29
13 Freddie Ljungberg Arsenal, West Ham
After scoring seconds into his debut against Man Utd in 1998, Freddie Ljungberg didn’t look back and would go on to become a Premier League great.
The skilful Swedish winger would win two titles under Arsene Wenger and had a knack of scoring important goals for the Gunners. His career in north London has seen him recognised as the 11th best player in Arsenal’s history.
Games
241
Goals
48
Assists
29
Player of the Season
1
Titles
2
12 David Ginola Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton
Iconic winger David Ginola lit up the Premier League in the 1990s and will be best remembered for his time at Newcastle and Tottenham, so much so he was voted PFA Player of the Year during Man Utd’s treble-winning season.
Ginola’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was his main attribute, and he made the game look extremely easy in his prime, being named among the top 10 Frenchman to play in the Premier League.
Games
195
Goals
21
Assists
42
Player of the Season
1
11 Son Heung-min Tottenham
Son Heung-min has shown during his time at Spurs that he can do it all. Create, take defenders on, score every type of goal, the South Korea star has lit up the division for more than 10 years now.
Regarded as ‘the best finisher in world football’, Son also became the first player from Asia to score more than 100 goals in the Premier League and even won the Golden Boot with 23 goals in 35 games in 2021/22.