All posts by z3u9t.icu

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.

Kamara 2.0: Aston Villa sold a star who has a "higher ceiling" than Luiz

Aston Villa may wish they’d kept hold of one midfield talent who could even exceed Douglas Luiz

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 11, 2025

In an attempt to finally get their summer transfer business underway, Fulham are now reportedly set to make a formal approach to sign a Premier League rival.

Fulham get pre-season underway

Their summer business may not be underway just yet, but Fulham have officially commenced their pre-season schedule. The Cottagers most recently defeated West Bromwich Albion courtesy of Emile Smith Rowe’s effort and are set to travel to Portugal, where they will square off against Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

Meanwhile, the most important business at Craven Cottage so far this summer has come internally. Having managed to keep hold of Marco Silva at the end of last season, the West London club have since announced new deals for captain Tom Cairney and young star Josh King. Cairney was one who looked particularly likely to leave, before putting pen to paper to end any speculation.

The experienced midfielder told Fulham’s official website after the news of his deal was revealed: “I’m happy to sign for another year at this amazing football club, I’m delighted. It feels brilliant. It feels right. It’s always been home.

“I’ve fully enjoyed the last three years in the Premier League, contributing on and off the pitch, and I just want to help take this Club as far as I can. I’ll always try and do that.”

Muniz replacement: Fulham now make approach to sign £25m "top striker"

The Cottagers have now made contact over a deal for a centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Jul 9, 2025

The focus for Fulham should now turn towards summer arrivals. As impressive as Silva’s side were last season – finishing as high as 11th – they’ll have their sights set on breaking into the top-half for the first time in two seasons when the next campaign gets underway.

It looks as though things are now finally beginning to emerge on that front too, with one Premier League rival now in Fulham’s sights.

Fulham set to make first Dewsbury-Hall approach

According to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, Fulham are expected to make a formal approach for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall if they believe that a deal is viable with London rivals Chelsea. The midfielder has struggled for minutes ever since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but could now cross the divide to get back to his best.

Despite a frustrating first season in the Premier League, Dewsbury-Hall still managed five goals and four assists in all competitions and even earned the praise of Enzo Maresca along the way.

The Chelsea boss told reporters: “I am very happy for Kiernan. He is now much better compared to the start of the season, probably because he is understanding his role. He is working very well every day in training, even if he doesn’t get many minutes in the Premier League.

“It’s not easy to work every day with the same intention, but he is working fantastic. He showed how important he can be for us, and hopefully he can be even more important from now on.”

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Nottingham Forest’s move for an “unbelievable” forward, amid the fall-out surrounding their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White, according to a report.

Forest considering legal action after Spurs approach Gibbs-White

Spurs’ pursuit of Gibbs-White has proven to be controversial, with Forest ceasing all communication after alleging that an illegal approach had been made for the midfielder, which means the deal has now stalled.

The Tricky Trees have reported Spurs to the Premier League, and it is currently unknown whether the transfer will be blocked entirely, although super agent Sky Andrew has suggested Daniel Levy may have to simply pay more to get a deal over the line.

Andrew said: “If it goes to arbitration, where it must go within the football rules and regulations, then Forest will have to prove that the club went directly to the player or to the agent. Most clubs know that it is very difficult to prove.

“So, this is a case now of how much will the buying club pay for the player. It won’t be £60 million, it will probably have to be more.”

Chief flies to London for transfer talks with £100k-per-week Tottenham star

He could leave Spurs this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 13, 2025

The Lilywhites will no doubt have been left frustrated by the deal stalling, but they could now have an opportunity to get one-up on Forest, with a report from The Standard revealing they are in the race to sign one of their Premier League rivals’ major targets.

Tottenham reportedly remain in the race for Brentford star Yoane Wissa, having submitted an enquiry earlier in the transfer window, at which point they were told that it would take an offer of £50m to tempt the Bees into a sale.

Forest have also set their sights on the forward, having recently had a £20m bid knocked back, indicating Spurs could hijack the deal if they are willing to put a higher offer on the table.

That said, Brentford have made it clear they are unwilling to sell both Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa in the same window unless they receive a huge bid, so it could be difficult to get a deal done.

"Unbelievable" Wissa emerged as Premier League star last season

The 28-year-old was one of the best-performing forwards in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 19 goals, the sixth-highest tally in the top flight, while also providing five assists in 35 outings.

Courtesy of his performances last term, the DR Congo international was lauded for his “unbelievable” quality by former manager Thomas Frank, and it is an added bonus that the Spurs boss knows the forward very well.

As such, Wissa could be a solid signing for Tottenham this summer, with the France-born forward’s goal and assist tally suggesting he could justify a £50m price tag, although the fact his contract is set to expire next summer means a lower fee would perhaps be more fair.

There have been moments, flashes, when Darwin Nunez has looked like the player Liverpool thought they were investing in three years ago, with the Anfield side’s then club-record capture memorably getting off the mark on debut in the Community Shield.

Who can forget the Uruguayan’s breathtaking brace as the ten-man Reds romped past Newcastle United at St James’ Park in August 2023, with Nunez briefly resembling the player who had hit 48 goals in just 85 games for former club Benfica.

Unfortunately for all concerned, such statement displays have been few and far between to date, with the chaotic nature of the profligate striker looking distinctly at odds with the cool and composed style of Arne Slot’s football.

That chasm resulted in Nunez scoring just seven times in all competitions in 2024/25, having notably been restricted to just eight Premier League starts. An exit – most likely to Serie A champions Napoli – now appears an inevitability ahead of next term.

With Luis Diaz earning admiring glances from those at Barcelona, the need for a new figure to lead the line has only been heightened. Enter, a high-profile target…

Liverpool plotting bid for high profile forward

£187m has already been spent on acquiring Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, although with funds set to be raked in amid the potential sales of Nunez and Diaz – alongside Jarell Quansah’s £35m exit – there could still be further activity for Slot and co over the coming weeks.

The Merseysiders have notably been linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt starlet, Hugo Ekitike, with the 23-year-old believed to have emerged as a top target, amid his ability to feature off the left or in a central role.

That versatility is also a feature of Real Madrid star Rodrygo’s game, with reports in Spain suggesting that Liverpool are among a trio of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the highly-rated Brazilian.

Transfer Focus

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

The suggestion is that, along with Manchester City and Arsenal, the Anfield side are in the mix for the 24-year-old’s signature, with the report outlining that they have already been ‘informed’ of the player’s situation.

Not only has there seemingly been contact made, but the piece also outlines that Liverpool are ready and willing to submit an offer for the former Santos starlet, with prior reports indicating that he could command a fee of around £75m.

With The Athletic noting that Rodrygo could be made available by the LaLiga giants this summer, having played a bit-part role for Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, now could be the perfect time for Slot to pounce.

Why Liverpool need to sign Rodrygo

Having seen Trent Alexander-Arnold join the Spanish outfit for a fee of around £10m earlier this summer, the Reds could more than get their own back by prising the unsettled Rodrygo from the Bernabeu.

At just 24, the Brazil international offers that perfect blend of youth and experience, having already spent six seasons in Madrid, following his £38m arrival back in the summer of 2019.

Such a deal could evoke memories of the capture of a certain Fernando Torres from the Spanish capital back in 2007, with the prolific striker making the switch at the age of 23, having proven himself for Atletico Madrid.

Like Rodrygo – who has scored 68 goals in 270 games for Los Blancos – Torres was an undoubted star in LaLiga, with that first spell at Atleti seeing him reach double figures for league goals in each of his first five seasons.

Such red-hot form was more than replicated at Anfield, with ‘El Nino’ ultimately dazzling alongside Steven Gerrard and co, having terrorised defences up and down the country over the next four years.

A return of 81 goals in 142 games is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, certainly not when compared to Nunez’s return of just 40 goals in 143 games thus far, having been hailed as “among the best” in the division by then-boss Rafa Benitez.

Similar praise has been dished out by ex-Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, in relation to Rodrygo, with the iconic Italian naming his young winger as one of the “best players in the world”, alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.

2024/25

30

12

2023/24

34

15

2022/23

34

18

2021/22

33

8

2020/21

22

7

2019/20

19

2

While Rodrygo’s star has been dimmed by that trio, it is hard to deny his quality, with the fleet-footed marksman already scoring 25 times in just 65 Champions League appearances for his current side. For comparison, Torres scored 20 times in 79 career outings in Europe’s elite competition.

Although not necessarily a centre-forward by trade, the £75m man could emulate Diaz in providing a more fluid and mobile option through the middle, with Ancelotti previously suggesting in the past that number nine could be best suited to him, as his “strengths are his movement”.

Having previously seen Torres make a smooth transition to live in England, after leaving Madrid behind, hopefully Rodrygo can follow suit this summer.

He's as exciting as Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign a £75m "superstar"

This transfer target could be the perfect Luis Diaz replacement at Liverpool.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 9, 2025

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.

Transfer Focus

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

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.

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.

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.

Dream signing for Nygren: Celtic targeting move for "promising" £2m star

Following Benjamin Nygren’s arrival from Nordsjælland, Celtic are in the mix to sign one star who’d be a dream teammate for the Swede.

Jun 29, 2025

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.

An exciting transfer update has emerged regarding Liverpool’s quest to build a squad capable of retaining their Premier League crown, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool closing in on stunning Wirtz move

The Reds appear to be edging closer to completing the most exciting signing of the summer in England, with Florian Wirtz on the verge of joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

He is expected to smash Liverpool’s transfer record, with a move of £116m mooted, in what could be among the club’s most significant signings of the past decade or so.

Wirtz has been voted as the best player in the Bundesliga in each of the past two seasons by his peers, highlighting his brilliance, and Reds supporters will be hoping that he can enjoy the same level of world-class influence that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have at Anfield.

Once the German superstar is confirmed as a Liverpool player, it will be time for the Reds to turn their attention to other targets.

Romano: Liverpool "on fire" with Kerkez set to join

Speaking on TikTok late on Sunday evening, Romano confirmed Wirtz will join the club once he finishes his holidays and completes a medical, but he also had news on Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez, revealing the Reds are “on fire”.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if the Reds didn’t bring in Kerkez this summer, with the Hungarian at the top of their list for a long time now, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Bournemouth man, on just £30,000-a-week on the south coast, already looks like such a polished footballer, despite his tender years, and the energy and competitive edge in his game have echoes of a young Andy Robertson, with former teammate Mat Ryan once heaping praise on him.

“Milos is a great boy. A crazy dude, in a good way. He is always positive and smiling. Hopefully he can develop even further in England and become even more mature. He is aggressive, powerful and has so many qualities. A unique skill set. Bournemouth is going to get stronger because of him. Milos still has a great career ahead of him.”

Liverpool could easily get close to a decade of great service from Kerkez, assuming he avoids serious injury, and regardless of whether Robertson stays or not this summer, the Cherries ace must be considered the Reds’ first-choice left-back.

It’s been a truly bizarre campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

The fans will only remember this season for the club’s historic triumph in the Europa League – and rightly so – but the powers that be cannot ignore just how disastrous the team’s Premier League performances were, injury crisis or not.

While there are likely plenty of things the club can and should address behind the scenes, one of the best ways Daniel Levy and Co can ensure next year is more successful is by signing the right players this summer.

The good news is that recent reports seem to indicate that they’re targetting at least one bonafide star who’d be an incredible addition to the squad, but it could be bad news for James Maddison as the target in question would likely be an upgrade on him.

Tottenham transfer news

Given how poorly the team fared on the domestic front this season, it’s not been a surprise to see Spurs linked with a host of talented stars in recent weeks, like Xavi Simons and Angel Gomes.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could cost the club around £65m, but with a tally of 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances for a lacklustre RB Leipzig side this season, that’s a fee that feels pretty reasonable.

Gomes, on the other hand, wouldn’t cost a penny in transfer fees, as his contract with LOSC Lille expires this month, although for all the experience and quality he’d bring with him, he couldn’t be described as an upgrade for Maddison, unlike Eberechi Eze.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs have maintained their intense interest in the Crystal Palace star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, proclaiming the Englishman as the North Londoners ‘top target’ for the window.

The story does not reveal how much the 26-year-old dynamo might cost the Lilywhites, but it has been pretty widely reported in recent weeks and months that he has a release clause in his current contract worth around £68m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Eze’s incredible ability, it would be more than worth it, even if his arrival would be bad news for Maddison.

How Eze compares to Maddison

Now, while Eze is a positionally versatile player and has spent plenty of his career playing out wide on the left, his most played position, and where he’s spent most of this season, is attacking midfield.

Therefore, his main rival for game time at Spurs would be Maddison, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to their pure output, it’s the Eagles ace who comes out on top, as in 43 appearances for the South London side, he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

In comparison, the former Leicester City star scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 appearances for the Lilywhites this year, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.95 games.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out victorious when we take a look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.52

0.50

Progressive Passes

3.37

8.16

Progressive Passes Received

5.31

4.73

Progressive Carries

2.36

2.24

Shots

3.48

1.94

Shots on Target

0.94

0.85

Key Passes

2.01

2.04

Shot-Creating Actions

4.69

4.73

Tackles

1.35

1.54

Blocks

0.94

0.74

Successful Take-Ons

2.33

1.64

Ball Recoveries

5.07

3.78

Well, things are once again somewhat close here, but overall, it’s the FA Cup-winning “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, who comes out on top.

For example, he comes out ahead in more relevant metrics than his compatriot, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Maddison is a brilliant player, Eze is two years his junior and performing at a higher level in a side that most would have predicted to finish lower than the North Londoners this time last year.

Therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign the versatile star this summer before someone else beats them to him.

Shades of Dembele: Spurs make "generational" £60m star a priority signing

The sensational gem could develop into something truly special at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

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.

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.

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.

Spurs hit gold on "sensational" monster who's becoming their new Dembele

The impressive international could be a star for Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 24, 2025

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.

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.

Man City make offer for "insane" £50m star who's "said yes" to Etihad move

The Blues are now stepping up their pursuit of a midfielder, with the deal “almost done” on the player’s side.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

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.

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.

Games

333

Goals

127

Assists

71

Golden Boot

1