Crystal Palace and Steve Parish appear to be ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion in the race to sign a 6 foot 4 defender.
Crystal Palace latest as RB Leipzig eye Oliver Glasner move
The Eagles have enjoyed a solid season on the whole in what is Oliver Glasner’s first full campaign at Selhurst Park. A run to the FA Cup semi-finals has been the highlight for the Eagles, where they are preparing to take on Aston Villa at Wembley later this month.
However, there were fears Glasner’s stay in south London could be short-lived, with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig eyeing up a move for the Austrian.
It was even claimed that RB Leipzig and Red Bull chief Jurgen Klopp had made contact over a deal for Glasner. However, in a boost for Palace, it has since been added that Glasner can’t imagine leaving English football for Leipzig at this moment in time.
Would cost £0: Crystal Palace now join race to sign "imperious" PL defender
The Eagles are now interested in signing a Premier League centre-back, who is set to be available on a free transfer.
ByDominic Lund Apr 4, 2025
He could therefore still be at the club over the summer, preparing for the 2025/26 season, and by the looks of things, Parish and those at Selhurst Park are eyeing up new signings for the current boss.
A number of names have been linked with moves to Palace, including Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike and Liverpool winger Ben Doak.
Alongside attacking additions, deals for defensive targets are also on the agenda, and they are thought to be well-placed to sign a Ghana international.
Crystal Palace in lead to sign £5m+ Terry Yegbe
According to reports in Sweden, relayed by Sport Witness, Terry Yegbe is of interest to Crystal Palace, who are in the lead to sign the 24-year-old alongside Fulham and Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.
There were rumours that rivals Brighton were on course to sign Yegbe for around €5.4m (£4.5m), however, it is stated that isn’t the case, with Palace, Fulham and the Blades best placed.
Elfsborg would want up to €6.98m (£5.9m) to sell Yegbe, who they only signed in 2024 for €550,000 from Finish side SJK Seinajoki.
Terry Yegbe FBref scouting report
Per 90
Percentile
Clearances
7.22
99th percentile
Interceptions
1.94
97th percentile
Shots blocked
1.25
95th percentile
Miscontrols
0.13
99th percentile
% of Aerials Won
68.4%
87th percentile
As can be seen, over the past 365 days, Yegbe, who stands at 6 ft 4, ranks highly in a number of defensive metrics, and he can also play as a left-back as well as a centre-back.
Now, a move to Selhurst Park could be one to keep an eye on, especially if Marc Guehi seals a Palace exit this summer amid links of a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool.
It might not feel like it at the moment, but the future is bright for Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou may be overseeing a dreadful domestic campaign this season, which has seen them lose more games than they’ve won in the Premier League, but his squad is bursting with young talent.
For example, the sensational Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert look primed to battle it out to be Son Heung-min’s successor; Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel could be fighting to lead the line next season, and Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence and the tremendously exciting Luka Vušković could become defensive stalwarts in the coming years.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecogloubefore the match
Finally, the North Londoners’ midfield could become truly special, with one of its future stars already having won comparisons to Jude Bellingham.
Spurs' future midfield
So, before getting to the player in question, it’s worth examining the two other Spurs players we reckon will be starting alongside him in midfield in the coming years.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Now, assuming the team will still be playing a three-man midfield, the most defensive of them will undoubtedly be Archie Gray.
The former Leeds United gem joined the North Londoners for around £30m last summer and, despite just turning 19, has played a surprisingly significant role this season, primarily in defence.
In all, he’s made 19 appearances at centre-back, seven at right-back, five at left-back, three in defensive midfield and another five so short as not to make it entirely clear where he was playing.
However, while most of his game time has come in a back four, he is a midfielder by trade and with how incredibly well he’s adapted to what has been needed of him this year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him become the “future £100m cm” analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed he’ll be.
Just ahead of the Durham-born gem should be Dejan Kulusevski, as while he initially joined the club as a winger, he’s since spent much of this season as an attacking midfielder and thrived.
For example, eight of his 20 goal involvements have come from just 16 appearances across attacking and central midfield.
Moreover, as he’s still just 24 years old, the Stockholm-born monster has time to get even better before reaching the age that most attacking midfielders peak, which, according to The Athletic, is 26.
That leaves one more starting spot in the middle of the park, a place for someone who’s been touted for a lofty valuation and has been compared to Bellingham.
The Spurs star compared to Bellingham
There are a few other talented midfielders we have yet to mention, like James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr, but in this instance, we are talking about Lucas Bergvall.
The young Swede has been seriously impressive since moving to Spurs in the summer, making 40 first-team appearances, and it’s he whom Mattinson described as “similar to Bellingham” in November 2023.
At the time, he claimed their similarity stemmed from the fact that the teenager “has the raw & technical ability to adapt to any role” in the middle of the park, something we have seen this season.
Central Midfield
24
1
3
Defensive Midfield
5
0
0
Attacking Midfield
4
0
0
Left Midfield
1
0
0
For example, of his 40 appearances, 24 have come in central areas, five in defensive midfield, four in attacking midfield and even one in left midfield, helping to prove he’s the “uber-complete” talent Mattinson claimed he was over a year ago.
Moreover, on top of his five-goal involvements, the Stockholm-born gem has some brilliant underlying numbers from the last year, demonstrating his ability to do it all, akin to the Real Madrid star.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, the top 2% for penalties won, the top 4% for tackles in the attacking third, the top 7% for tackles plus interceptions, the top 11% for carries into the final third and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, the Swedish phenomenon looks destined to develop into a world-class central midfielder and someone who could even blow past the future “£80m” price tag Mattinson predicted for him back in 2023.
Ange could soon unleash a "freak" Romero replacement at Spurs
The sensational teenager could be a game-changer for Spurs.
Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship last night with a huge 1-0 win over play-off-chasing Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Dan James’ goal after just two minutes secured all three points for Daniel Farke’s side, moving back to the summit after Sheffield United and Burnley both dropped points.
The scoreline could’ve been a lot better for the Whites, with Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford both having legitimate goals chalked off for wrongful offside calls.
Nevertheless, their chances of securing promotion back to the Premier League is back in their own hands, potentially ending their two-year absence from the top flight.
However, despite the victory in the North East, numerous players failed to live up to their high standards, putting their starting roles at risk over the next few weeks.
Leeds’ poor performers against Middlesbrough
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson was handed a recall to the starting eleven by Farke for the clash with Michael Carrick’s side but was unable to take advantage of the opportunity.
The American international featured for the vast majority of the contest but lost 10 duels – the most of any player from either side – whilst also only completing 60% of the passes he attempted.
He wasn’t the only one to disappoint, with Manor Solomon struggling to live up to his high standards despite registering the assist for James’ strike early on.
The Spurs loanee only managed to complete 40% of the crosses he attempted, whilst losing possession eight times, often looking wasteful – something which was rarely said a couple of months ago.
However, despite the showings of the aforementioned pair, one other player failed to deliver once again, with Farke desperately needing to drop him at the weekend.
The player who Farke needs to drop after Middlesbrough
Over the course of the season, Leeds have impressed in the final third, as seen by their tally of 80 goals in their 41 outings – albeit two fewer than they should have after the wrongful offside calls.
The likes of Solomon and James have both been responsible for such a tally, popping up in key moments, as seen by the latter’s 12th league of the campaign last night.
Joel Piroe has been the Whites’ starting striker for the majority of 2024/25 but has struggled as of late, with his failure to find the net against Boro extending his goalless run to seven matches.
His showing at the Riverside was one to forget, unable to make the desired impact, leading to his withdrawal in the 73rd minute, subsequently being replaced by Bamford – who certainly outperformed the Dutchman in his brief cameo.
The 25-year-old only managed a total of 26 touches during his display, also only completing 10 passes – leading to journalist Beren Cross dubbing his showing as “careless”.
He also only registered a single effort on goal, whilst missing a big chance and losing 64% of the duels he entered, being largely ineffective at the top end of the pitch.
Minutes played
73
Touches
26
Passes completed
10/16 (63%)
Duels lost
7/11 (64%)
Shots taken
1
Big chances missed
1
Possession lost
8x
His misery would’ve been compounded had substitute Bamford’s effort stood, with the Englishman putting pressure on the manager to hand him a rare start at the weekend.
As a result of his performance, Piroe was handed a measly 2/10 match rating by Football Insider’s Harri Burton – the lowest of any Whites player during the triumph.
After extending his goalless streak, it would be a surprise to see the former Swansea City man start against Preston on Saturday afternoon, with no mistakes expected given their promotion hopes are once again in their own hands.
Whilst Bamford has been a player largely touted with an exit, the upcoming clash provides him with an opportunity to stake his claim for a first-team role next season, pushing Piroe back down the pecking order.
An amazing Solomon alternative: EFL star wants to sign for Leeds this year
Leeds United could be about to land an attacking star to improve their ranks next season.
West Bromwich Albion got their stuttering Championship promotion push back on track on Saturday with a narrow 2-1 victory over Tom Cleverley’s Watford.
Before the golden three points were collected against the Hornets, Tony Mowbray’s men found themselves deep in a five-match winless run in the league, but the West Midlands side are now only two points off the play-offs regardless of any past struggles.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray.
Mowbray has been here before when it comes to the intense promotion race, with the 61-year-old lifting the Championship title way back in 2008 during his first stint as manager.
During that run, he had the likes of Baggies great James Morrison to thank for his fantastic displays in the middle of the park.
Morrison's heroics at West Brom
Morrison’s first season at the Hawthorns would coincidentally coincide with these promotion heroics, leading to the much-loved Scotsman going down as a modern icon over many a year in the West Midlands.
In total, the revered number seven would go on to amass a whopping 341 appearances for Albion, with goals and assists aplenty also coming his way with a combined tally of 73.
Not just content at contribution regularly in the final third, the now-retired 38-year-old was also known as a flexible and versatile figure capable of playing all across the pitch.
Indeed, the ex-Scotland international lined up as right and left winger regularly, away from starring in the middle of the park.
Mowbray could have his next Morrison, therefore, in an equally adaptable star…
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Mowbray's new Morrison
West Brom possess a lot of talent in the midfield department at the moment, with ex-Leeds United man Alex Mowatt sticking out as a competent performer in the EFL, considering he can boast a weighty seven goals and two assists this season in league action.
But, he isn’t the figure who could go on to be the promotion-chasing side’s next iteration of Morrison, with flashy January capture Isaac Price arguably more suited to this billing.
Price has already shown he has an eye for goal after all, with the ex-Standard Liege midfielder firing home a sublime effort just last month when Hull City came to the Hawthorns.
With an assist next to his name too from 11 second-tier appearances, the 21-year-old is already beginning to live up to his hefty £2.5m price-tag, leading to Mowbray lauding Price as a “very talented” star.
Due to his qualities and versatility, perhaps the Northern Irishman is capable of reaching Morrison’s lofty heights down the line.
CM
61
2
2
DM
23
2
3
RM
20
0
0
AM
17
0
2
RW
2
0
0
CF
1
0
0
LM
1
0
0
RB
1
1
0
CB
1
0
0
Away from his promising early output in England potentially mirroring Morrison, his unbelievable fluidity to line up in various different positions – as can be seen glancing at the table above – also makes him a great candidate to be Mowbray’s next icon, with Price even starting a one-off contest as a right-back when starring in Belgium.
He still has some way to go to match the memorable number 7 obviously, but there are some encouraging early signs to suggest he could go down as a great, especially if he can play his part in leading Mowbray’s men back to the Premier League.
Mowbray has unleashed his next Olsson in "outstanding" West Brom star
Tony Mowbray now has a modern version of Jonas Olsson back at West Bromwich Albion.
Birmingham City are thought to be in talks with an EFL star after clinching promotion back to the Championship.
Birmingham City going for silverware after League One promotion
The Blues have had a brilliant campaign under Chris Davies and sealed promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking in midweek.
A 2-1 victory at Peterborough United sealed a guaranteed top-two spot, and the League One title could also be won if Wrexham fail to beat Wigan Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.
Birmingham are on course to comfortably clear the 100-point mark in the third tier, however, they are actually preparing for Wembley this weekend.
The Blues will once again take on Peterborough in the final of the EFL Trophy, so it could be a double celebration if things go to plan this weekend.
Birmingham eyeing free deal to sign "fantastic" Championship contract rebel
He’s yet to sign a new deal at his current club.
ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025
Ahead of the summer transfer window, Tom Wagner and Tom Brady already appear to be working on St Andrew’s signings ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign, and one player who the Blues will face this weekend is a target.
Birmingham City in talks to sign Kwame Poku for free
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, talking to EFL Analysis, Birmingham City are in talks to sign Peterborough United star Kwame Poku.
The 23-year-old actually scored the Posh’s goal against the Blues in midweek and has enjoyed a fine season in the third tier.
However, according to Bailey, Birmingham aren’t the only side in discussions, including Premier League side Crystal Palace and Scottish giants Rangers.
“His people are in talks with a number of clubs – and yes, one of them is Birmingham. There are others, though – Crystal Palace, Millwall, Luton and Norwich among them.
“However, the big danger is Rangers – they want him and have watched him numerous times. Talks have continued but complicated by their takeover and then new manager.”
Poku’s stats for Peterborough 24/25
Games
27
Goals
12
Assists
11
Minutes played
2,081
The winger has impressed Sky Sports co-commentator and pundit Don Goodman this season, who said last month that Poku appears to be ready for the step up to the Championship.
“Kwame Poku, 10 goals and six assists this season from just 20 games, 19 starts, is very impressive. It’s on the back of 11 goals and seven assists last season.
“He’s been on my radar for a couple of seasons now, along with Ephron Mason-Clarke, who is now doing really, really well at Coventry.
“So whether he’s ready for the Premier League just yet is a debate to be had, but certainly if I was a Championship club and I needed an exciting, ball-carrying winger that both scores and creates goals, he would be on my radar.”
It looks as if a move to the Midlands will be one to watch over the coming months, with Poku actually out of contract at the end of the season, meaning a transfer may not cost a penny.
Celtic have an exciting end to the season on the horizon and are reported to have made contact in their pursuit of a prodigious gem who could be available this summer.
Brendan Rodgers looks to further cement his Celtic legacy
Brendan Rodgers has taken Celtic up a notch this campaign and could end the season with a domestic clean sweep should circumstances align over the next few weeks.
The Bhoys face St Johnstone at Hampden this weekend in the Scottish Cup semi-final. They also have the opportunity to win the Scottish Premiership title away to Dundee United next Saturday.
Daizen Maeda
With that said, plenty of anticipation surrounding potential additions at Parkhead is beginning to circulate. Unlike previous years, Champions League league phase football isn’t guaranteed, which has placed an extra emphasis on getting recruitment right ahead of the final qualifying round.
Per reports, Celtic are keen on bringing in Stoke City winger Million Manhoef. However, his £10 million price tag may complicate proceedings amid further interest in his services from Sheffield United, Burnley, Club Brugge and Genk.
Celtic lost gem for nothing, now he's worth more than Engels, Maeda & Kuhn
Celtic once lost an “amazing” talent for nothing, now he is worth millions more than some of their best players.
ByDan Emery Apr 17, 2025
On the more experienced end of the scale, Danny Ings is another potential Hoops target that may be available under freedom of contract once his deal at West Ham United expires.
Recently, Celtic have earned a reputation for being able to splash cash on premium assets; nevertheless, there is always room for a bargain in a transfer environment that can often throw up value for money despite changing perceptions of the market.
Speaking of which, the Bhoys have now made contact over a summer target who is also attracting interest from the footballing elite.
Celtic make contact over deal for Crystal Palace star Jesse Derry
According to TBR, Celtic have been ‘in touch’ with Crystal Palace star Jesse Derry’s representatives over cutting a deal to take him to Parkhead, joining a lengthy list of suitors including some of Europe’s biggest names.
Manchester City and Aston Villa have discussed signing the England youth international. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, PSG, Porto, AS Monaco, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Rangers have also made their voices heard.
Jesse Derry’s key statistics in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
20
Goals
9
Assists
2
Celtic had been first linked with Derry in the last few days, and it is becoming clear that he doesn’t see his future at Crystal Palace after refusing to sign a professional contract at the Premier League outfit.
Capable of playing anywhere across the front three, the 17-year-old will be available for minimal compensation, which is a tactic both sides of the Glasgow divide have used on several occasions over the years to secure talent from the English top-flight.
Although the Bhoys will likely need to put forward a convincing offer for Derry to consider abandoning a rich pool of options, you get the impression there would be first-team opportunities for the youngster in due time.
Manchester City have a historic summer transfer window ahead of them. The disappointing season they have endured in 2024/25 is almost over, and there is a chase to strengthen the squad in the summer, ahead of the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 campaign.
It will be all change at the Etihad Stadium next term. Talisman Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club after a decade of success in the famous Sky Blue shirt, including the famous treble in 2022/23. He might not be the only club legend to leave on a free, given that Ilkay Gundogan’s contract is up in a few months.
It means that City will almost certainly sign a new midfielder this summer, and there has already been an update on their targets.
The latest on City's midfielder transfer plans
Well, it is going to be a crucial few months at City, and that all starts with their new director of football, Hugo Viana. The former Sporting CP director, who worked with Manchester United boss Ruben Amoirm, will take over from Txiki Begiristain at the helm in East Manchester.
According to the highly reputable David Ornstein, City’s hunt for transfer targets will “ramp up” now that Viana’s role at the Etihad Stadium is sorted. The journalist has already confirmed two of the De Bruyne replacements they are eyeing up.
City are believed to be targeting Nottingham Forest number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen and Germany starlet Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for their outgoing club legend.
Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest.
There is not a clear first-choice target for the Mancunian side at this stage, and more could well emerge.
However, a deal to sign Wirtz in particular could be an expensive one. Sky Germany reported at the end of March that he could cost as much as £101m if a deal was to be struck.
With that hefty price in mind, perhaps City will be put off any potential deal. This could lead to them turning to an academy star to fill the void left by De Bruyne.
Man City's in-house Wirtz and Gibbs-White solution
There is plenty of attacking talent in the City academy, as you might expect. One of the most exciting players in that group is Reigan Heskey, the son of former England striker Emile and brother of Jaden, another City academy starlet.
Said to possess “Rashford-like ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 17-year-old has made a big impression this term for City’s academy. In 33 appearances across all competitions, he’s amassed an impressive goal tally of 24, as well as grabbing eight assists.
U18 Premier League
17
15
6
UEFA Youth League
8
3
0
FA Youth Cup
4
2
1
Premier League 2
3
3
1
EFL Trophy
1
1
0
It is worth noting that Heskey is, by trade, a winger rather than a number 10, like Gibbs-White and Wirtz. The latter can play in a wide area as well, but, if Pep Guardiola wanted to unleash the youngster, he could move Jack Grealish or Phil Foden into a more central role and play Heskey as a left-winger, where he truly excels.
There is no doubt that the teenager, who is an England U17 international, is an exciting talent. He is a tricky winger who excels when isolated against the full-back, thriving in one-vs-one situations. He also has a natural eye for goal, just as his father did.
Football scout Antonio Mango once said that Heskey is a player who “can’t be ignored” any longer by City. His goal involvement numbers this term across academy sides are exceptional, and it really does feel like he is ready to explode in first-team football.
With De Buryne guaranteed to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, perhaps that opens the door for Heskey’s inclusion in the first team. It certainly would be a very much-deserved opportunity.
Bigger talent than De Bruyne: Man City lead race to sign £87m "superstar"
Manchester City have a huge task in replacing Kevin De Bruyne this summer but have wasted no time in the window.
When Liverpool won the 2019/20 Premier League, ending thirty years of much-jeered hurt, the celebrations were muted somewhat by the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
There were no such impediments on Sunday, with Liverpool blowing Tottenham Hotspur away to seal the top-flight title and send a city into an elated frenzy that, for many, has been a lifetime in the making.
It was a truly incredible occasion, Arne Slot coolly leading his team through the 2024/25 campaign and back toward the perch from which Liverpool last sat under Jurgen Klopp, five years ago.
Few saw it coming, but Liverpool have capitalised on Manchester City’s staggering drop-off and Arsenal’s inconsistency to steer toward their 20th title, levelling with Manchester United.
Mohamed Salah has been the on-field architect, scoring 28 goals and supplying 18 assists in the league alone this year. The individual accolades will abound when all is said and done.
Mohamed Salah celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
However, he’s not been alone in his brilliance. Luis Diaz has certainly earned his flowers after an immense campaign.
Luis Diaz has stepped up for Liverpool
Diaz, 28, hasn’t always been the flavour of the month at Anfield, with fans sometimes frustrated by the Colombian’s inconsistency in front of goal.
However, he’s been in fine fettle this year, posting 16 goals and eight assists across all competitions, including eight direct involvements across his past ten Premier League outings.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
Though Diaz’s stock is high and there is justification within the argument that Liverpool should cash in this summer, he’s been a source of selflessness and quality all year, especially in recent weeks.
With Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa all in danger of being sold, Diaz and Salah should form a core part of Slot’s system once again.
They are brilliant forwards of varying strengths. Slot loves both of them. So much, it seems, that Liverpool are interested in signing a player who is an amalgamation of the two.
Liverpool ready to bid for new forward
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are in the race for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer.
Barcelona appear to have the lead in the race, having made contact with the Nigerian’s representatives, but given that his market price stands at €65m (£55m), Liverpool may see a chance to steal ahead of the financially-troubled Spaniards.
Atalanta's AdemolaLookmanin action
The 27-year-old also has suitors in Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United, however, with all five interested clubs said to be ‘planning’ to hold talks ahead of a summer move.
Why Ademola Lookman could be perfect for Slot
An alleged breakdown in relationship with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has left Lookman determined to leave the club this summer.
Last year’s hat-trick hero in the Europa League final, to be sure, has the dynamic skills that a club such as Liverpool are looking for this summer, developing a sharp goalscoring edge over the past few years to complement his athletic underlying skill set.
Hailed as a “superstar” by journalist Sean Walsh after his staggering triumph over hitherto invincible Bayer Leverkusen, Lookman is the giant-killer, the resurgent sensation who has bounced back from a tough start to life in the Premier League, never quite hitting his stride with Everton, Fulham and Leicester City.
Across the past two campaigns for the Nerazzurri, Lookman has scored 35 goals and supplied 17 assists across all competitions. His multi-facetedness suggests he would be a perfect fit in Slot’s Liverpool squad.
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman in action with AC Milan'sEmersonRoyal
As per FBref, Lookman ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area
His combination of fleet-footedness and clinical shooting has led the data-driven site to record Salah and Diaz as two of his most comparable players, which only strengthens the argument for FSG to make their move.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
Diaz might not have Salah’s predatory instinct in front of goal, but his pace, power and ability to shift between the flank and a makeshift centre-forward position have been essential this term.
Lookman is cut from a similar cloth, but one which also contains Salah’s prolificness.
Atalanta
115
50
24
Charlton
49
12
3
Everton
48
4
2
Leicester
42
8
5
Fulham
35
4
4
RB Leipzig
24
5
4
Though many supporters would hope for an out-and-out number nine this summer, Lookman’s dynamism has already been proven to work within Slot’s system through the efforts of Salah and Diaz.
Moreover, his title-winning hat-trick bespeaks a propensity for the big stage, further evidence that Lookman’s electric movements and deadly outlook have been refined to a point which could see him return to the Premier League as a bona fide success.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
Lookman has developed a potent quality in the danger area while bringing an intense kind of energy to the fold. It’s not out of the question, given his positional versatility, that Slot would get his hands on a hybrid version of Salah and Diaz, one who could prove the difference-maker in winning multiple major honours next year and beyond.
He can surpass Gravenberch: Liverpool ready big bid to sign £50m "machine"
Liverpool are already preparing to defend their Premier League title by making ambitious moves in the transfer market.
Tottenham Hotspur slipped to their 17th defeat in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-2 by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were well beaten by the Old Gold, who moved to within two points of Spurs, and they remain sat in 15th place in the top-flight.
There was a small positive to come out of the match, though, as Brennan Johnson continued his recent form with an assist for Mathys Tel’s strike.
Why Spurs need more from Brennan Johnson
The Wales international has now produced two goals and one assist in his last two Premier League matches, but that comes off the back of two goals and zero assists in his previous nine games in all competitions.
Inconsistency is the word. Spurs need consistency from their forward players if they want more success as a team moving forward, which is why they need Johnson to improve his output on a week-to-week basis.
The former Nottingham Forest forward, who has provided 11 goals and three assists in the league, has not been reliable on a consistent basis, instead delivering goals and assists in purple patches.
Whilst Postecoglou and his team will look to work with Johnson to improve the consistency of his output on the wing, Spurs could have an upgrade on the Welsh attacker brewing in the form of Min-hyeok Yang.
Why Yang could be a future Johnson upgrade
The 18-year-old winger was sent out on loan to Championship side Queens Park Rangers in January and has already shown glimpses of his quality at that level, despite his age and inexperience.
Yang, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed could be “something special”, has started six of his 12 appearances in the second tier for QPR and contributed with two goals and one assist so far.
24/25 Championship
Min-hyeok Yang
Appearances (starts)
12 (6)
xG
1.22
Goals
2
Big chances created
3
Key passes
6
Assists
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the teenage wizard is unfortunate to only have one assist to his name because he has created three ‘big chances’ for his teammates, and they have only taken one of them.
Johnson, meanwhile, has only created four ‘big chances’ in 29 appearances in the Premier League this season, which suggests that he has struggled to consistently create high-quality opportunities for his fellow attackers.
This suggests that Yang, who also scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 38 games for Gangwon in K League 1 in 2024, is a forward who has the potential to offer more creativity than Johnson.
His goal return for Gangwon last year, and his two goals in six starts for QPR, also suggest that he could provide a decent goal threat from a wide position as well, just as the Welsh ace does.
Yang is five years younger than Johnson and, therefore, has more time ahead of him to develop and improve as a player before making his breakthrough in the first-team with Spurs.
Tottenham should aim to send the teenage starlet out on loan, whether that is back to the Championship or to a top-flight side in Europe, to continue his development in the 2025/26 campaign.
100% duels lost: Spurs flop is in danger of becoming Jack Clarke 2.0
The Tottenham Hotspur defender is in danger of becoming the new Jack Clarke.
By
Dan Emery
Apr 14, 2025
Hopefully, Yang will be able to play week-in-week-out to hone his goalscoring and creative talents to eventually emerge as an upgrade on Johnson, based on the potential he has already shown in his short career to date.
Liverpool have won back the Premier League from Manchester City, five years after they last stoop atop the mountainous English pyramid.
Pep Guardiola’s side have broken records to win four in a row since Jurgen Klopp put Liverpool back on their perch, but City have fallen by the wayside this season and Arsenal have never managed to build the requisite consistency to end their recent runner-up reputation.
But consistency has been Arne Slot’s middle name this year, his first since replacing Klopp in the Anfield dugout and putting the Reds back in the ascendency.
It bears testament to FSG’s business model that already sporting director Richard Hughes is liaising with Michel Edwards ahead of the summer transfer window, with signings needed in defence and attack to protect this exciting new position at the summit.
Ryan Gravenberch, a revelation
Gravenberch is a Premier League-winning midfielder. The Dutchman has started every single match as Liverpool have capered toward the title, deeply set in the midfield soil, no way of being uprooted.
Who saw it coming? Many of a Liverpool persuasion will no doubt admit they had reservations after a stop-start 2023/24 campaign, his first in England after Klopp completed his midfield rebuild by signing the Bayern Munich prospect for a £34m fee at the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.
The Netherlands international, 22, has recently spoken of the adversity he has had to overcome after playing so infrequently last year, and while he’s looked a little sapped at times recently, Gravenberch has been “first-class all season” in the eyes of pundit Peter Crouch.
Ryan Gravenberch in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)
23/24
24/25
Matches (starts)
26 (12)
34 (34)
Goals
1
0
Assists
0
4
Touches*
28.8
67.3
Pass completion
83%
89%
Key passes*
0.6
0.7
Dribbles*
0.9
1.0
Ball recoveries*
2.8
5.3
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
3.6
Duels (won)*
2.8 (47%)
5.0 (58%)
Stats via Sofascore
He’s effectively improved across every metric, turning from a meandering midfield prospect into a deep-lying general of surpassing quality.
However, Gravenberch has indeed alluded to the fact that he’s been overworked, and it’s something Slot and Hughes have considered, for Liverpool seem to be getting ready to sign a midfield rival this summer.
Liverpool ready to sign Premier League midfielder
According to reports, via Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing FA Cup hero Adam Wharton this summer and are preparing to lodge a £50m offer in the coming months.
Wharton, 21, has been a revelation at Crystal Palace and is not going to be short of suitors, with Arsenal and Manchester United also reported to be keen on doing a deal.
Though Liverpool’s title-winning midfield is probably the area of the pitch least in need of external assistance, Wharton might prove to complete the puzzle and maybe even leave Gravenberch sweating over the security of his starting berth.
Why Adam Wharton would be perfect for Liverpool
Crystal Palace produced a consummate performance against Aston Villa last weekend to set their place in next month’s FA Cup final. Wharton was among the standouts, with BBC pundit Shay Given even likening him to a rather well-respected midfielder of old.
Centre-midfielder Wharton left Blackburn Rovers in the Championship to sign for the Eagles for an initial £18m fee, leaving the club that had reared him.
He’s not going to have looked back, striking from the get-go a reputation for his slick passing and composed stride in the centre of the park.
His renown has burgeoned over the past 15 months, reaching its apotheosis (so far) after dismantling a Villa side at Wembley to move within touching distance of a first major trophy in Palace’s long history.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton
As per FBref, Wharton ranks among the top 5% of Premier League midfielders this season for progressive passes, the top 9% for ball recoveries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions made per 90, perfectly illustrating his elite passing game, crisp as you like while being creative too. He’s also a thoroughbred athlete, covering so much ground.
It’s a similar profile to that of Gravenberch. Although the argument that he’s performing such metrics to a lesser standard is there. It’s recorded that the Dutchman ranks among the top 31% of said midfielders for progressive passes, but also among the bottom 36% for shot-creating actions per 90.
Given that both players operate in positionally similar zones, it’s easy to ascertain that Wharton is the better man in distribution. Moreover, he doesn’t shirk from his defensive duties either, winning 1.8 tackles per Premier League game this season, as per Sofascore.
There’s nothing to say that these two players couldn’t work in conjunction within Slot’s Liverpool set-up, but there’s little question that Gravenberch lacks the natural-born seamlessness in possession. Not to say it’s a tactical deficiency of his, but rather, a glowing endorsement of Wharton’s talent.
The fact is, Gravenberch has lulled, and while he has areas that eclipse that of Palace’s man, the semblance between the two, which still manages to contrast and show off distinctive qualities, suggests that Liverpool would hit the jackpot in forging ahead with a deal for Selhurst Park’s midfield star.
Slot’s finely-wrought system hasn’t seen too much tinkering this term, but Wharton would be able to ply his work effectively at number six, fitting in for Gravenberch and given the opportunity to make the role his own.
He’s demonstrated his capacity on the big occasion, with esteemed journalist Henry Winter describing Wharton as a “passing machine” and the “best player on the pitch” during the FA Cup semi-final.
You could even make the strong claim that the one-cap England international has the superior ball-playing game to Gravenberch and may well be a more fitting number six in Slot’s flowing system.
In any case, having both in the mix would hardly be a bad thing; indeed, this is exactly the type of move that Liverpool need to make so as to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League.
Bad news for Diaz: Liverpool have firm interest in £70m "game-changer"
Liverpool’s reported interest in this Premier League star could be bad news for Luis Diaz.