An “unbelievable” Aston Villa player has reached an agreement to join a new club at the end of the season, a new transfer update has claimed.

Aston Villa preparing for huge semi-final

Unai Emery’s side suffered a hugely disappointing 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Matheus Nunes’ last-gasp winner denting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Villa cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves, however, with a massive FA Cup semi-final clash with Crystal Palace now on the horizon this weekend. The two sides meet at Wembley on Saturday, knowing either City or Nottingham Forest will be waiting in the final.

For Villans supporters, it is arguably as important as the recent Champions League quarter-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain, considering it is nearly 60 years since the club won the FA Cup. They last took home the trophy way back in 1957, so Emery and his players will know how much winning it would mean.

Once this season is over, Villa must focus on kicking on and making important signings in the summer transfer window – City legend Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with an exciting move – but one current player looks set to bring an end to his time at the club.

Aston Villa goalkeeper set to leave in 2025

According to a new update from Sportbladet [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen has reached an agreement with Malmo, ahead of a return to his homeland this summer. The 35-year-old Swede will join on a “longer contract” for free when this season comes to an end, with his current Villans deal expiring in June.

The £50,000-a-week Olsen has been a good servant for Villa since arriving from Roma in 2022, proving to be a solid squad player who has filled in for Emiliano Martinez when needed.

The veteran stopper has made 21 appearances in total, and while that may not exactly be a huge tally, Ollie Watkins lauded his influence earlier this year.

“I think when Robin has played the majority of the time he has had to come on at half-time and has been thrown in at the deep end. That is tough. It is nice he could start a game and show what he could do from the start. He has had some unbelievable performances. He played like that away to Brighton last year. We lost the game but he was man of the match by far. He did the same today and it was massive.”

Aston Villa discussing move to sign "unbelievable" star available for free

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ByDominic Lund Apr 24, 2025

It makes sense for all parties for Olsen’s time at Villa to reach its conclusion, though, allowing him more regular football elsewhere and potentially giving Emery the chance to bring in a younger alternative.

Liverpool are champions of the Premier League once again, and you can tell that a weight has been lifted from the shoulders of all involved.

The celebrations raged on for days, Anfield having played host to the title-clinching occasion last weekend as Tottenham Hotspur were put to the sword.

It’s been a long and gruelling season, but the squad have worked tooth and nail toward getting back on their perch, with Arne Slot the mastermind. Curiously, the Dutch coach has allowed a fuzz of facial hair to carpet his face, emphasising the loosening of the focus now that gold medals have been secured.

While Slot is finally prepared to enforce some rotation in the top flight, having been stringent in his team selection across the campaign, there’s no question that he and sporting director Richard Hughes are very much headset on preparing for the summer ahead.

That, for sure, is one area of attention that will have only intensified since the jubilation of last weekend, and while a wave of signings are anticipated, Liverpool are also gearing up to present Luis Diaz with a new contract.

Liverpool looking to extend Luis Diaz's contract

Diaz’s future has been a topic of debate throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and while he lulled for a sizeable patch through the middle of the year, the Colombian has been one of Liverpool’s most influential players.

Having plundered 16 goals and eight assists across 47 matches in all competitions, Diaz is behind only Mohamed Salah in Anfield’s goal contribution charts.

However, the 28-year-old is approaching the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal and has been consistently linked with a move away in recent months. Barcelona are among the recognised admirers.

Unless a mammoth bid comes FSG’s way, they’d be shrewd to march ahead with plans to tie the left-sided forward down. He’s been brilliant this year, and he perhaps doesn’t get the respect he deserves for his numbers, which are not all that shoddy.

Most Goals + Assists from LWs (Europe’s Top Five Leagues)

Player

Apps

Goals

Assists

Raphinha

31

15

11

Bradley Barcola

31

13

11

Luis Diaz

33

12

7

Vinicius Junior

27

11

7

Vincenzo Grifo

31

8

10

Stats via Transfermarkt

Is he perfect? No, but Diaz is criminally underrated within certain pockets of Liverpool support, having performed dutifully and dynamically under Slot’s wing.

The fact that Raphinha and Bradley Barcola are the only recognised left wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season to have outperformed him from a prolific standpoint says it all.

However, this argument carries substance on both sides, and if Liverpool were to receive an irresistible offer this summer, there’s one man above all others who has been identified as the perfect replacement.

Liverpool target is open to leaving

According to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ready to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo this summer, should Diaz end up leaving, with the wing wizard having ‘doubts’ over his future at the Bernabeu.

Transfer Focus

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

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The Brazil international, 24, has become disillusioned with his role at Los Blancos, often shunted onto the right flank to accommodate Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.

The report suggests that he is, for the first time, ‘questioning’ his future at the club, while remaining ‘open-minded’ over which club he could potentially join next.

Spanish sources suggest it could take a bid worth €120m (£102m) to convince Florentino Perez to part with his club’s forward, but if Rodrygo truly wishes to leave for a new chapter, this towering figure could be reduced.

Why Rodrygo would be perfect for Liverpool

Hailed as a “world-class” part of Real Madrid by Jurgen Klopp, Rodrygo has lived in the Spanish capital since leaving Santos in his Brazilian homeland back in June 2018. He was only 17, with the figure totalling €45m (£38m).

The problem, of course, is that Madrid have packed their squad full of attacking superstars over the past few years, with the likes of Endrick, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz also assuming space in the first-team squad.

Rodrygo, though, no doubt feels he is on par with Mbappe and the like, surely doubling his frustrations over being routinely played as a right wing.

The right-footed forward has demonstrated a raised level of prolificness when rarely handed the chance to feature on his preferred flank. This season, he’s only posted 13 goals and ten assists across 50 matches in all competitions, but 12 of those involvements have come from just 12 fixtures as a left winger.

Rodrygo – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

G/A Rate

Right winger

145

34

30

0.44

Centre-forward

82

22

8

0.37

Left winger

78

23

16

0.50

Attacking midfield

4

0

1

0.25

Stats via Transfermarkt

It wouldn’t make much sense to sign Rodrygo if Diaz was kept on Liverpool’s books, for then he would be jockeying with the Colombia international and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth, or indeed placed out on the opposite flank, though Salah’s contractual renewal makes it rather hard to imagine this would convince him to make the move.

Even though Rodrygo hasn’t enjoyed the finest of seasons, his underlying qualities have still shone through. As per FBref, ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

This is interesting, with Diaz also renowned for his technical ability and crispness when on the ball. He’s also an electric player, with fast pace and a skilful kind of flair in possession.

Rodrygo has reached an important juncture in his career: turn one way, and he may continue to sit in the shadow of some of his Los Blancos peers; dart down the other lane, and the Brazilian could finally forge the career that his ‘world-class’ quality demands.

He’s already done it all for Real Madrid, and if he were to make the move to Merseyside, Rodrygo could not only prove to be an upgrade on Diaz but also become Liverpool’s undisputed talisman once Salah bows out too.

Related Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah in £87m "superstar"

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 2, 2025

Manchester United chiefs are now weighing up whether to sign a £42 million striker instead of Viktor Gyokeres, according to a new report.

Ruben Amorim wants to strengthen the spine of his Man Utd team

It wouldn’t be a surprise to many Man United supporters if the club had a major clear-out this summer and moved several players on, given the poor campaign in domestic competition. Selling players would allow United to enter the transfer market and bring in replacements who fit the criteria of what Ruben Amorim wants at Old Trafford.

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ByBrett Worthington May 7, 2025

Signing a new goalkeeper may not have been a real priority a few months ago, but given the inconsistent performances of Andre Onana, a new number one appears high on United’s list heading into the summer.

Onana is being linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, and as a replacement, United have already made contact with Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic over a return to Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old was in United’s academy a few years ago but failed to make a first-team appearance; now Amorim has set his sights on bringing him back.

As well as looking for a new goalkeeper, the Red Devils also want to strengthen their options at centre-back, and it’s been reported that the Premier League side have held talks over signing Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen. The Germany international is set to become a free agent, and United are now the latest team to show interest in signing him.

Man Utd consider cheaper move for Moise Kean

But the most important position the Red Devils need to address this summer is the forward line, and according to Footmercato, Man Utd are now considering signing Fiorentina striker Moise Kean this summer.

The report states that United chiefs have now added Kean to their transfer shortlist for a new striker, with Victor Osimhen, Liam Delap and Gyokeres already on the list. It claims that Kean is seen as a more ‘profitable profile’ and a ‘major asset’. That is because the former Everton striker has a release clause worth €50 million (£42 million) which becomes active in the first two weeks of July, and could likely be sold for more than that down the line if he performs well.

Kean, who is under contract at Fiorentina until 2029, is thus seen as a cheaper option by the Red Devils, as Gyokeres would likely cost in the region of £60 million plus, as that is reportedly what Chelsea have already bid for the Sweden international.

For United, signing Gyokeres may be even more difficult to do should they not win the Europa League and therefore not qualify for the Champions League, as the player wants to continue playing at the highest level.

Kean

Gyokeres

Apps

49

64

Goals

17

67

Assists

3

16

United are keeping their options open and have now added Kean to their shortlist, who has had an impressive campaign in Italy, scoring 17 goals in 30 Serie A appearances, as well as a further three in the UEFA Conference League.

However, this would be a risky signing by United, as the last time Kean was in the Premier League, he scored just two goals in 32 league appearances. This is not a return United need or want, so given how many goals Gyokeres has scored in Portugal over a number of seasons, signing Kean would be a huge gamble for the Red Devils despite whatever financial advantage it gains.

There is confidence that Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy can sign a record-breaking player at a discounted price, with his club eager to sell him to Spurs this summer as both parties look to strike a solution.

Tottenham's summer transfer plans amid uncertain Postecoglou future

A lot of the noise around Spurs is centered on Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future, with the north Londoners believed to be doing their due-diligence on potential successors for the Australian after a disappointing campaign.

Tottenham in contact with ex-Bayern Munich boss to replace Ange Postecoglou

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By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 25, 2025

A host of managers are being linked with the Spurs job right now, including former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino, but technical director Johan Lange and the club’s recruitment team must also be mindful of their transfer plans – with or without Postecoglou at the helm.

Tottenham’s next four Premier League fixtures	Date
Liverpool (away)	April 27th
West Ham (away)	May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)	May 10th
Aston Villa (away)	May 18th

Spurs want to reinforce their team across multiple areas of the squad, and are believed to be one of the many Premier League sides looking at Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen (Sky Sports), who is widely expected to leave when a club triggers his £50 million release clause.

Meanwhile, GiveMeSport have reported that Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson is a target for Postecoglou’s side, and it is believed he’d consider a move to N17 this summer despite reported interest from Man City.

Larsson would cost Tottenham around £50 million, so the 20-year-old rising star wouldn’t come cheap, and they’ve been surprisingly linked with a swoop for his teammate, Kaua Santos, who performed impressively against Spurs during their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Lange has personally held talks over a move for Santos, according to reports in Germany, while there is still some way to go when it comes to Mathys Tel and his long-term future.

The Frenchman joined Spurs on loan with an option to buy for around £43 million, but Tel has arguably had a slow start to life at the club and Levy may not want to pay the full amount to keep him long-term.

Bayern Munich hoping they can agree permanent sale of Mathys Tel to Tottenham

That is according to Kicker, via Sport Witness, who reports that Bayern Munich are hoping they can agree Tel’s permanent sale to Tottenham, and could let him join the club for a discounted price.

There is still confidence from both parties that a deal will be struck for the 19-year-old, and work is ongoing to reach a compromise ahead of the summer window. Tel has managed three goals in 13 appearances for Tottenham so far, but his versatility and sky-high potential would make him a useful asset for Postecoglou or any new manager.

The teenager is a record-breaker already, becoming Bayern’s youngest ever goalscorer in 2022 at just 17, attracting praise from Germany legend Thomas Müller.

“Mathys should keep doing his thing: firing shots in on goal. He’s a superb finisher,” said Muller. “He’s only 18 and is making the most of it at the moment. He’s always positive, always has a smile on his face and has great finishing in training and in matches.”

Fulham have now identified a £5 million manager who is destined for “big things” as a candidate to replace Marco Silva should he leave, according to a recent report.

Latest on Marco Silva's future at Fulham

It has been another impressive campaign for the Cottagers in the Premier League, as they have a really good chance of finishing in the top 10 and potentially even sealing a place in a European competition for next season.

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ByBrett Worthington May 1, 2025

Given how well Fulham have done ever since Silva arrived at Craven Cottage, it may not come as a surprise to supporters to see him linked with a new job. The future of Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is very much up in the air, as reports have suggested that the Australian could still be sacked even if Spurs win the Europa League. Silva is said to have an £8 million release clause in his Fulham contract that expires in 2026, and is now a frontrunner to replace Postecoglou.

But it is not just Spurs who are chasing Silva; in fact, the reason he could leave Craven Cottage is for a move to Saudi Arabia. It’s been reported that Al Hilal have set their sights on Silva as they look for a new manager before the Club World Cup starts in June, and there are even claims that Silva has agreed to leave Fulham and make the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Fulham eyeing Danny Rohl

The Cottagers are wasting no time in looking at candidates to replace the former Everton manager. According to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Fulham are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as manager should Silva leave Craven Cottage.

Hinze states that it looks likely Rohl will be leaving Sheffield Wednesday after another campaign of the German keeping the Owls in England’s second tier despite financial difficulties.

Rohl does have an exit clause in his contract, and it’s been reported that it is worth £5 million. That figure doesn’t seem to have put off interested parties, as both Fulham and Crystal Palace are keeping an eye on his situation given talk of their managers possibly leaving.

However, they are not the only teams from England interested in the 36-year-old, as Leicester City and Southampton are also admirers of Rohl as they prepare for life back in the Championship. Hinze does also state that there is interest from the Bundesliga in Rohl, but as things stand, interest is ‘hotter’ from England.

Games

89

Won

34

Drawn

19

Lost

36

Points

121

Points per game

1.36

Rohl, who has been dubbed as being destined for “big things” as a manager by Rob Staton, has limited experience in management, as Wednesday was his first managerial role. Should Fulham decide he is the man to replace Silva it would be a gamble, given he has never managed in the Premier League.

The final knockings of the 2024/25 campaign are drawing close, and Liverpool are on the brink of celebrating a Premier League title in front of their fans after 35 years.

Jurgen Klopp put the club back on their perch when he ended the interminable drought in 2020, one year after incredibly winning the Champions League, but they were denied the merriment from reaching its deserved level, intermingling reduced due to government restrictions.

But now, with Arne Slot at the helm, the Red sea will be out in force this weekend, with just one point needed against struggling Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield to seal the title.

It’s remarkable, and the city will lap it up. Liverpool have been brilliant this season, solid at the back, dogged in midfield, and slick in offence.

Mohamed Salah has been the architect of so much attacking play, posting 32 goals and 23 assists across all competitions in a year that will surely see him crowned the Premier League’s Player of the Season for the second time.

However, the output has been somewhat lopsided, and it’s no surprise FSG are looking to enrich the frontline in the transfer market this summer.

Why Liverpool need to improve their attack

Firstly, Liverpool’s ‘star’ striker, Darwin Nunez, is expected to be sold at the end of the season after failing to adapt to Slot’s tactics. He’s started just one Premier League game since Boxing Day, yielding a measly seven-goal haul under the Dutchman’s wing.

Liverpool need more impetus from their focal frontmen, with Diogo Jota also flattering to deceive at times this season, injured at others, while Luis Diaz performs dutifully in a dynamic central berth when called upon but lacks that innate goalscoring instinct.

Cody Gakpo has looked far sharper in a more structured left flanking role under Slot, arcing inward to strike on goal, but it’s clear that Liverpool could do with a bit more snap in attack to take them to the next level next year and compete for titles across multiple fronts.

Mohamed Salah

47

32

23

Cody Gakpo

44

16

6

Luis Diaz

46

15

8

Diogo Jota

33

9

4

Darwin Nunez

42

7

7

Federico Chiesa

11

1

2

Liverpool’s sky-high pedigree, the balmy conditions Slot and Klopp before him have created, suggest that the world’s finest would be tempted with a move to Merseyside this summer.

And one of the best out there might just be on FSG’s radar.

Liverpool chasing marquee signing

According to Caught Offside, Barcelona have set their asking price for Raphinha at €90m (equating to about £77m) ahead of the summer market.

Though La Blaugrana won’t necessarily want to force their high-flying forward out the door, ongoing financial bother could prove to be enough to hold sway, with their decision to set a price at this early stage indicative of their stance.

Liverpool could do with a dynamic, balanced attacker such as the Brazilian, but they aren’t the only club in the race, with Arsenal and Chelsea both keen too.

It feels like sporting director Richard Hughes will need to start putting in the groundwork swiftly if the Merseysiders are to prevail.

Why Raphinha would thrive at Liverpool

With Diaz, 28, about to enter the penultimate year of his contract, Liverpool are currently working out whether to renew his terms and take the Colombian’s deal into his 30s or to cash in while his stock is high.

Barcelona, by the by, have a long-standing interest in the player. Some food for thought.

Raphinha would almost be a shoo-in for the Ballon d’Or this year were Salah not in such almighty fettle, the 28-year-old having scored 30 goals and added 23 assists across 49 matches since the campaign’s opening.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, so you can see how he’d improve Liverpool’s frontline, enhancing Gakpo, Salah and that new centre-forward who is as yet undetermined.

Given that 40 of Raphinha’s 53 contributions have come when positioned on the left, he could be the perfect Diaz replacement, maybe even emulating a former Liverpool superstar in Sadio Mane.

Deadly in front of goal and electric up and down the field, Mane really was a one-of-a-kind player, never reaching the same numerical heights as Salah in Klopp’s team but still establishing himself as one of the best players in the world.

The Senegal legend won the lot, and while Diaz has been a worthy successor, he’s never reached that same ridiculous level. Raphinha, however, is proving himself to be a cut above Liverpool’s man and could indeed take Slot’s project to new heights.

He’s actually been described as the “best player in the world” this season by Statman Dave, so threatening and incisive in a way that is done with a flourish.

Raphinha also has Premier League experience with Leeds United, similar to Mane, who plied his trade with Southampton before transferring to Liverpool for £34m in 2016, one year into the Klopp era.

Hailed as a “magician” of a footballer by his former Whites teammate Dan James, Raphinha would be the perfect player to join a title-winning cause.

His sweeping skill set is exactly what Liverpool need, adding a goalscoring dimension while raising the playmaking level too.

With 19 goal contributions across 12 matches, the fleet-footed winger has probably been the standout force in the Champions League this season and may yet play an even bigger part in the narrative, with Barcelona preparing for a two-legged showdown with Inter Milan for a place in the final.

His potency on the left flank denotes a Mane-esque quality that could ease Salah’s burden and create a healthier and more poised approach next season.

It really does feel like a no-brainer for a Liverpool side looking to leap even higher in Slot’s second season, finances, of course, permitting.

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1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 24, 2025

Arsenal are rumoured to have made an offer for one player, after Mikel Arteta personally requested his signing behind-the-scenes, with new sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to grant the manager’s transfer wish.

Arsenal play Ipswich after historic win over Real Madrid

The Gunners are now the only team in football history to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu twice on their two visits, breaking a record which stood for 77 years, but more importantly, they find themselves in the Champions League semi-finals after their win in Spain on Wednesday.

Arsenal given 50% discount for £280k-per-week forward after opening talks

Andrea Berta could now strike a half-price deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2025

Arsenal made a real statement to the rest of the continent that they’re serious contenders to win this year’s Champions League title after their resounding 5-1 aggregate win over the 15-time European champions, but a tough test in PSG now awaits them.

Luis Enrique’s side are the mainstream media’s favourites to clinch this year’s competition, going by this BBC prediction piece, with former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson calling the Ligue 1 champions “standout” performers throughout the tournament.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games	Date
Ipswich Town (away)	April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)	April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)	May 3rd
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th

PSG are unbeaten in the league, winning 23 of their 28 French top flight matches so far, but Arsenal have already reigned victorious over them once this season – a 2-0 league phase win back in October, courtesy of goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

Arteta can take encouragement for this, not to mention how Aston Villa very nearly turned their quarter-final tie with PSG on its head, but first the north Londoners must take on Ipswich and Crystal Palace in the Premier League – which could be viewed as two warm-up games ahead of the blockbuster Champions League tie.

“For a short period of time yes, it was a great evening,” said Arteta on celebrating Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid.

“We had a lot of family and a lot of happy faces around the club, so it was a good moment, but immediately you have to switch it up, and now it’s Ipswich in the Premier League.”

Arsenal make "ambitious" offer for Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams

Away from the pitch, Berta is already planning for next season by earmarking Arsenal’s top summer targets.

One of them is widely believed to be Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, who’s back to his very best in this latter stage of the campaign and most recently guided his side into the Europa League semi-finals with a decisive goal against Rangers.

The £170,000-per-week winger, regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting talents, has been subject to intense interest from Arsenal in recent weeks, and Berta recently held talks with Williams’ representatives.

The 22-year-old is also regarded by Arteta as a “perfect” player for Arsenal, according to Fabrizio Romano, and another update has now come to light on their pursuit of the Basque sensation.

According to a Spanish media report, as cited by Football 365, Arteta has personally requested the forward’s signing – prompting Arsenal to make an “ambitious” offer for Williams. He is believed to be increasingly tempted by the possibility of playing in England, and Arsenal see Williams as a key target – meaning they are also ready to pay his release clause of around £50 million.

The nature of this offer is currently unclear, but Arsenal are apparently taking action due to Barcelona’s “inactivity” in the race for Williams.

Aston Villa kept their Champions League ambitions intact with an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday evening in the Premier League.

The two clubs are both vying for a top-five finish and with it a spot in Europe’s top table next term. Unai Emery’s side defeated PSG in midweek, but this performance will also bolster their confidence ahead of the final few games of the campaign.

Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the first minute before Fabian Schar equalised for Newcastle.

The second half was all Villa, however, as Ian Maatsen, an own goal by Dan Burn and an effort from Amadou Onana sealed all three points.

The majority of the starting XI performed wonderfully well, but it was Watkins and Morgan Rogers who powered the club to yet another league win.

How Watkins and Rogers performed against Newcastle

Watkins set Villa on their way to all three points after slotting home a deflected opener against the Magpies.

The Englishman also grabbed an assist, registered five total shots and made two key passes before he was subbed off in the 82nd minute.

He is returning to the form of last season and Rogers is someone who is helping him flourish. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a fine season, having scored 14 goals and recorded 12 assists in all competitions.

Accurate passes

Youri Tielemans (71)

Key passes

Marco Asensio (5)

Ground duels won

Youri Tielemans (8)

Tackles

Ian Maatsen (6)

Shots on target

Morgan Rogers (3)

Against the Toon, Rogers grabbed another assist, completed 90% of his passes, made two key passes and succeeded with all three of his dribble attempts.

When the pair are playing at this high standard, nothing can stop Villa, that’s for sure. There is one player in the squad who has been the fulcrum which makes everything tick – Youri Tielemans.

The 9/10 star who's becoming Aston Villa’s best player

The Belgian international has been the standout performer for the club this season, showcasing his talents at the highest level.

Five goal contributions in 12 Champions League games proves that the midfielder has been sublime in the competition. Add in another eight goal involvements in the Premier League and Emery has a player who could be in high demand this summer.

Content creator Mark Goldbridge described Tielemans as “Villa’s player of the season this year” following his display on Saturday evening, and it is easy to see why.

Operating in a deep-lying midfield role, the former Leicester City star completed 88% of his passes, took 98 touches, won 11 of his 16 total duels contested and even made three key passes throughout the match – including the assist for Watkins’ opener.

Alongside Boubacar Kamara, Tielemans dominated proceedings and his performance was key in Rogers and Watkins delivering in the final third yet again. Indeed, journalist John Townley awarded the 27-year-old a match rating of 9/10 for his stunning display.

Emery has started the midfielder in every single Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League match this season, highlighting his importance to the club.

Should Villa qualify for Europe’s premier club competition next season while also winning the FA Cup, they will have Tielemans to thank.

Aston Villa in talks to sign "talented ball carrier" likened to Grealish

Villa aren’t the only side interested, though.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 19, 2025

Goals, goals and more goals. If there is one thing Arsenal have lacked this season, it’s goals.

It’s been clear for some time now that Mikel Arteta’s side lack a genuinely clinical striker to lead the line, and so the last few months have seen them linked with a whole host of exciting names.

One of the most prominent was Newcastle United’s incredible Alexander Isak, but with a price tag that could reportedly be as high as £150m, it’s a move that now seems increasingly unlikely.

However, that doesn’t mean that the North Londoners aren’t still looking to bring in a new striker, as recent reports have linked them with someone who could be the perfect alternative.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the forward in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attackers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.

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 looks like he’d cost around £70m, and while that’s still a hefty sum of money, it’s hard to argue against considering the Swede has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists in 29 appearances for Sporting CP this year.

Maeda, on the other hand, would cost around £25m and has also enjoyed a brilliant campaign north of the border, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 games for Celtic.

However, the Gunners might be looking for a genuine bargain alternative to the Newcastle ace, which would explain the situation around Jonathan David.

According to a recent report from Italy, Arsenal are now one of several sides interested in signing the LOSC Lille star this summer, when his contract has expired.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report has claimed that Liverpool, Inter Milan, Juventus and a handful of other Premier League sides are also keen to land the soon-to-be free agent.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line in light of the competition, but given David’s immense ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be an incredible Isak alternative.

Why David would be a great Isak alternative

So, there is ultimately one reason, and it’s a massive one, why David would be a brilliant alternative to Isak: the finances involved.

While he would likely demand a slightly inflated wage to make up for the lack of a transfer fee, the money involved in any deal would still pale in comparison to what would be needed to sign the Newcastle star.

In turn, this would then allow the Gunners to invest heavily elsewhere in the squad, be it in another striker, a new left-winger, competition for Martin Odegaard, or even more defenders.

Moreover, just because he’d save the club an enormous sum of money does not mean he’d be a lacklustre signing.

For example, since the start of 1/22, the New York-born monster, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 96 goals and provided 25 assists in just 182 club appearances.

Appearances

48

40

47

47

Goals

19

26

26

25

Assists

0

4

9

12

Goal Involvements*

0.39

0.75

0.74

0.78

In other words, the incredible goal machine has averaged a goal involvement every 1.50 games across the last four seasons of top-flight football, which is evidence enough to suggest he’d be a good fit for the North Londoners.

Finally, it’s not just at the club level where the Canadian international has proven himself. In 61 appearances for Les Rogues, he scored 32 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal every 1.19 games.

Ultimately, with Isak almost certainly being too expensive to sign this summer, Arsenal would be wise to sign David in his place and spend the rest of their transfer budget improving the entire team.

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With Manchester City continuing to chase Morgan Gibbs-White’s signature, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the battle to sign a La Liga midfielder who once played for the Blues.

Nottingham Forest's worrying form continues

Forest had been flying towards the Champions League places and even found themselves as high as third throughout the current campaign. As things stand, however, they now sit sixth and are on course to miss out on a place among Europe’s elite with three games to play. In a season full of shock form, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have seemingly run out of steam at the worst possible time.

With one win in their last five Premier League games, Forest must rediscover their form as soon as their next attempt which will see them play host to a relegated Leicester City side. They then visit a struggling West Ham United side with the same aim before they square off against Chelsea on the final day in a game likely to decide their Champions League fate.

Nuno spoke to reporters after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Monday, saying: “I think we improved in many aspects of the game, first half we were in control, we were dominant and had good possession and we didn’t allow Palace to counterattack against us.

“We didn’t create too many, but we had a clear chance. The second half was different, it was important that we reacted from the goal and the reaction we had showed character and belief.

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“We were fighting until the end, always with the belief that we could achieve more. The boys did well, Palace have a difficult shape to break down and they always have the threat of the counterattack when they recover.”

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, those in the Midlands have also been busy setting their sights on potential summer arrivals to replace Gibbs-White amid rumours that Manchester City are pushing to sign their star midfielder.

Nottingham Forest battling to sign Yangel Herrera

According to reports in Spain, Nottingham Forest are now battling to sign Yangel Herrera from Girona this summer and face competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid for his signature. Having spent time at Manchester City in the early stages of his career, the South American has finally found his feet at Girona and could now be on his way back to the Premier League as a result.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Yangel Herrera

Morgan Gibbs-White

Starts

24

31

Goals

4

5

Assists

3

7

Ball Recoveries

95

118

When compared, Herrera’s numbers show that he could be an option to replace Gibbs-White. In six fewer starts, the Girona man has managed just one less goal than the Forest man, albeit whilst struggling to create at the same level.

Potentially coming back to haunt Manchester City, Herrera could find himself on his way back to English football courtesy of Nottingham Forest this summer.