Well, that was just about the perfect performance from Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Yes, it would have been even better had they kept a clean sheet and taken a three-goal lead to Norway next week, but as things stand, Ange Postecoglou’s side look well-placed to make it to the Europa League Final.

Moreover, apart from a few minutes towards the end, it was a pretty comfortable affair, and if anyone looked like scoring more goals, it was the Lilywhites and not FK Bodø/Glimt.

Practically every starter put in a shift to be proud of, but two stood out in particular: James Maddison and someone who now must start the next game.

Maddison's game vs Bodø/Glimt

While it was a big night for the whole team, it was a massive one for Maddison.

With Spurs being at home and undoubtedly firm favourites ahead of kickoff, it was down to the former Leicester City star to assert himself on proceedings and act as his side’s chief creator, which he did with aplomb.

In fact, for much of the first half, he was near enough unplayable, popping up here, there and everywhere before grabbing his goal in the 34th minute to secure a two-goal cushion for the North Londoners.

It might sound somewhat hyperbolic, but it’s an opinion shared by Spurs writer Alasdair Gold, who awarded the Englishman a 9/10 match rating at full-time, describing it as ‘a really creative performance.’

The only negative from the game for Maddison, which could be a massive one, was that he went off injured in the 65th minute, and until his fitness is cleared up, it’ll be a nervous wait for fans.

However, as superb as the mercurial number ten was, another starter was just as good, if not a little better.

Spurs' other stand-out star

While the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson all put in serious shifts for Spurs last night, the starter in question is none other than Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back has received his fair share of scathing criticism this season – sometimes justifiably – for his occasionally haphazard defending, but against the Norwegian champions, he hardly put a foot wrong in that regard.

Moreover, and far more importantly, it was a match in which he showcased his game-breaking offensive qualities.

For example, on several occasions in the first half, the “titanic” right-back, as dubbed by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, managed to ping a sensational ball over their opposition’s backline for his teammates to latch onto, and it was that saw Maddison score his goal.

We weren’t the only ones impressed with the 25-year-old either, as Gold also awarded him a 9/10 match rating, describing him as ‘Tottenham’s best player on the night’ and crediting him for preventing ‘what likely would have been a goal’ in the 70th minute.

Minutes

95′

Expected Assists

0.47

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

4

Clearances

4

Interceptions

2

Dribbled Past

0

Fouls

0

His statistics also make for decent reading, as in 95 minutes of action, he provided one assist from an expected assists figure of 0.47, made four clearances, wasn’t dribbled past a single time, made two interceptions, didn’t commit a foul, created one big chance and played four key passes.

Ultimately, Spurs put in what was almost the perfect performance last night, and while the entire team deserve serious praise, Maddison and Porro stood out that little bit more.

Better than Iraola: Spurs could hire "incredible" Europa League winner

The experienced manager would be an excellent hire for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2025

Manchester United dropped more points in the Premier League on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The Red Devils needed a 96th-minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to secure a point against the Cherries last time out, as he deflected the ball into the bottom corner with just a few minutes left to play.

Manchester United have, now, drawn nine and lost 15 of their 34 matches in the Premier League this season, leaving them in 14th place in the table as it stands.

That is, quite obviously, not good enough for where the club should be – competing for titles and trophies – and that is why the upcoming summer transfer window is a big one for Ruben Amorim and INEOS.

The club have to get their recruitment work spot on to build a squad that is capable of competing with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal next season.

One area of the pitch where the club could look to improve is the two number ten positions, after Alejandro Garnacho put in a disappointing display against the Cherries.

Why Manchester United should find an upgrade on Garnacho

The Red Devils academy graduate started alongside Bruno Fernandes in the two attacking midfield roles behind Hojlund in the draw down south, and failed to deliver an effective performance.

Garnacho had eight shots on goal, five of which were blocked, and missed one ‘big chance’ in the match, which shows that he was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, and the forward failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

That has been the story of the season for the Argentina international. He has been wasteful with the chances that have been created for him, whilst not doing too much to create for his fellow attackers on a consistent basis.

Garnacho has not proven himself to be a reliable attacker, as either a scorer or a creator of goals, in the Premier League for the Red Devils this season, which is why they should attempt to bring in an upgrade on him in the summer transfer window.

24/25 Premier League	Alejandro Garnacho
Appearances	33
Starts	22
xG	7.06
Goals	5
Big chances missed	13
Big chances created	3
Key passes per game	0.9
Assists	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old dynamo has underperformed in front of goal, missing a whopping 13 ‘big chances’, and created less than one chance per appearance in the division on average.

Garnacho is capable of the spectacular, as evidenced by the incredible goal against Everton in the video above, but he has not performed consistently enough in the final third to be relied upon week-in-week-out.

This is why the latest news on Manchester United’s interest in signing a new attacking talent should be welcomed by Amorim, who needs more quality from his squad in the final third.

Man Utd plotting talks to sign Serie A forward

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League teams Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are also keen on a swoop for the Nigeria international, who previously played for the likes of Fulham and Everton in the English top-flight.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that Atalanta are looking for a fee of up to £55m in order to part ways with the impressive forward. That price tag is said to have made it difficult for Barcelona and Juventus, who are also interested in Lookman, due to their respective financial situations.

CaughtOffside adds that the Premier League clubs interested in the winger, including Manchester United, are planning to hold talks over a deal to bring him back to England this summer.

INEOS must, now, push to win the race for the 27-year-old Atalanta star because he could come in as a big upgrade on Garnacho to improve Amorim’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Why Ademola Lookman would be a big upgrade on Alejandro Garncho

As aforementioned, the current Manchester United forward has proven himself to be unreliable in the final third with his wasteful finishing and lack of creativity in the Premier League.

Lookman, on the other hand, has excelled as both a scorer and a creator for Atalanta in the past three seasons, since his move to the club in the summer of 2022.

As you can see in the chart above, the Nigerian superstar has vastly outperformed Garnacho across a host of key attacking metrics over the past 365 days of league and European action, averaging more non-penalty goals, Expected Assisted Goals, shot-creating actions, and assists per 90.

This, immediately, suggests that Lookman, who Gian Pero Gasperini dubbed “extraordinary”, could come in as an upgrade on Garnacho next season, by providing a greater threat in the final third.

The Atalanta star’s form over the past 365 days is not a flash in the pan, either, because he has been remarkably consistent in the Serie A over the past three seasons.

Ademola Lookman (Serie A)	22/23	23/24	24/25
Appearances	31	31	28
xG	9.08	9.21	9.75
Goals	13	11	13
Big chances missed	7	8	13
Big chances created	10	10	10
Key passes per game	1.3	1.6	2.0
Assists	6	7	5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Lookman is the picture of consistency with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals, consistently creating and scoring goals at an impressive rate.

The £55m-rated star has proven that he has the quality to make the most of chances that come his way, outperforming his xG in all three seasons, and he has hit double figures for ‘big chances’ created each time as well.

These statistics suggest that Lookman would be a fantastic signing for Manchester United because he could offer more to the team than Garnacho, as both a scorer and a creator, to give the team a greater chance of winning matches by contributing to more goals.

This is why the Red Devils must work hard to beat off competition from the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to convince the Atalanta star to make the move to Old Trafford this summer.

Better signing than Huijsen: Man Utd preparing bid to sign £51m "monster"

Manchester United are plotting a bid to sign a star who’d be an even better addition than Dean Huijsen.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 28, 2025

Leeds United have a huge task to recruit well this summer, handing themselves the best possible chance of securing Premier League survival in 2025/26.

Daniel Farke has done a superb job in leading the Whites back to the top-flight, but now needs to reestablish their status in such a division after a two-year absence.

It has previously been reported that the boss has a budget of around £100m to make new additions to make the improvements he desires to the current crop of players.

The funds may not be enough this summer, with Farke potentially needing more money at his disposal if he is to make key additions to the squad and offer needed depth, with quality and quantity desperately required.

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous players have already emerged on their list, potentially moving to Elland Road during the off-season should deals be agreed.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

The Whites’ hierarchy haven’t been afraid to splash the cash in their recent stint in the Premier League, with the same expected during the next couple of months.

Everton’s Beto and Manchester City’s James McAtee have both already been tipped to make a switch to Elland Road during the off-season, but both could cost a pretty penny.

However, they aren’t the only Premier League talents linked, with West Ham United middle Tomas Soucek also on their radar, according to TBR Football.

The report claims that the hierarchy have already held talks with the 30-year-old Czech international, but could face stiff competition from Everton this summer.

It also states that he’s not seen as part of Graham Potter’s long-term plans at the London Stadium, opening the door to a potential exit, with the Hammers demanding a fee in the region of £20m.

Why Leeds’ £20m target could be Farke’s own Phillips

During Leeds’ previous stint in the Premier League, midfielder Kalvin Phillips played a key role in their success, often being the leading talent at the base of the side.

He made 49 top-flight appearances for the Whites over a two-year period, helping them fend off any looming threats of relegation under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.

The now 29-year-old has since struggled to replicate such levels in recent years, leaving Yorkshire and joining Manchester City back in 2022 for a fee in the region of £45m.

It was an excellent fee received for an academy graduate, but they’ve since lost that commanding and battling presence – something which undoubtedly contributed to their subsequent relegation.

However, a move for Soucek could provide Farke with the combative player he needs for a Premier League season, with the Hammers star’s stats proving his quality this campaign.

The 30-year-old, who’s been labelled “sensational” by presenter Jim White, has managed to register 10 combined goals and assists from his holding midfield role – handing Farke added reinforcements aerially in the final third should he require it.

However, defensively, he could provide that quality missing since Phillips’ departure, winning 58% of the tackles he’s entered this campaign, along with a higher tally of clearances made per 90.

Games played

33

19

Goals & assists

10

0

Shot-on-target accuracy

28%

18%

Shot-creating actions

1.6

1.2

% of tackles won

58%

38%

Clearances made

2.9

2.7

Take-on success rate

50%

41%

Aerials won

58%

24%

His talents don’t stop there, completing more take-ons per 90 this season, offering the side a cool head when in possession – something which will likely be required if they are to avoid the drop.

£20m for an experienced player of Soucek’s quality could prove to be somewhat of a bargain, handing Farke the tools to have the best chance of maintaining their top-flight status.

Should he complete a switch to Yorkshire and get anywhere near the levels produced by the academy graduate, it would be a superb addition, injecting needed quality into the midfield department.

The dream Firpo replacement: Leeds plotting move for "phenomenal" £17m star

Leeds United could be about to forget about Junior Firpo with a move for one defensive star.

ByEthan Lamb May 16, 2025

Manchester United would have been fearing the final outcome of their clash on the South Coast whilst the clock ticked down as ten-man AFC Bournemouth held onto their precarious 1-0 lead.

An embarrassing 16th loss of the Premier League for Ruben Amorim’s topsy-turvy Red Devils was on the cards but for Rasmus Hojlund.

The Dane has had many a vocal critic this season about his anonymous attacking displays but he managed to pop up with a last-gasp equaliser to hand the away side a dramatic share of the points.

With the Cherries seeing Evanilson sent off for a dangerous tackle in the second half, a point against a side that ended up playing with ten men for 20 minutes will still feel like somewhat of a poor result, with the likes of Andre Onana enduring another shaky afternoon.

Onana's performance in numbers

Ultimately, another game ended up passing Onana by without a Premier League clean sheet, with the often nervy goalkeeper only managing to amass a weak nine clean sheets from 33 total games.

The Cameroon goalkeeper would fail to make a single save across another choppy 90 minutes, with Antoine Semenyo’s first-half effort proving too fierce for the ex-Ajax shot-stopper to thwart.

Moreover, his ability with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired too, leading to the United number one only registering 23 accurate passes from 32 attempted, on top of only three accurate long balls being accumulated from 12.

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A new ‘keeper must be high up Amorim’s shopping list this summer but he will have to do better than he did in January.

After all, his only signing at Old Trafford hasn’t exactly set the world alight…

4/10 Man United dud must be axed after Bournemouth

Minus Bruno Fernandes showing his obvious class again with seven key passes tallied up, alongside Hojlund’s redemption arc being on show, there were a number of underperformers once more that would have irked Amorim watching on.

Indeed, Patrick Dorgu falls into this underperforming category, with his lackadaisical approach on the ball gifting Semenyo a chance to fire Andoni Iraola’s men into the lead.

Minutes played

89

Touches

61

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Accurate passes

25/30 (83%)

Accurate crosses

0/4

Possession lost

15x

Total duels won

9/14

Amazingly, this isn’t the first time Dorgu has fallen victim to a lapse in concentration this season, with one kamikaze back-pass versus Ipswich Town back in February gifting Jaden Philogene a fortuitous effort.

But, away from another costly error allowing Semenyo to score, the table above shows how his overall game was equally as shoddy, with the 20-year-old failing to register a single accurate cross down the left channel.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst would dish out his lowest match rating of the day to the ex-Lecce man subsequently, with Luckhurst stating that his 4/10 judgement was due to Dorgu looking “unsettled” by Bournemouth’s high press.

Thankfully, his blushes were spared by Hojlund being in the right place at the right time to fire home a late equaliser, leading to the 22-year-old presumably feeling that he deserves to start this coming Thursday when Amorim’s camp travel to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.

After all, United’s season rests on a potential success in this competition now, culminating in Dorgu perhaps being axed for the Red Devils’ upcoming Basque adventure. It’s a big game, but Harry Amass or even Luke Shaw are surely more deserving of a place over the final weeks of the season.

Their next Amad: Man Utd make huge swap offer for "outstanding" £42m star

Manchester United are making moves to land a new attacking star ahead of the summer transfer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 26, 2025

Arsenal have made a £10 million-per-year contract offer to a Real Madrid and Barcelona transfer target, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to beat the Spanish heavyweights to his signature.

Arsenal focus on summer transfers after sealing Champions League spot

Mikel Arteta guided his side to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United in their final home game of the season last weekend, with Declan Rice scoring the match-winning goal and sealing Arsenal’s place in the Champions League draw next term.

Mikel Arteta "loves" £161k-per-week Barcelona star and wants him at Arsenal

The 43-year-old is a huge fan.

ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

With Arsenal’s season effectively over in terms of something to play for, attention is swiftly turning to the summer transfer window, and how Berta will reinforce Arteta’s squad ahead of next campaign.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

This follows a promising statement from Arteta in the aftermath of Berta’s official arrival in late March, with Arsenal’s manager promising a “big” first summer window under the Italian’s leadership.

“It’s going to be a big summer for everybody,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s win over Newcastle.

“I think it’s time to reflect, reset, and set again the standards even higher, see how we can improve, be very critical with each of us and the things that we can do better, and how we can help this football club to go to another level.

“What I can promise is that I will do my very best [to win a trophy] and I will give my life, and get every drop of everybody here to squeeze it and get the best out of them.”

One of the items on Berta’s transfer to-do list is the signing of a proven goalscoring striker who can guarantee a degree of potency in the final third, with Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres at the centre of links to a north London move.

The Swede has bagged 53 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this term, leaving little wonder that Man United are also very keen on Gyokeres as well.

However, reports in Portugal have been making serious claims that Arsenal are the side who are advancing in serious pursuit of the 26-year-old.

Arsenal make Viktor Gyokeres a £10m-per-year offer to join Mikel Arteta

Newspaper O Jogo reported earlier this week that Arsenal have already agreed a £59 million fee with Sporting over signing Gyokeres, following rumours last week from A Bola that Arteta’s side have also offered him a contract.

A Bola stated at the time that Arsenal’s offer to Gyokeres was one worth around £135,000-per-week, but this is now being disputed by CaughtOffside.

The latter news outlet claims Arsenal have actually presented a contract offer to Gyokeres worth up to £10 million-per-year, which comes in at around £192,000-per-week, and seems more fitting for a striker who’s been scoring for fun these past two seasons.

As such, Arsenal are said to be leading the race, but that isn’t to say it is a done deal. CaughtOffside also share information that Gyokeres is being targeted by Real Madrid and Barcelona, not to mention a host of other top sides, so Arteta and Berta do face stiff competition to get him over the line.

Goalkeeper David Raya is already a fan of the centre-forward, having called him a “top player” earlier this season, and many believe he could be the answer to Arsenal’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third.

Chelsea’s chances of securing a place in the Champions League were dealt a blow when they lost to rivals Newcastle United 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Blues remain fifth in the division, in the last Champions League spot, but only one point separates them from Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in the table, which tees up a tense final two matchdays.

As shown in the highlights above, Enzo Maresca’s side were not helped by Nicolas Jackson’s decision to charge into Sven Botman whilst the ball was in the air.

The Senegal international had a look at the Dutch defender and moved his defender into the upper chest and lower face of the Newcastle star whilst grappling to win an aerial duel, which led to VAR recommending a red card for the striker.

Jackson will, now, sit out the final two matches of the Premier League season, and the first game of the 2025/26 campaign, after being hit with a three-game ban for violent conduct, which is a big blow for the Blues.

Why losing Nicolas Jackson is a big blow for Chelsea

The former Villarreal star scored three goals in his last three games before the trip to St. James’ Park and looked to be on his way back to his best in front of goal after a barren run.

Prior to his strike against Everton in the Premier League last month, Jackson had gone 13 matches without a goal in all competitions for the Blues, stretching back to the middle of December.

However, a goal against the Toffees and two goals against Djurgarden in the Conference League suggested that he was on track to play a pivotal role in the final few games of the season.

There is little doubt that Jackson is a player who has the ability to make a big impact in the final third for Chelsea, despite his tendency to miss ‘big chances’, because he has had plenty of impressive moments since his move to Stamford Bridge.

Nicolas Jackson (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

35

30

xG

18.63

12.34

Goals

14

10

Big chances missed

24

19

Big chances created

8

6

Assists

5

5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former LaLiga star has been a wasteful finisher, missing 43 ‘big chances’, but he has also been directly involved in 34 goals in 65 Premier League games for the club.

This shows that, despite his flaws, Jackson is a constant threat who can be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch as either a scorer or a creator of goals, which is why losing him to suspension for the last two games of the campaign is a blow for Maresca.

The 23-year-old centre-forward, who scored a hat-trick against Spurs last season, is Chelsea’s best number nine option and has proven that he can score goals in the Premier League, hence why he would have been useful to have as an option heading into these last two games.

What makes the situation even worse for the Blues is that Christopher Nkunku, their other forward option, is currently out with an injury that could keep him out of the last two matches if he does not recover in time.

That is not the only problem with the France international, though, as he has also failed to deliver quality when called upon this season when fit, which is why the club must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.

Why Chelsea must cash in on Christopher Nkunku

The Premier League side reportedly paid £52m to bring him to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, as they aimed to bolster the quality of their attacking options, having offloaded Kai Havertz to Arsenal that summer.

Nkunku scored 70 goals and provided 55 assists in 17 matches for Leipzig in all competitions during his time in Germany, which made him an exciting signing, at face value, as he had a history of providing consistent quality in a major European league.

Unfortunately, however, the France international has been unable to translate that form over to English football in his two seasons at Stamford Bridge to date, as he has struggled to make an impact in the final third for the Blues.

After the club’s exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton earlier this year, former Chelsea player Craig Burley criticised the 27-year-old star, who reportedly earns £195k-per-week, and described him as a “waste of money”.

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Burley said: “There was no cutting edge to the game. [Cole] Palmer has stopped influencing games like he was. Nkunku up front, I mean what a total waste of money he’s been.”

It is hard to argue with his assessment of Nkunku’s situation because he has not provided much quality back on the pitch to make up for the £52m fee and £195k-per-week wages as a forward player.

Christopher Nkunku (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

11

27

xG

2.30

4.83

Goals

3

3

Big chances missed

3

6

Key passes per game

0.3

0.5

Assists

0

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the French flop has only been involved in seven goals in 38 appearances in the Premier League since the start of last season, and has underperformed his xG overall, which shows that he has been even worse than Jackson in the last two campaigns.

The experienced forward has not delivered goals or assists on a regular, or even semi-regular, basis in the top-flight, despite the huge outlay to bring him to London almost two years ago, whilst the Senegal international has, at least, delivered 34 goals and assists.

Arsenal have been linked with an interest in Nkunku ahead of the summer transfer window, and Chelsea must finally cash in on the big-money flop in an attempt to recoup some of the £52m fee that they splashed out on his services.

The French dud has not done enough to suggest that he will be a key player for Maresca moving forward, given his lack of quality in the Premier League, which is why the club should ruthlessly ditch him this summer, whether that is to Arsenal or another club.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 11, 2025

Reliable journalist Paul Joyce has claimed that Everton are interested in sealing a stunning move for a “special” attacking player this summer.

Moyes eyeing big future at Everton

After some grim seasons of late, which have included several relegation battles in the Premier League, there is a feeling of positivity with the Toffees, not least because David Moyes has returned as manager, easily steering them to safety ahead of the move to their new stadium.

The Scot has been forceful about how he is expecting a better future at Everton with him in charge, with the hope being that funds will be made available for important transfer business.

“I think more the feeling [is] that there might be a club which is ­coming back together. Signs that before there was a real break-up, of a sort of love affair with the supporters, the ­players, the club, the owners. So we’re all trying to get back. We’re obviously all looking forward to it. If we can take what we had today to the new stadium, it’ll be something.”

New signings are needed in various areas of the pitch for Everton, not least in attack, with goals coming at a premium at times this season, with 41 goals scored in 37 games. Now, a shock rumour has emerged regarding a potential attacking signing for the Merseysiders.

Everton keen on "special" Liverpool player

According to the reliable Joyce of The Times, Everton “hold an interest” in Liverpool winger Ben Doak, seeing him as an option to bring in this summer.

The 19-year-old has spent this season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, with the Reds unable to give him regular playing time, and a permanent move away from Anfield could now be on the cards.

The idea of Everton signing Doak is a mouthwatering prospect, not only because of the stunning nature of taking him from rivals Liverpool, but also due to his long-term potential.

The teenage winger is already a six-cap Scotland international, and he was enjoying a fruitful time loan at Middlesbrough before injury struck in January, bagging 10 goal contributions (three goals and seven assists) in the Championship.

Doak also caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp during their time together at Liverpool, with the German clearly a big admirer of the Scot, saying: “Special boy. Really confident, has something nobody else delivers, really; this kind of dribbling, this kind of straight-forward bravery, all these kinds of things.”

Moyes' next Branthwaite: Everton plotting bid to sign "elite" £17m star

Everton are gearing up for a summer of change in the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 23, 2025

Forgetting the Liverpool connection, Doak is a hugely exciting footballer who could reach great heights with his pace and unpredictability in the coming years, and while the Reds may be hesitant to sell to their rivals, Everton should look to strike a deal.

Aston Villa need to win both their remaining Premier League fixtures to seal a return to the Champions League next season.

This is the aim for Unai Emery, especially as a seat at the top table will allow him to sign better quality players for the club this summer.

It promises to be another exciting transfer window at Villa Park. Will there be any major sales in the coming months? And just what type of player can the manager bring to Villa?

Aston Villa looking to sign Premier League youngster

With Villa now confirmed a place in Europe for next season, perhaps they may just be able to entice Kevin De Bruyne to move to the Midlands.

Indeed, reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Villans have held internal talks over whether to make a move for the legendary Belgian. Should they not do so, then perhaps this player could be a fine alternative.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are one of the leading top-flight clubs that are plotting a move for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott this summer.

Arne Slot may part ways with the Englishman this summer, who has made just 15 appearances in the top flight for the club this term.

He could be available for a fee of between £40m and £50m, which should be affordable for Villa following their exploits in Europe this season.

Wolves, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Bournemouth are all closely monitoring his progress ahead of the transfer window opening, indicating Villa have plenty of competition.

It would be a smart move to bring him to the Midlands, especially as Elliott has yet to hit his peak years as a player.

Why Harvey Elliott could be Jack Grealish 2.0 for Aston Villa

Grealish is arguably the finest academy talent the club have produced in their modern history. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the club before sealing a £100m move to Manchester City in the summer of 2021.

He may have won plenty of trophies at City, but Grealish’s career has certainly stagnated after an underwhelming season under Pep Guardiola.

Like Grealish was, Elliott is a prodigal young English talent who has the capability to go far in the game.

The 22-year-old is fluid across a range of positions, being able to perform well either on the right wing or in a slightly deeper role at the heart of the midfield.

As such, his output in front of goal isn’t as impressive as Grealish – who tends to operate on the left flank – but Elliott does offer a lot of qualities.

Harvey Elliott’s PL stats for Liverpool this season
Goals	0
Assists	1
Big chances created	1
Total duels won	0.5
Successful dribbles per game	0.2
Shots per game	0.9
Via Sofascore

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the youngster ranks in the top 1% for shot-creating actions and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90.

Furthermore, he also ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes and carries, suggesting that he loves to bring the ball forward from deep into the final third, just as Grealish did so well at his boyhood club.

It is perhaps no wonder he was dubbed “phenomenal” by journalist David Lynch last season and while things may not have gone his way during the current term, he will end up with another Premier League medal for his efforts.

A fresh start is what he requires to take the next step in his career. Emery might well be the ideal manager for the job.

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A three-time league champion has now reportedly held talks with Rangers about becoming their next permanent boss this summer.

Rangers manager latest as 49ers eye new Ibrox boss

it has been confirmed that Barry Ferguson won’t continue in charge of the Gers, having only come in as interim boss midway through the campaign, taking his side into the Europa League quarter-finals but ultimately not doing enough to get the job on a full-time basis.

Instead, Rangers and prospective new owners the 49ers Enterprises now looking for the perfect manager to come in and guide the Scottish Premiership giants to future success, with club CEO Patrick Stewart recently providing an update on the search, saying:

“The review is progressing well. We have got a lot of insights into things that are going well and not well at Auchenhowie. I would really compliment the staff and how open and honest they’ve been. And they provided really valuable feedback to myself and also the consultants we’ve got on supporting with it. And we’re beginning to get some real tangible insights that are flowing into real recommendations that we’re starting to action.”

Steven Gerrard has constantly stood out as a leading choice for Rangers, having won the league title with them back in 2020/21, while Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti has also been linked with the job.

Former Italy international Gennaro Gattuso is another rumoured contender, and now a new name has been thrown into the mix.

3-4-3 manager holds talks with Rangers

According to a significant update from BBC Sport, former Feyenoord manager Brian Priske has held discussions with Rangers about being their next boss.

The 48-year-old departed the Dutch club in February, being sacked after a disappointing run of results, but it looks like he is on the Gers’ list.

Priske is certainly a more proven option than the likes of Gerrard and Ancelotti, considering he has won an impressive three league titles in his managerial career to date.

Two of those came in his time in charge of Czech giants Sparta Prague, while another was during his stint at Danish outfit Midtjylland. He has also won one Czech Cup and Danish Super Cup apiece, so he knows how to deliver trophies.

Priske favours a 3-4-3 formation, getting the most out of his wing-backs, but he is also versatile in his tactics, switching to a 4-3-3 system at times with Feyenoord.

Brian Priske’s managerial career

Matches

Points per game

Feyenoord

33

1.85

Sparta Prague

96

2.19

Royal Antwerp

49

1.53

FC Midtjylland

68

1.88

Stewart and those high up at Rangers have a massive decision to make this summer, and it is vital that they make the right appointment, following the doomed reign of Philippe Clement.

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The Gers need to hit the ground running next season, not allowing Celtic to pull away in the title race, and in Priske, they may have an experienced option who could back himself to win plenty of silverware at Ibrox.

Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed another successful season in charge of Celtic, and it could get even better if his side wins the SFA Cup final later this month.

The Hoops travel to Hampden Park to take on Aberdeen at the national stadium with the chance to secure a domestic treble, having already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

Rodgers led the team to the SFA Cup trophy and the Premiership title in his first season back at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign, as he came in to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2023.

It has been an incredibly successful return to the club for the Northern Irish head coach, whose team won the title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at the end of last month, and he has had to make some ruthless decisions along the way.

Rodgers is not afraid to make bold or unpopular decisions if he thinks it is the best for the team, and one example of that has been his use of central defender Maik Nawrocki this season.

Why Maik Nawrocki has not been playing for Celtic

The Polish centre-back did not make a single appearance in the Champions League campaign and has only played two matches in the Premiership to date.

He was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ibrox last time out, which is the 28th time that has happened to the defender in the current term. This shows that he has rarely been used by Rodgers despite being available for the entire season.

Nawrocki could not do much more to earn more minutes in the first-team, though, because he took his chances when they came his way against Rangers and Hearts last month.

Due to injuries to Liam Scales, Dane Murray, and Auston Trusty, the former Legia Warsaw star was named in the starting XI for the first time in the campaign against the Gers, and did enough to keep his place against Hearts in the following Premiership match.

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki put in two outstanding performances at centre-back, as he was incredibly reliable on the ball and dominant defensively, with plenty of defensive actions and impressive duel success rates.

However, the 24-year-old colossus has not played a minute of football in any competition since the full-time whilst went in the 3-0 win over Hearts, and Rodgers has explained why that has been the case.

The Celtic boss explained: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

Nawrocki is, of course, right-footed and this has led to Scales and Trusty starting every game since that win over Hearts, as one or both of them have been fit and available since then.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It now remains to be seen what will happen to the Polish defender in the upcoming summer transfer window, because it seems unlikely that he will be happy with just two league appearances all season.

Whilst Nawrocki is one player who could push to move on from Parkhead of his own volition, there is a player who has played even fewer minutes than the defender who should be moved on by the club – Scott Bain.

Why Celtic should move on from Scott Bain

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has been on the bench in recent weeks, with Viljami Sinisalo deputising for Kasper Schmeichel, but has not played a single minute in any competition this season.

Bain reportedly earns £7.6k-per-week at Parkhead, which is more than Hyun-jun Yang (£6k), Liam Scales (£5k), and Sinisalo (£2.5k), yet has played fewer minutes than Nawrocki in all competitions, as he has not played any at all, domestically or in Europe.

Herald Scotland recently reported that Aberdeen shot-stopper Ross Doohan, who is out of contract this summer, is being considered as a target for the Hoops, as Bain is entering the final 12 months of his deal and could look to move elsewhere.

The 27-year-old ace is reportedly on a weekly wage of £2.7k, which is less than the current Celtic third-choice currently earns, and that means that this switch in goalkeepers could save the Hoops thousands per week, potentially freeing up wages to be used in other areas of the squad.

Doohan could arrive as a cheaper third-choice option for the Scottish giants than Bain, who is earning more than several first-team stars who play regulars, as aforementioned, whilst he has not made an appearance for the club since last season.

The 33-year-old flop played three times in the 2023/24 campaign and pundit Frank McAvennie criticised the goalkeeper, telling Football Insider that having him as an option is “not good enough” for the Hoops.

24/25

0

0

23/24

3

1

22/23

1

4

21/22

2

2

20/21

18

18

19/20

2

2

As you can see in the table above, Bain has only played five league games since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, conceding seven goals in those five matches, and has not played at all this term.

This does not suggest that he has done enough for the club to justify keeping him at Parkhead on more wages than the likes of Yang, Sinisalo, and Scales, who contribute to the team on the pitch, which is why they should ruthlessly ditch him from the squad this summer.

Selling Bain, if there is enough interest in his services from elsewhere, and replacing him with Doohan, who has played 15 league games this season and earns less money per week, could be a shrewd move by the club.

It is now down to Rodgers to be ruthless once again by brutally ditching the veteran goalkeeper from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, whilst landing the Aberdeen stopper on a free transfer.

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