da apostaganha： Internal talks over signing a “special” number 10 have been held at Leeds United ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

Leeds news and updates

da fazobetai： There is still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season, but with the Whites looking on course to seal a return to the Premier League, plans behind the scenes will be starting to take shape as they prepare for the likelihood of top-flight football next season.

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This week Daniel Farke stated that discussions over new contracts for the soon-to-be free agents have yet to begin. Sam Byram, Junior Firpo, and Josuha Guilavogui’s contracts are all set to expire at the end of the season, and Farke revealed that talks will be held at the right time.

Meanwhile, ahead of the summer transfer window, it has been reported that Manor Solomon could be available for a permanent transfer. The winger is currently on loan at Elland Road from Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s been claimed that he would be allowed to leave on a permanent basis in the summer if an opportunity is presented.

Solomon has made a big impact since joining Leeds, being a key player in their attack, as he was crowned the club’s player of the month in January.

Leeds hold internal talks over move to sign £25m ace

Solomon is not the only player the Whites have their eyes on ahead of the summer, as according to TEAMtalk, Leeds have held internal talks over a move to sign James McAtee from Manchester City if they are promoted to the Premier League.

The report states that the Championship outfit will prioritise signing a new number 10 in the summer, with interest remaining in Emi Buendia, who was a target during January but ended up joining Bayer Leverkusen instead. As well as Buendia, Leeds also hold interest in Eduard Spertsyan, Gustavo Hamer and McAtee, who could be available for a loan move next season.

Before this campaign, McAtee enjoyed two rather successful loan spells at Sheffield United, and instead of going on loan again, Man City decided to keep him at the Etihad this season. However, the midfielder has only played 16 times for the Blues, struggling to make an impact in the starting XI.

The 22-year-old has failed to start in the Premier League or Champions League, with the majority of his game time coming in the FA Cup.

James McAtee’s Premier League record

Apps

40

Goals

4

Assists

3

Given his lack of game time this season, City could decide to let McAtee leave on loan in the summer, or they could even decide to cash in, but it would cost Leeds and any other interested team £25 million to secure his services that way. Despite not playing regularly, McAtee has been labelled “special” by Pep Guardiola this season.

“I’m so happy for him; he’s a special player,” Guardiola said of McAtee after his hat-trick against Salford City.

da bet7： One of the more successful periods for Manchester United in recent seasons came under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils legend took charge of the club for 168 games over a period that spanned almost four years.

da bet vitoria： Initially taking over as caretaker manager, the Norwegian brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford and picked up some famous wins, including that famous away win at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

As permanent boss, the former United striker led the club to third, then second in the Premier League and the Europa League final, where they lost 11-10 on penalties to LaLiga side Villarreal.

If there was one thing Solskjaer did well during his time at the club, it was bringing through youngsters.

Academy stars who played under Solskjaer

There is no doubt that the scorer of the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final understands what it means to play for United. He continued the long tradition of bringing through academy players, giving 16 different youngsters a first-team debut.

Perhaps the most successful academy graduate under Solskjaer was Anthony Elanga. Now at Nottingham Forest, the youngster impressed under the Norwegian manager. He played three times under his tutelage, scoring once in that time, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Another youngster that Solskjaer brought through was James Garner. The midfielder is also still playing in the top flight with Everton but made seven appearances under United’s former number 20. He was an important player in the 2019/20 Europa League group stage, playing four out of the six games.

Some of the other notable names that Solskjaer gave a debut to include creative midfielder Hannibal, now playing at Championship Burnley, and centre-back Teden Mengi, who plies his trade at second-tier side Luton Town.

He also gave a record-breaking debut to one United youngster, but things did not pan out as he might have expected at Old Trafford.

The record-breaking Man United youngster

When thinking of the great young players to debut for United, names such as Duncan Edwards or Norman Whiteside might spring to mind. More recently, Angel Gomes was a prominent young debutant. However, another player on the list is Shola Shoretire.

At the age of 17, Newcastle-born Shoretire played against the Magpies, to become the second-youngest player to make his Premier League debut for the Old Trafford club, as per Statman Dave. Gomes was the only player younger.

10 youngest players in Man Utd’s history

Player

Season of debut

Age

David Gaskell

1956/57

16 years 19 days

Jeff Whitefoot

1949/50

16 years, 3 months, 15 days

Duncan Edwards

1952/53

16 years, 6 months, 4 days

Angel Gomes

2016/17

16 years, 8 months, 20 days

Willie Anderson

1963/64

16 years, 11 months, 4 days

Norman Whiteside

1981/82

16 years, 11 months, 17 days

Shola Shoretire

2020/21

17 years, 19 days

Andy Ritchie

1977/78

17 years, 28 days

David McCreery

1974/75

17 years, 1 month

Alex Dawson

1956/57

17 years, 2 months, 1 day

Stats from Transfermarkt

Just days later, he played in Europe for the first time, a 14-minute cameo against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. Not only was he hailed as an “enormous talent,” by journalist Rich Fay but manager Solskjaer said that the Red Devils youngster would go on to become “a very good player” for his boyhood club.

However, that was not the case. Shoretire went on to play just three more times in that famous Red shirt, making five appearances in total, with his last game coming in the 2021/22 campaign.

After a loan spell at League One outfit Bolton Wanderers, the United academy graduate left the club upon the expiration of his contract last summer despite being valued just as highly as Amad in the dying stages of the season from a monetary point of view. He made the move to Greek side PAOK on a free transfer, although the Red Devils got a compensation fee of £500k.

He has since made 23 appearances for his new club across all competitions, scoring four times in that time, playing on both the left and right flank. In a full-circle moment, Shoretire made a six-minute appearance at Old Trafford with his new side in the Europa League this season.

It was sadly not to be for Shoretire at Old Trafford. The club’s second-youngest Premier League player only made a handful of appearances, not living up to Solskjaer’s words after his second game for the club.

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da dobrowin： Leeds United lost in the Championship for the first time since November as they were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday afternoon.

da betcris： The Whites were hit with a hammer blow in the second half as Colby Bishop raced through to dink the ball over Illan Meslier and into the back of the net to put the hosts in front.

Daniel Farke’s side created three ‘big chances’ and racked up 2.27 xG but could not take their opportunities in front of goal, and were made to pay for it.

There were numerous disappointing performances by Leeds players across the pitch in Hampshire, including from attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and a certain Joel Piroe who missed a couple of sitters…

Brenden Aaronson's performance against Portsmouth

The USA international was once again selected to start in the number ten position for the Whites, tasked with knitting the midfield and the attack together.

Unfortunately, the former RB Salzburg man made it six games without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts, and just one goal and zero assists in his last 12 outings in the Championship.

Aaronson ended the defeat to Portsmouth with zero shots on goal and zero key passes, whilst he also lost all seven of his duels throughout the game. This shows that he was kept out of the match in and out of possession by the Pompey defenders.

He did, however, only have 20 touches of the ball, completing 73% of his attempted passes, and the midfielder could point to a lack of service into him as the reason why he struggled.

Performance in Numbers

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There was, though, a Leeds player who was even worse than Aaronson in the middle of the park for Farke, as Ao Tanaka put in his worst performance of the season to date.

Ao Tanaka's worst performance for Leeds

The Japan international, who was once described as a “tiger” and an “unbelievable” signing by his manager, started alongside Ilia Gruev in midfield, but struggled to impact the game on or off the ball.

Tanaka, who was handed a 4/10 player rating by LeedsLive, was even worse than Aaronson as he completed a lower percentage (71%) of his passes, despite playing in a holding midfield role, and made an error that directly led to a shot for the opposition.

The American, at least, did not do anything to create a chance for Portsmouth, as Tanaka did, whilst they both lost 100% of their ground duels.

Tanaka

Vs Portsmouth

24/25 Championship (per game)

Pass accuracy

71%

90%

Ground duels won

0

3.7

Ground duel success rate

0%

54%

Possession lost

11x

8.1x

Dribbled past

2x

1.1x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese midfielder’s performance – which lasted just 68 minutes – was significantly worse than his average level in and out of possession in the Championship this season.

It was his worst Sofascore rating (6.1), his lowest pass completion rate (71%), his joint-lowest ground duel success rate (0%), and his joint-lowest ground duels won (zero) of the season as a starter so far.

This illustrates how far off his best the central midfielder was, as he put in his worst display in a Leeds shirt this season. Farke will now be hoping that Tanaka, and Aaronson, can get back to their best against Millwall at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

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The Japanese maestro must improve his use of the ball by getting back to his usual levels of efficiency, to ensure that Leeds can dicate the tempo of the game and create more chances in the final third.

da imperador bet： Wolverhampton Wanderers crashed out of the FA Cup on penalties at the weekend to Bournemouth in what was yet another poor result for the Old Gold.

da bet vitoria： It was capped off by star man Matheus Cunha receiving his marching orders in the final minute of extra time, which means he will miss several matches over the next few weeks.

How the club could use a player like Raul Jimenez to lead the line in his absence, with the Brazilian having initially thought to have been the ideal heir for the Mexican striker upon his departure.

Molineux's cult hero: The numbers behind Raul Jimenez's Wolves career

The striker joined Wolves in 2018 ahead of their first season back in the Premier League, going on to score 17 goals in all competitions.

The following campaign was even better. Not only did the Old Gold finish seventh for the second season in a row, but Jimenez found the back of the net 27 times while chipping in with nine assists. Wolves even reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Raul Jimenez’s Wolves statistics

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

20

3

1

2021/22

36

6

5

2020/21

11

4

0

2019/20

55

27

10

2018/19

44

17

7

Via Transfermarkt

Jimenez’s talents in the final third were exceptional, but injuries soon began to plague him. A horrendous skull fracture in November 2020 ruled him out for the rest of the season and he was arguably never the same in the Midlands.

He would go on to score just nine further goals for the club, struggling to recapture his early form at Molineux and was sold to Fulham in the summer of 2023 for just £5.5m.

Jimenez has since scored 18 goals for the London side, with Wolves failing to find a proper heir to his cult hero status.

Wolves have found their next Raul Jimenez

If not the aforementioned Cunha, might Jorgen Strand Larsen be the ideal candidate?

The Norwegian striker joined the club on an initial loan deal last summer, which will be made permanent at the end of the season.

Seven goals and three assists is hardly the most prolific of returns, but three of these goals have come against Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham Hotspur, suggesting he loves playing against a higher-quality opposition.

Hailed by journalist Josh Bunting last August, he outlined qualities, specifically his ability to be in the right place at the right time, that evokes memories of Jimenez: “His movement off the ball really stands out to me,” Bunting noted. “He’s sharp on the ball and gets into the space really well.”

When compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, Larsen ranks in the top 1% for shots on target percentage (63.9%) per 90 and in the top 24% for aerials won (2.27) per 90. For context, Jimenez ranks in the top 21% for aerials won with 2.64, outlining their similar prowess when the ball is off the deck.

The 25-year-old will surely get better the more he plays in the top flight. With Cunha suspended due to his sending-off in the FA Cup clash against the Cherries, Larsen will need to step up over the next few weeks.

If he can score the goals which keep Wolves in the top flight, the supporters might rank him in the same breath as Jimenez.

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da bet7： Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England manager will be defined by whether he can steer the Three Lions to World Cup glory in 2026. The German led out his new team against Albania at Wembley on 21st March for the first qualifier for the tournament, with a 2-0 victory at Wembley followed by a comfortable 3-0 success against Latvia three days later.

da esport bet： Bigger tests will come, but none more so than when, as expected, England begin their latest World Cup finals campaign, with eyes set on a first triumph since 1966.

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Plenty of managers have experienced the sensation of qualifying easily before failing spectacularly at a major competition. Fabio Capello, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roy Hodgson failed to reach the final tournament highs that they did during qualification.

Tuchel could be the one to finally lead England to another major international title. With his first game potentially showing signs of things to come, we have taken a look back at every England manager’s first matches in charge.

Thomas Tuchel’s confirmed England fixture list

Date

Opposition

H/A

Competition

Fri 21st Mar

Albania

H

World Cup qualifier

Mon 24th Mar

Latvia

H

World Cup qualifier

Sat 7th Jun

Andorra

A

World Cup qualifier

Tue 10th Jun

Senegal

H

Friendly

Sat 6th Sep

Andorra

H

World Cup qualifier

Tue 9th Sep

Serbia

A

World Cup qualifier

Thu 9th Oct

Wales

H

Friendly

Tue 14th Oct

Latvia

A

World Cup qualifier

Thu 13th Nov

Serbia

H

World Cup qualifier

Sun 16th Nov

Albania

A

World Cup qualifier

There have been 15 permanent England managers, so sit back, grab a drink and enjoy this trip down through the years.

1 Walter Winterbottom Ireland 2-7 England, 1946 British Home Championship

Walter Winterbottom became the first manager of the England national team in 1946. Prior to this, the team was picked by a variety of international selectors, who also chose the starting XI.

Winterbottom was in charge of the nation between 1946 and 1963, with his first match coming against Ireland in the 1946 British Home Championship.

It proved to be an excellent start, as England ran out 7-2 winners over their opponents. His last match came against Wales in November 1962, a 4-0 victory in the same competition – one that he won 13 times during his spell as head coach.

2 Sir Alf Ramsey France 5-2 England, 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying

Alf Ramsey will go down in the history books as the first – and so far, only manager – to lead England to a major international trophy, winning the World Cup in 1966.

However, his reign got off to the worst possible start as they suffered a hammering at the hands of France.

The 5-2 defeat ensured England wouldn’t qualify for the main stages of the 1964 European Nations’ Cup (later to be known as the European Championship), which was won by Spain.

Along with the World Cup in 1966, Ramsey led England to the quarter-finals of the 1970 edition, falling to West Germany, while they qualified for the 1968 European Championship, losing to Yugoslavia in the semi-finals.

His last match came in 1973 as England failed to qualify for the World Cup the following year.

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Posts 2 3 Don Revie England 3-0 Czechoslovakia, Euro 1976 qualifying

Don Revie took Leeds United from the Second Division to the top flight before making them arguably the finest club in England. Two league titles were won, along with the FA Cup and League Cup, but they should have won more.

With this in mind, he was the best choice to lead England, and his first match in charge was a success, securing a 3-0 win over Czechoslovakia in 1974.

England failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championship, as the team Revie had defeated in his first match eventually went on to win the competition.

4 Ron Greenwood England 0-0 Switzerland, friendly

Ron Greenwood led West Ham United to the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following year. His appointment in 1977 was seen as a safe choice.

His first match was a friendly clash against Switzerland which finished 0-0. During his reign, he secured qualification for the 1982 World Cup. Although they made it to the second group stage, England failed to score in their two games and were eliminated.

5 Sir Bobby Robson Denmark 2-2 England, Euro 1984 qualifying

Sir Bobby Robson’s success at Ipswich Town, winning the FA Cup and UEFA Cup, indicated that he was the best choice for the role.

His first match against Denmark ended in a 2-2 draw. The Danes ended up securing the qualifying spot for the 1984 European Championship. Robson eventually led England to the finals of the World Cup in 1986 and Euro 1988.

It was their performance at Italia 90 which gave Robson a great send-off as they made it to the semifinals, losing to West Germany.

6 Graham Taylor England 1-0 Hungary, friendly

Graham Taylor’s first match in charge of England was a 1-0 win over Hungary at Wembley. He managed to lead the nation to Euro 1992, although England failed to make it beyond the group stage.

More strife was to come, as Taylor couldn’t steer England to the 1994 World Cup, suffering defeats to the Netherlands and Norway in qualifying.

7 Terry Venables England 1-0 Denmark, friendly

Terry Venables took over the job from Taylor, securing a win over Denmark in his first match in charge. Due to England hosting Euro 1996, England didn’t play any qualifiers, relying on various friendlies to keep them ticking over.

A run to the semi-finals of the competition was England’s best display since the 1990 World Cup, but the penalty-shootout defeat to Germany proved to be Venables’ final match in charge of his country.

8 Glenn Hoddle Moldova 0-3 England, 1998 World Cup qualifying

Glenn Hoddle secured an easy 3-0 win over Moldova in his first game in charge of the Three Lions, which featured a young David Beckham making his England debut.

He led the nation to the 1998 World Cup and hopes were high for the tournament. Facing Argentina in the last 16, England were (once again) knocked out on penalties.

His last match came against the Czech Republic in November that same year.

9 Kevin Keegan England 3-1 Poland, Euro 2000 qualifying

Kevin Keegan’s reign got off to a flyer, defeating Poland 3-1 as they secured a win in their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2000.

They sealed their place at the tournament held by Belgium and the Netherlands, but defeats to Portugal and Romania ensured the nation flew home early.

He resigned after a 1-0 loss to Germany in October 2000, allegedly in the toilets.

10 Sven-Goran Eriksson England 3-0 Spain, friendly

Sven-Goran Eriksson became the first foreign coach of England, and began his tenure with an impressive 3-0 win over Spain in a friendly.

Across his five and a half years in charge, Eriksson led the nation to the quarter-finals at the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, as well as at Euro 2004.

Having the so-called ‘golden generation’ at his disposal, he ought to have reached at least one final, but penalties proved to be his undoing more often than not.

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da apostaganha： They say the best defence is a good offence, and in Tottenham Hotspur’s case, that may well be true.

da betano casino： Ange Postecoglou’s side have had to deal with injury after injury to their backline this year, which has seen them concede the seventh most goals in the Premier League this season.

Fortunately, the North Londoners have also scored the joint second-most goals in the competition, which has kept them from falling below 14th place and into a genuine relegation scrap – it’s the small things.

It now appears as if Daniel Levy and Co are keen to further improve the attack this summer, as recent reports have touted one of the best strikers in Europe with a move to N17, a forward who’d be an upgrade on club-record signing Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur's striker search

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several clubs weighing up a summer move for LOSC Lille star Jonathan David.

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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Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, West Ham United, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on the Canadian, while European giants Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus are all ‘considering moves’.

While the level of competition for the prolific number nine is far from ideal, the good news is that this would not be an expensive deal to get over the line due to his contract expiring in the summer.

In all, it could be an incredibly complicated transfer to get done for Spurs, but given David’s immense ability, one well worth fighting for, especially as he could be an upgrade on the already talented Solanke.

How David compares to Solanke

The first thing to say is that, so far this season, Solanke has shown himself to be more than capable of leading the line for this Tottenham side, but just because he’s impressed thus far does not mean he cannot be improved upon, which is where David comes into the picture.

The first thing to compare is their raw output, as when it really comes down to it, that is what matters more than anything else for a number nine, and in this metric, it’s an easy win for the Lille star.

For example, in his 41 appearances this term, totalling 3284 minutes, the 25-year-old star, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 23 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 99.51 minutes.

For his part, the Lilywhites forward has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2536 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 133.47 minutes.

Unfortunately for the former Bournemouth man, he also comes out on the losing side, albeit to a lesser degree, when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

David vs Solanke

Statistics per 90

David

Solanke

Expected G+As

0.83

0.61

Goals + Assists

0.80

0.51

Progressive Passes

2.17

1.92

Progressive Carries

1.13

1.36

Shots

2.32

2.63

Goals per Shot

0.16

0.13

Shots on Target

1.04

1.06

Goals per Shot on Target

0.36

0.33

Passing Accuracy

81.2%

71.8%

Key Passes

1.27

0.66

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.80

0.45

Shot-Creating Actions

2.46

1.72

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, in most relevant metrics, the New York-born dynamo comes out ahead, including but not limited to expected and actual goals plus assists, progressive and key passes, shot-creating actions, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the Basingstoke-born marksman is yet to score a senior goal for England, the former Gent star has won 59 caps for Canada, in which he’s racked up a phenomenal haul of 31 goals and 18 assists.

That means he averages a goal involvement every 1.20 games and can handle the pressure of being a talisman for club and country.

Ultimately, Solanke is a great player and someone who could go on to have a brilliant career with Spurs, but when it comes down to what matters most, goals, it’s clear that David is in another league entirely.

Therefore, if Levy and Co want the first team to pack even more of a punch next season, they should be doing all they can to convince the Canadian star to move to the white side of North London when his contract ends.

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da wazamba： Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, will have already completed a comprehensive audit of Liverpool’s accounts and how the transfer kitty can be distributed this summer.

da dobrowin： How indeed. Audit or not, several crunch variables are at play which could shape, dissemble and remould the summer strategy. Namely, three certain players are into the eleventh hour of their bumper contracts, and while Liverpool want to tie them down, the devil’s in the details and the details do matter.

Liverpool’s Top Earners – 2024/25

#

Player

Contract expiry

Salary

1.

Mohamed Salah

2025

£350k-per-week

2.

Virgil van Dijk

2025

£220k-per-week

3.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

2025

£180k-per-week

4.

Andy Robertson

2026

£160k-per-week

5.

Alexis Mac Allister

2028

£150k-per-week

5=

Alisson Becker

2027

£150k-per-week

5=

Ryan Gravenberch

2028

£150k-per-week

5=

Federico Chiesa

2028

£150k-per-week

Data via Capology

We reckon there are easier jobs out there. Hughes and Michael Edwards need to work with Arne Slot to strengthen Liverpool’s squad, retain the superstars and prepare for a title-charge campaign in 2025/26 – all within FSG’s stringent parameters.

It means not everyone linked with a move away will be sold this summer. Darwin Nunez’s departure feels set in stone, but Luis Diaz’s future is more uncertain.

Would there be a benefit in keeping the Colombian on Merseyside?

Luis Diaz's season in numbers

Diaz’s future has been a point of discussion for some time. Last summer, Liverpool were curious about Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, and while it didn’t come to fruition, there were rumours that Barcelona or the like would take Diaz off Slot’s hands to facilitate a deal.

The 28-year-old is one of the more dangerous wingers in world football and has been a regular presence in Slot’s starting 11 this season as Liverpool march toward the Premier League title, 12 points clear as they are.

As it is, Diaz has posted 13 goals and five assists across 42 matches in all competitions, equating to about 2,785 minutes. Last term, he chalked up identical numbers, albeit having played around 700 minutes more with all said and done.

He’s fleet-footed and dizzying on the ball, but Diaz lacks an instinctive touch in the final third that precludes a true world-class reputation. Indeed, he’s only scored one goal so far in 2025, and it was bundled in at that.

With the likes of Barcelona retaining their interest, Liverpool may well consider cashing in for the right price, but with so much anticipated to occur at Anfield this summer, it may be a development that rocks the boat too hard.

Liverpool closing on first summer signing

As per The i Paper, Liverpool are ‘closing in’ on Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who has enjoyed a barnstorming season in the Premier League.

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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Valued at around £40m by the Cherries, Kerkez has been earmarked as the optimum target to upgrade on Andy Robertson, who is deteriorating at 31 and approaching the final year of his contract.

It’s stated that talks have begun with the player’s agent while ­Liverpool have also made initial contact with Bournemouth. That said, no official bid has gone in just yet.

A host of top outfits including Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested, but Kerkez’s preference is to move to Anfield. This feels like one which really could happen.

Why Milos Kerkez is perfect for Liverpool

Kerkez’s athleticism and avidity down the left channel would give Liverpool something missing, pumping energy that may even reboot Diaz, should the South American remain on Merseyside.

Diaz was hailed by reporter Lewis Steele for his “deadly” efforts in the early knockings of the campaign, but he’s fizzled out. Kerkez could restore that devastating quality that currently lies dormant.

That said, Diaz has scored nine Premier League goals this season, missing just eight big chances. If he could be supplied with greater creative support from behind, there may yet be a resurgence on the cards.

When comparing Kerkez’s metrics this year with Robertson’s, you begin to see why.

PL: Milos Kerkez vs Andy Robertson (24/25)

Match Stats*

Kerkez

Robertson

Matches (starts)

29 (29)

27 (24)

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

0

Touches*

57.8

65.3

Pass completion

81%

89%

Big chances created

6

6

Ball recoveries*

4.6

3.2

Dribble (success)*

0.6 (55%)

0.1 (33%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances

2.7

1.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.1 (58%)

1.6 (51%)

Stats via Sofascore (* per game)

Clearly, Bournemouth’s man boasts athletic superiority over Liverpool’s veteran. And that’s okay. Robbo, you’ve done a great job, a modern legend at this gold-mine-rich point in the club’s sweeping history.

But at 31 years old, the Scotland skipper’s been run to the ground. His dribble average of 0.1 per game epitomises this. He’s not incapable of energetic bursts, but he’s way more reliant on his ball-playing game and the electric presence of those such as Diaz and Cody Gakpo ahead of him.

Kerkez isn’t the most relentless vessel, but he’s far more accurate when deciding to move forward. He’s at the heart of much of Bournemouth’s attacking play, Andoni Iraola often opting to funnel the ball into his patch to spark progression.

Hailed for his “incredible work rate and physicality” by Cherries reporter Alex Oakhill, Kerkez is exactly what Liverpool need, giving Robertson a breather and recharging the left flank.

Diaz’s struggles are a product of his own tameness in the final third, sure, but this isn’t helped by Robertson’s decreased attacking output. Indeed, the Tartan general has yet to register a single goal involvement in the Premier League this year. Should that statistic remain, it would be a career first, across stints both at Liverpool and Hull City.

Kerkez, meanwhile, is feasting at the Vitality Stadium, showcasing an eye for goal and a delicious range of passing that bears a certain semblance to Robertson in his pomp.

It’s going to boost Liverpool and then some, giving Slot a tenacious and hungry young star to make this talented team even better.

Sky Sports pundit Izzy Christensen said this: “He’s been a machine this season and the frightening thing is he’s not even at his peak yet.”

It may even be the perfect move for Diaz, capturing that purple-patch form that he’s capable of crafting. But sustaining it, enlivening it and imbuing it with a supply line that won’t cease in its production.

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da betway： Aston Villa’s transfer activity since Unai Emery took charge of the club in October 2022 has been nothing short of remarkable.

da dobrowin： During that time, the likes of Jhon Duran, Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have all joined the Midlands side.

A few years ago, these sorts of transfers would have been unthinkable. Now, thanks to Emery, not only are they possible, but transfers like this have become the norm.

With the summer window fast approaching, who will be the next big name to secure a move to the Midlands? Only time will tell.

Emery appears to be keeping a close watch on those currently playing in the Premier League, however, targeting a move for someone who could even be an upgrade on January arrival, Rashford…

Marcus Rashford's start to life at Aston Villa

It was clear that the Englishman wasn’t in Ruben Amorim’s plans at Manchester United, despite scoring in his first two league matches in charge.

A move to Villa was arguably the ideal chance for Rashford to prove his worth ahead of perhaps convincing the Portuguese manager that he has a future at Old Trafford. Or, that someone like Emery will take a chance and sign him permanently this summer.

The 27-year-old has yet to open his account for the Midlands side, but he has registered four assists, including two during a stunning display against Chelsea.

Against the Blues, Rashford came off the bench for the second half, providing assists for Asensio to score twice in the 2-1 victory.

He also attempted four dribbles, succeeding with two, while creating two big chances, making three key passes and losing possession just five times throughout the second half.

Rashford is thriving under Emery, no doubt about it. With the likes of Asensio, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins in the same attack, Villa have been excellent at times.

The United loanee is approaching 28 years of age, however, and spending £40m on someone who might only have a year or two at their absolute peak might not be the best decision.

With that in mind, it is no surprise that the Villans are also considering other Premier League talents to bolster their attacking ranks next season…

Aston Villa targets Premier League winger

According to Caught Offside, Villa are battling Newcastle United in the chase for Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara this summer.

Transfer Focus

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The Cherries could well cash in on one of their star players, with a fee of around €40m (£33.5m) looking like it could be enough to secure the signature of the Burkina Faso international.

Serie A sides Napoli and AC Milan are also keen on the player, and this could mean Emery will need to lead his side back into the Champions League next term if he wishes to add the winger to his squad.

Of the January signings, both Rashford and Asensio are currently on loan. As alluded to previously, the former could be signed for around £40m this summer due to the option to buy clause being inserted as part of the deal.

There is no doubt the Englishman has impressed for Villa since arriving on deadline day, but he will turn 28 in October and might not have long left at his peak.

Ouattara, on the other hand, has only just turned 23, meaning he could be a better signing, certainly over the long term anyway.

Dango Ouattara could be an upgrade to Marcus Rashford

The 23-year-old has been with Bournemouth since the summer of 2022, but he has taken a few seasons to acclimatise to the Premier League.

Comparing Rashford and Ouattara’s stats in the PL this season

Metric

Rashford

Ouattara

Goals

4

7

Assists

3

4

Big chances created

8

9

Successful dribbles per game

0.9

1

Shots per game

1.2

1.8

Total duels won per game

2.3

3.7

Stats via Sofascore

Indeed, across both 2022/23 and 2023/24, Quattara scored only twice in the top flight, along with recording just five assists for the club.

This season, however, he has been a different beast indeed. The winger has played 26 league games so far this term, scoring seven goals and providing four assists. Add in another two goals in the FA Cup at the time of writing, and it is clear to see why Emery wishes to sign him.

Earlier this year, analyst Ben Mattinson heaped plenty of praise on the youngster, saying he was “one of the league’s most underrated players” following a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in January.

This may have been the game which confirmed he is ready to take the next step up, attracting the attention of Villa and Newcastle among others.

In the Premier League this season, Ouattara has registered 11 goals and assists, 2.85 shots per 90, 55 shot-creating actions, 0.36 goal-creating actions per 90 and succeeds in 45.6% of his take-on attempts, proving how effective he has been going forwards.

Compare this to Rashford and it is evident who has been the better player in the top flight throughout 2024/25. The Englishman has registered seven goals and assists for both United and Villa while recording 1.75 shots per 90, 46 shot-creating actions, 0.31 goal-creating actions per 90 and succeeding with just 30.9% of his take-on attempts.

Ouattara has also created more big chances in the Premier League (eight vs nine) than the current Villa star, while also succeeding with more dribbles (one vs 0.9) per game than Rashford.

It has been an excellent season for the “incredible” starlet – as hailed by former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington – one that could be the springboard for a move to a club such as Villa soon, and with it, potential Champions League football.

They will have to splash the cash to secure his signature, but based on his displays since the start of the season, it could be money well spent. That’s a certainty.

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da bet esporte： Believe it or not, Liverpool are set to make some signings in the transfer market this summer, strengthening Arne Slot’s side ahead of his second season.

da pinnacle： The hope is that, in three months time, Liverpool will be gearing up to defend their Premier League title, 12 points clear at the summit as they are. However, dropped levels in recent fixtures have made a firm comment on the need for reinforcements, especially up front.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 2025 (all comps)

#

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

Mohamed Salah

17 (17)

12

5

Cody Gakpo

13 (9)

5

1

Luis Diaz

18 (15)

1

2

Diogo Jota

14 (9)

2

1

Darwin Nunez

16 (4)

3

4

Federico Chiesa

5 (2)

2

1

Data via Transfermarkt

The frontline just hasn’t been firing as expected since the turn of the calendar year, but it’s not just forwards on FSG’s mind. Indeed, Liverpool have learned the conditions for one of their top summer targets and talks are being held.

Liverpool learn conditions for top target

As per The Times, Liverpool have been informed that it will take a fee worth £45m to convince Bournemouth to part ways with left-back Milos Kerkez this summer.

Kerkez, 21, has been one of the standout full-backs in the Premier League this season and is looking to move on at the end of the season, with Liverpool among the frontrunners for his signature.

Caught Offside have also chipped in to reveal that Liverpool have opened talks with the Hungarian’s representatives ahead of the summer market, looking to get ahead as a swarm of European clubs – including Arsenal and the dreaded Real Madrid – also register interest.

Why Liverpool must sign Kerkez

Liverpool need to freshen up their left-back zone this summer, one of the weaker points of Slot’s squad. Kerkez is young and hungry and fearsome in his approach, and while he would shore up the backline, he’d also add plenty to the attacking fluency.

Just imagine, for example, if Liverpool succeed in their pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, interest confirmed by The Athletic.

Isak would certainly mark an upgrade on Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, both flagging, bringing an incredible multi-facetedness that has led pundit Ally McCoist to hail him as “the best all-round centre-forward” in the Premier League.

Criticism around Andy Robertson has maybe been a little harsh this term, but there’s little question that the 31-year-old is on the decline, having failed to register a single goal involvement, also averaging just 0.1 dribbles per game, as per Sofascore.

Meanwhile, Kerkez is thriving for Andoni Iraola’s Cherries, posting two goals and five assists in the Premier League while charging up and down the wing with tireless energy.

As per FBref, Kerkez’s creativity has led him to rank among the top 10% of full-backs in the Premier League this term for assists per 90.

He’s a “machine” – according to pundit Izzy Christiansen – and would be a dream for Isak, adding energy and impetus that has sadly passed the aging Robertson by, supercharging the left flank.

By driving into the danger area with frightening regularity, whipping in delicious crosses and bypassing hapless opponents, the Hungary international could be the perfect creative muse for Isak – especially if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves for Real Madrid this summer.

Isak is an incredibly prolific striker, but his movement and intelligence make for an all-embracing wheelhouse that would feed directly into Kerkez’s strengths.

If both players sign for the Reds this summer, fans should get very excited indeed.

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da winzada777： Serie A frontrunners Inter Milan are on course to clinch their second Scudetto in a row under Simone Inzaghi, but they face the prospect of losing key players this summer and could be tempted by an ambitious Arsenal bid.

Andrea Berta shortlists Arsenal attacking targets

da bet vitoria： Andrea Berta officially touched down in north London earlier this month to commence his role as Arsenal’s new sporting director, taking the mantle from previous transfer chief Edu Gaspar, and he’s been tipped for a busy first window at the club.

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Gunners boss Mikel Arteta anticipates a “big” summer for the Gunners, as he admitted in a press conference last week, even if most of the attention is on putting Real Madrid away in the second leg of their blockbuster Champions League tie.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Amid their potentially fruitful campaign in Europe, one eye remains firmly on Berta’s transfer plans as the Italian reportedly gets to work on strengthening the squad before next season.

Berta has personally held talks with the representatives of Nico Williams, according to reliable media sources, while it is believed the 53-year-old is very much plotting to bring in a prolific new striker.

In the last two weeks, Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres has become more of a top target for Arsenal, while links continue to surround RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko as well.

Both Gyokeres and Sesko are seen as more viable alternatives to Arteta’s “dream” target, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, who appears set to be priced out of the market with a valuation of around £150 million.

As we approach Berta’s debut window at N5, we also cannot rule out more left-field options emerging, and one of them is now reported to be Inter captain Lautaro Martinez.

Inter could be tempted by "astronomical" Arsenal bid for Lautaro Martinez

The £265,000-per-week striker has yet again spearheaded Inzaghi’s title charge, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, but his contract runs until 2029, so Inter would be able to demand an extortionate fee for their pivotal star.

This, coupled with his sky-high salary, makes this potential swoop look almost like a non-starter.

However, according to reports from Spain, Arsenal are prepared to make an “astronomical” offer for Martinez, worth in the region of £129 million.

Even though Inter consider the 27-year-old “untouchable”, it is believed Inter could be tempted by Arsenal’s mega-money bid for Martinez, as it is a figure which can “hardly be ignored”.

The Argentina international is not only a prolific goalscorer, but also a real leader, with Inter legend Beppe Bergomi calling him a “true captain”.

“He is more than a top goalscorer, Lautaro is a true captain,” said Bergomi.

“He has a strong sense of belonging and even when he didn’t score for eight games he had a different facial expression than in the past. This is a sign of strong maturity. Then the goals, with time, always arrive.”