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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Leeds United have completed some phenomenal business in the market over the last couple of years.
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.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
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.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
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
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.
raul-jimenez-wolves
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
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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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
Bobby Robson
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
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
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.
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.
Lille'sJonathanDavidcelebrates scoring their fourth goal
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.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke
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.
Lille'sJonathanDavidin action with Paris St Germain's Lucas Beraldo
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.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
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.
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.
Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth
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.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
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.
Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez
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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Liverpool are planning for significant changes in the transfer market this summer.
da esport bet： This season has been a long one for Arsenal fans.
da roleta： Instead of finally getting over the line in the Premier League, they were out of the title race months ago, and in the domestic cups, they were even worse.
Granted, the North Londoners have had to deal with a mountain of injuries, but even then, when fit, most of the attackers in the squad have been subpar at best.
Perhaps the worst of the lot, and one of the worst signings made in the team’s recent history, was Raheem Sterling, and if recent reports are to be believed, the board has been in contact with a player who could prove to be just as disastrous a signing this summer.
Arsenal could sign Premier League winger
Before we get to the worrying links in question, it is worth looking at some of the more exciting transfer rumours for players like Benjamin Sesko and Rayan Cherki.
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 enjoyed another fine season with RB Leipzig this year, racking up a tally of 21 goals and six assists in 45 games, and could be available for just £75m.
On the other hand, the Lyon star could be available for even less at £30m and has enjoyed an even better campaign with the French giants, racking up a sensational haul of 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 games.
Olympique Lyonnais' RayanCherkiapplauds fans
However, while both of these players would undoubtedly add something positive to the Gunners squad, we aren’t sure we can say the same about Alejandro Garnacho.
Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal have been in contact with the player’s representatives.
Now, even though it has been widely reported that the Argentine winger has been told to find himself a new club this summer, Manchester United still want a sizable fee for the winger, a fee of around £51m per Bailey.
While Garnacho is a talented young footballer, we can’t see him as a good fit for Arsenal in any way whatsoever, and with the money required to bring him to North London, this could be another Sterling-esque disaster.
Why Garnacho could be another Sterling for Arsenal
Even if we were to completely disregard the transfer fee required to sign Garnacho this summer – we shouldn’t – there would still be a plethora of reasons why bringing him to the club would be a bad idea.
Alejandro Garnacho
Despite being labelled as a “superstar,” by football creator Liam Canning, much like Sterling this season, he’d almost certainly struggle to make an impact and establish himself in the starting lineup.
For example, while his tally of 11 goals and ten assists certainly looks good at a glance, things become a lot less impressive when we dive into those numbers.
Of those 21 goal involvements, only eight came in the league, while six came in the League Cup and another five in the Europa League, and worse yet, his only goal against a fellow ‘big six’ side was against Manchester City in the Community Shield.
On top of his underwhelming output, the last week or so has shown that, at his worst, the supposedly “special talent”, as dubbed by football statistician Statman Dave, can be a serious problem in the dressing room.
Garnacho’s 24/25
Competiotn
Games
Goals
Assists
G/A per Game
Premier League
36
6
2
0.22
Europa League
15
1
4
0.33
FA Cup
3
0
1
0.33
League Cup
3
3
3
2.00
Community Shield
1
1
0
1.00
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Following the Red Devils defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League Final, the 20-year-old doubled down on his brother’s comments about him not starting.
If there is one thing we know about Arteta, it’s that he does not like troublemakers.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho
Finally, the Madrid-born ace also has some worrying underlying numbers, with FBref placing him in the bottom 21% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assists, the bottom 12% for goals per shot and the bottom 8% for goals per shot on target, all per 90.
Ultimately, Garnacho may well develop into a brilliant winger, but as things stand, his attitude, output and the money required to make it happen all point towards this being a terrible idea and a transfer that could end up being even more disastrous than Sterling’s last summer.
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da blaze casino： Will Emi Martínez leave Aston Villa this summer?
da apostebet： According to a report by Football Insider, the Villans are under pressure to ‘sell a prize asset’ before 30 June to avoid breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules, claiming that Martínez is one of the most likely candidates to be sacrificed.
Well, there are plenty of suitors for the back-to-back Yashin Trophy winner.
Goal documents Manchester United’s interest, while The Telegraph claim that numerous Saudi Pro League clubs would be delighted to secure his signature.
Well, given, as noted by Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic, Martínez’s propensity to deliver ‘defining moments’ and ‘standout performances’, he will be a difficult man to replace, but have Aston Villa actually managed to identify an upgrade?
Aston Villa's first-choice Emi Martínez replacement
According to a report by John Townley for Birmingham Live, Aston Villa will ‘target’ a move to sign LOSC Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, should Martínez be sold.
Lucas Chevalier for LOSC Lille.
French publication L’Équipe has previously noted that newly-crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain are tracking the 23-year-old, with TEAMtalk claiming that he is valued at just £34m by les Dogues.
Chevalier joined Lille as a 13-year-old, making 127 appearances for the senior team, conceding exactly 127 goals and keeping 44 clean sheets in this time.
So, could he soon be swapping Northern France for the English Midlands?
Why Lucas Chevalier would be an Emi Martínez upgrade
During his three seasons as Lille’s number one, Chevalier has earned countless rave reviews.
Alongside Rayan Cherki of Olympique Lyonnais, they were the only non-PSG players to feature in Ligue 1’s team of the season.
Meanwhile, following les Nordistes’ stunning 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in October, Joel Domenighetti of L’Équipe described Chevalier’s display as ‘exceptional’, while Nick Hartland of Get French Football News labels him ‘one of the breakout stars’ from this season’s competition.
Described as “one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Europe” by scout Jacek Kulig, what makes him so good is that – in the words of Liam Tharme and Matt Pyzdrowski of the Athletic – he not only boasts ‘excellent reach’ and exceptional ‘handling’, but also that his ‘super-strength’ is his ‘accomplished’ in possession play.
Lucas Chevalier for Lille.
So, how did the young Frenchman compare to the man he could be replacing between the Villa Park posts this season?
The table makes for interesting reading, considering the duo played a near-identical number of minutes this season across their respective domestic leagues and the Champions League
Chevalier vs Martínez 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Chevalier
Martínez
Appearances
48
49
Minutes
4,350
4,275
Goals conceded
53
57
Clean sheets
13
14
Post-shot xG – goals-conceded
+9.6
+4.7
Saves
123
144
Save %
74.9%
72.8%
% of crosses stopped
5.4%
11.3%
Ball recoveries
83
45
Errors leading to an opposition shot
4
8
Note: Martínez’s statistics are Premier League and Champions League only.
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com
Across Europe’s top five leagues, the Frenchman ranks tenth for post-shot xG – goals conceded, while he is also 11th in this season’s Champions League for the same metric, a key figure as Lille upset the odds to finish seventh in the league phase.
Meantime, his save percentage ranks highly both domestically and in the Champions League, with his Ligue 1 figure of 74.6% a noteworthy amount higher than Martínez’s 69% in the Premier League.
This is not to denigrate Martínez in any way, given that former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton believes the Argentine has been an “outstanding goalkeeper” and a “brilliant shot-stopper” since joining the club in 2020.
Nevertheless, if the Claret and Blue Army are able to sell the 32-year-old for a big fee and replace him with a 23 year old, this is surely an upgrade they should be looking to make.
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da dobrowin： West Bromwich Albion are now pushing hard to sign a defender, who recently won his side’s Fans’ Player of the Year award, according to a report.
West Brom's manager pursuit rumbles on
da bet vitoria： West Brom are still searching for a permanent replacement for Tony Mowbray, who was dismissed from his post back in April, and a number of different managers have been linked with the vacant job.
Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay and Stockport County’s Dave Challinor are among the potential options, alongside Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason, who was identified as the top target in the wake of Mowbray’s sacking.
Tottenham’s involvement in the Europa League meant the Baggies have been forced to wait before making an approach for Mason, but with the north Londoners ending their 17-year trophy drought against Manchester United on Wednesday night, the 33-year-old could now be available.
Tottenham Hotspur assistant coachRyanMasonduring training
Any new manager is likely to have a big say in the recruitment this summer, but West Brom have already started to identify targets in the meantime, with a report from EFL Analysis revealing they are now pushing hard to sign Hearts defender James Penrice.
Director of Sport Ian Pearce is determined to win the race for Penrice, but there is set to be competition for his signature from some of the Baggies’ Championship rivals, which could pose a problem, with Watford and Southampton also keen.
Signing a new left-back is a priority for Albion this summer, with Callum Styles potentially moving back into midfield, despite displaying his versatility by slotting into the defence last season.
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"Tough as nails" Penrice could be excellent signing
The Scottish defender has never played outside his home country, but there are signs he could be ready to take his career to the next level by making the move to a promotion-chasing Championship side, having scooped up the Fans’ Player of the Year award last season.
Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the 26-year-old remained a vital player for Hearts, making 46 appearances in all competitions, during which time he received plaudits for his no-nonsense nature from Guardian reporter Ewan Murray.
Murray is also correct to point out that the Livingston-born full-back is a threat on the front foot, given that he picked up two goals and seven assists last term, while also ranking in the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.
Styles was a key player for the Baggies last season, but with the Hungarian predominantly featuring further forward throughout his career to date, it would make sense to bring in a new left-back, and Penrice could be an excellent signing for West Brom.
