All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a Barcelona star, who is regarded as “the best in the world in his position”, journalist Fabrice Hawkins has revealed.

Man City looking to sign defender amid Akanji uncertainty

Pep Guardiola’s rebuild is well underway, and there could still be a few more departures to make way for new arrivals, with Manuel Akanji now being targeted by Galatasaray, following criticism from supporters for some of his performances last season.

City expert Steven McInerney believes it could be best for all parties if Akanji is moved on this summer, alongside a number of other players, saying: “I’m fine with it. I definitely feel the more (players) that move on right now it’s a good thing. I’m not one for pushing people out the door, but I think Akanji was probably at the scene of the crime far too many times last season.

“He’s obviously a good player, but I think he’s another that has had the post-treble malaise. It’s definitely a thing at City where you can see some players have reached the top of the mountain and the only way is down a little bit.”

Man City ready to submit £51m bid to sign top target to replace Ederson

Man City are now working on a deal to sign their top target this summer.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 22, 2025

Consequently, Guardiola may need to bring in a new centre-back this summer, while it has been clear for quite some time that the manager is keen on a new right-back, with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento on the shortlist.

As such, it could be a clever move to sign a versatile defender capable of playing in both of the aforementioned positions, and Man City have now made contact over a deal for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, according to an update from Hawkins on X.

Kounde is currently in negotiations over a new contract, with the La Liga club viewing the defender as “the best in the world in his position”, but the Blues are now hoping to lure him to the Etihad Stadium.

Kounde could be statement signing for Man City

The Barcelona star is very assured in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, while he has also received extremely high praise from teammate and major Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

71.73 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

86.7% (90th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.14 (84th percentile)

Indeed, Yamal described the Frenchman as the “best right-back in the world”, but the £226k-a-week defender has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career to date, showcasing his versatility.

With Kyle Walker moving to Burnley, and Akanji’s future up in the air, the 26-year-old could be the ideal addition to Guardiola’s defence, given his ability to play at both right-back and centre-back.

However, it could be very difficult to lure Kounde away from Barcelona, considering he is currently in negotiations over extending his stay at the Camp Nou.

Glasgow Rangers are moving swiftly in the summer transfer window, having already signed Emmanuel Fernandez, Thelo Aasgaard, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron.

Journalist Anthony Joseph recently revealed that Rangers are set to sign central defender Nasser Djiga on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

The 22-year-old central defender is closing in on a loan that would not include an option to buy, though, which means that he may only be at Ibrox for one season.

Nasser Djiga

Rangers are, however, also interested in a deal to sign another centre-back who could be an even better signing for Russell Martin moving forward.

Rangers closing in on English defender

Despite having already signed Fernandez and the report that they are closing in on a deal for Djiga, the Light Blues would like to add another central defender to their squad.

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 the Daily Record, it is ‘believed’ that a deal to sign former England international Conor Coady from Leicester City is ‘close’ to being completed.

The report claims that the Scottish Premiership giants are currently in talks with the Foxes to get a deal over the line for the experienced titan in the coming days.

It adds that Coady is ‘keen’ to make the move to Ibrox to link up with Martin’s squad, in what would be a permanent transfer for the 32-year-old veteran.

Why Coady would be an even better signing than Djiga

The English centre-back would come in as an even better signing than Djiga for several reasons, firstly because he is closing in on a permanent move, rather than a loan.

This means that Martin could count on Coady to be a key player for several seasons, rather than just one, which means that the former Wolves captain would provide Rangers with more value over time.

The fact that the English ace, who was described as an “infectious” character by Gareth Southgate, was the captain for Wolves before his time at Leicester and Everton also suggests that the centre-back could bring key leadership skills to Ibrox, which may not be the case for Djiga, who is only 22 and still starting out in his career.

Their respective performances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that Coady could provide more quality on the pitch in the here and now.

Appearances

22

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.2

0.4

Dribbled past per game

0.1x

0.2x

Clearances per game

3.2

0.8

Ground duel success rate

53%

25%

Duels won per game

1.3

0.4

As you can see in the table above, the Leicester defender offered more to his team in the top-flight than the Wolves youngster, who did not get many opportunities in his defence, with his defensive contributions, which suggests that he would be the better immediate option for Martin at Ibrox next season.

Whilst Djiga, at the age of 22, may have the potential to improve in the future, Rangers may not get to see the best of that when they will only have him for a season.

Coady, meanwhile, is a known quantity and looks set to provide a reliable presence and a strong voice at the heart of the defence for multiple seasons, which is why he is on course to be an even better signing for the club.

Therefore, a move for the veteran English colossus could be a shrewd piece of business for the Gers, snapping up a star with ten caps for England and 198 appearances in the Premier League under his belt.

The dream squad Rangers can build: £19.5m quartet & "sublime" star all sign

Rangers will be eyeing plenty more signings this summer

4 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025

A Liverpool player who Mohamed Salah admits he loves playing with is expected to be the subject of an offer from a huge club, and he is open to the idea of leaving Anfield.

Who will Liverpool sign after Wirtz?

The Premier League champions have made a huge statement already this summer, with Florian Wirtz arriving for a British record fee of £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, with the German speaking of his delight at joining.

“I just thought that it was the right point in my career to make the next step and of course I wanted to get to a club that is from the top three in the world, and in my opinion Liverpool was one of them. Yeah, I just saw myself in the best hands in Liverpool. I was really convinced by the people here, by the idea, and everything what the club offers me was really good. And in the end [it was] also easy to be excited for me to come to Liverpool.”

It’s now a case of seeing who else arrives at Liverpool this summer, with Milos Kerkez joining both Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong at the club, and various players are being linked with moves to Anfield.

Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi has been strongly mentioned in recent days, being seen as both a replacement and an upgrade on the departing Jarell Quansah, and Lyon winger Malick Fofana has been mentioned as a potentially superb attacking signings.

Slot's answer to Mane: Liverpool chasing "monster" £70m Premier League star

Liverpool have set their sights on another attacking star this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 24, 2025

There are also constant exit rumours surrounding various unwanted Liverpool players, however, and a fresh update has now emerged.

Nunez open to Liverpool exit as Napoli ready offer

According to The Athletic‘s Pearce on X, Napoli are now expected to table an offer for Nunez, with the striker “open” to a move to the Serie A champions:

“Napoli’s interest in Darwin Nunez has been registered and an offer is expected in due course. The Italian champions are the most serious contenders for the 25-year-old and he is open to moving to Naples.”

The £140,000-a-week and £7.3m-a-year Nunez needs to leave Liverpool before next season gets underway, with Arne Slot starting him just eight times in the Premier League last season.

The Uruguayan’s performances have been far too hit-and-miss for too long, even though Salah has admitted that he likes playing alongside him.

“Who do I most like to play with? It was Firmino. Now I feel like I generally like playing with Nunez. A lot of people don’t like him but I like playing with him.”

Nunez is arguably not at the level required to take this brilliant Liverpool team forward after scoring just five league goals last season, with an upgrade required this summer, but he will still leave as a popular figure, given his effort levels.

Napoli could be ideal for him, with their passionate fans likely to be drawn to him, and he could flourish playing in a weaker division than the Premier League.

Compared to their nearest competitors, this has been a quiet transfer window so far over at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal.

Did you expect anything less? While Manchester City have spent a shedload on Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester United have added Matheus Cunha to their ranks.

Over in Merseyside, Premier League winners Liverpool have already confirmed the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold. Florian Wirtz is also set to arrive from Bayer Leverkusen in a British transfer record £116m fee too.

So, Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta better whack out the cheque book soon with plenty of new recruits needed, particularly in attack.

The latest on Arsenal's transfer plans this summer

Two of the biggest priorities at the Emirates are bolstering the wide positions and signing a brand new centre forward.

Out wide, we’ve seen notable links to the likes of Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

As for the striker position, it’s all about Benjamin Sesko. Arsenal reportedly opened talks regarding a deal for the Slovenian a few weeks ago. Now, according to German reporter Florian Plettenburg, there is a ‘positive’ feeling around the deal, but no agreement is in place yet over a deal that could reach £68m to £85m.

If a deal cannot be done for the RB Leipzig star, then it’s likely Arsenal will aim to conclude a deal for Sporting superstar Viktor Gyokeres.

The Gunners were interested in the Swede’s services last summer and that interest has remained over the last year. What’s the latest on this one? Well, amid interest from Premier League rivals, Manchester United, it appears as though Gyokeres would prefer the Gunners.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s according to Saturday’s edition of Portuguese newspaper, Record. They suggest that north London and Arsenal is now a ‘dream’ destination for the 27-year-old attacker.

As a result, Record reveals that Man United are ‘no longer an option’ for the Sweden international. That’s despite the fact the Red Devils are now coached by Gyokeres’ previous manager at Sporting, Ruben Amorim.

According to previous reports, Arsenal have already lodged an offer worth £55m, of which £10m are bonuses.

What Viktor Gyokeres could bring to Arsenal

The great debate of the 2025 summer transfer window for Arsenal fans is whether Sesko or Gyokeres would be the better signing.

Well, as far as the raw numbers dictate, it would be the latter. There are few better finishers in the game right now than the Sporting sensation with the Swede scoring a ridiculous haul of 54 goals in 52 games throughout all competitions in 2024/25.

In the league alone, Gyokeres trumped Sesko considerably with the former now being described as “the best striker in Europe” by the Athletic, while former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot even posed the question: “Is he the best striker in the world right now?”

That question is a tricky one considering the level the big Swede has been playing at, but regardless of that, he’d surely be a sensational signing for Arteta’s attack.

They need goals and in the form of the Sporting star, they would find more of them. But, what qualities could be bring just outside of the goals?

Well, there are echoes of a certain Alexis Sanchez here. While the Chilean was certainly better on technique alone and he boasted better close control with the ball, they do have similar builds and running styles.

Indeed, one of the most notable traits Gyokeres can bring to the game is his bulldog-like style. His slightly stockier frame means he is a “human battering ram” in the words of the Athletic’s Mark Carey.

Outlining what makes him so difficult to deal with, Peter Kisfaludy, who was academy director at Gyokeres’s former Swedish club Brommapojkarna, once said: “He is a box player but he can also drive forward with the ball because he is fast and strong.”

What Arsenal have arguably lacked since the days of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sanchez up front is pace. Gyokeres would bring that, but like Alexis, he’d also bring the physicality to stand up to the test of rugged Premier League defences.

2014/15 (Arsenal)

52

25

12

2015/16 (AFC)

41

17

10

2016/17 (AFC)

51

30

18

2017/18 (AFC & MUFC)

40

11

9

2018/19 (Man Utd)

27

2

4

The Chile superstar has a similar bulldog-like approach, described by FourFourTwo as someone who “plays like he hates losing”, hassling defenders and never giving them a moment’s peace.

Ultimately diminutive in size, Sanchez has a compact build like the Swede and his muscular frame, particularly in the upper half of his body, meaning he could drive forward and burst past defenders with the same sort of power we see from Gyokeres.

There are obvious differences, we cannot deny that, but by luring the Sweden international away from Lisbon, Arsenal may finally find a ruthless centre forward with the same level of efficiency, one who’s capable of replicating the South American’s incredible impact at Arsenal.

Can you just imagine Alexis in this current Arteta side? We can only dream.

He's a dream for Rice: Arsenal are about to submit bid for £84m "magician"

The outrageously talented international would be game-changing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 12, 2025

Manchester United have now opened talks over a deal for a “world-class” Barcelona player, with the La Liga champions willing to sanction a departure this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd's summer rebuild underway

After one of the worst seasons in their modern history, no Man United player has been safe from criticism, and Jamie Carragher has suggested that Bruno Fernandes doesn’t fit into Ruben Amorim’s system.

Carragher said: “I’ve always described Bruno Fernandes as a great talent but not a great player. Where does he play?

“He’s a bit mad in that he just runs all over the place, like a kid in the school yard. The best player in the school yard doing everything but in a really poor team. I don’t think he’s ever had any discipline in those No. 10 positions.”

It has since been confirmed that Fernandes is set to remain at Old Trafford, but the rebuild is very much underway, with Matheus Cunha arriving at the start of the month, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has also emerged as a major target in attack.

Forget Gyokeres: Man Utd have had talks to sign "world-class" £50m+ striker

The Red Devils have engaged in discussions with the entourage of a centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Jun 10, 2025

Having been the subject of widespread criticism throughout the campaign, there have also been indications that Amorim could look to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana this summer, and an initial approach has now been made for a Barcelona star.

Indeed, according to a report from Spain, Man United have now opened talks over a deal for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, submitting an enquiry about the goalkeeper, and they may have discovered that Barca are now willing to sanction a departure.

Onana is no longer part of Amorim’s plans, which means the manager will be tasked with bringing in a replacement, and Ter Stegen is very much of interest, although there could be competition for his signature from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal.

The German is in no rush to leave, but Joan Garcia’s arrival could unsettle him, as reduced game time may impact his chances of going to the 2026 World Cup.

"World-class" Ter-Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 trophies for club and country across a glittering career, most recently playing a minor role in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph by making eight appearances throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

However, the £103k-a-week shot-stopper missed the majority of the season through injury, and given his age, there are questions over whether he would be a viable long-term replacement for Onana.

Having been lauded as “world-class” by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, Ter Stegen is clearly a top goalkeeper, but the rival interest coming from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal, rather than some of Europe’s top clubs, speaks volumes.

As such, it may be wise to go all out for a younger goalkeeper on the shortlist, having previously identified a number of potential targets.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Torino

£17m

James Trafford

Burnley

£30m

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

?

Bart Verbruggen

Brighton

£34m

Aston Villa are now among the Premier League teams monitoring Manchester United outcast ahead of potentially making a loan offer, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa chasing multiple Premier League players

Since Unai Emery joined the club, the Villans have been busy in every transfer window, and that is unlikely to change this summer, but there will be a lot of caution given the PSR problems they currently face. Villa have been quiet in the early part of the window, but that could be about to change as they hold an interest in multiple Premier League players.

He's scored at Villa Park: Aston Villa racing to sign "fantastic" £42m star

Only Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Elanga assisted more goals than him last season…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2025

It was reported by TEAMtalk earlier this week that Villa are now the team to watch when it comes to who signs Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Emery is a big fan of the England international, and with Grealish being left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, he is now expected to leave the Etihad. However, they do face competition, as the likes of Newcastle United and Everton are also interested in a deal.

Villa also want to strengthen their midfield options and are in the race to sign Mikkel Damsgaard from Brentford. Several Premier League teams are interested in signing the Dane, and with Brentford valuing him at around £42 million, there could be a deal to be done.

But out of these stories, the most exciting piece of transfer news for Villa is that they are reportedly set to enter the race to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Man United, and he is not the only Old Trafford attacker on their radar.

Aston Villa monitoring Sancho loan bid

According to The Sun, Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on Jadon Sancho and are interested in a potential loan deal.

Sancho is set to return to Old Trafford after Chelsea decided not to take up the £25 million buy option they had and instead paid £5 million to end the agreement. Despite a change in manager, his situation at United hasn’t changed, as Ruben Amorim doesn’t plan on bringing him back into the fold.

Therefore, the 25-year-old is looking for a new club, and Villa, as well as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, are all keeping an eye on his situation. The Villans are willing to strike another loan agreement with the Red Devils, following the one they did involving Marcus Rashford, but United prefer to sell Sancho on a permanent basis.

Apps

89

Goals

12

Assists

11

It was an up-and-down spell at Stamford Bridge, as the England international scored three goals in the Premier League and a further two in the Europa Conference League, as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca labelled Sancho a “special player” at the start of the campaign.

“He needs to continue in the same way; work hard, every day,” Maresca told the press.

“As I’ve said before, for sure he is going to help us. We really believe that he is a special player. But the only way for him to confirm that is by working hard every day and never be happy and always be ambitious. He needs to want more and more and more.”

The Premier League has had some of the best passers in recent history, such as Paul Scholes, Xabi Alonso and David Beckham.

Pass completion percentage is now a big part of the modern day’s data-driven analysis, with possession-based styles being adopted by more and more managers.

But who was statistically the best passer in England’s top flight during the 2024/25 season? Using data from football analytics site FBref, we’ve listed the top 10 Premier League players by pass completion rate. (Note: players have to have played at least 30 minutes per match to be counted.)

Top 15 Fastest Football Players in the World in 2024 (Ranked)

Who has recorded the fastest speeds this year?

ByStephan Georgiou Oct 18, 2024

Data correct as of 25th May 2025

1

William Saliba

Arsenal

94.3%

2

Manuel Akanji

Man City

93.6%

3

Ruben Dias

Man City

93.5%

4

Curtis Jones

Liverpool

93.1%

=5

Andre

Wolves

92.9%

=5

Ezri Konsa

Aston Villa

92.9%

7

Jan Bednarek

Southampton

92.7%

8

Mateo Kovacic

Man City

92.6%

9

Leny Yoro

Man Utd

92.4%

10

Jack Stephens

Southampton

92%

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Premier League passers in 2024/25… 10 Jack Stephens (Southampton) 92% pass completion

Southampton defender Jack Stephens, though the centre-back had an injury-impacted campaign as he only started 17 times.

He still scraped into the top 10 come the end of the season, squeezing ahead of Premier League-winning captain Virgil van Dijk in the process.

9 Leny Yoro (Man Utd) 92.4% pass completion

Manchester United may have endured a dreadful season, but one of the brighter elements of the campaign perhaps came in the form of Leny Yoro’s emergence in the first team.

The Frenchman took time to make his mark at Old Trafford after getting injured soon after signing, but ended the season as one of their most reliable players – made all the more remarkable given his age of 19.

Interestingly, another new signing was United’s next-best passer – Matthijs de Ligt clocked an average of 89.9% successful passes throughout 2024/25.

8 Mateo Kovacic (Man City) 92.6% pass completion

With numerous injuries at the Etihad Stadium, Mateo Kovacic was able to get more game time with Man City than he was perhaps expecting last season. He took his opportunity, whether that be in the form of scoring goals or his general all-round play.

As to be expected in a Guardiola side, Kovacic is tidy on the ball played a big role in the absence of Rodri.

Why Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or

Not even a season-ending injury could stop Manchester City’s Rodri from claiming football’s biggest individual prize.

ByBarney Lane Oct 28, 2024 7 Jan Bednarek (Southampton) 92.7% pass completion

Southampton’s possession-based style saw Saints centre-back Jan Bednarek end up in the top 10.

The Saints may not have got anywhere near enough points on the board, but Bednarek’s pass completion rate was a rare positive sign at St Mary’s.

6 Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) 92.9% pass completion

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has been a regular under Unai Emery and offers the versatility of being able to play at right-back and centre-back.

The Englishman has now made over 200 appearances for Villa and is clearly comfortable on the ball.

5 Andre (Wolves) 92.9% pass completion

Arguably a surprise name on the list is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Andre.

The Brazilian midfielder arrived from Fluminense ahead of the 2024/25 season but wasn’t a nailed-on starter under Gary O’Neil. He had been in and out of the starting lineup, but started more regularly under Vitor Pereira, showing his true worth to the Old Gold during this time.

4 Curtis Jones (Liverpool) 93.1% pass completion

One of the players who starred under Arne Slot during his first season as Liverpool manager was midfielder Curtis Jones.

Jones had the best pass completion rate of any Reds star and started 19 games last term as his rise in the first team continues.

3 Ruben Dias (Man City) 93.5% pass completion

Another Man City star on the list is Ruben Dias, with the Portugal international a mainstay in the Man City side.

Dias has found himself in the opposition half for plenty of City’s Premier League games due to their dominance, and he’s kept possession most of the time when on the ball. In fact, both of City’s centre-backs were exceptional last term…

2 Manuel Akanji (Man City) 93.6% pass completion

The top Man City passer last season was Manuel Akanji, who also occasionally chipped in at right-back as injuries bit hard at the Etihad Stadium.

The Switzerland international has seemingly nailed down a centre-back role under Pep Guardiola, becoming a trustworthy player in the absence of John Stones and Nathan Ake – particularly on the ball, if these stats are anything to go by.

1 William Saliba (Arsenal) 94.3% pass completion

Topping the charts this season is Arsenal star William Saliba, reaching over 94%.

A guaranteed starter for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta, Saliba’s place at the top of the game for some time is all but assured. Part of the reason for that is his calmness in possession, as evidenced by his high pass success rate.

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Following defeat in the Europa League final, Ruben Amorim is reportedly ready to sanction exits for as many as four Manchester United mainstays this summer, as he gets ruthless at Old Trafford.

Amorim "will not quit" at Man Utd

Nobody could have foreseen quite as disastrous as Amorim’s first six months in charge have gone at Manchester United. It was clear that he had quite the task on his hands, as all managers before him had. But to go from four points away from the top four to likely finishing as low as 16th would have been seen as an impossible reality. Yet, with one week to go in the Premier League, that’s exactly where the Red Devils find themselves.

The former Sporting Club boss is not ready to give up quite yet, however. As much as he’s been knocked down, he is seemingly not down and out even after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Man Utd ready move for one of the most sought after young talents in Italy

He’s a man in demand.

ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Amorim told reporters in his post-match press conference: “I am confident that I am still the guy. More than [at] the beginning! I know that it’s going to be tough. I know that we lost against an English team. I know the patience of the fans is going to be really short in the next season.

“But I guarantee that I will not quit. I will not go away. I am really confident, because I know the club, I know what it means to coach this club. I understand what this team needs. I have more tools to do my job.”

Defeat in the final wouldn’t have revealed anything that Amorim didn’t already know about his side, either. Instead, it has seemingly doubled down just how badly Manchester United need to show several names the door this summer. And the manager is reportedly ready to get ruthless.

Amorim ready for ruthless Man Utd clear out

According to GiveMeSport, Amorim is now ready to ditch Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana this summer in an attempt to make room and fund the arrival of a number of improvements. In all cases, convincing arguments can be made for exit, but three of those represent just how poorly Manchester United have recruited in recent years.

When it comes to Onana, Hojlund and Casemiro, it’s clear as to why they’re set to be shown the door. Onana, despite initially starting the current campaign strongly, has rediscovered bad habits between the sticks. Meanwhile, there remains little sign that Hojlund is set to burst into life almost two years on from a hefty £72m arrival.

Casemiro is an interesting one. The midfielder has been somewhat revived in recent months, becoming an important member of United’s side again amid reports Amorim texted Sir Jim Ratcliffe to praise the Brazilian. Given that he’s now 33 years old, though, he is not someone that the Red Devils should be relying on.

Whilst those three come as little shock, Shaw’s departure would likely surprise a few. Alas, one look at his salary and it becomes clear. A talented defender, but ultimately one that is never fit to showcase those talents, Manchester United must clear his £150,000-a-week from their wage bill this summer.

Chelsea chiefs are informed that a Premier League forward who Atlético Madrid are pushing to sign wants to join Enzo Maresca’s side – with a transfer battle potentially brewing against the La Liga side.

Chelsea preparing for another very active summer window

With Chelsea participating in the Club World Cup, BlueCo are expected to be busy right from the off this summer, and could take full advantage of the early window, which opens from June 1 to June 10.

Shields pushing Chelsea to sign £90m Villa star amid belief price may drop

The Stamford Bridge recruiter is very keen.

ByEmilio Galantini May 10, 2025

A host of players face uncertain futures at Chelsea – including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, João Félix, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi – who are all away on loan spells right now and seemingly out of Maresca’s plans.

Chelsea will likely attempt to find buyers for all the aforementioned crop, all while the west Londoners reportedly target a new centre-back, winger and striker as the priority signings on their agenda (Simon Phillips).

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Depending on their qualification for the Champions League next season and how many unwanted players they can ship out the door, it is also believed that Chelsea could go for a second centre-back (who can play at left-back when required), an attacking midfielder and a goalkeeper (Simon Phillips).

All signs point towards a very busy off-season for the Chelsea recruitment team, and new forwards appear to be high on their to-do list.

Chelsea have held talks over Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens already, while reports in Italy claim Milan star Rafael Leao is also a target for the west Londoners.

However, another player who remains in their thinking is Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

Alejandro Garnacho wants to join Chelsea this summer

The Argentinian has scored 11 goals and assisted 10 others in all competitions so far, featuring regularly under new manager Ruben Amorim, but he could still make the move away from Old Trafford.

Chelsea did work on signing Garnacho in January, but a move for him ultimately couldn’t come to fruition. Now, journalist Graeme Bailey has told the Chelsea Chronicle that he could join Maresca this summer instead.

Indeed, it is believed Garnacho is also keen on a move to Chelsea, and the Blues are serious fans of the “huge talent”.

“Garnacho is very much still on Chelsea’s radar – they are looking for someone to operate from that left side, and they have done work on a lot of names,” said Bailey.

“I am told that the three at the top of their list are currently Jamie Gittens, Nico Williams and Garnacho.

“Chelsea are not set on one target and Garnacho is someone they like a lot, they tried to sign him in January. They know the player is keen on the move. And he is a huge talent, they think he would be a good fit. He seems to have been around forever, but he is still just 20.”

The South American would reportedly cost around £65 million, and Bailey has also written that Atlético are “pushing hard” to sign Garnacho as well, so he won’t be an easy capture by any means.

Middlesbrough missed out on a Championship playoff place this campaign, but could now raid rival top six chasers Blackburn Rovers for one of their star assets if reports are to be believed.

Championship playoff battle ends in despair for Boro and Blackburn

The race for a shot at Premier League promotion is now over in terms of the regular season, and supporters of concerned clubs will now look forward to a heated battle to claim a place in the top-flight. Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City secured a chance to reach the big time and the glamour that comes with it. However, for every success story, there are always hard-luck tales to offer some balance.

Michael Carrick will be feeling a sense of frustration after Middlesbrough missed out by a four-point margin following a run of one victory in their final six fixtures. Ultimately, the club’s decision to cash in on Emmanuel Latte Lath in January may have come back to bite officials at the Riverside Stadium.

The Ivorian striker scored 11 times before moving to Atlanta United, leaving a shortage of goals present in Carrick’s line-up barring Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway.

Middlesbrough’s unfateful run of results during Championship run-in

Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United

Millwall 1-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 0-0 Norwich City

Coventry City 2-0 Middlesbrough

Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence could be an early arrival at Middlesbrough on a free transfer to add an offensive threat from midfield, and the Wales international is likely to be one of a number of targets under Boro’s watch over the coming weeks.

In similar fashion, Carrick’s men are now said to have another bargain deal up their sleeve that may come at the expense of rivals Blackburn.

Middlesbrough in pole position to sign Tyrhys Dolan

According to EFL Analysis, Middlesbrough could sign Tyrhys Dolan on a free transfer from Blackburn, and they are leading the race for his signature as his contract veers closer to expiring at Ewood Park.

Set to become available as a free agent, talks have taken place between his camp and Boro representatives. It has been made clear that he is primed to seek a new challenge away from the Lancashire outfit.

Carrick loves him: Middlesbrough keen to seal deal for "fantastic" PL ace

He’s been in solid form as of late.

ByTom Cunningham Mar 26, 2025

Labelled “outstanding” by John Eustace, Dolan has registered seven goals and six assists across 47 appearances in all competitions this season, playing a major role in Rovers’ own close shave with earning a playoff place. Despite competition from a number of sides, Boro are at the front of the queue and are taking a proactive approach to atone for missing out on a shot at promotion to the top-flight.

Completing an average of 1.3 dribbles per match on Championship duty, Dolan has emerged as a rising talent and reportedly fits the bill as Middlesbrough seek depth to put the building blocks in place for a better season next time out.

Crossing paths to join another club in the same league may sour relations with his current employers, but it would also be a mark of Carrick’s ambition heading into pre-season.