Birmingham City are looking to put themselves in contention for promotion to the Premier League and have made contact to sign a prolific goalscorer from one of Europe’s top-five leagues, according to a report.
Birmingham City line up summer signings
The Blues are looking forward to returning after claiming promotion to the Championship last time out, and it is fair to say there is plenty of progress being made in their hunt for summer signings.
Recent reports have noted that Birmingham are hotly pursuing Leeds United forward Mateo Joseph and it is said that Real Betis and RC Strasbourg are also competing for his signature.
Intriguingly, Joseph hasn’t closed the door to an exit from Elland Road, citing his need for regular game time in a recent interview while enjoying some downtime during the off-season.
He stated: “We achieved our goal as a team, but I personally want to be more involved in the final stretch of the season. I think I need more participation to continue developing as a player.
“The season has just ended, and we have to stop and evaluate. We’ve been promoted to the Premier League. We’ll see what the club says, but I want to play more to continue growing.”
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Oli McBurnie could also join Birmingham after becoming a free agent following Las Palmas’ relegation from La Liga, albeit competition from all angles exists regarding the Scotland international’s availability.
It does feel like the Blues will arrive into the new campaign with a genuine shot at something more than consolidation. However, if they manage to pull off a deal for their latest target, it could signal they are looking to put themselves in the mix for promotion.
Birmingham City eye ambitious Kyogo Furuhashi swoop
According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Birmingham City have made contact with Rennes over Kyogo Furuhashi’s availability after the Japan international fell out of favour in France.
Despite only joining Habib Beye’s men in January for £10 million, the 30-year-old has barely featured and now appears primed for a quickfire exit.
Labelled “excellent” by Brendan Rodgers, Furuhashi has scored 156 career goals, combining his exploits for club and country and is most revered for his time at Celtic, where he became a pivotal force in helping the Scottish champions claim nine major honours.
The former Yokohama F. Marinos man has endured a difficult few months, but a move to Birmingham could be the perfect tonic to reignite his fortunes as the Blues look to put themselves in contention for a return to the Premier League under Chris Davies.
Manchester City’s spending spree is only just getting started.
On Monday, the Sky Blues unveiled Rayan Aït-Nouri as their first summer signing, arriving for a reported £31m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Algerian international left-back eligible to debut in the Citizens’ Club World Cup opener against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday.
Meantime, widespread reports suggest that Tijjani Reijnders will arrive from AC Milan for £46.3m, with more signings on the way too, so could a high-profile Man City stalwart be on his way out, possibly to a Premier League rival, to make way for these new recruits?
What Rayan Cherki will bring to Manchester City
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported last week that Manchester City had ‘reached an agreement’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Rayan Cherki, agreeing to pay around £34m.
Rob Dawson and Julien Laurens of ESPN claimed that Man City were hoping to finalise the deal in time for Cherki to feature during the Club World Cup group stages, with that move having now been confirmed by the club ahead of the deadline.
In terms of what City’s latest arrival will bring to the Etihad, Stuart James and Tom Williams of the Athletic believe that the 21-year-old possesses a mesmeric ‘capacity to enthral’, labelling him ‘precociously talented’ and citing former Lyon manager Fabio Grosso, who asserted that “god has given him incredible qualities”.
Those traits were notably on show during Lyon’s gripping Europa League quarter-final tie with Manchester United earlier this year, with the youngster scoring a last-gasp equaliser in the first leg, prior to also netting a stunning, driven effort from range in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
Described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, the fleet-footed genius looks destined to be a star under Guardiola’s watch over the coming years.
And so, with such a high-quality midfield talent on his way to the Etihad, could a current Man City star be forced out?
The Man City star destined to depart
As noted by Mark Critchley and Ben Burrows of The Athletic, Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for this summer’s Club World Cup, thereby not set to travel to the United States, suggesting he is highly likely to leave the club this summer.
Back in December, Richard Jolly of the Independent outlined how, during his four years at the club, Grealish had gone from ‘one of the most exciting attacking players in world football’ to now a player ‘who is neither exciting nor attacking’.
The table below highlights the England international’s decrease in importance.
Appearances
39
50
36
32
Starts
31
41
26
16
Matches an unused sub
11
5
12
15
Minutes
2,730
3,487
2,114
1,521
Goals
6
5
3
3
Assists
4
11
3
5
England caps
11
9
4
3
As the table notes, Grealish was an integral player for Man City during his first two seasons, but the last two he has been nothing more than a peripheral figure.
David O’Brien believes he was “exceptional” during his early years at Man City, but Alex Brotherton of BBC Sport notes that now ‘is the right time to move on’ as he seeks to save his career.
The fact he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup Final, a match they lost 1-0 to Manchester City, is widely considered to be the final nail in the coffin – as too is the arrival of another playmaker in Cherki.
For instance, Cherki racked up 32 goals and assists in all competitions in 2024/25 at Lyon, including 19 goals and assists in league action. Grealish – as noted in the table – was only able to record eight goals and assists, only two of which came in the Premier League. A move away now appears an inevitability.
Indeed, reports in Spain suggest that Newcastle United ‘have set their sights’ on signing him, looking to lodge a bid that would comprise an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy of around £67m.
Ben Jacobs of Talk Sport also claims that both Tottenham and Everton ‘hold a genuine’ interest in signing Grealish too, with Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis documenting how his ‘exceptional ball-carrying ability’ would make him perfect for Spurs.
Thus, Grealish’s Man City exit is likely to be one of the stories of the summer but, regardless of where he ends up, he has surely played his last game in sky blue, with Cherki a readymade, exciting replacement.
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Glasgow Rangers are still yet to appoint their permanent successor to Philippe Clement in the dugout at Ibrox, four months on from his exit from the club.
The Belgian manager was relieved of his duties in February and replaced in the short term by interim boss Barry Ferguson, who left his post at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that former Scotland international Russell Martin is set to be named as the new head coach to finally replace Clement.
The reporter claims that the ex-Southampton manager has agreed to join the Ibrox giants to start a new chapter in his career, as the first manager of the new ownership era in Glasgow.
Martin did win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs with Southampton in the 2023/24 season, which shows that he has some demonstrable skills.
If the Scottish head coach now lands the job, as reported, then he will have to deal with potential exits from Ibrox, including midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a blow
The Belgium international is reportedly valued at a fee of at least £20m by the Scottish giants, amid interest from Premier League sides Aston Villa and Leeds United.
At least two teams from the English top-flight being keen on a move for the former Standard Liege central midfielder suggests that there could be a fight on for the Gers to keep hold of him through to the end of the summer transfer window.
Nicolas Raskin
It would be a big blow for the Light Blues to lose the Belgian talent ahead of the 2025/26 campaign because of his impressive performances for the club this season.
Raskin caught the eye with his sublime showings in possession in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, despite their failure to win the title, with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.
Appearances
33
Touches per game
68.4
Goals
4
Big chances created
9
Assists
10
Pass accuracy
87%
Dribbles completed per game
1.0
Dribble success rate
68%
As you can see in the table above, the Gers number 43 provided plenty of quality in the final third with 14 goals and assists combined from a midfield position.
Raskin, however, also showcased his quality out of possession for the Scottish giants by averaging 5.0 tackles and interceptions per match in the Europa League across 12 outings in the competition this term.
It would, therefore, be a big blow to lose Raskin from the squad this summer because he is an important player who can contribute at both ends of the pitch as a central midfielder, thanks to his attributes on and off the ball.
However, the Belgian star may not be the only talent that the next Rangers manager will have to be wary about losing, as teams are circling around another central midfielder.
Premier League teams eyeing Rangers midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Light Blues central midfielder Mohamed Diomande is attracting interest from several clubs in the Premier League in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that there are six Premier League sides eyeing up a potential move to sign the Ivorian dynamo from the Scottish giants ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
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It reveals that Everton are the frontrunners to land the Rangers star’s signature at this moment in time, as they have been keeping tabs on the former Danish league star’s progress at Ibrox.
David Moyes is looking to sign the left-footed star because of the versatility that he could provide the Toffees, due to his ability to play as a holding midfielder, as a box-to-box number eight, or as an attacking midfielder.
Mohamed Diomande
TEAMtalk adds that Rangers would want a significant profit on the £4.3m that they paid for him at the start of last year, although no exact figure is mentioned.
Irrespective of how much money the Gers could get back for the 23-year-old sensation, losing Diomande would be as big a blow as selling Raskin would be.
Why selling Mohamed Diomande would be a big blow for Rangers
As is also the case with the Belgian midfielder, the left-footed star has attracted interest from clubs down south because of his fantastic displays in the middle of the park for the Glasgow giants.
Just like Raskin, the Ivorian talent has proven that he has the quality to make a big impact in matches in the Premiership, including in matches against Celtic that could be pivotal in title races in the future.
Diomande has scored two goals and provided one assist in eight matches against the Hoops to date, including one goal and one assist in his last two clashes with the club’s Glasgow rivals – the strike shown in the clip above.
The Everton target’s general form in possession in the Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign also shows that he is as influential as Raskin, if not potentially more so, when it comes to making things happen at the top end of the pitch.
Appearances
36
33
Goals
4
4
Big chances created
11
9
Assists
7
10
Ground duel success rate
57%
57%
Aerial duel success rate
48%
56%
As you can see in the table above, Diomande produced 15 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, compared to Raskin’s 13, but did not get as much luck when it came to assists as his teammates failed to make the most of the high-quality opportunities that he created.
The Belgian star may be better than him in the air, but the Ivorian ace is equally as efficient at winning duels on the ground, and showed promise defensively in the Europa League, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game.
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These statistics show that selling Diomande to a Premier League side this summer would be just as bad as selling Raskin would be for Martin, because they are almost equally as influential in the middle of the park and both of them would leave a massive hole for Thelwell to fill.
Manchester United may have won on Sunday, defeating Aston Villa to deny them Champions League football, but understandably, no one was in the mood to party at Old Trafford.
Having lost the Europa League final last week, Ruben Amorim stood on a wet Old Trafford turf to apologise to the supporters.
Behind him stood a crop of sorry-looking players. Rather than hiding in the comfort of the dressing room, they were made to stand in front of the fans, longingly wishing for better times.
Amorim suggested that success would return, but the task at hand is colossal, perhaps one of the biggest in elite football right now.
Coincidentally, this all came in a week where one of their former players, a certain Scott McTominay, held aloft the Serie A title.
How Scott McTominay helped Napoli to a historic league title
Almost a year ago now, Man United decided to cash in on homegrown product, McTominay.
The Scot had attracted his fair share of criticism in English football for a heap of inconsistent displays, but he did depart for Naples as their joint-third highest scorer in 2023/24, having bagged ten times, the same number as Alejandro Garnacho.
Well, it’s safe to say they have missed the 28-year-old this term, with his £25m fee last summer now looking like a bargain.
In Italy, he’s been nothing short of a revelation, now being uttered in the same breath as Napoli club legend, Diego Maradona.
Only four Napoli sides have ever been crowned champions of Italy and McTominay had a huge say in their success this term.
The Scotland international was named the division’s official MVP for his performances, scoring 12 goals and registering six assists during the league campaign.
Now, United must learn from that mistake. While it’s unlikely that too many of this floundering squad will take the eye of other teams, there is a scenario where United head into next season without Bruno Fernandes.
The latest on Bruno Fernandes' future
The United skipper has been somewhat of a one-man band this season considering his form but due to United’s horrific plight, he could depart.
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It’s been no secret in recent weeks that he is attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League, but whether or not he’s tempted by the riches in the Middle East remains to be seen.
Remarkably, he could now exit in what would be United’s second most expensive departure ever, surpassing Romelu Lukaku but slightly lagging behind the great Cristiano Ronaldo deal to Real Madrid.
That’s according to reports in Spain, who claimed over the weekend that Al-Hilal are set to step up their pursuit of the Old Trafford captain.
They have already presented what is described as a ‘significant’ sum to INEOS, lodging a ridiculous €100m (£84m) offer for the attacking midfielder.
They are also prepared to pay an enormous salary to Fernandes that exceeds €77m (£64m) per year. For context, the playmaker currently earns £15.6m-per-year.
2019/20
22
12
8
2020/21
58
28
17
2021/22
46
10
14
2022/23
59
14
15
2023/24
48
15
13
2024/25
57
19
20
Despite the fact that United would rake in a fair sum of cash, something that’s particularly important given they haven’t qualified for Europe in 2025/26, losing the Portuguese sensation this summer would be nothing short of disastrous.
In a bleak old season for Amorim’s men, Fernandes has been the rare bright spark, the constant beam of light.
Across 57 games, he scored 19 goals and supplied 20 assists, with 12 of those involvements coming in the club’s run to the Europa League final.
Losing those numbers would be horrendous for United. Their highest scorers after that are Garnacho and Amad on 11 each, while their second-highest assister is Garnacho, but he is ten behind his skipper.
With the Argentine winger also looking likely to depart, not even part of the squad on Sunday, the numbers Amorim would be losing from his squad would be hard to stomach.
Bruno Fernandes
McTominay’s situation a year ago was very different, of course it was, but they’ve been left to rue selling him and despite the riches on offer here, selling Fernandes would be a very similar story in terms of regret.
Of everyone in the squad, he is the only true irreplaceable figure. INEOS must keep him at United at all costs.
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Chelsea have now identified an “exceptional” defender as a priority summer target after holding internal talks, according to a report.
Blues planning to sign two defenders this summer
The Blues still have everything to play for as the Premier League season approaches its conclusion, with the final-day trip to Nottingham Forest set to be crucial in the race for the top five, given that Nuno’s side, Aston Villa and Manchester City are breathing down their necks.
Barring the 2-0 loss at Newcastle United, Enzo Maresca’s side have performed well during the run-in, and the manager has been pleased with the progress Levi Colwill has made, despite admitting he may need to bring in more experienced players this summer.
When questioned about the prospect of adding experience to his squad this summer, much like Jurgen Klopp did by signing Virgil van Dijk and Alisson for Liverpool, Maresca said: “For sure, if you want to close the gap with these kind of clubs then, you have to do things.”
As such, a range of centre-back targets have been identified ahead of the summer, and it is clear the manager is looking to blend youth and experience.
Player
Current club
Potential cost
Mario Gila
Lazio
£25m
Axel Tape
PSG
£0
Ben Nelson
Leicester City
Unknown
Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace
£60m
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea are also stepping up their pursuit of Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, with the defender now considered a priority target following internal discussions about their summer transfer plans.
There is a feeling that a fee of £37.8m – £42m could be enough to get a deal done, so a move for Hato would not break the bank, and he is now rapidly moving up the Blues’ shortlist.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
The likes of Liverpool, AC Milan and Arsenal could provide competition for the 19-year-old’s signature, but the west Londoners are looking to move swiftly to ensure they remain in the lead.
Hato could be "exceptional" signing for the Blues
The report states that Chelsea are looking to bring in two centre-backs this summer, and it is little wonder the youngster is now one of their favoured options, given the level of some of his performances for Ajax since breaking into the team at a young age.
Football scout Ben Mattinson has been left particularly impressed by the teenager in the past, stating on X: “Hato is an exceptional athlete for his age whilst being a technical player who can carry through the lines.”
Chelsea looking to sign "composed" defender who Maresca thinks is "perfect"
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Not only that, but the Rotterdam-born defender is an assured passer of the ball, which could make him a good fit for Maresca, ranking in the top 1% for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.
Indeed, Hato is capable of playing at left-back, having featured there predominantly during the 2024-25 campaign, but he has also featured at centre-back throughout his career, and his versatility would be an added bonus for the Blues.
Crystal Palace are now plotting a move for a £20m midfielder, and they are looking to get a deal over the line quickly, according to reporter Alan Nixon.
Palace eyeing new midfielder after FA Cup triumph
May 17th, 2025 will be a date forever etched into Palace history, having won their first ever major trophy courtesy of a shock 1-0 FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, which also secures qualification for a maiden Europa League campaign next season.
Midfielder Will Hughes spoke about what it meant to win the first major honour of his career after the game, while admitting it will take some time to sink in.
Hughes has been an important player for Oliver Glasner this season, making 31 appearances in the Premier League, but with a Europa League campaign now on the horizon, the manager may have to bring in some more depth in midfield this summer.
According to a report from Nixon on Patreon (via Football League World), one of the midfielders Crystal Palace have set their sights on is Mateus Fernandes, with a quick deal for the Southampton midfielder now being plotted.
Southampton'sMateusFernandesin action with Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic
With the Saints suffering relegation from the Premier League, they could be at risk of losing some of their key players, and Fernandes is valued at roughly £20m, amid interest from both Palace and Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.
Fernandes deserves another chance in the Premier League
Southampton have endured one of the worst seasons in Premier League history, collecting just 12 points throughout the campaign, but the youngster has shown he deserves a second chance in the top flight with some of his performances.
Despite being just 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder has been a regular starter for the Saints, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has managed to amass three goals and two assists.
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Former manager Vasco Seabra has also praised the starlet in the past, describing him as a “very strong and aggressive player with a great ability to cover a lot of ground”, and he has performed extremely well across some key defensive metrics, including tackling, over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
2.81 (98th percentile)
Interceptions
0.83 (96th percentile)
Blocks
1.31 (89th percentile)
Clearances
1.12 (85th percentile)
Having stood out defensively, when compared to other attacking midfielders, Fernandes is clearly a well-rounded midfielder, who is capable of playing slightly deeper, and he could be a shrewd acquisition for Crystal Palace this summer.
Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.
Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.
The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.
It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.
Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers
With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.
The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.
During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.
Appearances
35
32
Goals
16
14
Assists
4
2
Pass accuracy
70%
73%
Duels won per game
2.3
1.9
Ground duel success rate
29%
33%
Aerial duel success rate
40%
32%
As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.
Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.
The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.
The latest on the Rangers manager search
According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.
The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.
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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.
Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.
Steven Gerrard
If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.
Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers
The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.
Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.
Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.
Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.
Appearances
29
26
Goals
12
11
Assists
4
7
Pass accuracy
80%
80%
Duels won per game
3.7
4.1
Ground duel success rate
42%
41%
Aerial duel success rate
36%
48%
As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.
The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.
Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.
Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.
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It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.
Liverpool have slowed down over the past few months, no longer performing at the full-throttle, uncontainable pace that saw Arne Slot steamroll through his opponents over the opening months of his Anfield tenure.
The early knockings of the season carried a sort of unfettered freedom within Liverpool’s squad, with rivals eagerly awaiting the almighty collapse after dramatic summer upheaval.
But this hasn’t happened. The Merseysiders are a whisker away from winning the Premier League, dominant and at the summit for the lion’s share of the term. Slot, truly, has enjoyed staggering success as Liverpool’s new driver.
Liverpool managerArneSlotbefore the match
The secret within Slot’s tactical sauce lies in the nuances of his system, his attention to detail, his fixed focus on the minutiae. He differs from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, but one shared characteristic is a recognition of elite-level talent, of lifting good players and making them great.
Of course, he also shares with Klopp an understanding that his superstars are not easily replaced. That’s why tying down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both drifting toward their mid-thirties, was among new sporting director Richard Hughes’ primary responsibilities are being appointed last year.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah celebrate for Liverpool
The veterans are both brilliant, both two sides of the same coin, but failure to keep the skipper at the club could have been the most damaging outcome for the title-charging Redmen.
The importance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool
Van Dijk has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, which will take his Merseyside career to the end of the 2026/27 season, just shy of the decade mark, having won the full gamut, and with maybe even more yet to come.
Van Dijk is 33 but still among the foremost players in Liverpool’s squad. He’s played more minutes than any of his teammates this season (4,077), having completed 92% of his passes and won 68% of his duels, as per Sofascore.
The towering defender will captain Liverpool toward the Premier League title.
He may well be the best defender in the world, but Van Dijk’s influence stretches beyond that of simply a tactical sense, with his leadership and demanding attitude raising the bar and indeed the level of those around him.
We hate to caveat all this with some pragmatism, but the Netherlands captain is nearing his 34th birthday.
He’s still at the highest level, but he’s not getting any younger. Liverpool need to strengthen their rearguard this summer, signing a centre-half capable of succeeding the £400k-per-week titan in a few years.
Liverpool chasing the new Van Dijk
Liverpool need to sign a defender this summer, and they appear to have centred on Dean Huijsen, who is one of the hottest commodities on the market at the moment.
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Bournemouth’s young star, 20, has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to be on the move.
According to Fabrizio Romano, though, FSG are determined to sign him, getting ready for a big push as the market prepares to swing open.
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
Speaking on GIVEMESPORTS’ Market Madness, he said: “Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. These three clubs are really interested. I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Real Madrid but at the same time, Madrid internally have not decided if they want to sign a centre-back this summer. The timing is helping the English clubs.”
Why Dean Huijsen has the potential to reach Van Dijk levels
He may be a Spain international, but Huijsen was born a Netherlands native, moving to the Iberian nation as a youth after being offered a scholarship with Malaga during his formative years.
Bournemouth saw an opportunity and pounced last summer, signing Juventus’ academy member in a deal worth £15m, Andoni Iraola identifying the youngster’s modern-angled skill set.
It would be a brave observer to argue against his success on the south coast, with analyst Ben Mattinson commenting that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now.
Two-footed, Huijsen has plied his trade on the left side of Bournemouth’s central defence this season, which suggests that he could be a suitable heir for Van Dijk when that dreaded time comes.
Matches (starts)
33 (33)
27 (22)
Goals
2
2
Assists
1
1
Clean sheets
14
7
Touches*
89.6
60.5
Key passes*
0.3
0.5
Pass completion
92%
85%
Ball recoveries*
3.2
3.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
3.0
Clearances*
5.1
5.9
Duels (won)*
4.8 (68%)
3.9 (56%)
He certainly wears the trappings of an elite-level centre-back, albeit he’s not there yet. Huijsen, like Van Dijk, is an aerially adept defender with a wide tactical remit that incorporates the defensive fundamentals with a forward-passing style that helps create from deep, establishing a wave-like flow.
It’s almost as if he’s tailor-made for a future in Slot’s Liverpool squad. Huijsen is making a key pass once every two Premier League fixtures, which is quite the feat and an illustration of his creative flair, his determination to push play forward.
As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 19% for aerial battles won and the top 2% for both of interceptions and clearances made per 90, further underlining that point.
The 6 foot 6 defender has the rangy, dynamic style to succeed Van Dijk, with such an interesting blend of talent surely suggesting that he could reach the same levels of his countryman, born in Holland as he was.
Given that he could spend a few years absorbing the fruits of Van Dijk’s late labours, this really does feel like one to get excited about.
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Leeds United supporters are arguably blessed at this moment in time as the West Yorkshire giants regularly flirt with promotion up to the Premier League.
Not too long ago, the Whites were seen as mid-table fodder in the Championship, with a number of poor finishes in the competitive division regularly dampening the mood at Elland Road before Marcelo Bielsa graced the famed dugout.
Daniel Farke will hope he can follow in Bielsa’s footsteps by guiding his side to a triumphant title success in the second tier, with the German already having to make some cutthroat calls to try and steer his team to said glory by ditching Illan Meslier.
What the future holds for Illan Meslier at Elland Road
It’s fair to say Meslier finds himself on extremely thin ice at Leeds at this moment in time, with stand-in goalkeeper Karl Darlow the chosen man now in between the sticks away from the wobbly Frenchman.
Before that, Meslier had started every Championship game available to him this season, but errors seeping into his game at an alarming rate means the former Newcastle United ‘keeper is now Farke’s surprise number one.
Coincidentally, the aforementioned Bielsa was the first boss at the Elland Road helm to hand Meslier senior chances, with the ex-Lorient shot-stopper up to 214 appearances and 72 clean sheets for the promotion chasers before falling out of favour.
Now, it seems Meslier will be heading for the exit door, with rampant reports suggesting that Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is on the summer shopping list.
Frustratingly, if Leeds could reverse time, they’d potentially opt to have a different stopper back over splashing excessive wads of cash on new personnel.
Former Leeds goalkeeper is now better than Meslier
Of course, if Darlow continues to perform competently, he too will be in the running to be Leeds’ first-choice ‘keeper for the foreseeable.
Yet, if Farke had a figure like Kasper Schmeichel at his disposal right now, it would be a no-brainer as to who would pull on the Whites’ number one jersey, with the Danish veteran going on to have a distinguished career after leaving Leeds behind all the way back in 2011.
Celtic target Kasper Schmeichel in action for Denmark.
Simon Grayson was the boss in the Whites hot-seat when a far younger and rawer Schmeichel departed the building, with the Scandinavian stopper only going on to make 40 appearances for his ex-employers all across the 2010/11 campaign.
He wasn’t helped by the poor environment he found himself in, considering the West Yorkshire titans finished outside the playoff spots in seventh during his one and only full season, with Schmeichel only able to collect a low ten clean sheets along the way.
Games played
603
Clubs played for
4
Goals conceded
710
Clean sheets
192
Premier League title wins
1
Looking at the table above, however, the Copenhagen-born ‘keeper has never let this swift exit from Elland Road impact him, with Schmeichel going on to assert himself as a Premier League regular at Leicester City where he even lifted a dramatic top-flight title.
Picking up a bumper 192 clean sheets since walking out of the Whites too, the “outstanding” 38-year-old – as he was once lauded by his ex-Foxes boss in Brendan Rodgers – is continuing to age like a fine wine with current side Celtic, who are funnily enough managed by the aforementioned Rodgers.
A regular in the Champions League this season, if his wealth of experience wasn’t enough to prove his credentials above Meslier, the Bhoys’ number one also has a gleaming record of 22 clean sheets this campaign from 40 appearances.
Of course, playing for Leeds in the Championship is a far trickier situation than playing your part in Celtic’s dominance over Scotland, but the Whites must still rue letting Schmeichel leave so prematurely, especially with their recent ‘keeper woes.
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As Matheus Cunha’s future continues to come into question, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly joined the race to sign an attacking midfielder who has outscored their star man this season.
Cunha clarifies "next step" comments
As if he wasn’t stealing enough headlines thanks to his talent alone, Cunha managed to grab hold of the spotlight once again away from the pitch when claiming that he’s ready to take “the next step” and “fight for titles”. With the club still in the middle of a relegation scrap, albeit one that looks almost certain to end in success, the Brazilian’s comments were far from ideal.
Cunha, however, has since added some clarity, taking to social media to say: “Hey guys, Cunha here. I only came here to talk about the noise around my name, the interview I gave, and show my point. I don’t think people read the interview, and I don’t think people have the correct interpretation.
“The point was talking about Wolves to show everyone how happy I am to be here, to play for this team and these team-mates, and to give back all the love they give me. Like ambitious players, we want to play for something more, to put this club on another level. Me and my team-mates will give our all to achieve this goal.”
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When the summer arrives it will certainly be interesting to see whether that clarity sees Cunha stay put or if he does, indeed, go in search of fighting for titles. The Brazilian certainly won’t be short on options, with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur already linked with moves to secure his signature in the coming months.
Wolves, meanwhile, would benefit from his exit on the financial front, given that Cunha has a release clause worth £63m ahead of the transfer window. If that clause is triggered, those in the Midlands could instantly go in search of reinforcements, which could yet include one particular star.
Wolves plotting to sign Sem Steijn
Losing Cunha would undoubtedly be a major blow for Vitor Pereira and his side, but they could yet welcome a player who has outscored the Brazilian this season. According to The Boot Room, Wolves are now plotting a move to sign Sem Steijn from FC Twente this summer and have already sent scouts to watch the attacking midfielder in action.
Sem Steijn for FC Twente against Man Utd.
In all competitions, the Dutchman has scored an impressive 27 goals whilst assisting another six. Cunha, meanwhile, has managed 15 goals and four assists in all competitions for Wolves this season. And when it comes to league action, there’s only one winner on the stats front.
Starts
26
24
Goals
23
13
Assists
5
4
Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Steijn’s steady improvement season after season should result in a move away from the Netherlands sooner rather than later. If Cunha does depart Wolves, it’s those in the Midlands who should do everything to secure the FC Twente star’s signature. There’s no doubt that he’s one to watch.