Manchester United are now preparing a £33m offer for a “world-class” star, who is very keen on moving to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.
Man Utd struggling to get signings through the door
Man United got off to a fast start in the summer transfer window, securing the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but they have since struggled to get deals for their priority targets over the line.
The Red Devils have been particularly keen to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but they are yet to agree a fee with their Premier League rivals, with reporter Laurie Whitwell revealing the asking price may have now increased.
It cannot be understated how important it is to sign a new forward, with Rasmus Hojlund netting just four Premier League goals last season, but Ruben Amorim also has a real desire to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.
Andre Onana has been subjected to heavy criticism throughout his time at Old Trafford, and Man United have now set their sights on a replacement, with an opening offer of around £33m in the works for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
That is according to a report from La Nacion (via Sport Witness), which states Martinez is very keen on leaving Villa for United, as he believes he would be taking a big step in his career, despite European football not being on offer next season.
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However, the two clubs may be a little way apart in their valuation of the Argentinian as things stand, with Villa setting a £40m asking price.
"World-class" Martinez could be huge Onana upgrade
The 32-year-old has established himself as an elite goalkeeper during his time with Villa, most memorably impressing at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, and he has been lauded as “world-class” by United legend Gary Neville.
Not only that, but there are clear signs the Villa star could be a massive upgrade on Onana, given that he has outperformed the Cameroonian across a number of key goalkeeping metrics per 90 over the past year.
Statistic
Andre Onana
Emiliano Martinez
Goals against
1.32
1.20
Save percentage
68.9%
72.1%
Clean sheet percentage
23.4%
28.3%
The former Arsenal man also won the Premier League Save of the Season award for a remarkable stop against Nottingham Forest.
Martinez is clearly a top-level goalkeeper, but Man United should be cautious about paying £40m for a player who is set to turn 33 later this year.
We are barely even halfway through it, and this summer is shaping up to be an excellent one for Chelsea.
On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s men have made it to the final of the Club World Cup and have done so with relative ease while playing some lovely football.
Then, off the pitch, the Blues have been as busy as they usually are this time of year, bringing in some seriously exciting talents like Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
However, it’s not all about the incomings as the club now looks ready to make several sales, including one star who, like Noni Madueke, has already agreed to personal terms.
Chelsea look to sell stars this summer
With Chelsea’s squad being notoriously sizable, it would make sense to see the club sell several unwanted players this summer, such as João Félix.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Portuguese international spent half of last season on loan with AC Milan, despite only moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer, and based on reports from earlier this month, it looks like he could be on his way to Benfica.
Likewise, Ben Chilwell, who once cost the club around £50m and was seen as England’s next great left-back, is almost certainly set to depart, although as his short-term loan to Crystal Palace last season was unspectacular – to say the least – it’s unclear who, if anyone will be willing to sign him on a permanent deal.
It’s a similar problem with Raheem Sterling, who was seriously poor for Arsenal last season, and with his mammoth wages, the board may have to buy him out of his contract to see him leave.
Fortunately, it looks like there will be no such problem with Madueke, who has agreed to join the Gunners, now set to complete a £50m move in the words of Fabrizio Romano.
The dynamic winger is not the only player to have agreed personal terms with another club, as goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović has done the same, which is excellent news, as he’s far more dispensable than the Englishman.
Why Petrović is more dispensable than Madueke
According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Petrović has agreed personal terms with Bournemouth and, as things stand, Chelsea are in talks to sell him for a fee of around £25m.
Now, while the Serbian keeper is following in Madueke’s footsteps by agreeing to join a fellow Premier League side, we’d argue that fans he is the far more dispensable player, and there are a few reasons why.
The first is that he didn’t even play for the team last season.
Instead of being a part of the first Blue side to qualify for the Champions League in a few years, the 25-year-old was on loan with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, which makes it hard to argue his permanent departure would be much of a blow at all.
Second, when he did play for the club two seasons ago, he was never more than okay between the sticks, and if you take a look at his underlying numbers from that campaign, they’re actually really quite poor.
Clean Sheet Percentage
22.7%
Top 37%
Goal Kicks
6.75
Top 45%
Touches
38.73
Bottom 45%
Crosses Stopped %
6.4%
Bottom 42%
Save% (Penalty Kicks)
0.0%
Bottom 41%
Goals Against
1.72
Bottom 33%
Save Percentage
65.7%
Bottom 31%
Defensive Actions Outside of Penalty Area
0.91
Bottom 20%
According to FBref, he sat in the top 37% of keepers for clean sheet percentage, the bottom 42% for crosses stopped, the bottom 31% for save percentage, the bottom 20% for defensive actions outside of his penalty area, and more, all per 90.
In contrast, the Arsenal-bound Madueke does have some seriously standout metrics, such as being in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and the top 4% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area, also per 90.
Ultimately, while both sales look good for Chelsea, and will help balance the books, the club are going to miss Madueke far more than Petrović.
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Leicester City may be on the hunt for a new manager, but that doesn’t mean they have put a pause on recruiting players with pre-season now underway.
Leicester City's hunt for a new manager
Ruud van Nistelrooy was relieved of his duties at Leicester City nine weeks after their relegation from the Premier League, which has put the cat among the pigeons regarding who his successor will be at the King Power Stadium.
Chris Wilder and Sean Dyche have been mentioned in connection with the role, though the chaotic nature of events at the Foxes hasn’t impressed former player Matt Piper.
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi celebrates.
He stated: “Flip-flopping around from different managers, different journeymen, just reeks of what we’ve all been pointing fingers at the club for. It all seems a little bit unprofessional, not well planned out and scraping the barrel. No candidates really on that list that you’re really excited about or I’m certainly not anyway.”
Certainly, there is an understandable level of dissatisfaction from supporters heading into this season and questions are there to be asked about the process that led to Van Nistelrooy’s future being decided so late on in the grand scheme of things.
Nevertheless, recruitment must go on in the East Midlands, and Leicester could pounce for free agent Jack Kingdon if enough of their budget is put aside to thrash out a deal.
Leicester City’s 2025/26 start
Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Championship
Huddersfield Town (A)
EFL Cup
Preston North End (A)
Championship
Charlton Athletic (A)
Championship
Birmingham City (H)
Championship
Retaining key stars or assets for the future will also be important. However, 16-year-old Louis Page has rejected a professional contract at the Foxes, which will need to be looked at.
Either way, there may finally be some positivity for Leicester fans to get their teeth into amid reports involving their pursuit of a high-profile England international.
Leicester City keen to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
According to Haber Turk, Leicester City are keen on bringing Besiktas midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the King Power and his current employers are happy to offload him this summer.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Turkish giants could move to terminate his contract, leaving the former Liverpool man free to leave for nothing, though Premier League newcomers Burnley are also in hot pursuit of the 31-year-old.
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Earning 35 caps for England in his pomp, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored once in 20 appearances for Besiktas last term, struggling to break into their side regularly due to a string of injury issues.
It remains to be seen whether he would be willing to drop to the Championship, but his affordability will definitely appeal to those in the corridors of power at the Foxes.
Once labelled “brilliant” by Paul Merson, Oxlade-Chamberlain still has more to give at a high level. Nevertheless, his wage demands will need to be factored in should Leicester press ahead in negotiations, as he currently earns £69,000-a-week with Besiktas.
Everton have had a busy 2025 summer transfer window so far. David Moyes’ side are looking to build on the momentum they garnered at the back end of last season, with the dawn of a new era upon the club. They are, of course, set to move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium next season.
One of the players they are pursuing, and seem close to signing, is Fulham right-back Kenny Tete. BBC Sport report that the Toffees are ‘close to securing a deal’ to sign the Dutchman on a free transfer from the Cottagers, with his contract set to expire this summer.
Another player they are after is French striker Thierno Barry, with talks intensifying this week. The Toffees are also linked with a midfielder who could perfectly complement the centre-forward.
Everton's next target after Barry
It is looking like a deal to sign Tete is on track to be completed before long, and one that would see them sign Barry might not be too far behind. They are reportedly in talks for the Villarreal star, who has a £40m release clause.
That’s according to a recent report from The i Paper. Barry is not the only young talent the newspaper has linked the Toffees with. They have reportedly ‘registered an interest’ in signing Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee.
It seems like the talented young number 10 will be made available for sale this summer, and Everton could pounce as a result. The Manchester Evening News confirmed at the end of May that he is ‘set to leave’ the Etihad Stadium, and will be available for a fee of around £25m.
Everton's new look attack with Barry and McAtee
After a couple of successful seasons on loan at Sheffield United, McAtee was given a deserved chance in the City first team last season, but struggled for any real game time. However, when he did get the opportunity, he certainly left an impression, particularly on Pep Guardiola, who described him as a “special” talent.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts withJamesMcAtee
The 22-year-old, who came through City’s esteemed academy, scored seven goals in his 27 appearances last season. However, he played just 936 minutes in all competitions, leaving him with just 10.4 full 90-minute games on average.
For the Blades during his two loan spells in 2022/23 and 2023/24, McAtee was a standout player. He played 75 games for the club, scoring 14 times and grabbing eight assists. Six of those goal involvements came in the Premier League, including a sublime strike against Brentford.
McAtee has been a creative force throughout his career, both in youth and professional football. Once described as being “simply too good” by scout Jacek Kulig, he could well be playing as a number 10 behind Barry at the Hill Dickinson Stadium if both deals get over the line, where Everton fans could see that creativity shine.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
The Villarreal number 15, who is an international for France at U21 level, certainly impressed in the 2024/25 campaign for the Yellow Submarine. He scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists in 41 games.
Barry knows exactly where the back of the net is, and with McAtee’s ability to fashion chances, they could form a dangerous combination. Indeed, the stats from the Man City star’s three seasons at professional level show just how exciting he can be as an attacking midfielder.
According to Sofascore, the 22-year-old, who was born in Salford, averaged 1.8 key passes for the Blades in his first campaign. He maintained a similar level when they got promoted, playing 1.4 key passes in 2023/24, and chalking up 0.8 for City last term, without much involvement.
Goals
0.4
0.2
0.7
Assists
1.8
1.4
0.8
Big chances created
0.3
0.2
0.2
Dribbles completed
1.9
1.8
0.7
Tackles and interceptions
1.8
2
1.3
Expected goal involvements
N/A
0.24
0.38
Therefore, McAtee could make Barry completely unplayable if the pair are to unite on the Blue half of Merseyside next season. The Frenchman is clinical in front of goal, and with the creativity of the Man City youngster behind him, he could hit whole new heights.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
The 22-year-old has not had much of an opportunity for City, but has shown exactly how good he can be when the chance to play has arisen. With regular football and a clinical striker ahead of him at Everton, he could excel at the Toffees.
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Will West Bromwich Albion be promotion challengers again when the 2025/26 season gets underway in the Championship?
That’s the question likely wracking the brains of Baggies fans far and wide, with nobody quite sure how Ryan Mason will deal with the pressures of the Hawthorns hot-seat, considering experienced manager Tony Mowbray struggled back at the helm last campaign.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
Mowbray, unfortunately, sank the West Brom ship instead of steadying it as a playoff spot slipped disastrously out of their grasp.
On the contrary, Mason will hope he can guide his new side to a top-six finish or even higher, with the sparkling potential addition of a seasoned Championship pro helping his chances as a rookie boss.
West Brom have former Championship star on their radar
As per a new report from TEAMTalk, West Brom have ex-Derby County star Tom Lawrence very much on their radar.
His free agent status after walking away from Rangers has alerted numerous clubs to his services, however, with both Wrexham and Coventry City named as other suitors eyeing up the 31-year-old.
Glasgow Rangers forward Tom Lawrence.
The ambitious Red Dragons could well be in the driver’s seat over landing his signature, considering Lawrence does hail from Wrexham, but West Brom are said to still be keen even as Phil Parkinson’s men sniff around.
How Lawrence could be their next Wallace
If West Brom were to knock Wrexham off their pedestal and win his services, Mason could be about to land the Baggies’ next Jed Wallace, with the accomplished attacker arriving at the Hawthorns back in 2022 with plenty of EFL know-how to show off, much like Lawrence will be desperate to provide.
Wallace would also enter into his new environment all those years ago on a shrewd free transfer, with Millwall left to curse the 31-year-old running his contract down at the Den.
The Lions’ short-term agony ended up being West Brom’s gain, however, with an impressive tally of six goals and eight assists mustered up by Wallace during his debut league campaign in the West Midlands.
His output has since dwindled, with only two goal contributions coming his way across the entire course of last season, but there will be hope that Lawrence’s experience of the Championship, which is of the same stature as Wallace’s, means he can instantly hit the ground running with Albion if he signs.
After all, the free agent is only 82 appearances shy of Wallace’s hefty 346 appearances in the intimidating division, with his goal and assist numbers across those 264 clashes even closer to the esteemed Baggies’ captain’s bumper haul.
21/22
Derby County
38
11
5
20/21
Derby County
23
3
2
19/20
Derby County
37
10
4
18/19
Derby County
33
6
4
17/18
Derby County
39
6
8
16/17
Ipswich Town
34
9
11
15/16
Cardiff City
14
0
1
15/16
Blackburn Rovers
21
2
2
14/15
Rotherham United
6
1
1
13/14
Yeovil Town
19
2
2
Much like Wallace, who had to wait to find his groove with Millwall, Lawrence really kicked into gear as a devastating Championship-level attacker with Derby County, as seen in him amassing 59 of his overall 90 goal contributions donning Rams white.
To add context, his equally experienced counterpart boasts 14 more goal contributions in total in the second-tier, with 76 of those coming about in South East London.
Hailed as an “excellent” professional by Rangers coach David McCallum, with a promising 12 strikes next to his name at Ibrox even as he enters the twilight years of his playing days, this could be a move that reawakens a beast out of Lawrence to cause Championship defences headaches all over again.
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Leeds United are gearing up for another tilt at top-flight football and Lee Hendrie has given his thoughts on their pursuit of an exciting reported target.
Leeds United prepare for their return to the Premier League
Daniel Farke secured the Championship title in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season and will now be ready to push forward in his hunt to position his side for Premier League survival.
Now, his focus after the summer break will turn towards recruiting talent to help them on their way, something Lee Sharpe believes the Whites have to perfect if they are to stave off relegation next term.
He stated: “Leeds need to recruit wisely and rotate the starting 11 more this time around. Two years ago, they didn’t rotate the team enough, which meant they would tire in the last 15 or 20 minutes of games. As long as they get the basics right, they’ll give themselves a good chance.”
Manchester City star James McAtee and soon-to-be free agent Jamie Vardy could arrive at Elland Road. However, competition for their services will be fierce from elsewhere.
Motherwell’s Lennon Miller has been identified to strengthen Leeds’ engine room. Again, he may prove to be a difficult capture in a crowded market where talent is only available at a premium.
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Recent years have provided plenty of lessons for the Elland Road hierarchy to learn in the lead-up to their top-flight return. Determined to make sure Leeds remain on a sustainable footing in the Premier League, Farke and the 49ers Enterprises have now turned their attention to a talented operator who has filled Lee Hendrie with intrigue.
Hendrie: Mateus Fernandes would be a "really good fit" for Leeds United
According to pundit Hendrie, speaking to Football League World, Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes would be a ‘very good fit’ for Leeds should he move to Elland Road this summer. Leeds have been linked with a move for the £30m midfielder, as have Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
He stated: “He’s another very good player that I think would fit the bill for Leeds for how they play. He’s got a little bit of everything.
Mateus Fernandes in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
43
Goals
3
Assists
5
“I think he would be a really, really good signing for the football club, I really do. I watch the signings that they brought in over past seasons: flamboyant, skill – he’s got that in abundance.
“I think it’s inevitable he leaves the football club. I think it would be a really good fit for Leeds, and for him. Obviously, Premier League, and an exciting team that he could end up playing in where you might get a bit more out of him. Very, very good player, and it would be a good signing for Leeds.”
In a disappointing campaign for Southampton, midfielder Fernandes has created 31 chances on Premier League duty, illustrating his capacity to show himself at the highest level even when things aren’t going swimmingly for the collective.
Leeds will need players with that level of resilience next term, and the Portugal Under-21 international is certainly someone who fits the bill heading into the window.
Manchester United will desperately need to land new attacking talent this summer, as seen by their recent moves in the market, which has led to a deal for Matheus Cunha.
The Brazilian has been on their radar over the last few months, but a deal seems to be edging closer after Fabrizio Romano confirmed the club had struck a deal with the fellow Premier League outfit Wolverhamtpon Wanderers.
However, further reinforcements are likely needed, especially when considering the side only registered 44 goals in their 38 league outings this campaign.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
Such a tally is the fifth-lowest in the division, with all the teams within the bottom three and Everton the only teams to manage fewer, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly league standing.
Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in pursuing other options, with countless players on the Red Devils’ radar ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Striker Liam Delap has been firmly on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially a bargain given his tally of 12 goals this campaign.
The 22-year-old has reportedly agreed personal terms over a switch to Old Trafford, looking to fend off any interest from fellow Premier League outfits Chelsea and Everton.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
However, he’s not the only name on their shortlist this summer, with a move for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha now edging closer to completion. Reports on Tuesday evening noted that United have met the conditions required to prise him away from Wolves and the player has been given permission to undergo a medical.
An exciting option once that deal is done could well be Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, according to CaughtOffside.
Their report claims that talks have already been held over a move for the 22-year-old Frenchman, who has registered 22 goals and 12 assists throughout 2024/25.
It also states that the Red Devils are preparing a serious offer for his signature, but it remains to be seen how much they would bid for his services given his £84m price tag.
Why United’s £84m target would be Amorim’s own Isak
Alexander Isak is a player who every side in world football must wish they had their own version of given his goalscoring exploits over the last couple of seasons.
The Swede, who currently plies his trade for Newcastle United, has registered 27 goals this campaign – 23 of which in the league, which saw him finish second in the Golden Boot race.
Over recent months, numerous teams have been interested in a move for the 25-year-old, but have been quoted a fee in the region of £150m – highlighting how impressive he’s been at St James’ Park.
Given the nature of such a fee, it’s virtually impossible that the Red Devils could fork out such a figure, which has led them to pursuing other options in the final third.
Ekitike is one player who could be the club’s own version of Isak, with the Frankfurt star comparable to the Newcastle talisman on FBref based off their respective figures and also described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
The Frenchman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists this season, but he’s registered more shots on target per 90 – highlighting his clinical abilities in the final third.
He’s also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.
Games played
33
34
Goals & assists
23
29
Progressive carries
3.3
2.7
Shots on target
1.5
1.3
Shots taken
4
3.1
Pass accuracy
76%
74%
Shot-creating actions
3.5
3
Take-ons completed
1.8
1.4
Ekitike’s impressive figures don’t stop there, registering more shot-creating actions, along with more progressive carries per 90 – handing the players around him the chance to bolster their own tallies.
Whilst £84m may appear to be a small fortune for the striker, it’s a deal that would hugely improve the options at the manager’s disposal heading into 2025/26.
Should he manage to get anywhere near the levels produced by Isak in the Premier League, it would be a bargain and one that could push the side one step closer to a return to European football next season.
Man Utd now in shock talks to sign "unbelievable" £50m forward after Cunha
The Red Devils have now opened discussions to sign a forward, who amassed 29 goal contributions in the 2024/25 season.
With Matheus Cunha seemingly on his way to Manchester United this summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly set to submit a £29m bid to sign their potential replacement.
Man Utd close in on Cunha
Cunha’s Wolves departure has looked inevitable rather than possible ever since he put pen to paper on a deal which included a £63m release clause in January. The Brazilian stayed put in the winter window, but on that one condition. Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, it’s Manchester United who are set to take full advantage of that release clause this summer.
The inevitability of Cunha’s exit hasn’t always seen the forward keep his home fans onside, either, and he has done himself no favours throughout the campaign by keeping up a poor disciplinary record on the pitch.
What those suspensions have done, however, is hand Vitor Pereira a glimpse into life without Cunha. And whilst it would have been easy to assume that glimpse would spell undeniable disaster for Wolves, the reality couldn’t be more different.
Without their star man, Wolves put together an impressive three game winning run, which then turned into six once he returned. It was a run that led to their Premier League safety and one that Pereira celebrated by joining his supporters at the local pub.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates after Rodrigo Gomes scores
Whether a toast was raised to Cunha is doubtful, but there’s no denying that Wolves will still need to replace the Man United-bound star regardless of that impressive run without him. And that has reportedly seen them turn their attention towards another Brazilian forward.
Wolves set to table Yuri Alberto offer
According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now set to table an offer worth €35m (£30m) to sign Yuri Alberto this summer. Pereira has reportedly specifically requested the 23-year-old Corinthians forward who he worked with during his time at the Brazilian club and could now get his man when the summer arrives.
Appearances
28
Goals
11
Assists
2
A young forward who was just finding his best form at the time, Alberto has since blossomed into an impressive striker who is ready for a move into European football.
Described as “clinical” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the Brazilian could instantly form a partnership full of promise with Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has enjoyed an impressive season in his own right under Pereira.
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Get things right and Cunah will be a name of the past, rather than a regretful star lost. Pereira has already proven that he is more than capable of getting the best out of his current squad without his standout star, but the arrival of Alberto could help the Portuguese manager take Wolves beyond simply surviving in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur sunk to another defeat, their 20th of the season, in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.
A double from Eberechi Eze, who scored just before and just after the half-time break, put Spurs to the sword, and it could have been even more if not for eight saves from Antonin Kinsky between the sticks.
The Czech star was given a rare run-out in goal as he is not eligible to play in the Europa League, but the shot-stopper was not the only player who was given a rare chance to impress, as Ben Davies also came in at centre-back.
Why Ben Davies should not start the Europa League final
The Wales international came in to start in the left-sided centre-back position against Palace, after he was an unused substitute in both legs of the semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.
Davies won seven of his 13 duels against the Eagles, just over half, and put in a decent, but unimpressive, display at the heart of the defence. He certainly did not do enough to suggest that the manager should keep him in the team for the Europa League final after the clash with Aston Villa next weekend.
Appearances
8
7
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.3
2.0
Duels won per game
2.9
4.5
Ground duel success rate
50%
54%
Aerial duel success rate
50%
86%
As you can see in the table above, Micky van de Ven has been far more defensively dominant than him in Europe, which is why the Dutchman should be in line to start against Manchester United.
Davies is not the only player from Sunday’s starting XI who should be ditched from the team after the Aston Villa game, though, as Djed Spence must also be binned for the final.
Why Djed Spence should not start the Europa League final
The English defender lined up at left-back against Palace and did not cover himself in glory for either of the goals with his positioning on that side of the pitch, whilst he also gave the ball away 12 times and only completed 76% of his attempted passes.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Football.london handed him a player rating of just 3/10 and wrote that he was ‘all over the place’ and that Palace took ‘advantage’ of his poor positional play throughout the match, despite winning eight of his ten duels.
It is not the first time that his positioning has been questioned. When playing in his more natural right-back berth, Football FanCast suggested that he should have been dropped after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool because he was allowed his market to get in behind on at least three occasions, once leading to a goal, on that day.
Ange Postecoglou, therefore, should not select Spence at left-back for the Europa League final because his unreliable positioning could cost them big time against the Red Devils.
Spurs will not want to gift chances away, as they did against Liverpool and Palace, with Spence at full-back because his positioning lets the United wingers in too many times down the flanks, which is why he should be dropped.
Tottenham star Djed Spence
Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels in the Europa League, whilst also offering a naturally left-footed option to progress the ball in possession down that side.
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Even if Tottenham triumph in the Europa League, most expect Ange Postecoglou to be sacked, so doest Daniel Levy have a “genius” coach top of his list?
2 May 10, 2025
It is now down to Postecoglou to take Spence out of the XI, whether that is for Villa next week or after the clash with the Villans, in order to play Udogie at left-back in the Europa League final.
Liverpool’s incredible season under Arne Slot is nearly at an end, with the Dutchman making the impossible task of taking the baton from Jurgen Klopp look easy.
Having lost just twice in the Premier League all season, Liverpool have won the title at a canter, moving 15 points ahead of Arsenal after thrashing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to seal the deal.
Slot is a tactical genius, an expert in eking every last ounce of quality out of his players. Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones are among the standouts in this regard.
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
However, he’s also found a way to take Mohamed Salah to the next level. The Egyptian forward is a shoo-in for the clean sweep of individual honours in English football after his extraordinary, talismanic campaign – and it’s not even his last on Merseyside, having penned a two-year extension last month.
Two more years of Mohamed Salah
Amid all the happy furore on the red half of Merseyside in recent days, Salah took some time to issue a statement on his social media platforms.
Chiefly commenting on Liverpool’s triumph, it’s curious that Salah should end his message by saying that his side’s efforts and ultimate success “applies to next season as well.”
He’s a natural-born winner, always talented and hungry but chiselled into world-class shape at Anfield, indeed the architect of Slot’s triumph, having posted 33 goals and 23 assists across all competitions this season.
He might be a matter of months away from his 33rd birthday, but Salah is very up at the head of football’s elite table, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal contributions per 90 (1.21), as per FBref.
It’s remarkable that Liverpool were able to conquer the biggest prize without having invested, true, but also with the uncertainty around their superstars’ contracts.
Salah, like Virgil van Dijk, will be sticking around for a few more years, hungering toward more silverware and more individual accolades, both of which will surely come in one form or another.
1.
Alan Shearer
441
260
2.
Harry Kane
320
213
3.
Wayne Rooney
491
208
4.
Andy Cole
414
187
5.
Mohamed Salah
297
185
However, he’s not going to stay forever, and while fans have earned a wonderful reprieve from the eventual ending, FSG are bound to be hard at work as they identify a fitting successor, nice and prudent.
Well, news from elsewhere may be music to the ears of Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, with one of the best forwards out there potentially set to leave his club.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
It would be quite something if the Reds struck true with this one.
Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah
With Federico Chiesa flattering to deceive across his debut campaign in Liverpool, there’s a good chance he will be sold or loaned out this summer, with AC Milan interested in bringing Salah’s understudy back to his homeland.
Mohamed Salah celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
Liverpool need to sign someone who could not only jockey with Salah but succeed him in the coming years. If FSG wish to aim for the stars, they may fancy an opportunistic bid for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo – a player who FSG have expressed considerable interest in over the past few months – who has been frustrated by his role in the Los Blancos attacking hierarchy, competing alongside Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
That’s according to Spanish outlet Marca, who state that the 24-year-old will have no shortage of top European and Saudi-based suitors, with further Spanish sources claiming it would take a fee of €100m (about £87m) to convince Real to part ways.
Described as a “superstar” by his esteemed compatriot Neymar Jr., Rodrygo might be somewhat out of sorts but he’s still one of the best players in the world, ranking among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as well as the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
The Brazil star’s Champions League pedigree and influential performances in seasons gone by highlight his quality and indeed the reasoning behind launching a marquee move for the player.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has even gone as far as to pronounce Rodrygo as being among “the best players in the world.”
While he’s only scored six times in La Liga this season, Rodrygo has missed just one big chance, as per Sofascore, averaging 1.6 key passes per game and winning 56% of his total duels.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
Such roundedness bespeaks his level, but the ball-striking cleanness is what differentiates him. It’s no fluke, either, proven after a decent individual campaign in the Champions League that led to five goals before being knocked out by Arsenal, missing just two big chances.
Whether Slot would opt to unleash the right-footed Rodrygo on the right flank, as he has been forced to do with regularity over the past few years to accommodate Mbappe and Vinicius, or instead use him in a more natural berth is open to question, but you get the sense an unfettered role as Liverpool’s linchpin in the coming years could see Rodrygo finally maximise his potential.
After all, half of his goals this season have come from the left flank, despite only playing 12 of his 50 matches in the position.
Right winger
145
34
30
0.44
Centre-forward
82
22
8
0.37
Left winger
78
23
16
0.50
Attacking midfield
4
0
1
0.25
Though Liverpool would have to break the bank to get this one done, with Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Chiesa’s futures all uncertain, this might be one to keep a loose eye on, especially if his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu fails to improve.
The new Gravenberch: Liverpool ready bid for "one of the best in the world"
Liverpool are set to make a bid for a talent who could be Arne Slot’s next Ryan Gravenberch.