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Arsenal remain very active behind-the-scenes in terms of their summer recruitment plans, as manager Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta attempt to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool next season.

Arsenal set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi

The north Londoners, after months of talks, recently sealed a deal for Spain international midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as per numerous reliable reports.

Arsenal plot "shock" move for Premier League captain who "goes under the radar"

He’s a leader in the dressing room.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 25, 2025

News of Zubimendi’s potential move to London Colney was first revealed by The Mail back in January, and Berta has been working to finalise a deal for the 26-year-old ever since – coming after his predecessor Edu and ex-interim director Jason Ayto laid most of the groundwork (Ben Jacobs).

The Real Sociedad favourite is now set to become Berta’s first signing as the Gunners’ new transfer chief, but he largely has both Ayto and Edu to thank for this, as they were the “driving forces” behind Zubimendi’s switch (Ben Jacobs).

Despite some concerns about Real Madrid mounting a late hijack, especially after Zubimendi’s cryptic comments regarding his future, Fabrizio Romano is among the credible media sources to share news last week that the player travelled to London and put the finishing touches on his Emirates Stadium move.

Arsenal will also pay around £55 million for Zubimendi, despite his lower release clause, as a gesture of good faith to Sociedad which also allows the club to pay the fee in installments.

With Zubimendi’s done and dusted, attention is swiftly turning to who could follow him, and that man is apparently £150,000-per-week Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Romano has given his ‘here we go’ to Arrizabalaga’s Arsenal move today, with the player also travelling to the club this week as he puts the finishing touches on his N5 transfer.

Kepa Arrizabalaga travelling to London this week after agreeing Arsenal move

The 30-year-old has been poised to join Arsenal for a little while now as he looks to battle David Raya for the number one spot (David Ornstein), with The Athletic’s James McNicholas sharing more on the situation.

Kepa is personally in London “this week” to finalise his move to Arsenal, so the Stamford Bridge outcast appears set to become Berta’s second signing of the summer.

The former Athletic Bilbao ace’s capture has already been widely praised, with his meagre £5 million cost coming as a potential bargain given Kepa’s extensive top-level experience.

“Arsenal do need a replacement for Neto, what a loan spell that was, it didn’t work, that is for sure,” said pundit Adrian Clarke on Inside Gooners earlier this month.

“Kepa Arrizabalaga, he’s available for just £5m, that sounds like the deal of the century, doesn’t it.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is desperate to bolster his attacking options this summer, and Hugo Ekitike is a major target.

The Blues face competition from Manchester United, however, as the Red Devils have entered the race for the young Frenchman.

This could put Maresca on high alert, and he will do everything he can to try to lure the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to Stamford Bridge.

He isn’t the only transfer target to emerge from the Bundesliga, as news has emerged about their potential interest in a current RB Leipzig starlet.

Chelsea could target Bundesliga sensation

If a move for Ekitike does go through, Maresca will be keen on linking up with players who will be able to provide him with plenty of chances in the final third.

Of course, Cole Palmer will be ideal for him, but how about having a talent like Xavi Simons available?

Writer Bobby Vincent stated during a Q and A for football.london could perhaps be a target.

“As for Xavi Simons, I’ve heard his name mentioned a couple of times this summer as a potential option but nothing absolutely concrete yet,” said Vincent.

“He is someone who has cropped up in the past as well, so there is definite interest there.”

The Dutchman is still only 22 years of age and would make an ideal long-term option for Maresca, especially as he could work wonders with Ekitike.

Why Chelsea must sign Xavi Simons

Last season in the Premier League, Palmer created 24 big chances. Next on the list were Enzo Fernández with 13 and Pedro Neto with 11. These were the only players with over ten big chances created.

By signing Simons, Maresca would be getting a player who will be able to generate plenty of opportunities for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt this season.

Indeed, across 25 domestic matches last season, the youngster created 12 big chances, while also averaging two key passes per game and recording seven assists for Leipzig, which speaks to the kind of quality that he could provide the French striker with in front of goal.

It is no wonder he has been hailed as a “fantastic talent” in the past by talent scout Jacek Kulig. Now, Simons is finally delivering on his massive potential.

While Leipzig may have underwhelmed in the Champions League last season, Simons, who has been hailed as a “pocket rocket” by analyst Raj Chohan, shone from an individual perspective.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in the tournament, the 22-year-old ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and total shots per 90 (2.69) while also ranking in the top 9% for successful take-ons (1.88) and in the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty area (3.49) per 90.

This set of statistics proves that Simons is among one of the finest attacking midfielders on the continent when it comes to creating chances, which is why he would be a dream signing alongside Ekitike as they could link up in the final third with the Dutchman creating chances for the striker to tuck away.

It could be a dream duo for the club next season, and if the club go far in the Club World Cup, there will be money to spend.

Chelsea can sign a bigger talent than Ekitike with move for £65m "maverick"

Chelsea could have the chance to reignite a move for a former target

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 14, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have money to play with this summer and could now turn their attention to an exciting winger to add flair acrosss their forward line, according to reports.

Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstart summer transfer window

Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United may have left a sour taste in the mouth for supporters of the Old Gold, but there was always an element of inevitability regarding his eventual fate.

Nonetheless, the picture appears to be bright in the West Midlands under Vitor Pereira, who will be given time and financial backing to shape his squad over the coming months.

Evaluating the immediate priority at Molineux, adding one or two quality attacking options in the face of Cunha no longer being in the building will become a popular topic among fans and pundits alike.

Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic has been targeted by the Old Gold to help provide some added prowess in the final third, and Alex Neil’s ringing endorsement that the 20-year-old is one of Europe’s top ten talents will likely create plenty of intrigue.

Further back, Nelson Semedo is mulling over a new deal at Wolves as his contract nears expiration, illustrating the importance of bringing a right-sided defender to the club should the Portugal international move on to tackle a fresh challenge.

Wolves could sign instant Cunha replacement in "special" £25m talent

Wolves will be hoping to sign a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

May 31, 2025

Sunderland’s Trai Hume may be the man the Old Gold are looking for to strike an adequate balance. Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri’s impending transfer to Manchester City leaves food for thought at left-back.

Transition may not be a bad thing for Wolves in light of big-money departures. Either way, they are now reportedly plotting a swoop for an exciting young winger.

Wolverhampton Wanderers plotting swoop for Roger Fernandes

According to Molineux News in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga winger Roger Fernandes and he expects the Old Gold to ‘explore’ the Primeira Liga for additions during the window.

Reports earlier this year claimed Manchester United, Manchester City, Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also keen on Fernandes amid his rise to prominence in Portugal, which has led to a £25m price tag.

Referencing the situation, Bailey said: “I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again. I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”

Likened to former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia by Foot The Ball, Fernandes has registered five goals and seven assists in 48 appearances for Braga this term and is capable of featuring on either flank.

Completing an average of 1.4 dribbles per league match, the Portugal youth international could go some way to filling the creative void left by Cunha, even if he is only one part of the solution.

Arsenal are also “in talks” over signing a marquee former PSG player who could come as an alternative to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with sporting director Andrea Berta seemingly holding discussions for numerous transfer targets.

Andrea Berta's reported approaches as Arsenal target forward signings

In one of his “first acts” as the Gunners’ transfer chief, Berta reached out to the agents of Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams (Ed Aarons), so the 53-year-old has been working extensively on the club’s recruitment drive for quite some time.

When Arsenal could now announce Martin Zubimendi deal after surprise update

The Spain international is on his way to north London.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 29, 2025

Since then, it’s been reported that Berta’s held “numerous talks” with a succession of targets for the wide area, including Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with Atalanta star Ademola Lookman and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma also under consideration at the Emirates (Florian Plettenberg).

Arsenal are described as “very active” in the market, and this is especially true when it comes to their search for a new striker.

A plethora of reports from Portugal in the last fortnight have claimed that Arsenal have offered a contract to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres (O Jogo), and while this is yet to be backed up by sources closer to home, Sky Germany believe that Berta has at least held extensive talks with the Swedish international.

However, reliable sources with much more recent information indicate that Sesko is emerging as the primary centre-forward target.

Fabrizio Romano, for example, confirms that Arsenal are in “concrete” initial talks for the Slovenia international and a deal is “on”.

Given Arsenal missed out on Sesko last summer and in January, not to mention his price tag is now mooted at up to £93 million (The Telegraph), it is wise for Berta to carry on testing the water for alternative options as well.

Arsenal also "in talks" over Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt sensation and ex-PSG striker Hugo Ekitike, who’s fresh off the back of an excellent full debut season in the Bundesliga, is being courted by Arsenal as well.

The Frenchman scored 22 goals and racked up 12 assists in 48 appearances across 24/25, with Eintracht valuing him at around £84 million, which still makes him a slightly cheaper deal to do than Sesko as things stand.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, taking to X, Frankfurt and Ekitike have been planning his exit for months, and Arsenal are believed to be one of the sides “in talks” over a potential move for the 22-year-old.

“Hugo Ekitike and the board of Frankfurt have been planning the transfer of the French striker this summer for several months,” wrote Aouna.

“As revealed in March, some European clubs are already in talks, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

“A meeting is scheduled this week between Ekitike’s agent and Chelsea. Frankfurt are already looking for a substitute and opened talks with Jonathan Burkardt.”

His goalscoring exploits in Germany showcase a fierce talent who’ll surely only get better, leaving little surprise Arsenal are also in the race given their dire need for a striker.

Manchester United are beginning to motor in the summer transfer window and could now make progress in signing a defensive addition, according to reports.

Manchester United look for arrivals after Matheus Cunha

Ruben Amorim is aware there is alot of work to do this summer at Old Trafford and there is plenty of movement expected to occur in both directions, though he can smile at the thought of having Matheus Cunha to work with at the Red Devils.

Signing a five-year deal, the Brazil international will earn £200,000 per week after his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers and could rise to their second-highest earner if Bruno Fernandes leaves the club for Al Hilal alongside other permutations.

Financially, it may be difficult to secure everyone on Manchester United’s shopping list after missing out on around £100 million by virtue of losing out in the Europa League final.

Regardless, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s swinging cutbacks may have left some room for manouvre alongside the aforementioned news that Al Hilal have set a five-day deadline regarding Red Devils captain Fernandes. If the skipper does leave, his goal contributions could be replaced by Bryan Mbeumo, after David Ornstein revealed on Monday that the Cameroon star wants to join the Red Devils.

Defensively, Amorim wants to strengthen his side and could try to land a bargain £15 million deal for Brighton & Hove Albion star Pervis Estupinan.

Big Delap upgrade: Man Utd make approach to sign "unbelievable" £55m star

Manchester United could soon land an upgrade on Liam Delap by going after this sharpshooter instead.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 1, 2025

Intriguingly, the Ecuador international has just two years left on his deal at the Amex Stadium, which may force the Seagulls to sell before his value begins to dwindle if he doesn’t sign an extension. Now, the Red Devils could be set to pounce for another defender after opening talks over a swoop for his services.

Manchester United could land Udinese star Oumar Solet

According to reports via TBR, Manchester United could land Udinese centre-back Oumar Solet this summer after agent Claudio Pasqualin noted that the 24-year-old may depart the Serie A outfit following talks between both clubs.

Labelled “excellent” by Fabrizio Romano, Solet has notched a solitary goal and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions, but his main sphere of influence exists at the other end of the field. Making 92 recoveries and winning 20 duels on Serie A duty this term, reports claim that the 25-year-old could move for £34 million, fitting Manchester United’s philosphy of finding value for money on the market.

It is a big summer ahead for Celtic.

After reaching the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 21 years, heartbreakingly beaten by Bayern Munich 3-2 on aggregate, Brendan Rodgers will demand that his team kick on next season, hence why reinforcements are required.

As Scottish Premiership champions, the Hoops will enter next season’s Champions League in the play-off round, needing to come through a two-legged tie just to return to the league phase.

Currently forecast to be seeded, although that could change, the Hoops’ potential opponents would therefore include Basel, Sturm Graz, Dynamo Kyiv, Rijeka, Malmö, Slovan Bratislava, Ludogorets Razgrad, Lech Poznań and Steaua Bucharest.

Nevertheless, whoever they face, it won’t be easy, hence why Rodgers will want to get his new signings in early, but could one of his most-prized assets actually be on the way out?

The latest on Arne Engels' future

According to reports in Italy earlier this week, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has identified Celtic midfielder Arne Engels as one of his top targets, with la Dea having made a ‘concrete attempt’ to sign him.

The Belgian international only arrived in Glasgow as recently as last summer, with the Celts breaking their club-record fee to sign him, costing £11m from Augsburg.

To date, Engels has made 51 appearances in hoops, scoring ten goals and providing 13 assists, named the club’s Young Player of the Year earlier this month.

Nick McPheat of BBC Sports asserts that Celtic ‘are not getting their money’s worth’ just yet, but expects Rodgers to develop Engels into ‘the complete package’.

Nevertheless, having played in the Bundesliga before, the expectation was that, one day, Engels would want to play in a top five league again, but could that day be coming sooner than anyone anticipated?

If he does go, has Rodgers already identified his dream replacement?

Celtic's dream Engels replacement

Earlier this season, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider documented Celtic’s interest in midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The 26-year-old joined Chelsea from Leicester City for £30m last summer, reuniting with manager Enzo Maresca, but this move certainly has not worked out for all involved, as the table below emphasises.

As the table outlines, 73% of Dewsbury-Hall’s total minutes this season have come in the UEFA Conference League, starting just two Premier League matches, these coming against Wolves in January and Brentford in April.

The most eye-catching statistic is that he’s played over 100 fewer minutes in the Premier League this season for Chelsea than Axel Disasi and João Félix, both of whom were allowed to leave on loan in January.

Thus, former Scotland international Pat Nevin told Grosvenor Sport that Dewsbury-Hall’s talents are being wasted in West London, saying “it’s a real shame… he is a quality player and hasn’t been able to show that” adding he “needs to be playing football”.

So, could a move to Celtic be on the cards for a player deemed to be worth £21m, as per Football Transfers?

Well, of course, Rodgers was his manager at Leicester, describing Dewsbury-Hall as a “revelation”, also stating “he is a wonderful demonstration of someone who works very hard”, adding that he’s a “real joy” to coach.

So, how does the “sensational” Chelsea outcast – as also dubbed by Rodgers – compare to Engels, the man he could replace in Glasgow’s East End?

As the table outlines, even though Engels has scored more goals and registered more assists, Dewsbury-Hall’s underlying statistics are superior pretty much across the board.

The Englishman completed more of his passes and attempted take-ons, a higher proportion of his shots hit the target, while he’s registered a higher number of progressive carries, shot-creating actions and goal-creating actions.

The Belgian, for his part, has accumulated three and a half times more big chances created.

So, it is clear that Dewsbury-Hall would be an excellent fit for this Rodgers Celtic team; the main challenge will be getting him out of Chelsea without breaking the bank, both in terms of fee and wages.

Celtic want to sign £11m Kyogo replacement who could be Larsson 2.0

Celtic have big plans for this summer transfer window, attempting to sign a highly-coveted new striker who could be even better than Kyōgo Furuhashi.

1

By
Ben Gray

May 20, 2025

Manchester United have a huge rebuild on their hands this summer, looking to catapult the club back towards their former glory within the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim has done a superb job to stop the rot at Old Trafford, already implementing his 3-4-2-1 system at the club, looking to transform their recent fortunes.

Whilst they still occupy a place in the bottom half of the table, the 40-year-old has led the Red Devils to a Europa League final, facing off against fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the month.

Should they claim another win in Bilbao, the club will be featuring in the Champions League despite their lowly standing, offering the supporters a glimpse of joy in what’s been a dismal year.

If they are to be competitive across the board in 2025/26, new additions are needed to help Amorim in his quest, with numerous players already linked with a switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

Matheus Cunha has been United’s most linked player over recent weeks, with the Brazilian international potentially being their first addition of the summer window.

The latest update on his future has revealed that the hierarchy remains in talks with his representatives over a move to the North West, also looking to trigger his £62.5m release clause.

However, the 25-year-old isn’t the only player on their list this window, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as a key option for the manager this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Red Devils are preparing to lodge a £50m bid for the 26-year-old during the off-season, looking to bolster the options in the goalkeeping department.

It also confirms the club are looking to take advantage of his current situation with the Ligue 1 outfit, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2026.

Why United’s £50m target would be their best since Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been the shining light for United throughout 2024/25, often producing the goods in key moments and helping Amorim’s side reach the Europa League final.

The Portuguese international has registered 36 combined goals and assists in his 53 appearances, heads and tails above the tallies produced by any other first-team member.

Such form has led to former Red Devils star Gary Neville claiming that the 30-year-old is the only player in the last decade to have lived up to expectations after moving to Old Trafford.

The quote is hardly a surprise given the fact that he’s registered at least 20 combined goals and assists in every one of the seasons he’s spent in Manchester after joining from Sporting CP back in January 2020.

However, Donnarumma could be the club’s best signing since Fernandes, should he move to the club this summer, massively improving the options at the manager’s disposal.

Andre Onana has been the number one option between the sticks this campaign, but has often come into question for his mistakes, making five errors leading to goals across all competitions.

A deal for the Italian would hand the side an added bit of quality, with his moments of magic handing hand the Red Devils the added quality they’ve been craving in such a department.

Donnarumma, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, has made an average of 2.2 saves per 90 – capable of producing flashes of individual brilliance – as seen against Arsenal in the Champions League.

He’s also completed 87% of the passes he’s attempted, allowing Amorim’s side to play out from the back, whilst making zero errors leading to goals – handing the club a reliable option between the sticks.

The ‘keeper has also shown his quality in preventing penalties, making two crucial saves in the penalty shootout against England in the final of Euro 2020, with the Italian certainly a huge piece of the club’s rebuild.

It will be interesting to see whether the Ligue 1 outfit will entertain selling their number one this summer, with his contract predicament one that needs to be resolved.

However, if he was given the green light to switch to England, it could be the catalyst for any success endured in the next few years, undoubtedly landing one of the very best talents in his position.

He'd be unplayable with Amad: Man Utd make £42m talisman their top target

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements for Ruben Amorim’s side.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 10, 2025

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to host play-off hopefuls Bristol City at Elland Road in the penultimate game of the campaign.

The Whites secured their promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, after their 6-0 win over Stoke City, but still have to battle it out with Burnley to win the title.

Daniel Farke’s side need to win this evening to go back to the top of the division, and the German head coach could make a change to his starting XI by dropping Brenden Aaronson from the side.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international was selected in the number ten position for the handsome win over Stoke last week, but was the only member of the attack who ended the game without a goal contribution.

Wilfried Gnonto scored a goal, Manor Solomon provided two assists, and Joel Piroe, of course, scored a staggering four goals, whilst Aaronson did not deliver a goal or an assist.

The American midfielder did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates and missed the only ‘big chance’ that came his way, as he failed to get in on the action against the Potters.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Aaronson has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in his last 14 appearances in the Championship for Leeds, which is why it could now be time, after promotion has been secured, for Farke to ruthlessly ditch him from the side.

The rarely-seen Leeds star who should replace Brenden Aaronson

The former Norwich City head coach should unleash the rarely-seen Largie Ramazani in his place, either as the number ten or out wide, with Gnonto moved into a central position.

It has been a difficult season for the Belgian dynamo since his permanent move from Almeria last summer. He has only started seven of his 27 appearances in the second tier and has been an unused substitute in four of the last five matches.

Ramazani, who was described as an “explosive” forward by journalist Joe Donnohue, has shown flashes of quality in the second tier this season, as shown in the clip above against Norwich City earlier this term.

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has been directly involved in six goals in the Championship, despite only starting seven times to date, which shows that the potential is there for him to make a big impact in the final third.

This is why Farke must consider bringing the rarely-seen whiz into the starting XI against the Robins this evening, because he could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch that they have not had with Aaronson in the team over the past 14 matches based on his return of goals and assists against his lack of game time.

Farke is brewing a Piroe upgrade in Leeds teen with "masses of potential"

Leeds United could have a top star for the future in this highly rated youngster.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 27, 2025

Ramazani could, then, use these last two matches of the season to prove to Farke and the club that he has what it takes to be a part of their Premier League campaign next season.

Rangers are now certain to end the Scottish Premiership campaign trophyless after bowing out of the Europa League on Thursday night, with all eyes now turning to the summer window and how Barry Ferguson’s side can rebuild.

Rangers out of Europa League after defeat to Athletic Bilbao

The Gers battled for every inch of grass against Bilbao during their blockbuster quarter-final second leg in Spain, but the hosts and star young winger Nico Williams’ quality eventually proved too much for them.

Rangers: Attacking 4-3-3 manager wanted at Ibrox is now "ready" for return

He’s been linked with a move to Glasgow.

By
Charlie Smith

Apr 17, 2025

One of Europe’s most in-demand young forwards was a nightmare to deal with, and sealed Bilbao’s place in the semi-finals with a late header at Ferguson’s expense – ending the 90 as deserved winners overall.

There are many pundits and supporters alike who are convinced Rangers should’ve been awarded two penalties, one for the glaring shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers, and another for handball inside the box. It’s hard to argue against their case, particularly for Dessers, so the game wasn’t without its controversy.

While they couldn’t quite get past Bilbao on the night, there were promising signs from Ferguson’s men, who fashioned chances of their own against very tough opposition in the La Liga heavyweights, but didn’t quite have the ruthlessness to finish them off.

“The work-rate was there, but the quality at times wasn’t, and I spoke about that to the players after the game,” said Ferguson on Rangers’ defeat to Bilbao.

“They understand that as well. It’s going to hurt, this one, but we need to go away and reflect a bit. That’s not just the players but myself too. Then we need to come on Monday morning and finish the season as strongly as possible. They’re disappointed because they know the qualities we’ve got.

“They worked hard enough and that’s never been in doubt since I’ve come through the door. It’s just that quality in the middle third, and final third that we just didn’t quite get right. I want them to hurt because I’m hurting. We’re all disappointed but we have five games not and we need 15 points.”

Rangers players tipped to leave as part of Ibrox overhaul

With the summer window looming, Rangers must now regroup and prepare for next campaign, where they will be looking to knock Old Firm rivals Celtic off their perch.

BBC journalist Tom English, speaking to Sportsround on Thursday night after the defeat to Bilbao (via Ibrox News), suggested that out-of-contract trio Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi and Neraysho Kasanwirjo – who all carry a market value worth of a combined £5 million according to Transfermarkt – could be in line for Ibrox exits, alongside Leon Balogun.

“Tom Lawrence is out of contract,” he said. “[Ianis] Hagi is out of contract, [Neraysho] Kasanwirjo, [Leon] Balogun, so they can maybe do something there, but they need to get rid of more, and they need to bring in more.”

However, before any new arrivals come in, the club must make a decision on whether to hand Ferguson the full-time manager role or employ another name for the hot seat. According to recent reports, Steven Gerrard is among the managerial names in contention for the Rangers job.

When Liverpool beat West Ham United, responding after losing against Fulham one week earlier, it felt like a corner had been turned. Perhaps that defeat at Craven Cottage was the final twist in the overtures of a certain Premier League triumph.

The ribbons will turn red this season. Later this afternoon, Liverpool have the chance to win the top-flight title against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, should they return to winning ways on the road and second-placed Arsenal fall at Ipswich Town earlier in the day.

Though Mikel Arteta’s attention is almost solely focused on the continental stage, this feels improbable, if not out of the question. In any case, it’s a matter of when, not if, Arne Slot will join an exclusive list of managers to lift the Premier League trophy on their first attempt.

Leicester might be doomed but they still have quality in attack and will look to capitalise on any Liverpool complacency.

Liverpool team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in first-team training after his ankle injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield last month.

However, Conor Bradley looks set to reprise his role at right-back, with the under-fire Andy Robertson pushing for a recall after his cameo last week, skewing into his own net off the bench following a mix-up with the skipper.

Joe Gomez remains absent due to an ankle injury, but Darwin Nunez could feature after missing out on Merseyside one week ago.

Nunez might be destined for departure this summer, but his return does boost a Liverpool frontline looking to return to its best.

That’s not to say the Reds have been poor in attack lately, but Mohamed Salah hasn’t scored in five games, Diogo Jota and Nunez are out of sorts and Cody Gakpo hasn’t got going again since recovering from injury.

How Slot can respark Liverpool's frontline

Liverpool looked somewhat back to normal last weekend as they secured victory over West Ham, all but sealing the already overwhelming odds in the title race following Arsenal’s draw at Brentford.

Salah, after renewing his contract, produced a stunning trivela assist for Luis Diaz, the one man in Slot’s attack who is very much on form right now.

However, the Egyptian, 32, will be desperate to return his name to the scoresheet as he looks to build on his haul of 32 goals across all competitions

For whatever reason, it’s not quite clicking for Salah in front of goal. But it will again. With Trent not fit enough to start from the outset, Slot might be inclined to unleash Harvey Elliott in midfield, perhaps replacing Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool enjoy the Hungarian’s tireless running but a more fixed creative point could be the perfect solvent of unfluent play in and around the final third.

Having featured prominently under Jurgen Klopp last year during Liverpool’s injury-hit spell, Elliott has played a reduced part since the spinning of the managerial wheel, yet to even start in the Premier League this year. Still he’s got six goal involvements across the different competitions.

And it’s not as if he hasn’t demonstrated his capacities when given a shot. As per FBref, Elliott ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for all of goals, assists and shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 5% for progressive carries per 90.

This perfectly illustrates his ball-playing game and skill in driving into dangerous positions, but most importantly, it underlines his ability to maximise his output when reaching such junctures, something Salah will be eyeing hungrily.

As you can see, Elliott’s playing a bit part for the first time since his debut campaign, having only featured six times in 2021/22 but starting on four of those occasions before suffering a season-ending injury at Elland Road.

Elliott, described as a “special talent” by Sky Sports’ Neil Mellor, hasn’t played all that much this season, but he has showcased his vast playmaking skills on numerous occasions. For example, Liverpool might have been abject in their Carabao Cup final defeat against Newcastle United, but subs combined to score a late consolation, the young midfielder expertly playing Federico Chiesa through.

Ultimately, claiming that Liverpool are out of sorts simply isn’t true, having won five of their past six Premier League matches, but fans have been frustrated by the lack of spark in the centre at times this term and Elliott surely deserves a starting berth having been limited to full appearances in the cup competitions.

He’s come up trumps on several occasions, notably scoring the winner in the first leg against PSG, but now the £40k-per-week talent needs a chance to show he can pull strings in the Premier League and bring Salah back into goalscoring form.

Salah doesn’t dribble as much as he used to but he’s hardly averse to an electric burst, and with Elliott’s crisp timing, it could be the perfect tonic for his recent struggles to break the net.

Elliott has acknowledged Salah for “teaching him” over the past several years at Liverpool, and now he has the chance to repay his tutor on what could be a momentous day for the Merseysiders.

Leicester won’t want to repeat some of their dismal displays of late, but if Elliott gets into a creative flow and connects with Salah, the Foxes simply won’t have a say in the matter.

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By
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Apr 18, 2025