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On the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show, Wayne Rooney said, “I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion.”

Manchester United felt they had secured a coup when taking Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese tactician was flying high in his homeland and had been strongly linked with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

But Amorim has floundered across his months in the Old Trafford hot seat, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after six matches, having finished 15th last term after losing to Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Amorim has come under heavy flak for his rigid belief in his 3-4-3 formation, willing to die on that hill in spite of a general weariness over its ineffectiveness in the English game.

INEOS are hesitant to dismiss the 40-year-old from his duties and will hold out hope that United put in a big performance at home against Sunderland on Saturday, but if they fail to kick on, a tough decision will need to be made, with Sir Gareth Southgate emerging as a contender for the managerial spot at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United consider appointing Southgate

One thing’s for certain, Man United’s potential appointment of Southgate would be met with more than a measure of doubt.

The former Three Lions boss might have achieved more success than any other England Men’s boss since the World Cup was lifted in 1966, but he’s also been out of club management since being relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

But he’d come in cheap, and with a reputation for being a strong communicator and an “unbelievable” character, as was said by Jude Bellingham upon the manager’s resignation from his England post after the 2024 European Championship.

But concerns over his tactical grasp persisted throughout his tenure, and the current question mark over Amorim’s own system points toward a necessity for a clear, fluent brand of football going forward.

INEOS need to appoint a proven trophy-winning manager with a deep understanding of the game and a vision which suggests this viewpoint could be effectively applied in the Premier League.

As it happens, former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is on the market, and he’s even showing an interest in making the move to the Premier League and joining the Red Devils, should Amorim be dismissed.

Man United could strike gold with Xavi

Xavi has been out of work since the start of 2024, when he left Barcelona. The legendary footballing figure is, however, open to new work, and Fabrizio Romano believes he is interested in taking the Manchester United job, should a vacancy materialise.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Xavi is open to taking on the job at Old Trafford even without the allure of European football. It is worth noting the mentality on show here, with Amorim having wanted to remain with Sporting Lisbon for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign, instead of switching allegiances mid-season.

As a player, the iconic Spaniard was very much the definitive midfield maestro, and he has willed his managerial career into shape through the application of his own playing-day virtues.

His time as Barcelona manager was somewhat turbulent, but he did win the La Liga title in 2022/23, his first full season as boss, and played an important part in guiding the Spanish giants away from the pit they were sinking into. In February 2024, he left isolated and frustrated, but with his head held high.

If Man United can provide him with the assurances that he can have things his way, there is no reason why his erudite footballing brain. Already, the 45-year-old is enamoured by the idea, having said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Perhaps, then, the words from the horse’s mouth lend credence to Romano’s claim. With Amorim skating on thin ice, it feels like United could score themselves a significant upgrade, especially with Xavi employing a more conventional 4-3-3 formation.

That said, Xavi’s managerial outlook might be conventional at the surface level, but there is a depth and mastery of the technical side of the game that could be exactly what United need as they look to return to the top.

Barcelona are a team defined by their passing, and Xavi, as a player and as a manager, has been an embodiment of that style.

Barcelona

1st

64.3%

Real Madrid

2nd

60.9%

Villarreal

5th

56.9%

Real Sociedad

4th

54.6%

Sevilla

12th

52.6%

When La Blaugrana lifted the league title under their legendary figure’s wing in 2022/23, they played with a gusto and command that was so very ‘Barcelona’.

So impressive was he that, before the trophy had even been lifted and with everything in the balance, club president Joan Laporta had said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Here is a tactician who knows his stuff, with credentials of the highest order and a hunger to join Man United and make things right.

Amorim had a good thing going before taking the United job, to be sure, but it’s clear that he is a young coach whose experience was restricted to the Portuguese scene, and his stubbornness in keeping his same tactical outlook despite the glaring deficiencies had made for sustained grim viewing.

If the opportunity to appoint Xavi presents itself, United’s officials must pounce.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd talent for just £10m, now he's outperforming Bruno

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 29, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had an eventful few years off the pitch, cashing in on a number of star players in the transfer window.

Despite several high-profile departures, Wolves’ total annual payroll for their players stands at £72,400,000, with the average first-team player collecting more than £2.25m per season. Here is a look at what those at Molineux are paying their players individually, as per Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Joao Gomes

£105,000

£5,460,000

2

Jorgen Strand Larsen

£95,000

£4,940,000

3

Emmanuel Agbadou

£85,000

£4,420,000

4

Toti Gomes

£80,000

£4,160,000

=5

Tolu Arokodare

£75,000

£3,900,000

=5

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

£75,000

£3,900,000

=7

Hee-chan Hwang

£70,000

£3,640,000

=7

Marshall Munetsi

£70,000

£3,640,000

=9

Jhon Arias

£65,000

£3,380,000

=9

Jackson Tchatchoua

£65,000

£3,380,000

=11

Jose Sa

£60,000

£3,120,000

=11

Andre Trindade

£60,000

£3,120,000

13

Boubacar Traore

£55,000

£2,860,000

=14

Matt Doherty

£50,000

£2,600,000

=14

Sam Johnstone

£50,000

£2,600,000

16

Ladislav Krejci

£45,000

£2,340,000

=17

Ki-Jana Hoever

£40,000

£2,080,000

=17

Santiago Bueno

£40,000

£2,080,000

=19

David Moller Wolfer

£30,000

£1,560,000

=19

Yerson Mosquera

£30,000

£1,560,000

21

Boubacar Traore

£27,500

£1,430,000

=22

Rodrigo Gomes

£25,000

£1,300,000

=22

Hugo Bueno

£25,000

£1,300,000

=22

Fer Lopez

£25,000

£1,300,000

=25

Sasa Kalajdzic

£20,000

£1,040,000

=25

Daniel Bentley

£20,000

£1,040,000

27

Enso Gonzalez

£15,000

£780,000

=28

Tawanda Chirewa

£10,000

£520,000

=28

Nathan Fraser

£10,000

£520,000

=30

Nigel Lonwijk

£8,000

£416,000

=30

Matheus Mane

£8,000

£416,000

=30

Dexter Limbikisa

£8,000

£416,000

Here's a detailed look at Wolverhampton Wanderers' top 10 earners… 10 Jackson Tchatchoua £65,000 per week

Defender Jackson Tchatchoua made the move to Wolves from Hellas Verona for just over £10m in 2025.

Known as the fastest player in Serie A prior to his move to the Midlands, Tchatchoua is on £65,000 per week.

9 Jhon Arias £65,000 per week

Also on £3.38m per season is another new signing from 2025 in forward Jhon Arias.

Those at Molineux paid £15m to sign the Colombia international from Fluminense, and he is under contract until 2029.

8 Marshall Munetsi £70,000 per week

Marshall Munetsi joined Wolves at the beginning of 2025 from French side Reims in a deal worth around £15m.

That figure was a record for a Zimbabwean, and the midfielder is set to pick up £3.64m per year until 2028.

7 Hee-chan Hwang £70,000 per week

After turning out in the Red Bull Group with RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig, Wolves signed forward Hee-chan Hwang in 2021, with a move becoming permanent a year later.

The South Korea international has proven to be a versatile and reliable final third option at Molineux and could stay until 2028.

6 Jean-Ricner Bellegarde £75,000 per week

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde arrived at Wolves from French side Strasbourg in 2023 and now picks up £75,000 per week at Molineux.

The versatile midfielder has been a regular since arriving at the club and is under contract until 2028.

5 Tolu Arokodare £75,000 per week

Tolu Arokodare was Wolves’ most expensive signing during the 2025 summer transfer window, costing £24m from Genk.

The Nigerian striker penned a four-year contract on just under £4m per season.

4 Toti Gomes £80,000 per week

Defender Toti Gomes joined Wolves back in 2020 and, in recent years, has become a regular in the first-team at Molineux.

His displays were rewarded with an improved contract in 2024, which saw his wage dramatically increase to £4.16m per season.

3 Emmanuel Agbadou £85,000 per week

On slightly more than Gomes is another defender in Emmanuel Agbadou.

Signed from Reims at the beginning of 2025, the Ivory Coast international is under contract in the Midlands until 2029.

2 Jorgen Strand Larsen £95,000 per week

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s loan move became permanent in 2025 from Celta Vigo, however, the striker’s stay at Molineux was nearly short-lived amid interest from Newcastle United.

Instead, Strand Larsen signed a new deal with the Old Gold on just under £5m per season until 2030.

1 Joao Gomes £105,000 per week

Wolves’ top earner is midfielder Joao Gomes, who has enjoyed a brilliant rise following his move from Flamengo in 2023.

Now a Brazil international, Gomes is the only Wolves player on more than £100,000 per week.

Liverpool have met a roadblock in their quest for greatness, and this one might prove insurmountable.

Time was when FSG were perceived as being misers, unwilling to fork out for the big targets that Jurgen Klopp wanted to advance his Anfield project.

But after this incredible summer of spending, who can argue against the Liverpool owners’ intent now?

Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season at the club, finishing ten points ahead of second-placed Arsenal despite relaxing standards early, with the title wrapped up at the end of April.

But Liverpool’s rivals have also spent this summer, intent on dethroning the Reds. Though Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and the like have strengthened Slot’s first team and then some, there have also been several departures.

The latest of which looks set to be Darwin Nunez, who leaves Merseyside with a thick air of untapped promise.

Why Liverpool are selling Darwin Nunez

In all honesty, it doesn’t seem likely that sporting director Richard Hughes would cash in on Nunez and Luis Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich for £65.5m last week, without pre-established plans for some kind of dynamic attacking successor.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is that man. The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that “there’s a very good chance” Isak will leave St. James’ Park this summer, with “his preference being Liverpool.”

Though Liverpool have already signed Ekitike, Isak has proven himself at the highest level, and the Sweden striker could certainly cohabit with Liverpool’s mobile attacking recruit.

The fact of the matter is that Isak’s relationship with Newcastle and Eddie Howe is broken, albeit not irreparable. This is Liverpool’s time to swoop in and sign “the best striker in the Premier League”, as Isak has been named by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

There are plenty of variables which could disrupt FSG’s marquee move, however, and not least of which is the Magpies’ £150m valuation of their number nine.

Liverpool begin plan for Isak alternative

According to L’Equipe, Liverpool are considering acting on their long-standing interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola this summer, should a move for Isak fall through.

The left-sided Barcola would be seen as a direct Diaz replacement, and is renowned as one of the brightest talents in French football.

PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old and have valued him at €100m (about £87m), though Liverpool clearly have the funds, having seen a £110m offer for Isak knocked back last week.

Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola

Two years ago, Barcola left Lyon and signed for PSG in a €50m package including add-ons. Across the 2023/24 campaign, he started slowly, but came alive last term, notching 42 goal contributions across all competitions (including the Club World Cup).

Renowned for his blistering pace and ability to manipulate tight spaces with quick feet and balletic whirls, Barcola would be a credit to the Liverpool project, instrumental across the Ligue 1 side’s earth-shattering quadruple campaign, winning their maiden Champions League title along with all the goods in France.

Given that Barcola ranks so highly against his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues and is considered to be a statistically similar star to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, as per FBref, it does feel like Liverpool could hit the jackpot if they complete a deal.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has even declared the Frenchman to be “one of the best left wingers in Europe”, having risen from prospect to prodigy since leaving Lyon for the Parisians.

Barcola’s one of those players best analysed through the eye test, because picking at his qualities through the data diminishes him. Even so, he chalked up quite the impressive return last season.

Raphinha

57

34

25

59

Bradley Barcola

58

21

19

40

Vincius Junior

51

20

17

37

Cody Gakpo

49

18

7

25

Luis Diaz

50

17

8

25

This blooming level of prolificness suggests Barcola could be the perfect Isak alternative, should Liverpool be forced into ending their interest in the 25-year-old.

Barcola might not be a centre-forward (though his dynamism lends itself to alternative roles across the frontline), but he would certainly arrive at Liverpool with the properties to replace Diaz, who Slot used as a makeshift number nine many times last term.

He’s fleet-footed, but there’s also the notion that he has more of a creative capacity than Diaz, and that could be used to establish him as a leading member of Slot’s Liverpool team.

Ekitike will need plenty of creative support as he attempts to find his feet in the English top flight, but then the France forward, 23, has been praised by football scout Jacek Kulig for his talents, the analyst saying, “he could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”

With this in mind, is it truly crucial that Liverpool complete a deal for Isak this summer? Liverpool, after all, have only Cody Gakpo as a senior option on the left wing now.

Rio Ngumoha is an incredible prospect, but he’s only 16 years old; chucking him into the deep end this season could derail the hype train.

Given that Gakpo is more of a goalscoring wide forward, focused on cutting inside and striking on goal, Barcola would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting foil, blending flair against economy of movement.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Barcola is viewed as a “world-class player” by those in the FSG offices after all.

So is Isak, but then, Carragher said on The Overlap that he doesn’t “want Liverpool to spend £150m on Isak”, citing such a fee as Kylian Mbappe-level money.

Given that Barcola would be affordable for a much cheaper, though still hefty, figure, Liverpool might want to push ahead with a deal for the PSG man, whose signature might just prove the more fruitful of the two.

Dream Elliott replacement: Liverpool in race to sign "exceptional" £35m gem

Liverpool are reportedly in the race to sign a star who would be a dream replacement for Harvey Elliott.

ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2025

Glasgow Celtic are starting to make meaningful strides in the transfer market and could now be set to compete for the signature of a talented midfielder, according to a report.

Brendan Rodgers addresses Celtic's next steps in the window

Five signings have made their way to Celtic since the window opened, and plenty more will be expected from the Hoops support as the countdown to their curtain-raiser against St Mirren draws closer.

Speaking after his side’s 3-2 defeat to Estrela de Amadora in pre-season, Brendan Rodgers confirmed his side are working on securing new faces in midfield and attack, admitting his side are a little short amid the departure of Nicolas Kuhn.

He stated: “I think there’s work going on behind the scenes. It’s clear we need to improve the squad. A lot of work is going on behind the scenes, there are loads of names floating about.”

“I think the positions you’ve mentioned, we’re clear that we need to improve our frontline. We lost Kyogo in January and another player with Nicolas gone. That’s a lot of goals that’s gone out of the team. So for us, we need to strengthen that area of the field. But the guys back home are working hard on that.”

Kawasaki Frontale striker Shin Yamada is set to join Celtic next week. However, their search for attacking reinforcements is unlikely to end there due to their pursuit of Napoli forward Giuseppe Ambrosino.

The next Jota: Celtic are now attempting to sign "very exciting" £3.2m star

As Celtic continue their busy summer transfer window activity, could the Hoops win the race to sign a “very exciting” £3.2m-rated Portugues youngster?

ByBen Gray Jul 13, 2025

Admittedly, there is a growing feeling among some supporters that Celtic are yet to really kick off the summer window in earnest, but that could all be about to change if recent developments are anything to go by.

Celtic fighting rival suitors for Salvatore Esposito

According to The Boot Room, Celtic are one of several clubs in the race to sign Spezia midfielder Salvatore Esposito, who could be allowed to leave his homeland on loan with an option to make any move permanent.

The scenario of an outright sale hasn’t been ruled out. Nevertheless, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Brentford, Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, and Rangers are also reportedly pursuing the one-cap Italy international.

Salvatore Esposito in Serie B – 2024/25 (Fotmob)

Chances created

78

Pass completion

85%

Dribble success

81.1%

Tackles won

36

Recoveries

207

Despite predominantly operating in a deep-lying midfield role, Esposito chipped in with seven goals and ten assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Spezia, even if his sizeable contribution wasn’t enough to win his side promotion.

Previously, the 24-year-old has been likened to former Arsenal midfielder Jorginho by Jacek Kulig, so it will come as no surprise to see a lengthy list of clubs in the mix for his services.

Celtic have long sought another body in the six position to dictate play, albeit it would be intriguing to see whether Esposito and Callum McGregor could fit in the same side.

Leicester City have now held talks with a 57-year-old over the vacant manager position at the King Power Stadium, according to a recent report.

Despite the terrible campaign for the Foxes in the Premier League, it took them nine weeks after the season had ended to announce Ruud van Nistelrooy had in fact left the football club. After managing just five wins from his 27 games in charge, his departure was expected; just the time it took to announce it left many supporters confused.

Leicester City may now approach 4-4-1-1 boss who has coached 322 PL matches

Ruud van Nistelrooy could find himself ousted at the King Power Stadium.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 5, 2025

Alas, the Foxes are finally on the lookout for a new manager to lead them in the Championship. One person that Leicester looked keen on appointing was Russell Martin. It was even reported that Martin had agreed a deal in principle to join Leicester, but that didn’t come to fruition, as the former Southampton manager decided to join Rangers instead.

Since then, out-of-work Sean Dyche has been mentioned as an option, while Danny Rohl has emerged as their number one target, with his release clause slashed from £5 million to £1 million.

But if a deal still cannot be agreed with Rohl, Graeme Bailey has revealed that Leicester could make an approach for Dyche, who has done wonders in the Championship before.

Leicester hold talks with experienced Championship promotion winner

However, there is now a new name in the frame to possibly replace Van Nistelrooy. According to Football League World, Leicester have held talks with Chris Wilder over their managerial vacancy.

Wilder is another manager who is currently out of work, as he left his post at Sheffield United nearly three weeks ago. The Blades’ new owners decided it was time for the club to go in a different direction, despite the fact that Wilder led United to a third-place finish and the play-off final.

The 57-year-old would be considered a more experienced option for the Foxes, especially at Championship level, as he’s taken charge of 189 games in that division, winning 93, averaging 1.69 points per game and, in that time, he guided the Blades to the Premier League during the 2017/18 season.

However, a concern would be his Premier League record, as he’s won just 20 of the 90 top-flight games he has been in charge of.

Games

305

Won

140

Drawn

57

Lost

108

Points

477

Points per game

1.56

Wilder is just the latest in a string of names to be added to the list of options for the Foxes, but appointing the former Sheffield United boss may be easier than chasing other managers. That is because Wilder is represented by the same agency as current Leicester defender Luke Thomas, with the club no doubt holding an existing relationship with the agency which could smooth negotiations with no current employer to worry about.

With pre-season approaching, Leeds United have now reportedly held talks to sign a much-needed Illan Meslier upgrade who could yet arrive in a cut-price deal.

Had Daniel Farke not dropped Meslier at the end of last season, Leeds may have been forced to gain promotion through the play-offs rather than courtesy of an impressive title win. As Sheffield United found out the hard way, there are no guarantees in the play-offs and whilst that Meslier verdict may seem harsh, the Frenchman was proving to be far too costly at Elland Road.

Leeds fighting to sign "excellent" £21.5m star with nine assists last season

The Whites could strike a surprise deal…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 5, 2025

In fact, according to Planet Football, the 25-year-old had already cost the Whites 10 points by the time that April arrived last season, which forced Daniel Farke to drop his No.1 in favour of the experienced Karl Darlow. From that point onwards, Leeds marched towards convincing promotion. But Darlow is certainly not a permanent solution at 34 years old.

Instead, the 49ers must invest in a new No.1, especially with reports suggesting that they could be about to cash-in on the struggling Meslier courtesy of Fenerbahce.

After dropping Meslier last season, Farke told reporters: “Obviously he was involved in both [Swansea] goals in the last game, and it was a shame because after the penalty save he was on his way to being man of the match.

“So it was clear we had to make a decision. And we had to make it early in the week, because in that position the players need clarity, and Karl [Darlow] needs the time to prepare.”

Now, as the German manager prepares to take his side into the Premier League, he could finally have the chance to welcome an instant upgrade on the Frenchman.

Leeds hold talks to sign Lucas Perri

According to The Guardian, Leeds have now held talks to sign Lucas Perri, who could be allowed to leave Lyon at a cut-price amid their financial turmoil. The French club will drop into Ligue 2 if they fail with in an appeal against financial sanctions and that is likely to result in an exodus of star players below their valuations.

Potentially among those, Perri would be the perfect solution for Leeds’ goalkeeper problem. After arriving January of 2024, the Brazilian instantly took Anthony Lopes’ starting place and didn’t look back. Now, 18 months on, he could hand Meslier the same fate at Elland Road.

Starts

33

39

Saves per 90

3.52

1.62

Save Percentage

74.4%

72.7%

Errors leading to shots

1

3

Dubbed “outstanding” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Perri outperformed Meslier in a number of areas last season and crucially made fewer errors leading to shots.

At a bargain price, the shot-stopper would be an excellent addition to Farke’s side to hand the German the reliable No.1 that he has desperately needed.

Leeds United have submitted an offer worth more than £25m to sign a former Championship title winner for Daniel Farke.

Leeds transfer business heating up with Nmecha and Bijol

The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises have made early progress in the summer transfer window, with Lukas Nmecha agreeing to move to Elland Road on a two-year contract from July 1.

The German forward will leave Wolfsburg for Leeds and won’t cost the 49ers a penny, providing competition to the likes of Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph.

At the back, Leeds are now set to sign Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol after weeks of talks and rumours. The Slovenia international was in Yorkshire on Wednesday and will be the next through the Elland Road door.

With the fixture list announced, Leeds still have plenty of time until their opening game of the Premier League season against Everton and will be hoping to make more additions after Nmecha and Bijol.

Another attacker is wanted alongside Nmecha, and a top target appears to be Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz.

Leeds submit bid to sign Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz

Reports from Sky Sports in recent days claimed Leeds were interested in signing the Brazilian this summer.

According to The Evening Standard, Leeds have made a bid worth an initial £26m to bring Muniz to Yorkshire. The offer also included £6m worth of add-ons, however, those at Craven Cottage have declined the bid from the 49ers.

Fulham see Muniz ‘as one of the club’s most valuable assets’ but they ‘may be forced to consider his exit if an offer too good to refuse arrives’.

It is added that ‘Leeds plan to sign a top striker this summer but are expected to move on to other targets now that their bid for Muniz has been rebuffed’.

Rodrigo Muniz Premier League stats

23/24

24/25

Games

26

31

Goals

9

8

Minutes played

1,599

950

The 24-year-old, who won the Championship title with Fulham in 2021/22, has scored 17 Premier League goals in the last two seasons in the equivalent of just over 28 full games.

He has also caught the eye of Premier League icon Alan Shearer, who called Muniz “horrible to play against” in 2024.

For now, though, it looks as if Leeds will have to look elsewhere for their top striker signing.

He's better than Diarra: Leeds now looking at deal to sign £26m "threat"

Leeds United are eyeing up a midfield star who could be even better than Habib Diarra.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 19, 2025

Newcastle United will be aiming to bolster their defence this summer, and Marc Geuhi is still earmarked as a target.

The Crystal Palace defender has been on the club’s radar for a while now, and, with his contract set to expire next year, Eddie Howe may look to strike a deal to bring him to the club.

A recent report states that the Toon might be able to strike a deal worth £40m to sign Guehi this summer, given his contract status.

With other interest in him from elsewhere, however, might Howe target an alternative?

Newcastle could target a move for Liverpool defender

While Guehi has been a target for the Magpies for quite some time now, it looks as though he could perhaps miss the boat.

According to The Chronicle, Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah is a player who remains on the club’s radar this summer, as they look to bolster their defensive options.

Although the Anfield side won the Premier League title last term, the Englishman played a bit-part role in the success and could move on to pastures new.

He is also attracting interest from Bayer Leverkusen, with Erik ten Hag looking to launch a bid worth around £40m for the Liverpool starlet this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

While Guehi remains one of the players that Howe is desperate to bring to Newcastle, the window is getting shorter for this move to happen.

Could he perhaps strike a deal to bring Quansah north instead? Only time will tell.

Why Newcastle must sign Jarell Quansah

There is no doubt that Guehi is heading into the peak years of his career. He will turn 25 next month and helped Palace win the FA Cup just last month.

Quansah, on the other hand, just turned 22 earlier this year and still has plenty of years left before he hits his peak, which is why he could be a dream alternative to the Eagles star.

Metric (per 90)

Guehi

Quansah

Pass success rate

87%

89%

Tackles

1.1

1.5

Total duels won percentage

60%

64%

Possession lost

7.4

8.4

Interceptions

0.7

1.1

Balls recovered

4.8

4.2

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international has the potential to offer more than Guehi from a defensive perspective, as he won a higher percentage of his duels and averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 in the Premier League.

Under Jürgen Klopp, the defender made 17 league appearances throughout the 2023/24 campaign. He suitably impressed, finishing the season with an 89% pass success rate while winning 64% of his total duels contested and losing possession just 8.4 times per game.

When compared to his peers in the top flight that season, Quansah also ranked in the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90 (3.4) and in the top 3% for non-penalty goals (0.15) per 90.

It was perhaps no wonder that he was dubbed an “absolute monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig that season for his performances. He hasn’t quite settled into Arne Slot’s side during the Dutchman’s maiden season at Anfield, however.

The defender was restricted to just 25 appearances during 2024/25, with only 13 of those coming in the starting XI.

Does he need a fresh start to fulfil his potential? Newcastle would be the perfect place for him to gain regular gametime.

With Champions League football on the horizon, Quansah could become a regular under Howe at the Magpies as a dream alternative to Guehi this summer.

He could be better than Mbeumo: Newcastle enter race for £38m "future icon"

Newcastle need a new forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 14, 2025

Aston Villa excruciatingly missed out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the Premier League season as a controversial 2-0 away loss at Manchester United went completely against them.

Unai Emery’s men won’t have dwelled on this disappointment for too long, however, with the grandeur of Europe’s elite competition actually congesting their fixture list across a busy 2024/25, leaving them potentially a little empty in energy to push into those top five positions.

It could also be a summer of much change at Villa Park with Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia set to leave the West Midlands giants, alongside a whole host of exciting additions potentially entering the building.

Whenever it comes to new faces joining the Villans’ ranks, the Premier League high-flyers will surely always be on the lookout for their next Jack Grealish, with a reunion deal also not completely off the table.

Grealish's current situation at Manchester City

It’s been bubbling away in the background for some time now, but the former homegrown Villa talent could now finally exit the Citizens this summer, having been left out of Pep Guardiola’s camp for the upcoming Club World Cup.

Unfortunately for Grealish, his time at City has now been reduced to a sorry state of affairs, with the former £100m buy only starting seven top-flight games last season.

It’s a far cry away from the days where Grealish would terrorise many a Premier League defence donning Villa claret and blue – as seen in his 32 goals and 43 assists from 213 Villa contests – with the ultimate confidence boost needed for the 29-year-old to salvage his fading career potentially an emotional return to home soil.

However, Emery and Co. could instead go after this alternative target away from sentimentally snapping up Grealish, with this fresh target displaying shades of Grealish’s game all across his own bumpy career path.

The "special" Aston Villa target who has shades of Grealish

After all, Villa Park will be seen as a worthwhile next destination for this low-on-confidence winger, considering Marcus Rashford managed to collect a promising four goals and six assists this season just gone for Villa on loan, after the start of his messy Manchester United divorce came to the surface.

Jadon Sancho is also deep in his own exit route out of the Red Devils, with a report from TEAMTalk earlier this week speculating that United are desperately trying to offload their expensive flop, which has led to Villa taking an interest in the out-of-sorts attacker as a potential Rashford replacement.

There is some method to Villa’s madness here with Sancho displaying flashes of his “special” quality – as he was lauded by Enzo Maresca during his brief Stamford Bridge stay – at Chelsea, as seen in his promising tally of five goals and ten assists in West London.

With 12 strikes also next to his name during his cursed United stint, it’s not completely ludicrous to suggest that Emery can work his magic on another Red Devils outcast here.

His swagger down the left and ability to twist and turn defenders for fun at his peak, not far off Grealish’s own exuberant game, when confidence is also coursing through his veins.

Indeed, that similarity in possession is seen in the fact that Grealish ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, while Sancho is not too far behind, amid his ranking in the top 13%.

LW

Sancho

61

7

11

RW

Sancho

19

4

0

CF

Sancho

2

1

0

AM

Sancho

1

0

0

LM

Sancho

1

0

0

LW

Grealish

121

24

23

AM

Grealish

26

1

4

LM

Grealish

11

2

2

CM

Grealish

8

0

2

CF

Grealish

3

0

0

RW

Grealish

2

0

0

SS

Grealish

1

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

It’s even clearer from the table above where both Sancho’s and Grealish’s strengths lie, with Emery potentially getting the best out of the ex-Borussia Dortmund man to come by playing him down his preferred left flank, away from shoehorning him in elsewhere. With a transfer value of £31m, according to Football Transfers, a move could be a no-brainer.

Both players find themselves at a crossroads in their careers, with Grealish a certainty to leave the Etihad, alongside Sancho at Old Trafford – the latter could well thank Villa Park down the line for mending his broken career.

He's Grealish 2.0: Aston Villa keen on £55m star who has the "X Factor"

Aston Villa are looking to upgrade their attacking options this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 3, 2025

This summer appears to be a huge window for Liverpool Football Club as Arne Slot looks to build on the magnificent job he did during his first year at the helm.

The Dutchman claimed the Premier League title at the first attempt, doing so after only making one senior addition in the form of Federico Chiesa, who only featured for a total of 104 league minutes.

Such an achievement is nothing short of remarkable, with the 46-year-old deserving of the opportunity to make his own additions and change the squad as he wishes.

With the transfer window now just around the corner, it’s a surprise to no one that work has already commenced in an attempt to land new players for Slot this summer.

Over the last couple of days, numerous names have emerged as key targets, with a real impetus on improving the options currently at the manager’s disposal within the final third.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers this summer

In their pursuit of a new talisman this summer, RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has emerged as a potential signing for Slot’s side during the upcoming transfer window.

The Slovenian, who scored 21 goals in 2024/25, has appeared on their shortlist, but could cost a pretty penny over the coming months, with the Bundesliga side demanding at least £70m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only talent from such a division to be touted with a switch to Anfield, with Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké the latest name linked, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He states that the Reds have entered the race for the 22-year-old’s signature, even holding talks with the striker over a move, with Slot personally wanting the Frenchman.

Plettenberg also confirmed that Frankfurt are demanding €100m (£84m) to part ways with the 22-goal forward, who also has keen interest from fellow English side Chelsea.

Why Liverpool’s £84m target would be perfect for Wirtz

Liverpool’s hunt for new additions has shown no signs of slowing down over the last couple of weeks, with Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz another name on their shortlist this summer.

The German has already held talks with the Reds over a summer switch to Anfield, but they face competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the 22-year-old’s signature.

Any deal would likely set Slot’s side back over £100m this summer, with a switch to Merseyside certainly going to break the club-record £85m paid for Darwin Núñez back in 2022.

Should the hierarchy land a move for Wirtz and Ekitike, it would be a mammoth investment that highlights their ambitions of retaining their Premier League title in 2025/26.

However, the pair could form a deadly partnership for the Reds next season, with their respective figures from the Bundesliga fitting perfectly into one another’s skillset.

Ekitike, described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, loves to play on the shoulder of the defender, often darting in behind and causing all sorts of problems.

He’s received 7.6 progressive passes, which has aided him in his tally of 22 goals this season, with Wirtz able to add to such a figure if they both joined the Reds, registering a tally of 6.7 progressive passes per 90.

Games played

33

Goals & assists

23

Goals per 90

0.53

Shots on target per game

1.6

Key passes made

1.6

Passes into 18-yard box

1.1

Progressive passes received

7.6

The striker has also managed to register 1.6 shots on target per 90, whilst also registering 0.53 goals per game in the Bundesliga – allowing the German to increase his assist tally when operating alongside the Frenchman.

He’s also made 1.6 key passes per 90, with 1.1 of which being played into the opposition’s penalty area, which could see him return the favour to Wirtz – highlighting why they could be so dangerous together at Anfield.

Whilst the pair could set the hierarchy back just short of £200m this summer, their tender ages gives them the chance to develop further in the years ahead – allowing the club to sustain their recent success.

Should they transfer their skillset to Merseyside in the coming months and hit the ground running, the pair could prove to be the difference in attacking areas, making Liverpool a real force to be reckoned with in 2025/26.

Mac Allister 2.0: Liverpool working on another amazing signing after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to replicate a deal for Alexis Mac Allister durng the upcoming summer window.

ByEthan Lamb May 28, 2025