All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool typically sought to strengthen with untapped potential when under the wing of Jurgen Klopp. But Klopp has left his long-held manager’s post last year, and things feel different at Anfield.

That’s not to discredit the German’s dynasty, taking the reins on Merseyside when the Reds were a pale shadow, reduced to a colourless, rudderless state. Klopp made Liverpool whole again, winning a fair amount of silverware along the way.

However, FSG have undergone a refurb and are now looking to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League-winning squad with some of the finest that Europe has to offer.

One of those targets is Florian Wirtz, 22, whose playmaking quality knows no bounds. Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman will fetch a considerable figure this summer, but Liverpool are very much intent on staying in the race.

Why Liverpool want Florian Wirtz

At the start of the season, former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes claimed Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world,” with his vision, awareness, and magic touch proving invaluable for Xabi Alonso’s side over the past few years.

He might not have hit the same stratospheric heights of last year, but Wirtz has retained his world-class level across the 2024/25 campaign, outperforming Liverpool’s positionally similar players.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid when his contract expires, Liverpool are going to need to find a new way to maintain their matchless creative flair in the Premier League.

As you can see below, no English team has created more than Liverpool across the past five campaigns. Trent played a defining role in achieving this.

24/25*

Liverpool

105

23/24

Liverpool

102

22/23

Liverpool/Man City

103

21/22

Liverpool

97

20/21

Liverpool

82

Liverpool want to reinforce their successful season by bringing in new signings, and Slot’s aiming for the best. Though it would require another significant outlay, the Reds are also planning to move for a new name at number nine.

With Darwin Nunez set to be sold, this is one to start getting excited about.

Liverpool make contact to sign prolific striker

Liverpool desperately need a more reliable marksman. Nunez is consistently inconsistent, while Diogo Jota’s long injury issues have finally seeped into his game this year.

FSG are ready to move incisively. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have opened contacts with Sporting Lisbon regarding the potential transfer of Viktor Gyokeres, though Arsenal are favourites in the race.

It’s felt the Gunners are closing on a £9m-a-year agreement with the Sweden striker, but that Liverpool – and Manchester United – have shown strong interest and are ready to pounce on any opportunity, should Mikel Arteta’s side fumble.

Gyokeres has been one of the most prolific players in Europe over the past several years, and Sporting are looking to fetch £60m for his sale.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could be a great signing for Liverpool

When Sporting signed Gyokeres from Coventry City for £20m after a failed promotion push to the Premier League, it was felt that English football had lost an interesting attacking profile capable of playing at the top level.

Two years later, the 25-year-old may return to English soil as “one of the best strikers in Europe,” as he has been described by Fabrizio Romano.

Across 100 matches for Os Leões, the one-time Brighton prospect has scored 95 goals and laid on 28 assists. Powerful and athletic, he’s surely tailor-made for a role at one of the Premier League’s top competitors.

The £62k-per-week star has bagged 52 goals from 50 matches in all competitions this season alone, meaning he’s significantly outscoring Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Isak is an incredible goalscorer and very much on Liverpool’s shopping list, but with a £150m price tag, it’s hrd to argue that he, with 27 goals from 41 games in 2024/25, would be the more prudent signing at an outlay some £90m more than Gyokeres. Liverpool have work to do across a number of positions, after all.

Only a few weeks ago, Gyokeres netted four goals in a single game for the Liga Portugal champions, who are level in first place with Benfica, superior goal difference owing largely to the centre-forward’s clinical shooting.

Given that he’s scored 57 league goals across his two terms in the Iberian division, Gyokeres has proven himself capable of leading the line at Liverpool, for sure. And when you consider he’s missed only 34 big chances in that timeframe, as per Sofascore, the argument only strengthens.

As per FBref, Gyokeres ranks among the top 1% of forwards this season in divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight for goals scored, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for assists per 90. Not bad at all.

Now think of all this, think of how efficient and deadly and “insane” all this is, as the 6 foot 2 striker has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Now imagine all that with Wirtz in behind him.

The fusion of skill sets could take a Premier League-winning Liverpool team to a whole ‘nother level entirely. Indeed, with Wirtz’s remarkable supply line finding Gyokeres, whose movements and intelligence get him in perfect positions from which he can let his predatory instinct take over, would allow Slot to challenge for the biggest trophies once again.

There was a decided lack of impetus across tournamental fronts this season: in the FA Cup, a rotated Liverpool fell to Plymouth Argyle, who have just been relegated from the Championship; after a dominant Champions League group phase, PSG got the better over two legs in the last 16; Liverpool did reach the Carabao Cup final, but were turned over by Newcastle.

In the Bundesliga this season, Wirtz might not have succeeded in defending Leverkusen’s title, but he has given a stellar account of himself once again. As per Sofascore, he’s hit 22 goal contributions from only 24 starts, creating 17 big chances and averaging 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per game.

Last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year knows his stuff, all right, and still so young in his career, he’s got the world at his feet.

The prolific performances of Gyokeres alongside Wirtz’s creative mind would surely spark the kind of success Slot is searching for next season, allowing Liverpool to take their fantastic campaign and shape it into a period of sustained, trophy-winning success.

He'd be amazing with Wirtz: Liverpool enter race for "magical" £100m star

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 15, 2025

Glasgow Rangers’ next managerial appointment at Ibrox is the most important decision in the club’s recent history.

Since Rangers won league title number 55 in the 2020/21 season, the Gers have gone from coach to coach with no real identity, winning just two trophies in the process.

With the 49ers Enterprises takeover reportedly edging closer to completion, whoever comes in to manage at Ibrox next must be the man who can end years of their Old Firm rivals’ dominance.

Of course, this is easier said than done, especially considering the magnitude of the challenge faced by the next manager. Can a team be built over the course of a single summer that could change the future of the Light Blues?

It will be difficult, but there is no doubt that it can be done. Martin O’Neil signed players such as Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson upon arriving at the club in the summer of 2000.

A year later, he led the club to a treble success, reinvigorating the Parkhead side within a single transfer window.

Fast-forward 20 years and Ange Postecoglou did a similar sort of thing when he took the reins ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Rangers must bring in their own Postecoglou this summer

During the summer of 2021, Steven Gerrard was looking to kick on from the club’s Premiership title success and turn them into the dominant force in Scotland.

A lack of backing by the board – which ultimately culminated in his departure that November – meant the Light Blues didn’t make much progress on the field, domestically anyway.

Postecoglou was deemed a risky appointment by Celtic, despite enjoying success in Japan during his previous role. Signings such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Jota provided the springboard for the Parkhead side to eventually overtake their rivals, although it did take a few months for things to gel.

The following year, they won another treble, and it was evident that the Australian manager had built something special in the space of just two years.

His style of play ensured Celtic had an identity, and they regularly got the best of the Gers during this period, losing to the Ibrox side just three times under the current Spurs manager.

Perhaps this is the direction that Rangers should be heading in this summer? Bringing in someone with a distinctive style of play that will appease the supporters and, in turn, achieve positive results.

As such, a shortlist has reportedly been chosen by the club for whom the next manager could be.

Rangers search for a new manager

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath has reported recently that a quartet of names are being considered for the vacant managerial role. Gerrard is being ‘considered’ for the job, despite the board wanting to go in a new direction. Elsewhere, Rob Edwards, Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin are the other three names which are mentioned in the report.

McGrath states that there is ‘no clear favourite’ and there are several foreign coaches also on the current longlist.

With news that Athletic Club were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, Rangers now enter the second round of Champions League qualifying, with the first leg either on July 22 or 23.

This indicates that the club need to make a decision on a new manager as soon as possible, especially with competitive fixtures starting so soon after pre-season.

With so many names being linked or on a shortlist, could the club bring in their own Ange by appointing Martin to the role of first-team manager?

Why Rangers must hire Russell Martin

Martin’s name may not stand out with regard to several other of the potential candidates, including the likes of Marco Rose or even Gerrard, but his attacking style of play could be key in getting him the role.

Indeed, respected analyst John Walker has regularly lobbied for Martin to secure the job ahead of next season and has praised him on numerous occasions of late.

Goals

87

Goals per game

1.9

Ball possession

66%

Big chances per game

2.8

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded per game

1.4

Walker said that Martin “improves younger players” while promoting “exciting attacking football” that could see Rangers begin to thrive in domestic competition once again.

Even greater praise has come from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who said earlier this season: “He’s proven that his philosophy is extremely successful, what he did with Southampton and last year they were 25 games unbeaten. It was a joy to watch that team play, they deserve much more than what they have already.”

Indeed, Southampton may have struggled in the Premier League under the Scot, but in the second tier, they were incredible.

The Saints ranked in the top three out of all Championship clubs for chances created, shots at goal and big chances missed, while also completing the second-fewest long passes in the division.

This last statistic is particularly important. His teams love building up the play and focus on weak spots in the opposition defence. At times, under Philippe Clement, the back four regularly punted long balls up the pitch for the likes of Cyriel Dessers to chase, a tactic which did the coach no favours at all.

Judging by this, Martin has an approach which would fit with the direction Rangers wish to go in, especially with some of the players he will have at his disposal next season.

Operating with a 4-3-3 system, this could work wonders for the likes of Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane going forwards.

Although he hasn’t won anything during his coaching career thus far, his style of play has been evident across spells with Southampton, Swansea and MK Dons. That much is certain.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Will the board and new owners wish to appoint him, however? Especially given his lack of success. Or will they take a gamble this summer?

With the way things have gone recently, perhaps a gamble wouldn’t be a bad idea. He might just turn out to the club’s very own Ange.

Forget about Cerny: Rangers could land the "next Sadio Mane" for just £1.7m

Rangers will need to sign a winger or two this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

Manchester United are now leading the race to sign a £30m “monster”, who scored at Old Trafford earlier this month, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing new attacking midfielder

One of Man United’s main aims this summer is to strengthen their attacking options, and it appears as though they are now closing in on a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with work ongoing to finalise a contract agreement.

Cunha is expected to be brought in to play in the number 10 role, but the Brazilian is not United’s only target in that area of the pitch, having made an approach for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono, who has a €45m (£38m) release clause in his contract.

Earlier this month, it was revealed the Red Devils are also in the race for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who could be allowed to leave Lyon on the cheap this summer, given the difficult financial situation the French club find themselves in.

He'd be incredible with Cunha: £40m PL star now keen on signing for Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to land another star forward alongside Matheu Cunha.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 29, 2025

There has now been a new update on Man United’s pursuit of Cherki, with a report revealing they are now leading the race for the Lyon star, alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are also frontrunners for his signature.

Bayern Munich and a number of other top European clubs are in the race for the attacking midfielder, and there is a feeling he could be available for a relatively low fee, with Lyon setting an asking price of around €30m -€35m (£25m – £30m).

The 21-year-old is ready to move on this summer, and he has set his sights on a move to the Premier League, with a view to continuing his development, having already made significant strides this season.

"Monster" Cherki enjoying incredible campaign

The Lyon forward appears to have developed considerably in the 2024-25 campaign, having amassed a remarkable 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 matches in all competitions, with one of those goals coming at Old Trafford in his side’s 5-4 Europa League loss earlier this month.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also lavished the Frenchman with praise, describing him as a “creative monster capable of magical moments”, and he has performed incredibly well across a number of key metrics for attacking midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.59 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

6.68 (98th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.97 (99th percentile)

Successful take-ons

2.72 (92nd percentile)

There is every sign that Cherki could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, although signing a new striker should be a priority, given that a deal for Cunha, who is set to play in attacking midfield, is now edging closer.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to deliver this season, netting seven Premier League goals between them, and it appears as though Man United are now willing to cash-in on the Dane this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have “invited” a manager to hold discussions over potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, with the tactician also responding to this approach behind-the-scenes.

Ange Postecoglou future uncertain despite Europa League campaign

Spurs booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday after a very hard-fought 1-0 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Tottenham: Thierry Henry-like striker facing exit with Spurs ready to bid

The Lilywhites want to take full advantage.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

Dominic Solanke’s cooly-taken penalty was enough to hand Postecoglou a precious win and keep his hopes of winning silverware alive, following a torrid Premier League campaign where Spurs are on course for their worst ever finish.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

However, some reports suggest that Postecoglou could be sacked regardless of what happens in Europe, so the Australian’s future still very much hangs in the balance amid repeated links to other managers.

Chairman Daniel Levy’s shortlist of potential replacements for the 59-year-old includes names like Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, according to recent rumours.

Iraola has been tipped as Tottenham’s top target to succeed Postecoglou, but Bournemouth won’t make it easy for the Lilywhites after his impressive campaign in the Cherries dugout.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley wants to extend Iraola’s deal and is working to do so, having hailed his boss as “excellent”, meaning Silva has emerged as an alternative frontrunner for the Tottenham job (talkSPORT).

The Telegraph also reported this week that Iraola is more inclined to remain at Bournemouth, despite the £10 million release clause in his contract, and this is echoed by journalist Duncan Castles.

Tottenham invite Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for talks

Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Castles reports that Tottenham have approached Iraola over the manager’s job, inviting him for discussions, but the 42-year-old has seemingly rejected their advances in favour of staying on the south coast.

“Interestingly, my guidance on this is that Tottenham’s approaches to Iraola have been rebuffed by the manager,” said Castles.

“He has been invited and told to speak to them about that position, and has actually declined to do so.

“And instead, he has been having conversations with Bournemouth, informal conversations with Bournemouth for several weeks now, about not only continuing on his current contract, but signing a new contract to extend there.”

With a move for Iraola looking less and less likely by the day, perhaps Glasner could be an excellent option. The Austrian, lauded for his “exciting” approach by Steve Parish, has guided Palace to an FA Cup semi-final and earned plaudits for his work at Selhurst Park since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Glasner also boasts a Europa League winner’s medal on his CV, having won the competition with Eintracht in 2022, with pundit John Wenham also calling the 50-year-old a “far more exciting” appointment than Iraola.

“He is far more exciting than most names that have been linked,” said Wenham to Tottenham News, “He is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest.”

If you had told Arsenal fans that Jakub Kiwior would start in a 3-0 home win and 2-1 away win against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this season, they would likely have laughed in your face.

It’s not that the Polish international is a bad player; he has stepped up at points in the past, but it would be fair to say that for much of this season, he’s been something of an afterthought and has struggled in the few appearances he’s made, like away to Fulham.

Yet, since Gabriel Magalhães’ injury, the former Spezia star has seriously stepped up, and perhaps the biggest compliment is that he’s made the Brazilian’s absence something of an afterthought.

However, there is no room for sentimentality in football, and if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co have identified a defender they want to sign in the summer, a defender who would be an upgrade on Kiwior.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Now, as they once again missed out on the title this season, Arsenal are obviously looking to strengthen all over the pitch, and one of the names most heavily linked with the club in recent weeks has been Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

The Slovenian striker, who’s still just 21, has enjoyed another stellar campaign with RB Leipzig this year, racking up 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, making his supposed £58m release clause look fairly reasonable.

Another 20-year-old touted for a move to the Emirates this summer is Lyon’s incredible Rayan Cherki.

The Frenchman could be available for just £25m, which sounds like a total bargain considering he’s racked up a staggering haul of 12 goals and 18 assists in just 40 games this season and has been tipped as a “future Ballon d’Or winner,” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker.

However, neither of these exciting attackers will replace Kiwior, which is where Dean Huijsen comes in.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Bournemouth star and insist he is someone they want to sign.

The report does not mention a potential price, but stories from earlier this month reiterated the claim that the Spaniard has a £50m release clause in his current deal.

It might not be an easy deal to get over the line, but given Huijsen’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Kiwior.

How Huijsen compares to Kiwior

If Arsenal were to get their man in the summer and bring Huijsen to the Emirates, it seems unlikely that he’d break up the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel – at least for a while – so his biggest competition for a place in the squad would likely be Kiwior.

So, with that said, how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, while it’s certainly less important for a centre-back, it’s the Bournemouth ace who just about comes out ahead when it comes to their respective output, producing three goal involvements in 31 games at an average of one every 10.33 games.

In contrast, the former Spezia ace has provided two assists in 23 games, coming out to an average of one every 11.5 games.

Unfortunately for the Polish international, he also comes out on the losing side when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

In fact, in practically every relevant metric for a modern centre-back, Huijsen comes out on top.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.08

0.16

Progressive Passes

2.93

4.69

Progressive Carries

0.29

1.54

Passing Accuracy

90.7%

84.0%

Key Passes

0.29

0.61

Passes into the Final 1/3

3.64

6.05

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.14

0.31

Shot-Creating Actions

0.57

1.67

Goal-Creating Actions

0.00

0.13

Tackles Won

0.67

0.90

Blocks

0.64

1.45

Interceptions

0.62

1.90

Clearances

3.21

7.19

Ball Recoveries

2.14

3.99

Aerial Duels Won

1.14

2.68

Assessing the data, it really is no surprise that data analyst Ben Mattinson called him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” with the Cherries defender notably a clear upgrade in key metrics such as progressive passes, ball recoveries, key passes and aerial duels won per 90 minutes,

Ultimately, Kiwior has done an exemplary job in recent weeks, but there is no way around it: Huijsen is a far better player and prospect. Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Spaniard this summer.

Best signing since Rice: £58m goalscoring "monster" wants to join Arsenal

The incredible international could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 21, 2025

When the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League was made, very few people gave Arsenal any hope of defeating Real Madrid.

Alas, here they stand, 90 minutes from a semi-final spot after defeating the great 15-time Champions of Europe, 3-0, in the first leg.

Declan Rice was the hero, crashing home two remarkable free-kicks before Spaniard Mikel Merino added a third to spark chaos inside the Emirates Stadium.

It was Mikel Arteta’s finest night as Arsenal manager and perhaps the club’s finest in Europe. This was a performance that will live long in the memory.

How Declan Rice scored his two free-kicks

Coming into this match, Arsenal’s club-record £105m signing had never scored a direct free-kick in his entire senior career.

Since moving to the Gunners, he has been a regular set-piece taker, racking up numerous assists courtesy of his pinpoint corner kicks. He’s also taken wide-set plays but hasn’t been given the license to shoot from many.

Minutes played

80

Expected Goals

0.47

Goals

2

Expected Assists

0.08

Touches

43

Shots on Target

4

Dribbles (Completed)

1 (1)

Lost Possession

4

Clearances

1

Interceptions

1

That was until Tuesday evening, where the former West Ham man stepped up and had arguably the best two moments of his career to date.

The first free-kick was special, bending and curving the ball around the wall and past Belgian stopped Thibaut Courtois.

If you thought that was a remarkable effort then the second was even better. This time Rice was standing to the left side of the goal and was further out, but that mattered not for the England international.

Up he stepped, thumping the ball viciously beyond the goalkeeper, right into the far corner. It was spellbinding, it was enough to leave most onlookers speechless.

However, speaking in his post-match press conference, taking a shot for the first free-kick was not initially part of the plan.

Why Declan Rice ignored team orders to score his free-kick

Rice is a brutally honest character and in his post-game interview, speaking to the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney on Amazon Prime, he admitted that the plan wasn’t to take a shot, most notably for his first free-kick.

In fact, he directly ignored instructions from not just skipper Martin Odegaard, but also heralded set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.

“I don’t know if it will ever sink in,” the midfielder began. “I fancied both (free-kicks) and to have the confidence, I am a bit speechless.”

Rice continued: “Martin [Odegaard] was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense to chip it like that. We practice them all the time, (set-piece coach Nicolas) Jover is telling me to cross and it didn’t make sense.”

As a result, a quick comment from Bukayo Saka inspired the 26-year-old to step up and hit it goalbound.

“Bukayo [Saka] said, “If you feel it, go for it”. I looked at the wall and keeper and said I could bend it and that’s what happened.”

Rice also detailed how the second free-kick played out. “We were going to touch and set it, but Mbappe was stood too close. He was in the middle and I just went with it. I practice it a lot. I had the confidence after the first, I had nothing to lose.”

Their new Mesut Ozil: Arsenal preparing bid for "generational" £30m star

The incredible prospect could be something truly special at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 8, 2025

As they move closer and closer to Champions League qualification, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the race to sign a Real Madrid target who’s been statistically stronger than Murillo this season.

Nottingham Forest eyeing Real Madrid target

It doesn’t look as though those at the City Ground will be waiting long before flexing their Champions League muscles should they secure their place among Europe’s elite this season. Suddenly, a place in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad will become that much more attractive, allowing Forest to set their sights higher than ever in the Premier League.

Among those already threatening to steal the headline are names such as Darwin Nunez and even Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha. And if those reports are anything to go by, then those in the Midlands are already planning for life without the incredible form of Chris Wood, who is already 33 years old and unlikely to remain at this level for years to come.

Marinakis now going all out to tie Nuno to new Nottingham Forest contract

Evangelos Marinakis is serious about getting a deal wrapped up.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 31, 2025

Nunez would be a particularly interesting option given how he has struggled at Liverpool and now seems destined for the exit door. Whether Forest can not only swoop in but then get the best out of the former Benfica man will certainly be interesting to see. Meanwhile, at the other end of Nuno’s squad, another reinforcement could arrive.

According to Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest are now racing to sign Evan Ndicka from AS Roma ahead of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Newcastle United this summer. The central defender has impressed in Italy once again this season, but could reportedly leave for as little as €40m (£33m) if Roma fail to secure European football this season.

In what is a valuation that Premier League sides are reportedly willing to meet, Forest could take full advantage and land a bargain deal when the summer arrives. Ndicka could slot straight into Nuno’s side too, given how his traits align with Murillo’s.

"Great" Ndicka could be a monster next to Murillo

Having spent the last two seasons in Rome, Ndicka could now call it quits and complete a summer switch to the Premier League in arguably the biggest move of his career yet. At just 25 years old too, the Ivory Coast international is at the peak of his powers and simply must take full advantage of interest from some of England’s top sides.

Starts

30

29

Challenges Lost

5

15

Aerial Duels Won

51

33

Ball Recoveries

115

108

As impressive as Murillo has been this season, Ndicka has been even better in certain areas. Stronger than Murillo in both the air and in tackles so far, the Roma defender could yet emerge to ensure that the Forest backline doesn’t have a single weakness to be seen this summer.

In two seasons at Roma, the 25-year-old has earned plenty of praise, including from former manager Jose Mourinho. The so-called Special One told reporters after Ndicka’s performance against Napoli in 2023: “This was without a doubt his best performance as a Roma player. He played a great game.”

Thomas Frank’s time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur may not be going exactly to plan at this moment in time, as his side have been in concerning form of late.

The Lilywhites have conceded 11 goals in their last three games in all competitions, losing 5-3 to PSG and 4-1 to Arsenal in their last two outings since returning from the international break.

Tottenham have won one of their last six games in all competitions, keeping one clean sheet in that time, and this shows that Frank and his staff have plenty of work to do to improve the team’s defensive record.

Spurs let in 65 goals in 38 Premier League games in the 2024/25 season under Ange Postecoglou, which shows that this is not a new issue, and it may take time for the problem to be solved.

Whilst there is plenty of attention on the defensive side of their game, and rightly so given recent results, there should also be attention given to where they need to improve at the other end of the pitch.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with one assist, was one of the standout performers for PSG, as he moved to eight goal contributions for the season, but Spurs do not have similar quality in their wide areas.

Ranking Tottenham's wingers this season

The Lilywhites spent £55m to sign Mohammed Kudus from Premier League rivals West Ham to bolster their ranks out wide in the summer transfer window, and he has been arguably the best winger at the club this season.

In the 2025/26 campaign, the Ghana international has more assists (five) than any other player in the squad for Spurs, with one assist on top of all of that creativity, per Transfermarkt.

However, even then, there is plenty of room for him to improve because of a return of one goal in 17 appearances in all competitions is far from an exceptional return for a £55m signing.

On the flip side, Brennan Johnson has scored four goals in 18 matches in all competitions, per Sofascore, yet he has failed to provide a single assist for his teammates, which shows that he needs to improve on the creative side of the game.

1

Mohammed Kudus

2

Brennan Johnson

3

Wilson Odobert

4

Xavi Simons

5

Mathys Tel

As you can see in the table above, Wilson Odobert ranks just below the two of them, because he has one goal and two assists in just 751 minutes of football as a young player who is still learning and improving.

Xavi Simons, signed for £52m from Leipzig, and Mathys Tel, who have both played centrally and wide, have each registered just two goal contributions in all competitions, which is why they must rank fourth and fifth.

All of this shows that Frank does not have many amazing options in the wide areas, but that could change for the second half of the season if things go to plan.

Spurs told that £50m bid will be accepted for Premier League forward

According to former Aberdeen, Everton, and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, Tottenham Hotspur could sign Savinho from Manchester City in the January transfer window.

The ex-Premier League chief has told Spurs that a bid of £50m could be enough for them to tempt the Cityzens into cashing on the Brazil international, after the Lilywhites failed with a £60m approach for the forward in the summer.

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Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness said: “There are a lot of City fans complaining about him, et cetera, et cetera. But I do think he’s a quality player.

“I think a change of scenery would obviously do him the world of good. And I think it’ll give Spurs a chance to get a better deal with City. And I do expect something like this to happen in January. So I do expect probably a bit of not so much cut-price, but certainly lower than expected, maybe around a 50 million mark even with bonuses for a player of that quality.”

Savinho has only started four matches in the Premier League for Manchester City so far this season, with the likes of Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku ahead of him, and Wyness seemingly believes that his lack of game time could open the door for Spurs.

It is now down to Fabio Paratici and Frank, though, to do a deal with City and to convince the Brazilian star to make the move to North London, because he could be their own Kvaratskhelia.

Why Spurs should sign Savinho

Like Kudus, Savinho is not a winger who is likely to come in and score 20 or more goals a season like Mo Salah or Vinicius Jr, because he has only scored four goals in all competitions since the start of last season, per Sofascore.

However, the 21-year-old talent is an exceptional dribbler and creator who could provide an exciting presence for supporters to watch out wide in the second half of the season and beyond.

Kvaratskhelia, who is valued at £79m, is one of the best wingers in the world, having won Ligue 1 and the Champions League, scoring in the final, last season, so it would be unrealistic to expect Tottenham to sign a winger who is exactly like him in every area of the game.

However, as you can see in the chart above, Savinho is very much like the Georgian star when it comes to creating chances and dribbling past opposition players on the wing, based on their respective statistics over the last 365 days.

In fact, the Brazilian Spurs target was one of the most creative players in his position in all of the top five major European leagues in the 2024/25 campaign, as shown in the table below.

Raphinha

12

Bradley Barcola

11

Vincenzo Grifo

11

Vinicius Jr

10

Rafa Leao

10

Moses Simon

10

Alex Baena

10

Heung-min Son

10

Savinho

10

Zuriko Davitashvili

8

Whilst he may not be in the best moment at Manchester City, with one goal and two assists in 15 appearances, his form last term shows that he is capable of being an elite creator and dribbler in the Premier League.

Savinho, who Paul Merson claimed could be a “superstar”, ranked in the top 6% of his positional peers for xAG (0.27) in the Champions League and the top 4% in the Premier League with 0.35 xAG, per FBref.

These statistics and his statistics in comparison to Kvaratskhelia suggest that Spurs would be signing an exceptional young creator on the wing if they snap him up in January.

That is why Paratici should hope that Wyness is right and that a deal could be done for £50m, because the Brazilian could arrive in North London as their own version of the PSG superstar because of his creative and dribbling skills.

Romero upgrade: Spurs "ready to make" £35m bid for "world-class" defender

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a huge January move for a new centre-back.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

Chelsea failed to get themselves back on track after a defeat in midweek, drawing 0-0 away to Bournemouth.

The Cherries were the better side, frustrating Enzo Maresca’s men, who are still in search of their first Premier League win since beating Burnley at the end of November.

Despite having an almost full-strength side, which included Cole Palmer from the start for the first time since September 20th, Chelsea were lacklustre going forward. They managed just 11 shots and racked an expected goals tally of just 0.88xG.

The Blues had an early scare, too, with Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo having a goal ruled out in the opening moments of the game. The goal was cancelled due to a tight offside against striker Evanilson, giving Chelsea an early lifeline.

There was also bad news for the West Londoners on the injury front, with Liam Delap forced off after just 32 minutes. He picked up a shoulder injury, which BBC Sport report could be a dislocated shoulder. That issue could see the Chelsea number nine sidelined for as long as four months.

It was a tough day at the office for Chelsea, with Enzo Fernandez putting in a performance to forget.

Fernandez’s stats vs. Bournemouth

Chelsea were once again without Fernandez’s usual midfield partner, Moises Caicedo, after his red card against Arsenal last weekend. Up against an energetic Cherries midfield, it was a day when the 2022 World Cup winner struggled.

Indeed, without Caicedo next to him, the Argentine midfielder certainly had his work cut out in the middle of the park, having more defensive responsibility than he might if the Ecuadorian were partnered with him.

The stats from Fernandez’s performance reflect how tough of an afternoon it was for him defensively. He only managed to win five out of 11 duels, as per Sofascore, committed two fouls and failed to win his only tackle. It was certainly a day when he struggled off the ball.

Football London journalist Bobby Vincent was critical of the Chelsea number eight, too. He said Fernandez ‘looks fatigued’ at the moment, but did call it ‘understandable’ given the amount of football he has played this season.

However, it was not just the 35-cap Argentina international who struggled for the West Londoners.

Chelsea’s worst player vs. Bournemouth

It was a day to forget for left-back Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard, normally a player so reliable at full-back and composed in position, was wasteful against the South Coast outfit and put in a performance far from his best.

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It was a surprisingly sloppy showing in possession from the former Barcelona star. He had 69 touches of the ball, so he was constantly involved, but lost it 17 times.

Out of possession, he only won 50% of his duels.

Touches

69

Number of times ball lost

17

Pass accuracy

80%

Aerial duels won

2/4

Ground duels won

1/2

Chances created

1

One person who didn’t seem too impressed with the defender’s showing at the Vitality Stadium was Vincent. He gave Cucurella a 6/10 for his afternoon’s work down south, describing his performance as ‘nothing extraordinary’.

The games are now coming thick and fast for Chelsea. They have a busy festive period, with assignments in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.

After a poor performance against Bournemouth and the number of games they have, it’ll be interesting to see if Maresca keeps Cucurella in the side.

There are options if he wishes to rotate the Spaniard out of the starting 11. Jorrel Hato is the natural back-up left-back, but he hasn’t played too much this season. Reece James and Malo Gusto could also operate on that side.

How Maresca looks after the fitness of his most important players this month will be key to their form. After a poor performance from Cucurella, it gives the Blues boss a chance to rest and rotate.

Shades of Sterling & Mudryk: Maresca must axe Chelsea's "pointless signing"

The highly-rated attacker has not impressed so far this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

West Ham chiefs have now been told exactly what they need to complete a deal for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez in January, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in the market for another centre-forward as Niclas Füllkrug packs his bags.

The Hammers are stepping up their pursuit of a number nine ahead of the winter transfer window, with Fullkrug set to depart as the injury-ridden German international seeks a new chapter (Fabrizio Romano).

Fullkrug, according to multiple reliable media sources, is exploring options to leave, with talks already happening, after having struggled with injuries and a lack of overall form since his move from Borussia Dortmund last year. His impending departure has intensified the need for attacking reinforcements, with Nuno apparently keen to bolster his forward options following a difficult start to the campaign.

The East London club have “already” begun scouring the market for potential targets (Fabrizio Romano), and West Ham are reportedly keeping an eye on Man United striker Joshua Zirkzee as a potential reinforcement, among others.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

West Ham have been linked with Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque and explored a loan move for Real Madrid’s Endrick, before Lyon swooped in to take command in the race for his signature as the Ligue 1 giants press ahead with a deal.

Additionally, Gimenez has emerged as a target for West Ham too.

The Mexico international, who scored for fun in the Eredivisie and even once commanded an £88 million price tag, hasn’t managed to carry on that form at the San Siro since making his eventual £28 million move to Milan earlier this year.

Gimenez has managed just seven goals in 30 total appearances for the Rossoneri, and Milan chiefs may now green-light a mid-season departure for the 24-year-old, who had previously starred under Arne Slot at Feyenoord.

The North American racked up 26 goals in 41 appearances in Slot’s final season at Feyenoord, and finished the previous campaign as their top scorer whilst firing them to the title that year.

Interestingly, Milan are believed to be interested in Fullkrug as a replacement for Gimenez, with the prospect of a swap deal even touted in the press very recently.

West Ham told Santiago Gimenez deal conditions as Fullkrug swap deal mooted

While the possibility of a swap deal or even part-exchange is apparently there, a report by Calciomercato has detailed exactly what David Sullivan needs to do to make a deal happen.

According to their information, West Ham’s hopes of securing Gimenez in January hinge on meeting strict conditions set by the Italian giants.

Milan will only consider selling for a permanent transfer fee of at least £22 million, and crucially, the deal must come from a club that Gimenez himself approves. The Italian outlet emphasizes that without these two conditions being met, any discussions remain purely hypothetical.

The situation presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Nuno’s side. However, that being said, there is reason to believe that Gimenez would be a major upgrade on Fullkrug.

The eight-year age difference between the two strikers means that West Ham would certainly benefit from a swap for the long-term, and unlike Fullkrug, Gimenez enjoyed 20-plus goal seasons in the build up to his Milan move.

Gimenez’s “sensational” form at Feyenoord attracted interest from elite Premier League sides, including Arsenal, and West Ham could now have a chance to help him rediscover his goalscoring touch in England.

Milan’s willingness to sell means a deal is there to be done, so Gimenez could genuinely be one of Nuno’s better options.