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Aston Villa are believed to be interested in completing the summer signing of an “outstanding” new attacker who’s scored three times against them in the past.

Aston Villa transfer news

This summer promises to be an exciting one at Villa Park, with likely Champions League qualification giving them a great chance of signing players who can make Unai Emery's squad even more formidable. Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso has been linked with a move to Villa, with a recent report even claiming that he is "close" to securing a switch at the end of the season.

Michael Olise, who continues to stand out as Crystal Palace's brightest young talent, is also catching the eye. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals in just 12 league starts this season, and that tally would likely be far greater if it hadn't been for injuries.

Villarreal attacking midfielder Alex Baena is another rumoured target for the Villans, having enjoyed a brilliant season for the Spaniard outfit, registering 12 assists in 30 La Liga starts in 2023/24 to date, also boasting experience playing under Emery on his CV.

There are some players who could leave Villa in the summer window, however, with Diego Carlos reportedly pushing for an exit, according to a recent update.

Aston Villa eyeing "outstanding" attacker

According to Takvim [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa are keen on signing Wilfried Zaha this summer, but they are facing competition from another Premier League team. West Ham are the club in question, with agent talks and negotiations taking place with both sides over a potential move for the Galatasaray winger.

The Ivorian joined the Turkish side on a free transfer from Crystal Palace last summer, but his time there hasn't necessarily gone to plan, with only 13 league starts coming his way. He has scored nine times, however, and could represent an exciting option for Villa.

At 31, the former Palace and Manchester United man may not be getting any younger, but he knows the Premier League inside out, netting 68 times in the competition overall. The Villans know all about the threat he can pose, having allowed him to score against them three times in the past. Ally McCoist was one of many to heap praise on him during his time at Palace, calling the winger "absolutely outstanding".

Zaha could provide an added spark in the wide areas for Villa, at a time when Emery will be needing to juggle both Premier League and Champions League football, something the Palace legend now has experience in.

Aston Villa looking to sign Watkins partner who'd be perfect on UCL nights

He would be perfect for Watkins and he’s been described as “one of the EPL’s best players”.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 9, 2024

Granted, there may be younger options out there, but there is still enough left in the tank for the tricky star to enjoy a number of good years in a Villa shirt.

In a new era under Arne Slot, Liverpool have instantly turned their attention towards the summer transfer market and handing the Dutchman a few welcome gifts, which could include one exciting Bundesliga gem.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have already been linked with the marquee names of Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni, but it's the youngsters like Johan Bakayoko and Antonio Silva who seem more likely in the coming months. Michael Edwards will want to make a statement, either way, as he endures his first summer transfer window back at Anfield, in which he could complete the structure of Liverpool 2.0 even without Jurgen Klopp.

After finishing third in the Premier League this season, there's certainly plenty of potential in this new Liverpool side, though that doesn't take away from the job on Slot's hands when it comes to replacing a club legend in Klopp. What will help is that Mohamed Salah now looks on course to stay put for at least another season and reports are already linking the Reds with a potential long-term successor.

According to Bild, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Brajan Gruda, who could cost as much as €20m (£17m) to lure away from Mainz 05 this summer. Those at Anfield aren't alone in their interest, however, with record-breakers Bayer Leverkusen willing to meet his price tag, whilst Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also eyeing moves this summer.

Slot could restore Nunez by unleashing forgotten £41k-p/w Liverpool star

Bobby Firmino absolutely adored this talented player…

By
Angus Sinclair

May 24, 2024

The 19-year-old winger certainly isn't without potential suitors and at such a young age, he must get the next decision right. Liverpool will hope that their recent work with embedding young players into their side will go a long way in attracting such a gem in the coming months.

"Monstrous" Gruda could eventually replace Salah

Whilst there may need to be a stop-gap in between Salah and Gruda whilst the latter still reaches his best, that right wing role should eventually be his if he completes a move to Anfield this summer. The young German is clearly still a developing player – an output of just three goals and four assists in all competitions this season represents that – but after Ben Mattinson dubbed his left foot as "monstrous", he's certainly one to watch.

What's more, the underlying numbers show that the output should begin to rise with a move to a big club this summer, whether that be to Liverpool, Leverkusen or elsewhere.

The numbers show that when the chances presented themselves, Gruda took them in clinical fashion. Meanwhile, he should have recorded more assists due to his impressive chance creation numbers, something which is sure to translate into more end product when surrounded by superior players.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has shared a heartfelt message to Antonie Griezmann following his retirement from international football.

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• Griezmann announces retirement from France
• Mbappe sends out heartfelt message to legend
• Deschamps also speaks out for Griezmann

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Griezmann announced his retirement from the French international team on Monday afternoon, calling it time after having made 137 appearances for his country, scoring 44 goals. The Atletico Madrid star helped Didier Deschamps' side win the 2018 World Cup. Mbappe has now voiced out a very heartfelt and emotional message to the departing France legend.

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  WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  On Instagram, the France captain shared a message for Griezmann, which read: "An exceptional player ending his career in EDF. One of the most important players in the modern era of our national team. Thank you for the unforgettable memories you have given us, you carried this team for years and greatly contributed to bringing it to the top with many titles.

  "Some may think it's too early to stop right now but I understand and respect your decision. Wearing this shirt always demands more without sometimes bringing the recognition that comes with it. You will remain in the history of the French team forever. And I will never forget the honour and pleasure it was to play alongside you for so many years. I never trivialized it.

  "Have a safe trip my friend & THANK YOU."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  France boss Deschamps also shared a message for the former France international who helped the side win both the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League.

  Deschamps said: "After a long and careful consideration, Antoine has decided to end his magnificent international career. We had a long discussion about this recently. Since his debut in the French team ten years ago, he and I have maintained a relationship of trust and very frank relations.

  "It's never easy to draw a line under the French team. Especially when you've represented it so well, embodied it so well. It takes courage, lucidity and honesty and Antoine, in his analysis, didn't lack any. It's all to his credit.

  "Antoine was and will remain a monument of French football, one of the greatest players in its history"

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• WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?

  Griezmann's decision comes just a few days before Deschamps is set to announce his France squad for the October international break where Les Bleus will take on Israel and Belgium in the Nations League group stage.

Former Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff says comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi cannot be made for another 13 years.

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• Youngster made senior breakthrough at 15
• Has rewritten the history books since then
• Being likened to Argentine all-time great

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With both players stepping out of the famed La Masia academy system, inevitable talk of a teenage star in the present treading the same path as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been generated. Such a discussion would feel far-fetched for most, but Yamal has shown himself to be the hottest of prospects.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He has been rewriting the history books since making a senior breakthrough at the age of 15, and is already a proven performer with La Liga title and European Championship honours to his name. More prestigious prizes are expected to come his way, but it is far too early to put him in the Messi talent bracket.

• WHAT CRUYFF SAID

  That is an opinion shared by ex-Barca player and director Cruyff, with the Dutchman telling on Yamal: “He is a different player, with a different talent, with a lot of personality for his age. From the very first day without any fear of ‘give me the ball, I’m going to make my move’. And the truth is that if he is not injured, he is obviously a player who is going to mark an era, but to say that he is going to be a Messi… We’ll know when he is 30 years old.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Yamal has made no secret of the fact that he wants to become a legend in his own right, but has told of the Messi debate that continues to rage around him: “I like being compared to the best player in football history, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”

Celtic are "keen" on completing the signing of a young winger this summer, but other clubs are also believed to be in the race, according to journalist Charlie Gordon.

Celtic eyeing Bernardo and Idah deals

Brendan Rodgers is on the lookout for top-quality new signings ahead of the summer transfer window opening next month, and there are two key pieces of business that he could want to get over the line before next season gets underway.

The first of those is Paulo Bernardo, who joined Celtic on loan from Benfica in 2023/24, and ultimately played an important role in them pipping rivals Rangers to both Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup glory. The midfielder featured 22 times in the league overall, chipping in with six goal contributions (three goals and assists apiece), and he is believed to be interested in signing a long-term deal for the Hoops.

Meanwhile, another fellow loanee, Adam Idah, is also wanted on a permanent basis this summer, as he potentially looks to seal a move away from Norwich City for good.

The 23-year-old ended up playing a massive role in Celtic's success, arriving in the January transfer window and scoring eight goals in 15 Scottish Premiership games, of which only five were starts. He also scored the winning goal against Rangers in the cup final, firing home late in the day, and the board are "committed" to bringing him in.

Celtic "keen" on 21-year-old midfielder

Writing on X, Gordon said that Celtic are interested in signing FC Lausanne-Sport winger Alvyn Sanches, but aren't alone when it comes to being in contention to snap him up this summer:

"Celtic are keen on highly-rated Swiss midfielder Alvyn Sanches after extensive scouting in 2023/24. Stoke City and Coventry City are also admirers. Plenty of interest elsewhere in Europe. Lausanne want £4m."

In his report for The Express, Gordon goes on to add that "Celtic sent scouts to assess Sanches at various points in 2023/24", which has led to more serious interest for the summer.

Sanches won't necessarily be a household name to Celtic supporters, especially compared to the likes of Bernardo and Idah these days, but that's not to say that he couldn't be an excellent option for Rodgers next season.

At 21, the Swiss youngster still has the vast majority of his career ahead of him, and he has already racked up 84 appearances for his current side, scoring 14 goals and bagging seven assists in that time. He has also been capped by Switzerland at youth team level, making nine appearances for the Under-21s and Under-20s combined.

Celtic could repeat Joe Hart masterclass by signing £150k-p/w star

The Old Firm giants could well bolster their ranks with a high-profile signing this summer…

By
Robbie Walls

Jun 2, 2024

Depth is so vital in any squad in the modern game, and that is no different at Celtic, as they look to fare better in the Champions League next season. Sanches could come in as a good squad player who matures as the years pass, hopefully becoming a key part of the first choice XI further down the line.

Wayne Rooney faces a “problem” in managerial circles, but the Manchester United legend is being backed to take charge of a “big, important club”.

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• Earned legend status in his playing days
• Mixed record since moving into coaching
• Tipped to climb the managerial ladder

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former England captain returned to coaching in the summer of 2024 when inheriting the reins at Championship side Plymouth. He has previously worked at that level with Derby and Birmingham, while also spending time in MLS at D.C. United.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney has recovered from a slow start to his reign at Home Park, with battling victories secured, and is being tipped to climb the managerial ladder if he can come to terms with the fact that those he is working with are not as talented as he used to be.

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  WHAT SAHA SAID

  Former United team-mate Louis Saha has told : “Wayne Rooney has got an enormous desire for football, and he’s got an enormous desire to transmit that knowledge to players. I would love to see Wayne Rooney managing a big, important club, but it’s a difficult journey and Wayne knows that better than anyone. Sometimes, you must be in the right place at the right time. You need the right opportunity. I don’t think Wayne has had that opportunity yet to manage the type of players that he would really like to work with. I’m talking about players with exceptional quality.

  “In many ways, it’s a similar problem to what Patrick Vieira had. He went into Palace, it took him a bit of time, but he wasn’t working with players that were anywhere near the level he played at. Sometimes, that can be hard for a manager to deal with. Frank Lampard is the other example. He got the opportunity to manage his club, Chelsea, early in his career. OK, he had managed Derby, but making the jump from Derby to Chelsea is huge.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rooney has been accused of landing jobs because of who he is, rather than what he has achieved as a boss, but Saha went on to say of the ambitious 38-year-old: “I don’t think Wayne Rooney expects anything in management to be handed to him on a plate. You can tell he’s hungry to show that he can manage because of the club’s he’s taken on. Nobody could describe those jobs as easy. He’ll know that he needs to improve to get a big opportunity, but I hope he gets it because he has so much to offer, and he had such an unbelievable playing career.”

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made their move for a "fantastic" player who will feature at Euro 2024 this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League to the Championship in 2023/24, amid points deduction struggles, Reds supporters will hope that more positive times are on the horizon under Nuno Espirito Santo. In order for that to happen, some high-quality additions are needed in the summer transfer window, and various players have been linked with moves to the City ground.

Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis is one such target for Forest, with the 24-year-old possibly considered an upgrade on Ibrahim Sangare in the middle of the park. He made 30 appearances for the Portuguese giants in the Primeira Liga in 2023/24, averaging 2.6 tackles per game and showing why he could be a tenacious presence at the base of Nuno's midfield.

A new goalkeeper could also be looked at ahead of next season, with Matt Turner not always convincing between the sticks, and Bayern Munich stopper Daniel Peretz has emerged as an eye-catching loan option. A host of clubs are keen on snapping him up, with Manuel Neuer's continued brilliance at the German giants making it almost impossible for him to make an impact.

Meanwhile, Luis isn't the only Benfica player who is reportedly being looked at by Forest, with highly-rated centre-back Morato seen as a potential addition, being viewed as the club's new version of Murillo, who has impressed to date.

Nottingham Forest make offer to striker

According to Romano on X, Nottingham Forest have sent a proposal to Southampton striker Che Adams and appear to be leading the race ahead of Wolves, with the Reds confident they'll get a deal over the line this summer:

The 27-year-old played his part in Saints getting back into the top flight last month, too, scoring 16 goals in the Championship, while former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has said of him in the past: "He is a guy who is one day a little bit frustrated when he sees he doesn’t play but then when the game comes, he shows up immediately and this is fantastic. That’s why we brought him here."

The fact that Adams hasn't always been a regular starter for Southampton could mean he wants a new challenge, and he is out of contract this month, meaning Forest would be able to snap him up on a free transfer.

Forest could finally replace Samba by signing "top-quality" Sels upgrade

The club desperately need reinforcements in the goalkeeping department.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 4, 2024

The £30,000-a-week forward is fully expected to make Scotland's final squad for Euro 2024 and could well start the tournament's opening game against Germany on June 14th, especially after fellow striker Lyndon Dykes was ruled out through injury. That shows the calibre of player that Adams is, and he could add firepower and pedigree to Nuno's squad.

Chelsea have recently made checks on the availability of a player with a £23m release clause in his contract, according to reports.

Chelsea transfer rumours

Enzo Maresca took the reigns at Stamford Bridge last week, replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the helm after helping Leicester City win promotion to the Premier League last season. The Italian is expected to have his work cut out for him in west London, with the Blues coming off the back of a rather disappointing 2023/24 campaign, which saw them finish 6th in the table and lose the League Cup final to a weak Liverpool team.

Chelsea now want to take £163,000-per-week Bayern Munich star off Kompany

He’d greatly strengthen one area of Maresca’s squad.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 8, 2024

Despite Chelsea's struggles last term, they do have a lot of talented players on their books and have been linked with a host more heading into the opening of the 2024 summer transfer window. Chelsea are interested in re-signing Marcin Bulka to bolster Maresca's goalkeeping options. Manchester City and Argentina attacker Julian Alvarez is also on the capital outfit's radar, while Crystal Palace's Michael Olise is seen as a top target.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has also shared an update on the areas Chelsea are looking to target in the current window.

"It will continue to be a busy summer at Chelsea," Romano wrote. "It won’t be completely crazy but they will try to make smart things happen, including a new goalkeeper and I expect them to try for at least one new centre-back, but it could be two. I also expect Chelsea to be busy with the striker position, and I mentioned many times Benjamin Sesko, who is highly rated at Chelsea but also by others like Arsenal and Manchester United.”

Chelsea make contact for £23m star

Now, a fresh name has been linked with a move to west London in the form of Stuttgart winger, Chris Fuhrich. The 26-year-old enjoyed a prolific 2023/24 campaign in Germany, playing a crucial role in his side securing 2nd place in the Bundesliga ahead of Bayern Munich.

The wide-man's uptick in form this past season earned him his senior debut for the German national team, where he was given high praise by manager Julian Nagelsmann.

“He’s got very good momentum right now," Nagelsmann said. "He’s an excellent player one-v-one, been involved in many goals for Stuttgart, who are doing really well. With the national team, it’s always important to call up players with momentum, those at their peak, to give them their chance.

"The call with him was refreshing because he was so excited. It’ll be good for us to have new faces in training whose eyes light up at the idea of playing an international match.”

Following a superb 2023/24, Fuhrich has seemingly caught the eye of some top Premier League sides, with Caught Offside reporting that Chelsea, along with Tottenham, have made checks on the availability of the winger in recent days and are showing strong interest.

Stuttgart are unlikely to want to lose Fuhrich, who is earning £40,000-a-week, as they gear up for Champions League football next season, but he is believed to have a £23m release clause in his contract – a fairly low sum for a player of his quality and a fee Chelsea should easily be able to afford.

Xavi is eyeing a return to the dugout and could be offered an international job a few months after his exit from Barcelona.

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• Xavi could return to management
• Left Barcelona this summer
• Qatar want Barca legend as national team coach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Catalan giants parted ways with their club legend after the 2023-24 campaign, and they appointed former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick as his successor. After leaving Barca, the ex-Spain international revealed that he plans to take a sabbatical from coaching. However, per Qatari newspaper , the 44-year-old could return to football management soon.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report claims that the Qatar Football Association are planning to appoint Xavi as their next manager as pressure mounts on current boss Tintin Marquez after their recent 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Iran in the 2026 AFC World Cup qualifiers. The Catalan star had begun his managerial journey in the Middle Eastern nation as he managed Qatar Stars League side Al-Sadd for two years before heading to La Liga.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Earlier this week, Flick visited Xavi at his home in Catalonia and exchanged pleasantries thereby putting to bed any notion of a feud between the two coaches.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Catalan side will be back in action in La Liga on Sunday as they take on Sevilla at home before facing Bayern Munich in a massive Champions outing during midweek.

Tottenham Hotspur opted against directly replacing Harry Kane last summer, with freshly-anointed Ange Postecoglou instead choosing to spread the recouped an initial £85m fee for the Three Lions captain across the pitch.

The myriad additions, namely Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, had a transformative effect on the Spurs squad but greater depth is now needed after injuries pulled Tottenham away from early title contention, ultimately missing out on top four too.

Kane, Tottenham's record scorer, has since scored 44 goals from 45 matches for Bayern Munich, and thus Postecoglou and Co will need to choose wisely in securing a reliable new marksman.

Spurs transfer news

According to Sky Sports News, Tottenham have joined Manchester United and a number of other Premier League clubs in adding Lille striker Jonathan David to their summer shortlists.

While there hasn't been any official contact between clubs yet, David, having entered the final year of his contract, will be allowed to leave this summer, and Spurs are indeed keen.

Separate recent reports claim that the Canadian striker's sale will demand a £25m outlay.

Why Jonathan David is one of the best around

David has been a reliable scorer for Lille over the years, scoring 84 goals across 183 matches after moving to France from Belgian team Gent in a €30m (£25m) deal back in 2020.

The 24-year-old has demonstrably improved his attacking ability over the past two years and will now feel ready to try his foot in the Premier League, actually hailed for his "absolutely insane" shooting skills by journalist Antonio Mango.

David might not be Kane but he does offer a certain semblance to the iconic Lilywhites forward, ranking among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Kane is one of the pre-eminent goalscorers of his generation but he's also an unrivalled playmaker from No. 9, ranking among the top 10% of forwards for assists and the top 11% for progressive passes per 90.

David, in this regard, would be able to emulate some of the 30-year-old's more unique qualities while maintaining his own sense of prowess in striking on goal too. David, after all, also ranks among the top 17% of forwards for goals scored but only the top 49% for shots taken, emphasising his clinical quality. It is not a surprise, therefore, to see him celebrated as "one of the best strikers in the world" by Canadian reporter Tony Marinaro.

By acquiring his signature, Heung-min Son would be free to feature in his favoured role on the left flank more often, the South Korean blending his own remarkable dynamism against David's multi-strength forward style.

It may, unfortunately, knock Richarlison down the pecking order, but the Canada international would undoubtedly prove to be an upgrade, with the Brazilian enjoying a purple patch last season but only starting 18 Premier League matches as injuries overpowered his good form.

The 26-year-old's chequered past in front of goal as a Lilywhite is likely a key reason behind Postecoglou's willingness to cash in, with Saudi Pro League suitors among those interested in signing Richarlison this summer.

One thing's for certain, David would be an interesting profile to complete the Tottenham frontline, finally succeeding Kane with a player capable of playing his old role and enhancing the overall fluency. He is, as they say, one of the best around. Kane is too, so this seems like a fabulous pick if they are to finally replace their record goalscorer.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 9, 2024