Arne Slot is hardly riding on Jurgen Klopp’s coattails, but it’s fair to say that the Dutch tactician has made use of his predecessor’s assembled Liverpool squad.

That’s why the forthcoming transfer window is so important. Liverpool need to sort out their lingering contractual concerns while targeting the right players to shore up the team this summer.

Liverpool are firm favourites to win the Premier League, with the midfield engine driving the efforts. Slot has been reluctant to chop and change, but his formula, on this front, has worked a treat.

Liverpool's transformational rebuild

It’s May 2023 and Liverpool are staring down the barrel of a gun. For the first time in a full season under Klopp’s management, Anfield has failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Triumph in the 2022/23 season’s curtain-raiser – a win over Manchester City in the Community Shield – issued delusions of grandeur.

But this false dawn was a product of hesitations and a lack of transfer investment. Liverpool’s midfield were tired, past their sell-by date. Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and co were actually branded “awful” by pundit Jamie Carragher after one embarrassing defeat against newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.

Approaching the end of their contracts, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all expected to leave at the end, ushering in a new group of talents to reshape the central fold.

But Saudi Pro League approaches for Fabinho and Liverpool’s captain were unforeseen, prompting a more dramatic rebuild that saw Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo brought in.

All four midfielders have played important roles since joining, each levelling up within Slot’s system. However, Endo was only brought in as a stop-gap option from Stuttgart for £16m.

Having now played 69 times for the Merseyside club, Endo has paid his due and then some, although, his continued presence in the team runs the risk of seeing him become the club’s next Milner, a modern legend but perhaps one who stayed in the mix for a tad too long.

Liverpool's new James Milner

The argument for Endo’s sale this summer is a strong one. Indeed, the Japan international hasn’t started a single game in the Premier League this season and isn’t getting any younger at 32.

However, he’s achieved cult status within Liverpool circles for his tough-tackling, all-important cameos in recent months, introduced late on to steer Slot’s side over the line.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 15% for tackles and the top 16% for clearances per 90, underscoring that point.

Premier League

14 (0)

–

–

137′

Champions League

6 (1)

–

–

140′

Carabao Cup

4 (3)

–

–

296′

FA Cup

2 (2)

–

–

169′

He might be a well-liked part of the team and a valuable defensive option besides, but Endo has played the equivalent of a game-and-a-half of football in the Premier League and we have reached the penultimate month of the campaign.

Moreover, Sky Germany have reported that Eintracht Frankfurt have already made enquiries for the £50k-per-week midfielder ahead of the summer window, and that Liverpool have confirmed his departure is a possibility.

There’s a possibility that Endo is indeed turning into the next Milner, having been compared to “one of the biggest Liverpool legends of my time” by Klopp for his ability to enter the fray late on and close games down.

Milner, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City when he was 29 and went on to play 332 times for the Merseysiders – more than for any other club – is one of the more prosaic members of Anfield’s modern dynasty, but an important one all the same.

The former England international was 37 when he departed in 2023, finding a new home on the South Coast with Brighton & Hove Albion, but he ceded that the time was right to move on.

In fact, Liverpool could have been quicker in cutting ties with the veteran, who was very much a part of the malfunctioning midfield cohort across 2022/23, so sapped and tired after many years of tireless running in Klopp’s system.

Now, Endo, praised for his “special” qualities by Slot, is much younger than Milner was when he left Liverpool, but there’s little question about the Englishman’s prodigious fitness levels, so incredible in his ability to keep pace with his youngers.

However, the signs of his regression were clear on that final campaign. As per Sofascore, he completed 81% of his passes, won 48% of his duels and averaged 0.4 key passes and 0.8 tackles per game.

Contrast that with the 2018/19 season: Milner succeeded with 75% of his dribbles, won 56% of his duels, made 1.4 key passes and tackles apiece on average each game and racked up nine goal involvements.

Milner’s still kicking in the Premier League, but it’s fair to say that Liverpool could have benefitted from acting quicker in crafting their midfield rebuild before Klopp left – though with the title on the horizon, it’s all worked out rather okay.

FSG’s Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes, will need to think long and hard about enforcing a few changes in midfield this summer. It’s not the priority area this summer, but with past mistakes highlighting the error in not being a bit more ambitious in the transfer market, it’s something worth considering for sure.

Were Endo to leave, a young and fresh new option could be welcomed to provide competition to Gravenberch, who has looked leggy in recent weeks. Time, of course, will tell.

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Manchester City find themselves on a decent run of form, which has seen them remain unbeaten in their previous six games in the Premier League and FA Cup.

With an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest to look forward to this weekend, especially as the competition represents the only chance they have of silverware this season, Pep Guardiola will be desperate for a win.

With just five league games left between now and the end of the campaign, City are yet to guarantee a top-five finish, which will see them secure qualification for the Champions League for the 15th year in a row.

It promises to be an exciting end to the season for the club. If FA Cup glory is achieved, plus a solid finish in the top flight, Guardiola could enter the summer with some renewed hope of starting a fresh era at the Etihad.

After several signings made during the winter transfer window, the Spaniard is already thinking ahead to the summer equivalent as one of Europe’s top young talents is being earmarked for a move to City.

Man City's summer transfer plans

With Kevin De Bruyne set to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer, City will be in the market for a new attacking midfielder.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest’s mercurial playmaker, has already been earmarked for a possible summer switch but the Citizens may have to pay upwards of £100m.

The England international isn’t the only player on City’s radar in the attacking midfield positions, however.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to Football Insider, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz remains the number one target for City to replace De Bruyne this summer.

German publication Bild reported last week that City could be set to pay the £129m fee that the German side has set for the player, although Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also showing plenty of interest in the German international.

This high fee could give City a major advantage over the other teams, as detailed by former City financial advisor Stefan Borson who told Football Insider: “The impression I get is that they see Wirtz as that kind of headline signing to replace Kevin De Bruyne, and they recognise that to do that deal is going to cost what it costs.

“I think in some ways City might quite like the fact that that is the price because it pretty much rules out Real Madrid from the situation, and it possibly also rules out Bayern Munich as well.”

Replacing the ageing Belgian with someone who has the world at their feet could boost their confidence heading into next season, no doubt about that.

He is also comparable to another young maestro who is making waves on the continent – Lamine Yamal.

Why Wirtz could be Man City's very own Yamal

Yamal has been breaking records since he made his Barcelona debut at the age of just 15 years, nine months and 16 days in April 2023, becoming the youngest-ever debutant for the club in La Liga.

He hasn’t stopped there. A few months later, the winger made his debut for the Spanish national side aged just 16 and even scored, becoming both the youngest player and scorer for his country after the win over Georgia in September 2023.

At the 2024 European Championships, Spain won the title with Yamal playing a key role. His stunning goal in the semi-final against France set the nation on their way to an eventual 2-1 win, which powered them into the final.

He is on a fast track to greatness, and this season has been his most productive yet. Indeed, the 17-year-old has scored 14 times while grabbing 22 assists as Barcelona edges towards the La Liga title.

Although he plays in a different position to Wirtz, operating as a natural winger rather than an attacking midfielder, the two share some similar statistics this season.

Yamal is even the seventh-most comparable player to the Leverkusen star as per FBref.

The pair have registered similar statistics across a range of metrics in their respective domestic leagues, including goals and assists (19 vs 18), shots on target per 90 (1.26 vs 1.15), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.76 vs 5.53), touches in the attacking penalty area (122 vs 187) and successful take-on percentage (50.3% vs 49.6%) this season.

Should Guardiola get a deal for Wirtz over the line in the coming months, he could be signing his very own version of the Spanish superstar, that’s for sure.

Despite being only 21 years of age, it feels as though Wirtz has been around for a lifetime. He made his debut for Leverkusen during the 2019/20 season, even scoring in the Bundesliga.

The next two seasons saw him go from strength to strength, registering 18 goals and 22 assists for the club across just 69 matches. His emergence from raw talent into a potential world-class star was evident, but then disaster struck.

In March 2022, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear that saw him miss 43 games for club and country, ruling him out of the 2022 World Cup in the process.

This type of injury may have kept plenty of players down on their luck. Not Wirtz, who has arguably returned even stronger.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously hailed the 21-year-old as a “superstar”, and that is exactly what he was last season for Leverkusen. The club won the domestic double.

Goals

6

9

Assists

1

10

Big chances created

4

16

Key passes per game

2.8

1.9

Successful dribbles per game

2

2.7

Throughout the 2023/24 Bundesliga season, Wirtz created 12 big chances, averaged 2.3 key passes per game and succeeded with 2.5 dribbles each match – a success rate of 51% – which helped the club claim their first ever league title.

Although Leverkusen won’t win any silverware this term, Wirtz has still contributed superbly, netting 15 goals along with recording 13 assists in all competitions.

He has yet to hit his peak and this is what is so enticing about the youngster. Guardiola will be able to push him towards becoming one of the best in the world should he end up at City this summer.

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Crystal Palace and Steve Parish are now trying to persuade an “unplayable” attacker to join them ahead of rival interest from Aston Villa, who are currently ahead in the race.

Crystal Palace putting plans in place for the summer window

The Eagles saw their seven-game unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday as they were beaten 5-2 by Manchester City. Oliver Glasner will perhaps not be totally disappointed by the result despite the manner of their collapse, as his priority will be the FA Cup semi-final in just under two weeks time.

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Despite there still being a lot to play for, Palace and their hierarchy are already putting plans in place for what looks like a busy summer transfer window. Signing a new centre-back appears high on their list, as Marc Guehi could be on his way out of the club. The Eagles have been linked with a move for Victor Lindelof, who looks set to leave Manchester United at the end of the campaign when his contract expires.

However, he is not their only option, as Palace are believed to have made contact over a deal to sign Kevin Lomonaco from Independiente De Avellaneda – he could cost the South Londoners as little as £5 million this summer.

As well as having eyes on strengthening their defence, Glasner wants to add more quality in other areas of the pitch too, as the Eagles are interested in signing Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland. They are not alone in this race, as several top teams from England and abroad are also chasing the young Englishman.

Crystal Palace want to hijack Aston Villa deal for Rashford

The Premier League side also want to improve their attack, and according to The Sun, Crystal Palace are lining up a move to sign Marcus Rashford from Man United if Aston Villa do not sign him, with Steve Parish and co. regularly monitoring Rashford’s performances while out on loan.

The Midlands side do have the option to sign the Englishman for £40 million at the end of his stay there, but the Eagles leadership are keeping an eye on the situation and are interested in talking to the player and trying to persuade him to move to Selhurst Park.

A source goes on to state that Palace are aware that they would have to keep hold of their better players, such as Jean Philippe-Mateta, Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr, to convince the forward to sign from Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa stats

Apps

14

Starts

8

Goals

3

Assists

5

A return to United has not been ruled out for Rashford, who has been dubbed “unplayable” by BBC writer Raj Chohan in the past, while a move abroad could also be on the cards, as Paris Saint-Germain are keeping an eye on his situation as well. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a rather successful spell at Villa Park so far, but it remains very much up in the air what he plans to do with his career next.

Crystal Palace have now made contact over a move for an “aggressive” defender, who could be available for just £5m, according to a report.

Palace eyeing defender amid Marc Guehi uncertainty

Marc Guehi’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, which means the upcoming transfer window will be Palace’s last chance to cash-in on the defender, and a number of Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature.

Chelsea are determined to win the race for Guehi, although the Blues may face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, who had a £70m bid knocked back in January, while Liverpool have also held talks over a potential deal.

As such, Oliver Glasner is likely to be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of targets have been identified, with IF Elfsborg’s Terry Yegbe recently becoming the latest player to be shortlisted.

Crystal Palace’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Manchester City (a)

April 12th

Newcastle United (a)

April 16th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

April 19th

Arsenal (a)

April 23rd

Nottingham Forest (h)

May 5th

The Eagles are leading the race for Yegbe, while they also hold an interest in Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

As we approach the summer transfer window, Palace are not short on centre-back targets, and a report from Argentina (via The Hard Tackle) has revealed they have now made contact over a deal for Independiente De Avellaneda’s Kevin Lomonaco.

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Lomonaco could be a low-cost addition to Glasner’s squad, given that he is valued at just €6m (£5m), and the south Londoners are keen on securing his signature, although they may face competition.

London rivals West Ham United have also made an approach for the 23-year-old, with the race for his signature starting to heat up ahead of the summer transfer window.

"Aggressive" Lomonaco impressing in Argentina

There are some signs the centre-back could be an exciting acquisition for Palace, given that he has received high praise from an Argentine football expert.

The “aggressive” defender is an imposing figure at a colossal 6 foot 4, which he clearly uses to his advantage in aerial situations, but it is also important that he seems to be good with his feet, which is important for any modern-day centre-back.

It would, of course, be a gamble to sign Lomonaco, given that he is unproven outside Argentina, but at just £5m, it could be a risk worth taking for Palace, who are in need of a replacement for Guehi.

Leeds United secured their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking after they hammered Stoke City 6-0 last time out at Elland Road.

The Whites ran riot in West Yorkshire, including a stunning four-goal haul from Joel Piroe in the first half, and then had their promotion sealed when Sheffield United lost to Burnley later that evening.

Daniel Farke would have been delighted with the quality and composure that his team showed on a day with so much pressure on it, as it gave them an incredibly enjoyable afternoon and evening.

It also provided the German head coach with the opportunity to hand 16-year-old forward Harry Gray a first-team debut, as he played eight minutes off the bench.

He will be looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps after Archie Gray played a whopping 52 first-team matches under Farke in the 2023/24 campaign, before his summer move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs reportedly agreed a fee of £30m to sign the England U21 international from Elland Road, and he has had an interesting first season at the top level.

Archie Gray's struggles at Spurs this season

The 19-year-old talent has had plenty of exposure to first-team football under Ange Postecoglou, playing 41 times and racking up the best part of 3,000 minutes in all competitions.

From that perspective, it has been an excellent season for the teenage gem because he now has plenty of experience at the top level, in the Premier League and the Europa League, and that could be useful for his development moving forward.

However, Gray has yet to produce consistent quality on the pitch when selected, and that is the next step that he has to take before Spurs can deem the £30m they spent on his services to be worthwhile.

The former Leeds starlet will not want to fall into the trap of being known as a utility player who can play in a multitude of roles without being particularly impressive in any one position.

Appearances

23

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.9

Error led to shot

1

Error led to goal

1

Duel success rate

47%

As you can see in the table above, Gray has not excelled in or out of possession in the Premier League this season, offering very little at the top end of the pitch and struggling with the physicality of the league off the ball.

These statistics show that he has rarely made defensive interventions to keep teams out, and that he has created more goals for the opposition (one) through an error than he has directly created for his own team (zero).

This is not to say that, however, Gray is a flop for Spurs or that he will not go on to become a top player, because there is plenty of time left for him to develop and improve. Hopefully, his experiences and struggles this season will help him to kick on and deliver improved displays in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond, proving his worth in the process.

At this moment in time, though, the £30m Leeds raked in for the versatile star looks like good business. Whereas, there is another former Thorp Arch academy graduate whom the Whites seemingly undersold in Leif Davis.

Why Leeds United messed up with Leif Davis

The English defender, who joined the academy from Morecambe at U18 level, reportedly joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal for a fee of at least £1m in the summer of 2022.

That came after he had only played 14 first-team matches for Leeds, as well as 15 games on loan at Bournemouth in the 2021/22 campaign, after coming up through the youth set-up, initially under Marcelo Bielsa.

Scott Parker described Davis as an “animal” during the defender’s loan spell at the Vitality Stadium, but his form for the Cherries was not good enough to prevent the Whites from selling him to Ipswich that summer.

That decision to move him to Portman Road for a fee of £1m has turned out to be a big blunder by Leeds because he has thrived in Suffolk, and is currently even better than Archie Gray.

Davis, now 25, has just been relegated back down to the Championship with Ipswich, but he did show plenty of promise with his performances in the Premier League and may have an eye on an instant return to the top-flight.

The English left-back provided 21 assists in 43 second-tier matches in the 2023/24 campaign, which showed that he was far too good to be playing at that level from a creative perspective.

Appearances

31

Goals

1

Big chances created

12

xA

4.18

Assists

2

Key passes per game

1.7

As you can see in the table above, Davis has been incredibly unfortunate in the Premier League this season because his teammates have only scored two goals from the 12 ‘big chances’ that he has created for them.

Unlike Gray, the former Leeds gem has excelled in an area of the game in the top-flight this term, as his statistics show that he has been an excellent creative outlet for the Tractor Boys and a shining light in possession in a dim campaign for them.

Whilst his defensive work is questionable, with one red card, three errors leading to shots, and two penalties committed, Davis has shown that he has the technical ability to play in the Premier League.

This is why Leeds messed up when they sold him for just £1m, because they lost an exciting talent who has shown enough potential to be a useful asset in the Premier League, even more so than Gray, who they sold for £30m, has in the current campaign.

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Davis has proven that Leeds messed up by cashing in on him before he had the chance to show what he could do with regular game time at Elland Road, and it is a shame that he left before Farke had a chance to work with his creative talent, certainly at Championship level.

Celtic are on the verge of a domestic treble and could have some exciting signings lined up moving into next season under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.

Celtic eye flourish to campaign ahead of summer window

The Scottish Premiership title is destined to reside in Celtic’s trophy cabinet, and the Bhoys could ratify their fourth successive league triumph by claiming a point against Dundee United on Saturday.

Rodgers led his side into the Scottish Cup final against St Johnstone at Hampden last weekend, setting up a showcase occasion with Aberdeen that could see the Irishman become the first manager at Parkhead to win three trebles in charge.

Casting an eye to the summer, there is every reason for the Irishman to be backed as Celtic scale up for the task of navigating Champions League qualifiers.

Crystal Palace Jesse Derry has become a Hoops target after opting not to sign an extension at Selhurst Park, though he would likely be a developmental capture at Lennoxtown.

Soon-to-be free agent Danny Ings is also admired by Celtic, albeit it remains to be seen whether the former England international could emerge as a potential arrival.

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With a place in Europe’s premier competition not a guarantee ahead of next campaign, additions will need to be finalised swiftly to ensure they have an adequate bedding-in period at the reigning champions.

Complacency also can’t be allowed to creep in amid a renewed domestic challenge from Rangers, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a squad refresh at Celtic involving movement in both directions.

Tapping into that school of thought, Prutton has predicted that the Bhoys could come up trumps in their pursuit of an attacking livewire.

Celtic backed to seal deal for Stoke City winger Million Manhoef

Recently, Celtic’s interest in Stoke City winger Million Manhoef came to light, and the Bhoys found out they may need to pay £10 million to prize the Dutchman away from the bet365 Stadium.

Now, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has claimed Celtic would be a “tremendous” move for Manhoef should circumstances align this summer, per Football League World.

Million Manhoef EFL Championship statistics – 2024/25

Goals

5

Assists

5

Chances created

49

Successful crosses

23

Successful dribbles

49

Touches in opposition box

117

Prutton stated: “I think firstly, you can instantly see the attraction of what being a Celtic player would be. Never having had the privilege of being north of the border playing, but knowing people that played for both sides of that particular divide, their description and their passion for it is all-consuming.

“So, I think swapping a club that’s perennially bottom-half in the Championship, which again, from Stoke’s point of view needs to be addressed ASAP; a glaring gulf between a team as we saw on Monday in Leeds heading back to the Premier League, and a team in Stoke that were once part of the Premier League furniture is there for all to see.

“A chastening reminder for Mark Robins about the job that needs to be done at Stoke, and if Million is not going to be part of that, then if he ends up at Celtic, it’s a tremendous move for him.”

Ultimately, Celtic’s potential to play Champions League football may be the deciding factor for Manhoef, who now has plenty to consider ahead of the summer.

Moving north of the border may give him a unique shop window, but Burnley, Sheffield United, Genk and Club Brugge are also mooted to be in the hunt for his services.

PSG have reached out for talks with an Arsenal transfer target’s representatives, which also follows a mammoth bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for the player.

Arsenal riding high off Real Madrid win as transfer plans made

Mikel Arteta said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Brentford that the Gunners’ sensational 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night will be remembered for many years.

Arsenal hold "high-level talks" to sign "bargain" attacker "in recent days"

Negotiations have apparently taken place this week.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 12, 2025

Two stunning Declan Rice free-kicks, followed by a brilliant Mikel Merino finish, downed the 15-time European champions and put Arsenal in cruise control heading into their second leg at the Bernabeu next week.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games	Date
Brentford (home)	Today
Ipswich Town (away)	April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)	April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)	May 3rd
Liverpool (away)	May 11th

It was truly a statement performance by Arsenal, who will still be coming down off what was one of the best Champions League nights in their history.

“Nights like we had the other day are going to be remembered for many, many years, and that’s the kind of night that gives you belief,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real.

“It gives purpose to the competition. It brings joy, and then it prepares you for the next one because you are waiting to experience a feeling like this again. That’s the most important thing, in my opinion, that people are looking forward to, to expend this kind of emotion with us.”

After that outstanding victory at the Emirates against Europe’s arguably most feared side, Arsenal fans have been handed real hope that they could even go on to win their first Champions League title.

Such a feat would also allow Berta to attract the continent’s most elite players, with Arsenal on the hunt for a star winger as one of their many reported items on the agenda this summer.

Berta has held talks with the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to multiple reports, and the Spaniard is seen as a top target with his £48 million release clause.

However, Williams isn’t Arsenal’s only wide target, and they’ve expressed an interest in West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus.

PSG open talks with Arsenal target Mohammed Kudus after £87m Al-Nassr bid

Arsenal were weighing up a January move for Kudus, according to talkSPORT, but reports at the time claimed that West Ham wanted around £100 million to let him depart mid-season.

As per Africafoot this week, Kudus remains on Arsenal’s agenda, but they face a looming threat from PSG and Al-Nassr, with the latter having already made an £87 million bid to sign the Ghanaian for this summer.

As well as the Saudis, it is believed that PSG have now made contact with Kudus’ representatives, so Arsenal may have to make their move quickly amid this growing battle from abroad for the forward’s signature.

Interestingly, despite West Ham setting a reported asking price of £74 million to sell in the next window, Al-Nassr appear to have gone above and beyond. It will be intriguing to see whether Arsenal decide to do battle with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side and PSG, but it is unlikely considering there are much cheaper, quality alternatives like Williams on the market.

Nevertheless, whoever ends up striking a deal for Kudus will be getting a player of real quality, with Michail Antonio calling his teammate “unbelievable” and a “starboy”.

Will Celtic be crowned champions of Scotland again as soon as this weekend?

Following their 5-1 demolition of Kilmarnock, the Hoops are 15 points clear of fierce rivals Rangers with only five matches to go, and boasting a goal difference that is just the 42 superior.

So, even a draw against Dundee United on Saturday will secure a 13th Scottish Premiership title in just 14 seasons, rubber-stamping the title at Tannadice, just as they did in 2008 under Gordon Strachan as well as three years ago when Ange Postecoglou was in charge.

So now, as attention turns towards the summer plans, with a crucial Champions League play-off in August looming large, could Celtic save themselves a few quid in the transfer market by giving a young star, impressing out on loan, an opportunity?

Celtic's interest in Million Manhoef

As previously reported this month, Celtic are ‘eyeing’ a move for Stoke City winger Million Manhoef.

The 23-year-old Dutch U21 international joined the Potters from Vitesse Arnhem in January 2024 for a reported fee of £3m, scoring 11 goals and registering five assists in 51 appearances for the EFL Championship club to date.

His performances have earned rave reviews, including from Dean Jones, who told Give Me Sport that Manhoef is “the sort of player that will get fans off their seats”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him both “quality and versatile”.

As a result, journalist Graeme Bailey believes Manhoef is valued at £10m by Stoke, which would make him one of Celtic’s most-expensive signings of all-time, so could the Scottish champions save their money by reintegrating a youngster currently impressing out on loan on the other side of the world?

Celtic's forgotten sensation out on loan

Back in June 2023, Celtic signed a 21-year-old by the name of Marco Tilio from Melbourne City for a reported fee of £1.5m.

This was, at the time, a record outgoing transfer fee for an A-League player, with Beth Limb of Total Football Analysis believing Celtic had secured a great deal for such a talented player.

Well, so far, this has not transpired, with Tilio making just two appearances in hoops to date, making his debut during a one-minute cameo against Motherwell in November 2023, before seeing 27 minutes off the bench against Hibernian 11 days later.

Instead, he has been loaned back to Melbourne City, for whom he’s now made 102 appearances, really starting to rediscover his best form this season after a long spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.

So far this year, the Australian international has scored four A-League goals, actually making him the Sky Blues’ joint-top scorer, with this season-by-season breakdown outlining his career so far.

2024/25

14

1,002

4

3

2023/24

7

287

1

Zero

2022/23

29

2,092

10

6

2021/22

32

2,016

8

8

2020/21

22

1,139

2

5

2019/20

5

31

1

1

As the table shows, Tilio has started to somewhat show the form that convinced Celtic to sign him in the first place.

He was a “prolific goalscorer” during his first spell at Melbourne City, as per one source, form he has begun to rediscover, with Liam Bryce of the Herald believing that he certainly has the talent to ‘flourish’ in Glasgow, while Emma Kemp of the Guardian outlines that Tilio is always capable of producing a ‘moment of magic’.

So, given Tilio’s undeniable talent, he should certainly be given an opportunity at Celtic, suggesting they don’t need to go into the market and spend big on a new winger.

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ByBen Gray Apr 23, 2025

Newcastle United’s campaign hangs in the balance, the uncertainty cloaking the gateway back into European competition.

Fourth in the Premier League, two points behind sixth-place Nottingham Forest (who sit just outside a Champions League-qualifying spot), Eddie Howe’s Carabao Cup champions need to hold their nerve over the final few weeks, with fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton looming.

It’s a good position the Magpies hold, though, and Howe will be confident that he can get back into the big time and convince some exciting players to join the St. James’ Park cause.

Indeed, Newcastle have already put an offer on the table for one player searching for a way back into the Champions League.

Newcastle eyeing up new midfielder

Although Alexander Isak’s departure from St James’ Park this summer now looks unlikely, it hasn’t stopped a whole wave of new attackers being linked with a move.

Bryan Mbeumo is one hot topic in the Toon right now, with recent reports suggesting Newcastle ‘can afford’ to get a deal over the line if they were to push hard enough 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 strengthening in attack will be key, particularly if Howe’s men reach the Champions League, they must not neglect other areas.

According to Spanish reports, Newcastle have put a firm offer on the table for Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera, with the La Liga club open to the 27-year-old’s sale this summer.

Whether the proposal, worth about €25m (£21m), will be enough to convince Girona to part with Herrera remains to be seen, especially with Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest also keen on a deal.

What Yangel Herrera would bring to Newcastle

Howe likes his midfield to pack a punch. Bruno Guimaraes is silky, stylish and all the superlatives, but he’s also a combative little player, tenacious in the tackle.

Sandro Tonali also has a certain bite to his game, interspersing defensive efforts between the many long, stroking passes that define his style. According to Sofascore, he’s won 1.4 tackles per top-flight fixture this term, winning 54% of his ground duels.

Then there’s Joelinton. A raging bull of a midfielder, he’s a fantastic asset, so much energy and flair as he lopes around the pitch, winning duels, recovering loose balls and generally just menacing his opponents.

That’s not to negate his technical ability, of course, but it’s clear where Joelinton’s strengths lie. Such strengths are hard to replicate, but Newcastle could do just that with Herrera, who for the past three seasons has played for Girona, the first of which he was a loanee, sent out by Manchester City.

Like Joelinton, Herrera likes to get forward and score, ranking among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 13% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref. He also ranks among the top 9% for aerials won per 90. He’s been described as a “monster” of a player by Opta journalists Jamie Kemp and Robbie Dunne.

The Newcastle midfielder’s data follows a similar track. He ranks among the top 18% for goals, the top 9% for shots, the top 8% for touches in the box and the top 5% for aerial battles won per 90 (also FBref).

Such similarities have actually seen the stat-driven site record Joelinton as Herrera’s most comparable player, hardly that surprising after collating the two pieces of data.

Matches (starts)

29 (29)

26 (24)

Goals

4

4

Assists

3

3

Touches*

51

52.7

Pass completion

84%

84%

Key passes*

0.8

0.7

Dribbles*

0.5

0.7

Ball recoveries*

5.1

3.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.8

3.3

Duels won*

5.7 (45%)

7.0

It’s curious that the players’ metrics are so closely aligned, and it’s more interesting still that Herrera actually outstrips Joelinton across defensive areas. The 27-year-old is a real La Liga menace, and one who could complete Newcastle’s midfield next season, blending that technique and combativeness that Howe likes so much.

With the Champions League on the cards once again, Newcastle have an attractive project which could convince the Girona man to jump ship.

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ByAngus Sinclair May 6, 2025

Arsenal have made one “top” player an offer to join them this summer, after new sporting director Andrea Berta helped to sway Mikel Arteta into a summer switch-up.

Mikel Arteta reacts as Arsenal lose Champions League semi-final to PSG

The north Londoners will end 2024/2025 without any silverware, which comes as a real disappointment for Arsenal after they were widely tipped to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title at the beginning of the campaign.

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Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

A combination of debilitating injuries and their failure to put teams away, with Arsenal chalking up more draws than any other side in the top ten apart from Brighton, has resulted in Arteta’s side ending the domestic campaign empty-handed.

Arsenal sparked brief hope that they could make history by winning their first ever Champions League crown, especially after their statement 5-1 aggregate win over 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

However, they were eventually outdone by Ligue 1 champions PSG in the semis, with their lack of ruthless finishing, alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics, ultimately crushing Arsenal’s European dream.

“It’s probably difficult with words,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s emotions after being knocked out of the Champions League.

“The work that we put [in], the enthusiasm, the belief and whatever happens, you come here, and you do what we’ve done, it’s the first time for 95% of these guys because they’ve never played a semi-final. To do what they did in Paris today against this team is remarkable, but the fact is that we are out, and we want to improve, and we want to win it. We can never look back on it yet, but if we did or whatever, it’s just, why is it still on us to reach that and unlock that door to get to the final and then actually win it? And that’s the way it might be.”

Arsenal make offer to Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap

Now that Arsenal will be ending 24/25 without any silverware, attention is continuing to turn towards the summer transfer window and how they’ll prepare for next campaign, in a bid to go again.

It is no secret that Arsenal are targeting a goalscoring striker, and it is believed by some media sources that Berta is making serious progress on a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

However, as per Football Transfers, Ipswich Town star Liam Delap could now join the Sweden international.

They report that Arsenal could bring in two centre-forwards, one to lead the line as a starter and one to work as an understudy. Gyokeres would arrive as the star front man, with Delap coming in as a back-up option to the 26-year-old.

The Englishman, who has a £30m release clause, has been made fully aware of this by Arsenal, who’ve also outlined exactly how they’d utilise him next term. Berta is also prepared to pay the 22-year-old’s clause, just one year after Ipswich signed him from Man City.

Football Transfers also state that Arsenal have made an offer to Delap and his representatives, coming after Berta “successfully convinced” Arteta to change their transfer strategy this summer.

Delap has been a rare bright spark for Kieran McKenna’s relegated side, bagging 12 goals in all competitions, with pundit Paul Robinson calling him a “top player” and an absolute “nuisance” to deal with.