Chelsea are not afraid to spend big money to acquire some of the best up-and-coming talents. Two examples of that are currently playing in their midfield, namely Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. They joined the club within several months of each other in 2023.

World Cup winner Fernandez was a British record signing in February of that year. Just months after lifting the prestigious prize with Argentina, he moved from Benfica to Chelsea for £107m. However, that record was smashed by Caicedo in mid-August, who cost the Blues £115m including add-ons from Brighton and Hove Albion.

So, their midfield has been constructed having spent plenty of money, and perhaps they will do the same to their attack this season, given they have been linked to several expensive strikers.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a new striker

The West London outfit clearly have one target in mind for the summer transfer window, and that is to sign a new striker. In a recent report, BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella linked them with some of Europe’s most sought-after talent, including Victor Osimhen, Liam Delap and 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.

Kinsella has also said that the Blues are also considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. He is one of the strikers that the club have not ‘ruled out’ signing over the next few months in the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman, along with some of the other names above, are ‘considered quality options’ by Chelsea. However, they will not be the only Premier League giant making a move for Ekitike.

In recent days, GIVEMESPORT have claimed that Liverpool could also look to sign him, with a reported £84m his price tag should either side make a move.

Why Ekitike would be a good signing

It has been an excellent season for France U21 international Ekitike. The striker, who was born in Reims and came through their academy, was described as “inevitable” by football scout Antonio Mango, which shows how well his season has gone.

In 47 games so far this term, Ekitike has managed to find the back of the net 22 times, grabbing 11 assists along the way, too. Of those, he has registered 22 goal involvements in 32 games in the Bundesliga, showing excellent consistency throughout the campaign.

The former Paris Saint-Germain attacker is a man for the big occasion, having scored some crucial goals this season. He has bagged against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, whilst scoring in the Europa League knockout rounds against Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur.

Should the Blues agree on a deal to bring Ekitike to Stamford Bridge this summer, he could prove to be an excellent alternative to another reported target, Brighton star Joao Pedro.

According to a report from Telegraph reporter Sam Dean, Chelsea are one of three sides ‘showing interest’ in the Brazilian, alongside Arsenal and Liverpool.

The 23-year-old has had an impressive season down on the South Coast. In 27 Premier League games this term, he has managed ten goals and six assists, which included one of each against Manchester City in a 2-1 win back in November.

As the goal involvement numbers show, both Ekitike and Pedro are well-rounded centre forwards. However, the stats via FBref suggest the Frenchman is slightly better. For example, he averages 3.64 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 3.32 each game for Pedro.

Goals and assists

0.80

0.74

Goals per shot on target

0.34

0.33

Key passes

1,56

1.39

Shot-creating actions

3.64

3.32

Successful take-ons

1.89

1.34

Progressive carries

3.31

3.06

Ball recoveries

3.05

2.73

While both players are strikers who can score and create goals, which will certainly add a new potency to Chelsea’s attack, it does seem that Ekitike is the better option. The ability to carry the ball more efficiently should also be of great appeal to the decision makers at Stamford Bridge.

£84m is a big investment for the 22-year-old, but considering sections of the media believe he “could be the next Mbappe” and that he’s better than Pedro, it seems like a deal they cannot miss out on.

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ByJoe Nuttall May 15, 2025

Chelsea have identified Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as a top centre-back target for the summer transfer window, following yet another impressive campaign for the commanding centre-half.

Related £47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"

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This time last summer, much to the bemusement of fans and critics alike, Branthwaite was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 – but he’s since taken that rejection in his stride.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The 22-year-old starred for Everton again last term, playing a key role as David Moyes’ side comfortably avoided the drop, and supporters will be hoping that Branthwaite will repeat those same feats at their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season.

Five years after Carlo Ancelotti handed Branthwaite his senior top flight debut against Wolves, followed by a succession of productive loan spells at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven, the towering 6 foot 5 starlet is now a wanted man across the Premier League.

His growing list of admirers includes Chelsea, with the addition of a centre-back still on Enzo Maresca’s to-do list after the west Londoners missed out on a deal for Dean Huijsen, who eventually chose to join Real Madrid instead.

Chelsea made contract offers to Huijsen, but it wasn’t enough to convince the Spaniard to U-turn on his dream move to the Bernabeu, with Maresca’s side back on the hunt for exciting defensive options.

Jarrad Branthwaite's fresh stance on joining Chelsea

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Chelsea have been handed a boost in pursuit of Branthwaite as an alternative to Huijsen, as BlueCo set their sights on the Englishman despite rumours he’s set to command a seismic £80 million price tag.

It is believed that Branthwaite could now ask to join Chelsea, amid “frustration” that Everton have placed such a large asking price on his head.

“Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides,” said Phillips.

“The other further info we have received from SPTC sources is that there’s a feeling now that Branthwaite could actually leave Everton this window for a Champions League club – which puts Chelsea in a strong position.

“We’ve also heard that he is a little frustrated, on Everton putting such a big valuation on his head. We had initially heard that Branthwaite would not actively push for a move. But it has now transpired that he is keen on Chelsea and could end up asking for the move. He loves Everton and wants to respect them, but he is keen to advance now to the next stage of his career and play UCL football. I don’t foresee him kicking up a fuss as such, but he may privately ask for the move.”

His ball-playing ability and defensive intelligence would complement Chelsea’s possession-based system under Maresca, offering both quality for now and excellent long-term potential.

However, there is little denying that Chelsea will definitely want to re-negotiate the mooted fee Everton are demanding, and Branthwaite’s desire to join them could play a pivotal role in this.

Glasgow Rangers are still on the lookout for their new head coach after Barry Ferguson moved on from Ibrox at the end of his interim spell in charge.

Investor Andrew Cavenagh is reportedly set to arrive in Glasgow to help conduct the search, alongside CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

The Gers chiefs ‘grilled’ Ferguson before removing him from contention to land the job on a full-time basis, after he failed to do enough to convince the board that he is the right man for the role moving forward.

Appointed as interim head coach in February after Philippe Clement was dismissed, the former Scotland international only won six of his 15 matches in charge of the Light Blues, drawing 2-2 with Hibernian on the final day.

Rangers are now looking at external options to fill the head coach position, and it was reported earlier this week that they are due to hold talks with former Southampton manager Russell Martin.

Despite the former Scotland international being in line for the Leicester City job, the Light Blues are keen to meet with him to talk about the Ibrox posting.

Why Russell Martin would be a good appointment

Russell Martin may not be a name that sparks much excitement in the fanbase. Not only did he have a dismal loan spell at Ibrox back in 2018, but he also endured a horrendous season in the Premier League with Southampton.

The 39-year-old head coach won one game and picked up just five points in 16 top-flight matches in the first half of the current campaign, setting them on their way to relegation from the division.

However, Southampton ended the season with two wins and 12 points from 38 matches, which suggests that the players were more of a problem than Martin, as they did not improve under different coaches.

It was the English-born tactician’s style of play in the Championship, when he had players who were good enough to compete at the top of the league, that suggests that he could be a good appointment for Rangers.

Russell Martin’s attacking style of play
23/24 Championship	Southampton	League rank
Pass accuracy	87.7%	1st
Passes into the penalty area	594	1st
Progressive passes	2556	1st
Shot-creating actions	1255	1st
xG	79.8	2nd
Points per game	1.89	4th
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Martin delivered an exciting, progressive, and attacking style in the second tier of English football, as shown by their passing and chance-creation statistics, and he led them to promotion via the play-offs.

This suggests that he would be well-suited to helping Rangers to compete for the title in the Scottish Premiership, with a superior squad to most of the division.

However, his Premier League form does cast doubt over his ability to deliver success on the European stage, against better teams, which is why it may be a good thing that the Gers are reportedly still looking at another English coach.

Rangers have made contact with English manager

According to the Daily Mail, out-of-work manager Steven Gerrard is still in the running to make a return to Ibrox ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that while talk has cooled over a move for the English tactician, he is not out of the running to land the job ahead of the likes of Martin and Davide Ancelotti.

It states that initial contact was made with the former Aston Villa head coach’s representatives last week, as he remains in contention for the job.

The Daily Mail reveals that Cavenagh wants to meet the candidates face to face, including Ancelotti and Martin, but it is unclear as to whether or not Gerrard will have a face-to-face meeting with him after the initial contact last week.

With this information in mind, Rangers could land an even better appointment than Martin by swooping for the former Ibrox boss in the coming days.

Why Rangers should appoint Steven Gerrard

As aforementioned, there are plenty of pros and cons to the appointment of the former Southampton head coach, because of the stark contrast in form between the Championship and the Premier League.

It would be a bit of a gamble for the Gers, as they could get the disastrous top-flight performances or the electric second tier success, if they decided to go ahead with a move for Martin.

Whereas Gerrard is a known quantity. He has already managed the club and has achieved success at Ibrox, which means that the tactician would arrive in Glasgow with experience to lean on and a reputation that would command respect from others.

The 4-3-3 manager, of course, won the Scottish Premiership title with Rangers in the 2020/21 campaign, an achievement no other coach at Ibrox in the last decade has managed, before or after him.

He also left the Gers at the top of the Premiership table after 12 games before he moved to Aston Villa in the 2021/22 season, but Giovanni van Bronckhorst was unable to see out the job.

Stats	Champions League qualifiers	Europa League qualifiers	Europa League
Matches	2	21	30
Wins	0	14	12
Draws	0	7	10
Losses	2	0	8
Points per game	0	2.33	1.53
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard also had a solid record in Europe for the Light Blues, losing just eight of his 51 Europa League games, including qualifiers.

This suggests that the English boss, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, would be an even better hire than Martin because of his ability to manage at the top level against better sides.

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Throw in the fact that Gerrard has already proven that he can win the Premiership with the Gers and it appears to be clear that the board should pick him over Martin if it came down to a choice between the two of them, due to his superior experience and pedigree.

Despite already reaching a verbal agreement to sign Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha, Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign another Brazilian ace.

Nottingham Forest set to sign Botafogo trio

Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time before turning towards the South American market yet again at the City Ground. The Greek owner has had previous success when welcoming the likes of Murillo and may have completed another act of genius by reaching an agreement to sign the aforementioned Botafogo trio.

Jesus particularly stands out among the three. The impressive striker could quickly become the air to Chris Wood’s striker throne at the City Ground, having scored eight goals in Brazil throughout the 2024/25 campaign after netting 25 in all competitions in the season prior at both Botafogo and at Shabab Al-Ahli Club.

Meanwhile, if Nottingham Forest fans needed any further introduction to Jesus and Cunha, then one glimpse at the Club World Cup should have given them exactly that. Both players scored in Botafogo’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders, whilst Cuiabano also featured from the bench.

All signs point towards excellent business by Nottingham Forest, but the Tricky Trees are not done there. With European football to look forward to next season, those at the City Ground are in their strongest position for a long time to attract some top talents.

It’s not something that Marinakis is keen to waste, either. With three Brazilian talents already on the way, Forest have also been linked with moves for the likes of Yoanne Wissa. The Brentford forward was the subject of interest from the City Ground in January and now that interest has reportedly been reignited.

Meanwhile, Forest aren’t done in South America either amid reports that they’ve made an approach to sign a fourth Brazilian talent this summer.

Nottingham Forest make Romulo Cardoso approach

According to GE Globo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign Romulo Cardoso from Goztepe this summer. The impressive forward is still just 23 years old and would be arriving off the back of an excellent campaign which saw him score 17 goals and create another 13 in Turkey.

That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race to sign the forward. Joining them, RB Leipzig and Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly interested in signing Romulo this summer. The Bundesliga club will become a particular threat if they are forced to replace Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko in the coming months.

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Whether Forest’s growing Brazilian contingent helps to convince the clinical goalscorer will be interesting to see too. The City Ground is quickly becoming the place to be for South American stars on the rise and Romulo could become the latest to make his way to the Midlands.

With contact already made and a number of clubs chasing his signature, Romulo has arguably the biggest decision of his career to make so far this summer.

Leeds United are now keen on signing an experienced Premier League player who is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer, reporter Alan Nixon has revealed.

Leeds looking to sign players with top flight experience

After leading Leeds to Championship glory, Daniel Farke will be extremely pleased to have achieved his third promotion from the second tier, but his previous experiences in the top flight could make him cautious heading into the new campaign.

Both times Farke took Norwich to the Premier League, the Canaries were ultimately relegated, which could be why the Whites have reportedly considered sacking the German, despite him reaching the 100-point mark this season.

It looks as though the Championship title-winners are set to persist with their manager, but there will be an awareness that he needs backing in the summer transfer window, with bringing in players with proven Premier League experience clearly a priority.

Leeds have identified a number of targets in both central midfield and attack, most of whom are out of contract after playing in the top flight for a number of years.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Callum Wilson

Newcastle United

£0

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Everton

£0

Jamie Vardy

Leicester City

£0

Sean Longstaff

Newcastle United

£12m

Another free agent has now entered the frame as a potential target for Farke’s side, with Nixon revealing they have set their sights on West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell, who is poised to leave the Hammers when his contract expires in the summer.

Cresswell is now 35-years-old, which may be why he is viewed as a potential addition as a squad player for the Whites, rather than being a regular starter, and there us set to be competition for his signature from newly-promoted Championship side Wrexham.

"Brilliant" Cresswell is proven in the top flight

The Liverpool-born left-back is a stalwart of the Premier League, having made 312 appearances in the competition during his time with the Irons, and his experience could be of great use to a Leeds side whose immediate aim will be to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

It has now been confirmed that West Ham will not offer the former 3-cap England international a new deal, but he recently received a ringing endorsement from Graham Potter, who described the full-back as a “brilliant” professional on and off the pitch.

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As such, while the Premier League veteran would not be the most exciting of signings, his know-how could be invaluable for Farke next season, while he has also displayed a keen eye for goal in matches against Leeds in the past.

Indeed, while Cresswell is more well-known for his defensive capabilities, he has maintained a solid goal record in matches against the Whites in the past, finding the back of the net four times in 12 appearances.

Sunderland are back by popular demand and could now look to make a statement signing to kick off their latest Premier League era in style, according to a report.

Sunderland look to establish themselves in the Premier League

The Black Cats are a recognisable force in the top-flight, albeit their lengthy absence from competing against the elite may mean consolidation will be needed before thoughts of further progress under Regis Le Bris.

Unfortunately, Jobe Bellingham’s move to Borussia Dortmund has created a sizeable void in midfield, something that has left ex-Sunderland man Darren Williams feeling a tinge of regret.

He stated: “We brought him in at a low cost and two years later we’re making a good amount on him – I’d have love to see him play for us in the Premier League and test himself.”

Later, he added: “I wish him all the best. It’s fantastic money. The club has made good money from the last four players sold.”

It can’t be disputed, an initial £27 million sale is good business for Sunderland, but who do they bring in to replicate his impact? Reports suggest Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra could be on his way to the Black Cats to strengthen their engine room.

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On the same token, Sunderland want to complete a transfer for Tommy Doyle from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Cherry-picking targets from familiar environnments will be important to ensure the North East giants are ready for the top-flight, though they will want to balance that with finding value for money on the market.

Speaking of which, the newly-promoted side have now put their hat in the ring for a defender who has won four back-to-back titles and featured in the Champions League.

Sunderland looking to sign Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers

According to journalist Graeme Bailey in conversation with 67 Hail Hail, Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is a target for Sunderland and could be on the move for a fee between £25 million to £30 million this summer.

He explained: “As we know, every player has his price in this Celtic squad. And I think there’s a real danger that Carter-Vickers leaves.

“That won’t go down well, but Celtic could probably get good money for him. What would he cost, £25-30m to sell him?

Cameron Carter-Vickers for Celtic in 2024/25 – Scottish Premiership (Fotmob)

Duels won

170

Aerial duels won

125

Tackles won

20

Recoveries

131

Accurate long balls

62

“That’s a lot of money for a centre-half at the moment. And I think there’s a real chance that he’s not at Celtic come the start of September. Leeds like him a lot, and Sunderland. I know that he was on West Ham’s radar as well. To be fair, he’s got three, four, even five (clubs interested).”

Lauded for his ‘exceptional’ few years by Bailey, Carter-Vickers is Celtic’s joint-highest earner on £37,000 per week and definitely wouldn’t come cheap given he has four years left on his deal at Parkhead.

Nevertheless, Sunderland, alongside Leeds United, have faith that they can land him, so it remains to be seen how this one plays out.

While finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League would constitute an unreal campaign for most clubs, it wasn’t for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side came into this season hopeful of finally getting over the line in a major competition, only to fall short yet again.

With that said, this year wasn’t a total write-off, as there have been some massive positives, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The latter, in particular, now looks destined for stardom since cementing a starting spot in North London and earning three caps for the senior national side.

Yet, in an exciting development, recent reports are now linking Arsenal with another youngster who could be an even bigger talent.

Arsenal looking to sign new defender

While Arsenal have been linked to a host of established superstars who could come in and make an immediate impact on the first team this summer, several tremendously exciting prospects have also been touted for moves to the club in recent weeks, like Kenan Yildiz and Konstantinos Karetsas.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly be available for an astounding £86m, and while that is a mind-blowing sum of money for a 20-year-old, he was able to score seven goals and provide five assists in just 35 Serie A appearances this year.

Karetsas, on the other hand, could cost a slightly more palatable £38m, although with him still being just 17 years old and only managing seven goal involvements in 39 games this year, that could still be too much.

Moreover, it would be hard to compare either youngster to Lewis-Skelly, unlike Jorrel Hato.

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal and Chelsea are incredibly interested in the Ajax gem.

In fact, the Italian claims that within the last week, the Gunners have been ‘calling’ the Dutch giants to learn more about the young defender.

Romano does not mention how much a potential deal might cost, but according to other reports from earlier this week, the Amsterdam outfit could ask for up to £42m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Hato’s immense ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, especially as he might be a bigger talent than Lewis-Skelly.

How Hato compares to Lewis-Skelly

Okay, so the first thing to say is that nobody is disputing the fact that Lewis-Skelly is a simply phenomenal talent, who at this point looks destined to be a part of Arsenal’s first team for years to come and likely a regular starter for Arsenal as well.

However, at this point in time, it’s also not controversial, at least it shouldn’t be, to suggest that Hato is a bigger talent, and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, while this season was the young Englishman’s breakthrough campaign, and he only became a regular fixture in the first team in the latter half of it, the Ajax star, who has “superstar potential,” according to U23 scout Antonio Mango, has been playing senior football for some time now.

He made his first team debut for the Amsterdam outfit back in February 2023, when he was still just 16 years old, and since then, he’s played 111 matches for the first team, in which he’s scored four goals and provided nine assists – he also made his senior national team debut at 17 years old, in November the same year.

Moreover, in another example of just how absurdly developed and highly-rated the Rotterdam-born talent is, he has started 102 of those 111 club games and even worn the captain’s armband multiple times.

Finally, on top of the experience and responsibility that the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has over the Gunners’ gem, he also comes out on top when we compare the two teenagers’ underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.16

0.04

Non-Penalty G+As

0.28

0.07

Progressive Passes

4.17

4.67

Progressive Carries

1.42

2.43

Key Passes

0.63

0.53

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.80

0.66

Live Passes

52.4

43.4

Shot-Creating Actions

1.43

1.91

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.00

Tackles

2.01

1.45

Blocks

1.22

0.26

Interceptions

0.76

0.46

Clearances

2.29

1.78

Ball Recoveries

4.51

3.49

Aerial Duels Won

1.77

0.72

For example, the 19-year-old does far better in metrics like actual and expected non-penalty goals, key passes and passes into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Lewis-Skelly is a superstar in the making, and of that, there is no doubt, but as things stand, Hato looks to be even better.

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Dutch gem this summer, as he could be a world-class player a few years down the line.

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Fulham are now ready to make a move for an “incredible” manager, should Marco Silva decide to leave this summer, according to a report.

Silva's future at Craven Cottage still in doubt

Having been at Craven Cottage since 2021, Silva is now among the longest-serving Premier League managers, behind only Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta, but there have been suggestions his time in west London could now be coming to an end.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham Hotspur persist with Ange Postecoglou after their Europa League triumph, but should they part ways with the Australian, the Cottagers boss could be among the main candidates to be brought in as a replacement.

In the same report, it is revealed the 47-year-old coach could also be tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with several clubs ready to offer him mega money to leave the Premier League despite his insistence this weekend that he will stay put.

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As such, Fulham have now started to identify potential replacements for the Portuguese manager just in case, and a report from The Sun states they are now ready to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira.

Indeed, should Silva decide to move on, the Cottagers will look to raid their Premier League rivals for Pereira, who enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in England, leading the Old Gold to safety after replacing Gary O’Neil in the dugout.

The Portuguese coach is the number one choice to replace his compatriot, having been identified as an ideal fit, and there is a feeling the west Londoners could offer him a more lucrative financial package and a better long-term plan than he currently has at Molineux.

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The Wolves boss had a tough job on his hands after replacing O’Neil, but Wolves ultimately managed to avoid relegation with ease, at one point winning six matches on the spin from March until the end of April.

In light of the job the 56-year-old has done at Molineux, he has also received high praise from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, who said: “He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch,”

“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”

The feel-good factor off the pitch is perhaps best showcased by the fact the former FC Porto boss has even been known to go to the pub for a pint with Wolves fans after matches.

Having also been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, there are plenty of signs that Pereira could be a great replacement for Silva, but Fulham will ultimately be hoping their manager stays, having stabilised them as a top-flight club.

Liverpool are in an enviable position right now: they’ve won the Premier League, and dominantly at that, having avoided heavy transfer expenditure over the past three windows.

Now, the Reds are looking to make sweeping changes to Arne Slot’s team, fattening it up with new recruits who could play an instrumental role in retaining the title and challenging for more over the coming years.

However, some outgoings are to be expected too. Trent Alexander-Arnold has already packed up and left, while Darwin Nunez is expected to leave on a permanent deal.

GIVEMESPORT have revealed that Luis Diaz, 28, is also open to leaving Liverpool this summer, with the £72m-rated Colombian being chased by Saudi suitors and Barcelona, who have a long-standing interest but are uncertain on the figures attached.

Diaz has been an incredible servant for Liverpool over these past several years, but he’s not inexpendable, especially if that £72m price tag is met by Saudi suitors.

Luis Diaz – Liverpool Career by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	50	17	8
23/24	51	13	7
22/23	21	5	3
21/22	26	6	5
Stats via Transfermarkt

For sure, if Liverpool manage to get a deal for Florian Wirtz over the line, any ruefulness from the sale will be smoothly offset.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz is trudging forward, and while those in the know have reiterated that all parties expect a deal to be completed, fans’ fears will not be placated until the official announcement is made.

Where Wirtz could feature for Liverpool

The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed on Tuesday morning that Liverpool’s second offer, worth about €130m (£109m), has failed to bridge the gap at the negotiating table, with Leverkusen still holding out for a British-record €150m (£126m) fee.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the world, would be an incredible addition to a Liverpool side in transition, yes, but also buoyed by the incredible feat of winning the Premier League off Manchester City this year.

With Trent swapping red for white this summer, securing a new playmaker-in-chief was always going to be crucial, and falling at this stage of the one-horse race would provide the most bitter of pills.

If Slot is to take this squad and fashion something even greater from it, FSG will need to continue to back him, and in fairness, they appear to be doing exactly that, with talks being held for one of Italian football’s most talented wingers.

Liverpool line up new winger

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Liverpool have entered the race for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, and fans will be interested to note that Bayern Munich are the Reds’ main competitors.

Transfer Focus

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

The report continues to claim Liverpool chiefs have this week made official contact with Milan for the transfer of the 25-year-old.

That said, they face competition not only from European giants Bayern Munich, but also from Saudi Arabia’s big three, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Nassr.

Milan endured a torrid season, finishing eighth in Serie A and thus missing out on European competition, so their bargaining power in retaining an elite winger like Leao has been diminished.

Though Leao’s employers have made feeble demands that their player will cost suitors €130m (£110m), this is clearly an exorbitant sum, and Liverpool will be confident they can negotiate something more agreeable.

Why Liverpool want Rafael Leao

Leao joined his Milano teammates in despairing over their middling Serie A finish, but he can hold his head high after notching 25 goal contributions from 50 matches in all competitions.

Actually praised as “one of the best in the world” by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Leao is typically found on the left wing, using his blistering pace to overwhelm opponents, stretch defensive lines.

He’s also a tenacious sort, averaging 1.7 dribbles per league game and winning 50% of his duels, as per Sofascore, which is impressive given he’s a forward.

Moreover, Leao hit eight goals and assists apiece across the divisional campaign and only missed eight big chances, so while his numbers could be raised up a level, given his almighty technical quality, he’s not exactly profligate.

Indeed, Leao could do more from the clinical department, but his underlying data suggests he could yet bloom into a deadly marksman for a team like Liverpool.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Italian first division this season for goal contributions, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

Efforts might be focused on getting Wirtz over to Anfield, but Leao’s potential is crazy, and there’s every chance the fleet-footed talent could bring the X-factor to make him just as exciting as his German counterpart, should he sign.

You can see why Liverpool are intrigued: With Diaz potentially on the way out this summer, bringing in a successor of similarly electric qualities would be a sure-fire way to maintain the fluency down Liverpool’s wide flank.

Furthermore, his consistency might be an attribute that could do with some improving, but if he’s already notching decent numbers for a team that struggled for form, Slot may fancy his chance in elevating this thrilling player to the next level.

Leao also created ten big chances in Serie A, more than any of his Rossoneri teammates.

Leao’s output might leave something to be desired, but his overarching skill set is truly something to behold. Regarded as a “superstar” by football writer Theo Mwangi, the nifty winger could be just as exciting as Wirtz in the Liverpool starting line-up next year.

Just imagine them playing side-by-side.

The dream XI Liverpool could build: Wirtz signs & "the next Mbappe" arrives

Liverpool are making sweeping changes in the transfer market as Slot prepares to defend his PL title.

3

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 3, 2025

A player trading model at Glasgow Rangers has been largely non-existent over the previous few years.

The club’s rivals at the other end of the city have sold some of their prized assets when the iron is hot, raking in massive profits in the process.

Indeed, the likes of Kieran Tierney, Jota and Matt O’Riley were all sold for just over £75m. Combine this with the financial rewards on offer in the Champions League, and it is clear to see why Celtic are light years ahead of the Gers, from a financial viewpoint at least.

Under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Rangers sold Nathan Patterson for £16m in January 2022 to Everton.

A few months later, Joe Aribo was offloaded to Southampton for a fee in the region of £10m, while Calvin Bassey became the club’s record sale, moving to Ajax in a deal worth up to £23m.

Since then, the Ibrox side have allowed the contracts of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos to expire. At one time, they were considered the two most bankable stars in the team.

Rangers: Most expensive transfer sales

Rank

Player

Sold to

Date

Fee

1

Calvin Bassey

Ajax

Jul 2022

£19.6m

2

Nathan Patterson

Everton

Jan 2022

£11.5m

3

Alan Hutton

Tottenham

Jan 2008

£9m

4

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Arsenal

Jun 2001

£8.5m

5

Jean-Alain Boumsong

Newcastle

Jan 2005

£8m

6

Carlos Cuellar

Aston Villa

Aug 2008

£7.8m

7

Barry Ferguson

Blackburn

Aug 2003

£7.5m

8

Tore Andre Flo

Sunderland

Aug 2002

£6.75m

9

Joe Aribo

Southampton

Jul 2022

£6m

10

Nikica Jelavic

Everton

Feb 2012

£5.5m

Last summer, it was revealed that the club brought in just £800k, despite selling Sam Lammers, Connor Goldson, Todd Cantwell and Scott Wright.

Russell Martin must ensure the Gers are selling players at their peak in order to receive the highest possible fee.

Hamza Igamane and Mohamed Diomande have been linked with a move away from Glasgow this summer. It makes sense for Martin to try and hold onto them as long as possible, however.

The case might be different for Nico Raskin. The Belgian was arguably the club’s best player throughout 2024/25. As such, he should command a high fee this summer amid reported interest.

Why Rangers could sell Nico Raskin this summer

Not only did the midfielder take the captaincy at times last season when James Tavernier was injured, he also secured his maiden national team call-up.

Raskin made his debut for Belgium in March against Ukraine and was called up again for the World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia and Wales recently.

Last month, it was revealed that Aston Villa and Leeds United were showing interest in the former Standard Liege starlet.

Amid this growing interest from the Premier League, TEAMtalk stated that Rangers would expect at least £25m in order to sell Raskin this summer.

This type of money could go a long way, especially as Martin looks set to rebuild a squad that failed to win a trophy last season.

On the other hand, if Raskin stays and enjoys another good season, plus shines for Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, he could potentially attract an even bigger bid.

Much for the new manager to ponder, that’s for sure. What he must do this summer is bring in another midfielder or two in case Raskin does leave the club.

With that in mind, it appears as though the Glasgow giants are after an English starlet who played in the Championship last term.

Rangers search for a midfielder

Martin has set his sights on Flynn Downes this summer in a bid to improve his midfield options. The Southampton star played under the Scot and would be a solid addition to the first team squad at Ibrox.

Transfer Focus

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

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Another player who could make the move is Saints midfielder Shea Charles. He also played under Martin last term and journalist Graeme Bailey is backing the Light Blues to make a move for him this summer amid interest from Leeds United.

“He’s an interesting one. It is more likely that he joins Rangers. He’s not on huge wages and obviously he played under Russell Martin at Southampton.” said Bailey.

The Northern Irishman spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, with the 21-year-old – who joined the Saints for £15m in 2023 – enjoying a productive season.

Bringing in or two temporary signings could mean Martin uses his funds elsewhere. Should Raskin depart in the summer, Charles would be an instant replacement for the Belgian dynamo at the heart of the Rangers midfield.

Why Rangers should sign Shea Charles

Charles played all but three league games for the Owls last term, notching one goal and five assists in the process.

He typically operated in a defensive midfield slot and exuded plenty of the qualities which made Raskin enjoy such a fine season.

When compared to his positional peers in the Championship throughout 2024/25, Charles ranked in the top 9% for interceptions (1.46) per 90, while also ranking in the top 19% for tackles (2.68) per 90 and 7% for percentage of dribblers challenged (63.9%) per 90.

This no-nonsense approach allows Charles to win the ball back once his team have lost it, where he is then able to move it on and start an attack.

The Irishman also won an impressive 6.5 total duels per game last term – a success rate of 59% – while recovering 5.7 balls per game in the second tier.

Amid the interest in the youngster, analyst Kai Watson heaped plenty of praise on the midfielder, saying that “he can do everything”, as a result of his “great physical and technical profile”.

It would be an interesting move to secure the services of the highly-rated player, especially as Leeds United are seemingly keen.

He would add defensive solidity to the midfield and, if Raskin is sold, the midfielder would be an ideal replacement. For that there is no doubt.

Will Martin act swiftly in a bid to bring his former player north of the border? As mentioned, a permanent move may be hard to pull off.

A loan deal, however, could work out perfectly for all parties involved. Charles gets the chance to play in Europe and challenge for trophies, while Rangers manage to utilise a talented young player who could add plenty to the squad.

It’s a no-brainer.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2025