All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

As Xabi Alonso and his move to Real Madrid gains more traction, reports have emerged that the tactician is now eyeing a “world-class” Tottenham player for his potential new-look Whites side.

Tottenham looking at 'sell-to-buy' summer window

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou may not be in the dugout for much longer, with some outlets claiming that the 59-year-old could part company regardless of their success in the Europa League (The Telegraph).

Fabrizio Romano update after Tottenham contact ex-Bayern Munich boss

Spurs are reportedly identifying replacements for Ange Postecoglou.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

The prospect of yet another new manager hunt from chairman Daniel Levy is seen as a realistic one, and Spurs must also figure out how to combat the next transfer window with fairly limited funds.

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

As per Matt Law, Tottenham may have to employ a ‘sell to buy’ transfer policy this summer, with Levy and the Lilywhites board set for a headache when it comes to attracting their desired targets.

Spurs could look to find a buyer for right-back Pedro Porro, as Djed Spence’s resurgence into a key first-team player hands Postecoglou or any new head coach a ready-made replacement for the Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Richarlison is attracting interest from Brazilian clubs, as Tottenham consider offloading the striker following an injury-ridden campaign.

“Speculation has been that Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are preparing a proposal to buy the player in the middle of the year,” said South American journalist Jorge Nicola last month.

“The big news on this subject is that Tottenham, very bothered by the center forward’s series of injuries, are considering negotiating [selling] him permanently starting in July.”

Everton are also believed to hold a serious interest in Richarlison, according to GiveMeSport, and the prospect of him returning to Goodison Park is fairly realistic – so this could be one to watch as Levy seeks to balance the books and raise transfer funds.

However, the big name who appears more and more likely to depart N17 is star defender Cristian Romero.

The Argentine is a top target for Atlético Madrid, as per various reports, with Diego Simeone personally keen on tempting Romero with a switch to the Spanish top flight.

Xabi Alonso asks Real Madrid to sign Tottenham star Cristian Romero

Romero has reportedly informed Tottenham of his desire to leave this summer, and this has also piqued interest from Alonso, as the 43-year-old begins planning for the Real Madrid job.

That is according to reports in Spain, which state that Alonso has asked Real to consider signing Romero as part of a three-man centre-back shortlist, with the former Liverpool midfielder extremely keen to reinforce their backline.

Tottenham value the 27-year-old at around £60 million, so it won’t be a cheap operation for Florentino Perez, with Levy keen to make as much money as possible off the defender’s potential sale.

Romero formed an excellent partnership with Micky van de Ven during Postecoglou’s debut season in charge, but injuries have stopped him from making that same desired impact on a consistent enough basis this term.

Called “world-class” by van de Ven, the ex-Atalanta star could be even more tempted by a move to Spain if Real come forward with a proposal.

Manchester City have made a breakthrough in their pursuit of a “sensational” star, as he has now agreed to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Man City's summer transfer plans

Man City took a huge step towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday night, with Matheus Nunes’ late goal securing a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa, moving his side up to third in the Premier League with just four games left to play.

Should City achieve a top-five finish, they should be in a strong position to attract some top players this summer, and Pep Guardiola is keen to reinforce his squad in a number of areas, given that his side have fallen way short of their usual standards this season.

With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave at the end of the campaign, a new attacking midfielder will be required, and the Blues are now the favourites to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, in a deal that could amount to a stunning £129m.

Man City now looking to sign ex-Real Madrid defender in £30m+ transfer

City’s defence has been a huge problem this season.

ByBarney Lane Apr 22, 2025

There have also been suggestions that Guardiola could look to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, with Ederson in line to be replaced, and potential targets include Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens and FC Porto’s Diogo Costa.

There has now been a new update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Costa, with reports from France revealing the goalkeeper has now agreed to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer following initial talks.

Talks are ongoing, with agent Jorge Mendes set to be crucial to negotiations, but the 25-year-old has given the green light to sign for City in the summer transfer window, in what will come as welcome news to Guardiola.

A deal will not be cheap, however, as the Blues will have to fork out the full release clause of €75m (£64m) to secure a deal for the Porto shot-stopper.

Costa could be "sensational" signing for City

Ederson has been a fantastic servant to City, but with the Brazilian set to turn 32 in August, it is time City started thinking about replacements, and the Portugal international could be a fantastic addition to the squad.

It is important for any goalkeeper in a Guardiola system to be comfortable in possession of the ball, and the Switzerland-born goalkeeper appears to fit the bill in that regard, ranking in the 92nd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year.

Not only that, but the Portuguese shot-stopper has been lauded for his “cat-like reflexes” by journalist Zach Lowy, having made some impressive saves during his time with his boyhood club.

Having also been hailed as “absolutely sensational” by journalist Karan Tejwani, there is every indication that Costa could be a success at the Etihad Stadium, so it is exciting news that he has now agreed to join City this summer..

Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have built a talented first-team squad, with many of the stars being young stars who have the chance to develop at the Emirates.

In their 3-0 triumph over European giants Real Madrid last week, the Gunners’ starting eleven had an average age of just 25, with the hierarchy placing a real impetus on developing young stars.

Bukayo Saka is arguably the club’s most high-profile talent, but even the England international is still classed as a youngster at the tender age of just 23.

The winger has already racked up over 250 appearances for his boyhood side, highlighting the rapid progress the academy graduate has made since emerging through the ranks in North London.

He could be joined by several other young talents this summer, as Arteta looks to strengthen his side ahead of a Premier League title challenge once again in 2025/26.

Arsenal’s pursuit to land young stars this summer

Over the last few weeks, new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted no time in targeting reinforcements to bolster the Arsenal squad next season.

He’s immediately sought-after Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, with the Spaniard reemerging on the club’s shortlist after being a prime target in previous transfer windows.

The 22-year-old has a £50m release clause in his current deal with the LaLiga outfit, but could face stiff competition from Barcelona for his signature in the coming months.

Other young talents such as Benjamin Sesko and Jules Koundé have also been largely linked with a transfer to the Emirates, but another name has emerged on the club’s shortlist over the last few days.

Brazilian journalist Lucas Tanaka confirmed that the Gunners are preparing an offer in the region of £12m for Atlético Mineiro’s 15-year-old star Gabriel Veneno ahead of the summer window.

He reported that Arteta’s side have been monitoring his progress in recent months and are interested in landing the gem who could become a bigger star than two youngsters already plying their trade in North London.

Why Veneno could become a bigger talent than MLS & Nwaneri

Whilst the injury situation at Arsenal has derailed their title ambitions in 2024/25, it has allowed for the emergence of youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri in recent months.

The former has managed to notch 30 appearances across all competitions during his breakthrough year, scoring his only effort against rivals Manchester City back in February.

His subsequent form led to a maiden England call-up during the last international break, scoring on his debut against Albania, topping off his remarkable rise since his senior debut.

As for Nwaneri, he’s made 32 appearances for Arteta’s side, scoring eight times and registering two assists – a truly incredible feat for an 18-year-old during his first full season as a professional.

Both have worked their way into the manager’s plans, undoubtedly having a huge part to play in any future success in the years ahead at the Emirates.

They could be joined in such a quest by right-winger Veneno, who’s managed to capture huge attention in his homeland, being a regular in the Brazil U16 setup in recent months.

Many analysts have delivered their opinion on the talented teenager, with Ben Mattinson singing his praises, comparing the star to Manchester City’s Savinho.

Over the years, countless Brazilian stars have succeeded, none more so than Neymar and Vinícius Júnior – who have both won everything in Europe with Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.

If the “skilful” Veneno – as noted above – gets anywhere close to the levels produced by the aforementioned pair, he would be an absolute bargain, having a huge part to play in any success at the Emirates for many years to come.

Full name:

John Gabriel Castro Santos

Date of Birth:

16/07/2009 (15)

Nationality:

Brazilian

Position:

RW/CAM

Preferred foot:

Left

Professional appearances:

1

Minutes played:

35

Current club:

Atlético Mineiro

He’s caught the eye back in South America with his 1v1 ability, leading to Matttinson claiming he “plays like it’s FIFA Street”, having the pace and agility to glide past the opposition, adding another dimension to the club’s already star-studded attack.

Veneno will need time to develop and reach his full potential given his tender age, but should he move, he could learn from Saka – arguably one of the best right-wingers in Europe – which could see him surpass the levels achieved by Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.

Better signing than Isak: Arsenal in talks for 'one of the world's best'

Arsenal could be about to pull off a deal that could see them forget about Alexander Isak.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 16, 2025

Setting their sights on summer spending, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined a hectic Premier League race to trigger one player’s £25m release clause.

Nottingham Forest already eyeing summer targets

Whilst they’ve earned plenty of deserved praise throughout what has been the story of the season, Nottingham Forest got a timely reminder that there’s still work to be done against Aston Villa – suffering a 2-1 defeat.

Forced into a number of changes thanks to the injury concerns of Ola Aina, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, Nuno Espirito Santo was left frustrated by his side’s defeat at full-time, telling reporters: “We tried to find solutions. The boys showed a better game. It was one of the matches that we created the most in but didn’t take anything from the game.

“When you lose, you don’t recover so well. The miles come to your mind. It’s always easy when you are in a good moment. Now it is not so good and it requires a bit of patience.”

Adriano 2.0: Nottingham Forest join hectic race to sign "gifted" wonderkid

He’s a future star.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

Arguably for the first time this season, Forest had their depth exposed in what may just be a preview of what’s to come if they qualify for the Champions League in the coming weeks.

A place amongst Europe’s elite has seen both Aston Villa and Newcastle United struggle to repeat their magic in the last two seasons and Forest must ensure that they avoid the same fate.

Perhaps in pursuit of that, those at the City Ground have already been linked with a number of impressive moves for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Ademola Lookman. Of course, the former would be particularly interesting, given how he has struggled to make his mark at Liverpool.

If Forest were to land a cut-price deal and then get the best out of the forward, it would be seen as a major coup. Nunez isn’t the only Premier League player that Forest have set their sights on, however.

"Superb" Ramsdale could replace Sels

Like Chris Wood, Matz Sels has enjoyed an excellent season between the sticks at Nottingham Forest but that doesn’t take away from the need for those at the City Ground to find a replacement. They’ve already turned towards a number of options to potentially replace Wood and could now turn towards the heir to Sels’ role now that he’s 33 years old.

According to The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest have now joined a hectic Premier League race to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who has a release clause worth £25m at St Mary’s. Despite only arriving last year, the goalkeeper looks destined to depart this summer with the Saints heading back down to the Championship.

Starts

22

31

Saves P90

4.14

3.19

Save Percentage

66.9%

74.3%

Pass Completion

64.7%

50.9%

With Newcastle United, Forest, Bournemouth and Leeds United all queuing up for the England international’s signature, he will be spoilt for choice when the summer transfer window arrives.

Praised for a “superb” save against Bournemouth by Manchester City icon Joe Hart earlier this season, Southampton’s season – for all of how disappointing it has been – may have somehow been worse without Ramsdale.

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

Nottingham Forest eyeing Real Madrid target

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

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

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

Evangelos Marinakis is serious about getting a deal wrapped up.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 31, 2025

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

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

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

"Great" Ndicka could be a monster next to Murillo

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

Starts

30

29

Challenges Lost

5

15

Aerial Duels Won

51

33

Ball Recoveries

115

108

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

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

Newcastle United ended a long wait for an away win in the Premier League this season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson on Saturday.

Eddie Howe will have been delighted with how clinical his team were in the final third, as Malick Thiaw scored twice, either side of goals from Nick Woltemade and Lewis Miley.

Woltemade has now scored five goals in the Premier League this season since his £69m move from Stuttgart during the summer transfer window, after he replaced Alexander Isak.

The Germany international’s impressive form has not been great news for everyone at St. James’ Park, though, because it has meant that opportunities for other forwards in the squad have been limited.

Newcastle forward seeking January transfer

Woltemade is the guaranteed first-choice number nine for the Magpies, as evidenced by ten starts in ten Premier League outings, and that has left another player to consider their future at the club.

Transfer Focus

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

According to German outlet BILD, via Newcastle World, Newcastle United centre-forward William Osula ‘wants to leave’ St. James’ Park in the January transfer window in search of regular first-team football.

The report claims that Eintracht Frankfurt, who were keen on him in the summer, remain interested in a potential deal to snap him up from the Magpies ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Newcastle World notes that Frankfurt came close to signing the Dane on a permanent deal for £30m in the summer before they pursued a loan move at the last minute, which led to a breakdown in negotiations.

It adds that a similar transfer fee to that £30m offer could see a transfer done in January, and PIF must now move to cash in on the forward in the German side are willing to put that kind of money on the table again.

Why Newcastle should sell William Osula

Osula, who is currently out with an ankle injury, is clearly a talented prospect who could become a key player for the Magpies in the future. He has scored three goals in just 370 minutes this season, per Sofascore, including a goal against Liverpool in the Premier League.

At 22, the Danish marksman has the majority of his career left ahead of him to develop and improve, but it is a question of when and where his development will happen, because he needs to be playing games in order to progress.

Woltemade is only a year older than Osula and Newcastle have Yoane Wissa to come back from injury, which means that there is no visible short-term route to him being a first-choice option for Howe.

Alexander Isak

£125m

Andy Carroll

£35m

Elliot Anderson

£35m

Yankuba Minteh

£30m

Moussa Sissoko

£30m

Ayoze Perez

£30m

Will Osula

£30m (rumoured)

Gini Wijnaldum

£25m

Allan Saint-Maximin

£23m

Aleksandar Mitrovic

£22m

As you can see in the table above, selling the 22-year-old to Frankfurt, or any other team, for £30m in January would make the youngster one of the most expensive sales in the club’s history, with only three players having been sold for more.

Osula was once described by former teammate Curtis Davies as being like “a poor man’s Haaland” with his physicality in the number nine role, and you saw a glimpse of that with the way he bundled his way through to score against Liverpool.

However, it does not appear as though he will get the time on the pitch that is needed for him to realise his potential at Newcastle, because of Woltemade and Wissa, which may be why he now wants to leave the club in January.

PIF and Howe should not step in his way because selling him for a potential fee of £30m could be the best possible outcome for all parties involved. Osula would get to go and pursue regular football and find a new home, whilst the Magpies would have funds available to bolster their squad in other areas.

As good as Thiaw: Newcastle star is now "one of the best" players in the PL

Eddie Howe and Newcastle United have a superstar in the making on their hands.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 1, 2025

Therefore, PIF should axe the Danish striker when the January transfer window opens for business, should Frankfurt make a significant offer for his services, as it may be the right decision for the club and the player.

Liverpool have now launched their first approach to sign a much-needed right-back target, who could arrive at Anfield or in North London as a free agent.

Arne Slot admits shock at "ridiculous" Liverpool form

It has been a disastrous run for Liverpool, with their 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest proving to be their most shocking result yet. After eight defeats in 11 games, the champions are on course for one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, despite spending over £400m in the summer.

With PSV Eindhoven up next, Arne Slot has admitted just how shocked he’s been by his side’s form and went onto describe it as “ridiculous” in his pre-match press conference.

The Champions League has often been a saving grace for Liverpool this season. Their victory over Real Madrid last time out proved to be somewhat of a false dawn before their Premier League return, but the Reds now have the chance to pick up where they left off in Europe, at the very least.

They will, however, be without an out-and-out right-back yet again following Conor Bradley’s injury to join Jeremie Frimpong on the sidelines. It is a problem that Liverpool must solve and one that could yet see Zeki Celik arrive.

Liverpool launch approach to sign Zeki Celik

According to TeamTalk’s Rudi Galetti, Liverpool have launched an approach to sign Celik in a transfer battle with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, all of whom have made contact.

The right-back is on course to become a free agent when his contract expires next summer and could yet provide a solution for Slot by finally replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 28-year-old, at the peak of his powers, recently earned the praise of Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who told reporters: “He’s the perfect player for any coach.

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool make £122m sensation their "dream target"

Liverpool need to make changes in the transfer market once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

The AS Roma man is also capable of playing centre-back in what would kill two birds with one stone for Slot, who currently has just three senior centre-backs to choose from which includes the injury-prone Joe Gomez.

Instead of Gakpo: Liverpool can unlock Isak by unleashing homegrown Semenyo

The best teams in football have always been built on at least a few brilliant partnerships, and this Arsenal side are no different.

Mikel Arteta’s side is full of duos who complement and perfectly understand one another, with the most obvious example being the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

The two centre-backs have played a massive part in making the Gunners the best defensive side in the Premier League, if not Europe, and have appeared in 129 competitive matches together, averaging 2.16 points per game.

However, as exceptional a pairing as they are, Arsenal’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night made it clear that Arteta might have already created an even better one.

Arsenal's standout performers vs Bayern

It wouldn’t be an overreaction to say that, given the opponent and competition, Wednesday night was one of Arsenal’s most impressive performances under Arteta’s reign.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

In other words, there were sensational displays from practically everyone donning the red and white, but someone who really stood out was Jurrien Timber.

The former Ajax gem was the one who opened the scoring, heading home from a corner, but he did far more than that.

Minutes

81′

Expected Goals

0.52

Goals

1

Tackles (Won)

2 (2)

Interceptions

1

Recoveries

4

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Aerial Duels (Won)

3 (3)

Long Balls

1/1

Dribbles

1/1

For example, in addition to providing a constant threat down the right-hand side and linking up nicely with Bukayo Saka, the Dutch international was almost perfect from a defensive point of view.

In his 81 minutes of action, he won 100% of his tackles and aerial duels, made one interception, recovered the ball four times, and more than justified The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid claim that he’s “the best right-back in the world at the minute.”

Another starter who deserves praise is Eberechi Eze, as while he was quieter than on the weekend, he still provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli.

Moreover, he had some real moments of quality in and around the Germans’ penalty area.

Finally, Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke made quite the impact coming off the bench, with the former setting up the latter to score his first goal for the club.

With all that said, one of the reasons these players were able to shine is the efforts of a partnership within the side that might just be better than Gabriel and Saliba’s.

Arsenal's new best partnership

While Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera looked great on Wednesday, as did Eze and Mikel Merino, neither of those pairings is shaping up to be Arsenal’s best new duo.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Instead, that title goes to the brewing partnership between Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice.

Yes, while the Englishman was already performing at a world-class level for the Gunners over the last two years, the arrival of the Spaniard has helped him to further improve.

The former West Ham United captain has even said as much after Wednesday’s game, telling TNT Sports that the side “all trust him with the ball.”

The addition of the former Real Sociedad star has allowed the 26-year-old to maraud forward more freely, which is precisely what he did on multiple occasions against the Baverians.

However, he also still drops deeper on occasion and continues to do plenty of the dirty work, which is one of the reasons they’re such an incredible pairing, and why content creator Jamie Kent has dubbed the Englishman “the best midfielder in Europe.”

The watching press were unsurprisingly impressed with the two midfielders on Wednesday, with the Express’ Tom Parsons awarding both 9/10 match ratings.

That might sound slightly over the top, but it’s really not, and their statistics prove as much.

For example, in his 94 minutes, the Spaniard took 50 touches, completed 40 passes, was accurate with 100% of his long balls, recovered the ball three times, blocked one shot, and didn’t get dribbled past once.

In his 94 minutes, the £105m man produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.61, played three key passes, took one shot on target, won 100% of his tackles, made one interception, took 66 touches, completed 39 passes, blocked one shot and recovered the ball five times.

Ultimately, while it was just the 16th competitive game Rice and Zubimendi have played together, Arsenal’s win over Bayern Munich was just more evidence that they could well be the Gunners’ new most important duo.

A dream for Eze: Arsenal enter race to sign "one of the best STs in Europe"

The incredible goalscorer would make Arsenal far more dangerous and be a dream teammate for Eberechi Eze.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 26, 2025

Liverpool splashed the big bucks and then some over the summer, hopeful of retaining their Premier League title in style.

However, the majority of the whopping £415m spent now looks as if it has gone down the drain, with both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remaining goalless, despite costing a combined £225m to bring to Anfield.

Arne Slot thankfully has the January transfer window coming into view now to try and turn around his side’s lacklustre campaign, with Liverpool all the way down in eighth position at the moment, as Manchester United are even ahead of the Reds on goal difference.

Liverpool planning to spend big again

You would think that the Merseyside giants might be more cautious in the transfer department after such a wild summer spending spree.

However, reports suggest that the underwhelming reigning champions could go all out to try and win Michael Olise from Bayern Munich for an astronomical £177m fee.

Moreover, one of the best players in the top-flight this term in the shape of Antoine Semenyo is reportedly also on their radar as they try to upgrade on an attack that looks short on confidence, even with Mohamed Salah starting week in, week out.

On top of flashy recruits being rumoured to join the Anfield ranks in attack, an update from Liverpool-based writer DaveOCKOP has also revealed that the Reds are holding initial talks with Crystal Palace over midfield star Adam Wharton.

Transfer Focus

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

It is stated that the move is more likely for the summer of 2026 than the upcoming January window, but never say never when it comes to Liverpool’s ambition in this department, with it also being revealed back in September that the English international’s preference – if he were to leave the Eagles behind – was a switch to Slot and Co.

Having just made his first start for the Three Lions during this international break, the sky really does appear to be the limit for Wharton currently, with a mammoth £100m price tag also above his head.

How Wharton can become Slot's own Gerrard

As Slot looks to reshape his midfield in 2026, he could find a new beating heart at the centre of his team in the form of Wharton, much like a certain Steven Gerrard was back in the day.

By the close of his distinguished career at the very top, Gerrard was showered with some immense praise, with Gabriel Agbonlahor notably once describing him as the best midfielder in Premier League history, even ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.

Indeed, away from bagging a stunning 186 goals and picking up 155 assists for his boyhood club, the well-rounded servant also closed out his long-standing career on Merseyside with a Champions League title.

As Liverpool’s website affectionately put it when Gerrard hung up his boots, the Englishman was a revered “gladiator” for his boyhood side.

Of course, it would be crazy to expect Wharton to be as impactful from minute one of his own Anfield journey, but in time, he could be Gerrard 2.0, displaying a similar level of composure and ball manipulation from midfield.

Games played

16

20

9

Goals scored

0

0

0

Assists

3

2

0

Touches*

49.6

45.7

43.9

Accurate passes*

28.5 (81%)

26.7 (79%)

25.2 (78%)

Key passes*

1.3

1.3

1.6

Big chances created

5

5

5

Tackles*

3.0

1.7

1.3

Ball recoveries*

4.8

5.1

4.0

Total duels won*

4.9

3.2

3.2

The data above displays Wharton’s similar well-roundedness from the middle of the park, which is very much like the Liverpool great, with the 21-year-old only getting better with time, as he becomes more and more used to the demands of the Premier League.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite uncovered a goalscoring mojo in the top-flight yet, like Gerrard, but with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai next to him if he takes on this huge Anfield opportunity, there is a possibility that he enhances his varied game to that next level.

Hailed as a “genius” at a very early age at Blackburn Rovers by ex-boss Tony Mowbray, and now an “incredible” star by former Selhurst Park teammate Eberechi Eze, it does feel as if a big move soon awaits Wharton.

If all clicks into place for the 21-year-old at Liverpool, he might well be the second coming of Gerrard; a powerful English midfield technician who has all of the tools to be a Three Lions mainstay for years to come.

It will take some big bucks to land his services, but if Slot can win a new legend in the process, it’s a bold investment that’s definitely worth making.

New Trent: Liverpool star is "one of the most underrated players in England"

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It is hard not to feel a little bit sorry for Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl after he watched his team ship three goals for the second time in four matches, albeit after extra time.

The Ibrox giants were beaten 3-1 at Hampden Park by their Glasgow rivals in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Sunday, but it was fairly impressive that they even took the game to extra time after going 1-0 down and down to ten men.

Rohl, who arrived to replace Russell Martin in the dugout, will have learned a lot about his group of players after his first four games in charge, with two wins and two defeats.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss should be pleased with the fight this team showed on Sunday, although his side seemed to lose their legs in extra time, as shown by how slow the defenders were to react to Callum Osmand’s goal in the clip below.

Celtic’s young striker scored his first goal for the club in his second senior appearance, both of which have come under interim manager Martin O’Neill.

That shows that a fresh pair of eyes in the dugout can unearth a talent that was overlooked by the previous management team, which should be a lesson to Rohl, with the players in the Rangers youth ranks.

The academy problem Rangers have at Ibrox

The Light Blues have a problem with their academy at Ibrox because there has not been enough of a reward for the work being done with their youth teams.

Billy Gilmour

£18m

0

Nathan Patterson

£11m

27

Greg Taylor

£5m

0

Ross McCrorie

£2m

55

Lewis Morgan

£2m

0

As you can see in the table above, the five most valuable former Rangers academy players all play for other clubs, and none of them made more than 55 appearances for the first-team before they left.

Only two of them, Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour, being worth more than £5m suggests that the club are not doing enough to bring in or develop high-value players in their academy.

On top of potentially not bringing the right players through their academy system, an issue could also be the lack of a pathway to first-team football at Ibrox.

Osmand for Celtic is the perfect example. He did not play a single minute under Brendan Rodgers for the Hoops, after signing in the summer window, and he made an instant impact in a huge match when brought in by O’Neill.

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If Rodgers had stayed in post and continued to ignore the striker, Osmand’s development may have stalled, and he could have gone on to leave Glasgow and thrive or fail elsewhere.

Instead, O’Neill provided him with a chance to shine and, after his goal against Rangers, he may kick on to become a star for the Hoops in the coming months because of the opportunity that he has been given.

Now, on the other side of Glasgow, Rohl could unearth his own version of Osmand by finally unleashing Findlay Curtis as a starter for the Ibrox giants.

Why Danny Rohl should unleash Findlay Curtis for Rangers

The Gers academy graduate was given a chance by Martin at the start of this season, with starts against Panathinaikos, and he showed real promise, with an excellent first goal for the club.

It was a terrific run and finish from the “Boy Wonder”, as shown in the clip above, but he has not started a game in any competition since those two games against the Greek side.

Curtis added to his goal tally for the club with goals against both St Mirren and Alloa Athletic, in the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup. Both of those strikes, though, came as a substitute.

Panathinaikos (H)

75

1

Panathinaikos (A)

59

0

Viktoria Plzen (H)

5

0

Dundee (H)

13

0

Alloa Athletic (H)

6

1

St Mirren (A)

14

1

Club Brugge (A)

45

0

Celtic (H)

8

0

Hibernian (H)

13

0

Dundee United (H)

14

0

As you can see in the table above, the 19-year-old attacker has only made ten appearances in all competitions this season, starting two games, and has scored three goals in that time.

Per Sofascore, Curtis has been an unused substitute in seven of his last eight appearances in the matchday squad, with his only outing in that time coming off the bench against Dundee United in Stevie Smith’s game as interim head coach.

Despite his frustrating lack of game time on the pitch, only Djeidi Gassama (five) and James Tavernier (six) have scored more goals for Rangers in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, than the teenage winger.

Curtis has scored one goal in 49 minutes of action in the Premiership, across four appearances as a substitute, so far this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he has been effective with the minutes that he has had.

The Scottish forward, who produced four goals and three assists in eight matches for the B team, has delivered quality in the Premiership, in Europe, and in a domestic cup. He has shown that he can make an impact with the first-team.

Yet, as has seemingly been the case for academy players for far too long at Ibrox, Curtis has not been rewarded with regular game time to develop and improve in the senior team.

Rohl must change that by providing the 19-year-old attacker, who can play on the left or the right flank, with more chances to show what he can do on the pitch as a starter for the Light Blues.

Rangers saw firsthand what can happen when a young player is finally given a chance when Osmand found the back of the net against them, and they should learn from that lesson by finally unleashing Curtis.

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