Arsenal are now planning to submit a £50m offer for an “incredible” striker who has been compared to Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, according to a report.
Gunners stepping up striker pursuit
With Andrea Berta recently officially taking up the role of sporting director, the Gunners appear to be stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, which seems like one of the Italian’s main priorities as we approach the summer transfer window.
A £59m offer has reportedly been submitted for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who is believed to be the north Londoners’ top target, given that a deal for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak may not be possible.
David Ornstein has also dropped another update on the Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga, suggesting Berta is a big fan of the Sporting CP star.
Arsenal have a wide array of potential targets, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike becoming the latest player to make the shortlist, according to a report from Caught Offside.
Ekitike is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League, having impressed in the Bundesliga this season, and the German club are looking to hold out for €80m (£67m).
Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea are also in the race for the striker, which is now starting to heat up, and the English clubs – Arsenal included – plan to submit opening bids of about €60m (£50m) to test the waters, with Frankfurt willing to sell if they receive a suitable offer.
Arsenal now in contact to sign "fantastic" £40m star as agent talks held
The Gunners have set their sights on a player who has impressed in the Premier League this season.
ByDominic Lund Mar 30, 2025 "Incredible" Ekitike enjoying best season to date
It is clear to see why so many top clubs are taking an interest in the French striker, given that he is having the best season of his career to date in terms of goals, scoring 19 times in all competitions, while also registering eight assists.
Such is the 22-year-old’s level of performance, he has even been compared to Real Madrid’s Mbappe by Wesley Sneijder, who said: “He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappe.
“To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”
Eintracht Frankfurt's HugoEkitikecelebrates
Having also been dubbed “incredible” by teammate Rasmus Kristensen, the Frankfurt star is showing signs he could be ready for a move to a top Premier League club this summer.
That said, it would be a risk for Arsenal to sign Ekitike, given that this is the first season of his career where he has been prolific in front of goal, and fellow targets Gyokeres and Isak have proven themselves as reliable goalscorers over a sustained period of time.
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.”
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.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
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.
Liverpool and FSG have reportedly made contact to sign a new striker who has been compared to Manchester United struggler Joshua Zirkzee.
Liverpool charging for Premier League title as Man Utd and Zirkzee struggle
The Reds are on course to lift the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield. It has been a brilliant campaign under the Dutchman, however, it could still be an extremely busy summer on Merseyside.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all out of contract at the end of June, with the former set to move to Spain with Real Madrid. Talking recently, Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool need to sign “at least five” players ahead of the 2025/26 season.
“I’m excited to see where Arne Slot will take Liverpool because it looks like they’re going to win the league, but there are still so many areas to improve. He needs a centre-back as back-up to the two that we have, he’ll need a right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to leave.
“I think he needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger and that he trusts, a centre-forward to play and a left-winger. There are at least five or six players he needs to get in – three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups.”
Liverpool now ready to sell player Slot's "delighted" with after £50m+ bid
A Premier League side have reportedly submitted an offer.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 2, 2025
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s rivals, Man Utd, have had a season to forget under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils have been in the bottom half of the Premier League for large parts of the season, and one player who has struggled is Zirkzee.
It has been claimed that Man Utd regret signing the forward from Bologna last summer and are looking to sell him alongside goalkeeper Andre Onana. Interestingly, Liverpool have now made contact to sign a striker who has been compared to the Man Utd forward.
Liverpool in contact to sign Mohamed Amoura
According to reports coming out of France and shared by Sport Witness, Liverpool are one of three clubs who have made a move to sign Royale Union Saint-Gilloise attacker Mohamed Amoura.
Currently on loan at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, Amoura could sign permanently for the German side this summer for €14m plus €4m bonuses. However, Wolfsburg may then sell the Algeria international for €40m (£33.3m) and make a quick profit, with Liverpool chiefs making contact over a deal.
Fellow top-four rivals Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest have also made an approach, but it is unclear if the three teams have contacted Amoura and his agents, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or Wolfsburg.
Forwards Amoura has been compared to
Club
Joshua Zirkzee
Man Utd
Omar Marmoush
Man City
Lois Openda
RB Leipzig
Charles De Ketelaere
Atalanta
Florian Thauvib
Udinese
Compared to Zirkzee by analytics site FBref, Amoura has netted 10 Bundesliga goals for Wolfsburg this season, and by the looks of things, a move to the Premier League is on the cards.
Liverpool are on the march towards their second title of the Premier League era and Arne Slot is now willing to sweep aside rivals to secure the signature of an elite young talent at Anfield, per reports.
Liverpool aim for exciting summer with league title in sight
Despite a battling display from Everton in midweek, Liverpool prevailed against their rivals in a must-win clash to tick off another important milestone on their journey to becoming champions.
Arsenal may be lingering in the distance, but it would take a monumental collapse for the Reds to avoid taking the crown off a Manchester City side that is beginning a major transition under Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool's Arne Slot and Luis Diaz
Arne Slot won’t want to pass up the opportunity of tempting high-calibre individuals to join him at Anfield, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to hear that Liverpool are keen to bring in Atalanta’s Ederson this summer for a fee in the region of £51 million.
Furthermore, the Reds are set to intensify talks regarding Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo to strengthen their backline, which appears to be a key point of contention amid Virgil van Dijk’s ongoing contract wrangle.
Mohamed Salah hasn’t signed a new deal, while heavy rumours linking Trent Alexander-Arnold with a Real Madrid switch have left a slightly bitter taste as Liverpool cross their final hurdles of the season.
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Planning in advance appears to be the modus operandi at Liverpool. The Premier League elite will be desperate to position themselves with a chance of claiming the league crown next season, and Slot needs to be on his guard to forego any sign of complacency.
Now, Liverpool have set their sights on a potential star of the future who is also attracting interest from several other clubs ahead of the summer window.
Liverpool position themselves for Vasco Da Gama talent Rayan Vitor
According to TBR, Liverpool are in the hunt for Vasco Da Gama star Rayan Vitor, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Becoming a long-term target, the 18-year-old has been on the radar at Anfield since he was 16 and was labelled a similar player to former Brazil star Adriano by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.
Rayan Vitor statistics in 2025
Shots
3
Shots on target
2
Pass accuracy
69.2%
Duels won
6
Possession won in final third
3
Heralded for his “powerful” nature by ex-Vasco Da Gama coach Rafael Paiva, Rayan has registered five goals and one assist in 47 appearances for Vasco Da Gama’s senior side and is also a current Brazil Under-20 international.
Unlikely to immediately become a first-team fixture at Liverpool, the winger is deemed likely to move on this summer and would be afforded grace as a slow burner while he continues to develop physically and tactically.
Nevertheless, bringing the versatile talent to Anfield would be a statement of intent as Slot aims to build a dynasty on Merseyside over the next few years.
As Everton go in search of replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they could now reportedly receive a green light to make their move for one target who looks destined for a new club.
Everton commence search to replace Calvert-Lewin
Those at Goodison Park have known for some time that they’ll need to sign a striker this summer with Calvert-Lewin set to depart as a free agent and that has handed The Friedkin Group the chance to get their search underway. A number of impressive names have already been mentioned amid that search too, with Liam Delap arguably the pick of the bunch.
Everton closely follow "elite" £30m+ star who is set to seek new challenge
The Toffees are in the market for reinforcements.
BySean Markus Clifford Apr 14, 2025
The Ipswich Town star will reportedly be available for just £30m this summer if Kieran McKenna’s side suffer Premier League relegation, which at this stage looks inevitable. Therefore available at a bargain price, Delap has reportedly attracted a number of interested parties, with Manchester United and Chelsea among those joining Everton in the race to sign the forward.
Whilst on paper Everton are unlikely to win such a race, the return of David Moyes has seen them pick up the kind of form that would see them enter the race to secure European qualification rather than the battle to survive in the Premier League – crucially increasing the attraction of a move to the Merseyside club this summer.
Following his side’s latest impressive victory – a last-gasp 1-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest – Moyes told reporters: “I have got to say it was a great goal but thoroughly deserved. It certainly merited a win and I though we played very well, when you come to a team sitting third in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup. I think if anyone was going to score, it was us.”
It’s the type of victory which will have done the Toffees no harm both on and off the pitch as they position themselves to sign a fresh attacking option this summer.
Everton could get green light to sign Ferguson
After struggling to make his mark on loan at West Ham United, Evan Ferguson finds himself at a career crossroads that Everton could take full advantage of. According to TeamTalk, with the Hammers unlikely to trigger a permanent deal, Everton could receive the green light to sign Ferguson this summer.
The forward looks almost certain to join a new club away from both Brighton and West Ham, and may yet find himself on his way to Merseyside. The deal will not come cheap, however, given that Brighton were reportedly demanding as much as £45m for his signature in January and may not come down from that price in the coming months.
Whether Friedkin look to make a statement by spending such money to land Ferguson’s signature will certainly be interesting to see. Dubbed “fantastic” by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi just over two years ago, the 20-year-old will be desperate to return to his clinical best next season.
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.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
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.
Arsenal'sEthanNwaneriand MylesLewis-Skellyduring training
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.
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Glasgow Rangers will be aiming for a solid summer transfer window under the 49ers as they seek to end their Premiership title drought.
Year after year, the club fail to improve their squad by signing players who either aren’t good enough for Rangers, or those who appear to be injury-prone and miss far too many games.
With a new era about to begin this summer, might this cycle stop? One can hope.
The Light Blues’ transfer activity has ranged from making bizarre signings – Rafael Fernandes and Kieran Dowell – along with bringing those in who failed to adapt to Scottish football – Robin Propper and Sam Lammers – over the previous couple of years.
One thing the club haven’t done for a while is sign someone who has Celtic on their C.V. However, might this change in the near future? Especially as Greg Taylor has been linked with a shock move to Ibrox this summer.
Greg Taylor has been linked with a move to Rangers
Since the end of the Second World War, only Alfie Conn, Maurice Johnston, Stephen Pressley and Kenny Miller have played for both Rangers and Celtic.
None of these players moved directly between each other, spending time somewhere else before making the move to either one of the Old Firm.
Taylor is out of contract this summer and could leave the Parkhead side for nothing. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has had his say on the matter and believes that the Ibrox side would be wise to make a move for the left-back ahead of next season.
“I know the rivalry between the two clubs but he’s Scottish and he ticks the boxes. You could ask the question,” said Boyd while speaking on the Scottish Sun’s YouTube channel regarding the defender.
“Is he a better player than Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz? Well, I think he’s shown for a period of time what he can do.
“This could actually generate funds if they sold one of the left-backs. They are potentially saleable assets.”
Greg Taylor’s statistics this season
Taylor has played 36 times for Celtic this term, scoring once while providing seven assists in all competitions.
The Scot has also created eight big chances in the Premiership, while averaging 1.4 key passes per game and succeeding with 56% of his dribbles, highlighting his impressive attacking skills.
Combine this with the fact he wins 54% of his total contested duels, makes 1.5 tackles and dribbles past only 0.3 times per game, it is evident that Taylor could be a reliable signing for the Gers.
Metric
Champions League
Premiership
Assists
1
6
Big chances created
2
8
Tackles per game
1.8
1.5
Successful dribbles per game
0.1
0.4
Balls recovered per game
2.6
3.7
A clean injury record would also be a bonus, that’s for sure. At the time of writing, the left-back is currently valued at €4.9m (£4.2m) according to Football Transfers, meaning Celtic could be losing out on a decent transfer fee.
Signing Taylor might allow the new manager at Ibrox to offload either one of Jefte or Ridvan Yilmaz this summer in order to generate funds.
The Brazilian has endured a mixed campaign since making the move to Glasgow last summer, yet he is still valued higher than Taylor…
Why Jefte is a promising player for Rangers
The defender arrived from Brazilian side Fluminense on a four-year deal last summer as Clement sought to add some more youth prospects to his first-team squad.
Jefte
He spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Cypriot side APOEL, scoring three goals and grabbing four assists across just 31 league matches for the club.
On this basis, his attacking talents were there for all to see, with Scottish content creator Kai Watson praising the defender, saying: “He always looks to drive at the opposition defence and is comfortable going outside or cutting inside.
“He’s also not afraid of having a pop at goal and has a thunderous strike in his arsenal.
“He looks like he could be a creative threat while also offering some goalscoring prowess himself.”
It certainly appears as though he has found Scottish football harder, having registered only two assists in 28 Premiership matches thus far.
He has averaged 1.1 key passes per game in the top flight, however, along with creating two big chances and succeeding with 1.1 dribbles per match. Defensively though, the youngster has been a liability on occasions.
On average, he loses possession 14.9 times per game for the Light Blues in the Scottish top flight, while the Brazilian commits 0.9 fouls per game and regularly finds himself out of position trying to create chances in the final third.
Jefte
Over time, the former Fluminense starlet will mature, and his defence abilities will improve, but this has been a key weakness throughout the 2024/25 campaign. If the defender wishes to maintain his place in the squad, this is something he will need to work on, no doubt about that.
Jefte’s market valuation at Rangers
Whatever happens, should Rangers sell Jefte in the immediate future, they could rake in a decent profit on the left-back.
Indeed, according to Football Transfers, he is currently valued at €5.5m (£4.7m) and this figure will only continue to rise as time goes on.
When he made the move to Scotland, his valuation sat at less than £1m, proving that exposure to first-team football, especially in the Europa League, has allowed the player to increase his value.
Perhaps he would be best served playing in a more advanced position, which could allow the defender to play to his attacking strengths.
What is certain is that Jefte is currently worth more than Taylor according to Football Transfers and while a move for the Celtic man wouldn’t be a bad idea, might the Gers be better off developing Jefte in a position where he can contribute more effectively?
Rangers have hit the jackpot with the Brazilian defender, whose value has soared in his short time in Glasgow already, and they should avoid any controversial move for a Celtic dud to continue his development.
The summer transfer window could be an interesting time to be a supporter, especially if the 49ers takeover goes through in the next few weeks.
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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City may be going through a dark time of it late, but they do still have a chance of winning the FA Cup after defeating fellow Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth last weekend.
With no top-flight title or Champions League in sight, there will likely be a changing of the guard at the Etihad this summer, with faces such as Kevin De Bruyne perhaps leaving the building for some fresh blood to then excite the City masses.
One position that is dire need of refreshing is the right-back spot with new reports suggesting that City have a target in mind to begin such a transformation.
Man City looking at signing new full-back
With Kyle Walker departing on loan to AC Milan in January and academy graduate Rico Lewis not preferred in recent times, signing a new right-back should be one of their top priorities this summer.
Well, according to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, plenty of top-flight clubs in England, including City are considering an approach for 22-year-old right-back Kiliann Sildillia, as current employers SC Freiburg brace for lots of activity involving their star-man.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion are all named as interested parties, but City will hope they can race to the front of the queue for Sildillia’s services shortly, with recent weeks suggesting that Guardiola and Co have been watching the defender’s matches in the Bundesliga intently.
How Sildillia can become Cancelo 2.0
The right-back position in Manchester is lacking in numbers, with Matheus Nunes notably struggling up against Andoni Iraola’s challenging Cherries.
Indeed, Simon Bajkowski, chief Man City writer for MEN, gave Nunes a 4/10 for his showings, stating that he was “abysmal” for the goal.
Therefore, the attack-oriented Sildillia could be the perfect choice in this problem area, with the Frenchman perhaps becoming the faltering team’s next Joao Cancelo down the line.
Cancelo was a beloved figure at the Etihad for many of his successful years donning sky blue, with the expansive Portuguese defender going on to notch up an impressive nine goals and 21 assists from 154 clashes.
Unfortunately, the end of his time in England turned sour, leaving City with a lack of personnel down both the left and right flanks, with Cancelo comfortable in both slots in Guardiola’s XI.
RB
60
3
3
CB
18
0
0
RM
17
0
0
RW
2
0
0
LM
1
0
0
CM
1
0
0
Looking at the table above, the new City target is also capable of being versatile for the cause like Cancelo, with Sildillia lining up all over the pitch for Freiburg from his 102 appearances and counting.
But, it’s clear his most comfortable position is in the right-back area, with six goal contributions coming the Frenchman’s way from 60 contests in this spot on the pitch.
Two of those contributions have come this very campaign in the Bundesliga, with Sildillia managing to solidify himself as a trusty first-team option in Germany for both his attacking prowess and his ability to resiliently defend.
From those 16 clashes, Sildillia has managed to tally up a promising six clean sheets, with 3.3 duels won on average per league outing also matching that of Nunes back in Manchester.
But, Guardiola might be hesitant to stick it out with the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man, especially if the former FC Metz ace is available, knowing full well that adding in fresh, young bodies defensively can work wonders in the case of rising star Abdukodir Khusanov.
Likewise, Nunes’ natural position isn’t on the right flank, with the attacking energy of Sildillia also potentially gifting City their next “complete” star – as he has been labelled by scout Jacek Kulig – in a similar mould to Cancelo.
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Amid a sea of red celebration at Anfield on Sunday, the cameras panned for a moment on Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, locked in conversation.
Have the conversations relating to improvements already begun? What, indeed, do these discussions pertain to? Are Liverpool now focusing on the additions which will surely rain down on this incredible Reds squad, which has been so dominant in the Premier League yet clearly needs reinforcing across a range of positions?
With Darwin Nunez expected to leave at the end of the season, much has been made of Liverpool’s conundrum at number nine. Alexander Isak would be a golden ticket toward the next level in Slot’s project, but Newcastle United will demand north of £150m for their talisman. It might not happen, sadly.
A robust midfield could do with another part, and Andy Robertson’s waning influence and athleticism has seen Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez placed at the top of the shopping list, report The Times.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have renewed their contracts but Hughes will no doubt be thinking about signing understudies who could bloom into superstars down the line.
Then there’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose resolution to a protracted saga feels right around the corner.
The latest on Alexander-Arnold's future
No one can dispute Alexander-Arnold’s passion as he capered around after Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, sealing the Premier League title for the second time in his career.
However, it’s also becoming increasingly difficult to argue that the 26-year-old will be playing his football in a Liverpool shirt next season, now on the eve of free agency.
Salah and Van Dijk have committed the final few years of their primes to Anfield, but Alexander-Arnold has stayed radio silent with Real Madrid working tooth and nail to bring him to La Liga.
Reds supporters have attempted to theorise scenarios in which Trent is staying, flashes of hopeless hope, however, with those such as Fabrizio Romano revealing that a deal is all but done, it seems this is one pill that the club will have to swallow during an momentous achievement.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool Career by Competition
Competition
Apps
Goals
Assists
Premier League
255
18
66
Champions League
60
2
13
FA Cup
13
1
3
Carabao Cup
10
0
6
Europa League
5
0
2
Club World Cup
2
0
1
CL Qualifying
2
0
1
Community Shield
2
1
0
UEFA Super Cup
1
0
0
Stats via Transfermarkt
However, it’s frankly unlikely that Romano is simply acting as a mouthpiece for Los Blancos. The esteemed transfer journalist has repeatedly stressed that the England international’s Bosman move is in the final stages, with all parties confident that a deal will be struck.
Moreover, the word on the street is that Liverpool are scouring the market for a successor; Conor Bradley is an exciting talent but he missed out with injury once again on Sunday and cannot, surely, be Slot’s only real option next term.
Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley
With that in mind, Liverpool appear to be aiming for the stars.
Liverpool chasing exciting Trent replacement
According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are among clubs interested in signing Jules Kounde and are being kept informed on his situation at Barcelona, though Chelsea appear to have the lead at this stage.
The Frenchman, who scored the winning goal in Saturday’s hotly-contested Clasico Copa del Rey final, is about to enter the penultimate year of his contract at Camp Nou, and his future is up in the air.
Barcelona's Jules Kounde
With Liverpool potentially in need of a high-class right-back, this could be a dream deal for Slot’s side, though Kounde wouldn’t come cheap, with Chelsea reportedly willing to offer €80m (£68m).
What Jules Kounde would add to Slot's squad
Barcelona signed Kounde from Sevilla for a reported £42m fee in 2022, beating Chelsea to the France international’s signature.
FC Barcelona's JulesKoundein action
He’s since amassed 140 appearances for La Blaugrana, scoring seven goals and providing 18 assists for his teammates. A regular dynamo, Kounde is versatile, balanced and robust in his performances, having actually been described as “one of the best defenders in the world” by his former boss Xavi.
This season, for example, he ranks among the top 11% of full-backs in La Liga for pass completion, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 7% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Such metrics highlight, clearly, the ball-playing ability that Slot would make fantastic use of. He differs from Alexander-Arnold, but you can see that his passing game would still add a dimension to and enrich Liverpool’s defence.
Barcelona'sJulesKoundecelebrates scoring their second goal with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and teammates
Though the 26-year-old has only supplied three assists across 29 league fixtures under Hansi Flick this term, it’s clear this is a more stylistic choice, indeed completing 89% of his passes, as per Sofascore, working tirelessly toward promoting build-up play, funnelling the ball into the danger areas, where the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha can wreak havoc.
That’s not to say he’s averse to his playmaking duties, of course. See below.
They can be a tad frustrating at times, but you can’t deny FSG know their stuff. Replacing Klopp was an impossible task, and so they opted not to.
Slot is cut from a different cloth. His tactical expertise aligns in some lanes with the German’s, but he’s a different character, cooler, more businesslike. Fist pumps after exhilarating victories, there are not.
In the same way, Liverpool simply won’t succeed in replacing a one-of-a-kind star such as Alexander-Arnold. Kounde is different, but bears some similarities.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldwalks off the pitch
Kounde’s “enormous potential” was sounded out by talent scout Jacek Kulig before he got his big Barcelona move, and the defender has proved ever since that he has the capacity for greatness.
It’s exactly what Liverpool need at right-back, and if the finances are there, he should be signed this summer.
Liverpool's incredible title winner is now as undroppable as Mac Allister
Liverpool’s stars shined as they thrashed Spurs to seal the Premier League title at Anfield.
Manchester United have submitted a £64 million bid to sign a “powerhouse” player ahead of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea this summer, according to a recent report.
Ruben Amorim responds to Gary Neville's criticism
The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in what was a dull affair for a Manchester Derby. After the game, former United player and captain Gary Neville stated that United need as many as “five new signings” this summer to help Amorim.
Not just Bruno: Amorim's "key" Man Utd star just showed he’s undroppable
Man Utd played out a 0-0 draw against Man City
By
Joe Nuttall
Apr 7, 2025
Neville told Sky Sports: “I do understand why Ruben Amorim’s done that today, with the players he’s got, because he hasn’t got the players to adapt. They need five new players straight away before you even think about the rest of it.
“The three up front are not good enough, and the two wing-backs, they’re not good enough. They need five players. They need to serve him with five players who are good enough in this system to be able to play his system the way he wants.”
Then, speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim responded by stating that he knows Neville is “critical about everything”: “I understand that Gary Neville is critical about everything. I understand that we are having the worst season in history.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimduring the press conference
“Manchester City won everything in the past, but this season they are struggling. So, we are not in the best of moments to give the best spectacle to fans. We are not fighting for the big things; it’s different.
“I understand the critical aspect of the players who played in this game in a different way because they were fighting every time for the titles. It’s a different context.”
Man Utd submit £64m bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal green light
If – as Neville says – United need five new additions, INEOS could be working on one of those potential arrivals already. According to a report from Spain, Man United have made a £64 million bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
The report states that United have positioned themselves as one of the teams most interested in signing the Sweden international, but they face competition from Chelsea, as they have also tabled an offer for the striker. Both Premier League teams have made an offer worth 75 million euros, while the player himself has given the green light for Arsenal to sign him, although this report does not mention the Gunners making a bid.
The Red Devils will hope to have an edge in this race, as Amorim worked with Gyokeres at Sporting and seemed to get the very best out of him. United want to sign Gyokeres, who has been dubbed a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson, as they believe he will be a huge uprgade on struggling stars Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Viktor Gyokeres’ 24/25 league stats compared to Rasmus Hojlund
Gyokeres
Hojlund
Apps
26
26
Starts
24
18
Goals
30
3
Goals per 90
1.24
0.17
Total shots
109
21
Shots per 90
4.51
1.22
Shots on target
60
9
Goals per shot
0.17
0.14
The potential arrival of Gyokeres at Old Trafford would surely spell the end for Hojlund, who, despite scoring against Leicester City before the international break, failed to make any significant impact in the Manchester Derby.
It is just three goals in 26 league games this season for Hojlund, who was subbed off on Sunday once again, and Amorim knows that if he has any chance of being a success, he needs to have a striker with a better success rate in front of goal, which Gyokeres has, given he’s got 30 goals in 26 league games.