Manchester United are now actively conisdering a move for “one of the world’s best defenders”, who is set to be available on a free transfer, according to Sky Sports reporter Paul Gilmour.
Man Utd planning summer rebuild
It is perhaps to be expected that Man United’s first port of call this summer could be bolstering their attacking options, given that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have fallen way below expectations.
Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha is seemingly among the main targets, with United working to seal a deal very soon, while they are also keen on strengthening out wide, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue was recently identified as a target.
However, given that Ruben Amorim’s side are just 14th in the Premier League table, reinforcements may be needed all over the pitch, and the manager has also set out to bring in a new centre-back this summer.
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AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is among the targets, having enjoyed a fantastic debut season in the Premier League, while the same report claims that a bid for Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck is also being plotted.
Amid the ongoing financial struggles at Old Trafford, however, it may be more financially prudent to bring in a centre-back on a free transfer, and Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah is set to leave the German club upon the expiration of his contract this summer.
According to an update from Gilmour on X, Man United are “actively” considering a move for Tah, but they are not alone in their pursuit of the defender, with Real Madrid deemed to be “strong contenders” due to Xabi Alonso’s imminent arrival.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are also in the race for the 29-year-old, so there is no shortage of interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
Tah could be among "world's best defenders"
It is little wonder that Alonso could be keen to take the centre-back to the Bernabeu with him, having previously lauded him as “one of the world’s best defenders”.
The Leverkusen defender played a major role in his side’s 2023-24 Bundesliga title triumph, making 31 appearances, during which time he particularly impressed with his passing ability, leading the way in terms of pass-completion rate.
Leverkusen are very unlikely to secure back-to-back titles, but they are certain to finish in second place at the very least, and the Germany international has continued to impress, with Alonso stating he has been his side’s “most consistent player”.
There is every sign that Tah could be a success at Old Trafford, but it could be difficult to win the race for his signature, given the interest from Real Madrid, Barca and Bayern.
Celtic can turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup.
The Hoops are set to fight it out for a place in the final of the competition in the hope of retaining the trophy that Adam Idah’s last-gasp goal won for them last season.
Brendan Rodgers has the chance to win a domestic treble for the first time in his second spell at Parkhead, as Celtic have already won the League Cup and are on the verge of winning the Premiership.
The Hoops won the top-flight and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign, and this means that they could end this season with five out of six trophies won in the Northern Irishman’s return to Glasgow.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
Rodgers has an excellent squad at his disposal, which has helped him to be as successful as he has been so far, and even the lesser-seen talents have stepped up for the boss in recent weeks.
Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo are two rarely-seen stars who have emerged as viable first-team options for the manager over the past month or so.
Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo have proven their worth
The Polish defender had not made a single appearance in the Premiership, despite being fit and available, prior to the club’s clash with Rangers before the March international break.
Injuries to Liam Scales and Auston Trusty at the time provided the former Legia Warsaw colossus with opportunities to start against Rangers and Hearts in the top-flight.
Minutes
90
90
Clearances
7
9
Blocks
0
3
Tackles + interceptions
5
1
Duels won
7/10
8/9
Dribbled past
0x
0x
Pass accuracy
93%
98%
As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki was outstanding in his two performances in the Premiership, dominating the Rangers and Hearts attackers and making numerous interventions to keep them at bay.
However, the Polish ace has been an unused substitute in the last two league games because Rodgers claimed he prefers to have a naturally left-footed player on that side of the centre-back pairing.
Nawrocki is not the only reserve player who has had opportunities recently, though, as Sinisalo has played the last three league matches in the absence of Kasper Schmeichel, who was injured on international duty with Denmark.
The Finnish shot-stopper saved 71% of the shots on his goal and kept one clean sheet in those three games, proving himself to be a more than able deputy for the Danish number one.
Sinisalo and Nawrocki’s performances show that market value is not the be-all and end-all for players, as they have performed well when called upon despite being two of the lowest-valued players in the squad.
The lowest-valued players in the Celtic squad
Both of those players rank within the bottom ten in the squad for market value, as per Transfermarkt, and that could be down to their lack of minutes on the pitch prior to their recent emergence in the starting XI.
The lowest-valued player at the club is 20-year-old academy graduate goalkeeper Josh Clarke, who is yet to actually make his first-team debut but has featured on the bench, with a valuation of just £64k.
Josh Clarke
20
£64k
James McCarthy
34
£85k
Scott Bain
33
£171k
Johnny Kenny
21
£193k
James Forrest
33
£429k
Kasper Schmeichel
38
£644k
Viljami Sinisalo
23
£686k
Anthony Ralston
26
£1.2m
Maik Nawrocki
24
£1.7m
Luke McCowan
27
£1.7m
As you can see in the table above, only six players in the squad are worth less than Sinisalo, and two of them – Clarke and Johnny Kenny – are young prospects.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
But, as per the earlier point, a low market value does not equal a bad player because there are several factors that go into a valuation that are not performance-based.
Kasper Schmeichel, who is valued lower than both Nawrocki and Sinisalo, is the perfect example because he is only worth £686k, but it is because he is now 38 and his current contract expires in the summer of 2026.
Celtic have hit the jackpot with Kasper Schmeichel
Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Denmark international because they brought him in on a free transfer from Anderlecht last summer, and he has provided phenomenal value on the pitch.
At the age of 38, Schmeichel is not a young talent who is going to make the club a significant profit in the future, like a Matt O’Riley or an Odsonne Edouard did, but his value comes in the form of his performances for the club.
Not every signing made by Celtic has to be with the long-term in mind or with a financial hat on, some signings can be for short-term impact on helping the team to win trophies.
As you can see in the highlights above, Schmeichel has produced quality in the Champions League for Celtic this season, as is further evidenced by his three clean sheets and 0.55 goals prevented in ten outings in the competition.
The experienced colossus, who was dubbed “amazing” by pundit Micah Richards, has also been a star for the Scottish giants in the Premiership in his first year in Glasgow.
Appearances
30
Save success rate
77%
Goals conceded
21
Saves
68
Clean sheets
19
Error led to goal
0
Pass accuracy
94%
As you can see in the table above, the former Leicester City stopper has kept a staggering 19 clean sheets in 30 matches for the Hoops in the league, helping them to be on the verge of a fourth successive top-flight title.
These statistics in both the Premiership and the Champions League show that Schmeichel has hit the ground running at Celtic as a star performer, offering a reliable and quality presence between the sticks for Rodgers.
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This is why Celtic have hit the jackpot with the free agent signing, despite his low market value, because he has provided all of his value on the pitch.
Even if Manchester City do finish inside the top five positions in the Premier League and find themselves victorious in lifting the FA Cup again, this summer looks likely to be one of upheaval at the Etihad.
After all, it’s already been confirmed that Pep Guardiola’s men are waving goodbye to City royalty in Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian unlikely to be the only face moved to one side by the serial trophy winners.
Whilst there will be an obvious sadness in the air that notable figures like De Bruyne are departing, an exciting, new horizon on offer will still be met with lively anticipation, with the light blue half of Manchester expected to open its doors to a whole host of fresh signings.
The potential new-look Man City
Guardiola’s flashy spenders did show off their intimidating might in the transfer window just this January when acquiring the services of Omar Marmoush for a hefty £59m.
Now, they could be about to splash even more cash on another equally exhilarating attacker in the form of Florian Wirtz, with the German midfielder rumoured to be leaving Bayer Leverkusen behind for a wild £102m.
Morgan Gibbs-White might also relocate to the Etihad for a whopping £100m, but City could win themselves a potential bargain by signing former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Francisco Trincao.
A report from Caught Offside has revealed that Guardiola’s men could snap up the 25-year-old for as little as £33m, but Manchester United are also waiting to pounce alongside Arsenal and Newcastle United.
Whilst his prior stint in England was choppy, the Sporting star would surely relish an opportunity to strut his stuff again in the Premier League, with a potential here for Trincao to be the Spaniard’s next version of Leroy Sane patrolling down the City right flank.
How Trincao could be Man City's next Sane
Whilst City fans will likely wax lyrical about the past exploits of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez when commenting on memorable ex-wingers, Sane doesn’t always find himself in the same glowing conversation.
Indeed, after only bagging five Premier League goals during his debut season, the German would go down as a slow burner to the City masses when finally improving, with an impressive tally of 83 goals and assists eventually coming his way from 135 total contests.
Trincao – much like Sane – has unfortunately been negatively impacted by the bright lights of the English game before.
Indeed, only three goals came his way from 30 appearances at Molineux. However, unlike the Bayern Munich number ten, the Portuguese forward was never given the platform to kick on and rebuild his dented reputation until now.
Since this one season misfire in the West Midlands, the 25-year-old has been able to transform his fortunes on home soil and turn into a menace up top for his current employers, with the Sporting winger left-footed in approach much like his German counterpart, despite being able to line up down both the left and right channels like the 29-year-old.
24/25
51
9
18
23/24
48
10
10
22/23
52
13
4
Looking at the table above, City would be winning themselves a golden bargain snapping up Trincao for just £33m, with a jaw-dropping 18 assists picked up by the former Wolves reject from 51 games this season.
He definitely has the potential, therefore, to reenter the English game and take it by storm as a tricky, left-footed attacker in a similar vein to Sane.
Sporting Club's Francisco Trinaco and Viktor Gyokeres.
Once lauded as a “special” talent when emerging up the ranks at Braga by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, this move could finally be the opportunity for Trincao to rip up the Premier League, with Sane’s eye for picking up goals and assists aplenty at the peak of his powers seen in the 25-year-old’s unbelievable game in Lisbon.
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Arsenal are now leading the race for an “incredible” forward, who could be an ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s style of play, according to a report.
Gunners set to strengthen attacking options
There have been widespread calls for the Gunners to sign a striker for quite some time, and their reluctance to do so has arguably been costly to their pursuit of the Premier League title and a first-ever Champions League this season.
Arteta was forced to use Mikel Merino in a makeshift striker role in both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, given that Kai Havertz has been sidelined since February, with the French side ultimately emerging 3-1 winners on aggregate.
The striker shortlist consists of a number of options, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins of interest, while an opening offer has been submitted for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
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Arteta is clearly determined to bring in a new striker this summer, and the manager is also keen to strengthen out wide, given that Gabriel Martinelli has arguably fallen short of expectations this season.
According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now leading the race for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, but he will not come cheap, with the German club setting an asking price of around €65m (£55m).
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
Gittens is viewed as an ideal fit for Arteta’s style of play, with the winger now being identified as the perfect candidate to bolster the manager’s wide options, and talks could be stepped up in the coming weeks.
Dortmund could be willing to sanction a departure, should they receive an attractive offer, but there are some doubts over whether he would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League…
"Incredible" Gittens catching the eye in Germany
The report states the Englishman’s lack of consistency could be viewed as an issue, having scored just one Bundesliga goal in 2025, but there are some signs he could be an excellent addition for Arsenal this summer.
While the 20-year-old has not been at his best as of late, a record of 12 goals and five assists in 46 games is impressive, given his age, while he has also caught the eye with his dribbling ability over the past year, ranking in the top 1% for successful take-ons.
Average per 90
vs other wingers in big 5 leagues
Non-penalty goals
0.40 (83rd percentile)
Progressive carries
5.55 (92nd percentile)
Successful take-ons
3.62 (99th percentile)
The London-born winger shouldn’t be expected to be the finished article just yet, given his age, and the level of some of his performances for Dortmund this season indicate a £55m outlay could be justified.
Lauded as “incredible” by reporter Alex Howell, Gittens clearly has a lot of potential, so it is exciting news that Arsenal are in pole position for his signature.
Milos Kerkez could well be on his way to Liverpool this summer, but Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are said to be eyeing another left-back, too.
Kerkez in talks with Liverpool
A new left-back has been seen as a priority position to strengthen in this summer, with Andy Robertson no longer the force of old, and Kostas Tsimikas arguably not at the level required to be a regular starter for the Reds.
Bournemouth ace Kerkez has emerged as the leading option for Liverpool at left-back, with the Hungarian reportedly set to agree personal terms and holding talks with the Premier League champions over a summer move to Anfield.
The 21-year-old has the potential to be a superb signing for the Reds, having shone for the Cherries all season long, even making it into Gary Neville’s Team of the Season on Monday Night Football.
Meanwhile, Robertson has discussed his future at Liverpool with Jamie Carragher, saying: “I have only got a year left. So I hope all you guys (the fans) can help me with making the same noise around a new contract as you did with Mo and Virgil’s! Maybe you (Carragher) can stop linking the club with other left-backs as well! No look, I’ve had eight wonderful years so far and I have a year left. I am not as young as I once was but I love this club and I have had some great memories here, so let’s see what the future holds.”
Liverpool working on another left-back signing with Kerkez
Now, according to ILovePalermoCalcio [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are working to sign young Palermo left-back Gioacchino Barranca this summer, as Edwards continues to not mess around this summer, as he continues to try and get a deal for Kerkez over the line.
The Reds are believed to be “moving in the background” with regards to the 17-year-old, looking to pounce during the summer transfer window ahead of Atalanta and Torino.
AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez
Even the most ardent Liverpool supporter would struggle to claim to be an expert on Barranca, given his age and the fact that he is yet to represent Palermo at senior level.
The left-back has made a combined 50 appearances for their Under-17s and Under-19s, though, and the fact that a club of the Reds’ stature are tracking him speaks volumes about his long-term potential.
Barranca could come in as a future star at Liverpool, initially going into the academy setup or even being sent out on loan to aid his development, being seen as the eventual understudy to Kerkez once Robertson and Tsimikas move on.
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It is always vital for the Reds to plan for the future, ensuring the club continues to be in a good place for many years to come, and the Palermo teenager would be an astute addition in that respect.
Chelsea are working on a “behind-the-scenes” deal for a former Man City gem who’s also being targeted by Premier League champions Liverpool, according to a former club chief.
Chelsea targeting new striker and winger this summer
As per credible media sources, Chelsea are in the market for a new wide player and striker this summer.
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Supporters will be especially eager for BlueCo to bring in a prolific number nine, given Nicolas Jackson has bagged just one Premier League goal this calendar year, while Christopher Nkunku is also expected to leave Chelsea.
They’ve been targeting RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, Lille star Jonathan David, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké and Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen, according to Sky Sports, but some of these names will be in high demand at other elite European sides.
Chelsea’s final four Premier League fixtures
Date
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
Chelsea must also think of their Club World Cup campaign, as they could bring home a financial windfall of around £97 million if they win all of their group games and the tournament itself (BBC).
Stamford Bridge officials will be keen for Enzo Maresca’s side to perform well in the tournament, and the club will have a special early transfer window to utilise if they wish to reinforce the squad in time for the CWC, which will open from June 1st to June 10th.
The Blues also wish to require a new winger, amid the rumoured uncertainty surrounding Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho’s long-term futures.
There are reports that Chelsea could even offer Sancho in a separate swap deal for key target Jamie Gittens, who’s enjoyed an impressive 2024/2025 campaign at Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea working on "behind-the-scenes" deal for Jamie Gittens
However, according to ex-Man United chief scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, Chelsea face competition from Liverpool in pursuit of the English sensation.
That being said, Brown hears Chelsea are working on a “behind-the-scenes” deal for Gittens, as they look to get in ahead of Arne Slot’s side.
“Chelsea look like they could have another busy window,” said Brown. “Maresca wants to sign a new winger because there are questions about where he sees Madueke and Sancho in his plans for the future. One name who has been on their radar for a while is Jamie Gittens.
“Lots of teams had the opportunity to sign him when he left Man City a few years ago, but he ended up making the move to Germany. After the season he’s had for Dortmund, there are a lot of teams in for him.
“He’s come into the team and has been playing regularly, so teams have been assessing him and I expect him to move back to England. Liverpool are one of those teams I’ve heard have been having a look, but I think the interest from Chelsea is a bit more advanced.
“From what I hear, they’ll be working on that deal behind the scenes and they’re aiming to get ahead of teams like Liverpool to sign him.”
The 20-year-old has racked up 12 goals and five assists in 45 total appearances for Dortmund this season, becoming a mainstay for both Nuri Şahin and Niko Kovač, and it appears Gittens fits Chelsea’s transfer mould of a young, exciting player with bags of potential. He’s also valued at just £35 million, so his signing wouldn’t exactly break the bank.
Super-agent Pini Zahavi is keen for one of his illustrious clients to join Arsenal after previous transfer talks, with there being a preference for him to make an Emirates Stadium move if he does choose a Premier League switch.
Arsenal set to seal Martin Zubimendi deal
On Saturday morning, some extremely significant news broke from the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano.
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After months of advanced talks, which first came to light in January (The Mail), Romano has now confirmed that Arsenal are set to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and will trigger his £51 million release clause – giving his signature ‘here we go’ to the deal.
Arsenal’s final Premier League games
Date
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
Southampton (away)
May 25th
The Spain international has pledged to sign a long-term contract in north London, one year after Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool, and he is now set to become Andrea Berta’s first signing as new sporting director.
Zubimendi’s capture is an undoubted boost for Mikel Arteta, and he will come in as a direct replacement for Jorginho after the Italy international agreed pre-contract terms on a summer move to Flamengo.
With Zubimendi’s arrival seemingly wrapped up, attention turns to who could follow the 26-year-old to N5.
Arsenal are considering the possibility of signing an alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, and they remain linked with a move for Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.
Pini Zahavi keen on Leroy Sané joining Arsenal
The £244,000-per-week forward recently switched agents, employing Zahavi, and that has apparently thrown a spanner in the works of a potential new contract at Bayern.
It has provided some hope Arsenal can strike a free deal for Sane, with Bundesliga insider Christian Falk suggesting Zahavi is keen for his client to end up there if they opt for a Premier League transfer.
Zahavi has a preference for Sane joining Arsenal over Newcastle, as per Falk, if fresh terms with Bayern cannot be agreed.
“Pini is on the prowl. Zahavi is checking out clubs in England and there are a few,” said Falk on the Bayern Insider podcast.
“The player’s previous management had already negotiated with Arsenal, but now there’s a club that actually had its eye on Kingsley Coman, but now a player who plays a similar position, and the club is in the north.
“So, Newcastle is among the candidates being checked out. Leroy Sané actually wants to play in the Champions League, that’s his goal, that’s his aspiration.
“Newcastle is being discounted a bit, they also have great potential, of course, always with the sponsors, but I’d say if things don’t work out at Bayern, the clear focus is on England. Preferably towards London, but Newcastle is also a good alternative.”
Setting their sights on reinforcements with or without promotion to the Premier League, Sheffield United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a defensive reinforcement whose quality they know all about.
Sheffield United set for key play-off battle
With Burnley and Leeds United already promoted and left to battle it out for the Championship title, Sheffield United must turn towards the play-offs and Wembley success if they are to take their place in the Premier League for next season. That is, of course, easier said than done though. The play-offs are rarely routine and have the chance to throw up the kind of shocks that the Blades will be desperate to avoid.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder reacted to the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion recently, telling reporters: “Congratulations to Daniel (Farke) and Scott (Parker) and their two teams, for those clubs to have the ability to reach 100 points shows you what the division is like, and we’ve finished up the third best team in the division.
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“The season went to the 44th game and I thought we had a right go, created some chance, but the goals have killed us, it was two poor goals, and the penalty hands the initiative back to them, despite us always carrying a threat.
“We’ve had to learn on the job and the season doesn’t end here, we’d have had to get 95+ points, so it is an insane season. The players will learn from this because we’ve fallen short.”
After officially finishing third, Wilder’s side will now square off against sixth place in the Championship play-offs, which will be Coventry City if nothing changes on the final day this weekend. With Millwall, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough all forming the chasing pack, however, Sheffield United will only know their fate at the end of this weekend’s fixtures.
Sheffield United join Ciaron Brown race
Away from the action, the Blades have seemingly commenced their summer plans even without knowing their fate. According to Graeme Bailey for EFL Analysis, Sheffield United are now racing to sign Ciaron Brown from Oxford United this summer but face competition from both Norwich City and Middlesbrough for his signature.
Those at Bramall Lane will be hoping that their place as promotion hopefuls this season and hopefully a top flight club in the coming weeks will tempt the versatile defender.
Ciaron Brown for Northern Ireland.
Brown is a versatile centre-back that Sheffield United know all about too, having witnessed him pocket the talented Ben Brereton Diaz in Oxford’s stunning 1-0 victory over Wilder’s side last month.
As per Fotmob, Brereton Diaz was hooked after 59 minutes, having created just one chance and taken just two touches in the Oxford box. Brown, meanwhile, enjoyed an excellent game and ended the afternoon without being dribbled past once and with 15 clearances to his name as his side kept an impressive clean sheet.
Praised for his “fantastic attitude” by former Oxford boss Liam Manning last season, Brown may now have done enough to earn a big move this summer.
Looking ahead towards the summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly launched a mega move to sign a Ligue 1 midfielder who could become the perfect partner for Youri Tielemans.
Tielemans receives Team of the Year recognition
Having struggled to nail down a starting place at Villa Park in the early days under Unai Emery, Youri Tielemans was in danger of becoming a nearly man, having been touted for incredible things when he departed Belgium to join Leicester back in 2019. The season of 2024/25 has been the year of the Belgian at the heart of Villa’s midfield, however, and he is now undeniably crucial to Emery’s side.
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The 28-year-old has finally reached the potential that many tipped him to reach many moons ago, and even earned his way into Jamie Carragher’s Team of the Season to recognise that on Monday Night Football.
Emery is well aware of Tielemans’ importance these days too, having told reporters in April: “He’s a guy who can pick up balls and make the team play, but also break up play just as easily. It’s a joy to play with him—and very easy.”
Finding the perfect partner for the former Leicester man hasn’t been quite as easy, though. Amadou Onana initially got off to an impressive start, but injury setbacks remain a concern even though he is undeniably a potential world class player at his best.
Youri Tielemans
Boubacar Kamara has also faced spells on the sidelines throughout his time in the Midlands. The fact is that Tielemans has been the consistent face at the heart of Villa’s side, as they have continued to fight for a place in the Champions League. And they must hand the Belgian a partner with similar consistency.
Aston Villa launch mega Diarra move
One target who could be perfect for that role comes in Ligue 1. According to reporter Mohamed Toubache-Ter, as relayed by Get French Football News, Aston Villa have now launched a mega move to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, who will allow their captain to leave if the right offer arrives this summer.
The 21-year-old, like the majority of his teammates, has enjoyed an impressive season under Liam Rosenior and could now be on the move as a result. Already a leader despite his tender age, Diarra ticks a number of crucial boxes needed to partner Tielemans at the centre of Emery’s strongest side.
Starts
30
35
Progressive Passes
4.44
7.03
Progressive Carries
2.34
1.17
Ball Recoveries
3.45
4.35
Whilst the numbers show just how impressive Tielemans has been in possession this season, they also highlight that Diarra could complete the ball-carrying in Villa’s midfield. Both players, looking at their strengths, would complement each other almost perfectly to hide any clear weaknesses in their respective games.
Analyst Ben Mattinson shared similar praise for the Strasbourg captain, dubbing the Aston Villa target a “strong ball carrier” and a “very complete midfielder” earlier this season.
The Premier League has seen some world-class wingers since 1992, with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah the current best player in the top flight.
The Egyptian King has extended his stay at Anfield and looks set to continue to light up the division, but where does Salah rank among the best wingers in Premier League history?
Ranking factors Appearances Goals Assists Titles What others have said about them 20 best wingers in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Leroy Sane Man City
Arguably one of the quickest left-wingers the Premier League has seen, Leroy Sane’s spell at Man City under Pep Guardiola was extremely successful.
The German was one of Guardiola’s first signings at the Etihad and would destroy full-backs with his pace alone, with the Spaniard calling Sane “the best wide player in the world” in 2019.
Games
90
Goals
25
Assists
28
Titles
2
19 Harry Kewell Leeds, Liverpool
After coming through Leeds United’s academy, Harry Kewell made a big impact in the Premier League with the Whites and then Liverpool between 1996-2008.
The Australian, could score all sorts of goals, beat defenders with ease and use his pace to great effect and won the Young Player of the Year in the Premier League in 1999/00.
Games
274
Goals
57
Assists
38
18 Alexis Sanchez Arsenal, Man Utd
Alexis Sanchez’s Premier League career may have been stained slightly due to how his time at Man Utd went, however, he lit up the division with Arsenal between 2014-2018.
Under Arsene Wenger, Sanchez would be the Gunners’ main man in attack, so it’s no surprise that the legendary Arsenal manager would call the Chile star a winger who has “something special”.
Games
154
Goals
63
Assists
31
17 Bukayo Saka Arsenal
Over his career, Bukayo Saka could quite easily rise up this list even higher, and he has already made a big impact for Arsenal since turning professional in 2018.
The England international has become a key player for club and country, cutting in off the right to score with his left foot on a regular basis. Regarded as one of the best attackers in the world, Saka has even been called Thierry Henry’s “favourite player” and “one of the best players in Europe” by Robert Pires.
Games
200
Goals
55
Assists
45
16 Marc Overmars Arsenal
Continuing the trend of great Arsenal wingers brings us to Marc Overmars, who would star in his first season in north London to help the club win their first Premier League title in 1997/98.
The Dutch speedster was called “world-class” by Arsene Wenger and also had great technical ability, so it wasn’t a shock when Barcelona paid big money for Overmars after three years at Highbury.
Games
100
Goals
25
Assists
14
Titles
1
15 Steve McManaman Liverpool, Man City
An academy graduate at Liverpool, Steve McManaman’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was frightening, and he was key for the Reds out wide in the 1990s.
Going down as an arguably an underrated Liverpool legend, McManaman’s displays caught the eye of Real Madrid, where he would go on to become ‘the most successful English player to head overseas’.
Games
275
Goals
41
Assists
59
14 John Barnes Liverpool, Newcastle
John Barnes was approaching 30 years of age when the Premier League was formed, however, he arguably saved the best years of his career as a winger in the latter stages of his career.
Barnes was even called “the best player” Jamie Carragher has ever trained with and the “best finisher” ahead of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, which says all you need to know about how good Barnes was at Anfield.
Games
201
Goals
28
Assists
29
13 Freddie Ljungberg Arsenal, West Ham
After scoring seconds into his debut against Man Utd in 1998, Freddie Ljungberg didn’t look back and would go on to become a Premier League great.
The skilful Swedish winger would win two titles under Arsene Wenger and had a knack of scoring important goals for the Gunners. His career in north London has seen him recognised as the 11th best player in Arsenal’s history.
Games
241
Goals
48
Assists
29
Player of the Season
1
Titles
2
12 David Ginola Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton
Iconic winger David Ginola lit up the Premier League in the 1990s and will be best remembered for his time at Newcastle and Tottenham, so much so he was voted PFA Player of the Year during Man Utd’s treble-winning season.
Ginola’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was his main attribute, and he made the game look extremely easy in his prime, being named among the top 10 Frenchman to play in the Premier League.
Games
195
Goals
21
Assists
42
Player of the Season
1
11 Son Heung-min Tottenham
Son Heung-min has shown during his time at Spurs that he can do it all. Create, take defenders on, score every type of goal, the South Korea star has lit up the division for more than 10 years now.
Regarded as ‘the best finisher in world football’, Son also became the first player from Asia to score more than 100 goals in the Premier League and even won the Golden Boot with 23 goals in 35 games in 2021/22.