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Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was mere centimetres away from netting a potentially crucial goal in last month’s Europa League final, having seen his goalbound header denied by a simply remarkable acrobatic clearance from Micky van de Ven.

The suggestion from TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist that the Dane could have done better with that attempt appeared distinctly harsh, with his colleague, Darren Fletcher, perhaps putting his best when suggesting that the 22-year-old might be the “most unlucky number nine” that the Red Devils have ever had, following his disallowed goal on the final day against Aston Villa.

Whether it is the fault of the £64m man, or due to the wider problems of the team, he simply hasn’t kicked on in a United shirt as expected, with the player who ran Galatasaray ragged in October 2023 having hardly been seen since.

Short of quality and confidence, Hojlund ended 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions, having only netted four times in the Premier League, while missing just six ‘big chances’.

That latter statistic illustrates that the ex-Atalanta starlet isn’t necessarily wayward in front of goal, albeit the lack of opportunities created perhaps points to the lack of trust in him from his teammates – something which was said to be an issue at the tail-end of the previous campaign.

Having ended the 2023/24 season as the club’s top scorer, there is a player in there somewhere. The issue is, United’s patience appears to have – rightly – worn thin.

Man Utd's search to replace Rasmus Hojlund

While Hojlund may be keen to stay and prove himself at Old Trafford, a return to Italy does appear the most likely outcome, with Champions League finalists Inter Milan reportedly ready to bring him back to Serie A.

With one number nine seemingly on his way, another could be set to arrive in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, albeit with the Swede currently in a public dispute with Sporting CP over his future, amid the suggestion that the club have rowed back on their willingness to let him leave for around €70m (£59m) this summer.

Things are getting messy in Lisbon, it would seem, hence why United’s newly crowned sporting director, Jason Wilcox, must continue to consider alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have been held between the club and the representatives of Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic.

Transfer Focus

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

The suggestion is that the Serbian’s agents reached out to Wilcox and co in order to try and engineer move, with the 25-year-old believed to be prioritising a Premier League switch.

While the report does state that the former Fiorentina man is not deemed to be a ‘priority target’ for Ruben Amorim, the contact was said to be ‘positive’, ensuring the Premier League outfit could return to the table later down the line.

Amorim, it would seem, might have his heart set on a reunion with Gyokeres, although Vlahovic would surely be the next best thing. Oh, and he might be available for just €30m (£26m).

How Vlahovic compares to Viktor Gyokeres

The ‘definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’, with United perhaps wary of dipping into the Serie A market for a third successive summer in order to sign a new striker.

Indeed, 2023 saw Erik ten Hag plump for Hojlund, despite the then 20-year-old having scored just nine league goals for Atalanta the year prior. A year later, the Dutchman then forked out £36.5m for Joshua Zirkzee, a player who had netted just 11 times in Serie A for Bologna in 2023/24.

The result? Two goal-shy, albeit talented figures who scored just seven league goals between them for United last time out, with there certainly a fear that Vlahovic could continue the trend, having actually only scored ten Serie A goals last season – plus a further five in all competitions.

2024/25

29

10

4

2023/24

33

16

3

2022/23

27

10

2

2021/22 (Juventus)

15

7

1

2021/22 (Fiorentina)

21

17

4

2020/21

37

21

2

2019/20

30

6

1

2018/19

10

0

0

The difference is, Vlahovic’s work prior to that is reason for excitement, having scored 81 top-flight goals, across his time in Turin and Florence, since the start of 2020/21, with a further six strikes coming the year before that for his former employers.

It is for that reason that, much like Gyokeres, he has been hailed as a “goal machine” by scout Antonio Mango, with writer Emmet Gates also tipping him to be a “generational talent” in the past.

A hulking, brute of a striker at 6 foot 4, the Serbian star truly is an imposing focal point at the top end of the pitch, a trait he shares with the 6 foot 2 Gyokeres.

While the latter man may be the “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, following his haul of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, the Swede certainly boasts similar traits to his Juventus counterpart.

That is particularly seen in their ability to score out of nothing from range, with both men possessing a cannon of a stronger foot. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed Gyokeres as a “ball-striking monster”, while Sky Sports’ Nick Wright has described Vlahovic as ‘dangerous from long distance’.

Such quality is evidenced by the fact that both men have taken on free-kick duties of late, with Vlahovic scoring four between 2022/23 and 2023/24, while Gyokeres netted three in 2024/25 alone, as per Transfermarkt.

As alluded to in the case of Hojlund, United are in desperate need of a striker who can conjure up a moment of magic on their own, with neither Vlahovic nor Gyokeres particularly reliant on the service around them.

That said, both can provide that poacher’s instinct when required too, with the Juve sensation ranking in the top 10% of strikers across Europe for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref, while the former Coventry City man ranks in the top 15% in that regard.

While Vlahovic may be a left-footer, unlike Gyokeres, the pair are both a force to be reckoned with, with the Belgrade-born star’s consistency at the elite level over a number of seasons certainly to be admired.

Yes, he may not be the leading target for Amorim and Wilcox, although if prising Gyokeres from Lisbon proves too great of a task, then they may have already opened the door to the next best thing.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Questions have been asked about Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca during his spell in charge after being appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last summer.

The Italian led Leicester City back to the Premier League, but jumped ship to take over at Stamford Bridge, with many wondering whether he would be the right man for the job.

However, nearly 12 months on from his appointment, he’s exceeded all expectations, showcasing he’s the right man for the job based on his success to date.

The 45-year-old has secured the Blues a place in the Champions League for next season, whilst also claiming Europa Conference League glory against Real Betis on Wednesday night.

It’s been a campaign to remember for Maresca, but if he wants to continue his progress in the role, he will need added funds provided by the hierarchy to help him in his quest.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last couple of hours, Chelsea have made huge strides in a deal to sign Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old agreeing to a move to join the Blues this summer.

It was confirmed that he has rejected offers from multiple other Premier League sides, leaving Maresca’s side to trigger his release clause and complete the formalities before announcing his move to West London.

However, despite the progress made on a deal for the Ipswich Town star, another name in the form of Viktor Gyokeres has once again entered the mix, according to Record Portugal.

The report claims that the Blues have made an enquiry to sign the 26-year-old this summer, after his stupendous record of 54 goals in just 52 matches across all competitions.

It also states that they face stern competition from Juventus for the Swedish international’s signature, with Sporting CP demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with the talisman this window.

Why Chelsea’s £60m target would be a better signing than Delap

With Delap’s move appearing to be moving closer to completion, Maresca could finally be about to land the new striker that he’s been craving in recent months.

Nicolas Jackson has been his main talisman since his arrival, with the Senegalese international scoring 10 times in the Premier League during the Italian’s first year in charge.

Such a record is respectable, but if the side are to reach the next level under his guidance, they will need that proven goalscorer to fire them towards the top end of the table.

Delap has shown he’s capable of doing just that, scoring 12 times in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys, with such a record being an impressive one given their relegation this season.

However, when comparing his stats to those of Gyokeres, the Swede has showcased that his performance levels are night and day – proving that he would be a far better addition than the Englishman.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has massively outscored him in 2024/25, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing the clinical nature he possesses.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also registering more progressive carries per 90 – having the skillset to hand other players around him the best chance of improving their own tallies.

Games played

33

37

Goals & assists

46

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

43%

Pass accuracy

72%

61%

Progressive carries

4.3

2.1

Take-ons completed

1.9

1.3

Aerials won

51%

42%

Fouls won

2.5

1.7

Gyokeres has also won more of the aerials he’s entered and draws more fouls, offering Maresca that focal point he’s craved, something which Delap may struggle to provide.

Given the progress on the deal for the Ipswich talisman, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to complete a deal for Gyokeres, or they could potentially miss out on his signature.

Nothing suggests that the club may not target both talents in the coming months, handing the Blues an added dimension in forward areas that could bolster their title charge in 2025/26.

As bad as Gusto: Chelsea's 4/10 flop must never play for the club again

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ByEthan Lamb May 29, 2025

Despite earning promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United could be set to lose one of Daniel Farke’s key men amid reports that a European club have now opened talks in pursuit of his signature.

Leeds United's summer plans after promotion

With the Championship season concluded, and the title secured, Leeds have instantly turned their attention towards the summer transfer window ahead of their Premier League return. Those at Elland Road will be desperate to avoid the same mistakes as those promoted before them in recent years, who instantly suffered relegation, and the ambition of the 49ers may well ensure that they do exactly that.

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ByDan Emery May 18, 2025

Chairman Paraag Marathe reiterated the 49ers’ desire to turn Leeds into a top club once again rather than simply just survive in England’s top flight. He told reporters once promotion was sealed: “Two years of getting to this point, but all that hard work and all that difficulty makes this much more rewarding and makes this so special,” said Marathe on the bus.

“This is a journey and this is not the end. We have to keep going. This is what Leeds does. We are going to have some difficulties, but we are going to get where we want to go and we are going to be one of the best clubs in all of Europe.”

While talk is often cheap, reports suggest that the Leeds owners are ready to put their money where their mouths are this summer, with links to the likes of Kostas Tsimikas already emerging.

The Liverpool left-back has reportedly attracted the interest of those at Elland Road fresh from becoming a Premier League champion at Anfield and could be on the move.

As the Reds’ second-choice behind Andy Robertson, the Greek international may yet decide to call it quits in Merseyside in pursuit of a starting place. Following the latest update on Junior Firpo’s Elland Road future too, Leeds would be an ideal destination this summer.

Lazio in talks to sign Firpo from Leeds

According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Lazio are now in talks to sign Firpo at the end of his current Leeds deal next month. The left-back is in talks over putting pen to paper on a new contract in Yorkshire, but the prospect of his Elland Road exit is now a growing possibility.

AC Milan and Atlético Madrid have also been linked with Firpo, and his agent has offered the left-back to Lazio after meeting sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani.

An experienced defender, who earns more than £3m-a-year at the club, Leeds should feel frustrated by Firpo’s likely exit after securing promotion to the Premier League. It goes without saying, however, that it’s one they must get over quickly before finding an instant replacement.

In what looks like his final season at the club, Firpo received high praise from Farke. The Leeds boss told reporters in September: “If I’m honest I haven’t thought about this scenario so far because it was such a difficult summer for other things.

“You know how much I rate Junior [Firpo] and Sam [Byram] and how important they are for us. Junior played a really good game against Burnley, after long travel, improved defensive skill and turning into a leader. Great will to improve further.”

With Manchester City continuing to chase Morgan Gibbs-White’s signature, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the battle to sign a La Liga midfielder who once played for the Blues.

Nottingham Forest's worrying form continues

Forest had been flying towards the Champions League places and even found themselves as high as third throughout the current campaign. As things stand, however, they now sit sixth and are on course to miss out on a place among Europe’s elite with three games to play. In a season full of shock form, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have seemingly run out of steam at the worst possible time.

With one win in their last five Premier League games, Forest must rediscover their form as soon as their next attempt which will see them play host to a relegated Leicester City side. They then visit a struggling West Ham United side with the same aim before they square off against Chelsea on the final day in a game likely to decide their Champions League fate.

Nuno spoke to reporters after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Monday, saying: “I think we improved in many aspects of the game, first half we were in control, we were dominant and had good possession and we didn’t allow Palace to counterattack against us.

“We didn’t create too many, but we had a clear chance. The second half was different, it was important that we reacted from the goal and the reaction we had showed character and belief.

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“We were fighting until the end, always with the belief that we could achieve more. The boys did well, Palace have a difficult shape to break down and they always have the threat of the counterattack when they recover.”

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, those in the Midlands have also been busy setting their sights on potential summer arrivals to replace Gibbs-White amid rumours that Manchester City are pushing to sign their star midfielder.

Nottingham Forest battling to sign Yangel Herrera

According to reports in Spain, Nottingham Forest are now battling to sign Yangel Herrera from Girona this summer and face competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid for his signature. Having spent time at Manchester City in the early stages of his career, the South American has finally found his feet at Girona and could now be on his way back to the Premier League as a result.

Starts

24

31

Goals

4

5

Assists

3

7

Ball Recoveries

95

118

When compared, Herrera’s numbers show that he could be an option to replace Gibbs-White. In six fewer starts, the Girona man has managed just one less goal than the Forest man, albeit whilst struggling to create at the same level.

Potentially coming back to haunt Manchester City, Herrera could find himself on his way back to English football courtesy of Nottingham Forest this summer.

Chelsea are now eager to sign a £40k-a-week full-back who’s “one of the best” in Europe, but there is set to be fierce competition from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Pressure building on Maresca

Fans are starting to lose patience with Enzo Maresca, given that performances have fallen way short of expectations in recent weeks, drawing 2-2 at home to Ipswich Town before suffering a 2-1 defeat against Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.

However, the manager is likely to have bought himself some more time with the 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday afternoon, with Tyrique George and Pedro Neto striking late to secure a comeback victory at Craven Cottage.

By and large, the Blues’ backline has not been the issue this season, retaining the joint-fourth best defensive record in the league, and Maresca is likely to be far more concerned by the performances of his strikers.

Fabregas a fan: Chelsea want to sign £8m gem with "left foot made of gold"

The Blues are closely monitoring a “wonderful” midfielder ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.

ByDominic Lund Apr 20, 2025

After once again drawing a blank on Sunday afternoon, Nicolas Jackson is without a goal in his last 12 Premier League games, while Christopher Nkunku has just three league goals to his name all season.

As such, bringing in a new striker may be a priority for Chelsea this summer, but they are also keen to strengthen in defence, according to a report from Caught Offside, which has revealed they are now eager to sign Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina.

Aina’s performances this season have attracted serious interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs, with Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur also keen, and the latter two clubs are set to open agent talks soon.

Forest are eager to tie the full-back down to a new contract, which could see his £40k-a-week wages increased, but a free transfer is possible, should an agreement not be reached, with the 28-year-old’s contract set to expire this summer.

Aina enjoying impressive campaign at Forest

The Nigerian has been an indispensable member of the starting XI for Forest this season, making 30 Premier League appearances prior to recently sustaining a calf injury, and his side have gone on to lose both of the games he’s missed.

Having performed very well for the Tricky Trees, the London-born defender received high praise from Zach Lowy last month, with the journalist saying: “Ola Aina has genuinely been one of the best fullbacks in Europe this season. So effective going forward but above all, rarely drops anything less than a 7/10. Forest are lucky to have him.”

Not only has the former Chelsea man impressed on the front foot, but his ability to win back possession has also been on display regularly throughout the campaign.

That said, Chelsea are already well-stocked at right-back, with Reece James and Malo Gusto on the books, so Aina may not be a necessary signing unless one of Maresca’s current options moves on this summer.

In what is a frustrating blow for those at the Stadium of Light, one Sunderland star could now miss the rest of the season – including the play-offs – after already missing the Norwich City game.

Le Bris provides Sunderland injury update

Whilst the play-offs are already well within their grasp, Sunderland would have still been left frustrated by their 0-0 draw against Norwich City in midweek. The Black Cats are in the type of form that many expected to continue against the inconsistent Canaries, having lost just once in their last five Championship games. Nonetheless Regis Le Bris’ side were forced to settle for a frustrating point.

The Sunderland boss delivered his verdict on the 0-0 draw in his post-match press conference, telling reporters: “It was a tough first half. We defended well and we expected a strong team in possession with many threats. We did well without pressure, which was probably the main problem.

“The first half was a little bit too reserved. The tactical set-up was clear, so now it was a case of taking risks. It’s easier when you are on the bench, but after 30 minutes, it was a little bit better.

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“At half time, we spoke about the boldness we needed to have against a strong team. Things were better in the second half – we had good possession and the four subs helped. These games against West Brom and Norwich are really interesting because they are strong in possession with many threats. The fact that we can manage these games and keep a clean sheet says a lot about our efficiency.”

Le Bris was also able to provide an update on Jobe Bellingham’s injury, revealing that the midfielder missed the draw through a minor recurring ankle injury in what should see him make a swift return. The same can’t be said for another Sunderland star, however, following a recurrence of his own injury.

Romaine Mundle suffers injury blow

After the winger missed the Norwich game through injury, Le Bris revealed that Mundle could now be out for the rest of the season. The Sunderland boss told reporters: “Romaine has a hamstring injury, but we don’t yet know the timeline. We need to seek some further advice from some specialists and so we will have to wait a little bit.

“It’s possible [that his season could be over], we’ll have to make a decision about the situation. It’s not up to us really, we need specific advice before we can make a specific decision.”

The latest piece of bad news continues a frustrating campaign for Mundle, who already missed 16 Championship games through the same injury frustration earlier this season. Having scored five goals in all competitions despite the disruption, it’s clear that Sunderland will miss the winger if that is to be it for him this season.

Dubbed “brilliant” by captain Dan Neil in the past, Mundle will be desperate to put his struggles behind him as soon as possible and look forward towards a comeback which may have to wait until next season.

Since taking the job almost two years ago now, Ange Postecoglou has completely changed Tottenham Hotspur.

On the pitch, the results might not have improved massively, but unlike under the previous few managers, the team is no longer boring the fans senseless.

However, where the Australian has made the most significant changes is the makeup of the squad, as he’s seen several stars leave and plenty of exciting talents come in.

In fact, the Premier League seems to be full of tremendously promising prospects this season, and Spurs might just have their answer to recent England debutant, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Premier League's most promising prospects

So, let’s start close to home with one of Tottenham’s breakout stars from what has been a pretty dismal year: Lucas Bergvall.

The Swede, who was signed from Djurgårdens for around £8.5m last winter, has become more and more important to the first team as the season has gone on.

Indeed, 13 of his 19 starts coming since Christmas, and when you watch him play, it’s easy to understand why Postecoglou wants to give him more responsibility.

The 19-year-old “generational” talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, is seemingly able to do it all from the middle of the park, be that break-up play with a well-timed block or kickstart attacks with a gut-busting run through the middle of the park or a perfectly timed pass.

Another of the Lilywhites’ most exciting youngsters this season has been Mikey Moore, who, at just 17 years old and in 632 minutes of first-team football, has scored once and provided two assists, while also being compared to Neymar Jr by James Maddison.

Moving over to the red side of North London now, and while Spurs’ fans won’t like to hear it, understandably so, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri has also stepped up in a big way this season, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in just 1087 first-team minutes.

It’s not just the traditional ‘big six’ who have unearthed some sensational young talents this year either, as 19-year-old Spanish defender Dean Huijsen has been one of the stars of Bournemouth’s brilliant campaign thus far.

The former Juventus gem has managed to bag two goals for himself, and according to FBref, sits in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and clearances, the top 5% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

However, when it comes to the teenage talent most in the spotlight, it has to be the Gunners’ own Lewis-Skelly, although there is no need for the Spurs faithful to be jealous, as they appear to have their own version of the 18-year-old.

Spurs' own Lewis-Skelly

There has been rife debate among Spurs fans of late that Djed Spence should have been in the England squad at the expense of the Arsenal wonderkid. However, he’s not the closest thing to Myles Lewis-Skelly. Instead, that honour is handed to Archie Gray.

There are a few key reasons why the incredible talent who joined the club last summer for around £30m could be their version of the Arsenal man, the most important being how he’s been utilised this season.

Like the Hale Ender, the former Leeds United gem is first and foremost a central midfielder, but due to the incredible amount of defensive injuries the team have had to deal with this year, he’s played in the backline more than anywhere else.

Centre-Back

19

Right-Back

7

Left-Back

5

Defensive Midfield

3

Other

3

For example, across all competitions this season, the Durham-born star has made 19 appearances at centre-back, seven at right-back, five at left-back and just three in defensive midfield.

Similarly, the Gunners’ young star has made 23 appearances as a left-back and just two in defensive midfield.

On top of being used in similar ways by their respective managers, both are incredibly highly rated for their age, with the Arsenal star already winning a senior England cap and the Tottenham prospect being described as a “future £100m” star by respected football analyst Ben Mattinson.

Ultimately, Lewis-Skelly certainly looks to be the real deal and someone who will have a sensational career, but the same thing could and should be said about Gray, and given their trajectories, we would not be surprised to see them lining up together for England in the future.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 25, 2025

Talks are progressing between Liverpool and one of their star men over a new contract, with a deal now said to be ‘close’, according to a recent report.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

Arne Slot and co. still have so much of their attention on the pitch as they look to wrap up the Premier League title, with the Reds also into the last 16 of the Champions League and among the favourites to win that competition as well, with a League Cup final to play next month too.

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ByAngus Sinclair Feb 25, 2025

But as the season progresses it means the summer transfer window is getting ever closer and those high up at Anfield must already have their eyes there, as they have some big decisions to make over key players.

One player whose future is up in the air is of course Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool are being linked with a move for Lamine Yamal, which would be quite a shock but possible due to Barcelona’s financial difficulties, which will force them to sell at least one or two key men this summer.

It’s been reported that Liverpool are “above all” the other Premier League teams in the race to sign Yamal, but face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, who are also watching on.

The Reds are among the teams who are dreaming of signing the 17-year-old at the end of the season, but Barcelona have no plans to sell their superstar if they don’t absolutely have to.

In defence, with questions over the future of Virgil van Dijk, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Liverpool are prioritising signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window in order to add more depth whether the Dutchman stays or gos.

Talks progressing over new contract for Liverpool superstar

While the Premier League leaders begin the search for a new centre-back, according to a report from Spain, Liverpool are now close to agreeing a new contract with Van Dijk after talks progressed in recent weeks.

The report states that the Reds’ intentions are clear – they want the Netherlands international to remain at the club. Talks between the player and the club have now ‘progressed’ to a point that it is being reported that a deal is ‘close’ to being agreed, with the captain ‘considering’ the latest offer.

It is reported that Liverpool believes their captain still has a lot to offer at the age of 33, and his leadership and experience mean he can remain a key figure in the team. They consider the renewal of Van Dijk’s contract a priority as they try to maintain stability in the defence during a summer where there could be a lot of change. For Van Dijk, while he has offers from elsewhere, he feels comfortable at Liverpool and hasn’t ruled out staying for another season.

Apps

306

Goals

26

Assists

13

The Dutchman currently earns £11,440,000 a year at Anfield, making him the second-highest earner at the club behind Salah. Despite being at the latter end of his career, Van Dijk still remains a key player for Liverpool and Slot, and with new arrivals expected in defence over the summer, keeping Van Dijk makes more sense for the new signings, as he can help them settle in with his experience and defensive qualities.

Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Leeds United have received a response after making contact to sign an “outstanding” attacker in the past few days.

Leeds showing fight in battle for survival

Heading into a tricky three-game run against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, Daniel Farke would’ve been fearing the worst, given the widespread speculation about his future, but his side have managed to amass a very respectable four points.

Even in the 3-2 loss at the Etihad Stadium, the Whites showed heart, fighting back from 2-0 down, which will be very encouraging for Farke, and the 2024-25 Championship title-winners remain outside the relegation zone for the time being.

That said, it is still very close near the bottom of the Premier League table, with both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United starting to pick up better results since hiring new managers.

Consequently, it is little wonder Leeds have started looking at new signings ahead of the January transfer window, recently making an approach for Tromso star Jens Hjerto-Dahl, and they have now set their sights on £21m summer Como signing Martin Baturina.

That is according to Romano (via Leeds United News), who said: “Baturina is a player Como still wants to focus on, they’re not thinking about a January exit. I’ll tell you the behind-the-scenes story. In the last few days, Leeds has been in touch, the teams are starting to move.

“Leeds has proposed opening talks with Como and the player’s agents about a possible transfer, even a permanent one. Leeds would have practically repaid Baturina to Como,”

“The response I understand from both Como and the player was ‘No, thanks’. Baturina wants to stay at Como, he believes in the project Como is happy with Baturina, with how he trains, the potential he has.

“Baturina continues to work hard, but the door has been closed for Leeds. In short, it also marks some clarity regarding the rumours that have been circulating about the future of the Croatian midfielder.”

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He’s one to watch.

ByTom Cunningham 6 days ago

"Outstanding" Baturina could have bright future ahead

Leeds will be frustrated they didn’t receive the ideal response after making a move for the 22-year-old, given just how impressive he was at Dinamo Zagreb, registering 22 goals and 39 assists in 165 outings, while he has also now scored his first goal for Croatia.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also waxed lyrical about the attacking midfielder, saying a little over a year ago: “His vision and weight of pass is outstanding.”

However, the former Dinamo Zagreb man hasn’t exactly hit the ground running since moving to Italy, being benched for the majority of Como’s Serie A matches this season, having recorded just one goal contribution in his first seven outings.

As such, Baturina clearly isn’t the finished article just yet, so it is not majorly disappointing that Leeds appear to have missed out.

Arsenal have now made a strong move to sign a “special” Paris Saint-Germain star, who is still yet to accept an offer to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes.

Gunners under pressure after Aston Villa defeat

The Gunners’ lead at the summit of the Premier League table was reduced to just two points on Saturday, after slipping up at Villa Park, with Emiliano Buendia netting a stoppage-time winner to secure all three points for the hosts.

Gary Neville has suggested the defeat shouldn’t be a major cause for concern, given that Aston Villa are a good side, saying: “That’s a game you can lose. I wouldn’t be panicking at all if I was Arsenal off the back of that. You’re going to lose a game or two, you just are, and you’re going to win a lot of games.”

However, after coming second three years on the spin, Mikel Arteta’s side may be feeling the pressure, with Manchester City now breathing down their necks, and the north Londoners are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.

That is according to a report from Le10 Sport (via Sport Witness), which states Arsenal have now made a strong move to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, who isn’t entirely happy at the French club, and is still yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.

PSG have made an offer to Barcola, which would see his salary increase significantly from £111k-a-week, but he is yet to commit to a new deal, amid interest from the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are very active contenders.

Arteta’s side have been interested in the French forward for quite some time, and the latest development is exciting, as there are plenty of signs he could be a fantastic addition to the squad…

"Special" Barcola could be exciting signing for Arsenal

With Gabriel Martinelli not in the best of form, receiving widespread criticism for some of his performances this season, it may be a savvy move to sign a new left-winger, and the PSG star has been in impressive form.

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Indeed, the 18-time France international has already amassed eight goal contributions in 18 matches this term, while also receiving very high praise from scout Ben Mattinson earlier this year, who described proved him as “one of the best left wingers in Europe”.

Not only that, but the 23-year-old also ranks extremely highly across a range of key attacking statistics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Assists

0.42 (95th percentile)

Progressive carries

5.13 (87th percentile)

Touches (Att pen)

8.72 (98th percentile)

Should the opportunity present itself, Arsenal should definitely step up their interest in Barcola, and it is promising news they have already made a strong move to secure his signature.